Homeschool Coffee Break

Are you constantly wondering if you're doing enough — or panicking that your kids are falling behind? The stress and overwhelm you're feeling as a homeschool mom may not be a "you" problem. It's 3 sneaky lies you've been believing, and it's time to let them go.In this episode, we break down the 3 biggest lies homeschool moms believe and how to flip the script so you can finally homeschool with confidence. Here's what we cover:✅Why "I'm not doing enough" is keeping you stuck in busywork that doesn't actually help your kids✅The truth about "falling behind" — and why your timeline is the only one that matters✅Why chasing the perfect curriculum is costing you peace (and your kids' love of learning)✅The simple 3-step process that replaces overwhelm with intention — no perfect curriculum required✅1 question to ask yourself this week that changes how you see your whole homeschoolStop second-guessing yourself. Listen to this episode and walk away with a simpler, more purposeful way to homeschool.Grab the free Read, Write, Discuss chart in the show notes and start using it this week!Resources for YouFree Read, Write, Discuss ChartHow to Simplify Your Homeschool (free 3-day video course) Show Notes:The Struggle Is RealAre you ending your school day thinking, did we even do enough today? Or even worse, you're thinking, am I messing this up completely? What if I told you the problem isn't you? It's the beliefs that you've been handed over the years and through your own schooling.Today, we're going to be talking about the 3 biggest lies that homeschool moms believe, and how we can correct them. Because a lot of times, the stress and the overwhelm that we feel, we are putting on ourselves. And it all starts up here in our mind.Lie #1: I'm Not Doing EnoughA lot of y'all are really worried. Am I doing enough? Am I doing the right activities? You feel behind, so then you add more, and more, and more, and you live right there, constantly second-guessing yourself.This belief comes from the public school mindset. You left a school system, and yet you're bringing it with you, and you're comparing yourself to the school system. And that's not going to help you whatsoever.Thomas Edison was labeled difficult in school. His mom pulled him out and taught him at home differently. She did not do the same kinds of things they were doing in school, and he actually became one of the greatest inventors in history. He didn't need more and more school. He didn't need more and more activities. He needed a different kind of education, a better kind of education.Here's something I want you to do — today or tomorrow. Ask yourself about your activities. Is this helping my child think? Or is it just completing something? Checking off that checklist that someone else gave you.I am not opposed to a checklist, as long as it's your checklist — not a curriculum scope and sequence where you gotta make sure you get everything done every single day. If your kids have bad attitudes, that's probably one reason. So stop checking off someone else's list.If it's just a completion activity, that means it's optional. It may not even be helpful. Ask yourself: does this build character in my kids? Does it help them think? Does it help them learn? If it doesn't, maybe get rid of all that busy work, because they're not retaining much of it anyway.You don't need more school. You just need a different kind of education. Start looking at ways you can develop your kids into thinkers.Lie #2: My Kids Are Falling BehindBehind whom? Seriously. The public school system should not be your standard. Other homeschoolers should not be your standard. Don't get on social media and start comparing yourself. Your kids are all unique. Your family is unique. You need to look at what is best for your kids.My youngest, Hunter, did not do a formal math curriculum until sixth grade. When he started in 6th grade, he caught up in a year and a half to grade level. He did not do math for 5 years, and he turned out okay. We did send him to a private Christian school in high school — his first year in 10th grade, he won the Math Award. He wasn't falling behind. I was doing what was best for him. He needed to focus on language. He didn't like reading, and we were going to work on that.My daughter, Gentry, we took off of math for a whole year around 7th grade. Her attitude was not good, she didn't like it at all — but no math. For a year. Did she fall behind? No. She finished in time. In fact, in college, she would help her friends do their math homework and tutor them, because she knew the tools.Abraham Lincoln had less than one year of formal schooling. He was self-educated through reading and discussion. He wasn't behind, because they didn't really compare. He just had a different and more powerful path of education.You care enough to homeschool your kids. They are not going to fall behind.When I think about Abraham Lincoln, it reminds me of the process that we teach our moms — Read, Write, D

What if your child graduated with straight A's but had no wisdom, no courage, and no character? Grades were never meant to be the real goal — and this episode is going to challenge everything you thought homeschooling was supposed to accomplish.We are breaking down why character education is the foundation your homeschool actually needs, and sharing 3 practical ways to start building it in your home this week:✅Why curriculum delivers information but character determines everything else✅1 question to ask at dinner tonight that builds character, ownership and leadership✅How to focus on just one character quality for 3 to 4 months without overwhelm✅Why a single Bible verse can do more for your child than any curriculum can✅The tool that helps your whole family work on character together every single dayGrab the Character Training Toolkit mentioned in this episode and start building what really matters in your homeschool.Resources for YouCharacter Training Toolkit (charts, e-book, videos) Free Character Mini Chart Show Notes:The Real Goal of Homeschooling: Raising Kids with Godly CharacterIf your child graduates with straight A's but lacks wisdom, character, and courage — have you really succeeded? Grades were never meant to be the goal of education. Today I want to talk about the real goal of homeschooling.God Uses Young Leaders — Not Just Good Test TakersWhen we go back and look at Scripture, we see repeatedly that God does use young leaders. But these leaders aren't necessarily ones that just passed the test. It goes so much deeper than that.David led Israel as a young man. He killed Goliath with some rocks. Daniel influenced kings through wisdom and character. They both had godly character and they had faith.We have the freedom to raise thinkers, leaders, and disciples. And that is exactly what we should be doing.Here's the thing. Curriculum delivers information. Character determines how that information is used. Let me repeat that. Curriculum delivers information. Character determines how that information is used.The Story of William WilberforceI want to tell you a little story about a man named William Wilberforce. His dad died when he was 9, so his mom sent him to London to live with his aunt and uncle. They were believers, and there was a lot of Christian influence in the home.He was exposed to a man named George Whitfield and became a believer himself at the age of 12. He also became friends with John Newton — for those of you who don't know who John Newton is, he wrote Amazing Grace. He was a slave trader who turned pastor. Wilberforce started seeking spiritual counsel from John Newton.And he said this: God had set before me two objects — the suppression of the slave trade, the reformation of manners.This took a lot of courage. Christian worldview drives out slavery — it is an anti-slavery mission. But this cause was very unpopular in Parliament back in the day.Wilberforce became the target of ridicule, political attacks, and even assassination threats. People wanted to kill him because he wanted to get rid of the slave trade. Admiral Nelson was so irate that he actually pummeled Wilberforce on the street.Twenty Years of PerseveranceHe began in 1793. He introduced an abolition bill. It failed by 8 votes. Then he had a new bill banning British ships from the slave trade. It failed by 2 votes. His political allies began to abandon him, but he continued to introduce abolition bills year after year.Twenty years of influencing public opinion. And he began to see the tide turn against the evils of slavery.Fast forward to February 23, 1807. He's in the House of Commons. The room rose to its feet, turned to Wilberforce, and began to cheer — three rousing Hip Hip Hoorays — while Wilberforce sat with his head bowed and wept. He was so overcome. The vote passed 283 to 16.They had abolished the British slave trade.That's the kind of person I want my kids to be. And I'm sure you want your kids to be strong in their faith but also strong in character. That is the character of a leader — faith-driven purpose, moral courage, perseverance despite failure after failure, a long-term vision, and a leadership stand that protects millions of lives.How to Build Godly Character in Your KidsSo how can we take this story and apply it to you? I believe we need to be raising our kids to have courage, perseverance, and endurance. And I think we take it off of our shoulders and put it on God's shoulders to train our kids in godly character. It was godly character that got Wilberforce through 20 years.I wouldn't try to tackle every character quality at once. I would choose one character quality that your kids need to work on and spend 3 or 4 months on it. Find a verse that reinforces that godly character. Let your kids memorize it and say it every morning at breakfast. And then, when they struggle and they don't do it, you bring them back to that verse. It's always back to God's words — not my words.One of the things we have put ou

