In this episode, I sat down with Abbie Halberstadt to talk about disappointment in motherhood — the kind that sneaks up on you during potty training battles, exhausting seasons, hard marriages, unmet expectations, or even just a chaotic morning at the library.

We talked about twins (yes, she has two sets!), vanishing twin syndrome, potty training that lasted an entire year, building houses with babies underfoot, and the deeper spiritual questions underneath all of it. But more than that, we talked about what happens when our theology meets our real life. Because what do we do when we know the “right answers” — but we still feel disappointed, frustrated, or stuck?

Abbie reminds us that motherhood is filled with built-in opportunities for sanctification — and that while we may not get the ease we imagined, we do get Christ.

Key Takeaways

• The spiritual dangers of dwelling on unmet expectations
• How cultural messages about “ease” shape our disappointment
• The difference between something being hard and something being bad
• The temptation to make permanent decisions during temporary struggles
• Why surrender is not defeat — it’s freedom
• How God’s sovereignty reframes our “what about” questions
• New mercies are available every single morning.
• Your current struggle does not define your future motherhood.

Guest Resources

• Hard Is Not the Same Thing as Bad by Abbie Halberstadt
• M Is for Mama by Abbie Halberstadt
• Website
• Instagram