The Greta Eskridge Podcast

Today’s episode is tender and contains topics that can be challenging if you have walked through, or are walking through, pregnancy loss. But this episode also has the potential to bring a lot of hope and healing wherever you are on your journey. You will feel less alone if you have walked through miscarriage or still birth. And if you haven’t, you’ll come away feeling better equipped to come alongside someone who has. It is my prayer that through the conversation in this episode, God will meet you where you are with His kindness and care.  Today I talk with my new friend, Jackie Gibson, an Australian living in Philadelphia with her husband and children. Jackie is also the author of the book, You Are Still a Mother: Hope For Women Grieving a Stillbirth or Miscarriage.    I read Jackie’s book in one sitting. Even though I experienced a miscarriage 14 years ago, her book deeply ministered to my heart. I felt so seen and comforted and so equipped to help my fellow mama’s who experience this kind of grief. I can’t recommend this book enough, whether you have walked through pregnancy loss yourself, know someone who has, or just want to have resources to refer to when loss comes.  Jackie shares her own story of losing her daughter at 39 weeks to still birth. And then we discuss the hardship of suffering, and the way Jesus comes alongside us in suffering. We also cover a lot of other topics, like how we can share about loss after it happens, the strange feeling of shame that can happen after pregnancy loss, how we can help moms who are experiencing loss, PTSD and trauma after pregnancy loss and so much more.  My tears were near the surface through this whole episode because I have such a tenderness for every other mama who has lost a baby. I hope you’ll listen to this episode knowing that if you are hurting you are not alone, and in my heart I am giving you the biggest hug.  Here are some quotes that really stood out to me in this episode: *This is a club no one wants to be a part of.   *Miscarriage can be such a very lonely grief.  *We need to invite people into our grief and ask them to walk through it with us and pray for us. But for some reason we have this fear in doing that and part of that is this shame that we have done something wrong or that our bodies have failed us.  *I’d been a Christian for many years, but in those moments, I felt like I met Him (Jesus) again for the first time.  *God can give us gifts even in suffering.  *Even though your arms are empty, your heart still carries your baby wherever you go.  *To write names down or to say them, when these mothers rarely get to hear their babies named or acknowledged, means so much to a grieving mom, whether it is fresh grief, or it’s been years.  *Our babies have dignity and value no matter their size because they were made by God.  *From the very start, their lives matter and they are worthy of both grief and honor. GE *It is never too late to remember your baby and to mark that little one’s preciousness. JG *This is a story about Him and how He is always good, even in the darkness. JG *The moon is still round even when we can’t see it, and God is still good, even when we don’t feel like He is. JG *Are we going to keep believing in the darkness what we have seen in the light? Lilias Trotter  More about Jackie: Jackie’s husband wrote a book about loss for kids as a result of talking to their son through the loss of his baby sister. It is called, The Moon is Always Round.  Jackie isn’t on social media, but please share her book and this episode with friends who need the comforting and helpful message she brings.  If you haven’t already, please take a minute to subscribe to this podcast. I’d also be so very grateful if you leave a 5-star rating and write a quick review.  Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster. Thank you for listening and being part of my team.  I love you guys! Greta  

I loved talking with today’s guest, Molly Stillman. I first met Molly through reading her book and just fell in love with her. So, getting to talk to her about her book and her life was really, really cool. Molly is a fantastic writer and you should all read her debut book, If I Don’t Laugh, I’ll Cry: How Death, Debt and Comedy led to a Life of Faith, Farming and Forgetting What I Came Into This Room For. You should also check out her blog and her podcast, Can I Laugh on Your Shoulder? One of my favorite parts of the book and this episode is learning about Molly’s mom. She was a writer too. You can check out Molly’s mom’s book here: Home before Morning: The Story of An Army Nurse in Vietnam by Lynda Van Devanter. There are so many other great parts to Molly’s story—some very, very hard and others so funny and wildly entertaining. I know you will love Molly just like I do. Here are a few quotes from the episode that I especially loved: *”Every broken, messed up story has a purpose and its possible to gain everything if you’re willing to surrender it all to Jesus and that’s the best reason to tell your story.” *”I learned that oftentimes people don’t need to hear our condemnation for the mistakes we’ve made, but instead our commendation for getting the help we so desperately need. I learned that encouragement, even from strangers, can provide the strength, energy and emotional stamina to do hard things. I learned that prayer is powerful and when we offer to pray for someone, even when it seems uncomfortable, we could be planting a seed that we may never see to harvest. And on the flip side, when we accept prayer, it has the power to change hearts.” *It is never too late to apologize for something. *Joy is an essential part of thriving. *Chase joy by slowing down. So much good stuff, right? Be sure to read Molly’s book, and check out her blog and podcast.  Please take a minute to subscribe to this podcast. I’d also be so very grateful if you leave a 5-star rating and write a quick review.  Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster. Thank you for listening and being part of my team. I love you guys! Greta 

