Mama, Take Heart

The next few years are ones of discovery for your girl. She’s on a journey into womanhood, and you are one of many guides on this path. There are other people in her sphere of influence (family members, friends, youth group, coach, teachers, and culture), but of all of these guides, you are the most influential.This is a time in her life where her story converges with your story. This can be challenging. In this episode, Robrenna walks us through the story of Hagar in Genesis 16, and asks us these questions: where did you come from, and where are you going?Our goal should be to help our girl understand who she is in Christ, and who God says she is according to His Word. As you walk this journey together, God intends you both to learn and grow together.Resources mentioned in this episode:The One Year Mother/Daughter Devo by Dannah Gresh (this book is great for tweens, but some may find it a little dated).Verses on Your Girl’s Identity in Christ:Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 1:5; 1 John 3:1; Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 139; Jeremiah 1:5How to Connect with Robrenna:On her website: https://www.robrennaredl.com/Be sure to check out the Mama Take Heart webpage for a FREE list of ways to bond with your daughter and for previous episode resources and notes.Follow Robrenna on InstagramImage Credit: Getty/Ponomariova_Maria Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

When should we start talking to our girls about sex? Jackie Brewton (author, youth speaker, teen relationship expert and the founder and CEO of MotivationN3D) says this: “The misnomer is that the conversation needs to be a ‘sex talk.’ I think you need to talk about sex, but I think the bigger conversation needs to be about healthy relationships.”In this episode, Jackie and Robrenna talk about:- What age-appropriate conversations about sex and relationships can look like.- Why you can’t wait until your daughter’s first relationship to start talking about dating and sex.- The trend of n*de pictures and what parents need to know.- Why you need to be careful about how you talk about other girls in your daughter’s life who make poor choices.- The difference between how guys and girls view sex and why it mattersTo connect with Jackie:Instagram | JackieBrewton.com | YouTubeHow to Connect with Robrenna:On her website: https://www.robrennaredl.com/Be sure to check out the Mama Take Heart webpage for a FREE list of ways to bond with your daughter and for previous episode resources and notes.Follow Robrenna on InstagramEpisode Image Credit: Getty/Olga Streinkova Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Teens gain weight. This is not a problem. It’s how they get to their adult size. But too often, mamas start to worry about their child's weight as they begin puberty, especially their daughters. In this episode, Bracha Kopstick, a registered dietitian specializing in adolescent nutrition and food freedom for youth aged 8-15, talks to Robrenna about navigating the often-loaded topic of food, diets and weight gain with our children.Bracha wants every parent to understand this: kids need to gain weight. Weight gain is not something to fear or to address. Bodies change over time. Learning to respect the growth of the body from childhood to adulthood, and respecting our own bodies as mamas, is part of modeling a healthy relationship with food. When we honor our own bodies, we better honor our children’s bodies.Here are Bracha’s 3 tips for normalizing food as a positive part of life with your children:1. Remove judgment around food. Don’t call foods “good” or “bad.”2. Normalize eating. There are physical AND emotional reasons for eating. 3. Try to have family meals as you can. There is a lot of research around the benefits of eating together as a family, including decreasing the risk of developing problematic eating behaviorsWhat about teens and diet culture? Bracha and Robrenna discuss the trend of teen girls diet hop from the latest diet fad, as they hop from friend group to friend group. How should parents view these popular diets like Vegan or Keto?To connect with Bracha, follow her on Instagram, and visit her website, Beekaynutrition.comFollow Robrenna:Website | InstagramEpisode Image Credit: Getty/Aleksei Morozov Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

*Please note: This episode contains sensitive and possibly upsetting conversation about trafficking.*In this episode, Robrenna talks with Paul Yates, the Executive Director of I’ve Got a Name. Then she shares Megan’s story.For more information or ways you can help see the links below:I've Got a NameI've Got a Name Facebook PagePolaris ProjectHuman Trafficking Hotline: Call 1-888-373-7888 ( TTY: 711)*Text 233733The National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrenMegan’s story recording courtesy of Vision Builders at Christ Place Church. Many thanks to them for sharing their recording with us.Follow Robrenna:Website | InstagramEpisode Image Credit: Getty/Tuuti Frutti Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

