Fiat in the Mess

Blessed, Stressed, and Totally PresentEpisode SummaryHow do we stay present to our children, our vocation, and God when we’re sleep-deprived, overwhelmed, and pulled in a dozen directions? Annie and Hailey explore the daily struggle to live in the present moment, grounded in agape love and Christ’s invitation to trust the Father with tomorrow. They share practical changes they’ve made, reflect on what our children really need from us, and close with St. Faustina’s Prayer for the Present Moment.Key ThemesAgape is the foundation of motherhood. Most of us don’t struggle to love our kids. We struggle to know how to show up for them in daily life.Presence says “I see you.” Eye contact and undivided attention communicate dignity and love.Being present is not a new problem. Jesus constantly tells us not to worry about tomorrow. “Give us this day our daily bread.”Technology is a tool, not the enemy. The real question is what we reach for when we’re anxious, bored, or avoiding something hard.Our kids mostly want us. Not a perfect house or a perfect schedule.Discussion HighlightsHailey’s anxiety isn’t about her children themselves, but about the to-do list, work deadlines, and whether she’s measuring up as a mother and homemaker.Her Catechesis of the Good Shepherd training reminded her that parents are the primary educators of their children. She can’t control her kids’ faith, but she can prepare the environment so God can meet them there.She met a woman whose family traveled the country for a year, then settled on rural Texas land. Hailey concluded that you don’t have to move to be present. God calls her to the moment she’s in, in her own home.Hailey’s three-year-old asked his dad, “Does your teacher have the same eyes? My teacher has beautiful eyes.” In the atrium, children and teachers greet each other with eye contact and a handshake. It made Hailey ask whether she really looks at her son when she speaks to him.Annie shares how her teenagers often get compliments from engaged couples for looking people in the eye and shaking hands.After a big tantrum, Hailey’s son said, “Mama, I just want to be with you.” As the family became more connected, his challenging behaviors faded.Practical TipsDelete or limit social media if you reach for it when anxious or bored. Hailey stresses this is for her season, not a rule for everyone.Turn off notifications except calls and texts.Set “office hours” for email and texts, and be at peace with slower replies.Keep a running list of random urges (curtains, Pinterest) and visit it at a set time each week. Often you’ll find you were just filling a void.When you need a break, grab your Bible and go outside instead of reaching for your phone.Invite little ones into your work. “I need to finish the dishes, then I’ll be free to play. Want to help?” Let them sit near you, even if it’s messy.Keep devices off the dinner table. Protect family meals and game nights as sacred space.With teens, stay available. Leave the lamp on, and don’t skip the “pointless” conversation, because the real one often comes 15 minutes later.Correct behaviors in toddlers that you wouldn’t want to see in a teenager.Your TurnShare your tricks for staying present, or what your kids have said when you made the effort. Email us or leave a comment.Keep giving God your fiat in the mess.

In this episode of Fiat in the Mess, Annie Muller and Hailey Skinner welcome Dr. Irene Alexander, associate professor of moral theology at the University of Dallas, wife, and mother of six. Together they explore one of the most difficult questions in Catholic bioethics: what to do with the thousands of frozen embryos left behind by IVF. They also speak with compassion to the women and couples carrying the cross of infertility.Dr. Alexander's backgroundDr. Alexander holds her MA and PhD from Ave Maria University. She teaches moral theology, bioethics, Christian marriage, scripture, and tradition. Her scholarship has appeared in the National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, the Linacre Quarterly, and other journals. Her forthcoming book, Frozen Embryos: A Catholic Moral Evaluation of Embryo Adoption, Cryopreservation, Rehydration, and Artificial Wounds, is expected in 2027.In this episodeHow Dr. Alexander balances motherhood and academic work, and why her family life and her theological work enrich each otherA plain-language explanation of how IVF works, including the creation of multiple embryos, selective reduction, and cryopreservationWhy the Church opposes IVF: it is contrary to the dignity of the child and to the unity of marriage, which joins the unitive and procreative meanings of the conjugal actThe Church's teaching as an interpretation of natural law rather than a rule only for CatholicsRestorative reproductive medicine and NaProTechnology: ethical options that seek to diagnose and heal the underlying causes of infertilityThe cultural tendency to treat fertility as a problem to be suppressed rather than a giftEmbryo adoption: what Dignitas Personae (2008, paragraph 19) says, the ongoing scholarly debate, and Dr. Alexander's own positionArtificial wombs and ectogenesis, and the ethical concerns they raiseFaith and courage in motherhood, including Dr. Alexander's "pickle jar" storyEncouragement for women facing infertility and for those overwhelmed by pregnancy: God sees the ache and invites us to surrender it to HimA note on the discussionDr. Alexander is clear about the difference between what the Church has officially taught and her own scholarly argument. Embryo adoption remains a disputed question among Catholic theologians.ResourcesDr. Alexander’s book, Frozen Embryos: A Catholic Moral Evaluation of Embryo Adoption, Cryopreservation, Rehydration, & Artificial WombsDignitas PersonaeNaProTechnologySaint Paul VI InstituteKeep giving God your fiat in the mess.

