Motherhood & The Brain

 Today we're bringing back another one of our most-loved episodes [Uncovering Stress Triggers with Journaling]. This one struck a chord with so many of you, and it’s no surprise. Because when the days feel long and everything feels like too much , it’s easy to think the stress is coming from the chaos around you. But what if you could slow it down, peek underneath the overwhelm, and actually...

 Today I’m bringing back one of the most listened-to episodes on the podcast, and for good reason. It's called “When Your Child Wants to Live with the Other Parent”  and if you’ve ever felt the sting of those words, or worried they might come, this one’s for you. This episode struck a chord with so many of you because it goes deeper than just what your child says in the heat of the moment. It...

 Today I'm bringing back one of the most downloaded episodes of the podcast [this one really struck a chord]. Whether you're just heading back to work or you're still wrestling with mixed emotions long after maternity leave ended, this episode is for you. We’re talking about the anxiety, the guilt, the fear of being forgotten and why you’re not alone. So if your heart feels heavy ab...

Rejection hurts. When our teenagers pull away, spending hours alone in their rooms and responding with one-word answers or slammed doors, many mothers experience it as personal rejection.  This pain isn't imaginary, neuroscience confirms that social rejection activates the same brain regions as physical pain, a mechanism evolved from our ancestors' dependence on group acceptance for surv...

What happens in the split second before you yell at your children? The answer lies not in your parenting skills or your children's behavior, but in the invisible thought patterns running beneath your conscious awareness. When your child slams a door in your face or ignores you for the fifth time, thoughts like "they're disrespecting me" or "no one listens unless I yell&quo...

Motherhood transforms not just our lives, but our entire sense of self. Yet many of us find ourselves caught in patterns we desperately want to break, the yelling, the frustration, the guilt cycle that leaves us feeling like we're failing our children and ourselves.  What if the calm, intentional mother you aspire to be isn't someone you need to wait for, but someone you can begin embody...

Ever stood in your kitchen, overwhelmed by noise and chaos, and suddenly found yourself yelling at your kids, again?  That familiar wave of guilt follows, leaving you wondering why you can't stay calm despite your best intentions. Drawing an unexpected parallel to Neo's red candy moment in The Matrix, this episode reveals what's actually happening in your brain during those triggeri...

Ever feel that fire bubbling up when your kid rolls their eyes, slams a door, or flat-out ignores you for the tenth time? That heat in your chest, the tight jaw, the sharp tone that slips out before you even know it; it's easy to think they caused it. But... what if that wasn’t the whole story? Turns out, there’s something pretty surprising about how emotions actually work, and it might chang...

 Ever wonder why you react in ways you later regret, with yelling, snapping, or shutting down?  In this episode, we explore what's really behind those parenting moments and why your child's behavior isn't the true trigger. You'll hear how a small but powerful shift can change everything, plus a story of a mom who turned constant conflict into calm connection.  If you're ti...

 You’ve promised yourself you wouldn’t yell again… and yet, it keeps happening.  Why?  In this episode, we explore the hidden reason so many moms stay stuck in cycles they want to break, but don’t.  If you’ve ever wondered why the change you crave feels just out of reach, this conversation will shine a light on what’s really going on beneath the surface, and what it actually takes to shift.  This...

 You promised yourself today would be different. You’d stay calm. You’d be patient. And then… the arguing started. The eye rolls. The power struggles over screen time or homework. And before you knew it, you snapped, again.  If you're stuck in the cycle of yelling, guilt, and shame, you're not alone. So many loving, intentional moms are carrying this same quiet heartbreak: Why do I keep...

  This week on the podcast: You’re doing all the things; showing up, staying calm (most of the time), trying to say the right words—and yet somehow, it still feels like you’re failing when your kid rolls their eyes, slams the door, or pushes you away.  In this episode, we’re digging into the unspoken rules so many moms carry about how our kids “should” behave… and what it says about us when they d...

 Have you ever found yourself quickly explaining your tone when someone says you sound upset or a bit strict? That knee-jerk reaction to explain or smooth things over—even when you haven’t done anything wrong—is something many of us do without even thinking.  A lot of it comes from the way we were raised. If we were taught that anger was bad, it makes sense that our kid’s anger feels hard to handl...

