Rules and Relationship – MBFLP 289 | Birthday Replay

Rules are a good and necessary part of running a home and raising a family. Why do our best efforts sometimes breed resentment or even rebellion, when it's all so well-intentioned? This episode we're looking at the crucial balance between rules and relationship in our home!

Rules are a good and necessary part of running a home and raising a family.

Why do our best efforts sometimes breed resentment or even rebellion, when it’s all so well-intentioned? This episode we’re looking at the crucial balance between rules and relationship in our home!

🏆 Treasure Hunt Tip: Listen to the podcast to hear a Golden Homeschool Nuggest from fellow Ultimate Homeschool Network Podcast show host, Dr. Melanie Wilson from the Homeschool Sanity Show!

🎁 Download the 12th Birthday Treasure Chest!
We’re celebrating 12 years of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network with a gift just for you! Download our Podcast Gold Treasure Chest — a free bundle filled with homeschool resources, printables, and special offers from our incredible partners. Plus, when you download, you’re automatically entered to win a $50 Amazon gift card! 🥳

No purchase necessary — this is a free resource made possible by our generous sponsors: Media Angels, True North Academy, CTC Math, Math Mammon, BaseCampEd, Powerline Productions, Funda Funda Academy, Raising Real Men, 7 Sisters Homeschool, and Galaxy Grammar Books.

👉 Download your Treasure Chest now!

Rules are a good and necessary part of running a home and raising a family. Why do our best efforts sometimes breed resentment or even rebellion, when it's all so well-intentioned? This episode we're looking at the crucial balance between rules and relationship in our home!

Scriptures We Reference

The Ten Commandments – Exodus 20:1-17, Deuteronomy 5:1-21

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
     Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40)

Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. (Romans 14:5)

Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (Ephesians 6:1)

So then, my beloved, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.  (James 1:19-20)

The repentance of Ahab – 1 Kings 21:17-29

 

Day 3 of Homeschool Podcast Gold: Relationship Over Rigor

🌟 Day 3 of Podcast Gold: Relationship Over Rigor

“Relationship is the most important ‘R’ in ‘reading, ’riting, and ’rithmetic.’ I’d read together more, move away from textbooks, start narration and dictation sooner, and find a homeschool community earlier.”

Day 3 of Podcast Gold reminds homeschool parents that the most important “R” isn’t reading or arithmetic — it’s relationship.When most of us first start homeschooling, we focus on getting the academics right. We fill in checklists, chase grade levels, and try to recreate school at home — because that’s what feels familiar.

But somewhere along the way, we realize something sacred: homeschooling isn’t just about academics. It’s about connection.

Today’s Podcast Gold Nugget captures that realization perfectly:

“Relationship is the most important ‘R’ in ‘reading, ’riting, and ’rithmetic.’ I’d read together more, move away from textbooks, start narration and dictation sooner, and find a homeschool community earlier.”

This wisdom reminds us that the heart of homeschooling is relationship — not rigor. Our kids will forget some facts, but they’ll never forget how it felt to learn beside us.

Those snuggled read-alouds, messy science projects, and conversations over cocoa? They’re the moments that shape character and family culture — the kind of education that lasts.

🎧 Listen & Learn:
Hal & Melanie Young from Making Biblical Family Lfe Practical share this same truth often: learning happens best in the context of relationship. In their episodes about confidence and connection, she reminds us that joy comes when we stop trying to do homeschool like everyone else — and start building something that works for our family.

💛 Your Golden Takeaway:
Before you open the math book, open your heart. The relationship you build with your child is the foundation for lifelong learning.

🏆 Treasure Hunt Tip:
There’s a golden clue hidden in the podcast for today’s featured episode! Visit Making Biblical Family Life Practical: Rules and Relationship to find your next piece of Podcast Gold.


🎁 Download the 12th Birthday Treasure Chest!
We’re celebrating 12 years of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network with a gift just for you! Download our Podcast Gold Treasure Chest — a free bundle filled with homeschool resources, printables, and special offers from our incredible partners. Plus, when you download, you’re automatically entered to win a $50 Amazon gift card! 🥳

No purchase necessary — this is a free resource made possible by our generous sponsors: Media Angels, True North Academy, CTC Math, Math Mammoth, BaseCampEd, Powerline Productions, Funda Funda Academy, Raising Real Men, 7 Sisters Homeschool, and Galaxy Grammar Books.

👉 Download your Treasure Chest now!

