3 Tips to Upgrade Your Homeschool Day

Morgan Farr is an amazing young woman with many talents, which she uses to cultivate her ministry and family to better bring glory to God. In this Family UPGRADE, she shares from her practical expertise in homeschooling.

"Homeschooling is one of the most divisive words in parenting," Morgan says. "People had STRONG opinions about it during normal life, but add in the chaos caused by Covid-19 and homeschooling has become polarizing."

I (Dawn) homeschooled my two sons (many years ago); and it was rewarding, but not always easy. I can't imagine homeschooling during a pandemic, but Morgan has some great tips!

Morgan continues . . .

Let me start by saying, I am not going to try to convince you to be pro-homeschooling!

Instead, I want to talk specifically to those who ARE going to be homeschooling for the 2020-2021 school year, and share how to smooth out your homeschool day.

For a little bit of background on me…

• I have three children ages 5 and under, and I am expecting my fourth at the end of September.
• We have been homeschooling since my oldest was two-and-a-half, so I have three years of homeschool experience.
• However, I am also an Army wife stationed over 1,000 miles away from my closest family and often alone in my homeschooling efforts due to the military.

I understand more than most how taxing homeschooling can be!

Here are my TOP THREE TIPS for upgrading your homeschool day.

1. Get Up before Your Kids.

I know this one can be galling to some people. I am not a morning person by any stretch of the imagination.

However, I get up a minimum of 1 hour before my kids get up. I do this because I noticed that getting up at least 15 minutes before my children do gives me time to get my mind clear, pray, and be fully awake when they get up.

Galatians 5:22-23 lists self-control as one part of the fruit of the Spirit. One source notes: “If we let our desires lead our decisions, our lives (and our bodies) can quickly spin out of control. Self-control is a discipline that God grows in us when we continually choose to die to our flesh and live in Him.”

There are days where I want to just hide under the covers and hope the kids don’t notice, but being disciplined and getting up to spend time with my God BEFORE I spend time with my children helps me to not feel behind before my day has even started.

I know that on the days when I am unable to get up before the children, everyone in the house can feel the difference!

2. Get a "Titus Two Homeschool Mentor."

One of the best things I have in my homeschool is help from what I call my "Titus Two Homeschool Moms."

These women—including my mother-in-law—are where I turn for support, encouragement, and problem solving ideas. I call them Titus Two Homeschool Moms based on Titus 2:3-5 in the Bible:

“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”

My mother-in-law homeschooled all three of her children from Kindergarten through 12th grade. She differentiated each child’s lessons based on their needs and interests, and she did this in the 90s when homeschooling wasn’t as “normal” as it is today.

She couldn’t just pop on Pinterest and look up handwriting practice sheets when one of her kids needed something extra. She had to research it, find out where it was sold, and purchase it or make it herself.

So when my son started switching between his left and right hand, who did I ask for help?

My mother-in-law.

When I felt like a failure because my other son had difficulty distinguishing between "p," "d," "b," and "q," who did I call?

My mother-in-law.

When my daughter decided school time was when she would throw a massive fit, because she wanted to "do school" but was only 18 months old, who did I ask?

My mother-in-law.

Do you know a family rocking this homeschool gig? Contact the mom and ask her for tips, suggestions, or how to get started. These ladies can be in-person groups, online, or simply text messages.

Homeschool moms are loving and ALWAYS willing to help out a fellow mom.

3. Do the Next Right Thing.

I am going to quote my mother-in-law: "The best thing you can do to smooth out your homeschool day is to make a plan and stick with it."

That way when someone is sick, or the washing machine breaks, or a pandemic happens, you can just do the next right thing on your plan.

For our family, that meant when the 2019-2020 school year ended, we took two days off and then jumped into the 2020-2021 school year since we were still under stay-at-home orders here in Philadelphia.

Sure we could have taken a couple of weeks off, but our thought was that since we couldn’t go anywhere or do anything, we might as well make good use of the time and get ahead.

Then, when things go back to normal—whenever that might be—we can take a bigger break at that time.

