Parenting to Impress
🎙️ Parenting to Impress, your go-to podcast to learn practical ways to love God and love others, and impress this on the hearts of your children. Heidi Franz, the creator of ABCJesusLovesMe, is joined by her dear friend Melanie Simpson. Two moms who have made a lot of mistakes but have found grace and truth along the way.
🧒 Join Heidi and Melanie as they dive into the world of parenting, sharing their insights, stories, and wisdom gained from their own journeys. From navigating the challenges of raising children in a modern world to finding creative ways to instill faith and values in your family, this podcast is your source of biblical and practical advice.
đź“– Each episode will explore different aspects of parenting, faith, and relationships, with guest interviews, expert insights, and real-life anecdotes. Whether you're a seasoned parent or just starting your journey, Parenting to Impress is here to support you in creating a loving and godly home.
🎧 Tune in to Parenting to Impress and embark on a journey of growth, love, and faith as you seek to "impress" the values that matter most on the hearts of your children. Subscribe now and never miss an episode!
Episodes
79 episodes
Celebrating a Child’s Salvation Birthday
Looking for meaningful ways to celebrate your child’s salvation birthday? In this encouraging, mom-to-mom conversation, Heidi and Melanie share simple, Christ-centered ideas to help your family remember and honor the day your child chose to fol...
Letting Go of Fear in Parenting
If you’ve ever felt the weight of trying to control your child’s choices, protect their future, or guarantee their faith—this episode is for you. Heidi and Melanie have an honest, grace-filled conversation about fear-based parenting, the illusi...
The Sanctification Process: Why Sin Keeps Coming Back
Why does the same sin keep showing up again, even after prayer, confession, and repentance?In this episode, Heidi and Melanie talk honestly about the sanctification process—the lifelong journey of becoming more like Jesus. Together they ...
Do I Deserve Happiness? A Biblical Look for Moms
Many moms wonder, “Do I deserve to be happy?” Or, "Is it wrong to want my children to be happy?" In this Parenting to Impress podcast episode, we unpack what Scripture says about happiness, contentment, and joy, and why seeking holiness brings ...
When It Doesn’t Go as Planned
About a year ago, Melanie and I recorded a podcast episode we didn’t know would be our last for quite some time. The break wasn’t planned, but life required it. 2025 brought confusion, heartbreak, grief, and parenting decisions that didn’t come...
God, Sleep, and Sanity: How to Train Your Child to Sleep In, Part 2
Discover how to train children to respect wake-up times and stay in bed, allowing parents to reclaim their mornings for essential quiet time with God. In this episode we share 7 practical tips and a step-by-step training process that works for ...
God, Sleep, and Sanity: Bedtime Routines that Work, Part 1
If bedtime feels like chaos and you’re desperate for a little peace (and sleep!), you are not alone. We’ve been there — exhausted and unsure what would actually help our kids stay in bed and sleep well. In this 2-part podcast, Melan...
10 Tips to Guide Children Through Grief
Grief is hard, especially when you’re trying to help a child process loss. In this episode, Melanie and I share 10 practical ways to walk alongside kids as they navigate sadness, whether from the death of a loved one, the loss of a pet, or even...
Introducing Colors and Shapes the Right Way
In this episode, Heidi shares practical tips on teaching colors and shapes through fun, play-based activities that build your child’s vocabulary, creativity, and early math skills. Using everyday conversations, Bible stories, books, and p...
Raising Emotionally Resilient Kids
In this episode, we’re diving into a topic that every parent can relate to—helping our kids manage their big emotions and build emotional resilience. It’s not always easy, but it’s so important! We’ll share practical tips on ...
Making Reading Time Count
Reading to children is a crucial aspect of their development, creating a strong foundation for vocabulary, comprehension, and emotional intelligence. This episode dives deep into the characteristics of quality children's literature and practica...
Embracing More this Year
Join us in our virtual booth as Heidi Franz and Melanie Simpson share our reflections and intentions for the year ahead. We discuss personal stories of letting go of distractions, desires, and our perceived "rights" to grow spiritually. Melanie...
How to Speak God's Truth Over Your Child's Life
In this episode, Heidi and Melanie dive into the power of speaking truth over your children and the lasting impact it can have on their lives. We'll explore what it means to speak truth, why it's so important, and practical ways to begin doing ...
Empowering Healthy Independence in Your Children
Join Melanie and Heidi as they discuss the delicate balance of parenting without over-helping, based on Stanford's research and their own experiences. They emphasize the importance of letting children face challenges to build independence, a st...
Simple Steps to Starting a Family Bible Time
Let’s do some shocking math for a moment. If your family goes to church for three hours a week, that only accounts for 1.8% of your entire week. While those three hours in corporate worship are vital, we can't hold the church responsible for...
Creating a Structured Home Environment
Ever wondered how to create a home environment where respect, trust, and obedience naturally flourish? In our latest episode of Parenting to Impress, we uncover the biblical foundations of family structure and obedience, drawing wisdom from the...
Teaching Respect in Your Home: A Biblical Perspective
Why do children sometimes show more respect to one parent than the other? In this episode we will take a dive into various parenting styles—uninvolved, permissive, authoritarian, and authoritative—exploring how each impacts the level of respect...
How Do You Teach Kids to Pray?
What if teaching your child to pray could be as simple and joyful as blowing bubbles? Heidi and Melanie share their experiences in teaching their children to pray, provide suggestions on introducing prayer to your kids, and motivat...
What's a Christian to Do with the Enneagram?
Dive into the intersection of faith and personality as the Parenting to Impress Podcast duo discusses the spiritual implications and use of the Enneagram. Addressing concerns about its possible evil origins, we explore how Christians can though...
Teaching Kids Responsibility Through Household Chores
Discover how teaching children household chores can reduce their anxiety and foster responsibility. Inspired by Chris and Lindsay Wheeler's book, "Kit and the Missing Notebook," this popular episode explore...
Elevate Your Parenting with Effective Communication
Can the way you talk with your children really shape your child's cognitive, emotional, and social development? Discover the transformative power of balancing instructional and relational talk in this popular episode of Parenting to Impress.
From Chaos to Calm: Family Vacation Survival Guide
Can a family vacation really be both relaxing and fun when you're juggling young kids, single-bathroom situations, and meal planning? Tune in as we unravel the joy and chaos of family trips, offering practical advice on everything from masterin...
Shaping an Intentional Summers for Your Kids
Embark on a journey to craft the ultimate summer experience for your kids. Together, Melanie and Heidi peel back the layers of parenting during those sun-drenched days, drawing inspiration from Mark 12:30 to fill our children's time with intent...
How to Break Free from Lies to Embrace the Truth
Have you ever felt like you're just not measuring up? It's something I've grappled with, and I'm sure many others have too. In our latest chat on Parenting to Impress, my friend Melanie and I get real about these struggles. We dive deep into th...
Tips to Help Kids Tackle Anxiety
As a mother who's navigated the stormy seas of parenting, I've seen firsthand the pressures that tests and tryouts can heap onto our children's shoulders. Today, I'm sharing heartfelt strategies to support your kids through anxiety-riddled test...