Simple Farmhouse Life, Episode 314

Raising Hardworking, Humble Kids in an Entitled World | Casey & Jason Cashell
Air date: November 4, 2025
Host: Lisa Bass
Guests: Jason & Casey Cashell (Mayhurst Estate)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the heart of cultivating hardworking, humble children in today’s often entitled culture. With Lisa Bass as host, and joined by Jason and Casey Cashell of Mayhurst Estate, the discussion centers around practical strategies for raising capable children, the importance of involving kids in real work and family life, the joys and realities of restoring a Civil War-era estate, and the Cashell family’s Artisan Kids Hub initiative. The episode also explores the revival of heritage skills, the growth of entrepreneurship within the family, and realistic encouragement for parents who feel unequipped to pass on hands-on knowledge.

Main Themes & Topics

• Raising Capable, Competent Kids
• Restoring Historic Homes as a Family
• Teaching Skills & Character Through Hands-On Work
• Entrepreneurship in Family Life
• The Artisan Kids Hub
• Cultural Shifts towards Heritage & Trades
• Encouragement for Parents New to Hands-On Skills

Key Discussion Points & Insights

About the Cashells & Mayhurst Estate

• The Story of Mayhurst Estate
  • The Cashells bought Mayhurst in early 2020, three weeks before COVID, after a decade-long dream for a place that could blend business, home, homeschool, ministry, and hospitality. [02:49–04:34]
  • Mayhurst: built in 1859, ~10,000 sq ft, original buildings intact, 37 acres, with all the historical fabric preserved.
  • “It is an 1859 Victorian estate built by James Madison's family. It's really an answer to ten years of praying and dream for us.” — Casey Cashell [02:54]

Involving Kids in Real Work

• Raising Kids Capable Beyond Expectations

  • Kids are involved from a young age; even toddlers participate to the extent they safely can.
  • “If you never stretch them, then they'll very rarely amaze you.” — Jason Cashell [01:00, repeated insight at 15:23]
  • The idea: Don’t wait to involve kids until adolescence; start early so helping is part of their identity.

• Renovation, Cultivation, and Chores

  • The Cashell children have always lived in houses under renovation, making construction and hands-on work normal.
  • “Our kids have grown up in homes that we've constantly been renovating...It's normal for them to be in a construction zone.” — Casey Cashell [11:00]
  • Tasks evolve with the child’s age; freedoms and responsibilities increase as competence grows.

Overcoming Parental Hesitation & Building Competence

• Recognizing Kids' Abilities

  • Most parents underestimate what their kids can safely and competently do.
  • Examples: 8-year-olds running a skid steer, 9-year-olds using a jackhammer, with close supervision and gradual trust building. [15:23]
  • “Parents, a lot of times, just don't realize what their kids are really capable of.” — Jason Cashell [14:15]

• The Power of Process, Not Just Product

  • Emphasize the process and learning from failure, not just the final outcome or perfection.
  • “Our culture is very product driven...but the process is really where character comes from.” — Jason Cashell [25:05]

• Failure is Foundational

  • Teach kids to see failure as a friend, not something to be shielded from.
  • “Failure should be a friend, not a foe.” — Jason Cashell [25:54]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you never stretch them, then they'll very rarely amaze you.” — Jason Cashell [01:00, 15:23]
• “Their identity is a contributor.” — Casey Cashell, on involving kids from an early age [12:40]
• “A lot of times the people who don't know are the ones who are best at helping their kids learn...because they are just one step ahead of the kid.” — Jason Cashell [36:51]
• “We wanted our kids to experience [failure] as much as possible, as early as possible, so that they could utilize it as a tool to help them grow.” — Jason Cashell [25:20]

Applying Concepts in Any Setting

• Adapting Skills to Urban Life

  • The Cashells lived in urban/suburban houses before Mayhurst; skills, work, and contribution aren’t limited to homestead life. [18:41]
  • “Competence is not isolated to the skilled trades. It can be whatever you do.” — Jason Cashell [19:39]

• Encouragement for Unequipped Parents

  • Don’t let your own lack of experience stop you: learn alongside your children, model curiosity and humility. [36:48, 38:29]
  • “Just add the kids into your life.” — Jason Cashell [39:15]
  • “The very thing that you think is a hindrance actually can become the way that it happens.” — Jason Cashell [36:50]

Entrepreneurship as a Family

• Entrepreneurial Spirit from the Start

  • Cashell kids have run lemonade and cucumber stands, and later, the Artisan Kids Hub, teaching online classes.
  • “From little ages on, we've let them make their little businesses.” — Casey Cashell [45:40]
  • “The amount of opportunities that we have today because of the Internet... you can reach everyone with whatever it is that you're interested in.” — Luke [48:02]

• Artisan Kids Hub

  • Originated from parents asking how to get kids involved in artisan skills.
  • Designed as an online and in-person community, fostering heritage skills and a sense of historical mentorship.
  • “Our heartbeat is that people are mentored by history as we've been mentored by history.” — Casey Cashell [33:09]
  • Hub’s classes: kids teaching kids (and anyone eager to learn), empowering both teacher and learner.

The Shift Toward Heritage Skills

• Why Millennials and Gen Z Want Old-Fashioned Skills
  • The “gap generation” recognizes what’s been lost amidst technology; COVID exposed vulnerabilities in modern systems.
  • “We don't want this screen-obsessed childhood for our kids and we don't want it for ourselves.” — Casey Cashell [33:39]
  • A deep human desire to cultivate and create, not just consume. [35:39]

The Joys (and Realities) of Restoring Mayhurst

• Living Immersed in American History
  • Repairing and preserving Mayhurst has fostered historical curiosity and deep appreciation for heritage in the whole family. [48:45–52:25]
  • The Cashells have traced the house’s history and the families who lived there, making it a personal “puzzle.”
  • “Behind every old house are families.” — Jason Cashell [52:14]

Encouraging Other Families

• Start Where You Are
  • “You don't have to renovate a house.” Involve your kids in whatever your daily work entails—whether that’s cooking, computer work, or community service. [21:32]
  • Leverage modern resources (YouTube, articles, online courses) for learning anything. [39:57]
  • Model a growth mindset and delight in the process together.

Retreats and Community

• Mayhurst as a Community Hub
  • Mayhurst hosts retreats for up to 40 people; visitors often get involved in the work, contributing to the family’s project.
  • “We actually have had many guests stay and help us.” — Casey Cashell [49:09]

Highlight Reel (with Timestamps)

• [01:00] “If you never stretch them, then they'll very rarely amaze you.” — Jason Cashell
• [11:00] “Our kids have grown up in homes that we've constantly been renovating. So every house we've ever had we've completely gutted…It's normal for them to be in a construction zone…” — Casey Cashell
• [12:40] “Their identity is a contributor.” — Casey Cashell
• [14:15] “Parents always have a lower view of what their kids are capable of than they're actually capable of.” — Jason Cashell
• [15:23] City kids astonish parents with what they can do after just a day in the countryside.
• [18:41] “Well, so a good thing to know about us is we've always lived in the city. This is the first time…we've ever been countryside.” — Casey Cashell
• [25:05] “Our culture is very product driven… but the process is really where character comes from.” — Jason Cashell
• [36:50] “The impediment to the way becomes the way.” — Jason Cashell
• [39:15] “Instead of adding one more thing…just add the kids into what you're doing.” — Jason Cashell
• [45:40] “From little ages on, we've let them make their little businesses.” — Casey Cashell
• [48:45] The ongoing, ever-in-progress work of restoring Mayhurst and its impact on the family’s appreciation for heritage.

Conclusion & How to Connect

Cashell Family Links:

• Instagram: @thecashells | @mayhursteate
• Website: thecashells.com (for Artisan Kids Hub, marriage, hospitality, and family flourishing classes)

Final Encouragement:

• Embrace the process and failure as keys to building both your children’s character and your own courage in learning new skills.
• You don’t need to be an expert to pass on real, useful skills to your children—curiosity, humility, and enthusiasm are enough.

For event inquiries or in-person classes at Mayhurst, the family currently hosts up to 40 guests and future plans include expanding their community reach.