Does your child pass the test on Friday and forget everything by Monday? That is not real learning — and this episode is going to show you exactly how to tell the difference.We are breaking down 2 powerful tools that reveal whether real learning is actually happening in your homeschool, and why ditching the test might be the best decision you make this year:✅Why tests measure short-term memory, not actual understanding✅The 2 tools that reveal what your child is truly learning✅How ONE simple question after any lesson builds thinking skills✅Why https://howtohomeschoolmychild.com/177younger and older kids need different assessment approaches✅The one daily habit that turns reading into deep, lasting learningGrab the free resource mentioned in this episode and go even deeper into the process that makes real learning stick.Resources for YouFree 3-Step Thinking Process ChartRaising Leaders, Not Followers Course Factory Model Education: Why Homeschool Moms Feel OverwhelmedHow to Break Out of the Homeschool TrapShow Notes:Do Kids Really Need Tests? How to Know If Real Learning Is HappeningHey, let's be honest — your child could pass the test on Friday and forget everything by Monday, right? So if that's true, how do we know if real learning is even happening? That's what we're going to talk about today.Some of you really do worry: Are my kids learning anything? Are they going to turn out okay? Will they be prepared for life?Testing Measures Memory, Not WisdomWe tend to think tests are the way to go. We just need to give them a test and find out. But testing often measures short-term memory, not wisdom — not long-term memory.One of my goals for our kids was to think wisely, to think critically, and to think biblically. I think wisdom is so important.Albert Einstein struggled in traditional schooling environments that emphasize memorization. And yet, his curiosity and his questioning produced breakthroughs in physics — the general theory of relativity — because of curiosity, because of questioning. Not because of memorizing something and taking a test.Real learning shows up as curiosity, connections, and insight. It allows your kids to go deep instead of surface learning.The Power of DiscussionI have two powerful tools I want to share with you. The first one is discussion. Discussion activates the brain in ways worksheets can't. It encourages open questions, conversations, and thinking out loud. This is so important because it prepares our kids for life and gets them to start thinking.And did you know writing is just thinking on paper? So you could be discussing this around the dinner table, or you could have the kids writing.One of the things that we teach is our Read, Write, Discuss method. We go deep into this in Raising Leaders, Not Followers, but basically every day your child reads something, they write one page in their writing journal — not a narration, but about how questions and why questions — and then discuss it once a week.That works well in any subject. You can do it in science, in history, in literature, in music. You could even do it in math sometimes.I encourage families to use your family read aloud. Whatever book you're reading out loud, everyone hears it. Every day you're reading it out loud, and then you write in your reading journal. This is especially true for older kids, because that is when those thinking skills really kick in, around 12 and 13 and up.They're going to write one page, and then once a week, you'll discuss it. Don't discuss your family read aloud every day — it sort of takes the fun out of reading. But once a week, have a discussion and ask open-ended questions and let them talk about it.The Power of Narration for Younger KidsFor younger kids, I would say the power of narration. Narration is a powerful tool. Charlotte Mason has really made that popular, and for people that follow the Charlotte Mason approach, this is their primary learning assessment.You can have a narration out loud, or you can have a narration on paper — a narration notebook where they write their narration. I would say younger kids, you could even do this with 4- and 5-year-olds, up to maybe 3rd grade, always narrating out loud.But as they get older, they should be able to write a paragraph about whatever they remember from the story. It's just telling back what they learned in their own words. It strengthens their memory, it improves communication, and it reveals to you their understanding of what was read.For moms that have multiple kids, it's hard to read everything that everyone's reading. So I say start with your read aloud, just to get started and get into a rhythm — discussion for older kids, and narration for younger kids.One Simple Prompt That Reveals EverythingAfter reading anything, just say: Tell me the most interesting thing you learned or remember from that book. That works in any subject.You're not adding more to your schedule. You're taking what you're already doing and instead of giving t

