Every season of motherhood looks different.

When my kids were babies and toddlers, I remember wondering what life would feel like once we got past those exhausting early years. I imagined things might feel calmer… more predictable… maybe even easier.

Now that I’m parenting two elementary-aged kids and one middle schooler, I can tell you this: it’s different — but it’s not necessarily easier.

In this episode, I’m sharing some of the honest things I wish someone had told me about this stage of motherhood. The good, the funny, the surprising, and the parts that still catch me off guard.

We talk about:

• How the logistics may change, but the mental load often doesn’t
• The surprising ways kids still need us as they grow
• Why parenting older kids can feel both freeing and emotionally complex
• The funny realities of school schedules, sports, and constant snacks
• Learning to trust your intuition as a mom instead of trying to do everything perfectly

If you’re in the thick of motherhood right now—whether your kids are little or getting older—I hope this episode feels like sitting down with a friend who gets it.

Motherhood evolves, but the pressure we put on ourselves doesn’t have to.

Sometimes the most helpful thing we can hear is simply: you’re doing better than you think.

Listen to the episode and join the conversation.

And if you’ve ever thought, “I wish someone had told me that…” I’d love to hear it. Send me a message or share it with me on Instagram.

MENTIONS IN THE EPISODE:

If you’re feeling stretched thin in this season of motherhood, I created a free resource to help. My Busy Mom Guide includes simple mindset shifts and practical ideas to help you slow down and feel more present in your everyday life.

You can grab it here: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/busy-mom-guide

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)

Experience Motherhood more!

• Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhood
• STAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAIL
• Sign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818m
• Get access to other free guides
• Website: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com

-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast!
Your support is incredibly meaningful!

Support the Show
A small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!

Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!


Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.

Daily routines might sound simple, but the right rhythms can completely change how your days feel as a parent. Instead of rigid schedules or perfectly planned days, small pockets of consistency can help kids feel secure, reduce chaos at home, and give moms more breathing room in their day.

In this conversation, I’m joined by Jessica Irwin, a pediatric occupational therapist, mom of two boys, and founder of Rooted in Routine. After years of working closely with families, and then experiencing motherhood herself, Jessica realized how powerful predictable daily rhythms can be. She shares practical ways to build flexible routines that support your child’s development while also helping you feel calmer, more confident, and less overwhelmed as a mom.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why predictable rhythms help regulate kids’ brains and nervous systems
• The five key parts of the day where simple routines can make the biggest difference
• How routines can create more calm for moms, not more pressure
• A simple morning rhythm that can help you carve out a little time for yourself
• Why independent play is an often overlooked but powerful routine for kids
• Using visual schedules to make after-school or after-work hours run more smoothly
• What to do when kids resist routines or things don’t go as planned
• How to start building routines without feeling overwhelmed or adding more to your plate
• One compassionate first step if your days currently feel chaotic or out of control
  
  
  

If you’ve ever wished your days felt a little smoother, your kids knew what to expect, and you could create more calm in your home without rigid schedules, this conversation will leave you with practical ideas to start small and build from there.

MENTIONS IN THE EPISODE:

Connect with Jessica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootedinroutine

Check out Jessica’s website, including her resources and membership community here: https://www.rootedinroutine.com/

Interested in a deeper space beyond the podcast? I’m gathering an interest list as I listen and discern what support might come next. Join the list here: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/a-place-to-go-deeper

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)

Experience Motherhood more!

• Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhood
• STAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAIL
• Sign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818m
• Get access to other free guides
• Website: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com

-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast!
Your support is incredibly meaningful!

Support the Show
A small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!

Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!


Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.

So much of motherhood isn’t the visible work; it’s the invisible remembering, anticipating, planning, and holding it all together. And for many of us, that mental load is what leaves us the most exhausted.

In this conversation, I’m joined by Christine Landis, founder of Peacock Parent and creator of Proxy. Before becoming a mom, Christine built and sold an eight-figure company as a CEO who deeply understood systems and delegation. Motherhood, however, challenged her identity, her relationship with productivity, and her understanding of what success really means. We talk about delegating the doing and the thinking, navigating guilt when outsourcing at home, and how buying back your time can create space for a more intentional life.

