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For many of us, we’ve entered a unique season of life where we’re officially counted among the “sandwich generation.” This refers to the stage of middle age when you find yourself simultaneously parenting your children AND supporting your aging parents. This means that in the mornings are a rush to middle school drop-offs while afternoons are spent driving an aging loved one to a doctor appointment. If this is you, you’re not alone: surveys estimate that nearly one in four Americans is juggling similar responsibilities. What is often unspoken is that navigating the role of caregiving is surprisingly demanding—sometimes in ways you never see coming. The risk of physical, emotional, and spiritual burnout is very real. That’s why we are excited to have Dr. Michelle Bengtson back on the podcast. Based on her research, Michelle estimates that 60% of caregivers suffer from burnout. She brings practical wisdom and spiritual encouragement to help caregivers find ways to care for their own needs as they love and serve. In this episode, Michelle shares: Different ways a caregiving role can take a tollSome of the primary causes of burnoutTangible ways we can support caregiversAnd more!We hope you enjoy this conversation!

Every parent knows the struggle of deciding how to respond to our children’s choices and behavior. Whether your children are little, in the rebellious teen and pre-teen stage, or grown and out of your house, it’s natural to question how the choices they’re making may have long-term ramifications. We wrestled with these kinds of concerns when our oldest daughter told us she wanted a tattoo. Our minds swirled with all the possible cons—and we wondered whether or not we should speak out against this permanent choice. Encountering situations like this one over the years has taught us something important. Whether it’s a small difference in our personal preferences or a huge divide between our core values, the judgment we carry in our hearts and minds has the potential to cause big rifts in our relationships with our kids. Our daughter did end up getting the tattoo. Years later, I (Joanna) admired a tattoo I saw as I was traveling in the airport. When I told our daughter about it, I could see her face light up to be able to connect with me on something that had previously elicited some judgment and strain on our relationship. My guest for this conversation knows what it’s like to struggle with a judgmental spirit. Shannon Popkin is an author, speaker, wife, and mom to three adult children. She loves combining her gifts for humor and storytelling with her passion for Jesus and the truth of God’s Word. In this episode, Shannon shares: How to respond when your child makes a questionable choice3 instances where it’s appropriate to challenge someone’s decisionsOther relationships in our lives where we can experience judgmentAnd more!We hope you enjoy this conversation! Show Notes: https://growinghometogether.com/shannon-popkin-137/

We are sharing some of our favorite episodes from the podcast this month as we wind down the summer. Next up is this conversation we had about how we view our spouse’s differences and the ways our perspective can make a world of difference. When you look at your spouse, do you notice how their unique way of thinking fills the gaps in your own? Do you celebrate how they approach life differently? If most of us were honest, we are far more likely to notice these differences in a negative light. It irks us when our spouse loads the dishwasher the “wrong” way or takes a different route to church. We can wonder what in the world they are thinking and how our differences, that cause so much stress and strife, could ever be viewed as an asset. In this conversation, we address why we can struggle to celebrate our spouse’s strengths, skills, talents, and qualities that make them special. In our own marriage, we encountered moments where the character we love about our spouse is also the thing that costs us something. For me, I took pause when Rob’s love of learning meant an investment of time and money to pursue a master’s degree. For Rob, my gift of hospitality collided with his introverted personality and took him out of his comfort zone. In this episode, we share: How we have seen each other as a liabilityHow to shift your mindset in a more positive directionHow to see your spouse as an assetAnd much more!We hope you enjoy this conversation!

We are sharing some of our favorite episodes from the podcast this month as we wind down the summer. Next up is this conversation with Sarah Molitor on how the words we use can impact our relationships in positive and negative ways. Words have the potential to tear down our relationships or build them up. Ever since I (Joanna) was a young girl, I loved words. I would spend hours writing stories and poems. And even though I took numerous writing classes up through college, I was never taught how to talk to people with kindness and express my thoughts in a way that protected other people’s hearts. I bet we all have experienced moments when we wished we could take back words that caused harm or didn't land the way we intended. It could be because, like me, you were never taught how to be mindful about what we say, or perhaps in a moment of frustration the words came tumbling out before you could choose a kinder way of saying what you intended. That’s why we are excited to have someone who has studied how we can use words well. Sarah Molitor is a wife, mother of seven kids, and the author of Well Said: Choosing Words that Speak Life, Give Grace, and Strengthen Your Faith and Family. You may know Sarah from her thriving social media community at Modern Farmhouse Family. In this episode, Sarah shares: The power words carry in our relationshipsHow God can sometimes do more when we say lessCommon pitfalls our words can lead us intoAnd much more!This conversation was such an honor, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

We are sharing some of our favorite episodes from the podcast this month as we wind down the summer. The first is this conversation with Jim Burns on building relationships with our children as they transition into adulthood. When our children were younger, our job description as parents was clear. We provide clean clothes, tend to their basic needs, and make sure there are always snacks in the fridge. However, when they transition from high school into adulthood, we have to tear up that old job description and learn a brand new way of relating and supporting them.  Today’s guest knows all about this and often says that “the transition is complicated, often messy, and can sometimes feel like you are walking on eggshells.” Jim Burns is the president of HomeWord and the author of several popular books, including Doing Life With Your Adult Children. He and his wife, Cathy, reside in Southern California and have three grown daughters and four grandchildren. In this episode, Jim shares: Strategies for redefining your relationship with adult childrenThe danger of offering unsolicited adviceTips for the child who resists launchingAnd much more!We hope this episode is a helpful resource as you navigate this season of parenting! Show Notes: https://growinghometogether.com/jim-burns-134

As parents of five, we are all too familiar with how our kids can push our buttons and drive us to the end of our patience. Sometimes, when tensions get high, we may feel an impulse to respond to our children’s unwise choices and immature behavior with anger—even when we know that loving self-control is the best way to react. Every parent we know shares the same desire to be more patient and calm with their children. But some days, it can feel like an impossible task to squelch our frustrations and respond with grace. If you are carrying a weight of guilt on your shoulders from losing your temper and yelling at your kids, then you won’t want to miss this conversation with a mom who is right there with us. Our guest, Janel Breitenstein, is a mom, ministry leader, and a popular author and speaker who knows what it is like to battle anger as a parent. She is here to help us discover a path of peace when navigating frustration with our kids. In this episode, Janel shares: Why anger is an easy response to reach forStrategies for keeping your coolThe importance of being a safe place for your children to turn toAnd more!We hope you enjoy this conversation! Show Notes: https://growinghometogether.com/janel-breitenstein-133/

Do you avoid talking about money with your spouse? Does the mention of a budget make you cringe? Do financial emergencies cause tension to grow in your household? We know how it feels to be stressed about money. When we were first married, we lived on a tight budget with a rotating menu of mac n’ cheese and chili and beans. When it came to conversations about money, they always revolved around how we could earn a little bit more and how we could spend a little bit less every month. As the years have passed, our income has changed, and so have our expenses. Like many couples, our financial life became more complex over time, and we learned that good money conversations don’t always happen naturally. Looking back, we wish we’d had someone like Matt Bell to guide us in those early years of marriage. Matt is a biblical money management writer and speaker, as well as the author of an important new book for couples called Starting Strong: Discovering the Good That Money Can Do in Your Marriage. In this episode, Matt shares: The factors that determine how we manage moneyWhether it’s wise for a couple to buy a house right awayHow to lay a strong financial foundation from the beginning of your marriageAnd more!We hope you enjoy this conversation! Show Notes: https://growinghometogether.com/matt-bell-132/

Can you still hear the beat of “Pomp and Circumstance” from the day your child crossed the graduation stage? For so many parents, this milestone signifies a big life transition—not only for their child, but for themselves, too. For the child, they’re flying the nest and entering the real world for the first time. For the parent, they will be entering (or approaching) the empty nest season of life. If you are going through this today, I know you are very excited for what this next chapter holds for your child. But you may also be wondering how to keep your life and heart full when your nest is empty. If you are feeling overwhelmed with the changes in your family life right now, or you are struggling inside with the realities of your child leaving home, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Our guest is here to help prepare our hearts to thrive in our empty nest season of life. Pamela Henkelman is a speaker, writer, podcast host, and a Certified Empty Nest Coach. She helps Christian moms let go with grace, strengthen their marriages, and rediscover their God-given purpose in the empty nest chapter of life. In this episode, Pamela shares: What happens in this role shift from directing to supportingHow to navigate grief during this transitionHow you can recapture your sense of personal identityAnd more!We hope you enjoy this conversation! Show Notes: https://growinghometogether.com/pamela-henkelman-131/

