Today I am Enough: Recent Episodes
Kara Murri
The wise hearted women in the Exodus teach us an incredibly important message. We talk about Exodus 35 this week on the podcast today. The wise hearted are asked to come and contribute to the building up of the tabernacle. This means everyone that has a talent or skill.
Sister Bonnie Oscarson said, "Each member should know how much he or she is needed. Each person has something important to contribute and has unique talents and abilities that help move this important work along." (Young Women in the Work April 2018)
What talents or gifts do you have that help you contribute to the work of the Lord? What can you bring to the "tabernacle" to help move the work of Gathering Israel? We all have gifts that are given to us, put into us, that help us to participate in His work!
Make sure to check out all the Seeking Jesus podcast episodes here.
The Lord will always provide a way for us. That is what we learn from Tamar. If you're not looking, or you don't fully understand, you'll miss Him in her story though. The Lord slew Er, Tamar's husband, because he was wicked. However, in this time and place, if your husband died, and you had no children, it became the responsibility of the brother to father a child in place of his brother. The child was still considered to be his brothers child though.
Judah, Er's father was not helping in making sure that Tamar was given an opportunity to have a child for Er. We are diving into his story, and what happens and how the Lord helped Tamar on this journey.
The incredible thing is that the Lord provided a way. He always will. This is a huge lesson we learn from Tamar. The Lord will provide a way, even if other people are effecting out choices and the path we are on - the Lord can help provide a way.
The incredible thing is that Tamar bore twins - and from one of those lines came about Jesus Christ.
Learn more about Rachel and Leah's story here.
Read the scriptures here.
Finding peace in our hard situations can be a challenge. When we do our best, and seek Jesus, we can find that peace even if we are unsure how things are going to turn out.
Leah, Rachel and Jacob had no idea how things were going to be turning out in their lives. With a marriage that ended with a swapping of brides, serving 14 years instead of 7, children that came quickly at the beginning for one wife, and not at all for another. Life just doesn't turn out the way we think it will.
We are going to talk about the ups and down of these two women. We are also going to dive into the meaning of the names of all these boys that are born and what significance the names pay in what is happening with these women. We also learn a lot about their character and love of God through their trials.
However, in the midst of these trials we learn form Rachel and Leah that God has not forgotten us. He is there in all of our situations. He loves us. God will be beside you, walking and crying and comforting you every step of the way.
If you are ready to be LIFTED closer to Christ - make sure to grab your tickets today!
Last weeks podcast: Rebekah
Find more about Come Follow Me
"I will go" - those are the words of Rebekah when Abraham's servant said they needed to leave right away and that they couldn't wait the 10 days that her family was requesting. Luckily, they were willing to ask her opinion and be okay letting that happen.
Rebekah was king and willing to serve Abraham's servant even when she didn't have to. Maybe it was just part of who she was to serve travelers she met at the well. Maybe that day, a though came to help this traveler in particular - and she did. She said the exact words in the exact order that he had barely finished praying for a women to say in order to know who should be Isaac's wife.
They left, and Rebekah and Isaac loved each other - they had a good life. Rebekah struggled to get pregnant, but eventually did. She had twins - but there was a lot going on when she was pregnant with these babies and she sought the help of the Lord. He told her that the "elder shall serve the younger."
This would come to pass many years later when the birthright was given to Jacob instead of Esau. Isaac thought he was giving the birthright to Esau, but it was Jacob - under the direction of Rebekah. However, instead of taking that blessing away, Isaac let Jacob keep those blessings and gave another to Esau.
Rebekah loved her son - and was worried for him when she found out that Esau was going to kill Jacob. She send Jacob to her brothers home to find a wife, and we don't actually know if she ever saw him again.
She loved the Lord. Rebekah wanted to follow through with personal revelation, she wanted to serve, she was willing to go when asked, she wanted to do what she felt was right and she was blessed for doing that.
Julie B. Beck's talk referenced in the podcast
Listen to the last episode about Lot's Wife here
Sometimes in the thick of life it's hard to accept that the hard can be God's plan, and that it's better than our own plan. Far too often we think our plan is the way to go, and the best path. It makes sense to our limited mortal selves and why can't God just see that that is how it should be?
Lot's wife has a lot going on when we meet her in this part of her story. Three holy men have just come and warn them that they need to leave because the city is going to be destroyed. They have three daughters who are married. Lot talks to their husbands, they do not take him seriously.
In the morning the holy men take Lot, his wife and their 2 daughters out of the house quickly. Lot's wife turns back - after being told not to - and is turned into a pillar of salt. Why did she turn back? We often are told it's because her heart wasn't in the right place and she longed to be there.
Let's take a different approach. In the book Women in the Old Testament, we are given a new point of view. What if Lot's wife turns around out of grief or sorrow? She has just left behind 3 daughters, 3 sons-in-law and potentially grandchildren. What if she turns to make sure they aren't coming, or to see what's happened to them, or maybe she longs to be with her children?
God's plan does not always match ours. Heartbreak, trials, and sickness all come our way even when we follow His plan. His plan is greater though. Do you have faith to move forward without looking back to what He has in store for you?
Catch up on last weeks podcast about Sarah + Hagar
Sarah wanted the blessings of becoming a mother so desperately. She was a righteous woman with a righteous desire. So why wasn't she being blessed in the ways she was pleading for? I'm sure this situation was beyond difficult and incredibly frustrating. I think many of us can put ourselves in Sarah's shoes without any problem.
In God's time, Sarah was given the blessings she'd been pleading for - and far more than she could ever imagine. Sometimes we have to wait longer than we think is possible for blessings. Sometimes we have to wait until the next life. Blessings come when we ask sometimes too.
It's in the waiting that we become closer to our Father though. It's in the waiting that our faith is tested, and sometimes sees to fail us. When we are in the waiting though, we can become closer to Him too. It is in the waiting that we become more than we ever imagined we could. The growth in our lives happens in the waiting periods.
Hagar + Ishmael
We can learn so much from Hagar as well. Hagar was asked to leave when Ishmael was around 17/18 years old. They left and lived in the wilderness. Abraham had given them water and food, but it soon ran out. Hagar we sure they were going to die. Ishmael prayed and his prayer was answered. Hagar turned around a well was behind her. God didn't remove them from the wilderness, but He provided a well for them to be renewed.
He does the same for us. The trials are not always removed, but He gives us strength in them in ways we can see - like a well, and sometimes He gives us strength in ways we can not see until after it has passed.
There is so much to learn from Sarah and Hagar this week! Make sure you didn't miss the last episode! Episode 55 is all about Noah's wife!
Navigating the trials and the hardships in your life with the waters that seem to never recede can be so difficult, especially when it seems they will end. Heavenly Father will bless you for your efforts. He will bring dry land back into your life again. He loves you and is grateful you're willing to trust in Him and what He's asking you to do. You have all the reason to look up and have joy. He is in the flood and the art parts of your life. The waters will recede, we will be able to get off the ark and we will be able to find the rainbow that He has given us.
