My Kids Don’t Need a Perfect Mom | FamilyLife® Today + Abbie Halberstadt

Do kids really need a “perfect mom”? Abbie Halberstadt says no. In fact, she believes it’s better for her children to see her confess, repent, and rely on Jesus than to pretend she has it all together.

In this powerful conversation, Abbie shares how motherhood has stretched her in ways she never expected — physically, emotionally, and spiritually. With 10 kids (including two sets of twins!) and her new book You Bet Your Stretch Marks launching this week, Abbie gets real about what it means to embrace imperfection, lean on God’s strength, and leave a lasting legacy of faith for her children and generations to come.

💭 Tell us how motherhood has been stretching you lately in the comments below!

📚 Resources mentioned in this episode:
You Bet Your Stretch Marks by Abbie Halberstadt
FamilyLife [resources for parents & marriages](https://www.familylife.com)
More helpful resources below!

⏱️ Chapters

0:00 – Why kids don’t need a “perfect mom”
2:10 – Abbie Halberstadt joins to launch You Bet Your Stretch Marks
4:45 – How the title was born (and why moms laugh at it)
9:15 – Motherhood stretches you in every way
13:00 – Physical “badges of honor” moms carry
16:30 – Does having kids ruin your body or marriage?
23:10 – Why our bodies are tools, not treasures
29:05 – How Abby and her husband prioritize date nights
34:50 – An eternal investment: daily faithfulness vs. instant gratification
41:30 – Lessons from 42-week pregnancies & desperate prayers
50:10 – “I can’t do this alone — Jesus, take the next one”
55:40 – Parenting with a legacy mindset
1:03:20 – What spills out of us when we’re jostled
1:10:45 – Why repentance is the most important example we can give
1:15:00 – Encouragement: it’s never too late to start

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