Sticky Conversations: Rapid Fire Topics

I'm starting a new solo series about women from the Bible! Learning from them--their wisdom and their mistakes. Today we talk about one of my very favorites, Martha. She gets a bad rap sometimes, because she comes to Jesus complaining about her sister, Mary, but I believe that Jesus' love for Martha comes through in the story as He invites her to not worry so much about solving problems and to simply come and be with Him. In this episode I share ways that I relate with Martha and how Jesus is currently inviting me to choose "the better part" by simply choosing Him. Let us not get so focused on the specific problems in our lives that we miss the ultimate solution--God Himself. Join me in future weeks for reflections on other amazing women of the Bible.

For our last episode of the series, Stefani Blackwell and I go through eight different topics that (although sticky) didn't warrant a full episode. Many of these topics are more about personal preference as a parent as opposed to moral issues, so we simply share about how we have handled them in our homes without giving straight opinions on a "right" way to do them. Now that we have larger families (and older kids), we take many preferential things less seriously than we did when our kids were younger and that is a big relief!We also discuss that these topics are so much easier to handle when you are in a good place in your marriage. We give a few helpful hints, but encourage you to check out the marriage series I did last spring on The Better Part. Check out all episodes beginning "marriage," for MUCH more marriage discussion.

Stefani Blackwell joins me for the sixth episode in the sticky conversations series where we discuss all topics LGBTQ. This is the most commonly asked topic for us to discuss and for good reason. It is a tough one where we feel we have to battle the culture at large and teach our children truth while at the same time being respectful and loving to those around us.Stef and I talk about how to broach these subjects with kids young and old and how to talk about them honestly without ruminating on them. We give some real examples of family members and friends who struggle with SSA or gender dysphoria and how we help our kids navigate those relationships. We know that with Christ there is always hope for sinners, which includes us!We encourage you to check out Kim Zember's new podcast called "here I AM stories" where she interviews individuals who have lived the LGBTQ+ lifestyles and found their way out toward Christ. These stories give us insight into the lived experiences of those struggling and what to do (or rather what NOT to do) when in relationship with them.

Join Stef Blackwell and I again for another conversation about sticky topics we have to uncover with our kids. Today we talk about teaching our kids about disabilities, whether they be obvious, physical disabilities or not-so-obvious mental ones. This can be difficult because kids can often not know how to handle seeing someone with a big disability and be unwittingly unkind. They can also be difficult as we teach our kids about boundaries we (or they) may want to set for our children's protection. We pray this episode does not offend or that we do not share something that leads anyone astray. If you have further insight into this topic, please email me at [email protected] resources mentioned in the episode are:Book: Let's Go Play by Shelby McCarthyExpert in autism: Dr. Amanda BlackwellGame: Concept

Probably one of the most common topics for parents to DREAD talking to their kids about: SEX. This can be hard because it's a sensitive, private topic that we would like to keep private! We don't want to scar our kids with too many details, but we don't want them to learn the complete wrong things either. How do we share the right things about sex at the right time and how do we do that without 1) freaking our kids out or 2) accidentally "telling" the whole neighborhood about sex via our children?Stefani Blackwell and I begin this Sticky Conversations series by sharing about The Birds and the Bees organization, how we've implemented our own family philosophies about sex, and how starting the conversation earlier helps a lot when you are talking about the "pains and pleasures" of sex later on in your kids' lives. Listen in to hear our experiences and check out The Birds and the Bees for more content!

This prompt is brought to you by a friend and listener, and I thought it was so great! How do we get through the summer without all driving each other totally crazy?? As a homeschool mom, I have had to learn how to make life work even when everyone is home together all the time and have put together a few thoughts for you to consider as you try to make your house just a little more peaceful this summer. I hit on:Structure & routinesFood planning & boundariesCleanliness of the housePreventing over-stimulationObedienceIf your family is driving each other crazy this summer, consider making a small move in ONE of these areas at a time to see if it can help bring a little more peace into your days.

Scripture memory is one of the best ways for you to help keep Christ in your child's heart even as they grow. My family growing up memorized a few pieces of scripture that I STILL REMEMBER from childhood, and I have seen how God can draw the words back into my mind right at the moment when I need them most. I hope to hide Bible verses in my children's hearts that God may bring back up to them one day when they need it the most. In this episode, I share a Charlotte Mason system for memorizing scripture with your kids that we have implemented for a couple of years, and I can tell you from experience, it is so effective! Listen in to learn more, and I will post some pictures on Instagram (@thebetterpartpod) for more some visuals!If you would like more resources for memorizing scripture, check out my friend's amazing resources:Podcast: Memorize Scripture by Jackie AngelBook: Memorize Scripture: Simple Steps to Pray, Ponder, and Practice God's Word by Jackie Angel

Keeping seven kids clothed in things that fit them is NO SMALL TASK. So I've had to come up with some systems for how to make sure all the kids have clothing they need and that we are being good stewards of the clothing God has provided for us. In this episode, I share my tips on keeping all the kids' clothing in their size and in season. It isn't perfect, but I'll take you through the process including things that I have just let go of because you can't do everything! I also share some encouragement that helps me re-frame my brain when doing the chore of going through kids' clothing and helps me do it lovingly and with thanksgiving rather than begrudgingly! Happy clothing storage-ing, everyone!

Have you ever heard that as a family vacation is not really a vacation, but it is a trip? I wholeheartedly believe that, and I have totally embraced it! Even though it's not gonna be all spas and relaxation, a family trip is still something so special, and I love them too! Embrace the trip, and enjoy the trip, knowing that you are creating memories for your kids, spurring on bonding between siblings, and exposing them to new environments that can be meaningful to them later on! In this episode, I go through some of the things we try to do when planning trips with our family like where we stay, how we plan our itinerary, and how we help even adult-focused environments be very fun for our kids. I also share about our lightbulb moment of discovering "vacation mode" when we were on a trip to Hawaii with four little kids and just trying to survive it all!Stay tuned for a couple more practical episodes before we start our "sticky conversations" series with Stefani Blackwell!

Join me for a few announcements and LOTS of tips. Our family has done so much travel through the years, and we have learned what works for us in the car and airplane. Hear about what works for us for entertaining different aged kids, organizing your stuff, keeping babies happy and more. Next week I will share about overall travel tips for when you are away from home. Talk to you then!