Girlfriends (A Podcast for Catholic Women)

This week, Girlfriends connects across the globe with author Debra Vermeer, Australian author of Life to the Full: Stories of Infertility, Faith, and a Hope-filled Future. Snippet From the Show "We are called to be fruitful. There are many ways that we are called to fruitfulness. Sometimes they aren't the ways we thought at all." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

In a world filled with violence, division, and fear, it can be hard to know just how God wants us to do his work today. How is God calling us to grow in relationship with him while leading others to know and love him? Snippet From the Show _What is your alabaster jar that you're holding onto that you're not allowing God to break open? What holds you back from giving everything to God? He calls us daily to leave everything and follow him. _ For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This is a question I hear from moms all the time - whether they are parenting a kindergartner or a college kid gone astray: “How can I support my kids in their Catholic faith?” Of course, we would all love a magic answer here, but alas! God has given our children free will and they may sometimes make choices we do not want for them. But I can share some ideas for ways to be encouraging and supportive of our kids’ faith lives. _Snippet From the Show Be an example to your children. You can be saying all you want to your kids about the importance of having a prayer life, going to Mass, and receiving the sacraments, but if you are not doing those things, none of what you say matters. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Rachel’s new book is all about busy schedules and how we can find balance -- and this time of quarantine is a wonderful opportunity to think about all those things and make a plan for personal and family schedules after quarantine. Rachel and I discuss ways to do that, how we can make prayer a priority, and how to discern those things that are truly important to us as a family. _Snippet From the Show It all starts with prayer. If you're missing that element, forget it. You could have a Martha Stewart perfect home, a perfect work life, etc., and none of it will matter without a life centered in prayer. For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Today I have guest, Andrea Zachman, on the show. She is author of The Sacred That Surrounds Us, a beautiful book for kids and parents that details all of the items in a church and how each of them points us toward heaven. _Snippet From the Show Our homes are supposed to be a domestic church. We always say that, but never more so than now are we being called to really sanctify our living spaces._ For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit www.ascensionpress.com/girlfriends. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

I recently had the chance to sit down with two dear friends, Emily Jaminet and Michele Faehnle. These two inspiring ladies are authors of several books together. One of their most recent books is Our Friend Faustina: Life Lessons in Divine Mercy. This book is a collection of personal stories from women about ways in which they have been blessed by St. Faustina and Jesus’ message of Divine Mercy. **Snippet From the Show _ _"Being Catholic is not about how beautiful our Catholic resume looks like, or what we do for the church, or how perfect we are. It's about being who you are, and going before the Lord and letting him transform you." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit media.ascensionpress.com. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Do you suffer with discontent? In what way do you feel like you fall short, or your life falls short of your expectations? What things or status do you long for and wind up feeling disillusioned or disappointed? This week we are talking about those feelings of discontent, where they come from, and how we can cultivate a greater sense of contentment with what we have and who we are. For full shownotes, visit media.ascensionpress.com Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

How are you doing? Not so great? Me too. This week, I’m sharing from my heart about some of the ways this time of quarantine and social isolation has been challenging for me and my family. I want to encourage you to know that if you are struggling, it’s alright to admit that. It’s OK to not be “quarantining well.” Whatever that means. Snippet From the Show "If you're looking and saying, 'What's wrong with me? I'm not happily baking bread and giving thanks that my kids are schooling at home right now...' I'm here to tell you, nothing is wrong with you." For full shownotes, visit media.ascensionpress.com Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

With the threat of COVID-19 and the importance of self quarantining, many of us find ourselves working from home in new and unusual ways. Maybe your office job has shifted to your home. Or your spouse is now working from home or your kids are doing school work from home. Since I have worked from home in various capacities, on and off, over the course of the last 10+ years, I thought I might share some things I have learned along the way. I hope they will be helpful to you in whatever way you are working at home these days. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. Jacqueline Brown has been on the show before. A couple of months ago, she came on to talk about the importance of Catholic fiction and her popular series of books, The Light Series. But this time, she is joining us in a different capacity, as she is also a psychologist. Dr. Jacqueline Brown and I discuss coping mechanisms for a time of quarantine, some of the complicated emotions many of us are feeling, and how to best take care of our kids, our marriages, our work, and ourselves in these uncertain times. Snippet from the Show Turn off the news. If you can be in nature, be in nature. It's amazing just how much being around trees, grass, and flowers helps our mental health, and even our physical health. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

How are you holding up? Are you adjusting to a new “normal”? A new way to getting up every day and doing your job, supporting your husband, and helping your kids with schoolwork? All without the usual social events and connections we are used to? These are challenging times, and it’s normal if you are feeling some worry or anxiety these days. This week, I want to help you find some peace -- even in quarantine. Here are my ideas. Snippet From the Show "Worrying is having a conversation with yourself about things you cannot change. Prayer is having a conversation with God about things he can change." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit AscensionPress.com (media.ascensionpress.com). Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Author Colleen Duggan joins us for today’s show, sharing about some of the surprising ways that the practice of fasting has blessed her marriage. We have talked about some of the spiritual benefits of fasting before, but Colleen is passionate about its strength as a spiritual tool specifically for marriage. At the end of today’s show, I shared a little bit of feedback from Katherine, a listener who has a son who was born without an immune system. She shares these quick tips for social distancing as a family. Snippet From the Show "The emptying makes us realize the abundant life that we have." For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit AscensionPress.com (media.ascensionpress.com). Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Do you struggle to set healthy boundaries in your relationships with strangers, co-workers, extended and immediate family? If so, join the club! This week, I share some ways I have recently struggled to set boundaries in my own life, along with ideas for how you can get better at setting boundaries in your life as well. All relationships are improved by setting reasonable boundaries. It is not mean or selfish to stand up for ourselves and say what our personal preferences and limitations are. I also share some feedback I received from listener Deirdre who is worried and anxious about the Coronavirus with her young children and aging parents. How can we manage our worries about illness and other things that are beyond our control? For episode shownotes, text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 or visit AscensionPress.com. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

We are all facing many unknowns these days as we struggle to adjust to changes in work, school, and home schedules as a result of COVID-19. How can we make sure we are caring for our children well through anxiety, stress, and worry? This week, I am sharing six ideas for ways we can focus on being the parents our kids need us to be in the days and weeks that lie ahead. For full episode shownotes, visit AscensionPress.com or text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Are you anxious? Are you worried? If so, know you are not alone in experiencing anxiety. Many of us worry about many things, but God wants better for us—he wants us to grow in trust in him to provide for everything we ever need. And yet it’s hard, and we struggle sometimes with worry and fear. This week, I’m sharing four things that can help. For full episode shownotes, visit AscensionPress.com (http://media.ascensionpress.com/?post_type=podcast&p=34993) or text GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week’s Girlfriends guest is Lisa Brenninkmeyer, founder of Walking With Purpose. Lisa creates beautiful Bible studies that bring Catholic women together to read and study Scripture, all over the US, Europe, and Canada. In our conversation, Lisa shares about how and why she founded the ministry as well some of her most recent projects and plans she has for the future. She is a joy-filled, inspiring woman, and I just know you will appreciate all that she shares. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week’s Girlfriends guest is Emily Deardo, author of the newly-released Living Memento Mori: My Journey Through the Stations of the Cross. Emily shares about her diagnosis with serious illness at the age of 11 and the ways in which her struggles and health challenges have shaped her faith life. Her book is an inspiring read any time, but an especially great pick for Lent this year. The Tradition of Memento Mori Watch this video from Father Mike Schmitz to learn more about the tradition of memento mori, whereby Christians would meditate on the reality of human mortality. This practice would bring much needed perspective on the relationship between the eternal and the passing things of this world. Listener Feedback This week, I also share feedback on NFP from listener Liz who writes, in part:“I’ve only been practicing this past year so I’m by no means a pro, but we started practicing the Couple to Couple League method then we ended up learning the Marquette method as well. For the Marquette method we use a fertility monitor, specifically the Clearblue monitor that says if your estrogen and LH are “low,” “high” or at its “peak” for your cycle. For both methods I’ve used two different apps. I’ve used the “p tracker” app to track period symptoms, but it also had the ability to track temperature and mucus and cervix symptoms. When we started CCL we started using the “CycleProGo” app, which I’ve still been using after we switched to Marquette.” At the end of last week’s show, I read the first chapter of my newest book. Giving Thanks and Letting Go: Reflections on the Gift of Motherhood is a book in which I share from my heart about the very real changes, challenges, triumphs, and joys of being a mom in an “emptying nest.” You can read that sample chapter at Ave Maria Press. More from Emily Deardo Emily’s websiteEmily on InstagramEmily on Twitter Emily’s Amazon page Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

