Don't Mom Alone Podcast

Do you feel like you just need more money to create a home you love? Do you want an inviting home that feels peaceful and open to your friends and family? Are you confused about your decorating style and end up buying random decor that does not work?  Myquillyn Smith, author and founder of the Nesting Place, joins me to help with all of the House Rules that can be so overwhelming. She gives me advice on how to update my kitchen on a limited budget by utilizing Pinterest. Plus gives advice on everything from throw pillows, lamps, wallpaper, and buying new couches. Myquillyn says that decorating is taking the time to learn about yourself and what you need for your home. Building the confidence to make big and small decisions that lead to a home you love and is functional. She reminds us that it does not have to be perfect to be beautiful.  One powerful statement from Myquillyn is to not wait to get started, get started today on creating a home you love. One that you, your family, and your friends can be invited into a place of peace and rest.  Connect with Myquillyn Smith:  Website:  Nesting Place Facebook: Nesting Place Instagram:  Myquillyn Smith (@thenester) Links Mentioned:   House Rules: How to Decorate for Every Home, Style, and Budget by Myquillyn Smith The Cozy Minimalist Community Jason Saft | Staged To Sell Home (@stagedtosellhome) The Nesting Place: It Doesn't Have to Be Perfect to Be Beautiful: by Myquillyn Smith Quiz: What's Your Decorating Era? Related Episodes: How to Quit Hustle and Embrace Small-Moment Living :: Emily Freeman {Ep 83} Create a Home of Belonging and Becoming :: Sally Clarkson {Ep 107} Your Unique Color Palette and Authentic Style :: Karen Blanc [Ep 343] Featured Sponsors:  Honeylove - Save 20% Off at honeylove.com/DMA Skylight - Get 15% off a Skylight Calendar at SkylightCal.com/ALONE StoryWorth - Save $10 on your first purchase when you go to StoryWorth.com/DMA  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Do you feel as if you are always measuring yourself as a mom? Do you feel like the pressure to keep up with moms around you is overwhelming? Do you feel snappy or resentful at your kids and husband? Today, author Sara Hagerty joins me to talk about her new book, The Gift Of Limitations. She is a wife and mom of seven with four adopted kids. Sara shares how we often find ourselves daydreaming about other seasons and how to recognize our limits and give ourselves grace without shame and complaining. When we name our limits we can actually grieve them and let God give us the story He is intricately weaving for our families. Society tells us we can be limitless, we can optimize everything, but Sara reminds us that the limits and plot twists in our life are all from a good Father who is at work in our stories.  Connect with Sara Hagerty:  Website:   Sara Hagerty Facebook: Sara Hagerty Instagram:  Sara Hagerty (@sarahagertywrites) Links Mentioned:   The Gift of Limitations: Finding Beauty in Your Boundaries: by Sara Hagerty Every Bitter Thing Is Sweet: Tasting the Goodness of God in All Things: by Sara Hagerty Unseen: The Gift of Being Hidden in a World That Loves to Be Noticed: by Sara Hagerty Related Episodes: When You Feel Unseen :: Sara Hagerty [Ep 175] Every Bitter Thing is Sweet :: Sara Hagerty [Ep 143] Help When You Feel Weak :: Lisa Whittle [Ep 170] Featured Sponsors:  BetterHelp: This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/DMA and get on your way to being your best self.” Total Gym: Remember: It only takes 10-20 minutes a day to reshape your body. Head to TotalGymDirect.com/DMA for an ADDITIONAL 20% off your order. Plus that includes a FREE AbCrunch attachment AND free shipping. This special offer won’t be available for much longer. Thrive Market: Save time and money and shop Thrive Market today. Go to ThriveMarket.com/DMA for 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift! Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Right off the bat Cynthia and I get sidetracked by my grumpy mood. A mood I blamed on an instagram battle but probably more about my grief of having a senior who is actually going to college!  There’s some rehashing of the Bachelor, Heather’s advice for renting with Turo and discussion whether audiobooks count as reading. We also get sidetracked talking about all of the end-of-school year emotions including Cynthia's current struggle over her first grader’s learning and reading challenges. She claims her stage of life is somewhere between Kidzbop music and shapewear from Soma. Which makes us wonder how would you describe your current parenting stage?  