Don't Mom Alone Podcast

Today we continue last week's episode in Part 2 with my friend Charissa Lopez. If you missed part one you can listen here to catch up Click Here for Part 1.  Charissa Lopez is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Dallas specializing in play therapy, EMDR, emotionally focused family therapy, and trauma-informed care. She is full of wisdom and the science to explain why we respond and parent in specific ways based on childhood patterns. We continue the conversation today by covering these topics…  Understanding Secure Attachment.  Exploring Preoccupied Attachment in Parenting  Disorganized Attachment - the most rare of all three tendencies.  Neurodiversity and Attachment Patterns and how to help our neurodivergent kids feel connected.  Interventions for Attachment Patterns - how to heal and parent from a place of secure attachment.  Healing Through Community- God created community for restoration and healing.  Connect with Charissa Lopez:  Website:  Charissa Lopez | Licensed Professional Counselor Links Mentioned:   Welcome Don't Mom Alone Friends! - Charissa Lopez Counseling Secure Relating: by Sue Marriott and Ann Kelley  Related Episodes: Building Healthy Relationships by Exploring Adult Attachment Patterns (Part 1) :: Charissa Lopez [Ep 498] Connecting Through Play :: Charissa Fry [Ep 319] Ages and Stages Series–The Tween Years :: Charissa Lopez [Ep 380] “How Do I Regulate My Own Emotions?” :: Charissa Fry [Ep 482] Summer of Mentorship Featured Sponsors:  Skylight Frame: And now, as a special, limited-time offer for our listeners, get twenty dollars off your purchase of a Skylight Frame when you go to SkylightFrame.com/ALONE.  Greenlight: This episode is sponsored by Greenlight. A debit card and money app made for families. Sign up for Greenlight today at Greenlight.com/DMA IXL Learning: Make an impact on your child’s learning, get IXL now. And Don’t mom alone listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ixl.com/DMA.  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Do you ever wonder why you respond the way you do to your kids? Do you feel like there are things to process from childhood but don’t have the words to explain those feelings?  Today Charissa Lopez, a Licensed Professional Counselor in Dallas joins me. She specializes in play therapy, EMDR, emotionally focused family therapy, and trauma-informed care. She is full of wisdom and the science to explain why we respond and parent in specific ways based on childhood patterns.  Join us as we talk about…  Secure attachment in the early years (ages 0-3) and how meeting our little ones needs just 30% of the time allows them to feel secure and attuned.  Loving parental behaviors – beyond the basic needs by showing our kids delight, affection, and supporting their inner and outer exploration.  How to repair relationships and remain a safe place for our kids. Dismissive attachment pattern explained.  HOPE- a way to learn more helpful patterns and allow God to heal past hurts.  Connect with Charissa Lopez:  Website:  Charissa Lopez | Licensed Professional Counselor Links Mentioned:   The Window of Tolerance :: Charissa Fry [Ep 260] Welcome Don't Mom Alone Friends! - Charissa Lopez Counseling–helpful pdfs on loving parental behaviors and attachment styles.  Related Episodes: Connecting Through Play :: Charissa Fry [Ep 319] Ages and Stages Series–The Tween Years :: Charissa Lopez [Ep 380] “How Do I Regulate My Own Emotions?” :: Charissa Fry [Ep 482] Summer of Mentorship Featured Sponsors:  Thrive Causemetics:  Spice up your fall look with Thrive causemetics. Luxury beauty that gives back. Get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/DMA Skylight Frames: As a special, limited-time offer for our listeners, get twenty dollars off your purchase of a Skylight Frame when you go to SkylightFrame.com/ALONE.  Betterhelp: Let the gratitude flow, with Betterhelp. ● Visit BetterHelp.com/dma today to get 10% off your first month. Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Do you struggle with discontentment and comparison in motherhood and beyond? Do you constantly second guess the best way to raise your kids in regards to food, education, health, and even naptime? Today, Laura Wifler, from Risen Motherhood is here to talk about her new book written with her sister-in-law Emily Jensen. We start by breaking down the framework they introduce in the Gospel Mom and how we are often looking for a formula to parent our kids but God has given us a framework in the metanarrative of the Bible.  