*Don’t forget this is your last chance to sign up for my webinar, Parenting in the Digital Age. You are going to get help with so many of the issues facing parents today—whether your kids are 3, 13 or 23. Sign up here.  In this week’s episode, I get to talk to Kristen Miele from Sex Ed Reclaimed. I love the mission of her organization: to empower and encourage families to have consistent, honest conversations while accessing God-honoring sexual health education because God calls us to disciple the next generation. And her vision is just as powerful: to break the cycle of silence about sex in the Christian world. Gosh how we need Kristen’s voice and message in our world today!   Here are some key takeaways from this episode: *Sex is good and it is God’s gift, so we don’t have to be afraid or embarrassed to talk about it. * It’s a work of the devil to shut us up about sex and to add shame to it. * The world is constantly talking about sex. They are discipling our kids on the topic so we need to step in and add God to the conversation. * Sex is an opportunity to talk about Jesus. (Yes! This is my favorite.) Some tips Kristen gave are so helpful: *Our kid’s questions are an opportunity for discipleship. So answer their questions honestly. *Only give them as much information as they need—just a little bit at a time. *Think about the expression on your face and the tone of your voice when you answer their questions. Don’t panic! Instead be warm and welcoming. *Invite your older kids to look at the world around them and answer the question, “is that working for them? Are they joyful, peace filled, and hopeful?”  Be sure to check out the courses at Sex Ed Reclaimed. There are courses designed for families, home school students, Christian schools and churches and for ages 3-18. You can get curriculum samples on her website. Kristen generously gave my podcast listeners a discount of 15% off. Just use the code: CHRISTIANPARENTING  Please take a minute to subscribe to this podcast. I’d also be so very grateful if you leave a 5 star rating and write a quick review.  Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster. Thank you for listening and being part of my team.  I love you guys! Greta 

Fair warning, this episode is ALL over the place!  You will laugh and maybe cringe at my faux pas. You might cry with me at the end of the episode, and you’ll definitely learn about a lot of great books. In this episode I get to talk to my dear friend Elsie Iudicello.  Elsie is a wife to my friend Jeff, and mom to 4 boys. Elsie lives in Florida where she is a farmer, a writer, a reader, a cook, and one of the most compelling and hilarious speakers I have ever the pleasure of hearing.  Here are some highlights from our conversation: *Elsie tells me she loves old movies but also loves natural disaster movies. *Well, only one really. The movie Twister. For an interesting reason! *This is when I suggest another movie Elsie might like but that doesn’t actually exist and if it did, you might see it behind the curtain at Blockbuster. Enjoy the laughter that ensues. I’m never going to live this one down. *Elsie shares: “books bonded us in the beginning because we got to go play in different worlds together, and that has sustained us in the teen years. *We can meet on the bridge of a story. *Kids want a book where the author isn’t talking down to them. That doesn’t preach at them or sanitize everything. *Reading biographies and especially missionary biographies are so good for our kids to read. *Give them books about people stepping out of their comfortable worlds. Read those things into their hearts! * I want my kids to get to know people who have had to fight for their faith. * Parents need to be readers too. Because this statistic is true and makes my heart sad. “roughly a quarter of American adults say they haven’t read a book in whole or in part in the past year in print, electronic or even in audio form”. *”Don’t be in such a hurry to read the great books that you miss the good books.” Cindy Rawlins *On re-reading books: “I would rather be friends with 40 or 50 good dear books than read all the books in the world once.” *Find Elsie on Instagram at Farmhouse Schoolhouse  Here's a list of all the books we mention in this episode: Ourselves by Charlotte Mason The Emperor’s Handbook by Marcus Aurelius The Good Master by Kate Seredy Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit Little Britches by Ralph Moody Wind and the Willows by Kenneth Grahame Green Ember by S. D. Smith Wing Feather Saga by Andrew Peterson The Mad Scientist Club by Bertrand Brinley The Great Brain by John D Fitzgerald Homer Price by Robert McCloskey The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain Jules Verne books Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew 10 Fingers for God: the life and work of Dr. Paul Brand by Dorothy Wilson Christian Heroes Then and Now series  Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morely The Awaking of Miss Prim: a Novel by Natalia Fenollera The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery The Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter Little Women Louisa May Alcott The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Frankenstein by Mary Shelley David Copperfield by Charles Dickens How Green was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn The Count of Monte Christo by Alexander Dumas  Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast, and I’d be so very grateful if you leave a 5 star rating of the podcast and also a quick review.  Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster. Thank you for listening and being part of my team.  I love you guys! Greta 

