The Importance of Easing Kids Back Into School – ETB #178

It’s that time of year again – the start of a new school year! Whether you’re a seasoned parent or you have a new kindergartener, the mixed feelings of nervousness, excitement, and anxiety are likely familiar. In this episode, we are going to talk about transitioning smoothly into a new school year and the importance of easing kids back into school.

The Importance of Easing Kids Back Into School - ETB #178

Let’s just first acknowledge now that there’s a bit of upheaval that happens at back-to-school time. Your kids are learning new things and adjusting to new schedules. Be mentally prepared for this.

Easing into the School Year

Here are my suggestions for ways of easing your kids back into school and setting them up for a great year:

Be sure to talk to your kids about any anxiety they may have.

This might be anxiety about the challenges of new things or it might be social challenges. Connect with your kids about how to process their emotions. Temper your expectations of your children, and yourself.

Be prepared and reduce stress by meal planning.

Having the groceries in the house and at least a rough plan of what you’re going to cook will make your days run more smoothly. Don’t forget to think about nutrition! Your child’s brain is developing rapidly and they need healthy fats and proteins in addition to good carbs. Set consistent meal times and set your day by working backward to make sure that meals happen on time and avoid children becoming hangry.

Help your kids develop good study habits and related routines.

Show them how to focus. Give them a space in which to study. Provide organizational systems and skills.

Include physical exercise and free play in your days.

Create margin in the schedule for these activities. Don’t give up this time in order to get other things done!

Create an atmosphere in your home that your children will want to remember.

An atmosphere of warmth, excitement, and enthusiasm is contagious. Write down the words you want your kids to use to describe your home after they’ve left your home as adults. Be and do the things needed to embody those words.

Remove distractions and provide the resources they need to be successful.

What is in the way of your child achieving their goals? Determine what is needed of you to reach those goals? What is keeping you from being available for your child?

Make It a Great Year

Every school year brings its own set of unique joys and excitements and challenges. I hope your children look back on this school year as a year of blessings and call it a great year!

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How to Win Over Worry with Keri Eichberger – ETB #177

Do you worry? Seems like every time you turn around, there’s another headline that strikes fear and causes worry these days. What about your kids? Do you worry about them? Do you worry you will ruin them? Do you worry about the things they will have to face? What can you do about worry? Well, Keri Eichberger is with me in this episode to talk about these big issues surrounding worry. Keri offers encouraging insights and reminds us of the power of God’s truth in conquering worry and finding peace in all seasons of life. You can win over worry!

How to Win Over Worry with Keri Eichberger - ETB #177

In this episode, Keri and I discuss:

  • Keri’s family dynamics with five children and how that lends itself to an environment of worrying
  • How you can help someone if you are just one step ahead of them
  • The distinction between genuine concern and worry
  • Understanding the root fears behind worry, which often include a fear of helplessness and a fear of being unloved or unworthy
  • Understanding God’s unconditional love and his power
  • Overcoming worry by seeking God’s truth, turning to prayer, embracing community, studying the Bible, and other spiritual practices
  • Acknowledging that some individuals may be more predisposed to worry due to their wiring, but still emphasizing the same things work for those people
  • Keri’s example of a fear of flying and trusting God

Worry is common and we all face it. But, worry is not from God and you can overcome it through the power of God who lives in you!

About Keri Eichberger

Keri Eichberger lives just outside of Louisville, Kentucky, with her husband Mike and their five kids. Her own roller coaster of life trials, redeemed by a relationship with the Lord, fueled her desire to help others discover and experience the fullness of life found in Jesus. After years of writing for an online audience, she became ordained through Southeast
Christian Church, giving her life to full-time ministry. She continues to follow her calling to bring faith-filled encouragement to others around the world through her social media influence, devotionals, Faith Fueled podcast,
and Christian nonfiction books.

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Developing Resilience – ETB #176

The new school year is upon us. If you’re like most families, there’s some upheaval going on as you figure out new routines and rhythms for meals and bedtime, and more. As you work on getting everyone back into the swing of things again, developing resilience is key to smooth days. What is resiliency and why is it important?

