Why does homework and school in general turn into a battle in so many homes?

In this insightful conversation, Dr. Matthew Housson breaks down what’s really going on when kids struggle with homework—and why it’s often not a discipline issue at all. Instead, many challenges come down to executive function skills—things like planning, focus, emotional regulation, and the ability to start and finish tasks.

We talk about how brain development impacts motivation, why some kids struggle to shift into “low dopamine” tasks like homework, and what parents can do to support their child without taking over.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated, confused, or even discouraged trying to help your child succeed academically, this episode will give you clarity, practical tools, and encouragement—you’re not alone, and there is a better way forward. In this episode we talk about:

• When behavior is developmentally normal vs. when to seek help
• The key signs of depression in teens (including irritability)
• Why a full profile is often more helpful than a diagnosis
• Practical tools to make homework time smoother
• Executive function skills are learned and developed over time

• You can’t rush development—but you can support it

• Website: Home - The Housson Center
• Facebook: The Housson Center
• Instagram: The Housson Center (@thehoussoncenter)

• Resources from The Housson Center (books & websites)
• Definitions of different childhood challenges (parent resource)

• How to Stay Calm with School Stress :: Kirk Martin {Ep 88}
• School Choice Series: Public School Options with Emily Fenlaw:: [Ep 561]
• Grace Based Discipline for Kids with Unique Needs :: Karis Murray [Ep 237]

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• In The Special Needs Parent: A Guide to the Life You Never Expected, Dr. Joe and Cindi Ferrini share more than 40 years of lived experience raising a son with profound disabilities. With honesty and faith, they speak to the strain on marriage, the weight of finances, the sting of unkind comments, and the grief of a journey you didn’t choose, but also the joy you didn’t expect. If you’re walking this road—or love someone who is—this book offers steady encouragement for the long journey ahead. To learn more about The Special Needs Parent: A Guide to the Life You Never Expected, visit moodypublishers.com or find it wherever books are sold.
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What do you do when life doesn’t just hand you lemons—but keeps throwing them at your face?

Today, Kirby Kelly joins us to share about her new book, The Fabric of Hope. After unexpectedly losing her mom, Kirby turned to Scripture to find hope in a season that felt unbearable. With a Master’s in Theology, she began searching for truth and hope right in the middle of her pain.

When life unravels, it can feel impossible to believe that anything good could come from it. In those moments, it’s easy to begin seeing God as the enemy in our situation. But God is not the author of evil—He is the redeemer of it. And when the hits keep coming, that truth can be incredibly hard to hold onto.

This episode is a reminder to stay tethered to Him through both praise and lament—to remain connected and fight for that connection, even when it’s difficult.

Be encouraged today as Kirby shares her personal story of pain and how God is with us in all things.

Connect with Kirby Kelly:

• Website: Kirby Kelly
• Facebook: Kirby Kelly
• Instagram: Kirby Kelly (@kirbyisaboss)

• The Fabric of Hope: By Kirby Kelly
• Eternity is Now in Session: by John Ortberg

• Finding Freedom from Habitual Sin :: Kirby Kelly [Ep 469]
• Walking Through Grief: Coping, Comforting Kids, and Embodied Emotions :: Erin Nelson and Colleen Montague [Ep 517]
• When Moms Walk through Grief :: Stacey Thacker {Ep 76}

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As moms, we are like a life support system for our kids. To keep our families healthy, we need to be healthy. A key part of our overall well being is setting healthy boundaries.

But boundaries are hard. They require uncomfortable, direct conversations. We may need to put a limit on really good things or draw a line in the sand with our in-laws or parents.

My guest, Dr. John Townsend literally wrote the book on boundaries and he shares some deep wisdom on how to set healthy boundaries while honoring our family members and others.

“You've got to take care of your energy, your heart and your emotions. You've got to take care of yourself and your health. If you don't guard that heart, then the wellsprings of life won't come out from it. Boundaries are basically about how to set healthy, loving limits in our life. So we have something to offer to our children.”

Townsend answers your tough questions about setting limits with in-laws, making healthy boundaries for the holidays and even models having a tough conversation with a parent about a boundary.

