Motherhood Challenges Need a Grit and Grace Life

the loss of my son is changing how i teach my children healthy emotions

Losing My Son Has Changed How I Teach My Children Healthy Emotions

I’m a mom of three boys, and while I know from experience that prepubescent girls have their own struggles, I am beginning to learn about the struggles of prepubescent boys. My ten-year-old middle son had one of those days today. It was one of those days where it feels like everything is going wrong. He got his first zit, didn’t sleep well last night, and everything just feels “icky” as he stated it. It makes me feel terrible to see him this way. My initial emotional reaction is always the same, “Quick, make him feel better!” Just as quickly as that thought appears, it fades and my reasoning takes over. In my head, I know that I am robbing him of integral […]

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My Sons Communicated Better When I Used These 5 Techniques

By Jennifer Schoonover / Motherhood

Communication is a key ingredient in every healthy relationship. I think most of us would agree with that statement, especially when talking about our relationship with our spouse. But what about our relationships with the other men in our lives? By the other men in my life, I am referring to my two sons. Here are 5 techniques I used at different stages of their lives to help them open up and communicate more with me. 1. Ask Specific Questions and Pick the Right Time When they are small, we teach our children to “use their words” to communicate what they need or want and even how they feel. As they grow, go to school, and have interactions on their own, we

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When I Feel Like a Bad Mom, I Pray This for My Kids

By Ashley Johnson / Faith, Audio Articles, Motherhood

(Listen to the audio version of this article here.) “I am not a perfect mom.” I have this thought—well, much harsher versions of it—more often than I’d like to admit. I lost my patience and yelled. I made PB&J for lunch and frozen chicken nuggets for dinner because I cannot seem to meal plan. I was on my phone too much. My house is a mess (better not post any pictures from today—yikes). I tried a “super easy” kids’ activity I found on Instagram that ended in my toddler eating the glue stick and coloring on the wall. I felt stressed out rather than present during our entire trip to the park because the kids were running in opposite directions, and all these

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By The Grit and Grace Team / Motherhood

About this photo: “It was Thanksgiving Day, and I had strategically waited to dress my two toddlers until right before we were planning to walk out the door… you know, so they’d appear kempt and stain-free when we arrived at our dinner party. Since they never seem to look this way at the same time often, all I wanted was one nice picture of them smiling side by side. This is what I got. Sometimes you just have to laugh and let go!” —Ashley Johnson, managing editor at Grit and Grace Life A #filterless Motherhood If you’re a mother, you may have found yourself perplexed scrolling through Instagram. It seems like most social media mommies are constantly sharing adorable family

Autism Awareness Month: A Therapist and Mom Shares Her Journey

By Belinda Worley / Motherhood

Since 1998, I have had the opportunity to work with children on the autism spectrum. It has been a huge blessing to be able to serve children in many different settings including home intervention, private practice, and in schools. As a therapist, we are in need of a vast amount of skills in our toolbox to serve a variety of children with a variety of abilities. Each child and family comes to us with unique needs, and it is an honor to be a part of that family’s journey. In my current private practice, I pull on past therapy sessions to help me with treating children today. While I continue to challenge myself to stay on top of the latest in therapy

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A Letter to My Daughter on Body Image: May You Love All of You

By Rachel Hagstrom / Motherhood, Audio Articles

(Listen to the audio version of this article here.) Dear Daughter, We are together more than ever these days. I watch as you wake each morning, walk into your closet, and choose an outfit that doesn’t go together. You pull up your leggings without noticing the skin that spills over the tight waistband. You run a brush through your hair and carefully choose a headband or opt for a braid. I passively wonder if you wish for hair opposite of your own in texture and color. But there is no sighing or visible expression of disappointment as you comb through the tangles and frizz. Instead, you smile and make silly faces at your reflection in the mirror. Virtual school ends, and you’re

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4 Ways to Build a Successful Relationship With Your Child

By Darlene Brock / Motherhood

There are a few things a mother needs to do to secure a successful relationship with her child. Perhaps I need to clarify—a relationship where you will win more than you lose. I have learned it is the most realistic and real definition of success. Because mom, you will win some and lose some. But that’s fine! It doesn’t matter your child’s age, nor whether you have a boy or girl. These 4 principles will apply to all. 1. Get to Know Your Child It seems like a mother should automatically know who her child is. At least, we have those expectations. But the truth is we don’t know. Whatever the day looks like, you are meeting this human for the first

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self care is a radical act of love for mommas

Self-Care Is an Act of Radical Love for Mommas

By Caroline Beidler / Motherhood

When I was six months pregnant with twins, I talked my husband into getting an L-shaped sectional as an act of self-care. My cute, little micro-suede sofa from my single life no longer cut it. I needed something heftier, sturdier—something to hold all of me up. After he said “yes” to my new couch, I was ecstatic because I knew my life was going to dramatically change. No longer did I have to twist and turn like a manatee on a rock. All of me (well, almost) could fit when lying down and I could even bring my extra favorite body pillows (yes, there were two) to wedge just below my tummy to hoist it up as I enjoyed eating all of

