Wouldn’t it be great if we never had to punish our kids? One of the most frequent questions I’m asked by parents is how to effectively discipline their kids.

You don’t have to be a parent for very long to realize something: you can’t actually control your kids. No matter how intimidating or kind or threatening or strategic you are, you ultimately cannot 100% control your child. And honestly? One of the most freeing things you can do as a parent is to STOP. TRYING.

But what does that look like practically? And how is discipline any different or better than traditional punishment? That’s exactly what we’re going to be talking about on today’s episode.

+ Punishment & Discipline are not the same

+ True Discipline equals Discipleship

+ Discipline seeks connection over control

+ Love is a more powerful motivator than fear

+ Discipline builds confidence, but punishment evokes shame

+ Discipline encourages a growth mindset

Thanks for tuning in to another episode of the Family Culture podcast!

As parents, we don’t really WANT to discipline our kids. We would much rather they just do exactly what we want, right?

If you’ve been a parent for any length of time, you know that discipline is one of the hardest and most intimidating parts of parenting. And there are a THOUSAND philosophies out there about the “right” way to do it.

It’s easy to complicate discipline, but today I want to simplify it. I’m going to be sharing 3 essential elements that serve as the FOUNDATION for positive discipline. And they all come directly from the life of Jesus.

So if you’re ready to take the DREAD out of discipline, this episode is for you.

Key Takeaways from Episode 29:

• Discipline isn’t one-size-fits-all
• Family is the foundation
• Positive Discipline is actually Discipleship
• Discipleship is a relational model
• It’s not about control; it’s about connection
• Modeling, Teaching & Empowering are key

What do you want your family culture to look like this year?

Your family culture will play a bigger part in shaping your kids than any goal, habit or routine that you set in place. 

The beginning of the year is a great time to take inventory of the culture of your home and family and make a few small tweaks that will have a huge impact.

In this episode, I'm diving into what it looks like to set your family up for success this year with 7 Simple Ways to Shape Your Family Culture in 2021.

Key Takeaways:

+ Invite God’s love & presence

+ Focus on your personal culture

+ Invest in your marriage

+ Establish your family values

+ Prioritize connection

+ Shape the language of your home

+ Choose grace

This is the final episode of the year, so let's talk about getting ready for 2021! Now, I’m usually the girl that gets super excited, orders a brand new planner, and sets amazing goals for the new year. But this year feels a little different.

The more I think about setting goals, the more I am realizing that I want to take a different approach this year.

Goals are great. But the problem with setting goals is that we often set HUGE ones with no clear path to get there and we end up feeling overwhelmed and giving up. (Or is that just me?)

This year, instead of just focusing on what I want to DO, I'm thinking about the person I want to BECOME.

That's why I'm focusing on habits this year.

Habits are about incorporating who you want to become into your daily life in a natural way.

Join me for a lively discussion about the 3 reasons I'm choosing habits over goals this year and why you might want to consider it too.

Key Takeaways from Episode 27: 

• Habits focus on growth, not achievement.
• It’s not just about doing, it’s about becoming.
• Habits bring the impossible into the “I can do it” realm.
• Quantity produces quality.
• It's time to restore the fun in what you’re doing.

Thanks for tuning in to today's episode! If you enjoyed it, I'd love for you to hit subscribe, rate & review the Family Culture podcast! 

In honor of Christmas this week, today's episode is all about my favorite mom in the Bible: Mary!

We tend to put her on a pedestal…this fabulous virgin, chosen by God for the most important role in the history of the world…but she was actually just a young woman…scared, humble, and wondering how she could ever measure up.

But it’s not Mary that makes this story so incredible. It’s the way God interacts with Mary…through an angel…that is actually a powerful picture of how he views you and me. And it’s a message that we, as moms, really need to know in the very fabric of our being.

So in this episode, I’m going to take you on a little journey through part of Luke chapter 1, right out of the Bible, and look at 6 life-changing truths from this age-old story that might just blow your mind.

Key Takeaways from Episode 26: 

+ Everything starts with identity.

+ Fear attacks identity, but courage isn't the answer...love is.

+ You were created to carry something.

+ It's not your strength that will make it happen.

+ The most important thing you can ever do is to say yes.

Thanks for tuning in to today's episode of the Family Culture Podcast! Would you take a minute to subscribe, rate and review it? 

Also, come connect with me on Instagram @favoritefamilies!

What does “success” look like for you when it comes to motherhood?

If you're anything like me, you probably have an unspoken list of expectations that you think determines your success as a mom.

But what if this is the wrong question entirely? What if this view of successful motherhood is actually making us miserable instead of setting us free?

Today I'm talking about what success as a mother really is and, more importantly, what it's NOT. Plus, 5 simple tips to flip the script in your mind so you can start enjoying motherhood in a fresh way.

What if you could give your kids the best Christmas ever…without Santa Clause?

Okay, now STAY WITH ME FOR A SECOND. I'm not saying Santa is evil or you can't enjoy a healthy dose of Santa with your kids this Christmas.

But I AM saying that you can make celebrating Jesus just as fun for kids (and even more meaningful) than Santa.

On today's episode, I'm sharing 6 Ways to Engage Your Kids with a Jesus-Centered Christmas (with or without Santa).

Key Takeaways from Episode 23:

+ Santa isn't bad and Jesus isn't boring.

+ Invite your kids to enter into the REAL Christmas story in their own language: play.

+ Make giving as exciting as getting.

+ Give a "present" to Jesus this year.

+ Connect with the man behind the story.

What sets the Christmas story apart from Santa in the most powerful way, is that it’s TRUE! 

Invite your kids to truly know and experience the truth and love of Jesus, not just at Christmas, but all year long.

When it comes to the holidays, most couples have slightly different expectations and different needs....okay, somtimes VERY different expectations. Plus, this happens to be a particularly busy and even stressful time of the year for many people, even when we're NOT in a pandemic.

But in the midst of the holiday season and all the busyness it holds, staying connected with your spouse is so important and can actually help BOTH of you (as well as your kids) to feel more at peace and truly enjoy the holidays.

So today we’re talking about 6 ways to stay connected with your spouse during the holidays.

Key Takeaways from Episode 22:

We all hide things from our kids. Please tell me I’m not the only one with a secret stash of chocolate that my kids don’t know about.

There are lots of reasons we hide things from our kids. And many of them are actually quite admirable. We want to protect them. To spare them. To prevent them from worrying. 

The problem is that, in the process, we oftentimes end up hiding things that our kids actually DO need to see as well. 

So how do you know what to let your kids see and what to keep private? That’s exactly what we’re talking about today.

Key Takeaways from Episode 21:

+ Seeing you and your spouse express affection gives kids a sense of security.

+ You don’t need to have your finances all in order to start teaching your kids about money. You can learn together.

+ Your kids will see you argue. It happens. But do they see you reconcile? That’s what they need to see most.

+ Expressing your needs and boundaries to your kids models healthy balance for them.

+ Let your kids see your relationship with God in action.