Thriving In Motherhood Podcast | Productivity, Planning, Family Systems, Time Management, Survival Mode, Mental Health, Vision
Jessica Jackson
The GO TO Podcast For Moms With Kids At Home!
Do you want to love motherhood but find yourself in survival mode or burned out more than you'd like to admit?
Do you feel tugged between enjoying every moment with your kids because it "goes so fast" and feeling mom guilt because you don't?
Are you tired of wandering around the house or scrolling social media but don't know where to find the time or energy to do something that you would enjoy?
There's a way to create a life that you are excited to wake up to each day so you enjoy your time with your family, have a smooth running home, and still move forward on your greatest goals.
Hi! I'm Jessica Jackson, homeschooling mom of four, productivity and time management expert for moms, and project enthusiast.
In this podcast, I will teach you how to:
- Navigate survival seasons with a thriving mindset through practical tips
- Create a vision for your life and get clear about what really matters to YOU
- Effective planning, productivity, and time management strategies when you have kids at home - they're different!
- Build family systems that support the entire family - including mom
- Establish habits and rhythms that nurture you
- Become a Soaring Mother so you can live connected with God, use your gifts and talents to bless those in your circle of influence, adventure with your family, and enjoy meaningful relationships
I began motherhood with hopes and dreams that I could navigate my days confidently with purpose, live intentionally, find joy and contentment in everyday life, and have God's help and strength in this lifelong journey.
Reality:
I was in complete survival mode
I felt guilty a lot of the time
I had no clue what my days should look like
I was snappy and irritable with my family
Can you relate?
The good news - I closed the gap between what I hoped was possible and my reality.
And you can too.
I can't wait to help you live life with purpose and joy and see your growth in the everyday moments of motherhood.
Next Steps:
Watch the Free Workshop: Plan A Week You Can Win
https://pages.thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/win
Get your Thriving in Motherhood Planner
http://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/planner
Get your Thriving in Motherhood Journal
http://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/journal
Do you want to love motherhood but find yourself in survival mode or burned out more than you'd like to admit?
Do you feel tugged between enjoying every moment with your kids because it "goes so fast" and feeling mom guilt because you don't?
Are you tired of wandering around the house or scrolling social media but don't know where to find the time or energy to do something that you would enjoy?
There's a way to create a life that you are excited to wake up to each day so you enjoy your time with your family, have a smooth running home, and still move forward on your greatest goals.
Hi! I'm Jessica Jackson, homeschooling mom of four, productivity and time management expert for moms, and project enthusiast.
In this podcast, I will teach you how to:
- Navigate survival seasons with a thriving mindset through practical tips
- Create a vision for your life and get clear about what really matters to YOU
- Effective planning, productivity, and time management strategies when you have kids at home - they're different!
- Build family systems that support the entire family - including mom
- Establish habits and rhythms that nurture you
- Become a Soaring Mother so you can live connected with God, use your gifts and talents to bless those in your circle of influence, adventure with your family, and enjoy meaningful relationships
I began motherhood with hopes and dreams that I could navigate my days confidently with purpose, live intentionally, find joy and contentment in everyday life, and have God's help and strength in this lifelong journey.
Reality:
I was in complete survival mode
I felt guilty a lot of the time
I had no clue what my days should look like
I was snappy and irritable with my family
Can you relate?
The good news - I closed the gap between what I hoped was possible and my reality.
And you can too.
I can't wait to help you live life with purpose and joy and see your growth in the everyday moments of motherhood.
Next Steps:
Watch the Free Workshop: Plan A Week You Can Win
https://pages.thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/win
Get your Thriving in Motherhood Planner
http://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/planner
Get your Thriving in Motherhood Journal
http://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/journal
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 11, 2026 • 24min
Behind the Scenes: Projects, Pausing the Podcast, and Family Life [Episode 401]
After more than eight years of releasing weekly episodes and recently passed the 400 mark, I wanted to sit down and share what's really been going on behind the scenes. In this episode, I talk honestly about this current season of life - adding another baby, full schedules, late nights, early mornings - and what it feels like when you've been living beyond your capacity for a long time. I share why this podcast is taking a pause, what I mean by doing a "controlled burn," and how I'm learning to stop treading water and start building the boat instead. I'll talk about margin, connection, and redefining what thriving looks like when life feels full.
