Parenting to Impress

Does the idea of planning a family vacation stress you out?
Or do you enjoy fine-tuning the details of a trip?

Wherever you land on planning a family vacation, this episode offers practical advice as you process what a family vacation looks like for your family! Make sure to listen to the end when Heidi shares one of the most freeing pieces of advice Melanie's ever heard about family vacations.

Helpful Links from this Episode: 

• Vacationing Tips for Families
• Family Vacation 101:  What to Pack, Where to Say, How Long, Meal Calendar
• I'm Giving You Permission Not to Go on a Family Vacation and Why
• Road Trip Activity Book
• Hotel Rooms, Vacations, and Kids:  16 Tips to Success
• Create a Travel Journal (ages 5+)
• Car and Travel Activities for Kids
• Specific Tips to Visit:   Central California (Yosemite)
       Smoky Mountains
       Rocky Mountains (Colorado Springs)
       Grand Tetons and Yellowstone
       Zion, Bryce, and Grand Canyon
       St. Louis
• "Lies We Believe" Podcast

Episode Sponsor:  The Be Intentional Planner - the planner created to help you be the intentional woman God has called you to be.  Order now for only $15.00.

Get connected with Parenting to Impress:
Facebook Group:  /groups/ABCJLM
Facebook:  /heidi.franz.2911
Instagram:  /abcjesuslovesme/
Subscribe to Blog & Newsletters:  forms.feedblitz.com/5r0

Thanks for listening!

Heidi introduces Melanie to a fun way to jumpstart a conversation, with your family or in any situation. You'll hear both ladies share their Highs, Lows, and one random thought. And you'll hear how quickly this "game" leads to further conversation. Listen in and get to know Heidi and Melanie a bit better as they share their hearts and encourage one another along the way.

Helpful Links from this Episode: 

• Be Intentional Planner
• How to Create a Prayer Journal
• I'm Mad at God and Bitterness May Take Over Blog Post

Episode Sponsor:  ABCJesusLovesMe.com, an educational ministry that equips adults with the materials needed to be intentional in educating children.

Facebook Group:  /groups/parentingtoimpress
Facebook:  /heidi.franz.2911
Instagram:  /abcjesuslovesme/

Get connected with Parenting to Impress:
Facebook Group:  /groups/ABCJLM
Facebook:  /heidi.franz.2911
Instagram:  /abcjesuslovesme/
Subscribe to Blog & Newsletters:  forms.feedblitz.com/5r0

Thanks for listening!

In the final episode in this series, Heidi and Melanie wrap up their list of the best parenting and marriage advice they’ve learned over the years. Spoiler alert! Even though there weren’t supposed to be any “favorites,” Heidi and Melanie reveal the advice that has meant the most to them.

Helpful Links from this Episode: 

• Teaching Kids About Money
• How to Have a Quiet Time
• How to Pray Scripture
• Voxer app
• Marco Polo app

Episode Sponsor:  ABCJesusLovesMe.com, an educational ministry that equips adults with the materials needed to be intentional in educating children.

Get connected with Parenting to Impress:
Facebook Group:  /groups/ABCJLM
Facebook:  /heidi.franz.2911
Instagram:  /abcjesuslovesme/
Subscribe to Blog & Newsletters:  forms.feedblitz.com/5r0

Thanks for listening!

Heidi and Melanie continue their conversation about advice they’ve received as well as the lessons they wished they’d learned earlier in their parenting journeys. Be sure to listen to Episode #5 to hear the first part in this series.

Helpful Links from this Episode:

• Potty Training Cheat Sheet
• Tips to Have Successful Meals
• Training Your Child to Sleep In
• How to Have a Quiet Time with God
• So Much to Tell You (I Forgot to Laugh) 

Episode Sponsor:  ABCJesusLovesMe.com, an educational ministry that equips adults with the materials needed to be intentional in educating children.

Facebook Group:  /groups/parentingtoimpress
Facebook:  /heidi.franz.2911
Instagram:  /abcjesuslovesme/

Get connected with Parenting to Impress:
Facebook Group:  /groups/ABCJLM
Facebook:  /heidi.franz.2911
Instagram:  /abcjesuslovesme/
Subscribe to Blog & Newsletters:  forms.feedblitz.com/5r0

Thanks for listening!

Join Heidi and Melanie in the first episode of a 3-part series on parenting and marriage advice they’ve learned over the years. Some of it may be familiar to you but expect a few surprises too!

Helpful Links from this Episode:

• Quality Books for Children
• How My Expectations Nearly Ruined My Family Blog Post
• What Lies Are You Believing? Episode #1

Episode Sponsor:  The ABCJesusLovesMe Bible Curriculum - Fun, interactive Bible learning at home, preschool, or church for ages 3-10 years.

Facebook Group:  /groups/parentingtoimpress
Facebook:  /heidi.franz.2911
Instagram:  /abcjesuslovesme/

Get connected with Parenting to Impress:
Facebook Group:  /groups/ABCJLM
Facebook:  /heidi.franz.2911
Instagram:  /abcjesuslovesme/
Subscribe to Blog & Newsletters:  forms.feedblitz.com/5r0

Thanks for listening!

One of the significant responsibilities as a mother is instilling in our children the delight of communicating with God through prayer. However, what if we're uncertain about how to embark on this journey? How can we initiate the practice of prayer with our young ones? Heidi and Melanie share their experiences in teaching their children to pray, provide suggestions on introducing prayer to your kids, and motivate you to begin this meaningful journey, regardless of your children's age.

Helpful Links from this Episode:
Some linked items are affiliate links. This means that we receive an itty-bitty commission if you choose to purchase through these links.  

• How to Pray the Scriptures Podcast Episode
• Prayer Songs (10 Fingers Folded in Prayer)
• Creating a Prayer Journal
• I Can Talk with God by Debby Anderson (While we didn't discuss this book in the podcast, it is an excellent children's book to explain prayer to children.)
• How to Teach a Child to Pray

Episode Sponsor:  ABCJesusLovesMe.com, an educational ministry that equips adults with the materials needed to be intentional in educating children.

Get connected with Parenting to Impress:
Facebook Group:  /groups/ABCJLM
Facebook:  /heidi.franz.2911
Instagram:  /abcjesuslovesme/
Subscribe to Blog & Newsletters:  forms.feedblitz.com/5r0

Thanks for listening!

We know God wants us to pray and that it's a valuable part of our walk with Him. But sometimes prayer is hard. We don't know what to say, or how to pray and often we find ourselves in a prayer rut. In this episode Heidi and Melanie discuss the benefits of praying Scripture and share ways you can incorporate this into your prayer life.

Helpful Links from this Episode:
Some linked items are affiliate links. This means that we receive an itty-bitty commission if you choose to purchase through these links.  

• YouVersion Bible Website & App
• Blue Letter Bible Website & App
• Lectio 365 App
• Praying the Scriptures for Your Children by Jodie Bernt
• Praying the Scriptures for Your Teen by Jodie Bernt

Episode Sponsor:  The Be Intentional Planner - the planner created to help you be the intentional woman God has called you to be.  Order now for only $15.00. 

Get connected with Parenting to Impress:
Facebook Group:  /groups/ABCJLM
Facebook:  /heidi.franz.2911
Instagram:  /abcjesuslovesme/
Subscribe to Blog & Newsletters:  forms.feedblitz.com/5r0

Thanks for listening!

Can talking to my child really enrich her vocabulary and raise her IQ?  Do conversations with my child create space for connection and spiritual growth? Listen in as Melanie asks Heidi to share what she's learned in her own research and work in developing the ABCJesusLovesMe curriculum and as a mom of four kiddos. Learn about the differences between "Instructional Talk" and "Relational Talk," why we need to pursue both, and how to take advantage of God-given opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations with our children. 

Helpful Links from this Episode:

• ABCJesusLovesMe Preschool Curriculum
• Pragmatics
• Teachable Moments
• How to Engage... Blog Post

Episode Sponsor:  ABCJesusLovesMe.com, an educational ministry that equips adults with the materials needed to be intentional in educating children.

Get connected with Parenting to Impress:
Facebook Group:  /groups/ABCJLM
Facebook:  /heidi.franz.2911
Instagram:  /abcjesuslovesme/
Subscribe to Blog & Newsletters:  forms.feedblitz.com/5r0

Thanks for listening!

I'm not enough. I'm a failure. I just can't get it right. Everyone else seems to know what they're doing.  We wear so many hats as wives, moms, employees and the enemy wants to distract us from living out our God-given purpose. How can we recognize and reject the lies from the enemy?  Is there a way to stop this destructive cycle and experience the abundant life we read about in the Bible? Join Heidi and Melanie as they talk about how they've experienced this in their own lives, share ways they've learned to counter the lies, and offer hope and encouragement.

Helpful Links from this Episode:  

• Be Intentional Planner
• The 2 Lies I am Believing.  You Too?
• What Lies Are You Believing - Free Printable

Episode Sponsor:  ABCJesusLovesMe.com, an educational ministry that equips adults with the materials needed to be intentional in educating children.

Get connected with Parenting to Impress:
Facebook Group:  /groups/ABCJLM
Facebook:  /heidi.franz.2911
Instagram:  /abcjesuslovesme/
Subscribe to Blog & Newsletters:  forms.feedblitz.com/5r0

Thanks for listening!

In the trailer to the Parenting to Impress podcast, Heidi and Melanie introduce themselves and share the heart behind this much anticipated podcast.  Also learn the meaning behind the name "Parenting to Impress."

Links:  

• ABCJesusLovesMe.com
• ParentingtoImpress.com
• Intro Episode Blog Link

Episode Sponsor:  ABCJesusLovesMe.com, an educational ministry that equips adults with the materials needed to be intentional in educating children.

Facebook Group:  /groups/parentingtoimpress
Facebook:  /heidi.franz.2911
Instagram:  /abcjesuslovesme/

Get connected with Parenting to Impress:
Facebook Group:  /groups/ABCJLM
Facebook:  /heidi.franz.2911
Instagram:  /abcjesuslovesme/
Subscribe to Blog & Newsletters:  forms.feedblitz.com/5r0

Thanks for listening!