5–Minute Parenting: Tips to Help You Raise Competent, Godly Kids.

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Are you a busy mom of littles? Do you often find yourself exhausted at the of the day, just waiting for your husband to come home, so you can get a break and get what you need to refresh? But what do you really need to make the day better, and does your husband understand your needs? 

On today’s episode of 5-Minute Parenting, special guest Elizabeth Santelmann shares a special number system she and her husband use to make their busy and sometimes overwhelming days better. On those hard days, sometimes all moms and dads need is to lean into making the day just one step better. This system will help you do that, by helping you and your spouse identify and communicate your needs in a straightforward way that will help simplify your life. Listen in and be encouraged! 

Elizabeth Santelmann is a wife, homeschool mom, podcaster and Bible teacher. She worked in children's ministry before having her own kids and enjoys writing and sharing about Jesus on Instagram and her blog. She has a popular podcast, Sunshine in My Nest, and writes homeschool curriculum for a large community. Elizabeth lives in Oklahoma with her husband and three sons.  

Click the links below to connect with Elizabeth online:
https://sunshineinmynest.com/
https://www.instagram.com/sunshineinmynest/

*Are you looking for fun, gospel-inspired merch for your family + discounted picture books for your kids and grandkids? Visit my Etsy store at KarensBooksandMore

Book 3 in the Questions for Kids picture book series is now available! Check out Guess Why God Made the Rainbow on Amazon or your favorite book retailer! 🌈

Love this podcast episode? Please leave a positive rating/review and share this episode with a friend ❤️

Visit our websites at: 

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/ 

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 

Sandra Chambers: ...

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Do you often ask the question after a long, busy day, "What's for dinner?" 

Trisha Pull, leader of Homeschool with Confidence and mom of six, is back on the show to share the benefits of freezer cooking and a menu planning resource she has developed for busy homes. There are many benefits to freezer cooking, and Trisha talks about them today, including saving money, blessing others, and getting kids involved. 

Listen in and visit Trisha's website to grab a copy of her resource. Trisha Pull is the leader of Homeschool with Confidence, and has more than twelve years experience teaching at home, currently educating her six children. She has used a variety of teaching approaches, and believes that school customized to the individual student is one of the great strengths of homeschooling. 

Visit her website: https://hswithconfidence.com/

*Are you looking for fun, gospel-inspired merch for your family + discounted picture books for your kids and grandkids? Visit my Etsy store at KarensBooksandMore

Book 3 in the Questions for Kids picture book series is now available! Check out Guess Why God Made the Rainbow on Amazon or your favorite book retailer! 🌈

Love this podcast episode? Please leave a positive rating/review and share this episode with a friend ❤️

Visit our websites at: 

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/ 

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 

Sandra Chambers: ...

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Today on 5-Minute Parenting, special guest Allie Elliott provides tips, tools, and ideas for living with focused faith in a distracted world. 

Allie Elliott is a wife, homeschooling mom of 4, former RN turned stay at home mom, and is passionate about encouraging mamas to be true followers of Jesus. Day by day and moment by moment. Allie loves to share how routines and rhythms can put your home on autopilot, freeing you to be more intentional with the people you love. 

In this episode, Allie brings encouragement to busy moms, sharing important ways to resist distraction and focus our faith, covering topics such as the biggest distraction of our day, our phones. She also talks about the impact of prioritizing the Word, being persistent in the ACTS prayer, and daily thankfulness. 

Listen in and be inspired and encouraged! There is no shame or mom-guilt here, only gentle exhortation with practical ideas that will help you walk more focused and with more freedom as a wife, mom, and daughter of the King! 

Be sure to connect with Allie on Instagram and check out her resources for families: 

Links: 
Stan Store: https://stan.store/allie_elliott
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allie_elliott/

*Are you looking for fun, gospel-inspired merch for your family + discounted picture books for your kids and grandkids? Visit my Etsy store at KarensBooksandMore

Book 3 in the Questions for Kids picture book series is now available! Check out Guess Why God Made the Rainbow on Amazon or your favorite book retailer! 🌈

Love this podcast episode? Please leave a positive rating/review and share this episode with a friend ❤️

Visit our websites at: 

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/ 

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 

Sandra Chambers: ...

