Heidi St John

[Janie Grace]

Where did she come from and what's the buzz about? What is she communicating that is impacting people? She has a blog; from a quick read, I don't see that she's writing anything new or earth-shattering. She was at a convention I attended recently as a speaker, and it looks like she has a couple of books out, plus a bunch of stuff with "Busy Mom" on it (like a journal... nothing unique except that it has her logo on the front). She is attractive and very well "branded" but I don't get it... what makes her a draw to other homeschool moms? I'm not trying to be snarky; I'm just curious when something pops up like this that is slick and appealing (compared to other companies), and I want to know what the substance is.

[Stayseeliz]

I heard her speak at a conference last month. She's very engaging, gives practical advice and has a "You can do this, Mom!" demeanor. I would say that she probably doesn't say anything earth shattering but she's a powerful speaker. She reminds moms that homeschool should be about about relationship and discipleship, not just the academics. That's pretty important. I bought her Guide to Daylight and Guide to Romance books. I'm reading the Daylight book now. It's pretty good. She offers Bible studies too that she's written.

[SarahW]

Is she the same one that wrote some children's books? Or am I thinking of a different St. John?

[Janie Grace]

Is she the same one that wrote some children's books? Or am I thinking of a different St. John?

 

 

That's Patricia M St John, I think.

[Jean in Newcastle]

 

That's Patricia M St John, I think.

 

 

Patricia St. John died in 1993.

[Sara in AZ]

I heard her speak at a conference last month. She's very engaging, gives practical advice and has a "You can do this, Mom!" demeanor. I would say that she probably doesn't say anything earth shattering but she's a powerful speaker. She reminds moms that homeschool should be about about relationship and discipleship, not just the academics. That's pretty important. I bought her Guide to Daylight and Guide to Romance books. I'm reading the Daylight book now. It's pretty good. She offers Bible studies too that she's written.

 

This. I heard her at our convention last year. I loved her talks. Not earth shattering, but definitely relatable and motivational. And funny. She's really funny. And probably why I didn't actually enroll my crazy son in PS last fall when I had all the paperwork ready to go.

[twinmami01]

Just read both her books. She's very encouraging and doesn't tell you anything you don't already know, but it's nice to know someone else has been there, done that.

[Jamauk]

She and her husband are also the director of First Class Ministries Homeschool Co-op.

[Erin]

She's very engaging, gives practical advice and has a "You can do this, Mom!" demeanor. I would say that she probably doesn't say anything earth shattering but she's a powerful speaker

I agree with this, also. She's not saying anything new. (Though the day she put up the fact that the marriage should be the priority relationship in the house on her FB page, you'd have thought the sky was falling! Apparently there are a lot of people out there who don't understand that concept.)

I just saw a couple of her presentations at a conference last week and she was great! My husband even let me drag him along to the Busy Mom's Guide to Romance. ;)

 

Engaging, personable, fun and encouraging are how I'd describe her, but definitely not ground-breaking.

[SarahW]

 

That's Patricia M St John, I think.

 

 

Patricia St. John died in 1993.

 

 

Ah, yep, Patricia. I was going to say, I read some of those books as a kid. I think they were some homeschool literature list (A Beka?). Blast from the past.

 

No, relation, I'm guessing.

 

Carry on.

[Moxie]

I heard her speak at a conference last month. She's very engaging, gives practical advice and has a "You can do this, Mom!" demeanor. I would say that she probably doesn't say anything earth shattering but she's a powerful speaker. She reminds moms that homeschool should be about about relationship and discipleship, not just the academics. That's pretty important. I bought her Guide to Daylight and Guide to Romance books. I'm reading the Daylight book now. It's pretty good. She offers Bible studies too that she's written.

I know nothing about this speaker. But, in my town, I think we need more homeschoolers focusing on academics and less on discipleship. I'm a little tired of the "but we're leading them to Jesus and that's all that matters" excuse I hear.

[Janie Grace]

I know nothing about this speaker. But, in my town, I think we need more homeschoolers focusing on academics and less on discipleship. I'm a little tired of the "but we're leading them to Jesus and that's all that matters" excuse I hear.

