The Durenda Wilson Podcast

Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to try and keep up with grading and checking all of our kids' schoolwork. A mom reached out to me with this question wanting to know how I kept up, so that is what I'm sharing today! Resources mentioned in this episode Upcoming events where I am speaking Homegrown Generation Interactive Online Conference: homegrowngeneration.com/Durenda Homegrown Generation coupon code: HG25 ctcmath.com The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Today we are bringing some encouragement for the reluctant homeschool mom Maybe you are homeschooling and are still not sure this is for you. Perhaps you are thinking about homeschooling and have doubts that keep you from taking the leap or you are a seasoned homeschool mom who is feeling a little burnt out. This episode is for you! Join me at Homegrown Generation: an online interactive homeschool conference going on March 6-9th! (Use discount code “Durenda” for $10 off) HomegrownGeneration.com/Durenda Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Moms often wonder how in the world homeschooling can work when you have one or more little ones. I had 5 kids under 7, 6 kids under 9, 7 kids under 11…you get the idea, so I am not a stranger to homeschooling with many littles in the house. In the last episode I talked about WHY it can work and today I want to talk more about HOW it can work! Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math My YouTube channel The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Essentials in Early Education Nurturing Seedlings Nurturing Sibling Relationship Series: The Importance of Nurturing Sibling Relationships Ways to Nurture Sibling Relationships Ways To Nurture Sibling Relationships Through Conflict Our Family’s Simple Routine Why Chores are Essential A Simple, Unhurried Approach to Science in the Elementary Years Homeschooling Multiple Ages with Rebecca Spooner Let’s Talk About Biblical Discipline (Blog post) When Gaming Becomes a God (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I’ve had many moms message me asking how to homeschool with littles at home. I’ve had 5 kids- 7 and under 6 kids-9 and under 7 kids-11 and under…you get the idea. So I totally get this and I can tell you that it’s NOT impossible In this episode, I talk about WHY it’s possible and in the next episode I will talk about WAYS to do that! Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today The Importance of a Biblical Education The Importance of the Biblical Family Homeschooling: Freedom From What Others Think My YouTube channel (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

It seems as though so many are struggling and facing difficulty on several fronts all at once (including myself) so today I want to talk about having a biblical perspective on hardship. You could also call it a theology of suffering which is essential for the believer. God is not silent when it comes to suffering. He is compassionate and gracious, but in order to experience the fullness of the comfort He offers and remain steadfast, we must frame our emotions and circumstances under the authority and truth of scripture. Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Article on explaining David's lament in Psalm 40 Isaiah 46:9,10;Psalm 135:6; Psalm 115:3;Isaiah 40:27-31;1 John 1:5;Exodus 34:6;1 Chronicles 16:34;Psalm 145:9;Psalm 34:8;Psalm 92:15;Hebrews 4:14-16;Psalm 40;2 Corin. 4:17;James 1: 12; Hebrews 12:7-10;Proverbs 23:11,12 Godly Introspection vs Morbid Introspection (a short blog post) (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

It’s been 27 years since I embarked on this homeschooling adventure(more if you count the preschool years). We have 8 kids so I’m still homeschooling the youngest and there are three things I’ve learned that I think every homeschool mom should know regardless of where you are on this journey! Listen in and be encouraged! Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math My YouTube channel The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

We know that one of the greatest temptations for us as humans is to worship something other than God, but is it possible for even our children to become an idol? Listen in for some warning signs that our children may hold a higher place in our hearts than they should. Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math My YouTube channel The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

It’s popular to take kids on dates, but if you look at the bigger picture historically, it’s a fairly recent/trendy activity. Dates with our kids can be fun, memorable, and meaningful, but we have to be careful not to make them a gold standard of parenting. They can serve a purpose, but are they necessary? Resources mentioned in this episode: Tomato Staking (Podcast) My YouTube channel CTC Math The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Learning happens in such a variety of ways, but sometimes we find ourselves stuck in the traditional classroom model and need some inspiration to try something new! Today I’m sharing a simple way to do social studies with multiple ages! Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math My YouTube channel The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!) ________________

God commands parents to discipline their children because He knows that is what is best for our children and the entire family. Wes Johnson joins me today to talk about biblical discipline, including THE most controversial discipline tool. This is a long episode, but it is chock full of good stuff even down to specific examples of how to carry out biblical discipline. Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math My YouTube channel The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Other episodes with Wes: Applying Romans 13 to the Here and Now The Importance of a Biblical Education The Biblical Importance of Family Recognizing False Teachers Biblical Submission: The Hot Potato The Dangers of a Self-Help Culture How to Find a Biblical Church Scriptures mentioned in this episode: Proverbs 13:14, 22:15, 23:13-14, 26:3, 29:15, Galatians 6:1 Ephesians 6:4 (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