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Welcome back to 5-Minute Parenting! On today's episode we have a special guest with a special message of encouragement for moms. 

Heather Cook is a pastor, faith-based communicator, and founder of Live Beautiful Ministries, where she helps women discover their identity in Christ and live with intention, grace, and purpose. As a wife and mom of three, Heather knows firsthand the tension between a full life and a steady soul. Through her writing, speaking, and mentoring, she encourages women to pursue spiritual growth in every season. 

Listen in and be encouraged as Heather talks about a pace of grace for busy moms, offering a beautiful, heartfelt message every mom can relate to, along with three simple rhythms every mom can benefit from. These rhythms aren't more to add to you 'to-do' list but a way to engage with a loving God right in the middle of your busy day.  

Connect with Heather online and grab a copy of her book by visiting the links below: 

A Place of Grace: https://amzn.to/3NGd8fF
Website:Www.LiveBeautifulMinistries.com

*Are you looking for fun, gospel-inspired merch for your family + discounted picture books for your kids and grandkids? Visit my Etsy store at KarensBooksandMore

Book 3 in the Questions for Kids picture book series is now available! Check out Guess Why God Made the Rainbow on Amazon or your favorite book retailer! 🌈

Love this podcast episode? Please leave a positive rating/review and share this episode with a friend ❤️

Visit our websites at: 

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/ 

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 

Sandra Chambers: ...

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Host Karen Ferguson welcomes back Dr. Gladys Childs to share about her new book and provide practical tips for parents. Dr. Gladys hosts the podcast and TV show Bare Faith, where raw faith and deep pain meet a relentless God. A pastor’s wife, theologian, author, and boy mom, she names the lies standing between people and God's truth. Her book, Chasing Emptiness, Finding Fullness, is for anyone exhausted from hoping the next thing will finally satisfy. 

On today's episode, Dr. Gladys answers the following questions:

• You host a podcast and TV show called Bare Faith and you have a series called 'Learning to Live with the Unfinished.' As a parent, how do you sit with the unfinished places in your own kids' lives, the seasons where you can't fix it and the story feels wrong, without trying to control the outcome?
• In your book Chasing Emptiness, Finding Fullness, you tell a story about teaching your son Scott to choose joy from the time he was a baby. He's a teenager now and you said he still wakes up smiling. What did you do differently, and can parents start this with older kids too?
• You didn't grow up in a home where love was spoken or shown, and you write that you were in your late twenties before you grasped that God loved you. How does that shape the way you parent your own son?
• Your book identifies psychological barriers for each fruit of the Spirit. If you had to pick the one barrier that affects most parents on a daily basis, which would it be and why?
• You have a devotional called 'Curb Anger Before It Transforms You.' What's your practical advice for the parent standing in the kitchen about to lose it?  

Learn more at gladyschilds.com. 

Click the links below to order her book and connect with her online:

 
Bare Faith Podcast & TV show: https://www.gladyschilds.com/bare-faith-podcast-tv
Chasing Emptiness, Finding Fullness: https://buff.ly/quChaqU
Website: https://www.gladyschilds.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgladyschilds/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GladysAnnChilds
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drgladyschilds

*Are you looking for fun, gospel-inspired merch for your family + discounted picture books for your kids and grandkids? Visit my Etsy store at KarensBooksandMore

Book 3 in the Questions for Kids picture book series is now available! Check out Guess Why God Made the Rainbow on Amazon or your favorite book retailer! 🌈

Love this podcast episode? Please leave a positive rating/review and share this episode with a friend ❤️

Visit our websites at: 

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/ 

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 

Sandra Chambers: ...

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In a world where comparison and body image issues are prevalent among youth, particularly with young girls, author Grace McCready is on 5-Minute Parenting to shed light on the struggles associated with an eating disorder and give hope for recovery. 

Grace is an author, blogger, and speaker who’s passionate about encouraging young women through sharing personal stories and scriptural truths. She’s the author of Real Recovery: What Eating Disorder Recovery Actually Looks Like and blogs at Tizzie’s Tidbits of Truth.  

