I Regret to Inform You I Only Have Two Hands

I Regret to Inform You I Only Have Two Hands

Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode: Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-mom-ready-podcast/id1837769459] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/78u0daNuEPYnc5Q11WA5Lm?si=526e6e84ed634645] | GetMomReady.com [http://getmomready.com/] You know that moment when everyone needs something from you at the exact same time and your entire family is looking at you like you were born with eight arms? Emily Busby knows that feeling well. One Memorial Day, she was in the kitchen trying to get food ready while her kids were barking orders from every direction. Her husband walked in from grilling and said, “Mommy has two hands. Give her a second. She’s not an octopus.” And then they realized…wait. That’s a book. Mommy’s Not an Octopus Emily is the author of Mommy’s Not an Octopus, a children’s book that started as a joke but became something much deeper. It’s funny for kids, but it’s also a love letter to moms. Because somewhere along the way, a lot of us absorbed the idea that good moms just figure it out. We keep going. We carry the mental load. We anticipate everyone’s needs. We become the snack coordinator, schedule keeper, emotional support animal, laundry manager, and household search engine. And then we wonder why we’re exhausted. Emily, a former college athlete, talked about how much of her identity was built around pushing harder, doing more, and figuring it out. But motherhood did not respond to that strategy the way sports did. In motherhood, pushing harder can quickly turn into burnout. Glass Balls and Plastic Balls One of our favorite parts of this conversation was Emily sharing something her therapist-led coach taught her: everything you’re carrying is either a glass ball or a plastic ball. Some things will break if you drop them. Some things will bounce. For Emily, laundry used to feel like a glass ball. It had to be washed, folded, and put away right away. Then baby number two came along, and she realized some things could wait. We all have glass and plastic balls in life. The question becomes, which balls can drop without breaking in this season. The Octopus Moment Emily’s book has also given her family shared language. Instead of snapping, “Can’t you see my hands are full?” she can say, “I’m having an octopus moment.” SO. GOOD! It gives kids a way to understand: Mom is overwhelmed. Mom needs patience. Mom needs help. Mom cannot do eight things at once. Side bonus: it teaches our kids a way to understand and explain their own overwhelm in a way that fully makes sense to them. Support Is Not the Same as Delegation We also talked about the difference between support and delegation. Because “just ask for help” sounds great until asking for help becomes another job. If you have to explain what needs to be done, manage the timing, answer twelve questions, and make everyone feel appreciated afterward, that is not always support. Every mom can feel this. Real support might look like someone folding the laundry, washing bottles, dropping off breakfast, holding the baby, chopping the fruit, or taking meal planning completely off your plate without asking you 47 follow-up questions. The hard part, of course, is that every mom needs something different. Some of us want the baby held, some of us want the dishes done, some of us want company, some of us want everyone to leave lovingly and immediately. And half the battle is figuring out what would actually help, then finding the words to say it. We Also Talked About... * How Emily’s postpartum anxiety and depression showed up differently than she expected, especially as someone used to pushing through hard things. * Why high-achieving moms can confuse “I can handle this” with “I should handle this alone.” * The way motherhood forces us to loosen our grip on the version of balance we thought we were supposed to have. * How support can change depending on the season. Sometimes it’s a break. Sometimes it’s someone taking one entire category off your plate. * Why it can feel so awkward to tell people what would actually help, even when they genuinely want to help. * And, of course, why a postpartum fridge magnet that says “here are things you can do without asking me 900 questions” may need to become official Get Mom Ready merch immediately. Why This Episode Matters This conversation is about the mental load of motherhood, the pressure to do it all, and the tiny ways we can start telling the truth about our limits. If you have been trying to be everything for everyone, this episode is your reminder: Mommy is not an octopus. Mommy is a human, and humans are allowed to need help. If This Episode Hit Close to Home If you’re in a season where everyone needs something from you all the time, you are not crazy and you are not failing. You may just be having an octopus moment (or year). Our coaches would love to help you figure out what’s glass, what’s plastic, and what kind of support would actually support you in this season. You can learn more about coaching by booking a call with Meredith [https://calendly.com/meredithmayo/quick-reset-coaching-session-with-meredith-1-s-clone-1] or send us a DM on Instagram @getmomready [https://www.instagram.com/getmomready/]. Find Emily Emily Busby is the author of Mommy’s Not an Octopus. You can find her on Instagram at @mommysnotanoctopus [https://www.instagram.com/mommysnotanoctopus/]. Hardcover copies and all of her printable resources are available at mommysnotanoctopus.com [http://mommysnotanoctopus.com]. Paperback and ebook versions are available on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Mommys-Not-Octopus-Emily-Busby/dp/B0GYXSCCGT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=VTO52STYELZU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.YmQBCNj1lxqDHW7Kf6uSs3g0STp54AF2q0RNQQAYdt8diLrozbySA8dkCuRp58WgwowxBKgFYHyXWCmQHhkh_ltvSu7xAACpyAm0eHo-_yUEjkLA5MSMIzxR8vEVd3G9hYwoL_xlRReW7ngaMyv7PCSwa_2JL0h2VfvUArRkP8EytBTonJP6TtSl6Yfat0Om64kySpybazTZ3CVPG6rwpkWTyHeho52Edfa-uM3M9oc.hFoC-Z6nk6safY0NXzoNhsC1jUxv7rPf_d_m6J3-fLE&dib_tag=se&keywords=mommy%27s+not+an+octopus&qid=1781710564&sprefix=mommys+not+an+octopu%2Caps%2C381&sr=8-1]. Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode: Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-mom-ready-podcast/id1837769459] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/78u0daNuEPYnc5Q11WA5Lm?si=526e6e84ed634645] | GetMomReady.com [http://getmomready.com/] Get full access to Get Mom Ready at www.getmomready.com/subscribe [https://www.getmomready.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

“My Stuff’s Important, Too.”

Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode: Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-mom-ready-podcast/id1837769459] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/78u0daNuEPYnc5Q11WA5Lm?si=526e6e84ed634645] | GetMomReady.com [http://getmomready.com/] In this episode, we started with the usual chaos: shirt compliments, color analysis, Top Chef, leftover tortellini bake, and the realization that our group chat probably really should be a podcast. But the real conversation was about something so many moms feel, even if we don’t always say it out loud: Why do we feel like we need permission? Permission to leave the house. Permission to rest. Permission to ask for help. Permission to go out with friends. Permission to say, “I’m going to do this,” instead of, “Would it be okay if I…?” We talked about the difference between asking for consideration and asking for permission, why moms often feel guilty when someone else has to step into the role we usually carry, and how hard it can be to rest when your kids are still in the house and still looking for you every three seconds. We also talked about the sneaky resentment that can build when we keep telling ourselves, “I can do it,” instead of asking, “At what cost?” Because yes, we can push through. We can keep carrying it. We can be strong enough. But that doesn’t mean we should have to. Permission vs. consideration There’s a difference between giving your spouse a heads up and asking if you’re allowed to have a life. A shared calendar? Helpful. Saying, “Hey, I’m meeting the girls Tuesday night, let me know if there’s an issue”? Great. Feeling like you have to justify why you need one hour to eat a burger, go on a walk, read a book, or sit in silence? That’s where we may need to pause. What’s your version of golf balls? We talked about how some people seem to naturally know how to decompress. Golf balls. Video games. A quiet drive. A workout. And then there are moms who are standing in the kitchen thinking, “Wait, what is that for me?” Not what is productive. Not what helps the house. Not what checks something off the list. What actually restores you? Resting at home is its own kind of hard Sometimes we don’t want to leave. Sometimes we want to be home, near our kids, but not the person answering every single request. We want to read the book. Take the bath. Eat the breakfast. Finish the thought. And part of motherhood is slowly teaching our kids, and ourselves, that Mom’s needs matter too. “I can do it” is not the same as “I should” This one hit. So many of us have built our lives around being capable. We can handle it. We can figure it out. We can keep going. But if the cost is resentment, exhaustion, anger, or feeling like you’ve disappeared under everyone else’s needs, it may be time to ask a different question. Not “Can I carry this?” But “What is this costing me?” This episode is for the mom who keeps waiting for permission, and maybe needs the reminder that needing rest, friendship, space, help, or a minute to eat her own breakfast does not make her selfish. It makes her human. For the practical mom If you found yourself nodding along, start here. These are the questions we’re taking with us: * Where in my life am I asking for permission when I really just need to communicate with consideration? * Am I inviting people into my decisions because I value their input, or because I need reassurance? * What is my version of hitting golf balls, playing video games, or a quiet walk? * Where am I saying, “I can do it,” when the better question might be, “At what cost?” * What belief about myself is keeping me from asking for what I need? * What is one small way I can teach my family that Mom’s needs matter too? And maybe the gentlest one of all: * What would it look like this week to stop waiting for permission and start practicing partnership? Want help practicing this in real life? If this stirred something up and you’re realizing you may need support untangling the guilt, the resentment, or the “I can just do it” pattern, that’s exactly the kind of thing we work through in coaching. You can learn more about coaching by booking a call with Meredith [https://calendly.com/meredithmayo/quick-reset-coaching-session-with-meredith-1-s-clone-1] or send us a DM on Instagram @getmomready [https://www.instagram.com/getmomready/]. Get Mom Ready is the community for driven moms living full lives and figuring out how all the pieces work together. Subscribe to get every episode and article delivered to your inbox. Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode: Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-mom-ready-podcast/id1837769459] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/78u0daNuEPYnc5Q11WA5Lm?si=526e6e84ed634645] | GetMomReady.com [http://getmomready.com/] Get full access to Get Mom Ready at www.getmomready.com/subscribe [https://www.getmomready.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

