Gather Moms

Where did the summer go! Are ready for fall? Don’t worry moms, transition always brings friction and we will be school pros again in no time! Today, let’s relive our jam-packed summers, filled with laughter, parenting challenges, and those all-too-relatable swimsuit shopping mishaps.

As summer transitions to fall, we discuss new routines, practical tips for easing into the school year, and the importance of extending grace to ourselves and our families. Tune in for a treasure trove of heartfelt stories, laughter, and practical advice to navigate this new season of motherhood.

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Starting August 26th we are uniting for 30 days of prayer. Don’t miss it!

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If bad karaoke sounds like a good time to you, you’re gonna love this episode! We start off talking about classic summer songs, the kind you might sing along to on a road trip. Let’s hope if Kate and Rebecca are in the car with you, the music is turned WAY UP to drown out their voices. Bless their hearts.

One of the fun things about summer is getting to take a trip. Whether it’s a big one out of state or a smaller one close by, many of the same truths apply: something will be forgotten, something will go wrong and someone will ask: Are we there yet? This episode is all about tips and tricks to make your summer trips the best ever! Let’s go make some memories with our families, mamas.

My biggest tip is that travel is an opportunity to make God bigger for your kids. They get to see a new part of the world, new people and get the blessing of a zoom out-a new understanding of who their God is.

Take the opportunity to help your kids be in awe of God. When they see a mountain, the ocean, beautiful flowers, a people group that looks and speaks differently than you do.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5     It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
    like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
    and makes its circuit to the other;
    nothing is deprived of its warmth.

We can get so used to the beauty of our daily surroundings that we forget to marvel at them. We have a fresh opportunity to marvel at the goodness of our God, His creativity, his beauty in a new place. Help your children see him and worship him.

We love you. We’re taking a little summer break to be present with our families. Stay tuned on Gather Moms Instagram and Facebook as we continue to provide resources and encouragement for you throughout the summer.

Love you, moms!

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Listening to this episode in your closet or by yourself in your car and just trying to steal a few quiet moments? YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Summer can make us each want to get in our cars and head to Mexico for a little peace and quiet because this season requires so much of us as moms. Often, our rhythms get interrupted, our sleep gets off and we stop taking care of ourselves. The still, quiet moments where we snuck away to spend time with the Lord may slip away in the unpredictability of summer and we can find ourselves run down and even depressed.

We’re talking in this replay of episode 114 about the signs of depression, what to do if you start to experience them and how to implement healthy rhythms so you take care of yourself this summer.

Summer-Onset Seasonal Affective Disorder (SO SAD)

TIPS to help take care of yourself this summer:

And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.

When you struggle, ask God to help you focus your mind on him. Are you getting anxious preparing to travel or about getting into your swimsuit? Ask God to help focus your mind on him and what is true.

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Summer will reveal weaknesses in each of us. It shows our limits, our lack of patience, the heat puts us on edge. As unbelievable as it sounds, we can celebrate that. Actually revel in it. Those weak places are where our God shines. When you see the temp tip past 100, look to your God and say: You’re up! He’s ready and wants to show his power in your weakness.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Moms, summer is such a blessing of more time with our families but can also

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Mom, I’m booooored! Oh, the challenge of scheduling just enough fun things so you make good memories and keep everyone busy enough and not over-scheduling and wearing everyone out. Summer is a great time to slow down and let our kids get a little bored, for sure, but we all know that too much unplanned activity can lead to sibling fights, too much screen time and a summer that passes without purpose.

In this episode, we’re talking about how to make the best use of the time we have this summer. How we can practically set a schedule that works for us and our family, helps us create the memories we want to make and provides a framework for intentionality.

Scheduling Tips:

-get your family involved in the summer plans; brainstorm fun things you want to do together in the summer

-talk with your kids about summer rhythms, trips and expectations; the conversation on the front end is key

-give kids jobs and projects

-set goals

-let people help; if the grandparents want to take them for a couple of nights, let them!

