The Christy-Faith Show

Why does your child say "I can't do this" the minute schoolwork comes out, and what actually helps? Homeschool expert Christy-Faith, an education and parenting expert with over 20 years of experience, sits down with pediatric occupational therapist Sarah Collins of HomeschoolOT to uncover the hidden reasons kids resist schoolwork. Before you treat it as a behavior problem, learn how to tell whether the child, the environment, or the task needs to change.🎁 Free Resource: My Curriculum RecommendationsI spill the tea! No paid sponsorship placements! Grab the list, by subject, of the most reputable homeschool programs on the market (in my opinion).👉 Free DownloadIn this episode, you'll learn:Why "I can't do this" often means "I can't do it this way"How to tell whether the child, the environment, or the task needs to changeHow sensory processing and executive functioning sit under homeschool meltdownsThe body signals and daily patterns that show what is really going onWhy silliness, stalling, and meltdowns can be the same avoidanceHow fear turns parents into accusers, and how to be your child's teammateTop-down and bottom-up: finding the "just right challenge" without lowering the barHow seating, movement, and sensory needs shape a homeschool learning spaceSponsors:BJU Press Homeschool✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family's needs✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level👉 View SamplesCTC Math✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you!👉 Free Trial👉 Get 50% OffLearningRx✔ Backed by 35 years of research✔ Real long-term help with ADHD and dyslexia✔ Strengthens attention, memory, reading, writing, and mathUse code HOME50 for $50 off your cognitive skills assessment👉 Get $50 Off Your Cognitive Skills AssessmentSummit Healthshare✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans👉 View Health Plans & SavingsResources mentioned:Reverse Planning Journal — Sarah's listener discount, code ICANTHISWAYHomeschoolOT — Sarah's website and one-on-one consultationsThe OT is IN podcast — Sarah's podcast, organized by topicA Chameleon Tale: A Colorful Sensory Story — Sarah's children's bookThe Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly businesses and providersThrive Homeschool Community — Christy-Faith's membership community for homeschool momsAbout our guest:Sarah Collins, MSOT, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist, homeschool mom, and founder of HomeschoolOT. She helps families understand the skills behind learning, including executive functioning, sensory processing, and handwriting, so they can better support their children at home. Sarah is also the host of The OT is IN podcast, where she brings an occupational therapy lens to the everyday challenges of homeschooling.👉 homeschoolot.comInstagram · Facebook · LinkedIn · TikTok · YouTubeConnect with Christy-Faith:Instagram: @christy_faith_TikTok: @christy_faithWebsite: christy-faith.comBook: Homeschool Rising🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us! (00:00) - Introduction (00:43) - When Your Child Says "I Can't" (02:15) - Meet Sarah Collins, Pediatric OT (02:51) - Why Every Parent Needs an OT Lens (05:32) - Before You Call It a Behavior Problem (06:40) - The Child, the Environment, or the Task? (09:09) - Investigate Before You Compare Siblings (11:17) - Body Signals and Patterns to Watch For (13:51) - Giving Kids Words for Big Feelings (18:00) - Is Helping Your Child "Too Soft"? (19:35) - Fear-Based Parenting vs. Being Their Teammate (22:25) - When Resistance Looks Like Silliness or Stalling (23:58) - What Happens Before, During, and After (26:26) - If Kids Designed Their Own Learning Space (31:01) - Seating, Movement, and Sensory Needs (33:35) - Chosen Tasks vs. Assigned Tasks (35:53) - How to Adjust Without Lowering the Bar (36:55) - Top-Down, Bottom-Up, and the "Just Right Challenge" (39:35) - How Sarah Works with Homeschool Families (41:22) - For the Mom Who Thinks Homeschooling Isn't Working (44:18) - You Don't Have to Do This Alone (46:44) - The Eye-Tracking Story (48:52) - Final Thoughts

