Rooted Homemaking

Lauren sits down with illustrator and author Forrest Dickison to talk about his new illustrated edition of Rudyard Kipling’s Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, and why children need stories with real villains who are actually villains. Forrest shares why the mongoose motto “run and find out” is a good one for children and grown-ups alike, and why so many modern stories do children a disservice when they make the villain sympathetic and the hero an insecure, self-focused character. He explains how good stories can build a child’s moral immune system and give them someone to aspire to, not just someone to relate to.

They also talk about why classic children's books are worth reaching for, what reading aloud looks like in Forrest’s home, and how he walks his kids through stories and movies to help them grow in discernment. And for families who want to start a read aloud habit but aren’t sure where to begin, Forrest shares the simple place he’d start.

✨ If you want more encouragement on building a thoughtful home, subscribe for weekly homemaking and parenting rhythms

✨ Wondering what it would look like to have rhythms and habits that help you run your home instead of it running you? Check out the Rooted Rhythms Method, where Lauren walks you through exactly how. → https://laurenmefford.com/rooted-rhythms

— RESOURCES —

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, illustrated by Forrest Dickison: https://canonpress.com/products/rikki-tikki-tavi?%5C_pos=1&%5C_sid=86197ab55&_ss=r

Crispin's Rainy Day by Forrest Dickison: https://link.amazon/B0hnG19jF

—CONNECT WITH FORREST —

Find Rikki-Tikki-Tavi and all of Forrest's books at Canon Press: https://canonpress.com (also available on Amazon)

Forrest's website and fine art: https://forrestdickison.com

— BOOKS MENTIONED —

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis: https://link.amazon/B0cNFaejm

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien: https://link.amazon/B03PYJqE9

Blue Hat, Green Hat by Sandra Boynton: https://link.amazon/B00WlY6xN

The Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward: https://link.amazon/B0clNpj2q

The Sailor Dog by Margaret Wise Brown: https://link.amazon/B05o1BXXl

The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack: https://link.amazon/B0bajocPO

Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran: https://link.amazon/B098Pbfft

This episode is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission.

—CHAPTERS—

0:00 The Primal Nature of Courage

0:49 Meet Forest Dickinson

5:41 Why Rikki-Tikki-Tavi Still Inspires Children 100 Years Later

7:41 Teaching Curiosity and Duty

10:08 The Problem With "Misunderstood" Villains in Childrens Stories

25:32 How Stories Build a Child's Moral Immune System

—CONNECT WITH THE HOST —

Ask questions/contact us: https://laurenmefford.com/contact

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaurenMefford/videos

7 simple things I write in my notebook every night so my morning runs itself — the evening planning habit that helps me beat decision fatigue as a homeschooling mom of six.

✨ Free workshop: Is there one area of your home you dread every single day (the laundry, the kitchen, the mornings)? Let's fix it together. In this free workshop, I'll help you build one simple rhythm that brings peace back to the place you need it most. Watch now → https://www.laurenmefford.com/free-training

Every morning, I walk into the day already knowing what to focus on. Not because I have life all figured out — but because I take just a few minutes the night before to write seven simple things in my notebook.

In my last episode, I said the morning really begins the night before. In this one, I'm walking you through exactly what that looks like for me — the one notebook page that helps me run my home and my business and stay focused and consistent with my habits.

In this episode, I share:

– Why I write my appointments first (and where I pull them from)

– How many priorities I actually list — and why one is enough in some seasons

– The habit tracker that keeps me honest, and my "never miss twice" mantra

– The new habit I'm working on right now with my little ones

– The spot I keep for my husband, my kiddos, and my work

– How my rolling master to-do list and theme days feed this page

– What I do with the things that don't get done

This simple evening habit has unburdened my mind in so many ways. It's realistic, it's short, and it helps me tend to every sphere of life — my home, my family, my work, and my own body and soul — without feeling pulled in a hundred directions.

