Explore every episode of the podcast Mom to Mom Podcast

After six amazing years and 120 episodes, it’s time for us to say goodbye.

— With love, Kate, Jamie, and September

We’ve spent these years covering it all — raising littles, grandparenting, homeschooling, women’s health, pregnancy loss, discipleship, meal planning, personal care, and finding our true identity in Christ.

This podcast has been a journey we were honored to take with you.

The laughs, the tears, the real-life moments — we’re so thankful you shared them with us.

While we won’t be recording new episodes, the entire library — all 120 episodes — will stay online for you to listen to anytime you need encouragement or a reminder that you’re not alone.

Thank you for being part of our community.

We’ll miss you — but we hope these conversations keep walking with you. 💛

If our homes aren’t places of peace, where will our children ever learn how to resolve conflict, show empathy, and extend forgiveness? As moms, we see it daily—sibling squabbles, hurt feelings, and the challenge of guiding our kids through disagreements. But raising peacemakers isn’t about avoiding conflict—it’s about stepping into hard moments with the goal of restoration.

In this episode of Mom to Mom, September McCarthy, Kate Battistelli, and Jamie Erickson unpack what it means to cultivate hearts that seek harmony. We’ll talk about how to model peace in our own reactions, teach our children biblical conflict resolution, and equip them to stand firm in their faith while still leading with grace.

✔️ Practical ways to teach kids to resolve conflict with empathy and wisdom

✔️ How to balance peacemaking with standing firm in truth

✔️ Biblical principles for navigating disagreements with grace

✔️ Tools and phrases to guide kids through disagreements

It’s not always easy, but it is possible to raise peacemakers who reflect Christ’s love in a divided world. Tune in and let’s encourage one another in this calling!

Thank you to this season's sponsor, BJU Press. You can find them at https://www.bjupress.com/

As moms, we quickly learn that no two children are alike. Their personalities, giftings, and temperaments are uniquely wired by God. But as one person parenting multiple kids, how do we adjust our approach to meet each child’s needs without falling into favoritism, comparison, or frustration? In this episode, we’re exploring the balance of parenting each child uniquely while maintaining consistency, fairness, and grace. We’ll discuss how to recognize and respond to the differences in our children, the biblical foundation for individualized parenting, and practical ways to nurture and disciple each child according to their strengths. Because mothering isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula—it’s about truly seeing your child and parenting them in a way that honors the calling God has placed on their life.

✔️ Identify key differences in your children that should shape your parenting

✔️ Gain biblical wisdom on how God parents us uniquely

✔️ Avoid entitlement and bitterness among siblings

✔️ Learn practical ways to nurture each child individually

Join us for this encouraging conversation—because your kids don’t need a perfect mom, just one who sees and loves them well. 💛

Thank you to this season's sponsor, BJU Press. You can find them athttps://www.bjupress.com/

Parenting is a delicate dance of holding on just tight enough while letting go where it matters most. In this week’s episode of the Mom to Mom Podcast, host Kate dives into the heart of this balance—loving our kids deeply without micromanaging their every move.

✨ Are you wondering if you’re holding on too tight—or giving just enough room for them to grow?

✨ Do you wrestle with fear when your child’s path feels risky or unexpected?

✨ Are you ready to release control into God’s hands while still staying connected?

In this conversation, we’re exploring:

🌱 How to build trust and independence while letting go of micromanagement.

💬 Creative ways to nurture open communication without crossing into control.

🙏 The peace that comes from knowing our children belong to God.

Parenting isn’t about perfect outcomes—it’s about preparing our kids to step into God’s unique calling for their lives, even when it doesn’t align with our expectations.

This episode is packed with practical wisdom, biblical encouragement, and a reminder that motherhood is ultimately about letting go with love. If you know a mom who needs this message, we’d be so grateful if you shared this episode with her. 💛

Thank you to this season's sponsor, BJU Press. You can find them at https://www.bjupress.com/

Spiritual drift doesn’t happen all at once—it’s the little things, the subtle shifts, the busyness that sneaks in and quietly pulls our hearts, and sometimes our families, away from Christ. In Episode 116 of the Mom to Mom Podcast, September invites us to take a closer look at these small but significant moments and ask the big question: how can we keep our homes anchored in God’s truth amidst the chaos of life?

We talk about recognizing the quiet signs of spiritual drift, why seemingly small compromises—like skipped prayer times or misplaced priorities—can add up, and how we can create practical routines to keep faith alive in our homes. From morning devotionals to dinner-table conversations and even tech-free evenings, we’re breaking it all down into simple, actionable steps.

What happens if spiritual drift has already taken hold? We’re sharing grace-filled ways to lovingly guide your family back to Christ without shame or discouragement.

Mama, if you’ve ever felt like your family’s faith has been slowly fading, this episode is a gentle but powerful reminder: small, intentional steps can make all the difference. Let’s talk about how we can keep Christ at the center—one moment, one habit, one prayer at a time.

Let’s walk this journey together and pursue hearts and homes firmly grounded in God’s truth. 💛

Thank you to this season's sponsor, BJU Press. You can find them at https://www.bjupress.com/

Ever feel like throwing in the towel? Whether it’s in motherhood, homeschooling, ministry, or just life itself, we’ve all been there. In this episode, we’re getting real about the struggles moms face when the weight feels too heavy. But here’s the truth: God hasn’t called us to this journey alone.

✨ Highlights You Don’t Want to Miss:

    1    How to recognize burnout and decide when to rest vs. persevere.

    2    Finding strength in God’s promises, even when the world says ‘quit.’

    3    Practical strategies to stay spiritually and emotionally anchored.

    4    Encouraging stories of breakthrough moments after choosing not to give up.

💡 What if your breaking point is actually your breakthrough moment?

Join us for an honest and hope-filled conversation about finding strength in Christ when it feels like too much. Let’s uncover the beauty of perseverance and the promise of Galatians 6:9:

"Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

Mama, you’re not alone. Grab your coffee, settle in, and let’s dive into encouragement and practical wisdom to stay the course, even in life’s toughest seasons.

🎧 Share this episode with a mom who needs a reminder to hold onto hope today. 💛

Thank you to this season's sponsor, BJU Press. You can find them at https://www.bjupress.com/

🌸 Raising Daughters in Today’s Culture 🌸

Our daughters are growing up in a world unlike any we’ve ever known—one where social media and the internet shape much of their daily lives. As moms, we’re on a mission to equip them to walk in faith, pursue purity, and delight in a life that honors God.

In this episode, we’re diving into the tough questions:

✨ How can we help our girls navigate the lies of the culture while building a passion for holiness?

✨ How do we teach them to value home without devaluing their giftings and future callings?

✨ And how do we protect their hearts in a world saturated with comparison, competition, and chaos?

Join us for an honest and hope-filled conversation on how to raise girls who shine God’s light in a dark world. Let’s lean into Titus 2, 1 Timothy 4:12, and 1 Corinthians 6:20 as we uncover practical ways to inspire and guide the next generation of women to stand firm in truth.

Thank you to this season's sponsor, BJU Press. You can find them at https://www.bjupress.com/

🌟 Does your walk match your talk? Let’s be real—our kids are always watching. They see how we respond to life’s challenges and joys, and they learn what faith looks like by the way we live it out each day. In today's episode, Jamie opens up about what it means to model faith in the real, messy, and beautiful moments of motherhood.

✨ Join us as we discuss:

    1    How your everyday actions shape your child’s spiritual journey.

    2    The power of being open about your victories and your struggles in faith.

    3    How to model Christ without falling into the trap of perfectionism or legalism.

📖 Verses to Carry with You:

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 11:1

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16

💬 This conversation is for every mom—whether you’re feeling strong in your walk or struggling to figure it all out. You’re not alone, and the good news is, it’s never too late to model faith authentically.

💕 Tune in and let’s grow together. Let’s be the light our kids need to see. ✨ Share this with a mom friend who inspires you or could use a little encouragement today. We can’t wait for you to join the circle! 💕

Thank you to this season's sponsor, BJU Press. You can find them at https://www.bjupress.com/

How do we keep hope alive when our child’s path doesn’t look like the one we envisioned? In this week’s episode, we’re opening our hearts to the struggle of loving unconditionally and holding onto faith—even when our child questions, doubts, or drifts.

Here’s what we’re diving into:

💬 How do we balance unconditional love with firm, loving boundaries?

🙏 When hope feels fragile, what promises of God do we cling to?

🤲 Practical ways to surrender our children’s journey to God, trusting His plan.

With verses like 2 Peter 3:9 and 3 John 1:4 guiding us, this episode is a reminder that while we wait, God works. Even in the waiting, we’re not alone. 🌱

And as Kate Battistelli says: “God’s dare often feels risky because it’s outside our control, but He reminds us to be patient in the waiting, knowing that the story isn’t over yet.”

Grab your coffee, take a deep breath, and join us for a conversation filled with encouragement, wisdom, and love that never lets go. Tune in now to the Mom to Mom podcast and bring a friend who might need this message too! ❤️

Thank you to this season's sponsor, BJU Press. You can find them at https://www.bjupress.com/

As our kids grow, their questions get bigger—about faith, identity, relationships, and even tough issues like loss or why there’s suffering in the world. These questions can catch us off guard, and sometimes, it’s hard to know the “right” answer.

