Happy, Holy Mama

You've heard that communication is essential for a healthy marriage, but it's also absolutely essential for a healthy family. In today's episode, I'm walking you through the six communication rules we use in the Brown family to help reduce misunderstandings, strengthen emotional connection, and stop wasting precious time and energy on hurt feelings.  These rules have helped us build trust, keep our hearts soft, and truly listen to one another, even when big feelings are involved. And these rules aren't just what I use with my kids as their mother. It's how my husband and I interact, too, which has created a vibrant and fun marriage that we both enjoy! But you know what my favorite part about using these rules as a family? Now that we've been practicing them as a family, the kids use these rules amongst themselves now, too! I'm super excited to share them with you today! Grab your earbuds and join me for: The Six Brown Family Rules of Communication. Join Happy, Holy Mama and get ready for Summer Lovin' HERE!

If Mother's Day felt a little off for you this year, you're not alone. I've had years where that day brought more sadness than celebration, and the more I talk with other Catholic moms, the more I realize how common that is. In this episode, I'm sharing some of the lies that sneak in and steal our joy, especially around Mother's Day, and what I've learned to believe instead. Things like: You are loved. You are wanted. Your happiness matters. If you've been feeling unseen, unappreciated, or just kind of disconnected, this conversation is for you. Let's talk about how to stop waiting for others to make us happy and start choosing it for ourselves! Because when mom is happy, everyone else feels it too. Click HERE join the Cross the Finish Line Workshop this week in Happy, Holy Mama! Register for the FREE Catholic Homeschool Conference HERE!

It's that time of year again: you're picking out next year's curriculum while also trying to survive the end of this one! Today I'm walking you through how to make curriculum decisions without all the second guessing and overwhelm.  We'll talk about why how you talk to yourself about decision making matters way more than you think. I'll share with you how you can shift your mindset today to create more clarity and confidence before diving into your research. Then I'll share some practical tips, including some of my favorite places to research curriculum! Finally, I'll share how rooting your choices in what God wants for your family is more than just about academic goals, and how this mindset can totally change the way you approach the end of this year and prepare your heart for next year. Don't go into curriculum choices spinning out in confusion!  Instead, grab your earbuds and join me for: Curriculum Decisions. Happy, Holy Mama Cathy Duff Reviews Gather Round YouTube 

As we pack our bags and head off to Rome with our oldest two sons, I'm reflecting, again, on how quickly plans can change.  Just last week, we learned about the passing of Pope Francis, and in a moment, everything about our trip shifted. My old instinct would have been to get worried, disheartened, and feel inconvenienced.  I would have tried to whiteknuckle my way through what God was willing for us, which would have totally wrecked my already busy week, and our trip. In today's episode, I'm sharing how to stop resisting reality with sheer willpower, which is draining your energy and your joy.  We'll talk about: How resistance drains your energy and hope. Why creating desire for God's will (even without proof of success) changes everything. How gratitude unlocks hope, and why it's essential. Why you can have gratitude even when you're having a hard time. Listen, friend, the saints didn't whiteknuckle their way to holiness.  They learned to want what God wanted, even when it hurt. And they found deep joy in doing so.  Grab your earbuds and join me for today's episode! Click here to learn more about Happy, Holy Mama

As our family embarks on a massive cross-country move and prepares to graduate our oldest son, I've been reflecting on the spiritual growth that comes from embracing God's will in the thick of life's chaos, and the sacred power of the present moment. Even when it's hard and messy. In today's podcast episode, I share the difference between our last big move (cue toddler, puppy, homeschooling, and house showings!) and this one, and how learning to surrender the pain, instead of resisting it, is the path to peace.

In Happy, Holy Mama this week we are diving into the concept of becoming happier through learning how to suffer well. And when I was thinking about what I wanted to share on the podcast to support my students in that process, I couldn't stop thinking about an episode I released last year for the 20th anniversary of my first husband's passing. I had already experienced quite a bit of suffering in my life prior to becoming a 20 year old widow, but that experience took what I thought I knew about suffering to an entirely new level. It also showed me what I was capable of. And more importantly, it showed me what God is capable of through my fidelity to unifying my will to His will for my life, regardless of how difficult the circumstances might be. This skill is vital for our happiness, not just in eternity, but right now in this life that God is knitting together for us, with our cooperation, moment by moment. I am honored to share my experience, knowledge, and training as a life coach with my students in the program to teach them how to do this for themselves on a daily basis! And I am honored to share my story again with you here today, as we go into Holy Week and suffer with Christ on calvary, in our day-to-day lives. Please grab your earbuds and join me for this most valuable podcast episode: MVP Blessed Be God: A Reflection on Loss, Suffering, and God's Will. CLICK HERE to join us in Happy, Holy Mama TODAY to learn how to unite your own daily suffering to Christ's redemptive suffering and fall more deeply in love with your life as it is right now.   

