Minimalist Moms Podcast | Purposeful Life & Parenting Tips · Diane Boden

Help! I'm Ruining My Kids | Abbey Wedgeworth (Bonus Episode)

·33 min·3 clips

Abbey Wedgeworth admits she wasn't the mom she thought she'd be after seeing 'icky things' inside herself.

This bonus episode of the Minimalist Moms Podcast features host Diane Bowden in conversation with author Abbey Wedgeworth, who writes from a Christian perspective. They tackle the common but often unspoken fear that a mother's flaws and failures are permanently damaging her children. Wedgeworth shares her own difficult postpartum experiences, where she confronted unexpected anger and feelings of inadequacy while trying to feed her baby. She explains that her book, "Help! I'm Ruining My Kids," offers the unique promise of change, not just comfort. Wedgeworth argues that true repentance involves both a horizontal acknowledgment of harm to others and a vertical acknowledgment of sin against God. She references King David's prayer in Psalm 51, "against you and you only have I sinned," as a model for this. The discussion challenges the idea that Christians should reach a point of sinless perfection, using the Apostle Peter's denial and restoration by Jesus as a key example. One surprising insight is that feeling increasingly aware of one's sin can actually be a sign of spiritual growth as one's view of God's holiness expands. Wedgeworth presents a visual metaphor where a growing view of God and a growing view of personal sin are two diverging lines, with the cross of Christ bridging the ever-widening gap. She emphasizes that community is a non-negotiable catalyst for change, providing accountability, celebration, and healing for past wounds. A memorable moment involves Wedgeworth finding a letter from her child to Santa that read, "all I want for Christmas is for my mom to be nice to me," highlighting the gap between parental intention and a child's perception. She ultimately advocates for being a "fast repenter" who models repair for children, which teaches them relational resilience for their future. The tone is candid, compassionate, and theologically grounded, blending personal storytelling with scriptural teaching. Listeners seeking Christian-based encouragement about grace in the midst of parental failure will find deep hope and practical wisdom here. Those uncomfortable with faith-centered content or looking for secular parenting strategies should skip this bonus episode.

As heard by us

A calm Christian conversation about doubt, grace, and the steady work of asking for help.

This bonus episode stays close to ordinary life while keeping its focus spiritual: doubt, assurance, the Holy Spirit, and the uneasy sense of being farther from God than expected.

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Why you'd press play

Press play for a faith-centered reset on doubt, grace, and asking God for help.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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