“I think ultimately what God wants is to refine us in this homeschooling process. It’s not like we’re the ones that have it together and we’re teaching these children to get it together. It’s that we’re all people that need refined, and we’re all people that need to depend on the Lord. And it’s just something we’re all working through together.”
Aby Rinella
This week on the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast, Yvette Hampton welcomed Aby Rinella back to share her enthusiasm for teaching and the joy of homeschooling – in our 2023 Back to School series. Aby Rinella is a former public school teacher and passionate homeschooling parent who believes in making education an a joy for her children. In this post we’ll dive into her favorite tips for keeping homeschooling fun and making the most of this important time and share a few important insights from Yvette too.
Immersive Teaching and Literature-Based American History:
“I love sitting with them because it’s about relationship building… It’s about understanding them as individuals and sitting with them where they’re at.”
Aby Rinella
Aby Rinella’s infectious love for teaching shines through as she explains her excitement for sitting with her children and diving into American history. She shares, “I love sitting with them because it’s about relationship building… It’s about understanding them as individuals and sitting with them where they’re at.” Aby’s approach ensures that her children feel valued and understood while they delve into the rich tapestry of American history.
Her preferred method to teach American history is through literature-based curricula. By using engaging stories and narratives, Aby sparks curiosity and fosters a deeper understanding of historical events. This approach allows her children to connect emotionally with the complexities of America’s past, leading to a more comprehensive learning experience.
Embracing Changes and Incorporating Audiobooks:
As a homeschooling parent, Aby embraces flexibility while managing multiple core subjects. To streamline her curriculum, Aby integrates audiobooks for appropriate subjects. She recognizes that this will provide her children the opportunity to listen and learn independently, fostering self-reliance while still immersing themselves in engaging content.
Nurturing Passionate Learning:
Aby Rinella shares her excitement about teaching anatomy and physiology, with a particular focus on natural medicine for her high school-aged daughter. The joy is palpable in her voice as she expresses the fulfillment and enjoyment she finds in teaching a subject her child is passionate about. By nurturing her daughter’s interests, Aby creates an environment that fuels curiosity and a love for learning.
Balancing Co-op and Family Time:
“I was a mess last year because I didn’t follow my own advice.”
Yvette Hampton
Addressing the balancing act that most homeschooling parents face when it comes managing teaching, co-ops, supplemental classes, and family time, Yvette Reflected on last year’s over-programmed hectic schedule. She shares, “I just signed my kids up for co-op without thinking it through – or praying about it – and it turned into this crazy, chaotic mess.” However, she learned big lessons from this experience and has made significant changes for the upcoming year. To make things more manageable, both of her girls will be attending the same co-op on Mondays and Wednesdays. This new arrangement allows for a more manageable schedule, providing focused time on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays for building relationships and completing academic tasks, and allowing Yvette to get important work done on Mondays and Wednesdays while the girls are in classes.
One of the most encouraging take-aways from this conversation is that even after many years of homeschooling, Aby and Yvette don’t have it all together – and that’s ok. They both understand the fear that so many moms feel as they set out on their homeschooling journey – and every year after – wondering if they will be able to teach their kids effectively. But every year, both Aby and Yvette are reminded that THEY really aren’t capable – but GOD! The same God who gave them their children and called them to train them up equips them with everything they need to teach (and parent) with love and grace. And he will do the same for you! Trust him. Rely on him. He is faithful.
As we dive in to the new school year, let us always remember that. He is faithful.
Then, step out. Commit to the work of parenting and homeschooling with excellence. It is a high and worthy calling. Learn and engage effective teaching methods, embrace necessary changes, and nurture you children’s passions. Build strong relationships with your children on this homeschooling adventure and remember, each year brings new lessons and opportunities for growth.
And when you fail – and you will – call on the one who called you. Cry out to Him for strength, help, and provision. Then regroup and get back to it, but don’t miss the opportunity to learn from your mistakes and to use this opportunity to teach you kids to do the same.
Recommended Resources:
📚📖 Ready to start homeschooling? Download your free Homeschool Survival Kit today!
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Resources recommended in the podcast:
The Fallacy Detective: Thirty-Eight Lessons on How to Recognize Bad Reasoning
Torchlighters Study Guides and DVDs
Foundation Worldview Bible Curriculum
Elizabeth Urbanowicz, of Foundation Worldview, on the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast
Foundations in Personal Finance – Dave Ramsey
Reading Roadmap – Center for Lit
Corrie ten Boom: Keeper of the Angels’ Den (Christian Heroes: Then & Now)
Corrie ten Boom Christian Heroes Devotion/Workbook
George Muller: The Guardian of Bristol’s Orphans (Christian Heroes: Then & Now)
George Müller Christian Heroes Then and Now Guided Devotional
She Dwells on James Tween Christian Devotional
She Dwells on Colossians Tween Christian Devotional
The Book with No Pictures, by BJ Novak
Bible Project Book Overview videos
How to Homeschool: A Step-by-Step Guide with Kristi Clover
Getting Started in Homeschooling – Israel Wayne on the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast
Discussion Questions:
1. How do you feel about the speaker’s approach to teaching American history through literature? Do you think this method would be effective for your own children?
2. Have you ever felt overwhelmed by managing multiple cores or subjects? How did you handle it, and did you find any resources or strategies helpful?
3. What are your thoughts on incorporating natural medicine into the study of anatomy and physiology? Do you think it adds value to the curriculum? Why or why not?
4. Reflect on your own experiences of signing up for extracurricular activities or co-op classes without thinking it through. How did it impact your schedule and overall homeschooling experience?
5. How do you prioritize building relationships with your children in your homeschooling routine? Do you find it challenging to balance academics and fostering strong connections?
6. Have you ever had to switch or change curricula in the middle of the school year? How did it affect your homeschooling dynamic? Would you recommend the Foundation Worldview curriculum based on the speaker’s endorsement?
7. How do you approach math education in your homeschool? Do you prefer teaching directly or using computer-based programs like CTCMath? Share your reasons for your preferred method.
8. Discuss the importance of studying God’s Word in your homeschooling journey. How do you ensure that your children receive strong biblical teachings and have opportunities to explore their faith?
9. Share your experiences with field trips and how they have enriched your homeschooling. Have you discovered any hidden gems or unknown places in your local area?
10. Reflect on your own expectations as a homeschooling parent. How do you handle it when things don’t go according to plan? How can you shift your mindset and let go of control to foster a more positive homeschool experience for yourself and your children?
Questions Asked and Answered:
Yvette: “Tell me about your passion for teaching and what you’re most excited about this school year.”
Aby: “I just love sitting on the floor with my children and diving in. I love that moment when they start to understand something new, and their eyes light up.”
Yvette: “What subjects are you most excited to teach this year?”
Aby: “I’m really passionate about teaching American history. It’s literature-based, and we just dive into the stories. It’s so exciting.”
Yvette: “Managing multiple grades and subjects can be challenging. How do you plan to handle it?”
Aby: “I’m a little nervous about managing two different cores this year, especially with my high school daughter. So, we’ll probably rely on audiobooks and other resources to make it work.”
Yvette: “You mentioned teaching anatomy and physiology using the Apologia curriculum. Can you tell us more about that?”
Aby: “Yes! I’m so excited about teaching anatomy and physiology this year. We’ll be using the Apologia curriculum, and I love that it has a focus on natural medicine. My daughter is really interested in that, so it’s a win-win.”
Aby: “Last year, you mentioned you were a ‘mess’ due to poor planning. What changes have you made for this year?”
Yvette: “Last year, I didn’t follow my own advice and signed my kids up for co-op classes without really thinking it through. It ended up being so hectic. This year, both my children are attending the same co-op on Mondays and Wednesdays, and my older daughter will be able drive them soon. It’s going to be much more manageable.”
Aby: “How do you plan to schedule your work hours and make time for focused schooling with your children?”
Yvette: “I plan to schedule my work hours around co-op time so that I have more focused time with my children on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. I’m really looking forward to having that dedicated time for building relationships and completing academic tasks without feeling rushed.”
Yvette: “You mentioned changing your curriculum this year. Can you give us a peek into what you’re using?”
Aby: “Absolutely! We’ve been using a Bible curriculum for our family devotions and individual devotions. Last year, we started using the Foundation Worldview curriculum, but had to pause it. This year, we’re going back to it, and I highly recommend it, especially for younger kids.”
Yvette: “Tell us about the changes you made in math education last year and what curriculum you’re using now.”
Aby: “Last year, I initially tried using teaching textbooks, but I felt disconnected from my kids’ progress. So, I went back to sitting with each kid and teaching math directly. We’re currently using Master Books for math, but there are other options like BJU that can work too.”
Yvette: “You mentioned using Apologia for biology and the Foundation Series for studying the Old Testament. Can you tell us more about those?”
Aby: “Absolutely! Apologia is a fantastic curriculum for biology, and I love that it’s biblically sound, solid, and well-written. And the Foundation Series is a great series that comes in a box and is suitable for children at different levels. We’re currently reading through the Old Testament together, starting with Genesis.”
Yvette: “You mentioned enjoying cooking together with your daughters. How does that play into your homeschooling?”
Aby: “I love that my daughters enjoy cooking together because it’s a great way to incorporate practical life skills into our homeschool. Plus, it’s a fun bonding activity!”
Aby: “What are your thoughts on field trips and exploring the world?”
Yvette: “Field trips are incredibly important! They allow kids to explore the world around them. We love going on family day adventures and randomly driving to discover new places. It’s refreshing and provides a change of scenery.”
