2020-03

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Join Yvette Hampton as she talks with guest, Meeke Addison, Assistant Director of Special Initiatives and co-host of Airing the Addisons on AFR. Her work with AFA began in 2007 as a stay-at-home mom in Louisiana. Since then she has primarily served on-air as a radio personality.
Meeke Addison is a speaker for the live, interactive, online 2020 Homegrown Generation Family Expo. Check out a FREE preview (7 sessions - over 9 hours of content) here!
 
Meeke is a conference speaker, women’s teacher, author, and pro-family activist who keeps a close eye on politics, pop culture, and the Church. Her focus is on equipping everyday Christians to effectively engage and transform culture.
 
Watch the video of this interview (25 minutes) for free on YouTube.
Backstage Pass Members can watch the full interview (1-hour) here.
During this episode, Yvette and Meeke talk about the fact that religious instruction is common in "secular" public schools. Read more about that subject here.
Listen to the Airing the Addisons podcast: https://afr.net/podcasts/airing-the-addisons/
Find Meeke on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AiringTheAddisons/ 
Learn more about AFA: https://www.afa.net/
 
Are you looking for a new Math Curriculum? CTCMath specializes in providing online video tutorials that take a multi-sensory approach to learning. Creative graphics and animation, synchronized with the friendly voice of internationally acclaimed teacher, Pat Murray, make learning math easy and effective. Visit CTCmath.com today to start your free trial today. 
Whether you are just considering homeschooling for the first time or you are a homeschooling veteran in need of a little encouragement, the Homegrown Generation Family Expo is for you. Click here for a FREE Preview!
Do you believe in homeschooling?
Help spread the word that homeschooling is good for students. It’s good for families. It’s good for AMERICA!  Go to SchoolhouseRocked.com/support and join the movement to spread the word about homeschooling through movie theaters nationwide.
 
Support this podcast.
 
Automated Transcript (Spelling and grammar errors are guaranteed)
Speaker 1:
Hey everyone, this is Yvette Hampton. Welcome back to the schoolhouse rock to podcast. I have such a great guest on today with me today and I'm so excited for you to get to meet her. Her name is Meeke Addison and she was actually introduced to me by Israel Wayne. I know that many of you know Israel. He's been on the podcast several times and he said, you need to meet this lady, Meeke Addison. And I said, okay. So we started checking into her and cause this is what we do. You know, we, we use the internet to spy on people. And, and so Garrett actually started listening to your radio show and just following you on Facebook. He's been for months and he said, we have got to get this lady on the podcast and she has such an encouragement. So, I'm really, really excited Meeke, to have you on today. I would love it if you would introduce yourself to our audience.
Speaker 2:
Well, thank you. I'm so excited to be with you guys. And that means so much to know because we have so many different outlets. People can listen to whatever they want. So it's an honor to me and for me that anybody would listen to anything that I have to say. I'm will Addison's wife and we've been married for 15 years and I'm the mother of his five children and we homeschool. And I also, that's my full time job. My part time job is as a spokesperson for the American family association. And I picked that up from my good friend Abraham Hamilton. He says that what we do out in the culture that is part time work, but that our full time is with our families. And so anyway, I do that and I host a national radio show for an hour Monday through Friday where we talk about cultural issues. We talk about marriage, the family. Certainly we look at what's going on with the church and how we can hold the line. That's what we're constantly encouraging people to do. Hold the line in 21st century America.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I love it. Well you are doing amazing work and you know I, I love what you just said about a Abraham Hamilton the third, right? That's correct. He's your pastor. I learned and I'm just another great advocate for Jesus and, and homeschooling and culture and just this, this desperate revival that we are in need of. And you said, you know that fulltime being a, a mom, his full time job and the other stuff is your part time job. And we just actually did a podcast about motherhood, the ministry of motherhood. And I kind of gave my, my testimony of what the Lord has been doing in my heart and kind of going from working full time with school house rock and pouring my whole self into that and realizing that my first priority really needed to be my children. And so the Lord has really been working in our family and kind of allowing me to let go of some schoolhouse rock stuff except for the podcast and allowing me to be more present with my family.
Speaker 1:
And so I love that that is your primary ministry as well. And you know, in that podcast it wasn't at all to say we shouldn't ever work, you know, as wives, as moms, we should never ever, ever work outside of taking care of our families. But there has to be balanced and doing that. We need to know what our priorities are. And so I really appreciate you saying that. You know, I know that the Lord has done many great things through you and you and I got to talk on the phone the other day and you got to share with me kind of your story about how you started homeschooling. And so I would love for you to tell that story and then I want to talk about culture and how homeschooling kind of ties into this whole culture war that we have going on. So, so share with us your homeschool story.
Speaker 2:
So we kind of found ourselves in a situation where we were just, we were sort of at this impasse where we, you know, realize that our kids were sort of being discipled away from us because you know, whenever there is influence, whenever there is training, whenever there is teaching, there is discipleship. You are making people who are followers. And so, you know, we had our kids, the two oldest of the five were educated traditionally so outside of our home. And one of the things that we noticed was that just, you know, the slow changes happening in them where the things that they cared about and the things that grabbed their attention seemed to be more of the things of the world. And they had wonderful godly teachers. I mean, you know, we live in a small community and so they went down to first Baptist, you know, in our, in our area and the teachers are, you know, active in the community.
Speaker 2:
But at the same time I started to notice that those became my girls influence, that their teachers and that their peers were their influence. And so add to that, I felt like I was spending two to three hours after they got home every day. Just kind of reteaching them and Yvette, I just felt like, why? Why am I doing this? Like, you know, why am I, I'm frustrated and, and then also I'm adding time to my day to teach them the way I wanted them to be taught and I'm after prayer and just willing, I'm putting our heads together. We felt like the Lord was really directing us to homeschool them. And I guess that was 2015 and we haven't looked back like, so when I was, I was expecting baby number four, I kind of keep track of life by the babies that I'm expecting, but I was expecting baby number four and, and that's when we made the decision that, you know, when the school year came to a close we would homeschool.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, I love that. And in your show and your radio show that you host, you talk a lot about culture and just the this culture war that we are in. And I would love for you to talk about it from the perspective of a Christian homeschool mom. What do you see going on in the culture right now and how can we as homeschool moms help this, this a revival that is really to take place?
Speaker 2:
I think one of the big mistakes that we make, Yvette, is that we think the culture is neutral. We think that, Oh no, the culture does not have a goal or an aim or that it is not aggressive with that goal or that aim. And that's one of the things that we tried to sort of awaken and stir the Christian community to seeing that the culture is making grabs all the time. And actually it's predominant, right? So our country has undergone a shift where it's no longer the Christian culture that is predominant, you know? So we've heard people describe this as post-Christian America and, and what does this look like? You know? But the reality is that it's not the type of America that I think even you and I grew up in, I think it's rapidly changing. And what we have to recognize is that it's not a neutral change. It is a very aggressive change that pulls toward darkness. So you can't just expect your kid to sort of be out in this culture and be unaffected. Like your kid doesn't just go out into the world and arrive at a neutral position. Right. Your kid going out into the world is going to arrive at the position that's already established by the culture and it is antithetical to the faith.
Speaker 1:
That's right. Yeah. It truly is. And we're trusting that because we have them at home with us, you know, when we have them at home with us, if we have them out in the public, we're teaching them Bible verses and maybe they go to a one and they go to church on Sunday morning. And so we think oftentimes as Christian parents will, that's enough. They know we love Jesus, but then for 35 or 40 hours a week, we're putting them under the influence of someone else and someone else's ideas in someone else's religion. Really, because everybody believes in something, you know? And there is religion being taught in public schools and oftentimes even in private schools, there is false religion being taught in those schools as well. And, and so, yes, I think it's a very difficult thing to expect our kids to spend all of that time away from us and then still come back with our own values and beliefs and morals and it's a war. It's a battle that we've got going on. What can we as parents who, you know, some listening to this are homeschool parents, some are not. Some are trying to figure out this homeschool thing and wondering, is this for us? Is this something that we want to pursue? How can we have a greater influence on our kids? And therefore in our culture,
Speaker 2:
the first thing I think we have to realize is that there is the need for greater influence. I think sometimes, you know, we start talking about, Hey, here's the solution is what you have to do. But I don't know that Christian parents or even nominal Christian parents have even bought into the idea that there's really a war that they, that they really need to be aggressive this, you know, and so one of the things that we try to do with our kids is we try to parent them for the America that they live in now. Not the America that we knew, not the America that our grandparents knew, but we try to parent our kids based on the America that we live in now and the unchanging message of the gospel. So we still teach our kids that they are peculiar. We teach them that they will have by default a different approach to life.
Speaker 2:
And we believe that we have to prepare them now so that when they go out into the world, they're not shocked to discover that they're not well-liked. They're not shocked to discover that people don't love their message. Because you know what, there was a time when we were all just pretty good. You know, Christians, you know, where everywhere and everybody kind of had the same values and the same morals. But for those of us who are adhering to the word of God, we're waking up to the reality that you know where the rubber meets the road is that a Bible believing Christian will be called hateful, will be called a bigot. We'll be called narrow minded. And you can believe in a Jesus who accepts everyone as they are and doesn't require anything of us. And it's just one path among many. But if you say what the Bible says about Jesus Christ, that he is the only way, he is the only way to God and he is the only one who forgives of sin.
Speaker 2:
Well then you're narrow minded and we don't want that type of Christian to be in our circles. So we prepare our kids, and this is going to sound weird, I know, but we prepare our kids to not be popular in the current culture. That will never be. How do you do that? Practically speaking. Okay, so this is gonna sound really weird, right? But one of the verses, and we may get to this a little bit later, but I really believe that a kid or a student who is fully trained as the Bible teaches us is going to be like their teacher, right? Right, exactly right. So I try to ensure that will and I are the number one influences in our kids' lives. And so we model for them that we as your parents are not chasing after the latest fad. We're not into everything that's cool and popular.
Speaker 2:
There are things that we filter even as adults, like we constantly tell our kids the things that we say, no, you're not going to participate in that. Or we don't watch that. We call it consumption. We're not consuming those things. You know what I mean? We tell them, Hey, guess what? We subject ourselves to these same rules because these rules aren't arbitrary. It's not what we gotta to do it cause we're adults and you can't cause your kids. We say, no, this is what we do as people who follow the Lord Jesus Christ. So practically what we try to do is make sure that we ourselves are not in the world to be loved by the world. That we're not in the world to be liked. So that means that we're not ripping and running all the time. Like we're not trying to keep up on the latest things. Like I cannot stress enough how much parents influence their kids with their actions more than what they say. Right? So it means that the things that we value, we want to make sure that it's biblical and then we want to communicate that to our kids so that these are also the things that they value and it's as natural to them as breathing. It's the way that we live our lives, you know?
Speaker 1:
Yes, yes. I love that so much. And it's a hard thing to do, especially because we have grown up in a culture where we, we want to, we want to be liked, we want to be popular. You know, I, I definitely thinking back to my high school years, it's so funny, I was just talking to my daughter about this the other day and I said, I remember high school and junior high like it was yesterday. I graduated in 1993 and that was long time ago. But I remember it like it was yesterday. And I remember that deep desire to be popular, you know, I wanted to be liked by everybody and I wanted to be the cool girl. And, and that's something that even as an adult, I find myself going into, you know, I, I want people to like me. I don't want people to dislike me and, and it's hard to not conform to the culture around us. But I, I mentioned this on last week's podcast where we talked about when, when my oldest daughter was born, I had a very wise mom come alongside me and she said, you become the wife and mom that you want her to grow up to be.
Speaker 2:
Yes. That's it. I mean, that's a wonderful, who do I want her to become?
Speaker 1:
And so and, and I'm going to fail a million times because I'm a sinful human, but at least I can attempt and do my very best to be who God made me to be and then we get to teach our kids. I was, I went on a walk with her this morning actually. We were talking about identity and about how yet her identity is found in Christ and being Christ and like it's not found in the culture. It's not found in what magazines say is, is the new fashion and what things on TV say and how you should talk and what music you should listen to. And it's hard to keep them from that. You know, we were very intentional about what our girls see. We're not TV Watchers, we're not really big movie Watchers, which is kind of ironic since my husband is a filmmaker. But oftentimes, you know, we sit down and we're like, well, let's see if we can watch a movie. And it seems almost impossible to find even a decent movie for us to watch as a family. And so it's, but that's okay. Then we ended up playing a game, which is what we do all the time anyway. But, but it is difficult. It's difficult to be completely set apart. How do your children react to that? Has that just been something that they just know? I mean that's just because that's how your family is or do they, do they push against you on that ever? No, I have say
Speaker 2:
now each of our kids has their own unique personality. Like, so I noticed that it, there, there are objections, but those objections are raised differently. So with our oldest, she tends to be like, she was very strong willed. So from the age of three to like seven, it was consistent and constant discipline and character shaping. It was, Oh my goodness, it was exhausting for me. But man, the spirit of God just really gave me the, I guess the endurance to know that if I can get to this point and not just leave her on autopilot, it's gonna produce a reward. And I've seen it, she's 13 years old now and she is my, she is my second year and can be, he's always had that ability, but it needed to be channeled. And I remember having a conversation with her, you know, she was maybe about seven or eight and it was almost like the height of the rebellion, challenging everything.
Speaker 2:
And I said to her, I said, listen, without consequence. I said, let's have a conversation. What is it that, what do you want? Like what is going on? And I said, you're not going to be in trouble. I just need to know what it is that what's, you know, and my daughter said to me, she said, I want to be your boss. I want to be your boss. Right. She knew this was a breakthrough for me because I understood that what we're doing here is now we're battling for leadership, right. And so I had an opportunity to teach her that the time is going to come where she's going to be able to be in her own family and she will be the mom in the family. She will be in that position of leadership. And it was a wonderful moment and it changed the course of our relationship.
Speaker 2:
So now she is actually very honest with me when she attempted to rebel, when she feels like things are not going her way, you know she we built the kind of relationship where she would tell me then I have my second daughter who is compliant outwardly. But inwardly, no, I disagree. I don't, I don't understand the reasoning. I don't understand why we have to do it that way. You know? And I've noticed that in her. And so I've tried to encourage honesty and transparency. You sometimes think that my rules are arbitrary. Yes. Do you sometimes think we don't need to do it that way? Yes. Let me explain to you why we're doing it this way. And let me explain to you that again, when you're married or if that's not the Lord's will for you, but when you're on your own or however this all works out, you know, after you leave this house, which that's a whole other topic.
Speaker 2:
We're not pushing our kids out, you know? But you know, so I have to deal with them each differently. And then, you know, I have another son who he doesn't understand why the world is so wicked, really just doesn't understand why people are not better. He's 10 he's very philosophical in his thinking. He's, he's very scholarly, so he reads a lot and he reads the Bible a lot on his own. Like he just loves the word of God and you know, he says, he goes, there's, there's nothing that the Bible doesn't speak to is what he says all the time. Like, you know, when he has an issue. And to go back to another question that you asked about, one of the things that we have tried to do, so as homeschooling parents, we still try to make sure that our kids do not see us as the final authority.
Speaker 2:
So we position the word of God as the final authority. When they ask us questions, we take them to the scriptures. We say to them all the time, this is the straight edge. This is the straight edge, you know? And so we try to take them back to the word of God. And I feel like that's helped them to process a lot of what our objections are because they see them as biblical objections and not just parental like user or patient. I don't know. I guess these little people, you know, they want to be independent.
Speaker 1:
Yes, yes. Oh, I love that so much. And, and it's true, you know, we've, our girls are kind of flip flopped from yours in that my oldest is the more outwardly compliant and my youngest is the very strong, well then it's so neat to hear her cause we've really been working on her strong will and it's strong. I, I didn't, I never really understood what a temper tantrum was until she came along and I was like, Oh that's, that's actually a thing. It's different than a tantrum. A temper tantrum is something completely different. She prays. Now she like yours. She has such a soft heart and she often, I mean almost daily she praise, you know, Lord help me to use my strong will in a way that honors you because God gave her that strong. Well and so I want her to use it in a way that honors him.
Speaker 1:
I don't want to take it away from her. She just needs to sit in the right direction. That's right. Yeah. And, and you know, she can do big things for his kingdom if she will learn to honor and obey him. And what a beautiful thing, you know, that God is the final authority. Like you said, I want to talk more about this. We are out of time for part one of this. So I definitely want to come back. Let's do part two on Wednesday and let's talk more about God being the final authority about what God's word says about discipleship. And I want to talk a little bit about the church and what you see going on in church culture today. So thank you so much for those. Just listening to this one. Where can people find out more about you, Meeke?
Speaker 2:
I'd love for people to go to afa.net you can learn about the organization and also find links to check out the podcast for Airing the Addison's.
Speaker 1:
That's awesome. Yes, we'll definitely put those in the show notes. And I'm so excited to announce that you are going to be part of the homegrown generation family expo. So next Wednesday, April 1st no wait, hold on. I'm gonna read you that cause it's going to be that week and I'm so excited to announce that you are going to be part of the homegrown generation family expo. You are going to be doing a live interactive session and it's going to be this coming Wednesday, April 1st from fi. It'll be 5:00 PM Pacific time, 8:00 PM Eastern time. And people will have a chance to just come on, talk with you, ask questions, and we're going to talk a little bit more about this. We're going to talk about culture and about the word of God influencing the hearts of our children and in discipleship. So I'm excited to have you as part of that event.
Speaker 1:
Thank you so much and thank you for being on with us today. We will be back on Wednesday with more from Meeke Addison.