90s Butter Summer and a Dopamine Detox

For the mom trying to give her kids a magical summer without losing herself Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode: Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-mom-ready-podcast/id1837769459] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/78u0daNuEPYnc5Q11WA5Lm?si=526e6e84ed634645] | GetMomReady.com [http://getmomready.com/] You know those conversations that start with Slip ’N Slides, splash pads, Costco pools, and “’90s summer”…and somehow end up at the deep emotional truth that maybe your kids are not the only ones who need screen time boundaries? That was today’s episode. We started with summer. The kind where the kids are home, the hose is out, the $20 backyard pool is doing the heavy lifting, and everyone is trying to make “low-lift fun” feel like enough. Honestly? We support this math. But then Mary Scott (our guest this week & one of Meredith’s best friends who quickly become one of ours) said something that reset the conversation:  I wonder if my inability to hold personal boundaries is gonna pour over into my inability to keep boundaries with my kids. And there it was. The conversation turned into: what happens when motherhood gets loud, overstimulating, repetitive, and relentless, and we find ourselves reaching for whatever gives us a little escape. A phone, p podcast, audiobook, Instagram. Anything that makes the backyard, the whining, the snack requests, the 5:30 a.m. wakeups, and the 14th “Mommy?” feel a little less consuming. Because we love our kids…and we’re only human. The hard part of summer is not just the kids being home Summer with little kids can sound so simple from the outside. Let them play outside, give them popsicles, fill up the kiddie pool, go to the library, let them be bored. Bring back the ’90s summer!! Great. Love that. Fully on board. But the actual experience can feel very different. Because you are still managing sunscreen, snacks, sibling fights, hydration, towels, “watch this,” “watch this again,” and someone crying because the hose water is too cold. And if you are a mom with young kids, you may not be getting the clean, quiet morning routine people on the internet are always trying to sell you. If you’re like Mary Scott, you may be trying to read at 5:08 a.m. while one kid crawls into your bed, another kid wakes up at 5:38 asking for cheese balls, and you are whisper-yelling because one wrong floorboard creak could wake the whole house. So when we talk about boundaries, we are not talking about cute, aesthetic boundaries. We are talking about the kind you need when you are already overstimulated before 6:00 a.m. What we walked away with This episode was not a neat and tidy “five ways to survive summer with kids” conversation, but there were a lot of takeaways that felt immediately useful: * Set yourself up before the day starts bossing you around.Sometimes the most regulating thing you can do is put the water cups out the night before. Or set breakfast bowls where the kids can reach them. Or put a basket of quiet toys, books, or the Toniebox by the couch where you actually sit in the morning. Not because you are trying to become a perfect systems mom, but because 5:30 a.m. you would love those small acts of prep. * Notice what you are reaching for.This conversation was never really just about phones. It was about the constant input. Instagram, podcasts, audiobooks, music, noise, anything that keeps us from sitting in the discomfort of the moment. Sometimes the question is not, “Why am I on my phone again?” Sometimes it is, “What am I trying not to feel right now?” * What down what you love. Literally, make a list and put it on the fridge like Hannah did. That way, when you do have pockets of downtime, you don’t have to reach for more noise, you have a reminder of hobbies that refuel you without having to do the mental gymnastics of remembering what you even like with the 15 minutes you have. * Let jealousy give you information.Mary Scott talked about looking back on the school year and feeling frustrated that she had childcare hours but still did not do some of the things she wanted to do. Write. Create. Start the Substack. Have something that felt like fruit. Hannah’s response was so helpful: what if the things you feel jealous of are not there to shame you, but to show you what you really want? * Reset the day when it starts sideways.If the morning starts in full reactive mode, you are allowed to call a redo. You can literally say, “You know what? We’re starting over.” Go back into your room, walk out again, make it silly and fun, and let your kids see that a bad moment does not have to become a bad day. * Repeat after me, “I am the mom”One of the biggest themes in this conversation was how easy it is to parent from a reactive place. Staying calm is sometimes as easy as remembering that you are the one in charge. You get to decide your family’s rhythms, routines, and habits. And that’s a gift, not a burden. This episode is for the mom who wants to be present but also wants to be a person There are so