Screens, social media, gaming, and digital devices are part of everyday childhood, but how do we guide our kids safely and wisely through it all?

In this episode, I’m joined by Sue Atkins, parenting expert and host of the Navigating the Digital Jungle podcast, to help parents confidently navigate screen time, online safety, and age-appropriate digital boundaries for children.

We dive into how to have ongoing conversations with kids about technology and how parents can stay proactive rather than reactive in today’s digital world. Sue also shares the practical tools and resources she’s created to support families as they raise children in a screen-saturated culture.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by devices, apps, or online influences, this conversation will equip you with clarity and actionable steps.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why digital boundaries matter at every stage of childhood

• How to approach age-appropriate conversations about screens and online activity

• How to teach kids healthy digital habits without fear or control

• The importance of connection over restriction in digital parenting

• Tools and resources Sue Atkins has created to help parents navigate the digital jungle

• How to prepare kids for the long-term impact of digital choices

Key Topics Discussed In This Episode:

• Parenting in the digital age

• Screen time limits for kids

• Online safety for children

• Digital boundaries for families

• Social media and kids

• Technology and child development

• Digital literacy and responsibility

About Today’s Guest: Sue Atkins

Sue Atkins is a globally recognized parenting expert, speaker, author, and host of the Navigating the Digital Jungle podcast. She is passionate about helping parents raise confident, resilient children in an increasingly digital world through practical strategies, education, and support.

Helpful Resources Mentioned

• Sue Atkins’ digital parenting resources: https://navigatingthedigitaljungle.com/resources/

• Navigating the Digital Jungle podcast:

  https://navigatingthedigitaljungle.com/the-podcast/

• Navigating the Digital Jungle blog:

  https://navigatingthedigitaljungle.com/blog/

Follow Sue:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook

If you’re parenting in the digital age and want to feel empowered rather than overwhelmed, this episode is for you!

🎧 Listen now and start navigating the digital jungle with confidence.

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Want to be a guest on The Motherhood Experience? Send Val Kleppen a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1758742098661627c9cc46f40

Parenting teenagers can feel overwhelming, confusing, and emotionally exhausting, especially when the relationship you once had with your child feels strained or distant.

In this episode, I’m joined by Jeanine Mouchawar for a powerful and honest conversation about navigating the tough teenage years while protecting and strengthening your connection with your teen.

Jeanine shares vulnerable, real-life examples and practical parenting insights on how to adjust your approach as your child grows, communicate more effectively, and build a relationship rooted in trust, respect, and understanding.

If you’re wondering how to parent teenagers without losing your sanity (or your relationship) this episode offers hope and actionable encouragement.

Whether you’re parenting middle schoolers or older teens, this conversation will help you feel less alone and more equipped to walk through the teenage years with confidence and compassion.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why parenting teenagers requires a shift in expectations and approach

• How to stay emotionally connected during turbulent teenage years

• Common mistakes parents make when trying to “fix” teen behavior

• Practical ways to strengthen your relationship with your teen

• How vulnerability and listening can transform parent-teen communication

• Encouragement for parents who feel like they’re “losing” their teenager

Who This Episode Is For

This episode is for parents who:

• Are navigating difficult or emotional teenage years

• Want a better relationship with their teen

• Feel disconnected and don’t know how to rebuild trust

• Are looking for realistic, grace-filled parenting strategies

• Want to parent teenagers with wisdom, flexibility, and confidence

Key Takeaway

You don’t have to choose between discipline and connection. With the right mindset and tools, it is possible to guide your teenager through hard seasons while preserving, and even strengthening, your relationship.

Connect With Jeanine:

5 Questions That Get Teens Talking

www.jeaninemouchawar.com

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

YouTube

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Want to be a guest on The Motherhood Experience? Send Val Kleppen a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1758742098661627c9cc46f40

In this powerful and faith-filled episode, we sit down with Debra McNinch, founder of Battle Cry Moms, to talk about what it truly means to fight for our children on our knees. If you are a mother carrying the weight of a prodigal child, praying for your children’s future, or feeling weary in the spiritual battle of motherhood, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

Debra shares encouragement for mothers who feel discouraged, reminding us that prayer is not passive. It is an act of courage, obedience, and fierce love. We explore how to stand firm in faith, refuse fear, and boldly intercede for our children’s hearts, futures, and callings.