In this episode Grace touches on the following topics:

• Grace's story and her book Real Recovery
• Advice for parents who think their daughter may be struggling with a food addiction or eating disorder
• Tips for parents to help their kids who struggle with this issue
• Recommendations to help parents raise their kids to have a healthy relationship with food

Links:
Book: Real Recovery: What Eating Disorder Recovery Actually Looks Like
Blog: Tizzie's Tidbits of Truth

*Are you looking for fun, gospel-inspired merch for your family + discounted picture books for your kids and grandkids? Visit my Etsy store at KarensBooksandMore

Book 3 in the Questions for Kids picture book series is now available! Check out Guess Why God Made the Rainbow on Amazon or your favorite book retailer! 🌈

Love this podcast episode? Please leave a positive rating/review and share this episode with a friend ❤️

Visit our websites at: 

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/ 

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 

Sandra Chambers: ...

Send us Fan Mail

Breanna Churchill from Brown Bear Book Club is on 5-Minute Parenting today to share three creative ways to teach the Bible to kids. 

Breanna Churchill is an award-winning children’s author and Founder of the Brown Bear Book Club, a platform dedicated to helping families and educators cultivate a love for literacy, faith, and learning. 

On today's episode, Breanna shares simple, practical ideas for sharing the Bible with kids, covering the following:  
1. Props and Role-Play
2. Science Experiments & Movement
3. Testimonies & Storytelling 

Breanna’s platform The Brown Bear Book Club, is dedicated to helping families and educators cultivate a love for literacy, faith, and learning. Breanna’s writing is deeply inspired by her role as a wife, homeschooling mother of two boys, and her teaching experience. When she’s not writing, she enjoys playing games with her family, teaching children’s church, and watching sunsets. Breanna wholeheartedly believes the truth of Psalm 127:3: “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him.”

Be sure to visit Breanna's website, follow her online, and grab her books and resources for your family! https://thebrownbearbookclub.wixsite.com/1234

*Are you looking for fun, gospel-inspired merch for your family + discounted picture books for your kids and grandkids? Visit my Etsy store at KarensBooksandMore

Book 3 in the Questions for Kids picture book series is now available! Check out Guess Why God Made the Rainbow on Amazon or your favorite book retailer! 🌈

Love this podcast episode? Please leave a positive rating/review and share this episode with a friend ❤️

Visit our websites at: 

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/ 

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 

Sandra Chambers: ...

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What do families need to be great? Dr. Mel Tavares is on 5-Minute Parenting to share on this topic from her award-winning book, Make Families Great Again. 

Dr. Mel is an award-winning author, speaker, life coach, and frequent media guest. She holds a Doctorate of Ministry in Pastoral Care and Counseling and has 35 years of experience working with families professionally and in ministry. She is a board-certified mental health coach and life coach and she and her husband have seven adult children and eleven grandchildren. 

On today's episode, Dr. Mel answsers these questions: 

• Who this book is designed for, and what inspired Dr. Mel to write it. 
• How she chose the title for this book. 
• Why this book is important right now in our culture, and what she hopes readers take away from this book.
• Three simple things parents can do right now to help grow a strong, healthy family. 

Dr. Mel is celebrating 25 Years in Writing/Publishing Industry!

 *2025 AWSA Member of the Year (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)
 *Award-Winning Author of Books, Blogs, Devos, Short Stories, Articles
 *Writing Coach/Mentor
 *Founder/Facilitator of CT's Chapter of American Christian Writers
 *Managing & Acquisitions Editor of Devotions at AriseDaily.com 

Learn more and grab a copy of her book at drmeltavares.com

*Are you looking for fun, gospel-inspired merch for your family + discounted picture books for your kids and grandkids? Visit my Etsy store at KarensBooksandMore

Book 3 in the Questions for Kids picture book series is now available! Check out Guess Why God Made the Rainbow on Amazon or your favorite book retailer! 🌈

Love this podcast episode? Please leave a positive rating/review and share this episode with a friend ❤️

Visit our websites at: 

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/ 

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 

Sandra Chambers: ...

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5-Minute Parenting welcomes special guest, Kristin Faith Evans, sharing on the topic of self-care for parents. What a relevant topic in our fast-paced, hyper-connected world! 

