Homeschoolers have the blessing of flexibility on so many issues – and graduation timing is one of them. Should you plan to graduate your student at 18? What about the precocious kids who might earn a diploma by 15? Or kids with health or learning issues, should they graduate later? We’ve had all three situations – this episode we’re talking about what we decided and what we learned! Sponsored by Judson College.

The post Graduation – Early or Late? – MBFLP 291 (Replay) appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

 Sponsored by Judson College

Moms seem to naturally connect with little ones – even before they’re born! It’s not so easy for dads, though. More than one has said, “I can’t communicate with this baby – I’ll let Mama handle it until he’s six or seven, and can understand me.”

That may be common but it’s unnecessary and really, it’s giving up precious time in your child’s life. It’s true, you’ll have a different relationship when they reach that age, but that’s true for every age – and the longer you put off your child, the harder it might become to build bridges later.

First off, don’t let it become a source of contention between husband and wife. If she raises the issue, he needs to step back a bit and ask, “Lord, is it true?” rather than getting defensive.

Recognize that “connecting” isn’t magic and mystical – it’s just a matter of spending time and interacting with your kids.

Train yourself to be intentional about “dad time.” Hal used to de-compress on the commute home, trying to mentally close the office door behind him and re-focus his mind on his roles of husband and father when he got home. That’s not obvious when you’re working from home, though – you have to remind yourself to step away from work and notice your family around you.

Practice some self-denial. The world really plays on our natural desire for our own needs and interests. Certainly there’s a need for some rest and recuperation just to keep yourself healthy and strong! But being available for your children’s needs means your own will have to wait sometimes. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit – it should not surprise us that we don’t naturally abound in it! (continued … )

Take your kids along when you can. The American theologian Jonathan Edwards had eleven kids and responsibility for several churches in colonial New England. Whenever he traveled to another village, he took a child along. Even when they’re very little, Dad can bring along the baby or the toddler when he runs an errand. Take the opportunity to talk with them about what you’re doing – even if they can’t talk back, they’ll grow accustomed to your voice and they’ll learn more than you realize!

Invite your kids into your work. Men seem to communicate better shoulder-to-shoulder – working together on some project. Whatever task comes to hand, ask one of your kids to join you – “Come on, let’s change the oil on the car,” or “Let me show you how to unstop a toilet.” Allow for additional time and distraction; it won’t be as efficient as doing the job solo, but it’s important time for training and relationship. What if they’re not interested? Keep asking, and sometimes, don’t give them the option – just bring them.

Jesus trained His disciples this way – He lived and worked with them, and He explained and asked and answered questions as they came alongside Him in ministry.

And don’t be shy about inviting yourself into their world, either. “Hey there – whatcha building?” “I haven’t read that book – what do you think about it?” Initiate conversations! Ask open ended questions. Assume that they can understand and respond, and see if you can draw them out.

Remember that you can’t schedule a heart’s opening – you have to be there when they’re ready to share. That means the time you invest simply being with your children and interacting with them will open doors and opportunities for deeper conversation and counsel.

Call our Listener Response Line at (919) 295-0321

The post Helping Dad Connect With The Kids – MBFLP 259 appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

What makes the homeschool mom more anxious than the prospect of high school? But there’s good reason not to fear — and good reasons to stretch yourself and make it happen — when considering your homeschooler’s high school years. Don’t miss this episode – we’ve graduated three and we’ve got an encouraging story to tell!

Sponsored by CTCMath.com

Episode Title: Homeschooling High School—Sure, Why Not?

Homeschooling through the high school years might feel intimidating, but Hal and Melanie Young are here to say: Yes, you can do this! In this episode of Making Biblical Family Life Practical, they open up about their own fears and experiences homeschooling high school—and how those years became some of the most rewarding of their parenting journey.

They’ve graduated multiple kids who went on to college (with scholarships!), and they’re sharing all the encouragement, tips, and hard-won wisdom you need to stay the course.

Why the thought of homeschooling high school scares so many parents—and how to overcome it

How to teach tough subjects (like algebra and chemistry!) even if they weren’t your best in school

Where to find help: tutors, co-ops, online classes, lab kits, solution manuals, and more

The real value of homeschooling high school: discipling your teens through their most formative years

How to prepare transcripts colleges will respect—without stressing over accreditation

Advantages of homeschooling high school: flexibility, individualized learning, time freedom, deep relationships, and more

Why homeschooling teens isn’t as hard as it sounds—they become more self-directed than you expect!

