Love Where You Are

February 20, 2023

Ep. 3.8 : Raising Amazing Kids…Who Want to Do the Dishes with Monica Swanson

In today’s episode I am joined with Monica Swanson.

Monica and her family live in Hawaii, where she has raised and homeschooled her four boys, three now in college and one twelve year old who loves to golf. Monica also has her own podcast, aptly named the Monica Swanson podcast, and recently published her book “Amazing Kids: Bringing Up Kids Who Love God, Like Their Family and Do the Dishes Without Being Asked”.

In today’s conversation, Monica and I look at the ways to raise amazing kids and what that means. As a parent, we may ask ourselves “are we doing this thing right?” as guilt and shame boil beneath the surface. Monica comments on the healthy balance we need to have, learning to hear from the Holy Spirit to know when we need to put in more work or to know when we are doing just fine. There’s a tendency to lean upon rules and the “do not”s of life, but Monica shares a fun and exciting perspective, leaning on a natural process, one with fewer formulas, and parenting towards instead of against.

Thank you for being here today. Now, let’s dive into the conversation!

You can connect with Monica through Facebook, Instagram, and her website.

You can also order her new book! Or her other amazing book about raising boys.

FAVORITE TAKE-AWAYS:

*When we want our kids to be “amazing” what are we expecting or hoping for? Amazing means a pleasant surprise and full of wonder. Our kids should be full of pleasant surprises and wonder! They should also be rich in character and love God, that is amazing. We should care less about their future career choices or doing well in sports, and more about being this kind of “amazing”.
This takes less stress off us and them!

*If we want to be proud sending these kids into the world, then we must be intentional and focused in our parenting. Do we need to involve them in every after school club and activity, or spend more dinners at home as a family at the table?

*It is much easier to depend on rules and parenting against the world, all of the “do not” do’s. But it is far more rewarding though harder to lean on a natural process, trusting God with our hearts, and parent towards what we can do. (example: getting outside and doing activities instead of just saying no to screentime)

 

REMEMBER:

*There is a healthy pressure which comes from the Holy Spirit, a healthy conviction. Differing the healthy conviction from an unhealthy insecurity takes discernment, a discernment which comes from knowing what God says. We can only know what God says when we spend time with Him both in prayer and in the Word.

*Our kids will know if our hearts are not in it. They can see the differences between our words and our actions or if they align.

*Be present in this season of parenthood. The time will go by so fast and you will miss the beautiful moments if you’re too busy wishing for the next season. The moments you will look back on and miss are not the Instagram moments.

SCRIPTURE:

Galations 6:9

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Stay connected to Somer and the Love Where You Are podcast through her Facebook & Instagram! Now, go love where you are and live on mission for Jesus today.

 

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About Love Where You Are

Equipping Christian Moms to embrace their season, live life on mission and share Jesus right where they are!

Like a weekly coffee date with the girls, Somer and her guests come together to ask the hard questions, have honest conversations and dive deep into God’s Word. Her heart is to equip and encourage Moms who are seeking to model an authentic Christian walk for their families while also making an impact for the kingdom through love in action wherever God has them in their current season of life. Following the Deuteronomy 6 model, Somer encourages listeners to identify their gifts, talents and current season of life as opportunities to impact the lives of others and bring their children along in the journey reminding us there are opportunities everywhere and every day to love right where you are!

About Somer Colbert

Somer Colbert is a writer, speaker and host of the Love Where You Are podcast. She is the Director of Adoption and Foster Care Ministry at Crosschurch and Connected Champion with the Arkansas Baptist Children and Family Ministries where she creates support, awareness and advocacy for families seeking to serve in the areas of adoption and foster care. She creates weekly podcast episodes and resources to equip and empower Christian families to identify their influence for the gospel in every season, live life on mission and share Jesus right where they are.  Somer is passionate about equipping spiritually healthy families and seeing a movement of God's people step into confidence in their ability to change the world around them through the way they love! 

She resides in Arkansas with her husband, three kids and three dogs. She's obsessed with British docudramas and cooking shows and can always be found with a cup of hot tea in hand. Her life has been forever changed by the love of Jesus, marriage to her favorite person, parenting her crazy crew and walking multiple adoption journeys. 

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