Blessings and Motherhood

Get to know Classical Conversations’ CEO Robert Bortins! Delise, Ginny, and Robert dive into his personal life and what it was like being raised by the founder of Classical Conversations. They also answer questions that were sent in by listeners. https://refiningrhetoric.com/ Make April 26 a Family Day at theater! #UnsungHeroMovie opens everywhere beginning April 26. From the creators of Jesus Revolution comes Unsung Hero. Tickets on sale now. Visit https://tickets.unsunghero.movie/.

Discover the surprising connection between math and God! In this episode, Delise and Ginny chat with Kirsty Gilpin, lead mathematician for The Math Map curriculum, about seeing God through math. Kirsty shares personal stories and insightful examples, revealing how mathematical concepts offer profound insights into the nature of God. themathmap.com leighbortins.com You’re invited to our 2024 National Events Weekend in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! Register at https://classicalconversationsfoundation.org/.

Join Delise and Ginny as they share their current favorite activities and moments of joy. From embracing outdoor adventures to exploring the Psalms through devotional practices, they discuss various ways of learning and bonding as a family. Tune in for an uplifting discussion on finding joy in the simple moments of motherhood. Whether planning for an in-person trip or visiting from the comfort of your home, learn more about Classical Conversations at the Museum of the Bible by going to . http://museumofthebible.org/classical-conversations-at-museum-of-the-bible.

In this “Blessings and Motherhood” episode, Delise and Ginny discuss education and parenting with Andrew Pudewa, founder of the Institute for Excellence in Writing. They explore his insights on teaching writing, the importance of reading aloud to children, and practical tips for homeschooling parents. This enriching conversation offers encouragement and strategies for parents aiming to improve their children's reading and writing skills. Institute for Excellence in Writing Join other homeschool parents in your area at a 2024 Practicum event! https://ccpracticum.com/

In this episode of “Blessings and Motherhood,” Delise and Ginny continue their talk with Sarah, focusing on faith, parenting, and combating anti-Semitism. Sarah discusses educating children on Jewish culture and the importance of understanding the Bible in its proper cultural context. This part deepens the first episode’s discussion, emphasizing faith’s role in understanding and addressing social issues. If you’re enjoying listening to Blessings and Motherhood, you might also enjoy our other Classical Conversations® podcasts! You can find these shows on your favorite podcast streaming app of choice, or by clicking on the links below. Listen to Everyday Educator Listen to Refining Rhetoric

In this episode of "Blessings and Motherhood," Sarah, a Jewish mom, shares her journey of integrating Jewish traditions with her Christian faith in parenting. She discusses the unique challenges and joys of Jewish motherhood, emphasizing the importance of embracing both sorrows and celebrations. Join us for a heartfelt conversation on faith, tradition, and the nuanced experiences of being a Jewish mother today. Resources: The Copper Lodge Library series from Classical Conversations® preserves history's best stories for future generations. View the library on ClassicalConversationsBooks.com.

Do your children struggle with understanding and managing emotions? In this “Blessings and Motherhood” episode, Kamilah Carter discusses her journey with homeschooling. She emphasizes the importance of community in education, setting appropriate boundaries, and nurturing individual relationships with each child. The conversation highlights the challenges and joys of parenting, advocating for a balance between recognizing children’s feelings and teaching them responsible emotional management. mamabearapologetics.com Love Thy Body - Nancy Pearcey | Amazon M is for Mama You’re invited to our 2024 National Events Weekend in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! Register at ClassicalConversationsFoundation.org.

In this episode, Delise and Ginny discuss coping with the winter blues, offering practical tips like focusing on your parenting “why,” creating a peaceful home, and practicing gratitude. CC parents, tutors, and Directors—sign up for the Classical Learning Cohort to level up your skills in guiding and assessing your student’s learning at home and in community! Register today at ClassicalConversations.com/cohort.

Happy New Year! In this episode, Delise and Ginny talk with Erika Kirk, founder of Proclaim Streetwear and Biblein365, host of the Midweek Rise Up podcast, and an all-new mom to discuss how to make the home a safe refuge for one’s family and how to pursue God’s standards for motherhood. Erika talks through how to become the guardian of your home and walks through practical ways to transform your home into a place of rest for the family. Also, she discusses the importance of viewing motherhood as a privilege rather than a responsibility, tips for fostering digital mindfulness and a wholistic healthy lifestyle in the home, how to foster sacred relationships within your family amidst this crazy world, why you can never over-communicate with those you love, and the importance of not oversharing on social media and keeping some special pockets of your life private. Finally, Delise, Ginny, and Erika all share how they are slowing down in this season of their lives and listening to what God is teaching them. Be sure to stick around for Erika’s encouragement to moms at the end of this episode and be inspired to set this new year on the right path! Show notes: BlessingsandMotherhood.com/becoming-the-guardian-of-your-home You’re invited to our 2024 National Events Weekend in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! Register at ClassicalConversationsFoundation.org.

It’s cause for celebration! In this last episode of the year, Delise and Ginny chat with Laura Kooistra, a Classical Conversations® employee and homeschool mom of ten children, all about celebration. And although this episode airs during the Christmas season, the three discuss more than just holiday festivities! In true classical spirit, Laura begins the conversation with her definition of “celebration,” considering whether it’s more than just an expression of thankfulness and that, at its core, celebration is really about the goodness of God. Laura shares why it’s important to celebrate, God’s direction for how and what we ought to celebrate presented in Scripture, how to find reasons for celebration amidst difficult seasons, how to make a habit of celebrating with your community, how to create celebrations in your home that become family-favorite traditions, and how to navigate your children’s different preferences for holiday celebrations. Plus, Laura talks about what celebrations look like in her own family, from celebrating holidays and birthdays to achievements and even ordinary moments. Finally, you’ll go into the new year equipped with the answer to the question: “What is wassail?” Show notes: BlessingsandMotherhood.com/the-art-of-celebrating-well Save up to 30% off a stay at a Great Wolf Lodge location near you with your whole family this holiday season! If you are a CC member, access your code here.

