Don't Mom Alone Podcast

Media is all around us - movies, music, tv, online videos, reels, TikToks, and more. And, there are as many parenting strategies around media as there are types of media. How do we safeguard our kids around media in today’s culture? Spoiler Alert: We aren’t going to talk about what to watch per se, but rather how to watch. In this episode I’ll talk about what it could look like for us to raise not just haphazard watchers but discerning media consumers. Of course, we should exercise wisdom with what our kids watch and listen to, but also, as moms we’re in the business of teaching men to fish. Let’s teach our kids to become discerning viewers. I’ll give you some handlebars to foster discussions about movies or TV with your kids and to get them thinking about what they’re watching too. “We want our children to know the one good story so well that when they see Luke Skywalker, Harry Potter, Frodo, Anne of Green Gables, Ariel, and Sleeping Beauty they can recognize the strands of truth and deception in them.” (Karalee Reinke, in Ep 27). “O Discerning Spirit, Who alone judges all things rightly, Now be present in my mind and active In my imagination as I prepare to engage With the claims and questions of diverse cultures Incarnated in the stories that people tell.” A Liturgy Before Consuming Media, Every Moment Holy by Douglas McKelvey Links Mentioned: Feeding the Mouth That Bites You by Kenneth Wilgus, PhD VidAngel Filtering Service Minno PureFlix Related Episodes: Family Movie Moms :: Amanda White [Ep 27] Annie, Into the Woods, & Night at the Museum 3 :: Family Movie Moms [Ep 53] Summer Movie Edition :: (Inside Out, Tomorrowland) :: Family Movie Moms [Ep 79] Mockingjay & Big Hero 6 :: Family Movie Moms [Ep 49] How to Train a Dragon 2 :: Family Movie Moms [Ep 31] Movie Discussion Guides Meet the Robinsons :: Family Movie Discussion Guide Big Hero 6 :: Family Movie Discussion Guide Family Movie Discussion Guide : “Cars” (Pride & Humility of Lightning McQueen) “The LEGO Movie” Family Discussion Guide Frozen :: Family Movie Discussion Guide Using God’s Story to Analyze Movies Dolphin Tale 2 :: Family Movie Discussion Guide (& Review) Featured Sponsors: Caraway - Visit Carawayhome.com/DMA to take advantage of this limited time offer for 10% off your next purchase. GladSkin - Gladskin is offering listeners 15% off plus free shipping on your first order at gladskin.com/DMA. Ladder - Go to LadderLife.com/dma today to see if you’re instantly approved.

What would it take for you to walk away from the most abundant time in your career? From a time that was not only full, but fun, rewarding, and productive? My guest this week, Christy Wright did just that - walked away from a season of immense abundance in her career, not because of difficult situations but simply because God called her out of it. She says this call was so clear she came to a point where she feared disobedience more than the uncertainty of leaving her career. She followed God into a new season of freedom and work. It's like God called Christy in for a meeting to talk about rebranding - not to change who He had created her to be, but to change her everyday look and her assignments. We've spent our summer talking through our unique "mom brands" and in our final week of Summer of Mentorship we're hitting on something that will happen to each of us as moms at one point or many - the need to rebrand. To leave behind what worked and was right for that specific time to embrace what God is saying is right for now. Ecclesiastes reminds us there is rhythm and seasons to life and we will walk through transitions in our work and home life. Christy encourages us to courageously cling to God's voice in those times and not let the fear of uncertainty keep us from the rebranding God is walking us through.. Discussion Questions: What stood out to you from the episode? What current roles help shape your days? Are you ok with you when you take away what you do? Or, how easily can you separate out who you are from what you do? Have you gone through a “rebranding” as a mom? Either because of change in circumstance or because your routines weren’t serving you, or for another reason. What was difficult about that time? What was beneficial in that transition? Spend the last 10 minutes of your group time in silence praying and listening and ask God, “Is there anything I need to be freed from?” Connect with Christy Wright: Website: https://www.christy-wright.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialChristyWright Instagram: @ChristyBWright Links Mentioned: Take Back Your Time : The Guilt-Free Guide to Life Balance by Christy Wright How to Stop Losing Your Sh*t with Your Kids: A Practical Guide to Becoming a Calmer, Happier Parent by Carla Naumburg, PhD Related Episodes: Manage Your Life With Guilt-Free Confidence :: Christy Wright [Ep 192] Featured Sponsors: Thrive Market. Join Thrive Market today and get $80 eighty dollars in free groceries! Go to ThriveMarket.com/DMA. Athletic Greens. Get a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. Visit athleticgreens.com/DMA. Indeed. Now with Indeed, businesses only pay for quality applications matching the sponsored job description. Visit Indeed.com/DMA to start hiring now.

Does your life look exactly like you want it to? All too often we come across what seems like the life that we want on someone else’s Instagram. You can dismiss those as the “highlight reels”, that is what they are, but sometimes the girl next door has what you want. What do you do then? How do you prep your kids for when they don’t get invited or when they feel like someone else has it better than them? My guest this week, Karen Ehman, says, “Go find your old self.” She’s not leading us on an existential journey into the past, but to those around us that need the love of Christ. She encourages us in a powerful way that when we are discouraged by someone who has it “better” than us to find someone who has it “worse” than us, not so we can feel good about something, but because there is a person who needs the love of Christ. We’re taking time this summer (as usual) to be mentored by some experienced moms and benefit from their wisdom. I’m asking them about their “mom brands” and the unique families and assignments God has given them to help us embrace the specific and unique spot God has given each of us. Discussion Questions: What stood out to you in this episode? Why? Who is your “old self”? What was a particularly difficult time God brought you through that you could use as a connection point to love someone else? When have you felt loved or seen by someone else in the midst of a difficult situation? Thinking about Karen’s mom and how hard she has to work as a single mom, where in your life are you having to work hard? Which of your God-given assignments is either physically, or mentally, or spiritually challenging? Spend some time praying for these situations with your group. When you think about loving others by inviting them into your life what limitations come to mind? Who is a necessary person you can love tangibly this month? Brainstorm ideas with your group about simple ways to show Christ’s love. Connect with Karen Ehman: Website: https://karenehman.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialKarenEhman Instagram: @karenehman YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLbA_nXZ6HAhLGUL6KNhzRw Links Mentioned: Make Their Day: 101 Simple, Powerful Ways to Love Others Well by Karen Ehman Related Episodes: Changing the World for One :: Tara Clapper [Ep 70] Ridiculous Faith :: Shelene Bryan [Ep 116] Featured Sponsors: StitchFix: Sign up today at Stitchfix.com/DMA to get $20 off your first purchase. HelloFresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/dma16 and use the code: dma16 for 16 free meals across 7 boxes AND 3 free gifts. Thrive Causemetics: You can get 15% off your first order when you visit thrivecausemetics.com/DMA.

Creating Family Culture :: Amber O’Neal Johnston [SOM Wk 4] You are creating a culture for your family, right now, whether or not you’re aware of it or intentional in it. Your words and actions reveal the functional values you have for your family. Is yours a culture of fun and laughter? Grace and second chances? Integrity and grit? It could be all of those and more, or something simpler - it is unique to your family! Whatever it is, if it isn’t intentionally cultivated it will be like a garden filled with weeds - growing, but haphazard. My guest this week is Amber O’Neal Johnston and one of the values that drives her family’s culture is that her kids would know they are seen and valued at home and in the world. And that other people are just as valuable too. This, along with other values, drives the decisions they make about how they interact with the world around them, right down to the restaurants they eat at. She challenges us to not only cultivate a family culture, but to grow as moms and people along the way. Her book, A Place to Belong: Celebrating Diversity and Kinship in the Home and Beyond is available now. We’re taking time this summer (as usual) to be mentored by some experienced moms and benefit from their wisdom. I’m asking them about their “mom brands” and the unique families and assignments God has given them to help us embrace the specific and unique spot God has given each of us. Discussion Questions: What stood out to you from this episode? What practices or resources have you used to expose your kids to other cultures? Where has God called you to speak out in love when you’d prefer to remain silent? Spend time praying with your group for these circumstances. What is one value that you want to emphasize in your home? Amber shared that she had to release her need to impress other moms in order for her kids to flourish - what expectation or ideal do you need to let go of so that your kids can flourish? How would being secure and confident in your family culture change your relationships with other moms or families? Connect with Amber Johnston: Website: https://heritagemom.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeritageMomBlog Instagram: @heritagemomblog Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/HeritageMomBlog/_created/ Links Mentioned: A Place to Belong: Celebrating Diversity and Kinship in the Home and Beyond by Amber O’Neal Johnston Things To Do List from the Heritage Mom Website Related Episodes: Finding Yourself in Motherhood :: Amber O’Neal Johnston [Ep 310] Featured Sponsors: Athena Club. Get 20% off your first order at AthenaClub.com with promo code DMA. Rothy’s. Your new favorite shoes are waiting. Fet $20 off your first purchase at rothys.com/DMA. Fabric. Protect your family with term life insurance now, in just 10 minutes. Apply today at MeetFabric.com/DMA.

“I don't have time for the things that God has not called me to.” My guest this week, Shontell Brewer, wisely speaks those words. She is a wife and mom of 5. She’s written a book on parenting and still things haven’t always gone the way she’s planned or wanted. But she has learned where to lean in and wait on the Lord. She’s learned that to be intentional as a mom or wife or teacher she’s got to cut out the “keeping up” with others, whether on social media or the mom down the street. And she’s learned that God hasn’t finished writing the story. Even if she can’t see to the end of all God’s workings in her kid’s lives, knowing His word and taking time to commune with Him have given her a firm foundation to stand on. We’re taking time this summer (as usual) to be mentored by some experienced moms and benefit from their wisdom. I’m asking them about their “mom brands” and the unique families and assignments God has given them to help us embrace the specific and unique spot God has given each of us. Discussion Questions: What stood out to you from the episode? Shontell encourages us to get on the same level as the person across from us to grow intentionality in our relationships - be it a spouse or child or friend. What relationship in your life needs this sort of attention? How can you meet that person right where they are? How has God gifted you? Do you know? Have you thought through what you want for your children, or what the goal of your parenting is? Keeping the tiny humans alive is big work, so no shame at all if you haven’t! If we’re working towards intentionality as moms, thinking through this question can help us cut activities or practices we don’t need and to make space for ones we do. How do you measure your success as a parent? What situation or circumstance would benefit from you processing with God before processing with a friend? Set aside time to do that this week. Connect with Shontell Brewer: Website: http://shontellbrewer.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shontell.brewer Instagram: @shontellbrewer Twitter: @shontellbrewer Links Mentioned: Missionary Mom: Embracing the Mission Field Right Under Your Roof By Shontell Brewer Cru’s Spiritual Gifts Assessment More info on Spiritual Gifts Related Episodes: Parenting Small :: Shontell Brewer [Ep 140] Featured Sponsors: Hello Fresh. Get up to 16 free meals and 3 free gifts at HelloFresh.com/DMA16 Caraway Home. Non-Toxic cookware made modern. Visit Carawayhome.com/DMA to take advantage of a limited-time offer for 10% off your next purchase. Gladskin. Visit gladskin.com/DMA and get 15% off plus free shipping on your first order.

