Finding Joy in Marriage & Motherhood, Janet Quinlan
I'm Janet Quinlan, a Catholic life coach, and this is Finding Joy in Marriage and Motherhood - a podcast for women who want peace and joy in their marriage and motherhood. I'll help you create mindset shifts that change the way you discipline your children, love your husband, and enjoy your day. This podcast is about coaching women to be the best woman God is calling her to be. I'm a former elementary school teacher and homeschooler, a wife of 42 years, mother of 7, and "Grandma Jan" to 23 going on 25 grandchildren!Check out how I can help you in create a be...
Sorrows and Joy of the Cross [Replay]
In our call to marriage and motherhood, there are many contradictions, disappointments, and frustrations that we experience.
If we look at the difficult part of being a wife and mother through a non-Christian lens, then we move into dissatisfaction, disappointment, and overwhelm with our state of life.
But if we see the contradictions through the lens of our Christian faith - through Jesus' words, "take up your cross and follow me", so much of our life that used to cause frustration and anger, now has meaning and purpose.
Check out my free resources...
Our Inner Judge
This episode is a replay from 2023, but I thought it was especially timely during this season of Lent.
We all judge. Some more than others. Those who judge others, are often victims of judging - their own.
We're very good at judging ourselves - of seeing all the ways in which we fail or don't measure up. We're good at comparing ourselves to other women and quickly seeing where we don't measure up, as opposed to seeing the gifts and talents we have.
Check out my free resources on marriage, par...
St. Joseph's Example - Praying for Our Husbands
As wives, mothers, friends, and women of the world, a lot is asked of us every day! But the most important thing we can do every day is to pray for the men in our lives - our husband and our sons especially - that they will have the faith, hope, and love of St. Joseph. We pray that they will be strong in the face of all the temptations the world has to offer to reject all that is good, beautiful, and True.
We pray that our husbands have the strength, courage, and humility to live God...
How to Be Who You Want to Be [REPLAY]
So often, we think that we "are just who we are". We don't realize that we can actually decide who we want to be.
We can decide what kind of moms we want to be, what kind of spouse we want to be, and what kind of friend or employee we want to be.
Whatever our stories or beliefs we had from childhood about ourselves, don't have to continue to define who we are now as adults.
Who DO you want to be?
Check out my free resources on ma...
The Emotional Temperature of Your Marriage and Family
When we fall in love, we put all kinds of energy and anticipation into the relationship. We can’t wait to see him again, and when we do, our heart flutters a bit.
When we become pregnant, maybe especially with our first baby, once we get through the 1st trimester of morning sickness, we are full of excited anticipation to welcome this new little life into our our lives.
We don’t think of the cost of sleepless nights, a crying baby that can’t be consoled, or teaching and reminding our children to contribute to the...
Marriage and Sacrifice
As we begin the season of Lent, let's look at how we live our lives in our marriage and in our motherhood.
Our ordinary life is the perfect vehicle to embrace the goal of Lent, which is conversion.
As wives and mothers, our days are filled with opportunities to convert our heart, mind, and body to God. Do we recognize those opportunities, and do we take up our cross daily to follow Jesus or do we ignore the opportunity to make our everyday holy?
I also mention in this episode the opportunity to co...
Children and Chores - More than Just Cleaning
Giving children chores is more than just teaching them to contribute to the care of the home - although, that's an important lesson for them to learn.
Chores help them develop virtues like orderliness, patience, fortitude, generosity, and so many more.
In this episode, I talk about the Faith & Family Project Membership - a monthly teaching and coaching membership for women to educate and support them in living their vocation to marriage and motherhood. I teach on the the hot topics of the four pillars of our life: marriage, parenting, home management, faith/mindset, and se...
Faith & Family Project, Putting Your Husband First
Before the children, before the house, before everything else except God, our husband should be our first priority.
We often focus on the needs of our children which we perceive as always urgent and important, and we sometimes neglect our spouse in the process of fulfilling our children's needs.
When we put our spouse 1st, the order of the family is as it should be and together we build our family life.
Check out my free resources on marriage, parenting, home management, and faith life/mindset at janetquinlan.com
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Embracing Your Mission to Marriage & Motherhood
Don't let your life be barren. Be useful. Blaze a trail. Shine forth with the torch of your faith and your love.
Have you ever considered that you have a mission from God to be useful, blaze a trail, and shine forth with your faith and your love?
That's exactly what we're called in this mission of marriage and motherhood.
In today's episode, I talk about the foundation of our lives as wives/mothers - embracing our mission in our own little part of the world to change the w...
Why a Mom's Self-Image Matters
Join the Faith & Family Experience: Embrace Your Motherhod Mission. Click HERE for more info!
The most important thing about your parenting may not be what you’re doing—but who you believe you are while you’re doing it.
In this podcast I talk a lot about the what - what you’re doing in your marriage, how you parent, and how you keep your home.
We’re all very comfortable about talking about the how to do things.
But this quote struck me because at the core of whet...
Teaching Not Reacting: The Parenting Shift Every Mom Needs
Sign up for the Faith & Family Workshop HERE!
Today I want to talk about a 2nd way you can find joy in motherhood and that is in embracing a shift in your parenting style that will change the way you feel about parenting.
When I get on a coaching call with almost every client who is a young mom, their biggest question usually comes down to, “What consequence can I give so that they stop this behavior?”
And while I do think there’s a place for consequences – natural consequences that result f...
The #1 Way Moms Can Find Joy in 2026
You know usually I lead with the practical tips because that’s what people want. Something tangible – a tactic or a tool that will somehow magically change your life.
And while it is true that tactics, tools, routines, and habits can have a profound impact on your life creating peace and eliminating stress in your home, the tool I want to share with you today is deeper and more effective because it is the tool upon which all others will either enrich your life or be abandoned after a few days.
Whether you're a young mom o...
Advent and Preparing
We all feel the pressure of living up to the demands of the world - especially as we prepare for Christmas. But as women, wives, and mothers, what exactly do we need to do to prepare? Does God require us to conform to the world's standards of holiday preparation? Are we guided by the world's expectations or God's?
You can grab the free Spiritual Reading Booklist that I talk about in this episode HERE!
Check out my free resources on marriage, parenting, home management, and faith life/mindset at janetquinlan.com
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Giving What Really Matters
When we think of Christmas gifts, we often think of buying our children the toy that is the most popular this season. Or we think of getting the perfect sweater for our spouse. But, there is something we can give to ourselves and to those around us that is more valuable than anything we can purchase.
Check out my free resources on marriage, parenting, home management, and faith life/mindset at janetquinlan.com
Follow me on Instagram @janetquinlancoaching
Holiday Friction: Navigating Tension Between Mothers-in-Law and Daughters-in-Law
BLACK FRIDAY SALE UNTIL NOV. 30TH!
My "Mother-in-Law/Daughter-in-Law Dynamic - Essential Skills for a Better Relationship Course", is on sale NOW! Check it out HERE.
Today I want to talk about holidays and MsIL/DsIL and conflicts that can arise and why the holidays sometimes seem to bring out the worst in our relationships – especially with our in-laws.
I address some common conflicts and suggest some ways you can eliminate the stress of the season with your in-law.
Check out my free resources on marriage, parenting, hom...
How Will You Feel When the Holidays are Over?
Check out my free resources on marriage, parenting, home management, and faith life/mindset at janetquinlan.com
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Changing Things Up
Check out my free resources on marriage, parenting, home management, and faith life/mindset at janetquinlan.com
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Parenting From the Future
Today, I want to talk about something that every parent needs but many of us never take the time to create — a parenting vision.
In my Virtue-Based Parenting Course, I teach you the four pillars of effective parenting: Leadership, Connection, Communication, and Formation in Virtue.
These four pillars hold up the structure of our family life. But before we can build that structure, we need the blueprint — the vision of the kind of family we want to create and the adults we hope our children will become.
Listen in on this episod...
How Children Learn - The Power of Your Example
Today I want to talk to you about the power of your example. Humans, and especially children, are observational learners. Children learn how to speak to each other, treat others, show affection (or not), forgive (or not) by watching us and by watching how we lead our children. They learn what values and morals to hold by noticing what is and isn’t important to us. They learn how to love God by watching us – not by doing religion from a book everyday.
Children learn far more from watching what we do than from what...
Limiting Beliefs for Our Children
Our job, as parents is to encourage growth in our children, rather than limit it because of judgments we have made.
Children are constantly changing.
Their identity isn’t defined by one struggle or weakness.
