Stop Catering to Your Kids and Reclaim Authority in Your Home with Abbie Halberstadt

February 23, 2026
00:00 29:21
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Abbie Halberstadt, mother of 10 kids and author of You Bet Your Stretch Marks, joins Arlene to dismantle the myth that moms should "love every minute" of parenting. Being a parent stretches your capacity like nothing else, but it also fills you with immense joy and has a lasting impact. Motherhood is good.

Abbie shares practical wisdom on prioritizing heart work over housework and reclaiming parental authority in a culture that overemphasizes children's emotions. This is a Biblical conversation for any mom who feels overwhelmed, frustrated that the kids won't listen, or guilty that she's not enjoying motherhood "enough."

05:17 - The myth of "loving every minute" of motherhood

10:08 - Dealing with comparison and mom guilt

12:18 - The danger of making parenting your identity

14:45 - Prioritizing heart work over housework

18:39 - Teaching kids to serve vs. being served

25:09 - "My kids won't listen to me" - understanding parental authority

26:30 - The problem with emotion-centered parenting

29:21 - Why kids need to know that "mama means what she says"

Learn more about Abbie Halberstadt on https://misformama.net/ or on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/m.is.for.mama/

Check out Abbie's podcast, M is For Mama, and grab her book, You Bet Your Stretch Marks, anywhere books are sold.

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Go to Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email speaking@arlenepellicane.com

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

Learn more about Every Woman's Bible today by visiting: https://hubs.la/Q0427v7r0

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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Meet Your Host
Arlene Pellicane is a speaker, host of the Happy Home Podcast, and author of several books including Parents Rising, Making Marriage Easier and Screen Kids.

Arlene has been featured on the Today Show, Fox & Friends, the Wall Street Journal, FamilyLife Today, Focus on the Family, and is the spokesperson for National Marriage Week. Arlene and her husband James have three children and live in San Diego. They have raised their kids without social media, video games and smartphones and inspire others to scroll less and live more. To learn more, visit her website at ArlenePellicane.com.
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