Mom, you are doing the hardest job in the world! Be kind to yourself! In this month when we celebrate love, give a little (actually a lot) of that love to yourself! These three moms share ways they've tossed "mom-guilt" out the window and decided to be compassionate to themselves. Show notes at Powerofmoms.com/season5-episode3


Valentine's Day can be more than just a day to celebrate that "one special someone." Here are three moms' ideas about how couples and families can make this a special day of celebrating their
love. Read more at PowerofMoms.com

It's a new year! And with that fresh start, many moms pause and think about their goals for the new year. Though it's a challenge to find that sweet spot between overwhelm and stagnation, here are three moms' ideas for setting realistic and worthwhile goals.

Direct download: 5.1.POM.NewYearsGoals.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

The holiday season can be so much fun! But if we aren't careful it can also become busy, stressful, and overwhelming. These three moms have found ways to truly enjoy the holidays in more simple, deliberate ways.  For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com

Direct download: 4.19.ChristmasAudio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

It's here! The time for giving. Deliberate moms share ways you can give meaningful gifts during the holidays without giving yourself a ton of stress and debt. Show notes at PowerofMoms.com.


In many countries, gratitude gets the spotlight in the autumn with Thanksgiving celebrations. But it's something that can bless our families year-round. Here are three moms ideas for encouraging gratitude in simple ways. Read the full post at PowerofMoms.com.


In a month when we try extra hard to remember to be grateful, here are three moms' ideas for how and why gratitude itself actually blesses our lives.  For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/season4-episode16

Direct download: 4.16.POM.Gratitude.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

How does a deliberate mother celebrate Halloween? Here are three moms' ideas about how to bring in the fun and scare out the frightful!  For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com

Direct download: 4.15.POM.Audio.Halloween.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

It may seem like every moment of our days are filled with mom-duties, but the truth is that there are little pockets of time (or more, depending on your season of mothering) that you can claim all for yourself. And then when you do have a few minutes for you, what do you deliberately do with them? Here are three moms' ideas for how to wisely use that mom-time.

 For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com

Direct download: 4.14.POM.Audio.FillingTime.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

The media may love a good fight... but moms do NOT! Is it even possible to keep our kids from fighting? Maybe not 100% of the time, but there are lots of ways to drastically reduce the fighting in our homes. Here are three moms' ideas for calling a cease-fire on the fights. Show notes at: powerofmoms.com/season4-episode13

Direct download: 4.POM.Audio.StopTheFighting.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

While it doesn't always feel funny at the time, motherhood can be filled with lots of humorous moments! It's healthy to have a good laugh every once in a while and a relief to know that you're not the only mom "that" has happened to. Have a good laugh with three moms who chose to look at the humor in their mothering.  For full show notes please visit https://powerofmoms.com/season4-episode11

Direct download: 4.12.POM.Audio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Extended family comes with their own set of joys and challenges. How can deliberate mothers connect their family with extended relatives in positive ways?  For full show notes visit https://powerofmoms.com/season4-episode11

Direct download: 4.ExtendedFamily.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Our thoughts are powerful. What we think has the ability to influence what we say and what we do. Here are three mom's insights on how what we think can make all the difference in our life. Find show notes at: https://powerofmoms.com/season4-episode10

Direct download: POM_Season_4_Episode_10.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am PDT

Summer Vacation may be staring back at us like a big blank block of days. But with a little planning and a lot of balance, it can be a wonderful time to learn, play, and connect with our families. 
This audio contains: Ten Summer Activities for the Entire Family by Allyson Reynolds, Make Summer Learning Fun by Karin Brown, and 
Don't Fix the Pains of Summer by Amanda Hamilton Roos. Show notes at: https://powerofmoms.com/season4-episode9.

How do we end up with so much stuff? It can be a challenge to manage all of the things that purposefully (and not so purposefully) end up within our homes. Here are posts that three moms wrote about their experiences with all the "stuff!"

 For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com

Direct download: 4.9.POM.Organization.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Motherhood can sometimes be an isolating task, and we all need a community of friends to help support us in it. Today we read to you three articles from the Power of Moms blog that share thoughts and ideas for how to create and strengthen your relationships, particularly with other mothers.  For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com

Direct download: 4.8.POM.Mission_A_Compliment.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Getting the whole family on vacation certainly takes a little bit of effort, but the memories created together can be totally worth it. These moms share some creative ideas for making family vacation an enjoyable experience for everyone.   For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com

Direct download: 4.7.POM.Travel.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Technology for good or for bad is here to stay. It isn't a question about technology being a huge part of our lives, but it is worth the time to consider how we will let technology impact our decisions, and our mothering.  Deliberate mothers make intentional choices especially about how to use the tools we have available to us.  Here are three moms perspectives on how technology has impacted them and their families, and what they are choosing to do about it.  For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com.

Direct download: 4.6.POM.TechnologyAudio_-_4919_6.37_AM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

The family dinner dilemma! We know it's so valuable, but it is not always easy to get a meal on the table. Our authors today share some wisdom and strategies to not just 'get through' the experience, but even enjoy it.   For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com

Direct download: 4.5.POM.AudioPostMeals.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Enjoy today's audio post- all full of ways to be able to say no, in order to better say yes to what matters most for you! For full show notes, please visit https://powerofmoms.com/4-4.

