Homeschool Hints Podcast

With more than 27 years of home education experience, Durenda Wilson is a trusted voice and resource at homeschooling conventions and on The Durenda Wilson Podcast. Durenda and her husband, Darryl, have eight kids (7 graduated) and nine grandchildren. As an author, speaker, and podcaster her greatest joy is reminding parents how doable and effective homeschooling is and that they are, in fact, qualified for the job! Her books include The Four Hour School Day, The Unhurried Homeschooler, and Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart. Get to know Durenda in this podcast and look for her as one of our featured speakers at the March 31-April 1 homeschool conference and curriculum fair at the KCI Expo Center!

-Ways to simplify homeschooling [1:30]

-How homeschooling has changed for her over the years [5:35]

-Questions she receives from new homeschool moms [7:00]

-Misconceptions and stereotypes about homeschooling [9:40]

-What surprised her during her homeschool journey [12:00]

-Different challenges and accomplishments during her homeschooling [16:42]

-Takeaways for attendees at the March 31-April 1 homeschool conference and curriculum fair [21:40]

QUOTES:

“We’re not going into this thing saying we know it all. We’re going into it, willing to learn right alongside our kids.” 

“As moms [and] parents, we’re always teaching our kids. We just don’t think about it. … It’s natural for us to teach our kids.”

“We’ve just become so narrow in our view of what education actually is. And so, to have the freedom to be able to do it in a way that works for your family, for your kids, is just really important if you’re going to do this for the long haul.”

Resource #1: https://midwesthomeschoolers.org/events/homeschool-conference/ (Conference)

Resource #2: https://www.durendawilson.com/ (Durenda Wilson's website)

Continue the conversation!

Website: https://midwesthomeschoolers.org/

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/midwestparenteducators/

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Natalie Haber shares her homeschool journey, including her marriage to a public school administrator and addressing her family's initial hesitations with this educational choice. Her latest initiative is GROW, a division at MPE meant to create community through small workshops where women are encouraged and equipped to create a life-giving homeschool environment.

-How Natalie started her homeschool journey [0:50]

-How she heard about homeschooling [4:00]

-Her advice to other moms who may be experiencing family concerns over homeschooling [6:00]

-How children all learn differently through homeschooling, including the age they start reading [9:00]

-How Natalie got involved with MPE [11:10]

-How GROW began [11:30]

-How people can get involved [16:40]

-Some goals for GROW over the next few years [17:20]

-Preview of the next event March 9 at the Vintage House [19:00]

-Come visit the GROW booth at the MPE conference! [20:20]

Resource #1: https://midwesthomeschoolers.org/grow (GROW)

Resource #2: https://midwesthomeschoolers.org/events/womens-encouragement-day/ (Women's Encouragement Day)

Resource #3: https://midwesthomeschoolers.org/events/homeschool-conference/ (Conference)

Continue the conversation!

Website: https://midwesthomeschoolers.org/

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/midwestparenteducators/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mpeinkc/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mpeinkc

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mpeinkc/

Homeschool moms need one another for encouragement and support, especially during the cold, wintry months when the days seem extra long and school seems extra challenging! Join us on Feb. 4 with Abbie Halberstadt, "M is for Mama" author and homeschool mom of 10.

The day starts with a light breakfast that you didn’t have to make. Enjoy refreshments, hot drinks, and chocolates throughout the day surrounded by beautiful decorations for all you special moms. This is your day, and we want you to enjoy it to the full! We will glean wisdom from God’s word through speaker sessions, music that will lift our spirits and enjoy a delicious lunch while fellowshipping with other homeschool moms. Our hope is that you leave refreshed and reinvigorated for the rest of the school year!

-Krystal Evensen, a homeschool mom of 12, describes her first experience at the Women’s Encouragement Day, where moms came around and encouraged her. [0:30]

-Did you know you get to eat a HOT meal?! [3:10]

-We can feel alone and stuck at home every day, but this is a touch-point where we all gather together and make a new friend or even group. [4:15]

-During the years, Krystal made friends with older women who could help her with babysitting. Her friend Susan came to provide childcare for her when previous plans fell through and she thought she couldn’t make it to that year’s Encouragement Day! [5:30]

-Featured speaker - Abbie Halberstadt, M is for Mama from Texas. Fellow homeschool mom of 10, with 2 sets of twins! [6:50]

-Krystal wanted to be the CEO of a company and never considered herself a homebody or wanted to homeschool, but an experience from her 6-year-old daughter in kindergarten changed her heart. [9:20]

-Is this event for homeschool moms who are introverted and/or may feel overwhelmed at walking into a place full of strangers? YES! [11:15]

-Giveaway sneak peek... [14:20]

-Come see the teenage daughters of the women involved on the committee and give them the opportunity to serve you! [15:15]

-Are you coming with a baby, or considering whether to come if you have a baby? [16:50]

-Musician Sarah Edwards, a fellow homeschool mom, is coming to lead worship this year! [19:20]

Resource #1: https://midwesthomeschoolers.org/events/womens-encouragement-day/

Resource #2: https://misformama.net/

Continue the conversation!

Website: https://midwesthomeschoolers.org/

Email: p[email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/midwestparenteducators/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mpeinkc/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mpeinkc

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mpeinkc/

Join us for an interview with Chad and Michelle Womble! Chad is MPE's President and has been serving at MPE for more than two decades. Learn more about the nonprofit's homeschool history and benefits.

-Introductions from Chad and Michelle [0:30]

-How they heard about MPE and its conference [2:00]

-What has MPE meant to them over the years [3:00]

-Benefits they’ve seen in their own family from serving [3:50]

-Challenges they’ve experienced serving at MPE, including changes from the COVID-19 pandemic [6:50]

-How MPE has changed over the years, including its support and help for homeschool families [10:40]

-Long-term goals for MPE, including adapting to changes in the social landscape [13:30]

-Any advice and encouragement for people new to homeschooling? [17:20]

-High school graduation ceremony, one of the benefits of MPE membership [22:00]

QUOTES:

1) “I look at MPE as my ministry, and I’ve looked at it that way for over 20 years.”

2) “It’s been a dream of mine that eventually, MPE is run by homeschool graduates. And part of that dream is getting our children involved.”

3) “I’m not a homeschool mom, but I certainly understand and can see the need for encouragement. It’s a really hard job, and the paycheck is deferred way down the road, so I’m glad to see that we’re really working towards encouraging moms.”

4) “Kansas has been very favorable to homeschooling. Missouri has been very favorable to homeschooling, but truthfully, that can change within one legislative session. And I would really like to see us be very vigilant about that, to continue to get the word out and for families to continue to be involved, and to be even more involved.”

5) “You’re not going to screw your kid up. There are lots of resources out there. When your child graduates from high school and you’ve homeschooled them, you will have given them what they need. They’ll know how to read, they’ll know how to write, they’ll know how to communicate with other people. You will have given them everything that they need.”

Resource #1: https://midwesthomeschoolers.org/events/homeschool-conference/ (Conference)

Resource #2: https://midwesthomeschoolers.org/events/womens-encouragement-day/ (Women's Encouragement Day)

Continue the conversation!

Website: https://midwesthomeschoolers.org/

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/midwestparenteducators/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mpeinkc/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mpeinkc

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mpeinkc/