*Please note: This episode contains conversation about childhood abuse and trauma*In this episode, Robrenna talks with Sandhya about transracial adoption and her story of coming to Jesus. Sandhya shares practical ideas for transracial families to help them navigate and celebrate their child's birth roots.Connect with Sandhya on her website or follow her on Instagram and Facebook.Sandhya is also a Race & Diversity Specialist Apprentice with Restoration Counseling.Follow Robrenna:Website | InstagramEpisode Image Credit: Getty/Elena_Zlatomrezova Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Mama, how are you this week? Really?We all know the saying, ‘If Mama’s not happy, no one’s happy.” That’s because moms have the unique ability to set the temperature of the home. Often, what she’s feeling directly impacts the feelings of those around her. Is your house cold right now, or warm?Today, Robrenna takes your temperature to see how you’re doing mentally, physically, and spiritually. What We Talk about This Week -1. The power of deep, slow breathing. Adding prayer to that deep breathing can calm us.2. Check out the Abide Bible App for mindful, God-centered meditation.3. The why and how of journaling to shift through emotions.4. How our adrenal system can compound our anxiety5. The benefits of crying to help you move out of anxious, overwhelming thoughts6. Make time - even just 15 minutes a week - doing something that brings you joy.7. Jesus’ directly told us to rest and pray - are we following that command?8. When you prioritize taking care of yourself, you are teaching your children to do the same.Resources to Help You:WebMD for ideas on how to rechargeAbide Bible Meditation App sign up for the free versionMy Life AppDr. Carolyn LeafDr. Carolyn LeafFollow Robrenna:Website | InstagramEpisode Image Credit: Getty/Elena_Zlatomrezova Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Every one of us has been traumatically impacted by the events of the past year. If your Gen Z child is struggling with anxiety or other trauma right now, this interview with Patria Rector has a lot of practical guidance for you.Topics Discussed in this Episode:• The difference between “Big T” and “little t” trauma• Secondary trauma, or compassion fatigue. This happens when we bear witness to the traumas of others. This is mostly present in adulthood, but children can experience this, especially in the Internet age.• How can I tell if my child is experiencing trauma?• What is the difference between experiencing trauma and being traumatized?• How can parents who are traumatized help their children navigate their own trauma?• How our bodies experience trauma and how we can help our children navigate symptoms in their bodies• What is resilience and the formula for each child’s unique resilience• Attunement – what it is and why we need this skill in order to attend to our childrenResources Mentioned in this Episode:For a list of ways to take care of ourselves and each other, go to Patria’s website, TheBrokenandBeautiful.com The more on the work of healing: The Allender Center The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk, MD Faith and Healing Amid Turmoil by Robrenna Check out these Podcasts:Your Daily Prayer - A Prayer for When You Are AnxiousBreathe: The Stress Less PodcastFollow Robrenna:Website | InstagramEpisode Image Credit: Getty/Elena_Zlatomrezova Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today, we’re continuing our ADHD conversation with Jennifer Kampfe. We’re discussing specific strategies you can use to help your child manage their ADHD.Jennifer’s Tips:1. Learn as much as you can about ADHD.2. Be discerning.3. Adjust your expectations for your child and stop comparing them with their siblings or peers. Most ADHD children are 3-5 years behind their peers in executive functions and emotional maturity.4. Routines are key for ADHD children. Jennifer has some great tips for how to create routines that help ADHD children thrive.Resources Mentioned in This Episode:ADDitude Magazine - https://www.additudemag.com Recommended Doctors who specialize in ADHD:Dr. Russell Barkley - https://www.russellbarkley.orgDr. Ned Hallowell - https://www.drhallowell.comDr. Thomas Brown - https://www.brownadhdclinic.comAbout Jennifer:Jennifer Kampfe is a wife, a mom of five children, and an ADHD coach from Lincoln, Nebraska. She has a master's degree in music therapy from Radford University in Virginia. After having two sons diagnosed with ADHD, and wanting to help them more, she began her training at the ADD Coach Academy. Connect with Jennifer online at Fantastically FocusedFollow Robrenna:Website | Instagram Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this episode, Robrenna talks with ADHD expert and coach Jennifer Kampfe about:• Their journey through their children’s diagnosis with ADHD.• What ADHD means and why it is important to understand that people with ADHD have different brain wiring that causes deficits in everyday functions. • The latest research says that ADHD isn’t actually a deficit of attention, it’s a deficit in self-regulation.• Why ADD is no longer a diagnosis and the new subsets of ADHD.• Why girls struggle to get ADHD diagnosis and why they often show different symptoms of ADHD than boys.• ADHD medication - should your child be on medicine for their ADHD?About Jennifer:Jennifer Kampfe is a wife, a mom of five children, and an ADHD coach from Lincoln, Nebraska. She has a master's degree in music therapy from Radford University in Virginia. After having two sons diagnosed with ADHD, and wanting to help them more, she began her training at the ADD Coach Academy. Connect with Jennifer online at Fantastically FocusedFollow Robrenna:Website | InstagramEpisode Image Credit: Getty/Nadia_Bormotova Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Robrenna talks with Jonathan McKee about his new book, A Teen’s Guide to Face-to-Face Connections in a Screen-to-Screen World. He wrote the book with his daughter, Alyssa, who is right on the line between Millennial and Gen-Z.Topics Discussed in This Episode:• Why 2012 was such a turning point in the digital world• Why the vulnerability and honesty of younger generations can help us learn how to manage new technologies• New research on the effects of social media on girls• What happened when Alyssa decided to take a social media break• Teaching our kids that what they post now may have repercussions in the future• The benefits of delaying giving your kids phones (and how you can talk to them about waiting for that coveted phone)• How to deal with potential predatory behavior in social media appsFind more from Jonathan:Becoming ScreenwiseJonathan’s books can be found here. Follow Robrenna:Website | InstagramEpisode Image Credit: Getty/Nadia_Bormotova Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.