Practically Speaking Mom: Intentional Mom, Strong Family

Navigating the tumultuous waves of parenthood, especially during trying times such as a high-conflict marriage or divorce, often feels like a daunting voyage. We're joined this week by Angela, a beacon of empathy and wisdom from Hope Works Counseling, helping us chart our course with invaluable guidance. Angela stresses the importance of forging supportive anchors outside our children, remind...

Wouldn't it be nice if our life really was a fairy tale, and everything turned out the way we wanted it to? But life just isn't like that. Things get difficult and today we have a guest to help us with difficult. Join Angela and I for an encouraging chat on how to handle some of the most difficult circumstances in life. What happens when a passionate mental health coach, Angela Starts fr...

Discover the power of four simple words: See, Say, Sit, and Step; Val's fundamental formula to assist children in separating their identity from their emotions, and expressing these feelings in a healthier way. We'll also look into the significance of setting boundaries around emotions, a vital step in maintaining our overall wellbeing. HERE IS A PDF TO HELP YOU USE THESE FOUR SIMPLE WOR...

Share some laughs, vulnerable honesty, and getting to the heart of emotional issues in this mother/daughter conversation. Join Abby and me, as we embark on a heartfelt exploration of emotion management and the courage required to face tough situations.  We tackle the dangers of letting our emotions dictate our actions and offer guidance on maintaining control. EPISODES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Ep...

Who knew that the journey to emotional wholeness could start with a conversation between spouses? That’s exactly what happened for my husband and I, and it's a journey we've not only embarked on within our marriage and family life, but also as a teaching tool for others. In our second week on Raising Emotionally Wise Kids & Teens, let's examine our five-step approach to managing...

OH Mama the emotions we deal with all day long!  Whether it is figuring out our newborn baby's cries, facing our toddlers tantrums, our middle schoolers wide range of feelings, or whether it is our own hormones and tiredness and stress which all generate some internal turmoil, emotions are a big part of parenting.  Today, we are going to talk about raising emotionally wise kids while we becom...

Ever feel challenged as a parent, trying to understand and connect with your children who have vastly different personalities than you? Guess what, you're not alone! Last week we had Guest Julie Redmond on the Practically Speaking MOM Podcast.  This week, I join her on her podcast while you all listen in! Join me, Val Harrison, The Practically Speaking MOM when I was a guest on Julie Redmond&...

Need some new momhacks to simplify life? This mom chat will help! Whether your struggle is overwhelm, a constant messy house, or never-ending negotiations with your kids, Guest Julie Redmond of the Mom Made Plans podcast has some fresh ideas for you. She  shares a game changer that has brought a sense of order to her household. Val & Julie chat about eliminating the stress of constant haggling...

Division seems to have grown in recent years about how to look at America's past and how to teach it to our children, How do we teach our children to honor our nation while also acknowledging complicated past flaws in a way that inspires the younger generation toward a brighter future? Intentional parenting requires facing complex issues, but we've got this! Val Harrison is joined by And...

It's a mother & daughter talk - invite your kids to listen too!   Topics: The Joy of seeing your child find the Pursuits that makes them Come to Life!  Books and audiobooks about true heroes grows character in our kids.   Voice of the Martyrs Adventures in Odyssey Experiencing God Bible Study Jesus Freaks Send Val your encouragement and thoughts about the show. Support the show Visit Val&...

Do you need a simple checklist for your kids of things to do before they can use electronics?  Summer can be fun and productive for our kids at the same time!  Let a CHECKLIST be their guide to being eligible for SCREEN TIME for the day instead of you feeling like you have to nag and harp and grouch at them to get them to do something productive with their days!    The beauty of a CHECKLIST – the...

 Summer can be relaxing and developmental all at the same time, but it will require a little brainstorming and planning to fit both of those aspects into the limited 8-10 weeks we’ve got. I'm going to share my list with you and you can pick and choose the activities you think would work well at your house AND maybe it will help you think of activities that are JUST RIGHT for YOUR FAMILY! Don’...