🎥 Want to see the actual notebook pages? Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Qf_pmMFCJLA

If this episode was helpful, follow the show so you don't miss the next one — and I'd love it if you'd leave a rating or review. It helps other women find us.

Resources mentioned:

✨ My favorite notebook for all my planning: https://amzn.to/4oIMcID

✨ How I plan using just one notebook: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5zdDeKeZ80

✨ My weekly reset (what makes this nightly habit possible): https://youtu.be/UhtPFpgTRuo

✨ My evening + 5 AM morning routine (last episode): https://youtu.be/zaaMFNAoZcI

✨ Our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/laurenmeffordphdfnp-bc

Some product links are affiliate links, which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission.

Connect with Lauren:

✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenmichellemefford/

✨ Website: https://laurenmefford.com

✨ Contact: https://laurenmefford.com/contact

My 5 AM morning routine as a homeschool mom of 6 — a peaceful, productive start to the day built around biblical priorities

✨ Free workshop: Is there one area of your home you dread every single day (the laundry, the kitchen, the mornings)? Let's fix it together. In this free workshop, I'll help you bring relief to the area of your home that needs it most. Watch now → https://www.laurenmefford.com/free-training

Come ride along with me (literally — I recorded this one from my car!) while I share my 5 AM morning routine, my evening routine, and our whole morning routine as a homeschooling, stay at home mom of six. If you've ever wondered about the 5 AM club, this is what it actually looks like for me. It's a productive, but gentle morning routine that lets me take care of my body, my soul, and my home before the kids are even up.

Grab a warm drink or your basket of laundry, and come hang out with me for a bit.

↓ Let's connect ↓

✨ Find me on Instagram: ➡︎ https://www.instagram.com/laurenmichellemefford/

✨ Ask questions/contact me: https://laurenmefford.com/contact

✨ Watch on YouTube → Prefer to see what's going on? You can watch all my episodes and videos on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LaurenMefford/videos

✨ If you're curious about some of my favorite products and resources, check out our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/laurenmeffordphdfnp-bc

This episode is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission.

Thank you so much for being here today. ♥️

Resources and Products Mentioned in this episode (and some):

✨ How I plan using just one notebook (includes my evening setup walkthrough): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5zdDeKeZ80

✨ My favorite notebook for all my planning: https://amzn.to/4oIMcID

✨ What our homeschool mornings look like: https://youtu.be/rRNoUv4GyKQ

✨ Ladder app (the workout app I use): https://www.joinladder.com/

✨ Elevate (my morning green tea drink): https://beta.neolife.com/rootedvitality/en-US/shop/product/elevate-nootropic-energy-drink?sku=3865

✨ Happy Hymnody (our hymn of the month): https://www.youtube.com/@HappyHymnody

I always say my morning begins the night before. So in this one, I'm sharing my simple evening routine that helps my 5 AM morning routine go more smoothly. This is the rhythm that helps me take care of my body, my soul, and my home before the kids even wake up.

And I'll be honest up front — I'm not pregnant or postpartum right now, and our baby is sleeping through the night. So this is what's working in this season. Different seasons, different rhythms!

Whether you're a homeschool mom, a stay at home mom, or a homemaker craving a little more structure, I hope this day in the life gives you some practical ideas for building a gentle, productive morning routine and evening rhythm that works in your season.

Every week, I share new episodes on all things homemaking rhythms and habits, homeschooling, and simple ways to bring more peace to your home. So if that sounds like something you need, go ahead and follow the show so you don't miss them!

MY EQUIPMENT:

Shure MV7+ mic: https://amzn.to/4vKypVt

MOTU M2 USB-C Audio Interface: https://amzn.to/4pvuhHv

Affiliate & Medical Disclosure:

I am a NeoLife promoter, which means I may earn a commission if you choose to purchase through my link—at no additional cost to you. I only share products we personally use in our home. This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always do your own research and consult a qualified healthcare professional if you have questions.

00:00 Why Morning Routines Matter

02:42 Why My Morning Really Starts the Night Before

04:33 5 AM Start and Workout

07:14 My Bible Time & The Simple Prayer Rhythm I Use Every Morning

11:28 How My Kids Start Their Own Mornings

14:35 How Our Breakfast Table Does the Heavy Lifting for Homeschool

17:36 A Gentle Start Instead of Racing the Clock

A simple homemaking routine starts by planning backwards. Learn how to map out your day so you can always be confident about what's next, and so you know when enough is enough.

✨ Free workshop: Is there one area of your home you dread every single day (the laundry, the kitchen, the mornings)? Let's fix it together. In this free workshop, I'll help you build one simple rhythm that brings peace back to the place you need it most. Watch now → https://www.laurenmefford.com/free-training

If you've been running all day and still feel behind at home, this one is for you. For a long time, my instinct when I felt behind was to just do more and go faster. But the to-do list never really ends, and I found that the home was running me instead of the other way around. What finally brought me a ton of relief was learning to plan my day and my week backwards, so I always know what's next and when enough is enough.

In this episode, I talk about why so many Christian homemakers feel behind in the first place. John Mark Comer calls it hurry sickness, and once I saw how much it was costing our home, I couldn't unsee it. We look at Proverbs 14:1 and what it means to build our homes as wise women in a culture that's always pushing us to get more done. I also share how letting go of the things we think we "should" be doing can free up so much room in a homemaking routine, especially when we hold it up against the season of life we're actually in.

Then I get really practical. I walk you through the questions I use for any area of the home, using what I call the three Cs (cooking, cleaning, and clothes) as examples. And I show you exactly how I map out getting dinner on the table with six little ones underfoot, from the night before all the way to the table.

Whether you're in a postpartum season or just tired of the dinnertime scramble, this simple way of planning helps you make decisions once instead of every single day, so you can stop feeling behind and feel confident in how you're managing your home.

Let me know in the comments which area of your home you're going to plan backwards first. I love hearing what other families are working on. 🌿

↓ Let's connect ↓

✨ Find me on Instagram: ➡︎ https://www.instagram.com/laurenmichellemefford/

✨ Ask questions/contact me: https://laurenmefford.com/contact

✨ If you're curious about some of my favorite products and resources, check out our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/laurenmeffordphdfnp-bc

This episode is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission.

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Resources and Products Mentioned in this video (and some):

✨ The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer: https://amzn.to/4i6z2F8

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chapter titles:

00:00 Why Your Home Feels Like It's Running You

00:31 Hurry Sickness: The Real Reason You Feel Behind

02:18 Stop Doing What You Think You "Should"

03:59 How to Plan Your Day Backwards

04:23 The Questions That Define "Done" This Season

06:54 How I Map Out Dinner From the Finish Line

10:14 Where to Start So Your Home Stays Ahead

#christianhomemaking #homemaking #biblicalhomemaking #homemakingroutine #planyourday #christianmom #homeschoolmom #momofsix #dailyrhythms #homemanagement #hurrysickness #slowliving #dinnerroutine #overwhelmedmom

How to teach first-time obedience — a Christian mom of six on biblical parenting

✨ Tired of being weighed down by the endless tasks of your home, and feeling like it's running you? Inside the Rooted Homemakers Collective, I'll help you build realistic rhythms around your priorities, one layer at a time, so you can finally have the peaceful home you long for. → https://laurenmefford.com/rooted-homemakers

So many of you have been asking about first-time obedience — what to do when your child whines, resists, gets distracted, or asks for “five more minutes.” In this laid-back Q&A episode, I’m sharing what Jeremy and I have learned about training our six children to obey right away, all the way, and with a cheerful heart. I also share the dinner table rhythm we call Trials and Treasures, and some changes coming to the podcast.

Grab a warm drink or your basket of laundry, and come hang out with me for a bit.

If you would like to bring more rhythm and reset into your home, please like, and subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss my weekly videos.

↓ Let’s connect ↓

✨ Find me on Instagram: ➡︎ Lauren Mefford, PhD, FNP-BC (@laurenmichellemefford) • Instagram profile

✨ Ask questions/contact me: https://laurenmefford.com/contact

✨ Listen to the Podcast → Need to get away from the screen? You can listen to all my episodes on The Rooted Home Podcast: Spotify The Rooted Home | Apple The Rooted Home

✨ If you’re curious about some of my favorite products and resources, check out our Amazon storefront: Lauren Mefford's Amazon Page

This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, which means if you buy something we’ll receive a small commission.

Thank you so much for being here today. ♥️

Resources mentioned in this video:

✨ 8 Errors Parents Make and How to Avoid Them by Michael Brock: 8 Errors Parents Make and How to Avoid Them: Parenting Book, Practical Guide for Christian Parenting, Positive Parenting Book for Parents

✨ Shepherding a Child’s Heart: Shepherding a Child's Heart

✨ Loving the Little Years: Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches - Grace Based Christian Parenting

Every night at our dinner table, we do something we call Trials and Treasures. It’s become one of my favorite parts of our day, and it’s been such a sweet way to train our little ones in listening and self-control.

Then I’m answering the question so many of you sent in: how do you handle first-time obedience? I share what obedience looks like in our home, why delayed obedience is really disobedience, and how we handle the whining, resisting, and “five more minutes” moments.

At the end, I share some changes coming to The Rooted Home Podcast.

Let me know in the comments — what’s your biggest struggle with obedience right now? 🌿

Chapter titles:

00:00 Why Moms Keep Asking Me About Obedience

00:54 The Dinner Table Rhythm Our Kids Love

03:11 How Dinner Became Calm with Six Little Ones

05:06 What First-Time Obedience Really Means

11:38 The Parenting Pyramid Most of Us Get Upside Down

15:30 When They Whine, Resist, or Ask for “Five More Minutes”

22:10 Why the Podcast Is Changing

#biblicalparenting #christianmom #firsttimeobedience

How to reset your life as a Christian homemaker before the new year.

✨ Free workshop: Is there one area of your home you dread every single day (the laundry, the kitchen, the mornings)? Let's fix it together. In this free workshop, I'll help you build one simple rhythm that brings peace back to the place you need it most. Watch now → https://www.laurenmefford.com/free-training

It's October, and there are only three months left in the year. But it's not too late to reset your life as a homemaker and walk into the new year with real traction in your home. Grab a warm drink or your basket of laundry, and come hang out with me for a bit.

↓ Let's connect ↓

✨ Find me on Instagram: ➡︎ https://www.instagram.com/laurenmichellemefford/

✨ Ask questions/contact me: https://laurenmefford.com/contact

✨ Listen to the Podcast → Need to get away from the screen? You can listen to all my episodes on The Rooted Home Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/30DE890RxyjqmWe9WSe702 | Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-rooted-home/id1879655340

✨ If you're curious about some of my favorite products and resources, check out our Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/laurenmeffordphdfnp-bc

This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission.

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Thank you so much for being here today. ♥️

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Resources and Products Mentioned in this video (and some):

✨ How I do a weekly reset (full walkthrough): https://youtu.be/UhtPFpgTRuo

✨ My favorite notebook for all my planning: https://amzn.to/4oIMcID

✨ How I plan using just one notebook (A walk through): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5zdDeKeZ80

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When life as a Christian homemaker feels scattered, it's easy to look at the end of the year and feel like it's too late to change anything. I've been there. In this video, I'm sharing where I actually start when I want to reset my life and my home, and it begins smaller than you'd expect. There's one weekly habit that takes about 30 minutes, and I've found it gives back so much more time and peace through the rest of the week. (Admiral William McRaven's famous "make your bed" advice comes into this one too.) From there, I walk you through how I think about my God-given priorities using what I call the six spheres of fruitfulness. These are the different areas so many of us are called to steward, and getting specific about my goals in each one has helped me see where I actually want to go instead of keeping it all vague and in my head. And I share the one mistake that will completely backfire if you try to reset everything at once, along with what I've found really works for building habits and rhythms that last in a real home with real limits. If your home has been running you lately and you'd love to finish this year well, I hope this gives you a gentle, practical place to start this week. Slow change is lasting change.

Let me know in the comments which sphere of your home you want to focus on first this fall. I love hearing what other families are working on. 🌿

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MY EQUIPMENT:

Shure MV7+ mic: https://amzn.to/4vKypVt

MOTU M2 USB-C Audio Interface: https://amzn.to/4pvuhHv

Camera: https://amzn.to/4vCOcpb

Aputure amaran 60dS Video Lighting: https://amzn.to/4jybYy4

Aputure Lantern Softbox: https://amzn.to/3NdQqej

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #ChristianHomemaker #ResetYourLife #WeeklyReset #HomemakingRhythms #BiblicalHomemaking #ChristianMom #HomemakerRoutine #FaithfulInTheLittleThings #IntentionalLiving #NewYearReset #HomeschoolMom #MealPlanning #ChristianLiving #homemaking

CHAPTERS

00:00 It's Not Too Late to Reset Your Year

00:22 The Weekly Reset Habit I Never Skip

01:28 How 30 Minutes of Planning Saves Your Whole Week

03:28 What to Focus On as a Christian Homemaker

04:06 The Six Spheres of Fruitfulness

07:37 Why Resetting Everything at Once Backfires

08:50 How to Build Habits That Actually Last

✨ Wish your home felt more peaceful and joyful, without having to hold every detail in your head? The Rooted Homemakers Collective is Lauren's membership where she walks you step by step through building the rhythms and habits that make it happen. → https://laurenmefford.com/rooted-homemakers

Life is too short to be boring, and that includes your marriage.

This week we're sitting down with our dear friends Nick and Lena Gavrilov. They've been married almost 20 years and have nine kids, ages 18 down to almost 1. If you've ever been around their family, you know joy is the first thing you notice. It shows in their marriage, in their parenting and all over their kids' faces.

We talk about how they went from high school sweethearts to a long-distance season that taught them to communicate. We also get into how their view of children changed during their fourth pregnancy, and how they keep their marriage strong through first-trimester nausea and exhaustion. Lena and Nick share openly about the hardest season of their marriage, when Nick confessed a struggle with pornography, and how honesty, boundaries and ongoing check-ins rebuilt their trust. Plus we talk weekly date nights, raising joyful homeschooled kids, and the family worship times their kids still talk about (including a Bible study in the bathtub).

This one's full of honesty and laughter, and lots of practical ideas for bringing more joy into your home.

IN THIS EPISODE

• How Nick and Lena met at 14 and 15, and why five years of dating helped them grow up together instead of apart
• "Always Be Courting," the marriage advice Nick got from an 82-year-old mentor, and their family motto, #noaverage
• Why being part of a church that challenges you matters for your marriage and family
• Keeping your marriage strong through pregnancy nausea, cravings and exhaustion
• The hardest season of their marriage, and how confession, accountability and practical boundaries changed the way they communicate
• Why they've done weekly date nights since 2018, and the one question that opened up their conversations
• "Tell God the negatives, tell your husband the positives"
• Learning to understand each other instead of trying to win
• Raising joyful kids through prayer, humility, and parents who say sorry
• Keeping family worship fun: trampolines, a boat, a bathtub, and the two-minute "action" skits their kids love

CHAPTERS

00:00 Why Life Is Too Short for a Boring Marriage

00:30 Teen Sweethearts to 20 Years Married

08:17 Where Real Joy in Marriage Comes From

11:20 Keeping Marriage Alive Through 9 Pregnancies

20:11 The Hardest Season of Our Marriage

26:58 The Date Night Question That Changed Everything

28:44 Tell God the Negatives, Tell Your Husband the Positives

32:28 What the Tower of Babel Teaches About Marriage

35:35 How to Raise Joyful Kids (Even During Discipline)

46:22 Making Family Worship Fun

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• His Needs, Her Needs: Making Romantic Love Last | How to Identify and Satisfy 10 Vital Needs in Your Marriage | A Practical Relationship Guide for Couples
• The 5 Love Languages Hardcover Special Edition: The Secret to Love That Lasts
• 8 Errors Parents Make and How to Avoid Them: Parenting Book, Practical Guide for Christian Parenting, Positive Parenting Book for Parents

SCRIPTURE MENTIONED

• Psalm 127:3-5: Children are a blessing, and blessed is the man whose quiver is full
• Matthew 4:1-11: Jesus tempted in the wilderness
• Genesis 11:1-9: The Tower of Babel
• Galatians 5:22-23: The fruit of the Spirit
• James 4:6: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble
• Lamentations 3:22-23: His mercies are new every morning
• The Book of Jonah
• Matthew 7:7: Ask, seek, knock

—CONNECT WITH NICK & LENA—

• Podcast: The Full House Life The FULL HOUSE Life
• Follow them on Instagram
• @‌nickygavrilov & @‌raising.our.arrows

—CONNECT WITH THE HOSTS —

Ask questions/contact us: https://laurenmefford.com/contact

Youtube: Lauren Mefford, PhD

How do I keep a CLEAN HOUSE with 6 children? It's 7 SIMPLE daily habits that keep our home tidy without all-day cleaning.

As a full-time homemaker, I don't aim for spotless, I aim for manageable. These are the small rhythms that make our 65 homemaking routine work in real life with a big family — morning resets, team tidies, and a weekly plan for actual 68 cleaning . If you need 60 cleaning motivation or want to build a home that stays tidy on autopilot, start here.

IN THIS VIDEO:

• Make your bed in 2 minutes for a quick win
• 60-second bathroom clear during your morning routine
• Pick up as you go with my "touch it once" rule
• 10-minute tidy before meals the kids actually help with
• Evening wrap-up: kitchen + living room team reset
• Weekly deep clean focused only on bathrooms & floors
• How to tell the difference between tidy vs. clean

This is simple living for moms — realistic habits that actually work and bring more order to the home.

✨ FREE MASTERCLASS + WORKBOOK: I made a free masterclass with a printable workbook to help you build personalized rhythms for your home and tackle your biggest pain points. Grab it here — it's totally free and you can start using it today: https://www.laurenmefford.com/free-training

✨ WATCH NEXT: How to train your kids for chores & build an age-appropriate chore system: Why Chore Systems Fail — And How to Build One That Works

If this helped you, please like and subscribe so you don't miss my weekly videos!

#cleanwithme #homemaking #cleaningmotivation #cleaninghabits #tidyhome #cleaningroutine #cleaningmotivation #cleanwithme #bigfamily #largefamily #homemaking #christianhomemaker #homeschoolmom #momofsix #stayathomemom #dailyroutine #homeorganization #simpleliving #momlife

Grab a warm drink or your basket of laundry, and come hang out with me for a bit.

↓ Let's connect ↓

✨ Find Lauren on Instagram: ➡︎ Lauren Mefford, PhD, FNP-BC (@laurenmichellemefford) • Instagram profile

✨ Check out our podcast: Apple Podcasts The Rooted Home | Spotify The Rooted Home | ✨YouTube Lauren Mefford, PhD

✨ If you're curious about some of my favorite products and resources, check out our Amazon storefront: Lauren Mefford's Amazon Page

Thank you so much for being here today. ♥️

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Morning Reset Basics

02:37 The "Touch It Once" Rule That Saves Me So Much Time

04:06 Family 10 Minute Tidy System

06:01 Wrapping Up the Home Together Before Bed

07:30 Tidy vs. Clean: My Weekly Deep Cleaning Rhythm

✨ Wondering what it would look like to have rhythms and habits that help you run your home instead of it running you? Check out the Rooted Homemakers Collective, Lauren's membership where she walks you through exactly how. → https://laurenmefford.com/rooted-homemakers

Last episode was all about the kids bickering. This time Lauren and Jeremy turn the spotlight on themselves and talk about what happens when the parents are the ones losing patience, getting sharp, or letting their emotions take over. They talk about why so much of today's conversation around emotional regulation and the nervous system falls short when it leaves out the heart. Our backgrounds are real, but they don't change the answer. The way out is still repentance and the power of the gospel.

They also share why they apologize to their children and ask for forgiveness, and how doing that shows their kids what a humble Christian does after sinning against someone. Lauren and Jeremy also talk about how they help each other in the hard moments, including the code phrases they use to gently rein each other in without undermining one another in front of the kids.

— RESOURCES —

✨Proverbs 16:32: "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city."

✨Free workshop: Struggling to build rhythms that actually work in your home? In this workshop, Lauren shows you how to create simple routines that are rooted in biblical priorities and actually work. Watch it here: https://www.laurenmefford.com/free-training

✨ Wondering what it would look like to have rhythms and habits that help you run your home instead of it running you? Check out the Rooted Homemakers Collective, Lauren's membership where she walks you through exactly how. → https://laurenmefford.com/rooted-homemakers

This episode is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission.

—CHAPTERS—

00:00 When the Parents Are the Ones Losing Their Temper

00:48 Why Nervous System Talk Doesn't Tell the Whole Story

04:09 Does Your Past Really Explain Your Short Temper?

06:58 Why We Apologize to Our Kids (and Mean It)

12:17 Saying Sorry vs. Actually Changing

13:36 "The Problem Isn't That Your Buttons Got Pushed"

15:57 The Secret Code Phrases We Use When One of Us Is Losing It

21:36 Why We're Thankful When Our Spouse Steps In

24:14 When It's More Than Just Impatience

29:16 The Gospel Is Strong Enough for the Ugliest Moments

—CONNECT WITH THE HOSTS —

Ask questions/contact us: https://laurenmefford.com/contact

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaurenMefford/videos

✨ Feel like your home is running you instead of the other way around? I created a free masterclass with a workbook that walks you through exactly how to change that — and it's completely free. Grab it here → https://www.laurenmefford.com/free-training

How can your home keep running when you physically can't. That's the question I was forced to answer during a week flat on the couch with debilitating neck pain — with six kids still needing to be fed, taught, and loved on.

By God's grace, our home kept going without me contributing a single thing. In this video I'm walking you through the three pieces that made that possible, so you can start building the same kind of home — one that doesn't fall apart the moment mom is down.

We'll talk about what family teamwork actually looks like day to day (not just chores, but a whole culture), the "bare minimum blueprint" that keeps the essentials covered on your hardest days, and the mindset shift that makes it possible to actually receive help instead of micromanaging it.

✨ Grab the free masterclass + workbook here → https://www.laurenmefford.com/free-training

Grab a warm drink or your basket of laundry, and come hang out with me for a bit.

✨ Find Lauren on Instagram: Lauren Mefford, PhD, FNP-BC (@laurenmichellemefford) • Instagram profile

This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission.

Resources and Products Mentioned in this video:

✨ How to build a chore system for your home: https://youtu.be/-WDfJsQcAgA?si=0_sWLctbhL4df0n6

Let me know in the comments: what's the one thing your home needs most right now to be able to run without you? I love hearing what other families are working on. 🤿

CHAPTERS

00:00 A Week I Physically Couldn't Show Up For My Family

00:31 The Family Culture That Kept Everything Running

02:22 What Actually Happened When I Couldn't Get Off the Couch

04:21 The Morning Routine My Kids Run Without Me

07:49 The Non-Negotiables My Home Runs On, No Matter What

11:35 Why Receiving Help Is Harder Than Giving It

14:32 What This Hard Week Taught Me