Are you homeschooling to escape the traditional school system, but still following its exact blueprint without realizing it? There is a trap that most homeschool moms fall into, and it quietly keeps your family stuck on the same conveyor belt you were trying to leave behind.This episode breaks down what is leadership education, why it is completely different from the traditional (public school) model most of us grew up with, and how simple shifts can change everything about how you homeschool:✅The ONE question you can ask your kids this week that sparks real critical thinking✅3 signs your child is actually growing that have nothing to do with a test✅The surprising historical reason schools were never designed to raise thinkers✅Why finishing the checklist-curriculum is actually working against your child's growth✅Why this approach pulls the best from 5 different homeschool methods into one clear purposeStop letting someone else's curriculum tell you what kind of homeschool mom to be. Hit play and find out how to take back the reins.Resources to Help YOURaising Leaders, Not Followers Course.How to Simplify Your Homeschool Course (3 daily videos, 5 minutes or less)Factory Model Education: Why Homeschool Moms Feel OverwhelmedShow Notes:You Left the School System — But Did You Leave Its Blueprint?Did you know many homeschool moms believe they have escaped the school system, but unknowingly they're still following its blueprint? The trap? They are focusing on information instead of transformation.Why do so many moms follow the traditional school model? Now, this isn't traditional over thousands of years — it's just the last 150 years. Why do we follow it? Because it's what we know. We grew up on the conveyor belt. It feels comfortable because it's what we know, and we don't know where to go to get off it.The traditional system was built during the industrial revolution. What was its purpose? To train workers for factories. They needed people that could not think. They needed worker bees that would do what they were told. And let's be honest, that's really where our society is. Most people don't know how to think.Where This Model Came From — And Why It Was Never About Your ChildHorace Mann was an education reformer who helped popularize the Prussian model of school back in the 1800s. This is what Charlotte Mason was so totally opposed to. That model treated a child as if they were a container that you just poured bits of information into and then let them regurgitate it. And that's a lot of what we do today in a traditional school — whether that's a public school or a private school.Horace Mann's goal in moving this from Europe to America was uniformity, obedience, compliance, and efficiency. It was not leadership. It was not innovation. It was not freedom. They wanted to control society. Industrialists were pouring billions of dollars into the education system, and Horace Mann went right along with it.Homeschooling, if we do it a different way, gives us the freedom to pursue a completely different goal. And Christian homeschooling does the same thing — just with a faith-based foundation.What Is Leadership Education — And Why Does It Matter?Instead of asking what information should my child memorize — which is teaching our kids what to think, a checklist mentality that isn't even your checklist, it's someone else's — leadership education asks a completely different question: what kind of person is my child becoming?Do they have the tools of learning and the desire to learn anything they need? Leadership education, or freedom education, teaches our kids how to think instead of just what to think. That's what I wanted. I wanted my kids to know how to think critically, how to think in wisdom, and how to think biblically.We homeschooled for 10 years. Halfway through, I started with Charlotte Mason, then moved to classical and interspersed some unit studies. But then I found leadership education and I was all in — because I believe it integrates all the best things from different approaches. The best of Charlotte Mason, classical, the Christian principal approach, unit studies, delight-directed learning — all put together with the purpose to raise kids to lead.And y'all are like, "Well, my kids aren't going to be a leader." Well, they may not be CEO or mayor of the city, but they're probably going to have kids someday and they will need to lead their family.From Information to Transformation: A Shift in PerspectiveWhen we quit asking about information and we start looking at transformation, we make a shift — a shift to character, thinking, initiative, responsibility, and so much more.George Washington had little formal education. What shaped him the most was mentorship. Lord Fairfax helped shape George Washington as a man — full, well-rounded mentoring. Thomas Jefferson had George Wythe mentoring him. They were all there at the same time during the colonial period.And what were they using? Reading, being responsible at

Ever feel like you're running a miniature public school in your living room? You're overwhelmed—not because you're doing too little, but because you're trying to do too much using the wrong model.Most homeschool moms recreate the factory model education system they walked away from. They don’t mean to, but they do. This system teaches kids what to think, not how to think. It, also, turns them into followers, not leaders. But what if doing LESS actually produced stronger learners?In this episode:✅The 3-question filter to eliminate busy work and focus on what actually matters✅ONE simple practice to start this week to stop overwhelm✅75 reasons you’re totally overwhelmed, homeschool mom✅How factory model education creates followers for the Industrial Revolution—not thinkers✅Why depth beats breadth✅How great leaders like Edison and Lincoln learned differentlyReady to break free from factory model education? Grab the free 3-day video course "How to Simplify Your Homeschool" with daily emails, short videos, and printables to help you put it into practice!Resources Mentioned: Free Course: How to Simplify Your HomeschoolCourse: Raising Leaders, Not Followers (17 tips on encouraging a love of learning)  Show Notes:Have you ever looked at your homeschool plan and felt like you were running a miniature public school in your living room? Many homeschool moms feel overwhelmed — not because they're doing too little, but because they are trying to do too much and follow the wrong model.The real issue is that, unintentionally, we recreate the system we walked away from. Think about it: three kids, times five lessons a day, times five days a week — that's 75 lesson plans a week. No wonder you're overwhelmed.Most homeschool moms were trained on the factory school model of education. They all come in to first grade, they do all the same things, and they go down the factory line all the way to 12th grade. Everything the same. Tested the same. It's like a factory.This model teaches us that learning must include multiple-choice tests, many subjects a day, and textbooks for everything. We've only had textbooks in the last hundred years — before that, they used real books. This model teaches us that worksheets, grading, and constant assessment is what education is. And even when we leave that school system, subconsciously we recreate it because that's all we know.All that system does is teach your kids what to think, not how to think. Don't you want your kids to know how to think and not just be a follower? That system creates followers — many worker bees. It was built because of the industrial revolution and they needed a lot of workers. So they built an education system that would produce followers.What Thomas Edison's Mom Knew That We ForgetThomas Edison struggled in traditional school. His teacher called him addled. His mother removed him from school and homeschooled him in the 1850s — we're talking almost 175 years ago. How did she homeschool him? Through reading, through curiosity, and through experimentation.That set up Edison to be a leader. He developed the light bulb, but because of curiosity and experimentation and strong character, he said, "I didn't fail a thousand times. I found 10,000 ways to not make a light bulb." He kept experimenting. He kept being curious to figure out an answer.He later credited his mother with giving him the freedom to explore ideas that led to over 1,000 patents — not just the light bulb, a thousand patents. One devoted parent focusing on curiosity can outperform an entire public school system.Why Doing Less Actually Produces Stronger LearnersI think it's not doing less education — it's doing less traditional conveyor belt education and doing more leadership education. Freedom education that gives your kids the freedom in life to pursue whatever they are called to do.One big factor is depth. Depth creates real learning. The brain builds strong connections when ideas are explored deeply rather than just skimmed quickly. Abraham Lincoln had less than one year of formal education. He educated himself primarily through reading a small number of great books repeatedly — what we would call classics.Some of you hear "classics" and you go, "Oh, boring." Well, I consider Anne of Green Gables and Little House on the Prairie a classic. I consider The Hobbit a classic. Don't think just because it says classic, it's old and dusty.I remember when my girls were going to read the Iliad. It comes in and it's that thick. I told myself I was reading it with them — if they're in high school and they can understand it, surely as an adult I can read and understand it. It was an awesome book. These books shaped Abraham Lincoln into a great leader. He didn't study a whole bunch of different subjects. He studied fewer ideas and he really dove deeply into them.The Three Question Filter: Cut the Busy WorkBefore you add anything to your homeschool, ask yourself three questions. Does this help my child lov

