Elevating Motherhood

Why Does My Kid Always Want Me to Push Them on the Swing?Understanding Vestibular and Proprioceptive InputHave you ever wondered why your child begs for 'one more push' on the swing, spins until they're dizzy, hangs upside down from furniture, jumps off things that make you nervous, or crashes into the couch cushions over and over again? What if all of those behaviors are actually your child's body asking for something it needs? Today we're talking about two sensory systems that most parents have never heard of, but once you understand them, you'll see playgrounds, nature play, and your child's behavior in a completely different way. Kids are Designed to Seek MovementMost parents know about the five senses: sight, taste, touch, smell, hearing…but there are other sensory systems at work.Vestibular InputThe vestibular system lives in the inner ear and helps us understand: balance, movement, direction, and spatial orientationChildren seek vestibular input when they: swing, spin, roll, hang upside down, jump, and climbProprioceptive InputThis is our body's awareness of where we are in space.Children seek proprioceptive input through: pushing, pulling, carrying, climbing, wrestling, jumping, and heavy work (think "maximum effort")Many behaviors we label as "wild" are actually healthy sensory-seeking behaviors.The Playground Used to Be More ChallengingMany modern playgrounds prioritize safety and liability reduction.While safety matters, many playgrounds have lost: height, risk assessment opportunities, spinning equipment, climbing challenges, uneven surfaces, and natural obstaclesChildren often end up with: one slide, one climbing structure, rubber flooring, & limited opportunities for sensory-rich movement. The result? Kids leave the playground still seeking the input they need. Nature Is One of the Best Sensory GymsNature provides what many modern playgrounds can't.In nature children naturally: climb logs, balance on rocks, walk uneven terrain, pull branches, climbing hills, crawling under obstaclesEvery step provides vestibular and proprioceptive feedback. Unlike a manufactured playground, nature is constantly changing and requires the body and brain to adapt. Nature is one of the richest sensory experiences available to children. These Inputs Support More Than Physical DevelopmentVestibular and proprioceptive input don't just help kids burn energy. They support: attention, emotional regulation, body awareness, coordination, confidence, motor planning, and learning readiness.Many parents notice that after active outdoor play, children are calmer, more focused, and better able to sit and learn. We Can Create More Opportunities Without Expensive EquipmentParents don't need a giant backyard playground. Simple ways to provide vestibular input: swings, hammocks, rolling down hills, spinning games, wheelbarrow walks, obstacle courses, & hanging upside downSimple ways to provide proprioceptive input: carrying groceries, moving firewood, gardening, digging, pushing a loaded wagon, shoveling, helping move furniture, animal chores, & climbing treesMany homesteading activities naturally provide excellent sensory input. Challenge Yourself: "How can I give my child more movement instead of more entertainment?"More at: www.elevatingmotherhood.com Watch what movement theirchild naturally seeks.Children were designed tomove. Long before organized sports, screen time, and rubberized playgrounds,children spent their days climbing, carrying, balancing, digging, running, andexploring. When we understand vestibular and proprioceptive input, we stopseeing those behaviors as problems to manage and start seeing them as clues towhat our children's growing bodies need most.

Today’s conversation is a special one.I’m joined by Amy Hughes, author of Words Like Honey,a book that gently reminds us of the power our words carry, especially in our closest relationships. Amy writes with honesty and tenderness about how our speech shapes the atmosphere of our homes, the hearts of our children, and eventhe way we see ourselves. (And she does it in such a way that she doesn’t make moms feel like jerks when our words aren’t like honey).This isn’t a conversation about saying everything perfectly or getting it right all the time. It’s about becoming more aware, more intentional, and more compassionate with the words we choose, especially on the hard days.In this episode, Amy and I talk about motherhood, faith, grace, and what it looks like to let our words be a source of life rather than pressure. If you’ve ever wished you could rewind amoment and speak differently, or if you’re longing for a softer, more peaceful tone in your home, this conversation is for you.Amy’s Bio: Amy Hughes is a mother of nine, a writer, a speaker, and a parenting coach living on the central coast of California. A featured writer for Wild + Free, Amy is a sought-after keynote and conference speaker and has been published in Scary Mommy, (in)Courage, Simplify Magazine, The Fallow House, The Natural Family, Rhythm of the Home, Christian Unschooling, and more. She reads too many books and drinks too much coffee, plus she thinks she’s incredibly funny. I’m so grateful to share Amy and her work with you today. Get Amy’s Book Here: https://amzn.to/4rSlZsUElevating Motherhood Links: Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.comInstagram: @loribethauldridge @elevatingmotherhood