Yvette: “You mentioned struggling with expectations in homeschooling. Can you share more about that?”
Aby: “I have this vision of how things should go in our homeschool, but often, it doesn’t align with reality. I get frustrated when my children don’t cooperate, and it’s discouraging. I need to give my expectations to God and stop getting upset when things don’t go as planned.”
Read the full transcript:
Yvette Hampton:
Hey, everyone, this is Yvette Hampton. Welcome back to the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast. I am back this week with Abinella and we are going to talk about the school year. It is a new school year and summer’s over. You guys are already into your school year and we’re going to talk about what this is going to look like. We’re going to discuss what’s ahead for us for this school year, what we’re excited about, just kind of a wrap up of what is going on. We’re going to talk about some of our struggles and fears and stuff because.
Aby Rinella:
We have lots of those.
Yvette Hampton:
And then we’re going to talk about in the last episode, making homeschool fun and some fun ideas for you that you can implement this year to make your homeschooling fun for your kids. Did you know that, Abby?
Aby Rinella:
I’ve never heard you say that. I know.
Yvette Hampton:
I don’t know why I wasn’t saying that before. But yes, that’s a big deal. It is a big deal. And it’s up to like twelve months. So you could use it for like a whole year and then say, you know what, this didn’t work for our family and they will refund all of your money.
Aby Rinella:
That’s awesome.
Yvette Hampton:
They really stand behind their product and they’re great at teaching math. So if you guys need them, ctcmath.com. Well, Abinella, welcome to the Schoolhouse Rocked Podcast.
Aby Rinella:
Thanks for having me.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah, we’re talking about school and about homeschooling. It’s what we do here. It’s what we do here. How’s your summer been? I mean, it’s so funny. You and I have been so busy that we’ve cut each other like ships passing in the night.
Aby Rinella:
I know.
Yvette Hampton:
Pretty much this whole past summer, it’s been kind of crazy. So how was your summer?
Aby Rinella:
Summers fly. It’s like if all these you think it’s going to be forever. Our summer didn’t start till July because June was, well, actually okay. We were done with school at the beginning of May. Everybody take a big breath. So we had a really long summer, but May and June were really cold, which was amazing and we loved it. So I feel like we got a really good summer in. And so by the time this airs, we have been back to school for quite some time. So it was an awesome summer. It was relaxed, it was fun. I don’t feel like we just crammed so much in that it was a whirlwind. And then when it was time to go back, we were ready.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah. What was your favorite thing that you did this summer?
Aby Rinella:
Went and visited family in Montana. It’s always our favorite thing because we have cousins and we play and it was hands down the highlight.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah. We haven’t been to Montana yet. No, it’s one of our states that we have. Not yet.
Aby Rinella:
It’s actually where all my family’s from. I’m the first generation Idahoan, actually.
Yvette Hampton:
What are people in Montana called? Montana? oeans.
Aby Rinella:
What would they call the that’s a Idahoans? Montanans. Montanans.
Yvette Hampton:
Montana.
Aby Rinella:
I think you’re a montana. That’s a good question. I think you are a Montana. I’ve heard my family says you’re from Montana. What was your highlight of the summer?
Yvette Hampton:
Oh, man, our summer was good. It has been probably the best summer we’ve had in the past many years because we didn’t do any traveling. And here’s the thing, we love to travel. We love going to conferences and seeing people and meeting people and speaking and showing the movie and doing all that fun stuff. But at the end of last summer, my girls were like, and we’re done. We don’t want to travel next summer. And so we said, OK, so we haven’t. We did one really small conference in Oklahoma City, which was only about an hour and a half from us. And it was like a one night thing. Garrett and I went and we were part of a couple of panels and showed the movie and stuff. And that was really fun. But other than that, we didn’t do.
Aby Rinella:
So you had like a real summer?
Yvette Hampton:
We did.
Aby Rinella:
Not. A working summer.
Yvette Hampton:
No, it wasn’t a working summer. Except for podcasting, of course, which is always fun. That almost doesn’t feel like work to me.
Aby Rinella:
Right?
Yvette Hampton:
It doesn’t, actually. It’s just talking to people. So it has been good. Both of my girls went to camp, and that was their first time going to church camp, and that was really fun. They really had a great time going to summer camp. And so just building friendships, like, it has been a summer for all of us of meeting people and building new friendships and strengthening other friendships that we already had in the works.
Aby Rinella:
Right.
Yvette Hampton:
It was good. It was a good summer. Awesome. But it was exciting to jump into the school year, too, at the same time.
Aby Rinella:
And your last school year with your oldest, which kind of made it your last summer with your oldest. I mean, not last summer ever, but your last, like, going in between school year and summer.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah. Next summer I will not be school planning for her.
Aby Rinella:
No. And that’ll be probably her last summer off. Because once you get into the real world, you don’t get summers off.
Yvette Hampton:
Well, that’s been kind of funny. So she had a job. She got a job this summer. And so that’s been just kind of a new thing. She’s had a job before, but she’s working in the mall, at a T shirt store in the mall. So that’s been a different thing for our family.
Aby Rinella:
Right.
Yvette Hampton:
I’m trying to coordinate her work schedule with my recording schedule, and everything else that we have going on has been a little bit tricky. But yeah, it’s our last summer with her, not as an adult, because she’ll be 18 in December, and so next summer she’s going to be an adult. I mean, I fully expect her to still live at home next summer. But yeah. Abby it’s so weird getting here. I’m like, how in the world are we here already? And it’s been hard. So many can’t. It’s weird because I know that when we get to the end of the year, we have a graduation meeting in just a couple of weeks and so we’re already planning for her generation. We go to this big co op. There’s like 1200 kids from K through twelve and so I think there’s maybe like 30 seniors in her co op. Wow.
Aby Rinella:
In just the co op?
Yvette Hampton:
Just in the co op. And so they do a graduation for this co op for all the seniors, which is really great. But we’re already planning for that. I don’t know if this is a thing. This was not a thing when I was a kid. Seniors, of course, because we’re from La. So seniors, 30 years ago when I graduated, we all went to Disneyland. We went to grad night at Disneyland. Wow. And that was like the big thing. Everybody did that and it was really fun actually. You would dress up like there was a dress code and it was strict. The girls had to wear dresses, the guys had to wear a tie and like Disneyland and slacks at Disneyland. Yeah, you couldn’t wear jeans. And we were there. They would let seniors in. They had senior nights for a whole month, probably because there were thousands of schools that would go. And so for the whole night we would get to go. When Disneyland closed all through the middle of the night into the next morning when it opened up, had the whole park was full of seniors. It was really fun. Well, now, I thought that was a big deal. Now all these kids go on senior trips and I mean, like some of these kids I don’t know if this is like everywhere, if this is just like an Oklahoma thing, but they like, we’ll go to Europe and all these crazy things. I’m like, honey, we don’t have money for you to go to Europe.
Aby Rinella:
Wow.
Yvette Hampton:
So I don’t know what we’re going to do for her senior trip, but we’re thinking about it and to do it.
Aby Rinella:
Or are you just like, this isn’t what we do?
Yvette Hampton:
Well, here’s the thing. It’s peer pressure, abby you know how to stand against that. This is homeschool mama. Peer pressure. Like, all the other kids are doing senior trips and so what are we going to do?
Aby Rinella:
I’m like, just your senior goes. Just your senior?
Yvette Hampton:
Well, no, so sometimes it depends on the family. Like sometimes the whole family will go or sometimes like the senior and mom or senior and dad. Or sometimes like a group of seniors will go with a couple of adults. I don’t know. So now I feel like we have this crazy thing that we have to plan for, which will not be Europe unless I don’t know. Money starts growing on our tree or something, but I don’t know. So we’ll do something special for her, I’m sure. And we have several months to save.
Aby Rinella:
For a mission trip.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah, well, we could do something like that. I know lots of people do stuff like that. I don’t know. I don’t know what we’re going to do. To be continued. We will let you know at the end of the year. What? Brooklyn.
Aby Rinella:
I knew a ton of kids that did the senior trips, but yeah, it was a big thing when I was in high school. Really? Yeah. But, I mean, I didn’t it was like, get a job.
Yvette Hampton:
What did you do? Did you do something special?
Aby Rinella:
I graduated high school. That’s pretty darn special, right? I feel like that aby.
Yvette Hampton:
Anybody can graduate high school. That was special.
Aby Rinella:
I guess I didn’t feel that. I guess maybe I grew up so much not going with that flow that it didn’t even faze me.
Yvette Hampton:
I don’t know.
Aby Rinella:
Or part of me, too, is like, my parents are paying for my college. They’re paying for I would not even want them to have to pay for something like that. I guess I never even expected it nor really thought about it. I did do several missions trips in which I raised my own money and did these amazing trips, and those were life changing, and I would suggest that for everyone because it was just, okay, I’m done with school now. How can I serve and see what’s going on in the world and just see the bigger picture of outside of my own little teenage drama bubble and what’s everybody doing, and what am I supposed to do? So I think that was probably my most life changing post high school experience.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah. That’s amazing. Garrett and I met on a missions trip.
Aby Rinella:
Did you?
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah.
Aby Rinella:
I didn’t know that.
Yvette Hampton:
To Mexico?
Aby Rinella:
Yeah, I did a mission trip to Mexico my senior year. It was.
Yvette Hampton:
Did you?
Aby Rinella:
Life changing. So there you go. Send her on a missions trip to.