As our kids grow up, become teenagers, go away to school, and become young adults who work and live lives of their own, parenting them becomes different—and in some ways, harder. This week’s topic is inspired by the content of my newest book, Giving Thanks and Letting Go: Reflections on the Gift of Motherhood, newly available on Amazon and at Ave Maria Press. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

How do you feel about Valentine’s Day? It can be a tricky date on the calendar for some of us who have high expectations and wind up feeling disappointed and unappreciated when things don’t go as planned. One antidote to that is to find creative new ways to celebrate love on February 14! Snippet from the Show “You shouldn’t have to wait for this one day (out of 365) to feel loved and appreciated inside of your relationships.” SHOWNOTES Text the word GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 to get the full shownotes! Pray for someone anonymously. Choose someone in your life that you don’t regularly pray for and pray for them on Valentine’s day. Bonus points if you leave them an anonymous note letting them know you prayed for them. Thank a priest. Our priests need our prayers, but they also need to know how much we love and appreciate them. Valentine’s day is a great opportunity to do just that. Send a priest a note or a gift to let them know you love them, appreciate them, and are grateful for their service to the Church. Visit a single person in your life (or at least send them a Valentine note). It might be the widow who lives in your neighborhood or the 20-something who goes to your church. Reach out to someone single who might be feeling lonely on a day that celebrates romantic love. Be randomly generous at a diner. It goes like this: Meet friends for lunch. You each bring a $100 bill. Order lunch and then when it’s time to pay, give the server all of the cash as a generous tip. You can adjust the amounts to what makes sense for you, but I love this fun and creative idea! Send “I love you because” notes. Let your family members and friends know what you love and appreciate about them. Send small notes of appreciation for them on this day set aside for love—a great excuse to get a little mushy! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

We all deal with annoying people sometimes. Whether the annoying person is a stranger at Mass, a co-worker, or your own husband, here are some ideas for ways we can answer God’s call to love every human being, even if they are getting on our nerves. 1) Pray to see them as God does. Every person is a precious child of God. It can be hard to see that when they are getting on your nerves, though. Ask God for the grace of seeing each person as he does, in all their dignity and worth. 2) Recall a time when you were annoying. We all have bad days. It can help you be kind to someone else who is having an “off day” to recall a time when you were annoying yourself. We all need love and kindness and an extra dose of mercy at times. 3) Know they are probably hurting. Hurt people hurt people. Especially if someone is being angry, rude, or unfair in a way that does not make sense to you, recognize that they are probably wounded and suffering. It’s not an excuse for bad behavior, but it can go a long way toward helping you be more patient with it. 4) Offer to help. Are they complaining or acting up about something you can help them with? Find a way to help them with whatever they are struggling with, or at least offer to help so they know they are not alone. 5) Ignore what you can. If you can possibly ignore their annoying behavior, DO IT. Keep pulling your mind away and onto other, more important things. 6) Remember what you can control. You cannot control others’ words and behaviors, but you can control how you respond to them. When faced with a challenging person, reciting your Morning Offering or using the Jesus Prayer can be a great way to offer up the challenge to God. 7) Reduce contact with them if you reasonably can. You can always give someone space when they are in a bad mood, or reduce the amount of time you spend with someone who is a negative influence in your life. Resources and Announcements At the start of the show, I mention that the March for Life in Washington DC is an official Pilgrimage site with the opportunity for a plenary indulgence attached to it. Here is more information about that.This week I also share my response to an email from listener Jessie who is struggling with using NFP to space pregnancies in her marriage.My newest book, Giving Thanks and Letting Go: Reflections on the Gift of Motherhood is available for pre-order. Until January 31, 2020, use code “BEAN” at checkout and get twenty percent off! Events February 20-23, 2020: Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, Anaheim, CASaturday, March 7, 2020: You’re Worth It Retreat at Precious Blood Parish in Jasper, INSaturday, March 14, 2020: Women’s Conference, Fresno, CASaturday, March 28, 2020: Women’s Conference in Norwich, CTWant me to come to your community to speak or give my retreat, You Are Enough, based on the themes in my book? Get all the information here! Subscribe Text the word GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 to get the shownotes!Subscribe to Girlfriends in iTunesSubscribe to Girlfriends in Stitcher Contact EmailLeave voice feedbackFacebookTwitterInstagramVoxer Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Our guest this week is Jacqueline Brown, (https://jacqueline-brown.com)author of the Catholic fiction series The Light Series. Jacqueline tells about her journey from a practicing clinical psychologist to Catholic fiction writer. Jacqueline shares about making time for beauty and art in everyday lives and the importance of Catholic fiction as a genre. When you order Jacqueline’s books, be sure to use the code GIRLFRIENDS to receive 20% off the paperbacks here. (https://jacqueline-brown.com/books/) Also, the e-book of The Light, the first book in the series, will be available for just 99 cents (https://www.amazon.com/Light-become-when-world-falls-ebook/dp/B01I2IRIY2) January 27-February 2, 2020. And finally, the audio books are available on Chirp for just $2.99 and on Audible. This week, I also share some feedback from Liz who shares some helpful resources for women who want to make reading Scripture part of their everyday routine. Liz suggests: Blessed Is She and Every Sacred Sunday. I add a recommendation for Take Up and Read. Have feedback or an idea to share? I would love to hear from you! Announcements My newest book, Giving Thanks and Letting Go: Reflections on the Gift of Motherhood (https://www.avemariapress.com/product/1-59471-945-4/Giving-Thanks-and-Letting-Go/) is available for pre-order. Until January 31, 2020, use code “BEAN” at checkout and get twenty percent off! Events February 20-23, 2020: Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, Anaheim, CA Saturday, March 7, 2020: You’re Worth It Retreat at Precious Blood Parish in Jasper, IN Saturday, March 14, 2020: Women’s Conference, Fresno, CA Saturday, March 28, 2020: Women’s Conference in Norwich, CT Want me to come to your community to speak or give my retreat, You Are Enough, based on the themes in my book? Get all the information here! Subscribe Text the word GIRLFRIENDS to 33-777 to get the shownotes! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

