The Moms I Know Podcast

As we raise our children and focus on mindfulness, we can heal our own wounds.  In this episode, Sheila and Maria interview Grace Kendrick of Mindful Mama Yoga and Ayurveda who shares her personal story and journey to mindful parenting.   "The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence.  When mindfulness embraces those we love, they bloom like flowers." - Thich Nhat Hanh   Our children...

Curiosity is an essential part of parenting.  If we can approach difficult parenting situations with a spirit of curiosity, we can be more open to understanding our children's needs and desires.  Special guest, Kate Robbins, a Transition Life Coach with The Clarity Council, and a mom we know, brings to the podcast her unique view of curiosity along with real-life examples for inspiration.   "Curio...

After an amazing first season, we're excited to announce what we'll be bringing to the podcast in season two!

Our episode on self-care focussed on what brings you joy and refills your cup so that you can parent from a place of fullness.  In this episode, we take this concept one step further and ask the question: How can we bring joy to others and fill each other's cups so that the women in our communities can serve from a place of fullness?   "Behind every strong woman…are more strong women."  - Dr. Caro...

We've been asked lots of questions about homeschooling, from how to determine if it's the right choice to what types of curriculum to follow.  If you've been considering homeschooling for your family, this episode is for you!   "It's not our job to toughen our children up to face a cruel and heartless world, it's our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless."...

Sheila and Maria share all the details of their exciting offerings for 2019.   "We can raise a generation of children that is vibrant, that is resilient, that is coming from a place of fullness. These are children who know how to work through their own challenges as they watch their parents work through theirs."  -  The Moms I Know   Maria shares all the details about her upcoming program, Parenti...

Sheila and Maria offer practical strategies to support your family's wellness during the winter months and throughout the year.    "Physical touch makes you healthier.  Hugs, massages, and holding hands reduce  stress while boosting your immune system." - Unknown     Our immune systems can take quite a hit during the holidays as stress levels and commitments rise, we struggle to get enough sleep,...

Traveling with children can mean that there will be additional challenges, but there can also be additional joys.  With a little extra mindfulness and preparation, the whole family can enjoy happy and safe adventures wherever your travels take you.   "We must go beyond textbooks, go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness and travel and explore and tell the world the glories of...

Sheila and Maria invite you to explore the purpose and challenges of setting and living with boundaries as well as what we teach our young children when we establish boundaries for them and how they learn from those boundaries as they grow.   "To be in your children's memories tomorrow, you have to be in their lives today." - Barbara Johnson   In this life, there are many forms of boundaries, both...

Sheila and Maria share their experiences with celebrating rites of passage within their families, how it has affected their family relationships and a bit about the cultures that have given us these traditions.   "Every positive change, every jump to a higher level of energy and awareness, involves a rite of passage. Each time to ascend to a higher rung on the ladder of personal evolution, we must...

Sheila and Maria have an invitation for you - the invitation to bravely cultivate your practice of vulnerability in life and in parenthood.  In the midst of the many struggles we face as individuals, within our communities, and as humans, the act of boldly allowing yourself to be visible is a powerful tool for building and maintaining connection.    "...I want to know if you can be alone with your...

Sheila and Maria welcome special guest, Aromatherapist, Kaysi Contreras. This episode reveals the science and evidence behind the practice of aromatherapy and offers practical tips for your own use essential oils at home.   "Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived." - Hellen Keller   In this episode, The Moms I Know welcome a mom they...

Sheila and Maria raise awareness on the topic of shifting the family mindset to focus on efforts over achievements.  Harnessing the value of perseverance to raise children who thrive on challenges and are excited by learning opportunities.    "The best thing parents can do is to teach their children to love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort  and keep on learning." - Carol Dweck, a...

Sheila and Maria dive into the topic of consumerism, to share their purchasing perspectives and suggest ways to bring consciousness to the decisions we make around consumerism, especially during the holidays.   "It is the logic of consumerism that undermines the values of loyalty and permanence and promotes a different set of values that is destructive of family life." - Christopher Lasch.   The c...

Sheila and Maria share their experiences, education, and perspectives on the topic of non-toxic living including ways to be economical while making healthful choices for your family.   "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." - Martin Luther King, Jr.   In this episode, we dive into the conversation about environmental toxins and what we as adults and parents can...

Sheila and Maria discuss the decisions all families are faced with when it is time to decide who will work, how they will work, and who will care for the children.     "As a mother, you can have it all, you just may not be able to have it all at once."  - Elaine Anderson   In this episode, Sheila and Maria examine both society's viewpoints and the aspects of self-worth regarding the task and value...

Sheila and Maria interview birth and postpartum doula, Ana Hernandez, and discuss the importance of caring for and nurturing a mother throughout birth and postpartum.   "Childbirth is power in its purest and most natural form. It is wild and uncontrollable and takes us on a journey of surrender. Birth is about so much more than babies being born. It is about a mother finding her inner strength at...

As Maria embarks on her new journey of moving from California to Montana, she shares what makes a house a home and how she plans to bring the feeling of home and the family rituals she cherishes to her new dwelling in Montana.     "Home is where the heart is." - Unknown   So much of our lives happens in the home.  It might be a place you built, where you birthed your children, where your children...

Sheila and Maria discuss the importance of quality sleep for everyone and offer suggestions for maximizing sleep for families with children of all ages.   "Your future depends on your dreams, so go to sleep." - Unknown   The reports are in!  Sleep is vital for our health and wellness.  With technology and all the pulls and expectations we have, in America, we are living in a sleep-deprived culture...

Sheila and Maria share their top reading recommendations for all ages as well as stories from their experiences that demonstrate how literature has helped their family to learn and grow together over the years.   "Children's books change lives. Stories pour into the hearts of children and help make them what they become." - Jane Yolen   We share a strong belief that literature and storytelling car...

Sheila and Maria share several examples from their life experiences that have helped them to cultivate a lasting family practice of gratitude and generosity.   "I don't have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness. It's right in front of me if I'm paying attention and practicing gratitude." - Brené Brown   When we raise our children with the intention that we want them to grow up to be ad...

Sheila and Maria approach the topic of health and wellness from a holistic point of view, offering food for thought and suggestions for finding the best wellness support for your family.   "A wise man ought to realize that health is his most valuable possession." - Hippocrates   When we look back throughout history, women have traditionally been the healers within their villages and tribes. They h...

Sheila and Maria discuss the use of technology and screen-time in the home including studies on the impact of these behaviors on our developing children and drawing on decades of experience observing and working with families as they have navigated these types of decisions.   "So your kids must love the iPad?" I asked Mr. Steve Jobs, trying to change the subject, the company's first tablet was jus...

The Moms I Know discuss the importance of making a thoughtful and intentional decision when choosing the way that your family will approach education and when making the proper choice of how to educate each child in your family. Maria and Sheila offer insight and suggestions from their personal and professional lives for investigating your options and give you ideas for the types of things you wil...

Sheila and Maria reflect on the seasons of our lives and provide ideas for seasonal activities that can become traditions, create learning opportunities, and allow for a deeper, more meaningful experience of each season within our families.   "To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven." - Ecclesiastes   In regard to the seasons and the rhythm of our family culture, o...