The Greta Eskridge Podcast

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Latest Episodes:

Writing a New Story After Rejection—Healing and Hope is Possible with Tabitha Panariso Feb 25, 2025

Hi friends! There is only one more week to pre-order my book It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn: a Parent’s Guide to Helping Children and Teens Develop Sexual Integrity. If you haven’t pre-ordered yet, it is not too late to do so! You will have access to the fabulous pre-order bonuses available right here. And you’d be helping me get the book in front of more people. Thank you so much for supporting me, this book and my message to help kids and families.

And now onto episode 53! I got to talk to my new friend Tabitha Panariso about her incredible new book, Loyal in His Love: An Invitation to Be Held by Jesus When Others Let You Go. This book is so special, insightful and comforting. It deeply touched me. And talking to Tabitha was like the icing on the cake because she, like her book, is wise and comforting. You’ll love this conversation. I sure did.

Where to find Tabitha:

Find her book here

Find her on Substack here

Find her on Instagram here

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

My Favorite Books, Being a Sprinkle Influencer, Mid Life Hormones and more! with Greta Eskridge Feb 18, 2025

First off, a reminder for you! Now is the time to pre-order my book It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn: a Parent’s Guide to Helping Children and Teens Develop Sexual Integrity. The book comes out in 2 short weeks and your pre -orders are wildly important to helping this book get into more hands. Thank you for supporting this book and its message to help kids and families.

Now onto episode 52! It’s another fun Q+A session with me. I answered quite a few of the questions you sent in. I explained how I became a sprinkle influencer, how my midlife hormones are doing, shared some of my favorite books, and some more fun stuff. I love doing these Q + A episodes because I feel like I am just hanging out with you. Be sure to check out the links below. There are some good ones in from this episode.

Where to find Greta:

Find Greta on Instagram here

Find Greta’s books here

Find Greta’s website here

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Find Dutch sprinkles here and here

Find my fave tide pooling beach in Malibu here

Find the Huntington Gardens here

Find The Getty Museum here

Find my fave faith filled book here and here

Find 2 of my fave fiction books here and here

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Helping Kids Grow a Bolder Faith with Biographies with Leah Boden Feb 11, 2025

I’m so glad you’re here for episode 51 with my dear friend, Leah Boden! Leah, who is also known as Modern Miss Mason, is a long time, in real life friend, who lives far from me in England. But we love each other so much we have stayed connected through occasional visits and long talks on Voxer over the miles and years.

In this episode Leah tells us all about a new book series she’s written called Tales of Boldness and Faith. The first two books in the series were just released and we get to hear all about them.

These books are narrative biographies written for the middle grade reader, but they are books that any parent will love reading with their kids, or on their own like me. You’ll love listening to how Leah grew this series from the seed of an idea into fully blossomed books. And you’ll love hearing all the fun tidbits about writing the books, and the fun surprises she has hidden in the books for your kids to discover. They might love listening to this episode too. Above all, these books will inspire your kids to grow a bigger, bolder faith.

Don’t forget to pre-order my book It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn: a Parent’s Guide to Helping Children and Teens Develop Sexual Integrity. The book comes out in 3 short weeks and your pre -orders are wildly important to helping this book get into more hands. Thank you for helping me spread the word!

Where to find Leah:

Find her on Instagram here

Find her website here

Find her books here

Find her community on Substack here

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Making Family Travel Affordable, the Magic of Misadventure and more! with Christina Franco Feb 04, 2025

Hi friends! This is episode 50 of the Greta Eskridge Podcast. If you didn’t get to listen to my first interview with Christina, you need to be sure to go back and listen to episode 49. You’ll love getting to know Christina and her story better.

In this episode we focused on what Christina’s life looks like now as a homeschool mom who loves to travel and adventure with her family, and how she makes it happen.

That is where I think this episode shines!

You’ll want to hear what Christina has learned about making family travel doable and affordable as she shares tips with us like: traveling in the off season, and especially midweek, reaching out to hotel and homeowners directly (not through Air B&B!) and exploring your own part of the world with day trips instead of making it an overnight.

And if you feel like travel is impossible for you, remember what I shared about travel with my kids when we didn’t have a big, or any, travel budget: I traveled the world by exploring where I lived! You don’t have to go far or go big to make your travel count. There is beauty, adventure and inspiration all around you.

There is so much more on this episode: we talked about the magic of misadventure, how it connects us, the time I peed in a trashcan while tent camping in the middle of a lightening storm in Yosemite, apologizing to our kids when we don’t handle misadventure well…..you’re gonna love it!

Where to find Christina:

Find her on Instagram here

Find her media and travel inspo Instagram account here

Find her You Tube channel here

Find her podcast here

Find her Made 2 Homeschool community here

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Find Air B&B here

Find my book on connecting with your kids through adventure right here

Find the Made 2 Homeschool digital conference here

Seeing God’s Hand When Life Takes an Unexpected Turn with Christina Franco Jan 28, 2025

So this episode starts in what appears to be the new way I begin podcasts now--messing up my guest’s last name. Guys! This is becoming a real problem for me. Insert palm to forehead. But my guest Christina Franco handled it just fine. And you might know Christina Franco better by her Instagram name, Rooted Home Life. Christina is a home schooling mom, a content creator on Instagram and you tube, a lover of travel and adventure.

The conversation we had planned for this episode was going to focus on Christina’s life as those things, but it took a different turn as we talked about her choice to drop out of high school as a teenager, and how she chose a less traditional path for learning. Then we discussed how she became a public high school teacher, went through a divorce, never thought she’d marry again, but did, and then eventually became a home schooler. It was such a good conversation about how life may take some unexpected and even difficult turns, but God’s hand is present the whole time. It was beautiful to hear Christina share her story. I just loved this episode, and I know you will too. Enjoy!

Remember, one of the best ways to show your support for me and this podcast is to leave a review and to share with your friends! I can’t tell you how much both of those things help my podcast and my message get out into the world. Would you consider doing one, or both those things today? Thank you!

Where to find Christina:

Find her on Instagram here

Find her media company on Instagram here

Find her on You Tube here

Find her podcast here

Find her Made 2 Homeschool community here

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Book Q+A with Greta Eskridge Jan 21, 2025

What a joy it is to finally share some bits of my newest book with you! I am so excited that in just 6 weeks you’ll be able to begin using it to help your families. While this is the book I never wanted to write, I am glad that God gave me the strength and courage to do so. Even more, I am glad that so many of you will have the tools to protect your kids from danger and damage of pornography. I know this book, It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn: a Parent’s Handbook to Helping Children and Teens Develop Sexual Integrity, will be a great help to many. I am celebrating that!

So in advance of the book coming out, and in hopes to help you see all the ways it will be helpful to every parent, teacher, youth worker, aunt, uncle, and anyone who cares about kids, I am answering questions you asked about the book.

I am also asking you to help me spread the news about the book by sharing my Instagram post about it, sharing this podcast episode, and by pre-ordering the book if you haven’t already. Your support will get this book into so many more hands!

If you’d like to pre-order the book, below you’ll find all the places to do so. Thank you for all your help and support. You can’t know what it means to me, and far more to the many kids and families whose lives will be touched because of you.

Where to pre-order my new book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Christian Book.com (currently on sale!)

Baker Book House (currently on sale!)

Thrift Books

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Whole Health Living with Elizabeth Parsons Jan 14, 2025

Today’s guest is my internet friend, Elizabeth Parsons. I found Elizabeth a few years ago when I ordered some of her elderberry syrup kits and over the years, I’ve learned so much from her.

She is a former pediatric RN, a home-schooling mom to 6 and she runs her own holistic living business.

Elizabeth helped me learn to pursue natural healing remedies for my family, starting with her elderberry syrup. Her Instagram page is full of truly helpful tips from what to do when your child has a wart, to how to help your child with an ear infection or a burn and so much more. I have learned so much from her in an area of my life and motherhood where I really wanted to grow.

In this episode Elizabeth and I talk about how she moved from the traditional medical field to a more wholistic, natural led mindset, when there is a place for each. We also talk about her surprise twins born at home, yes really! We cover home schooling, making simple choices to start whole health living and so much more! I loved our conversation, and I know you will too.

Please be sure to follow Elizabeth so you can start learning from her too.

Where to find Elizabeth:

On her website here

On Instagram here

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Find Elisabeth’s elderberry syrup here

See the “Swaps Highlight” in Elizabeth’s Instagram highlights here

Find more information on Bible Study Fellowship here

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

French Feast with Madame Lee Jan 07, 2025

Hello friends and happy new year! This is the first episode of 2025 and it is a wonderful one. Before we get to it though, I want to be sure to remind you to pre-order my upcoming book, It's Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn: A Parent's Guide to Helping Children and Teens Develop Sexual Integrity. You can place your pre-order here . When you pre-order, you won’t pay until the book is sent to you,, you’ll get the lowest price on the book, and best of all, you’ll be helping get this book and it’s vitally important message out into the world! Pre-orders really can do that. The book will release on March 4th, so please get those preorders in today!|

Now about today’s episode.

I loved talking with my friend, Sue Lee, or Madame Lee, as her French students call her. Sue is a real life friend of mine, a home schooling mom to 3 and a home school French teacher to students all over the US. She is wise and funny, smart and cultured, motivational and kind. She’s just great!

Sue shares her story of learning 4 languages, and ultimately landing on French as her absolute favorite. She also shares why she believes it is so important for everyone to learn a new language and how doing so opens up worlds of culture, art, food and culture. You will come away from this episode inspired to learn French alongside your kids with Sue’s new course, French Feast with Madame Lee. I know you’ll love this episode! Find all the info about Sue and her courses below.

Where to find Madame Lee:

On her website here

On Instagram here

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Find French Feast here

Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry here

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Q & A with Greta! with Greta Eskridge Dec 31, 2024

Hello friends and Happy New Year! Or happy New Years Eve, depending on when you listen to this. Whenever it is, I am so glad you are here. Thank you for being a part of my community in 2024 and I pray you continue in 2025.

For this last episode of the year I decided to do a Q & A. It was a lot of fun! And I promise that if I didn’t get to your question this time, I will in the future since I am going to be adding these to my podcast line up every month or so. Thank you for sending in such great questions. You make my job easy!

And this is your last reminder of 2024 to you to grab your copy of my upcoming book, It's Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn: a Parent’s Guide to Helping Children and Teens Develop Sexual Integrity. If you pre-order now you’ll get it as soon as it releases, won’t get charged until the book ships, and your orders get the book out into more book stores and retailers. It truly helps more people see this book and get the message they need so much! Pre order info below!

I am already looking forward to all that 2025 holds and I can’t wait to share it with you.

God bless you!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Pre-order your copy of It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn here

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

A Christmas Tale from 1914 with Greta Eskridge Dec 24, 2024

Merry Christmas all! Whether you are up late wrapping presents, up early making breakfast, or on a long drive to visit family and friends, I am glad to spend a little bit of Christmas with you.

In this episode I am so excited to share one of our family’s favorite Christmas stories with you. It is a true story from WWI, and happened on Christmas eve and Christmas day in 1914. There are numerous places where you can read about the real life event. There are even pictures, taken by soldiers who were there experiencing it.

This is a heartwarming tale and I hope it fills your heart with hope. And that it will remind you that even in the darkest times, the light still shines!

God bless you all.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Get your copy of Shooting at the Stars here

Read more about the Christmas truce of 1914 here

See pictures and watch a video about the Christmas truce of 1914 here

See James and Lilly’s original coloring sheets here

Making Christmas Meaningful with Lyndsey Mimnagh Dec 17, 2024

In this episode I got to talk with the wonderful Lyndsey Mimnagh of Treehouse Schoolhouse. Lyndsey and I talk for a bit about home schooling and then we get to the heart of the episode, celebrating Christmas with our families in meaningful and intentional ways. This episode is full of inspiration and ideas, but also there is a lot of grace for the mom who might feel overwhelmed by Christmas when she’s in a tough season. Lindsey offers fun and creative ideas, but she’s also great at providing simple and practical ways for any family to have fun at Christmas.

There are so many ideas for Christmas this year and next. I came away inspired and I bet you will too.

Where to find Lyndsey:

Find Lyndsey on her website here

Find Lyndsey on Instagram here

Find Lyndsey on You tube here

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Get 15% off all products from the Treehouse Schoolhouse shop here

*Use the code GRETAESKRIDGE15

Find Greta’s cinnamon roll recipe here

Find The Legend of the Candy Cane book here

Find An Orange for Frankie book here

Find The Christmas Miracle of Jonathon Toomey here

Find the “Favorite Things” party details here

Find the “If You’re Sad at Christmas” post here

Some of my favorite quotes from this episode:

“We need to see something pretty that helps us strive toward something and at the same time we need to know how to do it. I want to be a place that provides both.” Lyndsey Mimnagh

“We can see who God has designed our children to be when they play.” Lyndsey Mimnagh

“School doesn’t have to be in a classroom. School doesn’t even need to be in a home. School can be outside!” Lyndsey Mimnagh

“If you missed the start date of advent, you can start on whatever day of December you’re on! This is the freedom we need as we celebrate Christmas.” Greta Eskridge

“Wherever you are at this moment in December, it’s OK to say, I am going to put some of these ideas into practice this week. It’s not too late!” Greta Eskridge

“If you are in a season where it feels heavy and hard, and you have circumstances that don’t lend themselves to doing all the Christmas things, that is OK. But also, if you are in a season where you can, or you are a person who finds doing all the crafts and Christmas activities life giving, that is OK too. We can be in both places at different times.” Greta Eskridge

“What kids want and need is a calm and peaceful mom.” Lyndsey Mimnagh

“Even if I want to be the Pinterest Christmas mom, if that comes at the expense of my peace, then it is not worth it for me.” Lyndsey Mimnagh

“You have the freedom to do as much or as little as you can mange this Christmas because the focus of Christmas is Jesus and that is what we want to bring our kids back to over and over again.” Greta Eskridge

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Tending to Your Heart with Alyssa Bethke Dec 10, 2024

Don’t forget to pre-order my new book, It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Children and Teens Develop Sexual Integrity. This is the book you need to give you all the tips and tools for keeping your kids safe from the danger and damage pornography can cause. And most importantly, this book will help you feel confident and comfortable having some of the most challenging conversations with your kids. Pre-order it today, right here!