In today's episode we look at how Noah and his wife were navigating building, loading, getting on and staying on the ark for over a year. It was a long hard journey. However, so are the trials in your life. He will be with you. It may seem like He isn't and the journey may seem to take WAY longer than anticipated, but He is there, and will help you until the waters recede and the rainbow appears.
Check out last weeks lesson on Enoch.
God weeps with you. What's what we learn from Enoch this week. He is there, and he weeps for wickedness, and sorrow.
This week in Moses 7, we learn about the rest of Enoch's life. Last week in the podcast about Moses 6, we talked about the word becoming, and how Enoch was taking the leap of faith in the Lord to become His disciple. Enoch walked with God, learns from God and was brought up to the Mount Simeon to learn. He is transfigured and see the world and what is coming. He hears the earth and how tired she is. She weeps for her. As they see the wickedness in the world God weeps.
Why does he weep?
God is so sad for those who have heard his word and turned away. He weeps for those who do not listen to Enoch's message and continue in their wicked ways. He loves. That's actually why He weeps! Jesus taught us about weeping when he wept with Mary and Martha after their brother died. Before the miracle we know today - that they didn't know was coming - He took time to weep with them. He cried with these sisters in their loss. Jesus loved so deeply. He mourned with those that mourn. This is the same thing that's happening. God mourns because of loss. He's love some of his precious children.
The process of becoming more like Jesus Christ isn't the process of becoming perfect - it's just the process of becoming.
We are going to learn about Enoch today. Enoch was called by God, and he did not feel like he was the right person. However, God reassured him that he was the right person, and that He'd be standing by his side the entire time.
Enoch is called the teach a people about the teachings from the Book of Remembrance. He teaches of repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, having the Priesthood of God, being a child of God, and becoming like Christ. The becoming is everything listed there. It is learning to repent, and keep our covenants. Living our lives so that the Holy Ghost can direct our paths. Understanding our priesthood power and authority, and using it! It is allowing our will to be His will. To walk the hard path and trust that He will be by our side - just as He was by Enoch's side.
Learning to trust the Lord is also part of our becoming like Him. It is part of our purpose here on Earth. Proverbs 3:5-6 says:
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
When we can trust Him, we lean on Him. In turn He will direct our paths. We have to assume that He will direct them in a way that will be in the best interest of our lives. Sometimes this means taking a huge leap of blind faith. It's scary, and hard. It can be incredible at the same time though. Heavenly Father loves you. He is cheering you on. He is helping you become like Jesus Christ every day!
This weeks reading: Genesis 5 | Moses 6
Did you listen to my Interview with Melinda Brown about Eve? It's incredible! Listen here.
Are you ready to start understanding Eve a little bit more? Melinda Brown has studied Eve for a long time, and has so much amazing insight to share with us today. We are going to learn new things, new perspective and learn to not only understand Eve a little bit more, but love her a little bit more. Eve is incredible and she was so brave! You can learn more about Eve through reading Melinda's incredible book, Eve & Adam: Discovering the Beautiful Balance.
About Melinda Brown:
Melinda Wheelwright Brown is the author of Eve & Adam: Discovering the Beautiful Balance, which was published by Deseret Book in March 2020, just as the world was going into COVID lockdown. That book grew out of her passion for solving problems, particularly those faced by women. Prior to its release, she spent three years studying, researching, and praying about Eve, the Fall, the need for mortal experiences, and how our Heavenly Parents feel about their daughters and sons. She says she didn't set out to write a book, but all that work mysteriously grew into one.
When she's not at her desk, she's often supporting great organizations working to lift and support women, such as Fight the New Drug, Days for Girls, and the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, whose board she currently serves on. She earned a bachelor's degree in economics from BYU. Mindy and her husband, Doug, are the parents of four children and have three darling grandsons. Her very happiest day would be spent with all of them, exploring their favorite South Carolina beach together, searching for sand dollars.
Follow Melinda on Instagram
Seeking Jesus Series
Eve and Adam by Melinda Brown
Genesis 3-4 + Moses 4-5
This week we are getting into the Creation. We get into a few of the differences between the accounts of the creation, and our limited ability to understand time and how it actually works. One of the most important things we learn this week is that even our unfinished creations are good! God called each day and each step of His creation “good”. Once it was finished, he called the entirety of it “very good”. Noticing the good we are doing will help us see all that we are actually creating in a positive way and see that each step is necessary to help it become “very good”.
Learn more about Heavenly Parents here and Mother in Haven here.
Genesis 1-2+Moses 2-3 + Abraham 4-5
Happiness, Your Heritage
Old Testament Study Guide
Women of the Old Testament
Welcome to my new series! I’m so excite to be starting a scripture series in 2022. I have felt for several months that I need to create a podcast that helps women know they are loved by God and Jesus Christ. When we can learn and accept our divine identity for what it is, we can accept ourselves more fully.
Moses teaches us this week our divine identity! It’s a beautiful way to start our reading in the Old Testament. We learn that we are all children of GOD! Isn’t that incredible?? We learn that we can seek His help and we can receive it. Abraham teaches us that we all have a purpose on this Earth! We are not just here for naught. You are a child of God and you are here for a purpose! Know your true identity and purpose starting today!
Moses 1 + Abraham 3
More information about the Pearl of Great Price.
Additional information on the Book of Abraham.
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God loves you. He loves you! He loves you just the way you are. There is nothing you can do to change that love. It’s always there, and always will be. I felt that today you needed to that reminder. We all do sometimes. Reach out to Him. Ask God how He feels about you. When you begin to feel that love, share it with others. Help those around you to feel the love He has for them! It’ll change your life. It’ll change their life. God loves you so very much.
Podcast Transcript Hi, I’m Kara. Welcome to the today. I am in a podcast where together we learn how to brace imperfection and the messes that life leaves behind and overcome our shortcomings together. We will begin to not only see, but to feel who we truly are and who God created us to be. Let’s talk. Hello friends.
Welcome to today’s episode. I am so excited to have you here today. And we are just doing a 10 minute takeaway episode to the, and I, I just want to share some thoughts that have been on my mind this morning. I just want you to know that you are loved, you are not forgotten. We all have things, we all have hard things that we go through and things that we don’t talk to other people about.
We all have things that maybe we talk to a few people about that aren’t common knowledge. And often we just go about our day and our lives. Like we’re doing fantastic and we’re not always doing fantastic. And sometimes we’re doing fantastic, but we still struggle to feel that love for ourself or to feel that love from God.
You Are Loved. You are Not Forgotten And today I want you to know. That you are loved, you are not forgotten and you are important. The work that you are striving to do is so important, whatever that looks like for you in your life. It’s important. We all have a work to do here. And as we strive to do that, it will improve our lives and the lives of those that we get to interact with.