 

 

I think I'm just over the "needing an inspirational figure"... or something. I don't care if someone is pretty or has a big family or is funny/a good speaker. I am more interested in someone with practical ideas that I haven't heard, a compelling academic philosophy, or who is done (has graduated everyone, or almost) and can give perspective on the big picture. I appreciated Julie Bogart's stuff (FB posts) in that last category. I guess it's partly personality... I would rather have a homeschool doula than a homeschool cheerleader. If that makes any sense whatsoever. :lol:

 

I'm tired of the Vision Forum, shiny happy families with all the answers thing. I'm probably unfairly lumping this woman into that group, but when I go to a convention, I just want to learn about how to educate my kids from people who are smarter or more experienced than me. I don't want to be "pastored" by all the people out there who seem eager to "pastor" homeschoolers.

[Guest]

I missed seeing her at our conference last year because I had never heard of her. I found her books earlier this year and totally fell in love with her. Yes, she encourages discipleship with your kids and making Jesus a priority in your home. BUT, I like her because I think she is practical and REAL. I follow her on FB and I love her posts - they make me feel like I have a friend who is in the trenches with me. She has quite a few kids, and I think even grandchildren? (I don't remember her family stats exactly, but she is not a brand new homeschooler trying to wow people with wisdom.) She doesn't sugar coat the daily homeschooling life. She may not be for everyone, but I wouldn't group her into a Vision Forum-type group.

[HS Mom in NC]

I went to her workshop at the AZ convention last year.

 

Pros

 

Her speaking style is engaging because she's very funny. She has good, detailed examples of her daily schedule for her kids (she has about 8 kids as I recall) and helpful organizational info. She's fashionably dressed, made up and physically fit so she appeals to people like me who focus on those kinds of things to some degree. She also encourages family oriented outside activities to balance the getting out of the house while not running in half a dozen different directions all week needs of kids and parents.

 

Cons

She's the got the standard hierarchical view of marriage vs. motherhood which I don't buy. I'm more a balancing the two type Christian, so I didn't like her Biblical "interpretation" in that department.

[Stayseeliz]

I know nothing about this speaker. But, in my town, I think we need more homeschoolers focusing on academics and less on discipleship. I'm a little tired of the "but we're leading them to Jesus and that's all that matters" excuse I hear.

 

 

She isn't saying that academics aren't important. She just meant that if you're screaming at your child over their math you're missing the point. I do know some people that need to focus on academics more.

[Blueridge]

She and her husband are also the director of First Class Ministries Homeschool Co-op.

 

 

I just read about a new local group that is an offshoot of this co-op. They were asking for leaders, members, and volunteers. So my assumption is they hope to spread their ministry to other parts of the country?

[Erin]

She's the got the standard hierarchical view of marriage vs. motherhood which I don't buy.

She compares it to a plane flight.

The instructions say that in the event of cabin depressurization, you're supposed to put the air mask on yourself before your children. If you take care of yourself first, you'll have enough air to take care of your child. OTOH, if you take care of your child you risk your own death.

 

My kids and I were recently discussing this very issue, actually. It's not a balance at all in our house. They know they rank behind their daddy's and my relationship and interestingly, they both are glad that we put each other first. It makes them feel secure.

I was a little surprised by that. I had assumed they were both still young enough not to "get" it. But they know too many friends who come from broken families to want it any other way.

 

And, logically speaking, if the relationship between one parent and one child is in a rough spot, it makes everyone else irritable/worried/etc. However, if the relationship between the parents is in a rough spot, it risks damaging the entire structure of the family.

[Moxie]

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She compares it to a plane flight.

The instructions say that in the event of cabin depressurization, you're supposed to put the air mask on yourself before your children. If you take care of yourself first, you'll have enough air to take care of your child. OTOH, if you take care of your child you risk your own death.

 

My kids and I were recently discussing this very issue, actually. It's not a balance at all in our house. They know they rank behind their daddy's and my relationship and interestingly, they both are glad that we put each other first. It makes them feel secure.

I was a little surprised by that. I had assumed they were both still young enough not to "get" it. But they know too many friends who come from broken families to want it any other way.

 

And, logically speaking, if the relationship between one parent and one child is in a rough spot, it makes everyone else irritable/worried/etc. However, if the relationship between the parents is in a rough spot, it risks damaging the entire structure of the family.