Feb 4, 2026 • 13min
Prayer for hard seasons. [Episode 400]
In this episode, I share what I've been learning about prayer during a season that's pushed me beyond my capacity. Drawing from scripture and personal experience, I talk about bringing our weaknesses honestly to God, praying for what only He can do, and trusting that He meets us with a plan, power, and promises. If you're walking through a stretching season, I hope this episode offers encouragement, perspective, and hope.
Jan 28, 2026 • 46min
How I talk to my kids about politics [Episode 399]
In this episode, I share howmy thinking about politics as evolved over the last decade, and how that shapes the way I talk with my children about it. Rather than focusing on current events or party lines, I walk through the principles we return to in our home: Separating problems from people Understanding influence verses concern Valuing character and leadership And learning to solve problems without attacking one another This episode will help you consider how we can help our kids engage thoughtfully and compassionately with a complex world.
Jan 21, 2026 • 31min
Discouraged or too overwhelmed to set goals? Try this. [Episode 398]
A few weeks into the new year, it's easy to feel discouraged, especially if the goals you set already feel heavy or out of reach. In this episode, I talk about why that happens and what I do instead. I share why traditional goal-setting can feel like using the wrong map in motherhood, how shifting to a vision changes the entire experience, and why the real work isn't about doing more, it's about who you're becoming along the way. I'll share: Why time-based goals often create pressure and self-doubt in full seasons of life How a vision gives direction without demanding speed or perfection Why regular reflection helps you make progress without carrying shame or discouragement
Jan 14, 2026 • 40min
The Mindset Shift You Need to Homeschool For the Long Haul [Episode 397]
If you want to homeschool long term, you have to stop letting one hard day convince you you're doing it wrong. In this episode, I share the mindset shifts (and practical systems) that have helped me homeschool consistently for 10+ years—through changing seasons, growing kids, and all the problems that inevitably come up. We'll talk about how to solve the right problem, how to build systems that work when life isn't ideal, and why your role isn't to panic—it's to become the person who can do this. Resources: Masterclass: How to Create a Home Where Everyone Can Thrive (Even You) ➡️ https://thrivinginmotherhood.myflodesk.com/thrive
Jan 7, 2026 • 29min
Our Favorite Homeschooling Curriculum for 2026: 6th, 4th, 2nd, Kindergarten and Baby [Episode 396]
I'm homeschooling five kids (grades 6, 4, 2, kindergarten… plus a five-month-old baby), and I'm sharing what's actually working now that real life is in full swing. I'll walk through the "filter" I'm using for curriculum decisions, what changed between my plan from seven months ago and what we're doing now, and the biggest fixes we made (especially in math and writing). I also share what our days look like right now — the flow, the routines, and the small setup decisions that make consistency possible. Resources: Other Homeschooling Videos: Favorite for 2023: PreK, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oV70d1kr9A Favorite Curriculum for Fall 2023: Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, 4th Grade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm3hJAlVTdI Homeschooling in Hard Seasons | Library System for the Best Books: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9wgIgGxQgk How I Decided Our Learning Priorities For the Summer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQkuSufQnJs Our Homeschooling Curriculum for 2024-2025 Pre-K, 1st, 3rd, 5th Grade: Alveary Update: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5MvRMKNY1E Planning A Full Year of Homeschool With A Baby On The Way | 6th, 4th, 2nd, Pre-K: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNKz4gz3MzI Curriculum: Growing Brave Writers https://bravewriter.com/products/growing-brave-writers (use this link to get $10 off: https://go.referralcandy.com/share/SVPT9W8?s=sp&t=cp) Math With Confidence: https://amzn.to/3Nezl3K Fix It Grammar: https://amzn.to/3N7CJxy Alveary: https://lddy.no/1jdpq (use code JJACKSON for $25 off) All About Spelling: https://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/all-about-spelling/?srsltid=AfmBOoq7t0vyOYoJiNU10_kw_RBcPQ6p8CuxneTYVBcK_bCtrgF3TJXb (I actually just buy the teachers manual used for a fraction of the price)
Dec 31, 2025 • 20min
If You Feel Behind or Discouraged In Life…Watch This [Episode 395]
As the year comes to a close, I'm talking about what it feels like to reflect when you're discouraged, uncertain, or just tired. When progress feels slow. When goals didn't turn out the way you hoped. When the future feels unclear. In this episode, I share the thoughts, stories, and spiritual insights that helped me reframe what it means to be "behind," why nothing you've given is wasted, and how to approach vision-setting when dreaming feels hard. I'll talk about seasons of becoming, surrender, and letting God lead when you don't have clarity yet.
