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"Emotionally mature" may not be the words you use to describe your son. Maybe your boy is prone to outbursts, or rarely says more than one sentence at a time. Counselor and author David Thomas is here to help us nurture and raise emotionally strong boys. In today's conversation, you'll learn: 

2:30 How can we understand our boys better by using the Incredible Hulk? 

5:00 Teach these three R’s to your kids so they can regulate themselves, going from stressed to settled 

7:00 Work things out for yourself out loud so your child can hear how you manage stress and problems without angry outbursts 

9:10 Boys funnel emotions through anger; they are more physical than girls (hitting walls, biting, etc) 

11:00 How a walk, run, and movement can help your son regulate emotions 

13:30 How to respond according to research when your boy says, “But I want to play my video game, it helps me calm down.” 

15:00 Creating a top five list of regulation strategies 

17:20 Emotional vocabulary chart - how to get one for free 

19:45 The difference between saying “I am depressed” versus “I feel sad” 

22:30 Suicidal ideations - how can you tell if your child is serious? 

24:30 Adult men lead some of the scariest stats out there - including suicide 

27:50 Practice this exercise to put events in perspective (so they know losing homework isn’t the end of the world) 

David Thomas is the director of family counseling at Daystar Counseling in Nashville, TN and the coauthor of 10 books. He and his fellow counselor Sissy Goff co-host the podcast Raising Boys and Girls. David’s newest book is Raising Emotionally Strong Boys: Tools Your Son Can Build on for Life.  

Find out more about David Thomas and his book Raising Emotionally Strong Boys at RaisingBoysandGirls.com

Take the free quiz, "Is my child getting too much screen time?" at HappyHomeUniversity.com

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It's challenging to raise confident girls in this social media age. What if you are struggling with confidence yourself as a mom? How can women and girls develop godly confidence and courage? In today's conversation with author and mom Terra Mattson, you'll learn:  

2:50 What are you seeing repeated again and again in your counseling practice with girls? 

4:50 Letting go of performance based thinking 

6:30 When a boy asks your daughter for an inappropriate photo…do this

9:00 Talking with your daughter about wanting to be liked and the fear of losing friends (negative peer pressure)

11:30 What are red light, yellow light, green light friendships?    

13:10 My struggle with bulimia and what I learned 

16:30 The lost art of confession 

17:45 How can we encourage our girl who is scared to go to school, or scared to face a mean girl? 

19:30 Going on dates with your daughter, having intentional time 

23:00 What are some signs that my daughter needs extra help like counseling? 

Terra Mattson has 20 plus years of experience as a licensed professional counselor and marriage and family therapist. Terra and her husband Jeff founded Living Wholehearted, a counseling and organizational development firm helping people live and lead with integrity. Terra's book is Courageous: Raising Daughters Rooted in Grace. Learn more at her website. TerraMattson.com

Terra also has a video course, Helping Mom Raise Confident Daughters. Learn more here.

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How do you engage your sorrow when the world tells you it's time to move on? Young widow Clarissa Moll shares her story of loss and the brutal truth about living with grief. Yet somehow she has found deep joy. In her book, Beyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Living with Grief & Thriving After Loss, Clarissa points your heart towards hope. Whether you have lost someone through death or divorce, or you are experiencing a painful situation, this conversation will speak to you. You'll learn: 

3:00 How do you cope when your story is drastically different than you had hoped? 

5:00 Receiving the tragic news of her husband’s death 

7:30 Talking to kids about death with real words (not figures of speech)

10:00 How do you journey through your day with grief constantly showing up?   

13:00 How to know when you need to reach out to others for help 

17:20 The irony of her husband’s last book which was about the art of dying 

22:00 How do you still find comfort after the cards and flowers of consolation have ceased?

23:50 Talking about the deceased with your kids in a healthy way 

25:25 The heart compared to a classroom - a brilliant comparison 

27:00 Your husband died - this didn’t destroy your faith. It strengthened it. How did this happen? 

28:30 What happened to her wedding ring 

Clarissa Moll (MA, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is an author, a podcaster, and the young widow of author Rob Moll. Clarissa’s writing has appeared in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, RELEVANT, Modern Loss, Grief Digest and more. Her husband’s first book, The Art of Dying, was released in April 2021 with Clarissa’s new afterword. Clarissa’s debut book is Beyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Walking with Grief and Thriving After Loss. Learn more about Clarissa on her website ClarissaMoll.com

Get your free monthly resource for your home from Arlene at Happy Home University. HappyHomeUniversity.com

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Following Jesus is counter-cultural as we live in a time that chases fame, sheds traditional values, and shames those who don't fall in line. Hot button topics such as bullying, social media, loneliness, porn, anxiety, and defending Biblical views at school, online and with friends are all addressed in Sean McDowell's new book, A Rebel's Manifesto: Choosing Truth, Real Justice, and Love amid the Noise of Today's World. In today's very helpful conversation for parents, you'll learn: 

3:00 What is a rebel’s manifesto about? What does it look like to be a rebel today?  

4:30 How can you disagree with people and still like them?

7:41 What if your child has to do something immoral for a school assignment?  

9:52 About public education in California 

12:00 Take this advice about being involved in your child’s education 

13:14 How do you respond to statements like: Who are you to judge me? 

15:00 How do you respond to: You should not force your morals on me. 

16:30 What if you are called a hater if you believe in marriage between a man and woman?

17:00 What if your child is labeled a hater? 

20:00 What are unique challenges to Gen Z?  

23:30 What does research say about the power of parents to influence our kids? 

25:50 Tell me about Summit Ministries and why it’s so influential for teens

Sean McDowell is an author, speaker, and associate professor at Talbot School of Theology at Biola. He has two masters degrees and a PhD in apologetics and worldview studies. He’s authored or edited more than 18 books. He married his high school sweetheart Stephanie and they have three children. His newest book is A Rebel’s Manifesto. Learn more at his website SeanMcdowell.org

Want to learn more about Summit Ministries where Sean often speaks? Visit Summit.org

Spending too much time on screens this summer? My book Screen Kids co-authored with Dr. Gary Chapman will help, along with the masterclass. Find out more at HappyHomeUniversity.com

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Are you tired of the screen time battles in your home? If you're constantly managing fights between your kids, meltdowns, or saying "put that away!" it may be time for a digital detox. Author and mom of six Molly DeFrank shares her family's journey of unplugging and outlines a detailed plan for you to do the same. Today's conversation is about: 

2:30 Mother has had it! The birth of the digital detox

5:00 How do you present the digital detox to your kids? What does that talk sound like?

7:30 What are signs that your children need a detox from devices?

9:00 Mom, say this when your kids say I’m bored

12:00 The best part of the detox is noticing your child’s specific talents and interests

15:20 Do parents have to join the digital detox? If so, how?

17:30 Kids from foster care - adapting the digital detox for them

22:00 Here’s how you can continue the digital detox long term

25:20 You don’t have to be organized or a planner to do this digital detox because…

Molly DeFrank is the mama of the digital detox. She's a stay home mom and foster mom of six kids ages 12 and under. She's been a guest on Good Morning America and her new book is Digital Detox: The 2 week tech reset for kids. Find out more on Molly's website

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This is the perfect episode to help you understand your son and/or your husband better!

What are the 5 masculine instincts? This week's guest, pastor and author Chase Replogle is here to explain what these instincts are and how to leverage them for good. In today's conversation, we're talking about:

3:00 What can we learn from Shakespeare’s stages of a man?

4:25 Instincts - are they good or bad?

6:00 The example of Cain and the instinct of sarcasm

9:30 How can we nudge our son to care instead of check out?

10:30 A working definition of humility: self-suspicion

14:30 What is C.S. Lewis talking about in the Abolition of Man when he refers to chestless men?

18:30 How can we make church more attractive for men? For boys?

22:00 Hunting for turkeys!

25:00 Men need adventures, extremes of too much adventure or too little (apathy)

27:00 The call of God on Samson’s life - the need to watch our spiritual lives carefully

Chase Replogle is a pastor and author of the 5 Masculine Instincts. He’s pastored the Bent Oak Church in Springfield Missouri for 10 years. He is the host of the Pastor Writer podcast, a native of the Ozark woods, and he enjoys being outdoors with his wife and two kids. Find out more at pastorwriter.com.

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Pornography is not what it used to be. Much more than just photos of unclothed adults, it's more violent and prevalent than ever. How can you keep your kids safe online? Expert and author Dr. John Foubert is here to explain how pornography is affecting the brains, hearts and future families of children and teens. On today's episode you'll learn: 

3:00 What is happening in a child’s brain when they see pornography? 

4:50 Can a brain reset back to a healthy level after porn use?  

5:20 Why is porn especially dangerous to tween and teens?  

7:10 How soon do you talk to your kids about this subject? 

10:20 From 2008-2011, exposure to kids under 13 rose from 14% to 49% 

13:00 What do studies show between the link between porn and sexual violence?  

15:00 How should you respond when you catch your child looking at pictures of naked people?

16:20 Did you know there is a link between porn and depression and anxiety?

18:00 The physical damages that happen to kids when they view porn 

21:50 How to best talk with your kids about porn in a way they will want to listen to you 

Today's guest Dr. John Foubert is a thought leader who has testified before Congress and has been called on by the White House and the Pentagon about how to end sexual violence. He’s been a guest on CNN and NPR and is cited regularly in papers like the NY Times, US News and World Report, and the Washington Post. Dr. Foubert's newest book is Protecting Your Children from Internet Pornography - understanding the science, risks, and ways to protect your kids. 

Learn more about Dr. John Foubert on his website. 

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How can you get your teen girl more engaged with the Bible? Mom of three girls and founder of the ministry Love God Greatly, Angela Perritt, is here to share her enthusiasm for studying the Bible and how you can pass that love to your children and teenagers. We're talking about her new study Bible, the Young Women Love God Greatly Bible. In today's conversation, you'll learn: 

5:00 How you can give girls a wider view of the world, a love for other nations  

7:10 How to encourage kids who follow God because they WANT to, not because they HAVE to 

9:00 What can a mom do to nudge a daughter to read God’s Word when she is not interested?  

10:50 How can a Bible reading plan be a game changer in your family?

12:00 How do you apply the “SOAP” method of studying the Bible? 

15:00 Let’s talk about the difference between reading the Bible in print or on the phone 

17:50 This is one of the biggest lies this generation of girls is hearing

23:00 How can church history help our kids to be bolder about their faith?  

26:00 Words of advice to moms who want to start a non-profit, ministry, or business 

Angela Perritt is the founder and director of LoveGodGreatly.com, a nonprofit online Bible study ministry reaching thousands of women in over 200 countries around the world with God's Word through their translated Bible studies. Angela and her husband live in Dallas with their three daughters. Today we talked about her Young Women Love God Greatly Bible (it's a BEAUTIFUL study Bible). Find it here: lovegodgreatly.com

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Over a half a million readers have joined the journey of Instagram sensations Ashley and Dino Petrone (@ArrowsandBow). They share the adventures, mishaps, and joys of marriage and parenting through the lens of interior design. In their debut book, Designed to Last, you'll hear about their experience living in a 800 square foot trailer with their family of five. In today's fun interview, you'll hear: 

2:30 How they rushed into marriage - thanks to their moms 

4:00 Ashley: "I had no idea I married a gamer." 

5:50 What if dad is playing video games with the kids and mom is concerned about it? 

8:10 Wives, instead of nagging, do this...

11:55 How did you go from obsession to moderation when it comes to video games? 

14:35 Why did you move your family of five into an RV?  

16:30 Was it hard to sell all your things?  

17:50 How did your kids like living in the RV? What did they think about having just a few things each? 

19:00 After moving out of the RV, how did you keep the same close family vibe going?  

21:00 Why the Instagram name Arrows and Bow?  

22:00 Advice for the aspiring mom entrepreneur 

25:00 How do you complement each other in business and in life? 

25:50 Social media as a business, but not as something we want our kids on 

28:40 Our rhythms to keep social media in check 

Ashley and Dino Petrone have been married since 2006 and make their home in Florida with their four kids (baby added since the RV!). Ashley began her popular Instagram account @ArrowsandBow as a way to document her home-design journey. Dino is a senior engineer and Ashley is a full-time mom, blogger, and interior designer. Visit them online and check out their book Designed to Last at arrowsandbow.com.

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Moms can have lots of questions for God. Why are my kids facing certain challenges? What college should my child attend? How do I get my child to stop talking back?  

When we can bring our honest requests to God and surrender outcomes to Him - there is freedom and an open invitation for God to do His best work. In this special message in preparation for Mother's Day, Arlene looks at the life of Hannah in the Old Testament. What can we learn from her prayer of surrender? Arlene will talk about: 

2:00 When your child says, “Make me!” 

7:00 Living in a time of moral decay 

9:40 Showdown: Hannah versus Penninah 

11:45 Moms should neither boast too much about their kids nor belittle them 

15:00 When you feel like you’re not enough 

20:00 Hannah prays a prayer that changes everything 

23:00 When you weep before God, He will comfort you 

24:00 Did you know there’s a physical difference between the tears you cry when chopping onions and the tears you cry when you are sad? 

25:00 How to rejoice even before your prayer is answered

32:00 Trusting God while you are waiting for God to fulfill His promises to your family

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