Elevating Motherhood

Buy Stasi's New Book: Here

Today I’m talking with Stasi Eldredge about her beautiful new book, The Ladder of Love. And beautiful really is the word that kept coming to mind as I read it. There are so many visuals from her book that I've been carrying with me in my everydaylife ever since I read it.

Stasi is a New York Times bestselling author, teacher, and speaker, and she is the co-founder of Wild at Heart Ministries with her husband, John Eldredge. Their ministry has helped so many people discover the heart of God.

And that heart is woven throughout The Ladder of Love. Stasi has a remarkable way of taking something deeply theological and making it tangible and personal. In this book, she explores what it means to be known by God, delighted in by Him, shaped by Him, and secure in His love.

And there is so much here for mothers. We talked about our bodies and the dignity of bearing the image of God. We talked about service, belonging, motherhood, children,identity, and what happens when we stop centering our lives around the self and instead sit at the feet of Jesus.

There are so many ideas in this book that invite us to look at our lives differently, and I think that kind of perspective shift can change the way we walk through motherhood, especially as we model our faith walk for our children.

So I’m really glad you’re here for this conversation with Stasi Eldredge.

And if The Ladder of Love sounds like a book you’d like to read, you can find it through the link to my book list in the show notes. That list also includes many of the wonderful books written by authors who have joined me here on Elevating Motherhood.

This episode was edited & mixed by: Jordan Tallon

Get Dr. Fay's Book HERE

I am SO thrilled about today’s conversation!

I have been a Love & Logic fan since 2002. That was over a decade before I had children of my own. I was nannying for a family who introduced me to Love & Logic, and I was fascinated by it. At the time, I was studying children’s literature and already had a degree in Communication for the Child, so I was deeply interested in the way adultscommunicate with children and how those interactions shape them.

A lot of those early Love & Logic ideas stayed with me. I carried them into my own motherhood, and over the years I’ve referenced Love & Logic more times than I could possibly count.

Although, I did eventually get myself into a little trouble with the moms in my life because I started shortening Love & Logic to “logical parenting.” And sometimes I would say that I was trying to “be logical” about something.

Well. Apparently, that sounded an awful lot like I was calling everyone else illogical. There were some very offended moms in those conversations. Thankfully, it makes for a pretty funny story now.

But all of that is why I was especially excited when I was invited to interview Dr. Charles Fay about his newest book, Raising Spiritually Strong Children. Because this isn’t just Love & Logic. It’s Love & Logic through the lens of faith, and I found so much in this book that made me stop, underline, and say, “Yes.”

Dr. Fay talks about empathy, responsibility, fear, self-control, relationships, and the way our deepest beliefs shape the way we parent. But underneath all of it is this beautiful reminder that our goal isn’t simply to get our children to behave. We are raising people, and our relationships with them matter.

One of the ideas that really stayed with me is this: “Systems are temporary. Relationships are everlasting.”

And another is the reminder that we cannot perfectly model faith, wisdom, patience, or self-control for our children all the time. We are imperfect people. But we can keep practicing. We can repair. We can model what we want to see. And we can point our children toward a Godwhose love and grace are so much bigger than our own.

I had such a rich conversation with Dr. Fay about what this looks like in everyday parenting, from setting limits and handing problems back to our children, to recognizing fear in our own parenting, letting go of perfection, and seeing our kids as capable.

So I’m really glad you’re here, and I can’t wait for you to hear this conversation.

And if you’d like to read Raising Spiritually Strong Children for yourself, you can find it through the link to my book list in the show notes. That list also includes many of the other wonderful books written by authors who have joined me here on Elevating Motherhood.

Dr. Fay's Links:

Book: https://link.amazon/B08kTiwIZ

Website: www.loveandlogic.com

IG: @love_and_logic_institute

Elevating Motherhood Links:

Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com

IG: @loribethauldridge @elevatingmotherhood

Episode edited & mixed by: Jordan Tallon

Get Double Delights Here

What happens when you give two eight-year-old girls the responsibility of making breakfast for a family of twelve? Apparently, you get six years of baking experiments, a few kitchen disasters, homemade Pop-Tarts, and eventually, a cookbook!