What a perfect time to talk to my friend Alyssa Bethke about her new book, When Doing it All is Undoing You: Meeting God in Your Unmet Expectations. The Christmas season feels so full of to-do lists and activities and many, many expectations that are impossible for us to meet and that leaves us feeling like we’re letting down others and often feel let down ourselves. Alyssa shares her own journey of coming to a place of being undone and what it looked like to draw near to Jesus and His care for her when she began to tend her heart.

We also talk about the importance of travel, having novelty and wonder in our lives, and peeing in the woods! So take a deep breath and settle in to be encouraged by this episode. I know you’ll come away from this episode feeling refreshed.

Where to find Alyssa:

Find her and her husband Jeff’s website here

Find Alyssa on Instagram here

Find Alyssa’s book here

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Matt 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Ann Voskcamp’s gratitude journal here

Some of my favorite quotes from this episode:

“When I go for my walks, I try to notice one thing that is different or new. It helps me be less distracted and more present, to put away my phone and to ask myself what do I see and what do I feel?” Alyssa Bethke

“Being an observant person, a curious person, a person who finds joy in your every day are powerful and important things to make a part of our everyday life.” Greta Eskridge

“I felt like it was my responsibility to make sure everyone around me was OK.” Alyssa Bethke

“I think you need a season of caring for your heart.” Alyssa Bethke

“The goal of life is not to be free of pain but to be more and more intimate with the Lord, and letting Him see us through the pain rather than keep us from the pain.” Alyssa Bethke

“It’s OK to come undone and come to the end of ourselves because that is where God does His best work in our lives.” Alyssa Bethke

“I wanted to live in my ideal life not my reality, but when we are honest with God He will meet us in our reality.” Alyssa Bethke

“God always meets us with such grace and kindness. It’s His kindness that leads us to repentance.” Alyssa Bethke

“We have to ask ourselves, ‘who or what are we doing all this for? What is my legacy? What do I want to leave behind?’” Greta Eskridge

“Every day I go for a 30 minute walk, without my phone, and I’m going to talk to God. And I ask myself, ‘where have I felt God’s presence and where have I not felt God’s presence’? This was such a time for me to tend to my heart and commune with Jesus.” Alyssa Bethke

“The world is telling you all these things you need to be and do and that is going to leave you disappointed. But instead, by tending your heart and going to Jesus you’re going to find the antidote to that anxiety and stress and disappointment.” Greta Eskridge

“There is always wonder to behold so go on a wonder hunt!” Alyssa Bethke

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Christmas Books and More with the Good Book Mom with Corrie Johnson Dec 03, 2024

Where to Find Corrie:

Find her website here

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Find Corrie Ten Boom’s book, The Hiding Place here

Find out about visiting Corrie’s grave here

Read about when Davy and I visited Corrie Ten Boom’s grave here

Find the graphic novel Corrie ten Boom’ story here

Find Good Book Mom’s reviews and book lists here

Find the Christmas Mice book here

Find the Promises Made, Promises Kept book here

Find the Manger in Danger book here

Find the A Wonderous Mystery book here

Find the Little Pilgrims Progress book here

Find the Little Christmas Carol book here

Find The Best News of All book here

Find the Shooting Stars book here

A Thanksgiving Tale for the Weary Mom with Greta Eskridge Nov 26, 2024

Happy Thanksgiving my friends! I am delighted to share a Thanksgiving tradition I’ve had for the past 6 years with you today. Every year the day or 2 before Thanksgiving I share a post I wrote years ago detailing a Thanksgiving misadventure I had with my kiddos that involved an overturned Trader Joe’s grocery cart and myself and two of my kids sitting in the middle of the grocery aisle crying.

It was rough.

And it felt so symbolic of the weary season of motherhood I was in at the time. I wrote the piece to remember that moment, but even more to remember that weariness. I don’t ever want to be smug towards a mom of littles who is stretched so thin and just needs to be seen and heard.

So this essay is for you if you are in that season now, or if you need to remember it. I am with you in both those places.

I hope you enjoy hearing me read it!

And if you’d like to read it yourself, you’ll find it right here.

Thanks for listening and sharing!

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Gaining Wisdom from Seasoned Mothers with Elizabeth Ensor Nov 19, 2024

I truly loved this conversation with my long time internet friend, Elizabeth Ensor. Elizabeth is so inspiring to me. She is intentional in her role as a wife, mother, home educator, a creative and as a woman. She wants to make the most and the best with what she has, and she is doing it! In this episode Elizabeth shares with us about the guide she created to glean wisdom from mothers farther along the path than we are. After Elizabeth’s mom passed away, Elizabeth missed being able to talk to her mom with questions and really she had a yearning for godly wisdom from seasoned mothers. So she made what she was looking for! Learn all about this resource she made. She tells us more in today’s episode.

Where to find Elizabeth:

Find her website here

Find her Seasoned Moms guide here

Find her on Instagram here

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Find the Seasoned Moms Interview Guide here

Some favorite quotes from this episode:

“My mom was always right there and very intentional about what we did.” Elizabeth Ensor

“Her approach to motherhood and life has inspired me and every good part of me is from her!” Elizabeth Ensor

“There is this idea in the business world, this 3 percent rule that if you invest back into yourself, you set money aside, then you are going to grow as a person and a leader. So even as a mom and home educator, we may not be bringing in a lot, but our emotional health and wisdom runs the home.” Elizabeth Ensor

“Every seasoned mom just tells me to enjoy it. Enjoy your kids.” Elizabeth Ensor

“Wisdom is mentioned in the Bible over 200 times and we are commanded to seek it.” Elizabeth Ensor

“We need to have the humility to say, ‘I don’t have this all figured out and I need some help and wisdom from someone farther along than me and someone whose children I admire. Those are the people I want to learn from.” Greta Eskridge

“The investment you make, not just in your children but in yourself as a mom, to raise your children well is valuable.” Greta Eskridge

“Whatever season I am in, I want to fully enjoy it.” Greta Eskridge

“We need to be heard in the moments when it’s hard and then we need to be reminded to really celebrate, even when it’s hard, because the seasons don’t last forever.” Greta Eskridge

Disciple Them Like Jesus—How to Disciple Our Kids with Barrett Johnson Nov 12, 2024

I am thrilled to introduce today’s guest to you. Barrett Johnson is the founder of a ministry called Imperfect Normal Families Only. Barrett is just like the title of his ministry, so real and so approachable. I loved talking with him.

In this episode we talk about Barrett’s newest book, Disciple Them Like Jesus: Leading Your Kids the Way Christ Led the Twelve. We discussed what discipleship is and how we can disciple our kids. As a dad to 5 and grandparent to 8, Barrett is full of practical and Godly wisdom for raising our kids to know and love Jesus better. I found his book and our conversation so helpful.

Please be sure to listen to the end of this episode as Barrett shares a current battle he’s facing and yet manages to encourage mightily. I’d be so grateful if you’d join me in praying for him.

Resources:

His website here

His Instagram here

His book here

His courses here

My new book here

“We’re all imperfect, normal families and we serve a God who loves us that way!” Barrett Johnson

“The Bible is full of principles, guidelines, directives and stories about what is important to God. And that is training people up to know who Jesus is and join Him on His big agenda to redeem humanity. The Great Commission says to ‘go and make disciples’.” Barret Johnson

“If making disciples is important to God, why wouldn’t we be doing that in our homes?” Barrett Johnson

“Discipleship fundamentally is learning to walk in the ways of Jesus and join Him in His plan. Live out Ephesians 5:1. Be imitators of God.” Barrett Johnson

“Since our kids imitate us, we need to imitate God.” Greta Eskridge

“When we walk with God, He helps us discern and see what is really going on in the heart of our child. Not just their behavior, but what is happening in their heart.” Barrett Johnson

“We need to model to our kids how to pursue relationship with Christ.” Greta Eskridge

“When your kid comes to you and confesses something you can say to him, ‘we’re going to run together to the arms of God’.” Barrett Johnson

“Deeply connected relationships with our kids do not happen automatically or accidentally.” Greta Eskridge

“I am finding joy and wonder in lots of little things that I would have neglected before my current circumstance. I am saying, ‘God, show me the good things in this day that you’ve given me.” Barrett Johnson

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

I Always Wanted to Tell Stories and Write Books with Millie Florence Nov 05, 2024

*Don’t forget to pre-order my new book, It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Children and Teens Develop Sexual Integrity. You can get your copy here!

And would you consider leaving this podcast a rating and writing a quick little review? A sentence or two would be so great and helpful. You can leave one here.

Both of these things would be so helpful to me in spreading the word about my mission to help families create connection in a disconnected world. Join me!

Today I am so excited to welcome homeschool grad and young author, the wonderful Millie Florence! This was my first time meeting Millie, but we share some friends and life experiences, so it felt like we were old friends right away. Millie has multiple middle grade novels out in the world, and her newest novel, Beyond Mulberry Glen comes out in January of 2025. I loved talking to Millie about this new book, about home schooling, about creativity, writing, publishing and more! I know you’ll love this conversation too. Enjoy!

Where to find Millie:

Her website here

Her newest book here

Her Instagram here

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Pre-order goodies here

Brave Writer (a home school writing program) here

Honey Butter (Millie’s first book) here

Ingram Spark (self-publishing book distributor) here

Waxwing Books (Millie’s publisher) here

Some favorite quotes from this episode:

“Home school is customizable.” Millie Florence

“My mom wanted our home school to be directed by the things we delighted in.” Millie Florence

“There was never a time in my life when I didn’t want to be a writer.” Millie Florence

“You’re never going to be ready. You just have to do it.” Sarah Mackensie

“Look at what you have and use that to the best of your ability.” Millie Florence

Home Schooling in High School--Yes You Can! with Alicia Hutchinson Oct 29, 2024

I am delighted to introduce you to today’s guest, my friend Alicia Hutchinson. Alicia and I have been online friends for a long time, and I have enjoyed learning from and have been inspired by her through those years. Alicia is a home schooling mom of 4, the founder of the Learning Well Community and the Learning Well Journal. She is not afraid to go deep and in fact, she’d much rather go deep than waste time with small talk. As a result, we dive deep right away in this podcast episode where we talk about a lot of things, but especially focus on home schooling in the high school years. I know you will enjoy this episode!

Where to find Alicia:

On her website here

In her home school journal here

On Instagram here and here

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Some favorite quotes from this episode:

“Hard things are not bad things, and sometimes they’re the best things!” Alicia Hutchinson

“The growth that happens from 14-18 is phenomenal and I would not miss that for the world.” Alicia Hutchinson

“High school is like the frosting on the cake!” Alicia Hutchinson

“There is a fear that comes with keeping kids home in high school but we don’t have to give into that.” Greta Eskridge

“I can’t teach my kids physics, but I bet I can find someone who can!” Greta Eskridge

“Everything you say yes to, you are saying no to something else.” Alicia Hutchinson

Helping Teens Own Their Faith with Dave Boden Oct 22, 2024

Don’t forget to pre-order my new book! Get your copy of It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn—A Parent’s Guide to Helping Children and Teens Develop Sexual Integrity clicking on the title of the book.

Today’s episode is extra fun because it is my first episode with a guest from outside the Untied States. Meet Dave Boden, my friend from England! Dave is also the husband of one of my dear friends, Leah Boden, who is also known as Modern Miss Mason. Dave and I thought it was great fun that he was a guest on my show before Leah was. We sure had a great time together in this episode. I especially loved talking to Dave about his heart for reaching the next generation for Christ. Whether you have teens in your life or will one day, this episode will remind you that teenagers and young adults are craving meaning and purpose in their lives and we can help them find that through Jesus. I know you’ll love this conversation.

