Mothering Ourselves Mindfully

In this week’s episode, I dive deep into the #1 practice that changes everything: the art of pausing. Discover why mindfulness isn't just about meditation cushions, but about radical interruption of our unconscious programming that drives 90-95% of our daily experience. Key Points Understanding mindfulness as present moment awareness with curiosity, discernment, acceptance, and compassion Why slow...

In this heartfelt episode recorded from the woods, we explore the complex nature of suffering, the danger of comparison, and what it truly means to flourish. Following an emotionally intense week that included a tragic loss and hosting a powerful retreat, we dive deep into the transformative work of becoming "unicorns" - the grounded, compassionate women we wish to see in the world. Key Points Why...

In this episode, I'm recording from a walk during one of my busiest weeks ever - and that's exactly the point. When life gets overwhelming with big events, deadlines, and endless to-dos, that's precisely when we need to prioritize taking care of ourselves the most. What You'll Hear: Why I chose to go for a walk and record this episode when I "should" have been tackling my massive to-do list The re...

In this episode, I share the powerful story behind The School of Mom's Maple seed logo. What began as a challenging rebranding experience ultimately led to one of the most meaningful transformations in the business. What You'll Hear: The journey that led to our rebrand and why I felt the previous logo didn't reflect the depth and soul of The School of Mom A candid look at a difficult designer rela...

In this episode, inspired by 5 years of playing with nature metaphors and recent time spent gardening, I dive into a cycle of nature that helps us understand the journey of mothering ourselves mindfully. Episode Highlights: The Garden Metaphor : How placing our personal "garden" in a community of like-minded mothers creates the foundation for growth Becoming a Mindful Gardener : The practice of ob...

Key Points: In this episode, I pose a confronting question: "Who in your life sees, loves, and witnesses you unconditionally just as you are?" When asked in my community, answers varied (children, aunts, sisters, a couple partners) - but notably, no one mentioned their mothers I share my personal answer to this question and how it’s lead to a liberational path forward Understanding that we often u...

We are celebrating the 5-year anniversary of The School of MOM, which launched on Mother's Day in 2020. Reflecting on how the program has evolved from its initial "Mothering Oneself Mindfully" course to today's expanded offerings, including the 12-month Flourish program and UNTETHERED. We explore what it truly means to flourish as mothers and how the practices of mindfulness and self-compassion ha...

Mother's Day evokes different emotions for each of us. Whether you feel expansive and joyful or contracted and heavy—or some combination of both—all of these responses are valid. This week leading up to Mother's Day, I want to acknowledge that everyone listening will have a different subconscious response in their body to these celebrations. Some might feel open and expansive, while others might f...

In this episode, I reflect on how to stay grounded during challenging times - both in our personal lives and amid the broader political landscape. With executive orders, policy changes, and their real-world impacts affecting many in our community, I share what's helping me maintain perspective and balance. What You'll Learn: Why our nervous systems aren't designed for the constant barrage of news...

In this episode, I dive into the differences between individual therapy and coaching, exploring what type of one-on-one support might be right for you at different stages of your journey. What You'll Learn: The key differences between therapy and coaching through a helpful metaphor My personal journey from therapy to coaching and beyond How to determine what kind of support you actually need right...

In this vulnerable episode, Sarah opens up about her journey with shame and inner criticism, sharing a personal story about confronting her "inner Beth" - the shame voice that has followed her since middle school. What You'll Learn: How naming and confronting our shame voices can be transformative The connection between childhood experiences and adult insecurities Practical ways to release shame t...

In this episode, I share a conversation with Shinichi Daimyo, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and psychotherapist with over 20 years of mental health experience across the globe. We explore the challenging question many parents face: "Am I working too much?" This conversation covers both work outside the home and the work of parenting itself. Shin shares insights on how to identify when our value...