Regardless of which end of the spectrum you are on (or maybe you are in both seasons) this episode will give you encouragement that God cares for our kids more than we ever will and He has a good story for their lives.  Connect with Cynthia Yanof:  Website:   https://cynthiayanof.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.yanof  Instagram:  @cynthiayanof  Podcast: MESSmerized  Links Mentioned:   Turo car rental marketplace Watch Mean Girls Chico's Soma Heather’s new Cupshe bathing suit Amazon.com: Audible Books The Women: by Kristin Hannah Confessions of a Shopaholic: by Sophie Kinsella Me before You by Jojo Moyes  Don't Mom Alone: by Heather MacFadyen Life Is Messy, God Is Good: by Cynthia Yanof Cynthia’s MESSmerized Patreon Heather’s Don't Mom Alone Patreon  Related Episodes: Emotional Maturity, Teamwork, and 25 years of Marriage :: Bruce and Heather [Ep 458] Build Lasting Faith in Your Kids :: Dr. Kara Powell [Ep 290] How to Stay Calm with School Stress :: Kirk Martin {Ep 88} Featured Sponsors:  Thrive Causemetics- get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/DMA Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Earbud and Trigger warning We live on the other side of the Resurrection! If you find yourself in the middle of brokenness and ruin, we pray this episode reminds you that your heavenly Father God is in the redemption business.  Today Nadia Louise joins me to share her powerful testimony. Her story is woven with so many layers of trauma and pain from a narcissistic, abusive father to the death of her brother when she was just 17 years old. That event was the catalyst that allowed Nadia to hear the voice of the Lord. But her story was not over; she still walked through pain, suffering, more death, and heartbreak. As she learned to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His voice she began to heal from depression, self-harm, and her past.  Listen in to Nadia’s powerful story and know that God still heals, still redeems, and still works today.  Connect with Nadia Louise:  YouTube: Nadia Louise (youtube.com) Instagram:  nadia louise (@itsnadialouise) Links Mentioned:   Dancing on the Grave–Naomi Cantwell and Christ for the Nations  Kiddell (@ohkiddell) Upperroom (uprmdallas.org) Related Episodes: Forgiving What You Can’t Forget :: Lysa TerKeurst [Ep 304] Faith in the Unexpected :: Christine Caine You Are Never Alone :: Max Lucado [Ep 298] Life Giving Faith in Every Circumstance :: Lisa Appelo [SofM wk 2] Featured Sponsors:  Trust & Will- Get 10% off plus free shipping of your estate plan documents trustandwill.com/DMA Vegamour- For a limited time get twenty percent off your first subscription order at VEGAMOUR.com/DMA Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Bruce joins me today to discuss 25 years of marriage and answer listener questions like-  What did you learn in year 25 that you wish you knew in year 1? How do you make time for intimacy? How to handle times when your significant other is having a struggle with faith? And, What are you looking forward to when your kids are grown and flown?  I discuss how I’ve grown in emotional maturity while Bruce talks about how to get out of the ruts and routines of work and family life. We also tackle different personality types and how we handle those when parenting our boys. Teen parenting is hard y’all, there are no formulas but we have learned that teamwork is essential.  God had been so good and faithful through 25 years of marriage and parenting. Join us today as we share the vulnerable, hard, and good parts of the journey.  Connect with Bruce:  Website:  zello.com/about-us LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-macfadyen/  Links Mentioned:   A Drama Triangle explanation A Definition of Locus of Control  Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow  Parenting with Hope: Raising Teens for Christ in a Secular Age: by Melissa B. Kruger  Shōgun: The Complete Novel: by James Clavell The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany: by William Shirer Related Episodes: Bruce Learns to Label His Feelings :: Bruce and Heather [Ep 316] Talking, Teens, and Twenty-four Years :: Bruce + Heather [Ep 399] Changing the Atmosphere of Your Home with Positive Parenting :: Ralphie Jacobs [Ep 456] Helping Socially Anxious Boys :: David Thomas [Ep 451] Featured Sponsors:  Better Help- DMA is sponsored by BetterHelp. BetterHelp.com/DMA today to get 10% off your first month. Greenlight- Greenlight is a debit card and money app made for families. Get your first month free at GREENLIGHT.com/DMA Total Gym- For an ADDITIONAL 20% off your order, head to TotalGymDirect.com/dma Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Do you feel like you are on the hamster wheel of expectations this culture throws at your teen? Do you feel the pressure and pull of having them in every sport, activity, and tutor to excel? Is church becoming a point of struggle every Sunday?  