I came across a quote today and I love it. It says nothing can change. God’s love for you.
I hope you feel that. I hope you understand that there’s literally nothing you can do to change the way God feels about you. He loves you unconditionally, which means he loves you in your shortcomings, in your hardships and your mistakes and in everything you do, he loves you when you’re doing awesome.
And he loves you when. And there is literally nothing that can change. God’s love for you. And when I read this, it also made me think of a scripture in the Bible in Isaiah 49:16. And it says behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands. They walls are continually before me. I love that thought that our walls are continually before him.
I don’t know that I’ve paid that close of attention to that. And the end of that scripture before I love the thought that he’s grave in us upon the palms of his hands, that it feels so personal to me to know that there’s a reminder, a physical reminder. In Christ of me and of you, but our walls are continually before him.
He Knows Our Walls However, I read that this morning, I just felt inspired and comforted that he knows literally what walls are in front of me. Literal walls. I mean, he knows that too, I guess, but he knows the struggles, those things that are stopping me, those things that I can’t seem to overcome. Those things that are blocking me from moving forward.
He knows what those are and he feels those deeply and personally, and literally, and because of that, when I turn to him, when I’m willing to open up and literally just pour my thoughts and heart out to him, he can help me get a little closer to climbing over that wall. Each time I’m willing to seek his help.
And it doesn’t mean I’m not going to stumble and I’m not going to see. But it means that I’m also not alone in the climb to get over that wall or to knocking it over or to getting through that wall. Somehow it means that we’re not alone. I think often we feel really alone and I have times, I don’t know if you’re like this, but I have times where I just want someone in front of me to just tell me.
Pray for Someone to Come Sometimes I pray for that, even recently I had, I was having a really hard day and I ended up reaching out to your friend and kind of telling her what was going on. And she literally said the exact words I, that I needed to hear. And it actually was, it’s going to be. I just needed someone to physically confirm that to me.
And I had felt that over and over again, I felt that confirmed to me and I knew it. Wasn’t just my own thinking, but that day I needed a person that was just here on earth with me to say it’s okay. And. I think we need to strive as we feel of God’s love for us to reach out to other people, ask someone how they’re doing today.
Just send them a text message, or even call them and just ask them how they’re doing smile at someone in the grocery store. I actually love randomly smiling at people. I think it’s kind of funny sometimes to see people’s reaction, but to make eye contact with strangers and smile at them. And. It brightens my day, maybe more than theirs.
I don’t, I’m not really sure, but sharing God’s love with anyone else that you can, I think is imperative. And it helps us to be able to better understand the love that God has for us.
Ask to Feel His Love I hope that you feel His love. If you don’t or you don’t know if he loves, you, ask him, ask him how he feels about you, ask him if he loves you, because he’ll let you know, he will let you know. And that love is unchanging. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter. What’s going on. It’s not going to change. It’s always going to be there for you.
You can always go back to him, he’s waiting and he’s willing to embrace you and your life. And what’s been going on. He’s willing to embrace your struggle and the hardships that you have.
I found this other CRO as well, that I thought was great. It says the best way to find the best way to find love is to find God the best way to find love is to find God. I totally believe that. I believe that when we can find God. We find love. And when we can start to begin to feel that he loves us, we can begin to feel love for ourself and self-acceptance.
And we can see that all of our efforts really are enough in our lives. It takes work, takes time, but if we’re willing to seek that. Time and help from him. We will receive it.
He Love YOU I hope you have a wonderful day. And I hope that today you can do something. Where you can feel of God’s love for you, and maybe you could even reach out to someone else and help them to feel God’s love for them. I hope you have a wonderful day. Thanks so much for listening. And remember today you are ina.
Thank you so much for listening to today’s episode. If you’re willing to help me out and you love today’s episode, please share it with a friend. Leaving a review is actually extremely helpful as well, and allows other people to find that. So, if you are enjoying listening, please leave a review. Thank you so much for listening.
And remember today you are enough.
Just keep showing up. Showing up is going to look different on different days – but do not give up. Do not think that because you aren’t perfect, you can’t show up. Show up for your kids, for your spouse, for your friends … and for yourself. Do not forget to show up for YOU!
Easier to read than listen? Keep reading! Hi, I’m Kara. Welcome to the today. I am in a podcast where together, we learn how to embrace imperfection and the messes that life leaves behind and overcome our shortcomings together. We will begin to not only see, but to feel who we truly are and who God created us to become.
I am so glad you’re here with me today. I hope you listened to last week’s episode. Of the podcast with Michelle Cox, she shared some incredible information, incredible tips, and shared her incredible story. And I’m so grateful that she was willing to do that. So today I want to talk about showing up in last week’s podcast.
Michelle’s daughter said, mom, just make sure the parents know to just show. It is hard to just show up. Sometimes it’s so difficult when we felt like we need to be perfect. And that is a lie and an expectation that we put on ourselves, it is totally and completely unreasonable. If you think about it, we, hopefully we all know that our kids are not going to be perfect and they’re going to have shortcomings and that they’re learning.
Just because we’re adults, just because we have children just because we’re old enough to have children does not mean that that same expectation should not be given to ourselves. We are learning. I have never been a mother to a 16 year old until a few months ago, and I have never been a parent of a 14 year old daughter.
I’ve been a parent of a 13 year old son, but not my 13 year old he’s different than my 16 year old was. And so. We just need to show up. We just need to show up and do the best you can. That is literally all the expectation that you need to put on yourself that you can show up in the best way possible.
And we talk about this all the time on the podcast, that that is going to look different day to day, like some days. You just can’t like, you just can’t show up and they do all the things and cook all the meals and clean up the dishes and do all the laundry and do your job and all these things.
Sometimes you can’t do it all. And so you can’t have that expectation that just because you did it all on Monday and you were really awesome at doing all the things on your list Tuesday doesn’t mean you’re going to get everything down on your list either. So being forgiving, I’m guessing. And setting realistic expectations day to day is so important because our day-to-day changes, how we feel changes, what we need to do, changes what is demanded of us changes.
There are certain things you have to do on certain days there’s appointments that you have that are going to make it so that you can’t clean all the things all day or whatever. Sometimes the child is sick. And so that can throw a wrench in your day, but it doesn’t mean you should stop showing. When your kids get home from school, if you have the opportunity to be there, show up, just ask them how they’re doing, ask them specific questions instead of just, Hey, how was your name?
Because the older they get, they’re just gonna be like, it was fine. Maybe your elementary kids already do that. I don’t know. A lot of my kids have done that for a long time. So be really specific, ask them who they sat with at lunch, ask them what one of their, like a funny part of their day was, or. Ask them, um, who they hung out with at recess or who they walked home with or who they sat by on the bus, or there’s so many questions, like, just try and get a little specific.
So you can just have that connection for a few minutes after school, do the same thing before they go to bed. And when they wake up, try and have those pivotal times be when you can show up to be with your child and connect with your child, because that is going to be how you can build lasting relationships with.
And it’s hard. It’s hard to show up. So for me, I have Hashimoto’s and sometimes that is really difficult and sometimes I can show up in an awesome way. Sometimes it means by seven o’clock. I am totally and completely beat. I’m exhausted. And sometimes I’m exhausted all day and they all from school and I’m on the couch and that’s all I can do.
And, um, so I, like, I try, I try and have them sit with me and I try and, uh, interact with them and show up in the way that I can. Sometimes I am full of energy and I’m ready to take everybody to all the places they need to go. I’m great with friends. Over and filling my house with, um, kids that are great.
We have so many great neighborhood kids, and sometimes I, I can’t even answer their questions. There’s a lot of kids, which means there’s a lot of questions all the time. And sometimes I can’t handle the extra chaos in my house, but giving the kids other options, whether they go to a friend’s or, or just offering things that they can do at home that will work for.
Is happening that day. I also think we need to show up and learn to show up for ourselves. I think we’re actually really good at showing up for other people generally speaking. And so we can show up for our kids and we can pretend that we’re doing well enough that we can show up for them. But sometimes it’s really, really difficult to show up for.
It’s difficult to take care of ourselves. And we feel really selfish when we do that. And I think, uh, we’re learning, we’re learning what needs to happen. Hopefully you’re learning what needs to happen for you in order for you to show up more fully and be more present in the day to day. So it’s gonna look different for everyone.
I remember I was with a group of friends when. And one of my friends is like, self-care is not a bath for me. Like I do not like taking a bath. So what self care to me? And some people like to go shopping, other people despise shopping. So it’s going to be different. It’s going to look different for each of you.
Maybe it’s just sitting and watching a Netflix show. Maybe it’s painting, maybe it’s, um, bringing back a hobby that you had when you were younger. That just sparks joy. And I think that’s the key is finding something that sparks joy and peace in your life. And that can be really hard to figure out because sometimes we’ve been so consumed by motherhood that we’re not really sure what brings joy to us anymore, besides mothering.
Hopefully that brings joy to you. And I think just working on. Finding that find that things that bring that, that thing that brings joy to you. When, uh, several weeks ago I posted on my Instagram, um, my today I’m enough Instagram and I, I just was really stressed one day and I just couldn’t do it. And so I was like, I’m just going to water color.
I want her color, my little girls love to water color, and I just decided. I was going to do it because I actually really loved doing it with them. And so I sat all by myself. I just pulled up a YouTube video of something. I wanted to water color and I water color this landscape, and I loved it and I just let it dry on my table.
And I cleaned up after myself because I’m not my children, which is fine. They’re learning. And my kids got home and they’re like, who painted that? Like I did actually. And they were all like, wow. That’s kind of good. I was like, oh, thanks. It wasn’t perfect. But I did post it on Instagram because I was proud of myself for taking time to take care of myself and do something that brought me joy.
There was a lot of things that I needed to do that day, but mentally and physically and emotionally I was spent. And so my showing up that day was showing up. It was showing up and creating something that brought me joy that I don’t do all the time. I hardly ever do it. This is the first time I’ve ever done it with all my kids, but it was fun.
I would love to do it again. And I actually have some other water classes saved on YouTube. It was, it was great. And just finding things. That can bring joy and maybe looking outside of the norm, maybe looking outside the box that you’re used to looking at, trying new things, or just finding people. If you need to connect with people to fill that, then find people, find ways to connect with people and it’s going to just help empower you.
It’s going to help you to show up a little bit more. In the little bit better way than maybe you’d be able to before. And like I said, it’s going to change day to day. Sometimes I needed to sit in front of the TV and watch a show and just decompress, but sometimes water cooling water coloring is where I’m going to go.
It’s going to be what I do. And I’m so excited that there are possibilities for everyone. And I hope that you’ll take some time to figure it out. How did take care of yourself so that you can show up in the best way possible for yourself and fulfill your dreams and the things that you’re hoping to fulfill and also show up for your family and for your friends and where you.
Feel is most important in your life for the people that are most important to you in your life. So I hope you have a great day. Thank you so much for joining me. And don’t forget today. You are. Thank you so much for listening to today’s episode. If you’re willing to help me out and you love today’s episode, please share it with our friend.
Leaving a review is actually extremely helpful as well, and allows other people to find the podcast. So if you are enjoying listening, please. Thank you so much for listening. And remember today you are ina.
“Show up how you are! Just show up messy and keep trying and keep turning our hearts to our families we will get the answers we need and the information we need.”
Learning to build family connection is SO difficult. It is possible though! Michelle gives us some great insight on how to be a little bit better and how to really work on connection. You can create connect with young kids and with older kids. It is possible!
Sometimes we don’t see the progress on our journey because we are so deep in the trenches. We are all doing so much better than we think we are! WE are enough and we are who our family needs! They need us in our weak spots and failures. Teaching our kids to show up that way is the best thing we can do! You have got this!!!
Michelle tells us the 4 things she needs us to take away from this episode.
- Influence will always be greater than control. We want our kids to care about the perspective we have and that all comes from influence.
- When you don’t know what to do and you feel like you need to do something in your parenting journey (or yourself), air on the side of the relationship Look to make a connection and soften your heart and see the good in that child.
- Keep trying. Just show up. You’re in in for a while, so keep going.
- If it’s messy/hard/painful you’re doing it right!
Michelle is an outdoor girl who loves to create. Her creations are messy, varied, and highly imperfect! She enjoy playing with mixed media art and love to write. Michelle is the author of two books, “Finding God in the Mess of our Lives” and a children’s book about big emotion. She am the founder of Build Family Connection where for the last decade She has devoted my energy to guiding families to strengthen and their family relationships one moment at a time. Michelle host the Build Family Connection Podcast, and offer classes and one on one coaching.
Michelle have 3 sons and a daughter who are 22, 20, 17, and 16. Her husband and she met in high school and were best friends before we started dating. They are still best friends, often have differing opinions, and have been married for 25 years.
Hang out with Michelle: Website | Podcast | Instagram | Facebook
It is so easy to get down on ourselves as parents and feel overwhelmed. It’s easy to see the mundane day to day things we do and feel like we accomplish nothing. It’s not true though! You’ve got to see what you’re actually doing. Do you realize and everyday as you go around picking up, or having conversations that help an older child or change a diaper or fold the laundry – that’s all service. It’s all helping your kids feel closer to Christ because they can see Him in YOU!
Can’t listen? Here it is! You can read today’s episode too! Hi, I’m Kara. Welcome to the today. I am in a podcast where together we learn how to embrace imperfection and the messes that life leaves behind and overcome our shortcomings together. We will begin to not only see, but to feel we truly are and who God created us to be. Let’s talk.