In this episode I talked with my friend S.D. Smith. Sam is the author of the beloved Green Ember series. He also wrote the book Jack Zulu and the Waylanders’s Key with his son, Josiah. And he most recently wrote the book Mooses with Bazookas and Other Stories Children Should Never Read. I loved this conversation with Sam. We have a lot of fun together because he is a story teller and I love stories! Here are some highlights from our talk: *The book that turned him into a reader around the age of 15 was Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. *Some of the other books that were read aloud to him by his mom and his teachers and shaped him as a storyteller were: The Chronicles of Narnia Little Women The Box Car Children God’s Smuggler *As an adult, Sam has loved and re-read the Aubrey–Maturin series by Patrick O Brian. *My favorite part of our conversation was when Sam gives a message to all parents, but especially to Dads about connecting with their kids through stories: “kids just want attention and time. They want their dads so much! They’re desperate for their dad’s attention. So if you’re a dad and you just make up a story about something you care about, it’s going to be really, really fun for them. They love it when you care. They love it when you try.” *And if you can’t think of your own story, take a note from my husband and re-tell movies and books to your kids. You can change the names if you want and your kids will be none the wiser. Until they grow up and watch the movie and figure it out. Then you’ll all get a great laugh over it! *I love Sam’s motto for life: Modesty, fidelity, and audacity. *Sam shared he’s chasing joy by taking walks, which he finds to be an opportunity to pursue connection, creativity and beauty.” *You can find Sam on Instagram, on his website and in his books!  Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast, and I’d be so very grateful if you leave a 5 star rating of the podcast and also a quick review.  Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster. Thank you for listening and being part of my team. I love you guys! Greta 

I can’t believe this is the start of my 3rd month of the podcast! I am having so much fun and I am so glad you guys are coming along for the ride. Since we haven’t just hung out and talked for a while, I decided this episode will be a little bit of that along with a special Mother’s Day message at the end. Because mothers matter so much to me! Here is all that I talk about in this episode, along with the all the links I mention. *Get tickets to my online seminar “Parenting in the Digital Age” right here. *My seminar will encourage you, inform you and empower you! *Remember this about parenting in the digital age—there is a lot we can do wrong, but a lot we can do right! *Find me on Instagram here. *Learn more about the Wild and Free homeschooling community here. *Read the “Tale for the Weary Mom” essay here. Some thoughts to remember from my message to moms: * Moms are one of the best gifts God has given to us. *The love of a mother can be one of the most grounding , supportive and safe things in a really crazy world. *If you didn’t have a mom that loved, supported and believed in you, you get to write a new story for your own kids! *The work you’re doing as a mom matters even if no one is really noticing. * The work of motherhood is holy work. *The world may not value the work you’re doing but it has eternal value. *Mama, you’re doing a good job. *Galatians 6:9 “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  Please take a minute to subscribe to this podcast. I’d also be so very grateful if you leave a 5-star rating and write a quick review.  Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster. Thank you for listening and being part of my team.  I love you guys! Greta 

