Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Thriving In Motherhood Podcast | Productivity, Planning, Family Systems, Time Management, Survival Mode, Mental Health, Vision

If you have things you want to do but can't seem to find the time, energy, or attention to actually get to them, this episode is for you.

I'm walking you through the five phases of planning that have helped me get all of those thoughts out of my head, figure out what matters right now, and keep making progress even as life and motherhood change.

We'll talk about reality checking, managing what has to happen, creating a vision for what you actually want, building momentum, and ultimately getting to a place where your time and energy are going toward the things that matter most to you.
These five phases are all built into the Thriving in Motherhood Planner, but you can take these ideas and use them with whatever planning system already works for you.

And if you want to use the planner with me in 2027, join the waitlist below so you don't miss the launch or the chance to order a coil-bound planner!

https://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/planner-priority-list/

September can feel a little like a second January. A fresh start, a new school year, and a chance to look at where you are and where you want to go.

In this episode, I'm talking about how to revisit your vision for the year, get clear on what still matters to you, and make the most of the next few months.

I'm also sharing something I've been learning about the middle, that long stretch after the excitement of starting has worn off but before you've reached the finish line. If your motivation has faded or you've stalled on something that once felt exciting, it doesn't necessarily mean you're on the wrong track. You might just be in the middle.

Wherever you are right now, you're not behind. There is still plenty of time to make meaningful progress, have new experiences, and intentionally shape the rest of your year.

Plus, I'm sharing details about our upcoming live 12-week walk-through of the Surviving to Thriving Toolkit, where we'll work together on creating systems and rhythms that support you and your family.

For years, I thought I needed better systems to make motherhood and life work. Better cleaning routines, more organization, less clutter, better habits. And while I love a good system, looking back over 13 years of motherhood, I can see that systems weren't actually the thing that helped me move forward.

What made the biggest difference was learning how to clear the mental clutter, find a home for all the ideas in my head, and get clear on what mattered to me and what my next step was.

In this episode, I'm sharing how that process eventually became the Thriving in Motherhood Planner and how it has helped me continue moving forward through busy seasons, survival mode, homeschooling, building a business, family adventures, and everyday life.

I'm also introducing the Action + Clarity Matrix and the four places we can find ourselves as moms: bored, busy but not fulfilled, bummed or frustrated, or aligned

Plus, the 2027 Thriving in Motherhood Planner launch is coming soon! Join the waitlist to be notified about the pre-launch and coil-bound planner option. 

https://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/planner-priority-list/

In this episode, I'm sharing what homeschooling six kids looks like for us this year. I'll walk you through our daily rhythm, the curriculum we're using, what my kids are doing independently, and what we're still doing together as a family. I'm also sharing what's working really well right now, what we're still figuring out, and how our homeschool continues to change as my kids get older.

After more than eight years of releasing weekly episodes and recently passed the 400 mark, I wanted to sit down and share what's really been going on behind the scenes.

In this episode, I talk honestly about this current season of life - adding another baby, full schedules, late nights, early mornings - and what it feels like when you've been living beyond your capacity for a long time.

I share why this podcast is taking a pause, what I mean by doing a "controlled burn," and how I'm learning to stop treading water and start building the boat instead. I'll talk about margin, connection, and redefining what thriving looks like when life feels full.

In this episode, I share what I've been learning about prayer during a season that's pushed me beyond my capacity. Drawing from scripture and personal experience, I talk about bringing our weaknesses honestly to God, praying for what only He can do, and trusting that He meets us with a plan, power, and promises. If you're walking through a stretching season, I hope this episode offers encouragement, perspective, and hope.

In this episode, I share howmy thinking about politics as evolved over the last decade, and how that shapes the way I talk with my children about it. Rather than focusing on current events or party lines, I walk through the principles we return to in our home:

• Separating problems from people

• Understanding influence verses concern

• Valuing character and leadership

• And learning to solve problems without attacking one another

This episode will help you consider how we can help our kids engage thoughtfully and compassionately with a complex world.

A few weeks into the new year, it's easy to feel discouraged, especially if the goals you set already feel heavy or out of reach. In this episode, I talk about why that happens and what I do instead.

I share why traditional goal-setting can feel like using the wrong map in motherhood, how shifting to a vision changes the entire experience, and why the real work isn't about doing more, it's about who you're becoming along the way.

I'll share:

• Why time-based goals often create pressure and self-doubt in full seasons of life

• How a vision gives direction without demanding speed or perfection

• Why regular reflection helps you make progress without carrying shame or discouragement

If you want to homeschool long term, you have to stop letting one hard day convince you you're doing it wrong.

In this episode, I share the mindset shifts (and practical systems) that have helped me homeschool consistently for 10+ years—through changing seasons, growing kids, and all the problems that inevitably come up. We'll talk about how to solve the right problem, how to build systems that work when life isn't ideal, and why your role isn't to panic—it's to become the person who can do this.

Resources:
Masterclass: How to Create a Home Where Everyone Can Thrive (Even You) ➡️ https://thrivinginmotherhood.myflodesk.com/thrive

I'm homeschooling five kids (grades 6, 4, 2, kindergarten… plus a five-month-old baby), and I'm sharing what's actually working now that real life is in full swing.

I'll walk through the "filter" I'm using for curriculum decisions, what changed between my plan from seven months ago and what we're doing now, and the biggest fixes we made (especially in math and writing). I also share what our days look like right now — the flow, the routines, and the small setup decisions that make consistency possible.

