When you’re the mom, organizing home is an ongoing task. We need to evaluate the attitudes we have toward the work God puts in front of us. How can we stop despising the daily, ongoing work of motherhood? Listen as Jess talks with Mystie Winckler about: going beyond Pinterest-perfect home organization stewarding what we’ve been given combatting a one-and-done approach…
Author: Jess Connell
“I Want to Stop Yelling at My Kids”
Is this you, Mama? Are you tired of fighting against this sin? I get tired of it, too. Over the last 10 years, I’ve made progress in my fight against sinful anger, but I’m not “over it”– oh how I wish I was! Unfortunately, it is still a sin I have to actively fight, or else…
13 Natural Ways Our Family Stays Healthy in Winter
Here are 13 natural ways to stay healthy in wintertime. 🙂 These are simple, easy, FREE ways you can boost your family’s health. Teach our kids (from very young) to cough on the inside of their elbows. Even 2 year olds can learn to do this, rather than into hands or just out into the ether. This lessens the…
Productive Free Time (aka: Older Kids’ “Naptime”)
Last time, we talked about the importance of naps. But at some point (which, as I mentioned, with our own children typically happens around four years of age), your child will pass the stage for daily naps. Occasional naps may still be needed, but this child has mastered her own attitudes and isn’t crying out…
Naptime Matters.
Naptime. Quiet time. Siesta. 🙂 Call it what you want. But do not underestimate its importance for happy family life, particularly with kids about four and under. In actuality, this principle of setting aside certain hours of the day for the purpose of rest can serve any family of any age and any size. CHILDREN…
Favorite Family Games
As a family, we love playing games together. Good quality games: contribute to a family environment of fun and learning together, make holiday times and extended evenings with other families more fun, give a great opportunity to model appropriate behavior for winning and losing, and allow you to observe your children’s reactions and tendencies to competition,…
The Side God Takes in the Mommy Wars
We’ve all heard of (and experienced) the Mommy Wars. But what is God’s view of it all? As mothers, we can feel completely removed– even from other believers– if we make a parenting choice that is contrary to what they are choosing or what they chose. No matter where you live, if you’re reading this…
Ep. 07: Find Joy Amidst the Chaos
Being Mom means embracing a previously-unexperienced level of chaos, and yet, important questions wait for us in the middle of the messes and noise: where is my identity, what are my responsibilities, and how can I find joy? Listen as Jess talks with Emily Jensen (mom of 4 kids, ages 3 and under), about the “discomfort factor” of…
Here’s What I Learned Watching My Friend Be “Busy At Home”
Almost 6 years ago, we decided to stay in America, after (almost) 6 years of living abroad. I flew to Istanbul, Turkey (our former home) to sort, sell, and pack our belongings there. While there, I stayed a week in our friends’ home, observing her normal household routines. Mother of four kids (then, ranging from 8 to 20…
Q&A: I’m Nervous. What If the Kids Can *Hear Us* Making Love?
Today’s Q&A is a really practical, common concern for many women: WHAT IF the kids can hear us making love? It’s something almost all couples have to work through. Here’s the question I received: Q: I just read your post about “make love – let him hear you”. In the post you reference letting your husband hear your pleasure…