Developing Resilience - ETB #176

I’m asked frequently when I travel and speak about routines and rhythms. I speak regularly about developing resilience and being resourceful. It doesn’t matter if you’re a public, private, or homeschooler, everyone goes through an adjustment period at the beginning of a new school year.

What’s the goal? What’s the schedule? I’m not personally one that plans comprehensively because by 8:05 am my plans had gone out the window, but, I do like having order. During this adjustment period, it is helpful for you to manage your expectations of your kids and help manage their expectations.

Your children need to learn that when needed, they should pivot and adjust. This is being resilient. When you get knocked down, you get back up. It’s learning how to figure things out and overcome obstacles. Some of your kids are naturally resilient. When something happens, they stay positive and optimistic. Other children are leveled when something doesn’t go right and they have a hard time figuring out how to cope. These kids need a little more support in learning how to be resilient.

Remember that we’re talking about your child’s life. You can’t fix every situation for them, nor should you. As their parent, you should help, guide, and lead them. Help them develop problem-solving skills. Also remeber that choosing your words carefully in these situations also improves your relationship with them.

Communication is key and relationship is the end goal. You want to be the voice that your child seeks out when they face set backs. Developing resilience in them now will stick with them well into adulthood.

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Cultural Shifts with Michael Farris – ETB #172

I had the opportunity to meet up with my long-time friend Michael Farris at the National Religious Broadcasters convention a few weeks ago. He graciously agreed to have a conversation with me to share with you here at Equipped To Be. Michael has such a breadth of experience and knowledge in the areas of homeschooling, the Constitution, free speech, and legal defense of these topics. We spent some time talking about the cultural shifts that are being seen in our country and what we as Christians can do about it.

Cultural Shifts with Michael Farris - ETB #172

This episode is sponsored by BJU Press Homeschool. Visit bjupresshomeschool.com for trusted educational resources from a biblical worldview.

Michael and I talk about:

  • Michael’s background, including his involvement in the homeschool movement, the founding of HSLDA, and his leadership roles in various organizations focused on protecting families and promoting the gospel of Christ.
  • The importance of delegating and empowering others to shine for long-term success.
  • The cultural shifts in America: those who hate God vs those who love God
  • The importance of the 1st Amendment: Totalitarianism and control of what you think
  • The dangers of suppressing dissenting opinions
  • Being open about your faith, your homeschooling, your lifestyle, etc.
  • The fight for our families, our children, our grandchildren, and our future.
  • Michael’s new project coming this fall
  • Stand up, Show up, Speak up.

I hope that my conversation with Michael has inspired and equipped you. These cultural shifts are happening all around us. What will you do next to stand up, show up, and speak up?

About Michael Farris

Former President & CEO Alliance Defending Freedom (2017-2022)

Farris was also founding president of both the Home School Legal Defense Association (1983), Patrick Henry College (2000), ParentalRight.org (2009), Convention of the States.

In 2022, Farris accepted a post at the NRB.org in the Office of General Counsel.

Farris has specialized in constitutional appellate litigation. In that capacity, he has argued before the appellate courts of 13 states, eight federal circuit courts of appeal, and the U.S. Supreme Court, where in 2018 he successfully argued NIFLA v. Becerra, resulting in a free speech victory for California’s pro-life pregnancy centers.

Farris has testified many times before both the House and Senate. He was an executive committee member of the Coalition for the Free Exercise of Religion that successfully lobbied Congress for the passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. He also has substantial experience in international religious freedom advocacy.

Farris is the author of over 15 books, as well as law review and other scholarly and popular articles. He and his wife, Vickie, have 10 children and many grandchildren.

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The Benefits of a Summer Job – ETB #171

Do your children have summer jobs? Do they have a part-time job or work as an intern or volunteer somewhere? Fox 35 Orlando asked me to speak on this topic of teens and summer jobs and I always have so much more to say on these topics than I can fit into a short morning show segment. A lot of learning happens with summer jobs, so let’s talk about the benefits of a summer job for your teen!

The Benefits of a Summer Job - ETB #171

This episode is sponsored by BJU Press Homeschool. Visit bjupresshomeschool.com for trusted educational resources from a biblical worldview.