Childhood should be carefree, right? We hope that our kids make it to adulthood with as few scars as possible, but that isn’t the nature of the world we live in. What happens when our kids encounter grief? What happens when we aren’t able to give them the childhood we wanted them to have? This week I talk with Lisa Appelo, widow and mom of seven, who found herself in that spot - grieving the life she wanted for herself and her children, and then having to navigate the shift in every relationship that comes through change or grief. What she has found in the last 11+ years has been the presence of God for her and her kids. The rhythm of their regular bible study was a lifeline and she offers us great encouragement of God’s nearness and direct involvement in our lives. Read more of their story in Lisa’s new book Life can be Good Again: Putting Your World Back Together After it All Falls Apart. We’re taking time this summer (as usual) to be mentored by some experienced moms and benefit from their wisdom. I’m asking them about their “mom brands” and the unique families and assignments God has given them to help us embrace the specific and unique spot God has given each of us. Discussion Questions: What stood out to you in the episode? What does family bible reading look like in your home? What is one change you could make to your routine to incorporate some kind of bible reading? Think small! Remember that Lisa says it’s a fight to make that space but totally worth it. Where can you give your kids the freedom to choose, allowing the Lord to work in them independent of your direct guidance? You can think small here too! Where might you need to step back in your child’s life to preserve your relationship with them? What relationships have shifted because of loss or change, big or small? Spend time praying with and for one another over these relationships and God’s good plan for them. (This could feel like an insurmountable question for someone in your group - approach it with empathy and care!) Connect with Lisa Appelo: Website: https://lisaappelo.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisaappeloauthor Instagram: @lisaappelo Twitter: @AppeloLisa Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/LisaAppelo/_created/ Links Mentioned: Life Can be Good Again: Putting Your World Back Together After it All Falls Apart by Lisa Appelo Hinds’ Feet on High Places: An Engaging Visual Journey by Hannah Hurnard Hinds’ Feet on High Places: Children’s Edition by Hannah Hurnard Write the Word Journal for Kids Love God Greatly SOAP Journal One Year Devotional for Boys 2 Related Episodes: How to Fight Fear & Believe in a Faithful God :: Lisa Appelo [Ep 84] Featured Sponsors: Athletic Greens. Reclaim your health and arm your immune system with convenient, daily nutrition! Get a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase at athleticgreens.com/DMA. Stitch Fix. Sign up today at StitchFix.com/DMA to get $20 off your first purchase. Indeed. Need a hire? You need Indeed. Now with Indeed, businesses only pay for quality applications matching the sponsored job description. Visit Indeed.com/DMA to start hiring now.

“Don’t care how, I want it now!” When we watch Veruca Salt sing those words in Willy Wonka we are immediately repulsed. And yet, lots of our time and energy is spent trying to unlock the secrets to a quick change of our circumstance. This week, mom of seven Helen Smallbone, encourages us that following Christ and parenting alike are long games. Marathons, in fact. She has honesty and wisdom to offer as we strive to grow and maintain relationships with our kids that last into adulthood. She also encourages us with some practical ways to foster relationships between our kids, to get them working, and retain our own sanity. We’re taking time this summer (as usual) to be mentored by some experienced moms and benefit from their wisdom. This year I'm recording new interviews and I’m asking guests about their “mom brands”. They share their values, unique assignments God has given them and what helps their family flourish. The goal is to help you define your "mom brand" and the places God is assigning you. Discussion Questions: What stood out to you from the episode? Do you take a “mum’s time out” during the day? Why or why not? What would change about your day if you did? How do you balance connection with your kids while maintaining the boundaries of a parent-child relationship? How do you typically handle sibling conflict? Which of Helen’s tactics could you adapt to use in your own home? How do you maintain or reestablish connection with your child after an argument/difficult exchange? What’s your favorite way to help kids get their energy out? If another mom shares one that might work at your house, write it down! Helen reminded us that motherhood is not for the faint of heart - what aspect of motherhood has got you feeling fainthearted? Spend some time praying for one another about those specific areas. Connect with Helen Smallbone: Website: https://www.mumlife.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helenjsmallbone/ Instagram: @MumLifeCommunity Podcast: MUM Life Community Links Mentioned: Behind the Lights: The Extraordinary Adventure of a Mum and Her Family by Helen Smallbone PAST EPISODE: Gentle Christ-Centered Parenting {Ep 363} Related Episodes: Raising Rock Stars on a Firm Foundation :: Helen Smallbone [Ep 166] Summer of Mentorship 2019 Week Four :: Helen Smallbone Featured Sponsors: Thrive. Join Thrive Market today and get $80 in free groceries! Visit ThriveMarket.com/DMA. Peloton. The Peloton Bike+ is now $500 less, its best price yet! Including FREE delivery and setup. Visit onepeloton.com to learn more. Fabric. Protect your family with term life insurance now, in just 10 minutes. Apply today at MeetFabric.com/DMA to start protecting your family today.

Tragedy struck and Paulette Franklin could have given up hope. Instead, she used it as a chance to “bring together the village of hope and help” from her extended family, namely her aunts, who lived both near and far. They rallied around Paulette and her boys through presence and connection. Make no mistake, single parenting was still hard work, but by clinging to her faith in God and the village around her, she and her boys thrived. Though this bond with extended family was knitted together well before Paulette’s husband passed away, she had to let them in, she had to let them help. For Paulette’s middle son, DeVon, and his brothers, their aunts’ houses became places of refuge and connection that they still rely on to this day. DeVon and his aunts tell their compelling and encouraging story in his audiobook, It Takes a Woman, available now on Audible. Through the audiobook all of our villages are enlarged, all of their wisdom can be ours. Connect with DeVon and Paulette Franklin: Website: https://devonfranklin.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeVonFranklinOfficial Instagram: @DeVonFranklin Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKqTVGX0BZGQ5xPX98ibb4g Twitter: @DeVonFranklin Links Mentioned: It Takes a Woman audiobook by DeVon Franklin Heather’s Interview with Jennifer Garner and Christy Beam (start at 32:20 mark) Related Episodes: Be Vulnerable, Find Your People :: Jennie Allen [Ep 354] Mom, You are Important, but Not Essential, That’s Good News :: Brittany J. Turner [Ep 361] Truth for When You Feel Like a Bad Mom :: Jamie Ivey [Ep 339] Featured Sponsors: Athena Club–Get 20% off your first order at AthenaClub.com with promo code dma. Rothy’s–Your new favorite shoes are waiting. Discover the versatile styles you can wear absolutely anywhere and get $20 off your first purchase at rothys.com/DMA. Ladder– So go to LadderLife.com/dma today to see if you’re instantly approved.

Over 20% of Gen Z identifies as LGBTQ+. That’s roughly 1 in 4 of today’s teen and young adult populations. There is a lot of confusion around gender and sexuality in our Christian culture today - how do we love others well that have different belief systems and different language around gender and sexuality? How do we parent our children in a way that honors our faith and what we believe to be true? What do we do with the Church’s reputation of hate towards LGBTQ people we inherited? With even the staunchest of liberals asking questions around the sharp rise in people identifying as LGBTQ our grace and truth filled responses are more important than ever. This week’s guest, Dr. Preston Sprinkle, is the co-founder and president of The Center for Faith, Gender, and Sexuality and has written several books guiding Christians through these areas including Embodied: Transgender Identities, the Church + What the Bible has to Say and People to be Loved. Connect with Preston Sprinkle: Website: https://www.prestonsprinkle.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrestonMSprinkle?fref=ts Instagram: @preston.sprinkle Twitter: @PrestonSprinkle Podcast: Theology in the Raw Links Mentioned: Bill Maher on Real Time with Bill Maher: New Rule: Along for the Pride May 20, 2022: Mark Esper, Donna Brazile, Adam Carolla (Full Episode) Clip that was discussed: New Rule: Along for the Pride The Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender The Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender course on Parenting LGBTQ Kids Related Episodes: Preparing Now for Future Puberty and Masturbation Questions :: Megan Michelson and Mary Flo Ridley [Ep 243] Let’s Talk About Sex :: Mary Flo Ridley and Megan Michelson [Ep 328] Sexual Identity and Radical Ordinary Hospitality :: Rosaria Butterfield [Ep 301] Gay Girl, Good God :: Jackie Hill Perry [Ep 214] When to Have “The Talk” :: Mary Flo Ridley [Encore] Birds and Bees (Continuing the Conversation) :: Mary Flo Ridley and Megan Michelson [Ep 153] Featured Sponsors: HelloFresh. Go to HelloFresh.com/dma16 and use code dma16 for up to 16 free meals AND 3 free gifts! Pair Eye Wear. Get glasses as unique as you are. Go to paireyewear.com/DMA for 15% off your first purchase. Stitch Fix. Sign up today at StitchFix.com/DMA to get $20 off your first purchase.

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 is a very familiar verse, but do you take it as a life-giving exhortation or do you shove it into the mental closet of “shoulds”? The rest of Psalm 119 tells us the person who loves God’s word enough to hide it in their heart finds peace, wisdom, delight, comfort, blessing, shameless life, reminders of the Lord’s nearness, and promises that will endure forever - just to name a few! So why don’t we memorize scripture? What if you had a system that was simple and beautiful and easy enough for the whole family to practice together? This week’s guest, Natalie Abbott, is a mom of five who knows firsthand of the wonderful things the rest of Psalm 119 promises the person who hides God’s word in their heart. She and her sister, Vera, created Dwell Differently, a system of temporary tattoos and devotional cards all beautifully designed for simple memorization of and meditation on one verse a month. It gives individuals, families or friend groups a chance to sow one verse into every aspect of their lives and then reap the peace and wisdom that comes from nearness to God. Connect with Natalie Abbott: Website: https://dwelldifferently.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dwelldifferently/ Instagram: @dwelldifferently Podcast: https://dwelldifferently.com/pages/dwell-podcast-2 Links Mentioned: Dwell Differently. Visit www.dwelldifferently.com to get the first month free of a FAMILY membership ($12 value) use the code: DMA Related Episodes: Praying the Scriptures :: Jodie Berndt [Ep 194] Equipping Your Kids for Difficulty :: Kim Sorgius [Ep 356] Must Have Conversations :: Vicki Courtney [Ep 239] Gospel-Focused Conversations :: Joel Fitzpatrick [Ep 251] Featured Sponsors: Caraway. Visit Carawayhome.com/DMA for 10% off your next purchase. Stitch Fix. Get 25% off when you keep everything in your Kid’s Fix. StitchFix.com/DMA Fabric. Protect your family with term life insurance now, in just 10 minutes. Apply today at MeetFabric.com/DMA

Our sons are constantly receiving messages about how to handle their emotions - from us as moms and dads, or from other men in their lives and from our culture as well. All too often that message has been “Be strong, emotion other than anger only shows weakness” and this to their detriment. Anxiety and depression are rapidly on the rise and our boys are not immune. We need our boys to grow into men who are strong of character and a beautiful, if undervalued, aspect of that is helping them learn how to name and process their emotions. This can be difficult to do as a grown up - imagine how your child experiences this and the training they need! Counselor and author David Thomas works regularly with boys and their families to help them put his three R’s of emotional processing into practice - recognize, regulate, and repair. Listen as he walks us through the importance of these practices and how they can set our sons up for lifelong emotional health. His new book, Raising Emotionally Strong Boys: Tools You Son Can Build On for Life, and companion study guide for boys, Strong and Smart: A Boy’s Guide to Building Healthy Emotions release June 14th Connect with David Thomas: Website: https://www.raisingboysandgirls.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raisingboysandgirls Instagram: @raisingboysandgirls Podcast: Raising Boys and Girls Podcast Links Mentioned: Emotions Chart Raising Emotionally Strong Boys: Tools Your Son Can Build On for Life by David Thomas Strong and Smart: A Boy’s Guide to Building Healthy Emotions by David Thomas Related Episodes: Understanding Boys Better :: David Thomas [Ep 315] Bruce Learns to Label His Feelings :: Bruce & Heather [Ep 316] Emotional Milestones :: Sissy Goff & David Thomas [Ep 160] The Art of Nurturing Boys :: David Thomas [Ep 119] Getting Brave About Anxiety :: Sissy Goff [Ep 311] Featured Sponsors: Thrive. Join Thrive Market today to get 40% off your first order AND a FREE gift worth over fifty dollars! Visit ThriveMarket.com/DMA. Peloton. The Peloton Bike+ is now $500 less, its best price yet! Including FREE delivery and setup. Visit onepeloton.com to learn more. Storyworth. Save $10 on your first purchase at StoryWorth.com/DMA.

