Wire Talk with Karen Stubbs

Today on Wire Talk Karen and Sunny are talking middle schoolers. These middle school years are when your child is trying desperately to figure out who they are. If you only take one thing away from this conversation, that’s the thing I hope you remember! Middle school is a time of transition and it’s a time when as moms, we need to lean in and pay attention to who they ARE, not who we want them to...

These are crucial teaching years. Like we talked about last week, hopefully by elementary school you’ve laid the foundation with your child that you are the authority they need to obey. Now is the time to your child teach the 'why' behind the 'what'. Use Scripture and use real life stories to teach your child the principles of how life works. This is the age when you need to help them begin to tak...

So many times in parenting we get caught up in the weeds with our kids and we can’t see the forest for the trees. This series is a way to help moms pause for just a moment, and look at the big picture. During our month long Bottom Line series, Karen and Sunny are tackling 5 different stages of life for our kid and sharing wisdom for what we moms need to keep our focus on during those years. Today...

Today we're celebrating 200 episodes of Wire Talk by flipping the script on our typical show! Listen in as Karen interviews Sunny - Real Life. Real Moms. style - about her journey of motherhood; what has been challenging, what she is loving, and how God has grown her faith in this season of her life.  Become a Patron today and automatically get a Real Life. Real Moms. episode each month!

Opposites may attract, but when it comes to parenting your kids, how do you parent effectively as a team when your partner’s personality is the exact opposite of yours? On today’s show Karen answers questions from moms about their husband’s red, blue, green, or yellow personality clashing with their own. Find out what 'color' you are with our free quiz.   The next episode of our Patreon podcast Re...

Whether it’s you or your child struggling with angry outbursts, we’ve all been there. On today’s show, Karen and Sunny tackle questions from moms about aggressive behavior and physical tantrums, and Karen reminds us where self control ultimately comes from. Listen to our new show, Real Life. Real Moms. now available exclusively in Patreon! 

If you think of your marriage like a bank account, when was the last time you made a deposit? During the years your kids are at home it’s easy to get in the habit of constantly making withdrawals and forgetting to “put money in the bank”. On today’s episode, Karen and Sunny are sharing date night ideas that are sure to improve your balance. We’ve got stay-at-home date ideas, creative childcare sol...

Setting boundaries can be uncomfortable, whether you are trying to take control of your schedule, your toddler, or any other area of life. Listen in as Karen and Sunny answer questions from moms in our Facebook group about healthy, biblical boundaries and saying “no” without guilt! Head to birdsonawiremoms.com/podcast/episode196 for links to all of the resources mentioned on today's show.  And tha...

Our first episode of Real Life Real Moms is coming soon and features Karen's daughters Kelsey and Emily. Listen in for a sneak peek of their conversation and to hear Karen explain what our new show is all about.  Become a Patron today to get the whole episode as soon as it's released.  And a big thank you to Patrons Katie, Fernanda, Alison, Cara, Kareen and Brittany for your early support!  

Until our society makes the internet safe for kids, parents must be proactive in teaching what pornography is, why it’s dangerous and exactly how to reject it. Today Karen and Sunny talk with Kristen Jenson, author of Good Pictures, Bad Pictures about porn-proofing our kids. We discuss age-appropriate definitions of pornography, how to talk about it with our kids, and how to help our kids form a p...

Whether you wish you had a closer relationship with your in-laws, are dealing with a broken relationship with a parent, or your relationship is a little too close (and not in a good way) with the grandparents, we think you’ll relate to one of the questions Karen tackles on today’s show. Don’t miss Karen walking us through how we can forgive someone who does not deserve our forgiveness or her surpr...

On today’s episode, Maria Shanlian from the Birds on a Wire group in Wayne County, OH joins Karen and Sunny to share what happened in her community when she and a friend said yes to God’s prompting to pour into the moms in their community. Maria shares the hesitations they had, how God confirmed this calling, and how they went from 35 moms to more than 125 moms in just two years. We think what’s g...

