In this episode, Brett and Erin discuss their journey into homeschooling. After having kids in both public and private schools, what reasons led them to pursue the homeschool option? And how did they think about objections to homeschooling, like socialization or having our kids be “salt and light” in the public system? Brett and Erin discuss all of this and more in this podcast episode.

We’re changing things up for this episode of the MAVEN Parent podcast! Brett and Erin ask each other some unrehearsed and unanticipated parenting questions. Their answers are very personal and reveal some parental wisdom borne out of struggle.

There have been recent attacks on the idea that parents have certain rights and authority over their own kids. For example, when it comes to education, who has the right to decide what our kids will learn? In this episode, Brett and Erin discuss this modern challenge to parental authority.

There have been recent attacks on the idea that parents have certain rights and authority over their own kids. For example, when it comes to education, who has the right to decide what our kids will learn? In this episode, Brett and Erin discuss this modern challenge to parental authority.

In a world of plenty, where consumerism and materialism dominate so much of our lives, how do we raise kids who are thankful and generous? How do help them cultivate gratitude in their lives? Brett and Erin discuss practical ideas to help raise grateful kids in an entitled world.

Are we as intentional as we should be on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, in drawing our kids attention to Christ? In this episode Brett and Erin offer more practical ideas on how to keep Jesus front and center during the holidays.

Could we possibly ruin Christmas for our kids by the way we give gifts? Given the true meaning of the Christmas holiday--a celebration of the Incarnation--then the answer is yes. In this episode, Brett and Erin help guide us to be intentional in the giving of presents and provide some very practical ideas.

SHOW NOTES:

Three Wise Kings
https://smile.amazon.com/Story-Three-Wise-Kings/dp/1534466525/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1FPS5ELQURSCA&keywords=three+wise+kings+depaola&qid=1639562031&sprefix=three+wise+kings%2Caps%2C213&sr=8-1

This Is Stable:
https://smile.amazon.com/This-Stable-Cynthia-Cotten/dp/0312384211/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=this+is+the+stable&qid=1639562709&s=books&sr=1-1

Holly & Ivy:
https://smile.amazon.com/Story-Holly-Ivy-Rumer-Godden/dp/0670062197/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1LUC0SXPDEQX7&keywords=the+story+of+holly+and+ivy&qid=1639562726&s=books&sprefix=the+story+of+holly%2Cstripbooks%2C217&sr=1-1

A Christmas Carol:
https://smile.amazon.com/Christmas-Carol-Facsimile-Original-Color/dp/1645940381/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=christmas+carol&qid=1639562636&s=books&sr=1-4

The Best Christmas Pagent Ever:
https://smile.amazon.com/Best-Christmas-Pageant-Ever/dp/0064402754/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1XCG8CQIJG2TX&keywords=the+best+christmas+pageant+ever&qid=1639562665&s=books&sprefix=the+best+car%2Cstripbooks%2C224&sr=1-1

The Family Under The Bridge:
https://smile.amazon.com/Family-Bridge-Natalie-Savage-Carlson/dp/0064402509/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3DVRG7YZXHLXS&keywords=the+family+under+the+bridge&qid=1639562685&s=books&sprefix=the+family+under%2Cstripbooks%2C219&sr=1-1

The Man Who Invented Christmas:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B077MFZMB3/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

If justification and evidence strengthen our beliefs and help us move from mere belief to knowledge, then how and what should we teach our kids about the evidence for God’s existence? Brett & Erin walk though some practical ways we can teach our children about the powerful evidence for God’s existence.

What does it mean to “believe” something? Are you satisfied with the mere fact that your kids believe in God? Brett & Erin show why merely believing something isn’t enough, explain three important aspects of belief and how we ultimately want to help our kids move from simply BELIEVING in God to KNOWING that God is real.

Our lives are filled with busyness and activity. Work, school, church, sports, music lessons, meetings, dinners, etc. In this episode, Brett & Erin offer a simple and practical tool that they’ve been using for more than 20 years, to manage the family schedule.