23 - I Really Thought This Would Be Easier By Now

23 - I Really Thought This Would Be Easier By Now

In this week's episode of The Debrief, Ruthie and Staci dive into a surprisingly relatable question: "What did you think would be easier by now?" Turns out... quite a few things. From mountains of laundry and the nightly dinner dilemma to teaching teenagers to drive and navigating ever-changing family schedules, we're unpacking all the things adulthood promised would eventually become second nature—but somehow still require way more energy than expected. We also get honest about: ✔️ Why laundry remains undefeated ✔️ The mental load of feeding a family every single day ✔️ Teaching kids life skills (and surviving the anxiety that comes with it) ✔️ Adult friendships and why they're harder to build than we expected ✔️ Church experiences, community, and finding genuine support ✔️ Parenting older kids and realizing the responsibilities don't disappear... they just change ✔️ Sexism in professional settings and the unique challenges women face as they gain experience and confidence If you've ever looked around your house, your calendar, or your overflowing laundry basket and thought, "Surely I should have this figured out by now," this episode is for you. Spoiler alert: None of us have it all figured out. And maybe that's the point. Grab your coffee, fold some laundry, and join us for another honest conversation about life, motherhood, work, friendship, and everything in between. We'd love to hear from you: What's one thing you thought would be easier by now? Connect with us: Beyond the Sirens FB page [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582416343581] Donate HERE [https://www.venmo.com/u/beyondthesirens] Our Facebook Group: The Rewiring Real Life Lounge [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1568065834463753] Intake Questionnaire to Book your Complimentary Call with Staci HERE [https://l.bttr.to/T7HBa]

22 - Beep Beep Boop Boop & Other Life Confessions

This week on The Debrief with Staci & Ruthie, we're taking advantage of a rare pocket of time and diving into some honest life confessions. From surprise parenting moments and overthinking tendencies to camping adventures, barn transformations, football cleats, and dairy cow dreams, this episode feels like sitting around the kitchen table with friends. We chat about: • Recent wins nobody knows about (including Staci's colorful barn makeover) • What's currently kicking our butts • Foods we've been hyper-fixating on lately • Why control and uncertainty can be such a difficult combination • Parenting a five-year-old who secretly cooks her own scrambled eggs • Raising independent kids without losing your mind • Finding balance with health, food, and family life • The most ridiculous things that happened this week • Scooby-Doo football cleats • Kayak adventures and summer fun • The hot pink cow halter that may or may not be living in Staci's Amazon cart • Current phrases we're saying far too often ("Beep Beep Boop Boop" included) One of our favorite takeaways from this conversation: "Rather than fearing the worst, the antidote for fearing the worst is believing the best." As always, thank you for spending part of your day with us. We love hearing from listeners, so send us your questions, stories, confessions, and topic ideas for future episodes. And yes... we're officially taking guest requests. Connect with us: Instagram: @stacikilecoaching [https://www.instagram.com/stacikilecoaching/] Join our FB group: The Rewiring Real Life Lounge [https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1JQAWbVbKV/] If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend and leave a review, it helps more than you know.

21 - We Survived MapQuest and LimeWire

REGISTER FOR BOOK CLUB HEREEEEE! [https://l.bttr.to/o54DG] SHOW NOTES In this episode of The Debrief with Staci & Ruthie, we’re taking a hilarious, nostalgic trip back to the wild survival era of growing up millennial. Before GPS, Life360, smartphones, and constant news alerts, we were out here printing MapQuest directions, burning questionable CDs from LimeWire, memorizing phone numbers, calling landlines, driving with $5 in gas, and somehow making it home in one piece. Staci and Ruthie laugh through the chaos of early-2000s independence, from road trips with no navigation, T9 texting, home phone etiquette, tanning bed regrets, Mountain Dew night shifts, and the absolute boldness of being young with very little fear and even less adult supervision. But underneath all the funny memories is a bigger conversation about how much the world has changed, how technology has shifted connection, safety, parenting, anxiety, and the way we raise our own kids now. This one is funny, unfiltered, nostalgic, and full of “how did we survive that?” energy. IN THIS EPISODE We talk about: * MapQuest directions and driving before GPS * Burned CDs, LimeWire, and road trip playlists * Home phones, memorized phone numbers, and phone etiquette * Growing up before Life360 and constant tracking * The difference between our teenage years and our kids’ world now * T9 texting, CD binders, tanning beds, and Mountain Dew survival * Why voice memos feel more connected than texts * Parenting teens with more awareness than our parents had * Letting kids grow up while still keeping them safe * The beauty and chaos of being a millennial FAVORITE QUOTES “Nightmares are dreams too.” “We survived MapQuest and LimeWire.” “We were just out there with no GPS, no tracking, and the good Lord watching over us.” “Kids today would not survive being dropped into our teenage years.” “We were cut from a different cloth.”

