Less Drama More Mama

Recently, I found myself crying over things that normally wouldn’t faze me, running on broken sleep, dragging through the day, and binge-watching TV more than I’d like to admit. Everything seemed heavier than usual. I realized I was in a funk. I know I’m not the only mom going through this right now, especially as the slower pace of summer starts to shift and everything feels a little "off." After...

Have you ever heard one of your kids say, “You love them more than me”? It’s easy to dismiss, but sometimes those comments open the door to a deeper reflection: Is there a pattern here I haven’t noticed? This week on the podcast, I’m bringing back an episode that explores the uncomfortable (but important) question: Do I have a favorite child? You’ll hear how favoritism shows up in everyday parenti...

Last week while venting to a friend about her day, my mom caught herself telling a negative, victimy story. When she realized this, she switched to talking about what went well that day instead, and completely shifted her mood. This reminded me about how the stories we tell ourselves matter. They shape how we feel and how we show up as moms. If you’re telling yourself, “I can’t stop yelling,” “Not...

Wondering how to handle it when your kid curses for the first (or next) time? Swearing can stir up a lot of emotions for moms, including shame, anger, worry, and embarrassment. Whether it’s your 6-year-old testing limits or your teen trying to sound cool, how you respond matters more than the fact that they used a four-letter word. In this episode, I talk about why kids swear, how to stay calm whe...

Have you ever felt like silence is a luxury you can’t have? Or when you finally get it, it feels uncomfortable? If quietness feels unsettling instead of relaxing for you, you're not alone. When the noise stops, your brain scrambles to fill the gap, and your body can tense up or feel restless. The good news is, quiet time is one of the simplest ways to lower stress and feel calmer, and you don’t ne...

This year, Dalia went straight from school to camp with no break, and the stress of that transition came out in some pretty big emotions. Two nights before she left, she came into my room crying, saying how much she was going to miss me and didn’t want to go. Hearing her say those words tugged at every protective instinct I have. So I pressed play on this old episode to remind myself exactly why g...

If you’ve ever thought that fully allowing a big emotion like anger, fear, or grief might swallow you whole… ...or that if you let yourself really go there, you’d lose control, fall apart, or not be able to come back… ...this episode will offer a fresh perspective. In this week’s summer playback, I’m sharing a practical and powerful tool I teach moms to help them manage their emotions in a healthy...

What if every emotion—anxiety, anger, overwhelm—was like an unexpected guest knocking at your front door? You could pretend you’re not home and hope it goes away (that’s avoiding). You could yank the door open and yell at it to leave (that’s reacting). Or you could open the door just a crack and try to hold it shut while the guest pushes to get in (that’s resisting). But there’s another option tha...

You’ve done the thought work. You’ve challenged old beliefs. You know your child isn’t trying to make your life harder, but you still lose it, shut down, and spiral into guilt. This week’s podcast episode explains why that happens, and what you can do when mindset work isn’t enough on its own. I’m introducing something I’ve been studying and integrating into my coaching lately: Somatic Experiencin...

Summer often means more sibling fights, which can mean more stress for you. With school out and everyone under the same roof, it’s easy to get pulled into constant squabbles and feel like you’re always playing referee. In this episode, I’m talking about why kids tend to fight more in summer, what’s really going on beneath the surface, and how to stay grounded when the tension rises. You’ll learn h...

There’s a pattern I see every year around this time. Kids feel stressed about the upcoming shift from school to summer, but they don’t always say they’re stressed. Instead, they act it out. The clinginess, meltdowns, and defiance are signs that their nervous systems are trying to manage a big internal shift. And moms often take that stress on as their own, trying to prevent problems before they ha...

On Mother’s Day (and really, any day), it’s easy to get caught up in how everyone else sees you as a mom. What if, this year, you took a few minutes to see yourself? In today’s episode, I’m sharing five simple, meaningful questions to help you reflect on how you’re showing up, what’s working in your parenting, and what you want more of. It’s a chance to reconnect with the kind of mom you want to b...

