Wire Talk with Karen Stubbs

Today you’re going to hear from dear friend and long time BOAW mom, Jenny Boyett, as she joins Karen to share what it has been like to walk through a marriage that did not turn out the way she dreamed. Unless you have a friend walking through this season of life, or you are going through a situation like this yourself, you may never otherwise know what it’s like to be faced with this scenario. All month long, we are sharing these stories so we can grow in empathy and compassion alongside our fellow BOAW moms. 

We've talked about the anxiety epidemic our kids are facing these days, but there are a ton of moms battling chronic anxiety as well. Today, Dr. Chinwé Williams joins Karen to give us practical ways to combat anxiety and shares how to know when we need extra help.

Cady Dugger joins us in the studio to talk about raising her daughter, Christine, who was born with a rare chromosomal disorder. All month long we want to pull back the curtain on the battles moms in our community are facing, battles that many of us know little to nothing about. Our hope is that today’s conversation will inspire empathy and grow your compassion for the moms in your world who are facing unseen battles of their own.

Dr. Sharon Marcanthony joins Karen and Sunny today to talk about the changing hormones women experience throughout our lives. We’re asking Sharon your questions about menopause, sexual health, postpartum depression, and managing PMS. Sharon reminds us of the importance of having a comfortable relationship with our health care providers as well as how critical community is in helping us navigate the changing seasons of our lives (i.e. don’t menopause alone!)

A lot of moms put their needs on the sideline when their children are young- but when those children get older, a mom can’t even recognize what her needs are anymore. Self care is the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one's own health, and it’s something we need to make time for as moms.

It’s natural that our kids try to “trump” their dad and become the priority in a mom’s world, but your husband came first! And like Karen always says, you want him to be there after the kids leave home! Join the conversation today as we tackle your questions about keeping your spouse #1. Find links to all the resources Karen shared in this episode at: birdsonawiremoms.com/podcast/episode300

All month long we are talking about getting our priorities straight. Many of us try to do this going into the new year, but come February, we’ve already given up on many of the changes we said we wanted to make. So, think of this whole month like a priorities pep talk!  We’re going to cover marriage, self-care, and even hormonal health with a guest later this month, but today we are kicking things off talking about friendship.

Parenting a teen in today’s world is not for the faint of heart! Join us today as we answer your questions about raising teenagers and dealing with tough topics like pornography, low self-esteem, smartphones, and social media. Moms of littles, please listen! Looking down the road a few years can help you make choices today that will make your tomorrow easier. Find show notes at: birdsonawiremoms.com/podcast/episode298

One of our primary roles in our child's life is to point them toward God, but their relationship with God is just that, it's their relationship. Your child is not an extension of you, and for better or worse, you are not in control! In this conversation we talk about the importance of being a prayer warrior for your child and how to approach them in a winning way. 

Consistency is Karen’s key word for discipline and on today’s episode we are talking about what that looks like in the life of a teenager. From how to pick your battles and knowing which topics aren’t worth the fight, today’s episode gives practical tips and encouragement to stay the course and be consistent during the teenage years.

We’re baaaaack! And we’re kicking off the New Year with a month of episodes focused on teenagers. Whether you’re the mom of multiple teens or you’re still in toddler world, you’ll benefit from tuning into today’s practical wisdom for dealing with drama. Grab a copy of Karen's 365 day devotional for moms HERE. 

Today we’re giving you a peek into our Patreon podcast - Real Life, Real Moms!  Ann Mason and I have been friends for a while, and I've been so impressed by the God-honoring way she parents. She has three children, one of whom is special needs and non-verbal. We talk a little about that and the isolation and grieving that often comes alongside having a special needs child. We also chat a little about boundaries and freedoms as kids get older.  Become a Patron today and hear the rest of Ann's episode!  

Blended family expert Ron Deal joins Wire Talk today to answer questions from moms in our BOAW community and offer his unique perspective from decades of ministry with stepfamilies. Ron tackles everything from how to prepare your child's heart to accept a new relationship to disciplining stepchildren. This episode is packed with great advice, and no matter what kind of family you have, listening will leave you with a nugget of wisdom you can put into practice today. Mentioned on today's episode: Become a Birds donor and enable us to continue making episodes like this one! Find all of Ron’s resources at SmartStepFamilies.com Ron’s new book: Preparing to Blend Join our Patreon community this month!

We love how this show has enabled the Birds ministry to grow and impact families across the world. Today, Karen and Sunny share emails from listeners with BOAW advice that is making a difference in their lives today. What BOAW advice has worked for YOU lately?  Find show notes (and that family values pic) HERE.  

When expectations collide with reality, especially around the holidays, disappointment can be the inevitable result. Today Karen shares how the holidays will be different for her this year with four married children and gives us practical ways to keep our heart in the right place no matter what the season looks like this year. Become a Patreon supporter today and get immediate access to two years of Real Life, Real Moms episodes!