In this episode I talk about how to create a healthy sexual culture in your home. Creating a healthy sexual culture falls under the umbrella of parenting in the digital age and protecting our kids from porn, because there are so many ways the digital world offers our kids an unhealthy to downright dangerous view of sexuality. Of course, pornography is right up there on the list. Some key takeaways from this episode here: *If our kids are growing up in a world that is trying to offer them an unhealthy and dangerous view of sex, it is our job to show them the opposite of that. *Your kids have questions about sex, even if they’re not asking them. Create a culture where they can ask you anything. Be their Google! *Let’s raise kids who aren’t afraid of God’s good gift of sex, but also have a healthy respect for God’s plan for it. *The message of the world is that “sex is everything” and “sex is nothing”. What a confusing world for our kids to grow up in. *Our kids need help to see themselves and all people in the world around them as fully human, to cherish and uphold, not objectify, or dismiss. *Read my article about objectification here. *Teach your kids that sex and their sexual body parts are  not shameful.  *Use real, anatomically correct language for all the body parts. *Books to read with your littles on these topics  God Made All of Me God Made Me In His Image  *Creating a healthy sexual culture is an investment in our children’s future.  *A healthy sexual outlook can help protect your kids from porn because it shines the light of truth in the darkness.  *“Like it or not, we either add to the darkness of indifference and out-and-out evil which surrounds us, or we light a candle to see by.” Madeleine L’Engle  Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast. And I’d be so very grateful if you leave a 5 star rating and a short review of the podcast. Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster. Thank you for listening and being part of my team.  I love you guys! Greta 

This is the 4th episode in a month long series on Parenting in the Digital Age and Protecting Our Kids from Porn. In this episode, I have the pleasure of talking with Megan Michelson, of Birds and Bees. Birds and Bees exists to equip and empower parents to have healthy and comfortable conversations with their kids about sex.   In this episode, Megan and I discuss how things could be so different if parents knew how to talk to their kids about sex in this healthy way. Here are some key takeaways from our conversation: *We don’t have to be afraid of these conversations--2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” *Remember, the story of sex is good news! *The world wants to shout out a bad story, but we have a good story to tell! *We need to talk to our kids pornography just like we speak to them about every other danger in their life: be careful crossing the street, touching the stove etc. *Your kids need to know they can ask you anything instead of googling it. *This is the number one safe search tip! Be their google! *For kids under 10: *Kids have a God given curiosity about sexual things and that is not a bad thing. *Use anatomically correct words for body parts. These are not bad words and these are not bad parts! *Answer tough questions like this: “That is a great question and I am so glad you asked that.” *For kids 11+ *Be direct and have honest and open conversations. *Bring up these topics and stories at the dinner table. Discuss as a family. *Be a safe landing spot for them even if you are uncomfortable. *The Lord has equipped you for the children you have!  Find more from Birds and Bees here. Find the amazing course at Birds and Bees here. Get 20% off the Birds and Bees course by using the code GRETA20. Find the course here.  Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast, and give it a five-star rating. I’d also be so very grateful if you leave a review of the podcast wherever you listen. Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster. Thank you for listening and being part of my team.  I love you guys! Greta  

