M Is for Mama Podcast

One of the biggest stresses of motherhood is sibling fighting. I know from personal experience how frustrating it is to have a home full of strife and bickering. But we are not helpless! Scripture has given us an arsenal of tools to combat our oh-so-human tendencies to squabble and try to get our own way at the expense of peace in our homes. In this episode, we talk about a Christian's response to our culture's assumption that "constant fighting is inevitable" as well as some very practical steps we can take to create a culture of *more* calm and camaraderie in our homes.  I mention our family's Penny Reward System as a resource.  I also have two whole chapters on promoting sibling love + positive/negative media influences in the M Is for Mama book (available most places books are sold).

One of the most common FAQs that I receive is, "How do you lavish individual attention on ten kids?" Or, conversely, "How do *I* connect well with my kids of any number?" Finding ways to fill our kids' love tanks on a daily basis boils down to one key concept: intentionality. In this episode, I address how we specifically go about making sure all of our kids feel seen and loved in our home and also provide lots of practical (UNcomplicated) suggestions for anyone who's feeling a bit frazzled at the pressure to "get it right" in the kid-connection department. Hint: It's not as tricky as some people make it seem. I mention the Penny Reward System in this episode, in case you want to check it out. 

In a world where hyper-sensitivity to even a whiff of offense permeates many social interactions--both in person and online--the Bible calls us to something radical: overlooking offense (being what I term "unoffendable" in this episode). This is not a case for "stuffing emotions" or "ignoring wrongdoing" but rather looking for ways to be an overcomer in Christ rather than a victim of our circumstances or others' unkindness--an invaluable skill not only in motherhood but in every area of our lives!  

Every single week on the Q&A I do on Instagram called Whaddya Wanna Know Wednesday (@m.is.for.mama), I get asked some version of the question: "What made you decide to have SO many kids?" Well, here's the podcast I'll be pointing everybody to from here on out! In this episode, I flesh out why Shaun and I felt called--not to a larger-than-average family--but to seek the Lord's will for the number of children we would ultimately have.  I also answer questions about about my background (you might be surprised by what you learn!) and the motivations that ultimately culminated in my becoming a "mama of many."

On our first ever episode, I'm explaining how I came to choose the name M is for Mama for my blog, social media, book, and--ultimately--this podcast. I think you'll be encouraged by what the Lord taught me through something as simple as wearing the letter "M" around my neck on a daily basis!