Mommy Wars. They may have started out as “working mom” v. “stay at home mom” but it has morphed (or devolved) into something much bigger. While, in the eyes of our culture, “you do you” might have freed us to make different choices than another mom, has it drawn us together and given us the support we need? Parenting is so difficult and Ecclesiastes reminds us that toiling away alone is tantamount to trying to catch smoke. What we need instead are co-laborers. We need other moms to come alongside us, not because we agree on everything, but because we have a common goal - the flourishing of the next generation. We need to come alongside other moms because when we pit ourselves against one another due to differences in parenting styles, we cut off our nose to spite our collective face. Join Heather this week as she challenges us to look introspectively and grow in conflict resolution in light of Ecclesiastes 4. Links Mentioned: Resolving Sibling Conflict :: Jim and Lynne Jackson [Ep 126] Bruce Learns to Label His Feelings :: Bruce and Heather [Ep 316] How to Help a Friend Process Life :: Heather and Stephanie [Ep 359] Fighting Shame through Community :: Dr Curt Thompson [Ep 308] Featured Sponsors: Ladder Financial. Go to LadderLife.com/dma to see if you’re instantly approved. Athena Club. Get the best shave of your life with the Athena Club Razor Kit. Get 20% off your first order at AthenaClub.com. Use promo code DMA. Rothy’s. Discover the versatile styles you can wear absolutely anywhere and get $20 off your first purchase at rothys.com/DMA.

God ordains the time and space we inhabit - sometimes that’s one home for decades, sometimes it’s 12 homes in 6 years and instant homelessness at age 18. It was the latter for Tori Petersen and for so many other children in the foster care system. Tori has accomplished a lot since then - 5 time State Champion in track and field, a book releasing August 30th, and even a Mrs. Universe 2022 title. But if you asked her how she got here, she would say it was because someone loved and served the “least of these.” (Matthew 25:40) She was the least of these. She experienced extreme difficulty while in foster care, but looking back she sees God’s fatherly hand guiding her all along the way, loving her through the words and actions of her track coach, and now working through her and her husband to others as they model loving and serving the “least of these” for their own kids. Tori tells her compelling story in her new book, Fostered: One Woman’s Powerful Story of Finding Faith and Family Through Foster Care, which releases August 30, 2022. Connect with Tori Petersen: Website: https://www.torihopepetersen.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/torihopepetersen Instagram: @torihopepetersen Links Mentioned: Fostered: One Woman’s Powerful Story of Finding Faith and Family Through Foster Care by Tori Hope Petersen Pre-sale link Related Episodes: Foster Care Story of Hope :: Victoria Petersen [Ep 263] How to Discern God’s Will and Stick With It :: Tricia Goyer [Ep 179] Adopting Special Needs :: Alice & Candace [Ep 213] Family Transformation Starts With Personal Revival :: KJ Perdomo [Ep 227] Overwhelmed Beyond Your Strength :: Jackie Askvig [Ep 313] Featured Sponsors: StitchFix Kids. Grab 25% off your Kid’s Fix when you keep everything at StitchFix.com/DMA Hello Fresh. Get up to 16 free meals and 3 free gifts at HelloFresh.com/dma16 Caraway Home. Take 10% off your next purchase at VisitCarawayhome.com/DMA

The kitchen. It can be a place of glorious delight or it can be a place of burnt despair. Whether it’s mostly delight or mostly disaster for you, it’s often a place of frustration. Everyone is hungry and needs something all the time or everyone is refusing to eat; there isn’t enough space or you feel like a pinball trying to get people what they need. Enter Kendra Adachi, aka The Lazy Genius. She’s here to help you be a genius at what matters and lazy about what doesn’t and she’s at it again, this time in the kitchen. She gives you permission, she helps you analyze and streamline, but most importantly she’s offering you a middle ground - the space between perfection and hot-mess, where you can love your people well with those important moments at the table but not be overwhelmed with how to get there. (Spoiler alert: we can apply these principles to the rest of our lives too!) Kendra is a wife, mom, and author. Her latest book, The Lazy Genius Kitchen: Have What You Need, Use What You Have, and Enjoy it Like Never Before releases May 3, 2022. Connect with Kendra Adachi: Website: https://www.thelazygeniuscollective.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelazygeniuscollective Instagram: @thelazygenius Podcast: The Lazy Genius Podcast Links Mentioned: The Lazy Genius Kitchen: Have What You Need, Use What You Have, and Enjoy it Like Never Before The Hub of all Lazy Genius Information - https://www.thelazygeniuscollective.com/ Related Episodes: Choose What Matters to You :: Kendra Adachi [Ep 293] Which Type of Rest Do You Need :: Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith [Ep 209] Owning Your Motherhood :: Erin Moon & Courtney Cleveland [Ep 325] Featured Sponsors: Ana Luisa. Make Mom's Day and treat her to new jewelry pieces with Ana Luisa's Buy One, Get One 40% OFF sale! One piece for her, and one piece for you at shop.analuisa.com/alone. Pair Eyewear. Go to paireyewear.com/DMA for 15% off your first purchase. Caraway Home. Take 10% off your next purchase at VisitCarawayhome.com/DMA

Do you remember commercial breaks? They were built-in pauses, breaks from the drama or sitcom. With DVR’s or streaming services we can easily skip or minimize the pauses. But what if “pause” is what your everyday really needs? Not a week-long, pick your favorite vacation spot pause, but a quick moment to stop and say, “God, where are you leading? What are you saying?” or “Help me today because I don’t have what it takes to make it through the day.” Kirsten Watson is a busy woman - a wife, a mom to seven, an author and podcast host - but all those responsibilities only lead her to pause more. Whether it’s in the moments just after her alarm goes off, or in the middle of after-school stories, she challenges us to slow down and first ask God for the help we need, and then to see where he is at work. She encourages us to practice discernment for what is most helpful in our kids’ sanctification - either stepping in or stepping back. She invites us to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit available to us if we will only ask. Kirsten’s book, Sis, Take a Breath: Encouragement for the Woman Who’s Trying to Live and Love Well (but Secretly Just Wants to Take a Nap), releases May 3, 2022. Connect with Kirsten Watson: Website: https://thewatsonseven.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kirstenwatsonofficial Instagram: @_kirstenwatson_ Podcast: Why or Why Not with the Watsons Links Mentioned: Sis, Take a Breath: Encouragement For the Woman Who’s Trying to Live and Love Well (but Secretly Just Wants to take a Nap) by Kirsten Watson Related Episodes: Talk to Your Kids About Race :: Kirsten Watson [Ep 314] Wild and Free :: Hayley Morgan [Ep 118] Breathe…{replacing “me” with “He”series} Blogpost Featured Sponsors: Ana Luisa. Make Mom's Day and treat her to new jewelry pieces with Ana Luisa's Buy One, Get One 40% OFF sale! One piece for her, and one piece for you at shop.analuisa.com/alone. StitchFix. Sign up today at StitchFix.com/DMA and get $20 off your first purchase. StoryWorth. Save $10 on your first purchase for a limited time at StoryWorth.com/DMA.

“Peaceful” and “parenting” aren’t words we usually put together. Think about the parenting moments that stick out to you from the last week – was there anything peaceful about them? What if there could be? What would it change for you if parenting didn’t feel like moving from one fight to another? My guests this week, Dr David and Amanda Erickson of Flourishing Homes and Families, encourage us that it IS possible. Peace and grace can be meaningful parts of your parenting – not only for your kids, but for you. The gospel always brings freedom. Gentle Christ-Centered Parenting will not only change the dynamic of your house, but it will set your kids up for success in the hardest parts of life – responding with grace when someone hurts them, learning to hold boundaries and communicate their needs in a way that still respects the dignity and honor of the person who hurts them or crosses those boundaries and how to collaboratively problem solve. Ultimately, there is no better place for them to see reliance on the Holy Spirit’s work in life than through us fighting against sin by his power in our own lives. David and Amanda have fostered children and are raising two biological kids. They too have had to work against the patterns of their own childhoods to transform their parenting. Connect with David and Amanda Erickson: Website: https://flourishinghomesandfamilies.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flourishinghomesandfamilies Instagram: @flourishinghomesandfamilies TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@flourishinghomesfamilies Links Mentioned: Instagram Stories on “the rod” verses Good and Angry: Exchanging Frustration for Character in You and Your Kids! By Scott Turanksy and Joanne Miller Related Episodes: Connected Relationships (LIVE Event) :: Jim & Lynne Jackson [Ep222] How to Avoid Power Struggles :: Stacy Bellward & Chad Hyenga [Ep 292] Grace According to Our Needs :: Beth Moore [Ep 270] The Mom Game Changer :: Kat Lee [Ep 41] Featured Sponsors: Caraway–Visit carawayhomore.com/DMA to get 10% off your next purchase. Nontoxic cookware made modern. Hello Fresh-Go to HelloFresh.com/dma16 for up to 16 free meals and 3 free gifts. Peloton-Visit onepeloton.com to learn more.