In this episode, we cover:

• The identity shift from high-level career to early motherhood
• Untangling self-worth from productivity
• The difference between delegating tasks and delegating mental load
• Why “it’s easier if I just do it” keeps us overwhelmed
• Practical, accessible ways to outsource support
• Reducing decision fatigue and protecting your mental energy
  
  
  

If you’ve been carrying more in your head than anyone can see and wondering whether there’s a different way to do this, this conversation offers both permission and practical steps forward.

MENTIONS IN THE EPISODE:

Learn more about Proxy, a private thinking partner for the mental load: https://peacockparent.com/proxy/

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/askproxy

You can text Proxy at 820-732-2625 to try 15 messages for free. And with code Liz, you’ll receive three months free to see what it’s like to build this kind of support into your everyday life.

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)

Experience Motherhood more!

• Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhood
• STAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAIL
• Sign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818m
• Get access to other free guides
• Website: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com

-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast!
Your support is incredibly meaningful!

Support the Show
A small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!

Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!


Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.

Lately, I’ve been feeling the familiar tension of wanting to grow, be productive, and say yes, while also craving a slower, more present way of living. In this episode, I’m reflecting on a recent family trip that completely shifted my perspective on pace, presence, and what it really means to slow down in motherhood. What I realized surprised me: slowing down isn’t just about doing less, it’s about becoming different internally. Together, we explore why so many moms feel pulled in every direction, how our internal urgency gets shaped, and what it looks like to live at a more human pace, even in a very full life.

In this episode, I cover:

• Why feeling overwhelmed doesn’t mean you’re failing
• The hidden pressure of modern motherhood and constant urgency
• How environment and pace shape your nervous system
• What a slower pace can reveal about clarity, peace, and presence
• Simple ways to disrupt autopilot and create micro-moments of calm
• How to embrace the both/and of motherhood
• Practical shifts to help you slow down

This episode is an invitation to breathe, reflect, and consider how a simple shift in pace might bring more clarity, connection, and calm into your everyday life.

MENTIONS IN THE EPISODE:

If you want to dive further into the topic of the invisible mental load of motherhood, check out episode 89, The Invisible Mental Load of Motherhood (And How to Start Letting Go): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/experience-motherhood/id1678603043?i=1000750125345

Interested in a deeper space beyond the podcast? I’m gathering an interest list as I listen and discern what support might come next. Join the list here: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/a-place-to-go-deeper

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)

Experience Motherhood more!

• Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhood
• STAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAIL
• Sign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818m
• Get access to other free guides
• Website: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com

-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast!
Your support is incredibly meaningful!

Support the Show
A small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!

Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!


Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.

Motherhood doesn’t always come naturally and when it feels hard, it’s easy to assume we’re doing something wrong. In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Shayla of Hey Shayla, a mom of three and creator known for her honest conversations about motherhood, mindset, and intentional living. Her perspective is a powerful reminder that joy isn’t something we earn by getting it right; it’s something we choose, even in the middle of exhaustion, mess, and uncertainty.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why motherhood can feel harder than we expect and why that doesn’t mean you’re failing
• The identity shift of matrescence and learning who you are after becoming a mom
• How comparison and social media quietly steal joy from everyday motherhood
• Practical mindset shifts to help you find joy in your current season
• How to create pockets of rest, fulfillment, and peace inside full, busy days
• Letting go of perfection and embracing what works for your family
• Why joy is a daily practice, not a destination

This conversation is gentle, grounding, and deeply relatable, especially if the joy of motherhood has started to feel distant.

MENTIONS IN THE EPISODE:

Connect with Shayla:

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyshayla

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heyshayla

Check out Shayla’s website to get her Mindset Guide and Positive Mindset Flip Book: https://www.heyshayla.com/shop/

Listen to Shayla’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hey-shayla-judgement-free-motherhood/id1589893217

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)

Experience Motherhood more!

• Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhood
• STAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAIL
• Sign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818m
• Get access to other free guides
• Website: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com

-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast!
Your support is incredibly meaningful!

Support the Show
A small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!

Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!


Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.

In this episode, I’m inviting you into an honest, couch-conversation style reflection on the mental and emotional weight so many of us carry in motherhood. From the never-ending “open tabs” in our minds to the invisible labor of keeping everything running smoothly, I’m sharing what I’ve been noticing in my own life and how this constant vigilance can quietly become part of our identity, shaping not just what we do, but who we believe we need to be.

In this episode, I talk about:

• The invisible mental load and emotional labor many moms carry
• Why “resting” doesn’t always mean our nervous system is actually resting
• How motherhood wires us for constant vigilance and awareness
• The concept of “mom math” and what it reveals about mental load
• When being responsible turns into control and how control can stem from anxiety
• How resentment can quietly build when we carry more than we need to
• What it might look like to loosen your grip by just 10%
• Letting go of perfection without letting go of care

If motherhood feels heavy right now, if your mind never seems to slow down, or if you’re craving more peace, presence, and emotional breathing room, this episode is for you.

MENTIONS IN THE EPISODE:

Interested in a deeper space beyond the podcast? I’m gathering an interest list as I listen and discern what support might come next. Join the list here: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/a-place-to-go-deeper

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)

Experience Motherhood more!

• Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhood
• STAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAIL
• Sign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818m
• Get access to other free guides
• Website: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com

-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast!
Your support is incredibly meaningful!

Support the Show
A small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!

Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!


Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.

Lately, I’ve been noticing that the most meaningful shifts in my life haven’t come from adding more, but from gently letting things go. In this episode, I share some of the pressures, expectations, and beliefs I’m loosening my grip on in this season of motherhood and invite you to reflect on what you might be carrying that no longer needs to be yours.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Letting go of the idea that there’s a “right” way to do motherhood
• Releasing constant self-monitoring and second-guessing yourself
• Stepping back from being the emotional manager for everyone in your family
• Why the “perfect mom” fantasy disconnects us from ourselves and our kids
• Untangling your worth from productivity and being needed
• Letting go of the “I’ll get back to myself later” lie
  
  
  

If you’re feeling weighed down by invisible expectations, exhausted by carrying everyone else’s emotions, or longing for a version of motherhood that doesn’t require you to disappear, this episode is for you.

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)

Experience Motherhood more!

• Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhood
• STAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAIL
• Sign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818m
• Get access to other free guides
• Website: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com

-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast!
Your support is incredibly meaningful!

Support the Show
A small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!

Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!


Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.

In this episode of Experience Motherhood, I’m joined by therapist, business owner, and mom of three Kristin Mervich for an honest conversation about what happens when motherhood and life take an unexpected turn. We talk about how ambition, identity, and expectations can shift when everything feels off script, and what it really looks like to redefine success during seasons marked by uncertainty and change.

Kristin shares how navigating her child’s cancer diagnosis reshaped both her personal and professional life and offers a grounded perspective for moms learning how to let go of the plan they once had. This conversation is reflective, steady, and full of wisdom for anyone moving through an unexpected season and trying to honor what matters most now.

In this episode, we cover:

• Redefining success in unexpected seasons of motherhood
• How hardship can reshape ambition and identity
• Navigating major life transitions while caring for your family
• Motherhood, career shifts, and evolving definitions of balance
• Mom guilt, limited capacity, and internal pressure
• Releasing perfectionism and trusting yourself in uncertain seasons

If you’re a mom navigating an unexpected season, questioning who you are now, or learning how to let go of the plan you once had, this episode is for you.

MENTIONS IN THE EPISODE:

Grab a copy of my free Busy Mom Guide: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/busy-mom-guide

Connect with Kristin Mervich!

Follow Kristin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resourcedmother/

Follow Kristin’s therapy practice on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outsmartingocd/

Learn more about Kristin’s group practice: https://outsmartingocd.com/

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)

Experience Motherhood more!

• Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhood
• STAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAIL
• Sign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818m
• Get access to other free guides
• Website: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com

-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast!
Your support is incredibly meaningful!

Support the Show
A small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!

Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!


Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.