It’s easy to think we’re being humble when we’re really just being down on ourselves. Don’t hide your light! Let’s talk about some of our struggles in embracing the talents God has given us and allowing him to work through us to inspire and bless others. Of course, the idea of letting your light shine comes from the words of Jesus himself in Matthew 5:13-16: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” This week, I also share some feedback from Margaret, a wannabe writer who is looking for advice on how to manage her time as a mom. Text the word “girlfriends” to 33-777 to get the full shownotes! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Happy New Year! Have you made spiritual goals for the year yet? What are they? This week, I want to share a few ideas to inspire you:1. Penance on Fridays Did you know every Friday of the year is meant to be penitential, not just during Lent? An easy way to make sure you adhere to this practice is to consider going meatless on Fridays year-round. But even if not, consider how you might be more intentional about making a sacrifice every Friday. 2. Read a spiritual book. If you are like me, you probably have a lot of good Catholic books lying around that you have not gotten around to reading. Keep a book on your bedside table or in the bathroom or in the car, so it is ready when you might find yourself with a few moments of downtime. 3. Start a daily reading practice. My book, Small Steps for Catholic Moms: Your Daily Call to Think, Pray, and Act, is a do-able daily devotional, but there are many out there. Find a daily page-a-day book that appeals to you and commit to working your way through it in 2020. 4. Read the Bible every day. Are you familiar with the Bible? Do you have a copy that you can browse through easily? Whether it’s reading through the Psalms or reading the daily Mass readings, find a way to make reading a bit of Scripture part of your daily routine. 5. Begin and end your day with deliberate prayer. We have talked about praying a Morning offering many times before, but now I want to not only remind of the importance of the morning offering, but also encourage you to make the Examen part of your daily prayer practice at the end of the day. With all of these suggestions, it’s important to start small and make steady progress toward your goals. Pick one or maybe two of these ideas to get you started, and then let me know how it is going for you! This week, I also share some happy updates from listener Dawn who was going through RCIA and waiting for an annulment to go through. My newest book will be available in February 2020, but it is already available for pre-order. Check out Giving Thanks and Letting Go: Reflections on the Gift of Motherhood on Amazon and pre-order your copy today. Until January 31, 2020, use code “BEAN” at checkout and get 20% off your pre-order! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Claire Swinarski joins me to talk about some of her favorite women saints (and saints to be), including St. Therese of Lisieux and Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange, who founded the Oblate Sisters in order to allow African-American women to enter religious life in the US. Claire Swinarski is the creator and host of The Catholic Feminist podcast and author of Girl, Arise!: A Catholic Feminist's Invitation to Live Boldly, Love Your Faith, and Change the World. Claire has degrees in journalism and political science from the University of Wisconsin and lives in Milwaukee with her husband and two kids. Claire also tells us about an exciting pilgrimage she is planning, going to France in 2020. The trip will include sites such as Lisieux, where St. Therese was raised, and Rouen, where St. Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. The trip will wrap up with an optional extension to Lourdes. You can get more information at Claire’s website. My newest book will be available in February 2020, but it is already available for pre-order. Check out Giving Thanks and Letting Go: Reflections on the Gift of Motherhood on Amazon and pre-order your copy today. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Happy New Years Girlfriends! Today I share another popular episode from the Girlfriend’s archive: How to Find Out Your Gifts. The New Year is a great time to reassess and reflect on what unique gifts God has blessed you with, and how you can use them in the coming year. On a personal note, I’m in the midst of preparing for my son Ambrose’s wedding on January 3rd, so I’m taking another week off from my usual recording schedule. Please say a prayer for him and his fiancé as they get closer to their special day! _Snippet from the Show: Vocation is not WHAT you do—it’s who you are. _ There has been a lot of conversation recently about finding out your gifts, and I have been hearing from women who are seeking to know what their gifts are. They particularly want to know how God wants them to use their gifts in their lives. How do we do that? First of all, I think it’s important that we have these conversations in light of the idea of “vocation,” which is a counter-cultural concept. Some ways I recommend finding out what your gifts are include: 1) What are you good at? This one is obvious, but sometimes we don’t pay attention to our natural skills. What comes easy for you that is difficult for others? 2) What do others say? What do the people in your life tell you your gifts are? Ask them! 3) Pray about it. 4) Ask God what your gifts are, and the ways in which he wants you to use them in service to others. 5) Remember the idea of hidden talents. The gifts that God has given you might not be obvious and/or glamorous. Be open to the idea that your skills may be a hidden part of your service to God and others, rather than obvious “talents” that others readily appreciate. Finally, I answer a question from listener Karen who shares about her struggle with making fitness a regular part of her everyday routine. Thank you to those of you who have left iTunes reviews! If you haven’t already, please consider leaving Girlfriends a review, or sharing the podcast with friends or family might enjoy it. Thank you! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week we are getting back to basics. We always talk about how we can find peace, balance, and joy in family living, so here are six basic things to do every day to get there. Snippet from the Show There are times in your life when you don’t feel like you can go to God…If that’s you, know that you’re in my heart and in my prayers. I understand that struggle. But don’t let yourself stay there. SHOWNOTES Pray. We are made for relationship with God, and you can’t have one if you aren’t talking to him! Connect. Look for meaningful ways to love and connect with others in your life, from strangers to family members. Create. We are all made to be creative and to enjoy creative things, so make some time for just that every day. (Here is the link to the novel I mentioned, All the Light We cannot See) Move. I am always saying this, and guess what? It’s still true! Your body is an important part of who you are, and it was made for movement. Plan. Thinking about the future and planning ahead can be a great way to improve your mood and keep your daily struggles in perspective. Learn. Look for ways you can grow your brain and expand your knowledge by reading, talking, and asking questions every day. Here is the link to A Mother’s Rule of Life (https://media.ascensionpress.com/podcast/gf136/) by Holly Pierlot, the helpful book I mentioned at the start of the show. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Preparing for Christmas during advent shouldn't be that different from preparing for the arrival of a new baby. In today's episode, I reflect on the ways that our Advent waiting mirrors the kind of waiting we do while pregnant and expecting. Here are three simple ways we can focus on preparing for Jesus this Advent season. Clean. When we “nest” while pregnant, we prepare our homes and living spaces to welcome a new baby. While preparing for Jesus during Advent, we can get rid of some of our clutter and clean our homes, but even more importantly, we can clean our hearts and souls for him. We can go to confession, forgive those we need to forgive, and look for ways to let go of anger and resentment over the past. Choose. Just like we must choose what we will buy for a new baby, we need to choose how we will spend our money during Advent. What will we buy and how will it add to (not detract from) our celebration of Jesus during the upcoming Christmas season? We also must choose how we will spend our time. What things will we say “no” to in order to preserve our peace and sanity and really enjoy the upcoming family gatherings and celebrations? Savor. Not every moment of being pregnant is bliss, and neither is the Advent season, but there is peace, beauty, and joy in waiting if we look for it. Look for small moments to soak up the season, relax, pray, and connect with Jesus, even in the midst of the crazy-busy times ahead. *News and Updates: * My newest book, You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth, is available for order! Use the code, GIRLFRIENDS to receive ten percent off your order. Don’t miss out on this special available exclusively to listeners of the Girlfriends podcast. I can’t wait to share this book with you! Upcoming Events: Saturday, January 11, 2020 You’re Worth It Retreat St. Michael Church Exeter, NH February 20-23, 2020 Speaking at Los Angeles Religious Education Congress Anaheim, CA Saturday, March 7, 2020 You’re Worth It Retreat Precious Blood Parish Jasper, IN Saturday, March 28, 2020 Women’s Conference Norwich, CT Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Advent! Are you feeling too busy and overwhelmed? Here’s help! This week, I am sharing some easy Advent ideas that are practical and do-able for even the busiest of moms. Paper Chain of Prayer Make a paper chain with a link for each day until Christmas. Write a different prayer intention or fun activity on each link and then every day take off a link, read it, and pray for that intention or do that fun activity. It’s so simple! You can do this. *Use Scripture * You might consider reading from the Bible each day, perhaps a few lines from Luke or Isaiah that are Advent or Christmas-themed. Or, memorize a passage of Scripture with your kids as a way of making God’s word about Jesus’ coming part of your heart and mind every day. Make a treat to save Advent is a time of watching, waiting, and preparing for Jesus. One fun way to underscore this idea in your family is to make a Christmas treat, like candy or cookies, and freeze it to enjoy at Christmas. I mentioned my recipe for cream cheese mints as a fun and easy one to try with kids, and you can find that here. Celebrate feast days! There are so many feasts in the season of Advent. Pick one and celebrate with a special treat or activity on that day. St. Nicholas Dec 6 Juan Diego Dec 9 Guadalupe Dec 12 St. Lucy Dec 13 Also, consider reading the O Antiphons during the last 7 days before Christmas. ** Make snowflakes!** Follow this easy list of instructions to make gorgeous paper snowflakes to decorate your home or just have some fun with your kids. No crafting expertise necessary! Pray a Christmas Novena There is the St. Andrew Christmas Novena that lasts through all of Advent, but you might also just pray the simpler, shorter Christmas Novena with Pray More Novenas this year. Play Advent music You might already be listening to Christmas music, but consider adding some Advent music to your days as well. Here is an Advent playlist on Spotify that I enjoy. Do you have one you like? Send it to me! ** Go to something at your parish** Whether it be a Reconciliation service, choir concert, craft fair, or nativity play, consider participating in something as part of your parish life this Advent season. This week I also answer a question from listener Nina who is exhausted from long bouts of illness with her 3 young children. Have feedback or an idea to share? I would love to hear from you! I recently recorded an audio version of my newest book, You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth. More to come! My newest book, You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth, is available for order! Use the code, GIRLFRIENDS to receive ten percent off your order. Don’t miss out on this special available exclusively to listeners of the Girlfriends podcast. I can’t wait to share this book with you! Upcoming Events: Saturday, January 11, 2020 You’re Worth It Retreat St. Michael Church Exeter, NH February 20-23, 2020 Speaking at Los Angeles Religious Education Congress Anaheim, CA Saturday, March 7, 2020 You’re Worth It Retreat Precious Blood Parish Jasper, IN Saturday, March 28, 2020 Women’s Conference Norwich, CT Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is Elizabeth Foss, wife, mother, author, and founder of the women’s ministry Take Up and Read. Join us as we talk about how to immerse ourselves in the Word of God this Advent. Elizabeth also shares about the newest journal available from Take Up and Read, O Radiant Dawn: An Advent and Christmas Journal, which focuses on daily Scripture study through the seasons of Advent and Christmas. We chat about the challenges of busy Advent seasons in family life as well the very real importance of taking time for daily prayer, especially during phases of life that are extra busy. We also discuss some of the ways we can become distracted and discouraged by the things we read and see online and how we can instead focus on real progress in our own homes and hearts. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

