Struggle Well School

Do you love to storm out when you’re fighting with your spouse? Maybe get a good door slam in and draw things out a bit? Conflict happens. Especially with those partners we love so much and that’s exactly what we’re talking about today with The Peppers. Gerard Brown and Jessie Artigue launched the now popular ‘ Marriage is Funny ’ podcast just two days after a serious discussion about divorce. Fou...

We solved it all this week. How do you plan for a day out and about without breaking the bank to feed your crew on the way home? Solved. What to do when your friends are shaming you for living paycheck to paycheck? Solved! Is meal planning non-existent in your home and you think it’s breaking the bank? SOLVED! Listeners not only wrote with their problems, they told us what makes them feel like win...

Are you a workin’ lady? Maybe you’ll be returning to work in the near future. Maybe you don’t work outside of the home but some friends that you love do. This week I wanted to share a conversation that I had with the women over on the Mom to Mom Podcast. We talk about tips for working moms and also I share a very raw description of what it looks like in the Thomas house now that I’m back to work....

Are you a saver or a spender? Do you have a joint bank account or are they separate? Oh, and do you still tuck in the front of your shirt or is that over now? This week we are talking finances and saving well . Emily brought some really simple saving tips and Katie sends out a siren call for large thongs. We establish that money can be difficult and Em stumbled upon some helpful sermons to ponder...

What should you do when you feel yourself losing your cool? How do you know if you’ve experienced trauma? My guest this week is as wise as the day is long and gives us practical tips to help us stay in the moment, honor the pace of our healing, and work our patience like a muscle. We are talking: trauma, shame and the price we pay living in a society that values overachieving. If you don’t already...

WHAT WE CHAT ABOUT: what it’s like for Ashley as an only child now raising four kids how learning to play with her kids and appreciating the moment has become a spiritual discipline what helped Ashley embrace her life as a mom letting go of expectations and embracing the things that are important to you the emphasis Ashley places on getting to know her kids and how she does that letting your overw...

We are right back at it solving your problems this week! We discuss homeschooling vs. public school, ethical dilemmas at the goodwill checkout stand and kids that easily get bent out of shape (that’s right, we’re talking about all of them!). Keep writing in with your problems (and yo, we’ll solve ‘em) at hello@momstrugglingwell.com . WHAT WE CHAT ABOUT: how much Emily is loving Rebecky’s upcoming...

I met Jesus. And meeting Him changed everything . Sarah Mae is a nationally known speaker, the host of The Complicated Heart Podcast , and co-author of the bestselling book, Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe . She loves traveling all over the country, speaking at conferences and events, encouraging women to walk in freedom. She makes her home in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, with...

What does it mean to finish well? This week I break it down real simple-like and give you 4 steps to help you reflect on 2019. But don’t worry! It’s not scary and at the end of this exercise, there will be plenty of encouragement. That’s just my style! There is even a printable so dive in with us in this last month of the year as we discuss finishing well . WHAT WE CHAT ABOUT: what’s new and notew...

How can I talk to my kids about sexual abuse? How do I know if what I encountered is abuse? Is my church a safe place for my kids? All of these are important questions and we talk about the hard stuff today with my guest Mary DeMuth. Her best advice for us? Speak up, and persevere anyway. If you met Mary DeMuth today, her joy might confuse you. Who she has become in light of tragedy is a testimony...

WHAT WE CHAT ABOUT: encouragement if you’re grieving this holiday season letting your kids have all the toys (even if they clutter your house) dealing with dirty floors what to do with all the kids at parties so you don’t get stuck babysitting helping kids with sensory needs during loud family get-togethers how to enjoy hosting holidays with divorced parents throwing a post-Christmas birthday part...

Sheridan Voysey is a writer, speaker, and broadcaster on faith and spirituality. His other books include Resurrection Year: Turning Broken Dreams into New Beginnings , Resilient , and the award-winning Unseen Footprints . Sheridan is a regular contributor to BBC Radio 2 and other international networks, and has featured on BBC Breakfast, BBC News, Day of Discovery, and 100 Huntley Street. He is ma...

It just seems like when we are celebrating we should actually be having FUN! This week, we talk about how to celebrate WELL. WHAT WE CHAT ABOUT: Celebrating the holidays using the WELL framework - Wait, Expect, Listen, Lean In 7 steps to help you enjoy holiday parties Rules for throwing a crappy house party (and why you should try it) Your Chrismas strugg stories including everything from trash ba...

