In this final episode of the season, Moms Take Ten closes out the Parenting Practical series by stepping into the complex and often overwhelming topic of childhood aggression. Host Lyssa Stoyko is joined by Connected Families Certified Parent Coach Julie Maas for an honest, hope-filled conversation that many moms quietly need.

Together, they move beyond surface-level behaviors to explore what's really happening beneath the outbursts—reminding moms that aggression is often a signal of deeper needs like fear, frustration, overstimulation, or disconnection. With practical wisdom and gospel-centered encouragement, they help parents shift from simply reacting to behavior toward responding with curiosity, empathy, and self-awareness.

Julie shares tangible tools for those heated moments—how to regulate your own responses, prioritize safety when needed, and lean into connection through calm presence, empathy, and even playfulness. The conversation also highlights the importance of repair: what it looks like to reconnect after things escalate, model humility, and guide children toward growth without shame.

Most importantly, this episode reminds moms that even in the hardest parenting moments, God is at work—not only in their children, but in their own hearts. With grace and truth, Lyssa and Julie paint a picture of parenting that values relationship over perfection and sees every meltdown as an opportunity for deeper connection.

If you've ever felt isolated, overwhelmed, or unsure how to handle aggression in your home, this conversation offers both practical help and lasting hope.

Guest Bio: Hi! My name is Julie Maas. After saying "Yes" to Jesus to move to Belize as a missionary in 2008-2018, our family was never the same. Since we have become parents, we've grown in having biological, foster and adopted children and experience with traumas, abuse, ADHD, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, self harm, and how to best serve our family with sensory needs and intense behaviors. Because I have learned, failed, and read so much over the years, the Lord has taught me abundantly. I want to serve other families with encouragement, grace-filled truth, practical suggestions, equipping and a listening ear in crisis. I am an RN, American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) Board Certified Nurse Coach, and Connected Families Certified Parent Coach. Connect with Julie here.

Lyssa is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/

Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thank you for your time!

Want to say hello?

Follow on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko
Email at momstaketen@gmail.com

In this final episode of Moms of the Bible for this season, Lyssa is joined by a very special guest—her mom, Judy—as they reflect on the quiet yet powerful legacy of faith seen in the lives of Timothy's mother and grandmother, Eunice and Lois. Though only briefly mentioned in Scripture, these women are remembered for something deeply significant: their genuine faith in God, passed down from one generation to the next.

Together, Lyssa and Judy explore what it looks like to cultivate that same kind of faith in our own homes. Through stories, Scripture, and personal reflection, Judy shares how God's Word shaped her parenting—from prioritizing church and Scripture memory to creating a home where conversations about the Lord were a natural part of everyday life. She also offers encouragement for moms in the thick of raising children, reminding us that God is faithful to continue the work He has begun in us and our families.

This episode is a beautiful reminder that faith doesn't have to be flashy to be impactful. As we walk with God and invite Him into the ordinary rhythms of our homes, we are planting seeds that, by His grace, can bear fruit for generations to come.

Verses Referenced (all from NLT):

• 2 Timothy 1:15
• Acts 16:1
• Proverbs 3:5-6
• Psalm 62:6&8
• Lamentations 3:21-23
• Isaiah 26:3
• Deuteronomy 6:5-7
• Joshua 24:15b
• Proverbs 22:6
• Philippians 1:6
• Colossians 3:16-17
• Ephesians 3:20-21

Judy Loosa is wife to Alex, mom to four and grandma to ten. She loves Jesus and has served him over the years in a variety of ways from playing the piano at church, to leading small groups, and now welcoming other widows into her home for monthly encouragement. Her quiet faith has been a beautiful testimony to many, both in her family and beyond the walls of her home.

Lyssa is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/

Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thank you for your time!

Want to say hello?

Follow on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko
Email at momstaketen@gmail.com

Images from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.

In our final episode of this season's Parenting in Scripture series, Lyssa reflects on the heart behind the series—looking beyond traditional "parenting passages" and instead allowing all of Scripture to shape the way we think about and engage in motherhood. Each verse, encountered through quiet time, sermons, and everyday moments, serves as a reminder that God's Word is unchanging, yet always speaking fresh truth into our lives.

In this episode, Lyssa shares a personal moment from a recent Sunday at church, where a passage from Romans 12 met her in the middle of a difficult parenting morning. Rather than teaching through the text, she invites listeners to experience it alongside her—by simply receiving it. As Romans 12:9–21 is read, this episode creates space for moms to slow down, reflect, and listen for what the Lord may be speaking to their own hearts.

Whether you are able to pause in stillness or are tuning in on the go, this episode offers a gentle invitation to breathe, be present, and consider what God is inviting you to hold onto today.

Lyssa is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/

Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thank you for your time!

Want to say hello?