Where to find Dave:

On Substack here

His website here

On Instagram here

His book Like or Follow here

His book Parallel Faith here

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Get a discount on bulk orders of Dave’s book Like or Follow from 10 of Those here

Some favorite quotes from this episode:

“The heart of my family is all about the next generation. That is what we’re passionate about. We’re captivated by reaching the next generation.” Dave Boden

“If we’re open to teens and we don’t think the worst of them, we’ll see they’re such incredible people. At that time of life, they’re so excited about the world and they have ideas and questions and they want to learn.” Greta Eskridge

“Discover how Jesus can reframe your world with hope and purpose.” Dave Boden

“A part of our call as Christians is to leave our Christian bubble, bridge the gap and go where people are.” Dave Boden

“There are three questions every person has: who am I, what am I here for and where do I belong? Young people are asking these questions and searching for the answers.” Dave Boden

“Jesus is a real person who answers the real questions in our lives, but the places young people are searching won’t necessarily lead them to this answer.” Dave Boden

“Your kid might be pretty good at attending church. But the goal of Christianity is not to church people. The goal of Christianity is to help people become like Jesus.” Dave Boden

“So for me the end result is how Christ like are my children becoming? And how can our children become Christ like if they don’t know Christ?” Dave Boden

“Young people are looking for adventure. They’re looking for a sense of purpose. They are looking to right wrongs. And they’re longing for hope.” Dave Boden

“Teen don’t want to just be told about their faith. They want to go out and do it!” Dave Boden

“We’re meant to be inspired by Jesus and then go out and do inspiring things with Jesus! That message is incredible for teenagers! It helps them know they’re called to a great destiny.” Dave Boden

“Let’s rebel against low expectations! Jesus has incredible expectations for all His disciples.” Dave Boden

“Parents are so scared of the teen years. And I just tell them that it is an amazing time! Just like they were incredible humans when they were babies and toddlers and preschoolers, they’re incredible humans when they’re teenagers!” Greta Eskridge

“We should say to teens, “look at all you can do as a young person of faith!” Greta Eskridge

“As parents we need to support our kids as they make their faith their own. And a lot of times that looks like saying, “yes, you can have your friends over to sit around and talk about God. I’ll make snacks.” Greta Eskridge

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Making a Place to Belong with Amber Johnston Oct 15, 2024

This is your reminder to pre-order my new book, It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn: a Parent’s Guide to Helping Children and Teens Develop Sexual Integrity, today!

I have been asked to write this book for years and now, I have! Your pre-orders are tremendously helpful in growing the reach this book will have. I need your help in getting this book into as many hands as I possibly can, so pre-order and share away!

You can pre order It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn here

In today’s episode, I get to talk with my friend Amber Johnston. Amber is a wife, a home-schooling mom to 4, a world traveler, author and speaker. She is also a world changer! One of the things that has most impressed me about Amber in my years of knowing her is the way she sees something that needs to be done and she does it. This is the way she changes the world. It is inspiring and hopeful. We talk about this and so much more in this episode. You are sure to enjoy it.

Where to find Amber:

Find Amber’s website here

Find Amber’s first book, A Place to Belong, here

Find Amber’s second book, Soul School, here

Find Amber on Instagram here

Where to find the books mentioned in today’s episode:

Find Soul School here

Find The Read Aloud Family here

Find Honey for a Child’s Heart here

Find Honey for a Woman’s Heart here

Find Honey for a Teen’s Heart here

Find Book Girl here

Find Read for the Heart here

Some favorite quotes from today’s episode:

“The freedom of home schooling is one of, if not the best parts of home schooling. Even as a kid, I recognized the beauty of the freedom of home schooling.” Greta Eskridge

“My husband originally suggested home school and I burst out laughing. It was literally the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard. Then I joined a home-schooling group and that changed everything for me becau was in constant community.” Amber Johnston

“Those moms gently and consistently told me I was the best. They spoke truth into me and built me up and that made all the difference.” Amber Johnston

“My kids were always visitors to someone else’s stories and that was something we had to radically change.” Amber Johnston

“You know your kids and you know what makes their learning come alive. That’s a beautiful part of home schooling.” Greta Eskridge

“If there is a book you want to read but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” Toni Morrison

“Don’t complain. Don’t talk about it. Be about it!” Amber Johnston

“I am really proud to have that work not just for home school moms but into perpetuity and into society and to be able to say there was a point in time when these authors and illustrators were given their flowers and really focused on.” Amber Johnston

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Gospel Centered Tech with Nathan Sutherland Oct 08, 2024

Reminder to pre-order my new book, It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn: a Parent’s Guide to Helping Children and Teens Develop Sexual Integrity, right now and it will arrive at your door step March 4, 2025! You all have been asking for this book for years and I have been praying I could write it for years and now, I have. Please go ahead and pre-order it now as that is tremendously helpful in the reach this book will have. And then share the heck out of it, OK? I’ll need your help in getting this book into as many hands as I possibly can.

You can pre order It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn here

Today’s episode is part 2 of my conversation with Anna and Nathan Sutherland. Today I get to speak with Nathan and our conversation it going to enlighten and inspire you! Nathan and his wife Anna are the founders of Gospel Tech, an organization that exists to equip families to use tech in a God honoring way in a tech saturated world. Rather than painting all tech as bad, Anna and Nathan want to help families talk about tech, communicate the gospel and connect the hope in the gospel to the use of tech. It is a beautiful mission and they are doing it so well!

In an effort to get more of this message into the hands of more people, Nathan wrote the book, Gospel-Centered Tech: Raising Faithful Followers of Christ in a Digitally Distracted World. This book will enlighten and inspire you to push forward in using tch in the best way possible with your family—a way that honors God. Yes, you can honor God with your tech use! Nathan’s book and our conversation is honest and helpful and it is also hopeful. That is such an important element whenever we talk about tech use and screen time. It is not all doom and gloom! I know you are going to love this episode like I did.

Where to find Nathan:

Find Nathan’s book here

Learn more about Gospel Tech here

Follow Gospel Tech on Instagram here

Some favorite quotes from today’s episode:

“There are two kinds of tech: tool tech and drool tech. Tech that helps us build is on the tool side and tech that helps us consume is on the drool side.” Nathan Sutherland

“Drool tch comes to the table with it’s own goals. It wants to take our time and our focus and our money. And until we understand that, we’re going to wonder why we keep fighting with our family. We’re never going to understand why it’s always Fortnite and never Microsoft Word.” Nathan Sutherland

“We aren’t perfect in our tech use. But the goal isn’t to be perfect. The goal is to be humble enough to recognize we need a savior and that applies to our tech too.” Anna Sutherland

“We need to know understanding what operant conditioning is so that we can have compassion for our kid when they’re stuck in the loop of social media or a video game.” Greta Eskridge

“Technology isn’t fair. It’s designed to increase engagement and build habits. That is not an accident. They’re using a mind bending amount of data to give you things you didn’t even know you wanted. And to make you think you need things that you never wanted.” Nathan Sutherland

“The definition of addiction is when you give up what you need to get what you want.” Nathan Sutherland

“When we understand how tech works it gives us the opportunity to come to our kids with compassion and grace and understanding rather than the frustration we often resort to.” Greta Eskridge

“Dumb phones are great!” Greta Eskridge

“Porn is bombastic now. I don’t know if the porn I saw in 7th grade even counts as porn anymore. I’m not 100% sure that we adults understand what kids are experiencing from their pocket device or their friend showed them on the bus.” Nathan Sutherland

“It’s not about porn proofing. It’s about equipping them to make the best choices. It’s about not being afraid to bring it up with them. It’s about not being afraid to answer their questions. These are all things we can do to help our kids be resilient in this world that is saturated with porn.” Greta Eskridge

A Graceful Disconnect with Anna Sutherland Oct 01, 2024

I shared some big news at the start of this episode: my new book is available for pre-order! That’s right, you can go pre-order my next book, It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn: a Parent’s Guide to Helping Children and Teens Develop Sexual Integrity, right now and it will arrive at your door step March 4, 2025! I am just overjoyed to be sharing this book with parents and giving them the tools they need to talk to their kids about a subject that can feel daunting, uncomfortable, scary, painful or just too difficult. Or maybe a mix of all of those things. I am here to help! You all have been asking for this book for years and I have been praying I could write it for years and now, I have. Please go ahead and pre-order it now as that is tremendously helpful in the reach this book will have. And then share the heck out of it, OK? I’ll need your help in getting this book into as many homes as I possible can.

Pre Order It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn here

And now, for the rest of today’s episode: I get to speak with Anna Sutherland and our conversation it going to inspire and excite you! Anna and her husband Nathan are the founders of Gospel Tech, an organization that exists to equip families to use tech in a God honoring way in a tech saturated world. Rather than painting all tech as bad, Anna and Nathan want to help families talk about tech, communicate the gospel and connect the hope in the gospel to the use of tech. It is a beautiful mission and they are doing it so well!

In alignment with that mission, Anna just wrote a book called The Graceful Disconnect: 25 Days to a Quieter Heart in a Tech Saturated World. In this episode I get to talk with Anna and Nathan, but really focus on Anna’s book. Next week you’ll get to hear from Nathan and his book! Anna’s book is a challenge, but it is a doable challenge. And an inspiring one that most of us, if we’re honest, need to take part in. I can’t wait for you to learn more as you listen.

Where to find Anna:

Find Anna’s book here

Learn more about Gospel Tech here

Follow Gospel Tech on Instagram here

Some favorite quotes from today’s episode:

*“Moms, this is why I am writing to you. As much as we’d like to turn a blind eye to that screen time number that pops up (our own and our children’s) we simply cannot. We are fools if we think the conditions of our hearts aren’t impacted by what we digitally consume.” Anna Sutherland

*“Most conversations take at least seven minutes to really begin.” Sherry Turkle

*“The car is a space where we default to isolation. What if, instead, it became a place for conversation and connection?” Anna Sutherland

*“You can speak a common language because you share the time in the car instead of everyone doing their own thing.” Greta Eskridge

*“Even as a kid, I recognized there was a break in connection when people put their headphones on.” Greta Eskridge

*“We’re playing the long game as parents. We want these kids to launch and to be successful adults. Our job is teach them how to do that. Life is a parenting opportunity.” Anna Sutherland

*“Tech is the easy default because we don’t have to deal with our kids. But easy is not the goal.” Anna Sutherland

*“My grandma was a stay-at-home mom and her ministry was cookies. That’s attainable. I can make cookies! And she prayed for us every day and it’s incredible to have that kind of prayer covering. She made a difference for the kingdom.” Anna Sutherland

Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast. And I’d be so very grateful if you leave a 5 star rating and a short review of the podcast.

Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster.

Thank you for listening and being part of my team.

I love you guys!

Greta

Let’s Talk About Dating! with Greta Eskridge Sep 24, 2024

What a fun and important episode this is. A few weeks ago I shared a photo on Instagram introducing our son William and his new girlfriend, Georgia. The response was full of joy and excitement for William and Georgia but also for our whole family, as this was something to celebrate.

There were also a lot of questions from my Instagram followers. They wanted to know details like: how old are our kids when we let them start dating, how do set up healthy boundaries with dating, how did I feel about “losing my sons” (spoiler alert—I’m not losing them!) and so many more questions.

So I decided to turn it all into a podcast episode and here we are! I can’t wait for you to listen and to get a glimpse at the beautiful and good way God can uses dating in our kids’ lives to bring them toward Him and toward pursing relationships that are honoring to Him and to one another.

The two books mentioned in this episode can be found here:

Chasing Love: Sex, Love and Relationships in a Confused Culture by Sean McDowell

Outdated: Find Love That Lasts When Dating Has Changed by Jonathan “JP” Pokluda

If you enjoy this episode, will you please consider sharing it on your socials? Or text it to a friend? Sharing my podcast is so helpful and I deeply appreciate it!

And I also always appreciate podcast reviews. Have you left one on iTunes yet? I’d be wildly grateful if you leave one today. Thanks, team!

Love,

Greta

Honest Talk with John Fort Sep 17, 2024

This episode is a really special one. I am delighted to introduce you to today’s guest, John Fort. John is the director of Be Broken Ministries, which exists to help individuals and families move from sexual brokenness to wholeness in Christ.

John is also the author of several books, including Honest Talk—a New Perspective on Talking to Your Kids About Sex, which we talk about today.

John vulnerably and courageously shares his story of sexual and pornography addiction and how God has redeemed his story to give him a purpose driven by hope and healing.

I loved talking with John!

He is full of wisdom, reassurance and, there’s that word again, hope. He encourages parents to be honest with their kids about their own sexual past and then shows us how to do it. I read his book cover to cover in a few days and I can’t encourage you enough to get your own copy. But start by listening to this episode and getting to know John better. You’ll be so glad you did!

Find John here:

Be Broken Ministries

Find John’s books here:

Honest Talk—a new perspective on talking to your kids about sex

Father-Son Accountability : Integrity Through Relationship

Some favorite quotes from today’s episode:

*”I was a little afraid to get into this work but God kept shutting all the other doors. It was like He said, “I didn’t bring you out of this for nothing.” John Fort

*”There is so much freedom in honesty.” Greta Eskridge

*”Look at what God did! He did it for me and He can do it for you.” Greta Eskridge

*”If parents would be brave enough to tell their own story then their kids would be able to say, ‘oh you do understand!’ and then they could talk.” John Fort

*”He realized at that moment that he was not too broken to be loved by his parents or by God. For the first time he felt a surge of hope that he had someone to talk to about sex and maybe his father could help him. That event , just hearing his father’s sexual story became the turning point for this young man to actively engage in his own journey to sexual wholeness.” John Fort

*”My problem had nothing to do with sex. I was using pornography and other sexual things to deal with emotions I didn’t know what to do with.” John Fort

*”The days I looked at pornography as a teenager were the days something bad happened and I didn’t know what to do with that.” John Fort

*”If in our house we never talk about body parts, we never talk about anything, that gives the silent message that it’s not OK to talk about these things.” John Fort

*”We surveyed a bunch of teenagers and asked why don’t you talk to your parents about sex. They had two answers: ‘I’m afraid my parents won’t understand my past’ or ‘I’ll get in trouble for what I say or even what I ask.’” John Fort

*”Your story is simply a way to show them it is OK to talk about these things.” John Fort

*”We can pretend its not happening or we can just talk about it.” Greta Eskridge

*”You don’t even know what your kids are dealing with until you ask. And the older they get the more often we have to ask them what they’re seeing and what they’re hearing.” John Fort

*”People are looking for help for their addictions and hope for their broken hearts. They want living water. If we run away or become judgmental or uncomfortable any time we see sexual pain, we will miss the greatest opportunities to enter the pain of their sexual brokenness and share the love of Jesus Christ.” Julie Slattery

*”Emotional resilience is connected to sexual wholeness.” Greta Eskridge

*“We think that telling our story is going to make our kids not respect us, but the opposite is true if we do it well.” John Fort

Thank you so much for listening and being a part of my show! I’d be so grateful if you’d leave a rating and review of the podcast if you haven’t already. I appreciate each one of you.

