Elevating Motherhood

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What do you do when your teenager wants to start dating?

What if they’re already dating—and you’re not sure you love the relationship they’re in?

What if you have preteens? How do you talk to your kids about attraction, boundaries, healthy relationships, heartbreak, and ultimately marriage without making them feel like you’re completely out of touch with their world?

These are conversations so many parents find themselves navigating, and honestly, they aren’t always easy.

Today I’m talking with someone I’m especially excited to have back on the show: Monica Swanson. Monica is the author of Boy Mom, Raising Amazing, and Becoming Homeschoolers, and she hosts the Monica Swanson Podcast. She and her husband, Dr. Dave, have raised their four sons on the North Shore of Oahu in Hawaii, so we have that fun Hawaii connection as well.

Monica is passionate about helping parents apply biblical wisdom to family life and encouraging moms to live whole and healthy lives. She is an author and podcaster after my own heart. 

This is actually Monica’s second time on Elevating Motherhood. Monica was one of my very first author interviews when this podcast was just getting started. So it was really special to reconnect with her for this conversation.

Today we’re getting practical about helping our kids navigate dating from a biblical perspective—how to guide them toward healthy friendships and relationships, how to communicate with them, what to do when you have concerns about someone they’re dating, and how to help them understand dating as something we pursue when we’re ready to find a spouse.

And if your kids aren’t dating yet, don’t tune this one out. The conversations you have before they start dating can make a tremendous difference in how they navigate relationships when the time comes.

God’s ways are always best. And helping our kids understand that—while also giving them practical wisdom for navigating real relationships—is one of the most important conversations we can have with them.

Monica also has a character training course coming out this Fall! I trust Monica’s parenting wisdom so much and am really looking forward to the course for my own family. Be sure to check today’s show notes for the link to that course (which includes even more dating insights!). 

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We completely switched up the way we’re doing math, and we’re now using Teaching Textbooks—and it has been a game changer. It has freed up so much time in our homeschool day, and honestly, it has helped me overcome some of my own insecurities as a homeschool mom when it comes to teaching math. My kids are learning at a much faster pace and our homeschool and my relationships with my kids are better for it. 
I love that my kids can work independently, get immediate feedback, and still have a highly effective math education without me feeling like I have to carry the entire weight of teaching everything. 
If you’re looking for a stress-free, effective math solution for your homeschool, I highly recommend trying Teaching Textbooks. They offer a free trial, and you can access that free trial using the link in the show notes.
 
Full Show Notes at: www.elevatingmotherhood.com
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Lori Beth’s IG: @loribethauldridge
Monica’s IG: @monicaswanson_ 
Monica’s Website: www.monicaswanson.com

Edited & Mixed by: Jordan Tallon

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What does it actually look like to raise kids who are confident, capable, and ready for the world?

As parents, we spend so much time protecting our children, helping them, and making life run smoothly for them—but sometimes the very things we do out of love can unintentionally keep them from developing the skills and confidence they need to thrive.

Today, I’m excited to welcome Katie Kimball back to Elevating Motherhood for the second time. Katie is the founder of Kids Cook Real Food and creator of Teens Cook Real Food, and she has a passion for helping families raise healthy, independent adults.

But this conversation goes far beyond cooking.

We’re talking about what it means to empower our kids at every age, how to give them opportunities to grow, and why independence isn’t something we suddenly hand over when they turn 18—it’s something we cultivate throughout childhood.

Katie shares some hilarious stories, including the story of her daughter’s college orientation, the infamous knucklehead and the steak story, and some moments that perfectly illustrate what happens when we let our kids practice, fail, learn, and become more capable.

Whether you have toddlers, elementary-aged kids, teenagers, or kids who are already preparing to launch, this conversation is full of wisdom and encouragement for any parent who wants to raise children who are confident in who they are and capable of caring for themselves and others.

I always appreciate Katie’s practical, grounded approach, and I know this conversation is going to give you plenty to thinkabout.
 
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We completely switched up the way we’re doing math, and we’re now using Teaching Textbooks—and it has been agame changer. It has freed up so much time in our homeschool day, and honestly, it has helped me overcome some of my own insecurities as a homeschool mom whenit comes to teaching math.

I love that my kids can work independently, get immediate feedback, and still have a highly effective math education without me feeling like I have to carry the entire weight of teaching it.

If you’re looking for a stress-free, effective math solution for your homeschool, I highly recommend trying Teaching Textbooks. They offer a free trial, and you can access thatfree trial using the link in the show notes.

Love the show? Leave me a review! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Join my email list: www.elevatingmotherhood.com

Homeschool Mega Bundle Here: https://www.fortheloveofhomeschooling.com/?ref=loribeth
Marci's Book Here: https://amzn.to/4xvVHQ9

I think we’ve misunderstood homemaking. I do.

Because the best homemakers I know aren’t just creating beautiful homes. They’re creating environments where people feel known, loved, and deeply cared for.

Today’s conversation is one I have been so excited to share with you. I’m talking with Marci Ferrell, author of Homemaking Matters—a book that has landed in my top two favorite books I’ve read this year.

And I have to tell you… this book is about so much more than homemaking.

Yes, we talk about creating a home. But what I love most about Marci’s message is that she gets to the heart behind it all: our mindset, our attitudes, our priorities, and the posture of our hearts as we move through everyday life.

