The Connected Mom

In this episode of the Connected Mom Podcast, host Becky Harling engages in a heartfelt conversation with Katie Kelley about the concept of grace in parenting, particularly in the context of single motherhood and raising children with special needs. Katie shares her personal journey of navigating life as a single mom of six, including the challenges of raising a child on the autism spectrum. The discussion emphasizes the importance of acceptance, remembrance of God's faithfulness, and the role of grace in blending families. Katie's insights provide encouragement and hope for mothers facing similar struggles. In this conversation, Katie Kelley and Becky Harling explore the profound impact of grace in the face of suffering, particularly within the context of parenting a blended family with special needs. They discuss how grace manifests in daily life, the importance of community support, and the necessity of maintaining faith and resilience amidst challenges. Katie shares personal anecdotes that highlight the miraculous moments of grace that occur in her family, emphasizing the need for connection and the power of prayer. The conversation concludes with a message of encouragement to keep moving forward, trusting that grace will always be present.

In this episode of the Connected Mom Podcast, host Becky Harling engages in a heartfelt conversation with Stephanie Rousselle about the importance of delighting in God, especially for mothers facing anxiety and worry. They explore Stephanie's journey from atheism to faith, the significance of experiencing God's goodness, and practical ways to cultivate a relationship with God. The discussion emphasizes that understanding God's delight in us can transform our parenting and alleviate anxiety, leading to a deeper sense of grace and freedom in our lives.

Awaken Delight: Satisfying Your Soul's Longing for God

In this episode of the Connected Mom Podcast, Becky Harling and Linda Goldfarb discuss the challenges of motherhood, particularly focusing on anxiety that persists throughout the parenting journey. They share personal stories, scriptural insights, and practical advice on how to navigate anxiety, especially as children grow into adulthood. The conversation emphasizes the importance of trust, prayer, and humor in parenting, and how these elements can strengthen relationships and alleviate anxiety.

This is an episode of the Connected Mom Podcast, hosted by Becky Harling, kicking off a new series on managing anxiety as a mom. Her guest is Grace Fox, an author and speaker, whose newest book is The Names of God: Growing Strong.

Key points:

• No guilt allowed. Becky opens by rejecting the "you shouldn't feel anxious" messaging she grew up with, since it just adds guilt on top of anxiety.
• Personal stories of mom-anxiety. Grace shares a vivid memory of her son's first kindergarten bus ride — she and her husband secretly followed the bus to school just to make sure he got inside safely. Becky shares similar worries, like anxiously texting her college-age daughter late at night.
• Anxiety changes, doesn't disappear. Both agree worry doesn't go away as kids grow — it just shifts from things like potty training and street safety to bigger issues: choice of college, life partners, and letting go of control once kids are adults.
• Anxiety as an invitation to prayer. Grace reframes anxiety as a trigger to "go to the knees," but notes that dwelling only on fears in prayer makes them grow bigger. Shifting to gratitude and praise — even when the outcome is unknown — helped calm her fears more than rehearsing worries did.
• Knowing God's names/character builds trust. Much of the conversation centers on Grace's book: knowing God intimately (like knowing a close friend vs. a stranger) makes it easier to trust Him with your kids. She highlights two names in particular:
  • Yahweh Rohi ("The Lord is my Shepherd," Psalm 23) — a shepherd who leads, protects, and provides.
  • Ruach Elohim (God's Spirit) — the Spirit that hovers over chaos, near enough to comfort, bringing order without being scared off by hard situations.
• Practical anxiety tips:
  • Praying and praising with other moms rather than just discussing worries.
  • Writing scripture/promises on cards and posting them (mirror, dashboard, computer) as go-to reminders — "emergency verses" to recite during panic.
  • Speaking prayers and praise out loud.
  • If anxiety becomes overwhelming, seek help from a medical doctor — no shame in that, just as you'd treat a broken arm.
  • Exercise, like walking while praying, helps release tension.

    Becky recommends Grace's book The Names of God: Growing Strong Grace website is gracefox.com and there are free monthly devotionals.

Connected Mom Podcast — Becky Harling interviews Dr. Gary Chapman on the Five Love Languages

Dr. Gary Chapman shares the origin of his famous concept, which grew out of marriage counseling — specifically a couple where the husband did countless acts of service for his wife, yet she felt completely unloved because her actual love language was quality time (conversation). This pattern repeated across many couples, leading him to identify five categories: words of affirmation, acts of service, gifts, quality time, and physical touch.

The 5 Love Languages of Children: The Secret to Loving Children Effectively

In this episode of the Connected Mom Podcast, Becky Harling and Erin Davis engage in a heartfelt discussion about the concept of over-functioning in parenting and friendships. They explore the challenges of wanting to do too much for others, the importance of allowing children and friends to experience their own struggles, and the necessity of finding identity and affirmation in Christ rather than in performance. The conversation also touches on the biblical story of Joseph as a lens for understanding family dysfunction and the redemptive work of God in our lives.

Erin's book: The Story of Joseph

In this episode of the Connected Mom Podcast, host Becky Harling engages in a heartfelt conversation with Linda Dillow, a best-selling author and mentor, about her new book, 'Hope for My Hurting Heart.' Linda shares her personal journey through pain, including her challenging childhood, a traumatic brain injury, and the struggles of having two daughters diagnosed with cancer during the COVID pandemic. The discussion emphasizes the importance of trust in God, the choices we make in times of trial, and the enduring hope that can be found even in the darkest moments. Linda's insights offer encouragement and wisdom for mothers facing their own challenges.

Linda's book: Hope for My Hurting Heart

In this episode of the Connected Mom podcast, host Becky Harling and guest Jill Lillard explore the concept of attunement in relationships, particularly in marriage and parenting. They discuss the importance of emotional attunement, which involves being grounded in oneself while being present for others. The conversation covers practical steps for improving attunement, such as creating space for deeper conversations, being aware of emotional dynamics, and the significance of listening. Jill shares insights on navigating the emotional challenges of parenting teenagers and emphasizes the need for self-connection to foster better relationships with others.

https://beckyharling.com/the-connected-mom-podcast/

In this episode of the Connected Mom Podcast, host Becky Harling and guest Sheryl Giesbrecht Turner discuss the feelings of invisibility that many mothers experience, the importance of seeking help through counseling, and the comfort found in knowing that God sees and cares for us. They explore the challenges of motherhood, the significance of small tasks, and the need for intentional communication and boundaries in relationships with adult children. The conversation emphasizes the power of prayer and the importance of community support.

https://sherylgt.com

In this episode of the Connected Mom Podcast, Becky Harling and Laurie Davies discuss the concept of emotional hoarding, exploring how unresolved emotions can weigh us down and hinder our growth. They delve into the impact of emotional baggage from childhood, the reasons we hold onto negative emotions like guilt and worry, and the importance of grace in parenting. Through humor and personal anecdotes, they encourage listeners to confront their emotional struggles and seek healing through community and scripture.

Laurie’s book: Emotional Hoarding: Letting Go of the Stuff That Keeps You Stuck

https://beckyharling.com/the-connected-mom-podcast/