Postpartum Psychosis: A Mother’s Story of Hope & Healing :: Amanda Taylor [Ep 593]

In The Prodigal’s Mother, author Vela Tomba, a mom of three adult children, helps moms navigate the challenges of parenting adult and young adult kids. Through her own 36-year journey of motherhood, she has learned the freedom and peace that come from letting go of the need to rescue, fix, and control our children’s lives. She encourages moms to stay in their own “hula hoop,” trust God, and discover joy even when their children’s stories look different than they imagined. About This Episode What happens when your child’s life doesn’t follow the script you imagined? In this conversation, Vela shares how our expectations for our children can become idols, leading us to rescue, control, and tie our own peace to their choices. We talk about the heartbreak of having a prodigal child and how to trust God when your child’s choices take them down a different path than you hoped. Through releasing our grip, embracing the reality of our children’s stories, and trusting God to write His script, not ours, we can find peace, freedom, and joy even in the hardest seasons of motherhood. In this episode, we discuss:

Melissa Harrison is the President and CEO of 4word, an organization that equips professional Christian women to integrate their faith and work through community, mentoring, and leadership development. 4word creates spaces where women can build authentic connections, grow in their leadership, and live out their purpose in every season of life. Melissa brings a unique perspective as a working mom navigating career, family, faith, and the many demands that come with trying to do it all. About This Episode What happens when you're trying to be a great mom, a great employee or leader, a good friend, and still take care of yourself? In this conversation, Melissa and I talk honestly about the pressure women feel to do it all, and what can get lost along the way. We talk about the loneliness that can come with busy seasons, why friendship and connection often get pushed to the bottom of the list, and the importance of intentionally making space for people. Whether you're a working mom or a stay-at-home mom, there's an invitation to step back and ask: Who am I beyond the roles I fill, and what would it look like to stop carrying everything alone? In This Episode, We Talk About:

Vicki Courtney is an author, speaker, and mom who has spent years helping parents navigate the hard conversations that come with raising kids in today’s culture. Through her books and ministry, she equips parents to talk honestly with their kids about faith, culture, relationships, and the challenges they’re facing. In this top 10 episode (which originally aired on March 18, 2019), Vicki and I talk about how to parent with courage and humility in a culture that can feel increasingly unfamiliar to Christian families. Instead of parenting from fear, Vicki encourages us to make space for honest questions, lead with love, and create an environment where our kids know they can come to us with anything. Even when the world feels uncertain, Jesus is still our hope, and our kids need parents who are willing to walk alongside them as they wrestle with faith.

Today’s guest is Crystal Paine, founder of MoneySavingMom.com and a longtime advocate for helping families save money, manage their finances, and live with greater intention. Crystal is passionate about helping women find financial peace and make practical changes with whatever they have, wherever they are. In This Episode We’re talking about the fear, stress, and emotions that can come with money, and how to move toward greater financial peace. Crystal shares practical habits anyone can start using today, whether you’re paying off debt, trying to save, or simply wanting to feel more confident about where your money is going. We talk about:

As moms, it can be easy to confuse parenting with controlling. We want our children to make wise choices, succeed, and avoid pain. But fear can quickly turn our desire to help into nagging, manipulation, or control. Sarah Stephens joins me to talk about what it looks like to move from controlling our children to mentoring, discipling, guiding, and loving them well. Sarah shares how God has taught her that our calling is not to control outcomes, but to remain faithful to the process. We talk about seeking wisdom from above, listening for God’s voice, recognizing the difference between conviction and condemnation, and learning to entrust our children and their choices to God. In this episode, we talk about: