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Come On Home: Building a Strong Family in an Imperfect World

What makes a family strong?

If you're like most moms, especially those of us homeschooling and pouring ourselves into the daily work of raising children, you've probably wrestled with that question. Is it about being close-knit and always getting along? Is it about fun vacations and nightly family dinners? Is it about making memories—or simply surviving the chaos?

In this week’s episode of The Feast Life, I sat down with the warm and wise Jessica Smartt—author, homeschool mom of three, and now farm dweller (with 11 cats!)—to talk about her new book, Come On Home: A Grace-Filled Guide to Raising a Family Who Loves and Likes Each Other.

And let me just say… this conversation felt like a big exhale.

The Myth of the Perfect Family

Right out of the gate, Jessica shared something that instantly resonated: A strong family is not a perfect family.

In fact, it’s often in the mess—the sibling fights, the technology battles, the imperfect homes and awkward conversations—that the deepest connection is formed. Jessica reminded us that when grace meets imperfection, a stronger bond is built. That’s what true family strength looks like. Not polished. But real, resilient, and loyal.

Creating a Family Culture That Lasts

Jessica’s book was born from her own lived experience—raising teens, navigating busy sports schedules, and sharing land with her siblings and parents. It’s more than a parenting guide; it’s a heart-to-heart on how to create a home that your children want to come back to. Not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually.

Some of the practical rhythms she shared include:

• Family nights with planned meals and activities (even if it’s just frozen pizza and card games!)
  
  
• Traditions that anchor your family—like “Smart Family Day,” where they do something new and fun with just their immediate family.
  
  
• Intentional space-making—from organizing a child’s room to creating welcoming nooks for conversation and rest.
  
  
• Phone-free zones—to protect family connection in the digital age.
  
  
• Sibling peacemaking—looking with fresh eyes at each child’s needs, stories, and personalities.
  
  

And perhaps most beautifully, she encourages us to cultivate a home where our kids know: You belong here. I’m not going anywhere. We’re in this together.

What If You Didn’t Grow Up With That?

One of the most powerful parts of our conversation was when Jessica addressed families who are building something they never had themselves.

To the mom who feels the ache of being unparented… to the one who didn’t grow up in a loving, grace-filled home… she says: You can start something new. You can be the first link in the chain. And God, in His kindness, will meet you in your gaps.

You don’t have to do it all. You don’t have to figure it all out today. But you can do the next right thing—clean the kitchen, hug your child, plan one family meal this week—and that matters.

A Home That’s Worth Coming Back To

Jessica reminded me—and I hope reminds you—that home isn’t about square footage or Pinterest-worthy decor. It’s about how people feel when they walk through the door.

Are they safe? Seen? Wanted?

Do they know this is a place where forgiveness is real, where laughter is normal, where bacon is abundant, and where relationships are worth fighting for?

That kind of home doesn’t happen by accident. It’s crafted—imperfectly, faithfully, and full of grace.

So friend, if you’re in the messy middle of raising a family and wondering if you’re doing it right, take heart. You don’t have to build a perfect home.

Just build one they’ll want to come home to.

With love,
Julie

About Our Guest:

Jessica Smartt is the author of Memory-Making Mom and Let Them Be Kids (ECPA Bestseller). She lives in sunny North Carolina on a family farm with horses, chickens, and an ever-increasing number of beloved cats. She and her husband, Todd, have three kids whom they homeschool. She is passionate about energizing everyday moms to save childhood and build close-knit families. Jessica loves bike rides, spinach quiche, a clean kitchen, being warm, national parks, and food that anyone else made.

Connect with Jessica:

Website: https://jessicasmartt.com/ 

Instagram:  @jessica.smartt

Facebook: @SmarterEachDay 

Podcast: The Homeschool Solutions Show

Pre-order Bonus:

Pre-order Come On Home and get access to Jessica’s exclusive Q&A Zoom party. Come in your pajamas, bring your favorite drink, and connect with Jessica and other moms who are in the trenches of building strong, grace-filled homes. https://jessicasmartt.com/come-on-home 

Additional Resources:

• Come On Home by Jessica Smartt (pre-order now!)
• Memory-Making Mom and Let Them Be Kids by Jessica Smartt
• My Tech-Wise Life by Andy & Amy Crouch
• The Opt-Out Family by Erin Loechner
• Simplified Organization by Mystie Winckler
• Elizabeth Elliot’s “Do the Next Right Thing”
• The Social Dilemma (documentary)