Keep chasing joy!

Greta

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Your Emotions Are a Gift with Anjuli Paschall Sep 10, 2024

I am so excited to welcome my friend Anjuli Paschall to my show! Anjuli is a real life friend of mine and this episode reflects that. We laugh and cry together easily, share stories, and if we had cups of tea or coffee in our hands, it would feel like you had joined us as we hung out together in a coffee shop.

One of the things I appreciate so much about Anjulu is that she doesn’t try to fix everything with some cliché sentiment. Instead she listens intently and asks how I feel, thus inviting me to take my feelings to God instead of pushing them away. She is also not afraid to be vulnerable and through that she invites me into intimacy with her again and again. She is the kind of friend you want on the other end of the phone, text or across the table.

Anjuli is a fellow author. She and I have walked through writing 3 books together! Her latestes book is called Feel—a Collection of Liturgies Offering Hope for Every Complicated Emotion. This book is like having a conversation with Anjuli. You’ll feel seen, heard, and loved as you go through the book. It is a beautiful book and unlike anything I have ever seen. Our conversation will give you a glimpse of the book and all it has to offer. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Where to find Anjuli:

Get Anjuli’s newest book, Feel, here

Find Anjuli on Instagram here

Find Anjuli’s website here

Finds Anjuli on Substack here

Get Every Moment Holy book here

Some of my favorite quotes from this episode:

“It takes time to look at your feelings, all of them, as an invitation to look at what your heart is trying to tell you.” AP

“Feelings are an invitation to wholeness, growth and intimacy.” AP

“The relationships that are the nearest and dearest to our are the ones where we can be vulnerable and share our true feelings.” AP

“God can hold it all.” GE

“God wants to be with us where we are.” AP

“He wants to heal us not to fix us—not just be better, do better, feel better.” AP

“God cares about what we feel, but He cares more that we become--whole, loving children of God who reflect His son.” AP

“We can hold both the good and the hard at the same time and they don’t cancel each other out!” GE

“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not a mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition and of unspeakable love.” Washington Irving

“God made us feelers and we don’t have to be afraid of the feelings that He put in us.” GE

Home School Q & A with - me! Greta Eskridge Sep 03, 2024

I am so excited to share the final episode of my “Back to Home School” series with you today. (Don’t worry, though, there will be other home school episodes in the future. They’ll just be intermingled with other topics.) In this episode I am diving into some of the home schooling questions you asked me on Instagram. I couldn’t answer them all, but I covered quite a few. And I promise to come back and answer more some time soon!

Here are links to some of the things I mentioned in this episode.

I hope you find them helpful!

Want to have me speak at your event, conference, church, for your home school group, womens’ retreat or in some other capacity, get more information about booking me here

Find my Home School 101 Story Series on Instagram here

Find all the home school articles on my blog here

I talk about home schooling in high school and in college in episode 24. Listen to it here

Learn more about high school transcripts here

Learn more about Hamborg Academy of Art, in person and online art classes from one of our favorite art teachers here

Learn more about home schooling and dyslexia in episode 25. Listen here

Find Wild and Free bundles here

Find Beautiful Feet Books curriculum guides here (they’re my absolute favorite!)

Find Ambleside Online booklists here

Read my book Adventuring Together to get fun back to school traditions (and lots of other ones as well) Get your copy here

Give your kids a back to school copy of 100 Days of Adventure and dream up a bunch of fun adventures you can do together in the coming year. Get your copy here

Read my blog post, The Early Years, here

Thank you so much for listening and being a part of my show! I appreciate each one of you.

Keep chasing joy!

Greta

Home Schooling is Good News! With Carole Joy Seid Aug 27, 2024

What a treat to have one of my earliest home school mentors on the podcast today. This is a powerful episode where we hear how Carole met God and how He led her to home schooling, which she initially thought was absolute insanity! Carole and I talk about the early days of home schooling when it wasn’t legal or illegal and so different than it is now.

Hear how Carole’s son JJ has joined her in sharing the message of home schooling. What a dream that is! She shares books galore too. My favorite kind of episode!

Carole Joy Seid is a joy indeed and you are going to love the encouragement and wisdom she brings from speaking on home schooling for 30 + years.

Here are the resources Carole recommends in this episode:

Read and learn about home schooling’s pioneers:

John Holt

Dr. Raymond Moore

Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

Read their books:

How Children Learn by John Holt

Better Late Than Early by Dr. Raymond Moore

For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

For the Family’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

Here are the other books Carole recommends in this episode:

The Common Rule—Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction

Theology of the Body for Beginners

The Least of These My Brothers

Father Arseny—priest, prisoner and spiritual father

Little Britches series

Where to find Carole:

Her website here

Her seminars here

Her podcast here

Her Instagram account here

Some favorite quotes from today’s episode:

“God doesn’t waste a thing.” GE

“Home schooling was the farthest thing from my mind.” CJS

“Home schooling is a huge liberty, and we don’t want to take it for granted.” CJS

“It’s so thrilling to see the next generation of home schoolers carrying out the way of living that is so rich and blessed.” CJS

“Sharing the message of home schooling has been the joy of my life.” CJS

“The very first home school conference I ever attended was with Carole Joy Seid and it was absolutely transformational.” GE

“You can home school with a bible, a library card and a math book.” CJS

“High school and college is where your child’s theology makes up its mind.” CJS

“If you’re tired, do something fresh and give yourself a grace package. Because that is what God gives to us.” CJS

“Your goal is to get shining eyes!” CJS

“The gift of home schooling for me has been all about freedom. The freedom to pursue education in the way that works best for our family, the way that works best for each kid and the way that works best for me as a teacher.” GE

“Be the expert on your child.” CJS

“Never stop reading out loud to your children.” CJS

“The gospel needs to permeate everything you do.” CJS

Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast. And I’d be so very grateful if you leave a 5 star rating and a short review of the podcast.

Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster.

Thank you for listening and being part of my team.

I love you guys!

Greta

Becoming Home Schoolers with Monica Swanson Aug 20, 2024

This is the third episode in my “Back to Home School” series and it is a great one! In this episode I got to talk all things home schooling with my friend, and fellow Christian Parenting podcast host, Monica Swanson.

Monica is a mom to four boys and lives on the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii. Monica home schooled all her boys, 3 of which have graduated, and is still home schooling her last one. She recently wrote a book called Becoming Home Schoolers, sharing the story of their home schooling journey, along with tons of other helpful ideas, information and inspiration. Monica and I had the best time talking together. You’re going to love our conversation and all the stories we tell. You’ll feel like you’re just hanging out with 2 of your friends. Come join the fun!

Places to find Monica:

Her website her

Her podcast here

Her Instagram account here

Her books here, here, here and here!

Here are some of my favorite quotes from this episode:

“Home school kids have more time to pursue their passions.” Monica Swanson

“Home schoolers are prepared for the real world.” Monica Swanson

“The number one reason we chose to home school is because I wanted learning about God, praying together, and reading the Bible together to be a part of their school experience because that is the most important thing you’ll ever learn.” Greta Eskridge

“There is no such thing as a neutral education.” Monica Swanson

“Home schoolers are critical thinkers, they’re learners, they’re readers, and they know how to figure things out. Not every home schooler, of course. But a lot of them!” Greta Eskridge

“It’s so tempting to have a whole curriculum for your 3 year old but if you just live life with your 3 year old and have him be a part of it, what you’re creating is a lifelong learner because you’re showing them that learning is happening all the time.” Greta Eskridge

“Sometimes we forget how important it is to enjoy our kids. We get so caught up in what we feel like we have to do that we forget to enjoy our time with them or to enjoy them.” Greta Eskridge

“The best is yet to come! The late teen and young adult years are so fun and it is the best reward.” Monica Swanson

“It is painful joy to watch our kids fly. We’re excited for them and we have joy for them but there is pain there because things are changing.” Greta Eskridge

“The home school lifestyle is not just a way to educate your kids but a way to get to know them and be involved in their lives.” Monica Swanson

Home Schooling and Dyslexia with Carrie De Fransisco Aug 13, 2024

What a treat to introduce you to my friend, a person who has poured encouragement and support and wisdom into me, Carrie De Francisco. Carrie is a mom to 2 homeschool graduates, she is a treasured voice in the home school community through her podcast, her books, her speaking engagements and her amazing videos on Instagram. She also provides encouragement for the moms of differently abled learners and especially for moms of dyslexic learners. The bottom line is Carrie will encourage you today, wherever you are on your home school journey.

This episode is full of a lot of helpful and practical tips for families that are home schooling dyslexic learners.

Here they are:

*Have your child teach someone else something, or explain something they love

*Spend way more time on your child’s gifts and talents than on the things they’re struggling with!

*Use the dyslexic font for your computer

*Use speech to text because it is not cheating!

*Have your child read aloud the paragraph they wrote using speech to text and then help them edit as they read it aloud

*Use Grammarly –its your writing tutor!

*Use audio books (Audible, Hoopla, Libby are 3 great ones!)

*This article breaks down a bunch of audio book options. Read it here.

*Math U See is Carrie’s favorite math curriculum

*Use colored markers, drawings or symbols to help them differentiate the words they’re learning and/or memorizing.

Places to find Carrie:

Her website here

Her podcast here

Her books here here and here

Her Instagram account here

Some favorite quotes from today’s episode:

*“Homeschool kids don’t just turn out OK. They can really flourish, even if it’s hard in the middle.” GE

*“Just because it’s hard doesn’t mean we’re doing something wrong, or that our home schooling wasn’t working, or that our kids are never going to learn. It just means it’s different. “ CF

*“If your kid has dyslexia or dysgraphia or dyscalculia they are gifted. They are gifted in so many ways. They have so many gifts they are going to be better than OK!” CF

*“The Lord created our kids to be learning machines and we just need to trust the process.” CF

*“God is going to use this. We don’t know how and we don’t know when, but we can trust Him.” GE

*“Listening to books is reading books.” GE

*“According to a study from Harvard, the number one thing that helped kids with dyslexia and dysgraphia be successful was to have at least 1 person in their life who is their cheerleader. At least one person who was their encourager.” CF

*“As their moms, we know they are super smart and super intelligent, they just don’t know it yet and it’s our job to show them.” CF

*For all the things that technology brings that can be problematic, there are also wonderful parts of technology that helps people with things like dyslexia. It can give them an opportunity for success.” GE

*“Spend way more time on your child’s gifts and talents than on the things they’re struggling with!” CF

*“Our culture likes to celebrate success right now, not the long, slow, version of success that some kids achieve.” GE

*“Tell your kids over and over, ‘I love that about you’” CF

Home Schooling from Kindergarten to High School with - me! Aug 06, 2024

What a treat to spend the month of August talking all things home school in my new series Back to Home School. As a second-generation home schooler, I have loved home schooling for almost my whole life. Home schooling was an incredible gift to me as a student and now it is an incredible gift to me as a mom who is home schooling her kids. I share a little bit about my own home school journey in this episode and then jump into discussing the joys of home schooling in high school, as well as the early years. I hope you come away with the reminder that you are doing a good job wherever you’re at in your home-schooling journey. And I hope you’ll be inspired to cast a vision for homeschooling from kindergarten all the way through those beautiful high school years.

Here are some of the resources mentioned in this episode:

Learn more about Home School Legal Defense Association here

Home School High School: a Handbook for Christian Education by Carrie De Fransisco

Becoming Home Schoolers: Give Your Kids a Great Education, a Strong Family, and a Life They’ll Thank You For Later by Monica Swanson

Learning Well community with Alicia Hutchinson

Cloud 9 Adventure James Eskridge’s first illustrated book with 1000 Hours Outside

Include these life skills in high school—cooking, travel, finances, home repair, community service, household chores, child care, hospitality, event planning, navigating the doctor’s office, the DMV, filling out forms and paperwork…these are all things they should be learning and doing in high school.

The Early Years a blog post by Greta Eskridge

Home School 101 Instagram highlight by Greta Eskridge

Here are some favorite quotes from this episode:

*”Being home schooled is one of the greatest gifts of my life.” GE

*”Someday your kids will be the ones to say to you, ‘mom, dad, being homeschooled is one of the biggest blessing of my life.” GE

*”There is no perfect educational system.” GE

*”You are your kid’s first teacher.” GE

*”You need to have a vision for your home school journey. You need to have a vision for where you want to end up.” GE

“There are so many reasons to keep home schooling through high school.