Where do you draw the line between what's your job and what is your child's responsibility? That line gets blurred when you're a (normal) mom who is concerned about your child's growth, education, emotional maturing, spiritual development, and preparation for the future. It's so much! Unfortunately,  if that worry leads you to hyperfocusing, micromanaging, and/or stewing about their behavior, work ethic, or grades, then you're probably not loving homeschooling right now and may even be considering other options for next year. If your heart wants to enjoy your motherhood and homeschooling journey with more peace and surrender, please grab your earbuds and join me for: Responsibility. Get the details for Happy, Holy Mama HERE!

Are any of your relationships feeling challenging right now?  Maybe a relationship with one (or more) of your children is feeling particularly strained. Or maybe you and your husband aren't quite on the same page, and you can see the impact that's having on the rest of interactions with other people. Or, perhaps, you get so mad at yourself that it can be hard to know how to be around other people.  Here's the thing: when your relationships are feeling stuck, then everything else feels harder.  Which is why right now, in the middle of Lent, is the perfect time to pause and reflect on what might be keeping those relationships stuck.  Sure, the other person might have some work to do, but since that's not within your control, then it's not much use focusing on how to get them to change. Instead, please grab your earbuds and join me for today's episode where I offer a slightly new perspective on a vital piece to improving any relationship: Forgiveness. Ready to take the work deeper?  Join us in Happy, Holy Mama!  Click HERE for details.

I spent so many years of my motherhood focused on changing other people's behavior that at one point I looked at myself in the mirror and didn't recognize the woman looking back at me. Who was this person who felt out of control, unhappy, and stuck? How on earth was I supposed to change myself when it seemed like the whole world, especially my children, were out to thwart my best efforts? After years of healing work in my relationships with myself and with God, I am finally able to answer those questions. But not just for myself, I have answered those questions in a way that I can teach you how to do it for yourself, too I'd like to invite you to please grab your earbuds and join me for a short and sweet episode to give you three tangible steps to take today to improve your own behavior. Click here to for all the details for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership!  

Do you ever struggle with feeling behind? Like you're not making enough, or any progress, toward your goals? Whether it's feeling behind in your Lenten goals or homeschooling goals, this thought process runs rampant during this time of year. And it never ever helps you do better, but it absolutely wrecks your confidence, and perpetuates a cycle of second guessing. So, if you ever say to yourself: If only I had been more consistent in the past If only I hadn't been so relaxed before If only I had been more diligent or self-disciplined Then please grab your earbuds and join me for: If You're Not Making Enough Progress. Click here for details on my Beloved Lent Study.  

I consider all mothers to be experts in their field of study. Whether that is feeding an army of people, changing diapers, or knowing the fastest route to basketball practice, you have unique expertise. I totally understand that you might not feel like an expert, especially when it comes to certain childrens' ways of thinking or behaving, BUT, I'm willing to bet, if you gave it just a little bit of thought, that you would discover that you know so much more than you give yourself credit for. And I love to have experts on the podcast! Which is why I'm so excited to introduce you to one of the expert mamas I know, Michele. Michele is a military wife, homeschooling mama of four, and self-proclaimed ‘task master' who wants to share some of her story about developing hope through prioritizing her relationships over the tasks.  She is a beautiful witness to the changes that are available within a family if just one person decides to change.  I'd like to invite you to please grab your earbuds, and join me and my beautiful client, Michele, for a delightful conversation about The Reality of Putting Relationships Before Tasks. Get details for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership here!

I think a lot of us choose a Lenten sacrifice hoping that giving up that thing for six weeks will turn into a permanent character change. And sometimes it does! But that honestly only happens if you're not white knuckling through Lent, waiting for Easter so you can have that thing you gave up again. You know what I mean. Counting down the days, hemming and hawing about whether you should wait until Easter Sunday or if sun down on Holy Saturday counts. When I was thinking about what I wanted to sacrifice this year, I thought about the deep internal changes that I always desire to make during Lent, but rarely ever intentionally work on, because what I have chosen in the past was fairly superficial. This year I wanted to choose something to begin now with intentional focus, but without an end date. So I've been asking myself, what is something that I hold dear and have a hard time letting go of? When I think about it, I hold a lot of things dear! Like my children, my sleep, my privacy, my marriage, my rest, a tidy house, my quiet time in the morning. None of these things felt like I was being asked to give them up though…so I continued to go  deeper.  In the past I had been drawing to giving up sugar, cream in my coffee or social media. While those are worthwhile things to give up if they are vices, and crutches, or distractions from the work God is asking you to do.  But again they are actually fairly superficial. That's when I came to the real question: what is UNDER, or behind the vices?  Identity beliefs. Grab your earbuds and join me for today's episode of the Happy, Holy Mama Podcast where I dive into the #1 Identity Belief that needs healing this Lent and how you can bring your kids along the healing journey with you. JOIN BELOVED LENT STUDY HERE!

My third oldest child turned 15 this past weekend and as I spent time looking back over photos of his youngest years of childhood, especially when he was really little, there was a noticeable difference in how I felt this weekend, compared to past years.  Instead of feeling sad or twinges of regret remembering some of the hardest years of my life, this weekend I noticed joy, peace, and contentment while thinking about those memories.  I didn't realize that shift had happened until I paid attention to the lack of sadness! But that didn't just happen. It was hard earned.  I'd like to invite you to grab your earbuds and join for today's podcast episode where I break down the steps that I went through to create that shift over the past several years to: Heal the Past in the Present. Click here to join BELOVED!

