This week on The Mom Show, we're sharing a powerful conversation that so many moms will see themselves in—especially during Thanksgiving week, when food, family, and emotions all collide.

My guest, Olesya, opens up about her journey with her son on the spectrum—years of uncertainty, emotional struggles, limited support, and the painful feeling that her child was slipping away. She describes it this way: "I felt like he was in there, but I just couldn't get him out."

But God met their family in an unexpected way—through prayer, patience, and surprisingly, through food.

In today's episode, you'll hear:

✨ How unclear diagnoses and constant military moves left their family feeling stuck and unseen ✨ The emotional toll of watching a child struggle with empathy, stuttering, and basic instruction-following ✨ How changing their diet brought dramatic—and nearly immediate—breakthrough ✨ Why gut health matters more than most parents realize ✨ How faith, Scripture, and prayer shaped their journey ✨ Practical encouragement for any mom who feels overwhelmed and unsure where to start

Olesya also shares the most unexpected blessings that came from this journey—including how these challenges created deeper connection, maturity, and even friendship within her family.

Instagram: @olesya.kayton

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

What do you do when your child's interests don't fit into the norm? What happens when letting go of expectations opens the door to joy, creativity, and purpose?

In today's episode, I'm joined by the incredibly wise and wonderfully honest Kim Cusimano, a mom of four, including her son Nate—who just so happens to be a full-blown Elvis tribute artist. Kim shares how a journey that began with confusion and insecurity eventually became one of the greatest blessings in her motherhood.

We talk about:

• Raising a child with developmental delays and "differing abilities"

• The surprising path that Elvis took their family on

• Letting go of pride, control, and comparison

• How God used Nate's passion to bring joy to senior homes and strangers

• The powerful role moms play in reflecting God's light onto their children

Whether you're a mom navigating special needs, raising a child with "outside-the-box" interests, or simply struggling with what feels like a different path—this conversation will fill your heart with encouragement and remind you: God's plans are always bigger, better, and more creative than our own.

🌐 Website: Fulljoyministries.com 📘 Featured Story: Life in the Estrogen-Free Zone: Humor and Heartfelt Wisdom From Boy Moms by Michelle Rayburn and Friends 📷 Instagram: @kimberly_cusimano 📘 Facebook: kim.cusimano.79

Numbers 6:24–26 "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."

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

When life changes overnight, how do you hold on to faith?

In this episode, Courtney sits down with Debbie Ashley, a mom whose world shifted the day her 13-year-old son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. What began as confusion and fear became a journey of surrender, trust, and learning to let go of control — one day, one prayer, and one meal at a time.

Debbie opens up about: 💙 The shock of a diagnosis that came out of nowhere 💙 Navigating fear, anger, and faith as a mom 💙 Learning to trust God with what you can't control 💙 Finding compassion for other moms walking through chronic illness 💙 Watching God redeem pain by giving her son purpose in his story

You'll be encouraged by Debbie's honesty and reminded that even in the hardest seasons — when fear feels bigger than faith — God meets us there. Sometimes hope looks like surrender.

Website: A Place for Simplicity Instagram: @deb.m.ashley Facebook: Debbie M. Ashley

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

In today's powerful episode, Courtney sits down with Trina Stegemann, who bravely shares her story of believing the lie that abortion was a "quick fix." What began as a secret carried through college became a lifelong journey of grief, shame, redemption, and healing through Jesus.

Trina opens up about the trauma she endured, the lies she believed, and how God gently led her toward freedom through forgiveness, community, and grace. Together, Courtney and Trina talk about the unseen pain many women carry, the courage it takes to step into the light, and the truth that you are never beyond God's redemption.

Whether you've personally walked this road or love someone who has, this episode will remind you that Jesus is enough, His grace covers it all, and healing is possible — no matter how long it's been.

• Trina's story of trauma, secrecy, and finding freedom through Christ

• Why abortion is not the "quick fix" culture claims it to be

• How shame and silence keep women from healing — and how to break free

• The role of faith-based healing programs like Rachel's Vineyard and Surrendering the Secret

• How God redeems even our deepest pain and uses our stories for His glory

• Practical encouragement for women still holding this secret in silence

Genesis 50:20 (NIV)

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."

If you're walking this same road or carrying a secret abortion, please know this: You are not alone. There is hope and healing through Christ. Reach out to:

• Rachel's Vineyard

• Surrendering the Secret

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

What do you do when your past still holds power over you—even after you've been forgiven? In today's episode, Courtney welcomes Kate Battistelli, bestselling author, speaker, and co-host of the Mom to Mom Podcast, who opens up about her abortion story, healing journey, and the long road from silence to freedom.

From the lights of Broadway to the trenches of motherhood to the quiet of the empty nest, Kate's story is full of radical obedience, deep grace, and surprising new beginnings. You'll hear how she learned to live forgiven, why she waited 30 years to share her abortion story, and what it means to step into the next season when "Mom" is no longer your only name.

In This Episode, Kate and Courtney Talk About:

• Carrying secrets, shame, and guilt—and how to finally let them go

• Why telling your hard story can be the most healing thing you do

• How God dared her to write a book and include the story she swore she'd never tell

• The challenge of trusting God with your child's calling

• Finding identity in Christ, not in motherhood

• Wisdom for moms preparing for or living in the empty nest season

• Prioritizing your marriage and dreaming again

Scripture Kate Shared: Psalm 16:5–6 "Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance."

