Hey friends—today’s episode is a little different. ❤️

After a whirlwind family vacation together (with 11 kids, a stranded pontoon boat, a new grandbaby, and a fender bender 🙃), we realized what every mama knows deep down: sometimes you’ve got to push pause and take care of what matters most—your family and your own sanity.

So Deena & Christian are wrapping up Season 1 and taking a much-needed break as their kids head back to school and their families walk through some big transitions. They’ll be back in a few weeks with Season 2 of Junk Drawer Mamas—full of fresh stories, faith-filled encouragement, mom-life humor, and practical strategies to help you dig through the junk drawer because what's hidden can't be healed.

👂🏼𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻:

👉 Hear the behind-the-scenes chaos of our “extreme” family vacation.

👉 See why we’re modeling rest and reprioritizing family for our listeners.

👉Learn what’s ahead for Season 2 (hint: healing for moms AND kids).

👉 Laugh with us as we share how even our breaks end up being “extreme.” 😂

👉 Be encouraged to give yourself grace and take a pause when needed.

🗝️ Key Takeaways:

🩷 Even family vacations can feel like extreme parenting.

💜Christina became a grandma (again!) literally hours before we left.

💛We got stranded on a pontoon boat with all the kids (and survived).

A fender bender, urgent care runs, and spiritual warfare—yep, it was all in the mix.

🩷 Family first: sometimes pressing pause is the most faithful thing you can do.

💜We’re asking for your prayers as we prep for Season

💛God always wins, even when life feels messy.

We cannot thank you enough for walking through Season 1 with us. You’ve laughed with us, prayed with us, and showed up for us—and we couldn’t be more grateful. 💕

👉 Please stay tuned, keep us in your prayers as we prepare for Season 2, and stay connected with us on social media (especially our Junk Drawer Mamas Community Facebook group! - https://tinyurl.com/5dhr6szp ). We’ll keep posting reels, encouragement, and updates so you won’t miss a beat.

Mama, you’re not meant to do this alone. God’s got you, and so do we. We’ll be back soon—stronger, rested, and ready for more junk drawer sorting together.

🎧 𝗧𝗨𝗡𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗡𝗢𝗪 and stay connected while we get ready for a powerful Season 2!

📲 Subscribe + follow:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JunkDrawerMamas

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6SZGUt4rEu5x1FZoQSWdLR

CONNECT WITH US:

📺YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/pdp7nzpd

📘Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/bdh2f6kn

👯Facebook Group: Junk Drawer Mamas Community: https://tinyurl.com/5dhr6szp📸Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/ms4yttb5

📱TikTok: https://tinyurl.com/mvbvbyjf

✉️Email: junkdrawermamas@gmail.com

☑️ Check out what Deena is doing over at Specially Empowered Moms

🌐Website: www.speciallyempoweredmoms.com⁠ ⁠

📘Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/4r8k9e9j

📸Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/yxka7fdt

📱TikTok: https://tinyurl.com/48jan3pc

✉️Email: deena@speciallyempoweredmoms.com

☑️ Check out what Christiana is doing over at Faith Through Foster Care

🌐Website: ⁠www.fatihthorughfostercare.com⁠

📸Instagram: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/4sp4xrud

✉️Email: faiththroughfostercare@gmail.com

If you have a question or maybe an item in the junk drawer you want us to tackle in an episode, please email us at junkdrawermamas@gmail.com. We would love to hear from you.

#JunkDrawerMamas #MomLifeUnfiltered #SpecialNeedsMoms #fostercaremoms #ExtremeParenting #ParentingPodcast #MomEncouragement #Hopeandhealing #RealMomTalk #MomLife #WearyMoms #ChristianMoms #imperfectparenting #SeasonFinale

What if your child’s disobedience wasn’t defiance—but a cry for connection?

In this episode of Junk Drawer Mamas, Deena and Christina delve into the messy, yet beautiful, work of parenting with love and boundaries—especially when everything feels out of control.

Based on the principles of connection over control, they explore what it looks like to build relationships that reflect the heart of God, even when your kids are pushing all your buttons, boundaries are being tested, and healing still feels out of reach.

Through stories of parenting teenagers, navigating trauma, and learning to communicate with truth and love, this conversation reminds us that we don’t have to parent from fear or control. There’s a better way.

Inspired by Danny Silk’s book Keep Your Love On, this conversation explores how to:

🩷 Parent from love, not control

💜 Learn how to discipline with love, not shame

💛 Understand the root behind your child’s “defiance”

🩷 Break generational patterns of fear-based parenting

💜 Set firm boundaries that protect connection, not destroy it

💛 Heal the mess in our relationships by cleaning up our own first

🩷Creating a safe space for your child to make mistakes without condemnation

Whether you're struggling with your spouse, your teen, your toddler, or your adult child—this episode is for the mama who’s tired of power struggles and longs for peace and connection in her home.

We’re learning how to stop controlling out of fear, and start leading with love & connection.

