The Balanced MomCast | For Overwhelmed Christian Moms Seeking Time Management, Work Life Balance, and Focus

In all of Season 8, I’m addressing your specific questions and balance struggles. Today, I’m responding to two listener emails: One asks about loneliness and finding community with a baby at home. The other asks about how to make quality time for her husband while raising 4 small children. I have lots to say about both of those things, so if you struggle with any of that in your own life, you’ll love today's episode. Listen in.

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For show notes, please visit thescooponbalance.com/126

While the Balanced MomCast is on hiatus, you can find me at Behind the Balance on Substack, Writing Off Social, or The Scoop on Balance. 

Substack Newsletter: Behind the Balance 

Website: The Scoop on Balance

Caring for your physical health is one of the best things you can do to lead a well-balanced life. But what is going on when you decide to start cooking healthier meals or begin a workout program and by day-3 you are sitting on the couch eating peanut butter straight out of the jar? Maybe the problem is self-sabotage. Sometimes our sincere efforts completely backfire on us. Today I’m offering you 5 things that undermine your best efforts to live a healthy life and what you can do differently instead. Listen in. 

Also, I address a listener's concern about me assigning "moral value" to food.

Thing 1:  Depriving yourself of food or food you love

Thing 2:  Allowing yourself to be intimidated rather than inspired by other women 

Thing 3: Believing Bad Information

Thing 4: Believing Exercise is Torture

Thing 5: Setting setting the wrong kind of goals...specifically, a weight loss goal.

For show notes, please visit thescooponbalance.com/125

While the Balanced MomCast is on hiatus, you can find me at Behind the Balance on Substack, Writing Off Social, or The Scoop on Balance. 

Substack Newsletter: Behind the Balance 

Website: The Scoop on Balance

Today my friend Kirsten Vossler joins me for Part 2 of our discussion. She’s a homeschooling mom of 8 and the creator and host of the podcast Rejoicing in Motherhood. Last week we left a tired Kirsten after she described her typical day right at the point of getting her kids to bed. Today, she drops her pearls of wisdom as she describes how she makes room for her priorities--Spoiler alert: she lets a lot of things go. By the end of this discussion, you will feel completely free to be the mom God has called you to be. 

For show notes, please visit thescooponbalance.com/124

While the Balanced MomCast is on hiatus, you can find me at Behind the Balance on Substack, Writing Off Social, or The Scoop on Balance. 

Substack Newsletter: Behind the Balance 

Website: The Scoop on Balance

Kirsten Vossler is a homeschooling mom of 8 kids ranging in age from 12 years down to 9 months, and the creator and host of the podcast Rejoicing in Motherhood. I asked Kirsten to give us the nitty-gritty of her typical day. In the process of that, she dropped some seriously great tips on everything from healthy breakfast and lunch ideas to creative ways she teaches her kids about the Lord. Whether you’re a homeschooling mom or you just enjoy getting a peek behind the curtain of the large family, you will love this interview with my friend Kirsten. Listen in.

For show notes, please visit thescooponbalance.com/123

While the Balanced MomCast is on hiatus, you can find me at Behind the Balance on Substack, Writing Off Social, or The Scoop on Balance. 

Substack Newsletter: Behind the Balance 

Website: The Scoop on Balance

One of my favorite exercise mantras is “something is better than nothing.” I adopted this phrase as my fitness motivation when I was trying and succeeding to stay physically fit and strong with babies and small children crawling all over me. As a mom with little ones, some days I was able to carve out a full hour of a hardcore work out and other days I just did what I could and moved on. So, fully understanding the challenges associated with trying to exercise while also having small children, I’m giving you 8 things that worked for me. Listen in.

1. Take walks.

2. Go to the gym before everyone wakes up or when someone else can watch the kids.

3. Use home video/streaming workouts.

4. Use home gym equipment.

5. Use the gym childcare.

6. Play them with outside.

7. Dance with your kids.

8. Use nap time (this is the last resort!)

For show notes, please visit thescooponbalance.com/122

While the Balanced MomCast is on hiatus, you can find me at Behind the Balance on Substack, Writing Off Social, or The Scoop on Balance. 

Substack Newsletter: Behind the Balance 

Website: The Scoop on Balance

What do you do when a child accuses you of letting his younger sibling get away with everything? How do you decide what to cook for dinner each night and actually cook it when you hate meal planning and cooking? What do you do when no one in your house will help you with household chores? These are YOUR questions and today I’m giving you MY answers. 

For show notes, please visit thescooponbalance.com/121

While the Balanced MomCast is on hiatus, you can find me at Behind the Balance on Substack, Writing Off Social, or The Scoop on Balance. 

Substack Newsletter: Behind the Balance 

Website: The Scoop on Balance

Last week in EP119 I invited my friend Mary K Tiller to join me, and I played the first half of our conversation. Today in Part 2 we confess we are not "Fun Moms" and we discuss the creative ways we’ve learned to connect with our kids despite this shortcoming. We also talk about loneliness in motherhood and what we do to combat it. Mary K offers some beautiful words of encouragement for all the overwhelmed moms out there, so be sure to listen to the end for that. 

For show notes, please visit thescooponbalance.com/120

While the Balanced MomCast is on hiatus, you can find me at Behind the Balance on Substack, Writing Off Social, or The Scoop on Balance. 

Substack Newsletter: Behind the Balance 

Website: The Scoop on Balance

Today, for the first time ever on the Balanced MomCast, I am inviting a friend to join me. This episode is for all the work-from-home moms. We chat about the perks and challenges of working from home, especially with small children in the mix. We discuss making difficult choices about how to divide our time between work and kids, what we prayerfully neglect for the sake of balance, and how we lean on God to give us wisdom. I think you are gonna love my friend as much as I do. So, Listen in to Part One of my conversation with the delightful and lovely Mary Kathryn Tiller.

For show notes, please visit thescooponbalance.com/119

While the Balanced MomCast is on hiatus, you can find me at Behind the Balance on Substack, Writing Off Social, or The Scoop on Balance. 

Substack Newsletter: Behind the Balance 

Website: The Scoop on Balance

Today I’m addressing one listener’s struggle about establishing a Bible reading and prayer life. If you have never established a daily time to connect with God and the thought of starting one feels overwhelming, or if you just want to be more consistent with the practice you already have, I offer encouragement and practical tips for this mom and for you. Listen in. 

For show notes, please visit thescooponbalance.com/118

While the Balanced MomCast is on hiatus, you can find me at Behind the Balance on Substack, Writing Off Social, or The Scoop on Balance. 

Substack Newsletter: Behind the Balance 

Website: The Scoop on Balance

Mom, you are NOT the emotional thermostat of your home. You cannot control the moods and attitudes of your children or your spouse. But you CAN create an environment where peace thrives. Today we look at the book of Proverbs and discuss four practical things you can do to facilitate a peaceful home environment:

1. Be Patient: Prov 16:32

2. Be Proactive: Prov 17:14

3. Be Gentle: Prov 15:1

4. Light up Your Face: Prov 16:15

For show notes, please visit thescooponbalance.com/117

While the Balanced MomCast is on hiatus, you can find me at Behind the Balance on Substack, Writing Off Social, or The Scoop on Balance. 

Substack Newsletter: Behind the Balance 

Website: The Scoop on Balance