Today’s episode might surprise you — especially if you’ve ever thought, “If my husband would just change, our marriage would be easier…” (You're not alone in this thought...)I’m sitting down with Ann Wilson, speaker, author, and co-host of FamilyLife Today, to talk about her latest book How toSpeak Life to Your Husband —a book born out of real-life frustration, honest mistakes, and a total shift in how she used her words at home. Ann doesn’t sugar-coat anything. She shows us how encouragement, respect, and truth-filled communication can actually reshape our marriages — not by pretending, but by learning how powerful our voices really are. If you’ve ever felt stuck, misunderstood, or just tired ofrepeating the same arguments… this conversation is going to give you hope, tools, and a whole new perspective. Ann’s Bio: Ann Wilson has served with her husband for more than twenty-five years, co-founding Kensington Community Church, speaking at FamilyLife’s Weekend to Remember®, and hosting their own marriage conferences across the country. They live in the Detroit area, and have three grownsons, CJ, Austin, and Cody; three daughters-in-law; and seven grandchildren.Ann’s Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daveannwilson/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaveAnnWilson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DaveAnnWilson Her Book: https://amzn.to/49fPXAM Elevating Motherhood Links: Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.comInstagram: @loribethauldridgePlease Visit Our Sponsors: www.elevatingmotherhood.com/sponsors

This episode is a true meeting of the minds. Kiri Jorgensen and I both bring years of passion and experience in children’sliterature to the table—and this conversation might just change the way you see your family’s bookshelf.The world of children’s publishing has shifted dramatically over the past few decades. What once felt simple and safe is now layered with hidden social agendas and stories thatoften work against the virtues we’re trying to nurture in our kids.If you’ve ever been told that “as long as they’re reading, it’s fine,” this episode will gently challenge that idea. Not every book deserves a place in your child’s hands, and discernment matters more than ever.We’re diving deep into how to spot truly good books, why quality matters more than quantity, and what you can do to raise thoughtful, well-read kids in today’s publishing climate.Parents—you do not want to miss this one. Kiri’s Bio: Kiri Jorgensen is the Publisher andSenior Editor at Chicken Scratch Books. She is also a writer, teacher, entrepreneur, and most importantly wife and mother. Her involvement in the world of children’s literature spans almost three decades with perspective from many angles—writer, editor, organization leader, and writing instructor forboth kids and adults. She also taught school for 16 years where she specialized in gifted and rural education. She loves all books middle grade, but in her heart, she is a teacher. Chicken Scratch Books lets her combine all her passions. Besides the world of teaching and story, Kiri loves gardening, sewing quilts, being in nature, and bragging about her four amazing kids. She lives with her husband and a plethora of animals in rural Montana, where she cooks her meals on a wood-burning cookstove and is grateful every day for being right where she is.In this episode, Kiri & I talk about: * Chicken Scratch Books: middle grade fiction without hidden social agendas* Traditional American values* Why Kiri started Chicken Scratch Books * The drastic shift in children’s publishing world—and why we should be concerned as parents* Quality, clean literature for kids* How motherhood changed my perspective * Writers are required to bring liberal agendainto their * The political agenda in children’s literature* Kids don’t naturally connect over demographics* Relatable motives are what connects kids to a character* How my degrees in children’s literature are for my kids more than anything else* Podcast Docu-series: Sold A Story* Books are competing with short attention spans* Parents are so desperate for their kids to readanything that they’ll hand them anything regardless * Don’t choose books based on what is most popular* Character development in books affects our children’s budding character* Children are vulnerable and impressionable—the children’spublishing world takes advantage of this* Practical things parents can do to seek out decent children’s literature* “Books and media can be really powerful tools toteach and reinforce the virtues that you want instilled in your kids”* Have a kid who doesn’t want to read? Doread-alouds!* Every parent has power“Embrace who you are, where you are, and lookfor ways to be grateful for each of the experiences that you’re having alongthe way because they do culminate into what you become.” -Kiri Jorgensen* AND MORE! Chicken Scratch Books Links: https://chickenscratchbooks.com@chickenscratchbooks on IG and FB@CSBooks4 on X Elevating Motherhood Links: www.elevatingmotherhood.comwww.instagram.com/loribethauldridge Please Visit Today’s Sponsors:www.elevatingmotherhood.com/sponsors

