Mothers have powerful voices, and the more we use them, the stronger they will become. But many mothers struggle just to balance housework, children, employment, sleep, and the constant stream of tasks that whiz past the kitchen counter.
Is it really possible to go outside our comfort zones and use our voices to make a difference?
For today’s podcast, I (April Perry) interviewed one of the most amazing mom-voices I know (using my minivan as a sound studio while our seven children played together inside the house!).
Sarah Hull and I were dear friends back in high school.
And in 2003, she and her husband, Bryant, became parents to Katie (soon to be followed by Ella and Carter). Katie is a darling daughter with “extras.” She was born with Spina Bifida, and over the course of the past nine years, the Hull family has had an incredible impact on their friends, their community, and the thousands of mothers throughout the world who connect with them at school, on their family blog, and through Sarah’s business.
I asked Sarah to share a little about her story–and explain why it’s important for moms to know that they have a voice.
Then we got into some of the “hard” questions. What prevents mothers from using their voices? How do we get past all those fears, setbacks, and self-doubts?
We also talked about who we look to for inspiration, how we’ve seen our voices make a difference–even in small ways–and what we would recommend to a mother who is trying to get started.
While you’re exercising, cleaning, or simply relaxing in a hot bath at the end of the day, we hope you’ll enjoy this conversation that will inspire you to become more confident and deliberate about the way you use your voice.
Click here to listen to the podcast, “Using Our Voices.”
(You might need to give it a minute to load. All podcasts are also available on iTunes.)
QUESTION: Have you had a great experience using your voice–either to be an advocate for your child, make a difference in the community, or share a unique point of view with the world?
CHALLENGE: Take some time to listen to this podcast and then identify one way you could start–or continue–using your voice the way you know, deep down, it’s meant to be used.
Click here to download the podcast straight to your computer.Click here to access all Power of Moms podcasts in iTunes
Music from Creations by Michael R. Hicks.
6 comments
Tracy says:
Nov 13, 2012
Great podcast Sarah! Because of your blog conference, I came to the conclusion that my own blog needed to be what I am passionate about. My voice needed to be what I know the most about…and what I want to share with others. I wish I was fashionable enough or had business savvy to talk about those things…but such is not the case. I came to the determination that I can and already am passionate about Spina Bifida awareness…and the importance of living beyond the diagnosis….from that initial diagnosis to living your daily life full and happy. So thank you for helping me realize what my voice is….and sharing yours! Love you friend!
Rachel Nielson says:
Nov 14, 2012
What a great podcast! Thank you for sharing your story, Sarah! I have a feeling this comment is going to be ridiculously long because I had so many thoughts while listening.
I personally am sometimes afraid to share my voice because I am afraid that it will be criticized, especially on the internet. When I share something that matters a great deal to me, I want to know that it will be kindly received–and that’s not always how it goes online. My son is adopted, and I have shared a lot of his adoption story on my family blog. We have a very loving open adoption with his awesome birthparents. I always thought it was just family and friends reading my blog, but one day I wrote a post about his colic and mentioned that it was very difficult for me, and an anonymous commenter wrote “What can you expect when you stole him from his real mother? I just hope that he will be okay later in life if he has a lot of counseling.” I cannot tell you how this comment stung and made me want to stop writing. I felt vulnerable and violated. Who was reading my blog and why were they so spiteful? But then I’ve also had lots of people tell me how reading Noah’s adoption story has strengthened them. Ultimately, I decided to just keep being myself and sharing what I thought was appropriate to share online, but I will admit that I’ve been much more cautious since receiving that insensitive comment.
And on a totally different topic, I love what you are doing to advocate for children with “extras.” I work with an orphanage in El Salvador that is home to about 150 persons with disabilities. Some of them have Spina Bifida and hydrocephalus. We try to send two volunteers to live and serve at the orphanage every three months year round (usually college-aged young people, but it could be an older retired couple as well), and we don’t have any volunteers lined up to go in the winter, spring, or summer this year. Do you have any way to get the word out about this opportunity within your community? Here’s a link to the blog: http://hogarproject.blogspot.com/p/meet-ninos.html.
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful family and story!
Julie says:
Nov 14, 2012
Love you Sarah!!! I feel all kinds of famous now that you talked about me. wink!!! Love you!!!
annabrooksby@yahoo.com says:
Nov 14, 2012
I think the reason I don’t use my voice more is life is just so busy already…it’s all I can do to get done what MUST be done (and often even that is more than I can do). I need to look for ways to use my voice within the realm of what I am already doing. You got me thinking, at least. Thank you for your great examples!
Melinda says:
Nov 15, 2012
Great interview! I am a person that always used my voice while living in the USA, which has helped EVEN more to use my voice in Switzerland, where I have been living for the past 9 years! I guess that is also why I majored in Communication, because I think its important to speak up and or write your thoughts so people can hear what you have to say.
Using Our Voices « Making it on the Playground says:
Jan 22, 2013
[...] A few months ago I became acquainted with an organization called “The Power of Moms. The organization’s mission is to help encourage what they refer to as “deliberate mothering.” In any case, I’ve found it to be a great resource, and truth be told, have become a little obsessed with it. But that’s a story for another day. . The organization also produces podcasts of which I’ve also become a fan. I recently listened to one which I think is a great one to pass along to parents of blind children. It is entitled, “Using Our Voices.” (Episode 45.) [...]