Here’s a detailed look at how, in the first two weeks of breastfeeding, I begin gently prioritizing sleep… so that our whole family (parents, older siblings, and baby included) achieves sanity, sleep, and contentment ASAP. This is the way we’ve done it with all 8 of our babies. Video outline: 1:00- What method we follow 1:25- […]
Q&A: Teens & Rude Tone of Voice? – Jess Connell
Q: “My son (13 almost 14) often has a scowl on his face for no reason. I assume he is grump mode. I could be talking, reading scripture, or just driving with him. I ask “What’s wrong?” or say “Why are you having attitude?” Then he lashes out “Uh! MOM!….” I am likely to blame […]
“If Every…” (a Self-Assessment for Christian Moms) – Jess Connell
I like questions and ideas that help me be “have a sober estimate” of myself, like Romans 12:3 tells us to do. If you are a Christian mom, here are some questions you can consider, to help discern if you are being sober-minded and reasonable in your thoughts, words, and choices. Essentially, they all stem […]
What Do You Give Up, In Order to Homeschool? – Jess Connell
A friend recently asked this question: What do you give up, in order to homeschool? Yes, we GAIN a lot in return… but every homeschooling family weighs difficult choices, and makes real sacrifices, in order to make it happen. So what do you give up to make it happen in your home? Here’s my answer: A […]
Beware the Mom Idol of Affirmation – Jess Connell
“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her…” In the human heart there is a desire to be blessed, to be loved, and to feel special… As moms, we long for what we do to really MATTER and be NOTICED. Especially in this modern age, moms are desperate for notice. […]
“ABOUT TO POP?” Encouraging Thoughts about Going Past Your Due Date – Jess Connell
Note: these are not current pics. For this post, I scoured my hard drive for all the pregnant-me pictures I could find. Almost every pregnant woman gets to a certain point where she JUST. FEELS. DONE. We feel massive, bloated, tired of waking up all hours to go potty, irritable (rather than sentimental) when the […]
Every Mom is a Theologian – Jess Connell
You are a theologian. And I am too. We may each be a good one, a subpar one, or a heretic, but we can’t get away from *having* a theology and bringing it to the table with each day of mothering. Who matters most in our theology? For many moms, the person who matters most […]
Jess Connell – Page 44 of 44 – encouraging other moms as we make our way Heavenward
Q: My 2.5 year old son is having tantrums, laying on the floor, thrashing and screaming. I feel like something is wrong! Is this normal? What do I do? A: Yes, this is something “normal.” Tantrums are without a doubt something you will face as mom, and every single one of my children has tried to […]
Q&A: What Does Titus 2 Look Like, PRACTICALLY? – Jess Connell
Q: I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on how [Titus 2] plays out practically? I’m in my mid-30’s and Titus 2 mentoring is on my heart, but as a homeschool mom my days are busy, and time is the most difficult hurdle. Also, how would you structure your time together with a younger woman? Do […]
October 2016 Round-Up: Podcasts & Posts – Jess Connell
Did you miss something? Catch up and get the encouragement your heart needs. BABY WATCH & MY WRITING/PODCASTING SCHEDULE Sometime in the next 4-6 weeks, God willing, we’ll meet our new little person. Yippee! 🙂 At that point, my blogposts will slow to 1 post a week. Mom On Purpose podcasts will continue to be released once a week, every […]
How TO (and how NOT to) Raise a Monstrous Son – Jess Connell
We were outside, sitting in the filtered summer sun, under a group of large trees. At our community library event I was sitting at the back of a large group of mothers with their children. The woman right in front of me had one 3 or 4 year old son. At one point, he walked up to […]
“What Good is That with This Huge Crowd?” – Jess Connell
In John 6, Jesus is teaching a massive crowd, and meal time arrives. But it looks hopeless. It was too late, and would be too expensive, to run to the town/store to feed such a large group. This happens in our home from time to time. I always think of Sally Clarkson, who said something like […]
When Your Home Life Needs a JumpStart – Jess Connell
Note from Jess: I wrote this more than a year ago, three months after having baby #9. We’re… barely… creeping out of the postpartum season. Wowzers, things feel overwhelming. I looked around last night and here’s what I noticed: the driveway was a mess. Recycling that hadn’t made it to the bin, toys that were […]
Jess Connell – Page 8 of 44 – encouraging other moms as we make our way Heavenward
Our oldest son, Ethan (14), with his brothers Luke (21 months), and Fisher (newborn) The misperception is common, and I probably would have thought wrongly about it, too. Back when I was single, or a mom of 1-2 kids, if I’d had to describe what postpartum weeks would look like for a mom with her […]