Relationships are never perfect because people are never perfect. And how your child handles a social heartache or disappointment is largely determined by the way you handle their situation. Join Kari and Kim, a Nashville counselor, as they share tips and strategies to help you guide your daughter/son through the ups and downs of teenage relationships. Ep. 84 Show Notes: o Join Kari & Kim at Moms With Impact, a 2-Day Retreat for Moms of Teens in Nashville Oct. 25-26. For a limited...

One universal challenge facing moms of teenage girls today is finding clothes that are fashionable, classy, and appealing to both generations.  Join Kari as she talks to her friend Dora Cothren, co-owner of Theodora in Homewood, Alabama, about ways to navigate the current landscape of "barely there" clothing and avoiding the fights that often come when shopping with your teenage daughter. Ep. 83 Show Notes: o   Find Dora Cothren at Theodora in Homewood and on Instagram  o   Join Kari's...

We all need friends who help us process serious life matters - without taking ourselves too seriously.  Cynthia Yanof, author of the newly released book Life is Messy, God is Good, is that funny friend in the trenches who "gets" our secret struggles as women and helps us feel stronger and more equipped to get to the other side. Join Kari as she talks to Cynthia Yanoff about seeing God's hand at work in our lives and finding heartfelt companionship that makes our struggles and trials feel...

One Friday night in 2017, Mark Russell suffered a cardiac arrest event while officiating a football game in Huntsville. In front of thousands of people, a miracle occurred as his life was saved through the quick actions of a cardiac care nurse taking game pictures and a husband-and-wife EMT team.  In this episode, Mark talks with Kari about what it means to "live ready" for your life's ultimate departure. Ep. 80 Show Notes: o  Mark's Story: Having a Heart Attack and Living to Tell About...

While some stress in life and healthy and good and helps us rise to meet new challenges, there is also unhealthy stress that turns into anxiety and causes real damage. Join Kari as she talks to Birmingham counselor Alice Churnock about one of the prevalent issues facing our children (especially daughters) and how we can help them work through it. Ep. 79 Show Notes: o   Follow Alice on Instagram or email her at  [email protected]  o   Ask Alice Podcast, Covenant Counseling,...

The number one predictor of success in marriage, according to America's top couples therapist John Gottman, is how well a couple can resolve conflict. And yet, this is a skill that nobody teaches - leading us to learn lessons the hard way. Join Kari as she talks to Will and Mary Lauren, a newly engaged couple, about prioritizing this life skill that is essential to any healthy, long-term relationship. Ep. 78 Show Notes: o   Contact Will: Instagram o   Contact Mary Lauren:  Instagram o  ...

Do you ever feel God nudging you to be brave - but you hold back because of fear? Do you look back and see missed opportunities you wish you'd taken? Find encouragement as Kari as she talks to Frances Lyon, a senior at the University of Alabama and outgoing president of Kappa Delta sorority, as Frances shares her story of being a shy teenager who learned to leave her comfort zone by taking one small (and brave) step at a time. Ep. 77 Show Notes: o  Frances Lyon on Instagram o  Brookwood...

As parents, we want our children to show respect by practicing good manners. We teach lessons before they need them and hope that they sink in.  As our kids grow up, we need other adults to come alongside us and reinforce what we teach on why social graces matter. Join Kari as she talks to Birmingham etiquette expert Amy Rainer about  helping your child stand out in the right way and show character from the inside out.  Ep. 76 Show Notes: o  Amy Rainer on Instagram o Contact Amy at...

Waiting on the Lord feels difficult in a world where we barely wait on anything (not dinner, thanks to DoorDash, rides, thanks to Uber, or groceries, thanks to Shipt). Yet God transforms us powerfully as we wait if we refuse to lose hope or get lost in our setbacks. Join Kari as she speaks to Farrell Mason, a Nashville grief counselor and author of Soulfull, a new devotional about seeking a more sacred existence by pulling heaven down to earth and discovering the thrill of hope.  Ep. 75...

We all feel left at times, and with social media, we're more aware of every invitation we don't get.  Join Kari, Mary Frances, and Mary Lauren as they talk about healthy ways to respond to feeling left out and not letting it spiral into negative thinking and destructive self-doubt. Ep. 74 Show Notes: o   Sign up for Kari's email list (and get free printables) o   Kari’s books: Love Her Well, More Than a Mom, 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know, Liked: Whose Approval Are You Living For? o...

God created us to live in the light. And as we grow closer to Him, we're able to bring our past mistakes to light to escape the shame of darkness and move forward with hope. Join Kari as she talks to Will and Mary Lauren, a newly engaged couple, about prioritizing this life skill that is essential to any healthy, long-term relationship. Ep. 73 Show Notes: o   Sign up for Kari's email list (and get free printables) o   Kari’s books: Love Her Well, More Than a Mom, 10 Ultimate Truths Girls...

Almost ten years ago, Emily Lassiter lost her husband Joe in a tragic plane accident. With two little girls to raise on her own, she quickly realized the need to manage her finances well. As Emily found her footing, other women started coming to her after losing a spouse or a divorce. Money was always a main concern, and this inspired Emily to start empowering women in this area of life. Today she is a financial advisor with Somerset Advisory, and in this conversation with Kari, she shares...