Some of my favorites are: freedom, flexibility, so much less social pressure, the ability to have solid biblical truth as part of their studies, and so much more time together in the last years they’re going to be home.” GE

*One thing that holds parents back from wanting to home school their kid in high school is that they think their kids are going to miss out on what they see as really important things. But parents need to ask themselves, “is it important to my kid or is it important to me?’” GE

*”Their high school experience is going to look different than yours because they are home schooled. But different doesn’t mean bad. It just means different.” GE

*”You don’t need much to home school your kids. You can home school with a Bible, a math book and a library card”. Carole Joy Seid

*”Home schooling is best when it is personalized to your family and all the ways you live and learn best.” GE

“Find ways to inject joy into your home school.” GE

Finding Freedom—women and porn addiction with Dr. Joy Skarka Jul 30, 2024

In this episode I have the absolute pleasure of talking to Dr. Joy Skarka. Joy is a leader in helping women find freedom and healing from sexual shame with her doctoral work, leading seminars and workshops with Authentic Intimacy, and now is the author of a new book on the topic, Her Freedom Journey—a guide out of porn and shame to authentic intimacy.

In her book, Joy bravely shares her own journey from addiction to freedom. She educates her readers on the way porn use fuels harm, addiction and shame. But she doesn’t leave us there. Instead, she offers so much help and hope to her readers who might be struggling with these issues themselves or want to help someone who is. This book is going to be such an incredible resource to many. It is going to change lives. This episode is full of so many practical tips, encouragement and hope. I am truly honored to introduce you to Dr. Joy today. And I am so proud to share this conversation with you.

Some helpful links from today’s episode:

Get resources from Dr. Joy’s website here

Follow Dr. Joy on Instagram here

Get Dr. Joy’s book, Her Freedom Journey, here

Get more resources on all kinds of sexual issues from Authentic Intimacy here

Hopeful bible verse: “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

Some favorite quotes from today’s episode:

*“Look at all that God has done!” Dr. Joy Skarka

*“Girls use porn too. And girls need to be protected from porn too.” Greta Eskridge

*”If we don’t talk about it for women and they’re secretly struggling, there is just so much more shame and so many more problems down the line.” Dr. Joy Skarka

*”Do you know what gave me the courage? Someone else went first. I heard a courageous woman share her story at a college student women’s event. Until that moment, I had never heard a woman admit she struggled with sexual sin. For the first time I realized I wasn’t alone and I wasn’t a total freak for being a woman who struggled with sexual sin.” Dr. Joy Skarka

*”Really what I needed was healthier coping mechanisms.” Dr. Joy Skarka

*”Not only is sexual sin addictive, but it is damaging to your brain. It reconstructs your neurological pathways and bonds you to the images because God created you for intimacy.” Dr. Joy Skarka

*There is more to it than ‘just stop watching porn’. You have to heal your brain and your body too.” Dr. Joy Skarka

*”You were not created for sex, but for intimacy.” Dr. Joy Skarka

*”God created us with a longing to be loved and to have intimacy that can only be met through Him. So if we’re turning to these fake things that are trying to give us fake intimacy, we’re always going to come up short and continue to have a longing for more.” Dr. Joy Skarka

*”By delighting in Him, you find something that doesn’t just numb the pain, but heals the pain. That’s what God does.” Greta Eskridge

*”The good news is this: we worship a God who redeems and restores our broken sexuality. Not only does God restore the beauty from ashes, but He also restores and renews our brains. We can have hope that even if we have been negatively affected by porn, we can be healed!” Dr. Joy Skarka

*”We worship a God who can restore anything and that’s our hope. God’s power and His healing and His miracles can restore and redeem anybody’s brains.” Dr. Joy Skarka

*”The porn industry is purposely creating porn for women. They have a whole branded type of porn, they call it ‘romance porn’. They also have porn to draw in kids because they know if they capture them they’re going to stay with us and be our clients for decades.” Dr. Joy Skarka

*”Satan wants us to stay in that place of shame. He wants us to feel afraid and to feel like we’re cancelled because of the mistakes of our past, the decisions we made, the things that happened to us, even the things that aren’t our fault. He wants us to hide in that shame. And he wants us to stay quiet. But God can use our story when we bring it into the light.” Greta Eskridge

*”The enemy thrives in the darkness and he thrives in the shame. But if we bring it into the light, that’s where the healing happens.” Dr. Joy Skarka

Giving Moms a Vision with Jennifer Pepito Jul 23, 2024

My guest today is my real life friend, the incredible Jennifer Pepito. Jen is a mom to 7 and a grandma to 1. She is a homeschooler and has been homeschooling for 26 years! Jen is the creator and founder of The Peaceful Press, an author several books, including her newest one, Habits for a Sacred Home -–9 Practices from History to Anchor and Restore Modern Families. I love many things about Jen, but her approach to motherhood has always inspired me so much. She engages in motherhood with so much intentionality and care and that is really the focus of her new book. Jen also highlights the importance and power we are given in our roles as mothers. Her new book is incredibly empowering and inspiring. I loved hearing more about the women Jen highlighted in her book and learning from their stories and I know you will too!

Some links from today’s episode:

Find Jennifer’s website The Peaceful Press here

Follow Jennifer on Instagram here

Get Jennifer’s book, Habits for a Sacred Home here

Listen to Jennifer’s podcast here

Find out about the homeschooling community Wild and Free here

Find the book The Benedict Option here

Find the book How the Irish Saved Civilization here

Find the book For the Children’s Sake here

Find Tish Oxenreider’s Rule of Life course here

Some favorite quotes from today’s episode:

*As mothers, we are teaching our children to value the natural world. We are teaching our children how to read and how to value living books. Appreciation of art, reading real books, picking up after themselves, having dinner around the table and looking at each other in the eye--these are all classical and practical arts, lost arts, that we are saving as mothers.” Jennifer Pepito

*We as moms are saving our culture with normal, everyday practices we engage in with our families.” Jennifer Pepito

*“There is power in seemingly simple acts like eating dinner at the table with our family every night.” Greta Eskridge

*”So much of what we do as mothers can seem hard in the moment, but when we can recognize how powerful it is and what heroes we are for doing it, it can give us a new perspective and make us feel more empowered by what we’re doing.” Jennifer Pepito

*”The real change starts at home and it starts with moms.” Chris McKenna

*”We are stepping into the lives of our children and making generational impact.” Greta Eskridge

*”It’s so important for moms to have a vision of what they could be like.” Jennifer Pepito

*”The fight to which we have been called is not an easy fight. We are touching the very center of the devil’s power and kingdom, and he hates us intensely and fights hard against us. We have no chance at all of winning in this fight unless we are disciplined soldiers, utterly out-and-out and uncompromising, and men and women of prayer.” Amy Carmichael

*”If the devil can’t make you sin, he’ll make you busy.” Corrie ten Boom

“I do not think anything worth having in the spiritual world is easily attained. There is no shortcut to holiness. But there can be a true, humble, loving choice of the soul, and that choice, becoming a habit, will lead it into peace.” Amy Carmichael

Protecting Our Kids from Tricky People with Sara Ernst Jul 16, 2024

My guest today is Sara Ernst. Sara is a nature lover, a singer, a musician, an artist, a poet and a writer. She is the whole package! She is a wife and mom too, and lives with her family in Virginia.

A childhood experience with a tricky person, her love of music and wanting to help protect kids all unexpectedly led her to write a song and a book that teaches and equips young children to use their voice to protect themselves. Her book, her music and her work are fantastic and so helpful to many families. You are going to come away with so many practical, helpful tips for keeping your kids safe from tricky people. I am really glad to have Sara on the show today!

Some links from today’s show:

Visit Sara’s website here

Follow Sara on Instagram here

Find Sara’s music here

Find Sara’s book, Shout No! here

Download the Shout No song and coloring sheet here

Find Sara’s book, Poetry for the Wild and Curious Ones, here

Find Greta’s book here

Some of my favorite quotes from today’s episode:

*”Parents don’t want to talk to their kids about tricky people because they want to protect their kid’s innocence. But we have to tell our kids that tricky people exist so we can give them to tools to protect themselves from the tricky people.” Greta Eskridge

*”I wanted to write something gentle yet effective that would equip kids from an early age and would give the words to shout no and run away from tricky people.” Sara Ernst

*”We can react to our experiences by simply moving on, or we can let them fester and turn to bitterness or shame or we can say, “I wish that wouldn’t have happened, but I’m going to do something positive with it now.” Greta Eskridge

*”When we tell our kids not to cross the street without us we don’t go into graphic details about what can happen if they get hit by a car. We just tell them, “you could get hurt” because that is all they need to know. It is the same with giving our kids information about predators. We don’t give them scary information; we give them empowering information.” Greta Eskridge

*”Music is sticky!” Sara Ernst

*“Teach your kids that anyone can be a tricky person, because most abuse happens with people the children know. And teach them how to respond to tricky people.” Sara Ernst

*” We are empowering our kids not making them afraid.” Greta Eskridge

Slow Down and Notice—finding art in nature with Mary Jo Hoffman Jul 09, 2024

Today’s episode is extra special to me because I got to talk to Mary Jo Hoffman, someone I have followed online and admired for more than 10 years! Mary Jo is an artist whose art form is taking photographs of found nature on black or white backgrounds. As an avid nature collector myself, I absolutely loved her beautiful art and became a fan instantly.

Mary Jo is a rocket scientist turned artist, blogger, and now author of the book, Still, the Art of Noticing. She married to a James Beard award winning food writer, a mom to 2 kids, and she lives in St. Paul Minnesota.

Mary Jo’s art has made her into a “noticer”. Collecting pieces of nature and photographing them daily has made her slow down and really notice all the beauty there is in the natural world, no matter the season. We have a great discussion about her art and her book and the ways we can help our kids become noticers too, even though they are growing up in a world that doesn’t really celebrate slowing down. I know you’ll come away inspired by this episode. And maybe you and your kids can start a habit of noticing nature and loving the beauty of nature, just like Mary Jo has.

Some links for you from this episode:

To see the art of Lisa Congdon, the artist who was an inspiration for Mary Jo, go here

To learn more about the 72 micro seasons in Japan, go here

Find the Beatrix Potter book here

Find Mary Jo’s book here

Read Mary Jo’s blog here

Follow Mary Jo on Instagram here

Some favorite quotes from this episode:

*“The natural world drew me in first not as a source of beauty to observe, but as an expression of mathematics, and physics: I loved natural shapes for the trial-and-error perfection of their function; I loved seed pods for the ingenuity of their dispersal mechanisms; I loved the algorithms of spirals, saw toothed leaf tips, and the shapes of trees that imitated the shapes of rivers and their tributaries.” Mary Jo Hoffman

* “We don’t value slowing down very much as a culture and we miss out as a result.” Greta Eskridge

*”As the project progressed, so too my definition of seasonality was redefined. I noticed not big sweeping changes in temperature and light, but daily changes. I noticed the exact day the sap began to run. The day the first catkins exploded. The day the lilacs opened. And the day the first orange maple leaf appeared. And I captured it all, one high-resolution image at a time, for ten years. The attentiveness required to make an image a day led to a depth of understanding I had not expected. The more narrow and deep I went, the more my world expanded.” Mary Jo Hoffman

*” Kids don’t know the names of anything in nature anymore. How do we grow tomorrow’s stewards of the environment if the kids don’t have an attachment to it?” Mary Jo Hoffman

*” Learning names of things in nature makes you care about them more. Because then you have a relationship and connection beyond, that’s a pretty flower.” Greta Eskridge

*”How do you raise creative kids? You model it every day.” Mary Jo Hoffman

*”Give your kids space and time for creativity.” Greta Eskridge

*” Part of being a noticer is having childlike wonder.” Mary Jo Hoffman

*” Owning the responsibilities of sharing the awe and wonder of the natural world is one of the duties of being a parent.” Mary Jo Hoffman

*” Look for micro joys in your life!” Mary Jo Hoffman

If you haven’t already, please take a minute to subscribe to this podcast. I’d also be so very grateful if you leave a 5-star rating and write a quick review.

Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster.

Thank you for listening and being part of my team.

I love you guys!

Greta

Helping our kids opt into connection with - me! Jul 02, 2024

Today’s episode is all me. This one really is “The Greta Eskridge Podcast”! I like to have these episodes every month or so, where I get to catch up with you and share whatever is on my heart and mind at the time. Today I’m sharing thoughts on why it is so imperative for us to help our kids not just opt out of social media, gaming, and hours spent on a screen, but to opt into real life! That means opting into real life experiences and real life relationships and real life connections with the world and the people who live here. I share some sobering idea, but also encouragement that this isn’t as difficult as we might think.

I’m also sharing something exciting for you all, my podcast community! For the month of July and August I am inviting you to join me in an online cook club, reading my book Adventuring Together. If you have already read the book, you can join, or if you’re picking it up for the first time, you can join too. We’ll spend the month of July reading the book and then you can join me for a live book club meeting where we’ll chat and you guys can ask questions and it will be a great time! I’ll also be sharing one of my most favorite talks, The Connecting Power of Adventure” online for the first time. And my podcast listeners will have the opportunity to see that too. To take advantage of these opportunities I’m inviting you to join me on Substack. If you aren’t a Substack reader yet, its simply an online platform where writers like me can share our work and create a community with our readers. You can visit my website or my Instagram feed for all the details. I know we’re going to have a lot of fun, and be motivated and inspired to cultivate lasting connection with our kids and this beautiful world we live in!

