Do you ever feel like clutter is taking over your home? In this episode, Tara Bremmer, professional organizer is here to dive into the heart of decluttering. We will talk about where to start if your home feels out of control, and how to tackle overwhelming projects in small, manageable steps instead of turning your whole house upside down. You’ll also hear tips for pantry organization, dealing with “rage areas,” and how to maintain chaos resilience by scheduling time to keep things in order. We also cover:  Practical tips for decluttering books, laundry, and pantries The emotional side of clutter and why we hold on to things in stressful times Decluttering with kids: teaching them to let go, manage clothes, and organize their space Tips for closet organization: including deciding what sizes of clothes to hang onto Connect with Tara Bremmer:  Website:  House Peace Instagram:  Therapy for your house. (@house.peace) Related Episodes: Declutter Like a Mother :: Allie Casazza [Ep268] From Chaos to Calm: Practical Tools to Manage Anger and Overwhelm in Motherhood  :: Elizabeth Andreyevskiy [Ep 513] Choose What Matters to YOU :: Kendra Adachi [Ep 293] House Rules and Learning to Love your Home :: Myquillyn Smith [Ep 462] Featured Sponsors:  Voetberg Music Academy: Use my code: DONTMOMALONE to get 20% off each month you’re subscribed and encounter the proprietary Voetberg Method experience at Voetbergmusicacademy.com  Go Pure: Get 25% Off @goPure with code [DMA] at gopure.com #goPurepod Active Skin Repair: Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com to learn more about Active Skin Repair and to get 20% off your order, use code:DMA.  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Our kids begin to feel and respond to shame as early as 15 to 18 months of age. Those early moments can begin a lifelong struggle with feeling unworthy, inadequate and unlovable. Shame also disintegrates us (separating our thinking brain from our feeling brain) and isolates us from others.  My guest is Dr. Curt Thompson, a psychiatrist and expert on the effects of shame and how to find freedom from the lifelong negative messages that come after us and our family. “One of the things that we notice about shame is that because we are immobilized and we are hiding, shame does not actually ever allow us to move toward God. This is why we have to have someone come and find us. This is why when our children are experiencing shame, we have to go and find them. This is why it's important for us as parents to have others who are coming to find us.” YES! Moms don’t let moms sit in shame. We can choose to seek out others when they are stuck in the shame cycle. Who are your 2 or 3 moms that will help you tell your story more truly?  Dr. Thompson walks us through some practical ways to build in memories and physical reminders to work against shame in the future for both ourselves and others. And throughout our conversation he points back to how God doesn’t leave us to deal with shame alone. “The beautiful thing is Jesus isn’t worried about our kids. He's not worried about your mothering. He's delighted. He knows how hard this work is and he knows that we will do it imperfectly. Even when we have our worst moments in which we foist to shame upon our kids or when our kids experience shame against everything that we're doing to try to combat it, God is saying: ‘I'm not worried. I never run out of options.’” Summer of Mentorship Discussion questions PDF  Connect with Dr. Thompson:  Website:  https://curtthompsonmd.com  Facebook: https://curtthompsonmd.com/  Instagram: @curt_thompson_md  Links Mentioned:   BOOK: The Soul of Shame  BOOK: Anatomy of the Soul BOOK: The Soul of Desire: Discovering the Neuroscience of Longing, Beauty, and Community BOOK: The Deepest Place: Suffering and the Formation of Hope  Featured Sponsors:  Honeylove–Treat yourself to the most comfortable and innovative bras on earth and save 20% Off sitewide at honeylove.com/DMA  Outschool–Get your family’s first month for only $1 when you use our link: https://outschool.com/DMA and use code DMA at checkout. Thrive Causemetics–Maximize your look with minimal effort. Go to thrivecausemetics.com/DMA for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order.  Group Discussion Questions: Have you studied shame before? Were you familiar with what it does to our bodies? What was the last thing you felt shame about? How did it isolate you or disrupt a creative process? Talk through how a friend or spouse could help you walk out of a shame cycle (whether minor or major). Who are 2 or 3 women that could help you feel loved or speak truth back to you that “Jesus isn’t surprised”?  Discuss meeting your children in their shame and how we can rely on God in those moments. 