(Even if you homeschool more than one child, you’ll want to listen in for ways to encourage moms who are and be more aware of the unique challenges they face.) I have received several messages from moms asking me to talk about homeschooling an only child. Because I am clearly not an expert in that field, I put that topic on the back burner until I could find someone who actually is an expert. I finally connected with Jessica Waldock from The Waldock Way and we have an encouraging conversation in this episode about the challenges of homeschooling an only child and ways to overcome them. Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Ways to connect with Jessica and resources she mentioned in this episode: Cooperative Games: https://www.thewaldockway.com/gameschooling-cooperative/ Single Player Games: https://www.thewaldockway.com/learning-with-games-one-player/ Homeschooling an Only Child Posts: https://www.thewaldockway.com/category/only-child-homeschooling/ Homeschooling an Only Child Newsletter: https://www.thewaldockway.com/homeschooling-an-only-child-support-and-encouragement/ Blog: www.thewaldockway.com YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/thewaldockway Instagram: www.instagram.com/thewaldockway Facebook: www.facebook.com/thewaldockway (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

It’s perhaps a parent’s greatest fear-that at some point his or her child will become a victim of sexual abuse. The statistics are alarming: Approximately one in five children will become victims by his or her 18th birthday. Today my guest is Justin Holcomb and he is here to help us better understand how to protect our kids from sexual abuse and ways to educate them about this topic without instilling fear. Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math God Made All of Me My YouTube channel The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Homeschooling Today

Every homeschooling mom wants their kids to become good readers and to love reading, but what if your child seems reluctant? Today I am answering a question I received from a mom who had some concerns about her son’s reading journey. Resources mentioned in this episode: Let’s Talk About Reading CTC Math My YouTube channel The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

“Where do babies come from?” This common question all too often leaves parents perplexed about what to say, how much to say and when to say it. Today my guest is Justin Holcomb and he is here to help us tackle this topic in a Biblically solid, yet simple, appropriate way. (Hint: It's not as complicated as we make it!) This is a great conversation you won’t want to miss!! God Made Babies CTC Math The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Happy New Year! As we move into the new year, I thought it would be great to talk about building your family culture! You may have heard the term, "building a family culture", but not fully understood what it looks like or where to begin. Today our daughter Jenna and I share the importance of building a family culture and how to cultivate that! Resources mentioned in the podcast: CTC Math You Who by Rachel Jankovic The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

It’s not uncommon to feel less energetic, more lethargic, or even somewhat depressed during the winter. I’ve experienced varying degrees of “winter blues” over the years so I thought I’d share some simple things that have been proven helpful! Resources mentioned in this episode: CTC Math The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Are you experiencing signs of burnout? Do you even know what they are? Burnout is a common problem for homeschool moms. What would it look like to live a more grace-paced life? With the holidays just behind us, we can often be experiencing serious burnout, so I wanted to talk about what it looks like to live a grace-paced life along with some practical ways we can move toward that. Today my guest is Shona Murray who wrote the book called Refresh that I have mentioned several times over the last months. Shona has solid wisdom and biblical encouragement that will help us move from burnout to a more grace-paced life! (Plus you will love her lovely Scottish accent!) This is part 2 of a 2 part series, so don't miss the first episode! Resources mentioned in the podcast: Refresh by Shona Murray The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Are you experiencing signs of burnout? Do you even know what they are? Burnout is a common problem for homeschool moms. What would it look like to live a more grace-paced life? With the holidays just behind us, we can often be experiencing serious burnout, so I wanted to talk about what it looks like to live a grace-paced life along with some practical ways we can move toward that. Today my guest is Shona Murray who wrote the book called Refresh that I have mentioned several times over the last months. Shona has solid wisdom and biblical encouragement that will help us move from burnout to a more grace-paced life! (Plus you will love her lovely Scottish accent!) This is part 1 of a 2 part series, so don't miss the second episode! Resources mentioned in the podcast: Refresh by Shona Murray The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Often it feels as though God is silent on the issues that psychiatric disorders bring into our lives. Today my guest, Edward T Welch joins me to talk about common questions that Christians who are suffering from anxiety, depression, trauma, etc. often have. He empathizes with the sufferer's nuanced problems and offers practical encouragement for walking forward with Jesus on a challenging post-diagnosis journey. You won't want to miss this one! Resources mentioned in the podcast: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course CCEF (Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation) I have a Psychiatric Diagnosis by Edward T. Welch (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I don’t know where you are today physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. Maybe you are excited and feeling productive and enthusiastic about all the festivities, maybe you’re exhausted on all fronts or just a few, maybe you are stressed about being able to get everything done in time for Christmas, or maybe you are hurting and reeling from unexpected news or circumstances. Maybe you are grieving and just wishing this would all be over so the pain wouldn’t feel quite so intense. Wherever you are right now, I want to encourage you to take just a few minutes with me to slow your heart down. Take a deep breath, exhale and listen in to this simple, mercifully short episode to encourage your heart today! Christmas Playlist Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