Yvette Hampton:
Mexico, and she’ll meet her future husband.
Aby Rinella:
And she’ll meet her future husband.
Yvette Hampton:
It’s amazing.
Aby Rinella:
Perfect.
Yvette Hampton:
So what are you looking forward to most this year as you’re just getting started out in the year and a whole nine months ahead of you?
Aby Rinella:
Well, we’re, like, at that season where I’m looking forward to everything. Do you know there’s that golden couple of weeks where right.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah. I look forward to the honeymoon phase.
Aby Rinella:
Yes. I’m in the honeymoon phase.
Yvette Hampton:
I’m looking the homeschool honeymoon phase, all of it. Yeah.
Aby Rinella:
I always look forward to settling in. I look forward to just the pace of home school, the routine in the mornings, the cozying into the house. That’s always what I most look forward to.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah. What about you?
Aby Rinella:
Yeah.
Yvette Hampton:
This year I think I’m looking most forward to being more structured, as weird as that.
Aby Rinella:
Yeah, you keep saying that. You’re going to be more structured this year.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah, this summer, God’s been just really showing me some different things about I am such a scattered person. I try to do ten things all at one time and I know that it’s not good. Multitasking is one thing, but I will try to multimultimultitask. Right. And so I’m like trying to do laundry and clean the house at the same time as doing school with the girls.
Aby Rinella:
Right.
Yvette Hampton:
And you would think I had learned this many years ago, but you know, this isn’t working out so well for us. I really need to focus. So I’m taking after Abby and I’m actually blocking out, like for real, legitimately blocking out 4 hours to 5 hours a day, depending on what we have going on of just school, like phones away. And I’ve been preparing my girls for this. This is how it’s going to go down. And so I have to do that. And I’m looking forward to knowing that that is what our homeschool day is going to look like and it won’t be perfect. I’m not under any illusion that it’s going to play out perfectly every year.
Aby Rinella:
You’re going to get so much more done in such a shorter amount of time because you’re not going to be so distracted and you’re not going to have to constantly refocus the kids. Refocus the kids. I think you’re just all in and I bet you are going to find it takes way less time than you think when you do it that way.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah, I think so. I’m sure. Yes, that’s going to happen.
Aby Rinella:
I think the biggest thing is if you said if you put your phones away. That was a game changer for me when during that school block I put my phone in another room so I couldn’t even look at it right. I think it cut my time in half.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah. Well, so this is what happened last year. At the end of last year, I was like I was such a mess last year because here’s what happened and I think I’ve explained this a little bit. We were traveling almost all of last summer and I had signed up for these co op classes. But honestly, it was like, do as I say, not as I do. I did not even follow our own advice on the podcast. It’s not that I didn’t pray at all about it, I just didn’t think through it. And to be honest, I probably didn’t pray about it nearly as much as I should have. I did not really commit all of that to the just. We were getting ready to leave for this big road trip at the beginning of summer last year and I had to sign the girls up for their co op classes before we left. So I just did it without really thinking it through. Well, then it ended up that they had co op on Mondays, brooklyn was Monday and wednesday, lacey was Thursday, and then I recorded on Tuesdays. Oh, that was so it was we were basically we it was weird. And then that gave us Fridays and Fridays we were trying to catch up on life and laundry and dishes and grocery shopping, all that stuff. And so it made it impossible to have just some really good solid time at home this year. Both of my girls are doing the same co op on Mondays and Wednesdays, and it’s not all day, but for the few hours that they’re going to be it’s, they have the same schedule. And then Brooklyn is driving now, so she’ll drive them for a good part of the year, which will be great. And the I’m only going to schedule my work hours to record and do Schoolhouse Rock stuff while they’re at co op. So basically that gives me Tuesday, Thursday and Friday to be able to be home with them. And I’m so excited to be able to have this time with them where I can really focus on just building that relationship with them and schooling and getting the academic stuff done that we need to get done without having the stress of like, oh, we don’t have time. And now I feel like I’m rushing and having to do all these other things at the same time.
Aby Rinella:
I try to do the same thing. We do like a one or two day out and then I try to schedule everything in chunks so that we have most days just at home without having to go somewhere. Because for us, if you have to go somewhere, say at ten, it’s not like you’re going to start school before I just feel like it’s a wash of a day.
Yvette Hampton:
Right.
Aby Rinella:
So I try to do everything all in one or two days and then we’re just home getting school done the rest of the days, right?
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah. So what are you doing for curriculum? Like, I would love to know what your curriculum is looking like this year. What are you using? I don’t need every detail, but what are some of the things that you’re using? Because we get asked this a lot all the time.
Aby Rinella:
People actually I’ve gotten it well, at this time of year especially, I’ve gotten so many private messages, what are you using? And like you and I always say, I hate to share that because I don’t want people to think that that’s what they should use.
Yvette Hampton:
Right.
Aby Rinella:
But I do just share, okay, this is what I’m using. It doesn’t mean it’s what you should use. But every year is different. Every year you learn like, oh, I didn’t like that, or I did like that. So I’ll just plow through. So for math, well, we’ve gone back and forth, but we’re back starting last year, we’re back to I sit with each kid and teach math. I feel like I loved teaching textbooks for a season, but I feel like I kind of lost track. I mean, I feel like I was disconnected with what was going on with the kids and they were passing lessons, but I don’t know how much they were getting. So I reeled it back in last year and I sit down with each kid and teach math. I won’t always do that, but just so I can really see where they’re at and then feel good if I need to let them go. Do like, A, teaching textbooks, and there’s lots of options for that. We just happen to be doing master books for that. But there’s BJU has a great but that’s one big difference that I switched up last year is I am sitting down and actually teaching math to the kids again like I did when they were little. Okay, I’m going to plow through so.
Yvette Hampton:
Wait, let me ask you a question on that. Okay. So when you get to those higher math levels, if you get to a point where you just don’t know how to teach that particular level of math, what do you do there?
Aby Rinella:
Well, I think I’m a math I love math. I love math. So I haven’t gotten there yet because I love it. And we’re in high school. I may end up getting there with my son because he’s pretty advanced, but I love math. So I did math. I mean, I chose to do extra math in college, but if I were to get to that point, the I probably would go back to A teaching textbooks or a CTC or something where someone else is teaching them and I can just sit with them and monitor. Um, right. So I’m a terrible person to ask that because I do love math, which is probably not the norm for most.
Yvette Hampton:
But lots of moms do. So I love that.
Aby Rinella:
I genuinely do.
Yvette Hampton:
And I take that and run with it.
Aby Rinella:
And I think that’s why I can also sit with them and teach them because I like it. Okay, so something I’m most excited about okay, also just for history and literature, we’re sunlight people, and we’re doing American History. My older kids are on their second year or their second go around, and my youngest is on her first. And I love American history. I mean, I love it, and it’s all literature based, so we get to read so many amazing books together. I’m a little nervous this year because there’s more with two I’m having two different cores going, so I’m going to have to figure out there’s going to be a lot of audiobooks, let’s just say that. But I’m super excited about American history. But what I’m most excited about is this year we’re doing anatomy and physiology, so I feel like I finally have it dialed. I love apologia. I love apologia’s. What is it? The young explorer series. So we’re using that as our spine. Even though I have elementary, middle school, high school, that’s going to be kind of the spine. And then for my older kids, I’ll dive deeper. So for my high school daughter, we’re doing a natural medicine class to go in line because she’s so into that. Last year, we talked about we did an ethnobotany where you learn about how your local plants can be used as food and medicine. And she loved it. So we’re taking it next level, and we’re doing, like, a natural medicine course to go with anatomy and physiology. And I think I’m most excited about that this year because it’s something new. It’s something finally when they get older, you’re like, this is what you love. This is what you’re passionate about. And so you get to just find all the things for that. And so I’m super excited. She is so excited. The first time I’ve seen her, so really excited about a subject matter.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah.
Aby Rinella:
And then I haven’t used okay, this is the last thing I want to share the Fallacy Detective. We do a lot of this logic stuff, and I think that that’s important for lots of I think it’s important for homeschool, families to be doing is logic just to help with the world we live in. It’s not a logical world. People don’t logically debate things.
Yvette Hampton:
Right.
Aby Rinella:
And so we’re doing that. And then I want to show you this. Did you get this? I got this in the mail. You know the Torch lighters?
Yvette Hampton:
How did you get that in the mail?
Aby Rinella:
Do you know the Torchlighters videos? Right?
Yvette Hampton:
Yes, of course.
Aby Rinella:
So you get a DVD and it has, like, 16 of the stories of the different and they’re all missionary for people that don’t know they’re missionary stories or people that have impacted I mean, how would you describe it? I would say missionary stories.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah.
Aby Rinella:
Then there’s this book. So you watch a movie and then there’s a whole chapter on studying that culture, studying that person, studying the biblical things in their lives. I don’t know how I’m going to fit it in. I have no idea. But it looks super cool.
Yvette Hampton:
That’s a great morning basket.
Aby Rinella:
That’s what we’re going to do it for is in the morning basket. And it’ll kind of go along. Maybe I’ll do, like, every other day when we’re doing our Bible or maybe once a week. I don’t know. I haven’t figured it out yet. I’m just super excited about it.
Yvette Hampton:
So you said you got it in the mail. Like, did you not order it? And they just randomly sent it to you? Are they just randomly sending it to Americans all over the place?
