Heart Focused Parenting

It doesn't matter how intentional we intend to be - or think we are - there comes a moment when we suddenly realise things aren't how we want them to be.  This can happen in any area of parenting. One such situation is you suddenly realise your child spends too much time watching a screen.   I know that a big issue is teens on social media but that's not what I'm specifically talking about today. ...

Ever had one of those moments where your child walks in the door, and within minutes, you can tell something is off? Maybe they're short-tempered, suddenly disrespectful, or acting way too cool for the family rules. You're left wondering, What happened?! And more importantly how to deal with it!  Today's episode I'm breaking down what is really going on and how to handle it without becoming confro...

Do you have a vision for what you want your family life to be like?  Do you have a vision for what you want your child to be like? We can just do parenting off the cuff or we can ask these important questions.  Why are you parenting - or what are you parenting towards?  I'm not talking about your kids career choices, or their personality but rather the values that they build their life on - do you...

Welcome to today's episode, where we are looking at how our words and actions affect our children's hearts? Are we nurturing them or unknowingly creating a disconnect?  We are going to start off by looking at Colossians 3:21  By obeying this verse - which calls us to not provoke our children to wrath (which is a commonly known translation). So how do we do that?  I have 6 simple ideas that will he...

Welcome back to the Heart-focused Parenting podcast after a month or so off over Christmas and the New Year as I caught up with family and had some rest time.  We are back into the year - episode 91. And we are kicking off with a topic that many of us face daily - the temptation to compare ourselves to other parents.  Whether you are scrolling on social media or watching your kids at the park, or...

 It's hard to believe, but Christmas is just around the corner! Today's episode is packed with tips to help you get through the Christmas season in a way that reflects your family's values and faith. This will also be the last episode for a few months as I take a short break, so I do wish you a merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year, but most of all I pray that you will continue to raise your kids...

Parenting often feels like a constant roll of reminders, prompts, and, yes, even nagging. But what dowe do if the constant correction (that we feel caught up in) isn't actually changing anything? Often the real issue is that your kids don't know why you're telling them to do these things?  Join me as we talk about how sharing your thought process changes how kids learn and grow into moral maturity...

So, be honest—have you ever said, 'This Christmas will be different!' only to find yourself drowning in wrapping paper and Pinterest ideas by December 10th? Yeah, we've all been there. But what if it really could be different this year? In today's episode, we're chatting about how to swap stress for connection, busyness for peace, and make space for the things that matter most. No magic wands requ...

Ever felt like your carefully planned day just unraveled before your eyes? The meltdown you didn't schedule happens, your plans fall apart, and you're left wondering—how do I keep my cool and still parent well? In today's episode, we're talking about managing life's interruptions with a heart-focused mindset. I'll share how a simple shift in perspective can help you stay grounded and guide your ch...

Are you tired of feeling like a broken record, constantly telling your kids to 'stop' doing this and 'stop' doing that? Today, I'm sharing a heart-focused parenting strategy that helps you parent the heart, helps keep the temperature down in your family dynamics, and helps your child learn to do the right thing.  A win-win idea I reckon!!   I'd love to hear from you if you start practicing this id...

Today, we're diving into that all-too-familiar feeling of wanting patience—and wanting it, right now! But here's the thing, patience is a muscle we have to build. Stick around, because in this episode, we're talking about practical ways to strengthen that 'patience muscle' and why it's so important for heart-focused parenting.    Join HEART-BOOSTERS (free)  Heart Boosters is a weekly email digging...

Welcome back to the podcast!  Today, I'm talking about a challenge every parent faces at some point - raising kids who can solve their own problems with willingness and confidence.  Maybe you've felt the frustration of always being on call, being needed to fix everything when things don't go your child's way.  Or perhaps you've wondered how to equip your child to navigate life's bumps without you...

