I recently had the joy of welcoming Marteena Rodriguez-Drinnen to the Homeschool Ways podcast. Martina is a lawyer, a children’s pastor, a new mom, and now an author of the sweetest children’s book series, The Adventures of Tiny Tale. Her first book, Always Room for More, is all about welcoming a new sibling with love and reassurance. We had such a heartfelt conversation – it felt like chatting with a friend over coffee!
Always Room For MoreVersion 1.0.0
Martina shared her journey so openly. She started in psychology, pivoted to law (after God clearly redirected her!), and practiced juvenile law. She even failed the bar exam the first time but tried again and passed. “Fail forward,” right? I love that! It reminded me of my own detours – I was headed to law school too, but God had other plans with marriage, motherhood, and homeschooling.
Then came her son in 2024. Three months later, while prepping a tough case with her husband, everything shifted. She couldn’t disassociate from the heartbreaking stories anymore. “What if that was my kid?” Suddenly, going back to the courtroom felt impossible. God just said, “Trust me.” No bullet-point plan! Martina leaned into motherhood, and that’s when the idea for Tiny Tale sparked.
She noticed firstborn kids (including herself!) struggling with a new baby – regression, attention-seeking, fear of being replaced. From her notes app came a gentle story: You’re not replaced; there’s always room for more love! The characters are adorable: Father Fox (science and nature lover), Mother Otter (books and cooking), and Tiny Tail (the artistic adventurer).
Why These Books Matter
What I love most? Martina’s faith shapes everything subtly. The books model biblical values – honesty, communication, family love – without mentioning Jesus. They’re perfect for any home, a stepping stone like Focus on the Family resources, but beyond church walls. She was inspired by Dr. James Dobson (huge for me too – I worked for his friend, Dr. Raymond Moore).
For us homeschoolers? These books scream fun learning. Use Father Fox for nature experiments (green peppers in book one, bumblebees in book two – coming March), Mother Otter for recipes and read-alouds, Tiny Tail for art and adventures. Martina and her husband even dress up for events. Future lesson plans are in the works.
Martina plans to homeschool, just like us. Her story encouraged me: Trust God through pivots, failures, and foggy paths. We’re just called to show up, try, adjust, and love our kids.
Grab Always Room for More [affiliate link]. You’ll love it for sibling prep or cozy read-alouds!
Listen to the interview on Spotify. Watch the interview on YouTube.
What about you? Has God pivoted your plans in motherhood? Share below – I read every comment. 🙂