Hello. Welcome to today’s episode. I am so excited to continue talking about parenting and what that can look like for us in various stages of our lives today. I feel like I need to share a little bit of a story with you. And on my website, I have a few blog posts just to a handful. And today I would like to actually read you one.
So if you want, you can go find this one. It’s called, Dear Overwhelmed Mother and has some important points in it. But especially the point in that you’re doing better than you think you are. So I hope you listen in today and can gain something from this perspective of it’s okay. To be overwhelmed. And it’s okay to feel like.
Life is just pounding on you sometimes because you’re not alone in that. We all feel that sometimes. So I have a little disclaimer at the top that I’ll start with and then read you this letter to my friend. I want to make sure that, you know, before reading this, that whether you have one child or 12 children, we all have moments where we become an overwhelmed. Don’t feel like, because I talk about having six kids close together, it means that you can’t relate to or need to feel bad for relating. One thing I’ve learned is that whatever stage you are in that is the hardest place you’ve been as a mother. It was hard when I had one, it was a different, hard when I had four, we have all have heart and we can relate without putting ourselves down for having different, hard things. Dear friends. AKA overwhelmed mother. You know what? That moment is like the one where the day seems to be crashing down around you. Dinner isn’t even started. The breakfast dishes are still everywhere. The floor is sticky. The kids are running around in pajamas. And you feel like you don’t have control of anything.
Someone is screaming for you or at you, or possibly both. Sometimes motherhood just becomes overwhelming. I’ve had that moment. What feels like a million times. Motherhood has been something that has not come as naturally as I anticipated when I was an older teenager and a young adult, the patients I went once felt like I had seems to have disappeared.
Having six kids in the span of seven years has been a great way to see how patient I actually am or rather the lack of patients I actually have for so many years, I had a baby, a toddler and a pre. The days where, oh, so long everyone told me I’d miss it someday. I’m still waiting to miss it. I had, and still have these moments where it all just comes, become so overwhelming to me.
The kids are so loud. Sometimes the house just won’t stay picked up and the laundry is five to six loads deep in various stages. And everyone is asking me questions. It is in these moments where I just need to step away from the. Lock myself in my room and have a good cry and to talk with God almost every time I start by saying, how am I supposed to do this as I calm down and try to be still.
And listen, it is in these moments when my frustration comms that I can feel the help and comfort I need. I feel the answer to my questions and frustrations. I have been given the kids I have in the Spanish. ’cause he knows that I can do it. And I am given the reinsure that reassurance to as their mother, I am the one that is supposed to teach them and help them and walk with them and learn with them.
The quiet whisper inside tells me you are enough for them. You can do it. Get back up, keep trying. I am with you with this reassurance. I am able to. I’m able to pick up the house, listen more carefully to the many voices calling me and I am able to calm the frustrated child, the patients I used to have shines through just a little bit through all the struggle and all the chaos.
We can find peace. We can find the reminder within us that we are doing okay. There is a voice that may be quiet and seem hidden, but it is there. And we’ll will remind you that you are. It’s there. Try your hardest to let it come through and bring the light. You need. Stop letting the negative voices cover and hide it.
You are doing your best. Motherhood is so hard. Some days will become easier than others. However, as you go about your day picking up the same message as you picked up 200 other times that day being a referee, again, driving the kids everywhere, emptying the dishwasher, filling the dishwasher, trying to listen to all the stories, making the kids feel heard and loved and realizing that all these things are being done with love (even if it’s frustrated, love) by you. And when you step back, you will realize that you are constantly serving your. Acknowledge that about yourself. Notice you’re serving and helping your kids do things they can’t do for themselves or selectively. Forget how to do you get the opportunity to teach and reteach skills or just teach them how to be a good person in this world.
My dear friend, you may feel like an overwhelmed mother, but please, please remember that you are loved. You are needed more than you realize you are doing beautiful things. You’ve got this. You are meant to be a mother. You are meant to mother the children that you have, you are exactly who they need, and they are exactly who you need.
Take a moment today to look yourself in the eyes, go up to a mirror without judging. Don’t think about all the things that you should change about yourself or the flaws that you have or what you wish. Just look into your own eyes for a moment and say out loud, I am a good enough mother today, and then believe it because you are.
I hope that you can feel this message within you. I hope something has touched you because your kids need you and you need them. And even though there’s going to be days where you feel overwhelmed and like you’re failing and like there’s nothing that you can do. Right. And that they just hate you. It’s not true.
It’s not how it is because there’s moments of joy, there’s moments and rewards. And they’re far and few in between. It seems like, but they’re there. Your kids love you and need you recognize that you are doing your best. Your best is good. It is. And as we progress and we try and change and we try and become a little bit better each day, that’s enough.
That’s all that we’ve been asked to do is be a little bit better than we were yesterday. And sometimes we’re going to feel like we’re falling flat on our face and that we are 10 times worse than we were the day before, and so overwhelmed but it’s not true. We’re learning. You’ve never been here. You’ve never had kids all the same ages as they are right.
This moment. And it’s hard. It’s difficult. They’ve never been in these places. Either be gentle with each other, be patient with each other and do your best. Find those moments. Notice the service that you’re rendering an offer. That is the best thing you can do for your kids and your family. Thank you so much for listening today.
If you’re willing to help me out and you love today’s episode, please share it with our friend. Leaving a review is actually super help. Well, and allows other people to find the podcast. Thanks so much for listening. And remember today you are.
Episode #45 with Brooke Romney “It is really important … to have a few people in your life when your kids are teenagers that you can go to and be honest and know that they have your child’s best interest at heart and your best interest at heart …”
Brooke Romney is a writer, speaker, educator and connector. She published her first book, I Like Me Anyway: Embracing Imperfection, Connection, and Christ in October 2020. It has helped women all over the world find purpose and peace. She has been published in The Washington Post, The Deseret News, Scary Mommy and a host of other online publications where her pieces have been read millions of times. Brooke writes avidly on her blog and Instagram page where she has created a large, vibrant community of learning and growth.
She is currently on the Time Out for Women speaking circuit. Brooke touches audiences with her message of worth, empowerment and connection. She regularly uses her education and expertise to help individuals, online accounts, and businesses tell their stories through a compelling and inviting narrative that positions them for success.
Brooke takes us through some tips on how to connect with our teenagers. It can be tricky to navigate feelings, hormones and mood swings. It’s so important to make sure we are doing out best to take care of ourselves, our children and cultivating a safe place for them to be and live.
Brooke Romney Episode Transcript [00:00:00] Kara: Hello and welcome to the today. I am enough podcast. I am so thrilled to have Brooke Romney with us today. She is an incredible author and incredible parent advocate, a teen advocate.
She has amazing tips on her website on her Instagram. She has lists for days I love we were going on. Soon. And I was looking at your website for audio book recommendations for kids. You had so many, I’m so excited. So brick is just full of so much knowledge and so much. Goodness. And I’m so excited to have her here.
Why don’t you go ahead and introduce
[00:00:34] Brooke: yourself? Hi, I am Brooke from me. I’m just so excited to be here. I just love like chatting with women and sharing our story it’s and so just grateful to be on your podcast. Thank you.
[00:00:46] Kara: So I’m going to turn the time over to Brooke and let her share her story and just like let you know more about her and what she is all about.
[00:00:58] Brooke: So there’s kind of a lot of pieces of me. One of the things that I’m really good at is not having an attention span. That’s long enough for just one thing. And so I have done a lot of things and I’m excited about a lot of things, but I would say like at my core, it’s helping like women feel like they have a purpose and that they’re needed and wanted and loved as they are.
And also, they have like incident possibility to like who you are today isn’t necessarily who you will be tomorrow. But one of the things that I’ve really focused on lately as teenagers. Currently, I have three teenage boys and I have a nine-year-old also. And so I kind of entered into that teen parenting world and I felt very alone and lonely.
And like I was in way over my head with so many things. And so. One of the things that I do, like on my Instagram is I really try and help other women feel like they’re not alone in this teen parenting situation. I just felt like once kids hit teenagers, nobody was talking about things and that a lot of it is to protect people’s privacy.
And a lot of it is just because there’s not nearly as many happy, fun moments to share on. And I just felt like when I was going through some really difficult times, I wish that there was a place for me to turn, or just, even for someone to say, Hey, like this happens at our house too, you know? And so I started doing things like, kind of sharing.
So my oldest now is 18, so I have a little perspective. And so a couple years ago I just started sharing some things that worked and some things that didn’t work. And then I also started realizing like the power of. And I do these mom to mom questions, which are some of the favorite things that I do on my, just for me.
So moms will send me questions and I will open those questions up to the community and people have been so awesome. And the thing that I love the most about it is you see that different things work well for different families. I think like sometimes for me, I was thinking like in raising teenagers, like there was a right way and a wrong way.
And one of my kids doesn’t really subscribe to. Either way, like, he’d just like, so push boundaries and things like that. And so I sometimes would follow advice and it would totally backfire on me. And I didn’t feel like there was anyone out there that was like, it’s okay. Sometimes things don’t work, you know, like sometimes you just keep trying and sometimes your kids don’t listen and sometimes they still break the rules and like, you just keep going and you just keep pushing forward and you keep trying, and.
It means you’re being a great month, you know, so I just needed someone out there. So I tried to do that a lot. And in the mom’s phone questions, the thing that’s my favorite is you have one family who has rules and guidelines that have worked really well for them and another family. Who’s done the complete opposite and it’s worked well for them.
And I just love that there’s a place for a community to come together and say, okay, this family sounds more my speed. So for instance, Really really structured. And so I think there’s lots of awesome ideas for really structured people. And I think they work. I’m not saying they don’t work, but like they wouldn’t work for me.
And so when I see an idea that has like a little bit more flexibility, Okay. So that one might work for our family.
[00:04:20] Kara: To me, it reminds me of like, if you’re talking about it with little kids, it’s like, we’re, we’re always like sharing, like, oh, let’s do this job, turn this reward system. And like, it’s not a one size fits all.
And that’s absolutely how teenage rules are as well. And even like you said, with one of your kids, It doesn’t even work with every child. Right? Totally. One teenager. That’s always like, well, I didn’t get to do X, Y, and Z. And I’m like, that’s fine. Like, that was cause that’s what you needed. And that’s not what this one needs, you know?
Like it’s just differently. I think it’s super important to remember that because there, the there’s so much more their own person when they’re a teenager. You learned that you can’t control them? Like you could control your three-year-old at least to some extent, right? Like you can pick them up and take them to their room and time out because they’re like towering over you.
They became these like grown-up people.
[00:05:13] Brooke: Totally.
[00:05:14] Kara: You have to learn to reason with. Yeah. Sometimes it feels like I’m reasoning with a giant two year old
[00:05:21] Brooke: Well, and sometimes like, you’ll have to there’s. Things, I didn’t think I would give up right. For certain situations. And sometimes you give in and you know, those are the things that like when I was a young mom and like, Why does that person never make her teenagers do X, Y, or Z.
And you know, and it’s like, oh, okay. So now I’m that person that people are probably saying that about, but
[00:05:42] Kara: You have to pick your battles.
[00:05:44] Brooke: Yeah. And working really hard to just preserve those relationships.
[00:05:48] Kara: And I was going to say, you got to pick it out so you can have that relationship with your child.
And so they can trust you and you can trust them and grow that relationship because.
[00:05:57] Brooke: That’s for sure. Well, and there’s one of the things too. That was a good reminder. I was with my husband and I had had a really busy work week and I had made some big mistakes, like things that should have been easy, like had I had better perspective.
I really could have done a lot better job that week with my work stuff. And I was beating myself up and I’m like, I am just so stupid. Like I’m so dumb. You know, looking back that was such an easy fix, like, and he just looked at me and he was. You’re not so stupid. You’re new at this you’re inexperienced.
And he’s like, there’s a difference between being so dumb and inexperienced. He’s like, this is the first time that you’re trying to juggle, you know, this type of work. And it actually like really turned a light on for me with parenting because I realized I’m literally always new at what I’m doing. Like it’s a new age, it’s a new stage.
It’s a new kid. Um, maybe like our family situation is different and. Giving myself, a lot of grace for understanding that I am literally new at this every single day. And I don’t have a lot to fill on.
[00:07:05] Kara: I love that perspective though. Like, and I think like that’s what I try and teach with Today I am Enough. It’s like, you’re enough in whatever stage you are. It doesn’t mean you stay there. It’s not a stagnant state, but today it’s just how you are.
And today might be different than tomorrow. And you might be more productive today than you were yesterday, but that’s okay. Because it’s what your body needs or what your soul needs are, what your kids need and taking, like, just noticing that I think in and naming it and understanding it changes.
[00:07:37] Brooke: It’s so true.
And just being, being able to be okay with that and, you know, just, it was such a nice perspective shift for me just cause I. I didn’t do better cause I actually didn’t know better. And now I do. So it’s, you know, it’ll be easier next time. Not that I will always make the right choice the next time, but I will have some more perspective and some more life experience.
And you know, just like we’re talking a little bit about teens going at them with that same perspective too. Like they are new at this and like they’re tackling new things and you know,
They’re just like us, they’ve never been 16, 17, 18, 13, whatever age they are. They’ve never been that before they haven’t ever had, you know, the freedoms that they’re given or they’re, you know, just they’re growing personalities and mindsets and different things like that.
And we have to be gentle with ourselves and gentle with our kids in all the things
It’s really interesting too, because I, you know, I’m here and I give a lot of advice. So I do teen tips, every. And they’re called common sense, teen tips. And one of the, you know, people are like, oh my gosh, you’re so great.
How do you come up with all those? I’m like, because I watched my kids not do them, you know? So it’s really like one of those interesting things. Sometimes people I think will look at me or even another person and be like, oh, you’re so good at that. You’re such an expert at this. And it’s like, no, like everyone is still just like plodding along.
You know? I mean, really most of my team tips. From moments in my life where I’m like, how do you not know that? How did I not teach that? How did you not catch on, you know, just realizing like you have to be really blatant and we’re like, I’m coming out with the teen tip, book
[00:09:21] Kara: so fun
[00:09:23] Brooke: mostly for us. So that like, those are displayed one a week so that they like get that reinforcement.
Like, yes. When you open the door, You say hello? Would you like to come in? You know,
[00:09:35] Kara: I think you, did you just do one on answering the phone?
[00:09:40] Brooke: Yeah,
[00:09:43] Kara: because I was like, oh my, my 13 year old, I was like, okay, well you call his mom and you ask if he can hang out with you. And so he just calls and just stands there. And I’m like, say hello!, you never seen me on the telephone before.
And I think cell phones have shifted that where they just don’t know how to answer the phone, but it was just so funny. Like, just ask, ask for your friend or ask if he can hang out, say goodbye.
[00:10:14] Brooke: Well, it’s so funny. Cause I think like new technology has. One of the reasons why I felt a need for these things is because like, as kids we used to observe our parents all the time, there was nothing else to do.
Like we weren’t distracted, we weren’t looking at a phone. We, you know, we like had to go with our parents places and, you know, things like that. And kids just don’t have that today. So they don’t observe as often. And so they’re kind of missing out on some of these life lessons, but, you know, it’s just, it’s funny because when I started the tips, I wanted to make sure that people understood, like I am not like the teen Manor police. Like if you know me in person, I’m not like, Ooh, your kid is not, you know, complying here. It’s like, I know that most kids aren’t doing this, but even just as I share these, just giving them the opportunity for knowledge. And it’s funny. Cause I’ll still like, watch them sometimes not do it.
But one of the awesomest things is when they’re not with. I do see them do it. And so they are like taking in the information. Sometimes they don’t like want to pat you on the back and be like, thanks so much for teaching me this awesome tip, like forever. I’m going to be so good at this. When they’re on their own and when it matters, I think it kicks in and they’re like, my mom, my mom told me that when I’m at a restaurant, I should put my phone away or I should clean up the plates before we leave, or I should leave a tip or I should look the server in the eye when I’m ordering, you know, things like that.
[00:11:34] Kara: Absolutely. I love that so much. And one thing I love that you’re doing is bringing awareness to teenage moms because as my kids got older, I noticed that same thing you talked about. It’s just this different world where it isn’t talked about a lot.
And a lot of it is because of the privacy of your child. Like, I can’t just start rambling off what’s going on with my 14 year old daughter, because she’s her own person and she has her own life. And it’s her things that she’s figuring. And it’s hard because when you have a four year old, you’re like, oh man, like she peed all over the house today.
Like, you know, whatever, she’s throwing a tantrum and we can share that. And so as little kid parents, sometimes it feels lonely. Cause you’re in the trenches of like a lot of physical doing and you can’t necessarily get out, but you can, like, you can go to the park and play. And yeah, you don’t have teenage play dates.
You don’t get together with teenage moms. And you’re like, yeah, look at, you know, my little 14 year old and she’s just struggling with this. And that has been really eye opening. It was really, it’s really hard because you can’t just go to your best friend and be like this is what my kid is struggling with and it’s hard and I don’t know how to help or what to do.
[00:12:48] Brooke: I, um, so that is also something that I felt really strongly about because while it is our kids’ stories, you know, and, and we have to respect their privacy, we also have to realize. It’s also our story. So when there is something you can’t broadcast it, you can’t go to the park and just shout it out. But it is really important.
It’s like, I think it’s crucial to have a few people in your life when your kids are teenagers that you can go to and be honest and know they have your child’s best interests at heart and your best interest at heart. You can trust them to keep things in confidence because I would have fallen apart if I wouldn’t have had people to go to and at least ask for support or help or information.
And so just really know, you can’t share everything in like a large setting, but making sure, like, being so, so sure that you have some people that have your back, because sometimes you can’t talk to your kid about it. Sometimes they’re completely irrational. Sometimes your husband doesn’t understand the worries of a mom.
You know, like there were times when I was like super worried and my husband’s like, Hmm, feels like something you shouldn’t be worried about. Oh, okay. Actually like realistically, yes, you’re correct. Like this is not the end of the world, but like I need a little more, like, I need someone to be like, that is super hard.
I’m so sorry about that. And so finally I need just like a little small support group, of people that you can trust, I think is so important. And there are times when my kids have done things that maybe are like harder or bigger. You know, I’ve just said, you know, like you’ve made this part of my story, you know, like, I’m sorry, this was part of my story too.
And I need some help and support. And that’s, that’s also a consequence of, of actions so
[00:14:38] Kara: We’ve had a few things with our kids cause I have three teenagers now, but there has been like a specific incident where. I did. I like, I was like, we just have to talk to someone like I have to, I have to make sure I’m not being crazy.
[00:14:51] Brooke: Right. Totally.
[00:14:52] Kara: It is interesting. It’s an interesting perspective that it is part of our story. And I think being careful of that boundary.
And being careful who you tell, like
[00:15:02] Brooke: for sure. Yeah. There’s like, there’s definitely, yeah, definitely people. Yes. Yes. And finding those, like, especially as your kids enter those teenage years, is really, really important for moms of teens.
[00:15:15] Kara: Yeah.
So what is something that you have found, um, helpful? I don’t know how to word this. Some that I don’t know, like as a mom of teenagers, what is like your best advice to other moms? I don’t know, keeping that relationship, creating that relationship, helping them. I don’t know, whatever, like whatever advice you might have.
[00:15:35] Brooke: So there’s so many things, cause it just sort of depends on your kid. But one thing that I. Super proud of is being able to hold a relationship through really good times and really bad times. And that means that there is sometimes more give than take on our part usually. It means like celebrating things that even like, so sometimes if your kid is really hard, it’s hard to celebrate the good things because they’re bugging you so much.
And so like really like finding the positive and focusing on that. Making sure your kid knows that you like them, even if they’re hard or going through a tough time or just being kind of difficult. And you know, there’s a lot about like letting kids have their space, which I agree with, but also like not letting them have too much, like helping them understand that you want them with the family you want to be with them.
They’re still, even when they’re not enjoyable, like sometimes you just gotta pretend, you know, sometimes you just have to act like. For a little while so that they felt loved and wanted in their family. I, you know, there’s been like some really big ups and downs for some of our kids. And I just felt like for me, the victory is at the end, like, do we have a relationship where we love and respect each other?
And sometimes that means understanding that they have differences of opinion and honoring those different opinions. And then sometimes it means helping them understand that even when there’s a difference of opinion, sometimes as a family, we sacrifice for each other and, you know, do things that other people like that we don’t and show up when we don’t want to, because we’re a family.
And then also just enjoying it. I think sometimes people get really. Like reticent about these teenagers. And there is so much joy and there’s so much fun. Even, even if they’re like in a tough stage, like you can still enjoy the same movies. You can go with it to the same things and have a good time.
You can root for the same team. Like, it’s so fun for me to just sit down and like chat with them about what’s going on. And, I have all boys and a lot of people are like, how do you get them talking and opening up and you just, you gotta be there when they’re ready. Like that might be a midnight that might be over food that might be in the car, but just be there when they’re ready and be willing to be present whenever they’re ready to talk and help them understand like that you care about their feelings, you care about their ideas.
You care about the way they think you don’t just sometimes I think with teens, Kind of like brush off their opinion. Like let’s say they give you a political opinion. That is totally uninformed instead of being like, oh my gosh, like, where’d you even hear that? Who are you listening to? You know, being like, oh, that’s super interesting.
Tell me about that opinion. Like how did you come to that? Like, is that something like you, you know, agree with in your soul? Or are you just like saying it and just, you know, validating who they are and how they. When I think about teenagers, like you said, they’re just adults, they’re just mini adults.
And so treating them like I would want to be treated, is a big deal.
[00:18:40] Kara: I think that that is a huge deal to help them feel important and heard. And I think a lot of times you need just, just want to be heard.
[00:18:48] Brooke: Yeah, I think you’re right..
[00:18:49] Kara: And so giving them that opportunity, to be heard, especially in a conversation where there might be conflict, to make sure that they know that you honor their opinion, even if they’re going to have a consequence.
And so their opinion isn’t going to happen, just letting them, just letting them be heard. And I think also explaining why in a situation to any age child is actually like especially teenagers. Like if they know the why behind it, it’s amazing how it’s just changed some conversations or some conflict even just to be like, you know, this is the reason, like, I don’t know, my, my son wanted to go hang out with his friends when I, and I just, like, I literally just didn’t feel good about.
And I was like, I don’t know why, like I have no good reason, except I just don’t feel good about it. And I know about lame, but I do let you go to like 99% of your friend’s houses when you ask. And so this one time, and so I, you know, like we just talked about it for a while and he was super bummed and he’s like, it’s okay it’s not your fault. And I was like, oh, we’re good. Like, you know, just reassuring that. But yeah, teenagers, I feel like it can be scary and sometimes it’s still feels scary.
[00:20:08] Brooke: Yeah, for sure.
[00:20:10] Kara: I was sitting several years ago in a relief society meeting the women’s congregation, our church, and one of the women just was like asking questions, like, well, how do we help our teenagers? And what did we do? And teenagers are so much harder than toddlers. And I have six kids in seven years and I, my oldest was still in primary, so he was less than 12. I left almost in tears because I was like, I’m going to have five teenagers.
And she’s telling me that it’s harder than what I’m already going through. And I already cry all the time. I can hardly handle it. So that was really scary. So it’s interesting to be here and, just learn that it can be okay. And that they can be really fun. Like you can have really engaging conversations with teenagers.
[00:20:54] Brooke: Oh yeah.
And vacations are the best, like with teenagers. They’re so much fun and there’s a lot to look forward to, there are certain things that are a lot harder and there’s certain things that are a lot easier. And I just think there’s like really beautiful feedings at each stage. And I also think that some of us are like meant or programmed a little bit, really loved those toddler phases or really connect with teenagers.
But it doesn’t mean that we can’t learn and grow and try and still really enjoy whichever stage we’re in. Absolutely.
[00:21:24] Kara: And I think that’s key. I remember like once I didn’t have two year olds anymore, cause I basically have like every age for like six years and somebody at the time we were done with too, I was like, oh, I’m glad I’m out of that.
But my next door neighbor’s little girl that’s two. I’m like, oh, come play. Yeah. Like come over to my house. And, but there is there’s good in every single stage. Finding that in recognizing that where you are and where your kids are, will just help make it. So you like them better and can show them love and respect in whatever way that they need at that time in their lives.
So I think that’s huge.
[00:21:59] Brooke: Absolutely.
[00:22:00] Kara: Awesome. Do you have anything else you want to share?
No. I’m totally good conversation.
Yeah. Just making sure. Awesome. Well, thank you so much for being here.
[00:22:10] Brooke: Actually, could I just tell about my books?
[00:22:12] Kara: Yes. I would love for you to tell about your book, that her book is your book.
That one, the pink one. Yes. That one, I will actually put that in the podcast I have under my nightstand. I was going to grab it and then I get reach it.
[00:22:26] Brooke: You’re just like, yeah. A lot of the lessons that I’ve learned through my life up to this point, I was able to put in a book called “I like me Anyway. Embracing, Imperfection, Connection in Christ.”
And in there, I feel like there is so much information that really relates to your podcast that today I’m enough and in like learning to love who you are now, and then being able to. Reach for who, you know, you want to be without ever beating yourself up about it or feeling badly about it. And so if, you know, if some of your listeners are thinking like I’m struggling with this, I’m struggling for comparison and competition.
I’m struggling trying to connect with other people. Like. The words that I wrote there, you know, kind of sum up my experiences and the important lessons that I’ve learned up till now, and really have allowed so many women to have a perspective shift, because I think until you start liking and loving yourself, it’s really difficult to progress.
And so kind of cementing that first and then like allowing yourself to move past, like onto the next stage is a really powerful way to go about the rest of your like motherhood or life or whatever you’re tackling.
[00:23:37] Kara: Yes. I love that. And it’s a beautiful book. It’s so well written. I have loved reading it and it’s available in lots of places.
I got mine at Costco. I was so excited when it showed up.
[00:23:47] Brooke: Yes. Yes. So still Costco, Amazon audible. I read it. So if you would, rather less than it’s on there too.
[00:23:53] Kara: Where else can listeners find.
[00:23:56] Brooke: Yes. I’m really active on Instagram @BrookRomneywrites. And then a lot of the things that I’ve written, you know, I’ve been writing now for almost 10 years.
So I have a website brookeromney.com that has tons of material and all the lists that you were talking about, where readers can go and find things really in an easily accessible way.
[00:24:13] Kara: Wonderful. Okay. I’ll make sure to link to her book and everything else in the show notes. So you guys can find it really easily.
Thank you so much. Brooke.
[00:24:20] Brooke: Awesome. Thanks Kara. We’ll see ya.
I am getting real about my new diagnosis of Hashimoto's and what that has looked like for me. It's been a huge struggle.