Studies show that young adults are often not prepared for adult independence. Psychologists say the current generation is growing up slowly, and some even say “Twenty-five is the new fifteen”!* But if our parents and grandparents were functioning adults at 18 or 20, why can’t our kids be the same? This episode we’re talking about how to teach adult skills intentionally to our teenagers – and what to do if they graduated before you were done teaching!

Podcast: Making Biblical Family Life Practical

How do you help your kids move from being cared for… to being capable?

In this replay episode, Hal and Melanie Young tackle a growing concern among parents: many teens and young adults are leaving home without the basic skills needed for adulthood—not because parents don’t care, but because they were never shown how to make the transition.

From chores and budgeting to decision-making and responsibility, this episode offers practical, biblical guidance for raising competent, confident adults—without fear, guilt, or burnout.

Hal and Melanie discuss how modern parenting often removes obstacles for children with good intentions—but unintended consequences. When parents do everything, kids miss the chance to learn:

How to manage money and pay bills

How to work for pay and value responsibility

How to cook, clean, and care for themselves

How to make decisions—and live with the results

Research shows fewer teens today are working, driving, or taking on household responsibilities than in previous generations—leaving many unprepared for independence.

Adulting doesn’t begin at 18—it begins in the preteen and teen years.

Key practices discussed in this episode include:

Giving meaningful, skill-building chores (not just “feed the dog” tasks)

Teaching teens to cook full meals, do laundry, and manage a household

Encouraging initiative rather than nagging

Allowing teens to make decisions while consequences are still manageable

These steps don’t overwhelm kids—they equip them.

One of the most powerful lessons in this episode is the idea of side-by-side training, not sudden independence.

Hal and Melanie explain how to:

Walk teens through paying bills before handing them full responsibility

Teach budgeting, due dates, and financial prioritization

Gradually transfer responsibility while staying available to coach

Let teens experience appropriate consequences without abandonment

This mirrors the biblical model of discipleship—watch, do together, then do independently.

The Youngs encourage parents to intentionally ask:

“What do we want our kids to be able to do when they leave our home?”

Some essentials discussed:

Driving safely and confidently

Cooking real meals (not just reheating food)

Managing money and paying bills

Doing laundry and basic home care

Making appointments and advocating for themselves

Changing a tire and handling basic emergencies

These aren’t extreme expectations—they’re life skills.

Hal connects adulting skills to Hebrews 5:14, reminding parents that maturity comes through practice, not protection from every challenge.

True preparation means:

Teaching discernment

Allowing responsibility

Coaching through mistakes

Building confidence through experience

This isn’t about control—it’s about discipleship.

If you’re thinking, “We haven’t done this well,” this episode offers hope.

It’s not too late to:

Start teaching life skills

Walk your teen through responsibilities

Shift from managing to mentoring

Adulting is taught by doing adult things—together, then independently.

Listen to the full episode to hear real-life examples, biblical wisdom, and practical steps you can start using right away.

For more encouragement and resources, visit HalandMelanie.com or follow Hal and Melanie on social media through Raising Real Men.

The post Teaching “Adulting” – MBFLP 234 (New Year Replay) appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

We like the whole giving-and-receiving tradition of Christmas because it celebrates God’s greatest gift – His Son, bringing His grace — and face it, it’s just fun! But sometimes we get discouraged at not just the commercialization of the holiday, but how thoughtless and mechanical that gift buying can become. This episode we’ll talk about how you make this tradition more meaningful for the giver and the receiver alike.

Be sure to check out our gift guide at Raising Real Men.

The post MBFLP – Choosing Meaningful Gifts for the Family (Holiday Replay) appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

This week we’re talking about gift giving – it’s Biblical, you know!  But how do you manage it without being immersed in the commercialism of a secular holiday, while glorifying God and having fun together? We’ve found that being more intentional and deliberate in choosing gifts and even in how we open them together, and encouraging our children to think of people rather than stuff at Christmas, has great benefits!

The wise men who brought gifts to Jesus – Matthew 2:1-11

We described how our family keeps up with everyone’s “wish list” – not just at Christmas, but all year long! Here’s the basic framework – each person’s section of the family list is divided into price brackets, and it’s the responsibility of each person to keep their list up to date. And when the shopping happens, gift-givers quietly delete items so others don’t duplicate their gift!

Updated: (be sure to make a note here when you make changes to your list!) 

Check out our favorite board games.

And visit our Gift Guide for Boys.

Shop our Craftsman Crates and More.

The post Gift Giving in a Big Family – MBFLP 273 (Holiday Replay) appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Making Biblical Family Life Practical with Hal & Melanie Young

Thanksgiving is one of the few holidays that still says what it means—giving thanks. But how do we move it beyond food, football, and stress, and turn it into a joyful, Christ-centered family tradition?