Resources & Links from Kate:

• Follow Kate on Instagram

• Connect with Kate on Facebook

• Follow Kate on X (formerly Twitter)

Kate's Books:

• The After Party of the Empty Nest: Mom Is Not Your Only Name

• The God Dare: Will You Choose to Believe the Impossible?

• Growing Great Kids: Partner with God to Cultivate His Purpose in Your Child's Life

• NEW: 31-Day Devotional Companion to The After Party of the Empty Nest

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

HELP! I'm a Mom Who Lives Unashamed

Missy shares her powerful story of finding freedom after years of carrying the secret of a past abortion. In this tender conversation, she and Courtney talk about control, shame, healing, and the hope that comes from surrendering our stories to Jesus. If you're a mom carrying something heavy—this episode will remind you that you're not alone, and God can use your pain for His purpose.

Scripture: Revelation 12:11

• Surrendering the Secret: https://surrenderingthesecret.com

• Courtney's Website: www.courtneydoyleministries.com

• Join the MOM 101 Facebook Group: Click here

• Follow on Instagram: @courtneydoyle_8

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

Connect with Missy

Facebook: Connect with Missy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mhertless/

What do you do when the pain won't go away—because the secret never came out?

In Part 2 of this deeply personal and healing conversation, Courtney and author/speaker Pat Layton continue their discussion on abortion, shame, and the redemptive work of God.

If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, go back and hear both Pat and Courtney share their stories—stories that had been carried in silence for years.

In this episode, they talk about what healing actually looks like after abortion, how to know when (and if) it's time to share your story, and the freedom that comes when we stop striving to "forgive ourselves" and instead surrender our wounds to the only One who can heal them.

Whether you've experienced abortion personally or love someone who has, this episode is a tender invitation to grace and restoration.

• How secrecy affects the body, mind, and spirit

• Why abortion is not the end of your motherhood

• The spiritual shift that comes with confession

• How to begin walking a post-abortion healing journey

• When and why to share your story publicly—or not

• Psalm 32 and God's presence in the "secret places"

• Surrendering the Secret – Find a study group or leader near you

• Instagram: @courtneydoyle_8

• Website: www.courtneydoyleministries.com

• Join the MOM 101 Facebook Group: Click here

In today's powerful and tender conversation, Courtney is joined by author and ministry leader Pat Layton, founder of Surrendering the Secret, a post-abortion recovery Bible study that has helped thousands of women find healing after abortion.

Together, they talk openly about the emotional and spiritual aftermath of abortion, including shame, secrecy, and the journey toward healing. For the first time publicly, Courtney shares her own abortion story and the 30-year journey it took to find freedom.

This is Part 1 of a two-part series that gently uncovers the truth: abortion leaves a wound—but Jesus brings healing.

Whether abortion is part of your story or the story of someone you love, this episode is an invitation to grace, compassion, and the first steps toward restoration.

• Pat Layton's personal story of pain and redemption after abortion

• How Surrendering the Secret began and what it offers

• Courtney shares her abortion story

• The spiritual cost of secrecy—and the freedom in confession

• What happens when we finally tell the truth, even after decades

• Website: www.patlayton.net
• Surrendering the Secret: www.surrenderingthesecret.com
• Instgram: Pat Layton

• Instagram: @courtneydoyle_8

• Website: www.courtneydoyleministries.com

• Join the MOM 101 Facebook Group: Click here

Addiction isn't always what we expect. For Jody Allen, the hidden battle in her marriage wasn't drugs or alcohol—it was pornography. After years of trying to repair and rebuild, Jody made the painful decision to ask her husband to leave. What followed was a long journey through counseling, treatment centers, heartbreak, and ultimately divorce.

In today's episode, Jody shares her story as a wife and a mom. What it looked like to protect her kids, wrestle with her own identity, and discover that God's grace is big enough for every kind of brokenness. She reminds us that:

• You are not defined by someone else's struggles.

• You don't have to be a perfect mom, your kids need your presence, not perfection.

• Even when life doesn't turn out the way you hoped, God can still bring something good.

If you're walking through addiction in your family, feeling the weight of shame, or wondering how to keep your kids grounded in hope, this conversation will encourage your heart.

• Website: jodyallenwrites.com

• Book: Hidden Heartache: Finding Courage When Your Husband Struggles with Pornography

• Instagram: instagram.com/jodyallenwrites

• Facebook: facebook.com/jodyallenwrites

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

What do you do when addiction enters your home and shatters your expectations for your child's future? How do you keep hope alive when you feel paralyzed by fear, guilt, or shame?

In this vulnerable conversation, I sit down with author and ministry leader Dawn Ward, who knows the heartbreak of parenting children caught in addiction. From her childhood experiences with an alcoholic father to raising two sons who battled substance abuse, Dawn's story is raw, real, and rooted in faith.

Together we talk about:

• The moment she first discovered her son was addicted

• The spiral of guilt and "what ifs" moms often face

• Practical ways to stay anchored in God's Word when worry takes over

• The importance of setting boundaries while still loving your child

• Why praying for your child's salvation matters even more than their sobriety

• How to find your tribe and walk in hope even when the situation doesn't change

This episode will encourage every mom who feels powerless in the face of addiction—or any life-destructive struggle their child may be facing. Dawn's message is clear: You didn't cause it, you can't control it, you can't cure it… but you can trust God with it.

✨ Scripture shared in this episode: "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." – Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

Connect with Dawn Ward:

• Website: thefaithtoflourish.com

• Facebook: facebook.com/thefaithtoflourish

• Instagram: @thefaithtoflourishblog

• YouTube: The Faith to Flourish with Dawn Ward

• LinkedIn: Dawn Ward

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