The Connected Mom

The word "theology" can freak people out. But don't run away! As a mama, we want to help you understand "theology"--the study of God and why it's so important as we parent. That's why we have two amazing guests on today who wrote a book to equip parents with theology in a visually engaging way. "I'm going to say this simply, moms. After you're done here in this conversation, you're going to know t...

Today we're talking about weight and dieting and *all* the things involved with body image. Becky and our guest, Laura Acuña, share their stories of battling body image and yo-yo dieting that left them feeling defeated...and even impacted their families. Listen in as we dive into this important topic of understanding the roots of disordered eating and turn to the hope found in God's Word.  ABOUT O...

Marriage! Here’s the thing, in the thick of parenting challenges, it’s easy to let things slide in your marriage. However, In God’s design husband and wife are to function as one. Their relationship is to be growing and thriving, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. So it’s important that we talk about our marriages and how to cultivate those in the thick of parenting challenges. This week we...

Today we’re continuing our series on mental health issues . . . and specifically when it affects your spouse. We’re talking to Becky's dear friend Tracy Arntzen about finding hope when mental health issues enter your marriage. We chat about how to stay connected with God, and your husband, and also help your kids through that battle. ABOUT OUR GUEST Tracy Arntzen is a passionate wife, mother of 3...

If you're a parent to a teen or have teens you love, listen in. Today we're talking about teen depression--what to look for and what to do when you identify that a teen you love may be depressed. With all that is going on in our world it's so important to recognize the warning signs and have a plan when depression enters the picture. Dr. Jim Coil joins us and shares a lot of very helpful informati...

Did you know that at least 1 in 7 women suffer from postpartum depression or anxiety? Postpartum depression is considered the number one complication of childbirth. Listen in as we dive into these very real issues and how they can affect us and those we love. Ashley Hudson, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, joins us for a very real, practical episode. "You deserve to feel better." Please share! L...

Our guest Jenny Randle is here to remind us that creativity comes in all forms . . . and our kids may express creativity in a variety of ways. Join us as we identify creative “killers” and glean a few ideas on how you can foster creativity in your child(ren). Find creative ways to connect . . . you won't regret it! Free download mentioned in the episode: 31 FUN AND EASY WAYS TO GROW your kids’ God...

Make time to listen as Carol McLeod chats with Becky and Sarah about how she found JOY in tremendous loss and depression. You are sure to relate with parts of her story or know someone who needs to hear her message. How can we experience the fullness of JOY even in the hardest parts of mothering? We're glad you're listening in. ABOUT OUR GUEST Carol McLeod is a best-selling author and popular spea...

As moms, we want to do all we can to avoid hard times for our family. On today's podcast, we chat with Grace Fox about what we can do when those hard times inevitably come. Listen for "hope" as we discuss these topics:  How to deal with the anxious "what ifs" Choosing joy over fear How pain can mold/shape our kids Identifying joy-stealers How we can change our view of "weaknesses" ABOUT OUR GUEST...

As the new year approaches, we recommend becoming "Soul Strong." What does that mean? Our special guest Lucinda Secrest McDowell talks with us about her book Soul Strong: 7 Keys to a Vibrant Life. These concepts are a great way to begin 2023. Make it the year where you go deeper in your connection with God. ABOUT OUR GUEST Lucinda Secrest McDowell , M.T.S., is a storyteller and seasoned mentor who...

The demands of motherhood can leave us feeling exhausted and like we hardly have the emotional energy to pull out our Bibles or have a long prayer time. Running between activities, events, and work can feel overwhelming. On this episode, we get really practical and specific about helping mamas connect with God. At times this goal can feel elusive and ethereal and so we want to have a conversation...

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Julie Lavender is the award-winning author of several books, including 365 Days of Celebration and Praise and Creative Sleepovers for Kids! , and coauthor of Come and Behold Him . Her work has appeared in several anthologies and curricula, as well as many magazines, such as The Upper Room , Guideposts , Homeschooling Today , ParentLife , Clubhouse , Today's Christian Woman , and F...

In the busyness of the holidays, we can easily lose sight of why celebrations matter. In this episode Becky reminds us that celebrations were actually God’s idea. So, it's worth spending some time thinking about how celebrations and traditions build connection in our family and even our faith. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Authentic, passionate, funny and Biblical all describe, Becky Harling. A best-selling au...