Resources:

Other Homeschooling Videos:

Favorite for 2023: PreK, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oV70d1kr9A

Favorite Curriculum for Fall 2023: Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm3hJAlVTdI

Homeschooling in Hard Seasons | Library System for the Best Books: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9wgIgGxQgk

How I Decided Our Learning Priorities For the Summer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQkuSufQnJs

Our Homeschooling Curriculum for 2024-2025 Pre-K, 1st, 3rd, 5th Grade: Alveary Update: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5MvRMKNY1E

Planning A Full Year of Homeschool With A Baby On The Way | 6th, 4th, 2nd, Pre-K: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNKz4gz3MzI

Curriculum:

Growing Brave Writers https://bravewriter.com/products/growing-brave-writers (use this link to get $10 off: https://go.referralcandy.com/share/SVPT9W8?s=sp&t=cp)

Math With Confidence: https://amzn.to/3Nezl3K

Fix It Grammar: https://amzn.to/3N7CJxy

Alveary: https://lddy.no/1jdpq (use code JJACKSON for $25 off)

All About Spelling: https://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/all-about-spelling/?srsltid=AfmBOoq7t0vyOYoJiNU10_kw_RBcPQ6p8CuxneTYVBcK_bCtrgF3TJXb (I actually just buy the teachers manual used for a fraction of the price)

As the year comes to a close, I'm talking about what it feels like to reflect when you're discouraged, uncertain, or just tired. When progress feels slow. When goals didn't turn out the way you hoped. When the future feels unclear.

In this episode, I share the thoughts, stories, and spiritual insights that helped me reframe what it means to be "behind," why nothing you've given is wasted, and how to approach vision-setting when dreaming feels hard. I'll talk about seasons of becoming, surrender, and letting God lead when you don't have clarity yet.

Looking for books that will completely change the way you think about weight, health, and body image? From surprising medical history to cultural myths we've quietly absorbed, these reads helped me question where our ideals about "healthy," "thin," and "ideal" actually come from.

Resources:

Happiest Man on Earth: https://amzn.to/49lK5G6

The Secret To Unlocking The Stress Cycle: https://amzn.to/4aul90b

Everything is Tuberculosis: https://amzn.to/3MMAY8F

Semi-Well Adjusted Despite Literally Everything: https://amzn.to/3NbdGt8

As the year winds down, I love slowing things down a bit, opening my 2026 Thriving in Motherhood Planner, working through the vision section, and taking time to reflect on what actually stayed with me this year.

One of my favorite parts of that process is reviewing the books I read.

This year, I read over 60 books. When I sat down to reflect, I narrowed that list first to the ones that truly stood out, and then distilled it even further to my top favorites across fiction, memoir, nonfiction, and a small handful of self-help books that genuinely impacted how I live day to day.

In this episode, I'm sharing:

• The fiction series that gave me deep, genuine belly laughs at the end of long days

• The nonfiction and memoirs that expanded how I think about resilience, perspective, history, and human experience

• The self-help books that actually changed my habits, not just my ideas

• How I choose what to read in different seasons of life (especially as a homeschooling mom of five)

These are the books that shaped how I think, how I rest, how I parent, and how I move into a new year with intention, without pressure to read more, faster, or "better."

Resources:

Previous Book Lists

Top Books of 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLMNVWoyWxQ

Top Books of 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDU1QwZm0rM

Books I Read During My Tech Fast 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI7v_2DmlP8

Designing Your Personal Curriculum For 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cyc-YCDjtfQ

Deep Dive Book Club: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK0Nd4dbVRA

Non-Fiction Books

An Immense World: https://amzn.to/3Mwtman

American Nations: https://amzn.to/4pFAUpR

Brave the Wild River: https://amzn.to/48TWI9Z

Empire of Pain: https://amzn.to/4s0S6aG

Memoir

Solito: https://amzn.to/4rWGJ3A

The House of My Mother: https://amzn.to/4s0RYIe

The Happiest Man On Earth: https://amzn.to/4oZxNrM

Semi Well Adjusted Despite Absolutely Everything: https://amzn.to/3XZrUzH

Self-Help Books

The Glucose Revolution: https://amzn.to/4j04dkf

The Power of Now: https://amzn.to/3YB8Ckd

Thrivers: https://amzn.to/4oQnmGF

Fiction Books

The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lions: https://amzn.to/3L21cn6

Before you jump into holiday plans or new-year goals, there are two things I want you to do, because they will completely change how you feel heading into next year.

In this episode, I walk you through the exact reflection and clarity-building process I'm using right now to close out 2025 and prepare for 2026. It's a simple reset that helps you see what really happened this year, understand where you grew, and get clear about what matters most going forward.

In this episode, I'm sharing three things I want you to start thinking about as we get close to the end of the yar. These things will set you up really well when you sit down to create your vision for the new year.

They come from two books I read in November, and it was really encouraging to see how much of the research lined up with what we've been doing in the Thriving in Motherhood Planner and Journal since 2015. But these books also highlighted a few angles that I think can help us look at things a little differently. 

In this episode, I walk you through:

• Why moms burn out

• Three ways to actually complete the stress cycle

• How to use your part as a tool instead of something that weighs you down

• What makes a future vision powerful enough to influence your present

• Why pausing every 90 days changes everything

These ideas aren't about rushing into goals or "fixing" anything. They're just little shifts that help you understand what's going on inside your days so you can move into the new year with clairty and purpose.