Next, we talk about the challenges of trying to live in a Christian mom community- we know God calls us to be with others but what do we do when friendship is hard or not life-giving? As moms, we feel like there is a right and wrong way to do every single little thing in motherhood- feeding, naptime, schooling, health and those often all lead to comparison. Laura gives us some truth and ideas regarding comparison, how to be content, and accept your actual life. God has so many lessons for us moms if we lean in and apply the gospel lens it helps give life and joy even in hardship.  Connect with Laura Wifler:  Website:  Risen Motherhood: Helping Moms Connect Their Faith To Motherhood Facebook: Risen Motherhood Instagram:  Risen Motherhood®️ (@risenmotherhood) Links Mentioned:   Risen Motherhood: by Emily Jensen and Laura Wifler Gospel Mom: by Emily Jensen and Laura Wifler, Laura Ep. 93 || How Should We Educate Our Children? The Case for Freedom, Part 1 Ep. 94 || Freedom in Education Choices: An Interview with Melissa Kruger on Private Schooling, Part 2 Ep. 95 || Irene Sun on Homeschool: Freedom in Education Choices, Part 3 Ep. 96 || Freedom in Education Choices: An Interview with Jen Wilkin on Public Schooling, Part 4 A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: by Eugene H., Peterson Related Episodes: Cultivating Intimacy with God in Motherhood :: Jeannie Cunnion [Ep 490] Owning Your Motherhood :: Erin Moon and Courtney Cleveland [Ep 325] Motherhood, Career, and Identity :: Kat Armstrong [Ep 171] Featured Sponsors:  HoneyLove: Treat yourself to the best bras and shapewear on the market and save up to 50% Off sitewide at honeylove.com/DMA this month only. Inventory is limited and the sale ends soon so don’t miss their best deals of the year. After you purchase, they’ll ask you where you heard about them. PLEASE support our show and tell them we sent you. Thrive Market: Want to shop at a grocery store that actually cares for your health? Go to ThriveMarket.com/DMA for 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift.  StoryWorth:  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Ever wonder how your mom friends with all boys or all girls handle parenting? Do you often wonder how in the world a “boy mom” or a “girl mom” views the opposite?  Today my good friend Courtney DeFeo is here to have an in-depth conversation about her experiences as a “girl mom” and asks me tons of great questions about what life with four boys is like (spoiler alert- active and crazy). Courtney is an author, podcaster, and creative mom of two girls. We bring the conversations we have had many times over the lunch table to the podcast today. Often our worlds feel opposite, her girls used to sit and play with playdough for thirty minutes, and my boys sit for three minutes. Her girls love clothes, nails, and coloring while my boys were in a bouncy house, eating my decor, and moving their bodies constantly.  We end by starting to break down the teen years and how the emotions show up differently for each gender. By discussing some of the gender stereotypes that come up we hope this conversation helps you support your mom friends better. And don’t forget to go over to Courtney’s podcast to finish the conversation later this week.  Connect with Courtney DeFeo:  Website:  Home - Courtney DeFeo Facebook: Courtney DeFeo | Facebook Instagram:  Courtney DeFeo (@courtney_defeo) Podcast: Pardon the Mess - Courtney DeFeo Links Mentioned:   Foundations: by Ruth Chou Simons The Worry-Free Parent: by Sissy Goff What in the World?!: by Leanne Morgan The Tech-Wise Family: by Andy Crouch Whoobli Ninja Inflatable Kids Punching Bag Trampoline with handle Skylight Digital Picture Frame ZELUS Balance Ball Trainer with Resistance Bands Water Blaster 2pcs Water Gun Fight Shooting Water Guns for Kids Roller Skates for Girls Boys Ages 4-12 KidKraft Vintage Wooden Play Kitchen LEGO Creator 3 in 1 Mighty Dinosaur Toy Related Episodes: Shrinking or Swelling to Fill Your Space :: Courtney DeFeo [Ep 406] RWYB wk 5 Uninvited :: Lysa TerKeurst, Kay Wyma and Courtney DeFeo {Ep 131} Art of Nurturing Boys :: David Thomas [Ep 119]   Raising Worry-Free Girls :: Sissy Goff [Bonus] Featured Sponsors:  Betterhelp: This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp. Let the gratitude flow, with Betterhelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/dma today to get 10% off your first month. Vegamour: This holiday season, give the gift of great hair with Vegamour. There’s something for everyone, including you! Visit Vegamour.com/DMA code DMA to shop.  