Welcome!
Whether you are an old friend or we are just meeting, I am delighted you found me!
I am Mary Ruth—mom, wife, daughter of the Lord, author, podcast host, and speaker. This is my special place to share my thoughts on faith, psychology, human development, and parenting. I have a Ph.D. in educational psychology and a love for learning and sharing about things that matter.
Upon graduating from Scripps College in Claremont, CA, I faced an important decision: Should I go back to school in Arizona, where the love of my life had secured a great job, or pursue a Ph.D. in Texas and hope things work out for the best? Love ruled the day, and I began graduate school at ASU that fall. A ring soon followed, along with wedding bells, an MA thesis, my first son, teaching, a dissertation, another son, a funny fancy cap and gown, and, in a whirlwind, I soon started life as a full-time stay-at-home mom.
But the brain doesn’t stop just because you lose access to university archives. When I struggled with something parenting-related, my husband would remind me that I was a scholar. I didn’t have to have everything figured out—there was probably some research that would help, and we could figure it out together.
As our family grew and I became involved in church ministry, I developed a heart for sharing what we were figuring out while living this parenting journey. My parish priest wisely suggested that I share our faith, knowledge, and experience while we were living it; otherwise, “it may come off as preachy rather than relatable.”
The Parenting Smart Podcast went live in 2018 as a production of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, and it has been a wild success. I began speaking at local parishes shortly thereafter. With my boys now in college and my girls old enough to cope well without me for a few days, I now travel the country to speak at women’s retreats and parenting conferences. In fall 2022, I published my first book, Daughter by Design: Discovering Your Identity as God’s Beloved Daughter. I continue to write online for my two favorite Catholic sites—SpiritualDirection.com and Blessedisshe.net—where I have found beautiful online communities and made lifelong in-person friendships.
This Substack is the next phase of this writing and sharing process. As I mentioned in my emails to readers, the algorithm game of social media is not something I am willing to play or engage with. I maintain a presence there, but this is where I share my heart, my experience, and my advice.
I will keep most of the content free because, as a creator and scholar, I believe ideas should be shared freely! Everyone can access my Substack articles at no cost. However, maintaining a website, accessing academic articles, buying the newest books, and staying current with research isn’t free. If you can join as a paid subscriber and support my scholarship, it would be much appreciated. Doing so will unlock additional resources, the “How To” advice section, and allow you to participate in the comments, giving us a chance for closer interaction.
Whether you knew me before or found me here for the first time let me just say “Welcome Friend!” I am excited to learn and grow together on this parenting journey!