I am so happy to be back with another monthly podcast episode covering highlights from my book, Raising Amazing: Bringing up Kids Who Love God, Like Their Family, and Do the Dishes Without Being Asked! Today we get to cover Chapter Seven: How we can make our homes the hub -- a welcoming place for our kids…and their friends.  Many of us have always imagined having a home that our kids love to be in, and a place their friends might want to gather in as well. Yet, making the idea become a reality can feel elusive…How do we practically create an environment that is welcoming and attractive to our kids and their friends? Do we need the best house with the coolest games and gadgets? How can we compete with technology and get kids to want to hang out with their family? In today’s episode I’m answering all these questions and more. I think you’ll be encouraged and feel equipped to make your home the hub for your kids as well! Also fun bonus: Luke comes on to share his "thoughts" from Chapter 7 of Raising Amazing as well!  Find a free download: Dinner time conversation starters, over in show notes: www.monicaswanson.com/Raising-Amazing-7 
 Podcast page (for all episodes) www.monicaswanson.com/podcast 
 Check out CTCMath for a simplified and fun (Yes! Fun!) option for a homeschool math curriculum or just extra math practice at home! 
 The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org 

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Making Your Home the Hub!

Monica Swanson, author of Boy Mom and Raising Amazing , and blogger at monicaswanson.com, shares encouragement and inspiration for raising amazing kids and building strong families. Monica shares practical advice and biblical wisdom through honest conversations, interviews with experts, and light-hearted humor.

The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org

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My husband Dave is with me today for a special Mother’s Day/book release interview!  Dave and I are reflecting on the last 25 years of my motherhood journey...highs and lows, what I have learned, and my advice for younger moms. I share about some of my biggest joys of motherhood, (the laughter and fun, and much more!) and some of my greatest challenges (overwhelm, anger, and loneliness.)     We also get to talk about my book that released yesterday (May 7th!) - Becoming Homeschoolers. I share a bit of our homeschool story, how I ended up writing this book, and what readers can expect! Then Dave says a sweet Mother’s Day prayer for all the moms listening! HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!  Note: My publisher has offered to extend my preorder bonuses until the end of the week, so be sure to visit the preorder page if you want to get some really cool bonuses.     BOOK PAGE HERE for bonuses: https://monicaswanson.com/becominghomeschoolers/bonuses/       Show notes with links to anything we talked about: www.monicaswanson.com/mothers-day  General podcast page: http://www.monicaswanson.com/podcast  Looking for new math homeschool curriculum? All of my boys have used DIVE/Shormann Math for Bible-based, short-but-thorough science and math lessons, through AP level! They believe it was the best preparation for their college studies in engineering and data analytics. Go to diveintomath to learn more!  The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org   

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Highs and Lows from 25 years of Motherhood (and celebrating a BOOK RELEASE!)

Sally Clarkson’s books and podcast have inspired me for years. Living between England and Colorado, Sally’s writing and voice is like a trusted mentor who puts everything in perspective.     I have always hoped to meet Sally so this interview was really special. I got to ask Sally about her heart for parenting, what the rhythms in her home were as her kids grew up, and what led her to homeschooling. (Some of her answers might surprise you!)    I asked Sally about her great relationship with her now-adult children, and I asked her to offer wisdom to those of us still in the thick of parenting. I love this whole conversation and I think you will, too!  Find show notes and links at my website:     www.monicaswanson.com/sally-clarkson    General podcast page: www.monicaswanson.com/podcast    Looking for new math homeschool curriculum? All of my boys have used DIVE/Shormann Math for Bible-based, short-but-thorough science and math lessons, through AP level! They believe it was the best preparation for their college studies in engineering and data analytics. Go to diveintomath to learn more!       The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org    

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Parenting, Homeschooling, and Friendships with Grown Kids, with Sally Clarkson

