Practically Speaking Mom: Intentional Mom, Strong Family

 This is an episode about developing your  parenting perspective on romantic relationships for your kids, SLOWING DOWN THE PROCESS, pushing back against the culture's messages about dating and romance.  Our kids are bombarded with false messages constantly.  Parents need to guard their hearts AND EQUIP OUR KIDS TO TREASURE & GUARD THEIR OWN HEART. In episode 95, "Conversation with a...

In episode 94, Val shares two parenting topics that need extra preparation and prayer. Plus Potty-training Tips! Precious Mom, no matter your season of motherhood, it would be my honor to walk this worthy journey of motherhood right along with you. We’ll do that each week on this podcast, Practically Speaking MOM: Intentional Mom, Strong Family. CONNECT with the Practically Speaking MOM - Val woul...

Last week Emma & Abby helped Val Harrison, The Practically Speaking MOM with ideas 1-5 in a  Summer Success Plan to keep kids off of screens and on to truly living.  This week, in episode 93, SUMMER THRIVING - Ways to GROW: No more bored kids staring at screens, Emma helps Val share Ideas 6-10 for really THRIVING this summer! In episode 93, SUMMER THRIVING - Ways to GROW: No more bored kids on...

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 than screen time! 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...

God’s signature on the events were perfectly clear, but not until AFTERWARD.  .  HE knew what was coming. We thought we were making a Father’s Day gift for Rich but we were participating, unknowingly, in a divine and sacred gift from God. It was the Father’s Day we’ll never forget because our heavenly father came with His perfect compassionate arms to embrace our family’s father in a way that ONLY...

We're taking a practical look at strengthening your marriage, no matter what it looks like today.  Rich and Val have a conversation as they celebrate 29 years of marriage. Here's what's discussed today in episode 90 of the Practically Speaking MOM: Intentional Mom, Strong Family Podcast... *Ingredients of a Good Get-away *What's a ONE-ness Checkup? *What tears you down, wears y...

Sometimes motherhood is like playing a life-size game of pinball and YOU are the ball, being pinged from one unexpected parenting dilemma to another? What's a mom to do??  Let's talk about it in Episode 89, "Pinball Parenting," with Val Harrison, The Practically Speaking MOM on the podcast for intentional moms to build strong families. Pinball Parenting is… being pinged from on...

Emma & Abby are back!  They're hosting this light-hearted look at Listener Questions and I'm answering them! From using a "Money Jar" to improve some family habits to what moms can do when they're feeling overwhelmed to how a parent's spiritual influence changes when your kid's near adulthood to how to handle a middle schooler or high schooler whose attitude...

Your Child's Heart is Asking, "Mom, Do You Believe in Me?" "What makes me significant in this world?" "Am I blessing or a burden?"  "What else do you believe about me?" You're answering their heart through the words you say, the tone of your voice, the look in your eye.  You may be sending messages you didn't even know you were sending!  I was...

Do you ever feel like you're drowning in papers?!  It seems we moms deal with a constant flow of papers and mail coming into our house. How about we tackle that mountain of papers and get a SIMPLE system for keeping it all straight!  That's what we're talking about today in episode 86 of the Practically Speaking MOM Podcast, the place for an intentional mom to build a strong family....

"Mama, if you don't learn how to LASSO LIFE, it will LASSO YOU!" - val harrison, the practically speaking mom, episode 85 Today in Episode 85 we're talking about one of my favorite topics - ORGANIZATION!!  This week we're organizing our TO DO LIST in an effective way for controlling life instead of letting it control you. The better we mamas get at having some SYSTEMS to S...

In this Mother's Day Special Edition episode, the secret is out!  When you meet the guest on this week's episode, you'll be meeting the source of the Practically Speaking MOM's passion for encouraging and equipping moms. Our guest, Vickie Melton, is an intentional mother and an intentional grandmother. Also this week... *The importance of speaking affirmation over our children...

Today we’re continuing a conversation with Becca Hammond, mama of two preschool boys and a baby girl on the way. Becca is also one of my grown daughters. What a privilege to have her in the studio once in a while.  We begin this episode with the tough topic of disciplining our children - when, how, and where... AND I give FOUR ESSENTIAL STAGES of DISCIPLINING with LOVE. Then we move on to the issu...