Over the course of my careers as a wife, mother, homeschooler, and life coach there is one feeling that I have seen be a bigger plague on the happiness and holiness in a family more than any other. The feeling of being ‘not enough.'  Of not having enough. Of not being capable enough in one way or another. This ‘not enoughness,' or lack (scarcity is another way we talk about it in coaching), infects our marriages, disconnects our relationships with our kids, and distracts our homeschooling efforts. And none of it comes from God. As I reflected on what I wanted to share with the members of Happy, Holy Mama this Lent, God placed this ‘not enoughness' at the forefront of my mind and heart. He wants to heal that ‘not enoughness' if you'll let Him. But it does take a bit of work on your part to be open to the healing He wants to offer you. In today's podcast episode I talk about the seven things you need to have to allow that healing to happen, all of which will lead you to the #1 thing the saints tell us will make us happier and holier than anything else in the world. Grab your earbuds and join me today for: Give Up Feeling Not Enough for Lent. Join BELOVED for Lent inside Happy, Holy Mama HERE!

Did you know that you have about 65,000 thoughts per day? And did you know that about half of those thoughts are in decision making form?  This is important information, because there are two things that I hear moms complain about in February and the first one is decision making about next year.  The second is being consistent enough to survive this dreary month. While I've done a few different podcast episodes on decision making in the past, and I talk about consistency within other concepts that I teach on, this week is the first time when I dive into the connection between the two. Because when you can get to the root of your decision making struggles, then you are able to become more consistent with following through, feel more accomplished, and build the confidence you need to homeschool with peace and satisfaction. Grab your earbuds and join me as I explain how and why this works in today's episode: Decision Making and Consistency.

If you want to raise kids to be in this world, but not of this world, then they're going to need strong character They're also going to need a firm foundation, ideally rooted and home with you, to give them a fighting chance of becoming great saints in this broken world. After a surprising conversation with my almost 18 year old son about what he appreciates about me and what I do that helps him everyday that helps him feel prepared to go out into this world after he graduates this spring, I wanted to share some of that with you in hopes of giving you an idea of where to start. This episode is filled with lots of good information, some of which you might already know, some might be new to you. But you'll walk away with tangible things to try right now with yourself and with your kids to make forward progress in each of you growing in virtue and character. So grab your earbuds and join me for today's episode: 10 Tips to Raise Kids of Strong Character. Get the details for and join Happy, Holy Mama HERE!  

When I first started homeschooling I had sage advice coming at me left and right. And at first I took it all in, relishing the dream that my homeschool might be one day when I had it all figured out…and I felt just like those sage, seasoned mamas.  They were so confident. Wise. Certain. But at the time, I felt none of those things.  And so, unfortunately, their sage advice was falling on somewhat deaf ears. What I really needed was someone to share the nitty gritty, the hard stuff, the mistakes they'd made, and what they learned from those mistakes. That would have been more helpful to me, because I felt like I was drowning in my own mistakes. And I was terrified that I was messing everything up. Like I'd heard God wrong and had made the worst mistake of all - thinking I could homeschool when, maybe I shouldn't have been.  I wasted a lot of time researching local schools those first few years and would have appreciated someone sitting me down and walking with me hand in hand to do it in a way that was right for my family. Last week on the podcast I shared some of my biggest mom mistakes and ways to heal your motherhood while you work on improving your homeschool. This week on the podcast I am opening up my homeschool to you and sharing some of my biggest homeschool mistakes and what I've learned in the process.  My prayer is that you'll walk away from today's episode more calm, more open to God's word in your heart, and specific areas He might want to work on through you as you answer this call to home educate your children. So grab your earbuds and something cozy to drink and let's hang out! I'd love to be that seasoned mom who shares what you really need to know about homeschooling, regardless of how long you've been doing it for.  Join me for today's episode: My Top 10 Homeschool Mistakes and Lessons Learned. Get all the details for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership HERE!

When you look back over your earlier mothering years, or even just last week, do you have pangs of regret and sadness at how you handled things? Me too. But I've found a way to turn those past mistakes into blessings for today, to improve your relationships, and start to increase your overall enjoyment and experience of your motherhood. Which is the first thing that needs to improve before you try to improve your homeschooling. Listen friend, it's never too late to start becoming the happier, holier mama that you deeply desire to be! I'd be honored to show you where to start. Grab your earbuds and join me for today's rather vulnerable podcast episode: Healing Your Motherhood. Get the details for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership HERE.