Should your kids be using AI like ChatGPT for school — and how do you keep it from doing their thinking for them? Homeschool expert Christy-Faith sits down with Nancy Manos, host of the AI and Your Homeschool Podcast and a homeschool leader for more than 20 years, to talk about AI and homeschooling with wisdom instead of fear.🎁 Free Resource: My Curriculum RecommendationsI spill the tea! No paid sponsorship placements! Grab the list, by subject, of the most reputable homeschool programs on the market (in my opinion).👉 Free DownloadIn this episode, you'll learn:What AI tools like ChatGPT actually are — and a Christian perspective on why they can't replace human relationships or spiritual guidanceHow to raise kids wisely with AI without reacting in fear or blind enthusiasmWhy AI can sound confident and still be completely wrong — including a research study it made upPrivacy and flattery: what to watch for every time you type into an AI toolThe critical thinking skills kids need for jobs that don't even have names yetWhy the struggle of learning builds a "muscle" AI can't build for your kidsThe question to ask when your child says, "Can I just use AI for this?"Practical ways homeschool moms can use AI — from multi-age lesson ideas to field trip planningSponsors:BJU Press Homeschool✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family's needs✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level👉 View SamplesCTC Math✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you!👉 Free Trial👉 Get 50% OffSummit Healthshare✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans👉 View Health Plans & SavingsResources mentioned:AI and Your Homeschool Podcast — Nancy Manos's podcast for parents navigating AI and technologyFree Family Discussion Guide — Nancy's free guide with questions for parents, teens, and the whole familyThe Trojan Horse of the Digital Age: Why Christians Must Discern AI — book by Misty PhillipThe Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providersThrive Homeschool CommunityAbout our guest:Nancy Manos homeschooled her two daughters from preschool through high school and has served in homeschool leadership for more than 20 years. She is passionate about encouraging and equipping parents in the homeschool adventure. Nancy hosts the AI and Your Homeschool Podcast, where she helps parents raise children wisely and with discernment in a world of rapidly changing technology.👉 nancymanos.comConnect with Christy-Faith:Instagram: @christy_faith_TikTok: @christy_faithWebsite: christy-faith.comBook: Homeschool Rising🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us! (00:00) - Introduction (02:33) - Raising Kids Wisely Without Fear or Blind Enthusiasm (05:32) - Why Teens Need to Understand AI for Future Jobs (07:11) - What AI Is (and What It Can't Do) (10:40) - Technology Won't Fix Our "Me Problems" (12:44) - The Skills Kids Need for Jobs We Can't Name Yet (16:02) - Why Struggle Builds the Learning Muscle (18:30) - "Can I Just Use AI for This, Mom?" (19:53) - AI Concerns: Misinformation, Privacy, and Flattery (25:08) - You Don't Have to Master Every AI Tool (26:23) - AI Slop and Why Kids Will Crave Real Humanity (28:05) - Did I Just Cheat? The Hidden Cost of Shortcuts (29:58) - Practical Ways Homeschool Moms Can Use AI (32:47) - Are Some Skills No Longer Needed? (36:04) - What Kind of Adults Are We Raising? (39:09) - The Homeschool Advantage: Education as Skills (40:40) - What Nancy Would Do Differently Today (46:14) - Asking "Why?" Behind Every Assignment (48:20) - Nancy's Free Family Discussion Guide

Should parents read fairy tales to their kids — even the dark ones? Homeschool expert Christy-Faith sits down with Andrew Pudewa, founder and director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing, to talk about why kids need fairy tales and how these old stories shape a child's moral imagination. As Andrew puts it, paraphrasing G.K. Chesterton: children already know dragons exist — fairy tales teach them that dragons can be slain.🎁 Free Resource: My Curriculum RecommendationsI spill the tea! No paid sponsorship placements! Grab the list, by subject, of the most reputable homeschool programs on the market (in my opinion).👉 Free DownloadIn this episode, you'll learn:Why reading aloud to children is the most important thing you can do for strong readers, writers, and speakersWhat the "moral imagination" is and how stories build itWhy fairy tales may hold more truth than history textbooksWhat makes a story a true fairy tale — and where these stories came fromAre fairy tales too scary for kids? How to use your judgment based on age and personalityWhy kids need stories about death, loss, and other hard thingsHow fairy tales teach courage, wisdom, self-control, and justiceHow screens crowd out imagination — and why kids should hear the story before they see the movieSponsors:BJU Press Homeschool✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family's needs✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level👉 View SamplesCTC Math✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you!