Don't Mom Alone Podcast

In The Prodigal’s Mother, author Vela Tomba, a mom of three adult children, helps moms navigate the challenges of parenting adult and young adult kids. Through her own 36-year journey of motherhood, she has learned the freedom and peace that come from letting go of the need to rescue, fix, and control our children’s lives. She encourages moms to stay in their own “hula hoop,” trust God, and discover joy even when their children’s stories look different than they imagined. 
About This Episode
What happens when your child’s life doesn’t follow the script you imagined? In this conversation, Vela shares how our expectations for our children can become idols, leading us to rescue, control, and tie our own peace to their choices. We talk about the heartbreak of having a prodigal child and how to trust God when your child’s choices take them down a different path than you hoped. Through releasing our grip, embracing the reality of our children’s stories, and trusting God to write His script, not ours, we can find peace, freedom, and joy even in the hardest seasons of motherhood. 
In this episode, we discuss:

Recognizing the expectations and “scripts” we create for our children

How parenting can slip into codependency, rescuing, and control

Learning to distinguish between harmful choices and simply different choices

Staying in your own “hula hoop” and honoring your responsibilities

Trusting God to speak to your children and guide their stories

Bringing our heartbreak and disappointment to God so He can heal us

How to support a mom who is struggling with her child: listen, love, and be present

Shifting from telling our children’s stories to living our own

Finding joy and freedom through acceptance, surrender, and trust in God

Connect with Velo Tomba: 

Website: VELA TOMBA 

Instagram: Vela Tomba (@velatomba)

Links Mentioned: 
The Prodigal's Mother: By Vela Tomba, Vela
Related Episodes:

“What is My Responsibility in My Child’s Salvation?” :: Vela Tomba [Ep 431]

Hula Hoop-o-logy :: Vela Tomba {GCM ep 28}

Owning Your Motherhood :: Erin Moon and Courtney Cleveland [Ep 325]

Featured Sponsors: 

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Melissa Harrison is the President and CEO of 4word, an organization that equips professional Christian women to integrate their faith and work through community, mentoring, and leadership development. 4word creates spaces where women can build authentic connections, grow in their leadership, and live out their purpose in every season of life. Melissa brings a unique perspective as a working mom navigating career, family, faith, and the many demands that come with trying to do it all. 
About This Episode
What happens when you're trying to be a great mom, a great employee or leader, a good friend, and still take care of yourself? In this conversation, Melissa and I talk honestly about the pressure women feel to do it all, and what can get lost along the way. We talk about the loneliness that can come with busy seasons, why friendship and connection often get pushed to the bottom of the list, and the importance of intentionally making space for people. Whether you're a working mom or a stay-at-home mom, there's an invitation to step back and ask: Who am I beyond the roles I fill, and what would it look like to stop carrying everything alone?
In This Episode, We Talk About:

Balancing motherhood, career, family, and personal needs

The loneliness that can come from living in a busy season

Why friendship and camaraderie are often the first things to go

Creating intentional connection through consistent, committed gathering

Recognizing the triggers behind our need to measure up

Knowing when it might be time to talk to someone and dig deeper

The challenge of always feeling available to everyone

Navigating seasons when work and family collide

The power of mentorship and meaningful community

Connect with Melissa Harrison: 

Website: 4word 

Instagram: 4word (@4wordwomen)

Facebook: 4word

Links Mentioned: 

Work, Love, Pray: By Diane Paddison

Tyranny of the Urgent: By Charles Hummel

Mentor program for women 

BOLDLY Conference - 4word  

Related Episodes:

Corporate Working Moms :: Causha Jolly and Stacey McCabe [Ep 205]

Working from Home :: Jehava Brown [Ep 288]

Mentoring for Women in the Workplace :: Diane Paddison [Ep 412]

Featured Sponsors: 

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Amanda Taylor is the woman behind From Playgrounds to Psych Wards, where she shares her story of postpartum mental illness, recovery, motherhood, faith, and hope. After the birth of her fourth child in 2013, following a traumatic labor and delivery, Amanda experienced severe postpartum mental health challenges that ultimately became an 18-month journey through postpartum psychosis, hospitalization, and recovery. Today, she uses her story to help other women and families recognize the warning signs, ask for help, and remember that there is hope beyond the darkest seasons.
We talk about the difference between the normal challenges of new motherhood, postpartum depression and anxiety, and something more serious like postpartum psychosis? In this powerful conversation, Amanda shares her firsthand experience of racing thoughts, sleeplessness, becoming disconnected from reality, hospitalization, and the long road back to herself. We talk about the warning signs that require immediate support, the critical role caregivers and family members play, how postpartum mental illness can impact a marriage, and how friends and church communities can practically support a struggling family. Most importantly, Amanda shares a message of hope for the mom who cannot imagine feeling normal again: your story is not over, you are not a burden, and healing is possible.
In This Episode:

Understanding the differences between postpartum depression, anxiety, and psychosis

Warning signs that may indicate a postpartum mental health emergency

Mania, racing thoughts, confusion, rapid speech, and becoming disconnected from reality

Why caregivers should trust their instincts and seek an evaluation when something feels wrong

The importance of listening to the perspective of spouses, siblings, and caregivers

How postpartum psychosis affected Amanda’s marriage and family

How her husband continued to see Amanda beyond her mental illness

The practical ways friends, family, and church communities can support a struggling family

Why sometimes the best way to help is to simply show up and do something

Asking for help and finding one trusted person to say, “I’m struggling”

Amanda’s experience of feeling like she would never have a normal life again

Why postpartum mental illness does not have to define the rest of your story

Connect with Amanda Taylor: 

Website: Home 

Instagram: Amanda Taylor (@amandataylor.life)

Links Mentioned: 

From Playgrounds to Psych Wards: By Amanda & Colby Taylor

Emergency Resources: Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department when someone may be experiencing psychosis or presents an immediate danger to herself or others.

Emergency Resources: Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Emergency Resources: Postpartum Support International HelpLine: 1-800-944-4773 or text HELP to 800-944-4773. The PSI HelpLine is not an emergency service. Postpartum Support International

The Engaged Life

Related Episodes:

Shame, Perfectionism and Smiling Depression :: Misty Persefield and Stephanie Coker [Ep 154]

Hope and Help for Taboo Topics in Postpartum Care :: Krystle Howald [Ep 467]

Postpartum Depression :: Brittany Turner [Ep 277]

Featured Sponsor: 

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Vicki Courtney is an author, speaker, and mom who has spent years helping parents navigate the hard conversations that come with raising kids in today’s culture. Through her books and ministry, she equips parents to talk honestly with their kids about faith, culture, relationships, and the challenges they’re facing.
In this top 10  episode (which originally aired on March 18, 2019), Vicki and I talk about how to parent with courage and humility in a culture that can feel increasingly unfamiliar to Christian families. Instead of parenting from fear, Vicki encourages us to make space for honest questions, lead with love, and create an environment where our kids know they can come to us with anything. Even when the world feels uncertain, Jesus is still our hope, and our kids need parents who are willing to walk alongside them as they wrestle with faith.

In this episode, we talk about:

How Vicki came to know Jesus and the ministry God called her to

The culture our kids are growing up in and why it can feel increasingly unfriendly to the Christian faith

Why we need to teach our kids to walk in truth while leading with love

How to make room for meaningful conversations by creating margin in your family

The pressure moms feel to make sure their kids are doing everything: sports, music, activities, academics, and more

Letting go of the belief that we have to orchestrate our children's futures

Giving our kids room to fail, wrestle, and learn from failure

Creating an environment where our kids feel safe coming to us with anything

Why real-time conversations and our attitude toward our kids matters

Parenting without shame, finger-wagging, or pretending we have it all together

What the prodigal son and the older brother teach us about God's grace

The challenges young men are facing as they grow into adulthood

Finding hope when you're afraid of the world your kids are growing up in

Connect with Vicki Courtney: 

Website: Vicki Courtney 

Instagram: Vicki Courtney (@vickicourtney)

Facebook: Vicki Courtney

Links Mentioned: 

5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter: By Vicki Courtney

5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Son: By Vicki Courtney

The Prodigal God: By Timothy Keller

Revolutionary Parenting: By George Barna

Related Episodes:

How Parents Can Equip Kids to Find Freedom, Healing, and Identity in Christ :: Jennifer Barnett [Ep 577]

Gospel-Focused Conversations :: Joel Fitzpatrick [Ep. 251]

The Parenting Shift That Changes Everything :: David Thomas and Sissy Goff [Ep 572]

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Today’s guest is Crystal Paine, founder of MoneySavingMom.com and a longtime advocate for helping families save money, manage their finances, and live with greater intention. Crystal is passionate about helping women find financial peace and make practical changes with whatever they have, wherever they are. 
In This Episode
We’re talking about the fear, stress, and emotions that can come with money, and how to move toward greater financial peace. Crystal shares practical habits anyone can start using today, whether you’re paying off debt, trying to save, or simply wanting to feel more confident about where your money is going. We talk about: 

Why so many women have fear around money

How to align your spending with what matters most

Navigating money differences in marriage

Understanding emotional spending

Simple ways to start saving more

Why we often use money to feel like we are helping our kids

Crystal’s 1-hour money plan

Looking at your finances with your 90 year old self in mind 

Trusting God as your provider, even in lean seasons

Connect with Crystal Paine: 

Website: Money Saving Mom® | Saving Families Money Since 2007 

Instagram: Crystal Paine 🌻 MoneySavingMom (@themoneysavingmom)

Facebook: Money Saving Mom

Links Mentioned: 

The 7 Habits of Financially Healthy Women: By Crystal Paine

5 Day Budget Makeover 

Budget Spreadsheet 

Related Episodes:

Budget Isn’t a Dirty Word :: Ericka Young [Ep 244]

Reflecting on Financial Priorities :: Ericka Young [Ep 286]

Hope When You Hit a Financial Bottom :: Erin Odom [Ep 177]

Featured Sponsors: 

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