Parenting in the Digital Age Part 1 with Chris Mckenna

Happy Thanksgiving my friends! I am delighted to share a Thanksgiving tradition Ive had for the past 6 years with you today. Every year the day or 2 before Thanksgiving I share a post I wrote years ago detailing a Thanksgiving misadventure I had with my kiddos that involved an overturned Trader Joes grocery cart and myself and two of my kids sitting in the middle of the grocery aisle crying. 

It was rough. 

And it felt so symbolic of the weary season of motherhood I was in at the time. I wrote the piece to remember that moment, but even more to remember that weariness. I dont ever want to be smug towards a mom of littles who is stretched so thin and just needs to be seen and heard. 

So this essay is for you if you are in that season now, or if you need to remember it. I am with you in both those places. 

I hope you enjoy hearing me read it! 

And if youd like to read it yourself, youll find it right here. 

Thanks for listening and sharing! 

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

I truly loved this conversation with my long time internet friend, Elizabeth Ensor. Elizabeth is so inspiring to me. She is intentional in her role as a wife, mother, home educator, a creative and as a woman. She wants to make the most and the best with what she has, and she is doing it! In this episode Elizabeth shares with us about the guide she created to glean wisdom from mothers farther along the path than we are. After Elizabeths mom passed away, Elizabeth missed being able to talk to her mom with questions and really she had a yearning for godly wisdom from seasoned mothers. So she made what she was looking for! Learn all about this resource she made. She tells us more in todays episode. 

Where to find Elizabeth: 

Find her website here 

Find her Seasoned Moms guide here 

Find her on Instagram here 

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Find the Seasoned Moms Interview Guide here 

Some favorite quotes from this episode: 

My mom was always right there and very intentional about what we did. Elizabeth Ensor 

Her approach to motherhood and life has inspired me and every good part of me is from her! Elizabeth Ensor 

There is this idea in the business world, this 3 percent rule that if you invest back into yourself, you set money aside, then you are going to grow as a person and a leader. So even as a mom and home educator, we may not be bringing in a lot, but our emotional health and wisdom runs the home. Elizabeth Ensor 

Every seasoned mom just tells me to enjoy it. Enjoy your kids. Elizabeth Ensor 

Wisdom is mentioned in the Bible over 200 times and we are commanded to seek it. Elizabeth Ensor 

We need to have the humility to say, I dont have this all figured out and I need some help and wisdom from someone farther along than me and someone whose children I admire. Those are the people I want to learn from. Greta Eskridge 

The investment you make, not just in your children but in yourself as a mom, to raise your children well is valuable. Greta Eskridge  

Whatever season I am in, I want to fully enjoy it. Greta Eskridge  

We need to be heard in the moments when its hard and then we need to be reminded to really celebrate, even when its hard, because the seasons dont last forever. Greta Eskridge 

I am thrilled to introduce todays guest to you. Barrett Johnson is the founder of a ministry called Imperfect Normal Families Only. Barrett is just like the title of his ministry, so real and so approachable. I loved talking with him. 

In this episode we talk about Barretts newest book, Disciple Them Like Jesus: Leading Your Kids the Way Christ Led the Twelve. We discussed what discipleship is and how we can disciple our kids. As a dad to 5 and grandparent to 8, Barrett is full of practical and Godly wisdom for raising our kids to know and love Jesus better. I found his book and our conversation so helpful. 

Please be sure to listen to the end of this episode as Barrett shares a current battle hes facing and yet manages to encourage mightily. Id be so grateful if youd join me in praying for him. 

Resources: 

His website here 

His Instagram here 

His book here 

His courses here 

My new book here 

Were all imperfect, normal families and we serve a God who loves us that way! Barrett Johnson 

The Bible is full of principles, guidelines, directives and stories about what is important to God. And that is training people up to know who Jesus is and join Him on His big agenda to redeem humanity. The Great Commission says to go and make disciples. Barret Johnson 

If making disciples is important to God, why wouldnt we be doing that in our homes? Barrett Johnson 

Discipleship fundamentally is learning to walk in the ways of Jesus and join Him in His plan. Live out Ephesians 5:1. Be imitators of God. Barrett Johnson 

Since our kids imitate us, we need to imitate God. Greta Eskridge 

When we walk with God, He helps us discern and see what is really going on in the heart of our child. Not just their behavior, but what is happening in their heart. Barrett Johnson 

We need to model to our kids how to pursue relationship with Christ. Greta Eskridge 

When your kid comes to you and confesses something you can say to him, were going to run together to the arms of God. Barrett Johnson 

Deeply connected relationships with our kids do not happen automatically or accidentally. Greta Eskridge 

I am finding joy and wonder in lots of little things that I would have neglected before my current circumstance. I am saying, God, show me the good things in this day that youve given me. Barrett Johnson  

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

*Dont forget to pre-order my new book, Its Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn: A Parents Guide to Helping Children and Teens Develop Sexual Integrity. You can get your copy here! 

And would you consider leaving this podcast a rating and writing a quick little review? A sentence or two would be so great and helpful. You can leave one here. 

Both of these things would be so helpful to me in spreading the word about my mission to help families create connection in a disconnected world. Join me! 

Today I am so excited to welcome homeschool grad and young author, the wonderful Millie Florence! This was my first time meeting Millie, but we share some friends and life experiences, so it felt like we were old friends right away. Millie has multiple middle grade novels out in the world, and her newest novel, Beyond Mulberry Glen comes out in January of 2025. I loved talking to Millie about this new book, about home schooling, about creativity, writing, publishing and more! I know youll love this conversation too. Enjoy! 

Where to find Millie: 

Her website here 

Her newest book here 

Her Instagram here 

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Pre-order goodies here 

Brave Writer (a home school writing program) here 

Honey Butter (Millies first book) here 

Ingram Spark (self-publishing book distributor) here 

Waxwing Books (Millies publisher) here 

Some favorite quotes from this episode: 

Home school is customizable. Millie Florence 

My mom wanted our home school to be directed by the things we delighted in. Millie Florence 

There was never a time in my life when I didnt want to be a writer. Millie Florence 

Youre never going to be ready. You just have to do it. Sarah Mackensie 

Look at what you have and use that to the best of your ability. Millie Florence 

I am delighted to introduce you to todays guest, my friend Alicia Hutchinson. Alicia and I have been online friends for a long time, and I have enjoyed learning from and have been inspired by her through those years. Alicia is a home schooling mom of 4, the founder of the Learning Well Community and the Learning Well Journal. She is not afraid to go deep and in fact, shed much rather go deep than waste time with small talk. As a result, we dive deep right away in this podcast episode where we talk about a lot of things, but especially focus on home schooling in the high school years. I know you will enjoy this episode!

Where to find Alicia:

On her website here

In her home school journal here

On Instagram here and here

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Some favorite quotes from this episode:

Hard things are not bad things, and sometimes theyre the best things! Alicia Hutchinson

The growth that happens from 14-18 is phenomenal and I would not miss that for the world. Alicia Hutchinson

High school is like the frosting on the cake! Alicia Hutchinson

There is a fear that comes with keeping kids home in high school but we dont have to give into that. Greta Eskridge

I cant teach my kids physics, but I bet I can find someone who can! Greta Eskridge

Everything you say yes to, you are saying no to something else. Alicia Hutchinson