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Monica Swanson

@monicaswanson_

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Hawaii-based, 4X #boymom, author, podcast host. Parenting w/ Biblical worldview + health/ wellness. 💥🙌🏼
💍 Dr. Dave || 3 John 4 || Links👇🏼

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Friends!! I’m SO excited to finally share some big news… Dave and I have three (yes, THREE! 😲🥳) new books lined up together over the next few years!

We are truly honored to have signed contracts with the incredible team at @harvesthousepublishers. This is a dream come true! 🤍

There has been so much thought, prayer, and research happening behind the scenes, and I cannot wait to tell you more—and even invite some of you into parts of the process! 🙏🙌🏼🌺

I’ll share more in a quick Coffee Date blog post this weekend. If you’re not on my email list yet, comment NEWS and I’ll DM you the link to sign up!

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” — James 1:17

Huge thanks to our amazing literary agent, @marydemuth. 🌺

If you’re excited with us, I hope you’ll like this post, tag a friend, do a happy dance, praise the Lord with us, and don’t forget to comment NEWS! 🤓💛 by @monicaswanson_

Aloha, to new and old friends… I’m Monica and this is my family! 🥰👋🏻 I thought I would give a quick introduction to US! Here are a few things that you may, or may not know…

Dave and I are from the Pacific Northwest (Dave is from McMinnville Or. and I am from Gig Harbor Wa.) After he finished medical school at OHSU (Portland) we moved to Oahu 23 years ago for Dave’s residency. I thought it would be a 3-year stay. We’re still here. 🥰

Dave now works at Pali Momi Hospital as a hospitalist. He is an incredible doctor who gives the very best care to a lot of people who are facing the very worst of circumstances… 🥹 ❤️ He’s also a great hobby farmer - growing tropical fruits and raising 🐓 and taking care of our property. He’s the best surf and golf dad and loving leader of our home. 🙌🏼💪🏼💙

I have homeschooled all of our boys and Josiah is now a college grad living in Santa Barbara, California. He is a lot like Jesus, and is…truly amazing. (I’m tagging the boys so you can check out their feeds.)

Jonah is a Sr. at Westmont College studying engineering. He is gifted at guitar and is faithful & patient and smart and has so much ahead of him! ✨

Luke is a professional surfer doing college online. He spends much of the year traveling the 🌎 for surf. He is funny and hard-working and just a joy. 😁

Levi is 13 and in 8th grade. He took up golfing a couple years ago and is well on his way to a great career (or at least an expensive hobby, ha ha.) he is a critical thinker and gladly fills the comedian role as the youngest of the family. 😆

I proudly wear the title of stay-at-home-mom/teacher. When I turned 40 I started a blog and one thing led to the next, and now at 53 I have a Podcast and my 3rd published book will come out this spring. It’s called “Becoming Homeschoolers” and it has been one of the most fun projects of my life (more about that soon!)

I will add a bit more about me in comments.
But most importantly: God is the solid rock on which this family is built. We are not perfect, but He is. And our greatest desire is to point others to Him!

🙏Can you comment with one thing about you/your family? I’d love to get to know you! 🙏❤️

📸 @emilyturner by @monicaswanson_

We’ve made mistakes and have not been 💯 consistent, but the intentional efforts in the things that matter most have paid off. Small (or big) sacrifices pay off for a lifetime. (and they’re usually good for us too!)

Add to my list? What inconvenient choices have you made as parents that are SO worth it? 🤓🤷‍♀️🙏

PS doors to my character training course are open this week only!! 🥳 —> See previous posts or stories for links to check it out. There’s not a much more important investment you can make! by @monicaswanson_

Your kids are being shaped by the influences around them EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

Their friends. Teammates. Teachers. Family members. And of course, the endless stream of media and entertainment competing for their attention. 😬

It’s no wonder so many parents feel like they’re fighting a losing battle against culture and social media!

I get it. We’re still navigating these challenges with our youngest (16).

