Don't Mom Alone Podcast

Melissa Harrison is the President and CEO of 4word, an organization that equips professional Christian women to integrate their faith and work through community, mentoring, and leadership development. 4word creates spaces where women can build authentic connections, grow in their leadership, and live out their purpose in every season of life. Melissa brings a unique perspective as a working mom navigating career, family, faith, and the many demands that come with trying to do it all. About This EpisodeWhat happens when you're trying to be a great mom, a great employee or leader, a good friend, and still take care of yourself? In this conversation, Melissa and I talk honestly about the pressure women feel to do it all, and what can get lost along the way. We talk about the loneliness that can come with busy seasons, why friendship and connection often get pushed to the bottom of the list, and the importance of intentionally making space for people. Whether you're a working mom or a stay-at-home mom, there's an invitation to step back and ask: Who am I beyond the roles I fill, and what would it look like to stop carrying everything alone?In This Episode, We Talk About: Balancing motherhood, career, family, and personal needs The loneliness that can come from living in a busy season Why friendship and camaraderie are often the first things to go Creating intentional connection through consistent, committed gathering Recognizing the triggers behind our need to measure up Knowing when it might be time to talk to someone and dig deeper The challenge of always feeling available to everyone Navigating seasons when work and family collide The power of mentorship and meaningful community Connect with Melissa Harrison: Website: 4word Instagram: 4word (@4wordwomen) Facebook: 4word Links Mentioned: Work, Love, Pray: By Diane Paddison Tyranny of the Urgent: By Charles Hummel Mentor program for women BOLDLY Conference - 4word Related Episodes: Corporate Working Moms :: Causha Jolly and Stacey McCabe [Ep 205] Working from Home :: Jehava Brown [Ep 288] Mentoring for Women in the Workplace :: Diane Paddison [Ep 412] Featured Sponsors: Lola Blankets– For a limited time, our listeners can get 40% OFF select Lola Blankets products with code [DMA] at checkout. Just head to LolaBlankets.com and use code [DMA] to get 40% OFF your order. Wrap yourself in luxury with Lola Blankets Hiya Health Products–You can now find Hiya in person at Target stores nationwide, or order directly from their website with a special deal we’ve worked out just for you. Receive 50% off your first order on any of their products. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/DMA. This deal is not available on their regular website. Get your kids the full-body support they deserve. Branch Basics–Branch Basics is available at Target, Target.com, Amazon, and BranchBasics.com. And for the Home Essentials Kit, you'll get 15% off at BranchBasics.com with code [DMA].

Vicki Courtney is an author, speaker, and mom who has spent years helping parents navigate the hard conversations that come with raising kids in today’s culture. Through her books and ministry, she equips parents to talk honestly with their kids about faith, culture, relationships, and the challenges they’re facing.In this top 10 episode (which originally aired on March 18, 2019), Vicki and I talk about how to parent with courage and humility in a culture that can feel increasingly unfamiliar to Christian families. Instead of parenting from fear, Vicki encourages us to make space for honest questions, lead with love, and create an environment where our kids know they can come to us with anything. Even when the world feels uncertain, Jesus is still our hope, and our kids need parents who are willing to walk alongside them as they wrestle with faith.In this episode, we talk about: How Vicki came to know Jesus and the ministry God called her to The culture our kids are growing up in and why it can feel increasingly unfriendly to the Christian faith Why we need to teach our kids to walk in truth while leading with love How to make room for meaningful conversations by creating margin in your family The pressure moms feel to make sure their kids are doing everything: sports, music, activities, academics, and more Letting go of the belief that we have to orchestrate our children's futures Giving our kids room to fail, wrestle, and learn from failure Creating an environment where our kids feel safe coming to us with anything Why real-time conversations and our attitude toward our kids matters Parenting without shame, finger-wagging, or pretending we have it all together What the prodigal son and the older brother teach us about God's grace The challenges young men are facing as they grow into adulthood Finding hope when you're afraid of the world your kids are growing up in Connect with Vicki Courtney: Website: Vicki Courtney Instagram: Vicki Courtney (@vickicourtney) Facebook: Vicki Courtney Links Mentioned: 5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter: By Vicki Courtney 5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Son: By Vicki Courtney The Prodigal God: By Timothy Keller Revolutionary Parenting: By George Barna Related Episodes: How Parents Can Equip Kids to Find Freedom, Healing, and Identity in Christ :: Jennifer Barnett [Ep 577] Gospel-Focused Conversations :: Joel Fitzpatrick [Ep. 251] The Parenting Shift That Changes Everything :: David Thomas and Sissy Goff [Ep 572] Featured Sponsors: Thrive Causemetics: Get your new everyday favorites with 20% off your first order at thrivecausemetics.com/DMA. Finding Jesus Countdown to Christmas Kit: Finding Jesus is a fun and meaningful countdown to Christmas that turns seeking Jesus into a daily family tradition. You can find the Finding Jesus Countdown to Christmas Kit at SeekHimFirst.com/HEATHER. You can also order on amazon here.

As moms, it can be easy to confuse parenting with controlling. We want our children to make wise choices, succeed, and avoid pain. But fear can quickly turn our desire to help into nagging, manipulation, or control. Sarah Stephens joins me to talk about what it looks like to move from controlling our children to mentoring, discipling, guiding, and loving them well.Sarah shares how God has taught her that our calling is not to control outcomes, but to remain faithful to the process. We talk about seeking wisdom from above, listening for God’s voice, recognizing the difference between conviction and condemnation, and learning to entrust our children and their choices to God.In this episode, we talk about: Why control is often motivated by fear Learning to focus on the process, not the outcome How to know when to speak up—and when to let something go The only control we’re actually called to have: self-control Seeking God’s wisdom instead of simply collecting more information Learning to recognize God’s voice How comparison can steal a mom’s peace Asking, “Can my child recover from this?” Parenting, guiding, and loving our children even when we disagree Praying for our children and leaving it at the feet of Jesus What it looks like to say, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done” Connect with Sarah Stephens: Website: Sarah Stephens - Equipping Women for Every Day Instagram: Sarah Tunstall Stephens (@sstephenstx) Facebook: Sarah Tunstall Stephens Links Mentioned: Boundaries: By Dr. Henry Cloud and John Townsend Have a New Teenager by Friday: By Dr. Kevin Leman Related Episodes: Inner Healing Prayer :: Jennifer Barnett [Ep 323] How Parents Can Equip Kids to Find Freedom, Healing, and Identity in Christ :: Jennifer Barnett [Ep 577] How to Hear God’s Voice: Freedom Prayer and Abiding in Christ with Jennifer Barnett [Ep 576] Featured Sponsors: Lola Blankets: For a limited time, our listeners can get 40% OFF select Lola Blankets products with code [DMA] at checkout. Just head to LolaBlankets.com and use code [DMA] to get 40% OFF your order. Wrap yourself in luxury with Lola Blankets. Branch Basics: And here’s the good news—Branch Basics is now available everywhere you shop: at Target, Target.com, Amazon, and of course, BranchBasics.com. Tossing the toxins has never been more convenient! For anyone grabbing the Premium Starter Kit, you can still get 15% off at BranchBasics.com with our code [DMA]. Our place: Upgrade your kitchen with Our Place today. Visit fromourplace.com/DMA and use code DMA for 10% off sitewide. With a 100-day trial, you can try it completely risk-free.