The Motherhood Process

21: When Nostalgia No Longer Fits: Letting Go of the Past to Make Space for Who You're Becoming

As we step into a new year, it’s natural to reflect on what we’re carrying with us—and what might be ready to be released. In this episode, Autumn Akins gently explores the idea that not everything that feels nostalgic is meant to stay. Through thoughtful reflection, Autumn invites listeners to consider how growth, motherhood, and intentional living can shift the way we view traditions, routines, and familiar choices. This conversation offers encouragement to evaluate what still aligns with your values today and to create space for what supports peace, clarity, and purpose in your current season. Rather than focusing on drastic change, this episode emphasizes discernment—learning to recognize when something no longer fits and giving yourself permission to choose differently, without guilt. What You’ll Hear: * Why nostalgia can feel comforting, even when it no longer fits your life. * How seasons of growth naturally reshape priorities and values. * The importance of discernment when evaluating traditions and routines. * Reflective questions to help you move into the new year with intention. * Encouragement to honor who you are becoming, not just who you’ve been. Key Takeaways: * Growth Brings Change: Outgrowing something is often a sign of healthy growth. * Alignment Matters: Familiarity doesn’t always mean it belongs in your current season. * Discernment Creates Peace: Thoughtful evaluation helps protect your energy and values. * You’re Allowed to Evolve: Making space for change is part of intentional living. Reflection Prompt: What am I holding onto simply because it’s familiar—and what might feel lighter if I allowed it to evolve? Resources: https://autumnakins.com/reclaim [https://autumnakins.com/reclaim] Connect with Me: Let’s continue the conversation! Follow me on Instagram at https://instagram.com/whatautumn_does@whatautumndoes [https://www.instagram.com/whatautumndoes/] for more tips, encouragement, and personal reflections on motherhood. Subscribe & Review: Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe and leave a review. Your feedback helps other moms discover The Motherhood Process and join our growing community. Join Me Next Week: Next week, we’re diving into creating intentional routines that simplify life and bring more peace to your home. Don’t miss it!

20: A Simpler Season: Letting Go of Holiday Overwhelm

The holidays are meant to be joyful, but for many moms, they feel heavy, pressured, and overwhelming. In this episode, host Autumn Akins gently invites you to release the unrealistic expectations that often come with the season and embrace a slower, simpler approach to Christmas and beyond. Autumn speaks candidly about the invisible pressure placed on moms to make the holidays magical, memorable, and Pinterest-worthy—while still managing homes, schedules, emotions, and everything in between. She reminds listeners that our kids don’t need more traditions, more activities, or more perfection. They need our peace, our presence, and our ability to actually enjoy the season with them. This episode offers permission to let go of traditions that feel heavy, simplify routines without guilt, and create rhythms that protect your energy. With practical systems around meal planning, gift giving, and calendar boundaries, Autumn shows how simplicity doesn’t take away from the magic—it actually makes room for it. The heart of this conversation is clear: the most meaningful memories are often found in quiet moments, not crowded calendars. What You’ll Hear: * The pressure moms feel to create a “magical” holiday season and why it often leads to burnout. * How social media fuels unrealistic expectations during the holidays. * Why kids need calm and presence more than elaborate traditions. * Questions to ask yourself before committing to holiday traditions this season. * Why it’s okay to pause or skip traditions that don’t fit your current season of life. * Simple, low-effort ways Autumn creates meaningful moments at home with her family. * Holiday systems that protect peace, including meal planning, gift boundaries, and daily rhythms. * A powerful calendar filter: asking whether something adds peace or pressure. * Permission to choose rest, simplicity, and presence over perfection. Key Takeaways: * Peace Over Perfection: Your kids don’t need curated memories—they need a calm, present mom. * Traditions Are Optional: If a tradition brings stress instead of joy, you’re allowed to let it go. * Simple Is Still Special: Small, repeatable moments often become the most meaningful memories. * Boundaries Create Freedom: Guarding your calendar and energy is an act of wisdom, not selfishness. * This Season Matters Too: You don’t have to do it all for the holidays to be meaningful. Resources: https://autumnakins.com/reclaim [https://autumnakins.com/reclaim] Connect with Me: Let’s continue the conversation! Follow me on Instagram at https://instagram.com/whatautumn_does@whatautumndoes [https://www.instagram.com/whatautumndoes/] for more tips, encouragement, and personal reflections on motherhood. Subscribe & Review: Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe and leave a review. Your feedback helps other moms discover The Motherhood Process and join our growing community. Join Me Next Week: Next week, we’re diving into creating intentional routines that simplify life and bring more peace to your home. Don’t miss it!

19: You Don't Have to Say Yes to Everything: Learning the Power of No

Are you constantly saying yes only to look back on your week feeling tired, overwhelmed, and resentful? In this episode, host Autumn Akins walks through a powerful, real-time lesson she is learning: the importance of saying no more often.    Autumn dives into the common reasons why moms feel compelled to overcommit—from guilt and the fear of missing out to a simple craving for connection. She shares her own pattern of "one small yes" snowballing into an overstuffed week and offers a clear reminder: "Everything that you say yes to is a no to something else, usually your energy or your rest or your peace".    This episode is a gentle but firm guide to breaking the cycle of living in "reaction mode" and starting to live intentionally. Autumn provides five practical steps for strengthening your "no muscle," including setting weekly limits, pausing before you respond, and remembering that you are the one who carries the consequence of every overcommitment. The ultimate takeaway? You don't need a packed calendar to be a good, present mom—sometimes, the holiest thing you can do for your family is simply protect your peace. What You’ll Hear: * Why "yes" often feels like a default for moms, driven by guilt, loneliness, or not wanting kids to miss out.   * The difference between being a "good mom" and a "tired, stretched thin mom".   * Autumn’s personal confession about how she over-fills her own week with things like quick grocery runs that turn into multi-store errands.   * The reminder that saying yes to one thing means saying no to your peace, rest, or energy.   * Why the "invisible race" to do the most is a myth with no prize for the winner.   * Book recommendations that have shaped Autumn's perspective on slowing down: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry and Essentialism.   * Signs that your "yes muscle" is overdeveloped, such as resenting plans or feeling tired before the day begins.  * How saying no more often surprisingly makes your life feel fuller, not emptier, because it creates space for presence and calm. Key Takeaways: * Less but Better: This motto from Essentialism applies beautifully to motherhood, resulting in better energy and connection with those who matter most.   * Protection is Power: Sometimes, the most important thing you can do for your family is simply protect your peace.   * Your Value is Not Your Productivity: Stop living as if your value is tied to what you can produce.   * The Holiday Challenge: Say no to one thing that drains you each week leading up to Christmas and watch the space it creates. Resources: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Come Essentialism by Greg McKeown https://autumnakins.com/reclaim [https://autumnakins.com/reclaim] Connect with Me: Let’s continue the conversation! Follow me on Instagram at https://instagram.com/whatautumn_does@whatautumndoes [https://www.instagram.com/whatautumndoes/] for more tips, encouragement, and personal reflections on motherhood. Subscribe & Review: Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe and leave a review. Your feedback helps other moms discover The Motherhood Process and join our growing community. Join Me Next Week: Next week, we’re diving into creating intentional routines that simplify life and bring more peace to your home. Don’t miss it!