But here’s what I want you to know: You have MORE influence over your kids than you realize. ❤️💥

Your kids need your leadership and guidance—even when they don’t act like it!

And one of the most important things you can do is help them find positive influences: good books, inspiring stories, wise friends, and strong role models.

Especially as kids enter the tween and teen years, having people outside of Mom and Dad who model strong character can make a HUGE difference!

But I know many parents aren’t sure where to start. Just a thought of this can be overwhelming…

That’s where I want to help! 💪🏼👍🏼❤️

I’ve gathered some of the very best resources, along with practical, step-by-step guidance for raising kids of character—all inside my Character Training Course!

We cover everything from friendships and influences to wise decision-making, discipline, dating, and SO much more.

Because YES, it is still possible to raise kids of strong character—even in today’s crazy world! 🙌

🎉 Doors are open for ONE WEEK ONLY!

Comment SECRET below and I’ll DM you the course link PLUS a special discount code! ❤️

Let’s raise kids who have the courage to stand for what’s right—even when the world around them doesn’t. by @monicaswanson_

There are 1000 things we want to teach our kids. 😊 And many of them are important. 👍🏼 But the real goal of parenting is to raise kids who are ready to be in the world one day, without us by their side. 🥹💪🏼 And I think youlll agree they the world is growing increasingly dark and scary. 😢

To be ready to face all that is ahead, our kids need two things more than any other: FAITH and CHARACTER. If they have those two things, everything else will fall into place….
- they will make good choices.
- they will choose good friends.
- they will work hard.
- they will endure difficult times.
- they will have God’s Word and a faith community to lean on when we’re not around.

Faith and character.💥 As a mom to three grown sons, (and one who’s almost grown😊) I can tell you that nothing matters more.

My Character Training Course opens tomorrow for one week only. This course has transformed families from being frustrated and hopeless to having a game plan and so much hope. From overwhelmed by all the noise to clearheaded and equipped.

Grab my awesome FREE resource today ($24 value) and leave your name on the waitlist and I’ll email you a discount code for the course tomorrow morning. 👍🏼❤️

With all the things we invest in as parents, nothing could matter more!

Comment: CHARACTER and I will DM you a link! 💝 by @monicaswanson_

Just a little mom-to-mom encouragement for your weekend. ☕️🤍

After a lot of years of motherhood, I’ve learned a few things (many of them the hard way! 😉).

If we were sitting on my deck with coffee today, these are a few things I’d want to remind you of.

Which one did you need to hear today? 💝 by @monicaswanson_

Good influences can be one of the greatest blessings in a child’s life. 👏🏼👏🏼

And bad influences… Can derail a really good kid. 🥺

over my 27 + years of parenting I have grown increasingly convinced that influences are one of the MOST important things for parents to tune into. 🙏

But it’s not always so straightforward, I know. 😌

I have some thoughts and practical ideas on this topic (too many for an Instagram caption) so I put them in a short blog post.

I think it could really encourage and equip you in your parenting.

Comment: Superpower and I’ll send you a link to the blog post! by @monicaswanson_

🚨Comment: SAMPLE 👏🏼👏🏼💝

This is gonna be such a fun week! For the first time ever, I am offering sneak peeks into my character training course.💃

The course doors officially open next Monday, (November 2), but leading up to that we’re gonna have some fun, sharing samples and encouragement for anyone interested!

➡️ Also, for those who sign up, you’ll be entered to win one of two free memberships to the course!!!

There’s nothing to lose and a whole lot to gain! 🥳👏🏼👏🏼

Comment: SAMPLE now (and spread the word!) by @monicaswanson_

🚨Comment: SAMPLE 👏🏼👏🏼💝

This is gonna be such a fun week! For the first time ever, I am offering sneak peeks into my character training course.💃

The course doors officially open next Monday, (November 2), but leading up to that we’re gonna have some fun, sharing samples and encouragement for anyone interested!

➡️ Also, for those who sign up, you’ll be entered to win one of two free memberships to the course!!!