Important links from today’s episode here:

My favorite herbal blend of tea for sun tea here (I also like to add 2 or 3 bags of decaf black tea to the brew to make it a little stronger)

Find my website and all the book club info here

Find my book, Adventuring Together, here

For more adventurous, connecting ideas, see my children’s book here

Follow me on Instagram here

See Erin Loechner’s book, The Opt Out Family, here

Some favorite quotes from today’s episode:

*”In order to help our kids opt out of social media, video games, endless screen time, and even pornography use, we have to offer them something better!” Greta Eskridge

*”The algorithms are designed to make us want to stay on the screen, to scroll, and to watch for hours. So, we have to offer our kids something better!” Greta Eskridge

* If our only goal is to check a lot of adventures or activities off the list with our kids, but we’re not using those things to build, and cultivate connection with them, then we’re all missing out.” Greta Eskridge

*”Adventure is the vehicle, but connection is the goal.” Greta Eskridge

*” If we consistently offer our kids the opportunity to experience the real world with the people they love to be with, they’ll want to choose that over the false connection, and even the false experiences offered through technology.” Greta Eskridge

*”If people can just have an amazing virtual experience, why would they want to go through the effort, expense and bother of having a real one? Why would they want to have real life friendships, or real life relationships when they can have that with an image on a screen? This is the danger of satisfying your desires in a made up world, where life is easy and you expend no physical or emotional energy.” Greta Eskridge

*”It is critical we create an appetite for real adventure and real experiences and real connection with the world and with it’s people in our kids! They need to experience struggle and hard work and being emotionally connected to others. There is so much at stake here.” Greta Eskridge

*”It imperative that I not only pursue real life connection with my kids, but also teach them how to recognize it and to pursue it themselves.” Greta Eskridge

*“This is more than just a list of things to do with your kids this summer. This is an invitation to you to begin creating connection and relationship with your kids that will stand the test of time.” Greta Eskridge

The Opt Out Family—Giving Your Kids What Technology Can’t with Erin Loechner Jun 25, 2024

In this episode I got to talk to my internet friend turned real life friend, Erin Loechner. Erin is a homeschooling mom to 3, a wife, a gifted writer and an incredibly creative, brilliant, unique person. I adore her.

In this episode Erin shared with us about her brand-new book, The Opt-Out Family: How to Give Your Kids What Technology Can’t. Erin’s book is a call to action and an invitation for every parent. It calls them to sit up and take notice of how the algorithm is coming after our kids, and then invites them to do something about it. The book is full of compelling research and helpful, practical ideas for helping your family opt out.

What makes Erin’s book even more compelling is that she is actually living that life with her family. Four years ago Erin left her successful career as a social media influencer, shut down her social media accounts and opted out. She knows what she is talking about. I really enjoyed this conversation with Erin and I learned a lot. I know you will too.

Here are some of my favorite quotes from this episode:

*I wanted to model for my daughter what it looked like to have a vibrant career and life without social media.

*If my kids say, “I don’t like how social media makes me feel, but I don’t know any other way. I want to be able to say, I’ve got another way. Let’s do it together.”

*You can’t know the opportunity missed but you can know the fruit gained.

*This is the world our children live in, where playground swings become selfie props. It is not an accident. It is the work of the algorithm. It is the work of a machine, a mission and a great strategy dreamed up by people in board rooms who make a living by stealing a life.

*We are no longer asking why we would opt out. We are asking how we opt out.

*It’s not enough to say no to devices. We have to say yes to something better.

*We parents can do it better than the tech guys!

*Our kids just want to be with us. It’s really so simple.

*There is a powerful message being sent to parents that our kids don’t want to be with us, especially as they grow up. Then we get afraid and think we have to compete, to be cool, to be better than Tik Tok. But when we slow down and just spend time with our kids, even our teens, we find out that they really do want to be with us.

*Start here: Give your kids your eyes.

The 2 books Erin and I talked about are: The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio (here) and Grandma Gatewood’s Walk (here) Chase joy and go read them now!

Find Erin’s book here

Visit her website here for additional resources and helpful info.

If you haven’t already, please take a minute to subscribe to my podcast.

I’d also be so very grateful if you leave a 5-star rating and write a quick review.

Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster.

Thank you for listening and being part of my team.

I love you guys!

Greta

Talking About Puberty with Our Daughters with Megan Ziegenfus Jun 18, 2024

Friends! This episode is so fantastic. We are talking girls and puberty in a positive, uplifting way. This is such a needed point of view surrounding this topic.

My guest, Megan Ziegenfus, is the creator of Body Talk Basics. It is a course that includes videos, a book, and guided conversations about puberty for moms and daughters to experience together. I have read and watched this course and I loved it. I am so glad to have resources, to share with my daughter and yours, that celebrate how incredibly and beautifully designed the female body is. The course also makes sense of how our bodies work and explains those things in an easy to understand and straightforward way. I can only imagine the next generation

You’ll love this episode and come away with some great things to offer your daughter and probably yourself too!

Here are some of my favorite quotes from this episode:

*I saw a need for this to be a bonding conversation between moms and daughters instead of just a transfer of information.

*The conversation, even the awkward part, is where the bonding occurs. It is an opportunity for the parents to show the kids, “I love you so much I am willing to sit in this challenging space with you. I want to be with you.” It builds trust and communication.

*It’s empowering to learn how our body works and the incredible purpose behind it.

*These conversations about puberty are a part of creating a healthy sexual culture.

*So many moms say, “I didn’t know how healing this course would be for me.”

*Deep down, girls want to be told how their body is working and that it is designed with a beautiful plan in mind.

*You’re giving your daughter a gift when you say, “look how amazing you are! God designed you this way. He made me this way and you’re here because he made me this way.” We have to celebrate this!

Be sure to check out Megan’s website here and follow Megan on Instagram too. Her account is a lot of fun and really helpful.

You can use the promo code: GRETA for a discount on the course. Sign up here.

*Please take a minute to subscribe to this podcast. I’d also be so very grateful if you leave a 5-star rating and write a quick review.

Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster.

Thank you for listening and being part of my team. I love you guys!

Greta

Navigating Pregnancy Loss with Jackie Gibson Jun 11, 2024

Today’s episode is tender and contains topics that can be challenging if you have walked through, or are walking through, pregnancy loss. But this episode also has the potential to bring a lot of hope and healing wherever you are on your journey. You will feel less alone if you have walked through miscarriage or still birth. And if you haven’t, you’ll come away feeling better equipped to come alongside someone who has. It is my prayer that through the conversation in this episode, God will meet you where you are with His kindness and care.

Today I talk with my new friend, Jackie Gibson, an Australian living in Philadelphia with her husband and children. Jackie is also the author of the book, You Are Still a Mother: Hope For Women Grieving a Stillbirth or Miscarriage.

I read Jackie’s book in one sitting. Even though I experienced a miscarriage 14 years ago, her book deeply ministered to my heart. I felt so seen and comforted and so equipped to help my fellow mama’s who experience this kind of grief. I can’t recommend this book enough, whether you have walked through pregnancy loss yourself, know someone who has, or just want to have resources to refer to when loss comes.

Jackie shares her own story of losing her daughter at 39 weeks to still birth. And then we discuss the hardship of suffering, and the way Jesus comes alongside us in suffering. We also cover a lot of other topics, like how we can share about loss after it happens, the strange feeling of shame that can happen after pregnancy loss, how we can help moms who are experiencing loss, PTSD and trauma after pregnancy loss and so much more.

My tears were near the surface through this whole episode because I have such a tenderness for every other mama who has lost a baby. I hope you’ll listen to this episode knowing that if you are hurting you are not alone, and in my heart I am giving you the biggest hug.

Here are some quotes that really stood out to me in this episode:

*This is a club no one wants to be a part of.

*Miscarriage can be such a very lonely grief.

*We need to invite people into our grief and ask them to walk through it with us and pray for us. But for some reason we have this fear in doing that and part of that is this shame that we have done something wrong or that our bodies have failed us.

*I’d been a Christian for many years, but in those moments, I felt like I met Him (Jesus) again for the first time.

*God can give us gifts even in suffering.

*Even though your arms are empty, your heart still carries your baby wherever you go.

*To write names down or to say them, when these mothers rarely get to hear their babies named or acknowledged, means so much to a grieving mom, whether it is fresh grief, or it’s been years.

*Our babies have dignity and value no matter their size because they were made by God.

*From the very start, their lives matter and they are worthy of both grief and honor. GE

*It is never too late to remember your baby and to mark that little one’s preciousness. JG

*This is a story about Him and how He is always good, even in the darkness. JG

*The moon is still round even when we can’t see it, and God is still good, even when we don’t feel like He is. JG

*Are we going to keep believing in the darkness what we have seen in the light? Lilias Trotter

More about Jackie:

Jackie’s husband wrote a book about loss for kids as a result of talking to their son through the loss of his baby sister. It is called, The Moon is Always Round.

Jackie isn’t on social media, but please share her book and this episode with friends who need the comforting and helpful message she brings.

If you haven’t already, please take a minute to subscribe to this podcast. I’d also be so very grateful if you leave a 5-star rating and write a quick review.

Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster.

Thank you for listening and being part of my team.

I love you guys!

Greta

Every story has a purpose with Molly Stillman Jun 04, 2024

I loved talking with today’s guest, Molly Stillman. I first met Molly through reading her book and just fell in love with her. So, getting to talk to her about her book and her life was really, really cool. Molly is a fantastic writer and you should all read her debut book, If I Don’t Laugh, I’ll Cry: How Death, Debt and Comedy led to a Life of Faith, Farming and Forgetting What I Came Into This Room For. You should also check out her blog and her podcast, Can I Laugh on Your Shoulder?

One of my favorite parts of the book and this episode is learning about Molly’s mom. She was a writer too. You can check out Molly’s mom’s book here: Home before Morning: The Story of An Army Nurse in Vietnam by Lynda Van Devanter.

There are so many other great parts to Molly’s story—some very, very hard and others so funny and wildly entertaining. I know you will love Molly just like I do.

Here are a few quotes from the episode that I especially loved:

*”Every broken, messed up story has a purpose and its possible to gain everything if you’re willing to surrender it all to Jesus and that’s the best reason to tell your story.”

*”I learned that oftentimes people don’t need to hear our condemnation for the mistakes we’ve made, but instead our commendation for getting the help we so desperately need. I learned that encouragement, even from strangers, can provide the strength, energy and emotional stamina to do hard things. I learned that prayer is powerful and when we offer to pray for someone, even when it seems uncomfortable, we could be planting a seed that we may never see to harvest. And on the flip side, when we accept prayer, it has the power to change hearts.”

*It is never too late to apologize for something.

*Joy is an essential part of thriving.

*Chase joy by slowing down.

So much good stuff, right? Be sure to read Molly’s book, and check out her blog and podcast.

Please take a minute to subscribe to this podcast. I’d also be so very grateful if you leave a 5-star rating and write a quick review.

Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster.

Thank you for listening and being part of my team.

I love you guys!

Greta

Sex is an opportunity to talk about Jesus May 28, 2024

*Don’t forget this is your last chance to sign up for my webinar, Parenting in the Digital Age. You are going to get help with so many of the issues facing parents today—whether your kids are 3, 13 or 23. Sign up here.

In this week’s episode, I get to talk to Kristen Miele from Sex Ed Reclaimed. I love the mission of her organization: to empower and encourage families to have consistent, honest conversations while accessing God-honoring sexual health education because God calls us to disciple the next generation. And her vision is just as powerful: to break the cycle of silence about sex in the Christian world. Gosh how we need Kristen’s voice and message in our world today! 

Here are some key takeaways from this episode:

*Sex is good and it is God’s gift, so we don’t have to be afraid or embarrassed to talk about it.

* It’s a work of the devil to shut us up about sex and to add shame to it.

* The world is constantly talking about sex. They are discipling our kids on the topic so we need to step in and add God to the conversation.

* Sex is an opportunity to talk about Jesus. (Yes! This is my favorite.)

Some tips Kristen gave are so helpful:

*Our kid’s questions are an opportunity for discipleship. So answer their questions honestly.

*Only give them as much information as they need—just a little bit at a time.

*Think about the expression on your face and the tone of your voice when you answer their questions. Don’t panic! Instead be warm and welcoming.

*Invite your older kids to look at the world around them and answer the question, “is that working for them? Are they joyful, peace filled, and hopeful?”

Be sure to check out the courses at Sex Ed Reclaimed.

There are courses designed for families, home school students, Christian schools and churches and for ages 3-18.

You can get curriculum samples on her website.

Kristen generously gave my podcast listeners a discount of 15% off. Just use the code: CHRISTIANPARENTING

Please take a minute to subscribe to this podcast. I’d also be so very grateful if you leave a 5 star rating and write a quick review.

Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster.

Thank you for listening and being part of my team.

I love you guys!

Greta

How Books Shape Us May 21, 2024

Fair warning, this episode is ALL over the place!

You will laugh and maybe cringe at my faux pas.

You might cry with me at the end of the episode, and you’ll definitely learn about a lot of great books.

In this episode I get to talk to my dear friend Elsie Iudicello.

Elsie is a wife to my friend Jeff, and mom to 4 boys. Elsie lives in Florida where she is a farmer, a writer, a reader, a cook, and one of the most compelling and hilarious speakers I have ever the pleasure of hearing.

