Some Assembly Required

This Mother’s Day, we’re offering a gift to every mom who has ever wondered, “Am I doing this all wrong?”

In this special episode, we sit down with author Abbey Wedgeworth to talk about her honest, hope-filled book, Help! I’m Ruining My Kids: A Gospel Guide for the Mom Who is Desperate for Change. Together, we name the heavy reality of mom shame and contrast it with the freedom found in a full, gospel-centered identity in Christ.

This conversation is not about parenting hacks or pressure to “get it right.” Instead, it’s about loosening our grip on perfection, rejecting the lie that our children’s outcomes rest solely on us, and rediscovering who we are as beloved daughters of God. Drawing from Scripture, lived experience, and deep compassion, Abbey reminds us that the antidote to shame isn’t trying harder. It's remembering who we already are in Christ.

Consider this episode our Mother’s Day gift to you: a reminder that you are not failing, you are not alone, and God’s grace is more than enough—for you and for your kids.

If you'd like to learn more about Abbey, you can find her online at:

Website: https://www.abbeywedgeworth.com

Instagram: @abbeywedgeworth

You can also order the book online here.

Whether your child is starting at a brand new school or moving into a new building at their current school, making a school change is a big transition for both children and their parents. Today's conversation equips parents to navigate school transitions with empathy, confidence, and a little more grace for everyone in their family.

John Creed, Wesleyan's 6th grade boys chair and incoming middle school principal, and Paige Carothers, experienced kindergarten teacher at Wesleyan, join this conversation to encourage parents with practical tips and a grounded perspective about navigating a school transition.

How do stories help children better understand their own emotions? In this episode, we’re joined by children's author Trudy Ludwig, and Dr. Nancy Jones, lower school dean of counseling and student services and director of counseling at Wesleyan School. Trudy and Nancy help us explore the powerful role books play in building emotional insight and resilience in kids. Through shared experiences, relatable characters, and meaningful conversations, stories give children a safe way to recognize feelings, reflect on challenges, and see that they’re not alone.

Our guests discuss how reading about characters in familiar situations helps children name emotions, develop empathy, and practice problem‑solving—often before they have the words to do so on their own. Parents will walk away with practical ideas for choosing books, asking thoughtful questions, and using story time as a springboard for deeper emotional growth. Whether your child is navigating big feelings, social challenges, or everyday worries, this conversation highlights how stories can become trusted tools for emotional learning at home.

BONUS - book recommendations from Trudy and Nancy.

Trudy's Favorites:

Broken by X. Fang

What Do You Do With a Problem? by Kobi Yamada

Hey, Little Ant by Phillip and Hannah Hoose (Tricycle Press,1998)

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

No More Chairs by Dan Gill

Where Oliver Fits by Cale Atkinson

The Dot by Peter Reynolds

The One Thing You'd Save by Linda Sue Park

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

I'm Sorry You Got Mad by Kyle Lukoff

Nancy's Favorites:

Big Life Journal: A Growth Mindset Journal for Children and Big Life Journal – Growth Mindset & Gratitude Journal for Teens and Tweens

Sticky Situations: 365 Devotions for Kids and Families and Sticky Situations 2: 365 Devotions for Elementary Kids by Betsy Scmitt

You Get What You Get by Julie Gassman

Brave Every Day by Trudy Ludwig

My Secret Bully by Trudy Ludwig

Fail-A-Bration by Brad and Kristi Montague

Ninja Life Hacks series by Mary Nhin

Julia Cook books (over 100 books on many social-emotional learning topics)

Diane Alber books (over 100 books on many social-emotional learning topics)

The Way I Feel, The Way I Act, and The Way I Feel Too by Janan Cain

I Am Enough and I Believe I Can by Grace Byers

I Can’t Wait! By Tim Elmore

When Things Aren't Going Right, Go Left by Marc Colagiovanni

In this episode, Melissa Thorson, enneagram coach, mom of three, and Wesleyan's executive assistant to the head of school, shares how greater self-awareness can transform your parenting. Discover the unique strengths you bring to your family and simple ways to grow as a parent.

Episode References and Show Notes:

• Suzanne Stabile's "Road Back to You
• Peachtree Enneagram

In this episode, two seasoned college admissions officers share insider advice on how families can make the most of campus visits. They break down what to look for before, during, and after a tour, how to ask meaningful questions, and how to keep the experience low‑stress and productive. Whether you’re just starting the college search or deep into it, this conversation offers practical strategies for staying grounded, gathering helpful insights, and truly understanding whether a campus feels like the right fit.

As Christians, serving others isn’t just an act of kindness—it’s a reflection of Christ’s love and a response to His call to love our neighbors as ourselves. In this episode, we dive into the heart behind service: why we serve in the first place, how to keep our perspective and motivations in check, and practical ways to begin shaping a servant’s heart in your children from an early age. From simple, everyday opportunities—like helping a neighbor with small tasks—to fostering a mindset of compassion that could lead to future service on larger scale projects like mission trips, we’ll share ideas to make service a natural part of family life and a habit of your child's heart.

Our guests are Jen Sheppard, Wesleyan's assistant director of Christian life for retreats and missions, and Ryan Jones, executive director of Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries in Norcross, Georgia.

You can learn more about Wesleyan's missions program and Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries offerings on their websites.

Financial literacy starts earlier than parents might think. In this episode, Wesleyan’s former CFO Billy Coxhead and Smith and Howard CEO Sean Taylor join us to talk about teaching kids to manage money. They share big-picture ideas for naming your family’s financial values and practical ways to help children put those values into action.

We all know that life can bring unexpected and challenging circumstances to navigate as a family. For some families, those challenges may be life altering: the loss of a loved one, a diagnosis that isn't great for a loved one, mom and dad have decided to divorce. These can be important and very intimidating conversations for parents, and we want to get them right.

In this episode, we explore practical strategies and compassionate approaches for guiding children through these conversations, and for giving yourself grace in the process. From finding the right words to creating a safe space for emotions, we’ll share expert insights and real-life experiences to help parents feel prepared and supported during life’s toughest transitions.

You can follow Rachel Menzoian's counseling practice on Instagram @refuelcounseling or on their website at www.refuelcounseling.com.

Amy Barrett serves as one of Wesleyan's counselors for high school students, and she sees clients in private practice. You can find her online at www.newsongcounselingservices.com.

Most parents hope- or even expect- that their children grow into thriving, independent, young adults. But independence doesn’t happen overnight. It’s built little by little while kids are still at home.

In this episode, Auburn University’s Dr. Lady Cox and Wesleyan School’s Sarah Peebles join us to explore three real-life snapshots of independence in young adulthood and some simple, practical stepping stones that can help get kids there.

Episode References and Show Notes:

• Gavin de Becker's Protecting the Gift

If you're heading into the end of Christmas break relating to the classic Christmas song lyric, "...and mom and dad can hardly wait for school to start again..." then this episode is for you. Things going a little haywire in your house? Feeling like insane things only happen in your family? In this episode, we share hilarious, heartwarming, and downright surprising things kids (and adults!) do that keep everyone on their toes and laughing...and it may make your family feel a little more normal. From innocent misunderstandings to a couple of practical jokes gone awry to wildlife encounters you have to see to believe, these stories will have you laughing out loud, and they left our colleagues saying, "You won't believe what happened today."

Once you listen to the episode, be sure to check out this clip of the story about the time a squirrel was in the reference section of Chapman Library.

The Great Squirrel Chase of 2018