What if you could focus on just 7 core areas and know your kids are getting what they truly need? Meredith Curtis discovered the Seven R's during one of the hardest seasons of her life—caring for dying parents while homeschooling five children. This framework helped her "major on the majors and minor on the minors," and it will transform your homeschool too.In this episode, you'll discover:✅Why relationships are the foundation that makes all other learning possible—and what happens when they're broken✅The secret to raising kids who actually love to read (hint: it's not assigning book reports)✅How to teach writing so your kids can communicate clearly, graciously, and persuasively for any audience✅Why math mastery matters more than moving through a curriculum—and what to do when kids fall behind✅The difference between Googling answers and true research skills your kids will need for lifeReady to simplify and focus? The Seven R's will help you cut through curriculum overwhelm and build confident, capable lifelong learners.Resources Mentioned:Get your FREE Basic Pass to Life Skills Leadership Summit 2026 to give you confidence that your kids will be ready for adult life: The Seven R's of Homeschooling by Meredith Curtis - Practical guide to majoring on the majors and minoring on the minorsWho Dun It? Literature & Writing by Meredith Curtis - Teach high schoolers to write their own cozy mysteryHIS Story of the 20th Century by Meredith Curtis Meredith Curtis, pastor’s wife, mom to 5 homeschool graduates, and Grand-Merey to 8 angels, loves to read cozy mysteries, travel, hit the beach, and meet new people. She is always learning because the world is just full of mysteries and beauty! Meredith loves to encourage families in their homeschooling adventure because her own was such a blessing. She is a curriculum creator and author of Jesus, Fill My Heart & Home Bible Study and Who Dun It Murder Mystery Literature & Writing. Find Meredith at PowerlineProd.com, along with her online store and blog.You can also follow Meredith on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and on the Finish Well Podcast.Show Notes:Kerry: Hey everyone, Kerry Beck here with Life Skills Leadership Summit where we are going to be talking about an extremely important topic that is tools of learning because I think all of you want your kids to be able to learn as an adult and not be dependent on a teacher or on you. And that's what Meredith Curtis is here to talk to us about. So, welcome Meredith. Thanks for being here.Meredith: Oh, thank you for having me. I'm really excited about this year's conference and I love this topic we're talking about. I either call it tools of learning or the seven Rs and they're just so helpful in staying focused and making the majors the majors and the minors the minors.Kerry: That's a great way to put it. We're going to dive into her seven Rs and how it can apply to your homeschool. But before we do that, could you just tell our listeners a little bit about you?Meredith: Yes, I would love to. So, my name is Meredith Curtis and I am a pastor's wife. I'm the mother of five homeschool graduates and I have eight grandchildren that are perfect angels and I feed them too much sugar.I love spending time with my grandchildren. I love to travel. I love to read. I love Jesus. That's probably the most important thing. And I'm a writer and a speaker.Kerry, I love creating curriculum. I love teaching. I love creating curriculum. I love writing Bible studies, studying the Bible. Probably one of my favorite things is I wrote a curriculum called Who Done It? It's my most popular book, and it basically is a high school English class that teaches teens how to write their own cozy mystery.And I actually started writing a cozy mystery series. I have three books in it so far—Tea Time Trouble, Pumpkin Patch Peril, and Old-Fashioned Christmas Murder.Kerry: Okay, y'all. She has two interviews and we've talked about the cozy mysteries in the last one. So, y'all go listen to that. But I was just fascinated. I knew she taught the kids, but now she's written three of her own mystery books. And so, I just think that is so exciting as well. Plus, her husband, does he have four books out now?Meredith: He does. Well, he actually has a fifth book that's not fiction. It's called Forging Godly Men, and it's about mentoring godly men.Kerry: The other ones are novels. So he's got the four novels plus the one on raising our boys to be godly men. Today we're going to talk about writing, but let's back up. I know you either call it the tools of learning or the seven Rs. How did you discover these tools of learning?How the 7 Rs Were Born from CrisisMeredith: Okay. So, I was in my early 40s and I had a four-year-old, five-year-old, six-year-old. My oldest was already graduating from high school, starting college. And so I had this wide range of five children.And my parents got really sick, Kerry. They were so sick and they live fo

Peter denied Jesus three times, rebuked the Son of God, and walked away weeping bitterly. Yet God used him to start the New Testament Church and lead 3,000 people to salvation. If you've ever felt disqualified by your failures, shame, or mistakes, this powerful message will transform how you see yourself and your calling as a leader.In this episode, you'll discover:✅ Why Peter's biggest failures uniquely qualified him to lead the early church with compassion and understanding✅ The common lies Christian moms believe (I'm not doing enough, my kids won't turn out okay, I'm all alone) and the biblical truths that replace them✅ How to identify the enemy's attacks in your own thought life and respond with God's truth instead✅ Why accepting God's forgiveness—and forgiving yourself—is essential to stepping into your leadership calling✅ The surprising truth about rest, busyness, and why filling every moment doesn't make you enough for GodReady to replace lies with truth? Leaders aren't born perfect—they're made through failure, forgiveness, and faith. Discover your calling today.Resources Mentioned:Get your FREE Basic Pass to Life Skills Leadership Summit 2026 to give you confidence that your kids will be ready for adult life Living Fearless by Jamie Winship - Finding your identity and calling in God, identifying lies you believe, and replacing them with truthUnbound - Fighting Human Trafficking - Learn more about this important ministry and how to keep your students safeShow Notes:Hey everyone, Kerry Beck here with Life Skills Leadership Summit. Oh my goodness, it is finally here. It is Sunday night, five o'clock. We are going to have an awesome week.We get such great response from the Life Skills Leadership Summit. And I think one reason we have many homeschoolers here, but this is not just homeschooling, how to homeschool or homeschool curriculum. This has something that has some purpose and intention and that is to raise our kids to be ready for adult life, to raise our kids to walk in Jesus and lead and influence for Jesus.We have some people that homeschool, some people that don't. I would say most people do. But tonight, what I want to do is do a few things.Before I tell you this, I want to introduce my friend Meredith Curtis. She is our prayer coordinator. Let me tell you, we need a lot of prayer for this. I just got home from Dallas. My granddaughter, who's not even two months old, was dedicated. So I drove in and I just bounced right into this.I was praying on the way over here from Dallas. It's a three-hour drive just that y'all would be blessed. I really hope that God speaks through you. It may not be tonight, but I pray that he speaks to you sometime during the week, gives you encouragement, gives you motivation, helps you to finish strong, gives you wisdom in what you're doing, whether you're homeschooling or whether you're just raising your kids to follow God.What Is Leadership?Tonight is our Sunday kickoff. I am going to begin a series on Peter—Peter's leadership journey from failure to faith. And we're going to talk about the failures tonight. And we will expand it through the week.Let me tell you, sometimes I think Peter a leader. And we'll talk about that because you're like he denied Jesus. How could you be a leader? And yet God works so many things through him. So I'm super excited about that series.Before we get started, I would love for you to put something in the chat and tell me what is a leader. Let me just talk to you a little bit about a man named John Maxwell. He is a guru in leadership. And here's what he says: Leadership is influence. Nothing more, nothing less.Think about that. Leadership is influence. If you are being salt and light as Jesus commanded, then you have begun to obey God's call to leadership. It is influence.Too often we think my kid's not going to be president of the United States or CEO. But almost all of our kids will lead their families. They will be husbands and wives. They will have sons and daughters that they will need to lead. And so that is what leadership is.Another quote from John Maxwell is this: Leadership is influence. Nothing more, nothing less. How do you gain influence from people? You invest in them. How do you invest in them? It starts with giving them time.Peter: From Bold Declaration to Immediate FailureWe are going to look at Peter today. Yes, we're going to look more at his failures, but then we're going to move forward and look at the way that he influenced people. Again, I said 3,000 people trusted Jesus as their savior when he gave his first sermon.When we look at Peter and we look at Mark 8, Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked, "Who do people say that I am?" Well, they replied, "Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets."Then he asked them, "Who do you say I am?" Peter replied, "You are the Messiah. You a