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Join Yvette Hampton and Aby Rinella in this very real discussion about how important the ministry of motherhood is. Above ALL other ministry, our children and husbands should be our primary ministry.
Aby Rinella is a speaker for the live, interactive, online 2020 Homegrown Generation Family Expo. Register today for over 35 hours of homeschool encouragement and instruction. There are currently 29 sessions, with new sessions every week, on topics from homeschool styles and methods, to parenting, discipleship, and even homeschooling special needs students. Lifetime access is just $20.
 
Titus 2:3-5 (ESV)
“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”
Watch the first half of this interview (25 minutes) for free on YouTube. Backstage Pass Members can watch the full interview (1-hour) here.
Proverbs 31: 10-12 and 26-30 (ESV)
The Woman Who Fears the Lord
10 An excellent wife who can find?
    She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
    and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
    all the days of her life.
******************************
26She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
    but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Are you looking for a new Math Curriculum? CTCMath specializes in providing online video tutorials that take a multi-sensory approach to learning. Creative graphics and animation, synchronized with the friendly voice of internationally acclaimed teacher, Pat Murray, make learning math easy and effective. Visit CTCmath.com today to start your free trial today. 
Whether you are just considering homeschooling for the first time or you are a homeschooling veteran in need of a little encouragement, the Homegrown Generation Family Expo is for you. Registration includes immediate, life-time access to over 35 hours of encouraging video and audio, and a wealth of homeschool resources.
Do you believe in homeschooling?
Help spread the word that homeschooling is good for students. It’s good for families. It’s good for AMERICA!  Go to SchoolhouseRocked.com/support and join the movement to spread the word about homeschooling through movie theaters nationwide.
 
Support this podcast.
 
Read the full transcript of this episode: (Automated transcript. Spelling and grammar errors are guaranteed)
Yvette Hampton:           Okay. Hey everyone, welcome back to the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast. I hope you are having a fantastic day today. I am back with my amazing friend Aby Rinella or Abinella as you heard in my intro for part one and we are talking about the ministry of motherhood. If you have not listened to part one, go back and listen to that because we left you with a cliffhanger and so we're continuing on that conversation. So go back and listen to that first but Aby welcome back. Thank you.
Aby Rinella:                  Thanks for having me. And thank you so much for just being vulnerable and willing to share your heart about what God is doing in your life and the lessons he's teaching you because they're not unique to you. There are lessons we all need to learn and it just it's humbling and a blessing to hear you talk about it.
Yvette Hampton:           Well thank you. All for God's grace, all for God's glory by his grace, not for his grace-
Aby Rinella:                  By his grace.
Yvette Hampton:           And for his glory. I want people to like you said at the end of the last podcast, to just know we're in this together. This is real life, this is what we deal with as Christians, as Homeschool moms, as wives and so I want to be real. I want people to know just where I'm at. So we were talking in the last episode about just the conviction that the Lord has brought to me of having my priorities a little bit flip flopped in regards to the ministry of my family and the ministry of Schoolhouse Rocked and how he really just impressed upon me when I was away for a few days that I had it all backwards and mixed up. And I'm so grateful for that, I'm so grateful for his very gentle reminders.
Yvette Hampton:           And so I was telling you about how I came back from that weekend away and I was able to talk with Garritt. We went for a family walk and I was able to just open up to him. I mean he's a wonderful husband so I'm always able to share my heart with him. As a matter of fact, we've been married 25 years which is incredible.
Aby Rinella:                  Wow.
Yvette Hampton:           I know. By God's grace-
Aby Rinella:                  That's a quarter of a century.
Yvette Hampton:           I know. Isn't that amazing?
Aby Rinella:                  No, yes. That's incredible.
Yvette Hampton:           Wait you just doubted yourself for a second.
Aby Rinella:                  No, that's a quarter of a decade, quarter century? Century, a hundred years. You guys are well on your way to a century.
Yvette Hampton:           We are. I know. It's amazing and you-
Aby Rinella:                  And considering you're only 26.
Yvette Hampton:           I know, isn't that amazing? But in our-
Aby Rinella:                  Congratulations.
Yvette Hampton:           Thank you. In our 25 years of marriage, he's learned to read me sometimes better than I can read myself and so I was able to just open up to him and I just shared all of this with him and just said I don't know what direction to go. I need to just step down from my daily grind of Schoolhouse Rocked and fundraising and because that's actually been the biggest part of my job is fundraising for the movie. And so said I just need to step down. I need to give my two week notice and be done with that and not completely done with ministry of course, but I really need to shift my priorities and he's so just... And let me really quickly, let me back up because one of the reasons why I feel so passionate about the ministry that God has called us to is because I get to do it with my husband.
Yvette Hampton:           We get to work side by side and I think of the Proverbs 31 woman which actually want to talk about in a minute, but I think about that Proverbs 31 woman and the Titus two woman and how the Lord calls us to support our husbands. And so because of that, I felt like well I need to do this. I wasn't going out and working at another job nine to five and then coming home and not having anything left. I was actually working side by side with my husband ad so it felt like it should be right but for many months now it has felt wrong and we have felt like our family is just broken. Like it hasn't made sense and I haven't been able to put my finger on it. Garritt really hasn't because we're so consumed with ministry work.
Aby Rinella:                  Well there it is, there's the finger on it. So consumed with ministry work right?
Yvette Hampton:           Right, consumed exactly.
Aby Rinella:                  Because we should not be consumed by any that shouldn't consume us above our family and husbands and children.
Yvette Hampton:           Right. And that's what we've seen happening. And so we've just felt like we're in a state of emotional chaos and it's been really hard trying to just figure out what in the world, what do we change? What do we need to do? How do we need to do to fix this? Not that we need to fix it, but really trying to think Lord, what are you trying to teach me through all of this?
Aby Rinella:                  And isn't God's faithfulness amazing that you prayed that, you guys were on that same page and look how faithful he was to show you. He was so faithful to show you because you were faithful to listen.
Yvette Hampton:           Yeah. Well what's interesting too is I talked with you about this after the fact and you said, "I've been praying for you about this."
Aby Rinella:                  I totally did the same exact. God put in my heart for my friend.
Yvette Hampton:           It's so amazing. And then I talked with another friend of mine a few days ago we went and had coffee together and she said, "You have been so heavy on my heart. I've been praying for you." And so it's neat that the Lord has even put it on the hearts of other friends and family members who've been praying for us who didn't even really know. I mean, I couldn't have told you this is what I need prayer for. So anyway, back to our walk. We were walking, I was talking with Garritt and just saying this is where I'm at and I need step away from full time Schoolhouse Rocked ministry and really focus on our family, on our girls and because I miss them. Brooklyn is 14 we only have a few more years left with her and I feel like we have almost missed the last three years with her.
Yvette Hampton:           Not completely, I mean we're with them all day, but I'm not really with them and so when that hit me that she's going to be gone in a few years that was the point where I just said it has to be done. I have to reprioritize and then you and I were talking and one of the things that you said was how unfortunate would it be if you got to the end of all of this, Brooklyn's ready to fly the coop and she hates everything about Homeschooling. She hates family. She has no relationship with the Lord or with you or with Garritt because we were so consumed with ministry.
Aby Rinella:                  With ministry exactly. And it reminds me of that verse that unless the Lord builds our house it's all in vain.
Yvette Hampton:           Yeah, that's right. And that's what I feel like we've been doing unintentionally. And so Garritt and I mean very quickly, there was not even any hesitation at all he just said it's time for you to be done. It's time for you to step down and just to be full time wife and mom. And again I'll continue to do the podcast and I will still do things it's not like I'm going to completely shut out Schoolhouse Rocked, but it's not going to be my first ministry. And so it was so good to have just his stamp of approval and his encouragement and backing with this. And so later-
Aby Rinella:                  Because any husband needs a wife, he needs a wife.
Yvette Hampton:           Yes. Right.
Aby Rinella:                  He knows his girls need a mama.
Yvette Hampton:           That's right. So later that evening the girls got ready for bed and we had our family prayer time and then I was able to just sit with them and you know about me Aby and those who are close to me know I am not a crier, I do not. I am not an emotional person. I have feelings for sure and I can be expressive, but I am not emotional at all. It takes a lot for me to cry.
Aby Rinella:                  And I cry enough for both of us so.
Yvette Hampton:           Right. And I was just so broken by this whole thing and what the Lord had shown me and so I went to my girls and I just said girls, I need to talk with you about something and they're 14 and nine and I told them all of this and I said, "This is what the Lord has shown me over the past few days and he started preparing me for this weeks ago." And I said "I am so sorry." And I had to go to them and I had to apologize and I just had to say, "Girls I have missed you and my priorities have not been right and I am so sorry that in the name of Schoolhouse Rocked and in the name of this ministry that's all about family discipleship and motherhood and Homeschooling, I've missed it somehow. And I've put you on the back burner and you've been choking on my dust for a few years now." And I mean the tears started flowing from all of us I actually cried Aby.
Aby Rinella:                  Wow.
Yvette Hampton:           You would have been so proud.
Aby Rinella:                  I would have been so proud.
Yvette Hampton:           But the look in their eyes of the relief and when I just said, I'm back. I'm going to be a full time mom now and I'm done with the 50 hours a week of Schoolhouse Rocked ministry and the funny thing was Brooklyn said, "Does this mean you're going to actually help us with school now?"
Aby Rinella:                  Oh my goodness.
Yvette Hampton:           Here we are making a movie about Homeschooling and doing a podcast about Homeschooling and I said yes. And it was just such a sweet time and we cried together and we hugged a lot and I got to just hold them and I cannot tell you how just freeing it was and I literally felt like someone had lifted this enormous weight off of my shoulders. And they were so happy and they just were like, "Mom, we're so glad to have you back." And a few days later, Brooklyn said to me, we went to dinner, just the two of us and she said to me she goes, "Mom I'm so excited and I'm so glad that we get you back." She said, "Because just a few weeks ago you were recording a podcast with somebody about motherhood and the importance of being there with your kids." And she goes, "And all I could think was but you're not really here with us."
Aby Rinella:                  Oh my goodness.
Yvette Hampton:           And I hear that from my 14 year old daughter. And so she just was like, "Mom, I'm so glad. I'm so excited to have you back." And so it's just so neat. The Lord is giving us time as a family to really regroup. We're taking a few weeks off we're recording this podcast a little bit prior to when it's going to air, but in a few weeks we're taking a two week sabbatical just our family. We're going to take some time off. We have an amazing friend who has offered us to stay in their Lake house and we're going to go for two weeks and we're going to just reset and have some time to just breathe and renew our family and then be able to come back and start all over and that is the beauty of the God that we serve.
Aby Rinella:                  Absolutely.
Yvette Hampton:           He gives us second chances and-
Aby Rinella:                  And third chances and fourth chances.
Yvette Hampton:           Millionth chances.
Aby Rinella:                  He does.
Yvette Hampton:           Because he is full of grace and mercy and I'm so grateful for the things that he shows us and for his gentle discipline and his gentle reprimands and how he has used several people over the past few weeks in my life. Not even knowing what they were saying and you're one of them Aby, people just speaking truth without really realizing what it was leading up to. So in light of that I've been thinking through a couple of pieces of script scripture and I would love to hear some of your take on all of that but two of them and I mentioned them earlier is Titus two three... Actually let's take a quick break.
Aby Rinella:                  Okay.
Yvette Hampton:           And then we're going to come back and I want to talk about some scripture that the Lord has really put on my heart.
Aby Rinella:                  Awesome.
Yvette Hampton:           Okay. We are back with Aby and we are talking about the ministry of motherhood. And before the break I wanted to talk about some scripture that the Lord had put on my heart and one of them many of you are going to be familiar with it and for those who are not I would encourage you to go read the whole book of Titus. But Titus 2:3-5 is such an important passage for us as Christian women and as moms. And it says, this is the ESV version, it says "Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good and so train the young women to love their husbands and children. To be self controlled, pure, working at home, kind and submissive to their own husbands" and this is the important part I need a drum roll here-
Aby Rinella:                  [drum roll sounds]
Yvette Hampton:           "That the word of God may not be reviled." and I love that passage of scripture because that is really as Christian women who we are called to be. we are called to teach what is good, we are called to train the younger women in that in my family that is my daughters. God has given me two daughters and it is no one is going to train them the way that I will be able to train them by the grace of God and I can't do that if I'm completely consumed with ministry and doing other things. And to love my husband I need to spend time focusing on my husband and our relationship with one another. And to love their children to be self controlled, pure working at home. It's so good thing-
Aby Rinella:                  It's a great thing.
Yvette Hampton:           Society wants to make us think that if we're not working outside of the home, that somehow we're not doing enough.
Aby Rinella:                  Fulfilling our purpose.
Yvette Hampton:           Right.
Aby Rinella:                  Right. And I think about when it's doing enough I like how you say that. I think there's always going to be someone else that can do all these other aspects of ministry. There's going to be someone else that can make the phone calls, there's going to be someone else that can do all these other things, but there is no person that can replace you in your child's life as their mother. And the scary part is if you're not there, they're going to go looking for someone to replace that but there is nobody that can replace you. Someone else can write the email, someone else can make the phone calls and we're not saying don't serve. We're not saying don't serve in the church or in your community. We are not saying that, but we are saying that anything that comes at the expense of your children is not a good thing even if it looks good.
Aby Rinella:                  That there is only one mom for your kids and that's the one that God made for them. And we also feel this isn't enough. Sometimes sitting at home, wiping rear ends, cleaning the dishes, doing the laundry. We feel like these aren't big things to make a big impact in the world for our big Jesus. Sometimes we feel like we have to do these bigger things, but I think it comes down to do we trust God to do the big things while we're faithful in the small things? And when you were talking about scripture in Matthew I look at the Canaanite woman and you know what she did? She cried out to Jesus. That's literally what she did. She prayed, she prayed. She had a demon possessed daughter and she didn't go out and do all these big things. She cried out to Jesus. She prayed and that is our job as moms is are we praying for our kids or are we too busy doing the big things?
Aby Rinella:                  The things we think are big, but you know what if it weren't for that mama the turnout of that child would have been very different. And then I think of you mentioned Proverbs 31 which really that was King Lemuel's mom and we look at all the big things she did. She bought land and she sold land and you know that's kind of intimidating but do you know what that passage really is? That was her teaching her son. That whole part of Proverbs 31 is a mom sitting down teaching her son God's ways. That is what Proverbs 31 was. He was looking for a wife, he was not yet married and she sat down and she was teaching him what God wanted in a woman and what did that mom do? She taught her son about Godliness and wisdom.
Aby Rinella:                  She didn't say, I don't have time or you know what? I have this other job to do that's more important. Or let me send this email or let me. No, she sat down and she talked to him and she taught him God's way. These are little things, praying for our kids we don't really think that's big. Sitting down and talking to our kids, we don't think that's big. And then I always think about the boy with the fish who brought his fish and his loaves and Jesus did this incredible miracle for thousands of people. And I think you know what? There was a mama somewhere that packed that little boy's lunch. And all three of these women, the Canaanite woman, King Lemuel's mom, the mama that pack the lunch there's no names in there.
Aby Rinella:                  They don't have names. We kind of think oh, they're just unimportant women we didn't even have a name for them. But they did the most incredible things and we think all they do is sit at home and pack lunches and wipe bums sorry, that one keeps coming but it doesn't sound like a very glorious job, right? We don't think that's going to make an impact on the kingdom, but there was a mom who took the time to pack a little lunch and I always picture speaking of imagery, a little brown bag, which I'm sure that's not what he packed in. And she took the time to do the small menial tasks that we're called to do as moms and God used those little things to make huge impacts, waves rippling down to where we're still reading those stories today. So moms, if you want to make an impact on the culture around you, if you want to make a wave in the world be mom first. Do the things that we need to do first, love your kids, pray for your kids, talk to your kids, make them the lunches, play the games, teach them truth and that is the big ministry of motherhood.
Yvette Hampton:           Yes, yes. Oh, I love that so much, Aby. When I was pregnant with Brooklyn, I had a mom say to me once she said, "Become the wife and mom that you want her to become." And that has always stuck with me. And if you have sons you be the wife and mom that you want your sons to marry. I mean, there is no greater thing and I would never want my daughters to grow up with my grandchildren and have to completely constantly push them to the side. I'm sorry, I don't have time for you. I'm sorry I don't have time even though you're sitting right next to me. I'm present, but I'm not really present.
Aby Rinella:                  Right. I'm too busy.
Yvette Hampton:           I'm too busy. And that's not God's heart for family. And I love you talking about the Proverbs 31 woman and as I was reading through that passage today there were a few verses in there that I want to point out. And verses 10-12 it says and it's all about a woman who fears the Lord that's what Proverbs 31 is. And verses 10-12 says "An excellent wife who can find she is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not harm all the days of her life." And then you skip down to verse 26 and there's a whole bunch of stuff in the middle of what she does but you go down to verse 26 and it says "She opens her mouth with wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue." And let me just stop there for a second because oftentimes when we're so busy and so consumed with other things-
Aby Rinella:                  We snap.
Yvette Hampton:           We're not very kind.
Aby Rinella:                  No, we snap at them.
Yvette Hampton:           We don't have the patience for our kids and this says the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Well we can't teach something we don't have and so if we're not being kind our children aren't going to be kind to one another to us, to others. And then it continues on, it says "She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also, and he praises her. Many women have done exceedingly but you surpass them all. Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." And I love that it ends with but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised because it's all about him, all of it. It's all about him. It's all about pointing our kids towards Christ. And I mess up as a mom all the time but how heartbreaking it would be for my girls to come out of our home.
Yvette Hampton:           We only have them for such a short time and if they left my home and felt like I wasn't there for them, and like I put everyone and everything else above them which really is what I have been doing. How sad would that be for them to just walk away and I would have no relationship with them. And its all about-
Aby Rinella:                  Right, right and how dishonoring to God really because really the big picture is and where our motive as moms come from is it must be the Lord. We aren't doing this mom thing for any other reason that God has called us to do it. And this is our God given purpose and when we embrace that we no longer have this emptiness and I need to be doing more and I'm not doing enough and I need to be doing something bigger because we are seeing this big picture that this is God's calling. And honestly when I slack in this area, I'm dishonoring God. I'm not answering the call that he's given me and it's really not about me. It's about... I mean think, just think I get so excited about what motherhood is. We are raising people who will worship God. I mean it's about God.
Aby Rinella:                  And if I get too busy, I'm sacrificing worshipers right? And we are raising the future heads of homes. And I know we talked about early we want to make an impact on the world. Well, the best way we can make an impact on the world is by raising Godly men that will lead a home and by raising Godly women who will teach and train her children in him. That's going to be what impacts a world. So we have to have the right perspective that none of this is about me and it really isn't even about my kids either it's about God and the way that he designed things to work the best. So when we have that perspective, we can wipe those little bums with joy because we know that we are doing kingdom work when we are doing the menial things day to day.
Yvette Hampton:           Absolutely. I cannot not agree more and it seems insignificant, it so often seems like another math lesson, another-
Aby Rinella:                  Another meal-
Yvette Hampton:           Another meal, another 20 minutes of sitting with my child while they go c a t teaching them how to read. It seems-
Aby Rinella:                  Right. Another fight and helping them resolve, another fire I'm putting out.
Yvette Hampton:           Right. I mean there are so many things in our day to day life that just seem meaningless and none of them are meaningless. Every single thing we do with our kids has an impact.
Aby Rinella:                  Is an act of worship, yes.
Yvette Hampton:           Well it should be an active worship and they all are going to impact our kids one way or another, either negatively or positively. And there's no perfect mom, there's no perfect parent so we're often going to have negative impacts on our kids, but what are we characterized by really? And what do we want our kids to be characterized by? And so we have been given such a gift of being able to have these precious children that God has entrusted to us. It is our job to steward those children into embraced their hearts not just take care of their physical needs. And no matter what ministry it is, it could be church ministry, it can be something like what we're doing, or maybe you're a blogger or maybe you do foster care. That's one that I've seen... I mean, I think foster care is amazing. Absolutely it's so desperately needed but I've seen it happen where the foster family it's their whole family is completely overwhelmed with foster care in the name of ministry and they've forgotten their first ministry. And I'm not saying that foster care is bad, I'm just saying what are your priorities right?
Aby Rinella:                  None of these things are bad as long as they don't come before. Just like anything in life. Marriage is good but if my marriage comes before Christ it's no longer good. Anything we have to have it goes Jesus, husband, children and then all the other things. And when we can get those things, when we can get our house in order, things are going to go smoothly. And that's just the reality of it.
Yvette Hampton:           Right. Because the Lord will honor our obedience. And I think it's constantly having to check and recheck and trusting that the Lord is going to provide the things that we feel like we're lacking in. And again, it's his kingdom work and so with me with Schoolhouse Rocked I will do what I can do when I can do it and everything else I'm going to trust the Lord.
Aby Rinella:                  Yeah. If he wants it done, he's going to get it done. He is God.
Yvette Hampton:           That's right. He does not need me to accomplish his will. So Aby thank you for being my prayer warrior. You have been such an amazing blessing and thank you for those of you who listen to the podcast. I cannot tell you what a blessing it is to get random messages for people. It's so often comes at just the right time or somebody will send me an email or they'll message me on Facebook or text message me and just say, "Just thinking about you today. I'm praying for you or how can I pray for you?" And we need that in the body of Christ. We need to do that for one another. We need to come alongside our mama friends, link arms with them and say, how can I support you? How can I help you? How can I pray for you? What are you struggling with?
Yvette Hampton:           And then we need to be real with one another and we need to just keep pressing on in doing what the Lord has called us to do. So I'm just so grateful for this ministry. I still strongly obviously believe in it but the ministry of my family is my first and most important ministry. So please pray for us as we continue to move forward with Schoolhouse Rocked and as I'm stepping down, pray for Garritt because now I don't know this is going to put a heavier load on him but again, we're trusting that the Lord is going to just take care of it. He's going to accomplish-
Aby Rinella:                  I think it's going to put a heavier load on the Lord and he can handle it because he is God.
Yvette Hampton:           He really can that's right. That is exactly.
Aby Rinella:                  He can handle all of it. Well thank you for sharing this because it encourages all of us because I think that we constantly need to be stepping back and reevaluating. I noticed with Homeschool moms, we do it in the fall. We get all our ducks in the row in the fall, and then we have the February meltdown where we redo it again. Right? But we need to constantly be saying, are my priorities? So you've inspired me. You've inspired me to go out and honestly it to ask my kids, do you feel like mom was there for you or do you feel like I'm not? And our husbands, am I available the way that you need me to be available or do I seem too busy? So thank you for spurring all of us on with your vulnerability.
Yvette Hampton:           Well, it is what the Lord is doing in me right now.
Aby Rinella:                  It's a good thing.
Yvette Hampton:           And so I'm glad to share it because it's hard to be vulnerable sometimes and to share the reality of our lives but at the same time, I know it's not just me. I know I'm not the only one who's dealing with this issue of priorities and of motherhood.
Aby Rinella:                  Well I can't wait to see what God's going to do. When you start making those little sack lunches he's going to feed thousands through your obedience.
Yvette Hampton:           But wait a minute. Why do I need to make sack lunches when we eat at home? I'm confused.
Aby Rinella:                  Yeah that's true.
Yvette Hampton:           Unless we go to the park.
Aby Rinella:                  And you can now because you're going to be doing more of that.
Yvette Hampton:           Do you make sack lunches for your kids at home?
Aby Rinella:                  No, I don't.
Yvette Hampton:           Do you put little notes in them and stuff. And your like your kids-
Aby Rinella:                  In the summer I'll pack them lunches to take out in the backyard because they think that's great fun.
Yvette Hampton:           Yes it is. So well, you say in the summer because you live in stinking freezing Idaho but-
Aby Rinella:                  That's true.
Yvette Hampton:           I'm in Georgia where it's like 75 degrees today-
Aby Rinella:                  Oh yeah you can do that all year round. Go make a sack lunch. Well we are so excited to see what God does with your family, with the ministry of Schoolhouse Rocked and with your ministry of the Hampton family.
Yvette Hampton:           Yeah. The Ham Fam as my friend [Jesse 00:53:11] calls it.
Aby Rinella:                  The Ham Fam I love that.
Yvette Hampton:           I think she gets that from Cam Fam, which is Kurt Cameron's ministry-
Aby Rinella:                  Oh that's funny.
Yvette Hampton:           The Cam Fam studio so she calls us Ham fam but anyway, thank you Aby and thank you guys for listening today.
Aby Rinella:                  Thank you.
Yvette Hampton:           You are such a blessing and again as I said at the end of the last podcast, we would love it if you would tell us how the ministry of Schoolhouse Rocked is impacting you, how this podcast is impacting you, how Homegrown Generation Family Expo has impacted you, our blog, our social media, whatever it is. We would just love to know that we are making a difference in your life and that it has been a blessing to you and to your family. And if there are questions that you want answered and any way that we can serve you let us know.
Yvette Hampton:           I will do the podcast so I won't answer all your questions but I will answer some and so just let us know. If there are podcast episodes that you would like us to do, if there are certain things you would like us to address, let us know. If there are certain guests that you'd like to hear on the podcast, let us know. We would be glad to invite some of them on and so we're in this for God's glory and to serve you. So let us know how we can do that. You can learn more of course at SchoolhouseRocked.com and make sure you share with your friends. So thank you guys so much for being with us today. Have a fantastic rest of your week. And Aby, thank you for being a blessing to me and a prayer warrior-
Aby Rinella:                  Thank you.
Yvette Hampton:           And we will be back next week. Have a good day. Bye.
Aby Rinella:                  Bye.
 
 

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Titus 2:3-5 
“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”
 