College is a new stage of life where you choose a path.  You've chosen paths before, but this time,  your parents aren't there to protect you and lead you. You're leaving the security of family and lifelong friends, and you don't have a faith community yet to speak truth over you. In this transition (full of excitement, nerves, and uncertainty) it's easy to be swayed and wrongly be defined by what happens to you on a college campus. Join Kari and two recent college graduates as they talk...

The start of summer is a magical time - and sometimes, a triggering time for body issues. Join Kari as she talks to Meredith Mann, Founder of The Peachie Spoon, about helpful mindsets and habits to carry into summer that help us enjoy food, nourish our bodies, and love the skin we're in. Ep. 70 Show Notes: o  Find Meredith at The Peachie Spoon and  Instagram o  Meredith's Faves: Multivitamin, Electrolytes and Minerals, Protein Bars (coupon code "peachie") o  Kari’s Fave: Governor’s...

C.S. Lewis said, "We have to continually be reminded of what we believe." This is especially true when cultivating a spirit of gratitude and contentment because our world constantly tells us that more is never enough. Join Kari and Mary Lauren as they talk about embracing the life you have and learning to give thanks for it. Ep. 69 Show Notes: o   Kari’s books: Love Her Well, More Than a Mom, 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know, Liked: Whose Approval Are You Living For?,  10 Ultimate...

With all the sadness that your daughter's senior year of high school can bring, it helps to have a happy distraction. It's fun to plan and think about her home away from home. Join Kari and Elizabeth Edwards (a mom of two girls at Ole Miss) as they share  tips on choosing dorm room essentials, preparing your daughter for the highs and lows of college, helping her with time management, and being her biggest cheerleader. Ep. 68 Show Notes: o  Visit Dorm Decor...

One key component to thriving in college is deciding ahead of time who you want to be and how you plan to live. In other words, being INTENTIONAL. Join Kari and her friend, Mary Frances Robertson, a recent University of Alabama graduate, as they talk about being intentional during your campus years with your time, your relationships, and your life goals. Ep. 67 Show Notes: o   Contact Mary Frances: Instagram and [email protected] o  University of Alabama, Bigtime Ministries, Young...

One big source of conflict in marriage is financial stress. Even 2 people raised in the same socioeconomic class can have drastically different ideas about money - and how to spend it. Shaped by social media and an age of affluence, many girls treat their dates like an ATM machine and aspire to a materialistic lifestyle their young husbands can't afford. They have unrealistic expectations that lead to arguments, disillusionment, and debt. Join Kari and Kim Anderson as they discuss ways to...

When you're busy raising kids, things get sacrificed. What often ends up on the backburner during the divide-and-conquer years of raising teenagers is your marriage.  Join Kari and Nashville counselor Kim Anderson, both married for 25 years, as they talk about reconnecting with your spouse and finding your way back to each other.  Ep. 65 Show Notes: o  Contact Kim at Kim Anderson Life, Real Tools for Parenting Anxious Kids or the free Burnt-Out Mom Guide o The Meaning of Marriage by Dr....

As humans, we long to believe we are good. And for teens especially, it's tempting to gauge yourself against peers and think you're doing well when your choices aren't as bad as their choices. You're considered a "good girl" or "good guy," but what you really are is a good girl/guy in comparison. God calls us to a higher standard. He wants us to look at Jesus, not people, when seeing where we have room to improve. Join Kari and Mary Lauren as they talk about virtue and not settling for a life...

Today's culture tells boys that being "the man" is all about dominance, conquests, and becoming the loudest person in the room. For parents trying to raise godly sons...and boys who care about their faith...fighting that tension between what gets celebrated by society and what God desires can be a real struggle. Join Kari as she talks to recent Samford graduate Will Hudson about the real-life challenges facing boys today and 5 action steps they can take to deepen their faith. This episode...

Most moms dream about their children being close. They worry about sibling rivalry and the quiet comparison, competition, and jealousy that can undermine these relationships.  Join Kari and Mary Lauren as they talk about family dynamics and celebrating the unique strengths and personalities that each child brings to the table. Ep. 62 Show Notes: o   Kari’s books: Love Her Well, More Than a Mom, 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know,  Liked: Whose Approval Are You Living For?,  10 Ultimate...

For girls of all ages, friendships matter, and when you're in college, your friends become your family. They're your home away from home.  Join Kari in this first episode with her oldest daughter, Ella, as she shares wisdom and practical advice on initiating, navigating, and sustaining real friendships. This episode is packed with helpful tips, and you don't want to miss it! Ep. 61 Show Notes: o   Follow Ella on Instagram o   Camp Hollymont o   Kari’s books for moms: More Than a Mom and...

Making time for rest helps you be more effective when you work. Rather than give 80 percent because you're tired, you can give 100 percent because you replenished your reserves. Join Kari and Mary Lauren as they talk about incorporating rest into your life routine. Ep. 60 Show Notes: o   Kari’s books: Love Her Well, More Than a Mom, 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know,  Liked: Whose Approval Are You Living For?,  10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know o   Contact Kari: ...