We all walk through seasons of transition, whether we leave something behind by choice or it was chosen for us. Life after a disruptive event or during life transitions can feel like “starting over” just as much as a move clear across the country. You may be asking the question, “who am I here?” even in familiar places and routines. Author Shauna Niequist encourages us in what to hold on to and what to let go of, through seasons of loss. She equips us with three tools for the journey - curiosity, self-compassion, and courage. We discuss how prayer can tenderize an angry heart, and Shauna shares how hanging on to writing and hospitality, even when they felt like impossible disciplines, helped her journey forward through grief and change. Shauna Niequist is a wife, mom, and author to numerous books including, Present Over Perfect, Cold Tangerines, and Bread and Wine. Her new book, I Guess I Haven’t Learned that Yet, releases on April 12, 2022 Connect with Shauna Niequist: Website: https://www.shaunaniequist.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sniequist Instagram: @sniequist Twitter: @sniequist Links Mentioned: I Guess I Haven’t Learnd that Yet by Shauna Niequist Related Episodes: Soulful over Frantic :: Shauna Niequist [Ep 127] How to Get Real and Savor More :: Shauna Niequist [Ep 65] When Moms Walk Through Grief :: Stacey Thacker [Ep 76] Quiet Your Inner Critic and Practice Self-Compassion :: Kim Frederickson [Ep 188] Recovering from Mom Burnout :: Nicole Zasowski [Ep 357] Featured Sponsors: Rothy’s. Step up your shoes and accessories this Spring and get $20 off your first purchase at rothys.com/DMA. The Biggest Story Bible Storybook by Crossway and Kevin DeYoung. Pick up a copy wherever books are sold or visit crossway.org/plus to find out how to save 30%. Athena Club. Show your skin you care with the Athena Club Razor Kit! Get 20% off your first order at AthlenaClub.com with promo code DMA.

As moms we do carry a big burden – we have a God-give responsibility to love and care for our children, but how often do you feel crushed under that burden? It’s hard to do all the tasks to take care of everyone – especially if you’re measuring yourself by how many meltdowns (your kids or yours) did or didn’t happen this week. What if that responsibility came with the freedom to not hold it all together? What if there were someone more loving and more powerful than you to shape all the details of life for the good of everyone involved? This week, Brittany Turner encourages us that the same God we trust to take all the hard in our lives and turn it into good is God for our kids too! We can rest in his capabilities and invite others into our lives to help carry the load. You do not have to mom alone! Brittany Turner is a wife, mom of four, speaker, and writer who loves to help people take what they say they believe and put it into practice in their everyday lives. Connect with Brittany Turner: Website: https://brittanyjturner.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iambrittanyjturner Instagram: @iambrittanyjturner YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPGJooyyxRuC4iM5Th1tC8w?view_as=subscriber Links Mentioned: Mary Van Geffen–Parent Coach for Spicy Ones Body Awareness in Parenting :: Mary Van Geffen [Ep 333] NYTimes Article “Harsh Realm of Gentle Parenting” Related Episodes: Postpartum Depression :: Brittany Turner [Ep 277] Sunday Planning :: Retha Nichole [Ep 349] Encouraging the Exhausted Mom :: Summer of Mentorship Week 5 When You Carry the Burden of Perfection :: Aubrie Norman [Ep 284] Featured Sponsors: Stitch Fix Get started today by filling out your FREE style quiz and advantage of free shipping and returns. StichFix.com/DMA The Biggest Story Bible Storybook by Crossway and Kevin DeYoung. Pick up a copy wherever books are sold or visit crossway.org/plus to find out how to save 30%. Simply Be Box Use Code DMASpring10 to receive $10 off Your Subscription or Spring Box Purchase at SimplyBeBox.com

Does keeping your kids safe on the internet ever feel like a game of Whack-a-mole - frenzied and unending, always trying to fend off the threats that pop up? Or maybe you’ve been afraid your kids would be or feel left out if you had more limits on their screens? You’ve seen the documentaries and the research of how addictive social media can be and the average age in which kids are exposed to pornography keeps going down and yet, we know on some level what we forbid our kids to do has the potential to become the only thing they want. Families around you probably have a wide range of tech norms in their households. Kids relentlessly request screen time. Honestly, sometimes we long for the quiet of a kid mesmerized by a screen. What’s a mom to do? Enter this week’s guest, Chris McKenna, dad of four and founder of Protect Young Eyes, an organization devoted to helping parents create safe digital spaces for their kids. Chris encourages us that while there are real things our kids need protecting from on the internet, there are real ways we can foster digital trust and create safe digital spaces for our kids. Chris helps us understand that rather than a controller, our kids want a coach - someone to teach them how to use technology in ways that honor God, themselves, and others. Connect with Chris McKenna & Protect Young Eyes: Website: https://protectyoungeyes.com/ Twitter @protecteyes Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/protectyoungeyes/ Instagram: @Protect Young Eyes Protect Young Eyes App - iPhone Protect Young Eyes App - Android Links Mentioned: Birds and Bees - Mary Flo Ridley - tools for talking to your kids about sex Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr. by Kristen A. Jenson https://www.amazon.com/Good-Pictures-Bad-Jr-Protect/dp/0997318724 Protect Young Eyes TheUltimate Guide to Understanding Routers blog post Gryphon Router Digital Trust Download Related Episodes: Let’s Talk about Sex :: Mary Flo Ridley and Megan Michelson [Ep 328] Porn-Proofing Our Kids :: Kristen Jenson [Ep 256] Parenting in the Digital Age :: Ashley Januszewski [Ep 207] Time & Space for Flourishing :: Andy Crouch [Ep 208] The Screen Struggle is Real :: Arlene Pellicane [Ep 331] Featured Sponsors: Thrive Market. Join today to get 40% off your first order AND a FREE gift worth over $50! Join at ThriveMarket.com/DMA StitchFix. Get started today by filling out your free style quiz at StitchFitx.com/DMA and take advantage of free shipping and returns. The Biggest Story Bible Storybook by Crossway and Kevin DeYoung. Pick up a copy wherever books are sold or visit crossway.org/plus to find out how to save 30%.

How do you respond when a difficult situation comes your way? One that feels out of the blue, or that doesn’t have a clear solution, or all the solutions you’ve tried haven’t worked? In this birthday episode (Happy Birthday Heather!) join Heather and DMA team member, Stephanie Snow, as they talk through what it looks like to process through all those thoughts that circle around our brains as we deal with the difficult stuff of life. We talk about not only how to sort out your own thoughts, but how to come alongside friends, family, and even your children to listen well and ask good questions. Links Mentioned: Relational Needs Card–Townsend Institute Related Episodes: Bruce Learns to Label His Feelings [Ep 316] Recovery for Life :: Lynn Hoffman [Ep 129] Featured Sponsors: Caraway Home. Get 10% off this great line of non-toxic cookware made modern at CarawayHome.com/DMA. Use DMA at checkout for 10% off. HelloFresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/dma16 use the code: dma16 to get 16 free meals AND a free gift. Stitch Fix– Receive 25% off when you keep everything in your Kids Fix at www.stitchfix.com/DMA

Have you ever wished for a fairy godmother? Someone to wave a wand and make your troubles disappear? The next best thing just might be a real godmother - a woman to see you in your distress and to offer help and encouragement. What’s hard for you in this season of motherhood? Your reactions to your kids? Seeing how your kids react to one another? Maybe you need to break free from life centering around your kids. In this mentoring episode we take a proverbial walk with author and speaker Lisa Bevere through anger, growth, idolatry, guilt and hope in the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and sibling rivalry. Her most recent book, Godmothers: Why You Need One. How to Be One encourages women to live with and for one another and to ask for help from those who have gone before you - which she graciously does with us in this episode! Lisa and her husband John raised four boys and she has written numerous books on womanhood, identity, anger, and much more. Connect with Lisa Bevere: Website: https://lisabevere.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisabevere.page Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisabevere/ Links Mentioned: Godmothers: Why You Need One. How to Be One by Lisa Bevere Related Episodes: Focus on Growth vs Guilt :: Lisa Bevere [Ep 291] Centering Truth :: Lisa Bevere [Ep 204] Anger Management, Hollywood, & Sacrificial Faith :: Amber Lia [Ep 75] Featured Sponsors: Rothy’s. Step up your shoes and accessories this spring and get $20 off your first purchase at rothys.com/DMA. Prose is the healthy hair regimen with your name all over it. Go to Prose.com/DMA for your FREE in-depth hair consultation and 15% off. Athena Club Razor Kit! Show your skin you care, sign up today and you’ll get 20% off your first order at AthenaClub.com and use promo code dma for 20% off.

Every mom will experience burnout. It’s as simple as our energy output exceeds our energy input, but it can be debilitating and discouraging. You may wish for a vacation, or spa day or even just 15 minutes of silence, but what if those typical self-care strategies are out of your reach? Where can you find rest when it seems like your circumstances just don’t allow for any? “You may find that if someone pours water all over you, you are damp and distracted, but not cured of your sadness, the way a fire department can douse a fire but never recover what has been burnt down.” —Lemony Snicket, The Bad Beginning This week we talk with Nicole Zasowski, a mom of three, therapist, and author of the new book, What if it’s Wonderful? Through her own life journey that has included deep sorrow and deep joy, Nicole encourages us to fight burnout with regular rhythms of celebration. No, not another party for you to plan, she’s not looking to douse water on burned-out you, but to help you recover joy that has been lost. She gives you an invitation to look at the good God is doing all around you, in every season. Connect with Nicole Zasowski: Website: https://www.nicolezasowski.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolezasowskiwriter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolezasowski/ Links Mentioned: Pre-Order What if it’s Wonderful? Related Episodes: The Gift of Celebrating Biblical Feasts :: Amber Lee [Ep 217] Not Alone in Overwhelm :: Kay Wyma Sunday Planning :: Retha Nichole [Ep 349] Featured Sponsors: Stitch Fix– Receive 25% off when you keep everything in your Kids Fix at www.stitchfix.com/DMA Thrive Causemetics–Get 15% off your first order when you visit www.thrivecausemetics.com/DMA Indeed– Receive a $75 credit to upgrade your job post at www.indeed.com/DMA

What happens when you’ve had a Proverbs life - following the rules and making the right choices - but then you wake up to find yourself living in Ecclesiastes where life is painful and doesn’t quite make sense? It’s easy for us to think we can do and achieve - that if we just get the right formula we’ll unlock an easy life replete with God’s blessings and perfect family photos. Through her own story of God’s provision through heartache and uncertain circumstances, Kim Sorgius encourages us to lean in and really know the Lord in difficult times. Not just to know about him, not to search his word for what the plan is, but to search it for Him. She wants our paradigm to shift and for us to embrace that “the beauty of life isn’t found in perfect circumstances…[but] in faith.” Kim has a deep desire for us to both experience and pass that sturdy faith onto our children. Born from the difficulty (and faithfulness) of single motherhood is her blog and online store, Not Consumed, where she has created Bible studies and products to help you engage the scripture with your kids. Join us to hear Kim’s incredible story and to be encouraged as you work to share your faith in meaningful ways. Connect with Kim Sorgius: Website: https://smart.bio/notconsumed/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notconsumed Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notconsumed/ Links Mentioned: Free Bible Study Creating a Life Giving Family Culture Trusting God by Jerry Bridges Related Episodes: Giving Kids a Firm Foundation :: Troy Simons [Ep 278] Build Lasting Faith in Your Kids :: Dr. Kara Powell [Ep290] Gospel-Focused Conversations :: Joel Fitzpatrick [Ep 251] Faith for the Unexpected :: Christine Caine [Ep 202] Featured Sponsors: Thrive Market– Join today to get 40% off your first order AND a FREE gift worth over $50. Go to ThriveMarket.com/DMA. Framebridge–Get started today –frame your photos or send someone the perfect gift. Go to Framebridge.com/DMA and use the promo code: DMA to save an additional 15% off your first order. Stamps.com–Stop overpaying for shipping with Stamps.com. Sign up with promo code: DMA for a special offer that includes a 4-week trial, free postage AND a digital scale. No long-term commitments or contracts.