In this episode, I explore the common (and often daunting) question that many mothers ask: "What do I actually need?" This question seems to come more from a place of overwhelm, resentment, or struggle, versus one of curiosity and hopefulness. I share part of my personal health journey, including dealing with bunions that affected my knee health and gut issues that came with a side of an autoimmun...

Who benefits from the inner healing work we do? Who “should” we be doing it for? Particularly in the context of generational patterns and motherhood. Inspired by a spicy comment thread on an instagram post, I reflect on this question in this week’s podcast episode. I share a personal story about an ancestor session that transformed my understanding of generational healing and my purpose in The Sch...

In this episode, I dive into the profound question, 'What is the point?' focusing specifically on why we should care about our relationships/healing our relationships with our bodies as women and mothers. This topic emerged from heartfelt conversations in our School of MOM community where so many of us struggle with developing and maintaining a healthy self-image and relationship with our bodies....

In this episode, I take a reflective walk to introduce a powerful new approach to understanding and healing what I've come to call the 'mother matrix.' This concept expands on the traditional 'mother wound' by exploring how deeply embedded patterns from our mothers and broader societal conditioning shape our behaviors, relationships, and self-perception. I share personal insights and experiences t...

In this episode, I discuss why anti-racism work is an essential part of our self-awareness journey and mindful motherhood practice. I explore how mindfulness gives us the capacity to examine unconscious biases in our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Drawing on insights from Rhonda Magee's work on the intersection of mindfulness and racial justice, I explain how mindfulness helps us develop the abi...

In this episode, I explore the mindfulness concept that "you are exactly where you're meant to be." I delve into what this phrase truly means beyond just positive thinking, and how we can approach our present experience with genuine openness and curiosity. We explore the various reactions people might have to this statement - from eye-rolling skepticism to deep relief - and what these reactions te...

In this episode, I attempt recording an episode while x-country skiing and dive into a topic that has been coming up a lot recently in my community - resistance - particularly as it shows up during these challenging winter months when we're dealing with sick kids and snow days.  I explore how mindfulness teachings can help us understand resistance and suffering, sharing how our attempts to fi...

In this episode, I share a reflection inspired by a recent Healing Your Lineage call in our FLOURISH community on how the mother wound is playing out in real-time in my life. Key insights from this episode: The mother wound involves inherited beliefs and programming passed down through family lineages, influenced by cultural and societal patterns My personal journey with people-pleasing and tenden...

In this episode, I share two insights from recent conversations with FLOURISH students that have deepened my understanding of what it truly means to thrive in motherhood. Key Points: The "Flourished Mother" archetype - an embodiment of embracing rest, pleasure, boundaries, and intentional self-care Why flourishing isn't a destination but an ongoing journey of growth The importance of shifting from...

In this episode, I delve into the complex relationship between mothers, money, and self-investment, sharing insights inspired by my recent silent meditation retreat. I explore the concept of "Dana" (generosity) and how it connects to larger questions about how we value and invest in ourselves. I discuss the invisible barriers that often prevent women from investing in their personal growth and wel...

In this episode, I share reflections immediately following my silent meditation retreat, exploring the transformative journey from resistance to profound peace. We delve into: The initial challenges of disconnecting from busyness and technology - feeling like "a busyness addict in recovery" The natural progression from resistance and boredom to discovering a state of calm and quiet joy Why choosin...

In this episode, I share my experience and insights about attending silent meditation retreats at the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Western Massachusetts, as I prepare for my third retreat. We explore how these retreats, while challenging, have profoundly impacted my life, work, and family. I discuss: The reality of silent retreats versus the common perception of them being "nice and peacefu...

In this episode, I'm reflecting on a profound realization from my recent two-week break with family. Despite the usual chaos of family life - kids being kids, relationship dynamics, travel logistics, and even a COVID disruption - I experienced an unprecedented level of groundedness and ease in my body and nervous system. Key insights: A grounded nervous system becomes the thermostat that impacts t...