One of the hardest moments I (Joanna) can remember as a mom is when our six-year-old daughter refused, to the point of tears, to wear her blue pants with a butterfly on the pocket. Thinking she was just being stubborn, I refused to back down—and it wasn’t until two hours later that I finally gave up on trying to convince her.

Well, a few months later, I learned that our daughter has a significant sensory processing disorder. Those pants that I was so determined for her to wear were actually causing her very real physical pain. In my determination to prove my authority, I was not just hurting my daughter’s spirit, but her body as well.

This is just one of countless examples I could give of how we can parent with the best intentions but still make mistakes. When this happens, shame can wash over us, polarizing our relationships and overwhelming us with despair. If you are struggling with guilt and shame today, I am so happy to be able to introduce you to this episode’s guest, Jodi Jackson Tucker.

Jodi is a biological, foster, and adoptive mother to eight children with her husband, Jerry. She is a sought-after speaker, ministry leader, and the author of Healing for Every Heart in Adoption. Jodi knows what it’s like to battle and overcome feelings of guilt or thoughts that she is simply not enough.

In this episode, Jodi shares:

• How false beliefs can shake our confidence
• The role of prayer in our parenting
• A mom’s truest job description
• And much more!

Mom guilt is something every woman will experience at some point in her parenting journey. I hope Jodi’s insights will encourage and help you navigate those feelings. Enjoy!

Show Notes: growinghometogether.com/jodi-jackson-tucker-111

Do you have a dog who panics on a trip to the vet or groomer? It can be quite an ordeal! It’s something we experienced recently with our Bernedoodle, Jovy, on grooming day. While the perceived threat wasn’t real, her reaction to it could have put her (and Joanna!) in real danger.

We can sometimes react just like Jovy as we interact with our spouse. Something that seems simple on the surface can trigger instant feelings of stress and anxiety. Our bodies go into overdrive. And in our fight to feel secure with our spouse, we only push them further away.

These painful patterns can occur in any relationship—not just marriages—and when they do, we can end up on a trajectory that causes even more pain and frustration. That’s why we are so grateful to have Ron and Nan Deal joining us for a conversation about how emotional reactions can hurt instead of help our relationships.

Ron is a bestselling author, licensed marriage & family therapist, podcaster, and popular conference speaker who conducts marriage and family seminars and professional trainings. Nan has a degree in Early Childhood Education and taught in schools for over 25 years. She is a leader with a local Re-Generation ministry and, together with Ron, leads a support group for parents who have lost a child.

Together, Ron and Nan are co-authors of The Mindful Marriage: Create Your Best Relationship Through Understanding and Managing Yourself.

In this episode, Ron and Nan share:

• The four reactive coping styles
• Practical steps to uncover your painful patterns
• The role regulation plays in the equation
• And much more!

This is such a rich conversation about how we can resolve the patterns of the past and find healing in our relationships. Enjoy!

Show Notes: growinghometogether.com/ron-nan-deal-110

On this podcast, we usually sit down with guests to talk about marriage and family life. But in this episode, we wanted to get personal and share a piece of our own story—specifically, how depression has impacted our marriage.

We have been married for over 30 years and have five children together, but what we didn’t know until the birth of our third child is that one in seven women experience postpartum depression (PPD) after birth. Postpartum depression can wear many different faces, such as sadness, anxiety, panic attacks, anger, and intrusive thoughts.

What neither of us could predict at that time is that the birth of our baby would move us to one of the hardest valleys we’ve faced as a couple. Today, we’re sharing what we learned as we adjusted to life with a growing family—while also navigating the effects of this mental health struggle.

In this conversation, we share:

• How stress and depression can impact marriage
• What postpartum depression looked like in our story
• The importance of leaning on one another
• And more!

If you and your spouse are going through a hard season or a mental health issue is taking its toll, we hope this conversation will bring some hope and encouragement your way.

Show Notes: https://growinghometogether.com/depression-109/