Follow on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko
Email at momstaketen@gmail.com

In this episode of Moms Take Ten, Lyssa is joined by Kayla Moffitt of @makingthemoffits for an honest and deeply encouraging conversation about foster care, adoption, and the realities of parenting children from hard places. Kayla shares her family's unexpected journey from planning for two foster children to welcoming five siblings into their home—and how God expanded their capacity along the way.

Together, they talk about the tension of "uncomfortable, not unsafe," navigating relationships with biological families, and the importance of naming our discomfort so it doesn't quietly shape our parenting. Kayla also speaks candidly about the challenges of trauma-informed parenting, the impact it has on a family, and the necessity of finding support and community.

Whether you're in the foster/adoptive space or simply walking through a hard season of motherhood, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone—and that inviting others in may be one of the most powerful steps you can take.

Lyssa is a Connected Families Certified Parent Coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/

Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thank you for your time!

Want to say hello?

Follow on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko
Email at momstaketen@gmail.com

In this episode of Moms Take Ten, Lyssa is joined by fellow Connected Families certified parent coach Merrie Beth Eubanks for an honest and hope-filled conversation about parenting children with special needs. Drawing from her own family's journey, Merrie Beth shares how traditional parenting approaches often fall short—and how shifting expectations, embracing accommodations, and slowing down can open the door to deeper connection and growth.

Together, they explore the Connected Families Framework, offering practical encouragement for reframing meltdowns, breaking down skills into manageable steps, and approaching both coaching and correction with grace. You'll be reminded that while this path can be stretching and humbling, it is also rich with purpose—shaping not only our children, but our hearts, our families, and our dependence on God.

Whether you're navigating a diagnosis, supporting a neurodiverse child, or simply longing for fresh perspective in your parenting, this conversation will help you breathe, reset, and remember: you're not alone, and God is at work in every step.

Merrie Beth Eubanks is a wife and mother of four children ages 21 to 8, and lives just outside of Chattanooga, TN. Her journey as both a parent and educator has deeply shaped her passion for supporting families and helping children thrive. She is a certified Connected Families Parent Coach, and loves walking alongside parents as they build strong, connected relationships with
their children.

She holds a master's degree in education and serves as the Director of Curriculum, Individualized Learning, and Family Support for a new school opening this year. This school is designed to provide individualized instruction for students who need extra support, meeting them where they are academically, socially, and emotionally.

Merrie Beth is passionate about helping families feel encouraged, equipped, and not alone in their parenting journey, and she is grateful to be part of conversations that bring hope and practical tools to everyday life.

Lyssa is a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/

Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thank you for your time!

Want to say hello?

Follow on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko
Email at momstaketen@gmail.com

In this episode of Moms Take Ten, Lyssa is joined by her friend Erin for another conversation in the Moms in the Bible series, focusing on Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. Together, they reflect on Elizabeth's quiet but powerful faith—her trust in God's timing, her joyful acceptance of her calling, and the way she wholeheartedly encouraged Mary without comparison or jealousy.

Through honest conversation and a few laughs, Lyssa and Erin explore what it looks like to find joy in the role God has given you—even when it looks different than you expected—and how Elizabeth's story reminds us of the importance of community, empathy, and supporting one another in motherhood. This episode is an encouragement to embrace your own story with gratitude, look for God's goodness in every season, and be the kind of friend who speaks life and truth into others.

Elizabeth's story can be found in Luke 1. Listen to the other episodes on Elizabeth: Elizabeth's Testimony and Elizabeth part 2.

Erin Muehlfeld is a wife and mom of three, a deep thinker and an avid board gamer. She serves at her local church, helping women find connection as they pursue Christ together.

Lyssa is a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/

Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thank you for your time!

Want to say hello?

Follow on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko
Email at momstaketen@gmail.com

Image from John Heseltine / Pam Masco / FreeBibleimages.org.

Do you ever wake up already overwhelmed by the day ahead? In this episode, Lyssa shares how a simple shift—starting her mornings with "This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it"—began to change her mindset and her parenting.

By anchoring herself in Psalm 118, she discovered that rejoicing isn't about feelings—it's a daily choice rooted in God's truth and faithful love.

If you're in a hard season, this episode will encourage you to reset your heart, speak truth over your day, and remember: you don't walk through it alone.

Lyssa is a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/

Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. Thank you for your time!

Want to say hello?

Follow on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko
Email at momstaketen@gmail.com

Watching doors close on our dreams can break our hearts and cause us to question God's good plan for us. Years later, after watching doors close in her own life, my guest Audrey Frost sees how God used that to guide her to new doors and new dreams, including caring for children through Safe Families for Children. She has experienced the wonder of love for children not her own and the sustaining power of God through the hard of showing them that love.

Audrey Frost is a wife and mom of two daughters, ages 19 and 16, who loves God, baking and opening her home to children through Safe Families. https://safe-families.org/

I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/

Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time!

Want to say hello?

Follow me on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko
Email me at momstaketen@gmail.com