Have you read the whole Bible? That was the question my guest Tara-Leigh Cobble struggled to answer while talking to a pastor friend. As she thought back through her life growing up in a Christian home, being involved in church and now working in full-time ministry, she couldn’t say for sure that she’d really read ALL of the Bible.  So she started a chronological reading plan to read it all, even the genealogies. But as she read, Tara had to wrestle with stories she’d never heard from the pulpit.   “I was questioning the Bible because I was reading the Bible and I was questioning not is this true, but is he good? Yeah. Do I like him? My mentor said the places where you have difficulty with God lean in because the good stuff is on the other side of this. The good stuff is on the other side of this struggle.” After completing her own journey of reading the full Bible and seeing scripture and God in a new way, Tara-Leigh created The Bible Recap podcast and book to help others encounter God through his Word. And she’s here to give us a pep talk for reading the full Bible too.  “You behold the living God in scripture, and all of a sudden, instead of feeling burdened by your to-do list, you're going to be buoyed and carried along by the love of the God of the universe and by the person of who he is. And that's what I want you to take away from scripture every day, a vision of the God who loves you and who has already accomplished all that he requires of you.” Summer of Mentorship Discussion questions PDF  Connect with Tara-Leigh:  Website:  www.taraleighcobble.com  The Bible Recap: www.thebiblerecap.com  Instagram: @taraleighcobble  Links Mentioned:   The Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible Listen to the Bible on YouVersion Featured Sponsors:  Thrive Market: Go to ThriveMarket.com/DMA and start saving today. Sale ends 8/31. Active Skin Repair: Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com to learn more about Active Skin Repair and to get 20% off your order, use code:DMA.  GoPure: With over 1 MIllion jars sold, this beauty secret is no longer a secret. Get 25% Off @goPure with code [DMA] at https://www.gopurebeauty.com/DMA #goPurepod

There is often a disconnect from what we read in scripture and how we experience life. God says, “I have not given you a spirit of fear,” but we keenly feel fear and anxiety. We know that God has saved our souls through Christ's death and resurrection, but we still feel like past wounds/choices/lies come between us and hearing His voice.  One powerful way to work towards freedom in these areas is through a biblically-based program of inner healing prayer. My guest Jennifer Barnett of Freedom Prayer joins me to talk about inner healing prayer or freedom prayer, a powerful process that helps restore individuals to a more fruitful and fulfilling walk with God. “Inner healing prayer is its own sort of type of prayer. If you're not familiar with it, we would say it's some really intentional time devoted to allowing God to remove anything that would hinder someone from a full abiding relationship with him. That could look like sin, wounding, ungodly beliefs, or lies that we believe about ourselves, God or other people.” My experience with inner healing prayer has been so powerful and I believe it can be for you too. For more information on Freedom Prayer visit their website at https://freedomprayer.org.  Summer of Mentorship 2025 Discussion questions PDF  Connect with Freedom Prayer:  Website:  freedomprayer.org  Facebook: facebook.com/freedomresources  Group Discussion Questions: Is there something in your life you need freedom from to connect more with God? Can you find an inner healing prayer ministry near you to pray? How has prayer impacted your walk with Christ? Is it something you do regularly? Is there someone else you need to share inner healing prayer with? Other Episodes on the topic:  True Intimacy with God :: Mo Isom Aiken [Ep 318] Soul Freedom :: Francie Winslow (Encore) For Freedom Be Set Free with Francie Winslow {Ep. 4} Featured Sponsors:  Hiya Health: We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/DMA. This deal is not available on their regular website. Get your kids the full-body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adults. Outschool: If you want to try Outschool, you can get your family’s first month for only $1 a limited time when you use my link: Outschool.com/DMA  Outschool has been a game changer for our family. This new membership exclusive discount is only available when you go through our link and use code DMA!  Thrive Causemetics: Maximize your look with minimal effort. Go to thrivecausemetics.com/DMA for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order. 