For us, the next right thing was to continue school and use the schooling to help provide structure and stability during the pandemic.

Ultimately, homeschooling is HARD WORK. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.

If you choose to homeschool, you are going to need support, encouragement, and—in my case—Dr. Pepper!

Find people you can talk to, work with, and learn from. Join online groups, set schedules, and be flexible.

Homeschooling should work for you. That is the best part!

Don’t let it drag you down.

Where can you find support for your homeschool journey?

(If you want tips on where to find support or how to get started, feel free to contact me and I’d be happy to talk with you!)

Morgan Farr is a Texas-loving, succulent-cultivating, book nerd. Stationed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this Army wife is learning to respect her husband, developing her three (soon to be four!) small children, and tackling the homeschool life while moving all over the country. Morgan writes about her transition away from feminism and into biblical womanhood at The Forgiven Former Feminist.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of FeelGoodJunkie at Pixabay.

When You Don't Like Your Life Season

Janet Thompson is a mentoring expert who deeply cares about women's spiritual growth. In this Mentoring UPGRADE, she encourages us to consider how God might use each of us in our current life seasons.

"We’ve all heard, 'You’re just in a season, it will pass,'” Janet says. "But what do you do until then . . . or worse . . . if it never passes?"

I (Dawn) felt "stuck" in a season a few years ago, and I heartily agree with Janet's prescription for how to move forward!

Janet continues . . .

Good and pleasant life seasons are wonderful and it’s easy to think God couldn’t possibly want what we perceive as a bad or unpleasant season for us. Right?

Yet, Ecclesiastes 4:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

We try so hard to hold onto those feel-good seasons, and there’s nothing wrong with that—we should have times of joy, dancing, laughing, loving, and peace.

But when the not-so-good times roll, we need to remember that God hasn’t left us. He’s walking right beside us through the mourning, weeping, uprooting, and war seasons.

God never abandons His children—a message we need to share with each other and with the culture, especially during today’s challenging times.

Reasons for Not Liking our Life Season

Usually we don’t like a life season because:

• It’s painful or uncomfortable.
• We’re jealous and like what someone else’s life looks like more than our own life.
• We’re living with the consequences of our, or someone else’s, behavior or decisions.
• We’re discontent or discouraged.
• We’re not sure if God still cares about us.

What would you add to the list?

We all have difficult seasons we just want to end. Or maybe we’re in a wonderful season we never want to end.

Most seasons we have no control over, even though advertisers set us up to fail by assuring if we just drink, eat, use, own, the right products, or meet the right people, every season will be heavenly.

The aging clock will stop and somehow God made our life to be different from everyone else’s life.

But that’s a lie and those who buy into it will never be content because everything God lists in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 is a season everyone will experience.

What to Do

1. The first thing to do when we don’t like our life season is ask God how He wants us to deal with it, and then listen carefully to how the Holy Spirit answers.

It’s that still small voice we hear guiding us when we cry out to God. We might not know how to get through the season, but God does. So often, He’s talking but we’re not listening.

Someone asked a Christian friend how he knew what God wanted. Did he have a direct line to God? I thought, Yes he does!

Every Christian has a direct line to God the world doesn’t understand, and one we don’t use nearly enough: praying to Jesus who hears every word and the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us even when all we can do is groan.

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27).

2. Next, seek out a Christian woman who has experienced this season in her life and can mentor you in how she made it through like only someone can who has been-there-done-that.

Incredible comfort comes from spending time with a mentor who understands your painful season!

God doesn’t want us going through any season alone; but He also doesn’t want us listening to anyone who isn’t giving us biblical wisdom.

That’s why in Mentoring for All Seasons: Sharing Life Experiences and God’s Faithfulness, every season has Scripture for the mentor and mentee—or for any two women—to study together that applies to the various issues they might experience in any season.

Being a mentor doesn’t mean you have all the answers or the Bible memorized. It simply means you’re willing to share your experiences, search God’s Word, and pray together with another woman.