Today, I'm joined by identical twin sisters Evy and Nola Halberstadt, along with their mom, Abbie Halberstadt of M is for Mama, and two of my own daughters, Annalise and Alora, for a conversation about Evy and Nola’s new cookbook,  Double Delights: Breakfasts, Sweets, Savories, and Snacks for Budding Bakers.

Evy and Nola started baking Saturday breakfasts for their big family when they were just eight years old. Now, at fourteen, they've spent six years learning the skills, mastering recipes, making mistakes, and creating some pretty incredible treats.And they've turned all that experience into a cookbook designed to help other young bakers learn to do the same.

I especially love that this book isn't about keeping kids busy in the kitchen or limiting them to simple recipes. It's about giving them real opportunities to learn, practice, take responsibility, and discover what they're capable of.

And I think there's something really special about hearing directly from young people who have done exactly that.

And if you're looking for your next great read, be sure to click the link to my book list in the show notes. You'll find Double Delights along with books from so many of the wonderful authors who've joined me on Elevating Motherhood. Click the link. Get this book. Try the scones. They are seriously the best…they get rave reviews from my whole family.

So grab your favorite cup of coffee, and join us for this fun conversation about baking, learning, and raising capable kids with Evy, Nola, Abbie, Annalise, and Alora.

The Halberstadt Links:

Book: https://link.amazon/B0bsjVxa8

Website: Website: https://misformama.net/double-delights

IG: @m.is.for.mama

Podcast: M is for Mama

Elevating Motherhood Links:

Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com

IG: @loribethauldridge @elevatingmotherhood

Buy Dr. Amy’s Book Here: https://link.amazon/B0eewl1mt

What if understanding the way your child's brain works could completely change the way you approach their behavior, their struggles, and your relationship with them?

Welcome back to Elevating Motherhood! Today, I'm continuing my two-part conversation with Dr. Amy Moore, and we're turning our attention to ADHD in children.

Dr. Amy is a cognitive psychologist, clinical researcher, child development specialist, and parent educator with more than 30 years of experience working withneurodivergent children and their families. She's also the host of The Brainy Moms podcast, a TEDx speaker, a Christian counselor, and, as you'll hear throughout our conversation, a mom who brings both professional expertise and personal experience to the table. She's raising three grown sons and is both a mom with ADHD and an ADHD mom.

In our last episode, Episode 209, Dr. Amy and I talked about ADHD in motherhood and what it can look like when we're navigating our own brains while raising ourchildren. If you haven't listened to that conversation yet, I encourage you to start there. It's a great foundation for understanding ADHD and will give you some helpful context as we explore what it looks like in our kids.

Today, we're taking that baseline understanding the ADHD brain that Amy gave us in the last episode and we’re applying it to children—she walks us through navigating big emotions and challenging behaviors, and finding practical, grace-filled ways to support our kids as they grow and learn.

Dr. Amy's new book, Hearts-On ADHD Parenting: Brain-Based, Grace-Filled Strategies for Raising Kids with Big Emotions and Challenging Behaviors, is coming out this fall, and this conversation is full of the kind of insight andencouragement I love bringing to you here on the podcast.

Dr. Amy’s Links:

Website: www.amymoorephd.com

Podcast: www.thebrainymoms.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/thebrainymoms

Book: https://link.amazon/B0eewl1mt

Elevating Motherhood Links:

 Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com

Instagram: @loribethauldridge @elevatingmotherhood

This episode was edited & mixed by: Jordan Tallon

Buy Dr. Amy's ADHD Book: Here

What if some of the things you’ve always struggled with as a mom aren’t character flaws, a lack of discipline, or evidence that you’re somehow falling short? What if understanding your brain could change the way you see yourself, care for your family, and approach motherhood?

Today, I’m joined by Dr. Amy Moore for a conversation about ADHD in motherhood, and I’m so glad you’re here for this one.

Dr. Amy is a cognitive psychologist, clinical researcher, childdevelopment specialist, and parent educator with more than 30 years of experience working with neurodivergent children and their families. She’s also the host of The Brainy Moms podcast, a TEDx speaker, and a Christian counselor. I had the pleasure of joining her on The Brainy Moms, and now I get to bring her incredible knowledge and experience to you.

But what makes this conversation especially meaningful is that Dr. Amy is both a mom with ADHD and an ADHD mom. She understands firsthand the challenges of navigating motherhood while also helping children whose brains work differently.

We talk about what ADHD can look like in mothers, how it affects our everyday lives and relationships, and how understanding the way our brains work can help us approach motherhood with greater confidence, compassion, and practical tools.

And this is just the first part of our ADHD series! In thisconversation, we're focusing on ADHD in motherhood, and in the second episode, Dr. Amy and I turn our attention to ADHD in children and how we can better understand and support them. I really encourage you to listen to both, because I think there's so much value in understanding not only our own brains, but the brains of the children we're raising.

Dr. Amy's new book, Hearts-On ADHD Parenting: Brain-Based, Grace-Filled Strategies for Raising Kids with Big Emotions and Challenging Behaviors is out in the world (link above!) and I cannot wait for you to hear from her.

Thank you so much for joining me for this conversation with Dr. Amy Moore! I hope you walk away with a better understanding of yourself and a few new tools to bring intoyour motherhood.

Be sure to join me for Episode 210, where Dr. Amy and I continue our ADHD series with a conversation about understanding ADHD in children and how we can better support the kids we love.

Amy’s Links:Website: www.amymoorephd.com

Podcast: www.thebrainymoms.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/thebrainymoms

Book: https://link.amazon/B0eewl1mt

Elevating Motherhood Links:

Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com

Instagram: @loribethauldridge @elevatingmotherhood

This episode was edited & mixed by: Jordan Tallon

Three years ago, I read a book that greatly influenced my mothering journey.

It was RESET by Debra Fileta, and I loved it so much that I named it my favorite book of the year. So naturally, I invitedDebra onto the podcast. We recorded this conversation, I was excited to share it with you…and then my whole world got flipped upside down.

And this episode stayed in the archives.

For a while, I was a little embarrassed that I had let three years go by without releasing it. But I've also learned that God's timing is rarely mine, and I'm much more willing these days to trust that He knows what He's doing.

So when I pulled this episode out recentlyand listened to it again, I was kind of blown away by how relevant it is. There are stories in this conversation that I remembered immediately, and there is so much wisdom here that doesn't have an expiration date.

And then I looked up Debra to see what she's been up to these last few years, and I couldn't believe the timing. She just released a brand-new book this week.

So if you've never heard of Debra Fileta before, I'm really excited that you're meeting her through this conversation.Debra is a faith-forward licensed professional counselor, bestselling author, speaker, podcast and nationally syndicated radio host, and the founder of the Debra Fileta Counselors Network, where faith and clinically-informed counseling come together to help people navigate their mental, emotional, and relational health.

She's now the author of eight books, including True Love Dates, Are You Really OK?, Soul Care, RESET, and her newest book, Relationship Skills.

I still 10/10 recommend RESET. It was such an important book for me when I read it, and I would also encourage you to go see what Debra is writing about now, because she has continued to do really thoughtful work around emotional and relational health.

But today, we're going back to this conversation from three years ago.

Debra and I talk about something I think moms especially need to hear: the importance of taking care of ourselves, notas an indulgence, but because when we aren't well, we can't function the way God intends us to.

We talk about saying no as a way of prioritizing what matters, taking a ten-minute pause in the middle of a busy day, why our triggers can reveal places where we still need healing, and how our thoughts lead to our feelings and eventually become our words and behaviors.

We discuss what happens when we get angry and frustrated with our children, underlying beliefs that can hold us back,cognitive distortions, burnout, and what it looks like to mother from a place of discipleship rather than anger.

There are so many lines in this conversation that I could pull out, but one that has stayed with me is this:

“The work of faith is not in the avoiding, it’s in the work of facing.”

And maybe that's part of why this conversation needed to wait.

Three years later, I hear some of these things differently. Maybe you will too.

Debra’s Links:

 Website: www.debrafileta.com

IG: @debrafileta

RESET Book: https://link.amazon/B0cc8tNCi

Her Latest Book: https://link.amazon/B09OKcTQk

Elevating Motherhood Links:

 Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com

IG: @loribethauldridge @elevatingmotherhood

This episode was edited & mixed by: Jordan Tallon

Teaching Textbooks Free Trial: HERE

Today’s topic is a little bit different but I’m very excited to share this conversation I had with Danielle Zierkelbach because Danielle and I share a Hawaiʻi connection. I spent nearly 20 years on Maui, and Danielle lives on Oahu and is a professional surfer and three-time Hawaiʻi State Champion who grew up in the world of surfing.

But this conversation isn’t really about surfing. It is…but it isn’t.

Danielle became a mother while pursuing her athletic career and quickly realized that there was almost no roadmap for women trying to navigate motherhood and high-level sport. So instead of waiting for someone else to create what she needed, she built it herself.

Danielle founded Imua Moms and created the first surf competition specifically honoring mothers, while also spending six years documenting her own journey through pregnancy, postpartum, and returning to the ocean.

In this conversation, we talk about motherhood, ambition, faith, generational cycles, and what it looks like to follow anassignment from God when there really isn’t a roadmap for where you’re going.

And as someone who loves talking with other moms from Hawaiʻi, I especially loved hearing Danielle’s perspective and getting a glimpse into her story.

I think you’re going to find there’s a lot more here than surfing.

Danielle’s Links:

 Website: www.imuamoms.com

Instagram: @imuamoms

Lori Beth’s Links:

Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com

Lori Beth’s IG: @loribethauldridge @elevatingmotherhood

Please Visit Our Sponsors: www.elevatingmotherhood.com/sponsors

Teaching Textbooks Free Trial: https://www.teachingtextbooks.com/?cid=LORIBETH 

We completely switched up the way we’re doing math in our homeschool this year…we are using Teaching Textbooks—and it has been a game changer. It has freed up so much time in our homeschool day, and honestly, it has helped me overcome some of my own insecurities as a homeschool mom when it comes to teaching math. My kids are learning at a much faster pace and our homeschool and my relationships with my kids are better for it.

I love that my kids can work independently, get immediate feedback, and still have a highly effective math education without me feeling like I have to carry the entire weight of teaching everything.

If you’re looking for a stress-free, effective math solution for your homeschool, I highly recommend trying Teaching Textbooks. They offer a free trial, and you can access that free trial using the link in the show notes.

This episode was edited & mixed by: Jordan Tallon

Buy Rachel’s Book Here: https://amzn.to/4dgzkX5

If you’ve ever wondered whether homeschooling can really work through the high school years, this conversation is for you.

Today I’m talking with Rachel Kovac, a homeschooling mother of six and author of Their Future Is Shining Bright: AGuide to Homeschooling in High School. And I have to tell you—this conversation is about so much more than transcripts, college applications, and checking boxes. (Although she provides incredible detailed lists for all ofthose things!) 

We’re talking about commitment, family relationships, friendships, careers, college, and what it looks like toeducate the whole person during those pivotal teenage years.

Rachel shows up with so much hope and encouragement, helping us to understand that the high school years aren’tthe years we need to survive—but they are some of the very best years of our homeschool.

Thanks for being here as Rachel and I talk about homeschooling high school with joy and purpose.

Please Visit Our Sponsors:

I have to tell you about the homeschool planner I keep coming back to year after year: Sparrow HomeschoolPlanner.

I’ve used a LOT of homeschool planners over the last 20 years, and this is the only one I’ve actually used multiple years in a row—and written in every single day. It’s full color,beautifully designed, has plenty of space to actually plan your days, meal plan, budget, and even plan your field trips and travels. I especially love the perforated lists. You can write out your to do lists, shopping lists, packing lists, cleaning lists--whatever you want!--then tear them out, and take them with you.

It’s one of those homeschool tools that makes planning feel easier instead of adding another thing to your plate.

If you’re looking for a homeschool planner you’ll actuallyuse, check out Sparrow Homeschool Planner and use my code LORIBETH for 10% off.

Sparrow Homeschool Planner: www.sparrowhomeschool.com

Use the Code: LORIBETH for 10% off your planner!

Podcast Edited & Mixed By: Jordan Tallon

Today I’m talking with Kim, a mom of five, faith-rooted encourager, and the woman behind Ellie & the Boys and the Moms Collective Journal.

Kim has walked through some incredibly hard seasons of motherhood—including single parenting and remarriageafter losing a spouse—and she brings a beautiful perspective to what it means to show up intentionally, not perfectly, in the everyday work of making a house a home.