A few years ago, my friend Kelsey Philips hit a crisis in her life. She felt physically unwell, depressed and desperate for healing. She connected with a missionary couple from her church who prayed with her and over her for two hours. It was in that prayer time that Kelsey recognized God’s voice for the first time. “He had been speaking to me for a long time. I just didn't know it was him. When you have an encounter like that, he speaks to these places that are so deep. He is healing wounds that are so far back and he is breaking you free of chains that are so heavy and hard and real. You don't ever want to go back to a place where you don't have that.” I believe we can hear God’s voice and that he is still speaking today. As Kelsey reminds us, there’s no better time than now to practice listening to the Lord.  “It does require solitude and quiet and that is not our nature. But here we are in a season where we are in worldwide rest. We are forced into this place of quiet. We've all had to come off of the hamster wheel and this has been an incredible time to allow space to listen to him about what he's doing on so many levels.” *this episode originally aired in March of 2020 Summer of Mentorship Discussion questions PDF  Links Mentioned:   Novo Missions [WEBSITE] Listening Prayer [ARTICLE]  Where to Start in Listening Prayer–Friendship Questions [PDF] Hello Mornings [WEBSITE] Additional Resources: Hearing God:  Developing a Conversational Relationship with God by Dallas Willard The Joy of Listening to God:  Hearing the Many Ways God Speaks to Us by Joyce Huggett Whispers:  How to Hear the Voice of God  by Mark Batterson  Group Discussion Questions: Take a few moments to check in with your group. How is everyone feeling? Give space for members to share how they are dealing with the uncertainty and stress. Practice listening to one another without judgement or advice.  What has been your experience with “listening to the Lord”? Is that a familiar or unfamiliar concept?  Have you ever had a moment like Kelsey’s when you recognized God’s voice for the first time? Share!  How could asking God for a vision for your kids change your perspective on parenting them? What is one step you can take to make space to hear God this week? Brainstorm with one another.  Is there someone you can encourage by sharing this episode with them? Take a moment to share it right now! Featured Sponsors:  Active Skin Repair–Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com to learn more about Active Skin Repair and to get 20% off your order, use code:DMA.  Green Chef–Make this summer your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Head to Greenchef.com/50ALONE and use code 50ALONE to get 50% off your first month and then 20% off for two months with free shipping.  Honeylove -Treat yourself to the most comfortable and innovative bras on earth and save 20% Off sitewide at honeylove.com/DMA

We know that God’s word is living and active. Today’s guest Jodie Berndt takes us through using Bible verses as prayers that can powerfully influence your children’s lives.  There is so much encouragement in this episode for standing on the truth of God’s word and relying on scripture to help shape your children, teens and adult children. Of course, we as moms can’t help but be changed when we hide his word in our hearts and pray them over our family.  What we chat about: Using God’s word for prayers is powerful. There isn’t a need we’ll face in parenting that God hasn’t provided for in his word. Specific scriptures to pray for your child’s salvation Asking God what we can nurture and pray for in each child’s unique giftings God will accomplish the changes in your child’s character. Our job is to partner with him. Praying against fear and for protection  Asking God to shape your children into good friends Processing popular media with your kids and discussing how it aligns or doesn’t align with a Godly world view The power of having others pray for your kids in community When prayers aren’t answered the way we want, God is still writing their stories. Free resources available at https://jodieberndt.com/resources  Summer of Mentorship Discussion questions PDF  Scriptures Mentioned: Ephesians 4:29 - Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. John 15:7 - If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. Psalm 121:7-8 - The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Acts 26:18 -  Open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. 2 Corinthians 5:17 -  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! Colossians 3:12 - Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Philippians 2:13 - for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Psalm 91:11 - For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; Proverbs 17:17 - Shape my child into a friend who loves at all times Proverbs 27:17 - As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 16:28 - A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. Links Mentioned:  https://jodieberndt.com/ Mom Life Unscripted YouTube Channel Jeannie Cunnion’s “Mom Set Free” Book Praying the Scriptures for Your Adult Children: By Jodie Berndt Praying the Scriptures for Your Children: By  Jodie Berndt Praying the Scriptures for Your Life: By Jodie Berndt  Featured Sponsors:  Thrive Market: Stock up smart this summer with Thrive Market. Go to ThriveMarket.com/DMA to get 30% off your first order, plus a FREE sixty dollar gift just for signing up.  Thrive Causemetics: Try your new trusty favorites with an exclusive set for our listeners. New customers can get the Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara and a mini-sized Brilliant Eye Brightener at a special set price with free shipping available at thrivecausemetics.com/DMA.  Outschool: If you want to try Outschool, you can get your family’s first month for only $1 a limited time when you use my link: Outschool.com/DMA! Outschool has been a game changer for our family. This new membership exclusive discount is only available when you go through our link and use code DMA!  Discussion Questions:  Do you have scriptures you pray for your children? Were there scriptures Jodi shared you wanted to start using? What is a need you have right now in parenting that you need a verse to pray for?  How can you incorporate praying for your children into your daily rhythm?  Pick one of the verses/prayers Jodie shared and write it down on a Post-it or notecard. Put it somewhere you will see it and pray. Share a need for one of your children with the group. Pray for each other and ask God to breathe new hope and faith into your parenting.

If God is holy, then He can’t sin. If God can’t sin, then He can’t sin against you. If He can’t sin against you, shouldn’t that make Him the most trustworthy being there is? I’m thrilled to have Jackie Hill Perry back on the podcast to share about her much anticipated book, “Holier Than Thou”. She walks us through Scripture, shaking the dust off of “holy” as we’ve come to know it and revealing it for what it really is: good news. As it turns out, God being “holier than thou” is actually the best news in the world, and it’s the key to trusting Him. “Holiness is really abstract, but what does it have to do with me? The truth is it has everything to do with the way we live because the way we engage with the world around us is symptomatic of what we believe is true about God.” We also chat about how Jackie doesn’t “mom alone,” about her growing family and the holy calling of motherhood. This is a powerful episode!  Summer of Mentorship Discussion Question PDF Connect with Jackie:  Website: https://jackiehillperry.com  Facebook: facebook.com/jackiehillperrypage  Instagram: @jackiehillperry  Links Mentioned:   BOOK Holier Than Thou: How God’s Holiness Helps Us Trust Him [Ep 214] Gay Girl, Good God :: Jackie Hill Perry   Featured Sponsors:  Branch Basics: Get 15% off Branch Basics with the code [DMA] at https://branchbasics.com/DMA #branchbasicspod Honeylove: Treat yourself to the most comfortable and innovative bras on earth and save 20% Off sitewide at honeylove.com/DMA.  Voetberg Music Academy: Use my code: DONTMOMALONE to get 20% off each month you’re subscribed and encounter the proprietary Voetberg Method experience at Voetbergmusicacademy.com  Group Discussion Questions: How would you describe God’s holiness?  Does understanding his holiness help you trust him more? Discuss: “We cannot allow our experiences to define God’s nature.” Heather talks about how the first 5 years really matter and that the act of mothering is holy. Does that resonate with you? How does that change how you look at parenting in the little years?

Do you long to go deeper in your faith and help your children fall in love with Scripture — not just the stories, but the whole story?  Today Zach Windahl shares what led him to dedicate years to studying scripture. He emphasizes the importance of simplifying the Bible for others, particularly for those who feel overwhelmed or confused. After moving to Australia and enrolling in a transformative Bible study program, everything changed. He discovered how the entire Bible connects — from Genesis to Revelation — and how understanding Scripture through a Hebrew lens opens up a whole new depth of meaning. The Bible isn’t random. Every story, every verse, every command points to Jesus. Here is some of what we cover:  Why modeling your faith matters more than preaching to your kids The difference between a Greek vs. Hebrew mindset when reading Scripture What to do when Christian culture and actual Jesus living don’t align Connect with Zach Windahl:  Website:  Zach Windahl Facebook: Zach Windahl | Facebook Instagram:  Zach Windahl (@zachwindahl) Links Mentioned:   The Bible, Simplified: By Zach Windahl The Bible Study: By Zach Windahl See the Good: By Zach Windahl Practicing the Way: By John Mark Comer Revolutionary Parenting: By George Barna Zach Windahl – The Brand Sunday Related Episodes: Consistency in Bible Study :: Katie Orr [Ep 352] Every Mom a Theologian :: Phylicia Masonheimer [Ep 389] Why Read the Entire Bible :: Tara Leigh Cobble [Ep 312] Featured Sponsors:  Thrive Causemetics: Try your new trusty favorites with an exclusive set for our listeners. New customers can get the Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara and a mini-sized Brillian Eye Brightener at a special set price with free shipping available at thrivecausemetics.com/DMA or save 20% off your first order.  Outschool: Get $30 off your families first month of Outschool when you use our link: https://outschool.com/DMA and use code DMA at checkout Hiya: We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/DMA. This deal is not available on their regular website.  Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Many of you have been on this journey with me since the potty-training days, and now you’re facing the incredible milestone of sending your kids off to college. In this episode, my friend Shellee Howard joins us to discuss the complexities of the college application process, the importance of early preparation, and strategies for securing scholarships and financial aid.  