Parenting isn’t supposed to feel like this… or is It?

In this episode of No Longer Nomads, host Josh Doyle sits down with author, speaker, and mother of ten Abbie Halberstadt (known to many as M Is for Mama) for an honest, hope-filled conversation about parenting, sanctification, control, and faith.

Abbie shares her journey from blogging and homeschooling in East Texas to publishing multiple books with Harvest House—and how motherhood exposed deeper struggles with anxiety, anger, impatience, and surrender.

Together, Josh and Abbie unpack one powerful truth every parent needs to hear: Just because something is hard doesn’t mean it’s bad.From toddler meltdowns and bedtime anxiety to screen time, family culture, and the myth of “surviving” parenthood, this episode reframes parenting not as chaos to escape—but as a refining gift God uses to shape both children and parents.In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why parenting reveals parts of us we didn’t know were there
• How cultural lies about motherhood fuel exhaustion and hopelessness
• Practical ways to move from reactionary parenting to intentional leadership
• Why “hard” seasons may actually be acts of God’s mercy
• How to build a family culture that thrives—not just survives
• Screen time, discipline, bedtime anxiety, and setting loving boundaries
• The spiritual formation happening in the everyday mess of family life

Whether you’re overwhelmed, discouraged, or questioning if you’re “doing it right,” this conversation offers clarity, biblical wisdom, and reassurance that God is present—even in the hardest moments.

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Josh Doyle

Host | No Longer Nomads

Nathan Farris

Creative Producer | Technical Director | Editor