A Healthy Marriage, Day to Day (with Roger & Jan Smith) – MBFLP 293

What makes a marriage last? How do you build a strong and stable relationship for hard times and good times? Is it something more than just being “lucky in love”? This episode, we’re talking with our friends and fellow teachers, Roger and Jan Smith. Between us, we have eighty years of marriage, twelve children, and a lot of practical experience! So join us as we chat about the ideas and habits we found most effective at creating and maintaining a healthy marriage from day to day!

Scriptures We Referenced

 

[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:7)

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. … Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her (Ephesians 5:22, 25)

Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. (1 Peter 3:7)

Resources You Might Find Helpful

 

Parenting With Influence by Dr. Roger Smith

Roger Smith, MD – website

“Parenting Matters Now” – vlog 

My Beloved and My Friend: How to be Married to Your Best Friend Without Changing Spouses – our book on marriage!

To find out more about Hal and Melanie speaking at your church, group, camp, or retreat, go to halandmelanie.com

Rules and Relationship – MBFLP 289

Rules are a good and necessary part of running a home and raising a family. Why do our best efforts sometimes breed resentment or even rebellion, when it’s all so well-intentioned? This episode we’re looking at the crucial balance between rules and relationship in our home!

Scriptures We Reference

The Ten Commandments – Exodus 20:1-17, Deuteronomy 5:1-21

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
     Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40)

Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. (Romans 14:5)

Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (Ephesians 6:1)

So then, my beloved, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.  (James 1:19-20)

The repentance of Ahab – 1 Kings 21:17-29

 

Best of Life as a Lifeschooler: The Joy of Relationship Homeschooling with Karen Campbell

Karen CampbellWe hope you are enjoying your summer break!  Here’s one of our best episodes to brighten your summer day:  On this episode, I talk to one of my new favorite pioneer homeschoolers, Karen Campbell, about relationship homeschooling! Interestingly, I went to college with Karen’s daughter, Mollie, but didn’t know her very well and had no idea she had even been homeschooled. After connecting with Mollie on Instagram recently, I saw a few of her mother’s posts and was delighted to discover that she had homeschooled back in the early days, and that we were kindred spirits in our philosophies.

This interview did not disappoint! I enjoyed listening to it again myself, and I know it is going to bless you to hear Karen’s wisdom as she shares some of her experiences from the “pioneer days.” Here are some of the questions and topics we discussed:

  • Tell us more about your homeschooling journey back in the early days of the movement.
  • Many homeschoolers bring the school model home because we all tend to just do what we know. I know you put a lot of emphasis on what you refer to as “relationship homeschooling.” Is there anything in particular that helped shape your perspective and educational philosophy?
  • The definition of lifeschooling is “the individualized process of discovering your child’s God-given gifts and talents primarily through real life experiences that happen within the context of your family’s unique situations and missions.” Is there a part of that definition that particularly speaks to you and can you share with us a bit more about how your family “lifeschooled”?
  • What are some of the gifts that you saw early on in your children and how were you able to tailor their education around the development of those gifts?
  • You focus a lot on the relationship aspect of homeschooling. What were some practical ways that you focused on relationships and what were the results?
  • How did you fit homeschooling with your blogging ministry and how did your ministry impact your homeschooling?
  • You talk in your book about grace-filled parenting and I love some of the stories you share. Tell us a bit about how that applies specifically to the high school years?
  • We just did an episode on co-ops. I think many of the current co-ops end up putting the same strain on relationships that school does. What are your thoughts?
  • What do you see as one of the biggest problems in the homeschooling movement today?

Be sure to check out Karen’s excellent book, “The Joy of Relationship Homeschooling: When the One Anothers Come Home.” And also take some time to visit her site, ThatMom.com, where you will find many insightful blog posts and podcast episodes.

Help! My Daughter is Getting Married

Finish Well Radio Show, Podcast #088, Help! My Daughter’s Getting Married, with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network

Help! My Daughter’s Getting Married

In “Help! My Daughter’s Getting Married,” episode #088, Meredith Curtis talks to Moms of newly engaged couples who wonder what on earth they need to do next and over the next
few months to help their daughter pull off a wedding, since most wedding coordinators are
mothers of the bride. From the practical to the relational, you will receive wisdom from a
Mom whose coordinated two weddings so far.

 

 

 


Powerline Productions Bible Studies

 

Powerline Productions, Inc.

Being World Changers, Raising World Changers!

We offer books and ebooks to help you homeschool to the Glory of God!

 

 

 

 


Show Notes

You just found out!