Sometimes these BIG emotions can interrupt family life and leave us feeling disconnected. We want to help you--and today's episode is packed with practical advice that can help you and your child deal with the big emotions that come our way. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Michelle Nietert has been a licensed professional counselor for over 25 years and the coauthor of the award winning book Loved and Cherished:...

How can you help your kids be filled with gratitude . . . and how can you make that fun? Gratitude is something God honors, and according to the research, it actually makes people more happy in their adult life. Who knew? Today Becky shares lots of ideas to make gratitude fun at any age--from toddlers to high schoolers. We even throw in a few tips for grandparents! Mentioned: Thank You Bear book s...

In this episode, we discuss so much! Starting your own business. Managing a budget (not a bad word!). Wise handling of debt. And how to make the best of our crazy economy. Plus, our guest, Katelyn Swiatek shares about her home-based business for women who love fashion and also want to be wise with money. ABOUT OUR GUEST Katelyn Swiatek is the founder of SAVOUR Clothing located in Colorado Springs,...

We want to say right from the beginning, this is a guilt-free zone! So if you haven't been doing family dinners well, no worries. There's always time to improve. But in this episode, Becky gives some great ideas on how to make time around the dinner table a fun time (you read that right--fun!). It doesn't have to be stressful. It can be fun. Listen in and grab one new idea to try with your family...

You're in for a treat! Becky and Sarah interview Will Daniel, a sixth-grade author and his mom, Blythe Daniel. Will wrote a book with more than 400 laughs and he shares a few on this podcast! You're guaranteed to laugh while listening and also gather some encouragement from Blythe on how important it is to cultivate humor in the home. Will's new book will help you do that...so we encourage you to...

On our last episode we started a conversation about comparison. As mom, our tendency to compare erodes our connection with God, our fellow moms, and our kids, which is exactly the opposite of what we hope to do on this podcast. Becky shares life-giving truths from Scripture--it's less about being an *achiever* and more about being an *abider.* ABOUT OUR GUEST: Authentic, passionate, funny and Bibl...

The truth is, comparing can damage our relationship with God, fellow moms, and our kids. Listen in as Becky encourages moms to embrace where your kids are and instead lean into helpful, biblical strategies of kicking comparison to the curb! ABOUT OUR GUEST: Authentic, passionate, funny and Biblical all describe, Becky Harling. A best-selling author, Becky is a popular speaker at conferences, retre...

Relationships between mothers and daughters can be messy and hurtful. But they don't have to stay that way! Join us as we discuss healing from mother wounds with a very special mother/daughter team, Dr. Helen Mcintosh and her daughter, Blythe Daniel. This is our second podcast on healing from mother wounds. We're continuing the conversation about mending our relationship with our moms. Dr. Helen M...

"I always tell moms, the best thing a mother can do is find healing for herself."  --Debbie Alsdorf "We're all broken, Mamas. And we all make mistakes. So I really want our listeners to get that because you are not going to be able to do it perfectly.  We have Jesus because we're broken. And so we continually need to go back to Jesus." --Becky Harling ABOUT OUR GUEST: Debbie Alsdorf’s greatest joy...

Military families face unique challenges that Megan Brown helps us understand in this episode. Listen in to understand how military families can stay connected . . . and how non-military friends can love and care for families who serve.  ABOUT OUR GUEST: Megan Brown is a seasoned military spouse, mother of four, and military missionary. She is the Founder and Executive Director of MilSpo Co. - a 5...

As parents, we need to emphasize connection more than correction. But how can we do that? Becky shares how we can become better listeners to connect with our kids. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Authentic, passionate, funny and Biblical all describe, Becky Harling. A best-selling author, Becky is a popular speaker at conferences, retreats and other events. She is a best-selling author and has written eleven boo...

In this day and age, fear and anxiety for mamas is on the rise. School shootings have increased. There's strange illnesses out there, like monkey pox?! There's so much that we have to let go of as mamas. Right? In this episode, we talk with author Judy Dunagan about how moms can step away from fear and pray Scripture over our children and lives. Judy shares many practical steps, some of which come...