It’s Thanksgiving week! Are you practicing an attitude of gratitude? Even though this is a special time for us to remember the importance of gratitude, being grateful in the everyday is something we can all work on improving. This week, I’m sharing 6 tips on how to be more grateful every day. Snippet from the Show 1. Write it and speak it. You might consider keeping a gratitude journal or using an app, but even if that’s not your style, you can practice saying out loud the things you are thankful for. “I’m so glad I have a working dishwasher!” or “I am so grateful for my job!” Speak these things about loud as a reminder to yourself that you are grateful, but also as a good example to people around you. 2. Say grace. This idea comes from this great quote from G.K. Chesterton: “You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.” What a wonderful idea to say “grace” not only before meals, but before enjoying any good thing that comes from God! 3. Remember tougher times. Call to mind times when you really were struggling, personally, professionally, physically or financially, and give thanks to God for getting you through those tough times. But then, also be sure to focus for a moment on being grateful that you are not currently going through those tough things right now. God got you through it, and you are probably a stringer, wiser, more compassionate person because of it. 4. Pray. Make gratitude a focused part of your daily prayer time. At the start of your day, or at the end of your day, pause and give thanks for the good things in your life, those things you especially appreciated or are looking forward to. Ask the Holy Spirit to inspire you toward gratitude in all things. 5. Be grateful in response to negative things. This is hard! But so worth working on! Try to get in the habit of thinking of something to be grateful for whenever you face a negative situation. Did your car break down on the way to work? Thank God you have a car! Thank God you have a job! Thank God you have a mother-in-law who can come pick you up! The more you do this, the more it will become your reflexive response. 6. Reach out to others. It’s hard to throw a pity party for yourself when you are focused on the needs of others. Look for a way to volunteer your time in service to other people who may ot have all the blessings you enjoy. This is a way of reminding yourself of the many blessings you have, but also a way to cultivate a generous habit of reaching out to others instead of focusing on yourself. In feedback this week, I share a question from Diane about starting a women’s group at her parish. Some resources I mention: Momnipotent, an 8-week study for women You Are Enough (email me for the companion journal!) You’re Worth It! Website for discussion questions based on the Sunday readings Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Melissa Girard joins us on Girlfriends to talk about the power of sacred art to reveal universal truths about humanity, the sacred, and man’s relationship with God. **_Snippet from the Show: _ Works of sacred art don’t simply draw you into themselves—they draw you into the greatness of God. We discuss the book, Looking at a Masterpiece by Madelynn Stebbins, a collection of reflections that explore the themes of more than forty of the world’s finest artistic treasures—from masters such as Piero della Francesca, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and more. The book includes full color, high-quality reproductions of these great works of art. Stebbins writes about the universal truths these classic works illuminate, infusing her commentary with the wisdom of saints, popes, theologians, historians, and poets. Melissa shares about the importance of incorporating inspiring art in our everyday lives and in our children’s lives. The companion book, aimed at children, is Let’s Look at a Masterpiece. Melissa Girard is editor for Emmaus Road Publishing. She has edited books by Scott Hahn, Emily Stimpson Chapman, and the recent bestseller Why Celibacy? by Fr. Carter Griffin. Melissa is also the editor of the award-winning Old and New children's book series by Maura Roan McKeegan. Also mentioned in this week’s show is the related book, The Sacred That Surrounds Us by Andrea Zachman. I recently recorded an audio version of my newest book, You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth. More to come! Have feedback or an idea to share? I would love to hear from you! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

I was inspired to take on this topic by my recent reading of Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins. (I did not finish reading because of the insane levels of foul language, so I do not necessarily recommend it!). In it, the author tells his life story of overcoming many obstacles and accomplishing great things. In my reading, I found myself agreeing that many of us can do hard things—sometimes much harder things than we think we can—but I was bothered that God seemed to be left out of the equation. And so I thought we might talk about how to do difficult things, why we do them, and how God is part of that process. You have already done hard things. I know you can do hard things because you have already done some: going to college, getting married, having children, working a job, buying a house, etc. I know you can do hard things. Sometimes, though, we need someone to say that out loud so we can recognize what we are capable of. Break down hard things into smaller steps. Do you want to run a marathon? Start with just a couple of miles. Do you want to write a book? Start with one chapter at a time. Make a daunting tasks into much smaller, more do-able tasks and then … get started! Check in with someone. For many of us, this would be a loving friend or our spouse - someone who knows us and can remind us of why we set the goal in the first place, and that we are strong enough to accomplish it. You are going to have weaker moments on the way to your hard things. Find a source of encouragement and support before you even start. Rely on God. It is only by the grace of God that any of us can accomplish anything in our lives - let alone something hard! Figure out what hard things God might be calling you to through prayer, and then turn to God for the strength you need to do them. I recently recorded an audio version of my newest book, You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth. More to come! Have feedback or an idea to share? I would love to hear from you! My newest book, You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth, is available for order! Use the code, GIRLFRIENDS to receive ten percent off your order. Don’t miss out on this special available exclusively to listeners of the Girlfriends podcast. I can’t wait to share this book with you! Upcoming Events: Saturday, November 16, 2019 You Are Enough Retreat Holy Family Catholic Church Orlando, FL Saturday, January 11, 2020 You’re Worth It Retreat St. Michael Church Exeter, NH February 20-23, 2020 Speaking at Los Angeles Religious Education Congress Anaheim, CA Saturday, March 7, 2020 You’re Worth It Retreat Precious Blood Parish Jasper, IN Saturday, March 28, 2020 Women’s Conference Norwich, CT Would you like to have me come to your community to speak or give my retreat, You Are Enough, based on the themes in my newest book? Get all the information here! ANNOUNCEMENTS Join our Girlfriends Podcast Facebook group! Check out the Catholic Momcast featuring Lisa Hendey and me, available on iTunes! RETREAT The You're Worth It! Retreat for Women Find out more about bringing this unique event for women to your parish, group, or community. Read more and request more information here. Or find out more about having me come speak at your parish or conference. Subscribe to Girlfriends in iTunes Subscribe to Girlfriends in Stitcher About Danielle Bean Danielle's Books on Amazon CatholicMom.com Contact: Email Danielle Bean Rate and Review Girlfriends in iTunes Leave voice feedback Girlfriends on Facebook Danielle Bean on Facebook Danielle Bean on Twitter Danielle Bean on Instagram Connect with me on Voxer! Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