Greenlight: Greenlight is a debit card and money app made for families. Sign up for Greenlight today at Greenlight.com/dma.  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Do you often feel like what is the point of engaging politically or voting? Are you worried about the direction our nation is headed and what is next? Today Sharon McMahon is here to teach us about how our government functions and encourages us that individuals make a difference. She began as a government, history, and law teacher and then took her passion for educating to Instagram. Her platform grew rapidly as she has a way of helping all of us understand the process and history of the United States. Her new book The Small and the Mighty reminds us that each person has a part to play in our sphere of influence and shows us how the United States was founded on the backs of small but mighty people.  Sharon encourages with this truth that “we must not grow weary in doing good”. Our ancestors who have suffered much continued to fight for justice and invest in the communities around them and we have so much to learn from their stories.  Connect with Sharon McMahon:  Website:  Sharon McMahon | America's Government Teacher Facebook: Sharon McMahon | Facebook Instagram:  SHARON McMAHON (@sharonsaysso) Links Mentioned:   The Preamble | Sharon McMahon | Substack Vote - Register and get information on Voting | Sharon McMahon The Small and the Mighty: by Sharon McMahon Right Where You Belong: by Heather MacFadyen Related Episodes: Factual News, Flexible Thinking and Family Moral Imperatives :: Sharon McMahon [Ep 332] Racial Healing Starts with You :: Latasha Morrison [Ep 261] Featured Sponsors:  Thrive Causemetics: Spice up your fall look with Thrive Causemetics. Luxury beauty that gives back. Right now, you can get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/DMA.  Branch Basics: You no longer have to wear a hazmat suit while you’re cleaning up. For a limited time only, head to BranchBasics.com/DMA and use Code [DMA] for 15% off your entire order. Choose Branch Basics because cleanliness matters. Greenlight: Sign up for Greenlight today at Greenlight.com/dma.  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Do you ever struggle to keep Christ at the center of Christmas? Do you feel many Christmas traditions take a ton of time and energy or are just busy work but don’t point to Jesus?  Today Lillian Richey, my personal friend, is here to share her new project called Finding Jesus which helps families make Christmas meaningful and simple. Last year the Lord dropped into her heart the idea of a Jesus doll that tells the whole story of Christmas through scripture and helps kids see Jesus. Through the last few months, God has used this project to bring the gospel around the world, including China, and answered prayers. In less than a year this beautiful product has come to life.  Finding Jesus points our kids to Christ and a connection to Him that goes deep into hearts and minds. This doll, puzzle, story, and song weaves together the Biblical truth with some fun. Lillian’s story shows us that when we listen to the voice of God His ideas are gospel minded and He has the resources to help us accomplish creative ideas.  Connect with Lillian Richey:  Website:  Finding Jesus (seekhimfirst.com) Facebook: Finding Jesus | Dallas TX | Facebook Instagram:  Finding Jesus (@findingjesusdoll) Links Mentioned:   Children's Jesse Tree Advent Cards  Related Episodes: Advent Untangled :: Mindy Rives [Ep 385] Celebrating Advent :: Tsh Oxenreider [Ep 305] Christmas Traditions with Little Ones :: Jacki Rucksdashel [Ep 142] Featured Sponsors:  Wildgrain: Are you ready to bring all your favorite carbs right to your doorstep? Be sure to check out Wildgrain so you can begin building your own box of artisanal breads, pastas, and pastries. For a limited time, Wildgrain is offering our listeners $30 off the first box - PLUS free Croissants in every box - when you go to Wildgrain.com/DMA to start your subscription.   BetterHelp: Take off the mask, with BetterHelp.  Visit BetterHelp.com/dma today to get 10% off your first month. IXL Learning: Make an impact on your child’s learning, get IXL now. And Don’t Mom Alone listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ixl.com/DMA. Get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Do you feel like your teens have hidden struggles that you can’t talk to anyone about? How do you honor your kids while still finding safe people to process parenting with? How do you advise your kids on their friendships and relationships?  