This episode is a rallying cry for mothers who refuse to give up, even when the road is long and the answers feel slow.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• What it means to have a “battle cry” as a mother

• Praying faithfully for prodigal children

• Standing firm in faith when fear and doubt creep in

• Letting go of guilt and trusting God with outcomes we can’t control

Key Takeaway:

You are not powerless. Your prayers matter. And even when you can’t see the work God is doing, heaven is moving when a mother prays.

🌐 Learn more at BattleCryMoms.com and DebraMcninch.com

Who This Episode Is For:

• Mothers praying for prodigal sons or daughters

• Moms feeling spiritually weary or discouraged

• Women who want to grow deeper in prayer for their children

• Faith-driven mothers who refuse to give up the fight

Keywords for SEO:

Christian motherhood podcast, praying for prodigal children, faith-based parenting, spiritual warfare for parents, mothers praying for children, Christian parenting encouragement, prayer for children’s future, motherhood and faith

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Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Motherhood Experience⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website

Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠

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Want to be a guest on The Motherhood Experience? Send Val Kleppen a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1758742098661627c9cc46f40

This is a REPOST of The Motherhood Experience's Most Popular Episode of ALL TIME! As we head into the new year, I know this will be a good episode to revisit if you've heard it already, or a wonderful episode to hear for the first time if you're new here! This episode with RuthAnn Zimmerman will bless you, encourage you, and inspire you to start the new year off more invested in your motherhood and in your family.

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Many years ago RuthAnn Zimmerman popped up in my Instagram feed sharing something about gardening. Little did I know how much influence this woman would have in my motherhood journey! Listening to RuthAnn is like drinking from a deep well of wisdom - you will be encouraged, inspired, and happier just from listening to this conversation. (or your money back!) ;)

Follow RuthAnn:

on ⁠YouTube⁠

on ⁠Instagram⁠

via her ⁠Website⁠

RuthAnn and her family live in Northeast Iowa. She and herhusband Elvin have been married for 25 years, have 7 children, 2 sons-in-law, and 1 grandson. Five of the children still live at home. RuthAnn and her husband have been homesteading on their 21-acre homestead since 2001. They seek to preserve the self-sufficient lifestyle of their Mennonite Heritage for the next generation by involving their children in every aspect of the homestead. From raising and harvesting the meat they consume, gardening and preserving to fill the family's larder, processing the dairy from the family milk cow plus the many other skills that develop the character, integrity, and relationships of a family that desires to bring glory and honor to their Heavenly Father.

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Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Motherhood Experience⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website

Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook

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Want to be a guest on The Motherhood Experience? Send Val Kleppen a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1758742098661627c9cc46f40

In this special Christmas episode, we reflect on the motherhood of Mary, the mother of Jesus, by reading from Luke 1 and Luke 2 and walking through her journey of faith, surrender, and obedience. From the angel Gabriel’s announcement to the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, this episode highlights Mary’s humble yes to God and how her role as a mother forever changed the course of history. Through Scripture and personal reflection, we explore how Mary’s example continues to inspire Christian mothers today with courage, faith, and quiet strength.

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Want to be a guest on The Motherhood Experience? Send Val Kleppen a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1758742098661627c9cc46f40

💬 Episode Summary:

What does it really mean to live as a mission-driven mom? In this inspiring conversation, Audrey Rindlisbacher, founder of Mission Driven Mom, joins host Val Kleppen to share how faith, education, and divine purpose come together to transform a mother’s heart AND her home.

Audrey unpacks the principle-based framework that helps women grow spiritually, discover their God-given mission, and lead their families with confidence and conviction. Drawing from years of study, mentorship, and her own motherhood journey, she reminds us that the greatest gift we can offer our families is a well-educated, faith-filled mother who lives with intention and grace.

Whether you’re seeking spiritual growth, renewed purpose, or clarity in your calling as a mom, this episode will encourage you to root yourself in truth and step boldly into the mission God has placed on your life.