👉 Free Trial👉 Get 50% OffLearningRx✔ Backed by 35 years of research✔ Real long-term help with ADHD and dyslexia✔ Strengthens attention, memory, reading, writing, and mathUse code HOME50 for $50 off your cognitive skills assessment👉 Get $50 Off Your Cognitive Skills AssessmentSummit Healthshare✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans👉 View Health Plans & SavingsResources mentioned:Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) — the writing program Christy-Faith's family and co-op useFairy Tales and the Moral Imagination — Andrew Pudewa's talk on why fairy tales matterThe Tale of Snow White and the Widow Queen by Jonathan Pageau — Andrew's favorite fairy tale bookTending the Heart of Virtue by Vigen Guroian — how classic stories awaken a child's moral imaginationThe Mysteries of Life in Children's Literature by Mitchell Kalpakgian — books that inspire a love of lifeTheo of Golden by Allen Levi — the novel Christy-Faith and Andrew both loveThe Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald — one of Christy-Faith's favorites, free to read onlineThe Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providers: christy-faiths-list.comThrive Homeschool Community: christy-faith.com/thriveAbout our guest:Andrew Pudewa is the founder and director of the Institute for Excellence in Writing. Presenting around the world, he addresses issues relating to teaching, writing, thinking, and spelling with clarity, insight, practical experience, and humor. His seminars for parents, students, and teachers have helped transform many a reluctant writer and have equipped educators with powerful tools to dramatically improve students' skills.👉 iew.comConnect with Christy-Faith:Instagram: @christy_faith_TikTok: @christy_faithWebsite: christy-faith.comBook: Homeschool Rising🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us! (00:00) - Introduction (02:54) - How a Church Banner Sparked His Fairy Tale Research (06:46) - What Is the Moral Imagination? (08:58) - Why Stories Teach More Than History Textbooks (13:13) - What Makes a Story a Fairy Tale? (16:52) - "Dragons Can Be Slain": Why Fairy Tales Have a Dark Side (18:32) - Are Fairy Tales Too Scary for Kids? (24:50) - Why Kids Need Stories About Death and Loss (27:37) - Are We Protecting Our Kids Too Much? (29:29) - What Good Literature Gives Kids (34:37) - Why We Crave Stories Where Good Wins (38:31) - How Kids Step Inside the Story (41:17) - Fairy Tales and the Four Cardinal Virtues (45:37) - How Fairy Tales Spark Awe and Wonder (48:40) - How Screens Steal Imagination (50:06) - Why Imagination Matters for Faith (55:57) - Andrew's Favorite Fairy Tales (58:15) - Disney vs. the Original Fairy Tales (01:00:40) - Final Thoughts

Homeschooling more than one child and bouncing like a human pinball from phonics to fractions to grading essays? In the finale of the Smooth Homeschool Days series, homeschool expert Christy-Faith, an education and parenting expert with over 20 years of experience, shows you how to homeschool multiple kids without burning out — with a realistic teaching budget, boundaries that protect your sanity, and simple systems that build capable kids.🎁 Free Resource: Sample Homeschool SchedulesSee how real homeschool days come together, and build a schedule that works for every kid in your house.👉 Free DownloadIn this episode, you’ll learn:Your real teaching budget: about 2 to 3 hours a day — total, not per kidHow much of your time littles, elementary kids, and teens actually needWhy everyone in the family needs a printed schedule with margin built inMulti-level homeschooling: which subjects to teach together and which to keep separateThe interruption rule (“blood, fire, or flood”) and how to teach kids to waitThree boundaries that protect your homeschool: your phone, your personal space, and your core school hoursWhy chores are part of school — and how to anchor them to mealsBuilding capable kids with “I do, we do, you do” and the parental involvement indexSponsors:BJU Press Homeschool✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family’s needs✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level👉 View SamplesCTC Math✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you!👉 Free Trial👉 Get 50% OffLearningRx✔ Backed by 35 years of research✔ Real long-term help with ADHD and dyslexia✔ Strengthens attention, memory, reading, writing, and mathUse code HOME50 for $50 off your cognitive skills assessment👉 Get $50 Off Your Cognitive Skills AssessmentSummit Healthshare✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans👉 View Health Plans & SavingsResources mentioned:Smooth Homeschool Days Part 1 (Ep. 137) — The early years: pre-K to 2nd gradeSmooth Homeschool Days Part 2 (Ep. 138) — The elementary years: 3rd to 6th gradeSmooth Homeschool Days Part 3 (Ep. 139) — The teen years: building independence without losing connectionThe Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly businesses and providersThrive Homeschool Community — Christy-Faith’s membership community for homeschool momsConnect with Christy-Faith:Instagram: @christy_faith_TikTok: @christy_faithWebsite: christy-faith.comBook: Homeschool Rising🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us! (00:00) - Welcome to Smooth Homeschool Days Part 4 (00:56) - When Your House Feels Like a Circus (01:54) - A Multi-Level Homeschool Isn’t Three Separate Schools (02:21) - How This 4-Part Series Works (03:18) - The One Number That Changes Everything (04:00) - Your Real Teaching Budget: 2 to 3 Hours a Day (04:28) - Younger Kids Need More of Your Time (06:01) - How Much Time Your Teen Really Needs From You (06:39) - Why Everyone Needs a Printed Schedule (07:36) - Teach Together Whenever You Can (08:17) - What the Research Says About Mixed-Age Learning (08:42) - Which Subjects to Keep Separate (09:32) - What a Multi-Level Homeschool Day Looks Like (14:08) - Interruptions: The Homeschool Day Killer (14:42) - The Interruption Rule: Blood, Fire, or Flood (15:11) - Teaching Kids How to Wait (17:21) - A Boundary With Yourself: Your Phone (17:57) - Boundaries Around Your Personal Space (19:00) - Boundaries With the Outside World (21:00) - Running a House That Has School in It (21:47) - Anchor Chores to Meals (22:59) - The Planning Fallacy: Why You Need Margin (23:31) - Time-Based vs. Lesson-Based Homeschooling (24:13) - Chores Are Part of School (25:13) - The Independence Trap (28:10) - Capability, Not Independence (30:00) - Gradual Release: I Do, We Do, You Do (30:28) - What Kids Can Do on Their Own, by Age (31:31) - The Parental Involvement Index (33:48) - The Whole Series in Four Sentences (34:47) - Final Thoughts: What Smooth Homeschool Days Really Are

Is your teenager shutting the bedroom door, sleeping until ten, and tuning out every reminder — while you quietly wonder if you’re losing them? In Part 3 of the Smooth Homeschool Days series, homeschool expert Christy-Faith explains what’s really happening in the teen brain and how teen homeschooling can build real independence without losing connection.🎁 Free Resource: 15 Questions to Ask Before You Join a Homeschool Co-OpSave yourself the time and misery of joining the wrong co-op. Grab my free guide and find the right fit for your family.👉 Free DownloadIn this episode, you'll learn:Why teens need 8 to 10 hours of sleep — and why it’s okay to start school at 9 or 10Attention span by age: what to expect from 12–14 vs. 15–18 year oldsExecutive function in teens: why knowing and doing run on different hardwareScaffolding that isn’t you: checklists, timers, and outside deadlinesWhat the research says about teen moods, conflict, and family timeHow much independent work to expect in 7th–8th, 9th–10th, and 11th–12th gradeThe ladder of ownership: handing over the school day one rung at a timeWhat to do when your teen says “I want to go to real school” — and how to repair a strained relationshipSponsors:BJU Press Homeschool✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family's needs✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level👉 View SamplesCTC Math✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you!👉 Free Trial👉 Get 50% OffSummit Healthshare✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans👉 View Health Plans and SavingsResources mentioned:Smooth Homeschool Days Part 1 (Ep. 137) — The early years: pre-K to 2nd gradeSmooth Homeschool Days Part 2 (Ep. 138) — The elementary years: 3rd to 6th gradeThe Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly businesses and providersThrive Homeschool Community — Christy-Faith’s membership community for homeschool moms⭐ New to homeschooling? Start with Episode 101 — the New Homeschooler SeriesConnect with Christy-Faith:Instagram: @christy_faith_TikTok: @christy_faithWebsite: christy-faith.comBook: Homeschool Rising🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us! (00:00) - Welcome to Smooth Homeschool Days Part 3 (01:01) - When Your Teen Starts Pulling Away (02:15) - Your Teen Still Needs Healthy Attachment (03:37) - How This 4-Part Series Works (04:07) - From Manager to Consultant: Ages 12 to 17 (04:28) - Why Teens Need More Sleep (06:06) - Attention Span by Age: 12–14 vs. 15–18 (07:01) - The Teen Brain Under Construction (07:40) - Knowing vs. Doing: Why Teens Procrastinate (08:23) - Scaffolding That Isn’t You (12:18) - The Emotional Baseline of a Teenager (12:45) - What the Research Says About Teen Moods (13:28) - Bedtime Talks: When Teens Want to Process (14:05) - How Conflict Changes in the Teen Years (14:44) - Why Teens Need More Autonomy (15:45) - 7th and 8th Grade: What to Expect (16:53) - 9th and 10th Grade: Plan Backwards (18:01) - 11th and 12th Grade: Preparing for the Transition (18:36) - Letting Teens Learn from Mistakes (19:03) - The Ladder of Ownership (19:59) - Hand Over Decisions, Not Just Responsibility (23:47) - “I Want to Go to Real School” (25:01) - The 24-Hour Rule (27:00) - Action Step: Stop Being the Schedule Police (28:36) - Small Signs of Repair (28:59) - Final Thoughts: Warm, Firm, and Respectful

