Mom Struggling Well

Nancy Ray is a ridiculously talented photographer, wife and mom.  She started something called a contentment challenge that I really didn't want to talk to her about because I knew it would cause me to make a change.  Whether you admit it or not, you need this chat too. You're gonna love/hate this conversation. what we chat about: the important difference between good stress and bad stress defining yourself with one word how she found herself a "real" hobby a family tradition she will continue

This sweet mother of six babies has a lot going on!  She has gleaned a lot of wisdom that we get to benefit from today.  She speaks today about adoption, being a bi-racial family, how to not completely break the bank every Christmas and what she does to survive summer break.  What we talk about: the importance of taking conscious breaks throughout the day how she intentionally makes each kid feel special in a large family fun ways to add structure to breaks with kids the balance between celebrating your children's stories publicly and letting them tell them at their own pace

Back by popular demand, we are talking to the lovely Brandi Lea about...trauma. Yours, your friend's, your family's.  This is a jam-packed episode full of so many valuable insights.  I said, "so good" so many times during this episode, I annoyed myself.  Don't worry, I edited most of them out. what we chat about: why it matters that we get healthy what our freedom exposes in other people the importance of validation in healing her one piece of advice for walking through trauma with someone

I'm excited to share the wisdom of my friend Debi Chapman with you!  She is a writer, a speaker and a mother to eleven!! She believes our homes are battlefields and she loves encouraging moms to press on in their vitally important role. What we chat about: The teenage years Creative ways to encourage kids to help around the house How to live within the limits of what we have to offer

"Freakishly transparent" is one way people have described my guest this week.  She spent so long hiding the truth about her past that when she finally started being honest, she just couldn't stop!  This episode is full of SO many big ideas and truths.  Her words are sure to challenge you to step out of darkness and into the light.  What we chat about: What to do when motherhood doesn't feel natural How running from your past only makes it devour you instead How to mend betrayal and shame in a relationship How God wants your healing more than you do

Jim and Lynne have worked in the trenches with parents of all kinds – single parents, adoptive parents, parents of teens, parents of kids with intense behavior challenges, parents in blended families, parents of wealth and parents in poverty, and any other kind of parent you can think of. In other words, they have a lot of experience!  You're going to get a lot out of this chat.  Grab a pen and paper! What we chat about: The result of believing half-truths How to make a plan to deal with the problem behavior The identity messages we accidentally communicate to our kids

Today's guest is one of my favorite ladies around.  She is a dear friend of mine who I have seen fight for healing with amazing focus and determination.  You are going to be heartbroken and then so encouraged by her story! What we chat about: Some of the traumatic effects of childhood sexual abuse and emotional neglect What it was like to feel normal for the first time in her life How she got to the point of confessing infidelity Her process of forgiving her mom

Laurie is a wife and mom who grew up in a strong Christian home.  She comes from a large and impressive family and went on to do impressive things for God because she was trying really hard to sort out how to be "Christian enough" to stop being attracted to other women.  This conversation is something the church needs to hear.  I know I needed to hear it.  She tells her story with gut wrenching honesty but also so much grace.  I think you'll be surprised to discover how similar your story is to hers!

My friend Grace is a wife, mom and author.  She writes in an effort to encourage people to know Jesus for real and to get her readers moving toward the things He has made them to be.  This conversation covered so many great topics, I had a really difficult time giving it a title.  Just know there's something in it for everyone! What We Chat About: Portraying a better picture of parenting Unpacking the living out of 'unforced rhythms of grace' A discussion on the nuts and bolts of supper club

Amy Carroll is an author, speaker, and a recovering perfectionist.  She is also (joyfully) and empty-nester who has lots of wisdom to share with us regarding how to best enjoy your teens.  You're really going to get a lot out of this chat.  I know I did! What we chat about: how to make grace the headliner in your house why all of us moms need to perfect our "bland face" how to practically walk a child through anxiety

This sweet friend of mine is a wife and mom of 4 boys.  She is also the host of the wildly popular God Centered Mom podcast.  She is a source of wisdom, encouragement and lots of laughs for me and I think she will be for you too! what we chat about: encouragement for first generation Christian moms how she helps her boys make amends with one another how our identity affects our parenting

Kara-Kae is a mom of 4 who co-founded the well-known site Thrive Moms. She loves real conversations, sweet tea and believes anything can be cured with a plate of bacon and a good cup of coffee.  She's a lovely girl and I think you're going to be encouraged by her words!    what we talk about: discovering the difference between good work and God's work the orphan crisis in America what she does to celebrate the little things

I'm betting you know who this lovely lady is but in case you don't, here goes: She is a wife and mom, a writer and a podcaster.  She is also a "fake counselor" as she says at a girls school which could not be a more perfect job for her.  She's one of my personal favorites so I had to try really hard not to be super gushy about that during the interview.  Don't worry though, I let all my awkward out as soon as we weren'trecording. what we chat about:  the concept of gleaning in our everyday moments things that will leave a relationship dead in the water what makes relationships thrive how service looks different than you might think

Nicole is a sign maker from Southern California.  She and her husband are raising two kids and running a wildly successful small business!  This girl is funny and honest and really loves God.  Hope you laugh as loud as I did during this conversation! what we chat about: what to do INSTEAD of comparing ourselves to other moms how a traumatic event launched her into working from home what happened when she finally tried talking to God

She is a wife and mom from central Indiana who lives in a 100 year old house she hopes to renovate soon.  She runs a stationary shop and intentionally creates space for quiet in her life.  In fact, she wants to be Amish "while still enjoying the modern comforts of electricity and deodorant." Ha!  I think that sounds fair.   What we chat about: how prenatal and postpartum depression are very real things learning to say "no" her routine of a morning prayer to-do list what she is doing to leave a legacy for her grandchildren

So today's conversation is a little different. In light of this week's events in our great land, some friends and I decided (really THEY decided and I couldn't think of a good reason to get out of it) we should model an honest conversation on the topic of race because we were already having them.   My friends and I are all podcasters and each come to the topic of race with different perspectives.  Retha of Journey to Balance is black and Tiffany of  A Mom's Mission Field is white and has two adopted boys who are black.  I have received feed back from multiple friends of mine (who I was talking about this with while trying to get out of having to have this conversation!) who told me a conversation like this is EXACTLY what they need to see modeled right now.   So here you go.  It is a little long but it WAS 2 hours.  I got it down to 51 minutes which was evidence of the Lord's hand at work.  I am super pleased with how it turned out and know you will find yourself somewhere along the continuum of ideas exp

Lindsy is a mom of 4 who has recently moved across the country from KY to FL to live out the good news of Jesus among the poor with both their words and their actions.  They are with an organization that sends families to marginalized neighborhoods, you know, the ones most people try to avoid and ignore.  You're going to love and be challenged by this conversation! what we chat about: calling forth the good God has placed in our kids  doing the brave thing scared how to keep perspective when all the needs around her seem overwhelming

This girl is authentic.  She is honest and not afraid to speak up about her struggles because she knows that's how others can know they are not alone.  She's my kind of girl.  You're going to love hearing her share her heart towards mothering in particular and life in general.  I know I did! What we chat about: The difference between willfulness, willlessness, and willingness how sometimes going to the park is the very WORST how she combats loneliness in motherhood practical steps to make home a safe place

Some of us are able to tell stories eloquently.  Some of our stories have rough places that can seem too dark to overcome.  My friend Amber's story is both; incredibly difficult AND beautifully told.  She is a gifted storyteller with a story of forgiveness and grace that will knock your socks off.  Or, since it's summer, maybe just knock your flip flops across the room. what we chat about: What it's like when no one believes your story Grieving abortion Practically taking thoughts captive Amber's 5 minute "Hey Jesus" time-out sessions

This girl.  Some people seem to live so much life in so few years. Her story has twists and turns that will leave you wide-eyed and the perspective she has gained is one we can all benefit from.   What we chat about: when cancer comes as a relief that changing direction is not failure but growth what to do when "the American dream" is not actually YOUR dream