Greta with icon
Jun 11 • 57:35
Navigating Pregnancy Loss with Jackie Gibson
Episode:

Navigating Pregnancy Loss with Jackie Gibson

June 11, 2024 • 57:35 • Greta Eskridge

Todays episode is tender and contains topics that can be challenging if you have walked through, or are walking through, pregnancy loss. But this episode also has the potential to bring a lot of hope and healing wherever you are on your journey. You will feel less alone if you have walked through miscarriage or still birth. And if you havent, youll come away feeling better equipped to come alongside someone who has. It is my prayer that through the conversation in this episode, God will meet you where you are with His kindness and care. 

 

Today I talk with my new friend, Jackie Gibson, an Australian living in Philadelphia with her husband and children. Jackie is also the author of the book, You Are Still a Mother: Hope For Women Grieving a Stillbirth or Miscarriage.   

 

I read Jackies book in one sitting. Even though I experienced a miscarriage 14 years ago, her book deeply ministered to my heart. I felt so seen and comforted and so equipped to help my fellow mamas who experience this kind of grief. I cant recommend this book enough, whether you have walked through pregnancy loss yourself, know someone who has, or just want to have resources to refer to when loss comes. 

 

Jackie shares her own story of losing her daughter at 39 weeks to still birth. And then we discuss the hardship of suffering, and the way Jesus comes alongside us in suffering. We also cover a lot of other topics, like how we can share about loss after it happens, the strange feeling of shame that can happen after pregnancy loss, how we can help moms who are experiencing loss, PTSD and trauma after pregnancy loss and so much more.  

My tears were near the surface through this whole episode because I have such a tenderness for every other mama who has lost a baby. I hope youll listen to this episode knowing that if you are hurting you are not alone, and in my heart I am giving you the biggest hug. 

 

Here are some quotes that really stood out to me in this episode: 

*This is a club no one wants to be a part of.   

*Miscarriage can be such a very lonely grief.  

*We need to invite people into our grief and ask them to walk through it with us and pray for us. But for some reason we have this fear in doing that and part of that is this shame that we have done something wrong or that our bodies have failed us.  

*Id been a Christian for many years, but in those moments, I felt like I met Him (Jesus) again for the first time.  

*God can give us gifts even in suffering.  

*Even though your arms are empty, your heart still carries your baby wherever you go.  

*To write names down or to say them, when these mothers rarely get to hear their babies named or acknowledged, means so much to a grieving mom, whether it is fresh grief, or its been years.  

*Our babies have dignity and value no matter their size because they were made by God.  

*From the very start, their lives matter and they are worthy of both grief and honor. GE 

*It is never too late to remember your baby and to mark that little ones preciousness. JG 

*This is a story about Him and how He is always good, even in the darkness. JG 

*The moon is still round even when we cant see it, and God is still good, even when we dont feel like He is. JG 

*Are we going to keep believing in the darkness what we have seen in the light? Lilias Trotter 

 

More about Jackie: 

Jackies husband wrote a book about loss for kids as a result of talking to their son through the loss of his baby sister. It is called, The Moon is Always Round.  

Jackie isnt on social media, but please share her book and this episode with friends who need the comforting and helpful message she brings. 

 

If you havent already, please take a minute to subscribe to this podcast. Id also be so very grateful if you leave a 5-star rating and write a quick review.  

Reviews are incredibly helpful to me as a new podcaster. 

Thank you for listening and being part of my team.  

I love you guys! 

Greta 

 

Podcast:

The Greta Eskridge Podcast

With Greta Eskridge
We're living in a time filled with distraction and disconnection from the things that matter most. Things like faith, family, friendship, and childhood innocence feel harder and harder to hold onto. But I believe a joyful, connected life is possible with Jesus's help because he offers us life to the full! It's time to open our eyes to the wonder God has put all around us, so join me each week on The Greta Eskridge Podcast as some of my favorite friends and I explore ways to create connection in our families and chase joy through both the peaks and valleys of parenting and life.
All Episodes:
Jul 29 • 54:19
How to Talk to Our Kids About Sex: Honoring Ourselves, Others and God with Rodney Wright

Episode 75 

Buckle up friends, this episode is wild! And it is honest and fun and so good! 