 

And this relates to homeschooling how?? Not trying to be snarky. Just really hungry for a HS conference that focuses on the school part.

[twinmami01]

 

 

And this relates to homeschooling how?? Not trying to be snarky. Just really hungry for a HS conference that focuses on the school part.

 

I think she addresses mom's like me that can get so wrapped up in giving, giving, giving and it's all about homeschooling. Some mom's may already be balanced in that area. Me, not so much, so reading this much needed encouragement was a breath of fresh air.

[Word Nerd]

What's to get? People have different needs and preferences. If the topic or platform of a particular speaker/author doesn't appeal to you, don't attend the session or buy the books. No one should have to justify why they find her talks encouraging or helpful.

[LNC]

 

I think I'm just over the "needing an inspirational figure"... or something. I don't care if someone is pretty or has a big family or is funny/a good speaker. I am more interested in someone with practical ideas that I haven't heard, a compelling academic philosophy, or who is done (has graduated everyone, or almost) and can give perspective on the big picture. I appreciated Julie Bogart's stuff (FB posts) in that last category. I guess it's partly personality... I would rather have a homeschool doula than a homeschool cheerleader. If that makes any sense whatsoever. :lol:

 

I'm tired of the Vision Forum, shiny happy families with all the answers thing. I'm probably unfairly lumping this woman into that group, but when I go to a convention, I just want to learn about how to educate my kids from people who are smarter or more experienced than me. I don't want to be "pastored" by all the people out there who seem eager to "pastor" homeschoolers.

 

I know. SWB, of course, and Debra Bell!!!

[HS Mom in NC]

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And, logically speaking, if the relationship between one parent and one child is in a rough spot, it makes everyone else irritable/worried/etc. However, if the relationship between the parents is in a rough spot, it risks damaging the entire structure of the family.

 

 

 

I don't think the hierarchical view is too high a standard, I think it's too low. If parents have a biblical view they know that 1) there are very few allowances for divorce in the Bible and if they don't have a biblical reason to divorce then divorce is not on the the table 2) they know they are obligated to maintain a quality marriage because marriage is about reflecting the relationship between Christ and the Church (His bride) as a testimony to His character whether there are children or not. I It's an absolute that's about God not about the couple or the children. Even if there are no children in the household the standard for marriage remains the same. Once you throw in effects to third parties (children, society, etc.) the absolute has disappeared. It easily becomes relativistic and man centered. We should maintain a healthy marriage because anything less is a misrepresentation of God and His character. Even if the quality of a marriage decreases but not enough that the marriage falls apart or the kids suffer, that couple (or the spouse who isn't doing it right) is stilling missing it completely and is accountable to God for their failure to reflect Him and His nature accurately.

 

Marriage reflects God's nature and is a testimony of His nature in two ways: It usually creates children who should be raised in a way that reflects the Parent/child relationship between God the Father and believer and it reflects the nature of Christ and His bride (the Church Universal) in believers by how they treat their spouses. Neither of those is more important than the other-they must be equally valued and equally maintained as a testimony in equal measure. Besides, no one can actually quote a Bible verse that establishes a hierarchy between the two, so it's cultural, not biblical, but it gets passed off as biblical rather than cultural.

 

St. John was worth listening to in spite of what I consider bad parenting advice because she made me laugh, gave me helpful information about making my homeschooling and family activities run a little smoother, and reinforced the idea that homeschoolers are a wide range of people who are not morally opposed to contemporary clothing and hair styles.

[Jamauk]

 

I just read about a new local group that is an offshoot of this co-op. They were asking for leaders, members, and volunteers. So my assumption is they hope to spread their ministry to other parts of the country?

 

 

 

There are chapters all over the country. We're members of our local chapter and we *love* it.

[Erin]

I know. SWB, of course, and Debra Bell!!!

 

Debra Bell was at the same conference where I saw Heidi St.John.

I went to all of her sessions. ;)

 

She's great!

[Erin]

but it gets passed off as biblical rather than cultural.

 

And yet you state the contrary in your first paragraph. You're citing a different rationale than the one you claim she's citing, but yet you're giving the same priority.

However, if you want Biblical: Mark 10:7-8

'This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh.

 

I'm not called on to become one with my children.

In fact, my children go the other direction. They are a part of me but are ever-after separate.