Pray the Rosary with us! Save this episode to help you pray the Holy Rosary more deeply and to unite your motherhood to the sublime motherhood of Mary, the Mother of God. Meditations from A Mother's Rosary Guide

Fiat in the Mess |  Resigning from Martyrdom: Asking for Help in Motherhood (3.15)Why is it so hard for mothers to ask for help, and why do we feel embarrassed when we get it? Annie and Hailey talk about the temptation to power through like martyrs, the guilt, pride, and perfectionism that keep us from reaching out and why God never meant motherhood to be a solo mission. Your Father who sees in secret will reward you. You are a beloved daughter of the King, and He sees the work of your hands. Keep giving God your fiat in the mess.In this episode:Mary's pregnancy check-in: week 27, one week from the third trimester. Baby Jesus can recognize Mary and Joseph's voices and perceive light and dark, and Advent is about a month away.Annie's story of the housekeeper her mom and aunt hired when she was pregnant with her seventh, and why she was embarrassed to tell anyoneHailey's "Hot Mess Express" season, and how God the Father answered her tearful prayer within minutes by sending her father-in-law to the doorWe are dependent, rational creatures made for communion. Self-gift is meant to be mutual, not poured out until we're empty.The cleaning and meals support the mission of the family, but they aren't the mission.The power of being seen, and why it helps to tell your husband what you need instead of leaving him guessingPractical ideas:Swap childcare with a trusted friend, including date-night swapsTrade cleaning: bring your mop to her house, and she scrubs your sinkStart a meal train, and be the friend who notices when someone is drowningTake a weekend away and let your husband hold down the fortWrite down everything you do in a day to see what you can let go of, and what's simply too much for one personIf you have the means, hire help such as a housekeeper or meal prep. That's smart delegation, not failure.Start a weekly rosary group with other momsHold a Sunday "powwow" with your spouse. Keep a running list all week, then sit down together once the kids are in bed.Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.You are a beloved daughter of the King, and He sees the work of your hands. Keep giving God your fiat in the mess.Have a question you'd like answered in a future episode? Send it our way — we'd love to hear from you!mightyishercall.com/contact-usUpcoming EventsRetreat in Augusta, GA and Wichita, KSSupport the Podcast: mightyishercall.com/podcast-support

Mary’s Birthday and Our Lady of SorrowsThis episode reflects on two closely connected Marian feast days in September: the Nativity of Mary and Our Lady of Sorrows. Annie Muller and Hailey Skinner explore why the Church celebrates Mary’s birth, how it points to the beginning of salvation history, and how her sorrows can comfort mothers and anyone carrying suffering.They also connect these feasts to everyday motherhood, hiddenness, surrender, grief, and the hope of Christ’s victory. The conversation blends theology, lived experience, and practical consolation.Key topicsWhy Mary’s birthday is celebrated on September 8, nine months after the Immaculate Conception.The historical roots of the feast, including its early observance in the Eastern Church.Why the Church celebrates only three birthdays in the liturgical calendar: Jesus, Mary, and John the Baptist.Mary’s hidden life and how holiness often unfolds without recognition.The connection between Mary’s fiat, motherhood, surrender, and quiet sacrifice.Our Lady of Sorrows and the seven sorrows traditionally associated with Mary’s life.The seven sorrows: Simeon’s prophecy, the flight into Egypt, losing Jesus in the temple, meeting Jesus on the way to Calvary, the crucifixion, receiving Jesus’ body, and his burial.How Mary’s sorrows resonate with miscarriage, infant loss, and the pain of motherhood.Why devotion to Mary is not worship, but a relationship of intercession, companionship, and imitation.The seven promises associated with devotion to Mary’s sorrows, including peace, consolation, protection, and hope.Timestamps00:00 — Opening the September Marian feast days conversation02:17 — Mary’s nativity as the beginning of redemption03:39 — The history of celebrating Mary’s birth06:29 — Why September 8 follows the Immaculate Conception08:25 — Mary’s birth as preparation for the Incarnation09:41 — Hidden holiness and motherhood12:50 — Why Our Lady of Sorrows belongs beside Mary’s birthday16:42 — Why sorrow and glory belong together18:39 — The Seven Sorrows devotion21:28 — Explaining Marian intercession24:16 — Sitting with a friend in suffering29:29 — Annie’s story of losing her son Gabriel31:29 — The communion of saints and the thin veil at Mass36:31 — Miscarriage, grief, and eternal hope41:56 — Which sorrows strike each host most deeply46:51 — The Seven Promises of the devotion49:17 — The promise of peace for families51:21 — Seeing the face of Mary at death52:51 — Closing encouragementSupport the Podcast: mightyishercall.com/podcast-supportContact: [email protected]"Keep giving God your fiat in the mess."