Happy, Holy Mama

Too many mamas get stuck in runaway train type thinking that sounds so true that you often don't question it. I also often see too many well meaning friends try to combat that thinking by disagreeing with it entirely, which doesn't always feel right to you, if those thoughts have a smidge of truth in them. Thoughts like: I can't do this. I am no good at this. I am ruining them. They would be bette...

We all have a money story.  For some of us it's a story of pain and deprivation and scarcity. For some of us it's different. Easier, lighter, and less fear around money. Regardless of what your history with money is, what you tell yourself about it now, is absolutely impacting your money decisions.  And my guest on this week's podcast episode wants to tell you how to start changing your story, hav...

How do you handle failure? Have you ever clarified what that looks like for yourself? I'm guessing probably not! Well, the problem with not knowing the specifics of HOW you do something is that then you don't know what to do DIFFERENTLY. That's exactly what I'm talking about in today's podcast episode! I'm going to walk you through a short exercise I led the Happy, Holy Mama Members through during...

Pilar, mama of 3, joins me on the podcast this week to share her experience in going from being a full time OB/GYN to a full time stay at home mom and homeschooler! She bravely and lovingly shares her heart for our Lord, with the deep connection to our Lady, and how they've led her through this time of change and growth, especially in caring for her oldest child, who is neurodivergent.  Whether yo...

If you have ever felt tension in your jaw, neck, shoulders, or tightness in your chest and shortness of breath, and ready to throw in the towel, then I'm willing to bet you know what it feels like to be burnt out . Or at least on the verge of burnout. In today's episode I dive into some of the reasons you are, or have been, burnt out, most of which boil down to you trying to do a job that doesn't...

Parenting teens is hard enough, but did you know your mindset is what makes it feel better or worse? Yep, it's not just about their hormones, big feelings, and outbursts... ...the way you show up with them is what will make or break your relationship with them. You have more power than you know, mama! Let me tell you all about it! Grab your earbuds and join me in today's powerful podcast, which is...

When she first reached out to begin coaching, Michaela just wanted to stop yelling and get more organized. In this week's episode of the Happy, Holy Mama Podcast, Micheala and I walk through how coaching helped her reach those intial goals, and also how it helped her through some of the trials she's experienced over the last few years while she was working toward them. Like giving birth to her six...

There's always something that needs to be done, which can drive moms a bit batty, prevent you from taking a much needed rest, and drive you to overwork. The urge you feel to get up and tidy or finish a project when you should be resting is exactly what I'm diving into today on the Happy, Holy Mama Podcast. In this week's short and sweet episode I talk about some of the common thoughts fueling thos...

This week's episode truly feels like going on a Catholic homeschooling retreat! My client Robin, Happy, Holy Mama of 4, joins me on the podcast this week and, oh my, what a wealth of wisdom and goodness she is! Robin shares her story that did not start out as a homeschool journey, but that once God called her family to homeschooling, it's been a source of growth and learning, not just for her kids...

Worried about your homeschooled kids losing their knowledge or skills during the summer? What you might be more worried about is what  you might have to go through this fall, if your kids slide backwards in their knowledge and skills... ...both of which  you worked very hard to help them earn this year! If you're looking at making some decisions about whether or not to do some school work over the...

One of the most infuriating things moms go through is trying to problem solve without knowing what the actual problem is or what to work on. This is even more challenging and frustrating when there's an internal issue that you're unaware of and so it feels like nothing you do works. In today's podcast episode I talk a little about my own experience before I made some significant changes and how ho...

Want a chance to win a FREE ticket to this year's Catholic Homeschool Conference?! All you need to do is share the Happy, Holy Mama Podcast with your friends, family, on social media, wherever you feel good to do so! You can also leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any of your favorite listening platforms. This does not have to be a glowing review, just an honest one, please! If you love...

Are you tired of policing your kid's work, checking on them over and over to make sure they've finished it? Are you tired of struggling with a kiddo who doesn't WANT to do the work you've assigned and seems to be entirely unmotivated? Or do you have a teen who doesn't seem to care about what they do or don't do and you're not even sure they'll graduate? If you answered yes to any of those question...

Whether you are a veteran homeschool, brand new to homeschooling, or considering homeschooling in the near future, today's episode is for you! I have taken my BEST advice for Catholic homeschoolers and put it all into one powerful episode that will serve even the most seasoned mamas with love, support, and a little Catholic truth. Grab my new FREE planning resource for Catholic Homeschool Mamas he...

Talking about our bodies is a fairly uncomfortable conversation for most people, but when it comes to talking about what's menstrual cycles and even charting with our daughters, sometimes mamas feel a bit lost.   Christina Valenzuela felt similarly unprepared with her own children and that's when God placed on her heart to create Pearl and Thistle, cycle prep courses for Catholic families rooted i...

Have you ever wondered what curriculum writers think about when they are creating the curriculum you use?  Ever wanted to get some coffee and pick their brain about how they use it in their own family and apply it to real life?  Well, if so, I have a treat for you today. I am joined by Olivia Spears, creator and founder of Into the Deep Catholic catechesis curriculum.  Her heart and mission is to...

Are you ever afraid to say what you'd really prefer to, because you're worried the other person will be mad at you? Maybe it's how you'd prefer to follow through with your kids when they don't finish their work or chores. Maybe it's what you wish you could say to your husband about how he parents the children. Maybe it's what you wish you could say to friends, but don't want to drive them away wit...

If you're a Catholic homeschooling mama you ARE, factually, very busy! However, if you are FEELING busy, but not feeling PRODUCTIVE, I can help.  Last weekend I recorded a free public masterclass called: How to Get More Time Back in Your Day and it was SO lifegiving, affirming, and USEFUL for those who came, I decided to put the audio of the class so that it can serve you, too! In the class I shar...

It's the most infuriating experience to want to do better yourself, but feel like your own behavior is contingent on what someone else does. Especially if that someone else is your own child and should know better.   And then you end up feeling like a bad mom because you can't seem to get yourself under control.  Guilt is almost always followed by shame and that one-two punch just makes you want t...

Have you ever noticed what you spend your time on while you wait for something? ​​​​​​​ A doctor's appointment, a child to go to the bathroom, a pot of water to boil? What about what you're choosing to do while you wait for your children to grow up, wait for them to grasp a new concept, or learn a new skill? What you focus on in the moments of waiting matters  because it directly influences how yo...

It's way too easy to go about your day feeling frustrated about the kids, homeschooling, and the house and then take it out on your hubby the next time you interact with him. That could be in an angry text you send him, or throwing a screaming toddler at him when he gets done with work, or even treating him like he's done something wrong to contribute to your own bad day. Today's episode will help...

Homeschooling (and Time Management are 80% mindset and 20% strategy.  You're probably just trying to do it the other way around, which is why it can feel so frustrating, even infuriating, to want to manage your time better and feel like you just can't. Or like all the pieces of your life are actively working against your best efforts to accomplish all the things on your to-do list, including homes...

Managing time isn't as hard or mysterious as you're making it out to be.  There isn't some magic formula for managing it 'right.' And there isn't a one-size fits all way to organize your day that would solve all your stress, that you just can't figure out. It's not true that you can't create a schedule or routine that works for your day, you're likely just thinking about it in an unproductive way...

In my life coaching work we practice thinking about what you hope your kids will say about you as their mother and homeschooler, in the future. And then taking action now to help create that outcome. We dream about what our children's futures will look like, and sometimes it keeps us up at night. If you ever worry about your kid's futures and what they will say about their experience in your homes...

Do you go into Lent thinking  maybe this will be the year you'll finally kick some bad habits and make big changes (and maybe lose some weight in the process)? Do you have half a dozen ideas for what to give up, but never get around to clarifying what you're actually going to focus on? (This was me for forever.) Or are you the kind of penitent who starts out peaceful and self-controlled, with a cl...