Here are some highlights from our conversation:

*Elsie tells me she loves old movies but also loves natural disaster movies. *Well, only one really. The movie Twister. For an interesting reason!

*This is when I suggest another movie Elsie might like but that doesn’t actually exist and if it did, you might see it behind the curtain at Blockbuster. Enjoy the laughter that ensues. I’m never going to live this one down.

*Elsie shares: “books bonded us in the beginning because we got to go play in different worlds together, and that has sustained us in the teen years.

*We can meet on the bridge of a story.

*Kids want a book where the author isn’t talking down to them. That doesn’t preach at them or sanitize everything.

*Reading biographies and especially missionary biographies are so good for our kids to read.

*Give them books about people stepping out of their comfortable worlds. Read those things into their hearts!

* I want my kids to get to know people who have had to fight for their faith.

* Parents need to be readers too. Because this statistic is true and makes my heart sad. “roughly a quarter of American adults say they haven’t read a book in whole or in part in the past year in print, electronic or even in audio form”.

*”Don’t be in such a hurry to read the great books that you miss the good books.” Cindy Rawlins

*On re-reading books: “I would rather be friends with 40 or 50 good dear books than read all the books in the world once.”

*Find Elsie on Instagram at Farmhouse Schoolhouse

Here's a list of all the books we mention in this episode:

Ourselves by Charlotte Mason

The Emperor’s Handbook by Marcus Aurelius

The Good Master by Kate Seredy

Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder

The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit

Little Britches by Ralph Moody

Wind and the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

Green Ember by S. D. Smith

Wing Feather Saga by Andrew Peterson

The Mad Scientist Club by Bertrand Brinley

The Great Brain by John D Fitzgerald

Homer Price by Robert McCloskey

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

Jules Verne books

Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing

God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew

10 Fingers for God: the life and work of Dr. Paul Brand by Dorothy Wilson

Christian Heroes Then and Now series

Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morely

The Awaking of Miss Prim: a Novel by Natalia Fenollera

The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery

The Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter

Little Women Louisa May Alcott

The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

How Green was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn

The Count of Monte Christo by Alexander Dumas

Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast, and I’d be so very grateful if you leave a 5 star rating of the podcast and also a quick review.

Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster.

Thank you for listening and being part of my team.

I love you guys!

Greta

The Connecting Power of Story with SD Smith May 14, 2024

In this episode I talked with my friend S.D. Smith. Sam is the author of the beloved Green Ember series. He also wrote the book Jack Zulu and the Waylanders’s Key with his son, Josiah. And he most recently wrote the book Mooses with Bazookas and Other Stories Children Should Never Read.

I loved this conversation with Sam. We have a lot of fun together because he is a story teller and I love stories!

Here are some highlights from our talk:

*The book that turned him into a reader around the age of 15 was Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card.

*Some of the other books that were read aloud to him by his mom and his teachers and shaped him as a storyteller were:

The Chronicles of Narnia

Little Women

The Box Car Children

God’s Smuggler

*As an adult, Sam has loved and re-read the Aubrey–Maturin series by Patrick O Brian.

*My favorite part of our conversation was when Sam gives a message to all parents, but especially to Dads about connecting with their kids through stories: “kids just want attention and time. They want their dads so much! They’re desperate for their dad’s attention. So if you’re a dad and you just make up a story about something you care about, it’s going to be really, really fun for them. They love it when you care. They love it when you try.”

*And if you can’t think of your own story, take a note from my husband and re-tell movies and books to your kids. You can change the names if you want and your kids will be none the wiser. Until they grow up and watch the movie and figure it out. Then you’ll all get a great laugh over it!

*I love Sam’s motto for life: Modesty, fidelity, and audacity.

*Sam shared he’s chasing joy by taking walks, which he finds to be an opportunity to pursue connection, creativity and beauty.”

*You can find Sam on Instagram, on his website and in his books!

Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast, and I’d be so very grateful if you leave a 5 star rating of the podcast and also a quick review.

Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster.

Thank you for listening and being part of my team.

I love you guys!

Greta

It’s time for a chat and a message for Mother’s Day May 07, 2024

I can’t believe this is the start of my 3rd month of the podcast! I am having so much fun and I am so glad you guys are coming along for the ride.

Since we haven’t just hung out and talked for a while, I decided this episode will be a little bit of that along with a special Mother’s Day message at the end. Because mothers matter so much to me!

Here is all that I talk about in this episode, along with the all the links I mention.

*Get tickets to my online seminar “Parenting in the Digital Age” right here.

*My seminar will encourage you, inform you and empower you!

*Remember this about parenting in the digital age—there is a lot we can do wrong, but a lot we can do right!

*Find me on Instagram here.

*Learn more about the Wild and Free homeschooling community here.

*Read the “Tale for the Weary Mom” essay here.

Some thoughts to remember from my message to moms:

* Moms are one of the best gifts God has given to us.

*The love of a mother can be one of the most grounding , supportive and safe things in a really crazy world.

*If you didn’t have a mom that loved, supported and believed in you, you get to write a new story for your own kids!

*The work you’re doing as a mom matters even if no one is really noticing.

* The work of motherhood is holy work.

*The world may not value the work you’re doing but it has eternal value.

*Mama, you’re doing a good job.

*Galatians 6:9 “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Please take a minute to subscribe to this podcast. I’d also be so very grateful if you leave a 5-star rating and write a quick review.

Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster.

Thank you for listening and being part of my team.

I love you guys!

Greta

Creating a Healthy Sexual Culture in Your Home Apr 30, 2024

In this episode I talk about how to create a healthy sexual culture in your home. Creating a healthy sexual culture falls under the umbrella of parenting in the digital age and protecting our kids from porn, because there are so many ways the digital world offers our kids an unhealthy to downright dangerous view of sexuality. Of course, pornography is right up there on the list.

Some key takeaways from this episode here:

*If our kids are growing up in a world that is trying to offer them an unhealthy and dangerous view of sex, it is our job to show them the opposite of that.

*Your kids have questions about sex, even if they’re not asking them. Create a culture where they can ask you anything. Be their Google!

*Let’s raise kids who aren’t afraid of God’s good gift of sex, but also have a healthy respect for God’s plan for it.

*The message of the world is that “sex is everything” and “sex is nothing”. What a confusing world for our kids to grow up in.

*Our kids need help to see themselves and all people in the world around them as fully human, to cherish and uphold, not objectify, or dismiss. *Read my article about objectification here.

*Teach your kids that sex and their sexual body parts are not shameful.

*Use real, anatomically correct language for all the body parts.

*Books to read with your littles on these topics

God Made All of Me

God Made Me In His Image

*Creating a healthy sexual culture is an investment in our children’s future.

*A healthy sexual outlook can help protect your kids from porn because it shines the light of truth in the darkness.

*“Like it or not, we either add to the darkness of indifference and out-and-out evil which surrounds us, or we light a candle to see by.” Madeleine L’Engle

Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast. And I’d be so very grateful if you leave a 5 star rating and a short review of the podcast.

Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster.

Thank you for listening and being part of my team.

I love you guys!

Greta

We have a good story to tell! Talking to your kids about sex --with Megan Michelson Apr 23, 2024

This is the 4th episode in a month long series on Parenting in the Digital Age and Protecting Our Kids from Porn. In this episode, I have the pleasure of talking with Megan Michelson, of Birds and Bees. Birds and Bees exists to equip and empower parents to have healthy and comfortable conversations with their kids about sex.

In this episode, Megan and I discuss how things could be so different if parents knew how to talk to their kids about sex in this healthy way.

Here are some key takeaways from our conversation:

*We don’t have to be afraid of these conversations--2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

*Remember, the story of sex is good news!

*The world wants to shout out a bad story, but we have a good story to tell!

*We need to talk to our kids pornography just like we speak to them about every other danger in their life: be careful crossing the street, touching the stove etc.

*Your kids need to know they can ask you anything instead of googling it.

*This is the number one safe search tip! Be their google!

*For kids under 10:

*Kids have a God given curiosity about sexual things and that is not a bad thing.

*Use anatomically correct words for body parts. These are not bad words and these are not bad parts!

*Answer tough questions like this: “That is a great question and I am so glad you asked that.”

*For kids 11+

*Be direct and have honest and open conversations.

*Bring up these topics and stories at the dinner table. Discuss as a family.

*Be a safe landing spot for them even if you are uncomfortable.

*The Lord has equipped you for the children you have!

Find more from Birds and Bees here.

Find the amazing course at Birds and Bees here.

Get 20% off the Birds and Bees course by using the code GRETA20.

Find the course here.

Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast, and give it a five-star rating. I’d also be so very grateful if you leave a review of the podcast wherever you listen. Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster.

Thank you for listening and being part of my team.

I love you guys!

Greta

Yes You Can Talk to Your Kids About Pornography! Apr 16, 2024

This is episode 3 in a month-long series on Parenting in the Digital Age and Protecting our Kids from Pornography. In this episode, I share practical tips for talking to our kids of any age about pornography and helping them develop a “porn plan”—that is a way to respond to pornography exposure as quickly and safely as possible.

Some other key takeaways from this episode are:

*We are built for connection and few things cause greater disconnection than pornography.

*Corrie ten Boom said there is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still. I’d add, even the pit of pornography.

* Pornography is a health crisis. It impacts the very body, the mind and the very soul of the person who is consuming it.

* Pornography is not just a male issue. It is a human issue. It impacts every one of us—man, woman, boy and girl.

* Conversation is the number one tool in keeping our kids safe from pornography. Routers, software, and parental controls are important, but if your kids can’t talk to you when those things fail, then all the safeguards you have put into place mean nothing.

*Your littles need a definition of what porn is, but give them the least amount of information needed to keep them safe.

*Tell them: “Porn is bad for your body, brain and heart. I want to keep you safe!”

*We want to talk to our kids before they are exposed to pornography. That is why we begin these conversations when they are around the age of 5, 6 or 7 years old.

*Your middles need to know that porn is dangerous, and they need a way out if they see it. Give them an escape plan.

*Help them see porn impacts their brain and heart by explaining what objectification is. Read my article here for help.

*They don’t need a smart phone. They need a safe phone!

*Check out Gabb phones and use my code GRETA for a discount.

*Also look at this article for more safe phone choices.

*Your teens need you to discuss porn with them even if you never have before. Now is the time!

*Also discuss topics like sexting, nudes, and sextortion. Do they know what to do if they are in those situations?

*Delay social media for as long as possible with teens. Not before 16 and I suggest waiting until after high school.

*Your young adults don’t need you to preach to them but ratherto invite them into conversations on this topic.

*My challenge to you: have the first conversation about pornography with your kids this week!

*And look for tickets to my online seminar on protecting kids from porn happening in May!

Books I recommend in this episode:

*Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr.

*Good Pictures Bad Pictures

*How to Talk to Your Kids About Pornography

*Chasing Love

*A Students Guide to Culture

*Website: Fight the New Drug

Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast, and I’d be so very grateful if you leave a 5 star rating of the podcast and also a quick review.

Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster.

Thank you for listening and being part of my team.

I love you guys!

Greta

Parenting in the Digital Age —Part 2 with Chris Mckenna Apr 09, 2024

This month I am doing a series on a series on Parenting in the Digital Age and Taking Steps to Protect Our Kids from Porn. This is the second part of my two-part interview with Chris McKenna. Chris is the founder of the amazing organization Protect Young Eyes.

In this episode we are talking about an idea that Chris often shares with parents: delay is the way!

Here is some more of our conversation:

*No parent ever says “I’ve failed as a parent because I gave my kid snapchat too late.”

*Chris shares this quote from Dr. Mitchell Princstein, chief science officer of the American Psychological Association, “there are no findings showing harm to children who stay off of social media, in fact, some emerging evidence suggests that the most socially competent kids are refraining from using these platforms.”

*Chris suggests waiting until high school for a smart phone.

*I suggest waiting until after high school for social media.

*“May we raise kids who don’t have to recover from their childhood.” Pam Leo

*Chris shares tips for parenting in the digital age with our littles, middles and teens.

*For littles: Get a router that will help prevent early accidental exposure. The router is your guard! Use it! Everything you need to know about routers from Chis found here.

*For middles: Build that relational connection Have conversations that assure them no matter what happens they can land softly and safely with you!

*Use parental control software on all devices (learn more about those here)

*Give them a plan for what to do if they see pornography or other problematic things in the digital space. More on that in episode 8!

*For teens: Keep talking! Almost annoy your kids with the frequency of these convos!

Where to find more help from Chris?

Website here

Don’t forget to subscribe to this podcast and I’d be so very grateful if you leave a 5 star rating of the podcast and write a quick review.

Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster.

Thank you for listening and being part of my team.

I love you guys!

Greta

Parenting in the Digital Age –Part 1 with Chris Mckenna Apr 02, 2024

This month I am doing a series on Parenting in the Digital Age and Taking Steps to Protect Our Kids from Porn. I kick of the series with a two-part interview with one of my personal heroes, Chris McKenna. Chris is the founder of the amazing organization Protect Young Eyes, whose mission is to show families, schools, and churches how to create safe digital spaces.

In this episode, Chris and I talk about:

*the quiet that is missing from the lives of children today.

*the need to parent with empathy and compassion.

*that it’s tough to raise kids right now, and it’s hard to be a kid right now.

