Blessings and Motherhood

Latest Episodes:

Managing the Mental Load with Chelly Barnard Sep 07, 2023

Show notes

Say hello to Delise's mom, Chelly Barnard! As a mother of four and homeschool parent of over twenty years, Chelly has a unique understanding of the mental load that mothers often bear. She brings a biblical perspective to those often-overwhelming feelings of responsibility, insecurity, and ever-shrinking time to get it all done. Chelly comes prepared with her best time management tips and the most helpful habits she has developed over the years as a mom that enable her to have a healthy relationship with her mental load. She discusses investing in a good planner, keeping analog lists of recipes and groceries, placing dry-erase boards around the house for jotting down quick notes and things to remember, delegating chores to the kids (sorry, Delise!), accepting that you won't be able to get everything done on your list in one day, and turning to the Lord for guidance and comfort in bearing the mental load. Plus, Chelly tells how she was able to still have time for her hobbies during her busy seasons of parenting and homeschooling. Join us for this conversation packed with insights you won't want to miss!

Show notes: blessingsandmotherhood.com/managing-the-mental-load

Did you know Classical Conversations® Challenge students can earn college credit for the coursework they already complete? To learn more, visit ClassicalConversationsPlus.com.

Raising Two Under Two and Looking Back Over the Years with Robin Barnes Aug 03, 2023

Show notes

Happy August! In this delightful conversation, hosts Delise and Ginny chat with Robin Barnes, a homeschool mom of three (including twins!). Having experience raising children with a ten-year age gap, Robin shares all about her motherhood journey, considering the lessons she would go back and tell her younger self, the importance of giving children encouragement, and ways busy moms can find time alone in the Scriptures. Plus, Robin reflects on her homeschooling journey. With one of her children having trouble learning to read, she speaks to dealing with situations where one child struggles in a subject that another child excels in. Lastly, Robin celebrates the best part of her motherhood journey—embracing the flexibility and freedom that come with homeschooling, allowing her more time with her children to build lifelong relationships!

Show notes: blessingsandmotherhood.com/robin-barnes

Did you know Classical Conversations® Challenge students can earn college credit for the coursework they already complete? To learn more, click here.

3 Big Questions That Shape Your Future with Kristel Acevedo Jul 06, 2023

Show notes

Is there anything to be hopeful about in the next generation of Christians? In this episode, Delise and Ginny sit down with Kristel Acevedo to talk about teen ministry and discipleship. Kristel is the Spiritual Formation Director at Transformation Church in South Carolina and co-author of the book 3 Big Questions That Shape Your Future. Her radiant passion for teen ministry and contagious hope for the future of the next generation of Christians shine through in this conversation as she offers insights and encouragement to all parents, not just those with teenage children in the home! Of course, one of the biggest challenges faced by teenagers is figuring out who they are. With so many voices in our culture telling teens who they should be, Kristel offers some advice for parents on how to encourage teenage children to develop into who God made them to be as well as how to trust God when it feels like they are slipping away from that identity. Kristel also shares a bit of her personal journey, explaining why she really struggled to accept her identity in Christ and bringing to light why it is so important that Christians embrace their ethnic and cultural heritages as part of their identities.

Show notes: blessingsandmotherhood.com/talking-to-teens-with-kristel-acevedo

Mother-Daughter Boundaries: Finding Balance and Connection Through the Years Jun 01, 2023

Show notes

For any mom seeking advice on how to navigate a parent-adult child relationship or needing encouragement during a season of struggle, we hope you find comfort in this month's conversation of Blessings and Motherhood! In this episode, mom-daughter combo Julie Melendez and Lauren Clickner hop on the show to talk about how they have nurtured their relationship as parent and child over thirty-some years. In this conversation packed with insights and encouragement from both guests, Julie begins by shining a light on an often unspoken truth about motherhood: that this is a journey that just keeps getting better year after year, even as an empty nester! Together, Julie and Lauren discuss setting spoken boundaries and recognizing unstated ones, honoring one another as both parents and children, navigating all the roles that moms balance, and pouring into your child's gifts and interests, all while generally reflecting on how their own relationship has transformed since Lauren was a child to now being a wife and mother herself. Bravely, Lauren also shares her story of going through a miscarriage early in her marriage and losing her first daughter, a tragedy she and her mom both dealt with in their own ways.

