“My daughter wants to wear short skirts and lots of make-up to church. I just don’t think it’s appropriate. Every time she’s getting ready for church, we end up having a discussion about the way she’s dressed. I just don’t think the clothes she chooses are modest enough, and I don’t think she needs to… Continue reading No Longer Resisting our Values
Author: BarbiePoling
Are You Slipping through a Parenting Loop-Hole?
“I’ve been re-prioritizing my time to spend the bulk of it focusing on my kids, and securing their hearts. I’m seeing positive changes in the way we are now relating with one another. We’ve grown closer and their hearts are now tender toward me. But I still have a nagging concern about the teen years… Continue reading Are You Slipping through a Parenting Loop-Hole?
Read Marilyn’s New Book
“When I read these blogs I feel fully convicted but don’t seem to know exactly what to do. I have an 18-year-old son who desperately needs direction. How can I love and encourage him when he’s not really making good choices. He’s not a bad kid, but I find myself lecturing him and wanting to… Continue reading Read Marilyn’s New Book
Selfishness Is a Human Condition
“I need help! This is our fourth year homeschooling and I don’t feel like we’ve gotten things quite right yet. I feel like I’m making mistakes with my teenage daughter who is my only one at home right now. My problems are magnified because I don’t have a clear goal for her homeschool curriculum, we… Continue reading Selfishness Is a Human Condition
Getting Reacquainted
I recently started homeschooling my sixteen-year-old child. I’ve been attempting to gain her heart and have seen marked improvement. She comes to me for advice, is physically affectionate, and enjoys being with me which is a great contrast to the past. BUT (you knew that was coming) she is still texting throughout our activities (unless… Continue reading Getting Reacquainted
Look for Christlike Character
“…the manner in which the child chooses to spend his time will reflect his character and quality of his education. Check his free time choices and you check his character.” From Wisdom’s Way of Learning— the Science, Art, and Tools of Learning; pg 89. ~ Marilyn Howshall My sons choose to listen to music, play… Continue reading Look for Christlike Character
Inspire Them with Love
“I understand that my children’s unique interests were oppressed by my sinful parenting. God is showing me this so I can repent. When my children were young they were interested in Legos, adventure action figures, castle and dragon play, etc. They’re too old for these interests now (11 to 15 yrs old). With the fruit of my ungodly… Continue reading Inspire Them with Love
Learning for Real Life
It’s raining today. It’s been raining a lot lately. It was raining especially hard this morning. While at my kitchen sink looking at my flower beds outside, I noticed water pouring down from the gutter water fall style, pulverizing the plants below, and digging pits into the dirt. I called Josiah, my 13 yr old… Continue reading Learning for Real Life
Begin with Your Relationships
Question: I know that the Lifestyle of Learning approach to home education is what I need to implement in our family, but I don’t know how to start. My two oldest children are high schoolers, and they are wary of any of my “new ideas”. Where do I begin with high schoolers? ~ Beginning Lifestyle… Continue reading Begin with Your Relationships
Be Concerned about Character
Question: I’m really struggling with my boys and how they’ve gotten very interested in sports. I have some fear about it because I know some big sports fans that neglect many things in life to sit and watch games. My boys enjoy playing and “acting out” games, which causes conflict because when the weather is too bad… Continue reading Be Concerned about Character