The ONE question I ask to prepare for a survival season [Episode 375]

When life feels overwhelming, it’s easy to reach for your phone as an escape. A quick scroll can numb the stress for a moment, but before you know, hours are gone, your energy is drained, and the problems are still waiting. In this episode of the Thriving in Motherhood Podcast, I share how I re-designed my phone to actually support me in a survival season (postpartum, homeschooling, and juggling life with five kids). Instead of pulling me away from what matters, it now helps me stay anchored in the essentials. I’ll walk you through: Why your phone might be keeping you stuck in survival mode The simple changes I made to protect my priorities How the three pillars of thriving (scope, structure, and soul) apply even to smartphone use Practical ways to create a system that keeps you focused on what matters most If you’ve ever felt like your phone is running your life instead of helping it, this episode will give you new hope (and some concrete strategies) for making technology work for you. 💡 Want more support? Grab the FREE 5 Step Path from Surviving to Thriving Checklist at thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/checklist. And if you’re ready for deeper help, the Surviving to Thriving Toolkit gives you bite-sized lessons, systems, and mindset tools to guide you through every phase: survivingtothrivingtoolkit.com.

As moms, it’s easy to believe our limitations are holding us back. Not enough time, not enough energy, too much on our plates. But what if those very limits are the key to growth? In this week’s Thriving in Motherhood Podcast, Stephanie Stutznegger shares how embracing her limitations as a mom of four transformed her family life from burnout and clutter to systems that actually work. We talk about: The unexpected gift of limits A surprising addition to the family chore chart How she made cleaning fun again The small shifts that created big change   Her story if full of simple wins and powerful reminders that we don’t have to do it all, we just have to do it all, we just have to do it together.

As I got ready to welcome our fifth baby, I kept coming back to one question: What would this look like if it were awesome? Instead of bracing for survival mode, I asked better questions and came up with simple, practical solutions to make this postpartum season calmer and more enjoyable. In this episode, I’m sharing the four things I focused on during pregnancy to get ready, plus how you can apply these same principles to any survival season in your life. You’ll hear: The mindset shift that helped me stop dreading survival mode What I prepared (and what I didn’t) to make meals easier The simple system I created to keeps kids happy and busy One powerful question to help you set up your own support systems Whether you’re heading into a big transition or just want to feel more supported in daily life, this episode is full of ideas you can make your own.  

This year I did something different: I prepped our homeschool year before  it started. Since we’ve added a new baby to our family, I knew I needed systems that would help us stay consistent, without relying on me to coordinate everything in the moment. We’re using Alveary again, and after learning what worked (and what didn’t) last year, I made four big changes to help this year run more smoothly. I switched from digital to print: I printed all of our lesson plans and materials so we can be screen-free and fully open-and-go. I organized lessons by day of the week: Every day has a folder and matching bookmarks so even my 5-year-old knows what to grab. I set things up for independence: Book covers, color coding, and book darts help the kids take more ownership (and reduces my mental load). I reset our school space: We cleaned out last year’s work and made sure everything has a clear home so no one’s asking me where things go. These changes have helped me feel calm, prepared, and ready for a more peaceful school year, even with a newborn in the mix.  📋 Want support navigating your own season? Grab the free 5-Step Path from Surviving to Thriving Checklist to see where you’re at, and what to focus on next.  

If you’re a mom with a house full of hungry people, you already know: they eat all day long. And if you’re trying to cook more from scratch - whether to save money, reduce processed foods, or just feed your family real meals - you’ve probably hit that point where it feels overwhelming to keep up. In this episode, I’m sharing exactly what I cook from scratch every single week. This isn’t a big batch freezer meal plan or a Pinterest-worthy prep system. These are the simple things that fill in the gaps without taking tons of time or energy. You’ll hear: The 5 scratch-cooked staples I make every week (in under 10 minutes of active time each) How I build in leftovers during the week to make lunches easier Why this approach supports both independence and connection at home What it looks like to simplify food as part of the normalizing phase on the 5-step path from surviving to thriving.   If cooking from scratch feels impossible or you’re just tired of constantly figuring out what to feed everyone next, this episode is full of ideas to make it feel more doable and less draining. 📋 Grab the free Surviving to Thriving Checklist to see where you’re at on the 5-step path: 5 Step Path From Surviving to Thriving

