Messy Middle Confessions Part 2: The Things Moms Actually Think But Never Say

Messy Middle Confessions Part 2: The Things Moms Actually Think But Never Say

We're back with another round of Messy Middle Confessions — and this batch might be our most honest one yet. Six anonymous submissions from real moms about the stuff that lives in the back of your mind but rarely makes it out of your mouth. The toddler mom who loves her kid and desperately needs more than a three hour break. The wife who resents her genuinely good husband and can't fully explain why. The mom googling things at 11pm that she's embarrassed to admit. The woman who sat in a Target parking lot for twenty minutes just to feel like a person again. No fixing. No silver linings. Just two moms reading your confessions out loud, reacting honestly, and reminding you that the messy middle is crowded — and you are not alone in it. If you've ever felt like you were the only one thinking these things, this episode is for you. Have a messy middle confession you'd like to share for next episode? It's completely anonymous and you can get it off your chest HERE. [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe0zVXWBQ69iZOw-6f8uwlzxJLw3gSKbOqDnP-6p5NwaUYngg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=104787278447835154989]

You’re Probably Not Actually a Psycho: Hormones, Cycle Seasons & Why You Feel Different Every Week

This week on Before We Get It Right, we’re talking about something so many women feel but were never really taught to understand: hormones, cycle tracking, energy shifts, and why you might feel like a completely different person from one week to the next. We’re diving into the four phases of the menstrual cycle, how hormones can impact creativity, anxiety, confidence, motivation, motherhood, relationships, and business — and why understanding your body can help you stop fighting yourself so hard. This isn’t about becoming a perfectly optimized “girlboss.” It’s about self-awareness, compassion, and realizing maybe you’re not lazy, inconsistent, emotional, or failing… maybe your body is simply cyclical. We also talk about:  • Building workflows around your energy  • Why your luteal phase might actually hold important information  • Cycle syncing with motherhood and business  • Perimenopause conversations women need to have more openly  • Learning to work with yourself instead of constantly against yourself If you’ve ever wondered why some weeks you feel unstoppable and other weeks you feel completely overwhelmed, this episode is for you. Follow along and connect with us @polishedprints [https://www.instagram.com/polishedprints/] and @memle.moms [https://www.instagram.com/memle.moms/].

Self-Love (But Hear Us Out)...it’s not what you think

Self-love has become one of those phrases that gets tossed around so much it almost loses meaning. Bubble baths. Face masks. “Treat yourself.” But what if real self-love is actually much deeper — and much harder — than that? In this episode, Katherine and Leah have an honest conversation about what self-love actually looks like in real life, especially for women and mothers who have spent years tying their worth to productivity, caregiving, achievement, and being everything to everyone else. We talk about: *  Why self-love isn’t about perfection or aesthetics  *  The exhausting inner dialogue so many women live with  *  How shame and self-forgiveness are deeply connected  *  The pressure moms feel to constantly put themselves last  *  The “autopilot” problem and how easy it is to lose yourself in the day-to-day  *  Why receiving love can feel harder than giving it  *  Small, practical ways to start rebuilding trust and compassion with yourself  This episode is vulnerable, reflective, and deeply human — not a checklist for becoming a “better” version of yourself, but an invitation to stop abandoning the person you already are. If you’ve ever felt like you’re carrying too much, falling short, or struggling to offer yourself the same grace you give everyone else… this conversation is for you. Because maybe self-love doesn’t start with becoming someone new.  Maybe it starts with finally being willing to stand on your own side. Find us @polishedprints and @memle.moms/@cozyhearted or @beforewegetitright on substack!

Grandma Hobbies & Group Chats IRL: Why Community Matters More Than Ever

This week on Before We Get It Right, we’re talking about something so many people are craving right now: real community. Not the “like your Instagram story and keep scrolling” kind of connection, but the face-to-face, sit-around-a-table, laugh-with-strangers-until-they-don’t-feel-like-strangers-anymore kind.  From the rise of “grandma hobbies” like embroidery, baking, crafting, and knitting to the deeper reason people are longing for connection more than ever, this episode dives into why community matters so much in a world that feels increasingly disconnected. We talk about loneliness, nervous system regulation, shared hobbies, and the surprising power of simply being in the same room with other people.  Leah shares the story behind hosting Sip & Stitch nights at the store and how a simple embroidery class turned into something so much bigger: women connecting, opening up, laughing, and finding belonging around a table. We also talk about how you don’t need a storefront, a big following, or a perfectly planned event to create community. Sometimes it starts with a walk, a coffee shop meetup, or texting the group chat first.  In this episode, we talk about:  • Why loneliness has become such a widespread issue  • The difference between online connection and real-life community  • Why “grandma hobbies” are making a comeback  • How creativity and hands-on hobbies reconnect you to your inner child  • The mental health benefits of slow, repetitive activities like stitching and knitting  • How shared interests naturally create deeper connection  • Tangible ways to build community, even if you don’t have a physical space  • Why being willing to go first matters more than being perfect This episode feels like a warm reminder that people are craving depth, presence, and belonging, and that community often starts with one person deciding to create space for it. If you’ve been wanting more connection in your life, consider this your sign to text the group chat, plan the thing, and just begin. Find us: @polishedprints @memle.moms

When It Stings: Handling Criticism as a Business Owner, Mom, and Human

In this episode of Before We Get It Right, we’re talking about something every mom, business owner, and human being experiences: criticism. The kind that sneaks into your thoughts at 2am, shows up in a comment section, comes from people you love, or, in Katherine’s case recently, came through a couple of negative Amazon reviews that unexpectedly tanked sales for an entire month. We’re having a real, honest conversation about why criticism hits so hard, especially when the things we’re putting into the world feel deeply personal. From motherhood to entrepreneurship to simply showing up online, it can be incredibly difficult to separate what we create from who we are. In this episode, we talk about why criticism affects us on a biological and nervous-system level, how to tell the difference between constructive feedback and projection, and why online criticism can feel so disproportionately heavy. We also share tangible ways to regulate your nervous system after criticism stings, rebuild confidence after discouragement, and continue showing up even when self-doubt creeps in. This episode is for anyone who’s ever questioned themselves after one comment, one review, or one hard moment. A vulnerable, grounding conversation about resilience, self-worth, and learning how to keep going while you’re still figuring it all out, before we get it right. Find us on SUBSTACK HERE! [https://substack.com/@beforewegetitright]