Last week was...powerful, to put it mildly. So powerful that I'm compelled to share as many nuggets from each of our Reset Your Homeschool days with you knowing that the Holy Spirit has something powerful in store for you, too, this semester. During Reset Week we covered:  Evaluating and Moving Forward Intentionally Your Mindset as a Homeschooler and Handling Failure Better Your Compass, Decision Making, and How to Change Your Thinking Motivation and Creating Healthy Boundaries Priorities, Goals, Roles, and Planning with Peace (and a Process!) Join me today for a breakdown of each of our Reset Your Homeschool Week topics, our biggest takeaways and wins, and listen for what the Holy Spirit what might want you to takeaway from the work that we did. I'll also share with you info about the Ordinary Time Stewardship Challenge happening right now in the Happy, Holy Mama Membership to make consistent forward progress on time management tools and skills with guidance, accountability, and community! Click HERE to get all access to the workbook and all five replays of Reset Your Homeschool Week PLUS an entire month of the Happy, Holy Mama Memberhip (including the beginning of our Ordinary Time Stewardship Challenge)!

Many kids are starting back to school this week and as a homeschooler you are likely one of them or considering it. BEFORE you play with your sparkly new planner, jump back into curriculum, or changing what you've been doing, I want to give you four steps to follow to make planning smoother, and a few mindset shifts to make whatever plans you create more repeatable so you follow through and make progress for the rest of this school year! Grab your earbuds and join me for: A Mid Year Reset for Your Heart and Homeschool. Join Reset Your Homeschool Week, five days of time management workshops and coaching support tailored entirely to your Catholic homeschooling lifestyle HERE!  

What do you wish you could tell yourself when you were younger? Either as a younger woman or a younger mom, what do you wish you would have known? For me, I wish I could have known how to rest in the present moment. I wish I would have had more peace amidst the chaos. I wish I would have known how to enjoy my kids more when they were little. I wish I would have known how much God loved me and that I didn't need to search for it anywhere else. This is at the heart of Fiat Life Coaching, the Happy, Holy Mama Membership, and the Happy, Holy Mama Podcast. And this year, I have a very special focus for the work I am putting out into the world...to help you truly be all for Jesus. Please join me for a very special episode as I share a few things to consider to help you learn how to be in the present moment and be all for Jesus, today. I'll also share with you some exciting details about other ways I'll be supporting your good and holy desire to become the happier, holier mama you deeply desire to be in 2025! So please grab your earbuds and something cozy, and join me for: Love in Action. Sign up HERE for THIS FRIDAY'S free live masterclass: How to be a Calm, Joyful Homeschooler! Get the details for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership HERE!

Sometimes, I look back at certain Christmas photos of our family next to the Nativity scene after Christmas mass, and I feel a twinge of sadness, regret, or even bitterness because I know how painful getting that photo was.  Whatever happened surrounding that photo was just hard, and those memories are forever connected to those photos. If you know what I'm talking about and would like to have a different experience this year with more peaceful memories, then I'm thrilled to share with you with a few things to consider and reflect on so that you can be a source of peace for your family this year, regardless of what happens. So please grab your earbuds and join me for this short and sweet episode (less than ten minutes!), which can change your whole week: Let Peace Begin With Me. And I hope you have a very merry and blessed Christmas! Click HERE to sign up for the free masterclass on January 3, 2025 How to Be a Calm, Joyful Homeschooler!

Self-care gets a bad wrap, because it can be over-indulgent if you're not careful.  On the opposite end of the spectrum there is ‘offering it up,' which, if done well, can be extremely powerful for God's good work. But, if used against yourself, being self-sacrificing could end in some deeply painful and harmful self-neglect.  This tension between being sacrificial and taking care of yourself is often what causes mamas to stay head-down and task-oriented this time of year, instead of really resting in the presence of our Lord and Mary in the manger.  Because it can be so hard to know how to be present without being lazy, or how to be joyful when things feel so hard. Self-care doesn't have to be frivolous.  And being self-sacrificial doesn't have to be miserable. As I prayed about how to share this important message again with you this Advent, I went back and re-listened to the episode I did last year on this topic. That's when I realized it was actually one of our most popular episodes! So, I am so pleased to share with you once again, (because who doesn't need to re-hear deeply important messages about joy at Christmas time?!) one of our Most Valuable Podcasts: Joyful Self-Sacrifice. Grab your earbuds and something cozy and listen to this powerful Advent episode, I pray it serves you! Get the details for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership HERE!

Do you ever feel like you're stuck looking at the crumbs and mess, feeling bombarded by the noise, and have zero drive to get up and keep going? Motherhood, and especially homeschooling, can start to feel like a hopeless endeavor if you're not careful and purposeful about what you choose to focus on.  Whatever is the center of your focus is what will continue to grow. So, if you're focused on the things that feel bad and are 'going wrong,' then you'll inadvertantly create more opportunities for things to go awry, be upset, and get stuck in that negative cycle. So how do you break free and actually start to grow in virtue, even when you're surrounded by mess and disorder everywhere you look, including in the mirror? Grab your earbuds and join me today as I take you on a little trip to change your focus and keep moving forward toward: Becoming a Virtuous Mother. Subscribe to get weekly life coaching tips on your Catholic homeschooling life HERE. Work with me HERE.  