Your child did long division perfectly on Monday — so why are they staring at the same problems like they’re written in a foreign language today? In Part 2 of the Smooth Homeschool Days series, homeschool expert Christy-Faith explains what kids in 3rd through 6th grade are really ready for, how much independence they can handle, and how to raise the bar without losing the relationship.🎁 Free Resource: Sample Homeschool SchedulesWondering how much school is really enough? See what real homeschool days look like with my free sample schedules.👉 Free DownloadIn this episode, you’ll learn:What’s developing in the brain between ages 8 and 11 — and why abstract math can feel impossibleAttention span by age for assigned work (and the video game myth)How much independent work is realistic at ages 8–9 vs. 10–11Why skills seem to vanish overnight — and why unevenness is not regressionThe math anxiety loop: how worry freezes working memoryThe golden rule for frustrating lessons: two explanations, then stopThe 3 academic hinges of the elementary years and grade-by-grade expectationsThe correction-to-connection ratio and how to batch your correctionsSponsors:BJU Press Homeschool✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family’s needs✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level👉 View SamplesCTC Math✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you!👉 Free Trial👉 Get 50% OffLearningRx✔ Backed by 35 years of research✔ Real long-term help with ADHD and dyslexia✔ Strengthens attention, memory, reading, writing, and mathUse code HOME50 for $50 off your cognitive skills assessment👉 Get $50 Off Your Cognitive Skills AssessmentSummit Healthshare✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans👉 View Health Plans and SavingsResources mentioned:Smooth Homeschool Days Part 1 (Ep. 137) — The early years: pre-K to 2nd gradeHomeschool Rising — Christy-Faith’s book, including the chapter on deschoolingThe Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly businesses and providersThrive Homeschool Community — Christy-Faith’s membership community for homeschool moms⭐ New to homeschooling? Start with Episode 101 — the New Homeschooler Series is the best place to begin.Connect with Christy-Faith:Instagram: @christy_faith_TikTok: @christy_faithWebsite: christy-faith.comBook: Homeschool Rising🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us! (00:00) - Welcome to Smooth Homeschool Days Part 2 (01:01) - The Math Meltdown Every Mom Knows (01:47) - How This 4-Part Series Works (03:08) - What’s Developing in Kids Ages 8 to 11 (03:51) - Concrete Thinking: Why Worksheets Feel Harder (05:12) - Attention Span by Age for Assigned Work (06:48) - Working Memory: Why Writing It Down Helps (11:23) - The Great Myth of Independent Work (12:34) - How Much Independent Work Is Realistic by Age (13:58) - Why Skills Vanish Overnight (16:27) - The Emotional Life of Elementary Kids (18:21) - Shame, Comparison, and “Are You Mad at Me?” (21:05) - The Math Anxiety Loop (25:26) - The Golden Rule: Two Explanations, Then Stop (27:11) - The 3 Academic Hinges (29:16) - Grade-by-Grade Expectations: 3rd to 6th (32:33) - The Correction-to-Connection Ratio (33:27) - Routine and Batching Your Corrections (35:59) - Dignity Around Mistakes (36:25) - Final Thoughts: Protect the Relationship

Is your five-year-old refusing to do their letters, or is your seven-year-old melting down over a single phonics page? In Part 1 of the Smooth Homeschool Days series, homeschool expert Christy-Faith explains why most of what looks like a behavior problem in kids ages 4 to 7 is really brain development — and how to homeschool pre-K to 2nd grade without constant battles.🎁 Free Resource: Sample Homeschool SchedulesWondering how much school is really enough? See what real homeschool days look like with my free sample schedules.👉 Free DownloadIn this episode, you’ll learn:Why most “behavior problems” in kids ages 4–7 are really brain developmentAttention span by age — how long young kids can really focus on assigned workWhy a 4-year-old can only hold about two pieces of information at once (and how to give instructions that stick)The “yesterday vs. today” problem — and what’s really behind itWhy young kids need to move while they learn, plus the “upside-down kid” testCo-regulation: why young kids can’t calm themselves down yetRefusal vs. meltdown — a 60-second protocol and the 3 types of meltdownsHow long to homeschool each day from pre-K to 2nd gradeSponsors:BJU Press Homeschool✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family’s needs✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level👉 View SamplesCTC Math✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you!