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Why I Stopped Deep-Cleaning My House to Start Enjoying My Kids

By Amber Koehn / Motherhood

There’s an old adage that says, “Cleaning and scrubbing can wait ’til tomorrow, for babies grow up, we’ve learned to our sorrow. So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep. I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.” A long-time friend of mine, who is years ahead of me in the parenting game, sent it to me one afternoon while I was in the middle of a mommy meltdown. I only had two of my four children at the time, and I was exasperated at the thought of never having a clean house again. It was during my full-time corporate days, while my husband was also running a restaurant and attending school full-time to obtain his accounting degree. Cleaning my house was

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One Healthy Way a SAHM Handles Jealousy of Her Husband

By Caroline Beidler / Motherhood

My husband quietly closes the door behind him. It’s such a soft noise—like the sound of breathing out on a cold day. Lately, he has been working from home, and what used to be our guest room is now his office. He’s a scientist and does a lot with computers, so the desk, once lined with antique glass bottles of all colors and a sweet little doily from my mother-in-law, now looks like NASA headquarters. There are blinking blue and red lights, and charts and numbers and what is truly a different language spread across three giant computer screens. I imagine him sipping his coffee, glasses resting comfortably on his nose, nodding in agreement or gazing quizzically during his Zoom meetings with

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Quotes to Encourage Mommas

By Our Grit and Grace Life Videos / Motherhood

Mothering is one of life’s most fulfilling adventures, but also one of the most challenging. The natural inclination is to self-criticize when you missed an important first in your child’s life, or when another parent raises an eyebrow at a parenting choice you made. But parenting is an individual journey, and you know your child best. Grit and Grace Life‘s own Julie and Ashley know all about these conflicting moments, and that sometimes, moms just need a little boost to remind them that they’re doing the best they can in their greatest task: raising a child with wisdom and love. In this video, these two mommas share a few quotes that have brought them peace and inspiration in their own mothering duties,

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Mom Hack for Toddlers | Guided Access for Cell Phones

By Our Grit and Grace Life Videos / Motherhood

If you’re a toddler mom, then you’ve definitely had moments where you needed to keep your little one occupied while finishing small chores or work. But you also know that handing over your phone for just a few minutes could lead to accidental phone calls and unintended—or embarrassing—social media posts. Grit and Grace Life‘s podcast co-host and brand ambassador Julie Graham shares a helpful life hack she learned: Guided Access. Moms with Apple iPhones can activate a screen lock that keeps wandering eyes and fingers at bay. No matter which iPhone generation you own, you can find all you need to know here.

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Happy Mother’s Day | Grit and Grace Life

By Our Grit and Grace Life Videos / Motherhood

Mother’s Day is a sweet time to celebrate the moms and mother figures in your life. As we get older, we realize just how much our moms cared for us through the packed school lunches and the treasured holiday memories that she made special. Don’t forget to thank your mom today for raising you with the wisdom and tender love that only she could offer!

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Darlene & Julie: Uncut – Thoughts for Mother’s Day

By Our Grit and Grace Life Videos / Motherhood

Darlene and Julie want to wish you a happy Mother’s Day! This is a day to celebrate the impact of the woman who raised you. But we also recognize that some people have a difficult relationship with their mothers—Darlene and Julie can both testify to this. If this also describes you, then take heart in acknowledging those women who may have filled that role in your life, whether it was another family member, a mentor or a friend. And if you are a mother yourself, then you have the very important duty of raising your child the best you can. Even if your own childhood didn’t measure up, Darlene and Julie want you to know that you are the perfect mom for

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When Your Kids Need A Win | Our Grit and Grace Life

By Our Grit and Grace Life Videos / Motherhood

Motherhood is one of life’s most challenging duties. Although you want your child to grow up successful and independent, you still want to intercede and give them a hand up when they fall. Meaghan Dawson, the director of editorial development at Grit and Grace Life, shares her own motherhood struggle and the moment she realized that she needed to step in and help her son, even when the parenting books said otherwise. A parent’s intuition often proves to be the ultimate guidebook. You can read Meaghan’s article on this story here: Mom, You Know When Your Kid Needs a Win

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Ask Dr. Zoe – Dealing with Blended Families and Different Household Rules

By Our Grit and Grace Life Videos / Motherhood, Relationships

Being a stepparent and merging two households is a complicated task that’s often marred by disagreement. So how can children in a blended family come to terms with the same set of rules and boundaries? Licensed psychotherapist and relationship coach, Dr. Zoe Shaw, offers tips to ensure that your children, both biological and step, understand that there are specific rules to follow, regardless of what is allowed in the other home. She explains what steps you need to take now to establish uniform respect in your household.

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This Grit and Grace Life Podcast Preview – Episodes 48 & 49 with Cameron James

By Our Grit and Grace Life Videos / Motherhood

Pop singer Cameron James’ story is a real-life example of the struggles our cultural icons face behind the stage and behind the scenes. In this podcast episode, Cameron shares the details of her daughter’s rare disease, and how she grappled with guilt, understanding the causes of the condition and staying hopeful through scores of doctor visits.

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