Melissa Kruger joins me to talk about all things teen and how to raise them in this culture that is pointing to everything but Jesus.  Melissa is an author and Bible teacher who encourages women as they walk through life and motherhood. We talk about how to enjoy our teens instead of curating their lives and how to allow them space to fail. Melissa shares the three pillars that are the foundation of a home focused on Christ- God’s word, prayer, and the Church. We dive into each of these and how to practically walk them out in our homes and with our teens. Melissa ultimately reminds us that as recipients of God’s unfailing grace, we get to share that identity with our kids as we guide them through these challenging years.  Connect with Melissa Kruger  Website:  Melissa Kruger (melissabkruger.com) Facebook: Melissa B. Kruger Instagram:  Melissa Kruger (@melissabryankruger) Links Mentioned:   Pre-order “Parenting with Hope” Books – Melissa Kruger Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein   Wherever You Go, I Want You to Know by Melissa B Kruger The Gospel Coalition (TGC) Article on Melissa’s family prayer routine: Now’s the Time! Resources for Family Devotions  Related Episodes: “What is My Responsibility in My Child’s Salvation?” :: Vela Tomba [Ep 431] Freeing Your Adolescents to Step Into Adulthood – Ages and Stages – Teens :: Dr. Ken Wilgus [Ep 382] Doubt, Questions and Your Teen’s Growing Faith :: Mary Jo Sharp [Ep 375] Featured Sponsors:  Caraway- Non-toxic cookware made modern. Visit Carawayhome.com/DMA for 10% off your next purchase. Thrive Market- Get convenient, high-quality, affordable groceries delivered with Thrive Market! Go to ThriveMarket.com/DMA for 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift! Vegamour- Elevate your hair wellness routine this year with Vegamour. For a limited time get 20% off your first subscription order of Gro Hair Serum by going to VEGAMOUR.com/DMA Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Is your home a place of peace or one of anger and frustration? Do you feel exhausted from the arguing and bickering between kids? Does the bedtime struggle make most evenings end in overwhelm?  Ralphie Jacobs is here to help us understand the science and tactics behind Positive Parenting. She started her career in early childhood education and soon realized through her own parenting struggles that there was a lack of resources for behavior change through Positive Parenting. She teaches parents how to change their own behaviors to change home environments and the practical steps to get there.  Shifting the atmosphere of our home can feel like turning the Titanic, but Ralphie gives us hope that we can walk a path of gratitude instead of a path of scarcity.  Connect with Ralphie Jacobs:  Website:  Simply On Purpose - Home Instagram:  Ralphie• Positive Parenting (@simplyonpurpose) Links Mentioned:   Calm in the Chaos Webinar (watch the replay)  50+ ideas for spending one-on-one time with your kid Related Episodes: Choosing Connection Over Critique :: Rachel Macy Stafford [Ep 280] How to Stop Yelling, Lecturing and Power Struggles :: Kirk Martin {Ep 62} The Window of Tolerance :: Charissa Fry [Ep 260]  Featured Sponsors:  Honeylove–Get 20% OFF @honeylove by going to honeylove.com/DMA  Thrive Causemetics–Right now, you can get an exclusive 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/DMA Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Do you feel the pull between protecting your family and kids while having compassion on the orphan and the widow who are crossing our borders? Do you feel confused about immigration laws and sustainable immigration practices?  Today Bri Stensrud, author, human dignity advocate, and the Director at Women of Welcome shares her heart on immigration. She began her career as a pro-life advocate and after going to Mexico and seeing the reality of so many women and children, compassionate care quickly became her mission.  Bri tells us that we can advocate for secure, safe, and legal borders and also the dignity of those arriving here in America. Fear and confusion can often cause us not to engage in the conversation or the communities around us but the Lord has called us to be salt and light. Stick around for the end where she gives practical ideas on how to reach out to those who have fled from desperate situations to bring friendship and hope.  