👉 Free Trial👉 Get 50% OffLearningRx✔ Backed by 35 years of research✔ Real long-term help with ADHD and dyslexia✔ Strengthens attention, memory, reading, writing, and mathUse code HOME50 for $50 off your cognitive skills assessment👉 Get $50 Off Your Cognitive Skills AssessmentSummit Healthshare✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans👉 View Health Plans and SavingsResources mentioned:The Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly businesses and providersThrive Homeschool Community — Christy-Faith’s membership community for homeschool momsCenter on the Developing Child at Harvard University — Research on executive function, including attention, working memory, and self-controlWiley Blevins — Early literacy expert and author of A Fresh Look at Phonics⭐ New to homeschooling? Start with Episode 101 — the New Homeschooler Series is the best place to begin.Connect with Christy-Faith:Instagram: @christy_faith_TikTok: @christy_faithWebsite: christy-faith.comBook: Homeschool Rising🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us! (00:00) - Welcome to the Smooth Homeschool Days Series (01:30) - When “Bad Behavior” Is Really Biology (03:52) - The 3 Brain Pillars Under Construction (04:25) - Attention Span by Age for Assigned Work (06:47) - Working Memory: Give One Step at a Time (09:47) - Inhibitory Control and the Yesterday vs. Today Problem (14:24) - Why Young Kids Need to Move While They Learn (19:34) - Co-Regulation: Why Kids Can’t Calm Down Alone (23:08) - The 3 Biggest Predictors of Self-Regulation (26:13) - Refusal vs. Meltdown: Know the Difference (28:02) - The 60-Second Protocol for Refusals (32:09) - The 3 Types of Meltdowns (36:19) - From Behavior Cop to Behavior Detective (41:58) - How Much School Pre-K to 2nd Grade Really Needs (44:03) - Mastery Over Exposure (44:37) - Final Thought: Grace for Your Kids and Yourself

Why do so many Christian marriages struggle even when both spouses truly love each other? Homeschool expert Christy-Faith sits down with licensed professional counselor Debra Fileta to talk about her new book, Relationship Skills, and the four seasons every marriage passes through. Healthy marriages aren't found — they're built.🎁 Free Resource: My Curriculum RecommendationsI spill the tea! No paid sponsorship placements! Grab the list, by subject, of the most reputable homeschool programs on the market (in my opinion).👉 Free DownloadIn this episode, you'll learn:Why Christian marriages struggle from a lack of skill, not a lack of loveThe difference between a difficult, dysfunctional, and toxic relationship — and when to get professional helpThe four seasons of marriage: spring, summer, fall, and winterWhy the goal of Christian marriage isn't just longevity — it's transformationHow to change old patterns by starting with what you bring to the tableThe 90-second hack for building emotional intimacy in marriageHow to apologize to your spouse in 3 steps: own it, validate, and share your plan for changeWhy marriage repair after conflict can make you stronger — and why there's hope even in winterSponsors:BJU Press Homeschool✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family's needs✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level👉 View SamplesCTC Math✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you!👉 Free Trial👉 Get 50% OffLearningRx✔ Backed by 35 years of research✔ Real long-term help with ADHD and dyslexia✔ Strengthens attention, memory, reading, writing, and mathUse code HOME50 for $50 off your cognitive skills assessment👉 Get $50 Off Your Cognitive Skills AssessmentSummit Healthshare✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans👉 View Health Plans & SavingsResources mentioned:Relationship Skills by Debra Fileta — Debra's newest book on the four seasons of relationshipsPeople Skills by Debra Fileta — a great relationship-skills book for homeschool familiesRelationship Skills Quiz — free quiz to find which skills your relationship needs in this seasonTalk To Me: The Debra Fileta PodcastDebra Fileta Counselors Network — faith-forward, clinically trained counselorsThe Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providersThrive Homeschool CommunityAbout our guest:Debra Fileta is a Licensed Professional Counselor, national speaker, and founder of the Debra Fileta Counselors Network. She is the bestselling author of ten books, including RESET, Soul Care, and her newest book, Relationship Skills. Debra is the host of the popular podcast and nationally syndicated radio show Talk To Me, where she facilitates on-air, authentic counseling-style sessions with notable pastors and leaders.