This is episode 3 in a month-long series on Parenting in the Digital Age and Protecting our Kids from Pornography. In this episode, I share practical tips for talking to our kids of any age about pornography and helping them develop a “porn plan”—that is a way to respond to pornography exposure as quickly and safely as possible. Some other key takeaways from this episode are: *We are built for connection and few things cause greater disconnection than pornography. *Corrie ten Boom said there is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still. I’d add, even the pit of pornography. * Pornography is a health crisis. It impacts the very body, the mind and the very soul of the person who is consuming it. * Pornography is not just a male issue. It is a human issue. It impacts every one of us—man, woman, boy and girl. * Conversation is the number one tool in keeping our kids safe from pornography. Routers, software, and parental controls are important, but if your kids can’t talk to you when those things fail, then all the safeguards you have put into place mean nothing. *Your littles need a definition of what porn is, but give them the least amount of information needed to keep them safe. *Tell them: “Porn is bad for your body, brain and heart. I want to keep you safe!” *We want to talk to our kids before they are exposed to pornography. That is why we begin these conversations when they are around the age of 5, 6 or 7 years old. *Your middles need to know that porn is dangerous, and they need a way out if they see it. Give them an escape plan. *Help them see porn impacts their brain and heart by explaining what objectification is. Read my article here for help. *They don’t need a smart phone. They need a safe phone! *Check out Gabb phones and use my code GRETA for a discount. *Also look at this article for more safe phone choices. *Your teens need you to discuss porn with them even if you never have before. Now is the time! *Also discuss topics like sexting, nudes, and sextortion. Do they know what to do if they are in those situations? *Delay social media for as long as possible with teens. Not before 16 and I suggest waiting until after high school.  *Your young adults don’t need you to preach to them but rather to invite them into conversations on this topic.  *My challenge to you: have the first conversation about pornography with your kids this week! *And look for tickets to my online seminar on protecting kids from porn happening in May! Books I recommend in this episode: *Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr. *Good Pictures Bad Pictures *How to Talk to Your Kids About Pornography *Chasing Love *A Students Guide to Culture *Website: Fight the New Drug   Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast, and I’d be so very grateful if you leave a 5 star rating of the podcast and also a quick review.  Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster. Thank you for listening and being part of my team.  I love you guys! Greta   

This month I am doing a series on a series on Parenting in the Digital Age and Taking Steps to Protect Our Kids from Porn. This is the second part of my two-part interview with Chris McKenna. Chris is the founder of the amazing organization Protect Young Eyes.  In this episode we are talking about an idea that Chris often shares with parents: delay is the way! Here is some more of our conversation: *No parent ever says “I’ve failed as a parent because I gave my kid snapchat too late.” *Chris shares this quote from Dr. Mitchell Princstein, chief science officer of the American Psychological Association, “there are no findings showing harm to children who stay off of social media, in fact, some emerging evidence suggests that the most socially competent kids are refraining from using these platforms.” *Chris suggests waiting until high school for a smart phone. *I suggest waiting until after high school for social media. *“May we raise kids who don’t have to recover from their childhood.” Pam Leo *Chris shares tips for parenting in the digital age with our littles, middles and teens. *For littles: Get a router that will help prevent early accidental exposure. The router is your guard! Use it! Everything you need to know about routers from Chis found here. *For middles: Build that relational connection Have conversations that assure them no matter what happens they can land softly and safely with you!  *Use parental control software on all devices (learn more about those here)  *Give them a plan for what to do if they see pornography or other problematic things in the digital space. More on that in episode 8! *For teens: Keep talking! Almost annoy your kids with the frequency of these convos! Where to find more help from Chris? Website here  Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast and I’d be so very grateful if you leave a 5 star rating of the podcast and write a quick review.  Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster. Thank you for listening and being part of my team.  I love you guys! Greta 

This month I am doing a series on Parenting in the Digital Age and Taking Steps to Protect Our Kids from Porn. I kick of the series with a two-part interview with one of my personal heroes, Chris McKenna. Chris is the founder of the amazing organization Protect Young Eyes, whose mission is to show families, schools, and churches how to create safe digital spaces.  In this episode, Chris and I talk about: *the quiet that is missing from the lives of children today.   *the need to parent with empathy and compassion. *that it’s tough to raise kids right now, and it’s hard to be a kid right now. *our kids need to know we are on their team in this digital journey.  *where digital trust is high, digital friction is low. *we need to stay calm when we’re talking to our kid about porn  *we need to stay calm when we’re talking to them after they’ve seen porn. *we need to respond like Jesus, with grace and truth. (John 1:7) *the truth that porn is bad for them and that we must protect them and the grace for their mistake. *a child needs to know 2 things after he’s made a mistake: am I going to be OK and are you still OK with me? *parents have to do their own work in preparation for these moments. This is part of parenting in the digital age. *read the blog post where I talk to my daughter about the inappropriate half time show here. Be sure to come back for part two next week!  Don’t forget to like and subscribe to this podcast, and I’d be so very grateful if you leave a review of the podcast on iTunes.  Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster. Thank you for listening and being part of my team.  I love you guys! Greta 