Watch the video of this interview (25 minutes) for free on YouTube. Backstage Pass Members can watch the full interview (1-hour) here.
Proverbs 31: 10-12 and 26-30 (ESV)
The Woman Who Fears the Lord
10 An excellent wife who can find?
    She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
    and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
    all the days of her life.
******************************
26She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
    but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
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Read the full transcript of this episode: (Automated transcript. Spelling and grammar errors are guaranteed)
Yvette Hampton:           Hey everyone, this is Yvette Hampton. Welcome back to the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast. I am on today with my amazing friend Aby Rinella who our family lovingly calls Abinella because why waste time separating the words Aby Rinella? It's just so much easier to just say Abinella, It really makes a lot more sense.
Aby Rinella:                  All about efficiency.
Yvette Hampton:           Right? As Homeschool moms, it's what we have to do. We have to really make the best use of our time.
Aby Rinella:                  That's awesome.
Yvette Hampton:           So, Oh goodness. Well Aby, thank you for being on with me today. I actually texted you this morning and I was like, "Hey, you want to jump on a podcast with me this afternoon?" And we both scrambled to rearrange our day to make this happen. And part of the reason is because both you and I have been talking a whole lot over the last several weeks, but specifically over the last week just about some motherhood things. And the Lord has really put this podcast episode on my heart and so I said, I really feel like we need to record this one and as always you jumped on board with me and so here we are.
Aby Rinella:                  Here we are because this is an incredible message that I think every woman feels it is this motherhood thing. And we're in the midst, we're all busy so we need to be able to sit down and talk about motherhood and priorities of motherhood and what God says motherhood is.
Yvette Hampton:           Yeah, that's right. We've titled this when the ministry of motherhood and I want to tell a little bit of my story and give a little bit more insight into my world. Last week I was invited, while I wasn't invited last week, but several months ago I was invited to an event that took place last week at BJU Press and it was a great event. I loved getting to go and learning more about BJU Press and their ministry there and all the things that they do there. They're a fantastic organization but the interesting thing that happened while I was there was that for the first time in a really, really long time I was able to step out of my everyday normal, my little box of life and what I just am normally used to.
Yvette Hampton:           And the Lord had really been working on my heart for several weeks in regards to some things and so I really want to be vulnerable here and just share it and I know I've shared with you, but I just felt like I need to share with my audience, with our audience what God is doing and the things that he is showing me. So it goes back to a few weeks ago. Well, let me back up. Sorry if I seem so scattered here. Most people who listen to this podcast unless they're brand new to the podcast or to the ministry of Schoolhouse Rocked. They have a little bit of a glimpse into my life and to this ministry that the Lord has called us to and when I say us, I'm talking about my husband Garritt and myself and our two daughters and we've spent the last three and a half years of our lives pouring every ounce of our being into the ministry of Schoolhouse Rocked.
Yvette Hampton:           We have filmed a movie, we have done this podcast now for a year and a half, we have a blog, we have our social media staff, I mean there's just so many things that are going on at one time. And we are certain that the Lord has called us to do all of these things and called us to this ministry. And I've been feeling for most of those three years that we've been doing Schoolhouse Rocked, the ministry of Schoolhouse Rocked I have felt pulled in many different directions. Sometimes more than others, but for the most part I have felt like I am being pulled in a million different directions and there's just not enough of me to go around. And I know Homeschool moms often feel that because there's so many things vying for our attention. We're constantly having people asking us to do things in the name of ministry and we've got our family who we need to attend to and we've got church responsibilities and we have just so many things going on.
Yvette Hampton:           So this has been my world where we have just literally poured everything into this ministry and it's been amazing. We are so grateful. We pray daily for the ministry of Schoolhouse Rocked. We pray that God would use our family to impact his kingdom in the most amazing way and in the way that he has called us to do it because it's all for his glory, it's not for our glory. And in doing so I have found myself completely consumed by ministry and people often ask me how do you do that? How do you work full time and how do you find time to still Homeschool your kids and be a mom and do all of the other things? And I keep saying I don't know. It just happens, somehow the Lord just brings it all together and he just orchestrates our lives and our schedule.
Yvette Hampton:           And at the same time I constantly and we've talked about this on the podcast before, I constantly have this feeling of mom guilt like I'm just not doing enough with everything. I feel like I'm failing with my kids, with my husband, with the ministry, with Homeschooling, with everything. Like things are just falling to pieces but there's a little bit of stickiness holding, kind of post it note kind of sticky. I'm not talking gorilla glue kind of sticky-
Aby Rinella:                  A little breeze and it's gone.
Yvette Hampton:           Right. Just barely hanging on by a thread. And so it's been a really hard thing for me to deal with. So several weeks ago a good friend of mine, she sent me a text message and she said, "Hey, I just was thinking about you and I was..." And she's a veteran Homeschool mom, she Homeschooled all five of her kids. And well actually Connie Alberts, I think you are familiar with her she's one of the cast members in the movie. She was a speaker for Homegrown Generation and just a sweet friend. And so she just randomly out of the blue, she sent me this text message and she said, "I was thinking about you and I was looking at some pictures of my kids when they were growing up when they were younger." And she said, "I just wanted to remind you to keep your priorities straight." And I was like, yeah, I know I need to do that and I feel like I am doing that but why is it so hard? And so she texted me back a little bit later and she's saying, "I hope that didn't offend you or hurt your feelings. I just felt like I needed to say that."
Yvette Hampton:           And I was like, "No, that didn't offend me at all. I'm really glad that you said that and reminded me about that." And then fast forward a few weeks and a while back Heidi St. John she had a podcast and you and I both listen to her podcast all the time and she was talking about the same thing. And she was talking about ministry and how oftentimes they've seen their families just crumble in light of ministry because ministry can take over your life. And when I say ministry, I'm not talking about necessarily that your husband is a pastor or that you are a missionary out on the mission field or any of those things. If you are committed to doing what the Lord has called you to do no matter what that is it's ministry. Because he's called us all to some sort of ministry. We can either say yes or we can say no but sometimes we get completely overwhelmed and the ministry takes over our lives.
Yvette Hampton:           So anyway, Heidi was doing this podcast and she was answering a question from a mom and basically just said "Don't allow ministry to consume you and to be to the detriment of your family." And that again, it was like the Lord just pricked my heart and just was like, "Are you listening? Are you listening to what she's saying?" And then I think you called me the next day Aby and you were like-
Aby Rinella:                  And I was like, "Did you hear that?"
Yvette Hampton:           You did. And I don't know if when you called me if you were even like saying that like did you hear that? You really need to be convicted of this thing. I think it was more of a-
Aby Rinella:                  This is amazing and honestly every woman needs to hear this because I think this is a pull that every... I mean yours more so because you guys are literally in full time ministry with Schoolhouse Rocked but so many moms be it, I'm a Sunday school teacher or I'm organizing the co-op or anything outside of the home. We feel that we feel that. So when we heard that it spoke to all of us.
Yvette Hampton:           Yes.
Aby Rinella:                  So I said, "Did you hear that? I needed to hear that. Did you hear that?"
Yvette Hampton:           But when you said that to me it really was even though you didn't mean it to come across this way, I heard it as you really needed to pay attention to that which I really did. And so again, the Lord just was pressing on my heart and just saying, "You need to listen, you need to pay attention." And so fast forward a couple of weeks later and I go to attend this event at BJU Press and like I said it was the first time in a very long time that I've been able to just pull away from my normal every day bubble and really had a chance to see inside of my world of what we've been doing, what the Lord has called us to which are all good things. But in my view, I'm a super visual person. Over the top, I literally visualize everything. Are you like that? Do you have a constant movie going on in your head?
Aby Rinella:                  No, I can't shut my mind off but I am a visual person but not to that extent.
Yvette Hampton:           Oh man. Oh, what was it recently at this rabbit trail, but recently all of her Facebook people are talking about that some people don't have an internal dialogue.
Aby Rinella:                  Yes, I saw that.
Yvette Hampton:           I don't understand that. How is that possible? Because I never stopped talking to myself.
Aby Rinella:                  I know I don't either. I wish I could turn it off sometimes.
Yvette Hampton:           Right. I never stopped talking to myself and I never ever have a blank slate in my brain. I always have a picture all the time constantly.
Aby Rinella:                  That's going. Do you think it's a Homeschool mom thing too? That we are always talking to herself because I don't have another grownup all day to talk to so-
Yvette Hampton:           No because I did it before I had kids.
Aby Rinella:                  Oh, there you go.
Yvette Hampton:           I've just always talked to myself.
Aby Rinella:                  It's just constantly. But the visual, that's interesting that you're always seeing a visual in your head.
Yvette Hampton:           Yes, always.
Aby Rinella:                  Interesting, visual learner.
Yvette Hampton:           I am. I am a visual learner. So as I was removed from my normal situation, I had this visual in my head of my normal every day and what that has looked like for me and for my family is that we all are sitting around a table and this is not imaginary, this is actually what we do. We all sit around this table and Garritt is working and I'm working on my computer and our girls are sitting next to us working and doing school stuff and I mean they go outside and they do things and it's not like I don't pay any attention to them at all. But it seems like all the time my girls are saying, "Mom, can you help us with this? Mom can you help us with that? Mom, we need you here." And I'm like, "I'm sorry I can't I have to work. I've got another email to send, I have another phone call to make, I have another podcast to record. I have to get all the stuff done in the name of Jesus, for ministry."
Yvette Hampton:           And what I realized is that my heart so deeply desires to serve the Lord and I really passionately want to impact this world. I look at what's going on in our culture, I look at the direction that our world is going for my girls. They're young and they've got a long time left on this earth and I look at the direction that our country is going and that our world is going on and I'm like, "I don't want that for them, and so I'm going to do everything in my power as long as the Lord allows me to somehow impact people for Christ." So in my deepest heart's desire to do that, I have mistakenly put my first ministry off to the side. Not intentionally, but I kept thinking, well, this is what God's called me to. This is what God's called me to. He's called us to do Schoolhouse Rocked. He's called us to do the movie. He's called us to the podcast. He's called us to all of this stuff and it's so much work and I can't stop doing this because this is what the Lord has put on our family. All the while forgetting that my first ministry as a mom-
Aby Rinella:                  Is sitting right there.
Yvette Hampton:           Is being with my children. It's being present with them, it's engaging with them. It is not putting my hand up one more time and saying, I'm sorry I can't help you with your math right now or with your science because I have to answer this phone call or I can't go outside and play ball with you because I need to record a podcast or I can't play chutes and ladders with you because, because, because, because. In the name of ministry. And so the Lord brought just deep, deep conviction to me and not in the sense that what I was doing was wrong, just in the sense of my priorities were all screwed up but for some reason I couldn't see it. And so when I went to this event at BJU Press the Lord just really got a hold of me like he hasn't done in I don't know how long... I mean in years.
Yvette Hampton:           And it was almost kind of like... I've talked about this on the podcast when we started Homeschooling, it was like the scales fell from our eyes and we were like, "Oh, this Homeschooling thing, this is amazing." And it was very much the same in that it was like the Lord just opened my eyes and just said, you're doing good work, at least attempting to do good work, you're committed to it but your first ministry needs to be to your family. And so while I was there, while I was at this event I had an opportunity to talk to a couple of friends there and this is happening in real time. I mean the Lord is working in my heart and I'm with these friends and these women who I strongly admire. One of them was Heidi St. John and so I just was like, I don't know what's happening but God is putting these things on my heart like right now today.
Yvette Hampton:           And it was so neat because I had a chance to sit and talk with Heidi and I just said, "Heidi I don't know what to do because I feel like I need to just completely flip flop everything around but I don't know how all this stuff is going to get done for Schoolhouse Rocked if I just placed it off to the side and take over my first ministry which is my family. And not just my girls, but my husband as well because we get to the end of the day and I've got nothing left for him and I mean nothing. I'm exhausted. I am mentally, physically, emotionally, completely spent and so as Heidi often does and Connie was also there Heidi said "God is never going to ask you to do ministry to the detriment of your family."
Aby Rinella:                  Absolutely.
Yvette Hampton:           And that was the moment where I just went, "Ah yes, that's it. He's not going to ask me to do this to the detriment of my family." And so I just continued to pray about that and I came home from that event. I had a three and a half hour car ride home and it was so neat to just be able to just put everything into focus and just see how the Lord means it to be. So I came home and that evening we went for a family walk and the girls were riding their scooters ahead of us and Garritt and I were just walking and talking and I just shared with him everything that was on my heart. And I said, "I just feel like I need to be done." Not completely done with ministry as a matter of fact, the podcast is the one thing that I'm going to hold on to because that's easy.
Yvette Hampton:           For me it actually doesn't take very much time. He does all the hard work I just get to sit in front of a microphone for a little while and talk to you and our podcast guests and it's awesome. But as far as the daily grind of everything else I've been doing for Schoolhouse Rocked I just said "I don't know how this is going to get done but I need to step down." And one of the things that Heidi said was maybe you guys have been working so hard trying to get this movie off the ground, trying to get through post-production, trying to get it done. Doing all this stuff in the name of ministry so maybe it's time for you to just step back, let go and allow the Lord to work a miracle and watch him work.
Aby Rinella:                  Absolutely. And I don't think it's that you're stepping away from the ministry of Schoolhouse Rocked, I think it's that you're stepping into the ministry the first ministry that you were called to which is being a wife and mom and allowing God to handle what only God can handle. So it's not... Yeah you're stepping in to where God has had you all along.
Yvette Hampton:           Yes, right. But somehow I forgot about that I mean-
Aby Rinella:                  Because we do.
Yvette Hampton:           Wow. Yeah.
Aby Rinella:                  We do. I think as Christian women we look at women of the world and I think sometimes we think oh, they're so pulled by the world and their careers and their climbing of the ladders and we don't do that we're moms we're stay at... I mean most people listening to this are Homeschool moms. So we've already died to those things to step into this role of Homeschool mom but then what we do because we have an enemy that wants to distract us in whatever way he can from our first ministry, is we get distracted by good things. These are good things. All of these secondary ministries, they're really, really good things but they're still pulling us from the first ministry. And we think of these admirable things like you said, you want to impact the world that your kids are going to have to live in. But the truth is when we go to the Bible really the world that's God's job. Our job is to prepare our kids for the world that they're going to live in.
Aby Rinella:                  And we can spin our wheels trying to change the world but if we put out kids that have not had mom and dad they're going to flail in that world. And when I think of missionaries I always think when you say the word missionary you think someone going into a tribal area that doesn't even speak English and living in a tent and they're reaching an unsaved people, that's really what a missionary is. There is someone that reaches an unsaved community or person and I think when God gives us these children, he's handing us unsaved children. And it is our job to be missionaries to this little tribe that we've been given in our home to speak their tongue and to spend time with them and to immerse ourselves in their world to reach these children for Christ. And so really, we're missionaries every day and again, we have an enemy that wants to distract us from that with good things that seem good but they pull us from our primary ministry which is our home.
Yvette Hampton:           And you said secondary ministry and that's where I've really had it mixed up is that I've taken my first ministry of my family and I've made that my secondary ministry and I've taken Schoolhouse Rocked and made that-
Aby Rinella:                  Made it your primary.
Yvette Hampton:           Primary ministry. And again, not intentionally. I realized that I was doing it butt all along it just felt like but this is what God's called us to. This is what's God called... I can't stop. And one of the things that he really showed me during my time away was we have worked so hard to minister to families and to minister through Schoolhouse Rocked but God does not need me to accomplish his will. Now he uses us. We are his vessels and he uses us and when we're obedient to him he will open doors for us to be able to serve but he doesn't need me. And I think all along I keep feeling like well, I need to do these things, the Lord needs me to do this-
Aby Rinella:                  And if I work hard enough, it will be successful. If I just one more phone call, one more email, one more service, one more... Like for me like one more I don't know anything because we have lots of women listening to this, but maybe if I take on one more job at church I'm going to make a bigger difference for the kingdom. And we will but not if it's at the expense of our home.
Yvette Hampton:           Exactly. I want to keep talking about this.
Aby Rinella:                  Yes.
Yvette Hampton:           But let's end this episode, this first part and then let's continue on. We're going to do a part two of this and we're going to continue on with our story. Is that a good cliffhanger?
Aby Rinella:                  I love that cliffhanger. And I want to dive into some women in the Bible, they were examples of this to us but you'll never know unless you come back.
Yvette Hampton:           And listen to part two of the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast, the ministry of motherhood.
Aby Rinella:                  The ministry of motherhood.
Yvette Hampton:           Yes. Come back on Wednesday and we will have part two of this story and how God is just moving in my heart.
Aby Rinella:                  Awesome.
Yvette Hampton:           And you guys thank you for listening to this podcast because this really is part of our ministry, part of what God has called us to. Aby and I we're not getting rich off of this podcast-
Aby Rinella:                  Nope.
Yvette Hampton:           But we are getting rich off of the fact that we know that it is ministering to you. The reviews that we're getting and the reviews are not so that we can pat ourselves on the back and say, "Oh my goodness, look what a great job we're doing." The reviews are such a blessing because we get to hear from you the listeners how this ministry really is having an impact in your lives. And there is just nothing better in light of ministry than to know that you actually are making a difference. And so we would love it-
Aby Rinella:                  And that we're in it together. We want the listeners to know we are in the trenches with you guys and it's good to know that we're not alone. And so as much as we want to be an encouragement to you, it's an encouragement to us to know that we're all in this together.
Yvette Hampton:           Yeah, absolutely.
Aby Rinella:                  We have the same struggles.
Yvette Hampton:           Absolutely. We do. So thank you guys for listening. You are such a blessing to us and if you have not left a review for the podcast, we would love for you to do that. It's kind of a hassle I know but Garritt actually said, let's put a link in the... We may try to find some link to actually just put on the website or something where people can leave reviews because it's a little bit complicated to do that on Apple, on the iTunes app and other apps and stuff like that. So anyway... Or just shoot us an email. That's the other thing is if you want to send us a message you can email me at Yvette@SchoolhouseRocked.com and I will obviously get those because that's my email address. And so I would love to know how we're being an encouragement to you, but we will continue on with this conversation. Have a fantastic rest of your day and we'll see you back here in a couple of days.
 
 

Caleb Schroeder is a public school teacher and adjunct college professor, and brings his wisdom and insight from his experiences in the public school system to this important interview for the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast.
Caleb was a speaker at the 2020 Homegrown Generation Family Expo. Register today for over 35 hours of homeschool encouragement and instruction. There are 28 sessions on topics from homeschool styles and methods, to parenting, discipleship, and even homeschooling special needs students. Lifetime access is just $20.
 
