Elevating Motherhood

Do you ever feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day? That your calendar is full and overwhelming? That busy is your new normal and you wish it weren’t? When my schedule gets too full, I know that something needs to change and that usually it means I need to sit down and have a come to Jesus meeting about my priorities. I need prayer, I need perspective, and I need practical steps. Our guest...

There are so many times in my life I’ve wondered if I’m a people pleaser. I’ve wondered if I was taught to be, if everyone in our society is to some degree. I’ve questioned if some of my decisions are centered around people pleasing, and if it’s something I need to work on it my life. Am I modeling it for my kids? Expecting it from them unintentionally? I’m sure you’re here because you’ve wondered...

“What does it mean to be creative…it’s allowing yourself to be so inspired by the beauty of the world that you want to capture it in some kind of form and then having the discipline to actually carry it out.” -Ashlee Gadd on the Elevating Motherhood Podcast Mothers often feel guilt when they pursue something that takes time away from their children, especially when that something could be deemed l...

My children are homeschooled at home in Idaho but are technically private school students at Clonlara School in Michigan. How does that work? I get that question A LOT so I’ve invited April Huard, the Director of Education at Clonlara School onto the show to answer that question and share more about Clonlara’s unique and transformative mission.   Clonlara’s Mission: The mission of Clonlara School...

“The modern homestead movement is 100% a state of mind. It’s the strive for self-sufficiency.” My friend Kody Hanner wrote a homestead curriculum that my family adores. It’s being used by homeschoolers, schools, and I know some adults who could benefit from the huge amount of information in her homestead curriculum. Kody joins us today to talk about her curriculum, how it came to be, the modern ho...

What is your homeschool freedom worth? Today’s episode is probably going to be controversial to some listeners. My guest, Aby Rinella, and I are going to talk about School Choice and Public School Partnerships and what effect these have on homeschool freedom. You might not agree with what Aby and I have to say on these topics. You might agree with part of it. You might agree with all of it. And th...

Leah Boden is back! Leah & I recorded Charlotte Mason 101 back in Episode 56…I highly recommend both of her episodes! Leah truly is the Modern Miss Mason and now has a book with the same title. I 10/10 recommend her book—it’s my favorite book of the year! Charlotte Mason is a niche pedagogy that I passionately believe should be less niche and more mainstream. Charlotte Mason’s philosophies can...

This is a very raw episode about a woman who is very dear to my heart. My beloved Grandma Huck passed away at the end of 2022. We just got back to Idaho after her funeral in Ohio and I have to tell you that with her passing, I feel changed. I feel like our family’s hearts will be forever full and forever broken at the same time. I debated on sharing about her. She was so special it’s one of those...

Books are incredibly powerful. We know this and yet as moms we don’t always make time to read. The world tells us that there is no time for anything, ever. And in the same breath often tells us what to do, what to read, how to think, how to mother…and a lot of that messaging leaves us feeling fearful, unworthy, and like we aren’t doing enough. What if there was a way to step off the hamster wheel...

This brief episode is a follow up to Episode 136…if you haven’t listened to that one, I highly recommend listening to that one first, otherwise this one won’t make very much sense. I feel like it’s really important to not just talk about ideas or make plans, but to take time for self-reflection after an event to see how you’re feeling—especially as a mom. Mamas set the tone for their entire family...

Talking about mediocre motherhood is—believe it or not—probably one of my favorite things. I don’t align with a lot of the modern motherhood messaging that we’re fed and I know that our mama hearts desire more than mediocrity. I like talking about it so we can name it…and I name it so we can change it. Abbie Halberstadt is fighting mediocrity head on in her new book M is for Mama. She is here to r...

Halloween…you might be here because you feel something is different this year, too. Or you might be like “What’s the big deal? It’s just Halloween.” Or you might be here hoping I’ll expose it for the demonic celebration you think it is. Wherever you fall on this spectrum of perspectives, I’m glad you’re here. People are super passionate about Halloween. Some love it and can hardly wait (my bestie...

My best friend wrote a book about business and I couldn’t help but read it through the motherhood lens as well. So that’s what this episode is about: applying business principles to motherhood as a way for moms to find their balance between the two. We’ll talk about the principles of growth mindset in both our professional and personal lives. We’re besties, so this episode starts out super informa...

“It’s ridiculous that birth plans even have to exist. The purpose of a birth plan really is to decrease the likelihood that you are going to be abused while you’re in this setting. To decrease the likelihood that people are going to do stuff to you that you don’t want done.” -Dr. Sarah Leahy Join our Birth Plan Workshop on July 19, 2022! ( www.birthuprising.com/events ) There was a crazy letter ci...

Summer flies by...we only have 18 summers with our kiddos (but do we?) In this episode, I address the mom guilt that surrounds creating magical summer for and with our kids + give you some great ideas to have fun with ease--the ease that comes from living an aligned life.  The 2 Lists: 1. Family Values List 2. Summer Bucket List Add meaning to your summer by creating a family bucket list that...

This episode will give you all the life and podcast updates for 2022 (so far).  It’s been a big break. Ironically, I’ve watched others around me take a long 6 month+ break at the same time. Coincidence or calling?  In the last 6 months, I've:  Had a baby Stayed on an extended maternity leave (whatever that means) Moved from Maui to Idaho (I answer the #1 question: Do you miss Maui?)...

Organizing is not my strong suit. It’s actually something that I tend to shy away from if I can help it. But in the interest of life-long learning and personal growth—and out of necessity because we had the huge move from Maui to Idaho coming up—I decided to tackle the topic with your help! This episode is packed with questions from Elevating Motherhood listeners. My friend Jennifer Ford Berry mad...

“Ultimately, we recognize the season of Lent before Easter not because God demands it of us, not because Christ commanded it to prove our mettle, and not because we must perfect ourselves before we’re worthy of Easter,” writes Oxenreider. “We observe Lenten practices because they’re good for us… In a world that celebrates indulging our whims whenever we want, to practice the traditions of Lent is...

A wealth of inspiration and a breath of fresh air, Liz Galvan gives moms permission to look fully at their lives and figure out how to live with intention—not only within their homes but within their family unit and within themselves. In this episode, we explore how we can bring beauty, peace, and a sense of coziness into our homes all year long by embracing the interconnectedness of our own actio...

My hair may be changing, but so am I. Growing out my grey is about soooooooo much more than hair. A year in, I’m more genuinely confident –that doesn’t mean I love every day, but my gosh, I see the growth literally and figuratively. I see the beauty and the potential. Maybe it’s because I’m a mom, but I know how quickly this transition will fly by, even if it takes years. In this episode I talk ab...

Have you thought about going back to school, pursuing your certification, degree, or even masters degree? Or maybe you’re dreaming of starting a business or passion project…but you’re a mom and busy and life seems overwhelming as is…so you question whether you can truly add one more thing to your plate financially, time wise, or even just mentally, emotionally, or physically. There are so many fac...

“We repeat what we don’t repair.” – Christine Langley-Obaugh Thanks for being here for this episode. You don’t have to be a mom to a daughter to benefit from today’s show. If you’re a woman, you’re already in a mother/daughter relationship (you are someone’s daughter). If you are a mom to a girl, there’s that dynamic, too. Do me a favor…hop over to IG after listening to this episode and look for t...

Fear, comparison, feeling inadequate, overwhelm, exhaustion…there are so many factors in our lives that bring on feelings of wanting to shut down. Especially as moms. Life is good and hard at the same time…but how do we live in that dichotomy? How can we embrace the hard parts of life and the highlight reel moments and learn from all of them? Author and speaker Lisa Whittle is here with us to shar...

“We gotta talk to our kids. We have to equip them to make good decisions and we have to teach them truths so they recognize lies.” Screen time, phones, tablets, computers…online predators, rule breaking, off the charts average daily screen times…parenting this generation of screen obsessed kids is so stressful. Most parents know that too much screen time, especially social media, is unhealthy for...

We’re showing up. We’re doing the work. We see what we’re tasked with as women and now moms—that we need to heal wounds, mend relationships, set goals, establish our values, and act on them…but what are our options when it comes to getting support to help us do the internal work? When we think of seeking help some of the only things that come to mind are one on one sessions with a therapist and ta...