There’s nothing to lose and a whole lot to gain! 🥳👏🏼👏🏼

Comment: SAMPLE now (and spread the word!) by @monicaswanson_

If you’re raising little or big kids who love sports, you probably know how important good character, solid role models, and strong faith is to their daily- and long-term journey! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As each of my four sons navigated their various sports, Dave and I recognized the challenge of keeping God first, helping them stay grounded in their identity, and pointing them to positive role models. 🙏❤️

With this in mind, I have gathered some of my favorite quotes from great male and female athletes, as well as inspirational Bible verses, and put them on 60 beautiful cards!

These “Sports Cards” are now available to purchase and print at home or professionally. 🙌🏼🙌🏼👍🏼. I am so proud of how these turned out!

These will make great stocking stuffers 🎄🧦or gifts for any day - for your child, niece or nephew, or any sports enthusiast you know. (Mom and Dad included! 😊).

Comment: CARDS and I will DM you a link to where you can get your copy today!! by @monicaswanson_

Today is my birthday 🥳 so here’s something fun 💝

-> Last year I thought I would share a couple “life lessons” here to commemorate my 55th bday. But when I sat down to write them, I just couldn’t stop. ✍🏼🤓🤷‍♀️

I finally cut myself off at 55 and realized they wouldn’t fit on Instagram!

So, I published a fun little list over on my blog to share with you! Some of the lessons are heartfelt, faith-filled…important. ❤️ Others are just fun or really practical.💥🙌🏼

And today I added lesson #56 🥹

Comment: 56 and I will DM you a link to the blog post. I hope you’ll comment over there with some of your own life lessons or by telling me which of mine you resonate with the most! ☺️

Thank you for helping me celebrate my birthday in this special way. I feel so blessed with love and support. I’m humbly aware of how little I still know 😉, and I’m overwhelmed that God would use me to encourage some of you with the work I do.🙏

Comment 56 by @monicaswanson_

One of my big goals 7+ years ago when I published my first book, Boy Mom, was to get to do an interview with @focusonthefamily. 🙏 (not sure why that particular goal but…🥹)

It didn’t happen then. In fact, a few months after the book released, from what I could tell, Boy Mom was not off to a great start. I was discouraged & wondered if I would ever get to write another book. 🥺 I trusted God w/ outcomes, knowing I had done my best.

In God’s kindness, sales began to pick up. People who read Boy mom liked it & told their friends. It began to sell better and better, even during seasons when general book sales were down.

in fact, last year sales might’ve been higher than the 1st year it came out. 😲🤷‍♀️🙌🏼

And yes- I did get the chance to write more books. And my next two books did take me to Colorado Springs for radio and podcast interviews with Focus on the Family.

And then, finally, this fall, Boy Mom got the call! 👏🏼👏🏼💙

Focus invited me to do a broadcast all about raising boys, alongside my friend @rhondastoppe who also wrote a wonderful book about raising boys.

It was so special to be there with a friend. I have so much respect for the people at focus on the family. They’ve been so kind and generous to me! And to be in Colorado Springs in the fall was such a treat.

I’m always super nervous for in-studio broadcast interviews (lights! Camera! Makeup! I struggle to think on my feet, and know this is an area I could improve in …) Rhonda is a much better interviewer than I am, and I think she made it a great show! ☺️ We both pray that our two-part broadcast will encourage and inspire boy moms everywhere to love and enjoy their boys, and bring them up with a vision for the men that they’re becoming! 💙💙💙

I’ll let you know when it comes out (likely not till next spring. )

meanwhile, if you haven’t read Boy Mom yet, this is your sign to get it now, ha ha! 😃 (it’s on a great SALE right now!)

Comment: BOY MOM and I’ll send you the Amazon link!

I’m flying home today with such a grateful heart and reminded once again that God’s timing is always best!

PS this is not AI generated! Someone just told me that this post his flagged!? 🤷‍♀️🥺 by @monicaswanson_