For Today’s High School Grads

Posted on December 15, 2017 by Barbara Frank

One of the things I know for certain is that children grow up fast (even if it doesn’t feel like it while they’re little), and before you know it they’re on their own.

It’s so hard to make sure you’ve taught them everything you want them to know before they leave home. Here’s an interesting article, “What I Would Tell a High School Graduate Today,” that touches on several subjects that your teens should consider. Give it to them to read, or read it yourself to get ideas for topics to discuss with them before they leave the nest. It definitely makes for worthwhile reading.

The (Lutheran) Church of Sweden Goes PC

Posted on December 8, 2017 by Barbara Frank

Thank God my great-grandma left Sweden for this country when she was a teenager. Not only is Sweden being taken over by Muslim refugees, with the resulting crime wave hurting many Swedes, but now the Swedish Lutheran church (yes, four generations later, my family is still Lutheran) has gone all PC and is ordering its clergy to stop referring to God as “he” or “the Lord” in an effort to appease women clergy in the church, including their first female archbishop.

I won’t get on my soapbox here, although I could very easily. Instead, I’ll just quote one of the many disgusted commenters on that article:

“The Devil must be laughing her head off.”

Too funny!

The Blind Leading the Blind

Posted on November 13, 2017 by Barbara Frank

My Bible reading today includes the following (partial) verse:

“…and if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

Matthew 15:14

It occurs to me that with the advent of the Internet came forums, where we can commiserate with others in our situation, whether the topic is medical issues, parenting, homeschooling or something else.

But it’s one thing to befriend like-minded people, and another to take their advice when they don’t know much more than you do. It’s still wise to find an expert to consult, or read books by experts.

When you don’t know any experts, you can always pray for some. When I was a young mom with four kids running around, I really craved the advice of an older woman. But my own mother was not accessible at that time. So I prayed for mentors, and sure enough, over time God led me into friendships with several older women in my church. What an inspiration they were! A couple of them continue to inspire me, long after I moved to another state, because we’ve kept in touch.

So don’t fall into a pit; find someone who’s familiar with the path.

T is for Time

Posted on August 20, 2017 by Barb

T is for time. Homeschooling gives you time with your kids: time you wouldn’t have if they went to school, and time you’ll never get back.

I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but I can verify that children are only young for a very short time. Now that my four are adults, I cherish the memories we made over our years of homeschooling.

No, it wasn’t all easy, and there were days when I never would have believed that we’d make it all the way through high school. But looking back, I’m so glad our family was a homeschooling family, because it gave us time to enjoy being together before everyone grew up and went off on their own paths as adults.

Try a free lesson from my Bible study written for mothers and daughters: Women of the Old Testament: 14 In-Depth Bible Studies for Teens.

D is for Dad

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Barb

D is for Dad. At first, homeschooling was primarily the province of moms. But the changes in our economy have made it easier for women to find work than men, so expect to see more homeschooling dads than ever.

That said, even if your husband has a job, he can and should get involved in homeschooling the children. Dads have their own unique style, and the kids will love learning with them, whether formally or informally. The bonus, of course, is that when Dad takes over, you take a break. So give Dad a chance to teach the kids; you won’t regret it!

Looking for a short but faith-boosting summer read for you and your older kids?Try The 40 Days: A Novel.