Prioritizing rest is hard to do throughout the year, and for moms, it can be especially difficult during the holiday season. We're going all of the places and doing all of the things, all of the time! On today’s show Karen answers questions from moms about making room in their schedules, their hearts, and in their cars, for rest this season. Whether you’re a single mom, a new mom, or just a mom of...

Author and counselor Sissy Goff joins Karen and Sunny in the studio today to talk about the rise of anxiety in our daughters. Sissy shares how anxiety presents in girls, the power there is in naming anxious thoughts, and offers strategies we can put in place to help our daughters cope with their “worry monster” in healthy ways. Plus, she gives a little tough love to moms by suggesting a few ways w...

Why does bedtime have to come at the end of the day when we’re already exhausted? All of us know what it’s like to look forward to getting our little ones down, only to be called back to their rooms again and again or woken up in the middle of the night by a scared little one. If you’re in the middle of a rough sleep season, listen in and be encouraged, you are not alone! We hope Karen’s wisdom eq...

Whether it’s a clash over chores, homework, or just a difference of personality, our kids’ attitudes can bring us down in a heartbeat. Listen for Karen’s wisdom on how to handle attitude explosions, how to celebrate and not fight your kids’ wiring, and how to set healthy boundaries so their emotions don’t suck you in! Check out today's show notes for links to all the books and resources Karen ment...

Learning to do life alongside a spouse is a constantly evolving process. Similar to being a student of your child, we have to work to understand and connect with our partners, even after decades of marriage! In this episode, Karen tackles your questions about communication, what to do when you’re at an impasse with your husband, and of course, sex! Enjoy mommas! Check out today's show notes for al...

Whether it’s outbursts of your own anger, temper tantrums from your 5 year old, or the overwhelm that comes from working full time as a new mom…we all know what it’s like to feel defeated from day to day in motherhood. On today’s show Karen answers questions about what to do when it seems like nothing you’ve done has worked. Listen in, be encouraged, and as always, remember that you are a GREAT mo...

From losing a parent and co-parenting with a wayward ex, to dealing with disappointment and silence from God - today we are talking about the role faith plays in our lives when things are not easy. Don’t miss Karen sharing stories she’s never told before about experiencing God’s voice throughout her life, including the story of God telling her to start this ministry. We hope today’s show leaves yo...

Whether you're trying to understand what is actually happening during their school day, or struggling with an issue at home, today Karen answers your questions and shares wisdom on how to communicate so our school-age kids hear and understand us. Don't miss a short list of alternative questions to ask besides, "how was your day?" and Karen's approach to dealing with sibling jealousy. As always, we...

We're back today with the last installment in our Love Languages mini-series. Acts of service and physical touch are the final languages we're covering as we answer your questions and Karen gives loads of practical tips. If you're just tuning in, be sure to catch up with episodes 182 and 183 in this series!  Check out today's  show notes for links to everything we talked about and if you love Wire...

We're back with part two of our conversation on the five love languages today. In this episode, we're taking a look at Quality Time and Gifts. Karen defines what it means to speak these languages to your kids and answers your questions like, "how much quality time is enough?" and "how do I deal with sibling jealousy when I give gifts to one child?"  Check out our show notes for links to everything...

We're kicking off a brand-new series today with Part One of a three-part conversation all about the five love languages. You'll get a birds-eye view (no pun intended) of what the five languages are, and then we'll deep dive into Words of Affirmation. As always, Karen gives loads of practical phrases you can start using this week, and even shares how the love languages still help her love her adult...

Karen’s son Taylor joins her in the studio today for a conversation about his years growing up in the Stubbs household. He reflects on some of the ways Karen and Greg instilled character in him across the years and the one family habit that stands out in his mind as character-building. He also shares a recent story of personal failure, and how the lessons he was taught as a boy gave him resilience...

On today's show we're talking about the habits that bring our families together. From big, intentional practices like creating a family mission statement to fun traditions like weekly queso-fests at the local Mexican restaurant, Karen shares her thoughts on how to create a family culture that ensures your children know they belong. Whatever your family looks like, we think you'll find something in...