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Episode 22 Spiritual Formation for Families (Without the Guilt): Helping Kids Grow in Faith During the Christmas Chaos

Emotions With Ease

Release Date: 12/15/2025

Episode 29: After-School Meltdowns - How to Help Kids Regulate From Pickup to Dinner time show art Episode 29: After-School Meltdowns - How to Help Kids Regulate From Pickup to Dinner time

Emotions With Ease

If weeknights feel like one long meltdown—from the car ride home to bedtime—you’re not alone. In this episode of Emotions with Ease, emotional wellness coach Jami Glenn sits down with Kristin Harrington, occupational therapist and mom of two, to talk through practical, body-based tools to help kids regulate after school—without shame, power struggles, or unrealistic expectations. 👉 New here? Grab my ⏱ Timestamps 0:00 – Welcome + why after-school regulation matters 3:00 – Why kids fall apart after school 6:30 – What to do right at pickup (car tools that help) 10:45 –...

info_outline Episode 28: Why Logic Doesn't Work During Meltdowns (and what to do instead) show art Episode 28: Why Logic Doesn't Work During Meltdowns (and what to do instead)

Emotions With Ease

If you’ve ever tried to explain your way out of a meltdown and watched it get worse… this episode is for you. In this episode of Emotions with Ease, emotional wellness coach Jami Glenn explains why logic doesn’t land during meltdowns, what’s actually happening in your child’s brain and body, and how to bring calm back online using one simple tool, one tip, and one script you can use right away. 👉 New here? Grab my . ⏱ Timestamps 0:00 – Welcome + what this episode covers 2:30 – Why explaining makes meltdowns worse 5:45 – What’s happening in the brain during a...

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info_outline Episode 26: January Reset for Moms- Regulating Before Reacting show art Episode 26: January Reset for Moms- Regulating Before Reacting

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🎙 Episode 26: The January Reset for Moms — Regulating Before You React January is supposed to feel like a fresh start—but for most moms, it actually feels exhausting. In this episode of Emotions with Ease, emotional wellness coach Jami Glenn shares a gentler way to reset: by regulating your nervous system before you react. No life overhaul. No added routines. Just small, doable moments that create more calm and connection at home. You’ll hear: Why “calm kids” actually starts with a regulated mom A 20-second reset you can use in the moment to slow reactivity Simple January...

info_outline Episode 25: What Actually Helps Kids Move Through Big Emotions (According to a Real Kid) show art Episode 25: What Actually Helps Kids Move Through Big Emotions (According to a Real Kid)

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In this episode of Emotions with Ease, Jami Glenn invites listeners into a real, honest conversation with her daughter about big emotions—especially anger—and what truly helps kids move through them. No expert jargon. No perfectly polished parenting moments. Just a child’s perspective on what feels supportive (and what doesn’t) when emotions run high. Jami’s daughter shares that when anger shows up, she often goes to her room—but she doesn’t want to be alone. What helps most is when her parents come into the room, sit with her, and simply listen. Not fixing. Not rushing. Just...

info_outline Episode 24: A Simple Family Gratitude Practice That Actually Works (And Why We’re Bringing It Back in 2026) show art Episode 24: A Simple Family Gratitude Practice That Actually Works (And Why We’re Bringing It Back in 2026)

Emotions With Ease

As the new year approaches, many families start asking the same questions: What do we want more of? What do we want less of? And how do we actually make that happen without adding one more thing to our already-full plates? In today’s short and practical episode, Jami shares one simple gratitude practice her family is intentionally adding back into their emotional wellness toolbox in 2026—and why this version of gratitude actually works. (And no, this is not the “be thankful and stop crying” kind of gratitude. We don’t do emotional bypassing around here.) You’ll hear how to build...

info_outline Episode 23: Emotional Regulation Tools for Kids (When You’re Stuck Inside) show art Episode 23: Emotional Regulation Tools for Kids (When You’re Stuck Inside)

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  Christmas break is magical… and also a lot. Cold weather, packed schedules, sibling conflict, and nowhere to burn off energy can turn emotions big fast. In this short, cozy episode of Emotions with Ease, I’m joined by a very special guest — our daughter— to share real, kid-approved tools for emotional regulation when going outside isn’t an option. These are simple, practical strategies we actually use in our home to help kids move through big feelings and return to calm — without yelling, screens as the only solution, or pretending emotions don’t exist. Resources...

info_outline Episode 22 Spiritual Formation for Families (Without the Guilt): Helping Kids Grow in Faith During the Christmas Chaos show art Episode 22 Spiritual Formation for Families (Without the Guilt): Helping Kids Grow in Faith During the Christmas Chaos

