Episode#30- Here at heart-focused parenting, I often talk about being intentional. One thing Peter and I did many years ago that helped us to be intentional was we spent a weekend thinking about our purpose and our vision for our family. As we've found out over the years - the real benefit isn't so much in the succinct statement but rather in the discussion and clarifying of beliefs and values about being a family and how we were going to live that out.

I encourage all families to think about their purpose and their values and how they want their family life to look like - in essence to create a family vision statement. This is what we are talking about this week - creating a family vision statement. Stick around till the end as I have something that will help you as you start to consider the uniqueness of your family.

>>>FULL SHOW NOTES: Episode #30 Create a Family Vision Unique to Your Family

>>>Download your Create a Family Vision Starter Kit

To help you start talking about these things I have a free download for you - the Family Vision Statement starter kit - it is one of my Heart Booster resources. So sign up - and download the kit. It includes:

• Instructions and supplies for a brainstorming and discussion
• Questions to discuss together
• Template to help you collate your thoughts into a precise statement.

>>>FOLLOW BELINDA

On Instagram: @belindaletchford

On Facebook: facebook.com/heartfocusparenting

>>>COACHING: Book a free Jumpstart Call - see details

Today's episode is a little different than usual - I have a handful of questions people have asked - so I'm calling this episode: Questions People Ask about Christmas. Original hey!! Over the last few episodes, we've looked at how to create a heart-focused Christmas - by building up your children's beliefs and values as you celebrate Christmas. I do hope you have a fun time together with your family - and that the peace that a relationship with Jesus offers will fill your heart. Let's get started on these questions.

>>>FULL SHOW NOTES: Episode #29 Questions People Ask about Christmas 2022

>>>Join HEART-BOOSTERS (free) here. Sign up for my weekly email which will let you know when the podcast is back from my Christmas break.

>>>FOLLOW BELINDA

On Instagram: @belindaletchford

On Facebook: facebook.com/heartfocusparenting

>>>COACHING: Book a free Jumpstart Call - see details

Episode #28: Do you set goals at the beginning of the new year? To be honest I like to set goals towards the middle to end of January to avoid all the New Year hype. But now is a good time to think about goal setting - or even better - to think about putting off goal setting - till you are in a healthy frame of mind, after the holidays, so that your goals are realistic and even helpful for the coming year. This week we are looking at some foundational thoughts about goals so that you can be realistic and not set yourself up for failure just because it is the new year. So Listen in…

>>>FULL SHOW NOTES: #28 Setting Helpful Goals so you can Grow as a Woman and Mother

Spoiler alert: This episode is your permission to not set goals in the New Year - listen to why I say that!

>>>CAN I PLEASE HAVE YOUR HELP...

Could you please give this podcast a star rating - and if you have found this episode, or other episodes particularly helpful could you give a review?

Reviews help other mums find the podcast and to be honest, it really encourages my heart as well to hear from you.

>>>FOLLOW BELINDA

On Instagram: @belindaletchford

On Facebook: facebook.com/heartfocusparenting

>>>COACHING: Book a free Jumpstart Call - see details

#27 - Being a busy woman is one of the biggest challenges we face when we want to be heart focused. Busyness robs us of our intentionality, our focus, our purpose. It side tracks us, exhausts us, and changes us. Today I'm talking about 5 character based choices that you can make - that you need to make - to help you find balance with all you have to do.

>>>FULL SHOW NOTES: Episode #27 How Character Choices can Help you cut through the Busyness

>>>PLEASE LEAVE A STAR RATING

If you find this podcast helpful could you please take a moment to give a star rating right there on the podcast app? And if you have a moment more - write a sentence or two on how the episode or podcast has helped you. I'd really appreciate the reviews as it does help new listeners find the podcast. Thanks for being here - and letting me into your family life!

>>>Join HEART-BOOSTERS (free) here.

Weekly email digging deeper into the heart-focus topic so you can make real change in your family. PLUS Resource Library Pass, and other bonuses.

>>>FOLLOW BELINDA

On Instagram: @belindaletchford

On Facebook: facebook.com/heartfocusparenting

>>>COACHING: Book a free Jumpstart Call - see details

If we are honest with ourselves Christmas is all about memories and traditions. Of course, Jesus is the reason - and He is certainly a part of our memories and traditions but when we talk about Christmas we are talking about the things that we do and by doing them every year we are establishing traditions and building memories. Today I'm sharing 3 keys that will help you make meaningful memories for your kids this Christmas.

>>>FULL SHOW NOTES: Episode #26

How to make Meaningful Memories this Christmas

>>>Create a Heart Focused Christmas

There is still time to sign up for the free email course: 6 Ways to create a Heart-focused Christmas. Sign up, and every day you'll get a short email with something to think about, and then a thinking, reflecting, or planning action step. It won't tell you what to do, but it will help you work out what is important.

>>>FOLLOW BELINDA

On Instagram: @belindaletchford

On Facebook: facebook.com/heartfocusparenting

>>>COACHING: Book a free Jumpstart Call - see details

Our family talks a lot. A lot. Even now with us spread across the country we still talk a lot. We are interested in each other, we want to understand each other's lives, we value each other's ideas - all this comes from talking with each other. We do this now because talking with each other is our family culture - it is how we do family - or one aspect. But when the kids were younger we had to work on it - we all had to learn how to talk with each other - and I learnt that talking about things - talking about the things on my heart - was a very intentional and relational way to be heart focused. Today we are talking about talking to our kids - having conversations that touch your child's heart.

>>>FULL SHOW NOTES: Episode #25

Intentional Heart Conversations Touch what your Child Believes and Values

Includes - Heart-focused Christmas Conversation prompts: Visit the show notes and screenshot 5 questions that will help you focus on heart issues this Christmas.

>>>Join HEART-BOOSTERS (free) here.

Weekly email digging deeper into the heart-focus topic so you can make real change in your family. PLUS Resource Library Pass, and other bonuses.

>>>FOLLOW BELINDA

On Instagram: @belindaletchford

On Facebook: facebook.com/heartfocusparenting

>>>COACHING: Book a free Jumpstart Call - see details

Though we talk about Jesus and teach God's word all year through, Christmas time, or the month leading up to Christmas day, can be a special opportunity to really focus on what we believe and why. It is an opportunity to address issues of faith - because the idea of Jesus coming as a baby is foundational to all that we believe as a Christian. Today we are talking about ways to grow our children's faith at Christmas time.

>>>FULL SHOW NOTES: Episode #24

Growing our Children's Faith At Christmas

>>>6 Ways to Create a Heart Focused Christmas (Free email course)

If you would like to create a heart-focused Christmas - addressing the spiritual, moral and relational aspects of Christmas, and not quite sure where to start - then sign up for the free 6 day email course that will help you create the Christmas that touches the hearts of your family. How to Create a Heart-focused Christmas. And it's free - so sign up and start focusing on how you can make Christmas special this year. SIGN UP TODAY

>>>FOLLOW BELINDA

On Instagram: @belindaletchford

On Facebook: facebook.com/heartfocusparenting

>>>COACHING: Book a free Jumpstart Call - see details

I know it is only the very beginning of November (if you are listening to this as a new episode) but it is time to start thinking about Christmas - especially if you want a heart-focused Christmas. I was a Girl Guide as a kid - and their motto is Be Prepared. I don't know if there is any connection but honestly - the idea of being prepared is a principle that shaped me as a mother - and certainly a necessary idea leading up to Christmas. If you want to beat the commercialisation of Christmas, of empty traditions and crazy attitudes - then start thinking now about the Christmas you'd like to create for your kids.

>>>FULL SHOW NOTES: Episode #23: Start Planning Now if you Want a Heart Focused Christmas

>>>Sign up for the Heart Boosters Free Email Course:

6 Ways to Create a Heart Focused Christmas: 6 emails, 6 action steps to help you plan the Christmas that meets the heart needs of your family.

Sign up here: Create a Heart Focused Christmas

>>>FOLLOW BELINDA

On Instagram: @belindaletchford

On Facebook: facebook.com/heartfocusparenting

>>>COACHING: Book a free Jumpstart Call - see details

Not all our parenting has to be a big push or hard work. Sometimes when things aren't going well in our home we can make little tweaks and find big returns - or big changes happening. Today I'm sharing 3 things that you can tweak that will make a big impact on how your family functions. They aren't big things - though I wouldn't recommend you try and address all of them in the one week! Have a listen, and see if there is some fine-tuning you can do in your family.

>>>FULL SHOW NOTES: Episode #22

3 Little Changes that will Make a Big Difference in your Family Life

Email me here Let me know what little tweak you need to make.

>>>Join HEART-BOOSTERS (free) here.

Weekly email digging deeper into the heart-focus topic so you can make real change in your family. PLUS Resource Library Pass, and other bonuses.

>>>FOLLOW BELINDA

On Instagram: @belindaletchford

On Facebook: facebook.com/heartfocusparenting

>>>COACHING: Book a free Jumpstart Call - see details

I remember when Jess was a baby, she was our 2nd child with about 16 months between her and Josh. When she was about 3month I remember feeling so frustrated that I wasn't getting anything done in my days. I did a little journaling activity where I recorded all that I did in every hour as I went through my day. After a week of doing this I started to see where my time was going. Pete was working early mornings and late evenings so we had lunch with him, but I was preparing 3 different meals: breastfeeding Jess, toddler meals for Josh, and meals for Pete and I - three times a day. No wonder I wasn't getting anything else done. It really helped me to see that I wasn't being lazy, I was doing what needed to be done, and I just didn't have time for it all. We are told that we can do it all - but that simply isn't true. Let's look at this idea today.

>>>FULL SHOW NOTES: Episode #21

Being a Good Mum isn't about Getting Everything Done Today

>>>Join HEART-BOOSTERS (free) here.

Weekly email digging deeper into the heart-focus topic so you can make real change in your family. PLUS Resource Library Pass, and other bonuses.

>>>FOLLOW BELINDA

On Instagram: @belindaletchford

On Facebook: facebook.com/heartfocusparenting

>>>COACHING: Book a free Jumpstart Call - see details