 Ever found yourself asking, “Why do I keep yelling at my kids?” Or maybe, after a rough moment with your preteen, you’ve whispered to yourself, “I yelled at my child and feel horrible.” If that’s you—this episode is for you.  Today we’re talking about what’s really going on underneath those moments where you snap, shut down, or walk away in silence. (Spoiler: it’s not because you’re a bad mom.) ...

 Have you ever told yourself, “I’m not going to yell today,” but then lost your cool before breakfast even ended? You’re not broken. Your brain is just doing what it thinks is best. Your brain is built to keep you safe. It tries to avoid hard stuff, find comfort, and save energy. That’s great when you’re in real danger; but not so helpful when your kids are whining, fighting, or not listening. In...

 Ever wonder what happens in that tiny moment between your preteen slamming a door or rolling their eyes—and you reacting? That split second feels intense, like your heart is racing and your chest is tight. And believe it or not, what happens in that moment can change everything, how you feel, how your child responds, and what your relationship looks like in the long run.  In this episode, I share...

 Have you ever been lying in bed thinking,  “Why do I always mess up?” or “Why can’t I be more patient?”  That heavy feeling of guilt and shame doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It means you’re trying really hard to be perfect while your brain is just doing what it’s built to do.  Here’s the truth:  Your brain is wired to notice the bad stuff more than the good. That’s called negativity bi...

Have you ever told yourself, “I’m not going to yell at my kids today,” and then lost your cool before breakfast? You’re not the only one—and nothing is wrong with you.  In this episode, we talk about why it’s so hard to stay calm sometimes. It has to do with how your brain is built. Your brain is always trying to protect you. It wants to avoid pain, stay comfy, and save energy. That’s great for st...

That sting you feel when your preteen rolls their eyes or slams the door—it’s not just in your head. Your brain sees that moment as a real threat. Not because you’re overreacting, but because it’s wired to protect the connection between you and your child.  A long time ago, if a child pulled away or got separated from a parent, it was dangerous. And even though things are different now, your brain...

 In this special 51st episode, you’ll hear a story that might make you see things in a whole new way—especially if you’ve ever felt stuck, even though you’ve been trying hard to be calmer with your kids.  You’ll follow the journey of someone who chased a big dream and almost gave up right before it came true. After months of trying, and hearing “no” again and again, she kept going. And then… somet...

Have you ever felt so mad or frustrated as a mom that you didn’t know what to do? In this episode of Motherhood from the Brain , I share real stories and simple tips to help you handle those big emotions without losing your cool. We’ll talk about how your brain reacts to tough moments, and how understanding this can help you feel less frustrated and more in control.  You’ll learn about the “thinki...

  Picture this: You’re sitting in a quiet room with your child, watching as their shoulders tense, their gaze drifts, or their frustration builds. The weight of these moments presses down on you, making you feel powerless, uncertain, maybe even alone.  But what if, instead of resisting them, you leaned in? What if these very moments—though painful and unpredictable—held the key to something deeper...

 Your preteen rolls their eyes when you remind them about homework. Your teen argues for just ten more minutes of screen time—again. Dishes pile up in the sink because no one bothered to clean up after themselves. And just like that, you feel it—the heat rising in your chest, the urge to yell bubbling up. PMS makes everything feel louder, harder, more frustrating. But what if you could see it comi...

You ever catch yourself yelling at your kid, even after swearing you wouldn’t? I’ve been there. No matter how many times you promise yourself, something just snaps. And honestly you're not alone.  All the usual advice, like meal planning and strict schedules, doesn’t really help when what’s actually setting you off is something deeper. I talk about noticing what’s happening in your brain when...

For so long, I thought my job as a mom was to steer the ship—to make sure my kids stayed on the right path. But what if motherhood isn’t about controlling the course, but learning to ride the current? In this episode, we’re talking about the tug-of-war between guiding our kids and letting go. What if their choices aren’t a reflection of our parenting, but simply part of their own journey? And what...