many competing messages in motherhood. Be present, but let them be bored. Enjoy every second, but have your own hobbies. Don’t make your kids the center of the universe, but remember this is their only childhood. Take care of yourself, but also be emotionally available, regulated, patient, playful, structured, flexible, and somehow not annoyed when someone asks for a snack 11 minutes after breakfast. No wonder we are tired. This conversation does not tie all of that up in a neat bow, because real motherhood rarely works that way. But it does give language to something a lot of moms are living right now. You can love your kids deeply and still want to escape sometimes. You can set boundaries with your kids and realize you need some with yourself too. You can create a magical summer without making yourself the cruise director. You can be present without being constantly available. You can be the mom and still be a person. And maybe this summer doesn’t have to be about doing more. Maybe it can be about noticing what is not working, releasing some shame, making a few tiny changes, and remembering that you are allowed to lead your home with calm, confidence, and a little more mercy for yourself. If this episode hit close to home If you’re anything like Mary Scott, maybe you noticed a gap between the mom you are in real life and the mom you want to be in your head because motherhood has a way of exposing the places where our own boundaries, rhythms, expectations, and coping mechanisms are not quite working anymore. And sometimes, you just need someone to help you name what’s happening, get curious about what’s underneath it, and find a few practical next steps that actually fit the season you’re in. If you loved the way Hannah and Meredith helped Mary Scott walk through what she was feeling, our coaches would love to do the same for you. You can learn more about coaching by booking a call with Meredith, or send us a DM on Instagram @getmomready [https://www.instagram.com/getmomready]. Get Mom Ready is the community for driven moms living full lives and figuring out how all the pieces work together. Subscribe to get every episode and article delivered to your inbox. Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode: Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-mom-ready-podcast/id1837769459] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/78u0daNuEPYnc5Q11WA5Lm?si=526e6e84ed634645] | GetMomReady.com [http://getmomready.com/] Get full access to Get Mom Ready at www.getmomready.com/subscribe [https://www.getmomready.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Who Were You Before the World Told You Who to Be?

Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode: Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-mom-ready-podcast/id1837769459] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/78u0daNuEPYnc5Q11WA5Lm?si=526e6e84ed634645] | GetMomReady.com [http://getmomready.com/] Episode Show Notes When you think of the Enneagram, you probably think of phrases like, “I’m such a 7,” or “That’s so Enneagram 8 of me.” But what if the Enneagram was less about labeling yourself and more about learning how to notice your patterns with a little more honesty, kindness, and compassion? In this episode of Get Mom Ready, Holly, Meredith, and Anna sit down with Meredith’s longtime friend Nicole Shephard to talk about the Enneagram, but not in a “put yourself in a number box and stay there forever” kind of way. Nicole is certified in the Enneagram for Conscious Living, and she helps us think about the Enneagram as a tool for noticing our patterns, understanding ourselves with more kindness, and maybe yelling at our kids slightly less when bedtime goes off the rails (Or at least understanding why we yelled)…baby steps. Why Moms Will Love This Conversation Because motherhood has a special way of revealing exactly what is going on inside of us. * The bedtime routine gets disrupted and suddenly you’re not just annoyed, you’re deeply annoyed. * Your kid has a meltdown and somehow it activates every unhealed thing inside your body. * Your spouse says one normal sentence and you’re like, “Wow, interesting tone.” * You finally get a quiet moment and instead of relaxing, you start mentally reorganizing the pantry, planning summer logistics, and wondering if your child’s entire emotional future depends on how you handled bath time. So yeah, we need tools to help us navigate the many emotions of motherhood. And in this conversation, Nicole helps us see the Enneagram as one of those tools. Not to overanalyze everyone in your house. Not to type your toddler. Please do not walk around saying, “She’s giving unhealthy 4 energy” about your preschooler. But to ask better questions about ourselves: * What’s actually underneath my reaction? * Is this fear, shame, or anger? * What pattern do I keep falling into? * What does my kid need from me right now? * What do I need right now? * And Nicole’s favorite: how do I bring a little more compassion into the whole situation? The Enneagram Is Not Just a Personality Test Nicole explains that the Enneagram is wayyy more layered than the quick internet version most of us have heard. Instead of saying, “I am a type,” she uses the phrase “center of gravity,” which feels so much less dramatic and permanent. Your type is not your prison sentence. It’s simply a pattern you tend to return to. The goal is not to say, “Well, I’m an 8, so good luck everyone.” The goal is to notice the patterns, understand what they were trying to protect, and decide whether they are still helping you now. Please Don’t Type Your Toddler One of our favorite parts of this conversation is when Nicole talks about using the Enneagram as a mom. She is not trying to figure out her kids’ Enneagram numbers while they are still little. Instead, she uses the framework to pay attention to what might be driving their behavior by asking: “Is this coming from fear, anger, shame?” A much more useful approach than trying to diagnose every tantrum. Because sometimes our kids are not “being difficult.” Sometimes they are scared, embarrassed, mad, tired, overstimulated, or all of the above (plus they were given the wrong color cup, which, as we know, is a full family crisis). Nicole talks about meeting our kids in that place instead of immediately trying to fix or correct the behavior. And that led us into a really tender conversation about our kids’ essence: who they are before the world tells them who they should be. Yes, we cried a little. 🥹 Marriage, Routines, and the Plans We Keep Not Making Nicole also talks about instincts (self-preservation, social, and attraction/sexual) and how they show up in real life. And this is where Holly realizes that she and her husband, Elliott may both lean hard toward structure and routine, which would explain why they can talk about rock climbing for 13 years and never actually go rock climbing. They have also discussed going to a concert multiple times but still haven’t bought the tickets, because apparently wanting to do something and actually disrupting your routine to do it are two very different activities. If you have ever said, “We should totally do that,” and then immediately returned to your couch, your calendar, and your regularly scheduled life, this section is for you. Your Spouse Is Not Supposed to Be You One of Nicole’s most helpful reminders is that every type, center, and instinct has value. The point is not to make your spouse, friend, child, or co-worker see the world exactly the way you do. The point is to get curious about what they see that you might be missing. Nicole talks about how she shares what she is learning with her partner, owns the ways her own patterns affect their family, and tries to see his way of moving through the world as something she can learn from, not just something to correct. When Other People Won’t “Do the Work” We also get into the thing many of us feel but maybe do not always say out loud: It is really frustrating when you are trying to grow, heal, become more self-aware, go to therapy, read the books, listen to the podcasts, take the walks, journal the feelings, and someone else is just… not. Nicole offers a gentle but very inconvenient reminder: the work always starts with us. Not because other people’s choices do not matter, not because you should tolerate unhealthy behavior, and not because boundaries are optional. But because the only person you can actually change is you. Nicole’s Life in the Cotswolds Nicole also shares her story of moving to the UK, raising two British-born daughters in the Cotswolds, and what it has looked like to follow a vision for her life that started long before motherhood. It is dreamy and brave and very “wait, should we all move to the English countryside?” Listen If… Listen to this episode if you’ve ever: * Used the Enneagram to explain yourself and then wondered if that was allowed * Wanted to understand your reactions instead of just feeling bad about them * Felt triggered by your child’s totally normal child behavior * Wanted better language for marriage and conflict * Had a toddler meltdown turn into a personal growth opportunity you did not ask for * Said, “We should do that sometime,” and then never did it * Needed a reminder that self-awareness should make you kinder, not meaner to yourself Get Mom Ready is a podcast for moms navigating the tension of work, life, and everything else we carry. Subscribe for free to get our weekly episodes in your inbox. Resources Mentioned to go Deeper Into The Enneagram Nicole recommended Russ Hudson as her favorite Enneagram teacher and suggested starting with his work if you want to go deeper. The Wisdom of the Enneagram [https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Enneagram-Psychological-Spiritual-Personality/dp/0553378201] by Don Richard Riso and Russ HudsonA foundational overview of all nine types. Understanding the Enneagram [https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Enneagram-Practical-Guide-Personality/dp/0618004157] by Don Richard Riso and Russ HudsonA deeper, more technical resource on the triads and structure of the Enneagram. The Enneagram: Nine Gateways to Presence [https://www.amazon.com/Enneagram-Nine-Gateways-Presence/dp/B08SR7WMSJ] by Russ HudsonAn audiobook Nicole described as more meditative and embodied, especially helpful for people with a mindfulness practice. The Enneagram Institute Type Descriptions and Assessment [https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-descriptions/]Nicole said an assessment can be a helpful place to start, as long as you treat it as a direction to explore rather than a final answer. Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode: Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-mom-ready-podcast/id1837769459] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/78u0daNuEPYnc5Q11WA5Lm?si=526e6e84ed634645] | GetMomReady.com [http://getmomready.com/] Get full access to Get Mom Ready at www.getmomready.com/subscribe [https://www.getmomready.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

What If Survival Mode Isn't Failure... It's Actually Strength?

Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode: Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-mom-ready-podcast/id1837769459] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/78u0daNuEPYnc5Q11WA5Lm?si=526e6e84ed634645] | GetMomReady.com [http://getmomready.com/] We thought this conversation would be about navigating life as a medical mom. And it is, but like every honest conversation on this podcast, it turned into an encouragement to every mom who feels like they’re carrying the weight of the world. It became a conversation about what happens when the life you planned stops being the life you’re living. About releasing expectations you didn’t even realize you were carrying. About redefining what “success” looks like when you’re split in twelve directions and none of them come with a manual. Amber is a mom of four, a full-time professional, a medical mom to her son Santi who has congenital heart disease and is currently awaiting a heart transplant at Texas Children’s Hospital, and she is somehow still the most positive, grounded person in the room. As she shared in the episode: “You can be optimistic about things, but you can’t be attached to them.” That one line might be the most useful thing any of us hear this week. What This Episode Is Really About Yes, we talk about Santi’s medical journey, hospital stays, and the day-to-day reality of caring for a child on a transplant list. But underneath all of that, this episode is about: * The moment you realize motherhood isn’t going to look like you imagined * What it means to keep showing up when you’ve had to let go of the plan * How to redefine success when your old version of “enough” doesn’t fit anymore * Why accepting help is one of the hardest and most important things a mom can do * And how community and small moments of joy carry you through seasons that don’t make sense yet Themes We Keep Coming Back To From This Conversation You can plan everything and still get blindsided, and that’s not failure, that’s life. Letting go of expectations isn’t giving up. It’s how you survive and find joy. “Strong” doesn’t always feel strong on the inside. Sometimes the most important thing you do today is cuddle your kids and let the rest wait. Asking for help doesn’t come naturally to most moms, so if you see one struggling, just show up. Don’t wait for her to ask. If You’re In This Season Right Now… This episode is for you if: * You’re managing more than feels manageable and wondering how other moms do it * You’ve had to grieve a version of motherhood or a version of yourself that you expected * You’re redefining what success looks like at work, at home, or both * You feel guilty for the way you’re parenting even though you know you’re doing your best * You’re a medical mom, a heart mom, or a mom who just needs to hear: you’re not behind. You’re in it. Or you just need someone to remind you to listen to your body and when in doubt, rest. Resources + Links Connect with Amber [https://www.facebook.com/amber.danielle.1203] and ask to be a part of Santi’s group. She will send you the link to follow his medical journey: Related Episodes/Resources: * Parenting in the Middle of Medical Chaos: Anna’s Story as a Medical Mom [https://www.getmomready.com/p/parenting-in-the-middle-of-medical-f05] * Chronic Decision Fatigue: Why You’re Exhausted & How to Overcome It [https://www.getmomready.com/p/chronic-decision-fatigue-why-youre] * The Week I Couldn’t Even Look at My Daughter [https://www.getmomready.com/p/the-week-i-couldnt-even-look-at-my] Want More Support? If this episode stirred something in you, if you’re holding more than you thought you’d be holding right now, or you’re trying to figure out what “enough” even looks like in this season, Get Mom Ready Coaching is here for you. We don’t give you more to do. We help you become a version of yourself that can actually hold your life. You can learn more about coaching by booking a call with Meredith [https://calendly.com/meredithmayo/quick-reset-coaching-session-with-meredith-1-s-clone-1] or send us a DM on Instagram @getmomready [https://www.instagram.com/getmomready/]. You don’t get to choose most of what life hands you. You don’t get to choose the diagnosis, the hospital stay, the season that turns everything sideways. But you do get to choose how you carry it. And sometimes carrying it well looks like letting go of the way you thought it was supposed to look and finding something real and good in what’s actually here. Listen to your body. Accept the help. And when in doubt? Rest. Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode: Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-mom-ready-podcast/id1837769459] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/78u0daNuEPYnc5Q11WA5Lm?si=526e6e84ed634645] | GetMomReady.com [http://getmomready.com/] Get full access to Get Mom Ready at www.getmomready.com/subscribe [https://www.getmomready.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]