M Is for Mama Podcast

In a world which trumpets the anti-biblical message of “you do you” and walking in “your truth,” it can be easy for Bible-believing Christians to swing to the opposite extreme of assuming anything we’re passionate about comes from love of self or can’t be trusted.  But the Bible makes it very clear that God directs our paths and has very specific purposes for our lives.  And when we walk in them c...

Ever wondered how you’ll make it through your day of work or homeschooling after a night of fractured sleep? Ever felt completely stuck in a hard situation, without a clear path to a solution?  Ever wished someone wise would just write you a step-by-step solution to a sticky situation so you can love forward? The truth is, we rarely receive enlightenment or next steps in the way we hope we will. I...

We’re back for part 2 of our chat with Blake Guichet about Christians and Politics.  We chat about whether open borders and socialism are truly biblical, what it means that God is the one who raises up and brings down kings, and what this means for our political decisions as Bible-believing Christians.  Wherever you fall on the political spectrum, we pray this episode will cause you to pray more,...

Ever wondered whether Christians should vote and, if so, for whom? What about socialism vs. capitalism? Which is more biblical? And how will you handle it if you share something unpopular, and you receive backlash?  We tackle all of these topics and more in this two part series on “Christians and Politics.” Make no mistake: This is two conservative women grappling with all of these issues from a b...

Ever heard the term prolapse? Or struggled to sneeze without peeing on yourself? Then, this episode is for you!  Join us as we chat about why kegels can be a really bad idea, Google is the wrong place to go for prolapse advice, and even medical professionals don’t often have real solutions to our struggles.  But take heart because God made our bodies capable of healing, and it starts with your wil...

Buckle up, friends, because a lot has happened since last May, and I’m chatting about it all during today’s episode. From family travel to trips abroad to really happy news, followed by sadness, it’s been a roller coaster ride of a summer.  And yet, through it all, God is faithful and good to show Himself loving every step of the way. Sponsor Info: Voetberg Music Academy Site: https://www.voetberg...

Hey, friends!  We’re back with new guests (Jep and Jessica Robertson of Duck Dynasty ), new sponsors, and new encouragement.  In this episode, the Robertsons share about how the Lord led them to adopt their son and the lessons God has taught them through the process.  They also share about Dear Valor, the children’s book they wrote in order to share those lessons with others and chat about their b...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to unplug from all “smart” devices and return to the simplicity of a landline and a knock on the screen door?  Erin Loechner brings her passion for educating families on ways to avoid common technological pitfalls, as well as her love of slow living to the show today for a fascinating conversation with someone truly willing to practice what she preaches...

Join me as I chat with Brent and Katie Kruithof from Yeah, Baby Goods about a perspective shift that allowed them to view their home as the hub of their business endeavors and their spiritual pursuits.  We talk about entrepreneurship, stewardship, and what it looks like to include our kids in meaningful ways within our home.  You’ll be encouraged by their passion for hard work, family togetherness...

If you feel the call to homeschool and don’t know where to start, are on the fence, or just feel curious about the movement, you’ll want to listen to Monica and I chat about her new book, Becoming Homeschoolers. We also chat about our mutual love for fitness + motherhood from the perspective of moms with older/graduated kids and encourage you in practical ways to stay the course. I know this conve...

This week, we chat solo parenting with older kids, adjusting expectations, and the art of transitioning back to a two-parent household whenever our husbands are home.  Plus, I give you a (perhaps) surprising perk to solo parenting at the end as a takeaway.  Enjoy! Sponsor Info: Yeah Baby Goods Code: MISFORMAMA Bible References: Romans 5:3-5 John 16:33 Romans 8:28 Links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

One of the FAQs I receive weekly in DMs is: “How do you handle solo-parenting when your husband is gone?” And while I know that everyone’s solo-parenting circumstances are different, there are some core principles that can help shift your mindset from “woe is me!” (been there) to “I’ve got this” (in Christ’s strength). Is so important to actively look for ways to thrive rather than simply survive!...

As we approach Mother’s Day (in the U.S.), I pray this brief episode will be an encouragement to stay the course for those who are in or for the long haul and a balm for those who are hurting this week. You are in my prayers. Sponsor Info: Site: https://www.voetbergmusicacademy.com/ Code: misformama Bible References: Philippians 4:6 Psalm 34:18 Jeremiah 29:11 Matthew 5:44 Ephesians 4:32 Matthew 6:...

Ever wondered how to create an environment of camaraderie, family connection, and meaningful discussion in your home? Continuing the theme from our conversation in the last episode with the Voetbergs, Jennifer Pepito shares her wisdom gleaned from years of investing intentionally in her own family, but she also shares mistakes and the grace the Lord has offered her in her imperfections. Be encoura...

Ep. 63: Passing Down the Good (A Chat with Elisha and Katie Voetberg) In a world that champions airing every bit of trauma/bad strategies passed down from parents, it’s rare (and refreshing!) to encounter young families who are, instead, holding with the positive traditions of their origin families and being intentional to praise the good (while acknowledging the not-so-good).  Elisha and Katie Vo...

Ever walked into a public library with your children, only to hurry them past the displays in the kids’ section because they’re almost all focused on promoting one secular agenda or another? You’re not alone. Choosing good literature for our kids--especially in light of the blatant bias many librarians proudly display--can be a challenging task in our current cultural climate. In this episode, Kor...

“Child free” is a phrase that populates comment sections on social media, Reddit threads, news articles, and more. It’s more than a little trendy to at least entertain the idea of forgoing having children altogether.  But is it biblical? I sit down with my good friend, Jennifer Flanders from  Flanders Family Home Life , chat about the biblical implications of a child-free lifestyle.  We also chat...

In part one of this topic, we unpacked why “overstimulation” is such a commonly used term—especially in motherhood—these days.  In this episode, we take a deeper look at some of the ways we might contributing to our own overwhelm. Because sometimes, all those “tabs” left open in our brain, driving us nuts, are the results of too many bad yeses and not enough good knows.  Self-awareness and the abi...

Have you ever credited your frustration or overwhelm in a particular situation to “overstimulation?” If so, join the club!  “Overstimulation” seems to be the word for mothers on social media (and many in-person interactions too). And it’s easy to understand why with so many things grabbing for our attention on top of a need to love and care for our families well. The good news is there is hope in...

This conversation will be such an encouragement to any mama (or woman!) with a dream in her heart but no idea how to steward it well for the glory of God. In this episode, Lyndsey Mimnagh from Treehouse Schoolhouse chats with me about everything from personality traits (how much do they matter?) to working backwards from your end goal to make it a reality (it works!) to DIY house-building (we’ve b...

“Masculinity” might be one of the most hot-button words in our current culture. And one of the most misunderstood.  Thankfully, my friend, Durenda Wilson, mama to eight, including five young men, is sharing her wisdom and experience with to help us understand the truth about raising boys. With humor, compassion, and practical action steps, she explains how important it is to parent our sons with i...

Have you ever found yourself nervous to announce a pregnancy, discuss parenting philosophies with a friend, or discuss school choices when your mother-in-law? Why? Because you’re afraid of what they’ll say!  If so, you are far from alone. It’s so hard not to let other people’s opinions on the choices we make for our families affect our confidence in them. And yet, when it comes to issues that aren...

I regularly get asked if any of my children have a diagnosis with which we must grapple.  While the answer is no, I do have firsthand knowledge of both the struggles and the joys of having a child with special needs through my friendship with Lindsay Long, my closest friend, business partner, and the illustrator of both M Is for Mama and Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad, and her daughter, Evie. ...

Heidi St. John—homeschool mom to eight, grandmother, author, and speaker—joins me on this episode to chat all things motherhood: finding our giftings, using them for the Lord + our families, and, yes, being willing to accept help.  Because motherhood (as with most things) is best done in community!  Join us for a lively conversation about how “bad days don’t make moms”—in fact, they often give us...

It would almost take living as a full-on Luddite to not know something about Taylor Swift. The sheer volume of interest, speculation, online posts, and photographs of just one person exemplifies our culture’s propensity to “obsess” over celebrities. One thing that sets “T Swift” apart is a dogged loyalty to/approval of/fascination with her: music, life choices, and person as a whole. And this incl...