🔑 Key Topics Discussed:

• How Audrey’s faith journey led to the founding of Mission Driven Mom

• The connection between education, principle, and spiritual growth

• Why the greatest gift to a family is a well-educated mother

• How to discern and live out your divine purpose

• The role of faith and principle-centered living in motherhood

• Practical steps for becoming a mission-driven mom in everyday life

🙌 Connect with Audrey Rindlisbacher:

🌐 Website: missiondrivenmom.com📘 The Mission Driven Mom Podcast: Available wherever you listen📸 Instagram: @https://www.instagram.com/the_mission_driven_mom/

💛 Connect with Val:📸 Instagram: @_themotherhoodexperience💌 Join the community right here

🔍 SEO Keywords:

faith-based motherhood, Christian personal growth, mission driven mom, Audrey Rindlisbacher, living with purpose, Christian motherhood podcast, principle-based living, finding God’s calling, personal mission for moms, faith and education

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Want to be a guest on The Motherhood Experience? Send Val Kleppen a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1758742098661627c9cc46f40

Episode: When Motherhood Feels Overwhelming: How to Reset Your Home, Your Mind, and Your Expectations
Guest: Melissa Schulz , Speaker, Coach, and Founder at melissaschulz.com

Do you ever look around and think:“Why does motherhood feel SO HARD… and why does everyone else seem to handle it better?”

In today’s episode, Melissa Schulz shares how her early work with troubled and special-needs children equipped her with the exact tools she would need later as a mom of three, two of whom are neurodiverse. She opens up about how her career shaped her parenting, her perspective on neurodiversity, and her approach to managing overwhelm.

✨ Key Takeaways

Melissa offers practical, doable steps for moms who are drowning in responsibility and decision fatigue, including:

• How to recognize the root cause of overwhelm

• Why tiny shifts are more powerful than big dramatic fixes

• Simple systems that help your home run smoother without perfection

• How to parent neurodiverse kids with compassion and confidence

• What to do when you feel like you’re failing (spoiler: you’re not)

If you’ve ever wanted to take a breath, press reset, and feel capable again—this episode is your permission slip.

• You don’t need to overhaul your whole life—one small change creates momentum.

• Behavior is communication: your kids aren’t giving you a hard time, they’re having a hard time.

• Overwhelm is a signal, not a character flaw.

  
  

🚀 Resources Mentioned to Connect with Melissa:

👉 Website: melissaschulz.com

👉 Facebook

👉 Instagram

👉 LinkedIn

🔍 SEO Keywords / Phrases Used:

(overwhelm moms, motherhood overwhelm, neurodiverse kids, parenting neurodiverse children, small steps for overwhelmed moms, practical motherhood tips, reset your motherhood, simplify parenting)

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Want to be a guest on The Motherhood Experience? Send Val Kleppen a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1758742098661627c9cc46f40

When your child receives a medical diagnosis, your whole world shifts. In this episode, Val sits down with Constance Lewis, author, mother of three, and creator of the children’s book series celebrating her son, who wears a hero cape for good reason.

Constance opens up about the emotional and practical realities of parenting a child with epilepsy while still needing to be present for her other children. She shares what medical motherhood feels like behind the scenes : the fear, the strength you never knew you had, and the importance of helping siblings feel seen, valued, and emotionally supported.

If you are a mom walking through chronic illness, long-term medical care, or trauma in motherhood, this episode will remind you:
➡️ You’re not alone.

➡️ You’re stronger than you think.

➡️ Your presence matters more than your perfection.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• What it’s really like when your child is diagnosed with epilepsy

• How to stay emotionally present for your other kids during medical trauma

• The surprising role storytelling and imagination can play in healing

• How Constance turned her son’s experience into a powerful children’s book

• Practical encouragement for moms walking through fear, uncertainty, and guilt

📚 About Constance’s Book:

Constance Lewis is the author of the children’s book series featuring her son as a superhero, helping kids see themselves as brave, important, and capable, even in hard situations.

👉 Learn more about her books here:
🌐 https://colorfulcapesoffeelings.com

These stories help:

• Children with medical diagnoses feel represented

• Siblings better understand what’s happening

• Parents spark hopeful conversations

🌐 Connect with Constance:

Website: https://colorfulcapesoffeelings.com

Instagram

🔎 SEO Keywords Included:

• parenting a child with epilepsy

• medical mom / medical motherhood

• siblings of medically complex children

• coping with medical trauma in motherhood

• children's book about epilepsy

• epilepsy parenting encouragement

📢 Call to Action:

If this episode encourages you, share it with another mom walking through a hard season. Your story has power — just like Constance’s.

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Want to be a guest on The Motherhood Experience? Send Val Kleppen a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1758742098661627c9cc46f40