Today, Amy Betters-Midtvedt is here to help us navigate the deep waters of parenting teens. Amy is a teacher with a master’s degree in leadership and is currently a literacy coach. She has five kids in all stages of life from college to kids still at home, some of her kids have had teen struggles that Amy has had to learn how to navigate. She shares her ideas in her new book, You’ll Make It.  We cover how to handle changes in our teen’s friend groups, what to do if your teen’s friends are a bad influence, and having the humility as a parent to say “I messed up”. Amy shares some very personal stories about her teens and anxiety (with their permission) and how their family faced that challenge head-on to overcome and get back to the things they love to do. Parenting teens can be hard but there is so much joy in watching them become who God created them to be, Amy will teach us how to partner with the Lord as we navigate these formative years.  Connect with Amy Betters-Midtvedt:  Website:  Amy Betters-Midtvedt (amybettersmidtvedt.com) Instagram:  Amy Betters-Midtvedt (@amy.betters.midtvedt) Links Mentioned:   You'll Make It (and They Will Too): by Amy Betters-Midtvedt Chore Wheel- Spinning Wheel for Prizes with Stand Related Episodes: Freeing Your Adolescents to Step Into Adulthood – Ages and Stages – Teens :: Dr. Ken Wilgus [Ep 382] Helping Socially Anxious Boys :: David Thomas [Ep 451] Choosing Connection Over Critique :: Rachel Macy Stafford [Ep 280] Featured Sponsors:  Thrive Market - Want to shop at a grocery store that actually cares for your health? Go to ThriveMarket.com/DMA for 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift!  Greenlight - Sign up for Greenlight today at Greenlight.com/dma to try Greenlight today.  Honeylove -Honeylove is not just supporting women, it's empowering women. Treat yourself to the best bras on the market and save 20% Off at honeylove.com/DMA. Use our exclusive link to get 20% off to find your perfect fit. After you purchase they ask you where you heard about them.  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

As a mom do you feel there is not enough time in the day? Are you constantly overwhelmed with your to-do list and mental load? Are you snapping at your kids because they cannot keep up with the pace?  Today Kendra Adachi; the Lazy Genius, author, podcaster, and most of all mom, is here to help us focus on the most important tasks. Kendra and I are opposites, she has read all the time management books whereas I have read zero. Only 7% of books in this arena are written by women so her newest book, The PLAN, was much needed in this space. Most productivity books are written with the future in mind and while it’s good to think and plan for the future Kendra tells us that most moms are trying to run their household well every day in the small task. She helps us PLAN- prepare, live, adjust, and notice what is going on around us in our homes.  This episode reminds us that being kind to our kids is more important than being on task, we are not robots, and helps us look at time differently which allows us to show up with compassion for others. There is so much Biblical truth when we structure our time well and keep the most important things at the center of our days.  Connect with Kendra Adachi:  Website:  The Lazy Genius (thelazygeniuscollective.com) Facebook: The Lazy Genius Collective Instagram:  Kendra Adachi (@thelazygenius) Links Mentioned:   “Make it Happen” Notepad Heather mentioned Do Less: by Kate Northrup The PLAN: by Kendra J. Adachi Related Episodes: The Lazy Genius Kitchen :: Kendra Adachi [Ep 365] Choose What Matters to YOU :: Kendra Adachi [Ep 293] Organize Your Mental Load  :: Laurel Denise [Ep 444] Featured Sponsors:  Vegamour: Take on the most advanced approach to hair wellness with Vegamour’s new GRO+ advanced system. Learn more that Vegamour.com/DMA use the code DMA to save 20% off your first order.  Thrive Causemetics: Spice up your fall look with Thrive Causemetics. Luxury beauty that gives back. Right now, you can get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/DMA.  Betterhelp: This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Do you feel like a team with your spouse in parenting or do you often turn on each other? Do you have different ideas about what is right for your kids? Have the teen years brought more conflict than unity?  Today Dr. Kim Kimberling, professional counselor and founder of Awesome Marriage, is here to share his years of wisdom on how to keep the marriage strong while parenting. Dr. Kim has been married to his wife for 53 years and the tips that flow from those years of experience are priceless.  He shares how to build in some one-on-one time, stay on the same page in the teen years, and how praying together allows the Holy Spirit to breathe creativity into your parenting. Dr. Kim also comforts those whose spouse may not currently be walking with the Lord and how to navigate that hard season. He reminds us that you can’t put your marriage on the back burner for years and expect it to be the same when your kids are gone and gives us tools to make sure we are making our partner a priority. Be sure to check out his website that is full of resources.  Connect with Dr. Kim Kimberling:  Website:  Awesome Marriage — Marriage, Relationships, and Premarital Counseling Facebook: Awesome Marriage Instagram:  Marriage and Relationship Experts (@awesome_marriage) Links Mentioned:   Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find--and Keep--Love [BOOK on attachment] Podcast — Awesome Marriage 7 Secrets to an Awesome Marriage: by Dr. Kim Kimberling PhD Related Episodes: Building Strong Marriages :: Kimberly Beam Holmes [Ep 374] Nurturing Your Marriage :: Brent and Janis Sharpe [Ep 299] Habits of a Healthy Marriage :: Paul David Tripp [Ep 234] Featured Sponsors:  IXL Learning: Make an impact on your child’s learning, get IXL now. And Don’t Mom Alone listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at IXL.com/DMA. Visit IXL.com/DMA to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.  Wildgrain: Are you ready to bring all your favorite carbs right to your doorstep? Be sure to check out Wildgrain so you can begin building your own box of artisanal breads, pastas, and pastries. For a limited time, Wildgrain is offering our listeners $30 off the first box - PLUS free Croissants in every box - when you go to Wildgrain.com/DMA to start your subscription or you can use promo code DMA at checkout. Rhone: Upgrade your closet with Rhone and use DMA to save 20% at https://www.rhone.com/DMA Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Does the word holiness feel stuffy and old-fashioned? Do you feel you have a personal and intimate relationship with the Lord? Does your Christian life look more like a performance than a practice?  Today Jeannie Cunnion joins me to discuss her new book Closer to God. She is a best-selling author, bible teacher, and speaker who shares how the Holy Spirit can transform our family and motherhood. Her new book covers how to practically have an intimate relationship with the Lord in the middle of chaos and noise.  As mom’s we often long for a deep meaningful relationship with Jesus but don’t know how to get there when kids are up early and there seems to be no space. Jeannie talks about cultivating a habit of conversing with the Lord in the mundane moments of our days and how Holy intimacy produces a Holy identity.  If you feel far from God today we are reminded of Isaiah 30:15, “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength”, we cannot perform our way to God. He is waiting in the quiet intimacy.  Connect with Jeannie Cunnion:  Website:  Jeannie Cunnion Instagram:  Jeannie Cunnion (@jeanniecunnion) Links Mentioned:   Closer to God: by Jeannie Cunnion (pre-order now) The Practice of the Presence of God: by Brother Lawrence Don't Miss Out: by Jeannie Cunnion Never Alone: by Jeannie Cunnion Related Episodes: Parenting in the Power of the Holy Spirit :: Jeannie Cunnion [Ep 347] Set Free From Shame :: Jeannie Cunnion [Ep 190] Anchoring Our Kids’ Lovability in Christ :: Jeannie Cunnion {Ep 91} How to {really} Parent with Grace :: Jeannie Cunnion {Ep 55} Healthy Habit Building :: Kat Lee [Ep 300] The Mom Game Changer :: Kat Lee {Encore Episode} Featured Sponsors:  Greenlight: This episode is sponsored by Greenlight. Sign up for Greenlight today Greenlight.com/dma. Hiya Health: We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/DMA. This deal is not available on their regular website and get your kids the full-body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adults. Thrive Market: Save time and money and shop Thrive Market today. Go to Thrivemarket.com/DMA for 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift.  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors.