There is something about letting our children step into the world that feels counter to our parenting instincts. Author Carol Kuykendall has been speaking and writing on the topic of parenting and letting go for decades. The re-release of her popular book Give Them Wings: Preparing For the Time When Your Teens Leave Home offers great opportunity for the sisterhood to talk about this topic. In fact, our very own Krista Gilbert contributed to the updates in the book and Alex wrote the foreword. In other words, we believe in Carol's message.
This is the first of a two part series on this topic. This episode covers the high school years: what we're feeling, how our kids are separating, and how we move into the "consultant" role. We cover fear, how to address it as it comes up, tailoring fun to our family and individual kids, and looking past the immediate to the long-term goal of adult relationships with our kids. We understand how we've likely been letting go in small ways for years and how fighting our urdges to rescue our kids from hard things hurts rather than helps them. A must listen for parents approaching and in the middle of parenting teenagers.
Within minutes we are crying as this topic goes straight to the tender place for a mother. No matter your phase of parenting, you will benefit from the principles Carol shares about letting our kids grow into the people God has called them to be. That is what we want after all. Sometimes it takes the sisterhood to remind us.
The Bible tells us to pray, and we also seem to know that language intuitively in our spirits. When something bad happens, what is the first thing most of us do? Pray. But what really is prayer? And does it make a difference to God when we pray? Also, does it matter HOW we pray? What does prayer really do?
These are some of the questions we tackle in today's episode with Elisa Morgan, author of The Prayer Coin. Elisa lets us in on a little secret about the two essential ingredients to prayer, modeled by Jesus himself. They are simple, yet have the power to transform our prayer lives.
If you've been feeling stuck or stale in your prayer life, this interview will help. If you want more authentic communication with God, this will lead you there. If you want to know why prayer matters, this episode will answer that question.
Join us for this rich discussion on an important topic.
Fear God, Live Brave. These are the principles that guide Katie Westenberg's daily decisions. What does it mean to have courage? Is it the absence of fear? How about the fear of God? What does that look like? Though heavy questions, Katie examines them within the context of her smalltown, mom of four life which not only helps us understand the concepts, but shows us how she is living them out. Author of the popular blog, I Choose Brave, our conversation with Katie is one you won't want to miss.
We hear about Katie's loss of a child in utero, how grief played out in the months that followed, what it's like to live in the same small town where she grew up, why she chose to homeschool her kids, and the life she imagined as a high school student. From book recommendations to her family's favorite summer cake recipe (sure to be a kid favorite since soda pop is involved) to how she schedules her homeschooling days, this episode is full of both the practical and the inspirational.
We are always looking for sisters to spur us on. Katie has been one of those women in our lives and we are thrilled to share her with the larger sisterhood. If you are looking for inspiration to do a hard thing and next steps for moving toward courage, this is the interview for you.
Using meaningful rituals is one of the best ways to celebrate those milestone birthdays that mark a coming of age or "set apart" occasion. In this interview, Krista explains how her extended family uses rituals to mark two very special birthdays.
This episode will spark your creativity and help you think through how you can incorporate meaningful traditions into your family or community for birthday celebrations. Krista discusses the importance of ritual and how it deepens connections and provides a sense of belonging. She then moves to the practical application of what her family does to mark the 13th and 18th birthdays of all of the children in her family.
Whether planning a child's birthday or an adult's, you will be inspired to think of your own unique way of incorporating ritual and tradition to elevate important moments and transform them into unforgettable occasions.
From motherhood to work life, Kayla Aimee has had to adapt to unexpected turns the last decade. Her first child arrived very early, a micro-preemie throwing her into the world of NICU mothering. Now a mom to two, Kayla and her husband recently switched roles in the work/home life and Kayla has gone from stay at home mom to family breadwinner. We hear how the transition has gone for her and her husband as they've swapped major roles in the home. In all seasons of family life adaptability has been key.
In this Sister Interview we talk about comparison, how to recognize it when it's happening, and when needed how to shut it down. Now a fulltime, professional social media manager, we hear Kayla's take on social media consumption, when to take breaks, and the importance of remembering no one's feed gives the full picture of a life or situation. A great reminder for all of us.
Kayla's latest book, In Bloom: Trading Restless Insecurity for Abiding Confidence is now available. The perfect companion to our conversation with Kayla about avoiding comparisons and living into the life God has given you with confidence, no matter the unexpected turns.