It wasn’t too many months ago that I (Joanna) decided to give up on coloring my hair to cover up all the grey. But you want to know something funny? When I look in the mirror, I sometimes laugh to myself and wonder: How many of these grey hairs are from the stress of parenting our youngest daughter as a toddler? She was fearless, and one of her favorite phrases was, “I do it myself!”

We know we are not the only ones who have experienced a battle of wills with our children. Today, you may be feeling the constant push-and-pull with your child; your days might feel tired and stressful, and it’s becoming harder and harder to feel joy in your parenting.

If you’re craving some peace and guidance in your home today, we are happy to introduce our guest, Beth Read. Beth is a mom of four who loves coming alongside other parents to remind them that God’s grace shows up in the messiest, hardest moments. Beth is also the founder of HeartWriters and the creator of Fruit of the Family, a fun, activity-based resource to help you disciple your children and bond as a family.

In this episode, Beth shares:

• Characteristics of many strong-willed children
• What to do when you feel like you are failing as a parent
• The Seven C’s for relating better to your child
• And much more!

We hope you enjoy this conversation!

Show Notes: growinghometogether.com/beth-read-120

“But I don’t want to try that!” How many times have you heard this cry ring out whenever your child is faced with something new? Whether it be a new sport, trying to learn an instrument, or simply taking a bite of an unfamiliar food on their plate, our children can often resist new things—even if we know that they’ll eventually be grateful that they pushed through their anxious hesitations.

We want to be the type of moms and dads who help our kids grow in confidence. But it can be a challenge to know how to best support them. When should we push them to branch out or to stick with something they’ve committed to, and when should we give them grace and time to adjust to the thought of something new? We are so happy to welcome Valerie Ellis back to the show to help us answer these questions.

Valerie is the mom of two boys, and she is navigating parenthood with her husband every day. She’s the author of multiple books for kids, including Let’s Go! Bible Adventures and her exciting new project, Wild Faith Devotional for Kids. Valerie is a speaker and the founder of Our Everyday Parables, an online resource that offers parents ideas for pursuing faith and compassion.

In this episode, Valerie shares:

• Reasons our children may struggle to step into something new
• Ways to help our children shift their mindset
• How to model confidence, bravery, and even failure
• How to help our kids cope with the anxiety they feel in their mind and body
• And much more!

We hope you enjoy this conversation!

Show Notes: growinghometogether.com/valerie-ellis-119

Do you ever struggle to bridge the gap between your hearts in your marriage? Does deep connection feel always out of reach?

Whether in your marriage, your relationship with your kids, or even with an old friend, many of us can feel at a loss for how to express our care and empathy for the people we love.

And when we’re overwhelmed or hurting, we end up hiding the pain we feel inside. We settle for shallow relationships because we’re afraid to be truly vulnerable with another person.

The good news is, we can strengthen our empathy and ability to connect—and it all begins with seeing the depth of God’s care and understanding for us. But it doesn’t happen overnight. This is something that takes mindful, intentional work to develop.

Our guests, Bill and Kristi Gaultiere, are here to help. Bill and Kristi have been counseling and ministering for 30 years. Together, they founded Soul Shepherding, a nonprofit ministry that helps believers discover their next steps toward emotional health, loving relationships, and intimacy with Jesus.

In this episode, Bill and Kristi share:

• The four A’s of empathy
• Bible-based empathy practices to affirm that you are deeply loved by Jesus
• Ways to grow in self-empathy and calm emotional triggers
• And much more!

We hope you enjoy this conversation!

Show Notes: growinghometogether.com/bill-kristi-gaultiere-118