18: Rest Looks Different Now: Finding the Right Kind of Rest for Your Season

If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, overstimulated, or unsure why your usual ways of recharging suddenly don’t work anymore, this episode is for you. Autumn opens up about a powerful truth many moms overlook: nothing is wrong with you — you’ve simply changed. And with a new season comes a new need for a different kind of rest. Drawing from Dr. Sandra Dalton-Smith’s framework from Sacred Rest, Autumn walks through the seven types of rest every mom needs to understand, from physical and mental rest to the often-neglected creative and spiritual kinds. She shares personal stories about sleep deprivation, overstimulation, social burnout, emotional holding, and the shift that happens when you finally acknowledge what your mind and body have been asking for. This episode is a gentle reminder that rest is not a reward at the end of the week. It is a rhythm you build into your life so you can show up with presence, patience, and peace. When your season changes, your rest should too. What You’ll Hear: * Why the old ways you used to recharge may no longer work in your current season * An introduction to the seven types of rest and how moms experience each one daily * Real examples from Autumn’s life about sleep patterns, overstimulation, and mental load * How emotional rest can show up as honesty, grief, or dropping the mask * The importance of identifying whether you need solitude or support * The role of creativity in restoring your joy and sense of self * Why spiritual rest matters, including Autumn’s personal reflections on faith and growth * How to create a simple “rest menu” to help you choose the kind of support you need * Practical ways to build rest into your day without waiting for burnout Key Takeaways: * Rest Evolves With You: When your season changes, your needs change. Rest is meant to adapt, not stay rigid. * You Need More Than Sleep: Physical rest is just one type. Mental, sensory, emotional, social, creative, and spiritual rest are just as important. * Overstimulation is Real: Silence, boundaries, and intentional slowing down matter more than ever in motherhood. * Authenticity Brings Relief: Emotional rest comes from removing the pressure to appear put together. * Connection Should Be Intentional: Choose relationships that fill rather than drain you, and honor your capacity week by week. * A Rest Rhythm Prevents Burnout: Rest should be woven into your day, not something you turn to only when you’re depleted. Resources: Dr. Sandra Dalton-Smith – Sacred Rest https://autumnakins.com/reclaim [https://autumnakins.com/reclaim] Connect with Me: Let’s continue the conversation! Follow me on Instagram at https://instagram.com/whatautumn_does@whatautumndoes [https://www.instagram.com/whatautumndoes/] for more tips, encouragement, and personal reflections on motherhood. Subscribe & Review: Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe and leave a review. Your feedback helps other moms discover The Motherhood Process and join our growing community. Join Me Next Week: Next week, we’re diving into creating intentional routines that simplify life and bring more peace to your home. Don’t miss it!

17: When the Homeschool Steam Fades: Finding Your Spark Again

If you're a homeschool mom feeling the burnout and hitting a wall a few months into the year, you are not alone. Autumn gets real about this common struggle, sharing her own experience navigating this phase while managing a growing family and a major shift in her family's daily rhythms.   This isn't an episode about powering through; it's about giving yourself permission to be human and recalibrate. Autumn offers practical strategies and heart-centered advice to help you refocus, including the non-negotiable importance of self-care, a powerful exercise to reconnect with your original "why" for homeschooling, and tips for simplifying your schedule and letting go of the comparison game. This conversation is an encouraging reminder that a loss of steam is not a failure, but an invitation to step back and ensure you're showing up with intention, not perfection.   What You’ll Hear: * The personal rhythm shifts in the host's home that led to her own inconsistency and increased childcare burden.   * Why the excitement and novelty of the school year eventually wears off and gives way to exhaustion.   * The crucial importance of checking in with yourself physically and mentally, including water intake, meals, and the game-changing power of a morning routine.   * The clarity you gain by revisiting your why for homeschooling—the values and goals that guided your original decision.   * Practical ways to audit and simplify a too-full homeschool schedule by incorporating structured flexibility and eliminating unnecessary commitments.   * How to combat the feelings of isolation and let go of comparison to the "perfect" homeschool families you see on social media.   Key Takeaways: * Self-Care is Non-Negotiable: Your homeschool will never thrive if you are not taking care of yourself, because you simply cannot pour from an empty cup.   * Recalibrate, Don't Quit: Losing steam is not a sign of failure; it is an invitation to step back and recalibrate your approach, not to give up on this meaningful path.   * Be the Expert: Give yourself permission to adapt your curriculum. A good teacher doesn't follow a textbook cover-to-cover, and neither should you—pick and choose what is right for your children.   * Connect Intentionally: Actively seek connection by joining homeschool groups or meetups to combat isolation.   * Focus on Intention: You are already winning when you show up with intention, not perfection. Resources: https://autumnakins.com/reclaim [https://autumnakins.com/reclaim] Connect with Me: Let’s continue the conversation! Follow me on Instagram at https://instagram.com/whatautumn_does@whatautumndoes [https://www.instagram.com/whatautumndoes/] for more tips, encouragement, and personal reflections on motherhood. Subscribe & Review: Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe and leave a review. Your feedback helps other moms discover The Motherhood Process and join our growing community. Join Me Next Week: Next week, we’re diving into creating intentional routines that simplify life and bring more peace to your home. Don’t miss it!