Struggles are opportunities for growth, and our role is to guide our children in becoming holy, virtuous children and adults – not control their entire journey with judgments and limiting beliefs.
Check out my free resources on marriage, parenting, home management, and faith life/mindset at janetquinlan.com
Follow me on Instagram @janetquinlancoaching
Letting Go of Limiting Beliefs
Limiting beliefs are thoughts or assumptions we hold that restrict us or others in our life from growing or living fully.
They also cause us to predetermine how others will act without giving them the space to be different.
They don’t just affect us personally, they also shape how we view our spouse and our children, how we interact with them, and how we generally show up in the world to our extended family and friends.
I think there are 3 main areas where we could have limiting beliefs
· Limiting Beliefs...
Embrace Your Mission
The death of Charlie Kirk has caused many to stop and ask themselves, "How am I living my life?"
What is your mission from God? How are you living it? As St. Josemaria Escriva said in point #1 of "The Way", "“Don’t let your life be sterile. Be useful. Blaze a trail. Shine forth with the light of your faith and of your love."
Learn to live your God-given mission of marriage and motherhood with faith, fidelity, determination, and love.
Check out my free resources on marriage, parenting, home management, and faith life/mindset a...
Here's the Support You're Looking For
In the Faith & Family membership we are all moving together on the same path – one that connects us more with our spouse, helps us teach our children the virtues they need to be happy, and gives us the tools to create a bright, cheerful, faith-filled home.
And I have a special announcement – check out all the details HERE.
HURRY! Enrollment closes Sept. 3rd!
Check out my free resources on marriage, parenting, home management, and faith life/mindset at janetquinlan.com
Follow me on Instagram @janetquinlancoaching
What Your Children Probably Won't Learn in School
As a former teacher and former homeschooler, I LOVE this time of year! Back to school means new notebooks, new uniforms, new challenges, and new joys. But there are a few very important lessons your children won't learn.
Only you, as a parent, can teach your children how to truly love God, how to have faith, hope, and how to embrace virtues that define your child's character.
Schools teach academics, and some really great schools can support you in teaching faith and values.
But ultimately, you are your children's first teachers in forming th...
Back to School List of Essentials
Many of you know that I was an elementary school teacher. I have taught every grade in public and private schools, and I homeschooled our 7 children.
The schools ask the teachers to prepare a supply list for the parents each year of all the things their children will need in order to learn well.
Crayons, glue sticks, notebooks, pencil box, markers, pencils, Kleenex and many other items.
And while it’s important for your children to have the necessary supplies they need to complete their work, I think there’s another back-to-school list that...
Helping Your Child Have a Good Self-Image [REPLAY]
What is self-image? How your child sees themselves and how they think others see them – what they think about themselves and what they tell themselves about what and who they are.
A child with a poor self-image will often have low self-esteem. Low self-esteem is when a child lacks confidence about who they are and what they can do. A poor self-image contributes to low self-esteem which contributes to low self-confidence
Check out my free resources on marriage, parenting, home management, and faith life/mindset at janetquinlan.com
Follo...
How to Create a Family Culture [REPLAY]
There’s a basic human need of belonging that everyone possesses.
A family culture gives that "sense of belonging" to each child. It is the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterize your family. It is the foundation of your family.
A family culture doesn’t take away the individuality of people within the family, it simply characterizes what we work to have in common.
Creating a shared vision or family culture bonds the parents and children as well as siblings because they support and challenge each other to liv...
Ten Lessons I Learned in My Marriage [REPLAY]
Marriage is hard! So, as Michael and I just celebrated 41 years of marriage (kind of a big deal ;) I thought I'd share this replay of an episode that helps with practical tools to help you have a long and happy marriage.
You can also check out my marriage course, Foundations of a Happy Marriageat janetquinlan.com/marriage to help you improve a marriage that is struggling and/or make a good marriage great!
Check out my free resources on marriage, parenting, home management, and faith life/mindset at janetquinlan.com
Follow me o...
When Being a Mom is Hard
So, let’s let’s go through some reasons why being a mom is hard. In this episode I talk about the specific areas that many moms find difficult,
So, let’s be truthful about motherhood – it is hard sometimes because it requires constant giving of yourself — physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Everything in life that is good and holy has hard times – sometimes the hard times seem more frequent than the easy times.
But when we focus on WHY we're mothers, it makes it so much easier to accept the hard without letting it defeat us...