For the last 33 years, I have sent out a Christmas letter and family photo. Today I thought I would simply read this year’s Christmas letter to you on this episode! (This also means it will be a simple, mercifully short episode!) MERRY CHRISTMAS from our family to yours! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Our family has always enjoyed watching Christmas movies together and we have had over 3 decades to collect some favorites, so I thought it would be fun to share those with you! You will likely be familiar with some, but you may find some new treasures! Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Several of you asked me to share our family’s favorite Christmas traditions, so that’s what I’m doing today! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

It’s a question many homeschool moms have asked themselves. Sometimes we just need permission to homeschool differently through the holiday season and other times we need permission to lay it all down and do something completely different. My friend Sara (veteran homeschooling mom) joins me today as we share our experiences and thoughts from our many years of homeschooling (or not) through the holidays! The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

The commercialism that has become Christmas in our culture can feel disheartening and make us want to run in the other direction, but what if there is another option? We are taking time today to reflect on some thoughts that will hopefully help us keep things in perspective and put the wind back in our sails when it comes to this wonderful season! Resources mentioned in this episode: Unwrapped: A Brief History of Gift Giving at Christmas Dig Into Culture Building Webinar Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

A mom asked about how to incorporate worship and homeschooling into the celebration of the Christmas season, so my good friend Sara and I are talking about that today! Listen in for a fun conversation and some great ideas! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Jotham's Journey (whole series) by Arnold Ytreeide (daily stories for read aloud) Prepare Him Room by Marty Machowski (short and simple!) Come Let Us Adore Him by Paul David Tripp (family devotional reading) God With Us by Catherine Pawlak (Jesse Tree ornament study) Unwrapping the Names of Jesus by Asheritah Ciuciu (what our small group is using this year) Unwrapping the Names of Jesus (children's version) (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Christmas is such a wonderful time of year, especially with children. However, it can be consumed quickly by relentless and unnecessary expectations that distract us from truly enjoying this time in a meaningful way with our kids. Amy Fox joined us a few weeks back to talk about Thanksgiving and today she is here again, this time to share simple, meaningful, and unhurried ways to engage our kids in this Christmas season. Resources mentioned in this episode: Countdown to Christmas(CODE FOR 10% DISCOUNT: WILSON) goldenprairiepress.com Free Ebook The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Are you overwhelmed by gift-giving as we head into the Christmas season? Join me and my sweet and practical friend, Sara, as we talk about some ways that we have simplified gift-giving for Christmas over our many years as moms! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Inflation is on the rise so my husband and I decided to share some simple tips for saving money! We have lived on a single modest income for over 3 decades while raising 8 kids and we have watched God multiply our dollars as we tried to faithfully steward what we were given. We hope you find lots of encouragement in this episode! Resources mentioned in the podcast: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Our son was recently diagnosed with a disability, but honestly, I already knew because I know our son. However, because we took an unhurried approach to his education and adjusted to what worked best for him, he continued to make progress and didn't hit any obstacles (we believed were important) that he couldn't overcome so we never felt the need to dig deeper. Today I'm sharing principles that hold true because they are based on God’s word. The methods may vary, but the principles remain solid and because of that, we can work from a place of confidence and faith even when our kids are diagnosed with disabilities. Resources worth mentioning: Shepherding the Simple Deceived by OCD: When Crooked Paths Seem Straight Finding Your Child's Way on the Autism Spectrum The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

The holidays are considered to be the "most wonderful time of the year", but if you are walking through change or loss there is a good chance that is not the case. If this resonates with where you are right now, you'll want to listen in as Nikki Dutton and I talk about our own experience with this AND speak words of life and encouragement over you! If this doesn't resonate with where you are, listen in for ways to encourage those who are struggling with change or loss through this holiday season! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course nikkidutton.com More with Nikki Dutton Podcast Liturgies for Hope: Sixty Prayers for the Highs, the Lows, and Everything in Between by Audrey Elledge and Elizabeth Moore (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

