Thriving In Motherhood Podcast

Today, I talk about Going on Vacation every single day. Time-blocking my day to allow for Vacation Hours has changed how I think about my days and has revolutionized my relationship with my children. Key Points from this Episode: Telling ourselves "I am being present" with our kids while our minds are swirling with all the things we want to get done does not work. Prep for vacation: Have a place to write down all your thoughts Buy a watch - do not check your phone to check the time Choose a chunk of hours to be your Vacation Time. It should be the time your children need connection the most. For us, that's the mid-morning hours when we are doing homeschool. For others, it might be between when kids get home from school and dinner or bedtime. During your vacation: Keep your phone away. In your room. Take a vacation from worrying about anything that happens with your phone. Don't worry about your own projects or to do lists Be there with your kids 100% like you would be when you're on vacation When you a

Jessica is a military mother of three boys and podcast host of the Extraordinary Moms Podcast. She talks about finding who she wants to be as a person and the joy in the moments where you can see progress in yourself. Key Points from this Episode: Night before prepping makes the next day so much smoother. When our kids lose it, we can make the choice not to lose it ourselves. We don't have to join the tantrum. We have to recognize that our children are each unique children of God and we are too. If we focus on staying calm and staying safe for our children, we can allow them to explore and figure themselves out while we adjust our parenting to each child's specific needs. Listen to our kids' feelings and let them be okay. We can coach our children to help them come up with plans for the hard times so they can do things as independently as they can. It can give them confidence to be able to work through their challenges they are faced with. We have to let our children see us problem solve our own struggles (o

In this episode, I talk about where to start to get the house back on track after a Survival Mode season. I share my rhythms and systems that have helped me and my kids know what to expect when we are transitioning from full-blown Survival Mode back into "normal" life. Key Points from this Episode: It's OK to make intentional choices to let things like housework go when we are in survival mode, but we need to pick up the pieces when we are able to. Start with prayer. Then listen to the promptings of where to start. "Home Blessing Hour" every week for concentrated time to take care of the house. Go room by room. Garbage to the trash bag. Clothes to the laundry basket. Everything that doesn't belong into a basket. Put those items away. Sweep/vacuum the floor. Set timers for short increments to get bursts of cleaning focus from our children. Consider having some major incentives for after the house gets put back together. Talk with your children while you clean. Use it as a chance to bond as a family.

Valerie is a mother of two girls and creator of a Prompt and Prayer Journal and author of a book, Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday. We talk about God's will, fighting the lies about motherhood that the world gives, and how to start adjusting our thinking during our days. Key Points from this Episode: Dance to shake out the grumpiness in the mornings. We are stronger than we think we are with the help of God. “When ours [our plans] are interrupted, His are not. His plans are proceeding exactly as scheduled, moving us always (including those minutes or hours or years which seem most useless or wasted or unendurable) ‘toward the goal of true maturity’ (Rom 12:2).” - Elisabeth Elliot Trust that worthy things we want to do will get done, even if it's not in the time frame we expect, or we will learn it isn't what God wants us to be doing. We don't need to add extra drama to our lives. We need to be real about motherhood. We cannot do motherhood for the praise. Our challenging moments in our days are just that - moment

In this episode, I talk about where to start when you feel overwhelmed with getting your physical health where you want it to be. We all go through times where we have to have our physical bodies take a backseat and this is my process that I go through every time I re-start my exercise routine. Key Points from this Episode: There are so many reasons (physical & mental) that take us back to square one with our fitness. That's OK! My big why for exercise is the endorphins. I feel better when I exercise. You don't need to do the whole workout that is designed! Start with 10 minutes, then go to 15 minutes until you find the right duration for you. Start with gently building strength (Physique 57), then add cardio (Marcy Upright Exercise Bike). I replaced my standard transportation with a cardio bucket bike. Find what you love to do to work moving into your day. Mow the lawn, swim, longboard, dance in the kitchen. Do what works for you! I gain energy from exercising, not lose it. It feels good to feel strong!

Amy is a mother of two and co-founder of Give Her Courage, a company focused on helping young girls develop courage and confidence. We talk about the how and why and modeling that courage for our children. Key Points from this episode: Celebrate the nice things siblings do for each other to encourage the positive behaviors. The things that are worthwhile are going to be hard and challenging, but we shouldn't let that discourage us! Nothing is perfect. Just be in the moment. Try to focus on whatever you are doing in that moment and just be in it. Sitting down for (a distraction-free) dinner as a family every night opens the door for bonding and communication. Embrace your imperfections and let your children see that. Let them see you comfortable in your own skin. That will give them permission to do the same. Risk-taking is doing something where you are stepping outside your comfort zone. It is as individual as we are. Let your children know when you are feeling outside your comfort zone and are choosing to d

In this episode, I get into some of the logistics of survival mode. A few things to do during survival mode and a few things to do when you're not in survival mode to make survival mode easier. Key Points from this Episode: When we can't get off the couch, we have to adjust our expectations of parenting. We may not be able to control what or when or where the kids eat, but we can focus on the fact that the kids are eating and that is good. We can focus on keeping our one-on-one relationship with our children in a good place rather than worrying about the nitty-gritty of discipline when we can't follow through. When things are good, work hard on routines and rhythms. Then, when things go to survival mode, they take longer to fall apart. If people are fed, a lot of our behavior problems are curbed. So find ways for food to be really easy for you and the kids. Use the tough seasons to teach our children compassion and forgiveness. Survival mode part of this life's journey. Accept and embrace it. Work to over-co

Brandi is a mother of four (ages 4 - 17) who has worked with her husband to build a slow, intentional life with her family. She lives in the hills of central Texas. She shares how God's love for her and her family has guided her in her life and her parenting. Key Points from this episode: It takes different intentional actions to stay connected with our children and hold their hearts who are different ages. Changing our emphasis from behavior to relationships with our children will allow us to maintain that relationship through the teen years and beyond. Try to have eyes to see. Notice when our children are withdrawn and remember that sometimes that is when they need us to press in the most. (Adding food makes the heart-sharing easier for the kids, too!) Schedule in one-on-one time with your kids. Put some to bed early if you need to in order to make it happen. Find time to have time with God. If you can't wake up before the kids, try having 15-20 minutes for all your family to go their separate ways to have

Lauresa is a mother of twin preschoolers and a toddler living in Northwest Arkansas with her husband and two dogs. She grew up in a family of 11 kids and is now a registered dietitian growing her own private practice, a teacher, and an enthusiastic gardener. She is the co-founder of the blog Black Thumb Garden Club and co-author of the Black Thumb Garden Club Workbook. Key Points from this episode: Writing is one of the most important things someone can do to make progress in anything. It helps us find clarity and move forward toward goals. Finding time for creativity in small, consistent ways is a powerful way to make progress. Using projects and Next Actions help you stay focused and make the most of your time. Setting rules for yourself during nap time (like no chores, be physically comfy) can open the doorway for you to utilize that time for creative means, but still feel rejuvenated at the end of nap time. Having or being an example of having skills or contributions outside of motherhood helps others kn

In this episode, I talk about Key Questions to Ask Yourself in the Evening as a bookend to the questions from Episode 60 where we talked about Key Questions to Ask in the Morning. These questions help me reflect on my day and stay connected to God. They come from top productivity, mindfulness, and spiritual leaders. I invite you to join me on Patreon with these questions and make a habit of this with me! These questions help me feel more in control of my emotions and find hope and joy to live my life more positively. 

Erin is a mother of three and one of the world's most sought-after sopranos. She talks about melding these two worlds of motherhood and personal success. Erin believes parenthood is the secret to life bringing a balance to life and an opportunity to care for another. She knows that being a singer is important, but being a parent is even more important than that. She takes her motherhood as a serious responsibility and career in itself. She hopes her children will have more positive memories than negative ones when they look back at their childhoods. She wants them to know and feel how much she cares for them.  Erin tries to prioritize family time together despite continuing to travel to perform. One of her goals is to zero in on her children's specific needs and meet those needs as a mother. She talks about how amazing music is in enriching her children's lives and helps her create loving memories singing around the piano. She found it natural to sing to help reach and calm her babies in a way that speaking o

In this episode, I talk about Survival Mode and how that does not need to stop us from thriving even while we are in the midst of it. I share some of my personal life in the middle of full blown survival mode (surgery and recovery, moving, home-buying, etc.) and how the things I've discovered over the past five years adjusted my thinking and got me ready for the things I could prepare for. During this round of struggles, I tried to step away from the worry. I instead asked myself "What is in my circle of influence?" and "What is the next step?" to myself and to God in order to find focus to prep while I was able. I used friends as sounding-boards and got to work on my next actions that were within my circle of influence. I learned to walk away from a project when there was no Next Action and move on to another task - and feel totally fine about that. Recognizing our growth in the moment of struggle disarms fear, frustration, and anger. We instead can celebrate "Look how much we're learning!" Having a little b

Kristin is a mother of twin toddlers (1 boy and 1 girl) and host of The Progress Project Podcast. She loves reading, yoga, and baking. She talks about her struggles with infertility which guided her to be the mother she wants to be in finding the balance between being a present mother and doing some work too. Kristin speaks to trusting herself and finding momentum in her successes. Kristin felt a lot of resistance as she dealt with her infertility for five years. As she did that, she was able to come to terms with and really explore what her role could be if she wasn't meant to be a mother yet. Resistance turned into acceptance for her as she journaled and wrote her way through her thought processes. She found herself as she discovered her gifts and desires. She took time to think about the woman she sees herself as in 50 years and used that to help find her purpose. She finds the balance between motherhood and having a career as an ongoing challenge. She wants to be a present mother, but uses her work as a c

Emily is a mother of two who seeks for intentional and simple living. She talks about a thought exercise to help her find her legacy and live it now. She talks about getting rid of the mental, emotional, and physical clutter in her life. She talks about the morning routine she has recently implemented (since getting to sleep through the night!) and how that has opened her mind to be able to focus. She asks herself "Am I present? Am I joyful? Am I calm?" and uses that mantra as a check for herself throughout her day. She journals in her 5 Minute Journal to focus herself on gratitude and a low-tech start to the day. Emily also uses her "Hello Emily Morning Routine" to help set her tone for the entire day. Emily's struggles with Unexplained Infertility started to define her motherhood journey by helping her to realize that she was not in control of everything no matter how hard she worked. She learned that what she can control was how she reacts to difficulties and that simplifying her life was an absolute essen

Jennifer is the homeschooling mother of seven in the foothills of California. She is the founder of The Peaceful Press, a company that is dedicated to creating wholehearted homeschooling curriculum and a podcast host for Wild + Free. She talks about the development of being able to have conversations with her older children and emotionally investing rather than feeling so physically drained in the years of early parenting. She talks about the diminished need for "mommy friends" as her children have slowly become some of her best friends. She talks about finding the time to get her alone, rejuvenating time in bits and pieces rather than the bulk of nap time or after kids go to bed. She loves to read or listen to a podcast to recharge herself. Jennifer has always felt drawn to motherhood. She had her abilities feel challenged when one of her children had a personal crisis and Jennifer took the responsibility upon herself for her child's trials. She had her awakening moment about her lack of total control of mot

In this episode, I talk about key questions I ask God and myself to start every day. I talk about how they help focus my mind to be the person I want to be and develop the relationship I want with God. I invite you to join me on Patreon with these questions and make a habit of this with me! I talk about my desire to handle life better during the challenging times and how these questions help me do this by taking into account what is on my "Essential List" for my life. They are questions that help us have more energy, more enthusiasm, happier, more present, and be more engaged in our lives. 

April is a mother of four and founder of Power of Moms and LearnDoBecome. She lives very intentionally and helps other mothers do the same. She shares her journey of recognizing that working together is a tool to build relationships in our home and create a feeling for everyone in the family to grow. She talks about learning to love ourselves so we can love others. She shares the importance of being open and honest in every step of your motherhood journey in order to find your "person" behind the word "mother." April talks about clearing the clutter out of our homes, but also out of our minds and our hearts to then be able to love. She speaks to the feeling in the home being the focus of our efforts. She goes against culture to get our housework done so we can be a mom, but rather teaches the importance of doing the housework side-by-side with our children and finding the beauty in that housework. April talks about the impact that Scream Free Parenting by Hal Edward Runkel has affected the way she looks at lo

Ashley is an intentional, homeschooling mother of four. She shares about finding inspiration and motivation to build her home life how she envisions it. She talks about making some of the major, life-changing decisions to live intentionally and really choose the joy in her motherhood journey. She owns her desire to for her children to feel seen, loved, known, and filled with wonder for the world and strives to teach that through example.

In this episode, I talk about something we all deal with: Laundry. I walk you through how to find the right system for YOUR family to make sure this necessity is as automated as possible in order to save your decision-making stamina for ones that matter.

Alissa Hankin is a curly-haired mother of a three-year-old boy living in South Hampton, England. She shares her experiences with stress, tragedy, change, and growth and how God plays a role in her life. She teaches about taking care of her body and mind and using Faith Journaling to take care of her soul.