Direct download: 4.4.POM.SayingNO.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Motherhood is important and we want to do it well. But sometimes this good desire creates "mommy guilt" when we don't think we're doing it well. These articles share three perspectives on how that guilt creeps in and how to kick it out.

Direct download: 4.3.POM.AudioPost.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Motherhood can be tough and it can be messy. Included in these articles are ways to help you cope with all the craziness of motherhood, as well as helping assure you that what you are doing right now is enough.  For full show notes, visit powerofmoms.com

Direct download: 4.2.POM.EmbracingMessyMotherhood_-_21119_5.50_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Power of Moms authors Andrea Rasband, Kristi Linton and Melissa Fredrick each share a unique and personal experience- adding to the thousands of stories from other deliberate mothers in our community. Their stories are a reminder that patience with ourselves helps us bring love to our families.  For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/4-1

Direct download: 4.1.POM.AudioPost.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Join Dawn Wessman, our Instagram Coordinator, as she reads three timely and well-loved posts about defeating fear, mini catastrophes, and expressing gratitude. See show notes at: https://powerofmoms.com/our-thoughts-matter-defeating-fear-mini-catastrophes-holiday-self-care-audio-posts-season-3-episode-11

Direct download: 3.11.Audio.DefeatingFear.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Technology has changed so much in the past decade. As a mother juggling so many things, it can feel really overwhelming knowing how to navigate screen time on top of everything else!

As deliberate mothers, we know we need to be intentional about how we model technology use and proactive in preparing our children for life in a digital world. But how do we do that?

One of our Power of Moms team members, Andrea Davis, has made it her job to help parents learn positive strategies so they can worry less and connect more with their kids.

In today’s audio post, Andrea shares Five Strategies to Help Your Family Fight Technology Addiction. Even if you don’t feel like anyone in your family has a technology addiction, these ideas will help if your family is simply slipping into some undesirable screen time habits.

For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/3-10

Direct download: 3.10.POM.BetterScreenTime.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

I (April) recently got out of a rut. I’d been feeling tired, frustrated, and ready to “give up” in some ways. (Have you been there?) Here are three questions that helped me get out, and I hope they’ll help you, too! We each have a unique mission, and it’s time to BE who we are. (For Show Notes, see https://powerofmoms.com/its-time-to-be-what-we-believe/)

Direct download: POM_Its_Time_to_Be_What_We_Believe.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

Do you want to manage your energy—so you can match the appropriate tasks to the appropriate time of day, and ultimately be more present and happy around your family? Today we’re joined by Danielle Porter, a team member here at Power of Moms, who has created a genius way to map her energy. For photos and links, please visit https://powerofmoms.com/3-8/ ‎

Direct download: EnergyMap_POM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

We are wrapping up our Holiday Planning Workshop with Lesson 5, where we put our plan into action! We'll show you how to make this happen using paper or digitally. If you want an incredibly organized holiday season--with low stress and lots of support in getting the logistics taken care of, listen to this audio--and then sign up for the support templates, videos, and photos at https://PowerOfMoms.com/Holiday.

Direct download: _Holiday_Planning_Workshop_-_Lesson_5_BONUS_Episode.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

Here in Lesson 4 of our Holiday Planning Workshop we've taken the audio from our video lesson, detailing how to organize your brainstorm from Lesson 2 digitally. We teach the steps to follow in Asana, but feel free to use your favorite digital project manager. Prefer paper? Go back to Lesson 3 to learn how to do this same step with Post-it notes! Want the video? Sign up at https://PowerOfMoms.com/Holiday.

Direct download: POM_Holiday_Planning_Workshop_-_Lesson_4_BONUS_Episode.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

Today in our Holiday Planning Workshop Lesson 3 we organize your brainstormed tasks and projects by time frame, using Post-it notes. Listen in to Lesson 4 to learn how to do this same step digitally! The audio explains the steps but if you want more support sign up for the support templates, videos, and photos at https://PowerOfMoms.com/Holiday.

Direct download: Holiday_Planning_Workshop_-_Lesson_3_BONUS_Episode.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

Lesson 2 of our Holiday Planning Workshop will help you get everything out of your mind through an effective brainstorm session, so that you can more clearly see what matters most. If you want an incredibly organized holiday season--with low stress and lots of support in getting the logistics taken care of, listen to this audio--and then sign up for the support templates, videos, and photos at https://PowerOfMoms.com/Holiday.

Direct download: Holiday_Planning_Workshop_-_Lesson_2_BONUS_Episode.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

Today's podcast features Lesson 1 of our Holiday Planning Workshop. Following David Allen's Natural Planning Model (featured in the book Getting Things Done), we're talking about purpose, principles, and outcome visioning. If you want an incredibly organized holiday season--with low stress and lots of support in getting the logistics taken care of, listen to this audio--and then sign up for the support templates, videos, and photos at https://PowerOfMoms.com/Holiday.

Direct download: Holiday_Planning_Workshop_-_Lesson_1_BONUS_Episode.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

Join April and Saren as they discuss how to plan your holidays so you can focus on what matters most!  Enjoy!