What does it really look like to move out of endless survival mode? In this episode, I’m joined by Chelsie Jenkins, a mom of five who has weathered some of the most intense seasons life can bring: the loss of a child, cross-country moves, special needs caregiving, supporting a spouse through grad school, and more. Chelsie shares how, despite years of feeling like she was barely keeping her head above water, she began to shift her mindset, create sustainable systems, and prepare for her next big transition - adding a new baby and starting school - without spiraling back into chaos. As a founding member of the Surviving to Thriving Toolkit, Chelsie learned to: Recognize survival mode patterns Implement home systems in a way that worked with her capacity Involve her kids in meaningful ways Approach upcoming life changes with peace instead of panic If you’ve ever felt like you can’t catch a break, or like you’re failing at motherhood because everything feels so hard, this episode will offer real hope and show you how the Surviving to Thriving Toolkit can help you too.  

I’m just days away from entering the newborn phase with my fifth baby, and as we prepare for all the unknowns ahead, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons that have carried me through over the last 12 years of motherhood. In this episode, I’m sharing five truths I’m reminding myself of right now. Truths I’ve leaned on through moves, healths challenges, grief, and growing a family. If you’re in a hard season too, I hope these offer you the same lifeline they’ve offered me. I talk about: The mindset shifts that completely changed how I experience hard days One powerful question that helped me stop spiraling and start healing What I now expect when everything feels like it’s falling apart A moment that proved I’m never walking through this alone The hardest truth to accept, but the one that’s brought the most growth You don’t have to wait for life to calm down to feel better. There are simple things that can help right now! You’re not alone. And even in the middle of hard, there’s still so good ahead. If this episode was helpful and you're in a survival season, I’d love to invite you to check out the Surviving to Thriving Toolkit. It’s full of encouragement, practical things you can do today, and support for every phase of the journey—whether you’re just trying to make it through the day or starting to build something more.  

I’ve been through five pregnancies and honestly, none of them have been easy. But this one surprised me. Yes, there were hard days, but something was different. I wasn’t drowning in the way I had in the past. In fact, I’ve found myself feeling grateful, even in the middle of the hard.  And I believe anyone, pregnant or not, can experience the same shift.  In this episode, I’m talking about some simple mindset shifts, practical tools, and totally unexpected lessons that made this season feel lighter, more joyful, and even productive. If you’ve ever wondered: How do I keep moving forward when I feel stuck in survival mode? Is it possible to thrive in a season where I can barely function? Can I actually enjoy life when everything feels hard? …this episode is for you!  

Today on the podcast, I’m talking with Ginny Yurich from 1000 Hours Outside all about her : new book Homeschooling: You’re Doing It Right Just By Doing It.  But we go way beyond homeschooling — into faith, resilience, growth, and how to stop feeling behind. If you’ve ever questioned your path as a parent, homeschooler, or entrepreneur — this conversation will remind you: You’re more capable than you think. Wherever you’re at — whether homeschooling, building a life that works for your family, or figuring it out as you go — I hope this gives you some encouragement and permission to trust your path. Resources we mentioned:  Ginny’s website: 1000 Hours Outside  Follow along on Instagram: @1000hoursoutside Her new book Homeschooling: You’re Doing It Right Just by Doing It: Grab it here

When life feels overwhelming or you know you’re headed into a hard season the last thing on your mind might be a quarterly review. But I’ve found it’s exactly when I need it most. In this week’s episode of the Thriving in Motherhood Podcast, I’m walking you through how I do a quarterly review when I’m in survival mode—like right now, at the end of my pregnancy, heading into the newborn phase. Spoiler: This is not your typical "set big goals, hustle hard" kind of conversation. Instead, I’m sharing: How I reflect on what actually happened (even when the days blur together) How gratitude, small wins, and honest questions help me shift my mindset What it looks like to plan a quarter focused on surrender, presence, and creating simple joy Why your circumstances don’t have to define the memories you create If you're in a season where energy is low, the future feels uncertain, or you’re holding a lot—this episode is for you. Whether you're using the Thriving in Motherhood Planner or just grabbing a notebook, these simple prompts can help you anchor yourself and your family—even when life feels messy.