Dec 24, 2025 • 21min
I read 60 books in 2025. These 4 will make you rethink weight loss goals. [Episode 394]
Looking for books that will completely change the way you think about weight, health, and body image? From surprising medical history to cultural myths we've quietly absorbed, these reads helped me question where our ideals about "healthy," "thin," and "ideal" actually come from. Resources: Happiest Man on Earth: https://amzn.to/49lK5G6 The Secret To Unlocking The Stress Cycle: https://amzn.to/4aul90b Everything is Tuberculosis: https://amzn.to/3MMAY8F Semi-Well Adjusted Despite Literally Everything: https://amzn.to/3NbdGt8
Dec 17, 2025 • 21min
My Top 12 Books of 2025 (Fiction, Memoirs, Self-Help & Non-Fiction) [Episode 393]
As the year winds down, I love slowing things down a bit, opening my 2026 Thriving in Motherhood Planner, working through the vision section, and taking time to reflect on what actually stayed with me this year. One of my favorite parts of that process is reviewing the books I read. This year, I read over 60 books. When I sat down to reflect, I narrowed that list first to the ones that truly stood out, and then distilled it even further to my top favorites across fiction, memoir, nonfiction, and a small handful of self-help books that genuinely impacted how I live day to day. In this episode, I'm sharing: The fiction series that gave me deep, genuine belly laughs at the end of long days The nonfiction and memoirs that expanded how I think about resilience, perspective, history, and human experience The self-help books that actually changed my habits, not just my ideas How I choose what to read in different seasons of life (especially as a homeschooling mom of five) These are the books that shaped how I think, how I rest, how I parent, and how I move into a new year with intention, without pressure to read more, faster, or "better." Resources: Previous Book Lists Top Books of 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLMNVWoyWxQ Top Books of 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDU1QwZm0rM Books I Read During My Tech Fast 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SI7v_2DmlP8 Designing Your Personal Curriculum For 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cyc-YCDjtfQ Deep Dive Book Club: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK0Nd4dbVRA Non-Fiction Books An Immense World: https://amzn.to/3Mwtman American Nations: https://amzn.to/4pFAUpR Brave the Wild River: https://amzn.to/48TWI9Z Empire of Pain: https://amzn.to/4s0S6aG Memoir Solito: https://amzn.to/4rWGJ3A The House of My Mother: https://amzn.to/4s0RYIe The Happiest Man On Earth: https://amzn.to/4oZxNrM Semi Well Adjusted Despite Absolutely Everything: https://amzn.to/3XZrUzH Self-Help Books The Glucose Revolution: https://amzn.to/4j04dkf The Power of Now: https://amzn.to/3YB8Ckd Thrivers: https://amzn.to/4oQnmGF Fiction Books The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lions: https://amzn.to/3L21cn6
Dec 10, 2025 • 29min
Feeling Lost About Where to Focus? Do These 2 Things Before January 1st [Episode 392]
Before you jump into holiday plans or new-year goals, there are two things I want you to do, because they will completely change how you feel heading into next year. In this episode, I walk you through the exact reflection and clarity-building process I'm using right now to close out 2025 and prepare for 2026. It's a simple reset that helps you see what really happened this year, understand where you grew, and get clear about what matters most going forward.