Join us on the Schoolhouse Rocked Backstage Pass membership site for the full unedited video of this interview. Save 10% on any paid Backstage Pass Membership by using the coupon code "Podcast10".
In this episode of the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast Yvette Hampton talks with Caleb Schroeder, a homeschool dad who was homeschooled himself. He and his wife Leah, who was also homeschooled, now homeschool their six children in Southern California. While their homeschool educations were relatively unstructured, they both went on to get college degrees (Caleb just finished his second master’s degree). In this interview Caleb talks about the philosophy and aims public schools from his perspective as a long-time teacher in the system. 
Book Recommendation:
The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World By Rosaria Champagne Butterfield
Links:
Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF)
Young Life
Campus LifeClassical Conversations
Want more from Caleb? Watch his interview for Schoolhouse Rocked: The Homeschool Revolution on the Schoolhouse Rocked Backstage Pass membership website. This video is FREE and there is even a coupon code on the page for a FREE 3-Month membership! 
Are you looking for a new Math Curriculum? CTCMath specializes in providing online video tutorials that take a multi-sensory approach to learning. Creative graphics and animation, synchronized with the friendly voice of internationally acclaimed teacher, Pat Murray, make learning math easy and effective. Visit CTCmath.com today to start your free trial today. 
Whether you are just considering homeschooling for the first time or you are a homeschooling veteran in need of a little encouragement, the Homegrown Generation Family Expo is for you. Registration includes immediate, life-time access to over 35 hours of encouraging video and audio, and a wealth of homeschool resources.
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Read the full transcript of this episode: (Automated transcript. Spelling and grammar errors are guaranteed)
Yvette Hampton (00:00):
Welcome to the second part of my interview with Caleb Schroeder. If you missed part one, please go back and listen to the previous episode. Caleb was one of our excellent speakers for the Homegrown Generation Family Expo. Check it out at HomegrownGeneration.com now, enjoy the rest of my conversation with Caleb. I wanted, I want to talk a little bit deeper about what's actually happened happening in the, in the culture of the public school system.
Yvette Hampton (01:07):
you know, I hear we're, we're from California. I'm just like you, which is how we know you. and so, we're, we're removed from it a little bit right now, but we still hear of all the craziness that's happening. And I know it's not just in California that these things are going on. you're on the inside. We often hear it. It almost feels like hearsay. And sometimes to be quite honest with you, I hear about things that are happening in public schools and I think that can't be true. Like that can't actually be happening. Maybe it's happening at one or two schools, but it certainly can't be happening all over the country. And several months ago, I had an old friend from high school, she, she called me and she was considering taking her kids out of public school and she's in Northern California actually.
Yvette Hampton (01:56):
And so she just said, yeah, just talk to me about this homeschool thing. You know, cause I feel like I need to take them out, but I, I don't understand homeschooling and I just don't know. And she, she really didn't know a whole lot of what was happening in her own kid's school, even though she was involved. And so I started doing some research and there were some things that I just found that just appalled me in a million different ways. you know, one of the things I saw was, the state of California of course, you know, you can take a girl at any age to have an abortion and you not only do, you not have to tell her parents, but you're not allowed to tell her parents. You could take a little girl to murder her baby and you're not allowed to tell her parents or you know, kids can come in and they can say, you know, a little boy can come and see him.
Yvette Hampton (02:45):
I think I'm going to be a girl today. And they have to honor that. And they can't tell his parents. And they've completely removed parental authority from everything that they're doing with these kids. And they have become the authority and hear these things. And I read them and I know that they're true. And then I think, but certainly that can't be. Yeah. So how, what is the culture looking like as a, as a public school teacher, what are you faced with day in and day out? And then how have you seen that change over the years? Cause you've been teaching in the public school system for quite some time. I mean, yeah. So for a long time. So you've seen, I'm imagining quite a shift from when you first started teaching to what is happening now. So, so talk to us about it. What's going on?
Caleb Schroeder (03:34):
So, I really don't think I would've survived as long as I have. if I was in, like LA unified school district, I am in Kern County and Kern County is the wild West of California. That's how we like to describe it. So, in the community that I teach in, our biggest claim to fame is we have the Willow Springs race track, which is one of the original, paved serpentine race tracks, or I don't, I don't know exactly what it is, but it's popular. So that employs a lot of people in our community. I don't know if you know NASCAR folk, but they're usually pretty conservative. the next big employer in our community is the air force base. and usually air force personnel are more conservative. So all those laws have gone into effect. So, you know, if a boy decides he's a girl, he needs to be allowed to use the girls restroom locker room.
Caleb Schroeder (04:29):
That's the law that we have to observe. and we have had a couple kids in our, in our school who have decided they want to play that game. and so, it's sort of up to the school for how they're going to, how they're going to deal with it. because I'm in a conservative community, they've, they've dealt with it very cautiously. so we have all of our restrooms locked in. We let one kid in the restroom at a time on, there has to be a security guard at every restroom. and that's a problem, you know, but that's, that's how we deal with it, you know. they have to, in the health classes, the thing having to teach the children, they're required to teach the children. About all of the different genders now and all the different ways that those genders can have sex.
Caleb Schroeder (05:17):
The sex ed piece of, of health has gotten very, very crazy. I mentioned that my daughter is in my public school. and so she's, she's independent study, but she still has to do, you know, the state approved curriculum. And so, this last semester her teacher came to me and she was like, Hey, I can do the health course, the full health course or I could do the health course without the sex ed piece. You can elect to not have sex ed for her health. And I was like, yes, please. You know, and so like in a conservative community, the way we interpret it, we can sort of say, Oh, we didn't get to that. I'm sorry we didn't get to that part of the curriculum. I'm sorry. You what I'm saying? And so there's, there's ways around it. My dad taught for 37 years.
Caleb Schroeder (06:01):
He taught intelligent design in the public high school. his students actually would actually sort of get confused sometimes they'd be like, wait a second, Mr. Schroeder, are you, are you saying that you believe intelligent design or are you saying that you believe in evolution? Cause he wouldn't tell him what he believed in, but he would present both sides of the argument and then the kids would sometimes they'd be like, wait, what side are you arguing for? We don't understand. So eventually one of his students made him two hats and one of 'em says intelligent design. And one of 'em says evolution. So he'd put the hats on when he was arguing from the different views. So the kids would sort of like be able to keep track of what's going on. So my conservative community, we've sort of been protected from that. But what you'll notice, I'm in California right now.
Caleb Schroeder (06:44):
Over 10% of students have left the traditional public school. and they're going to charter schools that don't have to stick to the same crazy curriculum rules that some of the public schools have to stick to. they can have a little more freedom for how they do things. They're going to private schools on their homeschooling. there's a lot of charter homeschools in California now. Our kids are being taught independent, subtle study through charter schools and they have a lot of freedom. So, there's, there's a math mass Exodus, so every year they're losing thousands of students from the public-school system because parents in California are fed up with it. What's interesting is during the Obama era, I don't know, a lot of conservative people realize this. Obama actually was a big proponent of charter schools, but like these public schools are failing our kids.
Caleb Schroeder (07:36):
They need a little bit of competition, a little bit of competition, never heard anybody, which isn't usually what you hear from a liberal. Right. and so, he started, sort of supporting those systems and it was sort of one of the first times that in California, our union didn't have a lot of support from the Democrats. Well, now it's shifted. and so, I don't know if you follow, follow the recent teacher's strike in LA. A lot of that had to do with the massive amount of students that they've lost to charter schools. The public schools are losing funding and the decision they made after that strike was a huge sort of, below two. With the charter schools, the homeschool parents, they're going to start making it harder for parents in California to homeschool. There's been well, uh, how, how they're doing it is through our, uh, through our social care program.
Caleb Schroeder (08:31):
So, they're trying to get legislation passed that if you, have an affidavit. So we tell a friend, you have to file an affidavit if you're homeschooling your children and they're trying to get legislation passed where if you file an affidavit, then you have to be visited by a social worker. In California, social workers have absolute power. So if a social worker comes in and decides you're a bad parent, they can tell any lie they wanted the judge, you had no recompense whatsoever. You can't do anything to get your kids back. One of my, one of my good friends is going through this right now, her son away, they're about to take her other two kids away. They're accusing her of abuse. and there was no abuse at all. and so, and it's just her word against a social worker and a social worker doesn't like her and it's like, it's not normal core situation at all over a period.
Caleb Schroeder (09:23):
So like she can't even like call other moms who've been in these situations and are like this lady's line. She can't even call them to type testify. so, it's getting scary here in California. but what I tell people, the safest place to be is where your shepherd tells you to be. And so right now I know this, this is where I'm supposed to be. I'm supposed to be on the front lines of this. I'm not going to put my kids in the public school. And, and there's ways for me to get around. those bills going through so far, they haven't gone through, but we, this last election, our state got a lot more liberal and they're getting away with a lot of things. but we can't make decisions based on fear. And so, uh, there's there, there's a battle brewing. our enemy recognizes that what we're doing is preventing him from having the minds of our child children and he hates it and he's coming after us and he has a lot of people who are doing, doing his bidding. so that he has a strong foothold in California and it is, uh, it is scary. but I know, I know whom I have believed in. So that's, that's why I have hope.
Yvette Hampton (10:41):
So what can parents do? What can Christian homeschool parents, and Christian public-school parents do to fight this culture war that's going on?
Caleb Schroeder (11:36):
in addition to praying? Of course. Yeah. I would say to, to keep yourself educated, you know, pay, pay your dues with HSL da and like be following them. Be paying attention to the cases that going on in California. and, and be, be praying specifically by name for the different situations involved in the homeschool community. You know, whatever it is, whether it's costal conversations or another one, find a homeschool community so that you're aware when these things are going on. So you can be providing support to the people that surround you. the, uh, and we w what I think, what I'm confident of, I'm a public-school teacher. It's not going to be hard at all for homeschool students to outperform public school students. We do a good job of educating your children and guess who's tomorrow's leaders are going to be.
Caleb Schroeder (12:38):
Yeah, they're going to be our children. And they'll, the liberals are aborting themselves out of existence. And unfortunately, I mean, that's sort of a, maybe a crass way of saying it, but, they're, they, they're not interested in having families and homeschool parents as a rule have really large families. I know several, I have six kids and I know several families. I have more kids than I do. And so as, as we stick to our guns, as we hold onto our children and we educate them and we don't just educate them out of fear, but we recognize that Jesus says, I'm going to build my church and the Gates of hell won't stand against it. And we need to have that attitude in, in this battle for the hearts of our children and for the hearts in our communities. And so, what that means is, we don't, we don't try to homeschool in a bubble.
Caleb Schroeder (13:28):
We homeschool with our why and our doors wide open. And what happens when, when your unsaved neighbors are coming in and they see your kids, they're blown away. They're like, what? This is amazing. What you're doing here is amazing. You know, they see there, they see that they're learning Latin and they see they're reading the classics and they hear them studying with each other and they hear them talking about the books they're reading. They're just like, what? Like my kids, I can't even get them to read a graphic novel, you know? and you know, so, so when, when homeschoolers actually live transparently in their communities, what's going to happen? Where it's going to get out is what if somebody reports me or what if somebody, you know, tells people what I'm doing, what you're doing is good. What you're doing is awesome. And so shine that light, shine light to the people around you. Be inviting people over for meals in your home, have barbecues, do block parties, invite people over and do an amazing job discipling your children and [inaudible] we'll win a generation.
Yvette Hampton (14:34):
Yeah, that's right. And the best way to disciple them is to teach them the word of God. And Ephesians six when they lay down, when they walk, when they stand, when they, you know, throughout the day, always looking for opportunities. You talked about that with your dad and how he would just take you out and he'd just, by his very nature, he introduced you to the nature of God and the creation of our, of, of our Lord. And there are so many opportunities that we have to point our kids to Christ. And when we take advantage of that day in and day out, and when, when we are not sending them off into a system that's teaching them everything that's contrary to the word of God, we have the ability to teach them. And you know, it doesn't mean that they have to know Latin. It's okay if your kids don't know Latin.
Yvette Hampton (15:21):
It's okay if your kids don't reach calculus. It's okay if they're not historians or scientists or whatever, you know, they are going to be who God created them to be. And that's the beauty of homeschooling is we get to, we get to cater to our kids' learning style, to their desires, to how God has created them individually. And they will make a difference in this world. And I love your stance on be hospitable, open up your home to people and they don't have to be just homeschool people. Invite the neighborhood kids over. We had a house that we did that with, several years ago and we, we had a nice backyard and we had one of those big Costco play sets. And so we would invite all of the neighborhood kids to come over to our house. And it was so much fun. And I remember one summer we took, it was like 12 neighborhood kids to VBS at our church that year and they were so excited.
Yvette Hampton (16:14):
And then we moved to another neighborhood and we did the same with those kids and we brought those kids to church with us and they're still going. As matter of fact, when we went back to California, well guess it's about a year and a half ago now. we, we went back to our home church and the neighborhood kids who would go every week when we were there, they were still going. And it was so exciting. And these are kids who come from a very broken home, but grandma would take them and she was there and we were so excited to see them there. And we thought, this is it. You know, this is the purpose of coming alongside of our neighbors and love your neighbor as yourself. And what a great opportunity we have to be able to do that as homeschool families.
Caleb Schroeder (16:54):
Let me tell you about one like that that reminded me of just this amazing opportunity we have and California right now. So because our state is liberal, they require schools to allow any club to have a presence on campus. so that includes child evangelism fellowship in our community in California right now, we can't keep up with the requests from local principals for us to have a good news club on their campus. where if we, we just need more people who will help staff those and the primary people who are staffing. Those are until families, you know, they're the teenagers from some of these homeschool families that the good news club is usually at the end of the school day. So it's like two 30. So a lot of working professionals can do that. But the homeschool moms and their kids, they can go do that.
Caleb Schroeder (17:42):
So, I don't know if any of your listeners are familiar with their local CEF, but CF loves homeschool families and you get to bring your kids on the public-school campus and be salt and light right there with you and what you're doing. You're sharing missionary stories, you're sharing Bible stories. I don't know if you're familiar with CF, but it's, it's one of the largest missions of organizations in the world. And that's, that's really how, how missions is done in America. It's true. We call it backdoor evangelism, the children. And then through the children you reach the parents and, and there's, there's, the harvest is right there is the workers are few. And so there's so many opportunities in California to be on those campuses and to be doing, to be doing outreach. You don't have to send your kids to public school to send your kids to public school. You have a presence right there and do amazing things with your children in your, in your local community through CES starting. Encourage your listeners to look up their local CF chapter and try to help them
Yvette Hampton (18:47):
or too young life. Cause I'm familiar with young life. Yeah.
Caleb Schroeder (18:50):
Young life is usually sort of like junior high, high school age. And then there's also my, my high school actually has a campus life program, which is another one. But CF is for elementary school age kids junior high. But yeah, it's, it's sort of the first one that was ever started. It's been around for a long, long time. Have you ever seen like the wordless book? That's a CF thing.
Yvette Hampton (19:12):
Okay. Yes. Okay. Okay. Yeah, I'll, I'll link back to those in the show notes. I just did an interview recently with Elizabeth Johnston, the activist mommy, I don't know if you're familiar with her, but we were talking about the impact that we can have on, abortion clinics, and, and pro-life centers. And you know, as homeschoolers, we have such a great advantage because we have, we have time and I know that there are homeschool moms who are rolling their eyes at me going, I don't have time. I don't have extra time to do anything because I've got my kids with me all day. Yeah. There's time for ministry when God calls you to it, you know, pray and ask God, what are you calling our family to pray with your kids, get on your knees, pray and ask God to show you and your kids what ministry you can be involved in.
Yvette Hampton (19:57):
And he will give you the time to be involved in those ministries because he does that. He, he, he wants us to serve in his world. And I think as Christians, so often we get into our little bubble of church and homeschooling and, and we forget that there's another world out there who desperately needs to hear about Christ. And you know, I've really, I've been thinking a whole lot lately about, just those who are in, in leadership in our country, who are making all these horrific decisions and taking the lives of innocent children and, and telling lies to these kids who are so confused about, you know, their gender identity and this and that. And, and it starts with our, it starts with our leadership there. The, we need to be praying for those people. And, you know, I mean, obviously my heartbreaks in a million different pieces for those babies who are being, whose lives are being torn out of their mommy's wombs.
Yvette Hampton (20:56):
I just, I, I can't even wrap my mind around it and how we as a nation are saying that this is okay. but I, I just again read, uh, one of my favorite books is the hiding place by Corrie 10 boom. for those of you who have not read it, I please read it. I, I think, I mean, you know, if I was stranded on a desert Island and I could only take three books with me, it would be the Bible, the hiding place, and the little house on the Prairie series that counts as one book to me. but I love the hiding place. And one of the things I love about that book is that, Betsy, who's Corrie 10 boom's sister and their father, Casper 10, boom, they are so passionate about praying for those who are torturing and executing, you know, all of the innocent people and their hearts break for them.
Yvette Hampton (21:44):
And, and they're, you know, a couple of circumstances where, you know, Betsy will just say, Oh, I feel so sorry for them when someone's being tortured. And Cory saying, you know, she's thinking, she's talking about the person that being tortured and she's not talking about that person though she feels sorry for them too. She's talking about the person torturing because they need Jesus. And if we're going to say that we care about human life, care about those people who are literally heading straight to hell and, and they need Jesus, they need him desperately. And so, you know, as homeschool families, we need to just be praying and asking the Lord, where would you have us to serve? Where would you have us to spread your truth and spread your gospel to every end of the earth? We don't have to go to Uganda to be on the mission field.
Yvette Hampton (22:34):
I love that you talk about, you know, you felt like God called you to missions that you are on the mission field. Caleb, you are on the front lines. You are witnessing to these kids, witnessing to teachers. You are showing by your very life that you have Jesus. And so, and I know you're making a difference. I've known people, you talked about Christian earlier. you know, I know people who you've had a great impact in their lives because you have taken a stand for what truth is and use the platform that God has given you to be able to do that. So, um,
Caleb Schroeder (23:04):
I think one of the, one of the big ways that we can reach out and make a difference, especially with the abortion issue, is finding ways to support single moms. Just, just finding the local networks to be going there and doing classes for them. Do everything you can to give them support and to not make them feel like there's nobody there for them. That's really where that bottom battle's going to be. One, the way that we wage war in our culture is by loving the center. That's what I saw Jesus doing. And that's how he changed the communities that he was preaching the gospel amendments to us by loving the centers. And so we go and we love, we love those centers. Well, we pray for those people who are making the decisions. We go on the marches, you know, as a kid, I was out there with my sign, you know, at our local hospital when they're trying to have an abortion here and we got 'em out of here, you know.
Caleb Schroeder (24:04):
and so, like you do those things, and you're teaching your children as you do that. And you're raising up a new generation of people who are going to be engaged in the culture. Right. And it's important to distinguish between being engaged in the culture and being at war with the culture. We're at war with sin. We hate sin, but we love the people. And that's really where, that's where the 10 booms got it. Right. They were praying with people, they hated their sin, but they, but they loved those people. Well, and even just praying to God to give you that love and said, the Holy spirit is shed abroad his love in our hearts. And so we have that love for those people. And when we act out of that, when we pray out of that, that's what's going to change this world. And that's what's going to teach our children. Wow.
Yvette Hampton (24:48):
Yeah. And, and it's, it's when we realize what we've been saved from and we're still sinful to, you know, we're just as sinful as the next person. but we, I was just talking about this with my girls the other day saying there's a difference between being a sinner and living in sin. And we are all sinners desperately in need of a savior. and once we realized what we've been saved from, we will, we will have such an earnestness to go out and share that with other people. You know, when you eat a dessert that is so unbelievably delicious and you bring your friends all around you, you want to say, Oh, you've got to try this dessert. It's so good. It's the best chocolate cake I've ever had. Or, or you know, whatever cheesecake, you know, you, you're excited and eager to share that with them.
Yvette Hampton (25:40):
And we need to be that way with the gospel. We need to, to just cry out to the Lord, to give us the boldness to share Christ with those who, who desperately need him because we are sinful too. Jesus died for us. He died for them. I love that you talk about single moms and reaching out to them. We actually interviewed Mary Jo Tate for the movie and she was a single mom and, and we asked her, you know, what is the one thing that, that single moms need? And she said they need other people to come alongside of them and help them. And if that means coming alongside of a single mom and saying, I know that you're not comfortable having your child in public school, but I know you have to work to provide for your children. Let me take some of the burden off of you and let me homeschool them.
Yvette Hampton (26:24):
There's no better way to love. I mean, that is amazing. And I know of parents who are doing that. we stayed with it, really neat family in Tennessee, and, and Franklin and they have a farm and they just have a really good friend, a really good family friend who is a single mom, just a really neat lady. and this has just kind of taken this mom and her son under their wing and they're part of their family now and she helps to homeschool their son and, and you know, we get so comfortable in her little like, okay, it's going to, it's going to disrupt our homeschool day. If we bring on another child. It's okay. It's okay to disrupt your homeschool date just a little bit if that's what God's calling you to do. and so yeah, step out, do something John says, get off the bench.
Caleb Schroeder (27:13):
You know, my wife and she's, she's pretty awesome, but what are things she's taught me is, just go with it. You know, like a lot of times we're so overwhelmed at the uncertainty of tomorrow we'll love what if I start having people in my home or whatever. I started going doing these ministries. Really it's messy, you know, but be build, be willing to have maybe a little more of a messy lifestyle, you know? like Rosaria Butterfield, I really highly recommend her book, but she just talks about these single moms from her neighborhood or just coming over to her house in the evening and all the laundry is on the table. So what do they do? They start, well, no, she says they just put it back in the dryer for her to do right. Or you know, they help her with the dishes or they help her get dinner on the table.
Caleb Schroeder (27:53):
And so they're just doing life together. If you've ever read any of Edith shepherd shapers writings, that's the way she would do her. And Francis Shaffer just they did life together. And so that's, that's how Christians are going to win this generation. One of the things I find about millennials, they love and they're desperate for community. They want connection there. They're one of the least connected generations because of social media and because of all these issues, but they're desperate for that and like having them into your home, it goes so far to communicate the lower price. Let me just give a little bit of encouragement to your listeners. I personally am a very task oriented person. I'm sort of a go getter and I always have things that I'm doing and things that I'm pursuing, and God's really taught me to slow down and be present with my children.
Caleb Schroeder (28:45):
I think that's extremely important, especially for homeschool dads. And moms are there all day. They're going to be with their kids. one of the, one of the little things I did that it might seem, it might seem minuscule, but it's made a huge difference for me. I put an overstuffed chair in my son's bedroom and so when I go in to pray with them at night, I sit in the chair. That makes just a huge difference for me because I'm instead of like, okay, the task is pray and then, and then leave. I sit down and I just, I can sort of relax while I just listened to them and I just give them my year and I give them my face and I let them tell me about their day and I'll ask, let them ask me the million questions. At nine year old boys have, you know, anything from science to the Avengers, you know, they wanted to come before bedtime. Exactly. The bedtime turns them into, you know, philosophers.
Caleb Schroeder (29:37):
But just to be present with my, with my daughters, I pursue their hearts. I take them out on dates for, Sophie just had her 14th birthday and I took her to this local place, the Odyssey. I don't know if you've been at Odyssey, it's beautiful down in Granada Hills. And then we went to the Pantages and we saw Wicked on the, on the stage, you know, off-Broadway and it's just, it was a special time for me to let her know I love you and I'm sure to protect your heart, you know, as you, as you go on into the culture and just taking that time to slow down, to be present with your family. We love reading. we are constantly reading for the month of January we went completely off screens and we just read, and it was such a blessing. I would come home and all my kids would be like sprawled out on the couch, all reading different books.
Caleb Schroeder (30:24):
the weaker readers, we use audible and they're listening and, and that's just, those are treasured times to just grow together. So just I challenge your listeners, you know, be, be active in the culture, but understand that's something you do as a family and you can present with your children while you're doing that. I love what you guys are doing. Just taking your girls along with you. You know, this is our adventure. This is our family and venture. We're doing it together. That's how God designed the family to work, is to increase our ministry, not decreasing.
Yvette Hampton (30:51):
That's right. And it's not always easy and it's not always fun. but it is always a blessing to be where God has called you to be and to be doing what he's called you to be doing. He brings blessings and obedience, so for sure. I love that. Well, thank you Caleb. You are a huge, huge blessing to us. thank you for what you're doing in the public-school system. Thank you for being on those front lines and making a difference in the lives of these kids who desperately need to hear truth and love for sharing that. So anyway, have an awesome rest of your day. Thanks for your time. I had mentioned this at the beginning of the podcast, but we have a great interview with Caleb that we did for the movie and there's a pretty good portion of it on, I think it's on the Backstage Pass membership site, but you can actually see it for free. so we will put a link to that in the show notes. You can click on that if you haven't seen it yet. So, so thank you guys. Have a great rest of your day and we will see you next week.
 

