Spring 2020 AUA FAQs
The RM Team loves seeing questions roll in when we’re prepping for an “Ask Us Anything” podcast episode with Emily and Laura. Unfortunately, we can’t answer every question submitted to us—there’s not enough time. However, we have a treasure trove of resources and information in our show archives, article archives, and old show notes that have already answered some of the questions we receive. If you didn’t hear Emily and Laura answer your question on this most recent AUA show, check below. We’ve rounded up a collection of links from previous RM content (plus a few other sources) to help answer some of the most asked questions we received.
Motherhood
How can I learn time management? How do you navigate schedules, activities, feeds, meal planning, etc.?
I’m overwhelmed and anxious with two tiny ones. At what point do you begin to feel more okay with where you are?
The Gospel and Our Transitions, Chapter 5 of the Risen Motherhood book
What are your best tips to quickly calm yourself down when you feel yourself losing your temper with your kids?
How do you shift your heart and attitude when everyone and everything annoys you? How do you reset your heart?
How do you serve your family even if they seem ungrateful?
How do you show grace to people who tell you how to parent?
Ep. 69, Loving the Difficult Mom in Your Life
Ep. 74, Grandparents & the Gospel: Why Do They Get Under Your Skin?
Ep. 85, Same Grace, Unique Circumstances: Every Mom is Your Neighbor
The Gospel and Our Relationships, Chapter 11 of the Risen Motherhood book
Ep. 145, The Grandparents Weigh In: Cultivating Gracious Family Relationships
How do you preach the gospel to yourself and/or to your kids?
As a stay-at-home mom/work-from-home mom, how do you balance staying at home and taking the kids out on outings?
How do you handle the fear and/or anxiety that comes with transitions (moving, new baby, new job, etc.)?
How do you think about body image?
Ep. 66, Hannah Anderson: How Humility Nourishes a Weary Mom’s Soul
The Gospel and Our Postpartum Body Image, Chapter 9 of the Risen Motherhood book
Ep. 141, Body After Baby: Moms Share How the Gospel Changes their Perspective
What lessons have you learned being on this special needs journey?
Ep. 72, Questions, Appointments, Evaluations, and Differences: When Your Child Doesn’t Fit the Mold
Ep 58, Having A Child With Special Needs: An Interview with Abigail Dodds
“Special: How the Gospel Shapes the Unique Journey of Special Needs Parenting”
The Life We Never Expected (Book)
The Gospel and Our Children with Differences, Chapter 16 of the Risen Motherhood book
Ep. 147, How Can I Help? Loving the Friend Who Has a Child with Special Needs
How do you make time for self care? What does it look like for you? (x2)
The Gospel and Our Self-Care, Chapter 15 of the Risen Motherhood book
Failure. I feel that way a lot as a mom and a wife. How can I combat it Biblically?
How do you approach practicing hospitality?
Expecting/Birth
Did either of your have PPD or PPA? What helped you during that time?
2. Any tips on dealing with birth trauma?
3. Do you have encouragement for the pregnant and postpartum mom who needs patience and a peaceful attitude?
4. Have you experienced gender disappointment with any of your babies? How do you apply this gospel to this issue?
Journeywomen Ep. 35, On Unmet Expectations (Maggie Combs talks specifically about her disappointment and struggle through gender disappointment, but it’s applicable for all unmet expectations and desires.
5. Is it ok to be believers AND choose to have a small family (just two kids)? How do you discern when your family is complete (done with having children)?
I am expecting my first, second, third child. What are the best resources to equip myself?
Besides the Bible, check out the RM Resources Page—Books On Motherhood
Marriage
How do you still enjoy sex when you’re feeling used up, tried, and/or very unbeautiful all the time? How do you balance intimacy with your husband while being exhausted? How does the gospel apply?
The Gospel and Our Marriages, Chapter 6 of the Risen Motherhood book
What are some practical ways you intentionally show love to your husbands in everyday life?
Ep. 35, Putting Your Marriage First: Give Him More Than the Leftovers
Ep. 68, How Can Mom Support Dad Spiritually?: An Interview with Jerrad Lopes
The Gospel and Our Marriages, Chapter 6 of the Risen Motherhood book
What do you do for date nights? How do you prioritize your marriage?
Ep. 35, Putting Your Marriage First: Giving Him More Than Your Leftovers
Don’t Put Your Hope In Date Night — Laura and Emily for TGC
The Gospel and Our Marriages, Chapter 6 of the Risen Motherhood book
Ep. 135, The Husbands Weigh In: How Does the Gospel Shape Marriage in the Little Years?
How do you encourage your husband to lead your family?
How do you handle a discipline issue when your husband and you don't see eye to eye?