Some decluttering advice sounds great, until you try it with a real house with real kids and real life happening all day long.

In this episode, we're talking about the gap between having a decluttering plan and following through, especially when you're a busy mom. After years of trying a lot of different methods, I've learned what actually makes progress possible when you don't have long stretches of quiet time.

If you're ready to make steady, realistic progress in your home (even with kids underfoot), I hope you'll listen in.

If I could sit my younger self down - the brand-new mom who was sleep deprived, overwhelmed, and convinced she was doing everything wrong - there are five things I would tell her. They're simple, but they have changed everything.

In this episode, I'm sharing the real-life lessons that came from a decade of raising kids, navigating sleep deprivation, stumbling through routines, shifting old patterns, and learning what actually makes motherhood feel lighter. 

I'm sharing:

• What helped me manage those long nights so I didn't spiral with anxiety

• Why going outside changed everything when the days felt suffocating

• How I stopped letting one hard hour turn into a "bad day"

• The realization that I was making everything harder than it needed to be (and the small mindset shift that make everything easier)

• The truth about deculttering that I wish someone had told me years ago

I don't have motherhood all figured out, but these five things genuinely made my days lighter. Hopefully one of them does the same for you.

There's a kind of energy that looks productive on the outside but feels frantic on the inside. You're moving all day, checking things off, staying "on top of it," but when the house finally goes quiet, you don't feel satisfied—just tired.

It's easy to assume the problem is time management, but often what we need most is clarity.

Clarity about what matters most.

Clarity about what season we're in.

Clarity about where our energy is truly needed.

When we lose that clarity, it's easy to get swept up in ideas, goals, and endless to-dos that don't actually align with our values. We end up busy, but not purposeful. Productive, but not peaceful.

In this episode, I talk about what causes that frantic energy (especially in reentry seasons) and how to slow down enough to find your footing again. You'll hear tools for:

• Recognizing the difference between meaningful progress and distraction.

• Learning how to quiet mental clutter and renew your mind.

• Reconnecting with your vision, so you know what to say yes and no to.

• Turning that clarity into small, steady action each week.

When you know what matters, the noise quiets. You can show up with intention (not perfection) and begin to build a life that you love to wake up to.

✨ Next Steps to Start Thriving
Step 1: Create your vision with the Thriving in Motherhood Planner or the Create Your Vision Workbook if you already have a planning system you love.
Step 2: Watch the Plan a Week You Can Win Masterclass to learn how to make that vision a reality — one week at a time.

Create Your Vision Workbook ➡️ thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/vision
Thriving in Motherhood Planner ➡️ thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/planner
Plan A Week You Can Win Masterclass ➡️ thrivinginmotherhood.myflodesk.com/winyourweek

This week, I'm joined by Carly Thornock, who's joining us from a 400-year-old farmhouse in Portugal.

Carly and her husband went from running a business and owning their dream home to traveling the world with their three boys—and finding more peace, health, and joy along the way.

In this conversation, she shares the Shift 5, the process that helps them make decisions, pivot with purpose, and live a life that truly aligns with their values.

We talk about:

• Creating a vision that keeps evolving

• Learning to trust God with the "how"

• Living intentionally through change and uncertainty

Listen in for real stories, practical wisdom, and a reminder that it's never too late to rewrite your vision for a meaningful life.

If you've ever wondered which microfiber cloths actually work, not just on paper, but in real life, this episode is for you.

I tested the top-rated brands on Amazon and put them through the ultimate mom test:

• Kitchen cleanup

• Dry dusting

• Scrubbing walls and doors

After weeks of spills, crumbs, and fingerprints, I've got some surprising results.

Tune in to find out which ones are worth keeping in your cleaning stash, and grab the free comparison spreadsheet to see how they stack up side by side.

✨ Get the Free Comparison Spreadsheet: thrivinginmotherhood.myflodesk.com/microfiber

When I first created the Thriving in Motherhood Planner, I was deep in survival mode, barely keeping up and looking for something that made life feel more doable. Over the years, it's become so much more than a planner.

It's a tool that grows with me. The fact is, no one stays in one place for long. We all move through seasons, sometimes thriving, sometimes surviving, and our planning needs change with them.

In this week's episode, I'm walking through what it looks like to use your planner along the five-step path from surviving to thriving and how it adapts to whatever season you're in.

Here's a peak inside:

• Surviving: When life feels heavy and unpredictable, the planner helps you focus on what's actually true, not just what your brain is telling you.

• Reentry: As you start to get back on your feet, I'll show you how to brain dump, sort through the chaos, and gently find your footing again.

• Normalizing: This is where you rebuild your rhythms. Learn how to use your weekly pages and routines to create structure that supports you, not stresses you.

• Exploring: When you finally have a little breathing room, it's time to experiment. Test ideas, track habits, and see what works (and what doesn't).

• Thriving: Here's where the magic happens. You'll see how the planner helps you build systems that bring joy, peace, and momentum (without perfection).

The Thriving in Motherhood Planner was never about doing more. It's about building a life that fits who you are and what matters most, one small, intentional step at a time.