Caleb Schroeder is a public school teacher and adjunct college professor, and brings his wisdom and insight from his experiences in the public school system to this important interview for the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast.
Caleb was a speaker at the 2020 Homegrown Generation Family Expo. Register today for over 35 hours of homeschool encouragement and instruction. There are 28 sessions on topics from homeschool styles and methods, to parenting, discipleship, and even homeschooling special needs students. Lifetime access is just $20.
Read the transcript of this interview here.
 
Join us on the Schoolhouse Rocked Backstage Pass membership site for the full unedited video of this interview. Save 10% on any paid Backstage Pass Membership by using the coupon code "Podcast10".
In this episode of the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast Yvette Hampton talks with Caleb Schroeder, a homeschool dad who was homeschooled himself. He and his wife Leah, who was also homeschooled, now homeschool their six children in Southern California. While their homeschool educations were relatively unstructured, they both went on to get college degrees (Caleb just finished his second master’s degree). In this interview Caleb talks about the philosophy and aims public schools from his perspective as a long-time teacher in the system. 
Book Recommendation:
The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World By Rosaria Champagne Butterfield
Links:
Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF)
Young Life
Campus LifeClassical Conversations
Want more from Caleb? Watch his interview for Schoolhouse Rocked: The Homeschool Revolution on the Schoolhouse Rocked Backstage Pass membership website. This video is FREE and there is even a coupon code on the page for a FREE 3-Month membership! 
Are you looking for a new Math Curriculum? CTCMath specializes in providing online video tutorials that take a multi-sensory approach to learning. Creative graphics and animation, synchronized with the friendly voice of internationally acclaimed teacher, Pat Murray, make learning math easy and effective. Visit CTCmath.com today to start your free trial today. 
Spelling You See offers Short lessons to help students concentrate on the process of spelling visually. With Spelling You See, Words are taught in context, because research proves that context helps with the recall of proper spelling patterns. Simple tasks, done without stress, encourage a student to build their spelling skill on success, rather than failure. One of the best things about Spelling You See is that there are NO tests, because test anxiety doesn’t help a student remember words. Visit SpellingYouSee.com Today to learn more! 
Do you believe in homeschooling?
Help spread the word that homeschooling is good for students. It’s good for families. It’s good for AMERICA!  Go to SchoolhouseRocked.com/support and join the movement to spread the word about homeschooling through movie theaters nationwide.
 
Support this podcast.

Join Yvette Hampton and Jennifer Elia, Founder of Sound Foundations Homeschool, as they discuss how to nurture a love of learning in our children and how to teach to different learning styles. Schoolhouse Rocked Backstage Pass members have access to this full interview, which includes over an hour of content, including the video, "Eliminating Homeschool Overwhelm" and the 30-minute Bonus Video, "10 Steps to Homeschool Success." 
You can get a free copy of Jennifer's program, 10 Easy Steps to Transform Your Homeschool and Home!  on the Sound Foundations Homeschool website.
Jennifer Elia, homeschool consultant, blogger, and Amazon best selling author, is Founder of Sound Foundations Homeschool which is dedicated to giving homeschool moms the tools they need to thrive in their home education career. Jennifer is leading the Sound Foundations Homeschool movement, equipping moms to provide an education that celebrates her child's unique and special gifts without burning out. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and four children whom she has been educating at home for the past 10 years. When Jennifer isn’t busy researching the best curriculum solutions, she enjoys gardening, crafting, and writing.
Watch the video of this full interview on the Schoolhouse Rocked Backstage Pass website.
Connect with Jennifer Elia:
You can find Jennifer on Facebook and Pinterest. 
Jennifer’s website: https://soundfoundationshomeschool.com
Read Jennifer’s books:
●      Sound Foundations: A manual for building a thriving and successful homeschool
●      Homeschool Moms Want You to Know
●      Making the Decision to Homeschool 30 Day Journal
Photo by Rachel on Unsplash
Are you looking for a new Math Curriculum? CTCMath specializes in providing online video tutorials that take a multi-sensory approach to learning. Creative graphics and animation, synchronized with the friendly voice of internationally acclaimed teacher, Pat Murray, make learning math easy and effective. Visit CTCmath.com today to start your free trial today. 
Whether you are just considering homeschooling for the first time or you are a homeschooling veteran in need of a little encouragement, the Homegrown Generation Family Expo is for you. Registration includes immediate, life-time access to over 35 hours of encouraging video and audio, and a wealth of homeschool resources.
Do you believe in homeschooling?
Help spread the word that homeschooling is good for students. It’s good for families. It’s good for AMERICA!  Go to SchoolhouseRocked.com/support and join the movement to spread the word about homeschooling through movie theaters nationwide.
Interview transcript (this is an automated transcript. Spelling and grammar errors are guaranteed!)
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Hey everyone. Welcome back to part two of my interview with Jennifer Elia. On the last episode we talked about eliminating homeschool overwhelm that every homeschool mom faces and we also talked about just the importance of finding support both globally and locally in your homeschool. And so today Jennifer is back with us again. Welcome back to the podcast, Jennifer.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Thank you. Glad to be back.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Yeah, I'm so glad to have you back. She is the founder of Sound Foundations Homeschool. She's a homeschool mom to four kiddos and she has been a public school teacher and a college professor. She's gotten lots and lots of training under her belt today. She speaks from experience and also from just education herself and knowledge of having been a teacher. And so one of the things we kind of started talking about at the end of our last episode was we were talking about nurturing a love of learning and our kids, and I have found that too, the one of the most important things that we do as homeschool parents and also one of the hardest things that we do as parents because we can, we, we talked in the last episode about, about the gaps that we all feel like our kids have when we kind of get this frantic, Oh my goodness, our kids are going to have all these holes in their education and what are we going to do?
Speaker 1 (01:58):
And you were talking about how it's important to teach them how to love learning because everybody's going to have gaps in their education. But if they, if they learn how to learn, then they can learn anything. And I've told this story actually before. I've told this story before on the podcast, but I grew up really hating school. I genuinely hated school. And I remember my senior year of high school I just felt like, Oh, thank the Lord, it's done. It's over. I never have to open up another book again. I enjoyed reading for fun, but I did not ever want to open up anything academic ever again in my whole life. And I just felt like, okay, I've checked off that box. I never have to learn anything again as long as I live. And I really wish, now I have a very different opinion about that and view of learning of course. And now I enjoy learning as an adult, but I wish that I had grown up with a desire to learn and a love for things because everything that we learn can, can and should point us towards our creator and having a deeper relationship with him. So I want to talk about the two things of, you know, one nurture, why we need to nurture that love of learning in our kids. And then two, how do we accomplish doing that?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Yes. Well, the first thing is that like I said in the last one, I love to do research. Like that is a great passion of mine. I love, I actually love writing research papers. But now that I'm out, most of what I do my research on is education or something like that. However, I was working for global learning day for a while. And one of the things that they wanted me to find out about was preparing people to be lifelong learners, but also preparing them for getting out into the world and being productive adults. And so I really dove into that research and when I found is that when led top skills that employers want are people who can learn, like know how to learn and are, are willing to self-educate so they're willing to keep learning and they know how to take a topic and find out about it.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
And I realized that homeschooling really sets us up for that because if you're in a brick and mortar school you are, yes, you're checking off those boxes and you're trying to get from first grade to second and second to third and pass this test and earn that certificate. And then in the end it's considered like a completion, like you're done. But really when you think about graduation, it's called a commencement because it's supposed to be beginning the next chapter. And so it should never really end. So I think that when we're thinking about preparing our kids for wanting them into a world and preparing them for like, you know, future ready careers, one of the biggest things that we can teach them beyond STEM or investing in expensive chemistry equipment or any of that is really how to learn because of the world that they're going to be living in is going to be completely different than what we're doing right now.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
And that's one thing that I've seen over and over again in these studies about STEM is that the people that are high up in the technology are saying, listen, the coding you're teaching your kindergartners is not going to exist when they get out. So instead of focusing on that, focus on teaching them how to adapt and learn and love that and also be creative in their learning. So you were saying like, how do we start that? And I think really it's igniting that, that spark. When kids are really little, they, they get fascinated by something. So everyone has their little quirk that they love. Like we were talking earlier about my oldest just loved Thomas the tank and she couldn't, I mean, every single engine that there was and telling you what they did and, and where they lived and what their number was and whatever.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
And so they didn't study a few years ago about children like young children preschool and toddlers and how they obsess on something. And people get upset because we were in this academic mindset that all they want to learn about is dinosaurs. But they found that when you let them dive into that, they become much better learners and their brains develop more much more productively then if you're exposing them to everything and trying to get them to, you know, learn Spanish and know physics also, there's stuff that they're trying to teach preschoolers now. So I think that sometimes we need to step back from where we want them to go and see where they are, especially when they're young and let them chase that passion a little bit. It's hard to do as moms, as homeschool moms because we worry, well if they only want to like my oldest loves horses. If they only want to learn about horses, then you know, where does chemistry and algebra fit in? And that will come. But you need to nurture that that passion within them and let them dive into it. And as they learn how to dive into their passion, they're going to keep reading and learning and studying. And that kind of sets them on the path of understanding how to learn. So now when a new problem comes up, they can go about it to problem solve through it.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Right. Can we, I want to take a break and then when we come back, can we give some very practical ways to do that with kids and I want to talk about kids with maybe some different learning styles and how that would work with them. Okay. Sound good? Okay. Let's take a quick break and we'll be right back. The home grown generation family expo is here. You'll be encouraged by Kirk Cameron, Heidi st John, Sam Sorbo, Andrew Patois, ginger Hubbard, Lee Borden's, and many others. You can still register and have lifetime access to the replays of the entire event. Don't miss out on this exciting expo. Register today for only 20 dollars@homegrowngeneration.com that's homegrown generation.com Hey guys, this is Brooklyn Hampton. Have you left a review for the schoolhouse rock podcast yet? If you haven't been positive show right now and go do it. Don't worry. I'll wait.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Have you done it yet? Great. Then back to the show, we are back with Jennifer again and we're talking about nurturing a love for learning and our kids. And, and what I want to talk about specifically is every kid has a different, or every one of us is made with a different bent, a different learning style, a different personality type. And so as far as learning styles, you know, you've got those who are kinesthetic, those who are visual, those who are auditory. I know there could, the list can go on and on with those, but those would be, you know, the three basics. And then you have different personality types as far as you've got the introverts and the extroverts and those who kind of fall in between. And so can we talk a little bit about, and maybe kind of break that up into the different learning styles and, and personality traits that kids have and how we can foster that love for learning in those kids. So how, how do you, I mean do you want to go one by one? I don't know. I did not prepare you for this. I'm sorry. I,
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Well, I think in general the learning sales are often discounted. When I was in public school, there was this whole differentiation of lessons and so you needed to try to touch all the learning styles. So the are reaching everybody. But I think sometimes we're afraid to foster that learning style that our child was born with. So we worry that if, for instance, for a kinesthetic learner, if we have them do everything physically, so like when they're learning their times tables, if they are you know, multiplying like how, how far they ran, you know, so like we have them run it and then they multiply that out. Or if they are topping up and down to learn how to count or they are physically moving things from one place to another, you know like the all about spelling where you move things.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
There's many different versions of that. But we worry that if we, if we just focus on that, then they won't learn how to learn. But in fact, like we're nurturing their gift. And I think that one big thing that's essential to fostering that level of learning is nurturing their gift and how they learn. Because while they need to be exposed to everything in life, you'll be exposed to auditory and visual if you're a kinesthetic learner. So if the best way for you to learn fractions is by cooking, you know, making cookies, it's much better for you to learn how to do that then to struggle through it in a workbook because you're not going to get as much out of it. And that's not like a really a detriment. So I would say overall like, be willing to step back and see how your child learns and be willing to foster that after level of learning.
Speaker 2 (11:16):
So if you want, I guess if you want to go one by one and think of some ways to do that. So if we already started with kinesthetic, with kinesthetic, anything that is physical like, and it doesn't have to be like outside physical, you know, like running around climbing monkey bars, although that it's very helpful. It can just be like moving things. So instead of drawing a line from one side to the other, you're physically moving things from one container to another, or you are you know, using marbles to count instead of tally marks. Does simple things like cooking, really any of those practical skills can be transformed into a lesson because there's so much math and science and creativity and everything we need to do in everyday life that we often discount. You know, even doing the laundry, you need to balance it right?
Speaker 2 (12:10):
And you need to sort the colors and you need to decide which temperature and what are the temperatures going to do to this kind of clothing. So everything can be a learning opportunity. It's not that you need to spend a day learning how to do laundry, but for that kinesthetic learner, it's something that they can get their hands on and their minds around to learn it. So I feel like sometimes kinesthetic is a little bit easier because it's easier to imagine, you know, like you can see them doing it. At least for me, it is. For auditory learners, we, we really discount auditory learners, I have to say, because we are so focused on like the visual reading and doing work and workbooks and tests and stuff, which is all visual. It's not auditory. And there's also been, you know, again, lots of people moving away from lectures or [inaudible] extended listening.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
However, that is a great skill for kids to have. And auditory learners need that. Like they thrive on having all that rich information coming into them. So audio books podcasts, lectures, there's going to get so much out of that. Yes, they're just, it seems like they're just passively sitting there not doing anything, but that is what feeds their soul and gets them excited. And so I really, you know, my, my kids are audio book junkie and I've had people say to me, but don't you make them read books? And they're voracious readers. My younger two don't read yet, but they will sit and listen to audio books for hours. And I always say, if you can read with your fingers, why can't you read with your ears? You know, it's, it's the same thing. So they are devouring this literature. I'd rather have them do that than not read anything because they're frustrated.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Right. And Andrew poodle, I would agree with you. We've, we've talked with him about that on the podcast and in the movie.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
This is why I love Andrew. So I always say that he's my, like my homeschool. Like heartthrob
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Well, you're not the only one. I'm sure my husband teases me that I'm a groupie, but anyway, as long as you don't have posters of him up on [inaudible]. But I always like, you know, hear his voice in my head when I got back and I'm like, Oh, we should get bracelet. Says Hey, what would Andrew do? What would Andrew do? He just read a book or we just read a book he would listen to. Did you know actually that he, he'll talk about reading books himself, books that he's reading. I know almost every book that he reads, he actually listens to, he, he does almost all audio books himself. Yeah. And and, and that's amazing. I mean, you look at someone like him who's so well versed and well educated and, and he speaks on this a lot and he himself has an audio but guy, you know, he's not a Tory learner and so he, he's a musician of course. So that makes sense. And that's how he enjoys reading is through audio.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Yes. And so same story really, you know, no matter how it's, it's the same as like reading a play versus seeing a play. Sure. The same thing, you know, you're still reading Shakespeare. So then the last one would be the visual learner. And these are people that might actually thrive on workbooks, but you really don't want to get stuck in workbooks. So you want them to have a way to not only express themselves visually, but to receive information visually. So really engaging books with lots of pictures. Encyclopedias, not, you don't want water and down with pictures. But there are some wonderful, my boys are really into animals and they have some, you know, volumes, they're like this thick with beautiful photographs and tons of information. But the photographs are really just so engaging that it pulls you in. And that even if you can't read the text or you can't get everything, you're getting information from that. So like infographs would be another thing if you're looking, they would probably, you know, visual learners would probably love to make up an infograph to PowerPoint presentations, things like that, that are engaging their eyes and and getting them thinking.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Yup. Yup. And I think I find of most curriculum that are out there today, or she'd say curricula out there today I feel like people are doing a better and better job of creating their, their texts to meet the needs of all of these different learning styles. And so they'll have, you know, the reading portion of it, but then they'll have activities that go along with it, which are great for both of those. And as mom, you know, you can read to your children so that they're not having to sit there and read on their own. And in reality it's going to be much, much better learned when mom reads it out loud. So then they're getting that auditory as well as the visual, if they're following along with you. But then mom typically will read it correctly where the kids oftentimes will not, they'll skip words, they'll mispronounce a mispronounce words.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
I almost said ms pronunciate don't know where that came from. They will mispronounce words. And so it really is, and again, we talked about reading in the first episode to your kids. And so that's just a great way for them to get that auditory learning. But then mom is sitting there with them and you're still building that relationship and being able to read the texts with them. And that's aside from just fun books and, and you know, great literature that we get to read with our kids. Let's talk very quickly about the, the two different personalities and why, I guess it would be really three cause you've got the introverts, the extroverts, and then those who kind of fall in the middle and helping to nurture that love of learning and kids with different personality styles.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Yes. So I have kind of a mix in my family and I am most definitely an introvert. Most of my children are extroverts though. But I realized that when I try to do group learning with them, it's harder to harder on some than others. And so we need to kind of limit what we do together. However, my extroverts need that interaction. So they, like my son thrives on, he has a zoom based Spanish class and he just, that's like his favorite class ever. Cause he can see people and he can talk to them. And so he has a science co-op that he goes to and we do a fine arts co-op. So they're kind of like, they need that constant stimulation of joining things. And one thing that I've realized is that sometimes we get into that habit of joining everything cause we want our kids to be socialized and make sure that they're meeting enough people for some children.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
That's very painful though. So for my extra words, I need to find a balance though. And so what I do is I let them join things that are going to teach them what I want them. You know, what they need to learn. And then we fill in the gaps. So we're not like when they do a science code, we don't do science elsewhere, you know, this way we have time for other things. And so that gives me enough time to bring them there and let them experience that without feeling like we're constantly behind. And the same with like they're in four H and they do presentations and research and whatever. So I count that towards their language arts and take that out of the language arts. So that gives us time to participate in four H. So I think that is an important balance. You have an extrovert if sometimes not to get caught up in trying to get them out there so much.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
And then trying to keep up with work, find a way that you can use what they're doing out there to take away from what you need to do, like in books at home. Right. And find outlets online for an introvert. I think you still need to get them out there. You know, you don't, but I don't think that we need the push kids to do things that they don't necessarily want to do all the time. I think though that there is a place where you have to be, well, you need to learn how to live in the world. So we're going to go to, we have book record club quarterly where the kids go and present a book report to our group and then they sit and listen to all the book reports. And so from my one tile beds of painful experience, but I'm like, this is part of what we do, you know, so it's only quarterly and the rest of the time I let it go.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
So defining strategic ways to give that little taste of having to be in front of people to get over the fear of it, at least without overburdening them, with having to be somebody that they're not. And then providing quiet study, you know like I know an online course was just not in the cards for that child. So I'm providing a more quiet you know, lots of reading and journaling and stuff. And supporting that, you know, that is valid learning. Just as you know, doing public presentations is, it's the same thing.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
Yeah. Great advice. Great advice. We are out of time but I would love it if you would come back. We most people know we have the backstage pass membership site and one of the things I really want to talk to you about is you talk about 10 easy ways to transform your homeschool and home. Will you stay on with me for an extended version for our backstage pass members and can we talk about that with them? Yes, definitely. Okay, sounds awesome. So thank you guys for listening today. If you are a backstage pass member, you can go on backstage pass membership site and we will continue this conversation with Jennifer talking about 10 easy ways to transform your home and home, homeschool and home. And if you are not a backstage pass member, go on SchoolhouseRocked.com and just click on backstage pass and you can get information on that.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
And there are some great resources on there that is a really fantastic way to support the ministry of Schoolhouse Rocked - the podcast, the movie, the blog, social media, everything that we have going on here and get some great behind the scenes footage from the movie. Great. Just great encouragement on there. We have lots of podcast interviews on there and extended versions from the podcast, but we also have many of the actual interviews from the school house rock to movie on there, people to full interviews and I'm so you'll have access to all of that stuff and we have a lot more stuff that's coming on backstage pass membership site, so we would love for you to join us there as well. Thank you guys for listening. Thank you, Jennifer. Where can people find out more about you? You can find me on SoundFoundationsHomeschool.com and Facebook and Pinterest at Sound Foundations Homeschool. Okay, great. We'll link those in the show notes and you guys have a great, great day and we will see you next time. Bye bye.
 
 

Join Yvette Hampton and Jennifer Elia, Founder of Sound Foundations Homeschool, as they discuss how to eliminate homeschool overwhelm, find support, and nurture a love of learning in your children. Schoolhouse Rocked Backstage Pass members have access to this full interview, which includes over an hour of content, including the video, "Nurturing a Love For Learning" and the 30 minute Bonus Video, "10 Steps to Homeschool Success." 
You can get a free copy of Jennifer's program, 10 Easy Steps to Transform Your Homeschool and Home!  on the Sound Foundations Homeschool website.
Jennifer Elia, homeschool consultant, blogger, and Amazon best selling author, is Founder of Sound Foundations Homeschool which is dedicated to giving homeschool moms the tools they need to thrive in their home education career. Jennifer is leading the Sound Foundations Homeschool movement, equipping moms to provide an education that celebrates her child's unique and special gifts without burning out. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and four children whom she has been educating at home for the past 10 years. When Jennifer isn’t busy researching the best curriculum solutions, she enjoys gardening, crafting, and writing.
Watch the video of this full interview on the Schoolhouse Rocked Backstage Pass website.
Connect with Jennifer Elia:
You can find Jennifer on Facebook and Pinterest. 
Jennifer’s website: https://soundfoundationshomeschool.com
Read Jennifer’s books:
●      Sound Foundations: A manual for building a thriving and successful homeschool
●      Homeschool Moms Want You to Know
●      Making the Decision to Homeschool 30 Day Journal
Photo by Kinga Cichewicz on Unsplash
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Whether you are just considering homeschooling for the first time or you are a homeschooling veteran in need of a little encouragement, the Homegrown Generation Family Expo is for you. Registration includes immediate, life-time access to over 35 hours of encouraging video and audio, and a wealth of homeschool resources.
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Help spread the word that homeschooling is good for students. It’s good for families. It’s good for AMERICA!  Go to SchoolhouseRocked.com/support and join the movement to spread the word about homeschooling through movie theaters nationwide.
Interview transcript (this is an automated transcript. Spelling and grammar errors are guaranteed!)
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey everyone, this is Yvette Hampton. Welcome back to The Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast. I am so glad that you are with us today. It is always such an exciting thing to just know that there's someone else on the other end listening and hopefully being encouraged by this podcast and by the guests that we have on. It is my greatest desire to encourage you in your homeschool journey.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Whether you have been homeschooling for a really long time or you're just thinking about homeschooling and trying to figure out what this whole home education thing is all about. And so it is always my pleasure to bring exciting guests on the podcast with me. And today is no different. I have a really great homeschool mom. She's a blogger. I'm, her name is Jennifer Elia. She is the founder of sound foundations, homeschool and she has a homeschool mom. It's been even homeschooling for how long? I'm trying to share this for our 11th year. Your 11th year. Okay. So you're in this for awhile. Yeah. So Jennifer, welcome to the podcast. Thank you. Thank you. It is an absolute honor to have you on. Tell us briefly about your family and what you do.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
So I have four children. My oldest is 15, my youngest is almost three, so we have like the team can hot spring going on. And I was originally a public school teacher. I got my masters in teaching and so my whole thesis was based on how to teach in reach all children so that they can reach their highest potential. And I realize I'm doing that, but the school room was not the place to do it. And so that's what started my journey, looking at homeschooling with husband. And I actually started researching it before we even married. And then when my daughter got my oldest started getting close to school, we kept going back and forth and back and forth and we finally took the leap and said, we'll just do it for kindergarten and here we are 11 years later still homeschooling.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
That is great. I love that you were a teacher in the classroom. You also were a university or a college professor. Did you college you taught at it? Community college. Okay. Okay. And then you also, you taught, what did you tell me? French. Spanish.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
I taught French at the college for 12 years. And I also, when I was in public school in public school for five years I did a mixture of French and Spanish. But then I also did the math and reading resource room. So I worked with students who had special needs, which was part of what, through my my study for my masters though, like learning how to really help them. And that's, that's where I realized that these children are being labeled by what they can't do and we're in the system. We're not focusing on their great gifts and giving them the tools to really shine because they were special, just as special as the kids that were at the top of the class. They just weren't getting the opportunity to show everybody that.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Yeah. Which is one of the great benefits of homeschooling is that we get to focus on the gifts that God has given to each one of our children, antichrist as well as moms because each mom is gifted in a specific way. And so we get to teach our children according to the gifts that God's given us as well. Yes, that's a blessing. So I want to talk about a few things with you today because you have a wealth of knowledge and information and experience with homeschooling. And one of the things that you talk about a lot on your blog mean that you've spoken on is homeschool, overwhelm, and just eliminating that overwhelm and moms. So let's, let's talk about that because that is something that I know every mom experiences. It does not matter how long you've been homeschooling, whether you've been homeschooling five minutes or five years or 15 years. We all get to that point where we are completely just overwhelmed because homeschooling is not just sitting down doing curriculum with our kids and a few activities and then it's done. It's life. It's everything around us. It's the academics, it's the care for our homes, it's the care for our families. It's any activities we have outside of that. And it can become very overwhelming to where it becomes almost burdensome sometimes. And I'm so, so let's talk about that.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Okay. So when I was leading up to starting to homeschool I'm a researcher, so I read everything I could get my hands on about homeschooling. And I remember in one of the books I read, it said like don't make any decisions. In February it was talking all about how February is like this really hard month and you want to quit. And I kept thinking as I'm reading this, and I hadn't homeschooled yet, but I had taught for several years. Like this woman obviously just didn't have our act together. Like if she'd just planned better and then we hit our first February and it was so overwhelming and we were halfway through a year and things weren't going as I had planned, you know, wasn't the same as being in the classroom. I figured I had classroom experience, I have a master's, I have all these material, like this is gonna work.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
And the longer I went into it, the more I realized that it's not about school. Like it's not school at home. Right. It really is a lifestyle. And trying to, the school within your life and within your home was just completely overwhelming because while you're doing math, there's still laundry piling up and there's dishes and there's phone calls and there's dust bunnies and you know, you need to try to find a way to balance all of that. And I was trying to just, you know, this is school and when school is over, then I'll be, you know, like the housewife. And the mom and whatever and it just wasn't working. So I realized very quickly that I needed to find a way to make this work. And I've realized that one of the problems is that we've all grown up with this school mentality.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Like that's what we know. We know going to school, we know sitting in a desk, Mmm. We know like going through marking periods and having homework and then when we come home, all of us want to escape the school in some way, but we don't know how to do it. Like we don't know how to have our children at home because in society they've always gotten on that bus. Well they haven't always, but like in our recollection in, in our, you know, what our family has passed on to us, that's what's happened. And so we need the kind of step back and reorganize our priorities and learn how to live together and learn while we're living. Or it does get completely overwhelming because the laundry and the dishes, no matter how organized and I've tried, like every system there is no matter how organized you are, it's going to be there.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
And the fact of the matter is that you have children in your house like living and working and playing there all day long. It's never going to look like better homes and gardens. And I think that that is one thing that people get caught up in because I know before it was a blogger, I loved reading blogs and that's how I got into it. And often on blogs we put the, this fantastical version of our life out there. And so then you think, well, I need to do it like her and I need, you know, if I could just buy this curriculum get this schedule, you know, whatever it is, pray this many times a day, then, then my life all fall into place. And what I know now, like being on the other side of the blogosphere is that most of that is marketing. There are some people that are extremely put together and they ha they manage to keep their house beautiful all the time. But the reality is the bed is very stressful. And so eliminating overwhelm is really accepting like your own humanly limitations and relying on grace on that. What you're giving your children is enough. And if your house isn't perfect, it's okay because you really need to weigh what your priorities are within your family, within your homeschool that you can't do everything. You just need to find a balance.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Yeah. Let's take a really quick break and then we will come back cause I want to talk a little bit more about this. The home grown generation expo is here. You'll be encouraged by Kirk Cameron, Heidi st John, Sam Sorbo, Andrew Patois, ginger Hubbard, Lee borns, and many others. You can still register and have lifetime access to the replays of the entire event. Don't miss out on this exciting expo. Register today for only 20 dollars@homegrowngeneration.com. That's homegrown generation.com.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Hey guys, this is Brooklyn Hampton, daughter of the host of the schoolhouse rock podcast. Do you love this show than stop listening. That's right. Pause the show right now and go leave a review on iTunes or in your favorite podcast app. Let others know how much you love it. Don't worry. I'll wait. Did you do it? Great. Now back to the show.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
We're talking about how to avoid homeschool overwhelm, and before the break we discussed how sometimes we expect things to look a certain way, but it can never really look that way because that's not reality. And you know, we, I think we have this idea that we need to look like this. Pinterest, perfect homeschool mom, because we see it on Pinterest recently on Facebook. We see it on all the blogs and it looks like all these other, these other moms have it together. And then we start to feel guilty and feel poorly about ourselves because we think, well, why don't I have it together? What's wrong with me? Why can't I get my act together? Yeah. And I think oftentimes that guilt causes more overwhelm in our minds because then we're, we're trying to do even more so that we can, we can be these other be like these other perfect homeschool moms.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
And as you mentioned before, that's just not a reality. We can't, we can never do that. And I forget who I was talking to. It was some time a while back and it was a homeschool dad actually, and he said, I've realized that I will never, as long as my children are home being homeschooled, I will never have the perfect clean house and have a perfect my, my children, perfectly educated and, and have it all because you cannot have it all. It's not possible. It's still, so then because we come in with this idea that we're bringing kind of the traditional school as we know it into our home, get overwhelmed because it's not working. And then we just at times feel like just throwing up our hands and saying, okay, this, I'm done. I can't do this homeschool thing. Clearly I'm not good at it. That is never where we want moms to be. You know, we exist as a ministry schoolhouse rock to encourage moms and say, you, you've got this, you can do this. You can do it through the strength and the power of the Holy spirit. And he's gonna he's gonna fill in all of the gaps, but give some very practical advice to moms who are feeling really overwhelmed and they're just feeling like, I, I just can't do this another day. Everything's a mess. My life is chaos. How in the world do they move forward?
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Well, I first want to start with news, mentioned the gaps. And I think that that is something that we get caught up in because when I started homeschooling, like I wanted to do cover everything. I wanted to give my kids the best education ever and there was not going to be a single gap anywhere. And what I realized after years is that every education has gaps. I mean, you could spend $150,000 a year for the best prep school there is when your child will still have gaps in their education. So, as a homeschool mom, we need to not fall into that trap of feeling like if we don't teach them everything, then we will have, then we'll fail. You know, because learning is a lifelong process and what we need to really do is give them the roots and the love of learning so that they can become lifelong learners and become well educated as a matter of practice, not just when they're in school.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
So I think that's the first place to start because I know that when I started kindergarten, like I was trying to teach her everything there was to ever teach, you know, and at one point I had like 12 different subjects on the roster and now that we're coming towards the end and she's, you know, probably about a year or two away from finishing because she's just rapidly wants to get through it. I realized that there's no way that I could have taught her everything. And every once in a while I think, Oh, there was this and there was that and I realized all I can do is give her that foundation, like that sound foundation, which is where I came up with the name and the wings and you know, set her free and know that I did the best that I possibly could. Was it perfect? No. Could I have done something better? Yes. But at the end of the day, I did everything I possibly could and I gave it my all. And I just let God do the rest. So I think that's a first place to start to eliminate overwhelm.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Yeah. Let me say something on that really quickly too, is I feel like if we push our kids so hard because we feel like we have an agenda that has to be met, we've got all these boxes that we need to check off. Oftentimes what I've seen happen is that it really puts us, puts a strain on our relationship with our children because then it becomes so much about the academics and checking off the boxes instead of building that relationship with our kids. And like you said, and we're actually going to talk about this in the next episode, is nurturing a love of learning and teaching our kids how to learn. And so I, I think building that relationship with them is so much more important than the academics because when you have that, then they're going to be more willing to learn anyway. You know, I hear about moms who their kids are kicking and screaming and throwing tantrums and they're like, you know, they don't want to learn.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
They don't want to do anything with school. And oftentimes I'm like, just take a step back, drop for a little while. And by school, I mean the academic part of it, but drop the academics for a little while, build that relationship with your kids and then slowly bring it back in. You don't have to do everything at once. I mean, you said no, you, you know, you had a list of 12 different things you had to do and you realized that there's just no way that's going to work. But building those relationships with our kids and then slowly bringing in the other things that you want them to learn and teach them how to love learning those things.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Yes. Yes. And I was, when I was caught in a very bad season of overwhelm and struggle with my homeschool, I went to a homeschool conference and Andrew kudo, I happened to be there, go. I didn't really even know who he was before I went there and I went to all of his conferences and at the end I got to actually speak to him and I kind of poured my heart out and he's like, it's okay. Like you're doing okay. I'm like, but she's not. He's like, it'll come. It's like, just keep reading and you know, it'll be okay. And he said, and one thing that he said in one of his conferences that I kind of live by is when nothing is working, just read good books. And so that's one of the, you know, like that's really what it comes to him. And that's where learning comes from, right, is books, not textbooks and workbooks and tests.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
So if it's all holding apart and you're overwhelmed, just find a good pile of book and your kids will be learning. Even if it's not on your schedule, even if it's not like something you can check off on the curriculum, they're learning and it gives you a chance to decompress. So we have regular reading week built into a year when everybody just read. And so if they're behind on their academic reading, then they read that for the week. But otherwise they just find something to read and it gives me a chance to kind of catch my breath in between trimesters, but it also lets them just chase their own interests and not just be stuck in a list of what they have to read.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
Right, right. Yeah, totally. I love, love good books. And there's there are few better ways to build relationships with our kids than just sitting down with them and just reading a really good book with them. So the other thing that I know you're passionate about and I have found to be very, very important in homeschooling, especially when we're feeling overwhelmed, is finding support. And I always, it's so funny cause when I think about finding support, you know, oftentimes people, especially kind of that millennial crowd will think, well, I'll just go on Facebook and I'm going to find people there to help support me. And there are a lot of great resources on Facebook and there are a lot of really well meaning people and a lot of really wise people on there who, you know, oftentimes I'll read comments, questions and comments and I'll think, yes, you're right on. And then other times people will put questions on there and there will be answers. And I'm like, no, you are so you, no, no, no, don't do it that way. And so there's that social media and of it, but then there's also of course, local support that people need. So how have you found ways to find good support in your homeschooling and then how do you suggest other people to do that as well?
Speaker 2 (18:00):
It took me a long time to find that because I really had to get out of the school mentality and out of the circles that were connected to the school I came from a long line of public school teachers, so everybody that I knew was somehow, you know, connected the school. And then when my mom friends, like all their kids went to school, I just lost that whole safety net. So there are more homeschoolers out there than anybody realizes. And I realize that some people live in very rural areas, but I guarantee you there's somebody who's homeschooling there. And I wish I had known that from the beginning that I hadn't just pinned, falling, like blog all across the country because I never realized we lived on a little Lake and there were actually three other homeschool families that lived on that Lake.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
And it took me years to find out that they even existed. Wow. So now with social media, it's easier to find them though, I feel. So if you'd go on Facebook and you put in like your local town or your state and homeschoolers, something will show up. And we are tapped into a very wonderful group of homeschoolers that I actually found randomly to a blog that I followed. There was a spinoff local Facebook group of people who followed it and I actually connect, most of them were homeschoolers. It turned out and I kept it with them and that's how we got involved with them. And it's amazing resource because even though we're spread out pretty far, I mean I'm on the Northern reaches of it. Some people are up to like two hours South or West of here. And we try to meet in central locations.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
It really is wonderful cause our kids have that support and I know that they understand me and they speak the same language. Because I think that's a big thing when you start homeschooling and people don't understand it. It's hard to get that support and you don't want people to know they are struggling because you don't want them to say, well see, I told you it never works. Or obviously you just can't do this because that's already in the back of your mind. Like, I'm not qualified. I can't do this. I'm never going to succeed because of the fear. And you need to shut that out. Like don't let the devil get your year because you know that's not the truth, but it's already there. And the only, the last thing you need is for someone to actually say it to you and then it makes it like it's real.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
Right, right. Yeah. Finding that support is so, so important and people who will will really encourage you and your walk you know, just finding those like-minded families who will say, let's do this together. Yes. So we are out of time for this podcast, but will you come back again? Yeah, let's, let's do a part two because I actually want to talk with you more about nurturing that love of learning in our kids. And then we have a few other things that you have some ways to transform your home and homeschool suggestions on that as well. So, okay, so let's come next time we will talk more about that. Thank you guys for listening today. Jennifer, where can people find out more about you? If you go to the SoundFoundationsHomeschool.com or you can find me on Pinterest and Facebook at Sound Foundations Homeschool. Okay, great. And we'll put all of those links, of course, in the show notes that people can find them there. So thank you guys. Have a fantastic day and we will see you back here next time. Bye.