In this episode of the Greta Eskridge podcast, I get to talk to the queen of books herself, Sarah Mackenzie. Sarah is a wife and a homeschooling mom to six kids. Three are in college and 3 are still at home. In her spare time (ha!) she is also the creator of the fabulous Read Aloud Revival podcast, the author of two beloved books, Teaching From Rest and The Read Aloud Family, the founder of the boutique publishing house Waxwing Books and author of three children’s books. This is why I say she had a reading empire! Sarah is an amazing lady and just so much fun to talk to. True to form, I get teary eyed in this episode. But talking books and connection will do that to me. Also, in this episode you can hear Sarah and I not able to do math. We talk about books, not math problems, so what do you expect? This episode is chock full of so many great book titles with you. We like to say we sling around book titles like ninjas. Get ready! Here's some more of what we talked about: Sarah tells us she loves roller coasters. She recently rode one 6 times in a row and read her kindle while in line. This quote by Andrew Pudewa launched Sarah deep into the world of reading aloud with her kids: the best way to help kids become better communicators is to read aloud a ton and memorize poetry. Sarah noticed that reading aloud didn’t just make a positive impact on her kids academically, but there was a relational impact happening too. She noticed as her kids were growing up and sometimes she and they were at odds with each other, reading aloud put her and her kids on the same side of the fence. Sarah says: reading aloud is a powerful way to connect with our kids in a really noisy world. Its simple, free, quick: that’s a lot of dividends from a small investment. We learn that audio books count every bit as much as reading a book with pages. And we learn that data says whether they read early or late, by 8th grade most kids are at about the same reading level if kids are being exposed to good books all along. No need to fear if you have a late reader! I’ve had 3 myself.  And here is the list of all the books we discussed together. Each one is linked so you can see the cover and even put it in your cart if you want to! For the younger kids: Buffalo Fluffalo Jonas Hanway’s Scurrilous, Scandalous, Shockingly, Sensational Umbrella Sheep in a Jeep Morris the Moose Goes to School For the middle grades: Umbrella Mouse Note: there is some mild language in this book and the ones below. Sarah and I both feel that mild curse words said in a British accent don’t feel troubling to us, but handle it as you wish. All Creatures Great and Small (children’s version and beloved by my kids) All Creatures Great and Small (book for middle grades and up) All Creatures Great and Small (show)  Adventures with Waffles Astrid the Unstoppable Pipi Longstocking Chronicles of Narnia (a must have for every library) Tuesdays at the Castle Vanderbeekers Penderwicks For the teens: Glitch Screwtape Letters Surprised by Joy Find out more about book clubs for kids and grownups in Greta’s book: Adventuring Together Sarah tells us she is chasing joy by playing a new board game with her family called : Seven Wonders You can find all of Sarah’s endeavors in the links at the top of these show notes. You’ll want to follow her and glean all the book goodness she has to share!  Don’t forget to like and subscribe to this podcast, and I’d be so very grateful if you leave a review of the podcast on iTunes.  Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster. Thank you for listening and being part of my team. I love you guys! Greta 