👉 DebraFileta.com👉 @DebraFileta on InstagramConnect with Christy-Faith:Instagram: @christy_faith_TikTok: @christy_faithWebsite: christy-faith.comBook: Homeschool Rising🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us! (00:00) - Introduction (01:07) - Why the Church Is Ready to Talk About Mental Health (03:00) - Healthy Marriages Aren't Found, They're Built (05:13) - Difficult vs. Toxic Relationships: An Important Disclaimer (08:34) - Is He a Narcissist? When to Get Professional Help (11:03) - The Four Seasons of Marriage (15:44) - What Does God Want for Our Marriages? (23:38) - Spring: Planting New Seeds in Your Marriage (26:55) - Why Change Starts With You (29:03) - Summer: The Emotional Intimacy Gap (31:08) - The 90-Second Connection Hack (37:08) - Fall: Vulnerability and What Not to Hide From Your Spouse (42:03) - Rupture and Repair After Conflict (43:18) - How to Apologize to Your Spouse in 3 Steps (47:50) - Why Repair Is God's Heart for Relationships (54:05) - Winter: There Is Hope for a Cold Marriage (59:17) - Resources From Debra Fileta

What is a homeschool dad actually supposed to do when his wife is the one teaching? Most homeschool content is written for moms, so dads are left guessing — supportive, but unsure where they fit. Homeschool expert Christy-Faith sits down with Dr. Joe O'Tool, a board-certified functional neurologist and second-generation homeschooler, to answer the question directly: what every homeschool dad needs to know.🎁 Free Resource: The New Homeschooler's RoadmapYour free step-by-step companion to this whole journey — all 8 steps, all the links, plus episode playlists organized by your biggest worries. Save it to your desktop — it's your command center.👉 Free DownloadIn this episode, you'll learn:What the dad's role in homeschooling actually is when mom is the primary teacherWhy the best homeschool dads lead without micromanaging the day-to-dayWhat to say to your wife when she has taught the same concept five times and hit a wallWhy a dad's criticism is usually fear talking — and what to do with that fearThe one action step Dr. Joe gives every nervous homeschool dadWhy deschooling matters just as much for dads as it does for momsThe skill that predicts academic success better than intelligence doesHow to explain your family's homeschooling to coworkers and friends without apologizingSponsors:BJU Press Homeschool✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family's needs✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level👉 View SamplesCTC Math✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you!👉 Free Trial👉 Get 50% OffSummit Healthshare✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans👉 View Health Plans & SavingsResources mentioned:The Stinks — Dr. Joe O'Tool's children's book about getting outside and getting the stink offLifestream Clinic — Dr. Joe's functional neurology practice in Ankeny, IowaHomeschool Iowa — the state organization Dr. Joe serves on the board ofHomeschool Rising — Christy-Faith's book, including the chapter on deschoolingRange: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein — the book Dr. Joe references on struggle and long-term learningThe Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providers: christy-faiths-list.comThrive Homeschool CommunityAbout our guest:Dr. Joe O'Tool is a board-certified functional neurologist practicing in Ankeny, Iowa, where he works daily with children facing learning, behavior, and development concerns, and with patients experiencing concussion, vertigo, brain fog, and dizziness. He is a second-generation homeschooler who grew up in a family of nine children, and he and his wife, Angie, homeschool their own kids today. He serves on the board of Homeschool Iowa and is the author of the children's book The Stinks. His personal motto is: "Step Up. Change Lives. Inspire Hope."👉 lifestreamclinic.com👉 Instagram | Facebook | LinkedInConnect with Christy-Faith:Instagram: @christy_faith_TikTok: @christy_faithWebsite: christy-faith.comBook: Homeschool Rising🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us! (00:00) - Introduction (02:03) - Meet Dr. Joe O’Tool (04:21) - Why His Parents Homeschooled Before It Was Legal (07:42) - What Homeschooling Did for the Sibling Relationships (09:20) - The Dad’s Role When Mom Is the Teacher (10:54) - There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Homeschool Rhythm (14:55) - Speaking to the Dad Who’s Afraid They’re Behind (18:39) - What His High School Actually Looked Like (22:52) - Trade-Offs, Gap Years, and Missing Out (30:05) - When Mom Is at Her Wits’ End (33:33) - Dad as Vision Caster, Not Micromanager (36:14) - When Dad Is Looking Over Her Shoulder (41:37) - The One Action Step for Every Homeschool Dad (44:21) - The Skill That Predicts Success Better Than Grades (45:34) - Stop Teaching Kids to Find the Right Answer (52:44) - For the Dad Who Feels on the Outside (53:48) - Know Your Wife, Not the Curriculum (58:52) - For the Dad Who Feels Like the Only One (01:04:04) - The Stinks and What’s Next for Dr. Joe