Think of 9 women you know. Statistics says that 1 of those women was sexually abused as a child. This week, Angel Ricchuiti bravely tells us her story of sexual abuse within the church. She gives us hope that God heals, restores and is near to us through the body of Christ and skilled professionals. You will hear practical ways to listen well and come alongside a friend who suffered trauma as you are graciously invited into her story. And, you will be encouraged to think about the process of uprooting fears and walking in freedom caused by hurts. Be informed and empowered toward empathy and compassion whether trauma or abuse is a part of your story or not. Angel is a wife, mother of four, as well as a trained counselor. WARNING: This episode contains references to child sexual abuse within the church. We know Angel’s story may be especially hard for some, as it may stir up very real feelings. Please be encouraged, Angel’s story is full of hope and healing, too. While this episode might not be good for little ears, it is a story that will equip you and help you walk in more freedom. Connect with Angel Ricchuiti: Website: https://angelricchuiti.blogspot.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angel.ricchuiti Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelricchuiti/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/angelricchuiti Links Mentioned: ADDITIONAL RESOURCES BELOW Tim Ricchuiti’s TikTok:@polymathematic Related Episodes: Ep 260 The Window of Tolerance:: Charissa Fry Summer of Mentorship 2018 (Wk 5) :: Dr. Peggy Banks “Pain Not Wasted” Featured Sponsors: StichFix: Get started today by filling out your free style quiz at StitchFix.com/DMA and take advantage of free shipping and returns. Outschool: Help your kids get excited about learning and save $15 fifteen dollars off your child’s first class. Outschool.com/DMA, use code DMA. PrepDish: PrepDish founder, Allison, is offering listeners a free 2-week trial. Check out PrepDish.com/dma for this amazing deal! Resources for Sexual Abuse Recovery and Prevention: Books for Kids: Let’s Talk About Body Boundaries, Consent and Respect - Jayneen Sanders God Made All of Me – Justin S. Holcomb Good Picture Bad Pictures - Kristen Jenson Books for Survivors: Suffering and the Heart of God – Dr. Diane Langberg The Wounded Heart – Dr. Dan Allender The Trauma Heart – Judy Crane The Body Keep the Score - Bessel van der Kolk Redeeming Love – Francine Rivers The Hiding Place – Corrie Ten Boom Believing God – Beth Moore People to Follow: Diane Langberg Boz Tchividjian GRACE – Godly Response to Abuse in Christian Environments - Nonprofit Jimmy HInton Rachael and Jacob Denhollander Beth Moore Kay Warren Books Recs & Questions to Ask Your Local Church Leadership: On Guard – Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse at Church, by Deepak Reju We Too – Mary E. Demuth Who knows about/ keeps track of convicted sex offenders in our congregation? Who monitors their coming and going on our campus? Who on staff is responsible to check in with their probation officers and confirm the reason for their status on the sex offenders list and recommendations they have for securing safety? What is the safety plan for these individuals? What is included & who supervises this plan? How often does the supervisor meet with this perpetrator or other known perpetrators AND fact check the information they provide? Is he or other known perpetrators chaperoned while on campus? Do we have an official document which discloses how we as a church body agree to handle this particular issue?

Friendship isn’t something we are taught in school. We sort of fumble our way through the trial and error of how to make and keep friends. Add in our culture of independence, where it can be hard to admit we need others, and lots of times it feels easier to just stay home and binge watch seasons of Friends rather than try to find some real life ones. In this episode, author and speaker Jennie Allen acknowledges that friendship is full of risk, riddled with awkwardness and yet completely worth it. Through her own journey of finding a core group of friends in a new city, she challenges us to enter into the awkward places to build the friendships we long to have. Jennie Allen is a wife, mom, author, and speaker. She deeply believes God created us for relationship - first with him and then with others. Her newest book, Find Your People, is a tool-kit, a guide, an encouragement, and an honest look at why we really do need a village, and how we cultivate it in our lives. Connect with Jennie Allen: Website: https://www.jennieallen.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenniesallen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennieallen/ Links Mentioned: Find Your People Pre-Order Related Episodes Ep 232 Fighting Toxic Thoughts :: Jennie Allen Ep 350 Friendship is Hard :: Amy Weatherly & Jess Johnston Ep 321 Healing from Broken Friendships :: Shundria Riddick Ep 289 Strengthening our Friendships :: Susan Seay Ep 273 Navigating Friendships :: Melanie Shankle Ep 148 Overcoming Insecurity in Friendships :: Renee Swope Featured Sponsors: Rothys: New customers get $20 off your first purchase at Rothys.com/DMA HelloFresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/dma16 use the code: dma16 to get 16 free meals AND a free gift Prose: Take your free in-depth hair consultation and get 15% off your first order today! Go to prose.com/DMA

Let’s have some “real talk” and think about our faith in action when it comes to our neighbors, even when they are different. This conversation will help you think about being more open and welcoming and train your children to do the same. Our guest this week, author Trillia Newbell, encourages us in the message of James chapter two - love for others that doesn’t show favoritism to those who look or think or act like us. Her book, The Big Wide Welcome, illustrates how the love of Christ sees and welcomes others for who they are and how we should do the same. Trillia is a wife, mom, author, and speaker whose writings address and encourage our faith, our families, and the culture around us Connect with Trillia Newbell: Website: https://trillianewbell.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrilliaNewbell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trillianewbell/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/trillianewbell Links Mentioned: The Big Wide Welcome by Trillia J. Newbell DMA Convo Starters--NEW MERCH Related Episodes Ep 282 Many Hues, One Humanity :: Dr. Lucretia Berry Ep 261 Racial Healing Starts with You :: Latasha Morrison Ep 198 A Declaration of Interdependence :: Sharifa Stevens Ep 216 Help Your Children Embrace Differences :: Dorena Williamson Ep 327 Exploring Global Cultures at Home ;; Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young Featured Sponsors: Thrive Market–Join today to get 40% off your first order AND a FREE gift at ThriveMarket.com/DMA. Indeed–Start hiring right now with a $75 sponsored job credit to upgrade your job post at Indeed.com/DMA. Offer valid through March 31st. Need to hire? You need Indeed. PrepDish–The founder Allison is offering listeners a free 2-week trial to try it out. You can’t beat that. Check out prepdish.com/dma for this amazing deal.

In a world of increasing chaos, we crave certainty. We “know” the answer lies in some good disciplines like daily time with God. How can you step into a habit of studying God’s Word with consistency and success, even when your daily rhythms are upside down? Let’s turn Bible study from a “should do” into a vibrant, life-giving way to get the Word into your heart. Our guest this week, Bible teacher Katie Orr, will encourage you in practical and approachable ways so that you can open God’s Word and be fed. We talk through the stops on Katie’s “Bible Study Boulevard” - an assessment you can take on her website to help you figure out just where you are on your Bible study journey. Identifying your “stop” can help you adopt methods you can use right where you are, right now to connect with God and know Him more. Her online community at www.biblestudyhub.com is a place where women can connect and receive training, encouragement, and accountability to enjoy God’s word. She is even offering Don’t Mom Alone listeners a special on her 5 Days to Better Bible Study Course to jump start your study! Connect with Katie: Website: katieorr.me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thekatieorr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekatieorr Books by Katie Orr - Secrets of the Happy Soul FOCUSed15 Bible Studies Links Mentioned: Katie’s Episode from 2015 (Ep 101) 5 Days to Better Bible Study Bible Study Boulevard Bible Recap YouVersion App Bible Project E. Randolph Richards Misreading the Bible with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible Featured Sponsors: Athena Club: Show your skin you care with the Athena Club Razor Kit! Sign up today and you’ll get 20% off your first order! Go to Athenaclub.com and use the promo code dma. Stitch Fix: Get started today by filling out your free style quiz at StitchFix.com/DMA and take advantage of free shipping and returns. Uncommon Goods: To get 15% off your next gift go to UncommonGoods.com/dma. Don’t miss this limited time offer.

The preteen/teen years are a time of immense change and growth that often come with difficulty between mother and child. As the mom of a teen you may find yourself confused or frustrated with your child’s new behavior and attitudes. (The thought of those years is enough to fill elementary-kid moms with dread!) Come and listen as we shed light on the confusion of these transitional years that will help us both prepare for and thrive during this crucial developmental stage. In this episode Child Development Specialist, Dr. Nell Bush, explains to us the four pillars of preteen/teen development. Dr. Bush co-authored The Parenting Survival Guide, a practical handbook for parents addressing common child rearing concerns. Having four children of her own, she understands teen development on a theoretical and practical level. Nell encourages us that if we can understand what’s going on socially, emotionally, mentally, and physically with our preteens/teens we can respond with compassion and adapt our parenting strategies to fit their needs. She also covers aspects of development from why teens sleep so much to why they seem to love and hate us almost simultaneously. Draw hope for the present or wisdom for the future as you sit in (or do the dishes, or drive the kids all over) on Heather and Nell’s conversation. Connect with Dr. Nell Bush: Email: [email protected] Links Mentioned: Handout from Dr. Bush Birds and Bees https://birds-bees.com/ Episodes with Mary Flo and Megan Michaelson of Birds and Bees Featured Sponsors: Framebridge:Get started today–frame your photos or send someone the perfect gift. Go to Framebridge.com and use the promo code: DMA to save an additional 15% off your first order. HelloFresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/dma16 and use code dma16 for up to 16 free meals AND 3 free gifts. Stamps.com: Save time and money this year with stamps.com. Sign up with promo code DMA for a special offer that includes a 4-week trial, free postage and a digital scale. No long term commitments or contracts.

We’ll just say it - friendship as an adult is hard. It’s hard to find friends, to keep friends, and to be a good friend amidst all the hustle and bustle of motherhood. And motherhood can be an extremely lonely place. On this episode, Amy Weatherly and Jess Johnston, founders of Sister I am With You, share the good, the bad, and the awkward of making friends as a mom. They guide us through their own story of friendship (and encourage us to get out there and start the work of friendship) with candor and humor. They talk about some pitfalls of making friends and share tips on how to be a good friend. Their book, I’ll be There, (But I’ll be Wearing Sweatpants), releases January 25, 2022. Connect with Amy and Jess: Website: https://www.sisteriamwithyou.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sisteriamwithyou Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sisteriamwithyou Instagram for Amy: https://www.instagram.com/amyweatherly Instagram for Jess: https://www.instagram.com/wonderoakblog Links Mentioned: I’ll be There, (But I’ll be Wearing Sweatpants) Related Episodes: Ep 321 Healing from Broken Friendships :: Shundria Riddick Shifting Perspective on Hard Things :: Summer of Mentorship Week 6 Ep 338 Helping our Kids Foster Friendships :: David Thomas and Sissy Goff Ep 289 Strengthening Our Friendships :: Susan Seay Ep 273 Navigating Friendships :: Melanie Shankle Ep 159 Healing Friendship Wounds :: Lisa-Jo Baker Ep 148 Overcoming Insecurities in Friendship :: Renee Swope Featured Sponsors: Prep Dish–Free 2 week trial to try PrepDish. Check out prepdish.com/dma for this amazing deal. Outschool–Outschool has helped my kids get excited about learning and they can help yours too. To learn more about what Outschool has to offer and save $15 off your child’s first class go to Outschool.com/dma Indeed–Start hiring right now with a $75 job credit to upgrade your job post at Indeed.com/DMA. Offer valid through March 31st

Do you ever feel like you wake up Monday and the week is already running away from you? Overwhelm is a common feeling among moms and in this episode Retha Nichole shares the system she created that helped create margin in her own life. As a working mom to three boys, and at times a single mom, her Sunday Planning routine and portioning out her “plate” has helped her take care of herself and her people well. “Sunday Planning looks different in the different seasons of life. As a mom of two littles I thought of the five things that would help me the MOST. That is still what I do as my children have grown up and can do most of these things on their own.” Retha walks us through measuring our own capacity and how to craft your own Sunday Planning routine. Her website offers several products ready to make the most of your Sunday Planning efforts. Connect with Retha: Website: Retha Nichole https://www.thespcircle.com/ Facebook: Retha Nichole - Home | Facebook Instagram: @RethaNichole Links Mentioned: Retha’s story on the So…What Else? Podcast with Kaitlin Eliott Featured Sponsors: Stitch Fix Freestyle -- Get started today by filling out your style quiz at stitchfix.com/DMA HelloFresh--Get up to 16 free meals and 3 free gifts at hellofresh.com/dma16 use code: dma16 Prose--Take your FREE in-depth hair consultation and get 15% off your first order today. Go to prose.com/DMA.

