Don't Mom Alone Podcast

Do you feel like all the parenting books and formulas do not apply to your child? Is there embarrassment over public behavior that causes conflict? Are you longing for a deep connection with your kids that lasts into adulthood? Today we revisit my conversation with Amy and Jeffrey Olrick. Jeffrey is a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with children and families and uses his knowledg...

I love Kirk’s realistic approach to parenting. He understands what your home dynamics are like. And gives practical tips. After listening to today’s episode you will have at least three different “tricks” to apply. Most of all, I’m thankful for the new perspective he has given me. Kirk helped me recognize how emotionally invested I was in my boys’ behavior and freed me from the need to regulate th...

On September 20, 2021, Makayla Noble, a world-champion cheerleader, suffered an injury that resulted in a severe spinal cord injury. Both Cynthia and I were part of her extended community and were getting updates on her healing journey and how to pray for her.  Today we have the honor of interviewing her to see how God has used her life to glorify Him even when things don’t go as planned.  From th...

A few years ago on an Instagram survey I learned that 68% of y’all have experienced broken friendships. I knew we needed an episode to help. Licensed professional counselor Shundria Riddick is here to walk us through some healthy ways to work toward reconciliation and how to know when to walk away from a hurtful friendship. We talk about setting healthy boundaries, having clarifying conversations,...

**earbud alert–if you listen with little ones around may want to pop in the ole earbuds or be prepared to have lots of conversations ;) **  We kick off today looking like we are going to two separate events, with one dressed up and one in athleisure. Are you team shorts or team dresses for summer? We give some summer updates including how to feed ALL of the teens that are home and my 1980’s drink...

Welcome to week one of the Summer of Mentorship! This summer we are answering your questions with guests from past episodes. We are starting off with an episode from April of 2020 (ep 280) with Rachel Macy Stafford, the founder of Hands Free Mama.  Rachel’s Hands Free Mama mentality is all about finding balance in a media-saturated, perfection-obsessed world. And it’s about seizing the little mome...

Do you notice our culture (especially online) is full of people who all think their opinion is correct and want to argue? Do you wish you had the tools to help your child think for themselves and have deep conversations? Julie Bogart; author, podcaster, and creator of Brave Writers; is here to help us teach our kids how to have critical thinking skills and how to use those tools as parents. In a w...

Today’s podcast kicks off with a real-life example of how the enneagram can improve relationships and facilitate healthy conflict resolution. Heather sent our guest, Beth McCord, a less than friendly email recently and Beth responded with grace and understanding because she knows how to navigate our personalities, what a gift.  Our guest Beth is a well-known speaker, author, teacher, enneagram coa...

Father’s Day is quickly approaching and Dustin Nickerson- Comedian, author, and podcaster- is here to share all things funny and serious about parenting. On his podcast with his wife Melissa, they laugh at and also talk about the tough parts of parenting. I ask him about what it is like to try and balance family, travel for work, and attempt to have meaningful connections in friendships. The more...

Today’s sidetracked starts off with Cynthia airing her grievances. We talk about eyebrows and all of the products we use to get them to grow. Then move on to an update about our Patreons which we find out are the Wal-Mart and Target of that platform. I guess once you start posting content people remember they are paying for it. We also talk about our local celebrity from American Idol, Jack Blocke...

Do you feel like since 2020 your family tech rules have gone out the window? How do you handle tech guidelines if both parents are not on the same page? Do you find it difficult to manage different ages and stages when it comes to screens?  Andrea Davis, a mom of five with a degree in secondary education, is here to share a ton of wisdom and guidance on tech and screens for summer and beyond. We d...

Have you ever struggled with a repetitive sin that you can’t seem to break on your own? Do you swing from feelings of shame to justifying sin as no big deal? Do you understand the enemy’s tactics and how he preys on our weaknesses?  Today Kirby Kelly- speaker, author, scholar, and Christian content creator- joins me to share her powerful and very vulnerable story. Kirby dealt with habitual sin for...

Today kicks off our new sidetracked series with a surprise guest! Toni Collier- author, speaker, podcaster, and single mom- joins us to cover all the topics. Toni is the author of Broken Crayons Still Color and encourages people that even in the hard and dark parts of life God is waiting to use us. In our brokenness, we can see God in the land of the living. She reminds us that regardless of event...

Did you know that once you are postpartum you are always postpartum? Do you have issues from pregnancy, birth, or c-sections that have followed you and don’t know where to turn? Do you know that only 4% of parents are getting the movement that they need?  Today Krystle Howald, a women’s health physical therapist and co-founder of Expecting and Empowered, is here to break down some of the pains and...

Rebecca St. James, a popular Australian American contemporary Christian singer, songwriter and actress, is here to talk about the amazing new movie Unsung Hero , which chronicles her family's journey to rebuild their lives from the ground up. She shares personal stories from her childhood and how their mom’s faith stands up against all odds and inspires her husband and children to hold on to their...

As usual, this sidetracked has so much packed into it, especially as we head into Mother’s Day and the end-of-school-year May(hem). We recap my son Quade’s final high school musical performance as Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast . Once again the tears are flowing as I process having a senior and all of the final milestones that come along with it.  Cynthia tries to describe what her best Mother’s...

Do you feel like you are just existing with your family instead of being intentional? Are you finding it hard to consistently spend time with the Lord as a busy mom? Do you wonder how to train your kids in Godly principles and practices that last a lifetime?  Today Jennifer Pepito- author, podcaster, and homeschool curriculum writer- joins me to talk about her new book Habits for a Sacred Home . S...

Do you often feel like you are dropping all the spinning plates? That you can’t keep up or believe the lie that you are the worst mom and wife? Do you wonder why you are not further along, why does everyone else seem to have it together?  Today Joanna Weaver- author, speaker, and podcaster- joins me to discuss her new book Embracing Trust. We also spent time talking about her classic Having a Mary...

Do you feel like you just need more money to create a home you love? Do you want an inviting home that feels peaceful and open to your friends and family? Are you confused about your decorating style and end up buying random decor that does not work?  Myquillyn Smith, author and founder of the Nesting Place, joins me to help with all of the House Rules that can be so overwhelming. She gives me adv...

Do you feel as if you are always measuring yourself as a mom? Do you feel like the pressure to keep up with moms around you is overwhelming? Do you feel snappy or resentful at your kids and husband? Today, author Sara Hagerty joins me to talk about her new book, The Gift Of Limitations . She is a wife and mom of seven with four adopted kids. Sara shares how we often find ourselves daydreaming abou...

Right off the bat Cynthia and I get sidetracked by my grumpy mood. A mood I blamed on an instagram battle but probably more about my grief of having a senior who is actually going to college!  There’s some rehashing of the Bachelor, Heather’s advice for renting with Turo and discussion whether audiobooks count as reading. We also get sidetracked talking about all of the end-of-school year emotions...

Earbud and Trigger warning We live on the other side of the Resurrection! If you find yourself in the middle of brokenness and ruin, we pray this episode reminds you that your heavenly Father God is in the redemption business.  Today Nadia Louise joins me to share her powerful testimony. Her story is woven with so many layers of trauma and pain from a narcissistic, abusive father to the death of h...

Bruce joins me today to discuss 25 years of marriage and answer listener questions like-  What did you learn in year 25 that you wish you knew in year 1? How do you make time for intimacy? How to handle times when your significant other is having a struggle with faith? And, What are you looking forward to when your kids are grown and flown?  I discuss how I’ve grown in emotional maturity while Bru...

Do you feel like you are on the hamster wheel of expectations this culture throws at your teen? Do you feel the pressure and pull of having them in every sport, activity, and tutor to excel? Is church becoming a point of struggle every Sunday?  Melissa Kruger joins me to talk about all things teen and how to raise them in this culture that is pointing to everything but Jesus.  Melissa is an author...

Is your home a place of peace or one of anger and frustration? Do you feel exhausted from the arguing and bickering between kids? Does the bedtime struggle make most evenings end in overwhelm?  Ralphie Jacobs is here to help us understand the science and tactics behind Positive Parenting. She started her career in early childhood education and soon realized through her own parenting struggles that...