20 - Unsubscribing from Things We Don’t Care About Anymore

At some point, something shifts. You stop forcing yourself to attend events you don't want to attend. You stop buying clothes because they're trendy. You stop trying to keep everyone happy. And suddenly, being home in comfy clothes with your people sounds a whole lot better than almost anything else. In this episode, Staci and Ruthie unpack the hilarious and unexpected freedoms that come with getting older. From kid birthday parties and fashion trends to people-pleasing, social obligations, and protecting your peace, they're sharing all the things they've officially unsubscribed from—and why they're perfectly okay with it. Along the way, they dive into authenticity, boundaries, friendship, motherhood, healthcare burnout, and the realization that not everyone deserves a seat at your table. If you've ever found yourself saying, "I just don't care about that anymore," this episode is for you. IN THIS EPISODE WE TALK ABOUT: * Becoming morning people (whether we wanted to or not) * Why small talk feels exhausting now * The surprising freedom of getting older * Letting go of people-pleasing habits * Why we're choosing experiences over birthday parties * Fashion trends we refuse to follow * Cotton underwear, comfort, and practical priorities * Protecting your energy and social battery * The difference between belonging and fitting in * Not fighting for a seat at a table where you're not wanted * Raising kids to worry less about what others think * Learning to prioritize what truly matters FAVORITE QUOTES > "I am not fighting for a seat at a table that I'm not wanted." > "If I'm an afterthought, I don't want to be there." > "Wear the clothes that feel good to you." > "Everybody that I need to worry about is right here." > "The older I get, the less people-y I get." > "When you're with the people you're supposed to be with, it's not a fight." QUESTION FOR LISTENERS What's something you've officially unsubscribed from as you've gotten older? Tell us in the comments or send us a message... we'd love to hear what you've stopped caring about and what you've started protecting instead.

19 - Summer, Screens & the Return of the “90s Kid” Childhood

This week, Staci & Ruthie are diving headfirst into something that’s been weighing heavy on their hearts lately: how different childhood looks now compared to the way many of us grew up. From Xbox marathons and YouTube Shorts to “I’m bored” complaints and screen-time battles, they unpack the reality of parenting in the digital age — while also giving themselves (and other parents) a whole lot of grace. Because sometimes survival mode looked like handing over the tablets just to make it through the day. Together they talk about: * Why they’re craving a slower, more intentional summer * Bringing back “90s kid” summers full of bikes, forts, dirt, and imagination * The dopamine overload of constant scrolling (for kids AND adults) * Creative ways to reduce screen time without making everyone miserable * Summer bucket lists, board games, camping traditions & novelty activities * Raising kids without micromanaging every second * Why connection matters more than perfection in parenting * The deep fear many parents carry of losing connection with their kids long-term * Choosing presence over productivity this summer You’ll laugh through stories about Red Rover injuries, smashed Alexas, camping without tablets, seagull chaos at the beach, and the absolute insanity of modern parenting — while also hearing some really honest moments about burnout, survival mode, motherhood, nervous system overload, and the importance of unplugging together. This episode is your reminder that: * Your kids probably don’t need more entertainment * You probably don’t need more notifications * Nobody remembers the perfect schedule * But they will remember how home felt So maybe this summer looks like: bare feet, library books, board games, messy kitchens, beach sand in the car, late sunsets, picnics, forts in the living room, and kids coming home filthy dirty from being outside all day. And honestly? That sounds pretty magical. ✨ IN THIS EPISODE: * “90s kid” summer nostalgia * Parenting & screen-time struggles * Dopamine overload and nervous system regulation * Summer bucket list ideas * Family connection & intentional parenting * Camping traditions & unplugging * Electronics detox ideas * Raising resilient, creative kids * Why adults need less screen time too CHALLENGE FROM RUTHIE: If you’re brave enough… go to the beach, lay down covered in crackers, and let the seagulls eat them off you. (Please record it and report back. 😂) FAVORITE QUOTE: “Your kids only have like 900 Saturdays with you before they’re grownups.” CONNECT WITH US If this episode resonated with you, share it with another tired parent trying to raise good humans in a very noisy world. Grab your coffee, your sanity — what’s left of it — and let’s debrief this beautiful mess together.