Whether your children learn at home, in public school, or in a private one, you have probably felt this worry: "I don't know enough to help them." Some of us did well in art but were slow in math or loved science but hated English. Some parents have a degree in engineering but are clueless about English literature, and others have a degree in sociology, but history eludes them. We worry we can't help our children enough because we're not experts in all the topics they need to know about. So, what makes a good teacher?

Join me today as I share some wonderfully useful information on how you can help your child learn no matter what method of education you use: homeschool, public, or private.

One of my favorite books is Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. I've read it a number of times and seen several movie versions. There are many themes in the book, but today I'm picking a plain, surface one: expectations can halt our progress.

When we have an idea of how something ought to look, feel, or work out, and it isn't exactly that, we often stop. We can't see how to move forward, or how to have success because of the perceived roadblocks in our way.

That's true when it comes to setting up a Spark Station to enhance your family's activities and learning. Many of us picture a special closet, set of shelves, or deep drawers close to where we spend much of our family time, with fun materials tucked away so anticipation stays high. It would be wonderful if we all had that. The reality is that for most families it won't look like that. Even so, people go to great, and sometimes silly, lengths to play out the picture.

Today I share some stories moms shared about silly decisions they made to have a perfect Spark Station and what worked better. It will be fun and illuminating

Some time ago, I read an article called "Afterschooling," written by a mom who was also a teacher. The idea is simple: learning doesn't stop when the school day ends. Parents can use after-school hours, weekends, and summers to help kids stay sharp, fill in gaps, or stretch further when they're ready for more. It works whether your child is homeschooled or attends a private or public school, and it's especially helpful for the child who needs more than the classroom can give.

What interested me was how ordinary the ideas were. Join me as we explore some wonderful ways to have fun and learn as a family. They will keep you connected.

At a webinar on the Five Principles of Power, I gave the attendees an assignment to determine which of the principles they felt most resistant to. I received a hilarious email from an attendee. It was hilarious, but also sobering.

The principle that caused her to cringe was planning ahead. In her email, she related all the ways that she was constantly interrupted and why planning anything was a disaster.

After a conversation, she sent me this email: "I appreciated you addressing my hang-up with preparation. I felt much relieved and empowered after our talk. Thanks for helping me see through another set of eyes!"

Join me today as I let you in on what I shared with this distressed mother. It will be life-changing because real-life planning isn't what you think!

I had a deep, interesting, and moving conversation about learning to slow down and being still with a friend, Melissa.

This is something I've been tutored in for over a decade, but it still isn't a habit for me. I'm a mover, shaker, and finisher. Stopping and stillness are not part of my natural energy.

Join me as I share what my tutoring has looked like, how it has gone, and the challenges and blessings of working on stillness. It has been enlightening.

When I moved from Montana to Utah in my late 50s, something stopped me in my tracks. The realization that I was responsible for my responses, no matter the circumstances or the people involved. This hit me hard. I couldn't blame others for how I felt! I was mad and honestly didn't want it to be true. But I am a learner, and the thought wouldn't leave.

As I learned and accepted the truth of this statement, my life began to change. I wanted that same growth for my children. Join me as I share my 29-year-old son Andrew's experience. It is enlightening and fun. Especially the part about the drunken snails. : )

When you're engaged in a project, what matters to you? For many adults, it's the outcome.

When children are engaged in a project, what matters to them? For the most part, it's the process.

There is real value in stepping back and allowing our children to create without worrying about the outcome.

Any time we foster the skills of creation, thinking, and problem-solving, we are helping our children on the path to becoming capable, confident adults.

Join me as I share some stellar examples of what stepping back from the outcome looks like and how it can bless the children in your life.

My sister Cindy has a job caring for a man with dementia. As I know well, this can be an overwhelming and consuming responsibility. Here was her text to me:

"Mary, I need advice. Taking care of D. is draining me. I didn't go to the temple all week. I'd leave his house, and I had nothing left. He wants to be with me constantly. When I'm cooking his food, he stands right next to me, and I have to move away. He asks me what he should do about everything. It's exhausting."

After some pondering, because I do know firsthand what this is like, here was my response: "No matter what our current mission, we can survive and even thrive, but we must revive."

Today I will be sharing some real-life examples of how to survive caring for and interacting with others: the elderly, kids, teens, and those we work with. It can be challenging unless we have ways to revive after hectic days. Join me and begin to thrive!