I was speaking at a conference and walked into the lobby of the hotel to find a sign that said, “Workers are scarce. The whole country is facing a worker shortage. Be nice to those who show up.” I’m a strong advocate of rest, play, and learning to use boredom, but I also see that learning happens on the construction site, in an office filling papers, or volunteering at a non-profit organization. There’s value gained in these experiences for your teens working at a summer job.

Benefits of a Summer Job for Teens

Summer jobs can teach children and teens a lot of valuable life lessons and skills. Some of these include learning:

  1. The value of work from a financial perspective – Your teen’s job can show them the value of work and how to separate income from their personal worth. They can also earn cash that can go towards savings, college, or personal interests. This is also an opportunity for parents to talk with and teach children about pay, negotiating raises, and other financial skills.
  2. Useful hard and soft skills – Summer jobs can give your child the opportunity to hone a particular skill in an area of interest or show them that they don’t like working in a particular field. Beyond that, there are soft skills like problem-solving that are gained along the way.
  3. How to work with a variety of people – These summer and part-time opportunities put your child into situations where they have to interact with people of all different ages, life stages, personalities, and more. They can gain valuable experience in learning to serve and get along with all kinds of people, some of whom they might not normally come into contact with or from whom they might have differing beliefs.

Summer Job Ideas

What kinds of jobs can your children and teens get this summer? Here’s a list to help you get started thinking about the possibilities:

  • Construction, pool cleaning, lawn maintenance, lifeguard, parks and recreation
  • Online: video editing, virtual assistant, learning software tools, graphic design, social media ads creator
  • Creative: production crew, tradeshow designs
  • In-Office: receptionist, office assistant, intern
  • Volunteer: city events, sporting events, music and theater events, hospitals

Consider all of these benefits of and options for summer jobs for your children. Working during the summer months can help your teens develop important skills, cultivate a strong work ethic, and gain valuable experiences for their future.

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Defending Young Minds with Kristen A. Jenson – ETB #170

I recently had the opportunity to meet up with Kristen A. Jenson to have a conversation about a topic that is extremely important in our world of expanding digital access: pornography. Kristen is the founder of Defend Young Minds and CEO of Glen Cove Press. She is an internationally acclaimed author and advocate for protecting young minds from the dangers of harmful media. Kristen is leading the charge in this area to make sure parents are equipped to protect and educate their children about these dangers. Parents, it’s time to start defending young minds!

Defending Young Minds with Kristen A. Jenson - ETB #170

This episode is sponsored by BJU Press Homeschool. Visit bjupresshomeschool.com for trusted educational resources from a biblical worldview.

Listen in as Kristen and I discuss these topics surrounding defending young minds and protecting them from the harmful effects of pornography:

  • How Good Pictures, Bad Pictures came to be and Kristen’s discovery of the lack of resources on this topic
  • The importance of preparing children to face this issue
  • How introducing children to the topic of pornography, its effects, and offering a plan for safeguarding their minds empowers children and opens lines of communication with parents
  • The need for normalizing conversations about pornography so children who are struggling with porn addiction
  • Understanding that curiosity is a natural response
  • Practical tips for parents: See “How to Talk to Kids about Pornography” on the Defend Young Minds website.
  • Quelling parents’ concerns that talking about pornography will ignite curiosity in children

While we wish we didn’t have to have these conversations, it is critical to acknowledge the reality of the world we live in. You can work now to protect your children from the negative impacts of pornography and potentially save them from a world of heartache later. By initiating age-appropriate conversations and educating them using resources like those from Kristen and Defend Young Minds, you can start defending young minds of your children to recognize and reject pornography.

About Kristen A. Jenson

Kristen A. Jenson is the founder of Defend Young MindsTM (formerly Protect Young Minds®) and #1 best-selling author of the Good Pictures Bad Pictures series of read-aloud books, which have translations in 10 languages and are now augmented by a guidebook for professionals which supports child therapists and educators. She is also the executive producer of the Brain DefenseTM: Digital Safety curriculum—a powerful and engaging video-based course for families and educators.

Kristen is a positive voice for raising empowered, resilient, screen-smart kids who know how and why to reject pornography. She instills hope and confidence and leaves her audiences with pragmatic advice they can act on immediately to defend young minds.

Kristen is a mother of three and grandmother of two and currently lives with her husband and awfully cute dog in Washington State.

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