Little kid tips:

-have a boredom buster jar

-have each kid do 5 things before screens

-get out early

-don’t feel like you have to do something every day

Big kid tips:

-be fun mom one day each week

-it’s fun to do stuff with friends but it’s also okay just to go as your family

-have one screen free day each week

TRUTH:

Ephesians 5: 15-16

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 

Ephesians 5:15–16 in the King James Version says, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” 

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Hey there, fabulous mamas!

We’re wrapping up spring and getting real about the summer parenting hustle. From battling the heatwaves to dodging screen-time overload, we’re sharing our personal wins and those adorable oops moments. Whether you’re the queen of planning or the spontaneous type, we’ve got something for every mama bear out there. And introverted parents, we see you – we’re chatting about the unique summer dance you do with your kiddos and all the feels that come with it.

Now, let’s talk about savoring those slow, precious moments. Summer’s the perfect season to let loose from those tight schedules and make memories that stick – like those heartwarming family board game nights, movie marathons with a touch of nostalgia, and of course, indulging in some ice cream bliss by the poolside. It’s all about quality time, ladies!

Just a reminder we are taking the summer off but will be back in the fall. It will be here before you know it!

XOXO,
Your Gather Moms Pals

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That feeling where the rug has just been pulled out from under you and your heart sinks as you feel the weight of DISAPPOINTMENT. You had expectations that were met with a reality that didn’t measure up. Sometimes these expectations are unspoken or unrealistic and so the disappointment is even greater. We’re all going to face disappointments. Kate and Rebecca share some of theirs, how to deal with them, and the blessing of seeing God show up with a better reality than we could have ever expected.

Join us HERE for GOOD DAY, GATHER!! When you join at the $10 level, you get a cute, iced-drink koozie. When you join at the $20 level, you get a koozie for you AND a friend!

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Parenting is such a huge topic! Each of us have specific struggles we are navigating with our kids, maybe even different struggles for each kid creating an overwhelming feeling. Today Rebecca shares 2 parenting principles that are important in every home.

Raising passionate Jesus followers or even good citizens takes intentionality. Parents need to know what kind of adults they want to produce and then do their best to raise their children with that end in mind. 

Proverbs 22:6 (NIV), Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Remember that this verse is a principle, not a promise. God doesn’t give us control over the outcomes of our children. He asks us to trust him and parent well but we can do all the ‘right’ things and still have children that choose their own way.

1 Corinthians 3:6-8, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.“

The ability to accept disappointment and unpredictability and talk yourself down, that’s a very long developmental process that most children don’t have until they are older.

We see this so much in kids today. They don’t know how to handle big emotions. They feel so deeply and it can come out in inappropriate ways – name calling, foul language, violence, gossip, meanness, bullying, etc. We can be kind and firm with our kids, teaching them that emotions are natural, but the expression of them has boundaries.

You can start young with these techniques:

Join us HERE for GOOD DAY, GATHER!! When you join at the $10 level, you get a cute, iced-drink koozie. When you join at the $20 level, you get a koozie for you AND a friend!

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Go to moshield.com or call 214-897-3077 to schedule your treatment. Tell them you heard about them on Gather Moms and you get $25 off your first treatment.

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Comparison – is it always bad? I actually do a lot of comparing like grocery deals, gas prices and clothing fits and trends.  The basic idea of comparison is examining similarities or differences between two or more things. It becomes detrimental when we let social comparison – myself vs others – indicate degrees of superiority or inferiority.

“Comparison is the thief of joy.”

Social comparison is a happiness quest. We get a hit of dopamine when we decide our house is the best, clothes are the best or new spray tan is the best. It is short-lived and shallow. Joy runs deep and exists in the face of trial and hardship. It lasts beyond the moment of happiness and holds us steady when life doesn’t go our way.

Comparison is a chase. Joy is a choice.

Comparison separates. Joy connects.

How can you overcome the comparison trap and choose joy?

Join us HERE for GOOD DAY, GATHER!! When you join at the $10 level, you get a cute, iced-drink koozie. When you join at the $20 level, you get a koozie for you AND a friend!

SPONSOR:

Mosquito Shield

Go to moshield.com or call 214-897-3077 to schedule your treatment. Tell them you heard about them on Gather Moms and you get $25 off your first treatment.

For Girls Like You

Get the For Girls Like You Magazine today! A Christ-centered magazine for girls 8-12. Get 20% off by using Gather20 at checkout.

Get Mom Struggles on Amazon

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Kate Henderson: Instagram | Facebook

Rebecca Bradford: Instagram | Facebook

Email: [email protected]

Let’s get real – perfect mom schedules are a myth. But hey, that’s okay because we’re about to spill the tea on how tiny, intentional choices can create a family culture that’s all about faith and being together. And with summer around the corner, we know things can get a bit wacky with the kids’ schedules all over the place. So, we’re here to share our personal tips on keeping our homes nurturing and full of spiritual growth. Think setting goals with our little ones, managing screen time, and squeezing in those moments of praise and worship.

We’re also going to tackle the craziness of “May-cember” and make sure we’re all set for a summer that’s about thriving, not just surviving. And get this, we’re inviting you to our Patreon community, where we’re all about cheering each other on. There are some fabulous tools waiting for you, like a goal tracker PDF and a special koozie to keep you inspired.

So, grab your coffee (or tea, we don’t judge), and let’s dive into this beautiful mess of motherhood together. We’re shaping a summer filled with intention and joy, and we can’t wait for you to join us.

Hugs and high-fives!

Join us HERE for GOOD DAY, GATHER!! When you join at the $10 level, you get a cute, iced-drink koozie. When you join at the $20 level, you get a koozie for you AND a friend!

SPONSOR:

Mosquito Shield

Go to moshield.com or call 214-897-3077 to schedule your treatment. Tell them you heard about them on Gather Moms and you get $25 off your first treatment.

For Girls Like You

Get the For Girls Like You Magazine today! A Christ-centered magazine for girls 8-12. Get 20% off by using Gather20 at checkout.

Get Mom Struggles on Amazon

Support Us: Monthly Donation | One-Time Donation

Connect with Us:

Gather Moms: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Kate Henderson: Instagram | Facebook

Rebecca Bradford: Instagram | Facebook

Email: [email protected]

We’ve all heard the analogy of how important it is to put your own oxygen mask on before you help someone else but, for moms, that feels so counterintuitive. When the people around us need us, we show up and give and serve and help which is a good and beautiful thing but can also lead to burn out and break down. Conversations around self-care have come a long way and women are doing a better job of prioritizing their health, which we APPLAUD. However, so many of the things we are looking to for self-care end fall short of giving us the real restoration we are longing for. So, while we need to take care of our bodies, we also need to make sure we are caring for our souls. Soul-care, more than self-care, promises to meet our deepest needs better than any mani/pedi. When we look to Jesus and quiet our souls before him, we find he restores us in abundance.

Join us HERE for GOOD DAY, GATHER!! When you join at the $10 level, you get a cute, iced-drink koozie. When you join at the $20 level, you get a koozie for you AND a friend!

We’ll kick off our month of Good Day Gather challenges on Monday, 5/6. Each week, we will focus on small habits that can help make our days better. On Patreon, we’ll post a podcast recording with a Monday Motivation and you will get the Good Day, Gather Calendar with a checklist to keep you on track.

SPONSOR:

Mosquito Shield

Go to moshield.com or call 214-897-3077 to schedule your treatment. Tell them you heard about them on Gather Moms and you get $25 off your first treatment.

For Girls Like You

Get the For Girls Like You Magazine today! A Christ-centered magazine for girls 8-12. Get 20% off by using Gather20 at checkout.

Get Mom Struggles on Amazon

Support Us: Monthly Donation | One-Time Donation

Connect with Us:

Gather Moms: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Kate Henderson: Instagram | Facebook

Rebecca Bradford: Instagram | Facebook

Email: [email protected]