What do you do when you're walking with God but your spouse isn't? Erin Cox shares her powerful testimony of marriage restoration that started in a living room encounter with Jesus and led to a complete transformation of her family.✅ Why "Christianese" was actually pushing her atheist husband further away ✅The 1 book that changed how she loved her unbelieving spouse ✅ How 1 Peter 3 became her daily prayer strategy ✅The moment the Holy Spirit told her exactly what to say after years of silence ✅ Why God can save anyone—even in a living room with no one else aroundReady to discover hope for your marriage?Grab the resources mentioned in this episode below!Resources MentionedGet your FREE Basic Pass to Life Skills Leadership Summit 2026 to give you confidence that your kids will be ready for adult life: https://HowToHomeschoolMyChild.com/lsls26I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, by Norman GeislerSacred Influence, by Gary ThomasErin Cox is a seasoned homeschooling mom of four, ranging from elementary age to young adult. Alongside her husband Danny, she serves over 100,000 homeschool families through publishing Charlotte Mason and Classical education curricula, all from their homestead in central Alabama. When Erin isn’t wrangling sheep, Australian shepherds, two rambunctious boys, or her energetic grandbaby, she enjoys audiobooks, podcasts, and the occasional quiet moment with embroidery. Connect with her at ShopGentleClassical.com and LifeAbundantlyBlog.com. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook.

Is your child's screen time affecting their developing brain more than you realize? Join Kerry Beck as she sits down with Mandee Hamann, from Screen Strong, to uncover the surprising brain science behind screens and why even educational apps might be causing harm.✅Why the frontal cortex doesn't develop until age 25 and what that means for smartphone use ✅The shocking truth about dopamine levels in gaming vs. nature play ✅ How to tell the difference between passive and interactive screens ✅The 30-day detox that's reversing ADHD-like symptoms in kids ✅ Practical ways to replace screens with activities that build strong brain pathwaysReady to protect your child's developing brain?Grab the resources mentioned in this episode below!Resources Mentioned:Get your FREE Basic Pass to Life Skills Leadership Summit 2026 to give you confidence that your kids will be ready for adult lifeScreen Strong Chart for FamiliesMandee Hamann, businesswoman and former earlychildhood/children’s pastor is mom to 2 young adults and 1 teenager. After her own family struggled with toxic screen issues, she was introduced to ScreenStrong. The ScreenStrong lifestyle changed everything for her family. Mandee became a ScreenStrong Ambassador and is committed to spreading this powerful message. She occasionally guest hosts on the ScreenStrong Families Podcast and is a member of the ScreenStrong team as the Ambassador Liaison. She enjoys training & equipping Ambassadors from all over the globe to spread the ScreenStrong Solution to screen conflicts in the home. Follow ScreenStrong on Facebook and Instagram

Thirty years ago, we never imagined we'd be navigating conversations about gender identity and sexuality with our children, but here we are. In this powerful conversation, Dannah Gresh from Pure Freedom Ministries shares biblical wisdom and practical tools to help you confidently guide your kids through today's confusing culture.In this episode, you'll discover:✅Three key Bible passages every child needs to understand about their body and identity before the world tells them lies✅How to have age-appropriate conversations about gender and sexuality without robbing your children of their innocence✅The critical difference between accepting and affirming when someone you love is walking through gender confusion✅Why your child's maleness or femaleness is directly connected to reflecting God's image in the world✅Practical strategies for responding with both truth and compassion when your kids encounter gender ideology at school or onlineReady to equip yourself with biblical truth? Grab the resources Dannah mentions in this episode to start these important conversations with confidence.Get your FREE Basic Pass to Life Skills Leadership Summit 2026 to give you confidence that your kids will be ready for adult life: https://HowToHomeschoolMyChild.com/lsls26Resources Mentioned:It’s Great to Be a GirlLies Girls BelieveLies Girls Believe Mom’s GuideLies Young Women BelieveLies Women BelieveIt’s Great to Be a BoyLies Boys BelieveLies Men BelieveDannah Gresh is the founder of True Girl, a ministry dedicated to providing tools to help moms and grandmas disciple their 7–12-year-old girls. She is the co-host of Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth’s Revive Our Hearts podcast and Revive Our Hearts Weekend. She has authored over twenty-eight books, including a Bible study for adult women based on the book of Habakkuk. Dannah and her husband, Bob, have just released a new book and limited-series podcast called Happily Even After which tells their marriage redemption story. They live on a hobby farm in central Pennsylvania.Show Notes: Introduction: A Topic We Never Imagined FacingKerry: Well hey everyone, Kerry back here with Life Skills Leadership Summit. Today I'm excited—not because of the topic, because it's a really difficult topic on sexuality and gender—but Dannah Gresh, I've just gotten to know her from a distance through podcasts and Revive Our Hearts and reading one of her books as well. But I do know that she has got a lot to say on this issue. So Dannah, thank you so much for being here. I really appreciate it.Dannah: Oh, I am so honored and delighted. Thank you for having me.Kerry: So before we get started, let me just pray for us and we'll let God guide this conversation.Father in Heaven, thank you. Thank you for today. Thank you for Zoom. Thank you that we can have a conversation and we can share it with many, many people. We thank you that you are sovereign, that you're the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and we can rest in that no matter what's going on around us. And there's a lot of mess going on around us, but we can have our hope in Jesus.We just thank you for Jesus and the bond that we have in Him through the blood that He shed for us. I thank you for Dannah being here. I pray that the things that you want said will be spoken through this conversation, that you will be glorified, and that the ones that are listening, you will just really touch their hearts and show them what types of practical steps or spending more time in the Word—whatever you want them to do—and just to be led by the Holy Spirit. We pray all these things in Jesus' powerful name, amen.Dannah: Amen.About Pure Freedom Ministries and PartnershipKerry: Okay, for those of you that don't know, Dannah has Pure Freedom Ministries and this has two parts: True Girl and Born to Be Brave. By the time y'all listen to this, you probably already heard one of my kickoffs because we do one on Sunday night before the whole week and I'll explain it.But they are our organization that we are supporting through this Summit. So we'll take the profits that we make on anyone that upgrades from free to VIP. If you upgrade to VIP, 5% of our profits will go to this organization. And then some of our speakers—you've probably heard about the ones that have chosen to—if they decide to donate 5% of their commissions, then I will match that 5% as well.So hopefully, you know, that will be just a little way that y'all can support what Dannah and her team are doing. So I just want to make sure everyone understands that before we get going.Dannah: What a blessing. Thank you so much.Dannah's Story: From Teenager to Ministry LeaderKerry: Well, let's before we start this topic, can you just tell people a little bit about yourself?Dannah: Sure. Well, I love Jesus first and foremost, and He is the best part of everything about my life. I came to know Him when I was a really little girl through Child Evangelism Fellowship five-day clubs. I just love Child Evangelism Fellowship