As parents, we hurt when our children hurt. From those first cries during sleepless nights to the more complex struggles of adolescence and beyond, our hearts tend to ache right alongside theirs. Whether you’re watching your child struggle with bullying at school, battling an eating disorder, or walking through a mental health crisis, their pain can leave you feeling overwhelmed, afraid, or unsure of how to help. When someone you love so deeply is hurting, it’s natural to wish you could take the pain away yourself. In this episode, I’m having a mom-to-mom conversation about this tender topic: the heartbreak we parents carry for our kids. My guest knows exactly what it’s like to experience those intense emotions on behalf of our children. Lori Schumaker is a Certified Life and Mental Health Coach, speaker, and author with over 20 years of ministry experience. She is also a mother whose journey of adopting and parenting a daughter with special needs has brought her to a place of trust and surrender to God. I hope her story will encourage you! In this episode, Lori shares: The vital practice of releasing control to GodWhy we should prioritize our personal healingHow to stay connected with your spouse through the challengesAnd more!We hope you enjoy this conversation! Show Notes: https://growinghometogether.com/lori-schumaker-130/

Worry and stress can show up in every season of parenting—from the moment we first bring our newborn baby home from the hospital to the day they start preparing to head out into the world on their own. Over the years, we’ve felt the weight of countless uncertainties swirling through our minds as we raised our five children. Thoughts like: When will my baby sleep through the night? Are they hitting those developmental milestones on time? Will they make good friends? How will they adjust to going to school for the first time? And on and on it goes. We know firsthand that sleepless nights in parenting don’t end with the baby years—as our children grow and change, we as parents must learn how to navigate new challenges right alongside them. Being concerned for our children and watching out for the dangers they can’t yet see themselves is a normal part of parenthood; however, healthy concern can quickly transform into unhealthy worry. Our latest guest knows the destructive power of worry, and she is here to help us mark a path to peace. Laurie Davies is a speaker, lay counselor, and the author of an important new book, Emotional Hoarding: Letting Go of the Stuff That Keeps You Stuck. In this episode, Laurie shares: Key differences between concern and worryEncouragement for parents in every seasonHow to rely on God and release your worryAnd more!We hope you enjoy this conversation! Show Notes: https://growinghometogether.com/laurie-davies-129

A few weeks ago, we were sitting around the dinner table, enjoying a simple family meal together. But it felt like our son with ADHD spent less time in his chair and more time moving around the house. During the course of the meal, he got up for water, then the bathroom, then a spoon, then to grab something from his room…the list kept going! By the end, we had lost count of how many times he’d been in and out of his seat. Moments like that remind us how often our expectations as parents don’t quite match the day-to-day reality of parenting a child who has ADHD. Getting out the door can feel like a challenge. Jackets and homework seem to disappear at the worst times. And some days, his room looks like a tornado passed through. There are days when it feels like so much of our energy is spent trying to manage behavior that we don’t always get to slow down and simply enjoy who our son is. If you’ve felt this too, please know you’re not alone. So many families are walking this same road, trying to better understand, support, and truly appreciate their child’s unique way of moving through the world. Our guest today, Kirk Martin, has walked this journey himself as a parent to his son, Casey. Kirk is the founder of CelebrateCalm, where he equips parents and teachers with strategies that help decrease power struggles with children who are diagnosed with ADHD or autism. In this episode, Kirk shares: Some of the benchmark behaviors of an ADHD childCreative ways to work with your child’s preferencesHelpful strategies to support our children in the classroomAnd more!We hope you enjoy this conversation! Show Notes: https://growinghometogether.com/kirk-martin-128