She started a life long dream of creating a magazine for moms and we’re talking about her fall issue of Moms Collective Journal, but really, we’re talking about something much deeper: the stories and hard-wonwisdom we carry as mothers, the rhythms that bring warmth back into our homes, and what motherhood is actually doing in us. She welcomes us to make a shift ifwe need to...right as we are shifting into fall. The timing of this conversation is truly *chef's kiss.*

Please join me in welcoming Kim Walker Kerkvliet to the show.

Kim Walker Kerkvliet’s Links:

Website: https://www.ellieandtheboys.co/

Instagram: @ellieandtheboys.co

Elevating Motherhood Links:

Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.com

Instagram: @loribethauldridge

Please Visit Todays Sponsor:

 It’s back to school season and I want to take a minute to tell you about my favorite planner from Sparrow Homeschool. It's the only planner I've used multiple years in a row.

It helps me organize my homeschool schedule, keep records, make book lists, budget, meal plan, organize travel plans, track personal goals…all while feeding me constant drips of scripture along the way.

Did I mention it has a bookmark AND perforated lists?

The Sparrow Homeschool Planner just gets better and better every year. And to make it even sweeter for you, the code LORIBETH will get you 10% off this year's planner! It's available in a full color printed (that I think is totally worth it for the perforated lists alone) or as digital download.

Go to www.sparrowhomeschool.com to get yours and usethe code LORIBETH at checkout for 10% off your order.

This episode was edited & mixed by: Jordan Tallon

Click Here for Your Teaching Textbooks Free Trial

What do you do when your teenager wants to start dating?

What if they’re already dating—and you’re not sure you love the relationship they’re in?

What if you have preteens? How do you talk to your kids about attraction, boundaries, healthy relationships, heartbreak, and ultimately marriage without making them feel like you’re completely out of touch with their world?

These are conversations so many parents find themselves navigating, and honestly, they aren’t always easy.

Today I’m talking with someone I’m especially excited to have back on the show: Monica Swanson. Monica is the author of Boy Mom, Raising Amazing, and Becoming Homeschoolers, and she hosts the Monica Swanson Podcast. She and her husband, Dr. Dave, have raised their four sons on the North Shore of Oahu in Hawaii, so we have that fun Hawaii connection as well.

Monica is passionate about helping parents apply biblical wisdom to family life and encouraging moms to live whole and healthy lives. She is an author and podcaster after my own heart. 

This is actually Monica’s second time on Elevating Motherhood. Monica was one of my very first author interviews when this podcast was just getting started. So it was really special to reconnect with her for this conversation.

Today we’re getting practical about helping our kids navigate dating from a biblical perspective—how to guide them toward healthy friendships and relationships, how to communicate with them, what to do when you have concerns about someone they’re dating, and how to help them understand dating as something we pursue when we’re ready to find a spouse.

And if your kids aren’t dating yet, don’t tune this one out. The conversations you have before they start dating can make a tremendous difference in how they navigate relationships when the time comes.

God’s ways are always best. And helping our kids understand that—while also giving them practical wisdom for navigating real relationships—is one of the most important conversations we can have with them.

Monica also has a character training course coming out this Fall! I trust Monica’s parenting wisdom so much and am really looking forward to the course for my own family. Be sure to check today’s show notes for the link to that course (which includes even more dating insights!). 

Please Visit Today’s Sponsor: Teaching Textbooks

We completely switched up the way we’re doing math, and we’re now using Teaching Textbooks—and it has been a game changer. It has freed up so much time in our homeschool day, and honestly, it has helped me overcome some of my own insecurities as a homeschool mom when it comes to teaching math. My kids are learning at a much faster pace and our homeschool and my relationships with my kids are better for it. 

I love that my kids can work independently, get immediate feedback, and still have a highly effective math education without me feeling like I have to carry the entire weight of teaching everything. 

If you’re looking for a stress-free, effective math solution for your homeschool, I highly recommend trying Teaching Textbooks. They offer a free trial, and you can access that free trial using the link in the show notes.

Full Show Notes at: www.elevatingmotherhood.com

Please Visit Today’s Sponsors: www.elevatingmotherhood.com/sponsors

Lori Beth’s IG: @loribethauldridge

Monica’s IG: @monicaswanson_ 

Monica’s Website: www.monicaswanson.com

Edited & Mixed by: Jordan Tallon