In this special 100th episode of Thriving Parenting, Jen looks back on the motherhood moments that shaped not only her parenting journey, but the passion and purpose behind this podcast and the community it has become.

From becoming a mum at 26, navigating an emergency caesarean, postpartum anxiety, and feeling deeply unequipped in those early days, to raising three very different children and learning the power of connection, energy, and nervous system safety, Jen shares her story with honesty and compassion.

This episode isn’t about having all the answers.

It’s about showing up.

About seasons of loneliness, growth, and learning to ask for support.

And about why thriving parenting always starts with a thriving parent.

Jen reflects on:

1. Her early motherhood experiences and birth stories
2. The realities of postpartum support (and the lack of it)
3. Learning to trust intuition over noise and doom-scrolling
4. How connection, humour, and energy shaped her parenting style
5. Why perfection isn’t the goal, and why rupture and repair matter
6. How her journey as a nurse, mother, and practitioner led to the work she does today

She also shares more about her current work supporting families through sleep, nervous system regulation, emotional wellbeing, and airway health, and why a multidisciplinary, compassionate approach matters so deeply.

Above all, this episode is a reminder that you matter too.

Your needs, your wellbeing, and your nervous system are just as important as your child’s.

Whether you’ve been listening from the very beginning or you’re new here, this episode invites you to feel less alone, more seen, and supported in your parenting journey.

Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/

For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 100 Show Notes

And I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.

And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!

To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here.

Until next time, Thrivers

Postpartum rage is rarely spoken about, yet so many mums quietly carry it with shame. In this episode, Jen sits down with Beth Caniglia business owner, brand strategist, speaker, and mum of two to share her lived experience of postpartum rage after her second baby.

Beth opens up about the brutal shift from one child to two, the sleep deprivation that tipped her from “thriving” into survival, and the moments that left her feeling scared of her own reactions. Together, Jen and Beth unpack what postpartum rage can look like, why it can feel like it comes out of nowhere, and how awareness and the right tools can help you interrupt the spiral before it explodes.

This conversation is honest, warm, and deeply normalising. If you’ve ever thought “What’s wrong with me?” after yelling, snapping, or feeling like you’re about to lose it, this episode will help you feel less alone and more supported.

About Beth Caniglia

Beth is a business owner, mother of two, speaker, storyteller, and brand strategist. She runs Firesauce Creative with her husband and is passionate about speaking honestly about the highs and lows of blending entrepreneurship and motherhood.

Find Beth here: Firesauce Creative (firesauce.com.au)

In This Episode, We Cover

1. Why the jump from one to two kids can feel like being “split in two”
2. How sleep deprivation shrinks your capacity and fuels reactivity
3. The shame spiral that often follows rage, and why it keeps mums stuck
4. The “bottling it up” pattern: why anger can feel sudden, but isn’t
5. How postpartum rage can be a nervous system signal, not a character flaw
6. Tools that helped Beth rebuild regulation and widen her window of tolerance
7. Why community, support, and honest conversations matter more than ever

Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/

For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 99 Show Notes

And I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.

And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!

To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here.

Until next time, Thrivers

In this gentle, baby bite-sized episode of Thriving Parenting, Jen explores one of the most powerful and often overlooked parenting tools: the pause.

When our baby cries or our child becomes upset, the instinct to fix, stop, or intervene immediately can feel overwhelming. And that instinct exists for a reason. Our nervous system is wired for protection. But when hypervigilance runs the show all day, every day, parenting can start to feel harder rather than easier.

This episode unpacks how pausing is not ignoring your baby. It is choosing to respond from safety rather than reflex.

Jen explains how a brief pause helps bring our adult brain back online, giving us access to perspective, choice, and intuition. From newborn sleep to toddler emotions, pausing creates space to observe, gather information, and decide what support is truly needed in that moment.

You will hear why:

1. Hypervigilance is a normal part of becoming a parent, but can become exhausting when it stays switched on constantly
2. Pausing helps regulate your nervous system so you can co-regulate with your child
3. Babies and toddlers often surprise us when given a small moment to settle, adjust, or problem-solve
4. The pause supports sleep by avoiding unnecessary overstimulation
5. Our own past experiences shape how we respond to crying, anger, and frustration
6. Awareness and compassion are key to breaking reactive cycles

Jen also shares a simple, tangible practice she uses herself, placing a hand on her chest and breathing, to interrupt knee-jerk reactions and return to intentional leadership.

This episode is a reminder that you are not doing less by pausing. You are choosing presence, wisdom, and connection. And that choice matters for both you and your child.

🎧 Listen now to learn how the pause can help you parent with more calm, confidence, and trust in yourself.

Would like to access tailored 1:1 sleep support but don’t know where to start? Jump on a FREE sleep clarity session with Jen here https://sleepthrivegrow.com/

For more information on this topic, head to the show notes: Episode 98 Show Notes

And I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Come and connect with me on Instagram at @sleep_thrive_grow.

And click the +Follow button to never miss an episode. New episodes are released every Tuesday!

To find out more about how I can support you, visit my website here.

Until next time, Thrivers