Say hello to Delise’s mom, Chelly Barnard! As a mother of four and homeschool parent of over twenty years, Chelly has a unique understanding of the mental load that mothers often bear. She brings a biblical perspective to those often-overwhelming feelings of responsibility, insecurity, and ever-shrinking time to get it all done. Chelly comes prepared with her best time management tips and the most helpful habits she has developed over the years as a mom that enable her to have a healthy relationship with her mental load. She discusses investing in a good planner, keeping analog lists of recipes and groceries, placing dry-erase boards around the house for jotting down quick notes and things to remember, delegating chores to the kids (sorry, Delise!), accepting that you won’t be able to get everything done on your list in one day, and turning to the Lord for guidance and comfort in bearing the mental load. Plus, Chelly tells how she was able to still have time for her hobbies during her busy seasons of parenting and homeschooling. Join us for this conversation packed with insights you won’t want to miss! Show notes: blessingsandmotherhood.com/managing-the-mental-load Did you know Classical Conversations® Challenge students can earn college credit for the coursework they already complete? To learn more, visit ClassicalConversationsPlus.com.

Happy August! In this delightful conversation, hosts Delise and Ginny chat with Robin Barnes, a homeschool mom of three (including twins!). Having experience raising children with a ten-year age gap, Robin shares all about her motherhood journey, considering the lessons she would go back and tell her younger self, the importance of giving children encouragement, and ways busy moms can find time alone in the Scriptures. Plus, Robin reflects on her homeschooling journey. With one of her children having trouble learning to read, she speaks to dealing with situations where one child struggles in a subject that another child excels in. Lastly, Robin celebrates the best part of her motherhood journey—embracing the flexibility and freedom that come with homeschooling, allowing her more time with her children to build lifelong relationships! Show notes: blessingsandmotherhood.com/robin-barnes Did you know Classical Conversations® Challenge students can earn college credit for the coursework they already complete? To learn more, click here.

Is there anything to be hopeful about in the next generation of Christians? In this episode, Delise and Ginny sit down with Kristel Acevedo to talk about teen ministry and discipleship. Kristel is the Spiritual Formation Director at Transformation Church in South Carolina and co-author of the book 3 Big Questions That Shape Your Future. Her radiant passion for teen ministry and contagious hope for the future of the next generation of Christians shine through in this conversation as she offers insights and encouragement to all parents, not just those with teenage children in the home! Of course, one of the biggest challenges faced by teenagers is figuring out who they are. With so many voices in our culture telling teens who they should be, Kristel offers some advice for parents on how to encourage teenage children to develop into who God made them to be as well as how to trust God when it feels like they are slipping away from that identity. Kristel also shares a bit of her personal journey, explaining why she really struggled to accept her identity in Christ and bringing to light why it is so important that Christians embrace their ethnic and cultural heritages as part of their identities. Show notes: blessingsandmotherhood.com/talking-to-teens-with-kristel-acevedo

For any mom seeking advice on how to navigate a parent-adult child relationship or needing encouragement during a season of struggle, we hope you find comfort in this month’s conversation of Blessings and Motherhood! In this episode, mom-daughter combo Julie Melendez and Lauren Clickner hop on the show to talk about how they have nurtured their relationship as parent and child over thirty-some years. In this conversation packed with insights and encouragement from both guests, Julie begins by shining a light on an often unspoken truth about motherhood: that this is a journey that just keeps getting better year after year, even as an empty nester! Together, Julie and Lauren discuss setting spoken boundaries and recognizing unstated ones, honoring one another as both parents and children, navigating all the roles that moms balance, and pouring into your child’s gifts and interests, all while generally reflecting on how their own relationship has transformed since Lauren was a child to now being a wife and mother herself. Bravely, Lauren also shares her story of going through a miscarriage early in her marriage and losing her first daughter, a tragedy she and her mom both dealt with in their own ways. Show notes: blessingsandmotherhood.com/mother-daughter-boundaries

How can we lay a foundation in our homes for our children to stand upon and grow into mature adults who love to learn and love Jesus? In this episode, Michelle Oliver, the MA Program Academic Lead at Classical Conversations®, joins Delise and Ginny to talk about what building this strong foundation really looks like on a day-to-day basis. Michelle shares practical advice for moms balancing all the things, the importance of establishing “liturgies for the home,” how she guided her children in developing discernment, and the daily habits she practices to cultivate a healthy prayer life. Finally, she talks about her involvement in and love for the Master of Arts program with Classical Conversations Plus through Southeastern University, and why this is an excellent opportunity for Classical Conversations parents to learn the philosophy behind classical education, level up their homeschooling skills, and enjoy discussions and fellowship with like-minded individuals passionate about lifelong learning. Show notes: blessingsandmotherhood.com/creating-family-liturgies