It’s easy to downplay the art of homemaking as home decor, but it’s so much more. In fact, one of the greatest capabilities of the feminine genius is the ability to make a place feel like home. Today I’m sitting down with Dr. Carrie Gress, author of Theology of Home: Finding the Eternal in the Everyday to discuss the power of creating a home both physically and spiritually and how we can more fully embrace our ability to build our homes for the sake of our families. Learn more about Dr. Carrie Gress at her website (http://www.carriegress.com). Snippet from the Show Home doesn’t happen because you have beautiful throw pillows, it happens because there are people making sacrifices and giving of themselves to their loved ones. See more at ascensionpress.com/girlfriends Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

After our recent episode on "Toddler Hacks for Weary Moms," I heard from listener Cathy in the Girlfriends facebook group (join the group here (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1139431999546566/)!). Cathy writes: “Danielle - I just listened to the podcast on Toddler Hacks. You had a lot of good suggestions. I used to do the reading and the quiet time with my kids. We read about 30-45 min twice a day. They loved me reading to them. So I have a podcast idea for the other end of the spectrum. I am an empty nester now. I have been for a while (my children are 29, 31 and 33). Sometimes I get this empty feeling. As hard as it was raising them there was a structure to it. I knew where I was supposed to be and what I was supposed to be doing. It was preset for me. Now sometimes I feel a little lost. I have a full life. I work full time, exercise, play golf, teach religious formation, spend time with my kids and Mom. Yet I still miss the comfort of the schedule when all the kids were home. So any thoughts?” I can really relate to Cathy’s question as my “emptying nest” is something I have given a lot of thought to recently, as I have an upcoming book with Ave Maria Press on the topic: Giving Thanks and Letting Go: Reflections on the Gift of Motherhood. Some ideas I want to share with Cathy and others: 1) It’s OK to feel sad or lost. This is a time of change, and none of us will ever find perfect happiness here on earth. It’s OK to feel sad and acknowledge some of the negative feelings you have. 2) Give yourself some structure. Perhaps you might consider adding some work or other activities to your days, but maybe you simply would benefit from being more structured in the things you ar3e already doing. Think of giving yourself a daily or weekly schedule that you stick to. 3) Offer it up. Suffering and feeling loss at this stage in your life can have great value and meaning, especially if you offer it up for others. You might consider offering up the pain of your kids moving away FOR your kids and their intentions. 4) Find new ways to “mother.” Might God be calling you to nurture your marriage or be a “mother” to people in your workplace in need of love and caring. Where can you practice your feminine gifts of compassion, sensitivity, and generosity in your life these days? 5) Think of this time as an opportunity. Though some discomfort is normal, think of this time as an invitation from God to grow closer to him and perhaps accomplish some “deep digging” in your spiritual life. It’s an opportunity to grow. I recently recorded an audio version of my newest book, You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth. More to come! Have feedback or an idea to share? I would love to hear from you! My newest book, You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth, is available for order! Use the code, GIRLFRIENDS to receive ten percent off your order. Don’t miss out on this special available exclusively to listeners of the Girlfriends podcast. I can’t wait to share this book with you! *Upcoming Events: * Saturday, November 16, 2019 You Are Enough Retreat Holy Family Catholic Church Orlando, FL Saturday, January 11, 2020 You’re Worth It Retreat St. Michael Church Exeter, NH February 20-23, 2020 Speaking at Los Angeles Religious Education Congress Anaheim, CA Saturday, March 7, 2020 You’re Worth It Retreat Precious Blood Parish Jasper, IN Saturday, March 28, 2020 Women’s Conference Norwich, CT Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

It can be so hard to pray for something very good and very specific and then feel like God is letting your prayers go unanswered. Or worse, like he is ignoring our prayers altogether. How can we handle feelings of discouragement and frustration when this happens? Was Jesus lying when he told us, “Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7)? Well, no, but prayer is not like a gumball machine in the sky where you put your money in, turn the handle, and collect your prize. It’s more complicated than that. In this week’s show, I encourage you to consider that our prayer petitions need to be in accordance with God’s will, that we must trust in God’s goodness, and that our lives on earth will never be free from suffering. In addition, I invite you to consider 3 things when it seems that your prayers are going unanswered: 1) God might be answering a bigger prayer. God’s ways are not our ways, and he knows what we need and what is good for us even better than we do. When we pray for something very specific, i our shortsightedness, we might not realize the much better thing God is planning for us in the long run. 2) Important work is done in the waiting. We may not like it, but when we must wait for God’s answer to our prayers, we are being called to grow in love and trust. We are practicing humility and patience in ways that help us to grow more holy. We are learning to love and trust and know God as he truly is. 3) God never promised us pain-free living. The world is full of suffering and suffering is an inevitable part of the human experience. God never promised to make us happy in this life, but in the next. He set the example for us first, by suffering and dying on the cross out of love for each of us. If Jesus did not merit a pain-free life, why should we? I recently recorded an audio version of my newest book, You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth. More to come! Have feedback or an idea to share? I would love to hear from you! My newest book, You Are Enough: What Women of the Bible Teach You About Your Mission and Worth, is available for order! Use the code, GIRLFRIENDS to receive ten percent off your order. Don’t miss out on this special available exclusively to listeners of the Girlfriends podcast. I can’t wait to share this book with you! Upcoming Events: Saturday, November 16, 2019 You Are Enough Retreat Holy Family Catholic Church Orlando, FL Saturday, January 11, 2020 You’re Worth It Retreat St. Michael Church Exeter, NH Saturday, March 7, 2020 You’re Worth It Retreat Precious Blood Parish Jasper, IN Saturday, March 28, 2020 Women’s Conference Norwich, CT Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week my guest is Chloe Langr, mom, wife, author, and podcaster. Chloe is author of the recently published journal for Catholic brides, Created For Love: Reflections for the Catholic Bride-to-Be. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1681923777?pf_rd_p=183f5289-9dc0-416f-942e-e8f213ef368b&pf_rd_r=6VPSBDM6152JDG7G6M45) Chloe shares her own experiences as a young bride preparing for her wedding day, as well as her experiences in early marriage and motherhood. "There are as many ways to live the Feminine Genius as there are women walking the earth, each as beautiful as the next." Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week my guest is Kathryn Jean Lopez, a senior fellow at the National Review Institute and author of many books, including her most recent, [A Year With the Mystics: Visionary Wisdom for Daily Living](https://www.amazon.com/Year-Mystics-Visionary-Wisdom-Living/dp/1505109043/ref=sr11?keywords=a+year+with+the+mystics&qid=1569515744&sr=8-1). Kathryn shares how she came to write this inspirational, page-a-day spiritual resource, and the ways in which her own faith life was enriched by her work on the book. She also discusses the idea of mysticism itself, what that means, and the ways in which we are all called to nurture our relationship with God every day. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Are you a mom of a toddler? Are you exhausted? I recently asked for people to send me questions on Instagram, and more than one listener requested that I do a show about surviving the toddler years. So I spent some time thinking about what things I would share that helped me the most when my kids were small and ended up with six hacks that can help! "God made you the parent of your child on purpose. He picked you and that child from all of eternity for each other. He knows all about your weaknesses and your flaws and your failures and all the unique ways your child is challenging you. He knows all about it and he called you to it anyway.” SHOWNOTES 1. Make a sleep space in your bedroom. Small children have a way of disrupting our sleep even long after the baby years are over. When I found myself struggling with kids who would wake up at night and want to come into our bed, I put a crib mattress on the floor in our room. Any small person who wanted to was welcome to come to our room at night and sleep near us, but not to wake us up. It really worked great, for many years and with many of our children. 2. Have quiet time every day. Even if your child is no longer napping, you can still enforce quiet time each day. At least an hour each afternoon where you are doing some quiet independent activity, like reading or drawing. This is a great way to teach them the need for rest, but also to teach them that you have a need for rest and they should respect Mommy’s boundaries. 3. Read to them. Read lots together! Reading bonds you together and is a pleasant way to learn new things and be inspired by beautiful things while instilling in them a love for reading. Read to them before bed or before naps, but also any time when you are having a tough time together. Reading is a simple way to enjoy something together. 4. Remember today is not forever. Give yourself the gift of a broader perspective and don’t give in to the temptation of thinking that this is hard and it will be hard forever. It will not. Toddlers do grow up. And there are so many great and freeing things that will happen for you as they change and grow. 5. Connect with others. Find friends who are in a similar stage of parenting and connect with them to commiserate and laugh about some of the tough stuff. Also look for friendships with people who might have kids a little older than yours so you can be encouraged by their example. 6. Pray for their futures. Pray for your young children with an eye to their futures. Pray for their vocations, pray for their future spouses, pray to be a help to them in all that God has planned for their lives. It’s always good to pray for our kids, but praying with a forward-looking focus is very encouraging and hopeful for struggling moms. Resources * How to Pray Like Mary (https://ascensionpress.com/collections/collection-book/products/how-to-pray-like-mary) * Guardian Angel Prayers Angel sent by God to guide me, Be my light and walk beside me. Be my guardian and protect me. On the paths of life direct me. Amen. Angel of God my guardian dear, To whom God’s love entrusts me here, Ever this day be at my side To light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen. And the prayer I shared from my own childhood, in answer to Carly who wanted a family prayer time script to follow: Thank you God for my happy day. Take care of me tonight. I’m sorry if I did something wrong today. God bless me, and God bless my whole family. Take us all to heaven one day. I love you Jesus. I love you Mary Teach me to love you more. Amen. Events Saturday, November 16, 2019: You Are Enough Retreat at Holy Family Catholic Church in Orlando, FL Saturday, January 11, 2020: You’re Worth It Retreat, St. Michael Church, Exeter, NH Saturday, March 7, 2020: You’re Worth It Retreat at Precious Blood Parish in Jasper, IN Saturday, March 28, 2020: Women’s Conference in Norwich, CT Want me to come to your community to speak or give my retreat, You Are Enough, based on the themes in my newest book? Get all the information at daniellebean.com (http://daniellebean.com/retreats/) Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This is a scary topic for many parents—how can we manage our teens on social media? I am here to offer some help and encouragement, first of all that you can be of help to your kids with regard to social media, and second of all, it is your right and your responsibility to do so as their parents. I also share feedback from listener Marisa who found the confidence she needed to make a lifestyle change after our episode on being more confident. Way to go, Marisa! “We worry all the time about what kinds of media our kids are being exposed to … There is a very real challenge Catholics parents have in this culture that is so opposed to many of our values.” SHOWNOTES 1. Start with their phones. Do they need a phone? Should they have a smart phone? What kind of phone, with what kind of access, and when are they allowed to use it? All legitimate questions, and the answers will vary kid by kid, but please know that your child does not need to have a smartphone simply because everyone else their age has one. You are the parent, and you get to decide. 2. Look at their social media. What apps do they want to use and why? How will they use them? Should you have access to their accounts at all times? If you are not familiar with the apps they are using, can you enlist the help of someone who is? 3. Talk with them about social media. Ask why they like it, what they do there. Ask how other kids use it. Does anyone every use it in a mean or inappropriate way? What are some of the “unwritten rules” for ways that kids use this media and why do those exist? Step into this part of the world with your kids and engage them there. 4. Know you are going to mess up. No filter is perfect, no parent is perfect, no rule is foolproof. Your kids are going to work around your rules, you are going to neglect to ask something, they are going to accidentally access something they should not, and you are going to be devastated. Well, I pray that won’t happen, but it very likely will at some point. It’s not the end of the world. In fact, it is an opportunity to teach your kids why we believe certain things are wrong, how they hurt us, and what God’s plan is and how it’s different. Also, this is an opportunity for you to show them what we can do when we mess up. The ways in which we can seek and receive forgiveness from one another and from God teach them about God’s merciful love. Resources * The Museum of Family Prayer (https://www.museumoffamilyprayer.org)in Easton, Massachusetts * Girlfriends Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/girlfriendspodcast/) Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is Jackie Angel, singer/songwriter, wife, mother, worship leader, and now co-author of Pray, Decide, and Don’t Worry: 5 Steps to Discerning God’s Will (https://ascensionpress.com/products/pray-decide-and-don-t-worry-five-steps-to-discerning-god-s-will?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=discernment&utm_content=gfangel). This book is available for pre-order now at ascensionpress.com. Jackie co-wrote the book with her husband Bobby Angel, as well as Fr. Mike Schmitz! The book is a practical and encouraging look at how to make important decisions and get over the fear and paralysis that sometimes hold us back. For more information about Jackie’s work in music and ministry, check our her website: JackieFrancois.com (http://www.jackiefrancois.com) In this show, I also respond to listener feedback from Cassi who is opening her home and building a family in a unique way, and Jill who is considering re-entering the workplace after twenty years as an at-home mom. Snippet from the Show “If we’re not bearing fruit (peace, joy, kindness, love, chastity, modest, self-control) then we’re not in the right place, and maybe God’s calling you to something else.” Resources * Bobby Angel’s video, Trying to Be Perfect? (https://media.ascensionpress.com/video/trying-to-be-perfect/) * Pray, Decide, and Don’t Worry: 5 Steps to Discerning God’s Will (https://ascensionpress.com/products/pray-decide-and-don-t-worry-five-steps-to-discerning-god-s-will?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=discernment&utm_content=gfangel) Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week helps us take on an important topic that many of us avoid—personal finances. Victoria Sechrist is a financial trainer and a newly-married Catholic (she and her husband met on CatholicMatch!). She and I discuss planning for retirement, managing debt, making investments, and talking about money in marriage. Victoria’s website is ConsumerCatholic, and she also recommends many of the tools and resources available at Compass Catholic Ministries. This week I also respond to listener feedback from Sarah who is a new aunt and godmother to Matthew and wanting to be the best aunt and godmother she can be. _Snippet from the Show “Everything in finances is fixable. There’s always a solution, there’s always a strategy.” _ RESOURCES * Compass Catholic Ministries (https://compasscatholic.org/) * Consumer Catholic (https://www.consumercatholic.com/) * Nerdwallet (https://www.nerdwallet.com/) * Credit Karma (https://www.creditkarma.com/) Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Do you struggle to make family prayer time happen in your home? Is it a goal of yours to pray together as a family, and yet you find yourself failing to make it happen? This week, I answer a question from listener Amy who is struggling to make family time happen, especially with a change in schedules as the kids have gone back to school. I also respond to listener feedback about getting started with running (Jillian), and about coping with hard changes (Eleanor). Snippet from the Show “Prayer is a very intimate thing. Sometimes people struggle to pray as a family or as a couple because it’s very intimate. There are parts that will remain very personal, but family prayer is a beautiful way to bond together as a family.” SHOWNOTES Here are my thoughts for ways to make family prayer happen in your home and your family on a regular basis: 1) Plan ahead. It’s not going to happen if you don’t schedule it and make a plan for when it can happen in the first place. Take a look at your daily schedule and find a place where you can make prayer part of your family routine. 2) Know that it doesn’t have to look a certain way. Your family is unique, and so that means the way your family prays together will also be unique. Don’t compare yourselves to what others do. Do what makes sense for you and your family. 3) Know that family prayer changes over time. As your kids grow and your family life changes, so will the ways and times that you pray together. Don’t hold on to some outdated idea of what you should be doing. Do what makes sense for you, right now, with the kind of family you are, right now. 4) Start small and start where you are. Here comes that Girlfriends theme where I remind you: Do not let the perfect become the enemy of the good. Start where you are and make a small commitment to family prayer. Just starting is the hardest part! 5) Be creative. Vary the ways that you pray, the kinds of prayers you pray together, who leads the prayers, what books you might use, etc. There are so many different kinds of prayers in our Catholic tradition. Introduce your kids (and yourself!) to some of them during family prayer times. 6) Take advantage of small moments in your day. Driving to school? Waiting in a parking lot? Folding laundry together? Cooking dinner? Look for small opportunities in your day to offer a word or two of prayer. Thank God for good things, ask God for help, offer your work to him. This is ultimately what prayer is all about—cultivating a natural relationship with God whom we turn to throughout our busy days. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Author Lindsay Schlegel joins us this week for a show where we discuss how parenting can help us grow closer to God. That is the theme of Lindsay’s book, [Don’t Forget to Say Thank You: And Other Parenting Lessons That Brought Me Closer to God](https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Forget-Say-Thank-CatholicMom-com/dp/1594718091/ref=sr11?crid=3QCGKARKIO9VS&keywords=don%27t+forget+to+say+thank+you&qid=1565968942&s=gateway&sprefix=don%27t+forget+to+say+%2Caps%2C194&sr=8-1). You can learn more about Lindsay and her work at her website, LindsaySchlegel.com. Also, look for a new podcast Lindsay will be launching very soon, called Quote Me. I also share feedback from listener Ann-Marie who shared pictures of her Mary garden and a Litany of Kindness that she wrote. Check out her prayer below. Snippet from the Show “All of the things we want for our kids, God wants for us in an even more perfect way.” SHOWNOTES LITANY OF KINDNESS . . . When I meet with those I have an aversion towards, Jesus help me to choose kindness. When I compose bitter responses to others, Jesus help me silence my thoughts and turn to your heart. When I am tempted to bear a grudge, Help me see myself as I am: a pouting, childish weakling. When I am tempted to be envious of others, Help me be thankful and content with the many gifts you’ve given me. When I am tempted to judge another by their outward actions, Remind me I know not of her motives. When I find myself in a difficult situation, Help me to lovingly accept whatever you send into my life. When I am impatient and angered by those around me, Jesus, deflate my pride and help me choose humility. When there is a lack of trust in a relationship, Help me not to be suspicious of him/her, but to turn my thoughts to you. When I am given to over sensitivity, Help me avoid brooding over real or imagined slights. When I am with an overly sensitive person, Help me choose to exercise patience and charity. When I am self seeking and full of pride, Help me remember and consider my own sins. When I perform a kind deed, Help me offer it to you and not dwell or boast about it. When I perform little actions of consideration, Help me remember that God sees my sacrifice and is pleased. When I have pain, sorrow and suffering, Help me hide it in You, and be kind and cheerful to others. When I am irritated by those around me, Help me bear their burdens, as Christ bears mine. When I am frustrated by another, Help me to love them because I love Christ in them. When I am tired and discouraged, Help me choose to carry out my vocation as helper. When I am contentious and find fault with others, Help me cultivate an agreement as it is not all about me. Give me the grace to offer you a heart free from resentment, And the strength to pray for those who have hurt me. Train my eyes to be kind, recognizing faults, but seeing past them for love of you, Jesus. For all I see and hear, give me the grace to put on a kind interpretation, Which will help destroy the bitterness of my judgments. Help me forgo some trifling right, bear offenses, and renounce having the last word, So that I cultivate kind thoughts in my heart instead of an argument. To give joy to others, I must have it myself. Help me possess simple loving thoughts to dispel the clouds of depression, as you are the source of all joy. When I am weary and know not what to do, remind me that my vocation is to put on love and do my own tasks well. When trying to cooperate with others, help me put aside my own views when justice is not violated, in deference to those of others. Give me the grace of heroic self denial. In all occasions, around all people, remind me that I am not bound to speak out at all. Kindness, good will, charity, and forgiveness may run directly contrary to my feelings and inclinations—help me do them anyway. The obligation to undo the hurt caused by my unkind words does not disappear by my ignoring it. Help me to silence my overgrown sense of curiosity and resist the urge to give unsolicited advice. Help me to never say behind a person’s back what I would not say to his/her face, and to mind my own business. Help me remember that harsh words cause wounds that are hard to heal, and that the best remedy to angry words is silence. When I observe human weakness and am tempted to be sarcastic, remind me it does not glorify God. Remind me that destructive criticism is foolish and futile, and that it says more about me than the person I criticize. Help me always look for the good in the world and in your children and speak of it frequently. When I am wrong, help me admit it quickly and emphatically. Remind me that kindness and warm responses help people far more than anger and harsh words. Help me be receptive to the hurt feelings of others, and to swallow my hurt feelings and my vanity to avoid a quarrel. Please help me exercise love and the right of charity. Help me learn to be silent—to avoid sin, to safeguard virtue, and to grow in union with