*our kids need to know we are on their team in this digital journey.

*where digital trust is high, digital friction is low.

*we need to stay calm when we’re talking to our kid about porn

*we need to stay calm when we’re talking to them after they’ve seen porn.

*we need to respond like Jesus, with grace and truth. (John 1:7)

*the truth that porn is bad for them and that we must protect them and the grace for their mistake.

*a child needs to know 2 things after he’s made a mistake: am I going to be OK and are you still OK with me?

*parents have to do their own work in preparation for these moments. This is part of parenting in the digital age.

*read the blog post where I talk to my daughter about the inappropriate half time show here.

Be sure to come back for part two next week!

Don’t forget to like and subscribe to this podcast, and I’d be so very grateful if you leave a review of the podcast on iTunes.

Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster.

Thank you for listening and being part of my team.

I love you guys!

Greta

The Connecting Power of Books – a conversation with Sarah Mackenzie Mar 26, 2024

In this episode of the Greta Eskridge podcast, I get to talk to the queen of books herself, Sarah Mackenzie. Sarah is a wife and a homeschooling mom to six kids. Three are in college and 3 are still at home. In her spare time (ha!) she is also the creator of the fabulous Read Aloud Revival podcast, the author of two beloved books, Teaching From Rest and The Read Aloud Family, the founder of the boutique publishing house Waxwing Books and author of three children’s books. This is why I say she had a reading empire! Sarah is an amazing lady and just so much fun to talk to. True to form, I get teary eyed in this episode. But talking books and connection will do that to me. Also, in this episode you can hear Sarah and I not able to do math. We talk about books, not math problems, so what do you expect? This episode is chock full of so many great book titles with you. We like to say we sling around book titles like ninjas. Get ready!

Here's some more of what we talked about:

Sarah tells us she loves roller coasters. She recently rode one 6 times in a row and read her kindle while in line.

This quote by Andrew Pudewa launched Sarah deep into the world of reading aloud with her kids: the best way to help kids become better communicators is to read aloud a ton and memorize poetry.

Sarah noticed that reading aloud didn’t just make a positive impact on her kids academically, but there was a relational impact happening too.

She noticed as her kids were growing up and sometimes she and they were at odds with each other, reading aloud put her and her kids on the same side of the fence.

Sarah says: reading aloud is a powerful way to connect with our kids in a really noisy world.

Its simple, free, quick: that’s a lot of dividends from a small investment.

We learn that audio books count every bit as much as reading a book with pages.

And we learn that data says whether they read early or late, by 8th grade most kids are at about the same reading level if kids are being exposed to good books all along.

No need to fear if you have a late reader!

I’ve had 3 myself.

And here is the list of all the books we discussed together.

Each one is linked so you can see the cover and even put it in your cart if you want to!

For the younger kids:

Buffalo Fluffalo

Jonas Hanway’s Scurrilous, Scandalous, Shockingly, Sensational Umbrella

Sheep in a Jeep

Morris the Moose Goes to School

For the middle grades:

Umbrella Mouse

Note: there is some mild language in this book and the ones below. Sarah and I both feel that mild curse words said in a British accent don’t feel troubling to us, but handle it as you wish. All Creatures Great and Small (children’s version and beloved by my kids)

All Creatures Great and Small (book for middle grades and up)

All Creatures Great and Small (show)

Adventures with Waffles

Astrid the Unstoppable

Pipi Longstocking

Chronicles of Narnia (a must have for every library)

Tuesdays at the Castle

For the teens:

Find out more about book clubs for kids and grownups in Greta’s book: Adventuring Together

Sarah tells us she is chasing joy by playing a new board game with her family called : Seven Wonders

You can find all of Sarah’s endeavors in the links at the top of these show notes. You’ll want to follow her and glean all the book goodness she has to share!

Don’t forget to like and subscribe to this podcast, and I’d be so very grateful if you leave a review of the podcast on iTunes.

Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster.

Thank you for listening and being part of my team.

I love you guys!

Greta

Cultivating Relationships with Our Children and Our Parents –a conversation with Leslie Martino Mar 19, 2024

In this episode I get to talk with my friend, Leslie Martino, wife, mom to 4, speaker, author and curator of relationships. I like to say that cultivating relationships is one of Leslie’s superpowers.

In what is becoming a trend, I was moved to tears multiple times in this episode. Talking with Leslie will do that to you. She is so calm, loving and warm. She is also honest and says the hard things. I absolutely loved our time together and I know you will too.

Here's some more of what we talked about:

I recommended this book to Leslie when I found out she loves miniature things: The Borrowers. Get the whole series here.

We recently read this book in our kid book club: learn how to start your own kid, or adult, book club here.

Leslie loves trying new things, which shows her kids they don’t have to fear failure and that they are free to be a learner. Learn more about this idea here.

Leslie and her husband intentionally pursued connection with their kids from the beginning, but she had a key insight early on: making mistakes as parents was their biggest motivator to pursue relationship with their kids.

She realized that if she didn’t make changes she’d destroy relationship rather than foster it: “I can do just as much good as I can do damage. I can be better.”

Another key insight from Leslie into cultivating relationship with our kids: “Look at your children with a lens of gratitude” rather than as people we want to shape and change.

A key word stands out as Leslie describes the way her parents cultivated connection with her as a child: available.

Leslie’s mother was physically and emotionally available.

Cultivating a strong relationship with parents as an adult child has a lot to do with: forgiveness.

Gratitude also changes a fractured relationship

Leslie reminds us to include our parents: invite them because they might be wondering “where is my place in my adult child’s life?”

Everybody likes to be invited.

A book that reminds us that connecting with our kids does not have to be complicated is: Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers.

More ideas for creating simple connection points with your kids can be found on Leslie’s free downloadable 30 Days of Connection Calendar

More tips for creating connection with your kids: connection can be body to body—hugs and squeezes.

Be in their physical space—hang out in their room and talk to them.

Make eye contact during a conversation.

Invite kids into your space too—like cooking with your kids, telling them about the book you’re reading, sharing your prayer requests, inviting them on errands, helping them with their chores.

Give them your time.

Give them your attention.

We need to make sure we’re seeing our kids!

Leslie tells us she’s chasing joy right now by learning about neuroplasticity and engaging in activities that grow and change her brain.

Be sure to visit Leslie’s website here to find more of her work.

Follow along with her in Insta here.

And don’t forget to look for her book, coming this summer!

Don’t forget to like and subscribe to this podcast, and I’d be so very grateful if you leave a review of the podcast on iTunes.

Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster.

Thank you for listening and being part of my team.

I love you guys!

Greta

The Gift of Discomfort and How Creation Points Us to the Creator – a chat with Greta Mar 12, 2024

In this episode, I revisit a couple ideas Ginny Yurich and I talked about in episode two and dive deeper into each one. First, I spend some time exploring the idea of helping your child grow their faith by simply spending time outdoors. Next, I talk about giving our kids the gift of discomfort and why that’s an essential element for their physical, relational, emotional and spiritual growth. I know you’re going to find this episode full of really practical things you can put into practice in your family life.

Here's some more of what I talked about:

I share the idea that our kids can get to know their Creator by spending time in His creation because: we see and experience different parts of God’s character in the world He created.

Spending time out in nature is an investment in our kid’s spiritual health.

This concept was so important to me that I have made a point of spending a full day outside every single week. Read more about it my book Adventuring Together.

Stop and marvel at God’s creation because when our kids see us respond to the wonder of creation, they our faith is not fake or forced.

And don’t discount even the little bits of God’s handiwork: even the small things in creation point us to a big God.

We can read books that show us more about God in His creation: like the book I’m reading with Davy right now A View From the Zoo.

This blog post has a whole bunch more books about nature and all of them point us to God. Read it here.

Remember, spending time in nature is a gentle and powerful way to introduce our kids to God.

Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

We need to embrace discomfort and consider it a gift.

When we experience comfort all the time it makes us a less grateful person.

Discomfort helps us become more grateful because it gives us the opportunity to be grateful.

Discomfort also gives our kids the opportunity to grow their grit, resilience and perseverance.

None of those things grow in the midst of a lot of comfort.

When we walk through difficult situations alongside our kids we aren’t taking the growth opportunity away. But we are showing them we’ll be there for them.

When we show up and help carry the little burdens, they know we’ll be there to carry the bigger burdens later on.

Discomfort is also very connecting relationally.

I wrote a blog post about this and you can read it here.

Some key points to take away:

Moments of discomfort are connection points that push us together

We can ask ourself: how can I see God’s good plan at work when things are hard?

We can also ask: how will this become a story of redemption?

Often God changes our attitude even when he doesn’t change our circumstance

And remember, even when things go wrong: it will make a great story later!|

I share that one of the ways I am chasing joy right now is by listeing to audio books.

We are huge fans of audio books in our family.

Here is a great blog post I wrote about the value of audio books and a list of some of our favorite audio books.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe to this podcast, and I’d be so very grateful if you leave a review of the podcast on iTunes.

Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster.

Thank you for listening and being part of my team.

I love you guys!

Greta

The Magic of Getting Outside with Ginny Yurich Mar 05, 2024

In this episode with my friend and yours, Ginny Yurich of 1000 Hours Outside, you’ll hear Ginny and I talk about the relational aspect of spending time outdoors. But we cover so much more! If you know me at all, you will not be surprised to hear I cried twice in this episode. I also came away so inspired. I know you will too.

Here's some more of what we talked about:

The connecting power of books and this quote by Kim John Payne: “In a world where almost everyone is a writer or content developer it takes an act of humility and intent to become a reader.”

The principle from 19th century British educator and philosopher, Charlotte Mason, that changed everything for Ginny when she didn’t like life as a mom: children should be outside 4-6 hours whenever the weather is tolerable.

Getting outside is a way to grow our faith: we see God’s character through His creation

How reading this book reminded Ginny that God gives us hands on spiritual principles through His creation: Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children

Ginny’s answer for what to do when it’s hard to get outside with our kids: “It's almost always hard and that’s why we have a goal for it. You don’t have a goal for things that are easy.”

Alastair Humphreys reminds us that sometimes the hardest step to take is the one out our own front door: The Doorstep Mile: Live More Adventurously Every Day.

And yes, it is worth getting our kids outdoors even though it’s hard because it teaches: grit, resilience, and gratitude.

Books that remind us of this: The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self and There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom’s Secret for Raising Healthy, Resilient and Confidant Kids.

I share one of our family mottos as found in my book, Adventuring Together: It will make a great story later.

Ginny tells us how she’s chasing joy right now: with more analog activities like cross stitch from Caterpillar Cross Stitch, reading more fiction like The German Wife, taking walks, baking sourdough, playing the piano and using her hands as inspired by Jill Winger and her book Old Fashioned On Purpose: Cultivating a Slower, More Joyful Life.

Ginny and I remember that we owe our meeting to the fabulous Ainsley Arment of Wild and Free

Be sure to read Ginny’s newest book: Until the Streetlights Come On: How a Return to Play Brightens Our Present and Prepares Kids for an Uncertain Future.

You can listen to Ginny’s podcast here.

You can follow her on Instagram here.

And you can learn more about her global movement, 1000 Hours Outside, here.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe to this podcast, and I’d be so very grateful if you leave a review of the podcast on iTunes.

Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster.

Thank you for listening and being part of my team.

I love you guys!

Greta

Welcome to the Greta Eskridge Podcast! Mar 05, 2024

In this episode, I get to introduce you to my brand-new project, The Greta Eskridge Podcast! What a scary yes this has been. But like all the other scary yeses I have said, this one has been worth it.

I am so happy to be partnering with Christian Parenting to create this show. You’ll find them to be a wealth of helpful resources for you as a parent, wanting to raise your kids to know God in a world that wants them not to.

There is a lot to look forward to and I share a little bit about that in this episode.

Here is some more of what I talked about:

Saying yes to this podcast felt scary and hard but I’ve never regretted saying the scary yes.

It's been a steep learning curve: I’ve struggled but it’s OK to be a beginner.

My show always starts with an introduction: enjoy mine!

I also ask guest to share something we wouldn’t find in a regular bio.

Here are mine:

I hate sneezing, I love your mom jokes, and I was once in a plane that got stuck by lightening while in the air! Exciting and terrifying!

I share the two books I’ve written: Adventuring Together and 100 Days of Adventure

Each week I’ll be covering a topic on my own or discussing one with a guest: I’m learning interviewing is a skill and I’m getting better at it slowly but surely.

We’ll be talking about everything from fighting porn, cultivating friendships, and having adventures to grief, tide pooling and creating family traditions: this podcast will be all over the place because life is just too interesting to talk about one thing!

You can find more of my work and writing on my website here.

You can follow me on Instagram here for all the up to the minute goings on in my life.

And please don’t forget to like and subscribe to this podcast, and I’d be so very grateful if you leave a review of the podcast on iTunes.

Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster.

Thank you for listening and being part of my team.

I love you guys!

Greta

Trailer Feb 27, 2024

We’re living in a time filled with distraction and disconnection from the things that matter most. Things like faith, family, friendship, and childhood innocence feel harder and harder to hold onto.

But I believe a joyful, connected life is possible with Jesus’s help because he offers us life to the full!

It’s time to open our eyes to the wonder God has put all around us, so join me each week on The Greta Eskridge Podcast as some of my favorite friends and I explore ways to create connection in our families and chase joy through both the peaks and valleys of parenting and life.

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