Media Savvy Moms Podcast, Author at

Addressing Masturbation Without Shame

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastMar 11, 2020

Masturbation. There are probably as many ways to address this topic as there are families. The question is, how do you start the conversation with your kids? Okay. We’ll admit it. We were nervous about having this talk too. In fact, the last time we felt like this was probably before an election. You know that feeling? When you have intensely passionate emotions about an issue or candidate? And you just KNOW you are right—and everyone else is wrong! And then you speak out (or post something on social media) and find out that even some of your best friends…

Honest Sex Talks

Bella Girl: Instilling Value, Beauty, and Purpose

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastMar 04, 2020

When our girls look at the world around them, how do they feel? Important or insignificant? Adored or objectified? There’s a basic truth. It’s this, that all girls have value, beauty and purpose. Yet for so many the truth has been hidden. Thousands of girls in our cities and towns across this globe have never been told their worth. Bella Girl, a teen outreach program in Toowoomba, Australia, has made it their mission to change that! 20 years ago, Letitia Shelton attended a large multi-faith conference. There she heard her mayor speak passionately about the youth of their city—their struggles…

Especially for Girls, Getting Involved

5 Parenting Rules to Live By: Surviving the Digital Age

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastFeb 26, 2020

Parenting is no easy task. We make rules. We set boundaries. But will they stick? Wondering how to get your kids to listen? Let’s face it. Parenting isn’t what we always imagined it would be. Once upon a time, when we were young and childless, and we walked past a little person screaming bloody murder in a store, we might have thought to ourselves, “That will NEVER be MY child!” And then, years later, it was our child. And as we stared down at our tiny tantruming tot and watched the others walking by wagging their heads at us, we…

Safeguarding & Prevention

Help! My Spouse is Addicted to Porn: Parenting Through Betrayal Trauma

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastFeb 19, 2020

Parenting is hard enough … but add a spouse who’s actively using pornography and life can often feel unbearable. So how do you do it? How do you balance both at the same time? We talk about hard stuff on our show, but this topic feels even more tricky than usual. This show might not apply to your situation. But more than likely, it will apply to at least one woman you know—whether you are aware of it or not. Protecting kids from porn. That’s hard work. Family dynamics are complicated enough. Marriage, kids, work, parenting. But what about when…

Overcoming Pornography

Dating, LOVE, and Awkward Questions

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastFeb 12, 2020

Ah … Valentine’s Day … time for paper hearts, candy, red roses … and a great reason to talk about dating, relationships, and sex with your kids? Absolutely! What’s your first Valentine’s Day memory? Exchanging those little perforated cards in elementary school? Smearing pink frosting on a sugar cookie? For us, Valentine’s must include chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate. (Yum.) In the beginning, “liking” someone was so simple, wasn’t it? “Do you want to be my boyfriend/girlfriend? Check the box: yes or no.” Then pass the note back after lunch! But as we get older, LOVE becomes a little…

Honest Sex Talks

The Dirty Dozen Parent Alert: Taking Action Against Exploitation

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastFeb 05, 2020

We all know there are big bad corporations out there benefiting from sexual exploitation. But which ones are they? And which ones affect our families the most? It’s a scary world out there. Right? But we can’t hide under a rock. Or put our kids in a bubble. It’s our job, as parents, to be informed about the dangers that surround our families—and to do something about them. When it comes to pornography and sexual exploitation, sometimes it can be tricky to identify what’s dangerous. After all, if we run a Google search for “porn” and “danger” and “kids,” who…

Getting Involved

Be in the NOW: Mindfulness in Parenting

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastJan 29, 2020

We’re parenting in a porn-saturated world. So, how do we avoid the paralyzing fear that sometimes comes with protecting our kids? How do we know what we can and can’t control? Let’s BE IN THE NOW and figure it out together! “Mindfulness” is a big buzzword these days. And it’s no wonder. Our lives are jam-packed with To-Do lists, social media, jobs, family responsibilities, stress, goals, lunch dates, financial worries, planning for the future, doctor’s appointments, Siri and Alexa ... And—oh yeah—pornography! Does it ever feel like a thousand voices are screaming at you at the same time, all the…

Parenting Survival Tips

Human Trafficking: Closer Than You Think

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastJan 22, 2020

I hear a lot about human trafficking in the news. Of course I’m concerned. But what do I do about it? Does it really affect me … or my children? What if your daughter (or son) was being trafficked right under your nose? While she was still living close to home and seeing you several times a week? And you had no idea it was happening? Does this seem unrealistic? In fact, that’s precisely what happened to our guest. A mother’s story about human trafficking We’re talking with Lynda Harlos, a mother who was caught in a nightmare. Her daughter…

Especially for Girls, Honest Sex Talks

What is Pornhub? A Parent’s Guide

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastJan 16, 2020

Hey parents! Do you know what Pornhub is? Chances are, your kids know enough about it to carry on a conversation around the lunch table at school. Are you prepared to fight back against this multi-million-dollar monstrosity? We’ve recently had an epiphany—a lightbulb moment if you will. Since we fight porn every day, we took it for granted that everyone knows what Pornhub is, but apparently that’s not the case! (See story below.) We know you can’t stop an enemy if you don’t know it exists. So today we’re giving you the parent’s definitive guide to Pornhub. Deciding to do…

Getting Involved, Safeguarding & Prevention

Screen Time & Healthy Boundaries with Andrea Davis, Better Screen Time

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastJan 09, 2020

Have you ever tried to talk to your kids about reigning in their screen time—and gotten that glazed-over look? ... Uh-huh, we feel your pain. Worry less, connect more That’s exactly what inspired Andrea Davis, a former teacher, and mother of five, to launch Better Screen Time. For her, it’s all about creating positive strategies for screens and technology. She and her husband have created a system to help parents worry less and connect more with their kids. Ahhhh ...worry less and connect more. Doesn’t that sound impossible...er, I mean ah-mazing? Apparently, there are a few tricks to getting your…

Parenting Survival Tips, Safeguarding & Prevention