Empty Nester Wisdom with Kristen Hatton

Happy December!!! 

I am so very delighted to introduce you to one of my favorite moms on the planet - Dana Sheheane! This episode is a simple, rambling and lighthearted chat with one of my real life mom friends. You will LOVE her! Shes one of us folks.

I feel like we can raise amazing Christian kids - if we are wearing the right bra and our coffee stays warm. Amen? So lets dive into some practical ideas and a girlfriend chat. 

The majority of the episode is just fun ideas and simple tips for your everyday life. However, dont miss the end. We talk about a few intangible and critical things you need to survive in 2025 - from margin to community. Enjoy her wisdom and her adorable laugh!.

In this episode, we chat about:

• Perimenopause 
• Chicos
• Heating mats
• Stitch guns
• Embarrassing kids 
• Best bra per Dana
• Solution for cold coffee
• And much more!

Love,

Courtney

(05:55) Parenting Insights and Challenges

(11:58) Holiday Traditions and Family Dynamics

(18:52) Navigating Hormonal Changes

(29:56) Embracing Embarrassment as Parents

(39:04) Must-Have Gadgets for Everyday Life

(45:14) Finding Joy in Everyday Challenges

(51:16) Building Community and Connection

Connect with Pardon The Mess:

Christian Parenting

Pardon The Mess 

Courtney DeFeo

Get your 2024-2025 prayer journal, A Life of Faith

Christian Parenting Christmas Gift Guide

Resources from todays show:

Wild Interest podcast

Danas Story - StoryTellersLive Part 1

Danas Story - StoryTellersLive Part 2

Lighthouse Family Retreat

EOS Lotion- not cherry. No scent. We lied

FYY Food Warming Mat 

Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray

Coffee Mug Warmer

Stitch Gun

Podcast episode i LOVED lately

Diva Detergent

Best Bra per Dana

Treasures in the Dark by Katherine Wolf

As parents, we know raising kids is the opposite of neat and tidy. Each day brings wins, losses and valuable lessons. Pardon the Mess is a place where we discuss parenting and faith in a biblical, approachable and relatable way. We may cry and laugh while we learn and grow together in our beautiful mess. Pardon the Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44)

Its one thing to love your neighbor as yourself, its a whole other thing to love your enemies. As believers, we arent called to ignore our enemies or to tolerate our enemies, we are called to love them and to pray for them. This is a radical teaching that goes against the norm in society because it is much easier to judge or gossip about our enemies (guilty!). But even more, we are supposed to love our enemies without expecting anything in return.

Scripture makes it clear that the most powerful way we can actually love our enemies is to pray for them. 

We begin to see a change in ourselves as we pray for others. First, we start to see our enemies the way God sees them, and God sees them as his beloved and dearly loved children, just like we are. Second, we can be freed from bitterness, resentment, and anger by praying for our enemies as our hearts are softened by the Holy Spirit. 

So, this week lets pray that our kids will love their enemies in a radical way and that they will begin to see themselves as God sees them.

Father God, loving our enemies starts with us. I pray that ___________ would learn to love their prayed and pray for them while establishing healthy boundaries. I pray that their hearts are softened towards the people who treat them poorly so that they see them the way you do. I pray for reconciliation and peace if ________ is being bullied or bullying others. Give me wisdom in those conflicts. Amen.

Get your printed copy of A Life of Faith: Prayer Journal

Pardon The Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

I crave mentors and wisdom! I feel like I can spot wise women in any room. Lisa Clark is one of those mentors and Im delighted to share her with you today. You will absolutely love hearing her best and worst parenting advice as she thinks back over her 35 years of parenting. 

As a grandmother now, she is at a place in life where she can look back and assess what was true and what wasnt. Some advice is helpful and some is not. Some advice is biblical and some is not. Lisa shares so many incredible pieces of encouragement with us today - from how to discipline, the role of dads, when and how to have sex talks and much more. Lisa prioritizes her faith in a beautiful way but also has a very solid grasp on the realities we are facing as moms. I always feel lighter and more encouraged after time with her. 

My favorite part is at the end when she shares why we should be deliberate in teaching the gospel. She gives very specific ways we can do this and reminds us why it matters. I am praying that you feel so deeply seen in this episode and that the work you are doing as a mom matters. 

In this episode we discuss:

• Some best and worst parenting advice
• Why adult children are amazing
• How to trust our gut as mothers
• How to help our kids learn boundaries
• How to be our childs advocate first

Enjoy!

Courtney 

(00:00) Navigating Grandparenting Dynamics

(02:12) The Myth of 18 Years

(04:31) Evolving Relationships with Adult Children

(06:50) The Balance of Discipline and Gentle Parenting

(10:51) Challenging Conventional Parenting Advice

(14:58) Trusting Your Instincts as a Parent

(18:24) Navigating Kindness and Boundaries

(20:29) The Importance of Sleep Schedules

(22:25) Open Conversations About Sex

(25:52) The Balance of Parenting Styles

(30:33) Empowering Dads in Parenting

(33:38) Intentional Gospel Teaching

Connect with Pardon The Mess:

Christian Parenting

Pardon The Mess 

Courtney DeFeo

Get your 2024-2025 prayer journal, A Life of Faith

Christian Parenting Christmas Gift Guide

Resources from todays show:

Wild Interest podcast

Connect with Lisa Clark

Raising Sinners book by Lisa Clark

Raising Sinners podcast by Lisa Clark

Age of Opportunity by Paul David Tripp

Crossover at OU

Dr. David and Amanda Erickson episode - Discipline, Consequences

Birds & Bees (Mary Flo Ridley)

Dangers of Growing Up in a Christian Home

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:3435)

We are commanded to love others the way we love ourselveswhich is kind of hard when we sometimes arent so nice to ourselves (we can pray against that for our kids). But we are also called to love others the way Jesus loves us: sacrificially and actively.

For our kids, love as an action means more than being kind to everyone, it means our kids notice when someone is left out and they include them. It means forgiving others, standing up for others, noticing the lonely, and looking for ways to serve others. Its not always easy, but its always good.

When we love people in this way, the people around us notice that there is something different about us. The love of Christ shines bright so the whole world can see that we are his disciples. That is what it is all about because, at the end of the day, the most loving thing we can do for the people around them is to tell them about Jesus and his great love for us.

So this week lets pray that our kids love others with their words and their actions. Lets pray that when people see the way our kids treat others, they will see Jesus in them.

Jesus, thank you for loving us. Help ____________ to notice the lonely, the sad, and the hurting and love them well. May they always seek to be more than kind to everyone, but be moved to action so that they can show the world around them your love. Amen.

Get your printed copy of A Life of Faith: Prayer Journal

Pardon The Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org