Show notes: blessingsandmotherhood.com/mother-daughter-boundaries

Creating Family Rhythms, How To Build A Strong Foundation with Michelle Oliver May 04, 2023

Show notes

How can we lay a foundation in our homes for our children to stand upon and grow into mature adults who love to learn and love Jesus? In this episode, Michelle Oliver, the MA Program Academic Lead at Classical Conversations®, joins Delise and Ginny to talk about what building this strong foundation really looks like on a day-to-day basis. Michelle shares practical advice for moms balancing all the things, the importance of establishing "liturgies for the home," how she guided her children in developing discernment, and the daily habits she practices to cultivate a healthy prayer life. Finally, she talks about her involvement in and love for the Master of Arts program with Classical Conversations Plus through Southeastern University, and why this is an excellent opportunity for Classical Conversations parents to learn the philosophy behind classical education, level up their homeschooling skills, and enjoy discussions and fellowship with like-minded individuals passionate about lifelong learning.

Show notes: blessingsandmotherhood.com/creating-family-liturgies

Savoring Moments with Lisa Bailey Apr 06, 2023

Show notes

It's the ultimate crossover episode . . . Delise and Ginny are joined by CC legend and host of the Everyday Educator podcast Lisa Bailey! Lisa recently became a grandmother, so in this conversation, she chats about parenting versus grandparenting. As a parent, she was often so focused on doing everything right that she missed out on opportunities to enjoy the small, simple moments of her children just growing up. But now, as she is blessed with the chance to relive those moments with her grandson, she can be more present and treasure every minute. Of course, with the much-anticipated release of Scribblers at Home: Recipes from Lifelong Learning, Lisa also talks about her involvement in creating this new Classical Conversations® resource and what it really means to play intentionally with our children. Finally, she shares some practical tips for setting boundaries as a parent and emphasizes the importance of asking our children questions instead of rushing in to give them the answers. As you listen, we hope Lisa's wisdom and joy shines through this conversation and leaves you inspired and uplifted!

Show notes: blessingsandmotherhood.com/savoring-moments-with-lisa-bailey

Being the Neighborhood Mom with Crystal Storey Mar 02, 2023

Show notes

Do you know those moms, perhaps in your neighborhood growing up or where you live now, whose houses were the gathering places for all the local kids? Crystal Storey is one of those moms, and she certainly has great stories to tell! In this conversation, Crystal tells the incredible story of God calling her to become a "neighborhood mom," stories of being a light to children in her area, and the miraculous story of God healing her daughter from life-threatening bacterial meningitis—a story that speaks to the power of lots and lots of prayer. In addition, Crystal gets practical, offering tips for feeding a full house of hungry teenagers and for creating boundaries to make the home a welcoming but safe space. Plus, she shares a key piece of advice to aspiring neighborhood moms—to be real and authentic with kids.

Show notes: blessingsandmotherhood.com/being-a-prayer-warrior-mom-with-crystal-storey

Dating Your Spouse with Cristina Smith Feb 02, 2023

Show notes

How can you continue to date your spouse into marriage? During this conversation, Delise and Ginny are joined by their good friend Cristina Smith to chat about dating in marriage. Together, they explore what Scripture says about dating, suggest ideas for dates, and recall their favorite dates over the years. In true classical fashion, the three take a step back, attempting to define a "date" and consider the purpose of dating in the first place. Remember—no marriage is perfect. So don't expect anything less from this episode than an honest conversation about the reality of dating amid busy lives with homes full of busy kids.

Also, a note on our updated release schedule for Blessings and Motherhood: episodes will now be released on the first Wednesday of every month. So, make sure to subscribe to not miss an episode, and join us on the Blessings and Motherhood journey in 2023

Show notes: blessingsandmotherhood.com/dating-your-spouse-with-cristina-smith

Learning Together with Leigh Bortins Jan 05, 2023

Show notes

Happy New Year! In our first episode of 2023, join Delise and Ginny as they sit down with Leigh Bortins, the founder of Classical Conversations®. As a mother of four adult boys and a grandmother of three littles, Leigh has years of experience in building strong and intentional family relationships. Be inspired by Leigh's insights on parenting little ones versus adult children and her advice on fostering a love of learning in children at an early age. Of course, it's not all sunshine and rainbows—Leigh also describes how she must constantly remind herself of who she is in Christ during difficult times of motherhood. This conversation kicks off a new year of Blessings and Motherhood with a great start, and it's one to put at the top of your queue!

Show notes: blessingsandmotherhood.com/learning-together-with-leigh-bortins

Navigating a New Year with Purpose Dec 22, 2022

Show notes

Can you believe it's almost 2023? With all the craziness that comes with Thanksgiving and Christmas, it's easy to forget to set aside time to reflect on the past year and prepare for the new one. In this conversation, Delise and Ginny talk about fresh starts. They discuss everything from looking back in order to look forward, choosing a word to keep top of mind throughout the new year, and fanning into flame your family's gifts.

From Delise and Ginny and everyone at Classical Conversations®, thank you to our listeners of Blessings and Motherhood in 2022. It's been a great first year of the podcast, and we're excited to bring you more encouraging episodes in 2023!

Show notes: blessingsandmotherhood.com/navigating-a-new-year-with-purpose

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected