If you've ever watched your child drive away and felt your heart break a little, this episode is for you. Michelle shares her tender goodbye with her son Matthew as he heads to his senior year of college, and offers three practical tools to help you navigate the beautiful, painful journey of letting go with love.
✨ Why being a "50-50 mom" is actually perfect (and gives you permission to stop trying to be perfect)
✨ The hero vs. victim mindset - how treating your child as the hero of their story creates connection instead of control
✨ Selah Moments - a simple way to stay connected without being controlling (plus the neuroscience behind why this works!)
✨ The power of release - what burdens you're carrying that were never meant for you
✨ A beautiful prayer based on Psalm 121 where you can insert your child's name
💙 Feel anxious when their children leave home
💙 Struggle with wanting to control outcomes for their kids
💙 Wonder if they're "doing motherhood right"
💙 Have a child leaving for college, starting school, or any major transition
💙 Want to connect with their children without being controlling
💙 Need comfort for their aching mama heart
[00:00] Michelle's tender goodbye to Matthew
[02:00] Why being a "50-50 mom" is perfectly okay
[04:00] The box story - when mama anxiety takes over
[07:00] Hero vs. Victim: How we see our children matters
[10:00] Selah Moments for connection instead of control
[13:00] Release: What you're carrying that isn't yours
[14:00] A mother's prayer using Psalm 121
"All of motherhood is loving them enough to let them go."
"When we can't hold them in our arms, we can hold them in our prayers."
"Your heart has been in training for this moment. The ache won't break you."
"I'm a 50-50 mom and it's okay. I'm 50% great mom and 50% 'well, that didn't work' mom."
📖 Promised Hope by Michelle Diercks - Written during her first year of empty nesting, filled with truths and names of God that bring comfort to weary mama hearts
🙏 Psalm 121 - A beautiful prayer for your children's protection and God's watchful care
📱 Selah Moments - Connect with your children by sharing daily favorite moments
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Sweet mama, if you found this episode because your heart is aching as you watch your child grow up and away, please know you're not alone. Every mama walking this earth knows the bittersweet pain of loving someone
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