Can homeschool graduates actually join the military — and is enlisting the only way in? Homeschool expert Christy-Faith sits down with Natalie Mack, M.Ed., a homeschool consultant, TEDx speaker, and retired military spouse with more than 23 years of homeschooling experience, to map every pathway to service. Enlistment, ROTC, service academies, military colleges, the Guard and Reserves — plus the tier rule that quietly decided how homeschoolers were treated for years.🎁 Free Resource: My Curriculum RecommendationsI spill the tea! No paid sponsorship placements! Grab the list, by subject, of the most reputable homeschool programs on the market (in my opinion).👉 Free DownloadIn this episode, you'll learn:The five military pathways open to homeschool graduates, not just enlistmentWhy homeschool graduates are now tier one — and what to do if a recruiter says otherwiseWhat the ASVAB actually measures, and why it isn't only for future service membersHow the free ASVAB Career Exploration Program works for any student in 10th grade and upThe option that keeps your student's test scores out of a recruiter's handsHow ROTC scholarships work, and the service obligation that can come with themWhat a service academy application really demands, and why you start before ninth gradeWhy applying early decision can quietly disqualify a service academy candidateSponsors:BJU Press Homeschool✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family's needs✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level👉 View SamplesCTC Math✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you!👉 Free Trial👉 Get 50% OffLearningRx✔ Backed by 35 years of research✔ Real long-term help with ADHD and dyslexia✔ Strengthens attention, memory, reading, writing, and math👉 Get $50 Off Your Cognitive Skills Assessment — use code HOME50True North Homeschool Academy✔ Cognia-accredited live online and self-paced courses for grades 6–12✔ Dual degree track or tech & trades diploma✔ Small classes, college-ready rigor, faith-friendly environment👉 Explore Courses & Get StartedSummit Healthshare✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans👉 View Health Plans & SavingsResources mentioned:March to Success — free ASVAB prep from the U.S. Army: march2success.comNatalie Mack's website: natalie-mack.comHigh School Decisions Bootcamp — use code CHRISTY for a listener discount: natalie-mack.com/high-school-decisions-bootcampNatalie's homeschool courses and masterclasses: natalie-mack.com/masterclass101 Tips for Homeschoolers — Natalie's book: Get the book on AmazonThe Impact of Homeschooling — Natalie's TEDx talk: Watch the TEDx talkThe Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providers: christy-faiths-list.comThrive Homeschool Community: christy-faith.com/thrive⭐ This is Part 4, the final episode of a 4-part series with Natalie Mack on homeschooling high school.Part 1 — How to Homeschool High School With ConfidencePart 2 — Can Homeschoolers Play College Sports? NCAA Eligibility ExplainedPart 3 — How to Prepare Your Homeschooler for CollegePart 4 — Homeschool to Military (this episode)About our guest:Natalie Mack, M.Ed. is the founder of Homeschool Natalie Mack, and a homeschool consultant, TEDx speaker, and author of 101 Tips for Homeschoolers. With more than 23 years of homeschooling experience, she helps families confidently navigate high school, transcripts, college admissions, military service, and other postsecondary pathways. Natalie is passionate about equipping parents with practical guidance so they can make informed decisions.👉 natalie-mack.com👉 Instagram: @homeschoolnataliemack👉 TikTok: @homeschoolnataliemack👉 Facebook: Homeschool Natalie Mack👉 YouTube: @homeschoolnataliemackConnect with Christy-Faith:Instagram: @christy_faith_TikTok: @christy_faithWebsite: christy-faith.comBook: Homeschool Rising🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us! (00:00) - Introduction (01:14) - The Series So Far (02:25) - Meet Natalie Mack (04:45) - A Military Family (10:36) - Not a Fallback Option (11:28) - The Five Pathways (12:32) - Service Academies (13:41) - Military Colleges (14:56) - Guard and Reserves (21:06) - Can Homeschoolers Enlist? (23:21) - Tier One Explained (25:59) - Documentation and Transcripts (28:50) - What Is the ASVAB? (31:16) - The Free Career Test (34:11) - Keeping Scores Private (41:00) - ROTC Scholarships (43:33) - Service Academy Prep (47:17) - Don't Bet on One School (51:57) - Asking Better Questions (54:21) - Where to Find Natalie