Tricia Goyer is a busy mom of ten, doting grandma, and wife to John. A USA Today bestselling author, Tricia has published seventy books and is a two-time Carol Award winner, as well as a Christy and ECPA Award Finalist. She is also on the blogging team at TheBetterMom.com and other homeschooling and Christian sites. Tricia is the founder of Hope Pregnancy Ministries and currently leads a teen MOPS...

This month we tackle business problems! We talk about budgeting, saving for college, and loans. Rebecky was also on the cusp of a citizens arrest AND a drug intervention in the parking lot she was recording in. We caught up on Jonah’s Bigfoot hunt and Em apologized for bringing a ghost child on the podcast last week. Look for us on Instagram this coming month as we ask for questions you need to be...

This is part 2 of a great conversation with Sarabeth Kapusta. Even though she has experienced countless reasons to distrust, and even flee Christianity, God has given her a deep love for His Church, His Word, and making known to as many as possible that God is not an abuser. She is an attorney and a generally free-spirited person. She is also a violinist, runner, writer, wannabe chef, and farm gir...

This month was brought to you by the letter: M. We had all kinds of things to tell you! We had a mosquito moment, a mobster moment and a moronic moment. We also talked about new music we like, an update on Em’s mattress saga and more on mental health. We touched base on where we’re at with the Magnolia marathon and some memorable massages we had recently. WHAT WE CHAT ABOUT: Mosquito Minute: Katie...

You know that nagging feeling you get when something feels off? That feeling turned into a storm inside this girl and it changed the course of her life forever. Meet Sarabeth Kapusta. Even though she has experienced countless reasons to distrust, and even flee Christianity, God has given her a deep love for His Church, His Word, and making known to as many as possible that God is not an abuser. Sh...

WHAT WE CHAT ABOUT: Gavin’s successful sleep training the full-circle story of Rebecky’s new dog, Mojo what to do when your neighbor’s dog won’t stop barking pro tips on how to entertain your toddler when breastfeeding a baby how Emily’s counselor finally convinced her that she’s overcommitting solving your sex problems… very awkwardly solving all of Rebecky’s husband’s problems from empty water p...

Have you ever felt called to do something for your community? Whether it’s cultivating a craft weekend with strangers or caring for tiny sweet foster babies, Meg Duerksen is the hostess with the mostess. Meg is a girl who turned “you know what would be a good idea” into an adult Barbie dream house and boy are we glad she did! She is the creator of Camp Create at the Whatever Craft House in Newton,...

How do you know if you have depression or anxiety? At what point do you seek help? Rebekah came on this week to share her story and we talk a lot about fear, lies, mental health and faith. When your identity is tied to your accomplishments it’s easy to start to feel like you’re drowning. So, what has to change? What does God say about rest, food, connection, creativity? Rebekah shares with us a lo...

This month it was decided that we need to have a catch up session BUT that we would keep it purposeful. Here’s what we covered: Important dates in September (there are a surprising amount of things to celebrate), glitter cuticles and back to school. Em talks openly about “breaking her brain” while trying to switch medications and we deep dive mascara. You know, the ushe. WHAT WE CHAT ABOUT: Katie’...

Do you ever feel like an outsider no matter where you are? Do you need motivation to be courageous and talk to the people that could be "your people”? Rachel lives and writes in Djibouti, a small country in the Horn of Africa. Her family has learned (is still learning) how to struggle well while living as cultural and spiritual outsiders in this Muslim country. She has published a book about raisi...

This week for our 200th episode celebration Rebecky and Katie combined forces to surprise Emily with sweet sentiments, cutting sarcasm and a little bit of encouragement. It was so fun to celebrate and take some time to reflect on the past 4 years. Thank you all for being here and I’m so glad you get to celebrate with us! WHAT WE CHAT ABOUT: facts involving the number 200 (because Emily knows that...

Have you ever made the connection between the growth of a plant and the growth in your faith? Have you ever encountered a communicative plant? If you’re a plant lover, buckle in! If you aren’t YET, you're going to learn about totipotent nodes. I mean, that's just going to happen. But you're also going to hear a beautiful story about rising up through the soil in a broken home, battling depression/...