In this episode, Hal and Melanie share how you can reclaim Thanksgiving as a time of purposeful remembrance, gratitude, and witness to your extended family—without losing the fun or the feast.

Why Thanksgiving is worth “reforming”

How Thanksgiving is uniquely suited to be a God-centered holiday in modern culture

The biblical pattern of feasts and memorials (like Passover) as models for our celebrations

Why Christians should be known for joyful feasting, not just “saying no” to everything

The real story behind the first Thanksgiving

The suffering and “dying time” the Pilgrims endured their first winter

God’s providence in Squanto’s story and the empty land where they settled

Why reading William Bradford and Edward Winslow in their own words gives a truer, richer picture than the typical school version

How the character of the Pilgrims and Puritans still shapes the American mindset: conviction, courage, and willingness to do hard things

Making Thanksgiving Christ-centered at your house

Why hosting the celebration yourself lets you set the tone, pace, and priorities

Using history, Scripture, song, and simple traditions to turn the day into a living testimony

How these practices can gently impact even very “worldly” or skeptical family members

1. The Thanksgiving Tree

Tape or pin a paper tree trunk to the wall

Put a basket of paper “leaves” and a pen on the table

Every time you sit down to eat, everyone writes one thing they’re thankful for and adds it to the tree

Over time, the tree fills up and helps your family see just how much God has done—even in hard seasons like job loss or uncertainty

2. Five Kernels of Corn Tradition

To remember the Pilgrims’ real hunger and God’s real provision:

Place five kernels of corn on each person’s plate

Have the youngest confident reader read the poem “Five Kernels of Corn”

As you eat, each person shares five specific things they’re thankful for—one for each kernel

This tradition humbles us, reminds us of what our ancestors endured, and helps us appreciate God’s daily mercies

3. Reading and Singing Together

Bring back the old, good traditions:

Read from primary sources about the first Thanksgiving (Bradford, Winslow, historic proclamations from Washington or Lincoln)

Share the story of God’s providence in the Pilgrims’ lives in their own words

Sing classic hymns of praise and thanksgiving as a family after the meal

Don’t be surprised when even very “sophisticated” or non-religious relatives are deeply moved—many people quietly long for meaning, ceremony, and reflection

We Gather Together (Thanksgiving e-book) UPDATE 2025: This resource is not titled, “Christ-Centered Thanksgiving”

True accounts and quotes from Pilgrim history

Thanksgiving proclamations

Songs and hymns to sing

Planning pages, charts, and forms for stress-free hosting

Tried-and-true recipes (including how to cook the best turkey ever!)

Scripts and ideas for what to say and do at your celebration

Learn more at: RaisingRealMen.com

Pollyanna (Unabridged Audiobook by Melanie Young)

A pastor’s daughter who always looks for God’s blessing in every circumstance

Perfect family read-aloud or listen-together in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving

Helps cultivate a “gratitude habit” in your home

Find it at: RaisingRealMen.com/Pollyanna

You don’t have to settle for a holiday that’s all about food and football. With a little planning and a bit of boldness, you can:

Turn Thanksgiving into a family tradition your kids will treasure

Offer a gentle, powerful witness to your extended family

Reclaim a holiday that’s already about thanking God, and point the gratitude clearly back to Him

You can listen to this episode and others in the series at:

If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a review on iTunes? It helps more families discover the show and recapture their holidays for Christ.

The post MBFLP – Celebrating Thanksgiving (Holiday Replay) appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

(Stock Image: Deposit Photos)

Most of our eight kids are adults now and we are so blessed to have good relationships with all of them – and they all get along with their siblings, too!  Some people ask if they’ve always been peaceable, and we have to say NOPE. But we found several things along the way that helped shape the sort of family we have today – that’s the subject of this episode!

Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.  (James 4:1-3)

“You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.” (God, in Leviticus 19:17-18)

“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’”

One of our favorite resources:

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The post “Didn’t Your Kids Fight?” – MBFLP 314 appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Christians and Jews are sometimes called “People of the Book” because we rest our beliefs on the written word of God. It’s natural for a new believer to have a new desire to read the Bible — but there are a lot of different versions on the shelf! What makes them different? Which Bible is best for new believers? What would we recommend for young readers? We’ve used many different Bibles over the years, and this episode we’re talking about what we’ve experienced, what we used with our family, and what we’d recommend for someone new to the faith!

Are you a new believer, or do you know one?

You might find our last episode helpful:

Episode 312 – Going to Church for the First Time? 

We visited Washington, DC, and recorded this episode from the Museum of the Bible. If you’re there in the city full of museums, this one is definitely worth a stop!

Episode 308 – The Bible is Reliable

Hal likes Bible App by Olive Tree  and Melanie uses the ESV Bible App by Crossway. Both have reading schedules to help you make Bible a daily habit and keep you on track! Some of our young people like YouVersion, too. All of these are available for Android or iPhone users.

