Wisdom is essential in building a strong family and home life. Women have innumerable people, projects, and loyalties competing for their time and attention. Proverbs tells us that, “The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.” In this weekly podcast wife, mother of ten, and seasoned home educator, Kara Murphy looks to God’s word for wisdom that will help women build up their families instead of tear them down. This podcast is both an encouragement and a challenge to rise above the folly that marks our culture and be HomeWise!
By Kara Murphy on
Steve and Kara discuss the good work of the NACD and what their family has used them for and the results that they have seen through the assessments of their children and the advice given.
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Steve and Kara Murphy talk about the messes we find in our homes and perhaps a different way of looking at it all.
By Kara Murphy on
How can you evaluate your own parenting without discouraging yourself? How do you keep from being blind to your own faults? How do you keep from constantly beating yourself up in unnecessary ways? Are you evaluating based on worldly parenting methods?
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What part do grandparents play in the lives of grandchildren? How can grandparents help lighten the load that young couples carry? What are some of the pitfalls that trip up generational living.
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It is tough for boys to learn to be men in the current culture. How can you teach and train them to be hard working responsible men who will be able to provide for a family and take dominion in the world?
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Is it a parent’s responsibility to know the spiritual state of your kids? Is it possible to know their spiritual state? How do you adjust your parenting to include spiritual training as well as physical training?
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How can a Christian family deal with it when mom is chronically ill? How can you still be a helpmeet to your husband when you can’t physically do the things you want to do? What are the benefits for the children in a household where mom is unwell? Join Steve & Kara for a candid discussion about their experience with extended illness.
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How can you foster your kids’ talents and give them opportunities to grow? How can you evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of having one or more children involved in lessons, choirs, arts, athletics, etc? What are some options to reduce the drawbacks on the rest of the family while still encouraging your child’s talents? Steve and Kara Murphy welcome their son Matthew into the conversation on this one.
By Kara Murphy on
Are your expectations for your homeschool realistic? Do you find yourself stressed at the beginning of every school year? Do you live in constant fear that you aren’t doing enough or are failing your kids? Are you setting yourself up to fail? Join Steve and Kara as they discuss the struggle to maintain reasonable school schedules and prioritizing family and educational goals.
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Can your family find ways to serve together? Should we be individualistic in how we pursue ministry opportunities? What are the benefits of all the age groups in the family ministering together? How do the family and the church relate to each other in the context of ministry.
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By Kara Murphy on
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By Kara Murphy on
Should you expect your kids to obey you the first time you tell them something? Will you lose your child’s heart when you deal quickly and firmly with unruly behavior? How can you know when to make a quick correction and when you need to address deeper issues with your kids?
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Do you find yourself planning, but not actually following through with those plans? How can you plan efficiently and effectively? Are you trying to do too much? How do you keep from getting overwhelmed or getting stuck in a rut? What are some different ways to schedule out your year?
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How can you keep summer trips manageable? Summertime is a great time for hospitality when you can keep the activity outside! How can you encourage your kids’ creativity? Steve and Kara share some simple, low-cost, memory-making, summer activities that their family enjoys.
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How do you balance the constant pulls for time from church activities with a healthy family life? How do you build routines that work for your family and don’t neglect the fellowship and ministry of the church? Does being at home with your kids mean that you are not doing “ministry”? Remember that during different seasons in your family life your involvement in ministry activities may look very different.
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It’s okay if you make mistakes, every homeschool mom makes mistakes. How can you plan for a smooth transition from public or private school to homeschool? How do you manage the duties of the home AND educational duties? How does academic work fit into the life of your family? How do you transition from seeing the home as primarily a place of rest and recharge to being a place of daily work? What are the difficulties involved with being your child’s teacher and not just his parent? How can you let go of your expectations of what “school” should be. . .
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Is it a good thing that some things are NOT in your control as a parent? Trying to control outcomes of every situation can create overbearing, micro-managing, uptight, stressed out attitudes in your family. Understanding the limits of our control helps us trust God who controls all things.
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How consistent do you need to be in your homeschooling? Should teaching your children be like a job with schedules and vacation days? Can you be consistent in training in godliness even when the school schedule gets upended? How do you keep your goals straight so you are being consistent in the things that matter the most?