As the title suggests, we are talking about sex. More specifically, how to teach our kids about sex that is honoring to ourselves, others and God. 

Todays guest, Rodney Wright, is perfect for this job. He is honest, brave, kind and filled with joy! And as the author of the book, How to Talk with Your Kids About Sex, he has a lot to share. Rodney is passionate about helping people, families, and kids be healthy in their sexuality, because it is a God given gift.  He reminds us that we dont need to have negative thoughts about sexuality because God created it!  

So many of us are afraid to talk to our kids about sex because we have our own stories of sexual brokenness or sexual dysfunction of some kind. We want to do better for our kids but we dont know how. Rodney reminds us to look at our own story, not with shame but with compassion. And then we continue to learn and grow, because when we know better, we can do better! 

Ultimately, we need to give our kids a different view of sex than the world is giving them. We need them to know it is about dignity, honor and respect. That is not the worlds messaging about sex. Lets give our kids a better framework. 

I have so much more I want to say about this episode, but instead I am just going to have you listen to it! And please be sure to rate and review this podcast and share this episode! Oh, and then go do some puzzles for that healthy dopamine hit! (Youll get that when you listen to the episode) 

 

Where to find Rodney: 

Find the organization Rodney works for, Pure Desire, here 

Find Rodneys book here 

Find the Pure Desire Podcast here 

Find Gretas book, Its Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn here 

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

Jul 22 • 53:19
Letting Go of Anxiety by Leaning into the One Who Carries It All with Becky Thompson

Episode 74 

Todays guest is the author of 10 books, a mom to 3, a wife to a fire chief of their small town, the founder of The Midnight Moms Devotional Community, has what she calls a neuro spicy brain, and is the author of the new book, Healing Rest: An Invitation for Mommas Who Carry So Much to Lean into the Arms of the One Who Holds It All. 

 

Becky and I have a lot of fun together in this episode. We met long ago at my beloved Forest Home camp and just click. But we also dove into deep conversation, like the topic of her new book, which calls us to true, deep rest. Spiritual rest. I resonated so much with the topic of this book. I think so many of us moms can. 

 

If youve been tempted to parent and live in anxiety, listen to this episode and get Beckys book. If youve been tempted to parent and live in fear, especially when it comes to protecting your kids from pornography, read my book Its Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn. Both these books will remind you of the truth that God really carries and protects your kids. Its not all on you. 

 

I know youll love this episode like I did! And if you do, please consider leaving a review of the podcast on iTunes. It only takes a moment but does a world of good. Thank you! 

 

Where to find Becky: 

Find Beckys new book here 

Find Becky on Instagram here 

Find Beckys Midnight Moms Devotional Community here 

Find Beckys website here 

Find Beckys Bible study here 

 

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

Jul 15 • 48:34
Can Our Kids Really Take a Tech Exit? with Claire Morell

Episode 73 

Todays episode is a going to challenge you to think outside the box. Or at least outside of the way so many parents in America are parenting. My guest today is Claire Morell, author, mom, wife, policy creator, researcher and passionate about offering kids and families something different than the norm for growing up with tech. Through her work in the tech policy space, Claire recognized that kids health was in danger due to smart phones and being on social media. She finally decided to put her research into one place, her new book called, The Tech Exit

It is the sobering and convicting guide we need. 

But it is also really hopeful, helpful, practical and purposeful. 

Based on dozens of interviews with families who really are living out a tech free childhood, this book shows parents that this lifestyle is possible and it allows kids to thrive. 

My hope is that youll take some of the ideas Claire offers in this episode to help your kids begin taking a tech exit this summer:  

Here are some ideas to consider: 

*Focus on real life experiences that will overshadow the experience on a screen.  

*Get lots of practical ideas for this way of life in my book Adventuring Together right here. 

