Influential Motherhood

Lindsay Northen finished her 7pm Wicked show, came home, paid the babysitter, and we were on the interview by 10:30 p.m. Lindsay's husband is also an actor, and their five year old daughter, Georgia, just finished kindergarten. Lindsay is in the ensemble in Wicked and is a Glinda understudy!

I couldn't wait to hear how in the world Lindsay and her husband, Jared Bradshaw, made everything work so seemingly smoothly. 

Lindsay insists it's just a "different kind of hard" compared to other working moms. She insisted it requires an "army of super-awesome babysitters" and sometimes tag-teaming sleep schedules with her husband. 

I was pretty curious, and probably a little nosy, but loved hearing about Lindsay's life in NYC, in Wicked, auditioning and landing TV opportunities, and more. Just a few of the questions I asked Lindsay:

• Is Georgia interested in acting?
• What support system do you have with other broadway moms?
• What happened to Glinda when Lindsay had to become Glinda in the middle of the show
• What is it like living in NYC with a young child
• Her favorite mom hack and Disney tips
• What she hopes is next for her career
• What it's like to be pregnant in a Broadway show

Check out Lindsay on Instagram at @lindsaynorthen and learn more about her at www.lindsaynorthen.com. And, of course, go see her on Broadway in NYC in Wicked!

In June 2018, three-year-old Levi Hughes drowned in the beach house pool while his family vacationed on their annual beach trip. Now, his mom Nicole is working through her grief to spread the word about drowning prevention, drowning statistics, and the story of Levi's life and his drowning.

As Nicole says, everything happened so fast. She gave Levi a half of a brownie and when she found him in the pool moments later, she still had the other half of the brownie in her mouth. After his death, Nicole created Levi's Legacy, a nonprofit to share information about drowning and to provide water guardian tags, which serve as tangible reminders of who is the responsible adult when you're near water with your child(ren).

Listen in to this episode as Nicole shares her story, so you can learn more and safe a life.

Check out the following drowning prevention resources:

• Levi's Legacy
• American Academy of Pediatrics' Drowning Toolkit
• Parents Preventing Childhood Drowning

For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out Influential Motherhood at www.melissaduncan.com/podcast, and follow Nicole online at @nicolehughes8.

Scarlet Hiltibidal wrote "Afraid of All the Things." But many years before - as a first-grader - Scarlet read "Madeline" and became overwhelmingly afraid that she was having appendicitis. 

When she wrote "Afraid of All the Things," Scarlet began to unpack her life experiences and realized the many ways fear almost overcame her completely - through many cross-country moves, meeting and becoming engaged to her husband, cancer, tornadoes, sinkholes, adoption, and one big thing Scarlet and I have in common: ectopic pregnancy.

When Scarlet met her husband, Brandon, and they started dating, Scarlet says she "traded [her] fear of not being good enough for fear of not being pretty enough" and she managed to get engaged and married without Brandon knowing she was anorexic-bulimic. Finally, though, Scarlet realized she was going to die one day when she was drinking a double shot of espresso so she wouldn't pass out. It became clear to her that God kept putting His word in her face (specifically Proverbs 28:13, Jeremiah 17). Scarlet says the day she confessed her anorexia-bulimia to her husband, was the day she was healed. 

Some other topics we chatted about:

• How the Lord speaks to her
• Her thoughts in what she thought were her dying moments during an ectopic pregnancy, and how that experience with the ectopic pregnancy changed her life and her faith
• Her fears around adoption, and how God put people in her life to get her past those fears
• Scarlet's current "ammunition" against fear

We also chatted about her daughter's "Jesus Cheese" and how her entire family learned sign language when they adopted Joy.

I'm thrilled that Scarlet is releasing another book in July 2019: "He Numbered the Pores on My Face", which is focused toward teenage girls and is all about finding your identity in Christ. 

Scarlet and her three daughters and husband Brandon are the reason the internet is still a happy place so go follow her over on Instagram at @scarlethiltibal and be sure to read her books!

For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out www.influentialmotherhood.com. 

Becca Stevens' first memory is of her dad being killed by a drunk driver. She later recalls childhood sexual abuse. When I asked Becca what she wanted to be as a young girl, her response is simple:

She wanted safety, a sanctuary, and grew up to offer that to people. "I became the things I longed for - it wasn't a 'job'," Becca says. "I became the things I longed for even when I was little and didn't have the words for it."