Connect with Bri Stensrud:  Website:  Bri Stensrud - Women of Welcome Facebook: Women of Welcome | Facebook Instagram:  Women of Welcome (@womenofwelcome) Links Mentioned:   Start with Welcome: The Journey toward a Confident and Compassionate Immigration Conversation: by Bri Stensrud World Relief  Compassion International Show Me the Way by Henri Nouwen (the lent study Heather is doing)  Private Refugee Settlement Program   Related Episodes: The Ministry of Presence in a Broken World :: Tess Clarke [Ep. 252] Compassion Changes Everything :: Jonathan Almonte [Ep 264] Many Hues, One Humanity :: Dr. Lucretia Berry [Ep 282] Featured Sponsors:  BetterHelp–This episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/dma and get on your way to being your best self. Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Today’s show starts with a small hiccup and then really gets going with our guest and listener Rachel Green (but not that one ;)).  We discussed what we had for breakfast and it was everything from a frittata, to coconut milk yogurt with all the toppings, to a Diet Dr. Pepper with saltines. Can you guess who ate what?  Rachel admits to being sidetracked by ruminating over her busy calendar, and how Cynthia’s book is helping her, “get comfortable with being uncomfortable so she can bring others in”. We share what the Lord is teaching us lately including Kingdom success vs. the world’s success and how to prioritize relationships over tasks. All while Cynthia starts a new segment called, “How are we even friends?”. Lastly, don’t forget to tag us on socials with your amazing dog names (Heather promises not to judge).  Connect with Cynthia Yanof:  Website:  https://cynthiayanof.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.yanof  Instagram:  @cynthiayanof  Podcast: Episodes – Cynthia Yanof Links Mentioned:    Life Is Messy, God Is Good: Sanity for the Chaos of Everyday Life: by Yanof, Cynthia Jordan's Skinny Syrups Sugar Free Coffee Syrup, Vanilla Life Is Beautiful (English Subtitled) Right Where You Belong: How to Identify and Fully Occupy Your God-Given Space: by Heather MacFadyen Women, Food and Hormones  Jesus cookies Lume deodorant (use DMA to get $5 off starter pack) Clothes Steamer  Related Episodes: “Plump it Up”:: Sidetracked by 10 years of Podcasting [Ep 437] Balancing Work and Family Life :: Tricia Goyer [Ep 7] Strengthening Our Friendships :: Susan Seay [Ep 289] Featured Sponsors:  Greenlight–So stop putting off the “Money Talk” and start putting your kids on the right path. Sign up for Greenlight today and get your first month free at GREENLIGHT.com/dma. Lume– As a special offer for listeners, new customers GET $5 OFF a Lume Starter Pack with code DMA at LumeDeodorant.com. That equates to over 40% off your Starter Pack. Trust and Will –Secure your assets and protect your loved ones with Trust and Will. Get 10% off plus free shipping of your estate plan documents by visiting trustandwill.com/DMA. Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

If you need a reminder that God can redeem and restore a broken marriage, this week’s guest, Kathy Bush shares her powerful restoration testimony.  Kathy and Tim have been married for 42 years, many of those years filled with hurt, pain and infidelity. Their story centers around a primary marriage challenge —bringing two stories,  backgrounds, and expectations together. It took Kathy and Tim hitting rock bottom to begin a two-year process of counseling where they found a place of healing.  Kathy reminds us that God designed marriage before He designed the church and that it can be a powerful tool against the enemy if we can walk in step together. Today Kathy and Tim run War Room Ministries to serve men, marriages, families, and churches across the country and help families find healing.  Connect with Kathy Bush:  Website:  Home - War Room Ministries Instagram:  War Room Ministries (@warroomministry)  Links Mentioned:   Sex on The First Date by Tim and Kathy Bush The Bible Recap Family Life –Weekend to Remember Conferences Genesis Women's Shelter---resources if you are in an abusive relationship Related Episodes: Building Strong Marriages :: Kimberly Beam Holmes [Ep 374] Finding the Courage to Speak Up When You’re Not Ok :: Kristen Glass [Ep 427] Rebuilding from an Abusive Marriage :: Jeni B [Ep 246]  Infidelity, Divorce and Redeeming Love :: Rebekah Greer [Ep 8] Walking Through Divorce :: Lara Williams [Ep 324]  Sinners Married to Sinners–How God Refines Us :: Cheryl Scruggs and Jae Carpenter [Ep 195] Featured Sponsors:  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Did you know panic attacks can happen even when everything around you looks “perfect”?  