Tired of the lies playing on repeat in your mind? Feeling like a fraud, rejected, or not good enough—even when you're managing everything? In this vulnerable episode, we're exploring how to speak the truth over yourself and your children, exchanging lies for God's identity and calling for your life.Kerry shares her deeply personal story of walking through rejection and discovering that speaking the truth out loud daily—not just thinking it—is what transforms your mind and breaks the power of lies.What you’ll learn in this episode:✅Why we must speak the truth out loud (not just think positive thoughts) to renew our minds✅The white stone with a new name in Revelation 2:17 and what it means for your identity✅The two questions that replace "Why, God?" and actually move you forward✅Kerry's story: learning to speak the truth as a warrior on her knees after 31 years of marriage ended✅How to help your kids speak the truth over the lies they believe about themselvesReady to start your identity exchange? Download the FREE Biblical Truths Printable mentioned in this episode—sample truths Kerry speaks over herself daily plus a blank page for your own.   Grab your copy of Jamie Winship's book Living Fearless! Podcast: Stop Negative Thinking for You & Your KidsShow Notes: Hey everyone, Kerry Beck here with Homeschool Coffee Break, where we help you stop the overwhelm so you can actually take a coffee break.We talked last week about lies in our head and lies that our kids believe. This week, we're going to get to the hopeful part. That may have been a little depressing. We're going to get to the hopeful part. We're going to come talk to God about what our identity is in Him, what His calling is for us, and how we can replace those lies.Jamie Winship calls it identity exchange. We are going to exchange those lies for truth.Learning from Living FearlessWhat I'm sharing are things that I have learned from a man named Jamie Winship. He's written a book called Living Fearless. You can get the link to it in the show notes, and I highly recommend it. A few years ago, I bought a copy for every one of my children, and for my parents and my sister as well, because it had such a huge impact on us.We're going to talk today about how God actually gives you a new name, a true identity, and how to listen for it, how to find out what it is. We're going to start with Revelation 2. This is where Jesus is writing to the different churches, and he's written to a church called Pergamum. He says, you have remained true to my name, to God's name. You did not renounce your faith in me. And that was a good thing.But at the end of his letter, he has this to say in Revelation 2:17: Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious, I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away up in heaven. I will give to each of you a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands, except the one who receives it.You may be going, what is this white stone he's talking about? And how do we get a new name? Because that new name has something to do with your identity. Well, in ancient Greece, the jury members would give a white stone if they were going to acquit the man. They would give a black stone if the defendant was guilty. In ancient Rome, they had a custom of awarding white stones to the winner of athletic events, and their name was written on that stone.We want to talk about that new name, because we walk in newness of life. We walk in a new covenant. We're going to put away our sins. We're going to leave our past in the past, and we are going to walk in newness of life. That's what I want for you, Mom. That's what I want for your children as well.Can You Really Hear from God?If you've ever wondered, can I really hear God about my identity? How do I know? Sometimes we don't truly believe God and what He is saying. We say He can do the impossible, but we don't really think it for us.Let me share a couple stories that Jamie Winship shares. He met a man in Washington, D.C. who had been working with Congress, and this man comes up to him, like a bodybuilder, very well-built, very healthy. And he says, how can I know if I can really hear from God? And he said, well, you can come with me to a mission, because Jamie Winship had worked with the CIA over in the Middle East for decades, and he was now helping Congress with some things about working with conflict.He and this Jason Bourne dude and a Navy guy, they all got dropped off in Northern Africa, pitch dark. They get there, they're staying in tents, their host would fix their meals, and they would fix 4 plates. And the Jason Bourne guy would go, why is there someone else? Why do they keep fixing 4? There's only three of us.Eventually, after a few days, he says, well, go ask them. Since this guy could speak that language, he says, why do you have four plates? Well, it's for

Feeling like you're falling behind or failing your kids? The biggest problem in your homeschool isn't the curriculum or the schedule—it's the lies you quietly believe about yourself. In this episode, we're exploring identity exchange: getting rid of the lies in your head and walking in the calling God's given you.Kerry shares lessons from Jamie Winship's "Living Fearless" and the story of David—who learned his identity as warrior, musician, poet, and king while watching sheep in obscurity, just like God is forming your identity in the ordinary moments of homeschooling.What you’ll learn in this episode:✅Why identity exchange matters: the lies ("I'm not organized enough," "my kids need a real teacher") shape everything you do✅What David's story teaches us about learning our calling in ordinary, obscure seasons✅How the enemy attacks Christian homeschool families with little deceptions, not big temptations✅Why "always" and "never" statements are lies (only God always does something right!)✅Your homework: Ask God "What lie am I believing?" and write it down (we'll work on truth next week)Ready to start your identity exchange? Download the FREE Biblical Truths Printable mentioned in this episode—sample truths Kerry speaks over herself daily plus a blank page for your own. Grab your copy of Jamie Winship's book Living Fearless! Podcast: Stop Negative Thinking for You & Your KidsWell, hello everyone, this is Kerry Beck with Homeschool Coffee Break, where we help you stop the overwhelm so you can actually take a coffee break from your homeschool, your home, your family. Every once in a while, we need a break, and we need to refresh ourselves.This episode is being published at the very beginning of 2026, and so this morning, I actually was listening to some podcasts. I had heard some of these stories before, I'd read the book, and I was like, this is what I need to share with my moms, because I believe this is a great way to kick off the new year.Because I don't know about you, but I have a feeling that y'all are feeling a little overwhelmed and stressed out. You feel like you're falling behind, or you're failing your kids. And what we need to realize is the biggest problem in your homeschool, your family, is not the curriculum, is not the schedule, but it is the lies that you quietly believe in your head. You believe them about yourself, as a mom, as a homeschool mom.Learning About Identity ExchangeWhat I want to do today is it's going to be at least a two-part series. We're going to talk a little bit about how we can get rid of those lies, and we can walk in the calling that God's given us. And this really will affect your homeschool. It truly will.I want you to know that what I am sharing today comes from things that I have learned from a man named Jamie Winship. He wrote a book, Living Fearless, and it is Living Fearless, Exchanging the Lies of the World for the Liberating Truth of God. You can get a link to it in the show notes below. When I went on my prayer walk this morning, I really thought through some of these ideas all over again. What is my identity? Let's exchange the lies in my head for my true identity, my true calling from God.If the things I share today are helpful, I would love for you to share this with one person.The Lies We BelieveLet's talk about this for a second. When you're in the midst of homeschooling, you're rushing around, you're doing your math, and you're switching the laundry from the washer to the dryer, you're snapping at your kids, and then at night you're lying on your bed going, I'm ruining them. I'm not cut out for this.But let's be honest, that is not the truth. And you're not the only one that's ever thought that. Because a lot of Christian moms keep that reel in their head, the little script in their head. I'm not organized enough to homeschool. My kids would be better off with a real teacher. I'm just so inconsistent, I can't even hear God clearly.Well, those are lies in your head, and they shape the way you walk through your day. How you plan your day, or you avoid planning at all. Some of you Type A people got that checklist, those lies are affecting that checklist. Or, I don't know what it is, type B, C, or Z, one of them, you just don't even plan at all, because you're just avoiding it.Those lies affect the way that you react to your kids when they are struggling. When you invite God into your lessons, or you just push through. Which one are you?I believe the lessons that I've learned from Jamie Winship about my identity, and about the false identities, the lies, like, I'm a failure, I feel shame, I am inadequate. They keep us stuck. And we can't really hear from God when He is speaking a new name to us.You know, Revelation 2:17 talks about, if we walk victoriously, God is going to give us a white stone and a new name. I'm going to talk about that in the next episode. But we need to be able to hear that new name.David's Identity in the Fields

Teaching manners isn’t about rules and rigidity—it’s about showing love, kindness, and respect to the people around us. In this conversation with Monica Irvine from The Etiquette Factory, we unpack simple and practical strategies for teaching manners in a way that sticks. You’ll discover why manners are more than table rules and how they shape your children’s character for life.If you’ve ever wondered how to teach manners without constant correction, this episode is full of practical stories, heart-tugging lessons, and family habits that make character training simple. Monica shares easy-to-implement tips to help kids feel valued, develop respect for others, and build lifelong relationship skills.What you’ll learn in this episode:✅Why teaching manners is really about loving others✅The key mistake parents make with etiquette✅How to create “soft heart” moments for better learning✅Practical lessons your family can start using week✅How manners build humility, confidence, and strong relationshipsMonica Irvine is the President of The Etiquette Factory and co-Founder of Fundamentals4Kids. As a renowned national speaker and published author of over 20 books, Mrs Irvine delights in her passion for helping children and adults reach their full potential. Mrs Irvine is a retired homeschool mom who now enjoys the fruits of her labors watching her children raise her most loved grandchildren.Follow Monica Irvine and The Etiquette Factory on FacebookRecommended Resources:Character Training Tool KitCharacter Development Without the DramaCharacter Building in 3 StepsShow Notes: What It Really Means to Have MannersKerry: Well, let's talk about etiquette and manners. Could you tell our listeners just a little bit, maybe why is this so important? Especially in today's culture? And how does this go beyond just saying, please and thank you. I mean, please, and thank you are important, but that's just a little small part of it. So tell us why and what, how it goes beyond that.Monica: I know sometimes over the years I've told my husband I should have named the company something besides the etiquette factory, because I'll be at a convention and I can always see people's reaction. They look up and they read the sign, and I can read their brain often where they're going. Oh, that's great and all. But we've got more important things to worry about than what fork to eat your salad with and to me I know why it's so much more than that.Let me first give you the definition that we use for etiquette at the etiquette factory, and that is etiquette which manners and etiquette, chivalry all mean the same thing. Etiquette is helping those around us to feel valued, and comfortable.George Washington's Rules Changed EverythingMonica: Years ago I was homeschooling our kids, and we were studying the life of President George Washington. And what a fascinating life that man had! And as we were doing that I stumbled upon George Washington's rules of civility and decent behavior. Many of you have read a couple of those, if not just Google that. And you will see this list of 110 chivalry skills that, according to President Washington's journal, he put to memory at the age of 13 he actually copied these 110 chivalry rules out of a French book.As I started reading these rules, I just, I can just tell you the spirit penetrated my heart, and being the mom of 3 boys. I was like, Wow, you know, my boys, could benefit from knowing some of these? Of course, manners was always important to me. and so I said, You know, let's start trying to memorize one of these a week and kind of having a manners thing each week.We started memorizing these chivalry skills, and something happened. I started noticing a change in behavior. and it fascinated me because I was like, what's what's changed. I mean, I've always told my boys to have good manners. I've always taught them.The Problem with Teaching "In the Moment"Monica: I think a light bulb moment happened when it dawned on me that usually 98% of the time when I was trying to teach my children manners was in the moment of correcting, like my one of my kids would say or do something that wasn't the most polite, and I would be oh, honey, no, baby, you can't say that, that's not polite. And then I would go on to tell them why.When all of a sudden I shifted to start having a daily manners lesson during the school day, when my heart was softer. My children's hearts were softer because they weren't being fussed at. and we just had a discussion about well, how do we use our napkin correctly? Or how do you make an apology sound sincere. All of a sudden my boys would be like, Mom, let's do another one. What's the next one? Let's go ahead and talk about the next one. and it literally is what changed everything.Why Manners Really MatterMonica: Most people think of manners when they think of table manners right and usually family sit around the table, and for parents that manners are important to them. Their table sounds like this. Coul