As we enter the holiday season, it’s easy to get swept up in the tasks and external pressures that crowd our days… coordinating family events, planning the food, buying and wrapping gifts. With so much to do, it can be easy to adopt a Grinch-like personality or to just be a bit snappy with people who enter our lives. My guest Rachael R Wade is here to help our hearts grow three times larger by practicing giving honor to those around us. It’s a simple act of kindness that can be very powerful. “No one gets tired of hearing encouragement or being honored. And it's just calling out what God has put in others. Just taking the time to notice them and saying something kind. That little piece of encouragement could be the difference for if they decide to continue on in a dream or how they parent their kids. There's a lot of weight to our words.” Whether it’s showing honor to our kids and extended family or the clerk at the next store you enter, I invite you to pour out God’s love to a hurting world and use your words to heal. Rachael shares a lot of ideas for honoring others and how coming alongside and holding space for those around us is a catalyst for God’s kingdom here on earth. Connect with Rachael R Wade: Website: rachaelrwade.com Facebook: facebook.com/RachaelRWade Instagram: @rachwade Links Mentioned: Olive Us Community BOOK: Love Where You Live by Shauna Pilgreen Don’t Mom Alone Patreon Group-- December Bonus Pep Talks Featured Sponsors: Rothy’s --Get $20 off your first purchase at rothys.com/DMA with extended returns and exchanges through the holidays. Skylight Frames --Get $10 off your purchase of a Skylight Frame when you go to Skylight Frame.com and enter the code DMA.

Jeannie Cunnion is back on the show with a powerful message that reminds us that we are NEVER ALONE. As believers we always have the Holy Spirit with us and Jeannie shares how to deepen your understanding of the Holy Spirit and come to know Him as an intimate friend and companion. Not only that, but the Holy Spirit gives us power for the daily grind and holy work of motherhood. She shares about how He is faithfully at work, making the gospel irresistible to our kids and the freedom that comes from not having to do the Holy Spirit’s job for our kids. “I think that there's a freedom and a frustration that comes with the Holy Spirit. There's freedom because it's like I can not do the Holy Spirit's job. He is going to be the one who sparks their faith, sustains their faith, strengthens them, sanctifies them. That is all his job. But that can also be frustrating because we want to be able to produce that fruit in their life to spare them from the consequences and the pain of sin. I have to remind myself that God loves my kids infinitely more than I ever could imagine and that he longs for them to live in the fullness of his grace and mercy, even more than I do.” If you are longing to experience the freedom that comes from resting in the Holy Spirit instead of your own strength, this is the episode for you! Jeannie shares more in-depth on this subject in her new Bible study available for pre-orders now, Never Alone - Bible Study Book: Parenting in the Power of the Holy Spirit. Connect with Jeannie Cunnion: Website: jeanniecunnion.com Facebook: facebook.com/JeannieCunnion Instagram: @jeanniecunnion Links Mentioned: BOOK: Don’t Miss Out BOOK: Never Alone - Bible Study Book: Parenting in the Power of the Holy Spirit BOOK: Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit [Ep 190] Set Free From Shame :: Jeannie Cunnion [Ep 91] Anchoring Our Kids’ Lovability in Christ :: Jeannie Cunnion [Ep 55] How to {really} Parent with Grace :: Jeannie Cunnion PDF: Never Alone Manifesto Featured Sponsors: Uncommon Goods-- To get 15% off your next gift, go to uncommongoods.com/dma. HelloFresh-- Go to HelloFresh.com/dma14 and use the code dma14 for up to 14 free meals AND 3 free gifts.

Many women feel lost in their marriages. They don't know what to do with their disappointment, when to ask for help, or what it looks like to let go of the need to control. But God has given women incredible power in marriage and Dr. Juli Slattery is here to help us learn how to use it. Dr. Slattery joins me to discuss key points from her bestselling book Finding the Hero in Your Husband and about how what we believe about our husbands can make all the difference in the intimacy, connection and health of our marriages. “There are going to be issues in every marriage that have to be addressed, but it's the relational equity that we build through how we treat our husbands that gives us the power to confront things when they really need to be addressed. And when your husband has come to rely so much on your intimacy and companionship, then the fact that you have a concern really gets his attention because he doesn't want to lose you.” We talk about being emotionally safe for our husbands, stopping the cycle of disappointment and nagging in our marriages, and taking another look at intimacy as a sexual journey to go on with our husbands. It’s. So. GOOD. If you are in need of a boost of hope and excitement to help you re-engage in your marriage, this episode is for you! Connect with Dr. Juli Slattery: Website: authenticintimacy.com Facebook: facebook.com/AuthenticIntimacy Instagram: @authenticintimacy Podcast: Java with Juli Links Mentioned: BOOK: Finding the Hero in Your Husband, Revisited More Recent Episodes on Marriage: [Ep 299] Nurturing Your Marriage :: Brent and Janis Sharpe [Ep 234] Habits of a Healthy Marriage :: Paul David Tripp [Ep 335] Self-Differentiation and Why it Matters :: Nancy Houston [Ep 206] Overcoming Barriers to Sexual Intimacy :: Nancy Houston Featured Sponsors: Fazl --Socks, Hats & Mitts handmade in the Himalayas by Happy Women. Go to shopfazl.com and use the code DMA to get 15% off your purchase. StoryWorth--Give someone you love the thoughtful, personal gift from the heart by preserving memories and stories for years to come. Go to StoryWorth.com/dma and save $10 off your first purchase.

Jenn Kautsch is an empty nester mom and a retired "grey area" drinker. She takes us into her story of feeling tired, stuck on auto-pilot, and ready for a change when it comes to her relationship with alcohol. Through her own journey of seeking God about her casual drinking habit that was becoming a toxic mental battle, Jenn stopped asking if her drinking was “bad” for her and reframed it. “So I turned it around and I started asking myself the question, Jenn, is it good enough? Is your drinking good enough for you? Is your relationship with drinking, helping you become the best version of yourself? Is it taking you where you really want to go? Is it matching up to your outsides being like your insights or are you walking around with duplicity in a divided mind and a mental tug of war?” After choosing to embrace a sober lifestyle, Jenn started SoberSis, a like-minded community of women who are renegotiating their relationship with alcohol without labels, shame, judgment or rules. We talk about how God brought her freedom from what felt like a divided life -- constantly feeling in conflict and stuck in an internal tug-of-war so she could live a more wholehearted life. And how she’s now been able to connect with close to 20,000 women from all over the world through her SoberSis community of women. Connect with Jenn: Website: sobersis.com Facebook: facebook.com/sobermindedsister Instagram: @sobersis Links Mentioned: Get the Happy Hour Survival Guide from Jenn Join her 21 Day Reset Challenge Free Video Series - https://www.sobersis.com/new-videos If you had a parent who was an alcoholic check out this episode: Forgiving my Alcoholic Mother :: Sarah Mae [Ep 257] If you need help setting boundaries this holiday season: Setting Healthy Boundaries :: Dr. John Townsend [250] Featured Sponsors: BetterHelp -- Visit BetterHelp.com/DMA and join over 2M people who have taken charge of their mental health with the help of an experienced professional. Get 10% off your first month. Rothys-- To help you welcome fall season in style Rothy's is doing something special. Get $20 off your first purchase at rothys.com/DMA. Find your new favorites today.

As Kayla Craig sat in the hospital watching her daughter have a machine breath for her, she struggled to find the words to pray. In that difficult time in her family’s life, she learned about the power of liturgies which are scripted prayers from scripture. The more she turned to these powerful prayers prayed by Christians from all over the world, the less alone Kayla felt. Years later, Kayla has created a book with modern liturgies for parents with more than 100 prayers to voice when words are hard to find. “The book of prayers that I have created are just simply prayers that you can borrow, prayers that can become your own. The prayers of another can comfort us and can lift our arms up and we can't lift our arms up. If you don't have the words to pray, take mine.” From everyday struggles like helping your child find friends or thrive in school to larger issues like praying for a brighter world rooted in peace and truth, these pleas and petitions act as a gentle guide, reminding us that while our words may fail, God never does. Stay tuned for about 20 minutes in when Kayla prays a powerful prayer over all of us weary parents! I think you are going to love learning more about liturgies and breath prayers from Kayla. I hope this is just one more tool in your prayer tool belt -- we certainly need all we can get! Connect with Kayla: Website: kaylacraig.com Podcast: Upside Down Podcast Facebook: facebook.com/kaylacraigwriter Instagram: @kayla_craig & @liturgiesforparents Links Mentioned: BOOK: To Light Their Way: A Collection of Prayers and Liturgies for Parents Featured Sponsors: Simply Be Box -- Get your winter box just in time for Christmas. Go to SimplyBeBox.com use code DMA10 for $10 off your first box. StoryWorth -- Give those you love the most a thoughtful, personal gift from the heart and preserve their stories and memories for years to come. Go to storyworth.com/DMA and save $10 on your first purchase.

Motherhood can be a time of self-forgetfulness. We pour into our kids, partners, careers and can lose ourselves in the process. One way I’ve rediscovered who God made me to be is learning about my unique color palette and authentic style. In this week’s episode I chat with House of Colour Consultant, Karen Blanc. She teaches us a bit about color theory based on the work of Johannes Itten. And how based on our natural coloring, each of us harmonize best with either warm or cool colors, then either bright or muted. “I love to give people permission to embrace something that's very near and dear to them, God's gift to you: your color palette.” We also spend some time talking about the process of discovering your authentic style based on your body architecture and personality. With some combination of styles from the basic six: dramatic, classic, natural, gamine, ingenue or romantic. My hope is this episode will inspire you that God made you with a light to shine where you are. Through learning more about color and style you can actually spend less energy on “what to wear” and more time being who God made you to be. “To be yourself in a world constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson). Connect with Karen: Website: House of Color — Oakland, Nebraska Facebook: knowyourWOWcolors Instagram: @houseofcolour_karenblanc Links Mentioned: Johannes Itten — “The Art of Color” (don’t know why it’s so expensive!) House of Colour—find a consultant near you House of Colour—Dallas—Ginny Hudnut House of Colour—Erin Morgan Featured Sponsors: Mathnasium— Whether you’re looking to get your kids back on track or want to ensure they’re staying ahead with their math studies, find a center near you at mathnasium.com and contact them for a free in center or online consultation.