Aby Rinella:
It’s a funny story. It came in the mail, and it’s a full book of curriculum and the full DVD set. So I was like, I don’t remember buying this. And then I thought maybe they mistakenly sent it to me and I didn’t pay it for it, so I called them because I’m like, either need to pay you for this or I need to send it back. And they’re like, oh, you must have forgotten. But like nine months ago, we did a promo and we were sending them out for free if you signed up for our newsletter. Well, I had totally forgotten, so apparently I did sign up to get it.
Yvette Hampton:
Oh, that’s cool.
Aby Rinella:
I know, it was a super fun surprise. And it’s from Voice of the Martyrs.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah, that is really cool.
Aby Rinella:
Voice of the martyrs. So I’m super excited about checking that out.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah, we’ll link that in the show note. We’ll link all of these things in the show notes so that you guys have access to them. Okay, great. That’s a great lineup. I know.
Aby Rinella:
I think I’m most excited. History and science.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah. So cool. It’s so funny. Every year it’s different, and sometimes I think, well, no, we’re just going to stick we really like this curriculum. We’re going to stick with this for the next five years. Right. And then the next year comes and I’m like, oh, this one looks like it’s going to be a better fit for this year. And sometimes we continue on with what we’ve done. But yeah, this year we’re kind of changing it up a lot on most things, which is really yeah, it’s exciting. So I’m excited about what we’ve got going on for both of my girls for Bible. So okay, you guys know, we always do our family devotions and then we do our individual devotions, like my girls do their Bible reading time. I do mine, Garritt does his. We do that separately. But I also like to have a Bible curriculum, which I don’t know, maybe that sounds like a lot because we also incorporate Bible into the different subjects. But I feel like you can’t get too much of God’s Word, right, and learning about the so last year we did an episode with Elizabeth Urbanowitz, and she talked about her foundation worldview curriculum, and we started that last year, but we were finishing up another Bible curriculum and I couldn’t do both. It was just too much. So we paused that one. And so we’re starting that one up again this year and doing the Foundation Worldview curriculum with Elizabeth Urbanowitz. So super excited, super solid. I mean, I cannot more highly recommend it. It’s actually geared more towards younger kids.
Aby Rinella:
Oh, really?
Yvette Hampton:
But I’m having Brooklyn do it with us anyway when she can because she’s got a much heavier load this year. So when she can do it with us, great. If she’s not available to do it, then I just do it with Lacey and that’s totally fine. And then oh, man, it’s so funny because my girls are really getting deep into the study of God’s Word this year. They are also with their co op, both doing a Bible class that’s taught by a local pastor, and Brooklyn’s doing one called New Testament Survey. And Lacey’s doing one called how to Study the Bible. And it’s kind of tricky sometimes, I think, trusting someone else to teach Bible to my kids because I want to make sure that they’re solid in their theology and all of that. So that’s not something that we take lightly. But this guy seems like he’s solid. So they’re both doing that. Brooklyn is doing biology through Apologia. They have just an amazing biology. I mean, you were talking about apologia on Monday, and I love apology of science. It is so just biblically sound and solid and it’s well written. It’s really fun. So she’s doing Apologia biology.
Aby Rinella:
And it is their middle school, high school. It is a rigorous science. I mean, it’s not fluff. It is very much going to prepare them for whatever they have coming up.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah, I mean, they’re set to do it’s like college ready for sure. Science. So you did those what was the Early Explorers?
Aby Rinella:
The Early Explorers is the elementary and early middle school.
Yvette Hampton:
Right, which is fantastic. And then their high school one is pretty rigorous. But it’s so good and it’s so interesting, the videos that go along with it. Sherry Selikson, who’s actually been on the podcast, she does the biology videos and she’s amazing. And they’re just so well done. Like, they really have done a great job with Kit. So there’s those. And then for history, I don’t have all my curriculum in front of me, but for history, we’re doing Master Books. This is the first time we’re doing Master Books history. But this is their world history. And I’m actually doing this with Brooklyn this year. And I love it because Master Books has a really great middle school history, but it’s a three volume set and that’s what I’m going to use with Lacey next year. But this one is just a one volume set, so it’s more of a condensed world history. Like, these are the really important things you need to know about world history. And again, because it’s master Books, kit is a strong biblical worldview.
Aby Rinella:
I’ve heard of master books for years. I mean, you hear of everything, but you can’t do everything, right? But I just last year started digging in and started to do a few Master Books things and I really like it. Yeah, I mean, their math is so biblically. Like, I feel like my kids are getting a Bible lesson while they’re doing math.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah, it’s pretty they’re great. So Master Books actually they publish I don’t want to say all because I’m sure it’s not all of it, but a good majority of the curriculum and books put out by answers in Genesis.
Aby Rinella:
Oh, really?
Yvette Hampton:
So ken Ham brian Osborne Dr georgia Purdum lots and lots. And they have a ton of authors in addition to them. Israel Wayne is with Master Books. They just have a lot of really good, solid Christian authors and publishers. Angela Odell wrote the middle school world. History curriculum. So, I mean, just people that I really trust. So master books, I mean, I feel like Apologia and Master books, BJU Press, like those are ones that you can’t go wrong with them, with teaching anything from a biblical world.
Aby Rinella:
Really just grab any it’s not a whole thing. Like you can just piece what you want from the it’s not like you’re buying everything like say a Becca. I mean, you can just pick and choose. And they’ve got some cool electives that they have this engineering I don’t know, I’ve been really impressed so far as I’ve some master book stuff.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah, they’re great. And then for Lacey, she is doing this writing and grammar from BJU Press. She’s in 7th if you want to give her a grade name this year. But she’s actually doing 8th grade writing because she’s done writing classes last couple of years and that’s what she was ready for. So she’s excited about doing that. And then just as like supplements you were talking about your torch lighters.
Aby Rinella:
Yeah, that’s supplementing our Bible curriculum. And the logic is like some supplemental.
Yvette Hampton:
Yes. Yeah. Extras. So for our morning basket, two of the things that we’re doing this year are I actually have some friends from California who went to my church and they wrote this. It’s kind of a study guide on the heroes then and now Corey Ten Boom book. And then this is a study guide that goes within it’s on finding forgiveness, which I feel like every human needs to read. And for kids. Especially Corey Ten. Boom. I love this woman I’ve talked about on podcast all the time. She’s my hero.
Aby Rinella:
That’s fine too.
Yvette Hampton:
I love her. So we’re doing that book and it’s just a simple book study, but really brings out some great questions for the girls on what does forgiveness look like. And Corey Ten Boom was, you know, she’s a great example of that. And then they have another one. This one is George Mueller. And this one is the Power of Prayer.
Aby Rinella:
And so if you’ve read that man yes.
Yvette Hampton:
So this book too, one of my very favorites.
Aby Rinella:
Yep.
Yvette Hampton:
He’s amazing. And so we’re going to go through both of these and the Lacey is going to also my friends actually wrote this other little devotional on the Book of James and the Book of Colossians. And so I’ll link all of these in the show notes so that you have them. But these are just sweet Bible studies. I remember when I was in middle school doing just my own kind of individual Bible studies and they really impacted me right. Because it was just through my quiet time. And so these are perfect for Lacey’s age. She’s twelve. So I was wondering how old is she? And then the last thing is, I’m always looking for book lists. Always.
Aby Rinella:
Okay.
Yvette Hampton:
You use sunlight, so you get books.
Aby Rinella:
I go with sunlight. And I know people that don’t use sunlight, but they always get their book list. And then Sarah Mackenzie’s book lists read a lot of revival, those two book lists, I trust. 100%.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah. Yes. Well, this one is from center for lit. It’s reading Roadmaps. And we had Missy Andrews on the podcast.
Aby Rinella:
They spoke at our convention this year.
Yvette Hampton:
Did they?
Aby Rinella:
Yeah, that’s right. Yep. Center for that was there. And they are amazing.
Yvette Hampton:
Missy Andrews. They are great. They are fantastic. And so he’s actually coming on the podcast soon. Adam is. And this Reading Roadmaps is really cool because it goes by grade. So like, this one is 7th grade. It goes by grade and then gives a really great book list, and then it just gives a little description of the plot of each book. So that is a fantastic book list. It’s called the reading roadmaps.
Aby Rinella:
So are you using center for lit stuff or just their book list?
Yvette Hampton:
Just their book list.
Aby Rinella:
Okay.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah. And that’s for K through twelve. And so you just look at whatever grade you’re looking for book lists for. I love this resource. I recently found this. Well, I found it because Missy told me about it. And I think it’s such a fantastic book list. So we’ll link all of those things. But that’s what we’ve got going on as far as curriculum. And it’s exciting.
Aby Rinella:
I have to share because I forgot, but for Bible, because I got excited about that torch lighters. But for our Bible, we started last year. So you guys know that I am like a not consumed junkie. I am all in with not consumed Kim.
Yvette Hampton:
Sorgis not consumed.
Aby Rinella:
I love that because all my kids can do it because she has things at different levels. But she started a new series called the Foundation Series, and it comes in a box and it’s a whole bunch of different ones. So we’re starting with the Old Testament. And what we’re doing is we are reading through the Old Testament together in kind of a funky way. Here’s how I do it. We start with the kids Bible and we read the book of the Bible. So we’ll start with Genesis and we read all the way through the kids Bible of Genesis. And mainly because that hits because with little still, you want to hit like just sitting and reading it, this actually hits the main stories in Genesis, like the key things that hold our attention. So you kind of get the big outline, the big picture. So we do the kids and then when we’re done with that book in the kids Bible, then we do the study of that book in the not consumed Old Testament. So then we’ll do the whole study of Kim. Sorges’s on the and they do it at each level because Kim has different levels. Then when that’s done, we do the and I’m not promoting this because I don’t know. Big picture. The website, it’s the Bible project. But what they do have is they have like an overview of the book and Kit is so cool. It is done so well. I don’t know any of their other stuff. But we do the overview then of the Book of Genesis.