The dream is a cozy and simple Advent, where we can be present and peaceful as we await Jesus' birth with joyful expectation. Unfortunately, between holiday preparations, shopping, music recitals, multiple family obligations, meal prep, and, oh yeah - every day life, Advent is often anything but the dream. In today's podcast episode, I'm sharing with you a few things to think about to simplify the next four weeks, in both your home and your homeschool, so that when you look back over this season, you have the best, coziest, most joyful memories. Grab your earbuds and join me today as I talk about how to Trade for Perfect for Present. Happy, Holy Mama details are HERE! Subscribe to get life coaching tips for your Catholic homeschool life HERE.

Between the litrugical calendar and the secular world, this time of year lends itself toward celebration and thanksgiving! It really can be such a wonderful, joyful experience. But what about when gratitude feels hard? When a blessing doesn't feel like a blessing or a gift doesn't feel like a gift? Instead of slapping on a fake smile through gritted teeth, wishing you felt better, I'd like to invite you to spend a few minutes with me today unpacking this emotion that we know we should feel, but can sometimes be hard to find. Grab your earbuds and join me today! P.S. Mark your calendar! Fiat Life Coaching will be running our own version of a 'Black Friday' sale this week, but instead we're celebrating the Catholic New Year!

It can be so hard to communicate with your husband, especially at the end of a long day, or in the middle of a tough situation. We need to have important conversations, especially when it comes to our family's budget, financial health, and look at the upcoming holiday spending. But how do you do that when, in the past, it's ended in anger, hurt feelings, and disconnection? In today's episode, I'm going to: Breakdown what's going on in BOTH of your brains that has likely lead to miscommunication in the past Aand the one thing you can do to help shift the conversation  Yep, even around money. My hope is that what you'll learn in today's episode is going to help you connect with your hubby more than you likely have in a long time. And as a total bonus, you can apply this to the way you communicate with your kids as well! Then, when you're ready, come join us in Happy, Holy Mama to learn how to take your communication with your hubby, kids, God, and even your parents to the next level! Monthly Membership is now open! CLICK HERE to get the details and get started today!

Fear of the government, social media, bad influences, and misinformation are just some of the external fears we face as moms. However, it's the internal fears that tend to keep us up at night. Am I do a good enough job? Will they have what they need? Did I mess up too badly? Am I ruining them? With so many things to fear, it's easy for a mom to feel paralyzed with what to do and how to raise courageous kids in this bonkers world, especially if the mom isn't sure how to do it for herself. If that resonates with you, please grab your earbuds and let's hang out and unpack what's going on under the surface so you can begin unwinding the fear you might feel stuck in and start: Raising Children Without Fear. Click here to join Magnify! the 8 week Advent course beginning now in Happy, Holy Mama! 

How much time do you waste beating yourself up every day? Or even how much money you spend on ways to feel better? Do you realize how much you invest in feeling bad? This isn't a condemnation, most people do this completely unintentionally. And then, unintentionally, beat themselves up further for having done all of that and it becomes a vicious cycle and leads to getting stuck. And, unfortunately, during this time of year, it leads to sour memories and expanded waistlines.  Which is why I want to spend time now, before we go into the holiday season, shedding some light as to why you do these things and a few simple steps to follow, so you can start getting a handle on it sooner.  Because learning how to be intentional now is what will allow you to begin practicing it before things get busy.  Which means you'll already have the foundational skills laid, so you can truly enjoy yourself, your family, and your homeschooling all the way through Christmas.  And that is the secret sauce to begin the next semester in January peacefully and intentionally, instead of feeling exhausted, discouraged, and drained. Grab your earbuds and join me for: How to Go Through the Holidays Intentionally  Join Magnify! and get everything else in Happy, Holy Mama HERE!  

Do you ever just want to throw in the towel when your kid seems to prioritize everything else in the world, instead of completing their school work? Or when you catch them on their screens when they should be doing their chores? Throwing in the towel feels like you've failed and is the step right before sending your kids to the nearest public school. Since that doesn't seem to be what God is actually asking you to do, you might think that a reasonable ‘solution' might be to lower your expectations. But somehow that feels like a sneaky way of throwing in the towel, so what is a well meaning homeschool mom to do?! Grab your earbuds of course!  And join me as I breakdown how to set you and your child up for success, without giving into defeat or shame in this week's podcast episode: Maybe I Should Just Lower My Expectations. And if the Holy Spirit is tapping you on the shoulder to go deeper with this work, please come join me in Happy, Holy Mama right now for only $49/month! When you join this week, you'll lock in that lower price for as long as you maintain your membership.  Get all the details and join now before the price goes up at midnight this Sunday on November 3rd by clicking HERE!  

When I was a younger mom I wanted to learn more about myself, because I really wanted to change how I reacted (or overreacted as it were) to my kids, messy house, pretty much everything in my life. But I really resisted learning about the Four Temperaments, because it felt like I would be ‘put into a box' that I couldn't get out of. I didn't like the idea of some test confirming my worst fears about myself and I was afraid there would be nothing I could do to change it. In this particular case, ignorance was bliss! Except I was still overreacting and felt like something was deeply wrong with me and maybe I was just doomed to be unhappy in this beautiful life God was giving me. I felt sad, angry, and sorry for my family. It was a really dark time. But then I heard a life coach say that my past doesn't dictate my future and that I could learn tools to nurture my natural tendencies (my temperament) to become the version of myself that I deeply wanted to be. That my family didn't have to change in order for me to enjoy my life.  In that moment my entire life shifted and it's never been the same since - for the better! Today's episode of the Happy, Holy Mama Podcast I talk a little bit more about my experience with the Four Temperaments and what kind of impact life coaching can have for you, if you know how blessed you are, but aren't necessarily feeling blessed.  Grab your earbuds and join me today for: Nurturing Your God Given Temperament and a VERY BIG Announcement!   Get all the details for MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP to Happy, Holy Mama HERE!  

One of the biggest obsatcles to having more peace in your day is finding acceptance of uncomfortable and even painful situations you find yourself in. Especially when it comes to your kids. I can already hear you reply, "But I can't be okay with bad behavior! Or disrespect!"  Or anything else that feels problematic right now. Like poor worth ethic, lying, politics, inflation, or just your husband's bad mood. And I totally agree, you don't have to be okay with those things!  But being okay with something is very different than accepting it. If you're most people and really struggle with understanding the difference, I created today's podcast episode just for you! So grab your earbuds and let's dive into: The Difference Between Acceptance and Condoning.  Make sure you're on my email list, beacuse later this week I'm unveiling a new way for you to work with me and you will not want to miss those details!  Join my mailing list HERE. 

Let me guess...rushing the kids to get their chores done doesn't seem to help. Nagging them to focus on their assignments doesn't either. And yelling...well that certainly doesn't get you any closer to getting out the door with all their belongings on time. So what does help? Grab your earbuds and let's talk about what you need to do (and what you need to let go of) in order to save time in your homeschool day today and How to Save More Time in Your Homeschool Day. Then check out Happy, Holy Mama by clicking HERE. Book a Consult Call with me HERE.

My husband and I recently took our oldest son on a couple of college visits to Catholic universities with the sport programs that he hopes to participate in. These visits went the way we'd expected them to, leaving with official offers from head coaches and significant academic scholarships to each. But the conversations we had with our senior along the way were what changed his ultimate trajectory and will likely lead to a better, richer college experience for him.  Grab your earbuds to join me as I share my experience as a first-time college mom, reflecting on our parenting journey that's led to where we are right now (for better and for worse). I'll share some things to keep in mind as you're preparing your kiddo for college and, most importantly, how to make the most of the time you've got this precious child still in your home. And don't forget to check out the details for my first ever public WORKSHOP this Friday: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting!  If you loved the free masterclass version I gave last year, this will take what you learned then to a whole new level. Click here to get the details and sign up!  

When was the last time you looked at your life just to find the miracles? You might not think it's a good use of your time, but in today's episode, I'm going to share with you why I think it's one of the best ways to spend your time. Because when you can find the miracles in your life, especially in your past, then you'll have little to no trouble handing your (or your children's) future over to God. And when you can trust God with the future of your family, then every single day becomes so much more beautiful and doable. Grab your earbuds and let me share my story about how St. Padre Pio helped me start my coaching practice, and other miracles, in today's episode: The Miracles of Your Life with St. Padre Pio!

If you are prone to resisting or avoiding something uncomfortable, like prioritizing yourself, asking for what you need, planning your time, or saying No to someone... ...then you're going to want to listen to this episode. I'm going to walk you through a deeper understanding of the impact of your emotions and how to start using them as currency to create the experience you want to be having of your homeschool life, instead of letting them keep you stuck. This is a powerful episode that you're not going to want to miss, so grab your earbuds and let's dive in! Click here to come with with me!

Between putting out fires, constant interruptions, and legitimately more time needs than there are hours in the day it can feel like there's too much to do and not enough of you. I need to get better at time management! is one of the most common complaints I hear from homeschooling mamas, but they never know where to start...because everything feels so painful. Which is why I've taken the most common time management mistakes I see and boiled them down into the five most problematic areas of time management, so that you can figure out exactly where you need to start. Click here to join my email list and stay in touch! THIS WEEK I'll be teaching how to solve for the Top 10 Time Management Mistakes including the specific steps for Time Auditing, Planning, Calendaring, Evaluating, and managing your own negative thoughts and emotions about you, your life, and the time God has given you. Get all the details HERE and join us for both workshops this week!

If you have anxiety around how much you have to do and frustration over not having enough time to do it all in, then I have a short and sweet podcast episode just for you today! Because the thought, there's not enough time, is one of the biggest MYTHS you are likely believing… …and it's just not true.  In fact, that thought is actually covering up a different, bigger concern that you don't even know is in your brain.  So, in today's episode, I'm going to shed some much needed light into this dark area of anxiety and frustration that every homeschool mom I know struggles with, so you don't stay stuck there any longer.  ​​​​​​​Grab your earbuds and join me for today's short episode: #1 TIME MYTH That's Keeping You Stuck. CLICK HERE to register for my brand new live masterclass This Friday, September 6, 2024, How to Steward Your Time Like a Saint. Registering for the class ensures that you get the zoom delivered to your inbox on the morning of the class, as well as the replay after the class is over, in case you can't make it in person!