Celebrate, invest emotionally, make a plan with the couple

Money

Make a Budget

Avoid Debt

Priorities (What matters most? What do you want to remember?)

Venue

Choose, Reserve, Downpayment for

Venues/Choose Date

Ceremony—Church, Garden, Other?

Reception—Fellowship Hall,

More Things to Line Up

Pastor/Premarital Counseling

Caterer or Do Food Self

Photographer

Clothing: Wedding Gown, Girl’s Dresses, Guys Tuxes

Bride & Groom Choose Support Team (wedding party)

Mom, you choose your support team because usually the wedding coordinator is you!

Decorations

What “feel” do you want?

Start a Pinterest

Details

Plan Ceremony/Itinerary

Plan Reception/Itinerary

Emcee

Music

Invitations

Photographer

Bridal Registry

Shower

Bridesmaid Luncheon

Resources

Ultimate Christian Wedding Planner by Meredith CurtisBefore the Vows are Made - Premarital Counseling Workbook for Engaged Couples by Pastor Mike and Meredith CurtisReal Men 102: Freedom, Courtship, Marriage, & FamilyGod's Girls 103: Courship, Marriage, and the Christian Family High School Class

The Importance of Fun – MBFLP 224

Who said school can’t be fun? This episode, we sit down with our friends Roger and Jan Smith, long-time homeschool parents and leaders in Louisiana. The topic is simply, “Fun” – what it can do to create memories, bond family members, and make learning a lot more enjoyable for parents and students alike!

Recently we visited with Roger and Jan Smith, leaders in the Louisiana homeschool community and dear friends of ours. One evening our family and our friends were playing a fast-paced game together, laughing hysterically, and thinking about what an important, bonding thing that is.

We were noticing how well our teenagers interacted with the adults in the room, and the obvious respect going in both directions, and we were talking later about how the shared experiences build that sort of relationship. They’re more and more important as we all become more individualized and isolated, focusing on our work and entertainment through private screens—even when we’re in the same room, we’re not interacting.

That’s one reason we love audiobooks when we’re driving or working together, because the whole family can share that experience and have a basis for conversations later. It’s a good reason for reading aloud together, even when the children are reading well on their own. We try and make intentional choices to do things together so in later years, our adult children will have memories that draw them back to their family home.

Another thing we do is make a big deal over family holidays. Birthdays are an example. In our home, the one we’re celebrating gets to choose the family menu for the day. At supper, we center the conversation on memories of the birthday person. Afterward, we take turns sharing things we love or admire about them. It’s really touching – everyone loves being appreciated, and it’s very easy to overlook the chances to communicate that respect.

A Sense of Humor

Shared humor is another thing we look for. A study of newlywed couples noticed how they interacted, especially the moments of humor in the midst of a problem. It defuses situations and reduces tension if we can refer to a shared joke or inside story. It’s a sign of a healthy relationship if you can still smile, if you can still laugh, if you can lighten up in the midst of your stress. That applies to your kids as well as your mate!

In fact, that study really pointed out that our relationships are formed from the moments we share. Little things count. It’s not like you have to learn a new language to really score points with your kids. Instead, you just need to  hear when they speak, make eye contact, and come back with a positive response.

And that’s something you get a dozen times a day to do. If you miss one, just determine to catch the next. It’s something you can build up without feeling like you have to make a huge investment before you see any benefit.

(Listen in for more great ideas about building memories and relationships with your family!)

How to Care for Aging Parents

Finish Well Radio Show, Podcast #086, How to Care for Aging Parents with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Radio NetworkHow to Care for Aging Parents

In “How to Care for Aging Parents,” episode #086, Meredith Curtis encourages homeschooling parents whose parents are aging and needing their help and care. Sharing her own story, Meredith explains how to make wise choices, deal with the emotional turmoil, and make the most of a challenging time in your homeschool adventure. God has a plan! He also has enough grace to meet every need!

 

 

 

 


High School Curriculum by Powerline Productions

Powerline Productions, Inc.

Being World Changers, Raising World Changers!

We offer books and ebooks to help you homeschool to the Glory of God!