In this episode I get to talk with my friend, Leslie Martino, wife, mom to 4, speaker, author and curator of relationships. I like to say that cultivating relationships is one of Leslie’s superpowers. In what is becoming a trend, I was moved to tears multiple times in this episode. Talking with Leslie will do that to you. She is so calm, loving and warm. She is also honest and says the hard things. I absolutely loved our time together and I know you will too.  Here's some more of what we talked about: I recommended this book to Leslie when I found out she loves miniature things: The Borrowers. Get the whole series here. We recently read this book in our kid book club: learn how to start your own kid, or adult, book club here. Leslie loves trying new things, which shows her kids they don’t have to fear failure and that they are free to be a learner. Learn more about this idea here. Leslie and her husband intentionally pursued connection with their kids from the beginning, but she had a key insight early on: making mistakes as parents was their biggest motivator to pursue relationship with their kids. She realized that if she didn’t make changes she’d destroy relationship rather than foster it: “I can do just as much good as I can do damage. I can be better.” Another key insight from Leslie into cultivating relationship with our kids: “Look at your children with a lens of gratitude” rather than as people we want to shape and change. A key word stands out as Leslie describes the way her parents cultivated connection with her as a child: available. Leslie’s mother was physically and emotionally available.  Cultivating a strong relationship with parents as an adult child has a lot to do with: forgiveness. Gratitude also changes a fractured relationship Leslie reminds us to include our parents: invite them because they might be wondering “where is my place in my adult child’s life?” Everybody likes to be invited. A book that reminds us that connecting with our kids does not have to be complicated is: Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers. More ideas for creating simple connection points with your kids can be found on Leslie’s free downloadable 30 Days of Connection Calendar More tips for creating connection with your kids: connection can be body to body—hugs and squeezes. Be in their physical space—hang out in their room and talk to them. Make eye contact during a conversation. Invite kids into your space too—like cooking with your kids, telling them about the book you’re reading, sharing your prayer requests, inviting them on errands, helping them with their chores. Give them your time. Give them your attention. We need to make sure we’re seeing our kids! Leslie tells us she’s chasing joy right now by learning about neuroplasticity and engaging in activities that grow and change her brain.  Be sure to visit Leslie’s website here to find more of her work.  Follow along with her in Insta here. And don’t forget to look for her book, coming this summer!  Don’t forget to like and subscribe to this podcast, and I’d be so very grateful if you leave a review of the podcast on iTunes.  Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster. Thank you for listening and being part of my team.  I love you guys! Greta 

In this episode, I revisit a couple ideas Ginny Yurich and I talked about in episode two and dive deeper into each one. First, I spend some time exploring the idea of helping your child grow their faith by simply spending time outdoors. Next, I talk about giving our kids the gift of discomfort and why that’s an essential element for their physical, relational, emotional and spiritual growth. I know you’re going to find this episode full of really practical things you can put into practice in your family life. Here's some more of what I talked about: I share the idea that our kids can get to know their Creator by spending time in His creation because: we see and experience different parts of God’s character in the world He created. Spending time out in nature is an investment in our kid’s spiritual health. This concept was so important to me that I have made a point of spending a full day outside every single week. Read more about it my book Adventuring Together. Stop and marvel at God’s creation because when our kids see us respond to the wonder of creation, they our faith is not fake or forced. And don’t discount even the little bits of God’s handiwork: even the small things in creation point us to a big God. We can read books that show us more about God in His creation: like the book I’m reading with Davy right now A View From the Zoo. This blog post has a whole bunch more books about nature and all of them point us to God. Read it here. Remember, spending time in nature is a gentle and powerful way to introduce our kids to God. Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” We need to embrace discomfort and consider it a gift. When we experience comfort all the time it makes us a less grateful person. Discomfort helps us become more grateful because it gives us the opportunity to be grateful. Discomfort also gives our kids the opportunity to grow their grit, resilience and perseverance. None of those things grow in the midst of a lot of comfort. When we walk through difficult situations alongside our kids we aren’t taking the growth opportunity away. But we are showing them we’ll be there for them. When we show up and help carry the little burdens, they know we’ll be there to carry the bigger burdens later on. Discomfort is also very connecting relationally. I wrote a blog post about this and you can read it here. Some key points to take away:  Moments of discomfort are connection points that push us together We can ask ourself: how can I see God’s good plan at work when things are hard? We can also ask: how will this become a story of redemption? Often God changes our attitude even when he doesn’t change our circumstance And remember, even when things go wrong: it will make a great story later!| I share that one of the ways I am chasing joy right now is by listeing to audio books. We are huge fans of audio books in our family.  Here is a great blog post I wrote about the value of audio books and a list of some of our favorite audio books.  Don’t forget to like and subscribe to this podcast, and I’d be so very grateful if you leave a review of the podcast on iTunes.  Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster. Thank you for listening and being part of my team.  I love you guys! Greta  

