ParentGuide^® Spotlight Interview with Lisa Whelchel

Lisa Whelchel is a featured speaker at the “Women of Faith” conference coming to the St. Pete Times Forum, August 14 and 15. For information about the conference, go to
www.womenoffaith.com/tampa

So many child stars flame out early and end up as tabloid stories or unhappy tales on someone’s version of “where are they now?” Not so for Lisa Whelchel, the child star whose snobby character Blair on the 80’s hit show, Facts of Life, is a far cry from her true self.

A Christian since the age of 10, Lisa entered show business already following a set of moral codes that kept her on the straight and narrow – so much so that she refused to participate in an episode where another student character would lose her virginity.

In the year 1988, the show ended after nine years and Lisa began living a new life with very new facts. She married her husband Steve that year and within four years was the mother of three children, one boy and two girls. Showbiz was history for her, but Lisa found a new outlet for her creativity as an author of books and public speaker with a mission to encourage moms.

Lisa took time out of her busy schedule to talk with ParentGuide® about her advocacy for friendships among moms and her newest endeavor as guest speaker on tour with the “Women of Faith” conference.

Making Time for Friends

She learned early on in her own motherhood that having friendships with other moms was critically important. She combined her own experience and a gut feeling that other moms needed encouragement to create one of her first big successes, a ministry called MomTime. Inspired by her own mom’s group that met every Friday in her living room, she encouraged mothers to make time for each other in a way that included food, faith, friends and fun. “The same group of moms met from the time our children napped in the afternoons until they were in junior high.” Lisa produced an instructional DVD and conducted MomTime seminars for live audiences that included pajamas and chocolate.

The bottom line for Lisa: moms need to make time to nurture friendships even if the calendar always seems booked. She also states that moms may feel it’s easier to survive if you don’t need anybody or perhaps they want to avoid being vulnerable. But friendships with other moms are critical to the overall well being of a woman. “We give and give and give and so we must take the time to replenish our emotional fuel tanks. By staying filled up we can spread it to our family.”

For moms who work outside the home, it may be harder to squeeze in the time. “While it might add up on paper – go to work and spend all the rest of the time with your family, that mom will run out of gas. So stopping occasionally to fill up your emotional tank is even more necessary. If childcare is an issue, establish a group of three moms where one mom sits while the other two go out and then rotate.”

She admits meeting new friends in today’s fast-paced world is hard, but says a mom needs to take the initiative and get over the fear of rejection. “You may meet someone whose friend basket is full, but you need to keep trying. It’s worth the risk”

The next chapter – empty nester

Lisa is just now coming off of a two-year sabbatical from writing that she took to enjoy just “being.” With her eldest child now in college and the two girls soon to follow, Lisa is working on her next phase of life and achievement. She currently has a book about friendships in development and is a regular speaker with the “Women of Faith” conference.

Traveling with the conference has been rewarding because of the opportunity she has to talk with the other speakers and share experiences and laughter. “There is so much laughter and it is truly the best medicine for all of us.” The “Women of Faith” conference comes to the St. Pete Times Forum, August 14 and 15. Lisa will be one of the many featured speakers.

“Any woman, regardless of her beliefs, needs to take the time and energy to attend this conference. It is so critical that we invest in ourselves, emotionally and spiritually that I can’t fully put words to it,” says Lisa. “The speakers are there to share stories and they are stories that all women can relate to. There is laughter and encouragement and a message that can gently heal and remove whatever blockages are holding you back.”

The theme of this year’s conference, A Grand New Day, is a reminder that each day we can begin anew.

Wisdom to Share

When asked what one thing she would like to say to the readers of Tampa Bay ParentGuide® Lisa paused for more than a moment and sighed a sigh that came from deep in her heart. “At one time or another moms feel like total failures or that we’re the worst mom in the world. And I’ve learned that most moms feel this way and wonder why we don’t feel more victorious.”

Another Pause. “But it’s when we’re in this place that we are open to realizing we can’t do it alone. That with all our children have to face in the world, it can’t all be dependent upon us. We can only do so much from the outside in. Only He can work from inside out. So release the burden, release the guilt and the shame and pray for your kids every day.”

Lisa has written numerous books on motherhood and homeschooling, including these:

Creative Correction - Updated Edition with New Toddler Chapter
My desire is to help moms and dads find practical help and fresh hope for the arduous, yet rewarding, task of raising healthy, happy children. I have three children, ages 8,9 & 11, including a son diagnosed with ADHD. It was out of sheer desperation that I came up with many of the discipline ideas in this book. Traditional child-rearing methods are a good place to start but I found, as I'm sure you have as well, that my three children just aren't cookie cutter kids. They each required, and deserved, discipline that took into account their own inherent strengths and weaknesses.

Taking Care of the Me in Mommy
Moms get so busy with the “doing” and the “giving” for their families that they often balance on the edge of burn-out. Knowing how apt moms are to prioritize themselves at the very bottom of the list, Lisa offers a picnic basket full of practical and time-saving tips so that moms can enjoy the things they value most, God, family and relationships!

How To Start Your Own MomTime DVD Kit
Wouldn’t it be nice if moms had some time just for themselves to encourage one another, learn from each other’s challenges and most of all, be refreshed through laughter? That is what MomTime is all about! Everything you need is provided in this “how-to” guide – from easy instructions on forming your group, to simple recipes, delightful conversation prompts and side-splitting game ideas, Lisa comes alongside, sharing ten years of experience hosting her own MomTime.

This Is My Story
A fun six-week adventure that guides you in creating a keepsake “storybook” to tell of God’s love and faithfulness. Through daily Bible study and journaling activities, you will remember the significant faith stories and spiritual markers of your life. Then you will record them on beautiful archival-safe papers, adhere them to gorgeous pages, and place them in your “This Is My Story” album. (No prior scrapbooking experience required!)

More information about Lisa and a bookstore for her books can be found at www.lisawhelchel.com.