Some of my worst homeschooling days have been the ones where I have lost my peace over every little thing. Like repeating myself for the nth time, being interrupted left and ride, and feeling like we were never going to finish an entire day's plan within one school day. On my worst days I have felt overwhelmed, angry, inadequate...and deeply believing that I was ruining my kids. And in today's episode of the Happy, Holy Mama Podcast, I share with you the one thing that shifted everything for me and my family...and how you can do it, too, today.   Grab your earbuds and join me for: How to Turn a Rotten Homeschool Day into a Beautiful Memory. Work with me HERE. Watch Intro to Loving Your Homeschool Life HERE.

You might be a homeschooler who doesn't like to look too far ahead into the future, because it feels overwhelming to plan more than a few weeks in advance. If that's the case, then, unfortunately, you might also be someone who struggles at the end of the year if you don't up where you had hoped to in May. That's because when you don't think about what you want the end result to look like, then: You won't know how to get there and You won't know when you've arrived. So spending time at the beginning of a new school year thinking about what you want the end of the year to look like is a highly valuable use of your time! Because when you know what you want it to look like at the end, then you'll be able to break down the steps to get there, which will help you know what to do today. Which means you'll waste less time, be less overwhelmed in the long run, and have a more productive school year! In today's episode of the Happy, Holy Mama Podcast, I'll walk you through why you want to define your goals, the steps to define your goals, and the mindset it takes to reach them. Grab your earbuds and join me for: Defining End of Year Goals for Today's Success. Work With Me HERE!

If you've ever spent the Sunday morning drive to mass dreading other people seeing your hot mess family and fuming that you're running late, you have probably tried to fake-it-til-you-made-it as you arrived. Likely to find that it didn't last long, because it just doesn't feel genuine and takes a significant amount of energy, that you probably just didn't have left. In today's episode, I'm going to share with you the difference between the fake-it-til-you-make-it mindset and the Acting As If mindset and why Acting As If will be one of the fastest ways to start making internal change. Work with me here. Book a free Consult Call with me here.  

Too many mamas get stuck in runaway train type thinking that sounds so true that you often don't question it. I also often see too many well meaning friends try to combat that thinking by disagreeing with it entirely, which doesn't always feel right to you, if those thoughts have a smidge of truth in them. Thoughts like: I can't do this. I am no good at this. I am ruining them. They would be better off in school. And others.   These thoughts feel so rotten, because they sound so, so true.  They FEEL so, so true. And it's honestly not useful to argue with them in order to change them. But I don't want you living under the weight of those thoughts any longer, either, because they're are what are keeping you disconnected, frustrated, and unhappy! That's why, in today's podcast episode, I share with you the ways I prefer to respond to those thoughts that is rooted in an even bigger, deeper truth. Borrow these new thoughts that I offer you whenever you get stuck in that Scarcity Mindset in the future and come back to listen to this episode as often as you need it!     Get the details for how we can work together here: https://fiatlifecoaching.com/membership  Subscribe to the Fiat Life Coaching email list here: https://fiatlifecoaching.com/subscribe 

We all have a money story.  For some of us it's a story of pain and deprivation and scarcity. For some of us it's different. Easier, lighter, and less fear around money. Regardless of what your history with money is, what you tell yourself about it now, is absolutely impacting your money decisions.  And my guest on this week's podcast episode wants to tell you how to start changing your story, have more financial freedom, and teach your kids how to create their own story, starting in your homeschool.  Grab your earbuds and join me and my very special guest, Amanda Teixeira from Wallet Win, as we discuss: Catholic Money Mindset.  Find Amanda at https://walletwin.com/  

How do you handle failure? Have you ever clarified what that looks like for yourself? I'm guessing probably not! Well, the problem with not knowing the specifics of HOW you do something is that then you don't know what to do DIFFERENTLY. That's exactly what I'm talking about in today's podcast episode! I'm going to walk you through a short exercise I led the Happy, Holy Mama Members through during Planning Week 2024 to unpack the feeling of "failure" and gave them a process for how they could handle it better. So, if you don't love the way you experience failures in your life and want to do it better, grab your earbuds and join me for: How to Handle Failure Better! Book a Free Consult Call here. Grab your free Happy, Holy Homeschool Blueprint here. Join the Happy, Holy Mama Membership and watch the replays of Planning Week here.

Pilar, mama of 3, joins me on the podcast this week to share her experience in going from being a full time OB/GYN to a full time stay at home mom and homeschooler! She bravely and lovingly shares her heart for our Lord, with the deep connection to our Lady, and how they've led her through this time of change and growth, especially in caring for her oldest child, who is neurodivergent.  Whether you think your personality just isn't quite right for the work God is calling you to do, or you're trying but feel like you're ruining it, Pilar's story has something for everyone. Please grab your earbuds and join us as Pilar so generously shares her journey to Cultivate the Home, as the Lord is calling her, and you, to do.   Join me and Pilar in Happy, Holy Mama! We are diving into Planning Week THIS WEEK!  5 days of workshops and coaching on essential tools, concepts, and skills that will make your homeschool more enjoyable this year!  PLUS lifetime support as you implement your plans from her through this finish line. Join Happy, Holy Mama HERE to jump into Planning Week (replays are available to start now even if you're 'late' to the party, we'll catch you up!)  

If you have ever felt tension in your jaw, neck, shoulders, or tightness in your chest and shortness of breath, and ready to throw in the towel, then I'm willing to bet you know what it feels like to be burnt out. Or at least on the verge of burnout. In today's episode I dive into some of the reasons you are, or have been, burnt out, most of which boil down to you trying to do a job that doesn't belong to you.  I'm going to give you a job description that the Lord gave me when I asked HIM what our job is as a Catholic homeschooler, and it might surprise you.  Grab your earbuds to join me for today's podcast and then go sign up for my NEW masterclass this Wednesday called How to Prevent Burnout and Love Your Homeschool! Sign up HERE for the class!

Parenting teens is hard enough, but did you know your mindset is what makes it feel better or worse? Yep, it's not just about their hormones, big feelings, and outbursts... ...the way you show up with them is what will make or break your relationship with them. You have more power than you know, mama! Let me tell you all about it! Grab your earbuds and join me in today's powerful podcast, which is like a mini-masterclass in and of itself, to learn my five favorite mindset shifts to improve your relationship with your teenagers! Speaking of masterclasses, join me for my newest free masterclass: How to Prevent Burn Out and Love Your Homeschool! Click HERE to register for the new masterclass! Click here to join Happy, Holy Mama right now to get in before Planning Week, July 15-19th to plan your year with peace, confidence, and SUPPORT. And as a lifetime member, you'll have support throughout the entire year as your implement your plans now and all the way through the finish line!

When she first reached out to begin coaching, Michaela just wanted to stop yelling and get more organized. In this week's episode of the Happy, Holy Mama Podcast, Micheala and I walk through how coaching helped her reach those intial goals, and also how it helped her through some of the trials she's experienced over the last few years while she was working toward them. Like giving birth to her sixth child just a couple of months after her mother passed away, and how coaching supported her, and continues to support her, to the point to where she's now thriving!  Michaela so beautifully shares what's been the most beneficial for her to learn and her favorite coaching tools that she practices still that help her maintain her progress, which she hopes will serve you, too! Finally, Michaela shares some of the more surprising results of this work that she's had through some of these intensely hard moments. Results that happen for my clients more often than not after we work together and that you might be interested to hear.    Grab your earbuds and join us as Michaela and I discuss her inspirational journey: Embracing the Vocation of Motherhood.   Get the details for the Happy, Holy Mama Membership by clicking this link!  

There's always something that needs to be done, which can drive moms a bit batty, prevent you from taking a much needed rest, and drive you to overwork. The urge you feel to get up and tidy or finish a project when you should be resting is exactly what I'm diving into today on the Happy, Holy Mama Podcast. In this week's short and sweet episode I talk about some of the common thoughts fueling those urges and I'm giving you a few simple steps to try the next time you notice you're overworking.  Listen to today's episode to learn how to have a better experience of the work you choose to do and feel more confident to say no to work to prioritize rest. Get your access to Catholic Homeschool Essentials by clicking this link to dive into invaluable life coaching tools to make what you start in this episode deeper to enjoy your homeschool summer break even more. 

This week's episode truly feels like going on a Catholic homeschooling retreat! My client Robin, Happy, Holy Mama of 4, joins me on the podcast this week and, oh my, what a wealth of wisdom and goodness she is! Robin shares her story that did not start out as a homeschool journey, but that once God called her family to homeschooling, it's been a source of growth and learning, not just for her kids, but for her as well. She generously shares about her struggles with dyslexic children, fighting a scarcity mindset of not feeling adequate for the job of teaching her own children, and how God brings her back to the path He wants her on over and over again through our work together. Join us today and take a deep, relaxing breath as Robin describes the incredible joy and goodness that homeschooling can be, even through trials. Grab your earbuds and listen to this inspirational episode: Cultivating Joy and Freedom in Education!  Join the Happy, Holy Mama Membership HERE to join us this Thursday, June 13, 2024 for our next monthly workshop where we'll be diving into how to not absorb your children's behavior!

Worried about your homeschooled kids losing their knowledge or skills during the summer? What you might be more worried about is what you might have to go through this fall, if your kids slide backwards in their knowledge and skills... ...both of which you worked very hard to help them earn this year! If you're looking at making some decisions about whether or not to do some school work over the summer, then I'd like to invite you to spend a little time with me in today's podcast episode where I'll walk you through a different way to think about it, so you're making that decision with clarity instead of worry. I'll also walk you through the steps to take to avoid the summer slip, if you decide to do some school, so you can keep making progress toward educational goals and still take a much needed summer break! Click here to get Catholic Homeschool Essentials