What if your child’s mouth breathing, restless sleep, or even focus issues weren’t behavioral—but biological?In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with a pediatric airway dentist to explore the critical (and often overlooked) role of airway health in childhood development. We talk about how things like tongue ties, narrow palates, and poor oral posture can impact sleep, behavior, and even long-term health—and why early intervention matters.If you’ve ever been told “they’ll grow out of it,” or felt dismissed when raising concerns about your child’s breathing or sleep, this conversation is for you.In this episode, we cover:* The difference between traditional and airway-focused dentistry* How mouth breathing can lead to misdiagnoses like ADHD or anxiety* Signs parents can look for at home* What treatment and support can look like* Why airway health is a foundational part of whole-child wellnessThis episode is full of insight, practical takeaways, and encouragement for parents who want to better understand what’s going on beneath the surface of their child’s symptoms. Dr. Hilary’s Bio: Dr. Hilary Fritsch is a leading airway and biological dentist, one of the very few in the country with deep expertise in proper jaw development and airway health. She is also Montana’s premier Toothpillow provider, offering cutting-edge, nonsurgical techniques to optimizeairway growth and function.Practicing dentistry since 2006, Dr. Fritsch has been featured on The Today Show (NBC), New York Magazine, Business Insider, Pop Sugar, Fatherly, and Romper. Her passion for wellness is deeply personal—shaped by her own struggles with childhood sleep apnea and a debilitating autoimmunedisease that once impaired her ability to see and even walk unassisted. These experiences fuel her commitment to helping patients and their families optimize their health through airway-focused dentistry.Dr. Fritsch is the founder of Western Sleep Solutions andSaddle Peak Dental, both rooted in the philosophy that oral health is intricately connected to whole-body health. She specializes in nonsurgical airway development and the treatment of sleep apnea, breathing disorders, andorthodontic issues that impact long-term wellness.Determined to bring the best possible care to her patients,Dr. Fritsch has trained under one of the most elite airway dentists in the world and continuously pursues advanced education in airway-aware orthodontics, occlusion, and oral microbiome health. She is an active member of theInternational Academy of Sleep and other leading organizations dedicated to uncovering the root causes of airway dysfunction.Dr. Fritsch is passionate about educating and empowering her patients—both young and old—to take ownership of their health, breathing, and longevity. Quick Note Before We Begin:If you get curious during this episode about the palateexpander device we mention, head to toothpillow.com and use the code LORIBETH to receive a free video consultation with a trained airway dentist—a $50 value—plus $200 off the cost of treatment.That’s toothpillow.com, code LORIBETHDr. Hilary’s Links: Website: Saddlepdeakdental.comInstagram: @hilaryfritschdmd Elevating Motherhood Links: Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.comInstagram: @loribethauldridge @elevatingmotherhood

