Just Ask Your Mom

While this isn't "the birds & the bees" talk, on this episode we talk about body parts and frequently asked questions by parents of toddlers and young kids. Is it just our American culture with its Puritan roots that makes us uneasy with brazen nakedness or is it something else? How do we educate our kids without shaming them and still give them a sense that their body--ALL of it--is fearfully and wonderfully made?

There's something in all of us that aches for home. When our homes are threatened--by natural disaster or other catastrophe, it can be disorienting and shake our sense of safety. On this episode, our guest is Tiffany Wax Mangus, who lost her new home suddenly through a fire ignited by a gas leak. She, her husband, and sons were safe, but most everything they'd worked for was gone in a matter of hours. She walks us through an emotional time, when her family discovered where their faith lay and the power of community.

For many parents, their kids' transition into tween or teen can feel abrupt and personal. Most of the things teenagers cope with and act out about are universal, and we can do ourselves (and them) a favor by recognizing when and how to react. Psychologist Lisa Damour's book, The Emotional Lives of Teenagers, is a helpful resource when navigating the white water of kids ages 12-20.

We may be on top of it when it comes to intellectual, physical, and emotional training of our kids, but many of us feel inadequate or forget to address the spiritual side of our kids. How do we talk to our children about God, salvation, and things they might witness in church? This JAM episode gives you ideas, age by age, on what kids can comprehend and when and how to introduce concepts and practices to help children grow spiritually.

Part 5 in our Home Series, this episode focuses on our homes being a temporary reflection of our eternal home. What features does a Christian home have and how can we set our sights on things beyond the laundry and dishes? What does it mean to be Christ-centered?

A fantastic & informative interview with father of 4 and self-described tech nerd, Doug Smith, author of the book Unintentional: How Screens Secretly Shape Your Desires and How You Can Break Free. A companion episode to our "Should My Kid Watch That?" conversation, we dig into what (or who) is behind the screens, apps, & games we use and look at some practices that might help us take back the reins.

Tech & kids. As more research comes out, more of us are catching onto the effects screens may have on our kids. Especially our youngest ones. We asked our listeners: what have you noticed in your kids after they watch certain TV programs or have screen time? And you responded! This episode has some great resources for parents curious about this issue!

Our concept of home starts with relationships. Even very young children know home is where their favorite people live. It's also where we learn (or don't) to love our Creator. In this episode, we look at how home can teach us to love God and one another better and we run down some practical ways to practice the art of "welcoming."

Although miscarriage is common, it's not always talked about. Certified doula, Sarah Perry, joins us in this episode for a conversation about experiencing and coping with pregnancy loss. A mom of 3 boys--and expecting a girl!--Sarah speaks from both professional and personal experience in this touching conversation.

Somewhere along the [American] way, our homes became places we upscale, accumulate, and compare to others. Because we're made to create and find beauty, finding ways to do this at home can often be a simple but meaningful gift to those who live there--and even generations to come. Join us as we talk to mother-daughter duo, Melissa Skidmore and Daisy Montgomery, masters in creating beautiful spaces, no matter the budget or square footage.