✨ Get the 2026 Planner: thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/planner

When I first created the Thriving in Motherhood Planner back in 2015, it was just for me. A way to make sense of life as a busy mom. By 2018, I started sharing it with you, and every year since, it's gotten a little better.

Now, the 2026 planner is almost here, and I can't wait to show you what's new! These updates came straight from real life and from the feedback of current planner users who shared what's helping them and what could make it even better.

In this episode, I'm sharing:

• The new vision page for your kids that helps you track their growth, right alongside your own goals.

• A simple, quarterly check-in to help you pause, reflect, and pray over how your kids are doing.

• The most requested unfinished task flowchart, is now built right into the planner.

• How to use the planner in every phase, from surviving to thriving.

• And the cover color you voted for in 2026 (it's a beautiful one!).

Every update this year was made to help you plan with purpose, not pressure, and build a life that feels peaceful, doable, and full of meaning.

✨ Join the waitlist for the 2026 Thriving in Motherhood Planner
➡️ thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/planner

You'll be the first to know when it's available and get early access to the limited U.S. coil-bound edition.

I don't know if you've ever had a week like this, but I really didn't want to get out of bed this week.

Between waking up multiple times a night with a two-month-old, homeschooling five kids, and doing most bedtimes solo, I'm just tired. My husband works long days and is gone many evenings, and right now, this season is stretching me more than ever before. My capacity is growing, but so is the fatigue.

And honestly? This week, I didn't want to do it.

But even in those hard weeks, I've learned there is a deeper reason I keep showing up.

It comes back to the vision I've created for my life. The one that reminds me who I want to be and what really matters, even when I don't feel like it.

In this episode, I'll share:

• What to do when motivation runs out

• How to keep showing up when life feels heavy

• The surprising shift that helped me find peace in our home

• What God taught me about strength in stretching seasons

It's not about pushing harder or pretending everything's fine. It's about learning to walk with God through the weight of it — to see how even in the exhaustion, He's helping us grow stronger, steadier, and more grounded in what truly matters.

Every 90 days I like to do a Quarterly Review. With five kids, homeschooling, and running a business, I don't have time or energy to chase the latest productivity hacks or add one more thing just because.

If I'm going to make space for something, it has to be intentional. It has to serve a purpose. And it has to fit into the limited time I actually have.

That's why quarterly reviews matter so much to me. They aren't about doing more, they're about creating clarity. A way to step back, look at the last season, and decide what really matters in the next.

In this episode, I'll share:

• The reason I do a quarterly review

• How I know it's time to rest and refocus

• What makes quarterly reviews work for busy moms

• Why 90 days is the sweet spot for clarity and momentum

This practice has helped me become the anchor that helps me make decisions with confidence and keep moving forward, without trying to do it all.

One of the things I wrote in my 2025 vision was to raise the standards in our home - for homeschooling, for housework, and for our daily routines. But I didn't want to just be about me pushing harder. I wanted the kids to come with me.

This past week we had a breakthrough, and it actually worked without all the meltdowns and fights that usually come when we raise the expectations.

Here are a few things that stood out:

• Vision matters. Creating it prayerfully with God changes everything.

• Resistance is real. It's not just the kids. I feel it too.

• Stories help. A family movie gave us a picture of what raising the bar could look like.

• We problem-solved. When things didn't go well, we found a better way together.

Now, when I ask them to do something hard - like extra math or a new chore - we talk about it like high jumping. Nervous at first, but exciting. Sometimes you knock the bar over, but then you try again. And it feels so good when you finally clear it.

So whether it's raising the bar in your own home, finding a metaphor that clicks with your kids, or just creating your vision for the year ahead, I hope this story gives you encouragement for your own journey.

If you're in a season where you feel exhausted, stretched too thin, and unsure how you'll make it through another day, this episode is for you!

Postpartum, homeschooling, and caring for five kids has reminded me again just how heavy life can feel. But, in the middle of one of my hardest days, I had an experience that completely reframed how I see God's grace in survival seasons. It was simple, unexpected, and exactly what I needed. 

In this week's Thriving in Motherhood Podcast, I'm sharing that story and how it shifted my perspective on hope, resilience, and the small ways we can notice grace every single day.

I'll share:

• The breaking point - what it feels like to have nothing left to give and still need to show up for your family.

• A surprising moment of grace - how God reminded me I wasn't carrying everything alone.

• Shifting my focus - the practice that helps me notice God's hand in the middle of ordinary, messy days.

• A question worth asking - one simple way to reframe your perspective when everything feels heavy.

When motherhood feels hard sometimes the greatest gift is remembering we're not walking it alone. My invitation for you is to slow down today and notice where grace is meeting you.

When you're in a survival season, it can feel difficult to hold onto hope. Between the exhaustion, constant needs, and lack of margin, even the smallest things can feel overwhelming.

In this post, I'm sharing four mantras that I've been leaning on during these postpartum weeks. These simple phrases have helped me steady myself when the days feel long, reminded me to focus on what matters most, and given me a way to keep showing up with more grace and confidence - even when I don't have all the answers.

I'll share:

• A simple mindset shift that makes it easier to take the next step when you don't know what's ahead

• How to recognize when your expectations are pushing you toward burnout (and what to do instead)

• Why even the hardest breakdowns can hold the seeds of growth and connection

• A powerful practice that stops resentment from building and helps you get the support you need

Each mantra has a story behind it, and together they've made survival mode feel just a little lighter. My hope is that as you listen, you'll find one that speaks to you and gives you strength in your own season.