*Let your kids be bored and learn to play independently and creatively.  

*Engage with them in play and experiences rather than sending them off to those things on their own. 

*Or be even bolder and engage in the 30-day tech detox Claire mentions in this episode. 

It might feel overwhelming or that you cant make those changes now, but remember what Claire says, it is never too late to reverse course!  

I know youll enjoy this episode and find it really encouraging, helpful and hopeful! 

 

Where to find Claire and her work: 

Find Claires book here 

Find discussion questions for the book here  

Find Claires Substack here 

Find Claires work at the Ethics and Policy Center here 

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

Jul 8 • 46:41
Calming Anxiety and Finding Peace with Kara Stout

A couple reminders I started this podcast with: if you are looking for a ticket to the Literature Soiree I am hosting with my dear friend Rea Berg, founder of Beautiful Feet Books, we have just a few tickets left. Please message me here to get all the info and to purchase your ticket! A 

Also, if youve read my new book, Its Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn, Id be so grateful if you leave a review. Leaving a review, especially given the topic of this book, is immensely helpful for getting others to be brave enough to read it. You can leave a review of the book here! Plus, the book is on sale this week for a really great price! Pick up a copy or 2 to share! 

Now, onto the show! 

I know you guys are going to love this podcast episode with Kara Stout. Kara vulnerably shares her story and in doing so, she shows us how doing this can bring healing and hope to others. Karas story reminds us that God comforts us in our troubles and brings peace, even when if we are dealing with anxiety. I found a lot of reminders of Gods comfort myself, both in talking with Kara and in reading her book. I hope youll get some of that same hope and help when you listen to this episode. 

Where to find Kara:  

Find Karas book here 

Find Karas website here 

Find Kara on Instagram here 

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

Jul 1 • 39:07
Best Practices After Your Child is Exposed to Porn & Helping Them Get Out if Theyre Using It with Greta Eskridge

Episode 71 This is the follow up episode to last weeks episode with John Begeman. If you have not listened to episode 70, go back and listen to that one now. In this episode, I am going over some of the things John talked about in more detail. Because he dropped some wisdom! 

One of the most important things discussed are the power of going firstbeing willing to vulnerably share our story so that someone else has the courage to go next. Going first might also be the one to recommend the book first (like my book Its Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn) or the podcast episode (like this one!) to just start the conversation. Every one of us has the ability to go first and bring good to the people around us! 

Additional things discussed were best practices for responding after your child has been exposed to porn, understanding why people use porn to medicate pain, the positive value in being the first one to talk to your kids about pornography, the importance of getting help for parents of kids who have used or are using porn,  pornography does not mean your childs story is over and so much more! 

Like the last episode, this one is filled with hope. And that is possible because we serve One who is greater than he who is in the world! I hope you will listen and share this episode and the last one far and wide. 

One last thing, if you appreciate this podcast, would you consider leaving a rating and review of it? You can do that on iTunes here and on Spotify here.  On iTunes, scroll down to the reviews and look for button that says, leave a review. On Spotify, you just leave a rating. Its easy!  Doing this is one of the best ways for more people to discover the podcast. Thank you so much! 

Resources mentioned in this episode and last weeks episode: 

Find Pure Desire Ministries groups and books here 

Find Summit Ministries here 

Find my book Its Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn here 

Find Hopeful Mom here 

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

About the Host

Greta Eskridge

Greta Eskridge is a second-generation homeschooler, an author, a speaker, and a podcast host. Greta’s faith in God is the lens through which she sees the world.

Greta loves encouraging parents to pursue joyful, connected parenting. And she is passionate about helping families create connection in a disconnected world through things like purposeful adventures, online safety, and keeping their eyes wide open to wonder. Greta firmly believes that “joy is the serious business of heaven” and is on mission to chase joy through both the peaks and valleys of parenting and life.

Greta lives in sunny southern California with her artist husband, Aaron, and their four kids--1 young adult and 3 teens. Greta loves nature, books and coffee and her favorite place to be is on a hiking trail. 

More from Greta →