This conversation is filled with wisdom that reaches far beyond homemaking. It’s about becoming the kind of woman who intentionally creates beauty, connection, and meaning in the spaces God has placed her.

Marci is one of those people whose wisdom feels both grounding and encouraging. I walked away from thisconversation with so many things to think about, and I truly believe you will too.

So whether you consider yourself a homemaker, or you’re simply a woman who wants to live with more intention and purpose, I think this conversation is going to encourage youdeeply.
The For the Love of Homeschooling Back-to-School Mega Bundle, Volume 6 is officially here, and if you're looking for fresh inspiration for the school year ahead, you're going to love this.

For just $25, you'll get over 100 digital homeschool resources covering everything from language arts and math to history, science, nature study, geography, art, planners, encouragement for moms, and so much more. Altogether,these resources are valued at more than $799, but they're only available at this price through August 10th.

I've actually been purchasing these bundles for years because they're such an incredible value. But this year is extra special because I'm one of the contributors!

When you purchase Volume 6, you'll also receive my homeschool planning workshop—the same planning process Iteach at my homeschool retreats, use in private coaching sessions, and rely on every year to plan my own homeschool. I truly hope it helps you create a peaceful, purposeful school year.

You'll find the link to the bundle in today's show notes. Don't wait--the bundle disappears after August 10th, and once it's gone, it's gone.
Love the podcast? Please leave a 5 star review!

Get the Homeschool Bundle Here: https://www.fortheloveofhomeschooling.com/?ref=loribeth
If you've ever felt like your kids are happier, calmer, and more engaged after spending time outside, you're not imagining it. There is something incredibly life-giving about learning inGod's creation. The beautiful part is that outdoor learning doesn't have to be a special event or an elaborate field trip. It can become a natural extension of your homeschool day.

Today's guest is Rachel Tidd, author of Wild Learning, Wild Math®, and Wild Reading™. Rachel is passionate about helping families and educators use the outdoors as aclassroom, showing us that subjects like reading and math don't have to stay at the kitchen table. Instead, nature can become one of our greatest teaching tools.

In this episode, Rachel shares practical, simple ways to weave outdoor learning into your everyday homeschool, along with the many benefits children experience when they're given theopportunity to explore, move, observe, and learn outside. Whether you're homeschooling preschoolers, elementary-aged children, or simply looking for fresh inspiration, I think you'll come away with ideas you can put into practice right away.

So grab your favorite drink, head outside if you can, andjoin me for this encouraging conversation with Rachel Tidd.
 
Please Visit Today's Sponsor:
 The For the Love of Homeschooling Back-to-School Mega Bundle, Volume 6 is officially here, and if you're looking for fresh inspiration for the school year ahead, you're going to love this.

For just $25, you'll get over 100 digital homeschoolresources covering everything from language arts and math to history, science, nature study, geography, art, planners, encouragement for moms, and so much more. Altogether,these resources are valued at more than $799, but they're only available at this price through August 10th.

I've actually been purchasing these bundles for years because they're such an incredible value. But this year is extra special because I'm one of the contributors!

When you purchase Volume 6, you'll also receive my homeschool planning workshop—the same planning process I teach at my homeschool retreats, use in private coaching sessions, and rely on every year to plan my own homeschool. I truly hope it helps you create a peaceful, purposeful school year.

You'll find the link to the bundle in today's show notes. Don't wait--the bundle disappears after August 10th, and onceit's gone, it's gone.
Full Show Notes at: www.elevatingmotherhood.com

WOW! 200!
From the bottom of my heart...thank you.
Thank you, friends, for showing up week after week and supporting the Elevating Motherhood Podcast for nearly six years. Whether you've been listening since Episode 1 or you just recently found this little corner of the internet, I want you to know how grateful I am that you're here.
This podcast has always been for you.
It's been an incredible privilege to have conversations with authors, educators, experts, and fellow moms who have encouraged us to become more intentional in our motherhood, homeschooling, parenting, and faith. Together, we've explored everything from raising confident children and creating meaningful family culture to finding joy, purpose, and peace in the everyday work of motherhood.
Reaching 200 episodes feels like more than a milestone, it feels like the beginning of a whole new chapter.
Over the next few months, I'm opening my heart in a way I never have before here on the show. This is Part 1 of a new series where I'll be sharing the years-long journey that led me to what I now call calm, confident motherhood. I'll be sharing the stories, mindset shifts, lessons, and convictions that transformed the way I approach motherhood and, ultimately, the way I experience it.
My hope is that these episodes don't simply encourage you, but that they help you see what's possible. That motherhood doesn't have to feel like something to survive. That peace isn't reserved for a select few. That confidence can be cultivated. And that, little by little, we can become the mothers we hope our children remember.
Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your motherhood journey. It is a responsibility I don't take lightly, and I pray these conversations continue to encourage and equip you for years to come.
If the Elevating Motherhood Podcast has encouraged you over the years, would you help me celebrate 200 episodes by leaving a rating and written review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify? Reviews help more moms discover the show, and they truly mean more than you know.
Thank you for listening, for sharing episodes with friends, for sending thoughtful messages, and for being part of this wonderful community.
Here's to the next chapter. I'm so glad you're here.