Do you ever feel inadequate as a mom?  Boy I sure do. Today on episode 82, "Mom & False Inadequacy," I discuss this topic with one of my grown daughters, Becca, who is a mom of littles. Even the most intentional of moms battle the lie that says, “YOU are not a good enough mom. You don’t have what it takes to nurture and guide your children.”     I hope you enjoy my conversation today...

Hey Mama, this week will give you some hope about your VALLEYS in life.  You know they have PURPOSE, right?  Not only that, but do you know that your valleys are often your victories in the making?!   It's been a very busy seven days at my house!  After a week of spending time with my favorite visitors of all - my grown kids and their kiddos (plus my kids that I'm still raising) - I thou...

Let's identify what makes each family member feel VALUED and UNDER-VALUED, what BARRIERS are impacting their ability to RECEIVE messages of love & value, and more.  We're healing marriages and families this week on episode 80, Transform Your Family Relationships with 4 Steps to VALUE EACH OTHER more Effectively. Raise the bar in your ability to SHOW VALUE to your family more effectiv...

Meet my VIP's & hear about LEGACY including a tribute to my grandfather who passed this week.  Family Easter Bonding is the focus of the remainder of the episode.  Even if you're not in the mood to hear Easter ideas, don't miss meeting my VIPs!!  Trust me, you will smile and laugh, and may wish you could start every single morning hearing from these two!   CLICK HERE for full bl...

  Let's explore together the heart of our ministry to moms. Episode 78 is full of parenting nuggets in all the areas of your momlife.  Click here to read Val's Blog Post on episode 78, the expanded version of shownotes. Motherhood is a sacred appointment.  We have the divine role of shaping these little or big hearts that have been entrusted to us.  Only problem is, plenty of minutes in...

Listener Q&A is always a big hit on the Practically Speaking MOM Podcast and this special edition features Dr. Amy Barfield, our guest again this week in episode 77 "Dealing with Differences:  Raising the ADHD Child."***************** (With a few questions about kids on the spectrum as well) Dr. Amy Barfield has been a general practice psychologist for over 10 years with experience w...

  Screen Time, Stress, Sleep Issues in Listener Q&A with guest, Dr. Amy Barfield. Episode 76 *****Dr. Barfield will be our guest again next week in episode 77 "Dealing with Differences:  Raising the ADHD Child."***************** Because there was so much more that Dr. Barfield wanted to share with us about sleep issues than we were able to fit into this podcast episode, she was graci...

"One of the great privileges of motherhood is that we can praise and affirm our children in ways that spur them toward growth and good behavior." - Val Harrison, E pisode 75, Positive Reinforcement Tools & Making a MOM BRAIN BOOK, What's In My Mom Box? Part 2 CLICK HERE for full BLOG POST In Episode 75, What's In My Mom Box?  Common Tools that Make Motherhood More Effective...

I used to give a talk years ago where I would show all the things in my mom box - literally a cute little  box that contained mom tools, common objects, to make my life simpler, make my parenting more effective, and items that would help the RELATIONSHIPS IN OUR FAMILY. Today, in Episode 74, "What's In My MOM BOX?" part 1 , we’re opening up my Mom Box to find my favorite tangible to...

We  finish up my  discussion with Tiffany  by looking at ways to personality parent – adjusting your parenting  based on the personality of your child but not adjusting the standard, all with a goal of equipping your unique child to thrive in the world around them.   We look at specific parenting dilemmas in dealing with the unique personality of our child.  You'll learn about  the three opti...

" First, WE guard our children's hearts.  Then we teach THEM to guard their hearts.  This episode will help you learn to do both." - Val Harrison, The Practically Speaking MOM in Episode 72, What is Your Child Learning about LOVE & Relationships & Marriage? Click to Read Entire BLOG POST about this episode: The TRUTH, for Kids, about Romantic Love. If you’re anything like me...

The Practically Speaking MOM, Val Harrison, and her guest, Tiffany Deschner (mom of three adorable daughters) continue their heart to heart about the momlife in Part Two of "Let's Get Real" with Val & Tiff, episode 71. Episode 71 : ❤ Blanket Time for Littles - a strategy  to go from Clingy to Independent Play, ❤The Key Ingredient BEFORE working on your child's character, ❤L...