3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms

Managing ADHD during the holidays takes more than willpower—it takes understanding your brain and planning around it with compassion. When I started researching ADHD to help one of my kids, I didn’t expect to discover that I had it too. But learning how my brain works has changed everything about how I approach motherhood, especially during the busiest season of the year.   In this episode, I’m jo...

When I think about the kind of parent I want to be, I often think about my dad—steady, grounding, and always there. His quiet consistency has shaped so much of how I show up for my own children. And that’s why Glen Henry’s new book, Father Yourself First: Everything You Need to Become the Father Your Family Deserves, caught my attention.   Even though Glen wrote this book for fathers, the message...

The holidays often bring equal parts joy and exhaustion. Between school programs, family gatherings, and the endless to-do lists, it’s easy to feel like you’re giving everything you have...but still falling short of the calm and connection you crave. In this episode, psychotherapist and best-selling author Niro Feliciano shares three practical takeaways from her new book All Is Calm-ish: How to Fe...

With the holidays coming up, many moms wish they could visit family or plan a getaway—but the price of flights makes it feel impossible. That’s why I’m re-airing this popular episode with Amber Paul from Amber on Points, who teaches families how to travel for free (or almost free) using credit card points. A year after recording this, I’ve now been practicing what Amber teaches—and it’s truly chan...

We all lose our temper sometimes. That’s part of being human—and part of being a mom. But what happens next matters most. Because repair, not perfection, is what builds real trust with our kids. In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Devon Kuntzman from Transforming Toddlerhood to talk about one of the most healing and hopeful skills a parent can learn: how to reconnect after those hard moments. De...

This week marks the 8th birthday of 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms 🎉, and I wanted to celebrate it in a way that feels true to the heart of this community. Instead of looking back at download numbers or milestones, I invited someone who has quietly shaped nearly every part of this podcast behind the scenes for the past seven years: my dear friend and teammate, Molly Alexander. Recently, Molly made th...

Have you ever caught yourself second-guessing something as small as what to make for dinner or as big as how to respond to a struggling child and felt completely paralyzed? As moms, we make thousands of decisions every day, and it’s easy to lose confidence in our ability to choose well, especially when we’re weighed down by “shoulds” from outside voices.  In today's episode, I’m joined by Jessica...

Have you noticed that since school started, your afternoons feel more chaotic? Maybe your child walks in the door, drops their backpack, and bursts into tears—or lashes out over the smallest thing. It can leave you wondering if something is wrong with them…or with you.   The truth is, what you’re seeing is incredibly common. In fact, there’s even a name for it: restraint collapse. After holding it...

Do the ups and downs of parenting ever feel like a solo sport? You may have friends who love you, but when it comes to really opening up about your struggles and growth as a mother, do you feel like you have teammates—women who are working toward similar goals and cheering you on as you become the truest version of yourself?   In this episode, I’m sharing the voices of three moms from my Self-Assu...

Have you ever noticed that some of the parents in Disney movies…aren’t exactly the best role models?   They love their kids deeply, but their fears, expectations, and blind spots often get in the way of connection. As I rewatched a few of these classics recently, I couldn’t help but think, "These parents could really use the Self-Assured Motherhood program!" In this episode, I’m sharing three SAM...

Have you ever been told that your perfectionism is a problem? Maybe you’ve felt like it’s the reason you’re stressed, restless, or never satisfied with yourself. But what if perfectionism isn’t actually the enemy? What if it’s a form of power that, when channeled with compassion, can actually bring you more joy and meaning? In this episode, I’m joined by Katherine Morgan Schafler, a psychotherapis...

Many moms hesitate to set boundaries because they don’t want to seem selfish or unkind. But what if boundaries are actually one of the most compassionate things you can offer to yourself and to the people you love?   In this special episode, I’m sharing an interview I did with JoAnn Crohn of the No Guilt Mom Podcast for her Happy Mom Summit. JoAnn graciously gave permission for me to re-air our co...

Have you ever wondered why it’s so hard to stick to goals that matter to you, but you can follow through easily when someone else is counting on you? Or why one of your children seems to resist every rule, while another lives for structure and routine? This week’s guest, Sarah Joslin, walks us through a personality framework that has the power to transform the way we see ourselves and our kids. Ba...

As school routines settle back in, many moms start looking for a better rhythm with meals—something that feels less chaotic and more doable.   But for many moms (myself included), feeding a family brings up more stress than we’d like to admit. We put so much pressure on ourselves to do it “right,” and when our kids complain or the fridge is empty or we’re too tired to cook, it’s easy to feel like...

When you think about decorating your home, do you feel inspired... or just overwhelmed? Many moms dismiss design as something extra or unnecessary. But what if creating a space you love could actually support your well-being, reduce stress, and help you feel more grounded in your motherhood? In this episode, I’m joined by Valerie Bradshaw, a longtime Self-Assured Motherhood Sister and home design...

We talk a lot about self-care as moms, but most of the time, the examples we’re given (bubble baths, massages, solo Target runs) only scratch the surface.   The truth is, there’s not one kind of self-care. There are actually several distinct forms of care we need, and they each serve a different purpose in our lives and in our motherhood. When we only reach for one type, it makes sense that we sti...

Oh, the stories I could tell about raising a strong-willed child.   But the truth is, if you have a spicy one of your own, you don’t need to hear my stories because you’ve got plenty of your own! Parenting an intense, persistent, sensitive kiddo is a daily rollercoaster. And sometimes, what you need most isn’t another “quick fix”… it’s a wise, compassionate mentor who truly gets it. That’s why I’m...

Ever found yourself stuck in a cycle of constant correction, nagging, lecturing, or repeating yourself while your kids seem to tune you out? It happens to almost every parent at some point. In the moment, it can feel like the only option… but learning a new way of responding can be a game-changer. Today’s guest, Ralphie Jacobs of Simply On Purpose, shares three powerful tools that can shift the em...

This conversation is full of gentle reminders and practical ideas for building rhythms of care into your everyday life... so you’re not just making it through motherhood, you’re actually enjoying it.   You’ll hear from three incredible moms: Celeste, Tiffany, and Abby, who each found their own way to prioritize soul care. Not the spa-day kind, but the kind that fits into the cracks of real life. T...

Emotional resilience is one of the most powerful skills you can develop as a mom - and let’s be honest, it’s also one of the hardest to master.   From toddler tantrums to teen drama, from work stress to family dynamics… there’s no shortage of moments that can leave you feeling stretched thin and emotionally spent. And there’s no season that tests this quite like summer, when the routines are loose...

Ever catch yourself comparing your motherhood to someone else’s? In this heartfelt episode, my friend and motherhood mentor, Julie Bastedo, shares how a simple moment of comparison while cooking dinner led her to a powerful mindset shift: you don’t have to be all the things—you just have to be yourself. This conversation is a beautiful example of the second principle in my Self-Assured Motherhood...

If you’ve ever felt paralyzed by a decision–spinning in circles, overanalyzing every possible outcome, and feeling like you can’t move forward until you get it just right–I'm here to tell you that the struggle is SO real. I’ve been there. In fact, decision-making used to be one of my biggest struggles as a mom.   But over the past few years, I’ve been on a quiet quest to become a more confident, g...

Summer can be such a gift—but it can also feel like a lot. Whether you're a few days in or several weeks deep, this season tends to stretch us in new ways as moms. We want to make memories, stay present, and still meet our own needs—but how? In this solo episode, I’m introducing you to the SAM 6, a new streamlined version of the Self-Assured Motherhood framework that I’ve been teaching for years....

Making new friends as an adult is challenging—and motherhood often makes it even harder. Between family responsibilities, full schedules, and emotional fatigue, it can feel like there’s no space left for connection. And even when we do show up, it’s not always easy to know how to move from polite small talk to real, meaningful friendship. In this episode, psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Ma...

We want to raise kids who are responsible, capable, and financially wise—but it’s hard to know where to start. It can feel especially tricky to teach life skills like money management and personal responsibility without constant reminding or frustration.   In this episode, I’m joined by Saren Eyre Loosli, founder of Power of Families and one of my earliest parenting mentors. Saren is a mom of five...