 

 


Show Notes

The arm of the Lord to protect Mom

Long years of sickness/Arriving at Hospital to see Dad, Grandmother in ER

Vacation at Ron Jon

Caught Between Two Worlds

Older woman caring for parents vs. young mom homeschooling children

Needing Momma & Daddy

Our Experience

What are the majors? Bare bones homeschooling, Seven R’s

Read, math, write, then add rest

Teachable moments at hospital

Greatest lesson—honoring parents

Unable to do it on own, learning to rely on the Lord

Grace, Always need Him, but can be self-sufficient

Receive forgiveness

Example of God’s Protection: Windshield I-95

Encouragement

Youcan’t do everything

Find God’s Priorities

Stay Cheerful—Glad Game

Perfusely Thank Children

Receive Help

Have Folks Pray for You

Major on Majors/Minor on Minors

 

Resources

Seven R's of Homeschooling by Meredith CurtisLovely to BeholdJesus Fill My Heart and Home by Meredith CurtisA Wise Woman Builds by Meredith Curtis

 

Don’t Waste Your Life

Finish Well Radio Show, Podcast #085, Don't Waste Your Life with Meredith Curtis, on the Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network

Don’t Waste Your Life

 

In “Don’t Waste Your Life,” episode #085, Meredith Curtis challenges teens to drop out the dull and routine to live a life worth living. She addresses lies that keep us from living joy-filled lives and how to exchange half-hearted hanging on for abundant zeal and passion. A life worth living is possible at 15 and at 50 if the desire is in your heart. So, shake off the dust, and let’s move on to the adventure God has for us!

 

 

 

 


PLP Ad - Galatians 5:22-23

Powerline Productions, Inc.

Being World Changers, Raising World Changers!

We offer books and ebooks to help you homeschool to the Glory of God!

 

 


Show Notes

Dull, Drudgery, Naps, & Video Games vs. A Life Worth Living!

My Story

Rebellion

Repentance

Rebirth

Real Living

Drawing Close to God

Pressing In

Pressing On

With All Your Heart

Overcoming Obstacles

Internet

The Opposite Sex

Gossip, Negative Talk

Self-Pity

Wrong Friends

Battle Ready

Spiritual Weapons

The Battle in the Mind

Standing Firm in Who You are in Christ

You are LOVED!

A Life Worth Living

Tell People about Jesus

Challenge Friends to Grow in the Lord

Serve

Healthy Relationships

Zeal/Passion/Energy

Outlets for Emotion: Music/Art/Poetry

HARD WORK:  Projects/Chores/Home Business

Family Ministry

J.O.Y.

 

Resources

Real Men 101: Godly ManhoodGod's Girls Brand New Life Bible StudyJoyful and Successful Homeschooling by Meredith CurtisReal Men 103: Leadership

 

The Joy of Relationship Homeschooling – Karen Campbell

Karen CampbellOn this episode, I talk to one of my new favorite pioneer homeschoolers, Karen Campbell, about relationship homeschooling! Interestingly, I went to college with Karen’s daughter, Mollie, but didn’t know her very well and had no idea she had even been homeschooled. After connecting with Mollie on Instagram recently, I saw a few of her mother’s posts and was delighted to discover that she had homeschooled back in the early days, and that we were kindred spirits in our philosophies.

This interview did not disappoint! I enjoyed listening to it again myself, and I know it is going to bless you to hear Karen’s wisdom as she shares some of her experiences from the “pioneer days.” Here are some of the questions and topics we discussed:

  • Tell us more about your homeschooling journey back in the early days of the movement.
  • Many homeschoolers bring the school model home because we all tend to just do what we know. I know you put a lot of emphasis on what you refer to as “relationship homeschooling.” Is there anything in particular that helped shape your perspective and educational philosophy?
  • The definition of lifeschooling is “the individualized process of discovering your child’s God-given gifts and talents primarily through real life experiences that happen within the context of your family’s unique situations and missions.” Is there a part of that definition that particularly speaks to you and can you share with us a bit more about how your family “lifeschooled”?
  • What are some of the gifts that you saw early on in your children and how were you able to tailor their education around the development of those gifts?
  • You focus a lot on the relationship aspect of homeschooling. What were some practical ways that you focused on relationships and what were the results?
  • How did you fit homeschooling with your blogging ministry and how did your ministry impact your homeschooling?
  • You talk in your book about grace-filled parenting and I love some of the stories you share. Tell us a bit about how that applies specifically to the high school years?
  • We just did an episode on co-ops. I think many of the current co-ops end up putting the same strain on relationships that school does. What are your thoughts?
  • What do you see as one of the biggest problems in the homeschooling movement today?

Be sure to check out Karen’s excellent book, “The Joy of Relationship Homeschooling: When the One Anothers Come Home.” And also take some time to visit her site, ThatMom.com, where you will find many insightful blog posts and podcast episodes.