Emotions With Ease

Christmas is supposed to be meaningful… But sometimes it just feels loud, fast, and one school party away from tears (yours or theirs). In this episode of Emotions with Ease, I’m joined by my dear friend, mentor, and spiritual formation expert Jennifer Freeman to talk about what spiritual formation for families actually looks like in real life—beyond church attendance, Bible reading plans, or adding one more thing to your plate. We talk about integration over perfection, how emotional wellness and faith overlap, and simple, practical ways to help kids experience God as safe, present, and...

info_outline Episode 21: How to Find Mom Community: Building Real Friendships & Support in Motherhood show art Episode 21: How to Find Mom Community: Building Real Friendships & Support in Motherhood

Emotions With Ease

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info_outline Episode 20: Create Family Values to Keep the Peace at Home show art Episode 20: Create Family Values to Keep the Peace at Home

Emotions With Ease

If you’re tired of feeling out of sync—different expectations, different discipline styles, different priorities—this is your moment. Join us for the , our last workshop of the year.  ✨ Grab the free for calm mornings and confident kids! Come hang out with me on Instagram for more tools like this! Ever look up and think, “How did we get here?” That, my friend, is called missional drift—and every family experiences it when life gets busy, schedules get wild, and you’re parenting on autopilot. In today’s episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of...

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Christmas is supposed to be meaningful…
But sometimes it just feels loud, fast, and one school party away from tears (yours or theirs).

In this episode of Emotions with Ease, I’m joined by my dear friend, mentor, and spiritual formation expert Jennifer Freeman to talk about what spiritual formation for families actually looks like in real life—beyond church attendance, Bible reading plans, or adding one more thing to your plate.

We talk about integration over perfection, how emotional wellness and faith overlap, and simple, practical ways to help kids experience God as safe, present, and trustworthy—even in seasons of anxiety, grief, and overwhelm.

If you’ve ever wondered:

  • Am I doing enough spiritually for my kids?

  • Why doesn’t “just pray about it” seem to help my anxious child?

  • How do I model faith when I feel spiritually dry myself?

You’re in the right place. Pull up a chair. 💛

Meet My Guest: Jennifer Freeman

Jennifer Freeman is a spiritual mentor, speaker, and longtime leader in Christian formation. She served for 25 years as Director of Christian Formation at College of the Ozarks and is the creator of Rooted Families, a beautifully practical resource designed to help children and caregivers grow together in faith from infancy through college.

She brings wisdom, calm, and a whole lot of grace to this conversation—and yes, she once tried to teach me how to cook (we’ll just say… eggs were involved 🥚).

Timestamps & Highlights

00:02 – Why Christmas feels meaningful and overwhelming
05:19 – What spiritual formation really is (hint: it’s shaping, not cramming information)
08:38 – Why faith works best when it’s integrated into daily life
12:10 – “You can’t give your kids what you don’t have yourself”
15:33 – Using nature, bedtime, and daily rhythms to point kids back to God
19:38 – Advent, waiting, and helping kids learn patience without lectures
25:22 – Emotional wellness + faith: why big feelings belong with God
31:55 – Bible journaling, art, and body-based ways kids can experience faith
33:27 – When “just pray and memorize a verse” isn’t enough
47:37 – For parents who feel spiritually dry: start with silence (just 3 minutes)
55:40 – Jennifer’s go-to anxiety regulation tool (body + belief together)
58:00 – How to access Rooted Families resources (they’re free!)

Key Takeaways for Parents

  • Spiritual formation isn’t an add-on. It’s meant to be woven into everyday life.

  • Kids are shaped more by what they love than what they’re told to believe.

  • Faith needs to be strong and flexible enough to hold questions, doubt, and change.

  • Emotional wellness and spiritual formation are deeply connected.

  • When kids struggle with anxiety or worry, giving them only prayer and memorization can unintentionally create shame.

  • God is not a vending machine—and kids need help understanding His character, not just His rules.

  • Silence (even a few minutes) is one of the most powerful spiritual practices we overlook.

Practical Tools You Can Try This Week

✔ Name emotions + bring them to God (nothing is off-limits in prayer)
✔ Use concrete images kids understand: light, bread, nature, waiting
✔ Invite faith conversations with questions, not lectures
✔ Try body-based tools: drawing, painting, movement, sorting objects
✔ Practice micro-silence: in the car, shower, before bed, or while sipping coffee
✔ At bedtime, thank God out loud for your kids—it builds safety and trust

Resources Mentioned

If this episode gave you a deep breath, a new perspective, or even just permission to stop striving—share it with a friend who needs the same reminder.

✨ And if you’re craving more practical tools AND my favorite parenting book list, be sure to snag it HERE. 

You don’t need to do this perfectly.
You just need roots deep enough to grow. 🌱