For Thistle Farms founder Becca Stevens, motherhood came first. She's been married for 30 years to a singer-songwriter. She knew she wanted to create a sanctuary for women survivors, but she also knew there was no time. 

But one day, as she buckled her 4 year old into his car seat, she realized she was going to take action on her dream of helping women survivors, and committed to doing whatever it took to meet the community need. 

In this episode, Becca and I discussed so many important topics for moms:

• How motherhood and the birth of each of her three children launched a new stage in her career
• The challenges she faced as a working mom running a residential center for women survivors and a church
• Identifying and embracing her "weaknesses" and finding volunteers or interns who can do that area of the business well
• The hardest stage in creating an organization (hint: lots of sweat equity and not a lot of glamour!)
• What she learned from saying 'no' to certain requests and opportunities.

Becca's down-to-earth attitude is something that will resonate with the busy moms listening to the show. You can learn more about the mission of Thistle Farms and Becca Stevens on Instagram. Be sure to check out their candles and soap products in your local Whole Foods store!

"If God wants me to adopt, He's going to have to drop a baby in my lap."

Amy Williams can laugh now, but she meant that statement several years ago when she was going through infertility and friends were suggesting adoption. 

Spoiler alert: God practically did drop a baby in her lap through adoption, and then surprised Amy with two pregnancies!

Now, Amy is a full-time working mom to three girls, wife to her husband Matt, and she's the founder of the Custom Made Kid Foundation, which began when Amy wrote a book (Custom Made Kid) to explain adoption to her oldest daughter. 

In this episode, Amy shared her fears and reasons for resistance to adoption, the incredible story of adopting her oldest daughter, and God's answers to prayers with the surprise pregnancies of her second and third daughters. Amy is now an advocate for adoption, and believes there are no mistakes - every part of a child's story is custom made.

Amy recognizes the needs of families who are seeking to grow their family through adoption, so the Custom Made Kid Foundation was created to provide financial support for families who hope to adopt. You can purchase the Custom Made Kid book, coloring book, t-shirts, or make a direct donation to the Custom Made Kid Foundation here. 

And, in some of the very best kind of exciting news, Amy has recently announced she'll be starting a podcast to help share stories of adoption. Stay tuned and follow Amy at @custommadekid on Instagram!

For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out www.influentialmotherhood.com. 

Follow me on Instagram at @influentialmotherhood!

It's EPISODE 20, friends! This is so hard to believe but I'm so incredibly thankful and excited. I heard a statistic when I started my show that most podcasts submitted to iTunes/Apple Podcasts don't make it longer than seven or eight episodes before they stop. For me, this journey has been one where I've listened closely to the Lord each step of the way, and I'll keep going until He says "stop." I pray there are moms who are learning and feeling inspired from the show. I want to normalize the chaos of being a working mom. 

Lots of folks were asking me to do a more personal type of "Q&A" episode, so here we are! When I asked for questions via submission on social media, I got a lot of responses, so I've selected some of the questions and answered them here in episode 20. (Follow me on social media at @influentialmotherhood on Instagram and Facebook!). 

Here are some of the questions I'm answering in this episode:

• "How do you do it all?"
• "What is your favorite mom hack?"
• "Do you miss being in private law practice or prefer being in education?"
• "Do you still ice skate?"
• "Any tips for buying a Peloton?"
• "How do you get your guests?"
• "How did I learn how to start a podcast?"

I'd love to hear your feedback about this episode, the show generally, or I'd be happy to take your questions for future Ask Me Anything episodes. 

Thanks, as always, for listening! For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out www.influentialmotherhood.com. 

In 2014, Sarah Baucom and her high school classmate, Carrie Barker, founded Girl Tribe Co. Both women were starting families, and their brand came before their product. They knew they wanted a brand that would empower women, but were not sure what their product would be. 

Fast forward 5 years, and Sarah now has two young daughters and a thriving business. Sarah and Carrie's business started with graphic t-shirts, and has become a retail shop and a traveling pop-up show featuring women-owned businesses. 

Sarah and I shared a lot of laughs as we talked about Girl Tribe's famous van (named Becky), the unique away message Sarah used during her last maternity (she totally channeled her inner royal princess), and the beginnings of the businesses. But we also talked about the pressures small businesses face in our current digital world, and the difficulties in transitioning from our "work energy" to our "mom energy" levels at home. 

When it comes to leaving a legacy, Sarah has a vision and a goal, and as a 30-something entrepreneur, there is no doubt she'll reach her goals. 

You're going to find Sarah to be a fun bundle of energy with clear focus and dedication to her work, her business partner, and, most importantly, her family. 

Check out Sarah on Instagram at @sarahbaucom and Girl Tribe on Instagram at @girltribeco and online at www.girltribeco.com. 

For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, check out www.influentialmotherhood.com, and follow Melissa Duncan online at @influentialmotherhood on Instagram and Facebook. 

It all started with a 15 day clean eating challenge. Zakkiya Miller wasn't a "clean eater" but she realized she enjoyed the challenge and loved the way she felt after a couple of weeks of clean eating. She made major lifestyle changes for herself and her family, and is now "vegan-ish" - trying to equip her family with healthy habits in their daily lifestyle, including mindfulness, clean beauty, and, of course - clean eating.

In this episode, I asked Zakkiya the questions we wonder about "clean eating" that we're too embarrassed to ask. How does one get enough protein without eating meat? How can we introduce healthy foods to picky eaters in our house? Why is a healthy, clean lifestyle especially important for women of color? How can busy moms implement mindfulness in their daily lives?

Zakkiya has taught herself and her family how to embrace a clean, healthy lifestyle, and you're going to love her practical tips for changing the habits in your own home! Follow Zakkiya online at @zakkiya.miller on Instagram or at www.zakkiyamiller.com.

For more inspiring stories, check out https://www.melissaduncan.com/podcast. Follow the Melissa and the podcast on Instagram at www.instagram.com/influentialmotherhood. 

It all started with a 15 day clean eating challenge. Zakkiya Miller wasn't a "clean eater" but she realized she enjoyed the challenge and loved the way she felt after a couple of weeks of clean eating. She made major lifestyle changes for herself and her family, and is now "vegan-ish" - trying to equip her family with healthy habits in their daily lifestyle, including mindfulness, clean beauty, and, of course - clean eating.

In this episode, I asked Zakkiya the questions we wonder about "clean eating" that we're too embarrassed to ask. How does one get enough protein without eating meat? How can we introduce healthy foods to picky eaters in our house? Why is a healthy, clean lifestyle especially important for women of color? How can busy moms implement mindfulness in their daily lives?

Zakkiya has taught herself and her family how to embrace a clean, healthy lifestyle, and you're going to love her practical tips for changing the habits in your own home! Follow Zakkiya online at @zakkiya.miller on Instagram or at www.zakkiyamiller.com.

For more inspiring stories, check out https://www.melissaduncan.com/podcast. Follow the Melissa and the podcast on Instagram at www.instagram.com/influentialmotherhood. 

This week on the Influential Motherhood podcast, I'm chatting with Joey Schewee, an Enneagram expert and teacher, and daughter of the Enneagram "master teacher" Suzanne Stabile, host of The Enneagram Journey Podcast! If you don't know anything about the Enneagram, it is an ancient personality typing test and a tremendous asset at home, at work, and in everyday life as you make decisions, approach problems, and navigate both happy and challenging times with others. Joey says it is really gaining traction in recent years because it focuses on your motivations instead of only your behavior.

To learn more about your number, Joey suggests you read her mom's book with Ian Morgan Crohn, The Road Back to You, and visit Life in the Trinity Ministry to learn more about how to find your Enneagram number. 

In addition to teaching the Enneagram with her husband Billy, Joey is a full-time working mom - she serves as Vice President of Admissions, Financial Aid, and Alumni at John Paul II High School in Plano, Texas. Joey is the mom of two boys, and says she is an eight on the Enneagram, while her husband Billy is a nine on the Enneagram. 

In this episode, Joey gives us lots of practical tools about how and when to help your child determine their enneagram number, how parenting styles are affected by the Enneagram, and challenges some combinations of parent numbers and child numbers might face - and how to work through those challenges. 

If you're local to the Dallas, Texas area, Joey will be teaching a live session on the Enneagram and Parenting this fall, so visit Life in the Trinity Ministry to grab your spot! To learn more about other upcoming sessions and how the enneagram impacts our daily lives, follow Life in the Trinity Ministry on Instagram. 

For more inspiring stories of moms making a difference, visit https://www.melissaduncan.com/