Should you tell your children that Santa Clause is real? In today's episode Ginny Tran and Delise Germond discuss their l family approaches to Christmas and Santa Claus.

In part two of this conversation, Delise and Ginny sit down (literally, our first-ever in-person episode!) with the incredible Vanessa Royer to talk about adoption, music, homeschooling, and so much more. You’ll discover insights into all things adoption, from the meaning behind the word “adoption” and examples in Scripture to navigating the complicated legal process and a new, popular method called embryonic adoption. Vanessa also shares about her own wild adoption story, her biological children’s relationships with her adoptive children, her advice for parents pursuing or praying about adoption, how inviting new members into your family can completely expand your worldview and empathy, ways to embrace and encourage the cultural heritage of your adoptive children, and why homeschool Christian families are the best families equipped to pursue adoption. Also, passionate about and exceptionally talented in music, Vanessa discusses the role music plays in her life and family, her secrets to making the home a more musical place, and why moms should spend more time pursuing their own passions, whether in art or in business. It’s a longer-than-usual episode (check out the in-person interview on our YouTube channel!), but the conversation is rich, fun, and bursting with takeaways for any mom. We hope you enjoy! Show notes: BlessingsandMotherhood.com/Vanessa-Royer-part-2 You’re invited to our 2024 National Events Weekend in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! Head over to ClassicalConversationsFoundation.org to learn more.

This month, Delise and Ginny sit down (literally, our first-ever in-person episode!) with the incredible Vanessa Royer to talk about adoption, music, homeschooling, and so much more. You’ll discover insights into all things adoption, from the meaning behind the word “adoption” and examples in Scripture to navigating the complicated legal process and a new, popular method called embryonic adoption. Vanessa also shares about her own wild adoption story, her biological children’s relationships with her adoptive children, her advice for parents pursuing or praying about adoption, how inviting new members into your family can completely expand your worldview and empathy, ways to embrace and encourage the cultural heritage of your adoptive children, and why homeschool Christian families are the best families equipped to pursue adoption. Also, passionate about and exceptionally talented in music, Vanessa discusses the role music plays in her life and family, her secrets to making the home a more musical place, and why moms should spend more time pursuing their own passions, whether in art or in business. It’s a longer-than-usual episode (check out the in-person interview on our YouTube channel!), but the conversation is rich, fun, and bursting with takeaways for any mom. We hope you enjoy! Stay tuned for Part 2 of this episode later this month! Show notes: BlessingsandMotherhood.com/Vanessa-Royer-part-1 You’re invited to our 2024 National Events Weekend in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! Head over to ClassicalConversationsFoundation.org to learn more.

Join Delise, Ginny, and Hollywood actress, writer, and podcaster Sam Sorbo on this episode of Blessings and Motherhood! Discover the backstory of Sam’s upcoming historical comedy, Miracle in East Texas, which tells the heartwarming true story about the biggest oil strike in the history of the United States, right at the dawn of the Great Depression. In this wide-ranging conversation, Sam shares about a homeschool curriculum she wrote to accompany the film, encouraging parents to learn from the story and not just be entertained. This curriculum (a free download, link in the show notes!) includes thought-provoking questions that prompt discussions and help families discover the period's history and economics. Moviemaking aside, as a homeschool mom with Classical Conversations®, Sam explores in this episode the importance of what she calls “world-schooling”—enriching her children’s education by immersing them in a real location to discover its history, geography, and culture. She also shares valuable advice for new moms, what types of movies children ought to watch, why she’s changed her perspective on education since becoming a homeschool mom, how she’s finding moments of rest amidst her family’s busy lifestyle, how parents can foster open communication with their children, and her enduring fascination with forgiveness, even before she became a believer! Get tickets for your family to see Miracle in East Texas, produced by and starring Kevin and Sam Sorbo, exclusively in theaters October 29–30, at SorboStudios.com! Show notes: BlessingsandMotherhood.com/Sam-Sorbo

Should Christians celebrate Halloween? Is Halloween bad for Christians? This is a conversation moms have with their families and friends every year. So today, Ginny Tran and Delise Germond are using the 15 Tools of Classical Learning to discuss their views on this area of Christian liberty. Please note that the thoughts expressed here are not intended to represent Classical Conversations as a company, but rather their personal views and approaches at this time. Thanks for joining in the conversation as we navigate the beautiful challenges of parenting, looking to Jesus each step of the way.

Welcome back to another episode! This month, Delise and Ginny chat with Melissa Dimanche, a musician and worship leader, pastor’s wife, and mother of two beautiful children. During their conversation, Melissa talks about the importance of embracing one another in community just for who we are—both the neat and the messy—and doing life together. With Haitian-American ancestry, Melissa explores what it means to welcome diversity in both community and home, describing how she and her husband bring their ethnic backgrounds into their family and pointing out the dangers when parents “ignore” their children’s cultural heritage. Finally, Melissa speaks to topics she’s well equipped to discuss—how to choose joy amid suffering and the lessons learned from seasons of loss. All in all, this episode is another wide-ranging, thought-provoking, and, at times, emotional conversation we hope you enjoy as much as we do! Show notes: BlessingsandMotherhood.com/melissa-dimanche Classical Conversations® members—get started with the beta release of The Math Map: Naturals, an exclusive look into our upcoming math curriculum from Classical Conversations! To access these materials, log in to your CC Connected account, navigate to the Learning Center, and search for “The Math Map.”

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