The post MBFLP 96 – Homeschooling High School? Sure, Why Not? (Replay) appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

When the house has little children in it, parents can get tired and discouraged from the constant needs, emergencies, and repetitions of their little flock. So much effort goes into keeping everyone alive to the next day, it’s hard to think about a long-term vision! Yet we’ve found that many things we did just to keep the family safe, sane, and manageable, had great effects on the family as the kids reached teenage and adult years! This episode we look at some ideas we adopted when the family was young, and the fruit we saw when the children were older.

Some of our books

The post What You Do When They’re Little … – MBFLP 311 appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

We grew up around picky eaters, and we didn’t want our kids to be that way when they grew up! So what can you do to encourage your children to be thankful rather than whining, to enjoy a wide range of foods, and to be gracious guests at the table? We’re talking about what we did to help our eight kids grow up with a more varied diet than we had!

Some Scripture that might be helpful 

… in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Do all things without complaining and disputing … (Philippians 2:14)

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Other resources: 

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin – including his story of growing up poor, in a large family, where comments about the food were just not allowed

Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching, and Appreciating Boys – our book on a Biblical understanding of our sons’ developing masculinity, and how we can cooperate with God’s plan for their lives instead of stressing over it. You can order it from our website here:

Raising Real Men

The post Raising Kids Who Aren’t Picky Eaters – MBFLP 310 appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

A lot of families are struggling during this economic downturn. It’s not the first time we’ve been through it, either. How do we respond in a positive, faith-directed manner to the undeniable challenges of the day? What can we learn and what can we teach our kids as we make our way through?

Podcast Episode: MBFLP 283 – What We Learned When Times Were Hard

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Connect with Hal & Melanie Young:

The post Things We Learned When Times Were Tight – MBFLP 283 (replay) appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

“Uh oh …”

We’ve all heard the dreadful sound from the next room – or the sharp crash of breaking glass – or the muffled whump in another part of the house. All kids will have moments of clumsiness, carelessness, or foolishness, that result in something getting broken or someone getting hurt – that’s just normal childhood. But some kids seem to leave a path of destruction in their wake – what do you do about them?

Let’s say up front that we’re not talking about kids who are suffering from trauma, illness, or developmental conditions that lead to destructive behavior – that’s a different situation altogether. We have friends who deal with these things on a daily basis, and they are walking a different path.

But what about your average, healthy, otherwise normal kid who you’d think would know better? How do you deal with them?

One of our basic rules of parenting is Don’t Freak Out. We don’t respond at our best when we leap to reaction. It may help to remind ourselves that this world is not our ultimate home and all its things are passing away (1 Corinthians 7:31). All our stuff is actually God’s stuff, and we are just stewards and managers of it for Him (Psalm 24:1).

That’s not easy advice, but it’s true – right? Take a breath, and pray for perspective.

Next step, Triage the situation. Not only answering the question, “What just broke here?” but rather, “Why did something just happen?”

We find there are three basic profiles – (continued … )

Once we understand what’s motivated the incident, we can respond in a way that will be just and will protect our relationship with the child. Our children are not cookies, so a cookie-cutter approach won’t respect their individual needs, fears, weaknesses, and strengths!

If you have a middle school student and you’re wondering why they are the way they are (you know what we mean), check out our book No Longer Little: Parenting Tweens with Grace and Hope. You can find it on our website here. 

The post MBFLP 260 – Accident-Prone Kids (Replay) appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

If you’re planning on college for your homeschool grad-to-be, how do you make the choice? Is a Christian college the only acceptable alternative? Should they dive into the mission field of public universities? Or is there a middle ground in a conservative private school? For different reasons, our three graduates so far have ended up at all three alternatives, and we’ve learned some pros as well as cons for all of them. Join us for some thoughts about the choice of a college for your student!

Some Other Episodes On College Issues

No. 28, “Making College Visits Count”

This episode of Making Biblical Family Life Practical is sponsored by Judson College.

[Intro]

You’ve made the commitment. You’ve caught the vision. You want your family to serve God. But sometimes it’s hard to put feet to that vision.

Hal and Melanie:

Hal: Hello, I’m Hal.

Melanie: And I’m Melanie. Welcome to Episode 94 of Making Biblical Family Life Practical. As the school year begins, many high school seniors are thinking about choosing a college.

