Ever wonder how other couples manage to have a regular date night once kids enter the picture? Today April, Indiana and Ashlee chat about the complexity of making date night happen with kids running around. You’ll hear how the concept of ‘date night’ has changed from pre-kids to post-kids, how they make childcare work, what makes for a great date, and of course, what makes for a bad one as well. Plus, April shares about her ‘stay-in date night clothes’ and you’ll get to find out what bizarre thing Indiana and her husband did for a cheap night out back in college. Whether your ideal date night includes a four-course meal at a hip restaurant or eating takeout on the couch, we hope you feel encouraged after this episode to plan a date night of your own this month!  Like what you heard? Visit coffeeandcrumbs.net for more inspiration on your motherhood journey. And, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on iTunes! To help fund Season Three of the Coffee + Crumbs podcast, head on over to our Patreon support page.

This Is How We Do: Date Night

The Coffee + Crumbs Podcast is your companion for kitchen cleanups, stroller walks, or the daily carpool hustle. Join hosts Ashlee Gadd, Katie Blackburn, and Jill Atogwe as they chat about the beautiful, holy work of motherhood. We hope you leave this show feeling safe, known, encouraged and loved.

Religion & Spirituality

Other

Spirituality

Christianity

Buddhism

Hinduism

Judaism

Islam

Kids & Family

Does getting your entire family around the table feel impossible at times? Between long commutes and conflicting sports schedules, nursing babies and pure exhaustion, there are plenty of reasons why we struggle to get around the table—even though we know it matters. According to Katie’s stellar research and our own at-home attempts, eating together can foster connection, protect mental health, reduce stress, and make room for intentional conversations. This episode is certainly not a how-to on proper meals and table manners (if you only knew!), but rather a new-ish practice in our homes we hope you can pull up a seat for. Remember, it doesn’t matter what shade of beige you’re feeding your family—quesadillas and Dino Nuggets count—as long as you’re serving it with a side of grace. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous Substack community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month, head to coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com to join the party (and get bonus episodes!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast. Need recipe ideas for family dinner? We’ve got you covered.  Need better talking points around the table? Check out our bonus episode, How To Ask Better Questions. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.   

Come to the Table

Tap, tap. Is this thing on? We’re officially back after a looooong (unplanned) break, which is why we’re kicking this episode off with an official State of the Podcast address. Thank you for your grace and patience with us! Today we’re diving into the annoyances that don’t bother us (as much) as they once did. You’ll hear how Ashlee’s no longer rattled by crying babies, how Katie’s proudly sporting tank tops (get it, girl!), and how Jill is learning to let go of what others think of her. Whether you’re someone who’s easily irked—like two-thirds of us—or you stroll through life unruffled, we hope this conversion encourages you to feel less flustered by, or maybe even fully free of, something that’s been getting under your skin.  This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous Substack community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month, head to coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com to join the party (and get bonus episodes!). For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast. For a more in-depth conversation about what’s been happening behind the scenes of the podcast, we share more in this bonus episode. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

That Doesn’t Bother Me Anymore

From friendship gestures to body confidence to learning how to rest, in this episode we share a few small acts—done by us and others—that have left a big mark. Ashlee acknowledges the gift of putting down forks and being fully present, Katie gives us the lowdown on the five-minute phone call, and Jill shares her conviction to finally put on the swimsuit and jump in the lake. We hope this episode encourages you to take a quick inventory of the little things that are actually big things in your own life, too! This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Substack community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month, head to coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com to join the party. For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.  

Little Things That Are Actually Big Things

Is there anything better than reading a good book over summer vacation? Today, we’re sharing our latest favorites—from easy-breezy reads to life-changing memoirs. Whether you gravitate toward practical non-fiction, or prefer the poetry of a well-written novel, we’ve got you covered. We hope these recs inspire you to head to the library (or fill up that ever-growing Amazon cart) ASAP in search of stories that move you. Happy summer. Happy reading. This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Substack community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month, head to coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com to join the party. For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

What We're Reading

Today we’re talking about the important–and sometimes misrepresented–topic of adoption. Katie chats with Becky (an adoptive mom) and Jamie (an adoptee) about the complexities and layers of this calling that most of the world never sees.  Becky shares the steep learning curve of being an adoptive parent, but also the undeniable gifts and joys God has shown her along the way. Jamie speaks honestly about the grief she’s walked through, sheds light on some common misconceptions about adoption, and moves us deeply when she talks about embracing her belovedness. Although adoption plays a different role in each of these women’s lives, both have come to the same conclusion: God’s grace is abundant, and He is in the business of making things new.  This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous and loving Substack community. If you’d like to support the work we do for as little as $3/month, head to coffeeandcrumbs.substack.com to join the party. For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.  

This Is How We Do: Date Night

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