Renowned researcher and bestselling author, Dr. George Barna is with us to share some startling data, along with a passionate call-to-action for Christian parents. This may be the most important episode you could listen to, and I pray that what we talk about inspires you to a deeper level of commitment in your parenting. (Don’t run away – I promise you'll be encouraged!)   Dr. Barna’s recent book, Raising Spiritual Champions, focuses on the importance of raising kids with a Biblical Worldview, and how difficult this is in our world today. Part of the reason it is so difficult is that so few parents have a Biblical worldview. And as Barna says, we “cannot give what we don’t possess.”    Not only do a mere 2% of parents of preteens have a biblical worldview, but only 12% of Children’s Pastors do! Few Christians believe in absolute truth, and most Christians today are “syncretists”, meaning they draw their beliefs from a variety of competing worldviews, religions, and convenient concepts.     Raising children is an exciting opportunity to influence a life, but Barna says it’s also, “a daunting assignment.” Dr. Barna’s research reveals that who our children will be as adults is essentially determined by the age of 13 (their core beliefs, morals, values, desires and lifestyle.)      At the end of the conversation, I ask Dr. Barna to get practical and go through the “Seven Cornerstones” of a Christian worldview.  I hope this is helpful and encouraging. Find those 7 Cornerstones as well as the rest of the links over in show notes:  www.monicaswanson.com/george-barna    General podcast page: www.monicaswanson.com/podcast    Looking for new math homeschool curriculum? All of my boys have used DIVE/Shormann Math for Bible-based, short-but-thorough science and math lessons, through AP level! They believe it was the best preparation for their college studies in engineering and data analytics. Go to diveintomath to learn more!       The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org    

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Raising Spiritual Champions with George Barna

When you come across a family with a bunch of young adults thriving in their faith, work, and passions, you can’t help but want to ask the parents: “Ok! What is the secret?” (Right?) And for good reason: Yes we can learn through mistakes and struggles, but I vote that it is even better to learn from those who have had successes!   
 Melissa and Jonathan Brown are some of those people. They have raised, discipled, and homeschooled 7 children, most of whom are now adults. They have also worked with CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ) for years before branching off in their own ministry. Now they coach other parents and families in how to build a family on purpose.     In this conversation Melissa shares some of the best marriage advice ever. She also talks about the true key to passing faith on to our children. I think you’ll be inspired by everything Melissa shares. Find links to all that we talk about in show notes:    www.monicaswanson.com/melissa-brown    General podcast page: www.monicaswanson.com/podcast    Looking for new math homeschool curriculum? All of my boys have used DIVE/Shormann Math for Bible-based, short-but-thorough science and math lessons, through AP level! They believe it was the best preparation for their college studies in engineering and data analytics. Go to diveintomath to learn more!       The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org    

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The Fruit of a Purposeful Family, with Melissa Brown

Our most trying moments as a parent can quickly spiral into discouragement, hopelessness, and sometimes even resentment toward God or your family—partly because our culture has conditioned us to believe that anything this hard can’t possibly be good for us. If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “Why me, Lord?” today’s podcast guest will resonate with you.   Abbie Halberstadt, (homeschooling) Mom to 10…with two sets of twins in the mix – understands toddler tantrums, mealtime melees, and the backseat blowups. Yet, she has lived out a message that is sure to encourage you.  Learning the difference between “just making it” and Christlike parenting has changed everything for Abbie, and she wants to help other moms find the good…even in the hard!  In today’s conversation I ask Abbie more about her life – what led to book writing, and some of the highlights from her recent book, “Hard is Not the Same as Bad”. Find links to all that we talk about over in show notes!  www.monicaswanson.com/abbie-halberstadt    Don’t miss MY NEXT BOOK LAUNCH TEAM signups (the group just opened as this releases, but we’ll welcome new team members until the end of the week!)  *find sign-up link in show notes as well.     General podcast page: www.monicaswanson.com/podcast  
 Looking for new math homeschool curriculum? All of my boys have used DIVE/Shormann Math for Bible-based, short-but-thorough science and math lessons, through AP level! They believe it was the best preparation for their college studies in engineering and data analytics. Go to diveintomath to learn more!     The Monica Swanson Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org  

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Factor: factormeals.com/swanson50
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Making Your Home the Hub!

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