Vicki Courtney is an author, speaker, and mom who has spent years helping parents navigate the hard conversations that come with raising kids in today’s culture. Through her books and ministry, she equips parents to talk honestly with their kids about faith, culture, relationships, and the challenges they’re facing.

In this top 10 episode (which originally aired on March 18, 2019), Vicki and I talk about how to parent with courage and humility in a culture that can feel increasingly unfamiliar to Christian families. Instead of parenting from fear, Vicki encourages us to make space for honest questions, lead with love, and create an environment where our kids know they can come to us with anything. Even when the world feels uncertain, Jesus is still our hope, and our kids need parents who are willing to walk alongside them as they wrestle with faith.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How Vicki came to know Jesus and the ministry God called her to
• The culture our kids are growing up in and why it can feel increasingly unfriendly to the Christian faith
• Why we need to teach our kids to walk in truth while leading with love
• How to make room for meaningful conversations by creating margin in your family
• The pressure moms feel to make sure their kids are doing everything: sports, music, activities, academics, and more
• Letting go of the belief that we have to orchestrate our children's futures
• Giving our kids room to fail, wrestle, and learn from failure
• Creating an environment where our kids feel safe coming to us with anything
• Why real-time conversations and our attitude toward our kids matters
• Parenting without shame, finger-wagging, or pretending we have it all together
• What the prodigal son and the older brother teach us about God's grace
• The challenges young men are facing as they grow into adulthood

• Finding hope when you're afraid of the world your kids are growing up in

• Website: Vicki Courtney
• Instagram: Vicki Courtney (@vickicourtney)
• Facebook: Vicki Courtney

• 5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter: By Vicki Courtney
• 5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Son: By Vicki Courtney
• The Prodigal God: By Timothy Keller
• Revolutionary Parenting: By George Barna

• How Parents Can Equip Kids to Find Freedom, Healing, and Identity in Christ :: Jennifer Barnett [Ep 577]
• Gospel-Focused Conversations :: Joel Fitzpatrick [Ep. 251]
• The Parenting Shift That Changes Everything :: David Thomas and Sissy Goff [Ep 572]

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Amanda Taylor is the woman behind From Playgrounds to Psych Wards, where she shares her story of postpartum mental illness, recovery, motherhood, faith, and hope. After the birth of her fourth child in 2013, following a traumatic labor and delivery, Amanda experienced severe postpartum mental health challenges that ultimately became an 18-month journey through postpartum psychosis, hospitalization, and recovery. Today, she uses her story to help other women and families recognize the warning signs, ask for help, and remember that there is hope beyond the darkest seasons.

We talk about the difference between the normal challenges of new motherhood, postpartum depression and anxiety, and something more serious like postpartum psychosis? In this powerful conversation, Amanda shares her firsthand experience of racing thoughts, sleeplessness, becoming disconnected from reality, hospitalization, and the long road back to herself. We talk about the warning signs that require immediate support, the critical role caregivers and family members play, how postpartum mental illness can impact a marriage, and how friends and church communities can practically support a struggling family. Most importantly, Amanda shares a message of hope for the mom who cannot imagine feeling normal again: your story is not over, you are not a burden, and healing is possible.

In This Episode:

• Understanding the differences between postpartum depression, anxiety, and psychosis
• Warning signs that may indicate a postpartum mental health emergency
• Mania, racing thoughts, confusion, rapid speech, and becoming disconnected from reality
• Why caregivers should trust their instincts and seek an evaluation when something feels wrong
• The importance of listening to the perspective of spouses, siblings, and caregivers
• How postpartum psychosis affected Amanda’s marriage and family
• How her husband continued to see Amanda beyond her mental illness
• The practical ways friends, family, and church communities can support a struggling family
• Why sometimes the best way to help is to simply show up and do something
• Asking for help and finding one trusted person to say, “I’m struggling”
• Amanda’s experience of feeling like she would never have a normal life again
• Why postpartum mental illness does not have to define the rest of your story

• Website: Home
• Instagram: Amanda Taylor (@amandataylor.life)

• From Playgrounds to Psych Wards: By Amanda & Colby Taylor
• Emergency Resources: Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department when someone may be experiencing psychosis or presents an immediate danger to herself or others.
• Emergency Resources: Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
• Emergency Resources: Postpartum Support International HelpLine: 1-800-944-4773 or text HELP to 800-944-4773. The PSI HelpLine is not an emergency service. Postpartum Support International
• The Engaged Life
  
  

• Shame, Perfectionism and Smiling Depression :: Misty Persefield and Stephanie Coker [Ep 154]
• Hope and Help for Taboo Topics in Postpartum Care :: Krystle Howald [Ep 467]
• Postpartum Depression :: Brittany Turner [Ep 277]

Featured Sponsor:

• Honeylove: Save 20% off Honeylove by going to honeylove.com/DMA #honeylovepod

Melissa Harrison is the President and CEO of 4word, an organization that equips professional Christian women to integrate their faith and work through community, mentoring, and leadership development. 4word creates spaces where women can build authentic connections, grow in their leadership, and live out their purpose in every season of life. Melissa brings a unique perspective as a working mom navigating career, family, faith, and the many demands that come with trying to do it all.

About This Episode
What happens when you're trying to be a great mom, a great employee or leader, a good friend, and still take care of yourself? In this conversation, Melissa and I talk honestly about the pressure women feel to do it all, and what can get lost along the way. We talk about the loneliness that can come with busy seasons, why friendship and connection often get pushed to the bottom of the list, and the importance of intentionally making space for people. Whether you're a working mom or a stay-at-home mom, there's an invitation to step back and ask: Who am I beyond the roles I fill, and what would it look like to stop carrying everything alone?

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Balancing motherhood, career, family, and personal needs
• The loneliness that can come from living in a busy season
• Why friendship and camaraderie are often the first things to go
• Creating intentional connection through consistent, committed gathering
• Recognizing the triggers behind our need to measure up
• Knowing when it might be time to talk to someone and dig deeper
• The challenge of always feeling available to everyone
• Navigating seasons when work and family collide
• The power of mentorship and meaningful community

• Website: 4word
• Instagram: 4word (@4wordwomen)
• Facebook: 4word

• Work, Love, Pray: By Diane Paddison
• Tyranny of the Urgent: By Charles Hummel
• Mentor program for women
• BOLDLY Conference - 4word

• Corporate Working Moms :: Causha Jolly and Stacey McCabe [Ep 205]
• Working from Home :: Jehava Brown [Ep 288]
• Mentoring for Women in the Workplace :: Diane Paddison [Ep 412]

Featured Sponsors:

• Lola Blankets– For a limited time, our listeners can get 40% OFF select Lola Blankets products with code [DMA] at checkout. Just head to LolaBlankets.com and use code [DMA] to get 40% OFF your order. Wrap yourself in luxury with Lola Blankets
• Hiya Health Products–You can now find Hiya in person at Target stores nationwide, or order directly from their website with a special deal we’ve worked out just for you. Receive 50% off your first order on any of their products. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/DMA. This deal is not available on their regular website. Get your kids the full-body support they deserve.
• Branch Basics–Branch Basics is available at Target, Target.com, Amazon, and BranchBasics.com. And for the Home Essentials Kit, you'll get 15% off at BranchBasics.com with code [DMA].

In The Prodigal’s Mother, author Vela Tomba, a mom of three adult children, helps moms navigate the challenges of parenting adult and young adult kids. Through her own 36-year journey of motherhood, she has learned the freedom and peace that come from letting go of the need to rescue, fix, and control our children’s lives. She encourages moms to stay in their own “hula hoop,” trust God, and discover joy even when their children’s stories look different than they imagined.

About This Episode
What happens when your child’s life doesn’t follow the script you imagined? In this conversation, Vela shares how our expectations for our children can become idols, leading us to rescue, control, and tie our own peace to their choices. We talk about the heartbreak of having a prodigal child and how to trust God when your child’s choices take them down a different path than you hoped. Through releasing our grip, embracing the reality of our children’s stories, and trusting God to write His script, not ours, we can find peace, freedom, and joy even in the hardest seasons of motherhood.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Recognizing the expectations and “scripts” we create for our children
• How parenting can slip into codependency, rescuing, and control
• Learning to distinguish between harmful choices and simply different choices
• Staying in your own “hula hoop” and honoring your responsibilities
• Trusting God to speak to your children and guide their stories
• Bringing our heartbreak and disappointment to God so He can heal us
• How to support a mom who is struggling with her child: listen, love, and be present
• Shifting from telling our children’s stories to living our own

• Finding joy and freedom through acceptance, surrender, and trust in God

• Website: VELA TOMBA
• Instagram: Vela Tomba (@velatomba)

• The Prodigal's Mother: By Vela Tomba, Vela

• “What is My Responsibility in My Child’s Salvation?” :: Vela Tomba [Ep 431]
• Hula Hoop-o-logy :: Vela Tomba {GCM ep 28}
• Owning Your Motherhood :: Erin Moon and Courtney Cleveland [Ep 325]

• Wayfair: Find furniture, decor, and essentials that fit your unique style and budget. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home.
• Yoto: The reason Yoto has become such a big part of our routine isn't just because it's screen-free - it's because my kids genuinely love it. If you're looking for a gift they'll actually use and enjoy, head to yotoplay.com and use my code DONTMOMALONE to save 10% off all eligible items, terms apply. Add a little more imagination and a little less screen time to your family's day with Yoto.

Dr. Nell Bush is a child development specialist, parenting consultant, and co-author of The Parenting Survival Guide. With a Ph.D. and four children of her own, she combines professional expertise with practical wisdom to help parents understand their children’s unique needs.

The preteen and teen years can feel like a whole new world! One minute your child wants you close, and the next they’re pushing you away. In this episode, Nell explores the four pillars of teen development: social, emotional, mental, and physical. From intense emotions and increased sleep to peer pressure and shifting family dynamics, she helps us understand what’s typical and respond with compassion without taking every change personally. Whether you’re raising teens or preparing for what’s ahead, this conversation offers encouragement and practical ways to stay connected.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The four pillars of development: social, emotional, mental, and physical.
• Why teens need so much sleep and how physical changes can affect other areas of development.
• The imaginary audience and why teens can feel like everyone is watching them.
• Why belonging matters so much and how peer relationships can influence behavior.
• How to navigate the push-and-pull of teens wanting independence while still needing their moms.
• Why conflict with parents can increase during adolescence and how to avoid taking it personally.
• How to talk about weight, body image, and physical changes with care.
• The importance of keeping all four pillars balanced and recognizing where your teen may need extra support.

• Why every child is different and why parenting teens requires us to stay engaged, flexible, and intentional.

• Handout from Dr. Bush
• Masterminds and Wingmen by Rosalind Wiseman
• Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman
• Birds and Bees
• Parenting Survival Guide, By Dr Nell Bush and Dr. Brad Schwall

• Let’s Talk about Sex :: Mary Flo Ridley and Megan Michelson [Ep 328]
• Navigating Homework Battles, Understanding Executive Function and Helping Teens Succeed :: Dr. Matthew Housson [Ep 568]
• Help for the Unspoken Challenges of Parenting Teens :: Amy Betters-Midtvedt [Ep 493]

Featured Sponsors:

• Primal Queen: Our listeners get a FREE MONTH of Primal Queen plus FOUR FREE GIFTS at PrimalQueen.com/DMA.
• Yoto: The reason Yoto has become such a big part of our routine isn't just because it's screen-free - it's because my kids genuinely love it. If you're looking for a gift they'll actually use and enjoy, head to yotoplay.com and use my code DONTMOMALONE to save 10% off all eligible items, terms apply. Add a little more imagination and a little less screen time to your family's day with Yoto.

We know we are called to parent in the power of the Holy Spirit, but then life comes at us like a train and suddenly we are back to doing everything in our own strength. I know I can easily fall into this trap. I can know all the right things, but knowing the truth and actually relying on the Holy Spirit in the middle of motherhood are two very different things.

In this top 10 episode, I talk with Jeannie Cunnion about what it really looks like to parent with the Holy Spirit. We start by taking an honest look at what we actually believe about Him. Do I truly trust that the Holy Spirit lives in me and wants to guide, strengthen, comfort, and help me? Jeannie reminds us that the Holy Spirit is not an "it." He is a person, our Helper, Advocate, Counselor, Comforter, and Champion.

We talk about what it means to lean into His presence instead of constantly trying to figure everything out on our own. We are not parenting alone. God has graciously given us the Holy Spirit, and there is no part of the Christian life that is meant to be lived without His supernatural power.

As moms, we have an incredible opportunity to be a gift to one another. We can encourage each other, pray for each other, and help carry one another when we feel like we can't keep going. We don't have to manufacture the fruit of the Spirit through our own effort. We can stay connected to God and allow His Spirit to produce His fruit in us.

If you have ever felt overwhelmed by motherhood or wondered how you're supposed to keep going, I hope this conversation reminds you that you were never meant to parent alone.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What it means to parent in the power of the Holy Spirit
• Taking an honest look at what we believe about the Holy Spirit
• Learning to recognize the Holy Spirit's promptings
• What it means to be the temple of the Holy Spirit
• Feeding the Spirit instead of feeding the flesh

• Why there is no "junior Holy Spirit" when it comes to our kids

• Website: Jeannie Cunnion
• Instagram: Jeannie Cunnion (@jeanniecunnion)

• Never Alone By Jeannie Cunnion
• Forgotten God: By Francis Chan
• Mom Set Free: By Jeannie Cunnion
• Don't Miss Out: By Jeannie Cunnion
• The Jesus Storybook Bible: By Sally Lloyd-Jones

• Cultivating Intimacy with God in Motherhood :: Jeannie Cunnion [Ep 490]
• Set Free From Shame :: Jeannie Cunnion [Ep 190]
• Anchoring Our Kids’ Lovability in Christ :: Jeannie Cunnion {Ep 91}

Featured Sponsors:

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Family relationships can be complicated! So how do we navigate changing family roles, competing expectations, boundaries, and communication while protecting the relationships that matter most?

In this episode, Stacy Reaoch joins me to talk about the challenges that can come with family relationships and what it looks like to choose connection, extend grace, and build bridges even when things feel awkward or difficult. Stacy co-wrote Making Room for Her with her own mother-in-law and shares wisdom from interviewing women across different generations about their experiences.

We talk about:

• Why family relationships can become challenging when roles and expectations change
• Navigating competing expectations around time, holidays, and extended family
• Knowing when to speak up and when to let something go
• Why unsolicited advice can create tension—and what to do instead
• How parenting preferences can create conflict between generations
• Choosing the relationship over the small things
• What grandparents can do to build trust with their adult children and their spouses
• Finding small ways to show love and move toward a family member, even when it feels awkward
• How to support your adult child's marriage without taking sides
• What to do when you're concerned about your child's marriage
• Learning to navigate a new relationship with your daughter-in-law or son-in-law
• Practicing patience, humility, and healthy communication

• Trusting God with relationships that feel impossible to repair

• Website: Stacy Reaoch
• Facebook: Stacy Reaoch
• Instagram: @stacyreaoch

• Making Room for Her: By Stacy and Barbara Reaoch
• The Word in Our Home: By Ben, Stacy and Barbara Reaoch

• How to Have Healthy Conflict :: Lynn Hoffman [Ep 307]
• Good Boundaries and Goodbyes :: Lysa TerKeurst [Ep 387]
• Adult Child Estrangement: What to Do—and How to Hold On to Hope :: Dr. Jim Burns [Ep 587]

Featured Sponsors:

• Hiya Health; you can now find Hiya in person at Target stores nationwide, or order directly from their website with a special deal we’ve worked out just for you. Receive 50% off your first order on any of their products. Get your kids the full-body support they deserve.
• Honeylove: Treat yourself to the most advanced bras and shapewear on the market. Use our exclusive link to save 20% off Honeylove at honeylove.com/[DMA]. That’s honeylove dot com slash [DMA]. After you check out, they’ll ask where you heard about them — please support our show and tell them we sent you. Experience the new standard in comfort and support with Honeylove.

As moms, it can be easy to confuse parenting with controlling. We want our children to make wise choices, succeed, and avoid pain. But fear can quickly turn our desire to help into nagging, manipulation, or control. Sarah Stephens joins me to talk about what it looks like to move from controlling our children to mentoring, discipling, guiding, and loving them well.

Sarah shares how God has taught her that our calling is not to control outcomes, but to remain faithful to the process. We talk about seeking wisdom from above, listening for God’s voice, recognizing the difference between conviction and condemnation, and learning to entrust our children and their choices to God.
In this episode, we talk about:

• Why control is often motivated by fear
• Learning to focus on the process, not the outcome
• How to know when to speak up—and when to let something go
• The only control we’re actually called to have: self-control
• Seeking God’s wisdom instead of simply collecting more information
• Learning to recognize God’s voice
• How comparison can steal a mom’s peace
• Asking, “Can my child recover from this?”
• Parenting, guiding, and loving our children even when we disagree
• Praying for our children and leaving it at the feet of Jesus
• What it looks like to say, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done”

• Website: Sarah Stephens - Equipping Women for Every Day
• Instagram: Sarah Tunstall Stephens (@sstephenstx)
• Facebook: Sarah Tunstall Stephens

Links Mentioned:

• Boundaries: By Dr. Henry Cloud and John Townsend
• Have a New Teenager by Friday: By Dr. Kevin Leman

• Inner Healing Prayer :: Jennifer Barnett [Ep 323]
• How Parents Can Equip Kids to Find Freedom, Healing, and Identity in Christ :: Jennifer Barnett [Ep 577]
• How to Hear God’s Voice: Freedom Prayer and Abiding in Christ with Jennifer Barnett [Ep 576]

• Lola Blankets: For a limited time, our listeners can get 40% OFF select Lola Blankets products with code [DMA] at checkout. Just head to LolaBlankets.com and use code [DMA] to get 40% OFF your order. Wrap yourself in luxury with Lola Blankets.
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