→ Prayer Calendar

The newborn season is sacred, tender, and overwhelming all at once. If you’re a new or expectant mom, you might be flooded with advice, milestones, and social media perfection. But what you really need is encouragement rooted in truth and grace.

In this episode, we reflect on our own seasons of young motherhood and share some deeply personal wisdom for the earliest weeks of parenting. From physical recovery and feeding decisions to postpartum emotions and sleep deprivation, this episode is for young moms who are seeking peace and perspective in the midst of it all.

Episode Highlights

[00:00:00] Introduction
[00:03:30] There is no "perfect mom"
[00:08:30] Meal train secrets
[00:11:30] Milestone pressure from Instagram
[00:16:30] Postpartum depression
[00:19:00] Breastfeeding vs. bottle-feeding

Please send us your questions if you'd like to have them discussed on the podcast: themindofachildpodcast@gmail.com

The Mind of a Child is an early child development podcast that exists to encourage and equip parents to raise their kids to love God and love others. If you're looking for Biblical principles, practical parenting solutions, and science-backed research, our discussions are specifically tailored for you. Our hosts are Leslie Dudley Corbell and Diane Doucet Matthews, who each have a combined 50+ years of experience in the early child parenting space.

→ Prayer Calendar

Creating a parenting plan can feel overwhelming especially in the early years when days are unpredictable and your energy is low. But what if a plan wasn’t about rigid control, but about peace, purpose, and flexibility?

In this episode, we explore how simple rhythms, clear communication, and God-centered intention can help you build a plan that actually serves your family. Whether you're a type-A planner or someone who struggles to keep a calendar, this episode gives grace-filled strategies for designing a routine that supports your mental health, aligns with your values, and helps your kids feel secure and loved.

Framework questions for developing a plan
1) What am I trying to accomplish each day but am unable to?
2) What are some things that I must get done each day for my family?
3) What are some things that I must get done each day for me, so that I can be fully present with my family?

Episode Highlights

[00:00:00] Why parenting plans can feel heavy
[00:02:00] Three questions to guide your plan
[00:08:30] Why kids crave structure
[00:16:30] Prepping for routine changes: Why kids need advance notice

Please send us your questions if you'd like to have them discussed on the podcast: themindofachildpodcast@gmail.com

The Mind of a Child is an early child development podcast that exists to encourage and equip parents to raise their kids to love God and love others. If you're looking for Biblical principles, practical parenting solutions, and science-backed research, our discussions are specifically tailored for you. Our hosts are Leslie Dudley Corbell and Diane Doucet Matthews, who each have a combined 50+ years of experience in the early child parenting space.

→ Prayer Calendar

Potty training is one of the most common parenting milestones and often, one of the most stressful. In this episod, we offer a refreshing grace-filled perspective that rather than chasing quick fixes or rigid timelines, invites parents to slow down, follow their child’s cues, and see this developmental stage as an opportunity to walk with their child.

Blending research, practical steps, and biblical encouragement, this episode reframes potty training as a joy-filled process of growth (as much as it can be), independence, and discipleship.

Episode Highlights

[00:00:00] Introduction: Why potty training feels stressful for so many parents
[00:04:30] When to begin: Signs of readiness, developmental timing, and early interest
[00:08:00] First steps: Preparing your environment and changing your expectations
[00:13:30] Nighttime training strategies: Sheets, plastic covers, and grace
[00:19:00] Language tips: Avoiding phrases like “Do it for Mommy”

3 Takeaways

1. Potty training is your child’s developmental work not a performance to manage or a schedule to control. When you treat it as a learning process rather than a task to complete, you reduce pressure and increase joy.
2. Encouragement beats rewards. Positive reinforcement rooted in celebration, praise, and connection is more effective than material rewards or punishments. Visuals, routines, and sibling examples help build independence.
3. God invites us to walk with our children in every milestone including potty training. With patience, presence, and prayer, we can guide them through this stage as a form of loving discipleship.

Please send us your questions if you'd like to have them discussed on the podcast: themindofachildpodcast@gmail.com

The Mind of a Child is an early child development podcast that exists to encourage and equip parents to raise their kids to love God and love others. If you're looking for Biblical principles, practical parenting solutions, and science-backed research, our discussions are specifically tailored for you. Our hosts are Leslie Dudley Corbell and Diane Doucet Matthews, who each have a combined 50+ years of experience in the early child parenting space.