For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/3-7

For our special workshop with Power of Moms and LearnDoBecome visit learndobecome.com/holiday

Direct download: 3.7.POM.HolidayPlanning.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

We have three EXCELLENT audio posts today from mothers in our community who will help us learn to gauge our progress, get dinner on the table with help from the children, and reduce the "mom guilt" we feel when we can't do it all. Enjoy!!!!  For full show notes, please visit  https://powerofmoms.com/3-6/
Direct download: 3.6.POM.EncouragemnetAudioPosts.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Listen in as April reads three of our popular posts about influence, being kind, and playing with our families.  For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/3-5

Direct download: 3.5.POM.AudioPostsforOctober.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:00am PDT

We recently received this question from a Power of Moms Community member that sparked a great discussion at Power of Moms:
 
"What low stress, Halloween traditions does your family love? We just received an invite to go trick-or-treating. If you love Halloween, you may be counting down, if you're like me, you may feel dread. What activities can my family do, costumes can I use and decorations can I put out to help this holiday feel uplifting and enjoyable for me, not just an expensive, time consuming way to give my kids candy?"
 
Listen here to an audio recap via Power of Moms Radio, or visit our show notes to read some of the great ideas shared by our community of moms!  Show notes can be found at powerofmoms.com/3-4
 
Direct download: 3.4.POM.Halloween.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Today we're presenting three great posts from deliberate mothers in our community who have a LOT of wisdom to share! Enjoy Allyson Reynolds' perspective on how to appreciate the "now," Heidi Bartle's fantastic advice about starting hard conversations with our children about mental illness (or other issues you may be dealing with), and Whitney Archibald's detailed report on how she's created incredible structure and purpose inside her home and family. So grateful to have you with us at Power of Moms!

 For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/3-3

Direct download: 3.3.POM.Audioposts.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

I KNOW it sounds crazy. How on earth can washing dirty clothes and linens be a beautiful experience? And why would we even want it to be beautiful? Isn’t laundry mundane, dirty work that we should do everything in our power to avoid? Ahhh, I understand the angst associated with laundry. Truly. But today I want to change the way you do laundry. And it has nothing to do with the soap you use or the way you fold or how you set up your laundry schedule. For a summary and Show Notes, visit https://powerofmoms.com/laundry-beautiful-experience

Direct download: POMRadio-Laundry.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

I spent a lot of time worrying about "not being enough" for my children (and everyone else) while they were young. But when I asked my 18-year-old what she actually remembered from her years of childhood, it turns out she didn't even NOTICE all the things I was worried about. Come listen to the conversation and take a deep breath! It all works out.  :)

For full show notes, see powerofmoms.com/radio/

Direct download: POM_Radio-S3E1-What_My_18-Year-Old_Actually_Remembers_from_Childhood.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:51pm PDT

We all know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed.  I think that’s a daily occurrence for most mothers. But what do we do when we feel like we can barely breathe?

A friend of mine once shared some wise, wise words: “Whenever I feel like my family is ‘getting in the way’ of my life, that’s an indicator that I have too much on my plate.”

Light bulb moment!

 

In this audio post, I’ll share with you a strategy that has consistently helped me to manage what’s on my plate–and in the process, find more joy in my family.

I’m confident it will help you to do the same.

For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/2-22

Direct download: 2.22.OrganizingABeautifulLifeOnOnePlate.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

So we invited Gretchen to join us on Power of Moms Radio to talk about this idea more in depth.

When our homes are a mess, it feels impossible to function. But cleaning closets and wiping kitchen counters seems to “make our brains work better” and enables us to breathe more fully.

But is the reverse also true? Does inner calm lead to outer order?

Does outer order sometimes create a facade of inner calm?

Is the word “contributes” the key here? (Meaning there’s more at play than we may realize?)

Listen to this podcast full of new perspectives and quick, actionable tips–and then share your thoughts in the comments!

Direct download: POMRadio-S2E21-Gretchin_Rubin.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am PDT

The new school year is just around the corner, and if you already cringing at the thought of your countertops overrun with projects and papers, today's podcast is here to help!

For Show Notes, visit https://powerofmoms.com/bonus-school-papers

And for a free video from Alia, where she'll teach your children how to use three simple folders and a calendar to keep their desks and spaces clean, sign up at http://LearnDoBecome.com/s4s

Direct download: POMRadio-Bonus-SchoolPapers.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:17am PDT

Mother Rachel Nielson found Power of Moms when she had a colicky newborn baby and she felt desperate for hope.  In the years since, her challenges as a mother have changed as her children have gotten older, but she has continued to turn to our community for inspiration.  She has also written articles for our website about concrete ways that she finds hope and fulfillment as a mother, even in the hardest of times.

In today’s podcast, Rachel reads four of her articles for you:

We hope you will listen to this uplifting podcast, full of hope and ideas for getting through the daily struggles of motherhood, big and small!

And don’t forget, YOU can write for Power of Moms too!  Guidelines for submitting can be found here.  We’d love to hear from you about what you are learning and how you are growing each day as a mother.  We love this community of women and the hope that we gain from each other.

 

 

Direct download: POMRadio-S2E20-Finding_Hope_and_Beauty_Rachel_Nielson.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am PDT

If your children bicker and argue (and we’re guessing they do), what do you do about it?

In this week’s encore radio show, Saren and April discuss some of their own experiences handling sibling rivalry (some that work, some that don’t!).

They talk about when to ignore the arguing, which discipline strategies work best for them, and where they go for additional answers.

Once you’ve listened to the podcast, please share your thoughts below!

For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/2-19

Direct download: 2.19.POMRadio.SiblingRivalry.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Do you start ever  start the day as Mary Poppins but end it as Miss Hannigan? Does your temper sometimes get the best of you?

Patience is a virtue that every mom struggles with from time to time. When everyone is throwing needs in our direction and our own needs aren’t being met and our house is a mess and our brain is a jumbled of things we’re worried about, it’s so hard to keep our cool!

In this week’s episode, Saren and April talk openly and honestly about some methods they’ve found to be really helpful when it comes to simmering down during situations that are about to boil over.

For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/2-17

Direct download: 2.17.POMRadio.KeepingYourCool_Saren_and_April.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Are you getting worried about summer? Often we want to use this season wisely and well, but be relaxed at the same time. We want to spend time with our kids, but we also don’t want them to drive us crazy! This audio post has three articles with lots of ideas about how to achieve that perfect summer balance!  For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/2-16

Direct download: 2.16.POMRadio.NoStressSummer.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

We have three more audio posts for you today! "Self Care Is Not Selfish" by Lucille Zimmerman and "When It Feels Hard to 'Enjoy Every Moment'" by Mary Karlee Mullen and "How to Be a Happy Mother When Everything Isn't Perfect" by Heather Saunders. These are designed specifically to help you find more joy in motherhood, but not because every moment will be FUN, but because you'll learn how to take care of yourself, enjoy the "overall" process, and find joy when life most definitely does NOT feel perfect. So glad to have you here at Power of Moms!

For full show notes, please visit https://wp.me/p2dC8Q-dU3.

Direct download: POM-Radio-Season2Finale-audioposts.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

The power of Getting Things Done is now available for teens, and I am excited to share this brand new book with the deliberate mothers of the world!

And when I found out that David Allen, Mike Williams, and Mark Wallace were publishing GTD for Teens, I KNEW we needed to bring them onto Power of Moms Radio!

Enjoy this interview where we discuss the why behind the movement--plus specific ways you can implement some of the ideas today!

Mike even shares a fun summer tradition he has with his kids where they write ideas for an optimal summer on 3 x 5 cards, and then they visually move them from the "dreaming state" to the "done state" on a cork board. Such a great idea!  

Enjoy the episode, and then pre-order the book if you're ready for more!
 
For full show notes, see www.powerofmoms.com/radio/
Direct download: S2E14_GTDforTeens.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am PDT

This week, we're featuring three amazing posts created by deliberate mothers in our community: "Everyone Needs Backup" by Aubrey Degn, "Exercise Therapy" by Sarah Badat Richardson, and "How to Have Difficult Conversations with Your Child's Teacher" by Amanda Hamilton Roos. We're confident that by the end of this podcast, you'll have some creative ideas for managing the challenges in your home, you'll feel more committed to taking care of yourself, and you'll feel more prepared to tackle any difficult issues that may be going on with your child at school. So excited you're with us, and we're grateful to our team of deliberate mothers who made this podcast possible!

For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/2-13

Direct download: 2.13.POM.AudioPosts.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Today’s podcast was recorded with my sister Laura as we were sitting on the grass outside of a conference. Laura had shared a beautiful experience with our mom that happened about 20 years ago, and I just KNEW I needed to share it with you. 
 
It’s a simple story, but we hope that as you listen, you will come to more fully understand that there is power from above that is available for us and for our families. 
 
For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/2-12
Direct download: 2.12.POM.laruaapril.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

We all want resilient children. We want them to be able to overcome worry, anxiety, stress, fear, and all those other emotions that we TOTALLY understand. But how do we do that? How do we incorporate that kind of training into our day-to-day lives as deliberate mothers? Today I'm joined by Sarah Boyd, a mother of two, a cancer survivor, an author, and an expert in the fields of psychology and neuroscience. She's sharing three ways we can help our children to have more courage--which you'll love. Plus, Sarah has created a list of her favorite children's books that teach principles of resilience, courage, and kindness.

For full show notes, visit powerofmoms.com/2-11

Direct download: 2.11.POM.SarahBoyd.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Three incredible deliberate mothers have prepared some great posts featured in this week's podcast. And our team of editors has done a GREAT job preparing their posts for the site. To make it easy for you to enjoy their words and reflect on their beautiful thoughts, we've put together an audio version for Power of Moms Radio.

Enjoy this incredible advice from other deliberate mothers--and don't miss the question and challenge at the end of each one!

(Plus, did you know YOU could be an author at Power of Moms? Our Author Page is linked at the bottom of each page on the website....We'd love to hear from YOU!)

We hope this week's podcast episode provides support for you in your work as a deliberate mother!

 For full show notes, see www.powerofmoms.com/radio

Direct download: S2E10_Audio_Posts.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:09am PDT

As a special Mother's Day podcast, I sat down with Rachel Nielson from the 3in30 podcast to share some of my favorite experiences with my own mother, Zoe. Would you like some incredibly simple ways to bring more power and joy to your mothering? We hope you love these ideas as much as we do!

 For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/2-9

Direct download: 2.9.POM.EverydayConnections.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Today's podcast is simply one side of a conversation between me and you where I talk about the following topics:
 
- "Mommy is a Person" - It's easy for us to become "responders" and even "people pleasers," but it's totally possible to balance the love we have for our families with our personhood.
- The importance of holding onto our personal power. Please learn from my mistakes. It's been a painful road, but I'm coming back.
- The process of acknowledging how much we ARE doing. I've had some conversations with a variety of mothers lately who are going through a lot, but often do not realize it. This needs to change for all of us.
- How to plan our lives in a way that makes sense. I'll walk you through David Allen's Natural Planning Model and explain how it can help!
- How we can be catalysts of change. I'll share a story from 10 years ago when Eric and I wanted to start a home business and make some other big changes in our lives, but all we had was a tight, cramped, cluttered office--and no energy to do anything but watch TV at night.
- Details about a "Command Central Boot Camp" coming soon at LearnDoBecome, if you want to be part of the fun with us!
 
We're so happy to have you here with us at Power of Moms Radio!
 
For full show notes, see www.powerofmoms.com/radio/
Direct download: S2E8_Mothers_Are_People.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am PDT

Based on a post April wrote a while back, this “audio post” episode reaffirms that yes, life can be hard. Yes, sometimes we feel like giving up. But here is a reminder of a six powerful reasons NEVER to do so.

For full show notes, please visit: https://powerofmoms.com/2-7

Direct download: 2.7.POMRadio.SixReasonsToNeverGiveUp.AS.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

I (April) have had some personal struggles over the past several months and years--particularly as I tried to do do more than one day's share each day, and as I tried to combat a really mean voice in my head that was waking me up each morning. I've finally found the solutions to these two challenges, and whether or not you struggle with the same kinds of things, I thought that perhaps my experiences could be helpful to you. Enjoy today's episode, and please share your thoughts and comments below!

For full show notes and links, see www.powerofmoms.com/radio/

Direct download: POMRadio-S2E6-Aha_Moments.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:57am PDT

Jill Savage is an amazing woman. But not just because she speaks, writes, shares goodness and leads thousands of people around the world. It’s because she’s real. And she knows how to look at motherhood with a solid, beautiful perspective that can’t help but inspire you.
 
In today’s episode of Power of Moms Radio, we discuss some great topics that can help you better care for your family including
How to catch ourselves before we go down "the rabbit hole” of frustration and comparison.
 
- How to transform the challenges of marriage and use them as growing opportunities.
 
- How to recognize when we’re unfairly comparing our children—to each other, to kids we know, or to those “imaginary perfect kids” that we’re sure exist somewhere out there.
 
- How to use the “CLAP” acronym to help us respond to a child who is perhaps driving us crazy.  :)
 
- How to fill our wells and take care of ourselves—because all this work we’re doing to emotionally support our families require energy that must be replenished.
 
For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/2-5
 
Direct download: 2.5.POM.GettingOverThePerfectionInfection_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

For full shownotes, see powerofmoms.com/radio

Direct download: POMRadio-S2E4-Staying_Calm_in_a_Perfect_Storm.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am PDT

Do you ever feel like "dreaming" is for OTHER people, but not mothers? Then honestly, you must listen to today's podcast. We're going to show you the world is open to all of us, even those who are in the trenches raising the next generation.

For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/2-3

Direct download: 02.03.POM.Dream.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

In this episode Rachel and I talk about: having a focused list and clearly identified next actions, saying no graciously, and taking ownership for our overwhelm. If you’re feeling the least bit overwhelmed, these principles can help you breathe a little more easily and enjoy your family even more.

Direct download: 2.2.POMRadio.GettingOutOfOverwhelm.AprilRachel.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Each of us has “secret disasters”–moments that feel impossible, but no one ever sees. When we can learn to see these disasters as opportunities for beautiful change, we’ll welcome them with open arms. Join April Perry in this first podcast of Season 2, where she shares her recent post AND the incredible messages submitted by Power of Moms community members. Stay tuned at the end of the podcast for an update on what's happening behind the scenes and what's coming next!

For more info, see powerofmoms.com/2-1

Direct download: POMRadio-S2E1-SecretDisasters.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am PDT

Join April from Power of Moms, and Saren from Power of Families as they discuss ways to succeed with your goals and to see real progress! For full show notes, please visit www.powerofmoms.com/332

Direct download: 332.POM.GoalSetting.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Direct download: 301_Gratitude_Saren_and_April.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am PDT

As mothers, we hope that everyone in the family will help clean the house so that we aren't the only ones doing the housework--and so we can teach our children and train them for adulthood. If you would like fun, creative, and DOABLE ways to make this happen, we have a podcast episode just for you!

Join April and Saren on Power of Families Radio and Power of Moms Radio as they share some of their best ideas for getting the whole family involved in the housework. (In case you haven't heard, this fall Power of Moms is expanding into a separate platform—Power of Families, that will serve everyone in the family.) Enjoy!

For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/330

Direct download: 330.POMRadio_-_11217_8.09_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

We're bringing back this well loved, oldie-but-goodie, podcast with April and Amy McCready.  Here are a few of the main ideas from their conversation

  • We’re not “trying to get control over the kids” or simply trying to “come up with consequences.”
  • Our real goal is to strengthen our relationships with our children and provide an environment where we can grow together.
  • As deliberate mothers, we need to make “Mind, Body, and Soul” time a priority with each of our children (Amy will explain how to do that). We also need to take time to train our children (which will prevent many of the misbehaviors from happening in the first place) and help them behave for the right reasons.
  • There are better parenting methods available to us than yelling.  And as we learn those methods, the entire feeling in our homes will change. (I shared a personal experience where I applied Amy’s methods to a parenting dilemma involving my son–and how I was elated when it worked.

For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/229

Direct download: 229.POMRadio.AprilAmyMcCready.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Do you find Halloween to be fun? Stressful? Scary? Annoying? All of the above? How can you make Halloween really work for your family?

In this week’s encore episode, Saren reads her post, A Deliberate Mother’s Guide to Simple Halloween Fun, and shares some of the many great comments from readers that offer further ideas.

The principles shared here apply to ALL holidays!

For full show notes, see powerofmoms.com/228

Direct download: 228_Simple_Halloween_Fun.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:58am PDT

It's so hard to make ourselves tackle projects that feel overwhelming! But when we keep putting things off, we feel bad.

In this episode, April and Saren share an exciting new way to reduce your procrastination by leaps and bounds and get the right things done.

***Tips and strategies based on David Allen's international best-seller, Getting Things Done®.

Direct download: 227_Procrastination.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:46pm PDT

This week we are bringing back one of our earliest podcasts—Finding Joy When We're Barely Surviving, which stemmed from this question from a mom in our community:

"How am I supposed to find the joy in motherhood when all I can do is keep my head above water? I am barely surviving, let alone thriving!"

Well, if you've ever felt this way, you're not alone.  And as we prepared for this radio show, we reached out to our Power of Moms Facebook community for answers.  (The response was wonderful.)

Join Saren and April as they discuss thoughts and actions that deliberate mothers can use when things feel really heavy, and receive a virtual pat on the back from our community as we acknowledge the beauty and power of motherhood.

Direct download: 226_Encore__Finding_Joy_When_Were_Barely_Surviving.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:53am PDT

We all want to be successful in our vitally important role as mothers. But how do we know if we’ve done a good job when no one hands us a trophy, we don’t get graded, and there’s no performance review or pay raise to confirm our success? How do we keep from feeling like failures when we’ve put in hours of devoted work each and every day but there’s not a lot of tangible evidence that we accomplished much?

We’ve definitely had those thoughts. So we (Saren and April) recorded a radio show full of our very best ideas for creating and celebrating success as mothers.

We hope you’ll enjoy this popular episode from our archives and we’d love to have you add your thoughts in the comments.  (We’re sure there are lots of good ideas we didn’t cover on this subject!)

Direct download: 225_How_Do_You_Feel_Successful_As_a_Mother_Saren_and_April.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am PDT

We thought we'd dig back in the archives and revisit this well-loved podcast.

We come into motherhood with ideals about how things are going to go – then we realize that some of those ideals just aren’t realistic or aren’t all that important.

What have you realized isn’t as important as it seemed to be at first? Have you let go of aspects of how your house and kids should look, what your kids should eat, that sort of thing?

These questions received lots of interesting and helpful responses from our Facebook community – and April and Saren add their own thoughts in this week’s Radio Show. (As you listen, you’ll gain great perspective and be glad to know you’re not the only one who has worried about silly things!)

For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/224

Direct download: 224.POMRadio.WhatsNOTThatImportant.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Have you ever wanted to just "get the house clean"? Join April Perry and her daughter Alia as they share how their family planned a one-month decluttering project of the whole home in preparation for a move. You'll learn simple ideas that can help you breathe deeply and conquer that clutter in no time at all.

For full show notes, see www.powerofmoms.com/223

Direct download: 223_How_to_Declutter_the_Whole_House_in_a_Month_April.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am PDT

Have you ever wanted to just "get the house clean"? Join April Perry and her daughter Alia as they share how their family planned a one-month decluttering project of the whole home in preparation for a move. You'll learn simple ideas that can help you breathe deeply and conquer that clutter in no time at all.

For full show notes, see www.powerofmoms.com/223

Direct download: 223_How_to_Declutter_the_Whole_House_in_a_Month_April.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:24pm PDT

If your children have recently gone back to school or your school year is about to begin, you’re probably going through some of the same things we’re going through. There are lots of emotions involved and new schedules to consider.  Some of us are redefining ourselves as we enter a new stage of motherhood.

Join Saren and April in this popular encore episode where they share their own “back to school” stories–along with plenty of practical tips for making the transition work for the whole family.

For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/222

Direct download: 222.POMRadio.BackToSchoolEncore.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

We all know the drill...

You wake up with AWESOME intentions to get out there and have an awesome workout. Because you want to be healthy.  And you want to feel great for your family.

And then something happens. Or a LOT of somethings. And pretty soon you don't have time for a shower. Or a workout. And you grab a handful of fishy crackers and think, "Okay, we'll try again tomorrow."

Deep inside, we know there's got to be a better option. And Robin Long, from The Balanced Life, is going to show us just how to make that better option happen!

Enjoy the podcast, and be sure to check out our new sponsor, RXBAR/RXBAR Kids! Have you heard of them before? (We've got some fun glowing testimonials for them inside the podcast!) Thanks so much for being with us!

For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/221

Direct download: 221.POMRadio.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

As the majority of the moms in our community are thinking about the upcoming school year, many of us are trying to decide which extracurricular activities we should sign our children up for and figure out which activities that they want to do will really work for our children and our family as a whole.

In this episode, Saren and her 14-year-old daughter Eliza share experiences and offer ideas to help navigate the world of extracurricular activities.

Direct download: 220_Choosing_Extracurricular_Activities_Saren_Loosli.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am PDT

As a mom, you've likely found yourself in some pretty wild (and often very "yucky") situations that you never could have imagined before becoming a mother.

In this encore episode, join Saren and her friend Janelle for some good laughs as they share some of their craziest motherhood moments as well as sharing some of their tenderest experiences with the kindness that can be on the flip side of the craziness.

For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/219

Direct download: 219.POMRadio.CrazinessKindness.SarenJanelle.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

In this encore episode, we revisit with Saren as she tells about her families travels around the 12 oldest National Parks in the west last summer (camping the whole way!). Saren shares how this all came about and what her family gained through this wild and wonderful adventure.

The principles offered apply to all families whether they’d like to do a big trip or simply spend a little more time outside together as a family.

Direct download: 218.WhyFamiliesNeedNature.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

This mini podcast was recorded a few years ago by April and her friend Tricia.  Tricia had taken some parenting classes to certify to become a foster parent.  Here she briefly shares a few pearls of wisdom, and three of her tips have made a HUGE difference for our community! Come find out why!  For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/217

Direct download: 217.encore.simpleparentingideas.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Do you want to have a deeper connection with your children, but aren't quite sure how? You're not alone! In this audio post, we have 3 articles that detail easy ways to make the most of the time you have with your family. For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/216

Direct download: 216.POMRadio.Audio.3WaysToConnectWithKids_-_71017_3.56_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Saren recently attended a marriage workshop with her husband and found it to be so helpful that she invited Dr. Jeremy Boden  - the therapist who conducted the workshop - to share some key principles on Power of Moms Radio.

In this episode, Jeremy shares some of the key principles of the "new science of love" and helps us learn how we can communicate more effectively, form more secure bonds, and break cycles of behavior that just aren't working.

For full show notes, see powerofmoms.com/215

Direct download: 215_Why_Connection_Really_Matters_Saren_Loosli.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:21pm PDT

We all have days (or weeks or months) when when our best efforts just don't seem to be enough.

In this week's episode, Saren shares her own struggles with "being enough" and reads three powerful posts that offer concrete ideas to help us see the good when we're feeling pretty bad and recognize that we are enough.

This post comes with a big virtual hug from all of us as Power of Moms!

Direct download: 214_You_Are_Enough_Saren_Loosli.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am PDT

We all have days (or weeks or months) when when our best efforts just don't seem to be enough.

In this week's episode, Saren shares her own struggles with "being enough" and reads three powerful posts that offer concrete ideas to help us see the good when we're feeling pretty bad and recognize that we are enough.

This post comes with a big virtual hug from all of us as Power of Moms!

Direct download: 214_You_Are_Enough_Saren_Loosli.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am PDT

How can we as mothers bring healthy and positive emotions into our parenting? How can we get our kids to laugh more? In this episode of Power of Moms Radio, April and Kate Orson, author of the book Tears Heal, talk about how we can embrace the laughter and the tears and really connect with our children. Kate and April share ideas on how we can make space for our children's emotions, not only for our toddlers, but for our teenagers as well!

 

Direct download: 2xx_April_Kate_Orson.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am PDT

In this fantastic encore episode, Saren talks with Katie Kimball from Kitchen Stewardship about how what we eat, the way we talk about food, and the way we prepare food is such an important part of parenting.

Katie offers concrete ideas about how to involve our children more in the preparation of food and really enjoy cooking alongside our children as we teach them responsibility and build their skills and self-confidence.

For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/212

Direct download: 212.POMRadio.KitchenStewardship.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Are you getting worried about summer? Often we want to use this season wisely and well, but be relaxed at the same time. We want to spend time with our kids, but we also don't want them to drive us crazy! This audio post has three articles with lots of ideas about how to achieve that perfect summer balance! For full show notes, visit powerofmoms.com/211

Direct download: 211.POMRadio.NoStressSummer.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

In this week's encore episode, Saren and her friend Janelle discuss what they believe is most important for preschool-aged children and share what the Joy School program can offer to kids - and moms!

While this episode focuses on the benefits of the Joy School co-op preschool curriculum, the principles that Saren and Janelle discuss apply to any mom of preschoolers.

For show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/210

Direct download: 210.POMRadio.FindingTheRightPreschoolOption.SarenJanelle.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

In this week’s episode, Saren interviews Heather Clayton Staker, mother of five and national expert in online learning.

Saren and Heather talk about how we can help our children more fully reap the benefits of the vast online learning opportunities now available, while keeping their screen time under control.

For full show notes, see www.powerofmoms/209

Direct download: 209_NavigatingOnlineLearningForOurKids.SarenHeather.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am PDT

In this encore post, we revisit how to make the long, lovely days of summer become some of our family’s best memories. Join in to listen on how we can create a little more structure so that summer break is enjoyable for EVERYONE!

For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/208

Direct download: 208.POMRadio.Making_Summer_Awesome.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

At Power of Moms, we believe that motherhood is beautiful, noble, and essential for growing strong families and strong communities.

But since it's so easy to get distracted, we asked our community to answer this question and remind all of us what matters most:

In 10 words or less, what did you love best about your mom while you were growing up? We're guessing you're not going to pick her "rock-hard abs," but is there a specific experience or characteristic that stands out in your mind?

We were deeply touched by the comments we received, and it was wonderful to see that deliberate motherhood isn't about our employment status, our looks, our exotic vacations, or our ability to be "perfect."  It's simple.  It's personal.  And it's, quite honestly, amazing.

Click this link to read the whole Facebook thread and then click the link below to hear April and Saren discuss this conversation and share their thoughts about their own mothers. (Add your thoughts in the comments!)

 

For full show notes, see www.powerofmoms.com/207

Direct download: 207_What_Your_Children_Will_Remember_of_Mom_April_and_Saren.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am PDT

With everything that happens inside of a family, who doesn't need a little more life balance? Christy Wright, an amazing mother, author, speaker, and member of the Dave Ramsey team, has some incredible words of support to share with the deliberate mothers at Power of Moms. Join us for today's episode and take a mental deep breath! (You've earned it!)

For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/206

Direct download: 296.POMRadio.MomConf.ChristyWright.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:19am PDT

Since healthy eating for themselves and their families is something April and Saren think about and talk about a lot, they decided to devote this week's radio show to this important and often tricky topic. In this 35-minute show, they share:

  • some simple the food "rules" they've made for themselves
  • tips for eating healthily while on the run as moms
  • ideas for helping ourselves and our kids develop a real appetite for healthy foods
  • thoughts on how we can develop a more positive and realistic attitude towards food and towards our bodies

For full show notes, see powerofmoms.com/205

Direct download: 205_Healthy_Eating_Saren.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am PDT

When our children throw a tantrum, sometimes we feel like throwing a tantrum ourselves!

While some children are more prone to tantrums than others, most moms need to deal with their kids’ emotional outbursts or uncontrolled anger at some point.

In this encore episode (was originally posted as Episode 13), April and Saren offer some very helpful ideas!  For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/204

Direct download: 204.POMRadio.Children.Tantrums.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

In this episode, April and Saren share ideas for celebrating Easter in a meaningful, but very simple way.

For full show notes, see powerofmoms.com/203

Direct download: 203_Low-Stress_Easter_Ideas_Saren_and_April.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am PDT

These three posts were read by Jennifer Brimhall.  We hope they give you a jump start on organizing.  For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/202

Direct download: POMRadio.Organization.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Power of Moms Co-Director, Saren, spent a solid month visiting the 12 oldest National Parks in the west last summer (camping the whole way!). In this week’s episode, Saren shares how this all came about and what her family gained through this wild and wonderful adventure.

For full show notes, see powerofmoms.com/201

Direct download: 201_WhyFamiliesNeedNature_Saren.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am PDT

Children of all ages often feel that they don't have all the freedom they want and this can be manifest in tantrums and power struggles and teenage rebellion. How do we decide what choices our children should have? How do we help them recognize the freedom they already have? How do we help them learn to make good choices?

In this episode, April and Saren discuss how and when to give our children the freedom and control they crave.  For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/200

Direct download: 200.POMRadio.Choices.AprilSaren.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

It's easy to criticize our children and notice everything they're not doing, but how can we acknowledge their VALUE and help them to also acknowledge value in their siblings?

Listen to a fun interview with April Perry and Colin Boyd--and then a lively discussion with April and Saren as they learn how to apply those great ideas.

You'll find the results will empower your whole family!

For full show notes, see powerofmoms.com/199

Direct download: 199_Acknowledgement_April_and_Saren.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:00am PDT

Direct download: AnyMeeting_Recording_1503259.wav
Category:general -- posted at: 2:50pm PDT

Enjoy this encore podcast with April Perry and DeAnne Flynn about setting goals with children.  DeAnne Flynn is an inspiring mother of seven children (ages 8-22) who had tons of great tips to share.  Listen in as they discuss teaching children to help around the house, not solving all their problems for them, and more!  For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/198

 

Direct download: 2012.6.6AprilDeanne.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT

Power of Moms Co-Director, Saren, recently visited her sister, Saydi, who is currently living and of working on a farm with her family. While there, Saren and Saydi recorded this episode where they share the story of how Saydi and family were able to make their dream of farm life happen and how all moms can create beautiful experiences and memories for their families. For full show notes, please visit powerofmoms.com/197

Direct download: 197.POMRadio.BeautifulDreams.SarenSaydi.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am PDT