Gems of Motherhood

Every child learns differently. While some children strengths are reading or writing, others learn more effectively through hands-on activities. There are three primary defined learning styles: visual, auditory and kinesthetic. This week’s podcast, my guest Melinda Ledman will talk about identifying your children’s learning style. 

Melinda is a full-time homeschool mom and she shares about the importance of learning your child’s learning styles. The purpose of figuring out your child’s learning style is to make sure you teach them in the way they love to learn. Melinda’s concept of learning your child’s learning preference is similar to Gary Chapman’s The Five Love Languages. Learning what motivates your child’s learning reaps huge benefits. 

“Take time and experiment what they like whether it be visual, audio or kinesthetic.”

For a visual learner, you’ll want things with more pictures, graphs, or bold colors. Auditory kids can do really well in a lecture setting. And if they are musically inclined, they can even compose their own songs to remember the facts. For your kinesthetic learning, these children like movements. Melinda shared how her daughter was memorizing facts while jumping up and down a trampoline which really helped with her learning style. 

“It takes them more concentration to sit still and they can’t learn because they are so focus on sitting still. If you really do want your kinesthetic learner to be sitting, then do it for a short period of time.”

My guest Pastor Michelle Soto continues in Part 2 of “Mothers Arise.” Pastor Michelle shares how her ministry was birthed through prayer. Whatever your situation is, nothing is too small or too big for God. 

“Don’t ever think that your prayers are not heard by God. Your prayers are mercies stored up.” 

Michelle also shares practical ways to teach our children to pray diligently and expediently. Seeing children experience the AHA moments when they realize their prayers have been answered! Those moments is when, as mothers, we must press in with our children to make them realize what God can do and does for them. 

Standard Christian parenting isn’t getting the job done. This is a call to all Christian mothers, we need RISE UP. Today my guest Pastor Michelle Soto will be speaking in Part 1 of 2 series entitled “Mothers Arise.”

Michelle shares about the role of mothers and she uses Deborah from the Bible as an example of a Godly mother. Searching deeper into Deborah’s attributes brings Michelle to realize biblical nuggets which are more necessary now given the pandemic. The pandemic threw everyone for a loop causing despair and hopelessness. It was during this time the Pastor Michelle sought God in her time of prayer, and He brought her to Jeremiah 31:15-16. 

Michelle shares how she sensed God lovingly telling her about the importance of training up children to be prayer warriors. She immediately decided to model prayer to her grandchildren in everyday things and purposed in heart to take up the holy war God was calling her to, and by extension us.

“We show them the power of prayer. We show them that nothing is too mundane and too small that God is not involve in it.”

A healthy identity comes from understanding how truth gives us insight into ourselves. Truth told, our deepest yearning is to understand where we came from, and what is our purpose in this World. Our significance comes from the Creator. In this week’s podcast, my guest Quina Aragon will talk about Helping Kids Recognize their Identity in Christ. 

There are so many ways we can help our kids with their identity in Christ. Quina talks about how we should go about pointing out sin in our children without making them feel condemned. If we use the biblical principles to instruct and coach our children in truth, we will see them react better to our discipline since it is focused on getting to their hearts.

“If we’re not treating our children with love and compassion, then I think talking about sin and the fact that they are sinners, becomes somewhat hypocritical and something that can be even more damaging to them.”

Quina shares about her two books Love Made and Love Gave, what drove her to write them and how she’s learned about God’s love through writing them. We’ll be giving away her book Love Gave. Tune in to IG @gemsofmotherhood to see how you can win her book. 

The Bible is the most important book ever written in history. And what could be more important than teaching kids to read the Bible? Teaching kids the Bible is the single most important experience in guaranteeing your kids are successful. Today my guest Erin Davis will be talking about helping children fall in love with the Bible. 

Erin shares that to create a passion in your kids for the Bible, moms have to incorporate it as part of our everyday life and model it. As moms, we need to first let biblical precepts work in and through us so that our kids can see the impact of the Bible on our lives. The deeper our commitment to reading the Bible, the more our relationship with the Lord will grow. Growing in Christ is incredibly important for kids to observe and mimic. 

“If your children see you daily with your Bible, that is a teaching opportunity. I try to be intentional to have my Bible on me rather than using the Bible on the phone.”

Jesus used stories when he taught the most important truths in the Bible. He used this approach to help people understand what He was telling them. There are unforgettable moments when God used this approach, like the lady at the well, the feeding of the 5,000 and Zacchaeus. These stories are timeless. Erin shares practical examples of how she discusses the Bible with her kids to get them to understand what it says and to fall in love with the Bible for themselves. 

“Just sheltering my children is not going to work. The world’s volume is getting too loud. So I don’t mind bombarding them with scriptures.”

Disability is a subject which is confounding and difficult to reconcile. If you live with a disability you often think why did God allow this in my life. If you have children with disabilities, it can be even more gut-wrenching trying to safeguard your child and at the same time trying to make sense of it all. Each circumstance comes with its distinct challenge, and neither is easier than the other, yet no matter what the situation is there are things you can do to lighten the load you might be carrying. Today’s guests Mary and Krista Horning will be talking about God’s Good Design in Suffering.

Mary shared her story about Krista’s life and her struggle with her disability. Three days after birth, Mary and her husband found out that Krista was born with a rare genetic disorder called Apert Syndrome. The defect is mostly in the skull, hands and feet, yet it was difficult to deal with all the ups and downs of caring for a child with a disability.

As a young child, Krista always knew she had a disability, and as she was getting older, she realized that she was different. Krista commented, “I didn’t really have any friends in school. I wondered why God made me this way. Why did I have to be different.” 

Distraught and confused, Mary shares she cried out to God for wisdom and He, as He does, sent help from Heaven. Mary realized that as God was stretching Krista, He was creating a new spirit in her too. She embraced the challenges presented by Krista’s disability learning to talk to Krista about her disability in order to loving walk her through her life.

“God was entering our hearts and He was feeding us.”

There are great spiritual lessons from God’s Word about the concept of a lasting legacy. For many of us, we know that if we don't intentionally pass along our beliefs and values to our children, it will be filled by our culture’s beliefs and values instead. Today we’re going to be talking with mother-daughter duo, Teresa Conlon and Kate Hughes about Family Legacies.

They both share examples of traditions and legacy inherited from their own parents which have made tremendous differences in how they have raised their own children. 

“I actually inherited a legacy of prayer and I saw the power of it,” said Teresa

Teresa shares about the legacy of prayer in her family and how God challenged her when she had Kate. She recalls how easily Kate made friends, but how she was concern about her choice in friends. Teresa’s anxiety about Kate’s friends led God to convict her about judging those friends challenging her to instead pray for them. Kate also opens up about her own concerns for her children, but how God has constantly reminded her of His goodness and His faithfulness towards her and her family. 

“It’s also healthy to remember that your children are in the hands of God and that He has them. When you’re able to fully surrender your children to the Lord, its huge. You can then parent from hope and love instead of fear,” said Kate

Both Teresa and Kate share about aspects of their emotional, social and spiritual legacies and how the Lord has used key building blocks in those areas to create a more wholesome person, mother and friend to their children. 

What we chat about

Legacy of prayer

Emotional legacy

Social legacy

Spiritual legacy

When people become parents planning for the future becomes a priority and requires a greater level of accountability, responsibility and wisdom. Today we’re going to be talking with mother-daughter Chrystal Evans Hurst and Kariss Farris about Leaving a Legacy that will Outlast You. 

Coming from a family with an incredible legacy, they both share examples of traditions and legacy inherited from their own parents and grandparents which have made tremendous differences in how they have raised their own children. Chrystal shares her personal experience concerning her modeling the character of excellence and how she sees the fruit in her children. She confesses that what she saw modeled for her helped her daughter Kariss in her adult life because she was equipped with tools for life. In turn, Kariss noted, “My mom and my grandmother and great grandmother did a really good job of not only telling me what to do but also grabbing my hands and showing me what to do. It has helped me to navigate my own life.”

Chrystal also encourages us — moms — that when we work with our children we have to have a holy conviction. As she put it, this simply means that when we feel convicted about something which our children need, we pray and act on what it is that GOD places on our hearts to do for them. We might not get it right immediately or all the time, but if we do the best we can allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and convict we’ll be more than conquerors. Why? Because God loves our children more than we can love them. 

“I just have to do my job and realize that we’re all fallen. I’m not going to get it all right and know that God is going to catch whatever that I missed,” said Chrystal 

Chrystal and Kariss both share that who they are today is attributable to the legacy of their late mother and grandmother, Lois Evans. Her fingerprints are everywhere and her footprints are what mark the path for their own lives. 

Kids are very different, the world and culture are extremely different and normal Christian parenting isn’t getting the job done. As Christians parents, we need to start thinking outside the box about our parental role. My guest Denise Mira discusses Revolutionary Parenting and what it means. 

To be revolutionary means to take drastic and far reaching steps to effectuate change. If we look at what’s happening all around us, its high time for a revolution. We need to have a revolution in Jesus, the hope of glory. And we need to bring that revolution into our homes. 

“From day one, we need to nurture our children in the word of God. Christianity is discipleship under the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Denise shares the story of Jochebed, her life as a mom and how she navigated challenging times. Jochebed was the ultimate example of sacrifice. She refused to be a victim and was determined to trust God. However, she had a baby at the worst possible time. Yet, she knew her son, Moses was special and this helped her overcome her natural fears knowing that God would see her son’s journey would be completed.

“Fear is one of the biggest monster of motherhood,” and Jochebed was strong and powerful. 

What we chat about 

Strength of Jochebed

Revolution and revelation

Helping our children in this day and age

Helping our children with the pressures of society

Kids seem to be in constant transition so much these days. And parents are just trying their best to keep up. Sometimes it’s really difficult to tell how a child is doing, especially if we’re not being extra aware of what is happening in their lives. My guest Michelle Nietert talks to us today about the warning signs to look for to ensure our kids are okay. 

“Talk to your children about small things and ask them good questions.”

Michelle recalled when she asked her daughter, during a revealing conversation, “When was the last time you cried,” and her daughter’s response was “everyday for the past two weeks.” You don’t always know what goes on in a kid’s mind and heart especially if they think you’re going to worry about them.

“I am seeing kids with anxiety problem who cope with it by being distracted.”

We have to be careful, look at our kids and what they are doing. We’re not only looking at whether they are happy, but also trying to observe them when they’re unhappy. Good mental health looks like a peaceful state even when a kid is going through tough times. 

“Some of the other symptoms of warning signs is to ask if they are sleeping. When kids can’t fall asleep there’s potentially some mental health issues going on with some worry and anxiety”

What we chat about

Good questions to ask our children

Warning signs of anxiety

Physical and emotional symptom to look for 

Potential stressors