The month of Thanksgiving is such a great reminder of the importance of gratitude. While we know it's important to be grateful, sometimes we lose touch with why it's important. (Hint: it's not another thing to add to your "to-do" list...it's really a game-changer!) Today Nikki Dutton(author, podcaster, and speaker) and I talk about the why's along with some practical, doable ways to practice gratitude. Resources mentioned in this episode: More with Nikki Dutton Podcast nikkidutton.com The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

It can be so easy to let Christmas overshadow Thanksgiving, but Thanksgiving is rich in history and full of opportunity! Today Amy Puetz Fox and I will be talking about how to enjoy the countdown to Thanksgiving by engaging our kids in simple, meaningful, and unhurried ways! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Countdown to Thanksgiving (CODE FOR 10% DISCOUNT: WILSON) goldenprairiepress.com Of Plymouth Plantation Free Ebook (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Like most moms, I've had countless battles with anxiety over the years, at times it's been debilitating. There are a few simple practices that I keep going back to over and over again. It can be easy to dismiss them because they are so simple, but I have found that consistency is key. Do I believe feeling anxious is a sin? No. I believe anxiety is a weakness(part of being human) that can lead us into sin if left unchecked and unyielded to the Lord. Today I'm humbly sharing what I've learned over the last 55 years and praying that God will give you wisdom as you listen Resources mentioned in this episode: Our Family’s Simple Routine Morning Walking Benefits Psalm 84:11 Psalm 16:6 Psalm 16:8 1 Peter 3:17 Hebrews 12:7-11 1 Peter 5:9 Romans 8:18 Leaky Gut Diet Recipes Microbiome Mashup Dirty Dozen Clean 15 Attributes of God by AW Pink The Wonder of His Name (a study by Nancy Leigh DeMoss) CCEF (Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation): tons of great biblical counseling here on a variety of topics including anxiety and depression) The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Today Elizabeth Urbanowicz (Foundation Worldview) and I are going to talk about apologetics for 8-12 yr olds. This is a crucial age to be laying this life-changing foundation. You won’t want to miss this episode! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Seven Lies Your Children May Believe Pt 1 Seven Lies Your Children May Believe Pt 2 Mama Bear Apologetics (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Today we will discuss simple apologetics for 4-8 yrs olds. You may be wondering what that would even look like. Isn’t apologetics just for those studying at seminary as an adult? Apologetics is the study and practice of giving answers for the truth of the Christian faith and what better time to start than at a very young age through the simplest conversations and activities! Seven Lies Your Children May Believe Pt 1 Seven Lies Your Children May Believe Pt 2 Other resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

What if motherhood was about so much more than we've been told? What if the culture is dead wrong and there is something much bigger going on than first meets the eye? What if all the little things mean so much more than we could have ever imagined? Listen in for a boatload of encouragement today! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

When I first recorded this episode with Sherri, it was the beginning of summer, and her new devotional was supposed to be published soon. It was delayed and is finally available, but any time of year is a great time to learn more about who God is through creation in a simple, unhurried way! Today, Sherri Seligson, an avid fan and student of creation and science is joining us. She has many credits to her name, but none is more important than being a mom/homeschool mom. Today we talk about how to engage our kids by exploring nature truths with them! (The audio to the second episode crashed and burned so even though it's mentioned, it never made it to publishing) :( Nature Study Devotional Website: SherriSeligson.com Social media: Facebook: SherriSeligsonAuthor Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest: @sherriseligson Other resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Halloween isn't my favorite, but it is right around the corner and is sort of thrust upon us by the culture, so I think it's worth having a conversation about and sharing our family's experience with it. There are many controversies in the Church surrounding Halloween. I've seen people handle their differences graciously and I've seen others let them destroy relationships. Every family chooses its own way of approaching Halloween. Some choose a personally long-held tradition, some choose a hodgepodge of traditions along with making adjustments to wherever they are in their season of life, adding in new traditions, or doing something completely new! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Many of you have messaged me with concerns about the church that you attend or are struggling to find a Biblical church and aren't sure what exactly to look for. Today I have Wes Johnson back on the podcast to share with us how to find a Biblical church! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Other episodes with Wes: Applying Romans 13 to the Here and Now The Importance of a Biblical Education The Biblical Importance of Family Recognizing False Teachers Biblical Submission: The Hot Potato The Dangers of a Self-Help Culture (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Today Tripp Almon and I are going to be talking about the benefits of a gap year program for your graduate. A gap year is time taken off from school in exchange for experiences. There are different kinds of gap year programs. What we will be talking about today is one that will help solidify your graduate's faith and ground them in Christian theology, worldview, and apologetics before they fully immerse themselves in college or the job market. Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Summit Ministries(program page) Gap Year Association (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