In today’s episode, we’re exploring ways to navigate those big questions with sincerity and faith, turning challenging conversations into moments of growth.

How do we handle it when our kids ask questions about cultural issues, family, or faith? How do we respond when they bring up topics we ourselves may struggle to answer? As moms, we may not have all the answers, but we can guide them toward truth, listening deeply and responding thoughtfully.

1 Peter 3:15 reminds us to “always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” This episode is about finding that hope together and creating an environment where our kids feel safe to ask and explore—even the hard questions.

Let’s grow together in these moments, making space for trust and understanding in every conversation. Join us for an honest talk about parenting through tough questions, and let’s encourage each other as we walk through it. 🌱

Thank you to this season's sponsor, BJU Press. You can find them at https://www.bjupress.com/

In a culture where the lines between right and wrong often seem blurred, our children are being bombarded with messages of “my truth” and cultural relativism. As Christian moms, it can feel overwhelming to teach our kids to stand firm in God’s absolute truth when the world says otherwise. But here’s the good news—we’re not alone in this journey!

In this episode of the Mom to Mom Podcast, Kate, September and Jamie dive deep into raising kids in an age of cultural relativism. We explore how to equip ourselves and our children with biblical values that don’t change with the shifting culture. We talk about practical tips for every age group, how to address tough issues like gender and identity, and how to have those important conversations that will strengthen your child’s faith in the face of opposing beliefs.

It’s not easy, but it’s crucial. Romans 12:2 reminds us to be transformed by the renewal of our minds and not to conform to the patterns of this world. We’ll show you how to apply this truth as you guide your kids to discern what is good, acceptable, and perfect in God’s eyes.

Tune in to be encouraged and equipped as you to raise strong, faith-filled kids in a culture that often rejects truth. Let’s pass on the torch of faith to the next generation!

Thank you to this season's sponsor, BJU Press. You can find them at https://www.bjupress.com/

Moms, we’ve all been there—the moments when we want to step in, fix everything, and control every detail of our kids’ lives. But what happens when we can’t? When their paths take unexpected turns, or their choices challenge our expectations?

In Episode 109 of the Mom to Mom Podcast, we’re diving into Embracing the Unexpected in Parenting. In this heartfelt conversation, we talk about what it really means to let go of the need to control every aspect of our children’s journeys—even when they make decisions we don’t agree with. It’s about learning to surrender in all seasons of their lives, trusting that God is at work, even when the path looks different than we imagined.

From trusting God’s plan to finding peace in the challenges we never saw coming, we’ll share practical tips on how to release control and allow God to work through the unexpected. 1 Peter 5:7

If you’ve ever struggled with letting go, this episode is for you. We explore how to support our children with love and faith, without micromanaging their lives—because surrendering them to God’s care can lead to a deeper peace for us, too.

Tune in for real talk, encouragement, and a reminder that we don’t have to have all the answers to trust in God’s perfect plan.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:6-7

Thank you to this season's sponsor, BJU Press. You can find them at https://www.bjupress.com/

We are living in a world of quick fixes and instant everything.  In just a few clicks, we can have nearly anything we want in less than 24 hours. We want it fast, and we want it now. 

But God isn’t in a hurry, and as we grow in our relationship with Him, we have to learn to trust His timing in everything, no matter how long it takes.

As moms, how do we resist the urge to expect immediate results in both our spiritual lives and with parenting our kids?

How do we model it, teaching them to trust God’s timing?

Our culture is speeding up, but He’s calling us to slow down and do the opposite of what the world is doing.

So, how do we learn to slow down and trust His timing in a world shouting at us to hurry up? 

Join Kate, September, and Jamie as we share what has helped us develop spiritual patience and endurance for the long haul of parenting.

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage. Wait for the Lord." -Psalm 27:14

Thank you to this season's sponsor, BJU Press. You can find them at https://www.bjupress.com/

The Mom to Mom Podcast is back with Season 6!! Kate, September and Jamie are excited and ready to dive into a fresh new season focusing on the need for steadfastness—in our faith and motherhood.

In today's episode we're catching you up on what’s been happening in our lives and previewing where we’re headed next in this new season. Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or are just tuning in for the first time, we invite you to come along with us as we talk about the real-life joys and challenges of motherhood, faith, homeschooling, and everything in between.

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds." -Hebrews 10:24

Thank you to this season's sponsor, BJU Press. You can find them at https://www.bjupress.com/

With full fall schedules just around the corner, now's the best time to get into a good meal-planning rhythm. We've gathered up our best tricks and tips for putting dinner on the table with ease and have put them all in this jam-packed episode. By just putting a few systems in place, you can not only save your sanity, but also your time, your budget, and in some ways, your waistline and health because a plan will help you eliminate the need to eat out or eat easy.

