![Don't Mom Alone Podcast - Seeing Your Child Differently :: Mentor Series Wk 6 [Ep. 585]](https://audioboom.com/i/39842989.avif)
Seeing Your Child Differently :: Mentor Series Wk 6 [Ep. 585]
Don't Mom Alone Podcast
08/10/26
•25m
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As moms, it's so easy to compare our children to everyone else's. We wonder why one child seems to thrive in situations where another struggles. We ask ourselves if we're doing something wrong or if we'd somehow be a better parent if our child were different.
But what if God intentionally gave you the child you have?
In this episode, I'm talking about what it looks like to parent the child God created instead of the child we expected. Everyone has a unique personality, unique strengths, unique struggles, and a unique purpose. Our job isn't to force them into a mold, it’s to become students of who God made them to be.
I share an episode with Sally Clarkson and her son Nathan about how our parenting often changes when we begin looking beyond behavior and start asking what our children truly need. Sometimes what looks like defiance is anxiety. Sometimes what looks like impulsiveness may be part of how God uniquely wired them. As parents, we have the opportunity to respond with curiosity, compassion, and wisdom instead of frustration.
We'll also discuss the reality of raising children with ADHD, OCD, sensory challenges, autism, or other forms of neurodivergence. Receiving a diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't define your child. It simply gives you a better map for understanding how they experience the world. God isn't surprised by your child's wiring, and He certainly isn't limited by it.
Remember, God didn't make a mistake when He gave your child to you. He chose you to be their mom for a reason, and He promises to give you the wisdom and grace you need for every step of the journey.
Connect with Sally Clarkson:
- Website: SallyClarkson.com
- Instagram: Sally Clarkson (@sally.clarkson)
- Facebook: Sally Clarkson
- Don't Mom Alone: By Heather MacFadyen
- Different: By Sally and Nathan Clarkson
- Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
- Loving Your “Different” Child :: Sally and Nathan Clarkson [Ep 149]
- Mothering Autism: Navigating Grief, Marriage, and Community :: Carrie Cariello, Kate Swenson, and Adrian Wood [Ep 515]
- Hiya Health: We've worked out a special deal with Hiya. Receive 50% off your first order on any of their products. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/DMA. This deal is not available on their regular website. Get your kids the full-body support they deserve.
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Previous Episode
Have you ever reached the end of the day and felt like you had absolutely nothing left to give?
Maybe it was the question, "What's for dinner?" that pushed you over the edge. Maybe it was another toddler tantrum, another sleepless night, a teenager's attitude, caring for aging parents, or simply feeling touched out after pouring into everyone else all day.
If that's you, I want you to hear this: There is nothing wrong with you. God is not surprised that you feel overwhelmed.
One of the biggest lies we believe as moms is that good moms don't get overwhelmed. Somewhere along the way, we begin acting as though we're supposed to be limitless. But only God is limitless.
I share an episode from Kat Lee that has stayed with me. As a young mom, she found herself sitting in her van in the garage, overwhelmed and in tears. She cried out to God, expecting Him to change her circumstances, but instead He gently invited her to begin preparing her heart before the day ever began. His invitation wasn't about checking off another spiritual discipline or becoming a "better Christian." It was simply an invitation to spend a few quiet moments remembering who He is, reading a few verses, praying for her children, and asking Him to help her become a conduit of His grace throughout the day.
Jesus invites us to return to Him again and again throughout the day. He is the source of Living Water that never runs dry. Whether you're feeling emptied by toddlers, teenagers, aging parents, anxiety, work, or simply the weight of everyday motherhood, His grace is still available. The goal isn't to become a mom who never runs out of energy or patience. The goal is to become a mom who knows where to go when she does.
Connect with Kat Lee:
- Website: InspiredToAction.com - Inspiration for Motherhood
- Instagram: Hello Mornings with Kat Lee (@hellomornings)
- Don't Mom Alone: By Heather MacFadyen
- Hello Mornings - We help you build a consistent morning routine.
- The Mom Game Changer :: Kat Lee {Ep 41}
- Don’t Mom Alone (#GCMLive Event) :: Kat Lee and Wynter Pitts [Ep 185]
- Healthy Habit Building :: Kat Lee [Ep 300]
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Next Episode
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Alison Cook to talk about attachment, emotional healing, and the ways our relationships shape how we understand ourselves, others, and God.
We all have a deep need for connection, safety, and belonging, but we can sometimes place too much pressure on the people around us to meet those needs. Dr. Cook explains why human relationships are important while also reminding us that no person can be the ultimate source of everything our souls need. There is a deeper attachment available to us through God.
We also talk about what happens when old wounds surface, particularly when we finally feel safe enough for those parts of us to emerge. Dr. Cook describes these experiences as “soul ruptures”, moments when core memories and beliefs about ourselves can become activated. Instead of responding with shame or criticism, we can learn to slow down, notice what we're feeling, and become curious about what that part of us needs.
This conversation is especially meaningful for moms who spend so much of their time caring for everyone else. When we’re constantly focused on our children’s needs, it can be easy to lose touch with what’s happening inside of us. Dr. Cook encourages us to make space for our own souls, tend to the younger parts of ourselves that still need care, and allow God’s healing presence into those places. Our souls are worth tending to, too.
In This Episode
- Why attachment is such a fundamental human need
- Why we can’t expect another person to meet all of our emotional needs
- What divine attachment means and how God becomes our ultimate source of connection
- Why parts of us can surface when we finally feel safe
- What a soul rupture is and how core memories can continue to affect us
- How shame and blame show up when we feel like we don’t belong
- Learning to recognize and care for the younger parts of ourselves
- What it means to “parent your soul”
- Recognizing our internal bids for connection
- Why healing requires space for difficult emotions
- How moms can make more room for their own emotional and spiritual needs
- Why we don’t change through shame or criticism
Connect with Dr. Alison Cook:
- Website: Dr. Alison Cook
- Instagram: Dr. Alison Cook | Psychotherapist + Secure Attachment (@dralisoncook)
- Facebook: Dr. Alison Cook
Links Mentioned:
- The Secure Soul: By Dr. Alison Cook
- Boundaries for Your Soul: By Dr. Alison Cook
- You Are the One You've Been Waiting For: By Richard Schwartz PhD
- Dr. Alison Cook | The Best of You Podcast
- The Best of You Every Day Podcast - 8 minute devotional
- Building Healthy Relationships by Exploring Adult Attachment Patterns (Part 1) :: Charissa Lopez [Ep 498]
- Building Healthy Relationships by Exploring Adult Attachment Patterns (Part 2) :: Charissa Lopez [Ep 499]
- Strengthening the Relationship with Your Adult Child :: Kathy Cunningham [Ep 543]
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