Mama, you're not meant to do this alone. God's God you, and so do we. Let's tackle this junk drawer of life together.

🎧TUNE IN NOW as we share how partnering with God in your parenting journey can turn even the messiest, most stressful days into moments of peace and joy.

FOLLOW for more encouragement and tag a mama who needs this today. 👯💜🩷

New episodes every Wednesday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, and YouTube. https://tinyurl.com/5e2nhnae

🔹 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JunkDrawerMamas

🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6SZGUt4rEu5x1FZoQSWdLR

CONNECT WITH US:

📺YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/pdp7nzpd

📘Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/bdh2f6kn

📸Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/ms4yttb5

📱TikTok: https://tinyurl.com/mvbvbyjf

✉️Email: junkdrawermamas@gmail.com

☑️ Check out what Deena is doing over at Specially Empowered Moms

🌐Website: www.speciallyempoweredmoms.com⁠ ⁠

📘Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/4r8k9e9j

📸Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/yxka7fdt

📱TikTok: https://tinyurl.com/48jan3pc

✉️Email: deena@speciallyempoweredmoms.com

☑️ Check out what Christiana is doing over at Faith Through Foster Care

🌐Website: ⁠www.fatihthorughfostercare.com⁠

📸Instagram: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/4sp4xrud

✉️Email: faiththroughfostercare@gmail.com

If you have a question or maybe an item in the junk drawer you want us to tackle in an episode, please email us at junkdrawermamas@gmail.com. We would love to hear from you.

#JunkDrawerMamas #MomLifeUnfiltered #SpecialNeedsMoms #fostercaremoms #ExtremeParenting #ParentingPodcast #MomEncouragement #Hopeandhealing #RealMomTalk #MomLife #WearyMoms #ChristianMoms #imperfectparenting #KeepYourLoveOn #Boundaries #DannySilk #parentingwithlove #connection

Keep Your Love On!: Connection, Communication and Boundaries: Danny Silk: 9781942306054: Amazon.com: Books

Do you ever feel like if you don’t hold it all together… everything will fall apart?

In this vulnerable, truth-packed episode, Deena and Christina peel back the layers on why so many moms struggle with control—and it’s not just because we like things done a certain way. Behind the micromanaging, the multitasking, and the meltdown over backwards shoes, there’s usually a deeper root: fear, trauma, and a desperate need to feel safe in a world that feels anything but.

They share how childhood wounds, food shame, body image issues, and unmet needs often fuel the drive to control everything. From funny mom moments to gut-honest confessions, this episode is both freeing and faith-filled.

If you’ve ever…

🩷Micromanaged your way through motherhood because no one else “does it right”

💜Snapped over something small because it was the only thing you felt you could control that day

💛Fixed everyone else’s mess while secretly falling apart yourself

🩷Struggled to delegate, ask for help, or sit still—because slowing down feels unsafe

💜Controlled what your kids wore, ate, or said out of fear they’d be judged (or you would)

💛Felt anxious when plans changed or chaos hit because you need to know what’s coming next

…then this episode will feel like sitting with two friends who get it—and who point you back to the One who’s always in control, even when you’re not.

Mama, you're not meant to do this alone. God's God you, and so do we. Let's tackle this junk drawer of life together.

🎧TUNE IN NOW as we share how partnering with God in your parenting journey can turn even the messiest, most stressful days into moments of peace and joy.

FOLLOW for more encouragement and tag a mama who needs this today. 👯💜🩷

New episodes every Wednesday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, and YouTube. https://tinyurl.com/5e2nhnae

🔹 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JunkDrawerMamas

🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6SZGUt4rEu5x1FZoQSWdLR

CONNECT WITH US:

📺YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/pdp7nzpd

📘Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/bdh2f6kn

📸Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/ms4yttb5

📱TikTok: https://tinyurl.com/mvbvbyjf

✉️Email: junkdrawermamas@gmail.com

☑️ Check out what Deena is doing over at Specially Empowered Moms

🌐Website: www.speciallyempoweredmoms.com⁠ ⁠

📘Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/4r8k9e9j

📸Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/yxka7fdt

📱TikTok: https://tinyurl.com/48jan3pc

✉️Email: deena@speciallyempoweredmoms.com

☑️ Check out what Christiana is doing over at Faith Through Foster Care

🌐Website: ⁠www.fatihthorughfostercare.com⁠

📸Instagram: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/4sp4xrud

✉️Email: faiththroughfostercare@gmail.com

If you have a question or maybe an item in the junk drawer you want us to tackle in an episode, please email us at junkdrawermamas@gmail.com. We would love to hear from you.

#JunkDrawerMamas

#MomLifeUnfiltered #SpecialNeedsMoms #ExtremeParenting #ParentingPodcast

#MomEncouragement #Hopeandhealing #RealMomTalk #FaithOverStress

#SelfImageStruggles #Stress #MomLife #WearyMoms #ChristianMoms #ChronicStress

#momsincrisis #innerhealing #selfcare #imperfectparenting #letgo