This is an episode packed with great information and Townsend has several books and resources available if you want to go deeper. Let’s make setting healthy boundaries a priority and guard our hearts and our time to bring life to our family!

Connect with John Townsend:

• Instagram: John Townsend (@dr.john_townsend)
• Facebook: Dr. John Townsend
• Website: Home - Dr. John Townsend

Links Mentioned:

• Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: By John Townsend
• Relational Nutrients (new layout) - Dr. John Townsend
• People Fuel: By John Townsend

• Parenting a Spicy Child: How to Stay Calm, Set Boundaries, and Keep the Connection :: Mary Van Geffen [Ep 558]
• Good Boundaries and Goodbyes :: Lysa TerKeurst [Ep 387]
• Strengthening the Relationship with Your Adult Child :: Kathy Cunningham [Ep 543]

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How do you parent your kids through a story they didn’t choose?

In this honest and hope-filled conversation, Vaneetha Risner shares her journey of raising two adolescent daughters as a single mom after divorce. She opens up about the pressure to “hold everything together,” the tension of co-parenting with different values, and the deep questions kids ask about God in the middle of pain.

This episode offers practical wisdom and biblical encouragement for all moms, reminding us that while we can’t control our children’s stories, we can faithfully shepherd their hearts—and trust God to restore what has been lost. Here is some of what we cover:

• The balance between sharing too much vs. hiding your emotions
• Navigating co-parenting with different rules and values
• The importance of community when you feel alone
• You don’t have to have all the answers—sometimes “I don’t know” is enough

• Parenting is a long game—trust God with the outcome

• Website: Vaneetha Risner
• Facebook: Vaneetha Rendall Risner
• Instagram: Vaneetha Risner (@vaneetharisner)

• This Was Never the Plan: Walking with God Through the Heartache of Divorce: By Vaneetha Rendall Risner
• Walking Through Fire: A Memoir of Loss and Redemption: By Vaneetha Risner
• The Scars That Have Shaped Me: How God Meets Us in Suffering: By Vaneetha Risner

• How to Never Miss Out :: Vaneetha Risner [Ep 402] RWYB Series wk 1
• Walking Thru Divorce :: Lara Williams [Ep 324]
• How God Personally Pursues and Redeems :: Jenn Jett [Ep 193]

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In part two of my interview with Nadya Dickson, we dive deeper into how Christian moms can lead their families with clarity by identifying their values and creating a vision.

Values and vision go hand in hand. Whether we’ve named them or not, every family operates from a set of values. Nadya explains that when we take the time to identify and name the values that matter most to us, they become a powerful lens for making decisions, setting priorities, and shaping the atmosphere of our homes.

We also talk about creating a yearly vision for your children, focusing more on character than performance, and asking God to reveal who each child is becoming. In a world filled with competing messages about what motherhood should look like, a clear vision can help moms filter out the noise and focus on what is truly fruitful.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by expectations or unsure how to prioritize your time as a mom, this conversation will help you rediscover peace, purpose, and intentionality in your parenting. Here is some of what we cover:

• The power of naming your top 5 values
• How moms can filter out cultural pressure and expectations
• Why clarity helps us determine what is fruitful versus wasteful
• You can’t change people, but you can control the atmosphere

• Website: Formed to Lead | Nadya Dickson

• 50 I am statements
• CliftonStrengths Online Talent Assessment
• 5 Values Exercise
• Annual Vision Process - Children
• 2026 One-Year PowerSheets® Goal Planner

• Goals, Roles and Superpowers :: Bruce and Heather [Ep 112]
• Motherhood Is an Assignment, Not Your Identity | Clarity Series (Part One) with Nadya Dickson [Ep 563]
• Learning to Listen to God’s Voice :: Kelsey Phillips [Summer of Mentorship wk 3]

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Many women today are running at full speed—balancing motherhood, work, leadership, and countless responsibilities—yet still feel like they are barely surviving. In this powerful conversation, purpose strategist Nadya Dickson shares how women can move from survival mode into clarity and confidence by rediscovering their God-given identity.

One of the most powerful reminders from this episode: motherhood is an assignment, not your identity. When women understand who God says they are, everything else—leadership, family, work, and influence—begins to align.