What if your homeschool didn’t feel like a checklist, but a life-giving journey? In this Best of Homeschool Super Heroes Workshop episode, Julie Ross shares the tools of a Charlotte Mason education and how they can bring peace, beauty, and connection to your home.You’ll learn how to apply these tools—atmosphere, discipline, and life—in a way that nourishes both your children and yourself. This gentle philosophy isn’t about replicating school at home; it’s about building something far more meaningful.Here’s what you’ll take away:✅ What it really means to create a homeschool “atmosphere”✅ How habits form the foundation of discipline (without nagging)✅ Why ideas are the most powerful food for the mind✅ How to foster solitude, attention, and curiosity✅ The secret to cultivating beauty and truth in your homeThis week only, you can grab my Charlotte Mason Tool Kit for 50% off as a way to put these ideas into practice without overwhelm. Mentioned Resources: Charlotte Mason Tool Kit - SAVE 50% with code: CM50 Show Notes: Welcome to the Three Tools of a Life-Giving EducationHey, hello everyone. Welcome to the three tools of a life-giving education. I'm so excited to talk to you today about these amazing tools that we have for free.Charlotte Mason said, "Education is an atmosphere and a discipline and a life more important than the curriculum you're using." That's just one of the tools. Any resource you use can be shaped and guided according to these three tools to give your children a life-giving education.Before we dive into today's talk, I just want to introduce myself. I'm Julie Ross. I'm the creator of the Charlotte Mason curriculum, A Gentle Feast. I'm a homeschool veteran of over 20 years. I have five kiddos—one has graduated recently from college and then the other will be a senior in college in neuroscience next year. And then I have three teenagers that I'm still homeschooling.So I've been homeschooling for a while. Before that, I was a public school educator and I helped start a private Christian school. So I've been in the educational space for about 30 years now. And I'm also a certified Christian life coach. So I'm going to bring in all my experience as a teacher, as a homeschool mom, as a coach, and bring that all in and hopefully give you a really practical look at how these three tools of a Charlotte Mason education can help transform your homeschool.Tool #1: Education Is an AtmosphereSo let's start off with the first one. Education is an atmosphere. What in the world does that even mean? That seems so bizarre. Atmosphere, what does it have to do? How is that a tool to help guide our education?I would say this is in fact one of the most, if not the most important tool. Charlotte Mason said, "Therefore, we are limited to three educational instruments: the atmosphere of environment, the discipline of habit, and the presentation of living ideas." Going back again to the motto, education is an atmosphere, discipline, and a life.So, what are we talking about when we're talking about the atmosphere of your home or the home environment? This is from a Parents' Review article. That's the magazine that Charlotte Mason edited. And this author wrote, "There are many important aspects of home life, from first training to highest education, but there is nothing in the way of direct teaching that will ever have so wide and lasting an effect as the atmosphere of home."And the gravest thought concerning this is that in this instant, there's nothing to learn and nothing to teach. The atmosphere emanates from ourselves as the parents. It literally is ourselves. Our children live in it and breathe it and what we are is thus incorporated into them. There is no pretense here or possibility of evasion. We may deceive ourselves in the long run. We never deceive our children. The spirit of home lives in what is more—home atmosphere is accentuated in them. Atmosphere is much more than teaching and infinitely more than talk.And when I first read this quote, I was unbelievably convicted. Because the atmosphere of my home at the time was not what I wanted. It was not what I wanted my homeschool to be like. I felt like I was a drill sergeant constantly giving out orders, constantly wondering like why is this not done? This was supposed to be done minutes ago. Everybody get in the car. We got to go to this and we were just hurry hurry hurry stress stress stress stress.And I was like, this isn't why I homeschooled. This isn't the atmosphere I want to create. Because Charlotte Mason is saying here, this atmosphere that you might not even realize is what is going on in your home is going to have such a lasting effect on your children.What Atmosphere Do You Want to Create?I wanted my children to feel like school and learning was just part of life and it was this beautiful atmosphere. I wanted us to have deep connections. I wanted my kids to be curious. I wanted them to have time to be creative. And I realized that by me being stresse

Celebrate Epiphany with your family through hands-on activities that bring the story of the Wise Men to life. In this episode, we’ll explore creative crafts, thought-provoking questions, and global traditions to help your children understand the meaning of this special day.Learn how to incorporate the gifts of the Wise Men and act out the Nativity story together. Make Epiphany unforgettable with these fun and meaningful activities:✅ Questions to ponder during the 12 days of Christmas until Epiphany✅ 8 activities for families to celebrate Epiphany✅ Feast of Epiphany ideas✅ Create crafts like crown and star ornaments, stained glass windows, and glittery gifts✅ Explore the symbolism of frankincense, myrrh, and gold with sensory activities✅ Act out the Nativity story and discuss its significance with thought-provoking questions✅ Discover global Epiphany traditions and bring them into your own celebrationUse coupon code to save 40% on Christmas Celebrations & Star of Bethlehem. Expires Friday, Dec 19.Mentioned Links:Christmas Celebrations Ebook - SAVE 40% with code: DEC19Star of Bethlehem Family Bible Study Ebook - SAVE 40% with code: DEC19Posts to Help with Epiphany:Epiphany Traditions from our FamilyItalian Feast of EpiphanyShow Notes:What Is Epiphany and Why It MattersHey everyone, Kerry back here with Homeschool Coffee Break where we help you stop that overwhelm so you can actually have a coffee break. I actually have coffee with me today!Today what we are going to be talking about is how you can celebrate Epiphany and some of y'all are going, I don't even know what you're talking about. What in the world is Epiphany? We're gonna talk about Epiphany, but what I want to do is give you some hands-on activities. I think I have eight or nine activities that you can use.Because really, when this is published, we are smack dab in the middle of Christmas and New Year's. But there is something much more important than New Year's and that is the Feast of Epiphany on January 6th. That is almost a week away from when this is going to be published.Let's talk about what Epiphany is, how it can affect your family, how you can raise your kids to understand it. Because let me tell you, I had no idea till my kids were almost in high school what Epiphany was, what that feast was, what that holiday was.Understanding the 12 Days of ChristmasEpiphany is 12 days after Christmas. Ah, 12 Days of Christmas! It is not 12 days before Christmas—they are after Christmas. The Catholic church has a great handle on this and I am a Protestant and raise my kids in a Protestant church. And we don't, and I would like to help make a change with that because we need to give our kids the best Christian heritage.They need to know their church history. They need to know their Christian heritage. And if we are only letting certain denominations do that, then we are doing a disservice to our children.One of the things I have been thinking about just this past week, because I went to visit my middle daughter and her two grandkids, was what could I send to both the grandkid families to celebrate Epiphany. In the past, I've actually made 12 paper bags, like little brown paper bags, nothing big, to celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas.Because if you don't know this, the 12 Days of Christmas have symbolism. You see, when it was written, people could not talk in public about Christ. So they wrote this song and they could sing the song because of the symbolism. Partridge in a pear tree—that's Jesus in the manger. The three French hens—that is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. All 12 of them have significance. If you don't know what that is, then go and look. We've got a whole ebook about that and it'll be in the show notes.Celebrating the Wise Men's JourneyBut that is something I think is really important. What we want to focus on today is that 12th day, the day of Epiphany, the day we celebrate that the Wise Men followed the star and found Jesus. That was not in the manger. It was probably maybe a year or two later. And so we are going to celebrate that on January 6th.What are some things that you could do to celebrate that?Activity #1: Read and Study Matthew 2First of all, you could read Matthew 2:1-12. There are nine clues about what is that star. If you need help, you can get our Star of Bethlehem study guide—it is in the show notes as well.You could have your children copy all 12 verses. If they're young, one verse a day for 12 days. You could have them retell the story in their own words, narrate it back, or rewrite it in their own words. All of that based in Matthew 2:1-12.Activity #2: Crown and Star CraftsAnother thing is you could do some crafts. You can make a crown craft. Let me tell you, my grandkids love all of that! You could cut out a crown and let them decorate it with jewels and stickers and whatever, put it on their head. And they can be, if you have three of them, they can be the three wise men. Even one of them—we d