There is nothing wrong with being proactive and responsible regarding our habits and mindset (this is biblical). However, we need to be sure that we are approaching everything from a biblical perspective, and often even Christian self-help books can lead us astray not necessarily intentionally, but because the author isn’t biblically informed and instead may very well base much of their perspective on pop psychology and humanistic/secular thinking. I invited Wes Johnson back to help us understand the difference between self-improvement, self-focus, “becoming your best self”, etc versus obedience to God and actual fruitfulness. Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Other episodes with Wes: Applying Romans 13 to the Here and Now The Importance of a Biblical Education The Biblical Importance of Family Recognizing False Teachers https://www.durendawilson.com/podcast/episode/c7f29e03/recognizing-false-teachers-podcast-323 Biblical Submission: The Hot Potato (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

I've noticed that there seems to be an increase in the number of trials and afflictions that many faithful Christians I know are experiencing. Our family is no different. Today I'm sharing a bit of an update on our family along with some encouragement to find courage in the midst of storms. Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Courage and Steadfastness by Rachel Jankovich (this is the message I listened to and I mentioned in this episode) You Who by Rachel Jankovich (this had the quote on faithfulness that I shared) (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Biblical submission are words that can bring up a range of emotions and opinions because many of us have heard or experienced the abuses that have surrounded this topic. As believing women who strive to walk in obedience to God and do our best to live out His standards in our home it’s essential that we have a biblical definition of submission, one that is informed by God’s word and not the culture and we must remember that the family is instituted by God and therefore HE is the only one who gets to define it. I’ve invited Wes Johnson to join us again because I knew I could trust him to be willing to tackle this topic and do so from an uncompromisingly biblical perspective. Resources mentioned in this episode: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Other episodes with Wes: Applying Romans 13 to the Here and Now The Importance of a Biblical Education The Biblical Importance of Family Recognizing False Teachers (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

In the last 2 episodes, I’ve been talking about the importance of nurturing sibling relationships and practical ways to do that. Today I want to talk about ways to nurture those relationships through conflict because goodness knows, there can be plenty of that, especially in a house with 8 kids! Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course Drive Through Talking: An Effective Communication Tool (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Last week I talked about the importance of nurturing sibling relationships because, in my experience raising/homeschooling 8 kids, it's one of the best investments I made into their education! Today I want to share some practical tips on ways to nurture sibling relationships! Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Simple Personality Test (Gary Smalley) The Love Language Quiz (5 Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman) (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

One of the things I think most of us don't expect when we start to homeschool is the amount of time we will spend navigating our kids' relationships with each other. It can often feel like an obstacle to getting "real" schoolwork done, but the truth is that learning to have healthy relationships IS an essential part of our kids' education! Today I'm going to share why it's so important to nurture sibling relationships in our home. Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day The Unhurried Homeschooler Mentoring Course (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Fall is such an amazing time of year and there are so many fun and free things to do with our kids! Today my friend Sara is joining me again to share some ideas that you may or may not have thought of! Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Previous podcasts with Sara: A Conversation with 2 Veteran Homeschool Moms Finishing the School Year Well Considering Your Kids' Personalities in Your Approach Planning Your Homeschool with the End in Mind (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Today we're going to be talking about simple meal planning! I know for our family of 10 I had to simplify our meals, but also the way that I planned them. I couldn’t be reinventing the wheel every single week. I invited my friend Sara to join me again today as we discuss several different options for simple meal planning! Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Previous podcasts with Sara: A Conversation with 2 Veteran Homeschool Moms Finishing the School Year Well Considering Your Kids Personalities in Your Approach Planning Your Homeschool with the End in Mind (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)

Today my friend Sara and I are talking about basic family budgeting. One of the reasons that I wanted to cover this topic is that most families have to live on a budget. Many of us are single-income families and some of us have large families. My husband and I lived on a modest single income for our family of 10 for many years and I can honestly say that I actually love the freedom of being on a budget. That may sound strange, but there is such peace knowing that you are staying within your income limits and not burying yourself in debt. In this episode, we mention the envelope system. For our family, the categories were: groceries, gas, entertainment, clothing, and miscellaneous. Resources mentioned: The Unhurried Homeschooler Unhurried Grace for a Mom’s Heart The Four-Hour School Day Homeschooling Today Previous podcasts with Sara: A Conversation with 2 Veteran Homeschool Moms Finishing the School Year Well Considering Your Kids Personalities in Your Approach Planning Your Homeschool with the End in Mind (P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest book, The Four Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool Life on Amazon, durendawilson.com, or your favorite bookseller!)