Do you ever feel overwhelmed, overtouched, overstimulated and find yourself wondering, why does this feel so hard?

Today Karen answers real questions from moms about marriage, resentment, anxiety, exhaustion, and the emotional weight of motherhood. From mismatched sex drives in the toddler years to school-day overload and traveling husbands, this conversation will remind you that you are not alone. Motherhood can be beautiful and exhausting at the same time- and good and hard can truly run on parallel lines.

Episode Recap:

• Good and hard can run on parallel tracks! (3:10)
• How can I honor my husband’s higher sex drive and actually enjoy sex right now? (4:33)
• My afternoons are exhausting with 3 school age daughters - is this normal? (6:57)
• My husband travels for work & chooses golf on weekends, I feel resentful (12:50)
• My job and homeschooling has me feeling so anxious, I dread my day to day life (18:28)

Scripture: Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

Discussion Questions:

1. Where am I currently feeling the most overwhelmed — marriage, work, parenting, or emotionally?
2. Is there resentment quietly building in my heart? What honest conversation needs to happen?
3. What small buffer or margin could I create this week?
4. Am I trying to solve everything myself instead of laying it before the Lord?
5. Where do I need to remind myself that “good and hard can run on parallel lines”?

Resources:

• Listen to the rest of our conversation on WT+: boaw.mom/insider
• Check out our BRAND NEW Bible study: How To Teach Your Kids the Bible
• Listen to episode 131 or 165 on having a healthy sex life after kids

Want More of This Conversation?

Wire Talk+ listeners get extended conversations every week! Today Karen shares a personal story about a painful season when she had to “bend the knee” to God’s will in her life. Join us and we hope you’ll come away encouraged.

Head HERE and join us for the full conversation.

Friendships in motherhood are rarely as simple as we expect them to be. Today Karen and Emily are continuing our friendship conversation by tackling comparison, conflict, cliques, and what to do when a friendship changes. They answer listeners’ questions about unmet expectations and learning when to lean in and when to let go. If friendship feels confusing, discouraging, or just plain messy right now, we hope this episode encourages you!

Episode Recap:

• What is happening over on Wire Talk+? (4:01)
• Where do your friendship expectations come from? (10:30)
• How have your healthy friendships naturally changed over time? (12:56)
• Ask God for what you need - even in your friendships (14:52)
• Friendship doesn’t always look exactly like what we have imagined (18:02)
• How do we handle conflict and tension in friendship? (18:30)
• You can create space without ghosting people (21:37)
• How do I make friends when everywhere around me is full of cliques? (22:00)
• My friend continually brings up a topic of conversation that irritates me (25:25)

Scripture: Proverbs 17:17 (EST) “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

Discussion Questions:

1. How has comparison (especially through social media) shaped your expectations of friendship?
2. Are there friendships in your life where proximity (distance, schedules, seasons of life) has changed the relationship?
3. When conflict or tension shows up, do you tend to address it or pull away? Why?
4. What kind of friend do you have the capacity to be right now? What kind of friendship do you realistically need in this season?
5. Is there one practical step you could take this month to strengthen a current friendship or pursue a new one?

Resources:

• Listen to the rest of our conversation on WT+: boaw.mom/insider
• Join our BOAW Moms Facebook group
• Check out our BRAND NEW Bible study: How To Teach Your Kids the Bible

Friendships in motherhood can feel complicated, especially when old wounds and insecurities get stirred up in new seasons. In this episode, Karen and Emily talk honestly about why friendships can feel hard for moms and how to move forward with grace, healthy expectations, and a “generous explanation” for the people around us.

Episode Recap:

• Friendship is difficult as a mom (2:23)
• We all have past hurts that impact how we receive or offer friendship today (4:30)
• How do we prevent self-sabotaging friendships? (6:17)
• Communicate clearly when you have moved into a new season of life (8:06)
• Choose a generous explanation whenever possible (10:02)
• How do I handle someone who is not a good fit wanting to be friends?! (13:54)
• How do I maintain friendships in a very full season? (16:45)
• Continue this conversation on WT+ at the link below (20:16)

Scripture: Ephesians 4:2 (NLT) “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.”

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you had a friendship since becoming a mom that didn’t turn out the way you expected. What made it hard?
2. When friendships feel disappointing or painful, what past experiences or insecurities tend to get stirred up for you?
3. Where do you think your expectations in friendships might need to shift to match the reality of your current season?
4. What would it look like for you to give a “generous explanation” instead of assuming the worst in a friendship right now?
5. What is one practical way you can pursue friendship with more grace this month without overextending yourself?

Resources:

• Listen to the rest of our conversation on WT+: boaw.mom/insider
• Join our BOAW Moms Facebook group
• Check out our BRAND NEW Bible study: How To Teach Your Kids the Bible

Want More of This Conversation?

Wire Talk+ listeners get extended conversations every week! Today Karen and Emily share how their past relationships have affected the kind of friend they are today.

To become a Wire Talk+ Insider, head HERE and join us for the full conversation.