It's been six weeks since our little guys arrived, and I thought it would be fun to share how all of my plans and preparations actually played out in real life.

Some things went even better than I hoped - like family evenings together, baby camp activities, and homeschool routines that felt doable. Other things…not so much. Sleep deprivation hit hard, priorities had to shift, and I learned quickly what really matters in a survival season.

In this episode, I share the highs and lows of postpartum life with five kids, how we've managed to keep our home and homeschooling running, and the ways the Surviving to Thriving Toolkit has carried me (plus the new things I've added as I've gone through this season again.)

📣Don't miss this! I'm teaching a brand new FREE class with live Q&A. This is your chance to ask questions about your own circumstances and get extra coaching support. It may only happen once—so keep an eye out and join while you can!

When life feels overwhelming, it's easy to reach for your phone as an escape. A quick scroll can numb the stress for a moment, but before you know, hours are gone, your energy is drained, and the problems are still waiting.

In this episode of the Thriving in Motherhood Podcast, I share how I re-designed my phone to actually support me in a survival season (postpartum, homeschooling, and juggling life with five kids). Instead of pulling me away from what matters, it now helps me stay anchored in the essentials.

I'll walk you through:

• Why your phone might be keeping you stuck in survival mode

• The simple changes I made to protect my priorities

• How the three pillars of thriving (scope, structure, and soul) apply even to smartphone use

• Practical ways to create a system that keeps you focused on what matters most

If you've ever felt like your phone is running your life instead of helping it, this episode will give you new hope (and some concrete strategies) for making technology work for you.

💡 Want more support? Grab the FREE 5 Step Path from Surviving to Thriving Checklist at thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/checklist.

And if you're ready for deeper help, the Surviving to Thriving Toolkit gives you bite-sized lessons, systems, and mindset tools to guide you through every phase: survivingtothrivingtoolkit.com.

As moms, it's easy to believe our limitations are holding us back. Not enough time, not enough energy, too much on our plates.

But what if those very limits are the key to growth?

In this week's Thriving in Motherhood Podcast, Stephanie Stutznegger shares how embracing her limitations as a mom of four transformed her family life from burnout and clutter to systems that actually work.

We talk about:

• The unexpected gift of limits

• A surprising addition to the family chore chart

• How she made cleaning fun again

• The small shifts that created big change

Her story if full of simple wins and powerful reminders that we don't have to do it all, we just have to do it all, we just have to do it together.

As I got ready to welcome our fifth baby, I kept coming back to one question:

What would this look like if it were awesome?

Instead of bracing for survival mode, I asked better questions and came up with simple, practical solutions to make this postpartum season calmer and more enjoyable.

In this episode, I'm sharing the four things I focused on during pregnancy to get ready, plus how you can apply these same principles to any survival season in your life.

You'll hear:

• The mindset shift that helped me stop dreading survival mode

• What I prepared (and what I didn't) to make meals easier

• The simple system I created to keeps kids happy and busy

• One powerful question to help you set up your own support systems

Whether you're heading into a big transition or just want to feel more supported in daily life, this episode is full of ideas you can make your own.

This year I did something different: I prepped our homeschool year before  it started.

Since we've added a new baby to our family, I knew I needed systems that would help us stay consistent, without relying on me to coordinate everything in the moment. We're using Alveary again, and after learning what worked (and what didn't) last year, I made four big changes to help this year run more smoothly.

1. I switched from digital to print: I printed all of our lesson plans and materials so we can be screen-free and fully open-and-go.

2. I organized lessons by day of the week: Every day has a folder and matching bookmarks so even my 5-year-old knows what to grab.

3. I set things up for independence: Book covers, color coding, and book darts help the kids take more ownership (and reduces my mental load).

4. I reset our school space: We cleaned out last year's work and made sure everything has a clear home so no one's asking me where things go.

These changes have helped me feel calm, prepared, and ready for a more peaceful school year, even with a newborn in the mix. 

📋 Want support navigating your own season? Grab the free 5-Step Path from Surviving to Thriving Checklist to see where you're at, and what to focus on next.

If you're a mom with a house full of hungry people, you already know: they eat all day long.

And if you're trying to cook more from scratch - whether to save money, reduce processed foods, or just feed your family real meals - you've probably hit that point where it feels overwhelming to keep up.

In this episode, I'm sharing exactly what I cook from scratch every single week. This isn't a big batch freezer meal plan or a Pinterest-worthy prep system. These are the simple things that fill in the gaps without taking tons of time or energy.

You'll hear:

• The 5 scratch-cooked staples I make every week (in under 10 minutes of active time each)

• How I build in leftovers during the week to make lunches easier

• Why this approach supports both independence and connection at home

• What it looks like to simplify food as part of the normalizing phase on the 5-step path from surviving to thriving.

If cooking from scratch feels impossible or you're just tired of constantly figuring out what to feed everyone next, this episode is full of ideas to make it feel more doable and less draining.

📋 Grab the free Surviving to Thriving Checklist to see where you're at on the 5-step path: 5 Step Path From Surviving to Thriving

What does it really look like to move out of endless survival mode?

In this episode, I'm joined by Chelsie Jenkins, a mom of five who has weathered some of the most intense seasons life can bring: the loss of a child, cross-country moves, special needs caregiving, supporting a spouse through grad school, and more.

Chelsie shares how, despite years of feeling like she was barely keeping her head above water, she began to shift her mindset, create sustainable systems, and prepare for her next big transition - adding a new baby and starting school - without spiraling back into chaos.

As a founding member of the Surviving to Thriving Toolkit, Chelsie learned to:

• Recognize survival mode patterns

• Implement home systems in a way that worked with her capacity

• Involve her kids in meaningful ways

• Approach upcoming life changes with peace instead of panic

If you've ever felt like you can't catch a break, or like you're failing at motherhood because everything feels so hard, this episode will offer real hope and show you how the Surviving to Thriving Toolkit can help you too.

I'm just days away from entering the newborn phase with my fifth baby, and as we prepare for all the unknowns ahead, I've been reflecting on the lessons that have carried me through over the last 12 years of motherhood.

In this episode, I'm sharing five truths I'm reminding myself of right now. Truths I've leaned on through moves, healths challenges, grief, and growing a family. If you're in a hard season too, I hope these offer you the same lifeline they've offered me.

I talk about:

• The mindset shifts that completely changed how I experience hard days

• One powerful question that helped me stop spiraling and start healing

• What I now expect when everything feels like it's falling apart

• A moment that proved I'm never walking through this alone

• The hardest truth to accept, but the one that's brought the most growth

You don't have to wait for life to calm down to feel better. There are simple things that can help right now! You're not alone. And even in the middle of hard, there's still so good ahead.

If this episode was helpful and you're in a survival season, I'd love to invite you to check out the Surviving to Thriving Toolkit. It's full of encouragement, practical things you can do today, and support for every phase of the journey—whether you're just trying to make it through the day or starting to build something more.

I've been through five pregnancies and honestly, none of them have been easy. But this one surprised me. Yes, there were hard days, but something was different. I wasn't drowning in the way I had in the past. In fact, I've found myself feeling grateful, even in the middle of the hard. 

And I believe anyone, pregnant or not, can experience the same shift. 

In this episode, I'm talking about some simple mindset shifts, practical tools, and totally unexpected lessons that made this season feel lighter, more joyful, and even productive.

If you've ever wondered:

• How do I keep moving forward when I feel stuck in survival mode?

• Is it possible to thrive in a season where I can barely function?

• Can I actually enjoy life when everything feels hard?

…this episode is for you!

Today on the podcast, I'm talking with Ginny Yurich from 1000 Hours Outside all about her : new book Homeschooling: You're Doing It Right Just By Doing It. 

But we go way beyond homeschooling — into faith, resilience, growth, and how to stop feeling behind.

If you've ever questioned your path as a parent, homeschooler, or entrepreneur — this conversation will remind you: You're more capable than you think.

Wherever you're at — whether homeschooling, building a life that works for your family, or figuring it out as you go — I hope this gives you some encouragement and permission to trust your path.

Resources we mentioned:

•  Ginny's website: 1000 Hours Outside

•  Follow along on Instagram: @1000hoursoutside

• Her new book Homeschooling: You're Doing It Right Just by Doing It: Grab it here

When life feels overwhelming or you know you're headed into a hard season the last thing on your mind might be a quarterly review. But I've found it's exactly when I need it most.

In this week's episode of the Thriving in Motherhood Podcast, I'm walking you through how I do a quarterly review when I'm in survival mode—like right now, at the end of my pregnancy, heading into the newborn phase.

Spoiler: This is not your typical "set big goals, hustle hard" kind of conversation.

Instead, I'm sharing:

• How I reflect on what actually happened (even when the days blur together)
  
  

• How gratitude, small wins, and honest questions help me shift my mindset
  
  

• What it looks like to plan a quarter focused on surrender, presence, and creating simple joy
  
  

• Why your circumstances don't have to define the memories you create
  
  

If you're in a season where energy is low, the future feels uncertain, or you're holding a lot—this episode is for you.

Whether you're using the Thriving in Motherhood Planner or just grabbing a notebook, these simple prompts can help you anchor yourself and your family—even when life feels messy.

Feeling stressed about your child's writing progress? You're not alone—and in this episode, I'm joined by the one and only Julie Bogart to talk all things homeschool writing.

Julie is the creator of the award-winning Brave Writer program and has helped hundreds of thousands of families find a more peaceful, effective way to teach writing at home. With over 25 years of experience (and five kids of her own!), she brings wisdom, humor, and so much heart to this conversation.

We cover how to choose the right writing curriculum, why creative writing matters, and how to stop stressing over whether you're "doing enough."

Whether you're brand new to homeschooling or just feeling stuck, this episode will give you some fresh perspective and encouragement from one of the best in the field.

Over the years, I've built a rhythms that helps me manage the things I want to do, the person I want to become, and the reality of a very digital world. 

In this episode, I'm walking you through a 3-part system I use to stay focused and present:

• The Thriving in Motherhood Planner that helps me move forward in small pockets of time

• A reflection notebook based on the core of the bullet journaling method (no rulers or fancy spreads required)

• My Notion-based "second brain" that holds digital tasks, notes inspiration, and big picture thinking

This episode gives you an inside look at how I keep things running without burning out and how you can build something similar, on piece at a time.

Want to create your own system with real support?

The Surviving to Thriving Toolkit is your guide through five intentional phases of growth, complete with tools, strategies, and structure. Join the waitlist here.