As we’ve parented our five children through the years, we’ve held them when the tears wouldn’t stop flowing. We’ve listened as they questioned their worth, identity, and if the hard season they were walking through would ever end. We have spent plenty of time in the waiting rooms of counselors and therapists when our children were struggling. And we’ve spent even more time in prayer when we just didn’t know what they needed or how to help. If you are a parent, you’ve likely found yourself in a similar position at some point. You may even be questioning how you can support your teen with their mental health right now. That’s why we are so grateful to welcome Kristen Hatton to the podcast to have this important conversation. Kristen is a counselor, author, mother of three young adult children, and host of the Redemptive Parenting podcast, where she equips parents with wisdom and hope. Kristen is also the author of a powerful new book, Parenting Ahead: Preparing Now for the Teen Years. In this episode, Kristen shares: How family mealtime can have a powerful impact on our children’s mental healthThree signs you should seek additional support for your teenWhy we should offer support rather than solve problemsAnd more!We hope you enjoy this conversation! Show Notes: https://growinghometogether.com/kristen-hatton-127/

In a “more is better” culture, how can women live lives that are balanced, not burned out? It’s easy to mistake a busy life for a meaningful one. Often, we don’t realize how exhausted we truly are until we reach a breaking point. I’ve had my own season of burnout, juggling a job, volunteer roles, and homeschooling while Rob traveled extensively for work and we prepared for a cross-country move. When the boxes were finally unpacked, I looked around and found myself in a new life that was shockingly quiet. Out of that stillness, I gained a lot of perspective about roles, priorities, and peace. As women, we care deeply for the close relationships in our lives. We want to love others well. We also want to give our best to the values and commitments that matter to us, whether that be a job, volunteer work, or homeschooling. How do we find the balance? My guest today has wrestled through these questions as well. Kelsie Zarko is a wife, mom of two, and owner of the small business, Curate Social. We sat down for an honest, mom-to-mom conversation about seasons, roles, identity, and so much more. Kelsie shares powerful insight into how women end up burned out, and how we can find a different path when we stop striving and choose to live from a place of being deeply loved. In this episode, Kelsie shares: Practical ideas for being intentional in relationships and prioritiesA helpful definition of self-care and how to pursue itThoughts on how to live from identity, not performanceAnd more!I found this conversation so encouraging and I hope you do, too! Show Notes: https://growinghometogether.com/kelsie-zarko-126/

Every week, we hear from wives who are quietly carrying the weight of a husband’s alcohol addiction. “I am hoping and praying that he gets healed and that his addiction doesn’t kill him.” “I have anxiety. I have fear. I feel stuck.” “Too many times I have felt hopeless and have wanted to be dead so I wouldn’t feel this pain.” “Hopefully my marriage will turn out for God’s glory.” These words reflect the deep pain many women experience behind closed doors. Loving someone who struggles with addiction can leave you exhausted, confused, and wondering where God is in the middle of it all. That is why we are so grateful for today’s guest. Julie Sanford is a wife and mom of three who never imagined she would one day be married to an alcoholic. After walking through the long and difficult road toward her husband’s sobriety, she now comes alongside other Christian wives facing similar battles. Julie is a recovery mentor and the host of the Married to Addiction podcast, where she offers practical tools and biblical encouragement for marriages impacted by addiction. In this episode, Julie shares: Common misconceptions wives often believe about their husband’s alcohol addictionWhy shifting from “fixing him” to caring for yourself is a crucial step toward healingThe importance of understanding what addiction truly is, and what it is notAnd much more!We hope this conversation brings clarity and hope to your heart! Show Notes: growinghometogether.com/julie-sanford-125

We all know that anxiety can take a big toll on the person who is personally suffering from it. But what we don’t talk about as often is how anxiety can take a toll on a marriage. The truth is, this challenging mental condition can often cause fear, exhaustion, and a sense of isolation that leaves both spouses wondering how to support one another or stay connected. If you and your spouse are navigating anxiety, this conversation with Dr. Michelle Bengtson offers encouragement and practical wisdom. Dr. Bengtson is a clinical neuropsychologist who understands anxiety both professionally and personally. She has endured anxiety and depression herself, and her book, Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises, became an unexpected guide during her own season of fearful thoughts as she and her husband faced cancer and all the accompanying unknowns. In this episode, Dr. Bengtson shares both clinical insight and spiritual wisdom to help couples navigate anxiety’s impact on their relationship. While anxiety can feel lonely and overwhelming for both partners, there is hope. In this episode, Dr. Bengtson shares: How couples can draw closer to one another, even in the midst of anxietyWhy presence matters more than perfectionHow to prevent compassion fatigue and caregiver burnoutAnd much more!We hope you enjoy this conversation! Show Notes: growinghometogether.com/michelle-bengtson-124