Wire Talk With Karen Stubbs

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among students today. As a society, we are clearly in crisis. As mothers, we are fighting on the front lines. Today, mental health professional Debbie Causey joins us to talk about her own journey as the mother of a child with mental health conditions. Debbie also shares wisdom on the warning signs we can be alert for and the steps we can take to fight for our children's lives. Even if you have toddlers and this conversation feels light years away, listen for a friend, a family member, or a student you know and love. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Moms of teens, register for the SURVIVE retreat today! It's a weekend away with Karen focused specifically on the challenges and the joys of parenting teens.  Karen’s book The Art of Motherhood NAMI.ORG National Suicide Prevention Hotline Crisis Text Line NAMI Classes

Mother and occupational therapist Christy Bennett joins Sunny and Karen today to dive into sensory based behavior. We discuss what sensory behaviors are, and how to provide the sensory stimulus (or lack thereof) that your child is craving. Christy also answers your questions on how to talk to teachers about your child's specific needs and how parents can advocate for their child in the school system and in situations with other adults (coaches, church leaders, etc.)  Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Moms of teens! Register for the SURVIVE retreat today.  Lucy the Lapdog How to Leave a Wire Talk review Share Your Thoughts about BOAW with us!

Dr. Mike Sytsma joins us to answer your questions about sex and motherhood. Dr. Mike is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Georgia, a Certified Sex Therapist, and a Certified Sexual Addictions Specialist. He is also an ordained minister who is passionate about marriage and helping couples grow in their marriage! We are so glad he is here to provide expert level advice and answers to your questions.  Learn more about the Survive Retreat for Moms of Teens Take a second to tell us what you love about BOAW! Intimate Marriage - Dr. Mike's online couples group IntimateMarriage.Org - Dr. Mike's organization Winshape Marriage retreats  Parenting Together study with Karen and Greg Stubbs

Fear in motherhood is a very real thing. It starts when they're young: are they hungry, are they hurting? And never stops, even when they are adults! Many of us are worried we’ll mess something up and mess up our kids in the process. Today Karen reminds us what is true and where to keep our focus when fear threatens to take us down. Get the New Mom's Baby Box: boaw.mom/babybox Join our private FB community of moms seeking godly wisdom: facebook.com/groups/BOAWmoms

We've all heard the advice to "pick your battles" as a mom. But which battles are the right ones to pick? We asked you to send in the battles you're frustrated by in your home and Karen is going to weigh in with whether or not it's worth the fight. Play along as you listen, can you guess what Karen's answer will be?? Take a second to tell us what you love about BOAW! Grab our New Mom's Baby Box  Save the Date - Survive: A Retreat for Moms of Teens registration opens July 10th!

There are all kinds of books and podcasts that aim to prepare you for childbirth or breastfeeding, but one thing that’s hard to prepare for is the isolation you’ll experience in those early days as a newborn mom. From how to "get out there" with a newborn to overcoming FOMO because you're breastfeeding all the time, on today's episode, Karen shares wisdom for the newest moms in our community. Mentioned on today's episode: Start a BOAW Group and go through Mom Core together New Mom’s Baby Box Share Your Thoughts about BOAW with us!

Whether you love or loathe summer, no one can deny that longer days, soaring temperatures, and no school routine means a change of pace around the house. Today we're tackling questions about how to keep your kids fed, how to manage work from home life when the kids are around, and how to inject FUN into summer as a red mom. Mentioned on today’s episode: New Mom’s Baby Box Share Your Thoughts about BOAW with us!

We spend decades trying to figure out how to parent them well, and then all of a sudden, they are grown ups and we are staring at an empty nest. Today we're talking about how to handle the loneliness that sometimes accompanies a quiet house, how to prepare yourself for this stage of life, and how to move into your new role as mom to an adult child! Find all the show notes at: birdsonawiremoms.com/podcast/episode316

Just when you think you’re getting a handle on motherhood, your child moves into a new season of life and you’ve got to relearn everything! Today we're talking about high schoolers on the verge of adulthood. Karen shares her thoughts on how to let go without giving up, how to guide without pushing and how to handle college students when they come back home.  

Ahhhhh adolescence. Everyone’s favorite time of life. Today’s episode is about that transition from almost teen to full blown teenager. From pushing boundaries to pulling away emotionally, Karen offers wisdom for how to help your child when they still have one foot in both worlds. Find the shownotes at: birdsonawiremoms.com/podcast/episode314

Today’s episode is about that season when your toddler is growing more independent. From using the bathroom, to getting dressed, this is the "I do it myself!" phase of life. You’d think that means life gets easier for a mom, but each new season comes with its own difficulties. Listen in as Karen offers advice for keeping little escape artists safe, moving toddlers to a "big kid" bed and letting go of control so your little one can learn. 

If you had a difficult relationship with your mom as a teenager, you may be shocked to find that the relationship gets even more complicated when you become a mom. On today’s episode, we are answering questions about boundaries, passive-aggressive behavior, expectations and we even have a question that a teen emailed us… a first for Wire Talk! 

We are wrapping up our time in the book of James today by reading and talking through chapter 5. I pray that this month has made you more confident and comfortable in sitting down with your own Bible to study the Word. James 5:16 NLT "...The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results."

We are continuing our journey through the book of James this week. Today Karen is reading and teaching through chapters 3 and 4- focusing on the power of the tongue and seeking God's wisdom. 

We're back in the book of James this week! Join us as Karen reads and teaches through the second chapter of this highly practical book and shares truths that apply to our world today. 

As Easter approaches, many of us feel like we should be getting into the Word and reading our Bibles, but if we're honest, a lot of times we don't know how to study the Bible! This month, Karen is going to walk us through the book of James, verse by verse, and share the nuggets of wisdom she takes away from this very practical book. Join us today as we walk through chapter 1 together. 

At times we all need someone to tell us how to think about things differently, and that’s something Karen does really well. On today's show, we’ve gathered questions from moms who are burnt out, disheartened, or just plain TIRED! With loads of encouragement and a little tough love, Karen help us all adjust their attitudes in this conversation.

All month long, we've been sharing conversations about the 'battles we don’t always see.' We’ve talked about raising a special needs child, anxiety, struggling with a chaotic marriage, and today we are going to hear from NFL hall of famer, Bryant Young, and his incredible wife Kristin, as they share their testimony of walking with the Lord through cancer, grief, and loss. From the prayer they prayed when they received the news of their son's diagnosis, to the way they walked this road with 5 other children at home, hearing their story will grow your faith. Their testimony is one that epitomizes Romans 5:3-4, "...we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."   

Today you’re going to hear from dear friend and long time BOAW mom, Jenny Boyett, as she joins Karen to share what it has been like to walk through a marriage that did not turn out the way she dreamed. Unless you have a friend walking through this season of life, or you are going through a situation like this yourself, you may never otherwise know what it’s like to be faced with this scenario. All month long, we are sharing these stories so we can grow in empathy and compassion alongside our fellow BOAW moms. 

We've talked about the anxiety epidemic our kids are facing these days, but there are a ton of moms battling chronic anxiety as well. Today, Dr. Chinwé Williams joins Karen to give us practical ways to combat anxiety and shares how to know when we need extra help.