At the start of each year, I don't just set goals, I also build a personal curriculum. It's something I first heard from Brendon Burchard years ago, and it's completely changed how I approach growth in the middle of real life.

In this episode, I'm walking you through the exact steps I'm using to design my personal curriculum for 2025. I'm sharing how I choose a few meaningful books, link them to my vision, and apply what I learn in practical, doable ways.

Here's what I cover:

• How I connect my learning to my bigger vision and goals for the year

• What it looks like to align reading, reflection, and action in real-time

• A behind-the-scenes look at how I organize all of this in my second brain system

This isn't about doing more, it's about growing with intention, in the areas that matter most right to you.

Tune in and get inspired to create your own personal curriculum.

In this episode, I'm joined by time management coach Anna Dearmon Kornick to talk about what really happens when your well-oiled routines stop working. We're diving into why systems fall apart when life shifts, how to create new rhythms without starting from scratch, and the small habits that make a big difference in your week.

From weekly planning that actually fits your season to routines that help you shift from work to home (without bringing your to-do list to the dinner table), this conversation is full of real talk and doable ideas for busy moms.

Resources

Blueprint to Balance - https://annadkornick.com/blueprint-to-balance

Anna's Website: https://annadkornick.com

Anna's Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/annadkornick/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/annadearmonkornick/

🧰 And if you want the weekly planning system I use, it's all inside the Surviving to Thriving Toolkit

Do you want to get your kids outside more, but feel intimidated by the work it takes to make it happen? What do you even do once you're out there?

In this week's episode of the Thriving in Motherhood Podcast, I'm talking with Susie Spickle, naturalist, mother of three, and author of Forest Magic for Kids. She shares simple, practical ways to make getting outside a regular, joyful part of your life,no matter what season you're in.

Whether you're juggling babies, navigating busy public school schedules, or feeling stuck on where to start, Susie offers encouragement and ideas that truly meet you where you are.

Listen in as we talk about:

• How to spark imaginative outdoor play for every age

• Why kids don't need perfect fairy houses or "Pinterest play"

• What real benefits outdoor time offers

• How to scaffold outdoor activities based on age (and attention span)

• Where to look in your own community for low-stakes, high-fun nature support

This episode is full of ideas you can try today!

I'm planning out our 2025–2026 homeschool year, and with a 6th grader, 4th grader, 3rd grader, Pre-K/kindergarten child—and a newborn arriving soon—it's going to be a full season.

In this week's episode of the Thriving in Motherhood Podcast, I'm sharing a full behind-the-scenes look at how we're approaching curriculum, why we're sticking with the Alveary, and how I'm planning in a way that actually works for our current season of life.

Here's what I walk through:

• The daily rhythm we've built to support family subjects and one-on-one learning

• How we rotate through four learning blocks each morning (including chores and piano!)

• Why the Alveary curriculum clicked for us—especially when it comes to book choices and lesson plan design
  
  How I'm using Notion to plan our school year, track progress, and stay flexible when life (and newborns) happen
  
  

Whether you're new to homeschooling, adjusting for multiple ages, or just looking for ways to plan with more confidence and clarity—I hope this episode gives you a helpful perspective.

Resources

Hoffman Academy: https://hoffmanacademy.com?via=jessica33

Use code LEARN for a 10% discount

Alveary: https://lddy.no/1jdpq

Use code JJACKSON for $25 off 

Ever feel like you kids' toys are taking over, yet no one's actually playing with them? In this week's episode, I sit down with Myriam Sandler - creator of the popular MotherCould community and author of Playful By Design - to unpack the real reasons independent play feels so elusive…and what actually works.

From play hotspots to boredom breakthroughs, you'll walk away with practical, judgement-free strategies to help your kids play more (and fight less), without turning your home into a Pinterest project.

We discuss:

●      The real reason your kids might not be playing with their toys (even when the bins are overflowing)

●      Why boredom isn't a problem - it's a launchpad for self-led play

●      The hidden mindset trap that keeps moms stuck as entertainers - and how to shift out of it

●      How to move from managing stuff to designing and environment that works with your kids, not against them

This conversation will help you rethink what independent play really looks like and give you simple, doable ways to create a home where it happens naturally. 

✨ Want more support creating rhythms and spaces that actually work for your family? Join the waitlist for the Surviving to Thriving Toolkit at survivingtothrivingtoolkit.com and get ready to move out of survival mode—for good.

Have you ever gotten really excited about decluttering your house, jumped in with both feet, started making progress, and then very quickly found yourself getting frustrated with your kids for undoing your work? Or maybe you cleared a space and felt great about it - until they moved in and started playing there and it drove you crazy?

If that sounds familiar, I've been there too, and I want to share with you two ideas today to really encourage you on your decluttering journey.

In this episode, I share:

• The decluttering epiphany I had during this survival season.

• The four distinct layers of decluttering (I guide you through all of them in the Surviving to Thriving Toolkit)

• The "two-minute tidy space" concept that's been incredible in our bedrooms

• Why decluttering is the starting line, not the finish line

Decluttering isn't about creating a Pinterest-perfect home - it's about finding YOUR threshold where things flow smoothly, where cleanup feels manageable, and where you can find peace at the end of the day. It's not the finish line, but the starting point that makes everything else possible.

Join the waitlist for my Surviving to Thriving Toolkit at survivingtothrivingtoolkit.com if you'd like guidance through all four layers of decluttering and beyond.

