Thriving In Motherhood Podcast

In this episode, I introduce the Surviving  to Thriving Framework and interview Megan Dilworth about how this framework has impacted her life. Megan is a wife and mother of three kids (ages 2-7) who is a member of The Thriving Team. She is a photographer, graphic designer, and lover of DIY projects. Key Points from this Episode: Surviving to Thriving Framework: All the steps are important. There is no time frame on this path. We all will repeat this path over and over throughout our lives. 1. Surviving circumstances, not mindset 2. Re-entry Uncomfortable transition between surviving and trying to get back into real life 3. Normalizing Basic routines 4. Exploring Establishing family culture and finding out what you love 5. Thriving Enjoy the beautiful moments. The seasons that feel like things are going well. Believing things are temporary will help us be more optimistic. These are temporary stages in our lives! Its okay to drop ideas that aren’t serving you. It’s okay to try new things, eve

Sometimes it feels like our kids should be our number one priority all the time. In this episode, I talk about how I think building a strong family and creating healthy relationships is the focus we should be having instead. Key Points from this Episode: Our kids are wonderful, but our priority is building strong families. We, as mothers, are part of the strong family that we need are building. Our family is only as strong as the weakest link, so we need to take care of ourselves too! When we can shift the idea from being a fire to put out to being a teaching moment, it can help us handle the situations differently. How we approach our days when we are thinking "My goal is to build a strong family. My goal is create healthy relationships" changes how we respond to our children. Supporting our children's growth is different than focusing on the results (and a whole lot less stressful!) Creating a strong family culture and atmosphere of growth is what is under our circle of influence, not our children's behavi

Natalie Hixson is a wife, mother, and certified professional life coach. Her goal is helping burnt out and discouraged Christian mothers overcome destructive anger so they can enjoy being a wife and mom. She, her husband, and three girls (ages 9, 12, and 16) live in Bozeman, Montana. Key Points from this Episode: We can break the fear and yelling cycle in our lives. Remember that our children have developmentally-appropriate tantrums. We need to work on things to be able to, in turn, help our children with their struggles rather than throw our own, grown-up tantrums. Recognizing that you have destructive anger and are facing burnout is the first step to overcoming it. It's not a mindset you have to stay in. Reach out for help if you recognize you have destructive anger! What we say to ourselves becomes our beliefs. It's the story we are telling ourselves and we believe it and what we believe, we support with our actions and our thoughts. Our minds look to support our thoughts. If we focus on positive thought

Jeanette Tapley, host of It's Time for Coffee Podcast all about friendship, wife, and mother of three children. We talk about her adoption journey and things she's learned from that. We also talk about tips on starting your own podcast and the art of the apology. Key Points from this Episode: Jeanette heard the whisperings of God saying, "I called you to be a mom. What are you going to do about the [children] that don't have one?" "I will always be the mom they need, but I will never be a perfect mom." Our kids learn how to be humble and apologize primarily by our example. "We are showing them how to love recklessly and, in turn, that will show us how Jesus has loved us." "Love well, love often, and love first." Checking in with our kids consistently can help let them know that open communication is there. Being honest with the people close to you about where things stands on your work or personal projects can help keep resentment from growing. If you want to start a podcast, figure out first who you want to

In this episode, I discuss the concept that the work of motherhood includes rest. Real rest is so important to the work of motherhood, especially as we gear up for the upcoming holiday season. If you take time to take care of yourself, then you will have the freedom to expand your influence in a way that is healthy to you and those around you. Key Points from this Episode: You are where it starts. You are smack-dab in the middle of your circle of influence. If you don't nourish yourself, you won't be able to nourish those around you. The more you focus on bringing the best for yourself, the more power and influence you will have for others. None of us can go full speed all the time. We weren't designed to go go go without taking time to rest. Sometimes we become numb to the amount of work we are doing in our daily lives. It's okay that we feel tired! Laziness is a deception of the adversary to keep us exhausted. Beware of being distracted to the point of not getting real rest. It's not laziness to go to bed

You have climbed mountains! In this episode, I talk about the dialog in our own minds that can adjust our thinking to be able to shift from "I am being beat up" to "I have climbed mountains!" The skill of having a Thriving Mindset is something that we can develop with the right tools. Key Points from this Episode: Every time we reach a mountain peak, we find a beautiful view and can stop to recognize the strength we have displayed to get as far as we have. Sometimes faith alone isn't enough to keep us positive. It's one piece of the puzzle. Gratitude is one piece of the puzzle. Identifying our cognitive patterns and distortions is a piece of the puzzle. Connect with people. Celebrating our milestones and progress helps us having a Thriving Mindset. Planning for the struggles that we know will be coming our way makes the struggles easier. When we decide who we want to be ahead of time, it makes a major difference. Ask God what He wants you to do that day. Pick the section that you are struggling with the most

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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