Yvette Hampton:
You’re talking about the little animated videos that they do? Yeah, they’re fantastic.
Aby Rinella:
I love the incredible. So then when we’re done with the kids Bible and reading it, and then my kids will actually read it on their own in their actual Bibles, then we do the Kim swords, and then we do an overview so that before we move on from Genesis I feel like they have a really good big picture and diving in of that book. So we’re slowly working through the Old Testament and then it’s going to take us 100 years but eventually we’ll get through the New Testament too. But I’ve just kind of liked that pattern because it mixes it up. Yeah, but I love those overviews on the Bible.
Yvette Hampton:
Do you do the overview after you’ve studied the Bible?
Aby Rinella:
I do it after only because he talks so fast. If you listen to it without having known it, Kit wouldn’t make sense because he talks really fast and kind of assumes, you know, a little bit when he does it. It’s just a really fun way to sum up and kind of solidify everything we’ve just done.
Yvette Hampton:
Yes, those videos are amazing.
Aby Rinella:
You could do it before and after, actually.
Yvette Hampton:
Sure. I mean, they’re short videos. They’re not like 30 minutes long. Hacked.
Aby Rinella:
Oh yeah. I bet they’re maybe eight minutes for the longest one. But it’s all visual and it’s fun and it holds the kids and he does a good job of just kind of outlining and putting it in time and I like him.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah. Yes. I always watch those as I’m reading through my Bible. I watch them when I get to the beginning of a new book. Oftentimes not always, but it’s just a map basically. Right.
Aby Rinella:
I like it. And you can print them. Did you know you can print the no. So the final picture that he draws, you can actually print them. So then you could actually have a whole little binder with all the books of the Bible so that you can kind of look back and be reminded.
Yvette Hampton:
I did not know that. That’s really Bible.
Aby Rinella:
We did it last year and we’re doing it this year and I like it.
Yvette Hampton:
That’s so cool. We will put a link, of course in the show notes to that so you guys can get them because the Bible project videos are fantastic. I absolutely love them and they really are helpful in understanding God’s word. Let’s talk through just I just want to kind of get real with our audience because I think sometimes people think like we have it all together. We’ve got all our curriculum lined up, and we’ve got our co ops and we’ve got our schedules, and it’s all lined up. And I always fear and you and I recently did an episode on social media and how we often look at other people, and we get this false impression that they have it all figured out, and sometimes they don’t, and most.
Aby Rinella:
Oftentimes they all don’t because we’re all humans struggling through right?
Yvette Hampton:
And so the last thing I ever want to do on this podcast is make other moms feel like they are inadequate because somehow they’re not doing it the way we’re doing it, and we have it all figured out and all put together and that is absolutely not the truth. So Abby, as you’re in a new year, your kids are growing up fast, just like mine are. What are some of the things that you struggle with, some of the things maybe that you have struggled with the most that you’re working on? Where are you in this world of angst?
Aby Rinella:
Angst? Well, I don’t know if it’s angst, but something hit me this summer that I love to homeschool. I love it. It’s not something I mean, I’m called to do it, god commands us to do kit. But I also love it. It is also a passion of mine. And I love organizing. I love planning really fun days. I love teaching to my kids gifts and talents. The whole thing is my passion. And what I realized this summer because the we have a lot of days that are like fall apart days where days where kids aren’t cooperating and just hard days. And I’m like, I don’t understand why this day is hard. Because I’ve put in the time to prep. I have the mental. Like, I’m far enough to go, okay, I’m teaching to my kids gifts and talents. I know to put the books away when kids start crying. We talk about this stuff all the time. But what I realized is I have this vision in my brain of how it’s supposed to go. I have the way that I make the muffins, I do the fun things, I teach to their gifts and talents. And then somehow I’m faced with these, oh, I even do this. Like, I know that this child’s gift is this. So I know how to teach them according to their learning style, like all the things. And then I wake up in the morning and I’m like, oh, I’m a sinner and they’re sinners. And I think my struggle that I’ve realized I need to really work on is I just have this attitude of, like, if you guys would just follow along with what I have planned, follow along with what I’m doing, like get in the passenger seat. It’s going to be good. You’re going to find joy. You’re going to love it. I have so many amazing, exciting things, but instead I have real kids that grumble and complain. I have real me who wants them to and I think what I’ve learned about myself is I think I’m kind of expecting I’m expecting something from them and they’re not meeting it. I’m expecting for them to be just on my same page. Like, wake up excited. Wake up totally ready to just learn whatever I teach you. Don’t argue. Don’t buck me. And then when they do, this is my struggle right here. Then when they do, then when I’m faced with real kids and real sin and it’s not just all this in my head, it’s like real life boots to the ground, then I kind of crumble and I get upset and I’m like, why can’t you just be a part of my perfect, pretty picture, basically? And then the whole thing falls apart. So I feel like I need to an area I’m working on is I need to give my expectations to God and I need to stop having I still need to do all the great things, but I need to release the expectations, because when they don’t play the way I want them to play, then I get really discouraged and frustrated, and I feel like my whole world is just crashing down. And I don’t like that. And that’s just being really real and honest because I don’t have it mastered yet. And it’s something I know I need to work on because I can tell it’s not blessing anybody and it’s derailing everybody.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah. That is very honest and real of you. And I would definitely say that that is a struggle that I have as well. And that’s kind of my life. Like, I always feel like I’m a dreamer.
Aby Rinella:
If everybody would just be perfect, this thing would be so incredible. Like, if you would all just be perfect. And if I would just be perfect, you know how amazing this homeschool would be? It’d be incredible, right? If only they just knew.
Yvette Hampton:
If only it is true. Because always, my whole life, and I’ve told you this, I am a super visual person. So I literally visualize everything. Therefore, I visualize my fantasies of what I want homeschooling to look like and how I want my kids to behave and how I want to behave myself. And everything’s just going to come together. I even picture myself making these amazing, healthy meals for my family. And the other day abby, I’m so bad in the kitchen. I don’t try to be, but I tried to make a pot roast the other day. How hard is it to make a pot roast right? It’s like the easiest thing in the whole world. Yeah, I can’t even make a pot roast right. I don’t know.
Aby Rinella:
Anyway, see, you had these expectations and this vision, and then real life didn’t work, right? And then I think the problem is then we let it derail because you could have just been like, pot roast didn’t work, but we can still have this amazing meal. But instead we then start to get really discouraged, right?
Yvette Hampton:
Yes. Absolutely.
Aby Rinella:
And I think that’s my frustration is, why am I getting so discouraged? My kids are sinners. I know that.
Yvette Hampton:
Right.
Aby Rinella:
But I just have this like if everybody could just get their attitudes on board, this would be incredible.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah. Expectations are tough, especially when it comes to homeschooling. And life just gets in the way, but not in the way. I mean, homeschooling is life. It is, but we forget that life happens around us. If you’re potty training kids, there’s going to be an accident on the floor. If you have a kid who’s sick, you’re going to have to take him to the doctor. You have maybe a kid who just woke up on the wrong side of the bed or you woke up on the wrong side of the bed.
Aby Rinella:
Right.
Yvette Hampton:
That just can derail the whole day for the whole family, not just for one person. I mean, there are so many things that if our kids go to school and your kid wakes up sick, then you just keep them home and you keep them in bed. But you don’t have to worry about the responsibilities of schooling everybody else.
Aby Rinella:
Right?
Yvette Hampton:
Totally. You just call the school and say, hey, my kid’s not going to be there today. It’s different at home and it’s the.
Aby Rinella:
Teacher’S job to figure out how to deal with that part of things. Your job is just to keep them home, right?
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah. My greatest struggle definitely is time management, like I shared before, is just getting the things done that need to get done when they need to get done. But at the same time, not stressing out so much about what’s not getting done because the list is never going to be checked off. There’s always something. So just balancing my priorities with my family and my home and homeschooling is a struggle. It’s so hard. It’s hard to balance it all. Like, if I just had a husband and I didn’t have kids or homeschooling, I could give him all of my attention all the time. It would be great. Or if I just had kids but I didn’t have to worry about homeschooling them. Well, then I could give them all my attention while they were home and while they were at school, I could take care of my home and do those things that need to be done. Or if I just had a home to take care of and didn’t have all the other things to do.
Aby Rinella:
All the humans that live in it.
Yvette Hampton:
The humans that live in it and who are here to mess it up, including myself. But you put all of these things together and like I mentioned, I think it was on Monday. I’m just so scattered sometimes, like I’m going too many different directions at one time. And so I’m really working on that this year of just really focusing on what needs to be done and not stressing out about what’s not getting done. In the process.
Aby Rinella:
I think it’s interesting because that to me, when I listen to your struggle, is totally different than mine. I have everything totally organized, managed, totally. But then you enter in these people and then it gets in the way of that. Or you probably don’t struggle as much with what I do because and I think the ultimate thing is every homeschool mom has a struggle, and they’re all different. We all have different struggles, but we all have struggles. And I think ultimately what God wants is to refine us in this homeschooling process. It’s not like we’re the ones that have it together and we’re teaching these children to get it together. It’s that we’re all people that need refined, and we’re all people that need to depend on the Lord. And it’s just something we’re all working through together. Homeschooling is the most refining thing to a parent. And it’s just so interesting listening to every mom struggles because they’re all different, but they’re all there.
Yvette Hampton:
Yes, absolutely. And just praying that the Lord will show us his way. Refining hurts, but at the same time, I’m like, Lord, I want you to grow me yes. In my relationship with you and my knowledge of you and my understanding of you and Your Word and my surrender.
Aby Rinella:
My ability to surrender to you.
Yvette Hampton:
Oh, yeah. Yes. So much. And we can’t do that unless we’re willing to be worked on by Him. I mean, we are clay being molded.
Aby Rinella:
Molded and molded. I just thought, oh, it’d be all done being molded by now. And it’s like, nope, another year, another still molding.
Yvette Hampton:
We will forever be being molded by the Lord. And I’m so thankful for that. All right, Abby, talk today about some funness. Is that a word?
Aby Rinella:
Funness? Let’s make it a word.
Yvette Hampton:
Okay. Funnyosity.
Aby Rinella:
No, that’s definitely not a word.
Yvette Hampton:
No, that’s definitely not a word. Fun. What’s another way we can say it?
Aby Rinella:
I’m not sure we’re going to make oh, just homeschool fun.
Yvette Hampton:
Stick with I’m just trying to make it fancy.
Aby Rinella:
Root word. Did you read Fancy Nancy to your girls?
Yvette Hampton:
Maybe a couple of books.
Aby Rinella:
It was great for vocabulary because she’d always come up with these other words. I think you could check it off for vocab. Done. Vocab is done for the day.
Yvette Hampton:
Speaking of that, I was going to mention this. So we were talking about curriculum yesterday and some of our curriculum choices. One of the things that we are doing this year, which Nikki Trusdell talked about this on an episode I did with her a few months ago. She talked about copy. Yeah. And okay, this is so you know, you always hear about copy work when you get into the world of homeschooling.
Aby Rinella:
People are like, do copy in certain areas.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah. Yes. But she brought copywork to a whole nother level for me in that it teaches kids not just good penmanship, but it teaches them sentence structure and vocabulary and spelling and writing and reading. It does all of those things all in one. So copy work.
Aby Rinella:
We’re really are you guys doing copy?
Yvette Hampton:
Yes, even Brooklyn. And so I’m having them copy like chapters out of different books, out of the Bible, just stuff that is well written, good literature.
Aby Rinella:
Right.
Yvette Hampton:
And so yeah, there you go. Why did I not do that? Put all of that in the same box together like six years ago. It would have been so much easier. I don’t know. Especially vocabulary because when you learn vocabulary words and you’re like, here’s the word and here’s the definition, that doesn’t help me. I need to know it in context. Right. So it helps with vocabulary. Totally.
Aby Rinella:
Do you ever notice that when you learn a new word that you’ve never heard before, now all of a sudden you hear it everywhere, right?
Yvette Hampton:
Yes.
Aby Rinella:
Isn’t that crazy?
Yvette Hampton:
Yes. Because your brain I rarely use it.
Aby Rinella:
You don’t?
Yvette Hampton:
Unless I hear it again.
Aby Rinella:
So then you should force yourself to use it once you learn a new word, say, I have to use this twice today.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah, right.
Aby Rinella:
So we’re going to talk about the funness.
Yvette Hampton:
Funness, if that’s a word, of homeschooling. So here are some things. Here are some ideas that we have that I think make homeschooling fun. Okay. And I actually did some research. I looked at a couple of websites too, because I thought, what am I missing? But I actually had pretty much all of them. So the first one I think, are read aloud. I love doing read alouds with my kids. There’s just something about snuggling up together, sitting on the couch together and reading a book together because then you’re building a relationship with them, but then you’re developing a memory totally.
Aby Rinella:
That you then can talk. Yes. And I love that connection. Like when you watch a movie, but only this is way richer. And then there’s something that it’s almost like an inside joke, but it’s an inside story. Read aloud are worked into our curriculum, so it’s pretty easy. But it’s one of my very favorite things because then we talk about things and only us knows about it.
Yvette Hampton:
Right? Yeah, because when I was growing up, I had to read books for school. We read Shakespeare and Scarlet Letter and lots of other books that I was forced to read, but I didn’t read them with anyone. I mean, our class would discuss them, right, but I didn’t read them with my family. And so there was a total disconnect there. And so it wasn’t as fun where I think it’s so much more fun. And not that our kids can’t read books alone, but I just think there’s something so unique and special about they’re totally read aloud with our family and they can be fun. Read aloud. They don’t all have to be serious, mean, read the book with no pictures. Have you read that book? No. You haven’t read the book with no pictures?
Aby Rinella:
No, I’m writing it down by BJ.
Yvette Hampton:
Novak.
Aby Rinella:
No.
Yvette Hampton:
Oh my word. It is one of the funniest books. I mean it’s for little kids, but even Lacey will still let me read it to her sometimes.
Aby Rinella:
Okay, I’m writing it.
Yvette Hampton:
It’s this is like know, early kids, even down to toddlers. But it is so stinking funny. But I like how you Lacey’s favorite.
Aby Rinella:
Book and you say even Lacey will let you read it to her. Now, I’ve noticed with read aloud, we do a lot of read aloud, but we also do and my kids are all a little bit older now. Like I have a high school and a middle schooler. We still do picture books and I think that makes homeschool fun because my big kids will come join with the picture books all day long and they’re so fun. And then we discuss if we like the pictures. If we don’t like know, it’s just super.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah.
Aby Rinella:
So reading period makes homeschool fun.
Yvette Hampton:
I think it really, you know, it’s kind of sad because we’re getting to this phase with Lacey where she doesn’t want me to read her like the little kid books anymore because she’s going to be 13 and it’s okay, I get it.
Aby Rinella:
Not even picture book.
Yvette Hampton:
But I will sometimes beg her. I’m like, please just let me read you Green Eggs and Ham. I can read Green Eggs and Ham really fast. Like really fast. And Kit cracks her up anyway. Yeah, but yeah, audiobooks, that was another thing on my list.
Aby Rinella:
We do that every at lunchtime. So we gather for lunch and we listen to our audiobook. That’s just kind of our which leads me to one that I think to make homeschool fun is traditions. I think traditions and they don’t have to be what makes a tradition is they’re not everybody else’s tradition. But homeschool traditions I think is what makes and that’s what’s going to be what our kids look back on and remember. They’re not going to remember well, they might remember the math lessons, but really they’re going to look back and remember the traditions of what did you do on the first day of school? Or we have homemade muffins and tea every morning during a certain spot in our school.
Yvette Hampton:
Every day.
Aby Rinella:
We do it pretty much every day. So we gather together for our science and history and then when the kids go to do their independent work, I give them muffins and tea. And it’s so easy because you just make a bunch of muffins for the week. But those are the little traditions that the Winnie actually said. She’s like, I can’t wait to start school again for the muffins. And I’m like, wow, it’s also just necessary to feed them.
Yvette Hampton:
Right.
Aby Rinella:
But they see it as this fun little know, or another tradition we have is every morning they wake up to worship music playing and then we go outside, all of us together, and we stand and we turn our faces to the sun for, like, five minutes to get that first boost of the sun in the morning. And that’s just been a fun I just love traditions, period, right?
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah.
Aby Rinella:
What are some of yours that make school fun?
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah, tradition, specifically.
Aby Rinella:
Yeah.
Yvette Hampton:
Well, I mean, we have our first day of school tradition, of course, where we always go and get donuts, which is fine, and my girls always look forward to that. Usually what we’ve done the last couple of years is we’ll actually go to breakfast and go have a nice donuts, feed me a full meal. Well, there’s a place that has little tiny donuts here. I think it was last year or the year before. We actually went and got those after breakfast so that we still were keeping up with our donut tradition. Right. That was fun. We have, like, family traditions, but homeschool traditions. I don’t know that we have. Maybe I need to start making muffins so I can be just like, Abby, can you send me a recipe? What kind of muffins do you make?
Aby Rinella:
Oh, I make the different every time. I mean, I don’t know. Usually it’s like a sourdough muffin base, and I throw in whatever I have.
Yvette Hampton:
Sourdough muffins? I didn’t know that was a thing.
Aby Rinella:
Yeah, I use everything sourdough, and then I’ll just throw in whatever’s in them. But you don’t even have to do muffins. You could just buy muffins or buy I mean, don’t feel like you have.
Yvette Hampton:
To make can I buy, like, the Little Debbie’s mustard?
Aby Rinella:
Done.
Yvette Hampton:
Are those good?
Aby Rinella:
Not good for you.
Yvette Hampton:
Ate those every day?
Aby Rinella:
No, that would be terrible.
Yvette Hampton:
The end of the year, we all weigh an extra 50 pounds.
Aby Rinella:
There’s your tradition. I mean, I know everybody has family traditions, but I really think homeschool traditions really make it fun. Every Friday we do this or every lunch, and it doesn’t have to be big. Like our tradition is. At lunchtime, we do a read aloud. It’s just a fun thing. I don’t know.
Yvette Hampton:
That’s fun. Our tradition is trying not to die.
Aby Rinella:
There you go. Trying to get through the day.
Yvette Hampton:
Yes. All in one piece.
Aby Rinella:
I’m just kidding.
Yvette Hampton:
But yeah, our first day of school. I love donut tradition. It’s probably our best one, but we have more, like Christmas traditions, totally. Things like that. But we’re going to talk about that on another episode.
Aby Rinella:
Yes, we are.
Yvette Hampton:
So yeah. Games, though. That’s another thing.
Aby Rinella:
The you go games.
Yvette Hampton:
In our family, we play lots of games almost every day. We don’t have a specific time. Right. But even during the summertime, we pretty much always have a stack of uno cards sitting out, spotted sitting out. And then we often play other games, like Scattergories.
Aby Rinella:
That’s probably a good way to diffuse when kids start to struggle in certain you just diffuse it by playing.
Yvette Hampton:
A game. Totally.
Aby Rinella:
That’s a great idea to just have a game handy so when things start to go south, let’s play.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah. And over the summer, we actually got a foosball table. Oh, fine. Yeah, so that’s been fun. So foosball goes on every day and there is lots of bragging rights in our family now. I actually don’t enjoy playing foosball, okay. So my girls will ask me, but that’s more of a Garrett thing. He plays with the girls every single day.
Aby Rinella:
They play foosball.
Yvette Hampton:
It’s totally fun.
Aby Rinella:
Oh, I love that. That makes homeschool fun. Okay, here’s one, because I don’t know how much time we have, but this started when the kids were little and they’d be reading a couple of different books. And rather than narrate because everybody’s into narration, which is really important because you’re learning how to communicate and it helps with comprehension and all that. But we did, and I don’t think I could get my older kids to do it now, but I can get when they’re younger and my younger will but they act out the book. So we all sit on the couch and then without talking, you have to tell us what happened in the chapter you read through acting. And we used to do that all the time. And I’m like, I want to bring it back. And my older two are like, that’s not happening. But I’m like, okay, fine, the little one’s going to this year. But that always made home school really fun. It made sharing your book rather than answering questions to mom or filling out a worksheet. Those are so boring. And we get to as homeschoolers, do it and take whatever concept and make it more fun. And so we always acted books out. I thought that was always fun.
Yvette Hampton:
That is fun. Yeah, we’ve done that with Bible stories.
Aby Rinella:
Oh, there you go.
Yvette Hampton:
And still even sometimes we’ll be reading a Bible story and it’s usually Lacey, she’ll jump up and say, okay, I’m going to act this one out dorky thing. And it’s really fun.
Aby Rinella:
It beats quizzes, it beats works. It beats all the lame things that you could be doing for reading comprehension. And it makes it just exciting and fun.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah, the whole purpose is for them to remember what it is that they’re reading or what it is that they’re doing. Yeah, that’s super fun. I’m just acting things out. And it shows the different personalities of.
Aby Rinella:
Your totally, totally history. That’d be fun to actually have your kids act out the history lesson. We did.
Yvette Hampton:
End up with sheets and pillowcases on their head.
Aby Rinella:
Totally.
Yvette Hampton:
All kinds of random things. Yes, we’re going to talk in a future episode soon with Abby again about healthy homeschooling. And we’re going to talk a lot in that episode about outdoor time. But that is one of the things that I think is important in making homeschool fun. And this is something that our family struggles with so much, Abby, because we’re not like you, and we grew up as city, right. And so it does not come as naturally for us. And so we have to make ourselves get outside.
Aby Rinella:
But what if you just like, let’s go throw a blanket on the grass and read our read aloud on the grass? I mean, it doesn’t have to be crazy, just simple, right?
Yvette Hampton:
Yes. But here’s the thing. We are all very easily distracted, and so if we go through a blanket, like, we live in a neighborhood, and there’s a walking path that goes right behind our house, okay. There’s people all day long walking on the walking path and walking their dogs and walking their babies, and I don’t know why I feel like or I don’t know, we’ll be sitting on the blanket and like, oh, my goodness, there’s a grasshopper. There’s screams and runs every time we’ve done that. It seems like there’s so many distractions outside. So, yes, in theory, it’s a great idea, and maybe we need to just discipline ourselves to not be distracted oh, that’s so funny. By all the crazy rent. Like, I hear homeschool moms who go to the park and do school. I’m like, we could never yeah.
Aby Rinella:
If there are people around that doesn’t work for us okay, then in between breaks, like on your breaks, right? Then you go outside. Oh, my gosh. Here’s a tradition. This one’s hilarious. On the first day of the, um well, it started out when Coulson was teeny. It was just in his diaper. He’d go run around the yard three times. Then as they get older, so they go with no shoes, no know, and they run around the yard three times. But you could even do that. Like, okay, we’re in between science and history. Go run around the yard three times. And just something to get them outside for those tiny little breaks. Yes. And then you can stay inside since you’re distracted for the actual learning stuff.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah. And we have worked to get some things. Like, we got cornhole over the summer.
Aby Rinella:
There you go.
Yvette Hampton:
And I got that because I wanted to have a way to just go outside.
Aby Rinella:
Like, we have to have a reason to go outside. I mean, if you guys are game players, then you could take some of those. There’s a lot of different outdoor games. Yeah, we just played one called Spike Ball this weekend, and it’s super fun. And you could just go outside and be like, ten minutes of Spike Ball done.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah. Yes. That’s a good idea. I’ve heard of Spike Ball. I’ve not played it before.
Aby Rinella:
We just played it super fun.
Yvette Hampton:
Oh, that’s cool. Yeah. I’m going to have to look up a YouTube video or something.
Aby Rinella:
How about this for a tradition? Every year at the beginning of the school year, you buy an outside game. And so in a few years, you’re going to have so many outside games. And then you just do between each lesson, you go do ten minutes playing an outside game.
Yvette Hampton:
That’s a great idea. Sold. There’s a new I just need to back up Brooklyn. I need to rewind her a few years.
Aby Rinella:
What I’m feeling as they get older, I’m like, wait, running out of time. I have so many more ideas.
Yvette Hampton:
I know. Anyway, I love you talked about playing music. That was one of the things that I said. However, here’s the issue with our family. I don’t know if your family’s like this or if other families are. Our family almost never agrees on music. The girls kind of like the same kind of music. Garrett and I have completely different tastes in music for the most part. There are some things that we both really enjoy and the girls do not like the same kind of music that Garritt and I enjoy. I love country and bluegrass and then I love know I love my Shane and those, but my girls don’t enjoy listening to any of that. So it makes it hard to play music because someone will put something on and then everyone else like so they.
Aby Rinella:
Like the same kind of music. So you could play what they love to get them up and going.
Yvette Hampton:
Yes, we could. Who was it? Oh, man. We had somebody on the podcast several months ago and she talked about how they start out their day, their home school day with a specific song. And that’s how her kids know it’s time to come to the living room. School is starting when they hear the music with that specific song every day. And I love that idea. So maybe I just need to find there you go.
Aby Rinella:
Find a song everyone likes. We start at the morning bar. That would make your kids rebel. Revolt. The first day of school of every year, we play the Veggie Tales. It’s the first day of first grade. Really love that song. That’s our first day of school song.
Yvette Hampton:
Maybe we could do the Veggie Tales where is my hairbrush song, because it seems like that is an on. You singing on two girls always, where’s my hairbrush?
Aby Rinella:
Maybe we should that would be it. And be like, when you hear the where is my hairbrush song, it’s time for breakfast.
Yvette Hampton:
Hairbrush.
Aby Rinella:
Yeah, that’s a good idea. I have a specific song. That means it’s time to gather. Instead of my voice yelling, let’s go.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah.
Aby Rinella:
I’ve been calling you for five minutes. I like that idea.
Yvette Hampton:
Yes.
Aby Rinella:
And by the end how about this? And by the end of the song, they have to be seated so they actually have the song to get there to find their hairbrush and actually get seated.
Yvette Hampton:
Right. Okay.
Aby Rinella:
We’re making up new things as we podcast.
Yvette Hampton:
So there’s that. Cooking together. That’s another thing. I am so thankful that my girls enjoy being in the kitchen because again, I do not and they love brooklyn likes to cook meals. Lacey likes to bake. And so it’s perfect because they do those things. Perfect. Yeah. Another idea is, of course, field trips, which that’s kind of a given. Like, take as many field trips as you can that’s school, and that’s really important for kids to be out and exploring the world around them. But one of the things that we did when we were back in california years ago and it’s kind of funny, it’s almost kind of what launched us into traveling in the RV know, doing our whole travel thing that we did for a few years. We would call them family day adventures, and we would literally get in the car and drive. And most of the time we didn’t know where we were going. We would just take random roads and see where it would lead us to. I love that. And so that’s a fun thing for again, if you just need a break or you can do an audiobook in the car while you’re doing a family day adventure. You can listen to worship music, you can do all kinds of things. Just get in the car and just drive. You can do it during baby’s nap time, maybe if baby sleeps in the car. Just different things to get, just for a different atmosphere, different change of scenery. But it was fun. We would find the most random things. And we’re still newish in, but so we’re always discovering new things. I mean, we’ll go down a road and I’ll be like, I didn’t even know this road existed. I had no idea these stores were here, these restaurants. But even in California, I mean, we grew up in that town, and we would find the most random things that we know. Look at this super cool bridge that we didn’t even know existed, that’s been here my whole life, only ten minutes from my house. And so it’s really fun to do that. So family day adventures, I think, are super duper fun.
Aby Rinella:
I love that, just exploring. And I think that’s so important because sometimes the four walls of our house start to just kind of close in on us.
Yvette Hampton:
Yes.
Aby Rinella:
And I always tell new moms, like, just change the scenery. Just go do something, even if it’s going from one room to another. But there is something about just change the scenery. So that family day adventure, just exploring is such a fun.
Yvette Hampton:
Yep. So much fun.
Aby Rinella:
I like Kit.
Yvette Hampton:
And you can do you know, if you’re a Charlotte Mason homeschooler, you could do nature studies that way. I mean, totally. So many my kids used to like.
Aby Rinella:
It that I’d get in the car and then one kid was in charge and they’d say, Left, right, left. Oh, yeah, right. That would be super. And then I take whatever direction they say, and who knows where we end up. And then the next kid does it. I don’t know why that would be for them. It drives me nuts because I’m like, we’re in the same neighborhood every time.
Yvette Hampton:
Oh, that would be super fun. There are so many things you could do to make that fun. Like, you can give the a math worksheet and say, okay, whoever can figure out this problem next or gets the next problem right.
Aby Rinella:
Or if you’re telling me what is even, we turn right. If the answer is odd, we turn left. I mean, there’s so many ideas to make homeschooling fun. In fact, when this episode posts on social media, everybody should drop their number one, how they make homeschooling fun in there. Because it’s fun to get ideas from other moms.
Yvette Hampton:
Totally.
Aby Rinella:
Sometimes they’re like, I don’t know, I’m just paralyzed with this. Yeah.
Yvette Hampton:
I mean, you could do tests that way. You could do a spelling test. You could do there’s so many things you can do to make or on.
Aby Rinella:
You could take bikes and do that with a little know, abby, you can’t.
Yvette Hampton:
Ride a bike with a clipboard.
Aby Rinella:
You totally can. You see the things you ride kind.
Yvette Hampton:
Of bikes do you have in Idaho?
Aby Rinella:
No, you just balance it. I guess maybe that’s not no, don’t listen to Abby.
Yvette Hampton:
No one listens to Abby. Can I ride a bike with a clipboard? I’m saying no to that.
Aby Rinella:
If you have a helmet on, it’s totally safe.
Yvette Hampton:
I reject that idea. Okay, fine. Get in your car, but don’t have a clipboard. And write while you’re driving either. That’s not safe.
Aby Rinella:
No, but your passenger can.
Yvette Hampton:
Your passenger can. Yeah, done.
Aby Rinella:
Sold.
Yvette Hampton:
Oh, man. Okay, we’re almost out of time. So the last couple that I have and then Abby, I don’t know if you have any more to add to this. Join a local support group or a co op. Of course, if you haven’t done that this year and you have a local support group, a lot of places have support groups where they know kids get together for field trips and activities and sometimes field days and things like that. And you don’t have to be part of their co op. You just can be part of their support group. And it gives you the opportunity to meet other families and other mamas and kids and stuff. So those are great. Or, of course, co ops, watching videos. Of course you have to be particular about what you put in front of your kids. But videos and documentaries, those are great ways to just mix it up, teach a lesson. Maybe it’s a history thing. You’ve got to be careful with it.
Aby Rinella:
Yeah, but your kids will learn so much more. I remember I would teach my kids for weeks something, and then they’d watch one episode of Wildcrats, and then they would learn everything. Or they’d tell somebody something. They’re like, Where’d you learn that? And I’m like, clearly, they’re going to say, mom, because I just spent a month teaching them, and they’re like, we saw a YouTube video on it.
Yvette Hampton:
Right.
Aby Rinella:
I don’t know. It sticks more with yes.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah, for sure. So, yeah, that’s a great way to utilize totally. The Internet. Yes.
Aby Rinella:
Be careful.
Yvette Hampton:
Be careful with so art projects, which.
Aby Rinella:
I’m not great at this, but I.
Yvette Hampton:
Know we’ve got some mamas who are fantastic at doing art projects and the don’t mind the glitter and the glue and all that stuff.
Aby Rinella:
And you know what? It doesn’t have to be something you plan, because I was never that either. But then I learned if I just have them or give them a box of art stuff and the table, they’ll come up with their own art. Yeah. So I’ve learned, like, I don’t have to plan it. I don’t have to have these elaborate things, which is hard for me anyway, because then I’m like, you’re not doing it right. I wouldn’t use those two colors together. So I’ve learned I can’t do that because I’m too much of a control freak. I just had to give them the stuff and let them create whatever they want to create.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah. Brooklyn took a she was visiting a co op one day, and she went into the art class in that co op. This was many years ago. And the lady who was teaching art, she was like, OK, I want you to draw or paint this picture. And Brooklyn is very artistic, so she likes to be creative. Well, this mom who was teaching it, she was like, okay, no, I want you to paint this this color and this color. And Brooklyn came out that she was like, that lady’s a horrible teacher. She was telling me how I had to paint my picture. And she was so deeply offended that this woman was telling her how she had to paint her picture because Kit just was like, but that’s not how I want to do it.
Aby Rinella:
She’s a creative.
Yvette Hampton:
This lady was very kind, but she was a control freak, and she wanted to tell the kids how to do their art.
Aby Rinella:
And Brooklyn was sometimes it’s painful. You’re like, yeah, I don’t feel like those two colors. I have to walk away and be like, Be creative. Whatever you want to do.
Yvette Hampton:
Yes.
Aby Rinella:
I can’t watch.
Yvette Hampton:
And then the last one that I have, which I’m really trying this year and going to try to do, is taking photos and videos, which we’ve got 5 million photos and videos of our girls. But I just feel like when they were little, I used to do videos all the time because they were so cute and little, and they would do funny things. Right. But I really want to capture more of what they’re doing. And even school, like, this is our life, this is what we do. So just taking more pictures and videos just to hold those memories, because when you look back on them, when I look back on videos, I mean, so often, I don’t know if you do this. I look back, I’m like, I don’t even remember that.
Aby Rinella:
Right?
Yvette Hampton:
I have zero recollection of we watched a Christmas video not that long ago of our girls, and they were really little, and I think Brooklyn was maybe five, maybe six. And I had literally zero recollection of this particular Christmas, none at all. And I was like, I am so thankful we have this video. And I had my nieces in there, and they were all so little and so cute, and they were hilarious, and so I want to capture more of that instead of the posed pictures and planned out pictures, like, just more every candid. This is what our life is.
Aby Rinella:
Oh, I love that.
Yvette Hampton:
Yeah. Do you have any more?
Aby Rinella:
Well, I think you hit most of them. I mean, I’m huge on traditions, but I say also, it’d be fun to mix it up once in a while and be like, put one kid in charge of the day. They need to cover the same things. Let them steer the day. How do you want to do the day? And I think you learn a lot from that to go. What things did they keep? What things did they throw out? Which things mattered? What order rocked for them? And it mixes it up. And I think when they are in charge, it also adds for them. So I think that would be a fun maybe once a month, each kid gets a day where they get to be in charge of the day. They get to pick the song you wake up to. They get to pick what time you do what and what order it goes and who sits where. And I think that’d be fun.
Yvette Hampton:
That is fun. I love that. I love it when kids get to take charge of things.
Aby Rinella:
It’s good for them.
Yvette Hampton:
It is. Which, by the way, this has nothing to do with this. I just was thinking about it as you were talking about that. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this. We finally figured out who does the dishes dilemma.
Aby Rinella:
Yeah, you told me. A month, right?
Yvette Hampton:
Or a week. They do two weeks.
Aby Rinella:
Two weeks.
Yvette Hampton:
Two weeks.
Aby Rinella:
And then they get to sit in the front seat of the car.
Yvette Hampton:
And they get to sit in the front whoever’s dishes week it is, or two weeks it is. If it’s your day to do dishes, you get to sit in the front seat of the car. And can I just tell you, it’s worth kit, why didn’t I do this years ago? It has eliminated so many fights. And my girls. It’s my turn. It’s my turn to sit in the front seat. I did the dishes last night. Or I did them yesterday. No.
Aby Rinella:
Isn’t it funny how you finally figure something out? You’re like, how did I not know this all those years ago?
Yvette Hampton:
I know.
Aby Rinella:
It’s ridiculous that’s such a good idea. That’s a good idea. So they have the one negative thing and the one positive thing I love.
Yvette Hampton:
Yes. Yeah. Garritt and I help the with dishes, but ultimately it’s their responsibility for the weekend when it’s their dishes week and it’s been magical.
Aby Rinella:
I love that idea.
Yvette Hampton:
And it makes home school more fun because then there’s not as much fighting.
Aby Rinella:
Yes.
Yvette Hampton:
Oh, dear.
Aby Rinella:
Eliminate as much drama as you can. And I’ve learned it usually starts with me. I’m allowing drama. I’m allowing them to bicker over the dishwasher rather than just be like, no, this is how it’s going to work. Yeah.
Yvette: And so, you know, it can be a little bit scary sometimes, especially when we see ourselves and our own sin manifesting in our children, and our attitudes, and the rolling of our eyes. We see our kids do that, and we think, oh shoot. But it’s true I mean we really are their primary influence, and so that’s a very big task that God has, and responsibility that he’s put in front of us.
Connie: And they are living in a world of technology, which is not evil, it’s neutral. It’s what is done with it. And unfortunately there are quite a few bad actors. And unfortunately that’s the world that your children are living in. So I really talk to parents about understanding their teen’s world. We tackle some tough topics. I talk to them about how do you squash fear. I mean fear can grip us. We can think that we’re going to ruin our child. If we come down on them a little too hard, or if we say something brass that we really shouldn’t have said, an we deeply regret it, but we know it’s still bouncing around between their ears. What do we do with that fear?
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