How do we know how many children we should have? How do my husband and I discuss it?
The Gospel and Our Marriages, Chapter 6 of the Risen Motherhood book
How can I put my husband/marriage before kids when I don’t see him until 7pm?
“Practical Ways to Love Your Husband Who Works Long Hours”
“Our Greatest Ally: God’s Grace for Marital Intimacy”
“Cultivating a Healthy Marriage as New Parents”
“Pray Before You Speak: Tips for Lovingly Approaching Yours Husband With Your Hurts”
“Encouragement for Moms When Dad Works Long Hours”
The Gospel and Our Marriages, Chapter 6 of the Risen Motherhood book
Family Dynamics
How do you meet the needs of your children, husband, and others, while still finding time for yourself—especially in your kiddos’ early years?
The Gospel and Our Self-Care, Chapter 15 of the Risen Motherhood book
What advice do you have when adjusting to new additions to the family? Planning family size?
Any practical advice for loving your husband in the chaos of the little years?
How do you advocate for your child(ren) with special needs and be Christ-like in your words and actions?
Ep. 113, Trusting God With Our children: An Interview on Faithful Motherhood with Nancy Guthrie
“Special: How the Gospel Shapes the Unique Journey of Special Needs Parenting”
The Gospel and Our Children with Differences, Chapter 16 of the Risen Motherhood book
How do you handle things like independent play time?
How do you cultivate such a good relationship with all of your sisters-in-law?
What do you do with grandparents who outdo you on gifts...You buy 4, they go out and buy 5... etc. ?
How did you learn to love your in-laws? And how to navigate tough conversations with them.
Friendship
How do you maintain old friendships and seek new friendships after a move while balancing motherhood?
Advice for relationship with other church moms who act very competitive about children’s development?
The Gospel and Our Relationships, Chapter 11 of the Risen Motherhood book
How should we handle conflict with others?
How do we make friend as adults?
How can hold each other accountable in the faith and spur one another on towards godliness while remaining unified in the gospel? How do you cultivate friendships with those in different seasons as you?
Ep. 122, Building Friendships with Women In Different Seasons: An Interview with Elizabeth Woodson
"Members, Not Measures: A Call to Own One Another's Joys and Sorrows"
The Gospel and Our Relationships, Chapter 11 of the Risen Motherhood book
Ep. 137, Walking & Learning Together: How Moms in the Local Church Help One Another
How do you ask an older mom/woman to mentor you in a way that isn’t burdensome to them?
How to start mentoring to younger gals? How do you start that conversation?
Faith/Identity
What do you think about those personality tests? Strengthsfinder, enneagram?
What does your church rhythm/Sabbath look like for your family in the season of young children?
Ep. 54, Ask Us Anything Spring 2017 (Emily covers naps and church in this episode!)
Sabbath Rest Is For Busy Moms, Too — Laura for TGC
What are some of your besetting sins, how do they flesh out in your daily life, and how do you practically battle them?
At different times, we’ve talked about struggling with anger:
Debbie Martens also shared here: Ep. 116, Leaning Into Grace: An Interview on Faithful Motherhood with Debbie Martens
“A Mother’s Hope”
We’ve also struggled with godly motives and boundaries for service:
What does it look like for you to fight your temptations with the truth of the gospel? How can we learn to find our identity in Christ and not in our motherhood or anything else?
How do we find peace in the right now?
How do you know when your child has accepted Christ? If they’re ready for baptism?
Do you see fruit in their lives?
For baptism, talk to your pastor/elders
How do you make decisions without being paralyzed by discovering God’s will?
How can you study God’s word when you’re completely exhausted?/ What should my quiet time “look like?”
How do spend time in prayer through the busyness of motherhood?
Suffering
How do you cling to hope during/after a miscarriage or infant loss? How can you encourage your husband?
How can we encourage a friend through pregnancy and infant loss?
How to apply the gospel to depression/PPD?
Why does God allow some to suffer?/ In a season of waiting, how do you wait well?
Discipline/Training
What is your advice with disciplining children? How can I speak to the heart issues behind a sinful behavior?
What are your practical advice tips for responding with consistency and grace to little ones before they can fully communicate?
How do you balance instilling the gospel in our kids instead of “good morals”?
How do you talk to your kids about sexuality in age appropriate ways?
God Made All of Me (Book)
Mom, Dad...What’s Sex?: Giving Your Kids a Gospel-Centered View of Sex and Our Culture (Book)
Before I Was Born (Book)
How do you include biblical truths in everyday life with a toddler?
Ministry/R|M
What was your journey in starting R|M?
What is your favorite thing about each other?
Social Media/Technology
How do you handle social media? How do we examine our hearts when viewing social media posts?
How do you know how much TV to let your kids watch?