A more complex app (and website) Hal uses for study is The Blue Letter Bible

This free app allows you to choose from more than 15 English translations, the Latin Vulgate, multiple Greek versions, and a large number of modern languages, too — along with links to commentaries and study tools. Really useful for deep personal study, or just to clarify a confusing verse (how do other translations phrase this?)

The best part of a phone app is you always have the Bible with you – and it’s easy to look up references or passages with the search function, too.

The post What Bible Should I Get? – MBFLP 313 appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

After the shocking and tragic death of Charlie Kirk last month, there was an unexpected tide of people online who found themselves drawn to God in a way they never had. Some had left the church of their childhood years ago, while others had never been in church at all! Suddenly they felt a call to be in church now. And many had questions – how do I approach this? Do I need an invitation? What’s expected of me? This episode, we’ll look at some common questions and give some good news for those whose hearts are strangely warmed!

When You Need to Find a New Church (episode 164) – We talk about some steps we take if the time comes to find a new church, whether due to relocation, a need for different ministries, or some other reason.

Children and “Big Church” (episode 218) – We talk about how we raised our eight children to stay in the main service at church, rather than going to children’s ministry or the nursery. It’s possible, with patience and gentleness, to teach even very young kids when to stay quiet and (reasonably) still, and actually to learn some things from the sermon as well!

The post First Time in Church? – MBFLP 312 appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

On October 31, 1517, a young theologian and priest named Martin Luther posted a list of debate questions on the door of the university church in Wittemburg, Germany. What was intended as a invitation for scholars and theologians to meet and consider, became the starting point of a sweeping reformation of Christ’s church – and led to a life-and-death decision for the young Brother Martin. Our family takes time each year to remember the heroism of one man who stood up for the authority of God’s word against the challenge of an emperor, when that stand could have cost his life! Join us as we talk about our family’s celebration of Reformation Day.

Resources: https://www.raisingrealmen.com/product/reformationday/

The post MBFLP – Celebrating Reformation Day (Reformation Season Replay) appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Halloween and the Reformation may not seem to have much in common. What does Halloween have to do with the Reformation? In this episode listen as you learn about Halloween alternatives.

Be sure to follow this episode several ways! One by subscribing to this podcast here – and another is listening on iTunes, Spotify, download or listen on this website. Look up this podcast on any podcast app! You can also share this with a friend.

Among the secular holidays, Halloween probably is the most controversial … with good reason. Is it just a festival of candy for children in costume, or a throwback to Druidic rites and demonic celebration, or something in between? This episode we talk about how we’ve chosen to mark the season, and its connection with the Reformation that swept Europe in the 1500’s – with effects to this day. In this way, our children enjoy a celebration. A celebration of something we can believe in!

Thank you to the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network Sponsors: CTC Math, True North Academy, and Math Mammoth.

5 Tips for Reformation Day Fun (from Concordia Publishing House)

Our interview with Luther biographer Danika Cooley (episode 99)

Reformation Day: A Celebration of Heroism (from our blog, Raising Real Men)

All around us, October is filled with darkness, fear, and make-believe — but for believers, this season points to something real and world-changing. Over 500 years ago, a handful of ordinary men and women took a stand on an extraordinary truth: that salvation comes by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

This month, we’re separating myth from truth in our Reformation Myth Busters series. Join us as we uncover what really happened in the Reformation, why it matters for our families today, and how we can redeem October 31st by celebrating light over darkness and truth over fear.

Follow along on Facebook and Instagram @raisingrealmen — and download our Reformation Day Celebration Guide to help your family mark the day with meaning and joy!

Get the guide here »

The post Halloween and the Reformation (Replay) appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Why do our best efforts sometimes breed resentment or even rebellion, when it’s all so well-intentioned? This episode we’re looking at the crucial balance between rules and relationship in our home!

Treasure Hunt Tip: Listen to the podcast to hear a Golden Homeschool Nuggest from fellow Ultimate Homeschool Network Podcast show host, Dr. Melanie Wilson from the Homeschool Sanity Show!

No purchase necessary — this is a free resource made possible by our generous sponsors: Media Angels, True North Academy, CTC Math, Math Mammon, BaseCampEd, Powerline Productions, Funda Funda Academy, Raising Real Men, 7 Sisters Homeschool, and Galaxy Grammar Books.

 Download your Treasure Chest now!

The Ten Commandments – Exodus 20:1-17, Deuteronomy 5:1-21

Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. (Romans 14:5)

Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (Ephesians 6:1)

So then, my beloved, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.  (James 1:19-20)

The repentance of Ahab – 1 Kings 21:17-29

The post Rules and Relationship – MBFLP 289 | Birthday Replay appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.