Shellee shares her journey into becoming a college strategist and offers insights on how parents can support their children in navigating their educational paths. Here is some of what we cover:  What to do if your teen doesn’t know what they want to be yet How to help your child discover their core values and articulate their “why” for college How to negotiate the cost of college like a pro (yes, it’s possible!) Pursue meaningful extracurriculars (music, leadership, service projects, and more) Which college stats matter most—and how to see through the sales pitch on college tours Connect with Shellee Howard:  Website:  College Counseling Services | Graduate Debt-Free with Expert Guidance Facebook: Shellee Howard Instagram: College Ready Plan Links Mentioned:   College Ready Questionnaire (Shellee) Personal Values Assessment | Discover Your Values Podcast — College Ready | College Admissions Consulting The College Admissions PLAN Simplified: Shellee Howard How to Send Your Student to College Without Losing Your Mind or Your Money Shellee Howard Related Episodes: Navigating Senior Year: College Prep, Family Talks, and Faithful Waiting :: Lee Cordon and Barrett Ball [Ep 523] Demystifying Financial Aid :: Kristi Steele [Ep 440] Long Game Parenting :: Melanie Shankle and Sophie Hudson [Ep 337] Featured Sponsors:  Building Spiritual Habits in the Home–Authors Clayton Green and Chris Pappalardo will help you turn your good intentions into spiritual intentionality through 6 small and practical steps. Build a home marked by the love for Jesus in everyday practices. Order “Building Spiritual Habits in the Home” from Moody Publishers or wherever you get good books. Green Chef–Make this summer your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Head to Greenchef.com/50ALONE and use the code 50ALONE to get fifty percent off your first month, then twenty percent off for two months with free shipping.  Active Skin Repair–Visit ActiveSkinRepair.com to learn more about Active Skin Repair and to get 20% off your order, use code:DMA. Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

Knox and I recently had the incredible opportunity to go on a Compassion International vision trip to El Salvador. Today, I’m joined by my friend Nicki Koziarz to help recap this life-changing experience. Nicki is an author, Bible teacher, and podcaster—and also a mom of six, including three boys adopted from Haiti. She brings a powerful perspective on the global impact Compassion is making and the heartbreaking reality that, in many cases, poverty is the only reason a mother has to give up her child. We dive into how Compassion is partnering with local churches to go into the hardest places—providing food, medical care, and the hope of Christ to transform lives and futures. Nicki also shares about their amazing Survival Program, which walks alongside mothers from pregnancy through a child’s first year, ensuring families have the support they need to stay together when possible.  I’m so grateful for the chance to witness firsthand what God is doing through Compassion in El Salvador—and I can't wait to share more with you in this episode. Connect with Nicki Koziarz:  Website:  Nicki Koziarz – Author | Speaker | Bible Teacher Facebook: Nicki Koziarz Instagram:  nickikoziarz Links Mentioned:   Last time Nicki was on the show (Ep 121) *Join Heather and Help End Child Poverty* Compassion Survival - Compassion International  Related Episodes: Secure Borders and the Compassionate Christian :: Bri Stensrud [Ep 455] Exploring Global Cultures at Home :: Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young [Ep 327] Compassion Changes Everything :: Jonathan Almonte [Ep 264] Featured Sponsors:  Outschool-Get $30 off your families first month of Outschool when you use our link: https://outschool.com/DMA and use code DMA at checkout. Function–In the spirit of Long Live and taking control of your health, get a $100 credit towards your annual membership at: www.functionhealth.com/DMA This $100 credit is only for the first thousand listeners Thrive Causemetics–Try your new trusty favorites with an exclusive set for our listeners. New customers can get the Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara and a mini-sized Brilliant Eye Brightener at a special set price with free shipping at ThriveCausemetics.com/DMA. Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors.