Thriving with 8 Podcast

I don't know about you, but our family loves playing games together! It is a source of fun and strengthens our relationship as a family, creating memories that will last a lifetime. The Beck family feels the same way! That's what led them to creating Grandpa Beck's Games (some of which games our family has spent MANY hours playing). Grandpa and Grandma Beck share a love of people and game playing....

At Thanksgiving time it is common practice to make lists of the many blessings that we have. This is a wonderful place to start as we teach gratitude to our children. As they grow older however, it is important to help our children develop a positive sense of indebtedness. This understanding helps them not only be thankful for what they have, but also for the giver of the gifts, whether that be pa...

Talking about all of the dangers our kids can encounter online often feels scary and overwhelming. In this episode, Marilyn Evans of Parents Aware reminds parents of the importance of getting off the fence and talking to our kids about the dangers of pornography. These conversations need to be layered and age apporpriate, but we cannot wait. We want to be our kids seach engine when it comes to nav...

There's a lot of talk about mothering infants, toddlers, kids, and teens. But what about parenting adult children? It can be challenging making the transition from being mom to a teen to being mom to an adult. Their needs are different and our role as mother changes.  In this episode Bonnie Lyman teaches how we can approach this phase of motherhood with confidence, knowing that we did our best whi...

Most children learn to say "please" and "thank you" at a young age. But what does it mean to have good manners as a teenager and why is that important? Having good manners such as pitching in, introducing yourself, and being a good passenger have long-reaching effects. Teens with manners have more confidence and others enjoy being around them. So how can you teach manners to your teens? In this ep...

Planning for your week is much more than to-do lists and putting dates on your calendar. It's about having a vision of the mom you want to become and creating pockets of time to achieve your goals for you, your family, and beyond. If you find yourself feeling bored or discouraged with motherhood or how you spend your time, listen to this episode with Jessica Jackson, full of encouragement and real...

In November 2018, Jennie and her family received the devestating news that her husband Brett had been killed in Afghanistan by friendly fire. That was the beginning of her family's change, but not the beginning of their American service and sacrifice.  So what are we doing to teach our kids to remember those who sacrifice their lives and time for our freedom? Listen to Jennie share her ideas, as w...

As we work towards our goals and dreams in motherhood and life, we need to overcome our biggest obstacle- ourself! We can calm our inner bully by replacing it with an "I Can" attitude. Award-winning author Miriam Laundry shares her experience of developing this attitude and how she is teaching it to her own children and others through her books and example.

As parents of young children it's hard to imagine the future when your kids will be grown and gone. But as important as parenthood is, someday all your kids will move out (hopefully) and you will be left home with your spouse. Are you making your marriage relationship a priority? Is your marriage being dominated by the kids or are you taking time to create and maintain a thriving marriage? Join my...

How many of you moms have seen little fingers poking under the door while you use the restroom? Or have had a child climb into bed with you in the middle of the night? In this episode we are addressing boundaries, something all parents need! Boundaries can get blurry so it's important to re-define them regularly so that your needs are being met and honored. Just as we parents need to set boundarie...

It's a new year and the present is NOW! This year my theme is "present"- live in the present, appreciate the present, be a present to others, and remember that God is always present. Life is too precious to be distracted by our phones while our kids are needing our attention now. It's too short to worry about what happened in the past or what the future will bring. We need to look for ways to be a...

The countdown to Christmas is on! What do you do to focus on Christ during the holiday season? In this episode, Angie from Come Follow Me FHE shares how her family uses Christmas books to bring the Spirit of Christ into their home, strengthen relationships, and have fun as a family. She also shares her top 4 favorite books to help you start this wonderful tradition with your family as well.    Chr...

Suicide is not a topic parents generally avoid with their kids. It can be scary! But we need to be courageous and talk to our kids about mental health and topics such as self-harm and suicide. In this episode Greg Hudnall, the founder of Hope Squad , provides hope to families as he discusses how kids can support one another, signs of mental health problems to look for in our kids, how to build rel...

How do we mother with confidence amid constant mom shaming and judgement? As Deborah Porter teaches, we can feel confident in our mothering as we do what is right for our household/family and not worry about everyone else. If we aim for perfection, rather than progression, we set ourselves up for failure. Parenting out of fear is insatiable and never works. We need to focus only on what we can con...

Is finding balance a myth for moms or can it be a reality? Let's face it, moms cannot work harder! However, sometimes we can work smarter. Whether or not you find scheduling and management as fascinating as mom and life coach Ceri Payne does, you are bound to learn something new to save time and mental energy from her empowering tips. The best plans are both intentional and flexible.    24 Simple...

Do you look forward to mornings? They can be rough, especially if you don't have a solid routine. In this episode Chanelle Neilson shares the many benefits of establishing a good morning routine including alone time and building a reservoir that will last through the day. Give it a try and find what works for you so that you look forward to getting up and facing each new day as mom.    Chanelle Ne...

When it comes to bullying, we can all be part of the solution! As parents, we have a responsibility to raise upstanders. When bullying happens there are usually bystanders. An upstander is someone who takes a stand to help stop the bullying. This can be done in many ways including calmly confronting the bully or removing the target from the situation. Listen as Amber Robbins shares other ideas, th...

Amber Robbins and her family have experienced bullying first hand. It lasted for years and even led to her family moving. As a result, she is passionate about this topic and on a crusade to educate others. Bullying is more than a fight on the playground. It is unwanted, aggressive, repeated, and includes an imbalance of power. Listen to hear more about how to recognize if your child is a t arget o...

When it comes to media, you can have too much of a good thing! Andrea Davis of Better Screen Time shares some great tips to establish screen-free rituals, routines, and recharging in your home. This applies not only to our kids, but to us as parents too! Take time to be mindful and intentional in creating a tech-healthy family and make sure your tech habits are replenishing, not depleting, you.  1...

We are the greatest generation of parents raising the greatest generation of kids! But it can be a challenge parenting in this digital age. Jason and Lisa Frost, authors of "The Glass Between Us", offer great insight and advice into the importance of relationship and understanding as we teach our kids to translate offline values into online behavior. When we meet our teens where they are we will b...

What a privilege to visit with parents who are raising children with special needs! Although their lives have taken a turn down an unexpected path, they handle it with love, joy, and acceptance. Their child is a light in their life and gives life new meaning and vision. Listen to incredible stories and experiences as these 3 moms describe what they have learned and their advice to other parents on...

We can learn so much from other moms, our "co-workers" in this motherhood journey. In this episode some special moms in my life share what they have learned and their best mom advice. Some of the great advice includes enjoying each stage of motherhood and don't wish years away, be the mom first and friendship will follow, and love and listen to your children. What advice would you give?   

We can learn so much from other moms, our "co-workers" in this motherhood journey. In this episode some special moms in my life share what they have learned and their best mom advice. A recurring piece of advice was not to compare yourself with other moms. While we can and should learn from the moms around us we don't need to be them! Be yourself and you will be the mom your children need. 

 One of the most important jobs as a mom is to become a master story teller and create a strong family narrative. There is strength in stories! Children who know family stories feel more connected and confident. Photos, especially printed, are a great way to relive past events & prompt story sharing. As Vanessa says, "done is better than perfect and something is better than nothing" so get those p...

The word "holy" is defined as, "set apart for a sacred purpose". Doesn't that define motherhood? Friends, you are holy as you are . As Christie Gardiner explains, holiness isn't something outside ourselves, it's something within. We may not have a lot of time to study our scriptures or meditate, but we can look for holy moments with our children as we shift the narrative of the day. Appreciating a...