Remember rolling your eyes when your parents complained about your music or fashion choices? Now you find yourself sighing about your child's screen time or social media habits. The "kids today" worry is as old as parenting itself, and every generation has been convinced the next one is somehow falling short or headed for disaster. In this episode, I'll show you why reframing this historical persp...

We don't often hear people say, “I adapted well to harsh discipline as a child. I learned how to stay small, quiet, and agreeable.” Instead, they say, "I turned out fine." But what does "fine" really mean? In this episode, I’m unpacking the myth of “I turned out fine”—the phrase so many parents lean on to justify repeating what was done to them when they were kids. This episode might challenge you...

After her separation, my client Victoria felt lost in her parenting. She didn't trust her parenting decisions and second-guessed everything. She thought she needed to learn parenting "rules." What she really needed was to connect with her own wisdom. In this week’s episode, Victoria opens up about her experience in the Damn Good Mama program and how it helped her find her footing again. If you’ve...

I recently sat in the back of a church watching two young girls say goodbye to their mother. As I listened to the stories shared about her life, I was struck by what people remembered most - the small gestures, the everyday presence, and the little ways she showed up consistently for those she loved. It made me think about how I'm showing up for my own children, and what they'll remember years fro...

I love a good laugh. The right kind of joke at the right time can shift the energy in a room, lighten a heavy moment, and bring families closer. But there’s another side to humor that doesn’t get talked about as much. Like when your kid suddenly goes quiet after you make a joke. Or when someone laughs at them instead of with them. This week’s episode is one I think every parent should hear—especia...

Every Spring, moms turn their attention to their closets and drawers, sorting through clothes that no longer fit and items that have lost their purpose. But the heaviest clutter you carry isn't in your home at all. It's in your mind! In this week's episode, inspired by the first signs of Spring during my recent trip to Connecticut, I'm sharing why now is the perfect time to de-clutter not just you...

A few years ago, I thought I was doing everything right for my health. I took Barre classes several times a week, ate little to no sugar or flour, and practiced intermittent fasting daily. But my stomach growled every night, and I felt exhausted much of the time, which wasn't ideal for keeping up with my kids. Then I joined Couture Fitness & Lifestyle Coaching and was shocked when Coach Jo told me...

You might be familiar with the story I've shared on my podcast and in my book about the morning my 3-year-old refused to get dressed for camp. It became a turning point in my life. As she hid under the dining room table, something in me snapped. With my sister watching in stunned silence, I lost complete control—yelling, threatening, and eventually spanking my daughter in a rage I didn't recognize...

Parenting isn’t a puzzle you can solve. There’s no secret formula that guarantees everything will go smoothly no matter how many parenting books you read, how much patience you practice, or how hard you try. When things don’t go as planned, it doesn’t mean you’re failing. It just means you’re a human raising other humans. And that can be pretty messy! Tune into this episode to find out what every...

You ask your child to turn off their iPad and get ready to leave the house, but instead of action, you get a heavy, dramatic exhale that says, “Do I have to?” You ask again, this time firmer. Nothing. And just like that, what should’ve been a simple request turns into a full-blown power struggle. In this week’s episode, I’m breaking down what’s really going on beneath those exhausting battles and...

"It wasn't me!" "He started it!" "She made me do it!" Have your kids ever said these blame-shifting phrases? While hearing them might drive you crazy, they actually reveal important things about your child's developing mind and emotional world. In this episode, I explore why kids blame others and how to help them develop the skills to take responsibility more often. It's packed with practical stra...

What if some of the most important lessons about love aren’t the ones we think to teach our kids? In this episode, I’m sharing seven essential truths about love—lessons that will shape the way your kids understand relationships, connection, and even their own self-worth. Oh, and these lessons aren’t only for them. You might take away something meaningful, too! For full show notes and information,...

Wait-and-see parenting can feel risky. You see your child struggling—whether it’s with a tricky friendship, a frustrating homework assignment, or a new routine—and every instinct tells you to step in. But sometimes, doing nothing is actually the best move. Recently, my home phone stopped working for a couple of weeks and my home alarm system kept glitching. I figured I’d need to call someone to fi...