Life doesn't always go as planned! When our oldest son was young, he became involved in drugs. Eventually, we had three other children become involved in drugs. We faced some challenging things. These were really tough times. In this episode, I share how even in the darkness, if we are doing our best, we can be a light to our children

Join me as I show you how it came right for us and how it can come right for you and your family, no matter your struggles.

As a parent, have you ever wondered how you could resolve issues in your home more creatively, so everyone was happy? Sometimes, to get what we need, it appears that someone else has to give up what they need, and often it is the parent. That can be so maddening!

When a situation arises that needs to be resolved, and we are faced with two choices that seem equally bad or unfair, that is called the Sucker's Choice, and if one is chosen, it will inevitably leave someone feeling wronged. Don't pick one of them. There is always a third alternative, and you can find it with a bit of creative problem-solving. 

Join me as I discuss eight steps to help you become a more creative problem solver. I share a perfect example of what a sucker's choice looks like in real life. You will smile and probably say, "Oh man, I have been in situations like that!" It is worth a listen, and I hope you will.  

Here's to a better solution, happier relationships, and greater peace as a parent. 

Do you have clarity on what it is you really want to accomplish in life, in your family? Join me as I share an experience that taught me, the hard way, how important it is to sift through all the voices and know what it is you really want. It will save you much wasted energy and will help you have what it is you really want.

You are busy mama but I'll bet you have some dreams that you would like to see come to pass. Maybe they seem impossible in your current life. I know how you feel. BUT I have discovered eight dream goals that have come to pass in my life as I have raised my family. Come spend some time with me as I share what they were, how they came to pass, and how you too can have your beloved dream goals!

A mother asked me how I handled it when my children wanted to make something that I knew wouldn’t be used after it was created. How did I feel about the waste of resources and the mess that would be left? That is a great question. In fact, this same question comes up often when I am working with moms, and I have put some thought into it and decided that an even better question would be:

“How do we determine when materials are being well used and when are they being wasted and if the mess will be worth it?”

Join me as we explore the answer to this question and why it is a challenge for adults to let kids waste i.e. create.

One day a mom said to me - "I want all my ducks in a row. You know, to be on top of my game.” So I asked what being on top of her game and having all her ducks in a row would look like."

It wore me out just hearing the list. I know that thinking about the list was wearing her out. It was in her voice. So I asked her, “Well, what do you think God would say if you asked Him what it meant to have all your ducks in a row and to be at the top of your game.”

Join me as I share how her list changed and how changing how we think of having our 'ducks in a row' can change you and your family.

Join me as I share an experience that I had with my grandson, Ben. As I share his joy and my trepidation we will explore the value of saying yes more often as we create memories and build relationships.

A young mother called me in tears and asked, "How can I find time for my own education with all the hats I have to wear? I could relate. I experienced that as a mother of seven and now as a full-time caregiver in a four-generation home. 

Listen in as I share four tips on how to keep your brain active and your knowledge growing when formal education is not your season. 

When I went to Seattle to watch three little gands eveyone thought I was the most perfect grandma becuase of the fun posts I made. BUT I wasn't perfect. No one can be. Join me as I share my expereinces and what I have leanred about 'perfect parenting' over the last seventy-two years.

I have been thinking back to 2015. In February of that year, I had a friend who turned 111. You read that right, 111! She lived with her daughter, who was 87. Anna was in good health and could get around with her walker; she bathed herself, fed herself, and was as sharp as a tack. Anna is gone now, but caring for my mom, who is turning 91 in March, made me think back to some important things I learned about management vs. relationship from Anna and her daughter.

Join me for an interesting story and five tips to help you have better relationships with your children. This is a Do Not Miss podcast. : )