The One Thing You Need To Create A Life You Love [Episode 403]

For years, I thought I needed better systems to make motherhood and life work. Better cleaning routines, more organization, less clutter, better habits. And while I love a good system, looking back over 13 years of motherhood, I can see that systems weren't actually the thing that helped me move forward. What made the biggest difference was learning how to clear the mental clutter, find a home for all the ideas in my head, and get clear on what mattered to me and what my next step was. In this episode, I'm sharing how that process eventually became the Thriving in Motherhood Planner and how it has helped me continue moving forward through busy seasons, survival mode, homeschooling, building a business, family adventures, and everyday life. I'm also introducing the Action + Clarity Matrix and the four places we can find ourselves as moms: bored, busy but not fulfilled, bummed or frustrated, or aligned Plus, the 2027 Thriving in Motherhood Planner launch is coming soon! Join the waitlist to be notified about the pre-launch and coil-bound planner option.  https://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/planner-priority-list/

In this episode, I'm sharing what homeschooling six kids looks like for us this year. I'll walk you through our daily rhythm, the curriculum we're using, what my kids are doing independently, and what we're still doing together as a family. I'm also sharing what's working really well right now, what we're still figuring out, and how our homeschool continues to change as my kids get older.

After more than eight years of releasing weekly episodes and recently passed the 400 mark, I wanted to sit down and share what's really been going on behind the scenes. In this episode, I talk honestly about this current season of life - adding another baby, full schedules, late nights, early mornings - and what it feels like when you've been living beyond your capacity for a long time. I share why this podcast is taking a pause, what I mean by doing a "controlled burn," and how I'm learning to stop treading water and start building the boat instead. I'll talk about margin, connection, and redefining what thriving looks like when life feels full.  

In this episode, I share what I've been learning about prayer during a season that's pushed me beyond my capacity. Drawing from scripture and personal experience, I talk about bringing our weaknesses honestly to God, praying for what only He can do, and trusting that He meets us with a plan, power, and promises. If you're walking through a stretching season, I hope this episode offers encouragement, perspective, and hope.

In this episode, I share howmy thinking about politics as evolved over the last decade, and how that shapes the way I talk with my children about it. Rather than focusing on current events or party lines, I walk through the principles we return to in our home: Separating problems from people Understanding influence verses concern Valuing character and leadership And learning to solve problems without attacking one another This episode will help you consider how we can help our kids engage thoughtfully and compassionately with a complex world.

A few weeks into the new year, it's easy to feel discouraged, especially if the goals you set already feel heavy or out of reach. In this episode, I talk about why that happens and what I do instead. I share why traditional goal-setting can feel like using the wrong map in motherhood, how shifting to a vision changes the entire experience, and why the real work isn't about doing more, it's about who you're becoming along the way. I'll share: Why time-based goals often create pressure and self-doubt in full seasons of life How a vision gives direction without demanding speed or perfection Why regular reflection helps you make progress without carrying shame or discouragement  

If you want to homeschool long term, you have to stop letting one hard day convince you you're doing it wrong. In this episode, I share the mindset shifts (and practical systems) that have helped me homeschool consistently for 10+ years—through changing seasons, growing kids, and all the problems that inevitably come up. We'll talk about how to solve the right problem, how to build systems that work when life isn't ideal, and why your role isn't to panic—it's to become the person who can do this. Resources: Masterclass: How to Create a Home Where Everyone Can Thrive (Even You) ➡️ https://thrivinginmotherhood.myflodesk.com/thrive

I'm homeschooling five kids (grades 6, 4, 2, kindergarten… plus a five-month-old baby), and I'm sharing what's actually working now that real life is in full swing. I'll walk through the "filter" I'm using for curriculum decisions, what changed between my plan from seven months ago and what we're doing now, and the biggest fixes we made (especially in math and writing). I also share what our days look like right now — the flow, the routines, and the small setup decisions that make consistency possible. Resources: Other Homeschooling Videos: Favorite for 2023: PreK, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oV70d1kr9A Favorite Curriculum for Fall 2023: Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm3hJAlVTdI Homeschooling in Hard Seasons | Library System for the Best Books: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9wgIgGxQgk How I Decided Our Learning Priorities For the Summer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQkuSufQnJs Our Homeschooling Curriculum for 2024-2025 Pre-K, 1st, 3rd, 5th Grade: Alveary Update: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5MvRMKNY1E Planning A Full Year of Homeschool With A Baby On The Way | 6th, 4th, 2nd, Pre-K: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNKz4gz3MzI Curriculum: Growing Brave Writers https://bravewriter.com/products/growing-brave-writers (use this link to get $10 off: https://go.referralcandy.com/share/SVPT9W8?s=sp&t=cp) Math With Confidence: https://amzn.to/3Nezl3K Fix It Grammar: https://amzn.to/3N7CJxy Alveary: https://lddy.no/1jdpq (use code JJACKSON for $25 off) All About Spelling: https://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/all-about-spelling/?srsltid=AfmBOoq7t0vyOYoJiNU10_kw_RBcPQ6p8CuxneTYVBcK_bCtrgF3TJXb (I actually just buy the teachers manual used for a fraction of the price)  

As the year comes to a close, I'm talking about what it feels like to reflect when you're discouraged, uncertain, or just tired. When progress feels slow. When goals didn't turn out the way you hoped. When the future feels unclear. In this episode, I share the thoughts, stories, and spiritual insights that helped me reframe what it means to be "behind," why nothing you've given is wasted, and how to approach vision-setting when dreaming feels hard. I'll talk about seasons of becoming, surrender, and letting God lead when you don't have clarity yet.

Looking for books that will completely change the way you think about weight, health, and body image? From surprising medical history to cultural myths we've quietly absorbed, these reads helped me question where our ideals about "healthy," "thin," and "ideal" actually come from. Resources: Happiest Man on Earth: https://amzn.to/49lK5G6 The Secret To Unlocking The Stress Cycle: https://amzn.to/4aul90b Everything is Tuberculosis: https://amzn.to/3MMAY8F Semi-Well Adjusted Despite Literally Everything: https://amzn.to/3NbdGt8