Summer's coming, which means it's time to start asking some questions. Not the "what camps should we sign up for?" kind, but the deeper ones that help you create a summer rhythm that actually serves your family (and doesn't leave you burned out by mid-June.)

In this week's episode, I'm sharing eight questions I'm working through right now as we prepare for summer in our home - questions that help me make intentional choices before things get busy.

In this episode I share:

• How I start thinking about summer (before the calendar fills up)

• The question that helps me avoid comparison traps

• How collaborating with your kids helps create a summer that works for everyone

• And how to work with your current circumstances instead of fighting them

Whether you've got big changes coming, are craving more simplicity, or just want a rhythm that feels good to everyone, this episode is here to help you start making intentional decisions for the months ahead.

And if you want even more support for feeling confident and grounded in your everyday life, head to survivingtothrivingtoolkit.com to get on the waitlist.

On this week's episode, I'm talking with anger coach Elizabeth Androeski, an anger coach for Christian moms. She opens up about her journey from being an angry, reactive parent to finding peace in everyday motherhood. Elizabeth shares the practical steps that helped her cope with parenting challenges without responding in anger - changes that completely transformed her family life.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• How Elizabeth transformed from feeling constantly on edge and frustrated with her toddler to becoming a calm, patient mom who can be light-hearted and playful.

• The two-part approach that made real change possible

• Her game-changing morning routine that took her stress levels form 8/10 to 1/10

• A simple perspective shift that completely changes how you view challenging behavior

One of my favorite insights from our talk is that "anger and curiosity cannot coexist." When we're curious about what's happening with our kids instead of trying to control them, we create space for understanding rather than conflict.

Elizabeth's story reminds us that transformation is possible, even when parenting feels overwhelming. If you're in that overwhelmed space right now, I've created something that can help.

The Surviving to Thriving Toolkit offers practical, bite-sized strategies that fit within your circle of influence - small changes that can turn a hard day around and help you move from merely surviving to truly thriving in motherhood.

Join the waitlist HERE.

Resources Mentioned:

• Elizabeth's Website:emotionallyhealthylegacy.com

• Free resource: 5-step training to break free from the shame cycle - available at endmomshame.com

• Elizabeth's podcast: Emotionally Healthy Legacy

We just back from a six-day road trip with our family of six, and I'm excited to share my latest tips for making travel work with a bunch of kids (especially while 25 weeks pregnant).

After years of taking these trips - including our annual month-long summer adventure - we keep finding ways to make things 1% better each time. 

In this episode I share:

• How we solved our food challenges by bringing an Instantpot and griddle to cook simple hotel room meals

• Why eating at restaurants for lunch instead of dinner completely transformed our evenings

• The pre-packed toiletry and activity bag system that saved me from hunting down everyone's toothbrushes

• How we handled long car rides with zero screens and kept everyone happy

• Finding the right mix of free museum visits, hotel swimming, and paid activities

I'll also share our biggest challenge – dealing with overtired kids in tight hotel quarters where everyone can hear everything! And the important parenting lesson we learned about solving problems rather than trying to control behavior.

If you're interested in seeing exactly how our travel systems work, I'll be sharing all of that in the Family Systems Playbook to the Surviving To Thriving Toolkit. You can join the waitlist HERE to be the first to know when the doors open again!

Resources

Cooking Set: https://amzn.to/3E0uwae (affiliate link)

Toiletry Bags: https://amzn.to/4jkGryp (affiliate link)

Activity Bags:https://amzn.to/4jghZ1a (affiliate link)

Brother Label Maker: https://amzn.to/4i13Jbz (affiliate link)

Sterilite Drawers: https://amzn.to/420Rw1V (affiliate link)

Instant Pot: https://amzn.to/43IDJhO (affiliate link)

Griddle: https://amzn.to/42py9OZ (afiliate link)

Previous Travel Episodes

20 Secrets For a Fun Road Trips With Kids: https://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/20-secrets-for-a-fun-road-trip-with-kids-episode-172/

Successful Family Road Trip Systems: https://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/successful-family-road-trip-systems-episode-224/

Easy Car Organization on A Budget: https://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/easy-car-organization-on-a-budget-episode-265/

Reflection and Travel Tips From A Family Road Trip + 5 Day Hotel Stay: https://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/reflection-and-travel-tips-from-a-family-road-trip-5-day-hotel-stay-episode-309/

The Ultimate Guide to Family Road Trips: https://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-family-road-trips-episode-273/

I've been working with moms for years, helping them plan weeks they can win. One of the biggest challenges I see is what happens when you get to the end of the week with loads of unchecked tasks still on your list.

In this episode, I'm sharing a brand new process (complete with a downloadable flowchart!) that I've been using for years but finally put down on paper. 

This simple framework will help you:

• Process every unfinished task effectively at the end of the week

• Stop carrying over the same items week after week

• Know exactly where each task belongs in your planning system

• Set yourself up for a clean slate and a winning week ahead

Whether you're using the Thriving In Motherhood Planner or your own systems, these principals will work for you! I walk through what to do with tasks that need to happen daily, weekly, or monthly, plus how to handle ideas that don't have deadlines but you don't want to forget.

The goal isn't to do everything – it's to make intentional choices about what matters most and create momentum in your life by having weeks where you actually finish what you plan.

Download the free flowchart HERE and start processing your own unfinished tasks today!