Do you ever catch yourself making excuses about your child's behaviour that you know deep down just aren't helping?  It's a common struggle. This episode might be a bit uncomfortable because I'm going to highlight 4 excuses we all make and why they might be more harmful than you think. Actually, you may not even know you make these excuses - but once you listen in and hear me say them, you'll star...

#83 : Here is something that we don't talk about enough: forgiveness as a parent.  It is important to get your heart to a place of forgiveness before you deal with any heart or behavioural issue from your child. Forgiving is hard - especially when our child keeps doing the same thing over and over - but if we have unforgiveness in our heart - we won't be able to reach their heart.   Join HEART-BOO...

#82 : Do you get interrupted throughout the day?  Your day starts off with the best of intentions, a plan for the day, a realistic to-do list, and then life happens. I learned pretty quickly as a parent that my plans needed to be flexible. Kids seem to have their own agendas, their own needs and emotions that pop up at the most inconvenient times. In today's episode, I want to talk about those int...

#81 : Ever feel like there's no time for you to grow spiritually because you're always busy with the kids? In this episode, I look at this a different way because the truth is being a parent can actually help you grow closer to God. As we deal with all the busy and all the exhaustion we can try and do it on our own, or we can press into God.  The thing is - the more we depend on God the more like...

#80: We all know it – Being consistent is important as a parent. But we also know it is one of the biggest challenges we face – and it is one of the biggest guilts we deal with. But what does consistency look like? We tend to see it as being 100 percent the same – always; but, that can look like legalism or being authoritarian. Out of reaction, we swing the pendulum the other way – and find oursel...

#79: My goal as a Christian parent was to raise children who loved God, loved others and who were able to make wise choices as they lived in their community using their passions and talents to be a blessing to others.  Sounds good on paper - but how do we raise our kids to do the right thing - to even know what the right thing is and then to have the strength of character to do it?  In this episod...

#78: Discipline is a big topic - and one that sparks lots of intense feelings.  I thought it time to address what I believe about discipline because we use a word - and it may not mean what you think it means.  Or at least you may not know what I mean when I use the word.  Discipline is understood to be a big part of parenting - if we do it wrong it really does hurt our children - and I don't mean...

#77 : If you have older teens, or young adults living at home then you want to listen in today as I talk about a key parenting strategy that will help your young adult child move into adulthood well, but it will also help you make the transitions you need to as a parent.  If your young adult is living at home you need to have what I call a Rites of Passage conversation.  Listen in as I explain it...

#76 : Today we're talking about three words that changed my parenting: love, mercy, and grace. As Christian parents, we are probably very familiar with those words. But do we let them change how we parent?   Blog : 3 Words that Changed my Parenting    Further Listening What does it Mean to be a Christian Parent :  The truth about Christian parenting isn't in the things we teach our kids but rather...

#75:   Feelings of inadequacy can stop Christians from sharing gospel with children.  Learn to distinguish conviction from condemnation and how to be in a place where you can confidently talk to your kids about Jesus.   Blog: I'm a Christian, but feel Inadequate to talk to my Children about Jesus   Coaching: Get one-to-one help with coaching.  Start with a free Jumpstart session   see details   Jo...

#74 : Are you tired of feeling like you have to do it all to be a "good Christian family"? We are very quick to judge ourselves as not doing the right things, or not doing enough things to be a good Christian family.  This is a false standard.  What is a good Christian family anyway!  Our goal should be to create a space where our children grow in their faith and in their confidence to be who God...

#73 As Christian parents, we all want our kids to know Jesus - and Easter is a time to create meaningful spiritual moments for our children, but we often get overwhelmed by chocolate and other things.  In this episode, I'm talking about the importance of planning how you will approach Easter with intentionality and faith so that your children can grow in their knowledge and faith of Jesus Christ a...

#72: We all dream of a family home overflowing with love, laughter, and fun.  And yet the reality is daily chaos and trying to balance all the things we have to do along with teaching and training our kids!  This week I'm sharing a journaling moment that changed my heart, changed my perspective which in turn changed our family - way back when my kids were little.  I don't know about you but for me...