Feeding a baby is stressful enough. Choosing a formula and transitioning to formula doesn't need to be stressful too. Today's guest, Dr. Bridget Young, is a doctor of Perinatal and Pediatric Nutrition with a PhD from Cornell University in Nutritional Science. She specializes in maternal and child nutrition. Currently she is an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center. You can read about her active research on infant formula here. In this episode Bridget (her preferred name), mom of two boys, gives advice to the new mom on how to transition from breastmilk to formula (or a new type of formula). She also explains the most important aspect that differentiates one formula from another. I ask her to explain soy formula from hypo-allergenic. And she gives great advice for how to approach your bottle feeds. Most importantly, I'm thankful to connect you with the wealth of information on her website and YouTube channel. If you're looking for even more guidance check out her course (DMA listeners get a special $10 off discount with the code: DMA10). Connect with Dr. Young: Instagram: @BabyFormulaExpert Website: Baby Formula Expert YouTube Channel Links Mentioned: Baby Formula Expert Baby Formula Course with Dr. Bridget Young use DMA10 to get $10off

Late nights, milk stained clothes and feeling like you’ll go crazy if your baby spits up that precious breastmilk…. I have been there. We’ve never done an episode specifically on breastfeeding, but I want to provide support to moms who may be in this very isolating time of life. My guests are Certified Lactation Counselor Demetria Martin and Pediatrician Dr. Brittany Odom and they talk us through some of the common hot topics surrounding breastfeeding from supply issues to nighttime feedings and everything else in between. “Sometimes you don't have a good sense of community around breastfeeding. There are some pediatrician's offices that aren't super breastfeeding friendly. There might be some family members or friends who are not supportive of your breastfeeding journey. You may feel pretty alone when you're kind of starting this out. But give yourself, you know, a pat on the back for how far you have come. Even if it's been a day and a half, that's still a day and a half more than you've done before. So taking those small steps, knowing it is going to be a journey.” Ultimately, we agree that a fed baby is a happy baby, so I hope you understand my heart is not to idealize the breastfeeding journey. Just to provide resources and community so you don’t mom alone as you feed your infants! (Later this week we will publish a bonus episode featuring another lactation consultant about how to choose the right formula for your family.) Connect with Demetria: Website: themilkbuds.com Facebook: facebook.com/themilkbuds Instagram: @themilkbuds Connect with Dr. Brittany Odom: Instagram: @drbrittodom Links Mentioned: Milk Buds Lactation Services Featured Sponsors: Fazl- Go to shopFazl.com and use the discount coated DMA to get 15% off your purchase. These socks, hats and mitts make great gifts for Christmas. HelloFresh — Go to HelloFresh.com/dma14 and use code dma14 for up to 14 free meals, including free shipping.

Join me as I step into the role of guest on my own show! My friend Courtney Cleveland interviews me and we do go in depth on my first book, Don’t Mom Alone. **Now available wherever books are sold!** We talk about how being a good mom isn’t about doing everything right to create a set of perfect trophy children–though every mom has felt the pressure to do just that and to do it all on her own. And how asking for help feels like defeat, but when we try to do it all by our own strength, we end up depleted, lonely, and ineffective. We are not meant to do this alone! I believe moms can be empowered by God, supported by others, and connected with their children. With encouragement and insight, you can foster the key relationships you need to be the mom you want to be so we DON’T MOM ALONE. Links Mentioned: BOOK: Don’t Mom Alone BOOK: Good and Angry: Exchanging Frustration for Character...in You and Your Kids! Featured Sponsors: Rothys: Get $20 off your first purchase at rothys.com/DMA BetterHelp: Visit betterhelp.com/DMA and as a DMA listener get 10% off your first month.

In this episode, I’m excited to welcome back Ruth Chou Simons. In her newest book, When Strivings Cease, Ruth invites us to rethink our preoccupation with approval and the striving that comes because we feel like we’re forever missing the mark. It offers a deeper, abiding understanding of what God’s generous, unmerited favor really accomplishes in and through us when we receive the gift of grace. As a mom of six boys, an author and an entrepreneur, Ruth shares from her experience of feeling like she needed to strive to move forward as a creator and how learning to trust God through the experience of mothering in the little years made all the difference. “Sometimes I feel like a late bloomer, but there's no such thing in God's timing and God's economy of ideas and opportunities. And those 10 years of changing diapers and just keeping my children alive felt like things were happening so slowly. But God taught me more in the slow waiting, hidden moments of a season that didn't look the way I wanted it to. And those things are fruitful. They've created the fruit that you see now.” We talk about how to reset when you feel striving taking over, how to stop ourselves from demanding perfection/striving from our kids and how to preach truth to ourselves when we need to be reminded that we can trust God instead of living in fear. Connect with Ruth: Website: ruthchousimons.com Facebook: facebook.com/gracelaced Instagram: @ruthchousimons Links Mentioned: BOOK: When Strivings Cease [EP 23] Beauty creator. Unity builder. Mom. –Ruth Simons [EP 255] Become What You Behold :: Ruth Chou Simons [Ep 278] Giving Kids a Firm Foundation :: Troy Simons Featured Sponsors: Uncommon Goods—To get 15% off your next gift, go to uncommongoods.com/dma. Thrive Market—Go to ThriveMarket.com/DMA to get $20 off your first order and a FREE gift.

Sometimes you have to preach truth to yourself when the days are long and you feel inadequate. And oftentimes we need a friend or two to point out the truth. Jamie Ivey is on the podcast today to be that friend for us. She brings us into her personal struggles as a mom and reminds us that we aren’t alone in the struggle. “It brings me so much comfort that God is not surprised by our diagnoses. He is not surprised by our families. He's not surprised by our struggles. He's not surprised by our insecurities, but he is a God who's willing and ready to be with us in the midst of those.” If you need a reminder that God made you to have your kids. He made your kids to be who they are with all their abilities and challenges. And he didn’t just create us and stand away distanced as we struggle in life. This episode is for you. We talk about Jamie’s new children’s book God Made You to Be You, but dive much deeper into what that message can mean to us as moms and how we can encourage our kids as they relate to others who are different than them. Connect with Jamie: Website: jamieivey.com Facebook: facebook.com/TheJamieIvey Instagram: @jamieivey Links Mentioned: Book: God Made You to Be You More at jamieivey.com/kids [Ep 191] A Safe Place to Share Messy Stories :: Jamie Ivey Featured Sponsors: Mathnasium — Whether you are looking to get your kids back on track or want to ensure they’re staying ahead with their math studies, find a center near you at mathnasium.com and contact them for a free in center or online consultation. StoryWorth — StoryWorth is a meaningful gift you and your family can treasure forever. Get started right away with no shipping required by going to StoryWorth.com/DMA. You’ll get $10 off your first purchase.

I’m excited to welcome back Sissy Goff and David Thomas to the show to talk about helping our kids foster friendships. As licensed counselors, working at DayStar Counseling Center in Nashville, they provide support, encouragement & compassion to children, adolescents & families in need through counseling. We talk about the nuances of boys vs girls in friendships, what to do if your kid is the bully, helping kids when friendships change or friends move, and how to take cues from our kids when it comes to their friendships “It is really more important to prioritize teaching kids to be friends than to be concerned with them, having friends. And when it comes to our worries and fears about friendships, we can't have more emotion than they do over whatever's going on for them relationally. Often that will make them either feel like we're not safe to talk to, or it'll just make them dam up these feelings.” Connect with David & Sissy: Website: raisingboysandgirls.com Facebook: facebook.com/raisingboysandgirls Instagram: @sissygoff & @raisingboysandgirls Podcast: raisingboysandgirls.com/listen Previous Podcasts with David & Sissy: [Ep 119] The Art of Nurturing Boys :: David Thomas [Ep 141] Raising Girls :: Sissy Goff [Ep 160] Emotional Milestones :: Sissy Goff & David Thomas [Ep 311] Getting Brave About Anxiety :: Sissy Goff [Ep 315] Understanding Boys Better :: David Thomas Links Mentioned: BOOK: Are My Kids on Track? BOOK: The Invisible String Featured Sponsors: Mathnasium: Whether you’re looking to get your kids back on track or want to ensure they’re staying ahead with their math studies, find a center near you at mathnasium.com and contact them for a free in center or online consultation. HelloFresh: Go to HelloFresh.com/dma14 for up to 14 free meals, including free shipping.

Their real names are Melanie Shankle and Sophie Hudson, but they’ve been blogging for a long time on the internet as Big Mama and BooMama. In addition to being authors and speakers, they also host the fun podcast The Big Boo Cast where they talk about all the important stuff: faith, family, friends, football, fashion, and food. Plus, of course, their hair. They join me for a mom friends episode where we talk about parenting teens, launching kids to college and letting go of mom guilt. “If you were a bad mom, you wouldn't spend a lot of time worrying about if you were a bad mom. So the fact that you're feeling that guilt is like, you love your child, you're showing up, you're trying to do all the right things. And you just have to trust that God's grace covers the rest of it because they're going to be things you get wrong.” You won’t want to miss the fun and funny Melanie and Sophie. I consider them some of my mentor moms and they offer up a lot of candid advice and wisdom for playing the “long game” of parenting. Connect with Melanie: Website: thebigmamablog.com Facebook: facebook.com/melanieshankle Instagram: @melanieshankle Connect with Sophie: Website: boomama.net Facebook: facebook.com/SophieHudsonBooMama Instagram: @boomama205 Links Mentioned: The Big Boo Cast BOOK: Grace Upon Grace Journaling Devotional: Trusting God No Matter What [EP 12] The Antelope in the Living Room with Melanie Shankle [EP 58] Home is Where My People Are :: Sophie Hudson [Ep 273] Navigating Friendship :: Melanie Shankle Featured Sponsors: BetterHelp: Visit betterhelp.com/DMA and join the over 2,000,000 people who have taken charge of their mental health with the help of an experienced professional. Special offer for Don’t Mom Alone listeners: get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/DMA. Rothys: Keep it fresh this summer with washable shoes and bags from Rothy’s. Head to Rothys.com/DMA to find your new warm weather favorites today.

Even without the overwhelm of the pandemic exhausting us both physically and emotionally, life inevitably brings storms our way. Storms that we can ride out with God or storms that we allow to sweep us away. Sally Clarkson, author, speaker and mentor of moms, joins me to talk about how to weather the storms of life with grace and hope. We talk about how some anchors we can put down in stormy times, pushing into friendships, filling our cups when we are depleted and parenting our kids through life’s disappointments. Sally also shares about how weathering life’s storms helps us care for others who are experiencing hard times better. “Sometimes in my life I think Jesus wanted me to grow up a little bit because it was in facing my storms, learning to walk through them that I was humbled. I learned a lot. I had more compassion for other people going through storms. I feel like the story that you live becomes the platform for your compassion for other people.” Connect with Sally: Website: sallyclarkson.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therealsallyclarkson/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sally.clarkson/ More Episodes with Sally: [Ep 54] How to Own Your Life :: Sally Clarkson [Ep 107] Create a Home of Belonging & Becoming :: Sally Clarkson [Ep 149] Loving Your Difficult Child :: Sally and Nathan Clarkson [Ep 233] Cultivating Friendships in a World of Isolation :: Sally Clarkson Links Mentioned: BOOK: Help, I'm Drowning: Weathering the Storms of Life with Grace and Hope PDF: A Written Lament - She Reads Truth WORKBOOK: Mourning and Dancing from She Reads Truth BOOK: This Beautiful Truth by Sarah Clarkson Featured Sponsors: Athena—Show your skin you care with the Athena Club Razor Kit! Sign up today and you’ll get 20% off your first order! Just go to AthenaClub.com and use promo code dma. Thrive Market—Go to ThriveMarket.com/DMA. Join today to get $20 off your first order AND a FREE gift!

Self differentiation, emotional enmeshment and emotional cut-off… We got some new-to-me terms to learn in this episode, but you’ll be very glad you stick with us for the definitions. And I promise there won’t be a pop quiz at the end. 🤣 I’m chatting with Nancy Houston, a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Sex Therapist specializing in individual, marital, and sexual issues. We go deep on some important concepts that I wish I’d learned earlier on in my marriage. The big one is self differentiation. Who am I separate from motherhood and marriage? And how can I stay a healthy individual in those roles without swinging too far either direction. Nancy shares practical tips and breaks down big concepts to get us going down the path of self discovery. “Health is being able to hold the middle where we can have some grace for ourselves and one another. Where we can have some quiet. Until I can stop judging myself so harshly, I'll never stop judging you.” Connect with Nancy: Website: nancyhouston.net Facebook: facebook.com/asknancyhouston Instagram: @asknancyhouston Links Mentioned: [Ep 206] Overcoming Barriers to Sexual Intimacy :: Nancy Houston Positive Intelligence The Saboteurs BOOK: Love & Sex: A Christian Guide to Healthy Intimacy Ripple Effects of Healthy Sexual Connection :: Francie Winslow Hula-hoop-o-logy :: Vela Tomba Featured Sponsors: Stitch Fix Kids: Schedule a fix today and get 25% off when you keep everything in your fix. Go to Stitchfix.com/DMA Don’t Mom Alone Book: Pre-order a copy today. Feel out the form over at dontmomalone.com/book to get freebies like 6 exclusive convos with Heather and a free copy of the audiobook. Also get an invite to join her launch team.

If God is holy, then He can’t sin. If God can’t sin, then He can’t sin against you. If He can’t sin against you, shouldn’t that make Him the most trustworthy being there is? I’m thrilled to have Jackie Hill Perry back on the podcast to share about her much anticipated book, “Holier Than Thou”. She walks us through Scripture, shaking the dust off of “holy” as we’ve come to know it and revealing it for what it really is: good news. As it turns out, God being “holier than thou” is actually the best news in the world, and it’s the key to trusting Him. “Holiness is really abstract, but what does it have to do with me? The truth is it has everything to do with the way we live because the way we engage with the world around us is symptomatic of what we believe is true about God.” We also chat about how Jackie doesn’t “mom alone,” about her growing family and the holy calling of motherhood. This is a powerful episode! Connect with Jackie: Website: https://jackiehillperry.com Facebook: facebook.com/jackiehillperrypage Instagram: @jackiehillperry Links Mentioned: BOOK Holier Than Thou: How God’s Holiness Helps Us Trust Him [Ep 214] Gay Girl, Good God :: Jackie Hill Perry FEATURED SPONSORS: Stitch Fix Kids—Try today at StitchFix.com/DMA and you’ll get 25% off when you keep everything in your Fix! Hello Fresh—Go to HelloFresh.com/dma14 and use code dma14 for up to 14 free meals, including free shipping!

How we feel in our bodies affects so many facets of parenting-- and in some ways you might now expect. My guest Mary Van Geffen joins me to talk about 4 Ps that can help us practice body awareness as we work on parenting our kids (even the spicy ones) with empathy and connection. “When in doubt I say choose connection rather than control. We're not going to have a lot of control and we don't have the time or the energy to follow through on things. So let's make sure we're connected because connection is the honey and it will help us to have more control.” We go in depth on how paying attention to your Presence, Posture, Proximity and Phase of your Cycle can change how you parent and bring awareness of how to honor your body and rest when you need it. Connect with Mary: Website: maryvangeffen.com Instagram: @maryvangeffen YouTube: youtube.com/maryvangeffen Links Mentioned: Embodied Motherhood Worksheet with 4 Ps Coaching with Mary use code: PODCAST for $5 off Dr. Carolyn Leaf, neuroscientist Parenting Siblings School — Join Mary’s Parenting Siblings School to treat jealousy, constant bickering, mean words, and tattling with confidence. How To Stay Calm When Your Child is Acting Crazy PDF Featured Sponsors: Love Every — Take the guesswork out of your child’s play. Choose Lovevery TODAY and get free shipping when you sign up to receive your Play Kits at Lovevery.com/DMA BetterHelp —Visit betterhelp.com/DMA and join the over 1,000,000 people who have taken charge of their mental health with the help of an experienced professional. Special offer for Don’t Mom Alone listeners: get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/DMA.

News, politics and world events are on a 24-hour and 365-day cycle. Every second something new is happening and keeping up with the latest can be a full time job. Add on top of that the bias inherent in mass media and it can be hard to tell fact from manipulated fiction. Enter Sharon McMahon, a former high school government and law teacher on a mission to combat political misinformation. With her viral Instagram account @SharonSaysSo, she shares non-partisan facts about the US government and democracy in a way that is easy to understand. Sharon talks with me about how to be flexible thinkers and to hear both sides of a political issue using the same critical thinking skills she taught her students in high school. We also chat about her motherhood journey and raising kids who can talk respectfully with people who have different viewpoints on the world and politics. But she doesn’t want you to listen to just her or any one person to learn the news of the day: “I don't think it is wise to just look at one human, me or your favorite political pundit or anybody, and believe that person is right 100% of the time. It is still your job to consume and figure out using your own brain, the own skills in your head to determine whether or not that aligns for you and whether or not that actually is an accurate depiction of your feelings or viewpoints. So I always caution people. Don't take one person's word as gospel because all humans are fallible.” Connect with Sharon: Website: www.sharonmcmahon.com Facebook: facebook.com/sharonsaysso Instagram: @sharonsaysso Links Mentioned: Podcast: https://www.sharonmcmahon.com/podcast Sharon on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Pre-order Don’t Mom Alone and join the Don’t Launch Alone team. Featured Sponsors: Athena Club— Show your skin you care with the Athena Club Razor Kit! Sign up today and you’ll get 20% off your first order! Just go to AthenaClub.com and use promo code dma Rothy’s— Step up your summer wardrobe with washable, sustainable, stylish shoes and bags from Rothy’s. Head to Rothys.com/DMA to find your new warm weather favorites today.

In this episode, Jen shares what she’s learned about heaven (from co-leading a study for 100+ women). She also gives a super practical way to figure out how you can help a friend in need. Jen reminds us mamas to hold our children loosely. To realize we have the privilege of partnering with God, but ultimately how our children “turn out” is up to him. And this. . . It’s hard in the crisis to build that support system. Invest in women’s lives now. Not because you’re going to need them in case you have cancer. But that the time invested in friendships, meaningful friendships is worth it.–Jen My biggest take-away from our conversation is to view my “to do” list as a “get to do” list. What joy to get to pick up my boys from school, to get to serve them meals, and to get to put them to bed! Wrapping up this summer may we all see our everyday in light of eternity. Be grateful for all our “get to”s. And invest in our sweet friendships. Read more of Jen’s story: Personal Blog What we chat about: Jen’s surprise engagement, surprise baby and surprise cancer diagnosis. Hope for the mom with chronic sickness/trauma/heartache. What Jen’s learned about how friends help well. The truths Jen gained from studying Heaven last summer. Lessons for all of us to hold our children loosely. Dealing with temper tantrums and other challenging behavior when mom is sick. The value of building strong friendships. Links Mentioned: “Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” (Psalm 115:1) “Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.” (Psalm 43:3) In Light of Eternity by Randy Alcorn “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:2-3) Nobody’s Cuter than You by Melanie Shankle Just Show Up by Kara Tippetts & Jill Lynn Butelyn Featured Sponsors: Glorify App—Glorify your relationship with God with 50% off unlimited access to premium content designed to help you get into good worship habits and grow closer to God. Download the Glorify app now, create an account and enter code DMA in the profile section for a special limited-time discount of 50%. Lovevery — Take the guesswork out of your child’s play. Choose Lovevery TODAY and get free shipping when you sign up to receive your Play Kits at Lovevery.com/DMA.

Mush brain. That’s how I’d describe my mind after years and years of sleep deprivation. Most young moms (especially if you had lots of littles in a row) know the challenge of forming a complete thought. Or staying focused during a quiet time. Or even having a moment alone with God. I know Jennie understands. Jennie is a sweet mom of two from Cambridge, England. She emailed me sharing struggles with sleep deprivation. Her son suffered from a serious of medical challenges leaving them with four years of interrupted sleep. She knows the power of a strong relationship with God. But in this season has found connecting deeply with Him difficult given her exhausted, “mush brain”. The mentor that I called to answer Jennie’s questions is the amazing Sally Clarkson. Sally understands having children who don’t sleep and she’s been through her share of challenging seasons. From those experiences and others she began to mentor young moms and encourage other women to do the same . In this episode, Sally helps moms move beyond traditional spiritual disciplines to experience God in their everyday moments. Inspiring us to find the goodness of God, by intentionally filling our lives with beauty and pleasure. For the exhausted mom who longs to know God better, I hope this episode gives you peace, perspective and practical ideas. Connect with Sally Clarkson: Site :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Pinterest What we chat about: Jennie’s Questions: How do I have a decent quiet time when I’m exhausted? What tips do you have for getting through challenging circumstances? Does a hard season have long-term impacts on your faith? Sally’s Answers: Motherhood is a battleground. What we struggle through is normal and women for generations have experienced it. God created us to be in community. God is present through people. Build things into your life to enjoy the goodness of God. Other topics we cover: Journaling prayers Breath prayers Physical rest vs. soul rest Links Mentioned: Jubilee Centre Own Your Life: Living with Deep Intention, Bold Faith, and Generous Love** by Sally Clarkson MomHeart Groups How to Study Your Bible ** by Kay Arthur (Inductive Studies) Lacey Dobrient, “The Color Method” (Hear more about it from her interview on the podcast–Episode 63 HelloMornings Philip Yancy Featured Sponsors: Function of Beauty -- Take your quiz and get customized hair products for 20% off your first order at functionofbeauty.com/DMA Stitch Fix Kids -- Try Stitch Fix Kids today and get 25% off when you keep everything in your Fix. Go to StitchFix.com/DMA