In this episode with my friend and yours, Ginny Yurich of 1000 Hours Outside, you’ll hear Ginny and I talk about the relational aspect of spending time outdoors. But we cover so much more! If you know me at all, you will not be surprised to hear I cried twice in this episode. I also came away so inspired. I know you will too. Here's some more of what we talked about: The connecting power of books and this quote by Kim John Payne: “In a world where almost everyone is a writer or content developer it takes an act of humility and intent to become a reader.” The principle from 19th century British educator and philosopher, Charlotte Mason, that changed everything for Ginny when she didn’t like life as a mom: children should be outside 4-6 hours whenever the weather is tolerable. Getting outside is a way to grow our faith: we see God’s character through His creation How reading this book reminded Ginny that God gives us hands on spiritual principles through His creation: Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children Ginny’s answer for what to do when it’s hard to get outside with our kids: “It's almost always hard and that’s why we have a goal for it. You don’t have a goal for things that are easy.” Alastair Humphreys reminds us that sometimes the hardest step to take is the one out our own front door: The Doorstep Mile: Live More Adventurously Every Day. And yes, it is worth getting our kids outdoors even though it’s hard because it teaches: grit, resilience, and gratitude. Books that remind us of this: The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self and There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom’s Secret for Raising Healthy, Resilient and Confidant Kids. I share one of our family mottos as found in my book, Adventuring Together: It will make a great story later. Ginny tells us how she’s chasing joy right now: with more analog activities like cross stitch from Caterpillar Cross Stitch, reading more fiction like The German Wife, taking walks, baking sourdough, playing the piano and using her hands as inspired by Jill Winger and her book Old Fashioned On Purpose: Cultivating a Slower, More Joyful Life. Ginny and I remember that we owe our meeting to the fabulous Ainsley Arment of Wild and Free Be sure to read Ginny’s newest book: Until the Streetlights Come On: How a Return to Play Brightens Our Present and Prepares Kids for an Uncertain Future.  You can listen to Ginny’s podcast here. You can follow her on Instagram here. And you can learn more about her global movement, 1000 Hours Outside, here.  Don’t forget to like and subscribe to this podcast, and I’d be so very grateful if you leave a review of the podcast on iTunes.  Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster. Thank you for listening and being part of my team. I love you guys! Greta 

In this episode, I get to introduce you to my brand-new project, The Greta Eskridge Podcast! What a scary yes this has been. But like all the other scary yeses I have said, this one has been worth it. I am so happy to be partnering with Christian Parenting to create this show. You’ll find them to be a wealth of helpful resources for you as a parent, wanting to raise your kids to know God in a world that wants them not to. There is a lot to look forward to and I share a little bit about that in this episode. Here is some more of what I talked about: Saying yes to this podcast felt scary and hard but I’ve never regretted saying the scary yes. It's been a steep learning curve: I’ve struggled but it’s OK to be a beginner. My show always starts with an introduction: enjoy mine! I also ask guest to share something we wouldn’t find in a regular bio.  Here are mine: I hate sneezing, I love your mom jokes, and I was once in a plane that got stuck by lightening while in the air! Exciting and terrifying! I share the two books I’ve written: Adventuring Together and 100 Days of Adventure Each week I’ll be covering a topic on my own or discussing one with a guest: I’m learning interviewing is a skill and I’m getting better at it slowly but surely. We’ll be talking about everything from fighting porn, cultivating friendships, and having adventures to grief, tide pooling and creating family traditions: this podcast will be all over the place because life is just too interesting to talk about one thing!  You can find more of my work and writing on my website here. You can follow me on Instagram here for all the up to the minute goings on in my life.  And please don’t forget to like and subscribe to this podcast, and I’d be so very grateful if you leave a review of the podcast on iTunes.  Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster. Thank you for listening and being part of my team. I love you guys! Greta 

We’re living in a time filled with distraction and disconnection from the things that matter most. Things like faith, family, friendship, and childhood innocence feel harder and harder to hold onto.But I believe a joyful, connected life is possible with Jesus’s help because he offers us life to the full!It’s time to open our eyes to the wonder God has put all around us, so join me each week on The Greta Eskridge Podcast as some of my favorite friends and I explore ways to create connection in our families and chase joy through both the peaks and valleys of parenting and life.