If you’ve ever wondered Who am I beyond my roles? or Where should my time and energy really go? This conversation will encourage you to slow down, seek God, and rediscover your purpose. Here is some of what we cover:

• Starting with the prayer: “God, who do You say I am?”
• Understanding your identity as a daughter of the King of Kings
• Recognizing the unique personality and wiring God gave you
• The parable of the four soils and why busyness is not the same as fruitfulness
• The influences around us are constantly forming and shaping us.

• Website: Formed to Lead | Nadya Dickson

• 50 I am statements
• CliftonStrengths Online Talent Assessment
• Free Personality Test | 16Personalities

• Goals, Roles and Superpowers :: Bruce and Heather [Ep 112]
• Healing Past Wounds for More Freedom :: Jennifer Barnett [Summer of Mentorship wk 4]
• Generational Healing: Becoming the Mom You Needed :: Melanie Shankle [Ep 508]
• If You’re Tired of Feeling Like You Don’t Measure Up… :: Hosanna Wong [Ep 538]

Featured Sponsors:

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In this episode, Suzanne Stabile, internationally recognized Enneagram expert and mom of four adult children, shares her personal story and how the Enneagram has shaped her approach to parenting. She explains that the Enneagram isn’t about changing who we are, but about understanding how we see the world and choosing how to act with intention. She reminds us that there’s no one right way to parent; motherhood requires recognizing differences, extending grace, and embracing our own authentic path.

Suzanne dives into the practical applications of the Enneagram in family life, showing how it can transform relationships with your children, your spouse, and other moms. She explains the energy and tendencies of different Enneagram types—from aggressive and dominant types to dependent and withdrawing types—and how understanding these patterns can bring unity instead of conflict. Parenting is never easy, and mistakes are inevitable, but Suzanne emphasizes that grace covers our shortcomings. By using the Enneagram as a tool, we can parent with more awareness, respond with empathy, and honor our own authentic selves while guiding our children with love. Here is some of what we cover:

• Enneagram Types as Animals: Ones are Worker Bees, Twos are Kangaroos, Threes are Eagles, Fours are Butterflies, Fives are Owls, Sixes are Bunny Rabbits, Sevens are Monkeys, Eights are Lions, and Nines are Turtles.
• Grace covers the places we fall short
• Set appropriate priorities: You can’t do it all.
• Be mindful in child-centered families: When the focus is entirely on the children, much can get overlooked, and it often reflects a broader cultural expectation.

• Instagram: Suzanne Stabile (@suzannestabile)
• Website: The Enneagram Godmother
• Facebook: Suzanne Stabile | Facebook

• The Road Back to You: By Suzanne Stabile
• The Journey Toward Wholeness: By Suzanne Stabile

• How God Personally Pursues and Redeems :: Jenn Jett [Ep 193]
• Enneagram and Stress :: Ian Cron Recap [Bonus Episode]
• The Enneagram, Marriage and the Gospel :: Beth McCord [Ep 259]

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In part three of my School Choice Series, I sit down with my friend Emily Fenlaw to talk about all things public school. With four children who have experienced everything from traditional public school to the talented and gifted program, an all-girls school, and an arts-focused school, Emily has navigated the many options and transitions that public education can offer.

She also shares candidly about parenting children with ADHD — walking through 504 plans, medication decisions, and the ongoing process of learning how to support executive functioning at home. Through it all she learned to be a student of her child to discover the best path for them.

My hope with this series is to share a variety of school choice stories so you can hear different experiences and perspectives. As you listen, I encourage you to pray and seek God’s guidance, asking Him to bring to mind exactly what you need to know for your family’s journey. Trust Him to walk hand in hand with you, year by year, as you make decisions and navigate each step of your children’s education. Here is some of what we cover:

• The beauty of building relationships with families from all walks of life
• How introverts and extroverts can uniquely flourish in public school environments
• You can only make the best decision you can with the information you have

• The challenges of public school and navigating relationships with other parents

• Instagram: @EmFenlaw
• Get notified when her tshirt business launches

• School Choice Series: Private to Public School with Misty Persefield:: [Ep 560]
• School Choice Series: Homeschool to Private School with Kris Habashy :: [Ep 559]
• The School of Dependency on Christ :: Wendy Speake [Ep 240]

Featured Sponsors:

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