Ask a Mentor Mom with Ruth Chou Simons

Just in time for the most divisive political week of the year, special guests Elizabeth and Chris McKinney—authors of Neighborhoods Reimagined—are here today to share the importance of finding common ground with those living near us. How do we go from pulling into the garage and shutting it behind us to actually befriending our neighbors? Using the Beatitudes as a launching point, the McKinneys offer encouragement and practical tips (simply wave! remember names! start a Facebook page! invite one or two families to gather with you!) to create neighborhood flourishing. 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. The McKinneys are helping us make the most of our neighborhoods. Listen to Money Saving Hacks to see how we’re making the most of our paychecks.    For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.   

Today, our girl Jill Atogwe is back (!) to chat about her new children’s book: Left Out — a rhyming reminder that while God didn't give everyone the same bodies or abilities, everything God left out is something He can use for His glory. From pool party insecurities and complicated health issues to feeling “left behind” in certain stages of life, we confess that trusting God’s limits and timing is not always easy—even though we know it’s always for our good. We hope this conversation reminds you that you are not alone, and also encourages you to be on the lookout for other women who might be feeling left out. 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. It’s easy to feel left out of all the commitments for kids’ activities these days. Listen to this bonus episode to see how we do extracurriculars without the guilt.    For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.   

We’re kicking off Season 10 by asking a mentor mom we adore and admire—Ruth Chou Simons—all the things about motherhood. A mom of six boys, Ruth shares her best strategy for navigating sibling arguments, how to cultivate life-long friendships with your kids, and openly answers the mother lode question: what’s your biggest regret in parenting? From small practical tips to big picture hope, this conversation ends with an encouraging line we’re still thinking about. 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. Ruth shared about all seasons of motherhood. But if you’re interested in hearing about how autumn is going for us, listen to this bonus episode: The Great Fall Reset. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.   

We’ve covered a lot of ground this season, so today—as a grand finale before we break for sabbatical—we’re doing a quick refresher on our favorite episodes. As we rehash what stuck with us—like asking better questions, gathering around the table with our families, and how technology is affecting our kids—we also give a quick update on some previously mentioned intentions (gotta love public accountability!). If you’re looking for some fun life-savers before the end of summer, Ashlee shares her go-to Costco “English Muffin Situation,” and Katie raves about the decaf cold brew she’s drinking on tap. If you missed any of the episodes mentioned, there’s plenty of time to play catchup over the summer while you try to remove sand from your kids’ swimsuits.     This show is brought to you ad-free by our generous Substack community. We’d love for you to join us! Our yearly subscriptions are on sale through July 31st. You can support us for a whole year for around $25.  For show notes, go to coffeeandcrumbs.net/podcast. Listen to one of our favorite episodes from the season: What’s Saving My Life Right Now. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.   

Today we’re going back—waaay back—and reliving the nostalgic moments, foods, songs, and smells of our younger years. Katie reminisces about the fresh scent of dewy grass on the soccer field and her Nona’s simmering spaghetti, while Ashlee shares about her childhood days doused in chlorine and the love language of her youth: mixed CDs, featuring Dashboard and Death Cab. Of course, we couldn’t chat about adolescence in the ‘90s without taking an intoxicating stroll through Bath & Body Works and remembering the anticipation of TGIF gracing our televisions. We hope this episode inspires you to crank up that old school jam and take a trip of your own down memory lane.  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. You just heard what influenced our childhoods and adolescent years, listen to this bonus episode to see what’s influencing us now. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.   

Open those library accounts and Amazon carts, because today we’re sharing our latest favorite books, just in time for summer reading. We cover everything from non-fiction to novels, with a little bit of mystery, research, and personal essays sprinkled in between. And of course, Anne Lamott’s most recent work is included (surprise, surprise). Whether you listen on Audible, read on your Kindle, or like to hold a good ol’ fashioned paperback in your hands (it all counts!), we hope these stories inspire and entertain you while you sip refreshing bubbly water and lounge in the perfect chair. 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 more stories—this time written by the Coffee + Crumbs team—listen to this bonus episode: Story Slam. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs. 

Get the tissue box out, because today we’re feeling ALL THE FEELS as we talk about launching kids into the world. Katie chats with C+C’s mentor mom Krista Gilbert and C+C writer Sonya Spillmann, both of whom hate to admit the adage is true: the days are long but the years are short. You’ll hear how these seasoned moms are leaning into the highs and lows of a long season of lasts, how they’re marking this special time with tailored celebrations, and how they’re caring for themselves along the way (spoiler alert: Sonya’s answer involves horseback riding!). Whether your baby is finishing kindergarten or heading to college in the fall, we hope this episode encourages you to embrace whatever transitional season of motherhood you’re in.  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. Happy summer! From rhythm charts to chasing down indoor activities strictly for the air conditioning, don’t miss this bonus episode about our favorite tips and tricks for surviving the summer months. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.   

Forget the bounce houses and goody bags, today we’re talking about OUR birthdays. From the simple gift of heartfelt cards to how we really feel about surprise parties, today we’re diving into the art of celebrating. You’ll also hear why Ashlee’s recent birthday was a smashing success (spoiler alert: clear communication is key!), and why Katie is fully embracing a “go big or go home” mentality as she plans for her 40th next year. We hope this episode encourages you to commemorate your friends’ birthdays, daydream a bit about your own, and get all those delightful plans on the calendar. 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. We love celebrating our birthdays, but see what Rhythms + Routines Are Currently Working For Us in our everyday lives, too. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs. 

Friends, grab your notepad and pen before you hit play on this one. Licensed professional counselor, renowned author, and co-host of the Raising Boys and Girls podcast Sissy Goff (!) is with us today—and you’re going to want to write down everything she says. Sissy is both a beacon of light and a wealth of tangible advice. We chat about fostering deep connections with our kids, guiding children toward self-confidence, and even some simple steps to change the trajectory of our families if we need a restart on the path toward healing. Sissy’s encouragement is equal parts practical and profound, and she saves her best piece of advice for last. We hope this conversation gives you reassurance and hope for parenting the exact kid(s) God knew you needed. 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. We wish more people knew about Sissy Goff! We Wish More People Knew About This bonus episode, too! For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.

How do we guide our kids as they grow up in a world where the internet is infused in practically everything they touch? Today, renowned researcher Dr. Jean Twenge joins us for an eye-opening conversation about how smartphones are affecting kids—and also us. We chat about the link between social media and depression, how boys and girls are influenced differently, and how screen time affects younger children. While this topic can often feel overwhelming and/or doomsday-esque, Dr. Twenge offers us a good mix of tangible suggestions, practical tips, and the much-needed reminder that we need to model healthy relationships with our own smartphones first. Whether you’re already navigating the phone situation with your older teens, or rocking babies and not thinking about any of this yet, we hope this episode informs and encourages you as you continue making decisions around technology in your home. 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. Speaking of bonus episodes—join us next week in Substack for Kids & Technology (Our Version), where Ashlee and Katie break down their biggest takeaways from this episode, and share more of their personal experiences navigating technology-related decisions with their kids. Need to set up more healthy habits for yourself and your family? Check out our bonus episode, Rhythms + Routines Working For Us. For more encouragement in your motherhood journey, check out the stories at Coffee + Crumbs.