Just when you think you’re getting a handle on motherhood, your child moves into a new season of life and you’ve got to relearn everything! Today we're talking about high schoolers on the verge of adulthood. Karen shares her thoughts on how to let go without giving up, how to guide without pushing and how to handle college students when they come back home.

Ahhhhh adolescence. Everyone’s favorite time of life. Today’s episode is about that transition from almost teen to full blown teenager. From pushing boundaries to pulling away emotionally, Karen offers wisdom for how to help your child when they still have one foot in both worlds.

Find the shownotes at: birdsonawiremoms.com/podcast/episode314

Today’s episode is about that season when your toddler is growing more independent. From using the bathroom, to getting dressed, this is the "I do it myself!" phase of life. You’d think that means life gets easier for a mom, but each new season comes with its own difficulties. Listen in as Karen offers advice for keeping little escape artists safe, moving toddlers to a "big kid" bed and letting go of control so your little one can learn. 

If you had a difficult relationship with your mom as a teenager, you may be shocked to find that the relationship gets even more complicated when you become a mom.

On today’s episode, we are answering questions about boundaries, passive-aggressive behavior, expectations and we even have a question that a teen emailed us… a first for Wire Talk! 

We are wrapping up our time in the book of James today by reading and talking through chapter 5.

I pray that this month has made you more confident and comfortable in sitting down with your own Bible to study the Word.

James 5:16 NLT "...The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results."

We are continuing our journey through the book of James this week. Today Karen is reading and teaching through chapters 3 and 4- focusing on the power of the tongue and seeking God's wisdom. 

We're back in the book of James this week!

Join us as Karen reads and teaches through the second chapter of this highly practical book and shares truths that apply to our world today. 

At times we all need someone to tell us how to think about things differently, and that’s something Karen does really well. On today's show, we’ve gathered questions from moms who are burnt out, disheartened, or just plain TIRED! With loads of encouragement and a little tough love, Karen help us all adjust their attitudes in this conversation.

All month long, we've been sharing conversations about the 'battles we don’t always see.'

We’ve talked about raising a special needs child, anxiety, struggling with a chaotic marriage, and today we are going to hear from NFL hall of famer, Bryant Young, and his incredible wife Kristin, as they share their testimony of walking with the Lord through cancer, grief, and loss.

From the prayer they prayed when they received the news of their son's diagnosis, to the way they walked this road with 5 other children at home, hearing their story will grow your faith.

Their testimony is one that epitomizes Romans 5:3-4, "...we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." 

Today you’re going to hear from dear friend and long time BOAW mom, Jenny Boyett, as she joins Karen to share what it has been like to walk through a marriage that did not turn out the way she dreamed. Unless you have a friend walking through this season of life, or you are going through a situation like this yourself, you may never otherwise know what it’s like to be faced with this scenario. All month long, we are sharing these stories so we can grow in empathy and compassion alongside our fellow BOAW moms. 

We've talked about the anxiety epidemic our kids are facing these days, but there are a ton of moms battling chronic anxiety as well. Today, Dr. Chinwé Williams joins Karen to give us practical ways to combat anxiety and shares how to know when we need extra help.

Cady Dugger joins us in the studio to talk about raising her daughter, Christine, who was born with a rare chromosomal disorder. All month long we want to pull back the curtain on the battles moms in our community are facing, battles that many of us know little to nothing about. Our hope is that today’s conversation will inspire empathy and grow your compassion for the moms in your world who are facing unseen battles of their own.

Dr. Sharon Marcanthony joins Karen and Sunny today to talk about the changing hormones women experience throughout our lives. We’re asking Sharon your questions about menopause, sexual health, postpartum depression, and managing PMS. Sharon reminds us of the importance of having a comfortable relationship with our health care providers as well as how critical community is in helping us navigate the changing seasons of our lives (i.e. don’t menopause alone!)

A lot of moms put their needs on the sideline when their children are young- but when those children get older, a mom can’t even recognize what her needs are anymore. Self care is the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one's own health, and it’s something we need to make time for as moms.

It’s natural that our kids try to “trump” their dad and become the priority in a mom’s world, but your husband came first! And like Karen always says, you want him to be there after the kids leave home! Join the conversation today as we tackle your questions about keeping your spouse #1.

Find links to all the resources Karen shared in this episode at: birdsonawiremoms.com/podcast/episode300

All month long we are talking about getting our priorities straight. Many of us try to do this going into the new year, but come February, we’ve already given up on many of the changes we said we wanted to make. So, think of this whole month like a priorities pep talk! 

We’re going to cover marriage, self-care, and even hormonal health with a guest later this month, but today we are kicking things off talking about friendship.

Parenting a teen in today’s world is not for the faint of heart! Join us today as we answer your questions about raising teenagers and dealing with tough topics like pornography, low self-esteem, smartphones, and social media. Moms of littles, please listen! Looking down the road a few years can help you make choices today that will make your tomorrow easier.

Find show notes at: birdsonawiremoms.com/podcast/episode298

One of our primary roles in our child's life is to point them toward God, but their relationship with God is just that, it's their relationship. Your child is not an extension of you, and for better or worse, you are not in control! In this conversation we talk about the importance of being a prayer warrior for your child and how to approach them in a winning way. 

Consistency is Karen’s key word for discipline and on today’s episode we are talking about what that looks like in the life of a teenager. From how to pick your battles and knowing which topics aren’t worth the fight, today’s episode gives practical tips and encouragement to stay the course and be consistent during the teenage years.

We’re baaaaack! And we’re kicking off the New Year with a month of episodes focused on teenagers. Whether you’re the mom of multiple teens or you’re still in toddler world, you’ll benefit from tuning into today’s practical wisdom for dealing with drama.

Grab a copy of Karen's 365 day devotional for moms HERE.