This week we are talking about seasons of change in motherhood, and how we can best cope with them. Whether you are sending a child off to college or to kindergarten, moving into a new neighborhood or starting a new job, change can be a challenging thing to cope with. Snippet from the Show “A change may be hard, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. The more we focus on our gratitude, the more we can see the positives of that change.” SHOWNOTES Here are some ideas that can help: Let yourself feel the feelings. Don’t “stuff” your feelings, but allow yourself to feel them. Be honest about the fact that when a child moves out, there are parts of that change that are a loss to you, and it hurts. But don’t “sit down” in there. Do not wallow in your feelings. Make sure you know that your thoughts are the boss of your feelings. In other words, you cannot control how you feel, but you can control how you think and act on those feelings. Be gentle with yourself. Build margin into your days, let go of some more demanding things in your life and in your schedule to allow yourself the time and energy you need to make this transition. (Here is the homeschooling book I mentioned in this part : Teaching from Rest by Sarah Mackenzie) Start something new. Think of a new habit you might like to begin and attach it to this time of change. Look for ways that this time of transition might be an opportunity for new, positive things in your life. Give thanks. So many of the changes we struggle with are also enormous blessings. Remember to pause and give thanks for your children, for your motherhood, for your home and family, even as you struggle with changes inside of those relationships. This week, I also share feedback from listeners Lillian and Jenay, and I answer a question from Taylor about vaccines. RESOURCES My episode on The Art of Letting Go (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-36-the-art-of-letting-go-035/id1073361940?i=1000374713722) EVENTS Saturday, November 16, 2019: You Are Enough Retreat at Holy Family Catholic Church in Orlando, FL Saturday, January 11, 2020: You’re Worth It Retreat, St. Michael Church, Exeter, NH Saturday, March 7, 2020: You’re Worth It Retreat at Precious Blood Parish in Jasper, IN Saturday, March 28, 2020: Women’s Conference in Norwich, CT Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

This week’s guest is my friend Kathryn Whitaker, author of Live Big, Love Bigger: Getting Real with BBQ, Sweet Tea, and a Whole Lotta Jesus (https://www.amazon.com/Live-Big-Love-Bigger-Getting/dp/1594719144/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=live+big+love+bigger&qid=1565106842&s=gateway&sr=8-1). Kathryn shares beautifully about how this book came to be, and also about her struggles with faith, marriage, parenting, and trusting in God’s goodness. Kathryn is such a real and authentic voice in the Church today; you are not going to want to miss all that she shares in her book, on social media, and in this conversation. When you pre-order her book, be sure to get all your bonus content (https://teamwhitaker.org/live-big-love-bigger-book/)! Snippet from the Show “Sacrifice is an important component of love. Teaching our kids about sacrifice is a countercultural (but necessary) part of living a Christ-centered life.” Connect with Kathryn Whitaker: * Kathryn’s website (https://teamwhitaker.org) * Kathryn on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/kwhitaker96/) * Kathryn on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TeamWhitaker) * Kathryn on Twitter (https://twitter.com/home) RESOURCES Also mentioned in this week’s show was my recent conversation with Emily Jaminet (https://media.ascensionpress.com/podcast/gf131/) about devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. You can learn more about Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at Enthronements.com (https://enthronements.com). EVENTS * Saturday, November 16, 2019: You Are Enough Retreat at Holy Family Catholic Church in Orlando, FL * Saturday, January 11, 2020: You’re Worth It Retreat, St. Michael Church, Exeter, NH * Saturday, March 7, 2020: You’re Worth It Retreat at Precious Blood Parish in Jasper, IN * Saturday, March 28, 2020: Women’s Conference in Norwich, CT Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Do you struggle with confidence? I think many of us feel alone in our anxieties and insecurities, but it’s very common to lack confidence sometimes. Whether you are starting a new work project, or building a friendship, or growing in your marriage or spiritual life, or setting health goals, many of us worry that we will fail and struggle to feel like we are in control of our circumstances. Snippet from the Show “We think people who are confident don’t feel afraid. But that’s not true. Confident people feel afraid, but they don’t let it stop them.” Shownotes This week, I am sharing five things I think can help you feel more confident: 1) Be discerning about which opinions matter. Some people you will never please, and some people do not share your values and so you wouldn’t want to please them. Be discerning about which opinions and feedback you pay attention to, and don’t waste time on opinions that don’t matter. 2) Take responsibility for yourself. You are in charge of you! Don’t think of yourself as a victim of your circumstances or other people. Decide what you want to change and then get busy doing it. 3) Do not dwell in the past. It’s natural to think about past failures sometimes and feel paralyzed by them. But you are not your past. Your past is something you can learn from and move forward from. You need to make the choice to do that. 4) Watch your language. Do you speak negatively, even just inside your own head? Pay attention to the ways you talk about yourself and about your goals and assess if they are positive or negative. Choose positive language over the negative language that leaves you spiraling downward and never reaching your goals. 5) Do not let fear stop you. Confident people are not people who never feel afraid. Confident people are people who know how to put fear in its place. When you feel afraid, look at it as an opportunity to try something new and learn and grow. We sometimes grow fearful because we think our decisions are permanent and cannot be undone. Know that you can try something, fail, learn from it, and move on. How do you grow your confidence? What struggles or triumphs do you have when it comes to feeling confident and achieving your goals? Send me your feedback and I will share it on a future show! Resources - _The Activated Disciple _ (https://ascensionpress.com/collections/collection-book/products/the-activated-disciple?utm_source=website&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=activateddisciple&utm_term=gf-podcast-186)by Jeff Cavins Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Are you working on organization this summer? Or thinking about ways to approach the fall season with a fresh, new, de-cluttered home or workplace? Today’s guest is here to help. Without guilt or any measure of negativity, Lisa Lawmaster Hess gives you the tools you need to get organized at last. Lisa’s new book is Know Thyself: The Imperfectionist’s Guide to Sorting Your Stuff (https://www.amazon.com/Know-Thyself-Imperfectionists-Guide-Sorting/dp/1681923238), newly available from Our Sunday Visitor. In the book, Hess outlines different personalities and the varying ways we approach working and organizing our stuff. With humility, humor, and a healthy dose of realism, Lisa encourages us all to learn more about ourselves so we can have happier, more functional homes and work spaces. Snippet from the Show “It [organization] is not about beating yourself up, it’s about figuring out what system is going to work to have a more functional life. Find Lisa online in these places: The Porch Swing Chronicles (http://l2hess.blogspot.com) Organizing By Style (http://orgbystyle.blogspot.com) * CatholicMom.com (http://catholicmom.com/author/lhess/) Lisa on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/L2Hess/?ref=hl) Lisa on Twitter (https://twitter.com/L2Hess) Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

I can’t wait for you to meet Olivia Colombo! She is going to encourage you! Olivia is a young adult podcaster, speaker, and activist who is making changes and encouraging others with her positive energy in the Church and in her community. She and I chat about young adults in the Church, being a pro-life witness on college campuses, and the importance of striving for holiness, no matter what your age or stage of life. I also answer listeners’ feedback about handling failure and how to deal with anxiety over our children’s health. Snippet from the Show “We’re thirsting for truth. We don’t want the watered-down Faith, we want the full truth of the Faith.” Connect with Olivia * Olivia on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/oliviarose_art/) * Olivia’s blog (https://www.oliviaroseart.com/blog) * Olivia on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYoJ6DEtdJRW6nOxGl3YYzg?sub_confirmation=1) * Olivia’s podcast: To the Heights (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/to-the-heights/id1467991891) EVENTS * July 30-August 2: Catholic Marketing Network in Lancaster, PA * Saturday, November 16, 2019:You Are Enough Retreat at Holy Family Catholic Church in Orlando, FL * Saturday, January 11, 2020: You’re Worth It Retreat, St. Michael Church, Exeter, NH * Saturday, March 7, 2020:You’re Worth It Retreat at Precious Blood Parish in Jasper, IN * Saturday, March 28, 2020: Women’s Conference in Norwich, CT Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Who among us doesn’t want to influence our significant other? And this is not always a bad thing! We want good things for our husbands and we want them to become all that God has planned for them to be, and so we … nudge, nag, suggest, and criticize. But these are not great ways to communicate. Let’s talk about some ways you can work with your husband to unite you both in common goals, instead of dividing you. Snippet from the Show "Whatever your goal is for your husband, it's not a greater good than him knowing that you love him and accept him." 1) Make a deal. Especially for smaller topics, this can be a light-hearted way to encourage and motivate your husband to do something you want by doing something HE wants in exchange. Make a deal! Tell him if he brings the boys to soccer practice tonight, he can sleep in while you cover rides tomorrow morning. This is especially helpful in encouraging you to consider your husband’s perspective, instead of only your own. 2) Find out what he wants. You know what your goals are for your husband, but do you know what his are? With his health, work, parenting, or spiritual life? Ask him about what his goals are and then look for ways you can support him in achieving them. 3) Ask, don’t tell. Don’t tell him what to do. Ask his opinion of various things. What do you think about that men’s group at our parish? Would you ever enjoy camping with the kids? What is your idea of fun Saturday afternoon? What are some ways you would like for us to spend time together? 4) Be aware of your tone. Sometimes our “hidden agendas” have a way of coloring what we say, even when we don’t mean for them to. Be careful when approaching your husband about a sensitive topic and know that he might feel insecure about some of the ways he knows you want him to change. You might just need to focus on building him up and reassuring him of your unconditional love first. 5) Set the example. Ultimately, you can’t control what your husband does or doesn’t do, but you can control yourself. If you want him to do certain things, like going to daily Mass, eating healthy meals, or taking the kids hiking, go ahead and do those things yourself. Allow him to feel the gentle nudge of your positive example with your having to nag or cajole him into doing what you want. 6) Know that you might be wrong. Your agenda for your husband might not match up with God’s plan for his life. Humbly accept that you don’t have the “perfect plan” for your husband. 7) Pray. Pray to know God’s goals for your husband and the ways in which you can support him. Pray for your husband as well, and offer sacrifices for his benefit. Put your money where your mouth is! Offer up something for your husband’s benefit. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe

Should you homeschool, or send your kids to public school, private school, online school, charter school, or some combination of these things? These are hard decisions we have to make as parents, and at the end of this school year is an opportune time to think about how you will educate your children in the coming year. Listener Carol recently asked if I would share the reasons why we chose to homeschool our kids, and I share those thoughts at the beginning of this episode. Snippet from the Show “Whether you’re deciding to homeschool or send your child to school, we have a lot of emotion attached to these decisions because they matter. Because we love our kids so much and we want what’s best for them.” SHOWNOTES Regardless of what educational choices you are making for your kids, here are some helpful things to keep in mind. 1) Pray about it. You absolutely need to ask for God’s grace when it comes to making important parenting decisions. Also, consider praying to Mary for guidance as well. 2) Get on the same page as your spouse. This is too big a decision to go alone. Make sure you and your spouse can come to an agreement, at least for the coming year. 3) Talk with your kids about it. Different kids have different needs, wants, preferences, and learning styles. Talk with your kids about what works and what doesn;t work for them when it comes to their education. You get to call the shots, but you need their input! 4) Be honest about the investment. Every educational choice has its own pros and cons. Don’t give in to some fantasy about the “perfect” alternate choice for educating your kids. Talk to others and be honest with yourself about what each choice will cost you and other members of your family. 5) Know you can “un-do” your decision if it turns out to be a bad one. Have confidence in whatever you choose, knowing there is “no one right way” to educate your children and also knowing you can change your mind if needed. Get full access to Girlfriends After Hours at daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe To hear more, visit daniellebea.substack.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit daniellebean.substack.com/subscribe