Hal: We’re there again! Our fourth child is a senior this year. We’ve navigated college choices with our older kids: one attended a large public university, another a small private liberal arts college, and another a historical Christian college. Each decision had unique reasons, pros, and cons.

Melanie: It’s important to keep an open mind during this process. Each option has distinct advantages and disadvantages.

Hal: Right. When you’re considering colleges, financial aid is crucial. Unlike years ago, when I applied to just one college, today students often apply to multiple colleges—sometimes as many as 8 to 12—because scholarships and financial aid vary greatly.

Melanie: Absolutely. We always advise our kids not to set their heart on one school until the financial aid offers arrive.

Hal: Exactly. Colleges put their best foot forward during visits, much like a dating scenario, highlighting the good and downplaying negatives.

Melanie: When selecting colleges, most should be a good match academically, financially, and ideologically. Students should also include a couple of dream schools and at least one or two “safety” schools.

Pros:

Cons:

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The post MBFLP 94 – Choosing A College appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Most parents today are told to brace themselves for the teenage years. “It’s going to be tough,” they hear. “Just survive it.” But deep down, many of us suspect something different—that our teens are capable of more than the world expects.

And we’re right.

Teenagers don’t have to be reckless, self-absorbed, or lost. History proves otherwise. Some of the greatest minds, leaders, and innovators took on real responsibility as teens. What if, instead of lowering the bar, we raised our expectations? What if we equipped them to step up, take charge, and lead?

We never expected to test this theory in our own home—until we had no other choice.

The oncologist looked at Hal skeptically.

“Well,” he conceded, “if you feel up to it, you can travel. And you can speak from the platform. But you can’t stand around shaking hands afterward—your immune system is going to be completely shot.”

The biopsy results were in: advanced lymphoma. Hal was about to start chemotherapy. Travel was a concession; avoiding crowds was non-negotiable.

We barely had time to process the news before our teenagers spoke up.

“Don’t worry, Dad—we’ll take care of the book fair!”

They were 16, 14, and 12. Could they really handle it? We weren’t sure. But at that moment, we didn’t have a choice. Hal was sidelined, and I would be busy counseling and praying with parents. If our teens were willing, then our teens would take the lead.

And it made all the difference.

So many parents brace for the teen years like a storm. Batten down the hatches! Duck and cover! But history tells a different story.

Laura Ingalls Wilder was teaching school before she turned 16.

The question isn’t why should we expect more from teenagers—it’s why aren’t we?

That book fair became a turning point in our family. What started as a necessity turned into a tradition. Ever since that day, our teenagers and their younger siblings have run our booth and many aspects of our travel.

They shoo us into the aisles: “Go talk with the parents that need help—we’ve got this.”

And sometimes, they challenge us.

One of our sons made it a personal mission to master driving our 15-passenger van and trailer—threading through night-time traffic in Phoenix, backing into tight spots, and maneuvering one-lane roads. Hal had to step up just to keep from calling his 16-year-old for help!

Over time, our teens became more than just helpers—they became partners in our ministry.

Because they were involved, they saw needs we hadn’t considered.

“We need something to keep younger kids occupied while you talk to their parents,” they told us.

The results?

Our 13-year-old who played the biggest role at our booth? He majored in entrepreneurship and secured venture capital before graduating college.

What made the difference?

We didn’t just give them responsibilities. We encouraged them to step up.

By the time they left for college, they weren’t starting to take on responsibility—they’d already been leading for years. The result? They were confident, capable, and unafraid to seize new opportunities.

The world will tell you that teenagers are a liability. History—and experience—prove otherwise.

If we give them the chance, they’ll take ownership, develop skills, and step into adulthood ready.

Want to see how?

Want to read more? CLICK HERE!

Judson College offers biblical and practical training wherever a student is called, equipping them to live all of life for Christ.

The post Preparing Your Teens for More – MBFLP 205 (Replay) appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Labels or Not?

Sponsored by NOW Programs.

How desperate we are to avoid labeling our kids! And with good reason … if they’re in a classroom setting, maybe. But as homeschoolers, we have a much better handle on the social side, and there are serious benefits to your struggling child when you get her tested earlier rather than later. This episode, we talk about our own struggling learner and what we discovered on the way from a late start … to a college scholarship! There’s hope!

The post Struggling Learners and When to Get Help – MBFLP 143 appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.