Blooming in the Middle

When criticism from your adult child strikes, it can take you by surprise and leave you without words. Let’s fix that on today’s episode of the Blooming in the Middle Podcast!

Because if you’re a mom of adult kids, you’ve probably been there—your son or daughter says something that makes you stop in your tracks. Maybe it’s a critique of how you raised them, how you “just don’t get it,” or even how you’re too involved… yet somehow no...

Today, we’re diving into the topic of how to be a better friend to yourself in midlife.

I know this idea can sound odd, especially when we try as Christian women to love others the way God asks us to. Thinking too much about ourselves can make us feel uncomfortable.

But being a good friend to yourself isn’t selfish—it’s essential. In fact, it’s a reflection of God’s love in your life. A love that’s contagious and draws others in.

When...

It seems like the voices of “should” are everywhere, especially this time of year:

 I should get in better shape.

I should save more money.

I should finally get organized.

I should … well, the list goes on and on, doesn’t it?

And if you’re someone who likes to get stuff done, it’s easy to let those “shoulds” take over when planning the days and months ahead,

But what if, instead of piling on the shoulds, we approached goal-setting differ...

Holidays look different in your empty nest, but they don't have to lose their magic. Here's how to enjoy the holidays with your adult kids.

If you've got adult kids, you already know how quickly holiday spirits can sag when you start trying to navigate everyone's schedule and expectations in this empty nest season of life.

And if those adult kids have families of their own, making holiday plans can start to feel l...

What's keeping you from asking for what you want in midlife?

You might think it’s because you’re not clear yet on what you want your next chapter to look like.

Or maybe you’re feeling a bit rusty when making requests for yourself after years spent taking care of others

You tell yourself that you’ll start asking for more when you grow more confident.

While it’s true that gaining clarity and confidence is incredibly important to ask...

Most of us have encountered at least one woman who seems nice at first, welcomes you into the fold of friendship then subtly – or not so subtly – makes you start questioning yourself and wondering if you’re imagining things.

Things like being targeted for unkind or critical remarks. Or becoming the subject of gossip. Or learning that you’ve been excluded from an event where other friends were invited. Surely no one would do these th...

Do your aging parents send you mixed messages? They ask for help one minute, and the next, they stop listening. 

You're not alone. This happens all the time between aging parents and their kids.

Parents welcome your concern because it makes them feel loved. But when your concern comes with too many questions and suggestions, those warm fuzzy feelings turn into annoyance. 

What's underneath this confusing push and pull when y...

Trying to find your new purpose in midlife can feel like a monumental task. Especially after years filled with activity that left little room for pondering questions like, “What should I do with my time?”

Are you kidding me? What time? Filling up your time in the growing years was never a problem!

If you’re like me or many women I talk to, the opposite was true: you had to be diligent about carving out time and space for yourself and...

If finding joy in midlife feels elusive, you might think it's because you have responsibilities you weren't prepared for. Things like caring for an aging parent, helping a struggling adult child, or managing your health and wellness.

These and other challenges can add up to some not-so-joyful midlife moments.

But you know it's possible to find joy in the middle of life's toughest assignments – after all, you'...

Who doesn't want a best friend or two? Someone to share all the joys and challenges that life brings.

With all the highs and lows of midlife, having a supportive circle of friends around you is more important now than ever.

But life changes like a move after downsizing, a newly empty nest, or some other midlife shift can leave you in a spot where you don't know as many people as you'd like to.

And you're discoverin...

Does being told what’s age-appropriate ruffle your feathers the way it does mine?

What about the term “aging gracefully”? Does it leave you feeling frustrated or maybe limited to a way of being that just isn’t enough for you? 

If so, it's time to trade in the old rules for how to age gracefully and adopt a new way of thinking about aging well.

Fair warning: It's a way that some folks in this world will find weird.

But I'...

I talk to so many midlife women who want to plan for what comes next and know they need to, but they just don’t know where to start.

Maybe the same is true for you?

What happens when you think about planning for the future?

Are you flooded with so many ideas that you don't know which one to try first?

Or is it more like sitting in front of a blank screen waiting for something to load?

Either way, uncertainty about where and how to ...

Once your kids leave home, and you’re left wondering about your new parenting role, it’s easy to think it’s all about you and how you’ll fit into their new lives – but it isn’t.

It’s also tempting to believe that it’s all about them – that they’re in the driver’s seat now, so you’re free to sail off into the sunset. Also, not true if you want to stay connected and hope your kids will want that, too.

What is true is that both you and ...

I’m just going to come right out and say it: the #1 enemy of aging well is often fear.

Fear of changes to your body, your relationships, and your place in the world. Fear of the unknown. Uncertainty about what lies ahead.

It's normal to think about the changes and challenges that come with aging. 

But when fear is at the root of your concerns about aging well, healthy concern can turn into full-blown anxiety. 

And anxiety fueled b...

Are you feeling weighed down and less than enthusiastic about preparing for your next chapter of life? Does thinking about what’s next make you feel tired and overwhelmed?

If you’re having trouble opening yourself up to what God has next for you, even though you deeply desire to make the most out of the years ahead, it could be because you’re holding onto things from the first half of life that no longer serve you.

In today’s episode...

It’s one of the hardest things about midlife. Relationship changes that your head knows are a normal part of life. But your heart feels like it’s breaking.

It seems like no relationship goes unchanged in this time of transition.

You and your spouse re-evaluate what matters most in your marriage now and it doesn’t always line up with what you hoped for in the empty nest years.

Your kids grow up and move aw...

Sometimes, the influences in midlife slip in like background music. They set the tone and tempo night and day. 

They can be upbeat and positive, like the music at a theme park that makes you want to run straight to the first ride you see.

Or they can be dark and ominous, like in a scary movie when it’s time to cover your eyes.

You might not notice what’s playing in the background of midlife or when the message subtly changes. But ther...

Today, I’m talking about how to handle the pressure midlife brings to figure out where you’ll find meaning and purpose in the second half of life.

The search for an answer to the nagging question of what will bring life meaning after the years you spent growing and building. Years when meaning seemed naturally built into every moment.

You want to know that where you spend your time – now that you have more of it –...

Many women arrive at midlife with a deep need for rest after caring for others for much of their lives. If you’ve spent years fueled by adrenaline and caffeine like I once did, you may not feel comfortable stepping off the go-hard path.

But to build and maintain the kind of mental and physical strength you need to make this season of life the best it can be, it’s time to think about real self-care.

Not the massages or mani-pedis kind...