This episode originally aired in Season 1 of our show. Be sure to head to https://momtomompodcast.com/12 for the show notes.

We all know a great and godly marriage takes work. And it’s also fair to say that motherhood is a full-time job of its own as well. It’s a delicate balance. How DO we find the time, the space, the energy, and the focus to keep both relationships healthy and strong?  Is it possible?

This episode originally aired in Season 1 of our show. Be sure to head to https://momtomompodcast.com/11 for the show notes.

Today we’re chatting about the overwhelm of motherhood. Between the three of us, we have 16 children and have experienced more than our share of overwhelm in our mothering journeys.

This episode originally aired in Season 1 of our show. Be sure to head to https://momtomompodcast.com/5 for the show notes.

We are mothers but we aren’t superwomen and we’re not supposed to be. When we are recharged, we're better able to cope with the issues that are bound to come up during the summer. In this episode, Kate, September, and Jamie share their best tips for using summer to refuel.

This episode originally aired in Season 1 of our show. Be sure to head to https://momtomompodcast.com/9-2/ for the show notes.

There are plenty of issues that can divide Christian moms, with well-meaning and Jesus loving women on both sides of any argument. Yet the debate runs deeper than the typical "mommy wars" because at the heart of the division is our commitment to God and His Word. Today, we’re going to be talking about the differences between personal convictions (sometimes called freedoms) and Biblical commands. As we chat, we’re not necessarily going to share our individual beliefs about specific issues, but rather how to put our convictions in their rightful place.

This episode will conclude season 5 of the Mom to Mom podcast. In the coming months, Kate, September, and Jamie will be taking a hiatus to enjoy some rest. They'll be back in September with new episodes, eager to join the conversation around the long and wide table of motherhood. In the meantime, we all hope you’ll still tune in as we rewind through some of the most popular episodes of the first four years.

Recently, Kate, September, and Jamie had the privilege of hosting a Q&A panel at the Teach Them Diligently convention in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The room was packed with moms eager to ask them some hard questions about mothering, faith, homeschooling, discipleship, and so much more. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to get to all of the questions and there were several that were quite universal, so they thought it would be beneficial to discuss them on the podcast.

In this episode, they return to that stack of questions and do their best to answer them as if we were still sitting down with mothers in real-time. Just as in the live Q&A, they do "shoot from the hip" with no preparation or background, not knowing all the nuances behind the question or your specific set of circumstances. Take their thoughts as a gentle invitation to explore further on your own.

Thank you so much for listening. We are winding down season 5 of the show and are in process of planning season 6, so if these or any other topics piqued your interest and you’d like to hear more, please shoot us a message on Instagram⁠ or Facebook and let us know what topics you’d like for us to discuss next season!

In the American church, there's been a growing, gaping hole between the generations. Older women often feel disconnected and irrelevant to younger women, easily intimidated by modern technology and navigating social media and it’s easy for many to feel out of touch. Many younger women feel like they’re doing just fine on their own and don’t see the need for biblical mentorship. Others find that when they do ask an older woman to mentor them, they get turned down and they wind up navigating as best they can but desperate for help from someone who’s been there and done that.

Our goal in this episode is to encourage the hearts of both older and younger women and give strategies to help you connect and share creative ways to bridge the massive gap between the generations. You can also find us on Instagram, on Facebook, or at our website at www.momtomompodcast.com. We would love to hear from you, so reach out and we will reach back to you.

Our culture in general seems obsessed with the idea of "hustle." But for some of us, a side hustle can make all the difference in meeting our desire to stay-at-home with our kids as well as providing additional income or bringing personal satisfaction in an area of interest outside of motherhood.

Listen as Jamie, Kate and September delve into the topic of side-hustles (specifically for stay-at-home moms) and share insights and practical tips on how to balance family life and side-hustles, as well as how to identify profitable opportunities that may be better suited than others to you and your family.

As always, we’d love to connect with you! Join the conversation on Instagram and Facebook. 

We live in a crazy, mixed-up world, vastly different from the world 20 years ago. Back then, there were no cell phones, only very rudimentary computers, no internet or social media and the world seemed much calmer as we all had more time to spend in face-to-face communication. We weren’t looking more at our phones and less at the world around us, the way many of us do today. Just stand in line at a restaurant or sit at your gate in the airport: ninety percent of people are staring at their phones rather than interacting with the ones around them!

But even 20 years ago, parents still needed to impart basic life skills to children, skills all kids need to learn before they move into life as an adult. There are several critical ones that Kate, Jamie, and September are going to chat about today. Listen as they hit on some of the major topics for the current culture we are living in right now.

For more information and resources mentioned in this episode, see the show notes at our Mom to Mom Podcast website.

Months after Jamie wrote her first book, Homeschool Bravely, she was being interviewed on a podcast. And while she doesn’t remember much about that particular show, she does remember one particular question the host lobbed her way. She was asked, do you still have fears when it comes to your mothering? The podcaster was specifically referring to fears about homeschooling, and so Jamie's answer took the conversation in a different direction than she was shooting for. Jamie answered, “Yep, I fear what will happen when everything I have poured into them over the years is now theirs to do with as they will. I pray they will hold fast to their faith and the truth of God’s Word. I pray 2 Timothy 3:14 for them, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it.” But then we have to let those fears go, give them to the Holy Spirit and trust that in God’s great love for them, He’ll continue to chase after them even when our role in their lives shifts. That interview was nearly 4 years ago. Jamie now has a grown adult child, and yet she still nurses some of those same fears. 

Today, Jamie hopes that Kate and September, in their hard-won wisdom, can calm not just her fears about parenting adult children, but all of our fears.  We can use all the advice we can get! So, let's turn to our mentor moms and come expecting lots of answers!

For Christian families, discipleship that goes to a child’s heart will give them a passion for Jesus like nothing else.  We mamas do our utmost to raise our children according to biblical principles and standards as we do our best to model Christ’s love to them and everyone in our lives.

To chat all about how to focus on discipleship and why it’s so critical for our kids, we’re welcoming Leslie Nunnery, an author and mom of four who along with her husband, David, founded Teach Them Diligently, the nation's premier source for gospel-centered homeschool events. Leslie has been on our podcast before, on Episode 53 which is all about finding your parenting vision and is well worth listening to. She’s the author of two books and she’s written multiple homeschool courses. But whether you homeschool or not, Leslie is full of wisdom about how we can focus on discipleship and why it’s absolutely critical to Christian families, especially in the times we live in. 

Visit Teach Them Diligently, for resources and experiences to strengthen Christian families, at teachthemdiligently.net. You can also register for Teach Them Diligently Conferences, by clicking here. If you do attend, please come to our Mom to Mom panel presentation and say Hi! We’d love to meet you!

Ep. 53: Find Your Parenting Vision with Leslie Nunnery

Ep. 55: Discipline that Connects to the Heart with Jim & Lynne Jackson

As always, we’d love to connect with you on Instagram and Facebook. 

A few years into her mothering, Jamie decided that she wanted to put more emphasis on Easter in her home. It bothered her that Christmas–the day set aside to remember the birth of Christ--had become an entire season of celebration and yet Easter–the day honoring His ultimate sacrifice on the cross and His miraculous resurrection was just defined by most of the evangelical church, herself included, with a few lilies at the front of the sanctuary, maybe some new dress clothes most kids didn’t want to wear, and a basket of candy. She wanted her kids to see that both moments of Christ’s life–His birth and His death–were equally important in their faith.

In this episode, Kate, September, and Jamie chat about Easter and how they’ve found ways to center the season on Christ. We’d love to know how you mark the sacredness of Easter in the ordinary of your days. Find us on Facebook or Instagram and tell us all about it!

Today we’re welcoming Jess Ronne to the podcast. Jess is the author of Sunlight Burning at Midnight,  founder of a non-profit, and mom of 8 including  her son, Lucas, born with profound disabilities. Jess became a widow and single mom at 33, after losing her husband to a brain tumor. She had 4 children under 6, and after several years, she met Ryan Ronne, a widower with 3 children. They married and had a child together in 2015.

At that point, her son Lucas was entering puberty, and raising him became more challenging every day. She and Ryan sought out resources and support for caregivers, but, try as they might, they couldn’t find any community  for caregivers desperate for a break. So she founded her own non-profit, The Lucas Project, to help families with special needs. She realized early on, her efforts needed to include respite care for the caregivers, advice to help all of us to recognize their needs, and practical ways we can help.  Not only do disabled individuals need lifelong care, but their caregivers do as well.

Resources & Links:

Sunlight Burning at Midnight, the new book by Jess Ronne

Unseen: How We’re Failing Parent Caregivers and Why it Matters, an unfiltered, honest documentary that takes a glimpse into the lives of the Ronnes, to enable a change for millions of caregivers and their families.

The Lucas Project, providing recognition, respite and resources to family caregivers of those with special needs.

Jess Ronne's blog, jessplusthemess.com

The Ostrich and Other Lost Things by Beth Hautala

“But so-and-so has one.” “It’s all your fault.” “That’s not fair.” As moms, we’ve all heard these dramatic declarations on occasion–often at full volume and packaged in tears. But while in their immaturity, kids can be prone to selfishness, if left unchecked these self-seeking desires can morph into an unholy trinity of Me, Myself, and I. 

Today, Kate, September, and Jamie chat about curbing this “self” epidemic prevalent in our culture in adults and kids alike. Some folks would call this me-first attitude "privileged." Others might use the word “spoiled.” But for the sake of this conversation, they'll use the word "entitled."

We’d love to meet you on Instagram or Facebook, so feel free to follow us there. And, we’d be deeply grateful if you left us a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, and shared our podcast with other moms who’d love to join us.

Mamas, God designed sex and it is a great gift to us in marriage, but sometimes it can also lead to frustrations and hurt feelings.  The world has such a fractured view of sex, but we think part of the reason sex has become so distorted in our culture is that we’re not having these kinds of conversations.  

We're sure you can tell by the title of this episode that this is not going to be a G-rated discussion! Now would be a great time to hit pause if there are kids around and find a way to listen privately, perhaps even alone with your spouse.

We’re talking about sex today with our friend Francie Winslow, the host of the Heaven in Your Home podcast and an outspoken advocate for Biblical intimacy between husbands and wives.

Join us for this hard, yet importantly honest, discussion.  Find more from Francie at her website, www.franciewinslow.com and as always, join the conversation with us on Instagram at @momtomompodcast.

It can be a big challenge coming up with healthy meals for your family day after day. But we all want our families to be as healthy as they can, right? Food has a huge impact on maintaining our health and gives us the energy to tackle all the tasks we deal with every day. It’s tough, yes, but it’s certainly not impossible to make healthy choices,  and I'm sure many of you are doing it successfully.

But what about the woman who’s not? Her day can quickly get overwhelming, especially when she’s got littles at home. Or, maybe she works or has a part-time job and the time to prepare simply slips away. It's easy to feel guilty and anxious about what you’re eating and feeding your family, and we certainly don’t want this episode to put any more pressure on you than you might be putting on yourself. But, it’s an important area to examine and see what simple changes might work for you and your family.  So, lets dive in and chat about the proactive things we can start to do to eat healthier.

Also listen to Ep. 12: Meal Planning Hacks for the Busy Mom for more healthy eating ideas!

We’d love to meet you on Instagram or Facebook, so feel free to follow us there. And, we’d be deeply grateful if you left us a review on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify, and shared our podcast with other moms who’d love to join us.

As women, we live in a world of confusion and comparison over our bodies. Even our womanhood is under “attack.” Raising girls in this next generation with healthy body image is even more challenging in a day when social media heavily influences what we see, think and choose to do or not to do with our minds and our bodies because a healthy body image begins in the mind!

A lot of times, women in our circles speak of childbirth or motherhood as an attack on their body image, but we have been doing some deep thinking on this and if we are being completely honest, any struggles we had with our bodies began long before we had any children!

Listen in this episode as we discuss our own struggles with body image, and share some of the ways we've found to make peace with how God has fearfully and wonderfully created us!  You can join the conversation over on Instagram at @momtomompodcast!

In episode 92, The Well-Read Mother with Jennifer Pepito, Jennifer shared with us all about how reading great books has shaped her motherhood. As we alluded to in that episode, we have been shaped by books too! So in this episode, we want to flip the mic back around and have our chance to share with you some of the books we continue to go back to – books that have mothered us.  

Be sure to grab our list of the many favorites that we just couldn’t get to in this recording – books that maybe didn’t fit one of these specific categories but which has walked through a different season with each of us! The list is at the show notes for this episode on The Mom to Mom Podcast website.

The best kind of mentor for motherhood is a real life one, but sometimes that’s just not possible. When needed, a book can be a great alternative.  Fortunately, we've had Titus 2 examples and the wisdom of other trusted women in our lives because we’ve always surrounded ourselves with good books. Voices of encouragement, discipleship, and practical help have rung out to us from these pages and have helped shape our day-to-day faithfulness to our husbands, our children, our ministry commitments, our walk with the Lord…pretty much every area of our lives!

In today's episode, Jamie Erickson and September McCarthy speak with Jennifer Pepito, author of Mothering By the Book: the Power in Reading Aloud to Overcome Fear and Recapture Joy. They discuss the importance of reading aloud to your kids, making time for personal reading in the busyness of our day, and options for the mom who isn't a reader.

We’d love to know what books have been meaningful to you. Which ones do you find yourself going back to again and again for wisdom, for spiritual discipleship, for practical advice? Join us over on Instagram or Facebook to continue the discussion. 

Resources & Links

Mothering By the Book: the Power in Reading Aloud to Overcome Fear and Recapture Joy by Jennifer Pepito, www.motheringbythebook.com
The Peaceful Press Shop
Jennifer Pepito on Instagram at @thepeacefulpress and @jenniferpepito

When was the last time you took a "date night?" Is this an outdated, old-fashioned idea that seems elusive to busy parents who cannot even find time for a minute alone? 

This episode is all about date nights and how we make it happen even when we aren’t feeling the “love?” Maybe that’s you? Or maybe you have tried date nights and have just run out of ideas or haven’t considered the importance of this time away?

Don’t forget to check out our date night list in the show notes for this episode on The Mom to Mom Podcast website (and this time, we will include them on our Instagram feed as well.)

Try a date night. What do you have to lose?

In today's episode, we're talking about the little years, and although we have all graduated or semi-graduated from those days, we walked through them for a long time and the conversation is never dull or old when we remember or re-invite others to the table to talk about those very formative and busy, crazy years.

For links to some of our favorite practical hands-on helpful tools and resources, as well as ideas to help you bring the Word to life in the lives of your littles, please visit the show notes for this episode on The Mom to Mom Podcast website!

Tis the season. Or at least ‘tis almost the season. Now is the time to start making a Christmas list for all the special people in your life. We don’t know about you, but we don’t want the marketing gurus of Target and Walmart to determine what to put under our trees! Instead of just searching the sales ads or the store shelves for some random something, we find it more helpful to mull over the recommendations of trusted friends – folks who have used and enjoyed certain things and can vouch for their value.

So, that’s what we do in today's episode – we'll be the friends that share what we’ve enjoyed, what our people have enjoyed – in case... like us... you find it helpful to have a few recommendations to get you started as you plan gifts for your people.

For links to all the gift ideas mentioned, please visit the show notes for this episode on The Mom to Mom Podcast website!

There’s a spiritual battle going on in our culture today, Mama, and it’s a battle for our children’s hearts, minds, and bodies. Just turn on your TV and watch the news, or scroll through Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram. It’s everywhere your kids are and everywhere you don’t want them to be.  What can we, as moms, do to stem the tide of corruption targeting our kids?

In today's episode, September, Jamie and Kate chat about how they are raising Christian kids in an unstable world and how we can help our children to not only stay pure, but desire purity. 

• “Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it spring the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:24.
• “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15.
• “He who loves purity of heart and has grace on his lips, the king shall be his friend.” Proverbs 22:11
• “I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked (worthless) think before my eyes.” Psalm 101: 2b-3a.
• “Finally brethren, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things.” Philippians 3:8

Are you curious about the lifestyle called hygge?  According to co-host Jamie Erickson, the word comes from the British and Norwegian words for hug, and it's a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality from fostering a life of comfort, contentment and rest.

In today's episode, Jamie discusses her newly released book, Holy Hygge: Creating a Place for People to Gather and the Gospel to Grow, with Mom to Mom co-hosts, Kate Battistelli and September McCarthy.  While the book breaks down each of the tenets of hygge and examines them in light of the Gospel, the ladies discuss what hygge is and how it can be a versatile tool in demonstrating the Gospel to the world as well as within our homes.

For more on Holy Hygge: Creating a Place for People to Gather and the Gospel to Grow by Jamie Erickson, please visit www.jamieerickson.com/holy-hygge

Marriage is God-ordained.  It’s God’s gift to mankind, as He initiated the very first marriage in Genesis. Its purpose is to bring joy to us, bring glory to Him, and raise Godly families. He gave marriage to us to make our lives more fulfilling and richer, ultimately drawing us closer to God.

As soon as two become one through marriage, their relationship changes, and they are unified in a mysterious way, different from any other human relationship, with eternal significance. God’s design for marriage is companionship, purpose, and passion.

And although every marriage comes with pitfalls, there are steps we can take to strengthen our relationship with our spouse even after physical or emotional infidelity and model what Christ taught us about loving and forgiving others.

Everyone wants to feel at home in their home. For some of us, nothing can be further from the truth. Our homes are sterile, uninspiring, or on the flip side cluttered and overwhelming. The good news is, transformation can often happen with just a few tweaks here and there. Today, we're joined by Marian Parson, known online as Miss Mustard Seed.

Marian is a pastor's wife, mother of two boys, paint enthusiast, and lover of all things home. She’s recently released her fifth book, Feels Like Home: Transforming Your Space from Uninspiring to Uniquely Yours and she’s here to specifically give hope to those of us who are chronically hesitant decorators who might want to transform their spaces but aren’t sure where to start.

We realize that abortion is a very tender topic for some listeners, especially in light of the recent reversal of Roe vs. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court. To be honest, it’s a very tender topic for each of us on the show. All three of us have been touched by the effects of abortion in some way or another. Our goal today is not to pass judgment or to point fingers. Instead, we hope to do two things: First, share our stories and the truth of Scripture to offer help, hope, and healing to anyone who might need it, and second: equip others to help their family, friends, and neighbors choose life.

We are joined by Abby Johnson, former clinic director for Planned Parenthood and now an outspoken advocate of the pro-life movement.

Life isn’t always as smooth and happy as a Hallmark commercial. For some of us, tragedy arrives out of the blue, shattering every truth about God we thought we knew. It can come through divorce, death of a loved one, the loss of a secure job, or the loss of a spouse.

How do you find your Rock in the midst of devastation? How do you find unshakeable peace? Danita Jenae has walked the road of deep loss after suddenly losing her husband Dan. In her new book, When Mountains Crumble, she shares a compelling message for the brokenhearted.

Summer is upon us and if you live in a place that is buried under snow for what feels like 95% of the year, you want to take full advantage of all three weeks of it. You welcome the sunburned noses, the skinned knees, and even the mosquito bites that are the required dress code of summer. Some moms, whether because of personality or daily responsibilities,  find summer easy–they become less structured, more breezy, and naturally more fun.

But for some of us, our expectations of summer fun fall far short of our realities. We want to be the fun summer mom, but we’re perhaps more Type A. Or maybe our schedules and responsibilities don’t shift or we just prefer the Great Indoors.

But here’s the thing, no matter our personalities or daily schedules, you and I  most likely only have 18 summers to spend with our kids without adulthood handing them adultish things–18 chances to squeeze in adventures and make lasting memories. Let’s not let this summer just slip by. Let’s grab a hold and make the best of it!

Mom anger is real, it is hidden, it is often something that takes the calmest and even the most loving and positive mother by surprise, and is one of the most shameful and embarrassing topics in mom circles because most mothers think they must be the only ones who get angry with their children.

From our children’s immaturity, our own personal struggles, our circumstances, and a child’s behavior, we all have moments where our children have not seen the best in us. And most of the time, it is directed or misdirected at them.  Which is the last thing any of us want for our motherhood or for our children.

Today, we  are chatting with Amber Lia, a native of California, married to her husband Guy and raising four boys. Amber is an author, speaker, life and health coach and this topic brought her book Triggers, to the top selling list, as it caught the attention of many desperate mamas, finding help and encouragement with our Mom Rage.

Moms, we are in a battle--a battle against the culture for the hearts and minds of our children. Today, Heidi St. John has joined us to help us prepare for it.  

Heidi has an uncanny ability to bypass our prejudices and preconceptions allowing her to speak directly to the heart of every mother as she offers wisdom, inspiration and grace to those who are all too often feeling overwhelmed by all that's on their plate. Heidi’s been married to her husband Jay since 1989. Together they have seven children and several grandkids. The St. John children range in age from tweens to adults. They’ve homeschooled their kids all the way through high school, with 5 graduates now. In addition to all this, Heidi is running for Congress for the 3rd district of Washington state.

We don’t know what myths…or really lies you’ve believed about what it means to be a “good” mom, but we hope that our discussion today will dispel some of those misguided beliefs.

The truth is, we’re all in process–trying to be the best moms we can be to the children that God has specifically given to us to mother. We’re gonna get it right some times and we’re gonna mess it up at other times. But, let’s not get discouraged in doing well. Let’s remember Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” That’s not a myth. That’s a truth and a promise, not just for you but for your kids.

If you’re raising a strong-willed child, you’re well aware of it without having anyone tell you. Strong-willed kids aren’t bad but they can be incredibly frustrating. They’re often smart and confident, able to problem solve quickly, and are determined to achieve their goals. Although those are great traits, they’re probably not the first things that pop in your mind when you think about your child.

The defiance can be exhausting and the disrespect crushing. The weight of it all can exhaust you and become all-consuming.

Strong-willed children crave two things: respect and choice. So how do you find out what makes them behave the way they do? What do they need from you to help you both move forward and build on their strengths?

Motherhood can be overwhelming and quite honestly, as much as we organize, set up boundaries, and have a healthy view of our daily life, the peace and joy may be absent from our soul and our calm feels like chaos.  How can a mom be transformed from the inside out?

Today’s guest, Tricia Goyer, understands what it’s like to be pulled in a dozen different directions with the longing and intention to do all things well.

Perimenopause and menopause are God-designed. They are seasons that can and should be welcomed and celebrated. But unfortunately, they are often talked about with undertones of regret, embarrassment, or lament.

Today, we hope to change the narrative.

In Psalm 141:3, we read, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” This verse echos the theme of dozens and dozens of verses in Scripture. And it’s not by accident that God warns us more than once to watch what we say. Our tongues are powerful and as we’ve mentioned before on the show, they can give life. Today's guest, Ginger Hubbard, is here to give us some tips for taming our kids' tongues so that they too might speak life.