Then one day, she can reach out and help lift up someone else going through a similar season.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

Who are you mentoring and who is mentoring you?

Janet Thompson is a speaker and author of nineteen books, the founder of Woman to Woman Mentoring and About His Work Ministries. Her latest release is Mentoring for All Seasons: Sharing Life Experiences and God’s Faithfulness. Visit Janet at www.womantowomanmentoring.com where she writes a weekly blog and monthly newsletter. 

Graphic adapted, courtesy of geralt at Pixabay.

God Harvests Fruit From Mentoring Seeds

With wise words and sweet songs, Dr. Gail Bones invites women to a place of change in Christ and the cross. In this unique UPLIFT/Mentoring UPGRADE, she shares a personal note from someone changed by her ministry.

A decade ago, God allowed me to mentor a younger woman in ministry," Gail says. "Years later, she wrote to thank me for equipping her to invest in the next generation."

We don't often get an opportunity to see how God uses our ministry. I (Dawn) am so glad Gail received this tremendous blessing. It encouraged me to think how God might be using us in ways we don't yet understand.

Gail has truly been a Titus 2 woman, equipping and encouraging younger women.

Gail continues . . .

I’m grateful that the seeds I’ve planted in her life continue to produce a rich harvest.

Her words can serve as an encouragement to all who hear the call to mentor but may feel uncertain as to how to go about it.

You’ll see it took no special talent or herculean effort. We just planned to spend regular time together walking and talking. 

Be inspired by some of her cherished words to me about our mentoring relationship:

Thank you for loving me so well. You cared about the things I cared about. You let me lead out in conversation about things that were on my heart and mind without making me feel silly or juvenile for giving my attention to things that, looking back, seem so shallow.

You affirmed and pointed out my strengths. You let me plan a party for my young adult group at your house and afterwards said, "You are really good at putting on events and bringing people together.” You gave me the confidence to continue to have people over often, even now. 

You told me I had the gift of exhortation and, because of your affirmation, I ask God to use my voice in that way as I minister to the people He entrusts to my care.

One of my deepest cares was whether I’d ever get married. You always told me I was beautiful inside and out, and helped me to believe that God did in fact have someone very special for me who would see me that way too.

You shared your life with me, and were vulnerable, letting me into the good, the bad and the ugly of your life. My admiration for you grew deeper as my understanding of the Lord and his grace through your story changed me. This became part of the spiritual foundation I stand on today, and the hope I cling to in times where I feel like I’ve lost my way. Through your story, I learned that God is gracious, and not only is He gracious, He is good. When we search for him we find he is loving, compassionate, and forgiving.

You were also honest about marriage and family, finances and your self-doubt. That honesty prepared me for my own marriage and life as an “adult.” You gave me the confidence to take life head-on and to not be so afraid.

When I cried, you cried, and you taught me that emotions were okay. Watching you cry made me feel like women can be strong and they can be emotional; the two can co-exist.

You inspired me to read, something that I still love to do today. This has opened my world to new information and wisdom that I use every day in ministry.

Thank you Gail, I love you! 

What impact could you have in the life of another as a mentor if you’d be willing to trust God’s Holy Spirit to guide you? Who is he placing in your path?

Ask the Lord to show you who He has in mind for you to mentor and be mentored by.

Dr. Gail Bones is a speaker, retreat leader, songwriter/worship leader, former professor of education and the founder of CrossWise Living, an intergenerational ministry devoted to helping people navigate change. She and her husband Jeff have two married children. From the east coast but now living in San Diego, Gail says “happiness” means always having one or more of the following in her hands: a dog leash, a sailboat rudder, bicycle handlebars, a kayak paddle, an acoustic guitar, a big fat book or a hazelnut coffee. Be blessed by her Bible studies or her newest CD, "Still," and read more about Gail at her website/blog.

NOTE: The full story of how God brought us together and began my cross-generational ministry can be found in Living CrossWise: Hope and Help for Navigating Transition.

Graphic of strawberries adapted, courtesy of Morguefile.