Sleep. The thing every parent wants—and somehow feels impossible to figure out.

In this episode, we’re diving into the topic of sleep training with honesty, nuance, and a whole lot of grace. Whether you’re exhausted, overwhelmed by advice, or feeling guilty for even considering sleep training, this conversation is here to bring clarity—not pressure.

We talk about what sleep training really is (and what it isn’t), common myths that keep parents stuck, and how to approach sleep in a way that supports both your child and your mental health. Because there is no one-size-fits-all method—and you’re not doing it wrong if your baby’s sleep doesn’t look like someone else’s.

In this episode, we cover:

• What sleep training actually means for babies and toddler

• How to know if sleep training is right for your family

• Gentle, realistic approaches to improving sleep

• Letting go of guilt and comparison around baby sleep

• Supporting healthy sleep habits without shame

If you’re navigating newborn sleep, toddler wake-ups, or just wondering if better rest is even possible—this episode is for you.

If this episode helped you feel less alone, share it with a sleep-deprived parent who needs encouragement. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and send us a message on Instagram with your biggest sleep question—we’d love to keep the conversation going.

Follow us on Instagram:

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Join The Lil Mama That Could Community group:

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Personal Accounts:

Kirsten:

www.instagram.com/owowitskirstensmith

Mikaela:

www.instagram.com/mikaelajoysmith

Website:

www.thelilmamathatcould.com
sleep training podcast, baby sleep, toddler sleep, newborn sleep, pediatric sleep consultant, gentle sleep training, parenting podcast, sleep deprived parents, baby sleep routines, mental health for moms

No matter how much you do, it still feels like you should be doing more.

More activities.More patience.More productivity.More presence.More effort.

In this episode, we’re talking about “more culture” in motherhood—the exhausting, never-ending pressure to give more, take on more, and become more… while that nagging voice in the back of your mind still whispers, “It’s not enough.”

We unpack where this mindset comes from, how it sneaks into even the most well-intentioned moms, and why doing more rarely brings the peace we’re hoping for.

In this episode, we cover:

• What “more culture” looks like in everyday motherhood
• Why even high-capacity, loving moms still feel inadequate
• How comparison, expectations, and guilt fuel the pressure
• The emotional cost of constantly doing more
• How to quiet the voice that says you’re falling short
• What it looks like to choose enough instead of more

If you’ve ever ended the day exhausted, yet still feeling behind—this conversation will put words to what you’ve been carrying.

If this episode made you feel seen, share it with a mom who needs permission to stop striving. Subscribe, leave a review, and send us a message on Instagram telling us where you feel the most pressure to “do more.”

Follow us on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thelilmamathatcould/?next=%2F&hl=en

Join The Lil Mama That Could Community group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thelilmamathatcouldcommunity

Personal Accounts:

Kirsten:

www.instagram.com/owowitskirstensmith

Mikaela:

www.instagram.com/mikaelajoysmith

Website:

www.thelilmamathatcould.com

Keywords: motherhood podcast, mom burnout, pressure on moms, mental load of motherhood, comparison in motherhood, mom guilt, overwhelmed moms, unrealistic expectations for moms, slow motherhood, choosing enough, mental health for moms

What does it actually look like to serve your friends—without burning yourself out or building quiet resentment?

In this episode, we’re having an honest, real-life conversation about service in friendship—what it looks like in busy seasons of motherhood, mental health struggles, and full calendars. Because showing up for your friends shouldn’t come at the cost of your own well-being.

We talk about how to support and serve your friends in ways that are sustainable, how to be honest about your capacity, and why keeping a “scorecard” of who does what will quietly destroy even the strongest friendships.

In this episode, we cover:

• What healthy service in friendship really looks like

• How to show up without overextending or people-pleasing

• Being honest about your needs and limitations

• How to ask your friends how they need support (instead of assuming)

• Giving grace when there’s been silence, distance, or missed seasons

• How to say no to friends while still offering meaningful support

• Why healthy friendships don’t keep score

Whether you’re feeling stretched thin, navigating a distant friendship, or learning how to show up better without resentment, this episode will help you rethink what it means to be a supportive, grace-filled friend.

If this episode resonated, share it with a friend you want to grow with—not keep score with. Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and send us a message on Instagram letting us know what part of friendship feels hardest in this season.

Follow us on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/thelilmamathatcould/?next=%2F&hl=en

Join The Lil Mama That Could Community group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thelilmamathatcouldcommunity

Personal Accounts:

Kirsten:

www.instagram.com/owowitskirstensmith

Mikaela:

www.instagram.com/mikaelajoysmith

Website:

www.thelilmamathatcould.com

Keywords:friendship podcast, healthy friendships, boundaries in friendship, serving others without burnout, adult friendships, friendship and boundaries, showing up for friends, honest communication in friendships, motherhood and friendship, people pleasing recovery, emotional burnout, grace in relationships