Kristin Faith Evans is an award-winning author, national speaker, licensed master social worker, and a special needs mom. She is passionate about empowering parents with the skills to thrive in their faith, mental health, and marriage. Kristin has been featured on over thirty-five radio and podcast shows and published in magazines such as Focus on the Family and the American Association of Christian Counselors. She is experienced in couples, child and family, substance abuse, and crisis interventions, as well as church and retreat ministries. And she enjoys a cup (or two) of Italian roast coffee, dark chocolate, traveling, and authentic conversations with friends. Listen in as Kristin covers the following topics: 

1. Why self-care is important for parents and tips for helping ease stress levels.
2. Over half of parents are overwhelmed on a daily basis because our coping skills haven’t kept up with society’s demands. 
3. Our stress levels as parents directly impacts our children’s spiritual, physical, and mental health.
4. Simple mindfulness skills combined with faith practices can dramatically reduce the harmful effects of stress.
5. We can hack our nervous systems to calm our minds and bodies in just minutes a day with deep breathing, breath prayer, and muscle tensing and relaxing.
6. Self-compassion, gratitude, reliance on God, and acceptance lead to lower stress.
7. Returning our focus to the present moment and awareness of God’s presence throughout the day calms our stress and soothes our anxiety.

Be sure to check out Kristin's books, YouTube channel, and other resources for families by visiting her website:

https://kristinfaithevans.com/

*Are you looking for fun, gospel-inspired merch for your family + discounted picture books for your kids and grandkids? Visit my Etsy store at KarensBooksandMore

Book 3 in the Questions for Kids picture book series is now available! Check out Guess Why God Made the Rainbow on Amazon or your favorite book retailer! 🌈

Love this podcast episode? Please leave a positive rating/review and share this episode with a friend ❤️

Visit our websites at: 

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/ 

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 

Sandra Chambers: ...

Send us Fan Mail

Today's episode of 5-Minute Parenting is a real treat, because Host Karen Ferguson gets the pleasure of interviewing her oldest daughter, Alyssa Wedemeyer, about her new picture book series, ABCs of America for Kids! 

Alyssa's passion is creating books that spark a love for history among young readers, teaching them important historical facts in a fun, engaging way, so they will learn, remember, and love learning US history.  

Listen in and get to know Alyssa and her book series better, then connect with her online and grab a copy of her books for your special young readers! 

In this episode, Alyssa will answer these questions: 

• Tell us a little bit about yourself and what inspires your writing.
• Tell us about your book ABCs of Civil War History and what inspired you to write it.
• Do you have a favorite part of this book and did you discover anything surprising or fascinating as you wrote and published it?
• How can parents, grandparents, teachers and librarians use this book with young readers? What do you hope young readers take away from it?
• Give us a sneak peak into the other books in the series!

About Alyssa Wedemeyer:

Alyssa Wedemeyer is a homeschooling mom of multiple littles in a growing family. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Religion with a focus on Apologetics from Liberty University, and has completed advanced coursework in American history at Liberty University online. Alyssa has extensive experience writing teaching curriculum for elementary to middle school aged children and has been published in Brio magazine and was a finalist in the 2026 Cascade awards for speculative fiction. 

Links:

Website: https://alyssawedemeyer.com/

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/ABCs-Americas-Civil-America-Kids-ebook/dp/B0GX3B1DV3?ref_=ast_author_mpb

Etsy:https://www.etsy.com/shop/KidsBooksbyAlyssa?dd_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Falyssawedemeyer.com%2F

*Are you looking for fun, gospel-inspired merch for your family + discounted picture books for your kids and grandkids? Visit my Etsy store at KarensBooksandMore

Book 3 in the Questions for Kids picture book series is now available! Check out Guess Why God Made the Rainbow on Amazon or your favorite book retailer! 🌈

Love this podcast episode? Please leave a positive rating/review and share this episode with a friend ❤️

Visit our websites at: 

https://www.karenferg.com/

https://www.sandrakaychambers.com/ 

Find our books on Amazon:

Karen Ferguson: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Ferguson/author/B075SHZ1WV?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true 

Sandra Chambers: ...