Mary Ruth Organics collaborated with the brand Liquid Death in a temporary collaboration for their nighttime formula. They released the "ad" on social media that included chainsawing clowns (murder) and dark imagery and messaging that really rocked the online space. The collaboration seemed to make zero sense for those of us who have been users of Mary Ruth's high quality vitamins and products for years. There was outrage--including from me. I left an unbecoming comment on MRO's IG post, I cancelled my subscription to their products, I shared it with friends and followers. And once I had done all of those things, I should have felt some sort of peace, right? Wasn't that the "right" thing to do? Wasn't this me aligning my actions and values? It sure didn't feel like it...I couldn't get rid of this nagging feeling that perhaps Mary Ruth Organics wasn't familiar with just how dark Liquid Death's advertising tactics can get (ever heard of their "soul contract?") So I decided to message the MRO's IG page and ask if they knew about it and get curious about how this collaboration came to be. You know who answered? Mary Ruth herself. THE Mary Ruth of Mary Ruth Organics. She messaged me back and asked if we could talk. I said yes. She called me, we chatted, and at the end of the conversations I can confidently say hearts and minds were changed--especially mine. This episode is about the unfolding and understanding that took place after that conversation. It also explains why--despite the online outrage over a collaboration (that has ended, by the way)--I'm going to continue to buy and use Mary Ruth Organics products. Disclaimer: at the the time of this recording, I am not an affiliate for or have any sort of business relationship with Mary Ruth Organics. This is simply my opinion & personal story about a "hot topic" among the mom community.

Today’s Sponsor: Homesteading & Skillful LivingMega Bundle 2025 Evgeniia’s Bio: Evgeniia Arasim is a homeschooling mama and holistic health coach dedicated to helping fellow homeschooling moms overcome burnout through movement, nourishing food, andmindset work. Originally from Russia, she grew up in a competitive school and sports environment but chose a different path for her own child—one filled with wild adventures, child-led learning, and a slow, intentional lifestyle.Now living in Toronto with her husband and son, Evgeniia embraces a multilingual homeschooling journey, incorporating English, Polish, and Russian into their daily learning, making education both enriching and fun.After becoming a mother, she shifted her focus from traditional fitness to holistic health,recognizing that true well-being goes beyond just movement. With a deep understanding of metabolism, movement, and sustainable wellness, she now empowers homeschooling moms to nourish their bodies, regain their energy, and thrive in both motherhood and homeschooling.In this episode, Evgeniia & I talk about: * Her Russian background* Her work with homeschool moms on their health journeys* What is cortisol is and why it matters* Cortisol is all the rage online right now* Cortisol is a hormone* Life-long learning mindset* Not aiming for perfection but for learning* High cortisol* Low cortisol* Cortisol testing* What we can do today to feel better* Cortisol is supposed to peak in the morning (between 6-8am)* Using our cortisol energy to live our life (not scroll social media)* Doing what helps you survive* Everyone stresses out about something different* Glycogen & the liver* Insulin resistance* Hemoglobin A1C averages* Do we need snacks? * Sugars going up and down* Making small changes* Cortisol and metabolism* Cortisol and weight management* Accepting your body shape/form * Acknowledging our natural body frame* It’s never going to be “just cortisol”* Blood sugar disregulation and imbalances* Craving certain things* Energy crashes* Muscles not growing despite working out* Symptoms of high cortisol* Symptoms of low cortisol* H pylori * Best tips for balancing cortisol* Managing weight for how our body needs to be* Breathing exercises* Prioritizes protein* Protein before coffee* Get outside and get morning sunlight* Cold plunging* Challenging yourself* Book Evgeniia mentions: Wim Hof: Iceman* Underestimating the importance of sleep* Evgeniia’s coaching offerings Evgeniia’s Links: Free Cortisol Guide: (April 2025 only) https://www.atnourishedmotherhood.com/page/650812Instagram: @at.nourished.motherhoodWebsite: www.atnourishedmotherhood.com Elevating Motherhood Links: Instagram: @loribethauldridge @elevatingmotherhood Website: www.elevatingmotherhood.comLeave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts! This helps other moms find this resource...thank you for listening! I appreciate you!