Gather Moms

This is part one of this two part episode. We’re diving into a phrases too many of us have heard about our bodies and weight and talking in this episode about food, body image, and breaking those unhealthy family cycles.

We get real about the complicated relationships we have with food and how societal messages from past generations have shaped those views. But we’re not just about the problem – we’re all about solutions, too! We share practical tips on fostering a healthy, God-centered approach to food and body image in our homes.

From learning to receive compliments graciously to praising our children for who they are beyond their appearance, we’re on a mission to make mealtime a positive experience. We highlight the necessity for us, as moms, to model a loving and balanced view of food as one of God’s many gifts. We’re also diving into some Biblical truths about food and our bodies, urging all of us to reject the world’s distorted views and embrace the incredible value and purpose God has given to us.

Let’s identify and stomp out the negative food talk in our homes and set a new legacy of freedom and confidence for our families. By the end of this episode, you’ll feel empowered to be the generational legacy breaker in your home when it comes to food and body image. Change is possible, and we’re here to cheer you on every step of the way.

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If bad karaoke sounds like a good time to you, you’re gonna love this episode! We start off talking about classic summer songs, the kind you might sing along to on a road trip. Let’s hope if Kate and Rebecca are in the car with you, the music is turned WAY UP to drown out their voices. Bless their hearts.

One of the fun things about summer is getting to take a trip. Whether it’s a big one out of state or a smaller one close by, many of the same truths apply: something will be forgotten, something will go wrong and someone will ask: Are we there yet? This episode is all about tips and tricks to make your summer trips the best ever! Let’s go make some memories with our families, mamas.

Travel Tips:

• Teach kids how to pack themselves
• Use packing cubes for each kid
• Each kid packs their travel bag (snacks, water bottle, books, blankie)
• Have a new book, coloring book, movie for your kids to watch or play with that they’ll be excited about (check out books from the library to save money)
• Make sure you have wipes
• Give everyone a job
• Go over the trip with your kids
• Accept that something will go wrong

Airplane tips:

• Mentally think through the logistics of suitcases, carseats, strollers and what all you will need BEFORE you get to the airport
• Drink or sucker at take off for popping ears

Road trip tips:

• Pack snacks-one gallon bag for each kid filled with snacks (saves money at gas stations)
• Incentivize good behavior (money for prizes, pick where you eat, reward tickets)
• License plate game, road sign alphabet, I spy

My biggest tip is that travel is an opportunity to make God bigger for your kids. They get to see a new part of the world, new people and get the blessing of a zoom out-a new understanding of who their God is.

Take the opportunity to help your kids be in awe of God. When they see a mountain, the ocean, beautiful flowers, a people group that looks and speaks differently than you do.

Psalm 19

¹ The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
² Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
³ They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
⁴ Yet their voice^[b] goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
⁵ It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
⁶ It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.

We can get so used to the beauty of our daily surroundings that we forget to marvel at them. We have a fresh opportunity to marvel at the goodness of our God, His creativity, his beauty in a new place. Help your children see him and worship him.

We love you. We’re taking a little summer break to be present with our families. Stay tuned on Gather Moms Instagram and Facebook as we continue to provide resources and encouragement for you throughout the summer.

Love you, moms!

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Ladies, it’s that time of year when the flowers are blooming and our motherhood adventures take on a whole new level of crazy, right?

We’re all feeling the heat as the days get longer and our to-do lists get even more outrageous. From dealing with daylight savings (we all know that’s basically Satan’s way of stealing our precious sleep) to those sneaky allergies that just won’t quit, we’re in it together, mamas.

But you know what? It’s not just about the hustle. We’re diving deep into those tricky issues, like how we’re shaping our kids’ self-esteem and dealing with our own body image. We’re the first to admit that we’ve got to be super careful with the words we choose, especially when squeezing into those swimsuits.

So, what’s the secret sauce to finding that peace amidst the pandemonium of parenting? We’re leaning hard into our faith, asking God to show us where we’ve gotten our priorities all twisted and to help us realign our hearts with what truly matters. Heavenly treasures aren’t found on a shelf at Target.

Our next ONLINE GATHER GROUP meeting is coming up on April 18th at 7 pm. The group is hosted on our Gather Moms Patreon. Join us HERE.
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Listening to this episode in your closet or by yourself in your car and just trying to steal a few quiet moments? YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Summer can make us each want to get in our cars and head to Mexico for a little peace and quiet because this season requires so much of us as moms. Often, our rhythms get interrupted, our sleep gets off and we stop taking care of ourselves. The still, quiet moments where we snuck away to spend time with the Lord may slip away in the unpredictability of summer and we can find ourselves run down and even depressed.

We’re talking in this replay of episode 114 about the signs of depression, what to do if you start to experience them and how to implement healthy rhythms so you take care of yourself this summer.

Summer-Onset Seasonal Affective Disorder (SO SAD)

• Signs: sadness, lethargy, apathy, unmotivated, anxious, excessive sleepiness, food craving; especially carbohydrates, irritability or loss of appetite and insomnia
• Don’t wait to get help! Reach out to a counselor and tell your friends if you’re struggling.

TIPS to help take care of yourself this summer:

• Monitor your caffeine intake
• Keep exercising
• Get time with your friends
• Drink water
• Take rest days
• Keep your healthy rhythms
• Limit social media
• Let others help
• And most importantly:
• Spend time with the Lord

Mark 6:31

And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.

When you struggle, ask God to help you focus your mind on him. Are you getting anxious preparing to travel or about getting into your swimsuit? Ask God to help focus your mind on him and what is true.

Isaiah 26:3

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Summer will reveal weaknesses in each of us. It shows our limits, our lack of patience, the heat puts us on edge. As unbelievable as it sounds, we can celebrate that. Actually revel in it. Those weak places are where our God shines. When you see the temp tip past 100, look to your God and say: You’re up! He’s ready and wants to show his power in your weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Moms, summer is such a blessing of more time with our families but can also

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Where did the summer go! Are ready for fall? Don’t worry moms, transition always brings friction and we will be school pros again in no time! Today, let’s relive our jam-packed summers, filled with laughter, parenting challenges, and those all-too-relatable swimsuit shopping mishaps.

As summer transitions to fall, we discuss new routines, practical tips for easing into the school year, and the importance of extending grace to ourselves and our families. Tune in for a treasure trove of heartfelt stories, laughter, and practical advice to navigate this new season of motherhood.
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