Most of us parents want summer to be flexible and fun for our kids, yet we don’t want that to mean they have complete freedom for their brains to wither away in front of a screen all day. Click here to read the full BLOG POST related to this podcast, containing links to All that was discussed in this week's podcast. Abby & Emma join me on the podcast to share some ideas that are better th...

If your marriage or family is having trouble with healthy communication, this episode is here to help. We are vulnerable and transparent and have specific action steps to bring lasting change. Available on all the platforms or from my website PracticallySoeakingMOM.com What negative communication games are you playing in your family?  We had several that needed to END FOR GOOD at our house several...

I think every parent, from time to time, deals with a child/teen not following through with their responsibilities.  It can be frustrating.  What's at the root of the issue?  Let's explore some possible causes and solutions this week in episode 185 of the Practically Speaking MOM Podcast.  EPISODE 61 is a wonderful addition to this episode. It's called SMALL STEPS to BIG Growth.  It...

Wouldn't it be awesome if we could see our kids hearts on the inside? See what they need to function at their best to produce the fruit of good character in their lives and to have a strong relationship with God?  Did you know the Bible has a blueprint for this?  I grew up reading the Bible regularly and yet I completely was overlooking some really important elements to the Christian life. It...

Wouldn't it be awesome if we could see our kids hearts on the inside? See what they need to function at their best to produce the fruit of good character in their lives and to have a strong relationship with God?  Did you know the Bible has a blueprint for this?  I grew up reading the Bible regularly and yet I completely was overlooking some really important elements to the Christian life. It...

Weary Mama, I'm throwing you a lifeline in today's episode - sharing the way I have learned to daily replenish my heart and prepare for my day.  I also do this with my daughter most mornings. (All of my other children have grown up. I will cherish this time with my last child and want to equip her how to handle the daily rigors of life from a place of peace, right in the middle of God&ap...

"Dear Younger Me" is an occasional theme on the Practically Speaking MOM Podcast.  In this episode we feature Jyl Griffin - wife for 28 years and mom to five children, ages 25-11, with four biological and one adopted child.  Jyl was also an adopted child. She beautifully shares how her being adopted impacted how she has chosen for her child's adoption to function. Today's topic...

No matter the age of your child/teen, there are ideas in this episode that can help you walk with them through anxiety, worry, fear, and also  talking to your child about death or walking with them through the death of a loved one.  In episode 180, we're talking a little bit about breastfeeding, a little about parenting multiples, and a lot about helping your child to deal with anxiety, worry...

Change of plans! I had something planned for you (you'll hear it next week) but GOD had something different planned for you. So, I put my plan on hold for His.  This week features some of the precious hearts that were in my home this week.  I hope it brings you lots of encouragement! *Because this was a last-minute change, we were not able to produce the sound quality that we usually bring to...

Have you ever noticed that a bad attitude is contagious in the family? Parents have to get to the ROOT of the problem.  In episode 178 we will look at how to deal with bad attitudes at various ages of our kids. Link to earlier episode on teaching the habit of being joyful: Episode 7 "Work Ethic & the Habit of Happiness in Littles, Middles, and Teens " Link to Root Parenting : Episode...

When I was praying about who should be our initial guest for the first episode of "Dear Younger Me," God kept bringing my friend April Raccuglia to my mind. I am so glad she agreed to share her story.  God blessed April and her husband Mark with four adopted children and one biological child, all divinely designed. In this episode you'll hear how God knit together this precious fami...

When I was praying about who should be our initial guest for the first episode of "Dear Younger Me," God kept bringing my friend April Raccuglia to my mind. I am so glad she agreed to share her story.  God blessed April and her husband Mark with four adopted children and one biological child, all divinely designed. In this episode you'll hear how God knit together this precious fami...

Growing Confident Kids and Confident Teens happens day by day, so let's get growing in episode 175! This is a great week to let your kids listen to this conversation between Val Harrison, The Practically Speaking MOM and one of her college-age kids Abby.  Especially your middle schoolers, teens, and college kids will get a lot out of this episode.  Moms with all ages of kids can get some grea...