Wire Talk with Karen Stubbs

If you've ever lost your temper with your kids, this conversation is for you. Counselor Josh Thames shares practical tools to help moms stay calm, communicate more effectively, and respond with confidence, even when emotions are running high. Whether you're parenting a child with ADHD, anxiety, or just big feelings, you'll walk away with practical encouragement you can use today.
Episode Recap:
Josh is an LPC with a background in teaching (1:30)
Are we making parenting decisions out of fear? (5:18)
Remaining steady is critical, especially for parents of kids with ADHD (8:07)
How can I stay calm on crazy, back to school mornings? (10:22)
A practical illustration of what tasks are like for an ADHD brain (14:29)
How can I bring down the emotional climate in my home? (17:30)
Having kids who are wired differently is a really good thing! (20:11)

Scripture: Isaiah 40:11 (NIV)
"He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young."

Discussion Questions:
Josh said our job is to be shepherds, not engineers. How does that change the way you think about your role as a parent?
When your child becomes emotionally overwhelmed, what usually happens inside of you? How can you become the calm your child needs?
Which parenting habit would make the biggest difference in your home this week: using more concrete language, planning better transitions, or slowing down your own reactions?
Josh reminded us that success isn't measured by our child's behavior on any given day. How would redefining success change the way you parent this week?

Resources:
Connect with Josh: @joshthameslpc, thamescounseling.com
Use code WT20 to get $20 off SOAR registration today! 
Reach out to have Karen come speak in your community.
Become a WT+ Insider this month and get an exclusive SOAR discount! 

Want More of This Conversation?
During Wire Talk+, Josh shares practical advice for connecting with teens who don't want to talk, helping kids navigate transitions, and learning how to stay calm when your own emotions start to rise. This extra conversation is full of real-life parenting wisdom you won't want to miss!
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You don't have to carry the weight of discipling your kids by yourself! In this episode, Karen and Emily sit down with children's ministry leader Kendra Fleming to share how partnering with your church can strengthen your family's faith without adding more to your plate. As we head into a new school year, we hope this episode encourages you to lean into the support God has already provided.
Episode Recap:
Kendra has been working in children’s ministry for 30+ years (3:30)
Church gives your kids another trusted voice and a place to serve (7:00)
What are some church rhythms that are worth protecting this school year? (11:00)
What does spiritual development look like at the different stages of childhood? (15:50)

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
"Two are better than one...if either of them falls down, one can help the other up."

Discussion Questions:
When you think about discipling your children, do you feel excitement, pressure, fear, or something else? Why?
Has your church encouraged or supported your family in ways you couldn't have done on your own?
What rhythms around church have been most life-giving for your family? Are there any you've allowed to slip?
Is there a children's ministry leader, small group leader, or mentor you could intentionally encourage or build a relationship with this fall?
What practical step could your family take this year to more intentionally partner with your church in helping your kids grow in their faith?

Resources:
Connect with Kendra on Instagram: @kendrafleming
Use code WT20 to get $20 off SOAR registration today! 
Reach out to have Karen come speak in your community.
Become a WT+ Insider this month and get an exclusive SOAR discount! 
Join our private FB group, BOAW Moms

Want More of This Conversation?
During Wire Talk+, Kendra continues to encourage us to be authentic in our relationship with Jesus, plus Kendra and Karen each give advice to their younger selves!
Become an Insider today and help us reach our goal of 400 subscribers this year!

In this listener-favorite episode re-air, Karen and Greg pull back the curtain on nearly four decades of marriage—the good, the hard, the early years, and the season they’re in now. This conversation will make you smile, and maybe even tear up, as they remind us that we serve a faithful God who wants the best for us and our marriages.
Episode Recap:
How Karen and Greg back met in 1984 (4:00)
What were some of your biggest differences as newlyweds? (7:50)
How did you stay connected during the early years of raising kids? (10:09)
What has been the hardest season of your marriage? (18:48)
How has your relationship changed now that your kids are grown and gone? (31:35)
What has surprised you about becoming grandparents? (37:19)
Lightening round questions (40:12)

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Discussion Questions:
Karen and Greg talked about prioritizing their marriage even while raising young kids. How do you currently make space for your spouse in a busy season of parenting?
Greg shared the advice he received from his dad: “Your family is your hobby.” What might it look like for you to protect your margin for your family?
Karen described her “needy gal” season where she learned to depend on God to meet her needs. How have you experienced God providing for you in a hard marriage or parenting season?
What small rhythms (like a daily debrief, date nights, or intentional quiet time) could you adopt to strengthen your connection with your spouse?
Looking ahead, what do you hope your marriage will look like when you reach the “high five” finish line of raising kids together?

Resources:
Use code WT20 to get $20 off SOAR registration today! 
Reach out to have Karen come speak in your community.
Become a WT+ Insider this month and get an exclusive SOAR discount! 
Join our private FB group, BOAW Moms

Want More of This Conversation?
During Wire Talk+, Greg and Karen share advice for making it through difficult seasons of family life and don’t miss the very end of this conversation, when they share some of their biggest fights that they laugh about now!
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If you’ve been thinking that summer is the perfect time to potty train, this one’s for you! Christine Clark joins Karen and Emily today - she’s a mom, preschool teacher, and pro who’s successfully potty trained 17 children. From handling accidents with grace to dealing with fear, regression, or defiance, this episode is packed with wisdom and encouragement for moms in the potty-training trenches.
Episode Recap:
Christine runs an in-home daycare and LOVES toddlers (2:33)
Personality definitely feeds into potty training (5:58)
Is there a difference in training girls vs boys? (7:25)
Give us a step-by-step for those who are new to this (8:55)
What are the biggest mistakes parents make? (12:00)
How to support your child’s training at daycare (14:16)
What about kids who have “accidents” out of defiance? (16:35)
What if a child is afraid to go #2? (22:21)

Scripture: Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Questions for Discussion:
What’s been your biggest potty training challenge so far, and what mindset shift could help you handle it with more patience?
How can you bring fun and encouragement into the process instead of frustration?
What does “everything can be cleaned” look like for you in this season of motherhood?
What other “hard things” have you done recently that remind you you’re capable of more than you think?

Resources:
Use code WT20 to get $20 off SOAR registration today! 
Reach out to have Karen come speak in your community!
Become a WT+ Insider this month and get an exclusive SOAR discount! 
Join our private FB group, BOAW Moms

Want More of This Conversation?
During Wire Talk+, Karen and Emily share some of their own adventures in potty-training and remind us once again that everything can be cleaned!
Become an Insider today and help us reach our goal of 400 subscribers this year!

From tantrums to name-calling to after-school meltdowns, this listener-favorite episode is packed with practical help for moms dealing with big emotions…and even bigger attitudes. Karen and Emily talk about red temperaments, ADHD outbursts, and how to handle disrespectful behavior without losing your cool. Listen in for advice on teaching kids to pause before reacting, role-playing tough situations, plus learn why setting boundaries with screens and school is worth the fight.
Episode Recap:
Meltdowns can happen at 6 or 16 (2:10)
Lean into the Lord and He will help you (5:14)
What do I do about a 10 year old who dominates her friends all the time? (6:31)
Role playing is a powerful teaching tool (8:56)
My daughter resorts to name calling when she’s angry - any advice? (9:39)
Anger is a secondary emotion (18:00)
I’m struggling with the amount of screen time that is embedded in school/homework, it clearly changes my kid’s behavior. What can I do? (24:00)

Scripture for Reflection:
Proverbs 15:1 (NIV) — “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Questions for Discussion:
How do you typically respond when your child is disrespectful or melts down?
What do you think is really behind your child’s anger in those moments?
What boundaries do you need to reinforce in your home around disrespect, screen time, or emotional outbursts?
How could role-playing or using tools like the feelings wheel help your child grow in emotional maturity?

Resources:
Use code WT20 to get $20 off SOAR registration today! 
Become a WT+ Insider, boaw.mom/insider

Want More of This Conversation?
During Wire Talk+, Karen and Emily talk about why so many parents are afraid to address disrespectful behavior and they discuss how to use devices intentionally so they serve your family instead of becoming a parenting crutch.
Head to https://www.patreon.com/c/BOAW to become an Insider and help us reach our goal of 400 subscribers this year!