Baby Joy That Lasts
The difficult, the monotony, the repetition is the sacrifice of motherhood. But it is ALWAYS in the sacrifice that we end up finding joy – if we’re looking for it.
It’s when we sacrifice for another out of love, that we become a better person. We have a God-given mission as mothers – and as dads for those men listening.
We are in partnership with God in conception and in raising our children. We are our children’s first teachers in everything!
When we see our role in our child’s li...
The Mother-in-Law / Daughter-in-Law Relationship
The mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship has been the subject of jokes, sitcom shows, stereotypes and unfortunately, for some, painful moments in our lives.
In this episode, I'm sharing the "Families of Character" podcast episode in which Jordan Langdon and I discuss the sometimes complex relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
Let's talk about how to have a better (dare I say great?) relationship with your daughter-in-law or mother-in-law!
Check out Jordan's resources on how to have a great family HERE.
If you want help to make your relationship with your mother-in-law or daughter-in-law...
Letting Go of the Need to Control
Do you also struggle with trying to control?
Do you try to control your husband so you'll have a happier marriage? Do you try to control your children's misbehavior with punishments and consequences rather than teaching them how to behave?
Here’s the truth - We can't control others – not our husband and not our children - but we can always control how we respond to them.
To get on the waitlist for my Virtue-Based Parenting Course, click HERE.
Check out my free resources on marriage, parenting, home management, and faith life...
How to Get Your Child to Listen [Replay]
Summer can be great and it can be challenging as a parent. Our parenting strengths and weaknesses are on full display! In this replay episode, I give you the steps to help your child listen to you the first time. Children need to be taught to listen. And they're human, like us, so they naturally may not want to listen because they're busy with something else. This episode helps you teach them to listen so you won't have a summer of angry frustration and so your children can really enjoy their time with you! The chimes that I mention can be...
How to Handle Backtalk from Your Child
It’s when a child responds to authority, usually a parent, in a rude, defiant, or disrespectful way.
Now, back talk isn’t always about rebellion.
It often comes from frustration, a need for control, or emotional overwhelm.
And while it’s frustrating, it’s important to understand that it’s developmentally normal.
Kids, especially early teens and teens, are learning to assert themselves.
But just because it’s a normal developmental stage, doesn’t mean it’s okay.
And when we feel disrespected or angry, we often speak disrespec...
Teaching You How to Parent So You're a Happier Mom
In this episode, I talk about the importance of teaching your children HOW to behave rather than constantly giving consequences WHEN they don't behave.
My course, "Virtue-Based Parenting" is open for enrollment now through May 17th. You can go to janetquinlan.com/parenting to get all the details!
Check out my free resources on marriage, parenting, home management, and faith life/mindset at janetquinlan.com
Follow me on Instagram @janetquinlancoaching
What Kind of Adults Do You Want to Raise?
Without a clear destination with anything we do, our chances of a successful outcome is really limited.
It's no different with parenting. As a parent, what’s the destination for your children? What kind of adult do you want your children to become?
When we have a clear idea of the end goal, the day to day has more meaning because we understand that each interaction and behavior either contributes to the end goal or it doesn't.
My course, "Virtue-Based Parenting" is now open for enrollment. I teach you how to create your "adul...
Keeping Parenting Simple
Check out my free resources on marriage, parenting, home management, and faith life/mindset at janetquinlan.com
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The Role of Expectations in Raising Your Children
My parenting course, "Virtue-Based Parenting", will open for enrollment again on May 8, 2025. Make sure to go to janetquinlan.com/parenting so sign up for the waitlist so you have access to all the enrollment information!
Check out my free resources on marriage, parenting, home management, and faith life/mindset at janetquinlan.com
Follow me on Instagram @janetquinlancoaching
Joys and Sorrows of the Cross
Check out my free resources on marriage, parenting, home management, and faith life/mindset at janetquinlan.com
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How to Develop Real Self-Confidence
Self-confidence isn’t arrogance. It’s not pretending to have it all together. It’s not thinking you're better than other people.
In fact, most people who exhibit that brand of self-confidence are actually over-compensating for their lack of confidence.
Real self-confidence is a quiet, steady belief in yourself.
It’s knowing you can handle what life throws at you—even if you’re afraid or if you fail.
Self-confidence is built on trusting yourself, not just your abilities.
Check out my free resources on marriage, pare...