They can sneak up seemingly out of nowhere and be frightening. But a panic attack is a warning light to slow down and see what is happening in our bodies and emotions.  Panic is a behavioral and physical response to anxiety locked in our bodies. So many of us can feel alone and isolated even when surrounded by people.  My guest today, Kasey Van Norman, an author, counselor, and teacher, shares the neurological and physical science behind panic attacks and anxiety. She gives us insight into why they happen and reminds us that the key to living a life free of anxiety is a present relationship with Jesus. Kasey dives into Luke 10 where Mary and Martha show the pull between anxiety and peace.  She reminds us that sitting at the feet of Jesus is the way to peace and always available to us.   Connect with Kasey Van Norman:  Website:  Kasey Van Norman  Facebook: The Made Well House Instagram:  Kasey Van Norman, LPC | Therapy + Theology (@kaseyvannorman) Made Well House: The Made Well House Counseling and Wellness Links  Freedom Prayer Ministries People Fuel: Fill Your Tank for Life, Love, and Leadership by  John Townsend Ultimate Leadership Conferences Soul of Shame by Dr. Curt Thompson Don't Mom Alone: Growing the Relationships You Need to Be the Mom You Want to Be: by Heather MacFadyen  Related Episodes: Freedom from Anxiety :: Ashley Willis [Ep 180]  Getting Brave About Anxiety :: Sissy Goff [Ep 311] Panic Attacks and Growing Trust :: JJ Heller [Ep 238] Featured Sponsors:  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Boys today are struggling more than ever with social anxiety.   They feel hesitant, anxious, and struggle to take healthy risks. How do we know when to push them into uncomfortable places? Many boys are even struggling with life milestones like getting their driver's license, asking a girl to the school dance, or applying to college. OCD and ADHD are on the rise and we want to understand when to step in and get them any help that is needed.   My guest David Thomas, a licensed professional counselor, is back to bring wisdom, advice, and tools to navigate life with our boys. He tells us the top three reasons why these issues are on the rise. David helps us learn how to support, challenge, and help boys be more outward moving and have more purpose. He reminds us that our sons are first a child of God and we can anchor them in that truth as we parent and guide them through life.  Connect with David Thomas:  Website:  Raising Boys and Girls (raisingboysandgirls.com) Facebook: Raising Boys and Girls | Facebook Instagram:  Raising Boys and Girls (@raisingboysandgirls) • Instagram photos and videos Links Mentioned:   Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life by Susan David  The Worry-Free Parent: Living in Confidence So Your Kids Can Too by Sissy Goff Feeding the Mouth That Bites You: A Complete Guide to Parenting Adolescents and Launching Them Into the World by Kenneth Wilgus  Legacy Changer by Kristen Hallinan Life 360 App  Your Enneagram Coach (a gospel-centered approach to the Enneagram)  Related Episodes: David Thomas Episodes Freeing Your Adolescents to Step Into Adulthood – Ages and Stages – Teens :: Dr. Ken Wilgus [Ep 382]  The Enneagram and Motherhood :: Suzanne Stabile [Ep 232]  Featured Sponsors:  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Kids plus nutrition often equals a storm of thoughts and emotions. What should I serve my child? How do I get them to eat it? Is what I heard on the internet true? We don’t come to these questions with blank slates either. Words spoken to us or ideas we’ve internalized can make this area of life rife with trouble.  But my guest this week is mom and registered dietician Kacie Barnes and she is here to help! She’s got broad guidelines and specific tips to help us through snacks and mealtimes.  The one thing she made sure to say in our interview?  “Give yourself some credit because I know that you work really hard to feed your kids and it is not an easy job.” Connect with Kacie Barnes:  Website:  https://mamaknowsnutrition.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mamaknowsnutrition/  Instagram:  @mamaknowsnutrition  Links Mentioned:    Renzo’s Pick Eater Multivitamin with Iron  Find Simple Mills foods or Harvest Pea Snaps at your favorite grocer Related Episodes: Fed is Best || New Baby Series Pt 2 :: Dr. Bridget Young Healthy Habit Building :: Kat Lee [Ep 300]  Featured Sponsors:  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Where do you turn when life gets messy?  Cynthia said it best, “98% of life is the messy part.” But that sentence doesn’t have to end there, with us shaking our fists at the sky. Instead, get Sidetracked with Cynthia and me as we dive right into life’s messy parts, clinging to the brilliant hope that God is still good to us, and for us.  Pre-order Cynthia’s new book, Life is Messy, God is Good and enter our contest to be on a future episode of Sidetracked!  Connect with Cynthia Yanof:  Website:  https://cynthiayanof.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.yanof  Instagram:  @cynthiayanof  Podcast: MESSmerized  Links Mentioned:    Life is Messy, God is Good: Sanity for the Chaos of Everyday Life by Cynthia Yanof Enter our Sidetracked Giveaway  Featured Sponsors:  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

How do you measure yourself? How do you decide if you’re succeeding or failing in life? One ruler we often reach for is comparison. Sometimes comparisons are helpful tools we can use to evaluate our processes or methods. But we’ve all seen comparisons go wrong. Who hasn’t thought, “I’m not like her. I must be less than”?  Comparison isolates. It causes us to withdraw from our community or to put up perfect-looking walls that keep people out.  My guest this week is recovering comparison-chaser, Jenn Schultz.  Her new book, She’s Not Your Enemy, shows us the root of the problem isn’t how we are different from one another, it’s that we don’t truly know who we are. Armed with the knowledge of who God made us to be, we are free to celebrate other women and build God’s kingdom together.  Connect with Jenn Schultz:  Website:  https://jennschultzauthor.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennschultzauthor  Instagram:  @jennschultzauthor  Podcast: Called Into Being @calledintobeing    Links Mentioned:    She’s Not Your Enemy: Conquering Our Insecurities So We Can Build God’s Kingdom Together by Jenn Schultz Inner Healing Prayer :: Jennifer Barnett [Ep 323] Psalm 103 Romans 8 Ephesians 1 Related Episodes: Be Vulnerable, Find Your People :: Jennie Allen [Ep 354] Move From Comparison to Compassion :: Karen Ehman [SOM Wk 5] Sidetracked with Fall, Homecoming and Sibling Conflict :: Cynthia & Heather [Ep 432] Featured Sponsors:  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Have you ever asked yourself, “Is what’s going on with my body normal?”  So often as women, we are quiet about what’s going on with our bodies.  Our concerns have been dismissed before. We’re worried about what will have to change in our lives to fix this nagging symptom. The doctor is busy.  We have to leave this appointment soon to make it on time to the next thing on our lists. So we just deal.  But my guest this week, Dr. Kamilia Smith, says that “quality of life issues should not be extra credit for women.” Our conversation covers a gamut of topics from menopause to sexual health to supplements.  Dr. Smith is the Founder and Director of Charleston House Gynecology in Dallas. Her practice is geared toward caring for all of a woman on the zig-zag road through midlife healthcare.  Connect with Dr. Kamilia Smith:  Website:  https://charlestonhousegyn.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlestonhousegyn  Instagram:  @charlestonhousegyn  Links Mentioned:    Estrogen Matters: Why Taking Hormones in Menopause Can Improve Women’s Well-Being and Lengthen Their Lives – Without Raising the Risk of Breast Cancer by Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris  Dallas Pyschologist/Therapist: https://behavioralhealthdallas.com/dr-katie-sardone-psychologist-therapist Dallas Counseling: https://www.mend-counseling.com/ NY Times article on Menopause  Featured Sponsors:  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

What would you do to make sure your child’s faith life is growing strong? Is this something you’re taking on yourself or getting help with? Join us this week as Ben Bevis, a passionate advocate for youth empowerment through faith, shares insights on gathering Mentor Circles around our young people. As the founder of Encircled, Ben is dedicated to helping to launch the Next Generation with sustained faith. Ben and Encircled do this by helping to equip parents, grandparents and mentors by grounding youth in their identity in Christ, discover their God-given gifts and create a vision for their lives. Listen in about how you as a parent can gather a Mentor Circle around your child! Connect with Ben Bevis: Website: https://encircled.org/ Instagram: @encircled.official Email: ben.bevis@encircled.org Links Mentioned: FREE Encircled Parenting Resource (https://encircled.org/parents/) Fuller Youth Institute (https://fulleryouthinstitute.org/) Connected Families (https://connectedfamilies.org/) The Intentional Father: A Practical Guide to Raise Sons of Courage and Character by Jon Tyson  Related Episodes: Build Lasting Faith in Your Kids :: Dr. Kara Powell [Ep 290] Equipping Your Kids for Difficulty :: Kim Sorgius [Ep 356] Relationships you Need to Be the Mom you Want to Be :: Heather Macfadyen [Ep 341] Exchanging False Beliefs for True Identity :: Jamie Winship [Ep 433]  Featured Sponsors:  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Happy New Year! We’re starting the year off right with mile-long to-do lists and a complex highlighting system so we don’t forget to wash the dog in the midst of crocheting that giant bow.  JK!   But we are thinking about what went well in 2023 and what we’re focusing in on 2024. Whether you make resolutions or not, evaluating how things are going is helpful and the flip of the calendar is a natural time to do just that. But because we’ve been victimized by the to-do list just as often as we’ve been helped by it, we brought in professional help. Laurel Denise, better known as Lolly, from Laurel Denise Planners joins us to talk about planning and to help us make sense of all those task-thoughts running around our brains.  Getting Sidetracked may be a little more productive than usual this month! (but still with plenty of laughs!) Connect with Cynthia Yanof:  Website:  https://cynthiayanof.com/  Podcast: Messmerized Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cynthia.yanof  Instagram:  @cynthiayanof  Connect with Laurel Denise:  Website:  https://laureldenise.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/laureldeniseloves  Instagram:  @laureldenise  TikTok: @_laureldenise Links Mentioned:   Right Where You Belong: How to Identify and Fully Occupy Your God-Given Space by Heather MacFadyen Cultivate What Matters PowerSheets Life is Messy God is Good: Sanity for the Chaos of Everyday Life by Cynthia Yanof **ENTER to be a guest on our March Sidetracked episode (giveaway ends Feb 9th) Laurel Denise Planners  Pilot Frixion Erasable Pens Related Episodes: Organize Your Mental Load :: Laurel Denise [Ep 444] Cultivate What Matters :: Lara Casey [Ep 146]  Featured Sponsors:  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

How are you handling your mental load? Are you a well-packed Sherpa able to take on any terrain or Sisyphus rolling the ball up the hill only to watch it roll back down?  This is the time of year when it feels natural to look back and look forward. We can evaluate what worked and what didn’t, but more importantly we can listen to what space the Lord is asking us to occupy. Maybe things need to drop off our list. Maybe God isn’t saying “let go” but is tasking you with bringing order to your every day. My guest this week is mom and planner creator Laurel Denise. Laurel shares her journey thus far through motherhood and owning a small business and how she made sense of it all.  Connect with Laurel Denise:  Website:  https://laureldenise.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/laureldeniseloves  Instagram:  @laureldenise  TikTok: @_laureldenise Related Episodes: Sunday Planning :: Retha Nichole [Ep 349] Listening for God’s Leading :: Caroline Cobb [Ep 405] RWYB Week 4 Cultivate What Matters :: Lara Casey [Ep 146] Featured Sponsors:  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Have you heard the Bible verse “Women will be saved through childbearing”? (It’s part of 1 Timothy 2:15) What do you think that verse means? What do you think it means for the woman facing infertility, or singleness?  My guest this week, Dr. Sandra Glahn, wants to dispel some iffy interpretations of this verse many of us grew up hearing. Dr. Glahn is Professor of Media Arts and Worship at Dallas Theological Seminary and has spent over 20 years trying to better understand what Paul meant in these verses in 1 Timothy, and what they mean for us today. Join me for this fascinating conversation that delves into the role of women and the cultural context of Paul’s letter, 1 Timothy.  Connect with Dr. Sandra Glahn:  Website:  https://sandraglahn.com/  Instagram:  @sandraglahnauthor  Links Mentioned:   Nobody’s Mother: Artemis of Ephesians in Antiquity and the New Testament by Sandra L. Glahn  Vindicating the Vixens: Revisiting the Sexualized, Vilified, and Marginalized Women of the Bible by Sandra L. Glahn   Related Episodes: On the Role of Women :: Joel Muddamalle [Ep 397] Every Mom a Theologian :: Phylicia Masonheimer [Ep 389]  Featured Sponsors:  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors.