The MOM Show with Courtney Doyle

What happens when motherhood looks nothing like the life you imagined?

We all have dreams for our children, but sometimes the story unfolds differently than we hoped. And when it does, it's easy to find ourselves questioning every decision, carrying guilt, and wondering where we went wrong.

In this week's solo episode of The Mom Show, Courtney continues the conversation from last week's interview with Shannon Popkin, author of Kinda Judgy. She shares a personal reflection on celebrating her son's birthday without him, the difference between regret and repentance, and why our children's choices are not a reflection of our worth as mothers.

Together, we'll explore how to release expectations, stop confusing responsibility with control, and extend to ourselves the same mercy God so freely gives.

Because you can grieve the story you imagined while still trusting God with the story He's writing.

Scripture referenced:

• Romans 8:1

• Lamentations 3:22–23

Mentioned in this episode: Last week's conversation with Shannon Popkin about her book Kinda Judgy.

Follow Courtney Doyle for encouragement in faith, motherhood, and finding beauty in life's messy moments.

• Instagram: @courtneydoyle

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• Podcast: The Mom Show with Courtney Doyle

If this episode encouraged you, share it with another mom who needs the reminder that she isn't alone.

Life Is Messy. Make It Beautiful Anyway.

Have you ever caught yourself being just a little... judgy?

Maybe it's toward another mom. Maybe it's toward your husband. Maybe it's even toward yourself.

In this honest and grace-filled conversation, Courtney sits down with author and Bible teacher Shannon Popkin to discuss her newest book, Kinda Judgy, and the surprising connection between control, anger, judgment, and God's incredible mercy.

Shannon vulnerably shares how God first exposed her struggle with control as a young mom and later revealed an even deeper issue—a heart that was often quick to judge instead of extending compassion. Together, Courtney and Shannon explore how our desire to control outcomes can quietly shape the atmosphere of our homes and how learning to surrender allows both us and our children to experience God's faithfulness.

Whether you're parenting toddlers, teenagers, or adult children, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that we were never meant to be our children's Savior—only their mom.

• Why anger is often a symptom of a deeper control issue

• The surprising connection between control and judgment

• How to recognize subtle judgment in your parenting

• The difference between healthy correction and harsh criticism

• Why extending mercy doesn't mean lowering biblical standards

• Learning to "hold and fold" as your children grow

• How giving our children room to grow strengthens their faith

• Replacing contempt with compassion in our homes

• Why God's mercy changes how we see both ourselves and others

Luke 6:36 "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

• Kinda Judgy by Shannon Popkin

• Control Girl by Shannon Popkin

• Live Like It's True Podcast

Website: https://shannonpopkin.com

Instagram: @shannonpopkin

Podcast: Live Like It's True

Instagram: @courtneydoyle_8

Website: www.courtneydoyleministries.com

Join the MOM 101 Facebook Group: Click here

October is here, and with it comes fuller calendars, fall activities, school schedules, sports, and the beginning of that end-of-the-year rush. When life around us starts speeding up, it can be easy for our emotions to speed up too.

Following last week's conversation with Christie Thomas about biblical gentleness, Courtney is continuing the conversation with a practical look at what happens when the emotional temperature starts rising in our homes.

When our kids are frustrated, do we automatically become frustrated too? When someone gets louder, do we get louder? When there's conflict, do we immediately feel responsible for fixing it?

In this episode, Courtney shares what she has learned about recognizing her own triggers, creating a pause before reacting, and remembering that we don't have to match the emotional intensity of the people around us.

You'll hear encouragement about:

• Recognizing the warning signs that you're becoming reactive

• Why gentleness is strength, not weakness

• Creating margin when busyness makes patience harder

• Letting our kids work through some uncomfortable moments without immediately rescuing them

• Holding boundaries without adding unnecessary intensity

• Allowing our children to see our growth, apologies, and transformation

• Practicing the simple prayer God, help me in difficult moments

• Spending time with Jesus so His gentleness begins to show up in us

You don't have to absorb the chaos around you in order to respond to it. Sometimes growth simply looks like pausing long enough to respond differently than you would have before.

Listen to last week's episode: Gentleness Is Not Weakness with Christie Thomas

Book: Everyday Prayers for Gentleness

Find Christie and her resources at Little Shoots, Deep Roots

Instagram: @littleshootsdeeproots

Instagram: @courtneydoyle_8

Website: CourtneyDoyleMinistries.com

Join the MOM 101 Facebook Group for community, encouragement, and connection with other moms.

If this episode encouraged you, share it with another mom who may be feeling the pressure of a busy season. And be sure to follow or subscribe to The Mom Show so you don't miss an episode.

What comes to mind when you hear the word gentleness? Do you picture someone passive, quiet, or weak?

In this episode of The Mom Show, Courtney talks with author and speaker Christie Thomas about the surprising strength of biblical gentleness. Christie reminds us that Jesus was both the Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God—powerful, courageous, and perfectly gentle.

Together, Courtney and Christie discuss what gentleness is, what it is not, and how moms can respond with grace when parenting stretches their patience. Christie offers encouragement for the mother who wants to become slower to anger but feels discouraged by the moments when she falls short.

Gentleness is not something we manufacture through willpower. It is a fruit of the Spirit that grows as we remain connected to Jesus and allow Him to transform the way we respond to our children, our circumstances, and even those with whom we disagree.

In this conversation, you'll hear encouragement about:

• Why gentleness should never be confused with weakness

• How Jesus demonstrated both strength and gentleness

• Becoming a slower-to-anger parent

• Responding instead of reacting during difficult parenting moments

• Extending grace to yourself when you make mistakes

• Practicing gentleness in a culture filled with anger and division

• Helping our children develop deep and lasting faith

• Trusting the Holy Spirit to grow gentleness within us

You do not have to know it all, do it all, or parent perfectly to build a strong foundation of faith in your children. Small, faithful habits can grow deep roots—and God can use even our imperfect moments to draw our families closer to Him.

Everyday Prayers for Gentleness: https://littleshootsdeeproots.com/gentleness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littleshootsdeeproots/reels/?hl=en

Instagram: @courtneydoyle_8 Website: www.courtneydoyleministries.com Join the MOM 101 Facebook Group: Click here

When your child is struggling, it can feel impossible to be okay when they're not.

Following last week's conversation with Tara Norbeck, author of Dear Mom of an Addict, Courtney continues the conversation about what happens when a child's struggle begins to consume the entire family.

In this episode, Courtney talks honestly about the fear, hypervigilance, guilt, and exhaustion that can come with loving a child through addiction—and the important reminder that experiencing joy while your child is hurting does not mean you love them any less.

You'll also hear about setting healthy boundaries, Tara's reminder that we can have "unconditional love with conditional support," and the three truths every parent needs to remember:

I didn't cause it. I can't control it. I can't cure it.

Courtney also shares one of the most powerful lessons from Tara's story: learning to place our hope in the Healer, not only in the healing.

• Loving your child without losing yourself

• Why joy is not betrayal

• Helping vs. enabling

• Setting boundaries without withholding love

• The three C's of addiction

• Separating your child from their struggle

• Moving from "what if" to "even if"

• Finding hope and peace when recovery isn't a straight line

Psalm 34:18 — "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted…"

You are allowed to live, laugh, love your family, care for yourself, and experience joy even while someone you love is struggling.

Instagram: @courtneydoyle_8 Website: Courtney Doyle Ministries Join the MOM 101 Facebook Group Subscribe to The Mom Show on YouTube

When Tara Norbeck discovered that her 17-year-old son was struggling with addiction, everything she thought she knew about motherhood changed.

In this episode of The Mom Show, Tara shares the painful reality of walking through addiction, psychiatric hospitalizations, overdoses, and the fear of constantly waiting for the next crisis. She also opens up about the guilt she carried as a mom, the impact addiction had on her marriage and other children, and what she had to learn about boundaries, enabling, and letting go of the responsibility to fix what she could not control.

Tara shares powerful truths from her book, Dear Mom of an Addict: Ten Truths You Need to Know to Parent Your Addicted Child and Reclaim Hope, including the three C's:

I didn't cause it. I can't control it. I can't cure it.

Courtney and Tara also talk about unconditional love with conditional support, separating your child from the disease, caring for the entire family, and why secrecy only deepens the shame surrounding addiction.

Most importantly, Tara shares how she learned to stop placing her hope solely in her son's recovery and instead place it in God:

"I had to put my hope in the Healer and not necessarily in the healing."

If you are walking alongside a child or loved one struggling with addiction, this conversation is a reminder that you are not alone—and there is still hope.

Connect with Tara: Website: taranorbeck.com Instagram: @taranorbeck Facebook: @tara.norbeck

Tara's Books: Dear Mom of an Addict: Ten Truths You Need to Know to Parent Your Addicted Child and Reclaim Hope God Loves You Most

Connect with Courtney: Instagram: @courtneydoyle_8 Website: www.courtneydoyleministries.com Join the MOM 101 Facebook Group: Click here

Last week's conversation with Ashley Martin sparked a deeper question: What are we keeping hidden because we're afraid of what people might think?

Shame tells us to hide. It convinces us that if people really knew our struggles, failures, or past, they might see us differently. But there is a difference between privacy and secrecy—and some things were never meant to be carried alone.

In this episode, Courtney talks about how shame keeps us isolated, the difference between guilt and shame, and why bringing our struggles into the light with God and a trusted person can be the first step toward freedom.

She also shares why being honest about our own imperfect stories can help create safer relationships with our children and remind them that failure does not cancel God's forgiveness, redemption, or purpose.

• The difference between privacy and secrecy

• How shame keeps us isolated

• Guilt vs. shame

• Why confession can lead to healing

• Finding a safe person to trust

• Talking honestly with our children about our past

• Allowing God to redeem the parts of our story we wish we could erase

Psalm 32 James 5:16 1 John 1:7

At the end of September, Courtney will also be giving away signed books from this month's guests, including Ashley Martin's Lost No More and Tara Norbeck's Dear Mom of an Addict. Follow along on social media for giveaway details.

Your secret does not get the final word. Your shame does not get the final word. Your past does not get the final word. God does.

Instagram: @courtneydoyle_8 Listen and subscribe to The Mom Show Join the MOM 101 Facebook Group

What happens when the thing you once turned to for comfort becomes the very thing keeping you from freedom?

In this powerful conversation, Ashley Martin shares her journey from nearly two decades of alcohol addiction to more than 12 years of sobriety, a renewed relationship with God, and a life she now describes as thriving—not simply surviving.

Ashley opens up about the moment she finally surrendered, entering treatment, facing the shame and secrets of her past, and discovering that God could use even the most broken parts of her story for good.

We also talk about the three pillars Ashley continues to practice every day—surrender, prayer, and service—and how they help her protect her sobriety, her peace, and her relationship with God.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Recognizing when alcohol or another coping mechanism has taken control

• Why addiction doesn't have a certain "look"

• Breaking free from shame and refusing to hide your past

• The role surrender played in Ashley's recovery

• Raising children honestly when addiction is part of your family story

• Choosing faith over fear when addiction runs in the family

• Ashley's three daily pillars: surrender, prayer, and service

• The difference between simply surviving and truly thriving

• How God can redeem and use the parts of your story you once wanted to hide

Ashley reminds us that there is always hope. No matter where you've been or what choices are behind you, God has not left you—and your story is not beyond His redemption.

Website: www.ashleymartinministry.com Instagram: @ashleymartinministry Book: Lost No More

Instagram: @courtneydoyle_8 Website: www.courtneydoyleministries.com Join the MOM 101 Facebook Group: Click here

Addiction doesn't just affect the person struggling, it impacts the entire family.

In this episode for National Recovery Month, Courtney shares important statistics about teen substance use, warning signs parents should watch for, the dangers of fentanyl and counterfeit pills, and practical steps to take if you suspect your child may be struggling.

She also shares from her own family's experience with addiction and the difficult balance of loving your child, setting boundaries, seeking help, and surrendering what you cannot control to God.

This episode is not meant to create fear, but to help moms become aware, prepared, prayerful, and hopeful.

• Warning signs of substance use • What parents need to know about fentanyl • How addiction affects the whole family • Helping vs. enabling • When and where to seek professional help • Trusting God for wisdom, peace, and hope

SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) Treatment Locator: FindTreatment.gov 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 Partnership to End Addiction: drugfree.org Emergency or suspected overdose: Call 911

James 1:5 Philippians 4:6–7 Proverbs 3:5–6

Throughout September, The Mom Show will continue the conversation about addiction and recovery with Ashley Martin, author of Lost No More and Tara Norbeck, author of Dear Mom of an Addict.

Addiction may become part of your family's story, but it does not have to write the ending.

Instagram: @courtneydoyle_8 Courtney Doyle Ministries MOM 101 Facebook Group

Five years ago, one simple sentence changed my life:

"I like listening to you. You should start a podcast."

I had no idea that one small "yes" would become 225 episodes, and countless conversations pointing moms back to Jesus.

In this special anniversary episode, I'm taking you behind the microphone to share the journey, from the early Unmasking series and HELP! episodes to the heartbreaking seasons of losing both of my parents, navigating unexpected challenges, and watching God's faithfulness every step of the way.

Whether you've been here since Episode 1 or just recently found The MOM Show, thank you for being part of this community. Here's to celebrating God's faithfulness over the past five years—and looking ahead to what's next!

• How The MOM Show began
• The evolution of the podcast through the years
• The biggest challenges I've faced behind the microphone
• Why your small "yes" can change more lives than you imagine

🌐 Website: https://courtneydoyle.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneydoyle_8/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/courtneydoyleministries ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CourtneyDoyle-8

If you've been encouraged by The MOM Show over the past five years, I'd love to hear from you! Leave a review or send me a message sharing your favorite episode. Your stories are one of the greatest gifts of this ministry.

Thank you for celebrating five years with me. Here's to all God has in store for Year Six!