Parenting to Impress
🎙️ Parenting to Impress, your go-to podcast to learn practical ways to love God and love others, and impress this on the hearts of your children. Heidi Franz, the creator of ABCJesusLovesMe, is joined by her dear friend Melanie Simpson. Two moms who have made a lot of mistakes but have found grace and truth along the way.
🧒 Join Heidi and Melanie as they dive into the world of parenting, sharing their insights, stories, and wisdom gained from their own journeys. From navigating the challenges of raising children in a modern world to finding creative ways to instill faith and values in your family, this podcast is your source of biblical and practical advice.
📖 Each episode will explore different aspects of parenting, faith, and relationships, with guest interviews, expert insights, and real-life anecdotes. Whether you're a seasoned parent or just starting your journey, Parenting to Impress is here to support you in creating a loving and godly home.
🎧 Tune in to Parenting to Impress and embark on a journey of growth, love, and faith as you seek to "impress" the values that matter most on the hearts of your children. Subscribe now and never miss an episode!
Episodes
74 episodes
God, Sleep, and Sanity: How to Train Your Child to Sleep In, Part 2
Discover how to train children to respect wake-up times and stay in bed, allowing parents to reclaim their mornings for essential quiet time with God. In this episode we share 7 practical tips and a step-by-step training process that works for ...
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Episode 72
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23:10
God, Sleep, and Sanity: Bedtime Routines that Work, Part 1
If bedtime feels like chaos and you’re desperate for a little peace (and sleep!), you are not alone. We’ve been there — exhausted and unsure what would actually help our kids stay in bed and sleep well. In this 2-part podcast, Melan...
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Episode 71
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20:03
10 Tips to Guide Children Through Grief
Grief is hard, especially when you’re trying to help a child process loss. In this episode, Melanie and I share 10 practical ways to walk alongside kids as they navigate sadness, whether from the death of a loved one, the loss of a pet, or even...
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Episode 70
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25:33
Introducing Colors and Shapes the Right Way
In this episode, Heidi shares practical tips on teaching colors and shapes through fun, play-based activities that build your child’s vocabulary, creativity, and early math skills. Using everyday conversations, Bible stories, books, and p...
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Episode 69
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16:33
Raising Emotionally Resilient Kids
In this episode, we’re diving into a topic that every parent can relate to—helping our kids manage their big emotions and build emotional resilience. It’s not always easy, but it’s so important! We’ll share practical tips on ...
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Episode 68
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26:21
Making Reading Time Count
Reading to children is a crucial aspect of their development, creating a strong foundation for vocabulary, comprehension, and emotional intelligence. This episode dives deep into the characteristics of quality children's literature and practica...
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Episode 67
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26:16
Embracing More this Year
Join us in our virtual booth as Heidi Franz and Melanie Simpson share our reflections and intentions for the year ahead. We discuss personal stories of letting go of distractions, desires, and our perceived "rights" to grow spiritually. Melanie...
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Episode 66
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17:50
How to Speak God's Truth Over Your Child's Life
In this episode, Heidi and Melanie dive into the power of speaking truth over your children and the lasting impact it can have on their lives. We'll explore what it means to speak truth, why it's so important, and practical ways to begin doing ...
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Episode 65
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20:46
Empowering Healthy Independence in Your Children
Join Melanie and Heidi as they discuss the delicate balance of parenting without over-helping, based on Stanford's research and their own experiences. They emphasize the importance of letting children face challenges to build independence, a st...
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Episode 64
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28:17
Simple Steps to Starting a Family Bible Time
Let’s do some shocking math for a moment. If your family goes to church for three hours a week, that only accounts for 1.8% of your entire week. While those three hours in corporate worship are vital, we can't hold the church responsible for...
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Episode 63
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22:46
Creating a Structured Home Environment
Ever wondered how to create a home environment where respect, trust, and obedience naturally flourish? In our latest episode of Parenting to Impress, we uncover the biblical foundations of family structure and obedience, drawing wisdom from the...
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Episode 62
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24:44
Teaching Respect in Your Home: A Biblical Perspective
Why do children sometimes show more respect to one parent than the other? In this episode we will take a dive into various parenting styles—uninvolved, permissive, authoritarian, and authoritative—exploring how each impacts the level of respect...
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Episode 61
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17:50
How Do You Teach Kids to Pray?
What if teaching your child to pray could be as simple and joyful as blowing bubbles? Heidi and Melanie share their experiences in teaching their children to pray, provide suggestions on introducing prayer to your kids, and motivat...
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Episode 60
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18:56
What's a Christian to Do with the Enneagram?
Dive into the intersection of faith and personality as the Parenting to Impress Podcast duo discusses the spiritual implications and use of the Enneagram. Addressing concerns about its possible evil origins, we explore how Christians can though...
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Episode 60
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24:54
Teaching Kids Responsibility Through Household Chores
Discover how teaching children household chores can reduce their anxiety and foster responsibility. Inspired by Chris and Lindsay Wheeler's book, "Kit and the Missing Notebook," this popular episode explore...
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Episode 59
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24:19
Elevate Your Parenting with Effective Communication
Can the way you talk with your children really shape your child's cognitive, emotional, and social development? Discover the transformative power of balancing instructional and relational talk in this popular episode of Parenting to Impress.
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Episode 58
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18:34
From Chaos to Calm: Family Vacation Survival Guide
Can a family vacation really be both relaxing and fun when you're juggling young kids, single-bathroom situations, and meal planning? Tune in as we unravel the joy and chaos of family trips, offering practical advice on everything from masterin...
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Episode 57
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20:32
Shaping an Intentional Summers for Your Kids
Embark on a journey to craft the ultimate summer experience for your kids. Together, Melanie and Heidi peel back the layers of parenting during those sun-drenched days, drawing inspiration from Mark 12:30 to fill our children's time with intent...
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Episode 56
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20:25
How to Break Free from Lies to Embrace the Truth
Have you ever felt like you're just not measuring up? It's something I've grappled with, and I'm sure many others have too. In our latest chat on Parenting to Impress, my friend Melanie and I get real about these struggles. We dive deep into th...
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Episode 55
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13:55
Tips to Help Kids Tackle Anxiety
As a mother who's navigated the stormy seas of parenting, I've seen firsthand the pressures that tests and tryouts can heap onto our children's shoulders. Today, I'm sharing heartfelt strategies to support your kids through anxiety-riddled test...
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Episode 54
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6:53
When Your Marriage Doesn't Match Your Dreams
Her inquiry was raw and brimming with emotion. To conclude, she anonymously posted, "I'm committed to our marriage, but I am tired." I'm aware that many have experienced this same sentiment in their marriages, even though Christians often feel ...
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Episode 53
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33:51
Understanding Fostering, Adoption, & Orphan Care
Let's talk about adoption and foster care. Some adopt to expand their families. Others personally feel a command to "look after the orphans" (James 1:27)....
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Episode 52
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29:34
Discovering Sabbath Rest: Trusting God in the Whirlwind of Parenthood
Imagine a life in which you trust God with your time so much so that you pause work on Sundays. Sounds intriguing, right? Join us, your hosts Heidi Franz and Melanie Simpson, as we share our personal journeys about observing Sabba...
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Episode 51
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17:38
How to Preserve Your Marriage Amidst a World of Divorce
This podcast episode explores the sacred covenant of marriage. Join us as we uncover the truths behind common misconceptions and reveal the divine blueprint for matrimony.In this personal discussion, Melanie and I dive into the wisdom of...
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Episode 50
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19:40
Teaching Children How to Apply the Bible
Delve into the transformative journey of guiding your child's spiritual growth with our latest podcast episode! From laying the foundational truths of Scripture in preschool years to navigating its application in the teen phase, we unravel prac...
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Episode 49
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12:51