The Old Umma Club

We wanted this episode to be about the best parts of motherhood—what are the beautiful moments we'll stick into our motherhood scrapbook, if we had one? Instead, it became a conversation about why the best parts and hardest parts are inextricable. In fact, the hardest part of this season is the best part.  In this episode, Joyce shares her struggle with postpartum anxiety and the surprising w...

Already burned out this week and it's only Tuesday?  In this episode, we're sharing why developing a routine has been so important for us and our family— what our days and weeks actually look like as mothers of young children, and why we've both had to rethink our expectations for motherhood. From quiet time and Costco runs to homeschool, cleaning, meal planning, and protecting fami...

When did feeding children become so complicated? When did it become one of the most emotionally charged parts of parenting? In this episode, we talk about what it really looks like to navigate food and meal times in our homes—from ideal expectations to real-life compromises, to the challenges of navigating severe food allergies and the emotional weight that comes with it.  If you have a picky eate...

In Part II of our discipline series, we move from theory into real life: How then do we discipline our kids? What actually happens in the moment—when your child is melting down in a grocery store, when you’re overstimulated and drained, or when your own fears and assumptions take over? In this episode, we wrestle with: The two major “camps” in parenting (sin-focused vs. connection-focused) How we...

Discipline is one of the hardest parts of parenting. But first, what does the word "discipline" even mean? Because when we first discussed this topic, each of us had a different interpretation of it.  In this episode, we share how our own childhood experiences of discipline have shaped our philosophy about "discipline" and the way we respond to our kids today. We talk about fea...

Have your needs actually decreased in motherhood—or have they just changed? Or perhaps it's how you've changed? In this episode, we discuss how our needs and desires have shifted over time with each additional kid, touching on:  What's the difference between a "need" and a "desire"?  The tension between caring for ourselves and pouring out for others   How our ex...

We've all wondered: Which transition is actually the hardest—going from 0 to 1, 1 to 2, or 2 to 3? News Flash: Each stage comes with its special spice!  In this episode, we compare notes from our own experiences and get honest about what each stage really feels like. From the identity shock of becoming a mom for the first time, to the emotional and logistical chaos of adding more kids, we bre...

Season 2 begins with an extremely vulnerable conversation on what God is working on in us right now-- primarily, mom rage . This isn’t a polished “we’ve figured it all out” conversation. It’s a raw, vulnerable and honest one about sanctification in real time—messy, humbling, and ultimately hopeful. In this episode, we talk about identifying our triggers, learning how to regulate our emotions, deal...

We are BACK, Ummas! Season 1 was all about establishing our foundations and core pillars, introducing the world to what The Old Umma Club is all about. Season 2 is where we dive into the thick of it all. Listen to the prelude to hear our life updates and what this upcoming season holds! We want to get to know our Ummas! You can find Sophia and Joyce:  Instagram: @theoldummaclub Email: theoldummacl...

Our last episode of season 1 ends with a much-needed discussion on building community in this busy, lonely modern age.  Joyce and Sophia talk about why community is a pillar of The Old Umma Club, what community is, how they met and built community, and what the challenges are in building community at this season of life. We want to get to know our Ummas! You can find Sophia and Joyce:  Instagram:...

Part 2 on Marriage, because apparently we have a lot to say on this subject, and it's an important one.  Joyce and Sophia talk about the subtle cultural clashes in their marriage and how that influences marriage conflicts, and how they're learning to manage those conflicts better. This is a rather transparent episode. We want to get to know our Ummas! You can find Sophia and Joyce:  Inst...

Joyce and Sophia talk about marriage...and husbands. They discuss what they expected in marriage, and what the reality was...especially with babies and kids in the picture. Oy.  We want to get to know our Ummas! You can find Sophia and Joyce:  Instagram: @theoldummaclub Email: theoldummaclub@gmail.com Music credits: "Life of Riley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative...

Joyce and Sophia recall their faith background being raised in the Christian church. One was raised in a Korean-American community center-like church, the other as a missionary/pastor's kid in Chinese-speaking churches. They discuss what they appreciated about their faith background, and what they would do differently in raising little believers.  We want to get to know our Ummas! You can fin...

Being in a bi-racial marriage can get tricky when it comes to parenting bi-racial kids, especially if your partner comes from a really different cultural background. Joyce & Sophia talk about their childhood being raised by Korean moms and how that impacted their current mothering.  What are absolutes we want to continue? What do we want to break and not bring with us? Listen along as we unfol...

We can't be The Old Umma Club and not talk about what's aging us and making us feel old. Even though starting families in our 30s is super common, we also know we get slapped with "geriatric pregnancy" the moment we turn 35 years old. Join us on this cheeky episode as we talk about rickety bones to the never ending sleepless nights that magically ages us overnight! We want to g...

In this episode, we have an honest conversation about how we went from working mom to full-time stay-at-home parent, from two different perspectives: One never envisioned she would ever be a mother, let alone a stay-at-home parent. The other always dreamed about having a family and staying at home to raise children. We discuss what the transition was like, what our expectations were, and what the...

Our first episode begins with a very fundamental question: What is an umma? What is a mother? When you hear the words "Mother" or "Mom," what image, what descriptions come to mind?  Here we talk about how we formed our first image of an "ideal" mother, the conscious and subconscious expectations we developed for ourselves, and how we bring God into it.  We want to get...

Welcome to The Old Umma Club! Sophia and Joyce introduce themselves and share what the podcast will be about, and what to expect for this season 1.  We want to get to know our Ummas! You can find Sophia and Joyce:  Instagram: @theoldummaclub Email: theoldummaclub@gmail.com Music credits: "Life of Riley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 L...