The Sunday Reset: Simplify Edition (aka...the what's in my brain edition!)

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]

The Sunday Reset: Simplify Edition (aka...the what's in my brain edition!)

On last week’s Sunday Reset, Hannah shared what’s in her pool bag [https://www.getmomready.com/p/the-sunday-reset] this summer. Hannah has such an eye for fashion and looking put together, and I am often…the opposite of that. Which is one of the reasons I love GetMomReady so much. We are all so different, but we are unified by the same values: telling the truth, supporting each other, and making space for the whole mom. So this is my version of “what’s in my bag.” Most days, my “bag” is: * my phone * a wallet stuck to the back of it * and one car key That’s it. I don’t really carry a purse because digging through a bag is my personal nightmare. I like pockets. I like being hands-free. Do I need a cute bag for networking events? Yes. Especially after the time I showed up to a very fancy fundraising brunch at River Oaks Country Club in an outfit I felt amazing in (read more about that outfit in my Mother’s Day saga here [https://www.getmomready.com/p/the-day-i-felt-like-myselfuntil-i])… only to realize my ancient clutch was literally shedding white pieces behind me as I walked to my seat. Very humbling and very classic Holly Tate. But that little “what’s in my bag” moment got me thinking about something bigger for this Sunday Reset. My word for this year is simplify (see vision board pic in the video above or the pic below!). And as we get close to the halfway point of the year, I’m checking back in with that word. Because simplifying is not just about carrying less or carrying “the right” stuff. For me, it’s about simplifying my commitments, having fewer unfinished decisions, cancelling subscriptions that aren’t serving me, and reflecting on the things living rent-free in my brain. For years in my corporate jobs, Sunday meant the Sunday scaries for me: that pit in my stomach when I looked at the week ahead and thought about everything I owed, everything I was behind on, and everything waiting for me on Monday. I don’t live in that same rhythm anymore, and I’m really grateful for that. But I still need a reset. Because I’m not usually the person who needs motivation to do more. I’m the person who needs to be reminded that less is often more. So this week, I’m asking myself: * What am I carrying that I do not actually need to carry? (physically and mentally!!) * What decision have I already made in my gut but haven’t acted on yet? * What commitment, subscription, or expense is no longer serving me in this season? * Where am I over-activating instead of simplifying? * What is the smallest next step I can take to make this week feel lighter? That’s my Sunday Reset. Just one honest check-in with what I said mattered to me this year. What are you resetting this week? Here’s to small steps that lead to simplifying our weeks before Monday. Thanks for reading Get Mom Ready! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Get Mom Ready at www.getmomready.com/subscribe [https://www.getmomready.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

The Business She Built Around the Life She Wanted

Jess Freeman spent years being pretty sure she wasn’t going to have kids. Not in a dramatic, announcement-to-the-world way. More like a quiet, steady conclusion she carried after losing her mom in a car accident at 24, two months into running her business full time, two weeks before Christmas. Her brain did what a lot of our brains would do. No mom. Can’t be a mom. Not happening. And for a long time, that felt like the answer. The Workbook That Changed Everything Years later, after a fostering experience that was equal parts meaningful and traumatic, after watching close friends have babies, after sitting in the tension of “I genuinely don’t know if I’m supposed to do this,” Jess did what any type-A woman would do. She found a workbook on Amazon. Somewhere around chapter eight, there was a prompt: Write a letter to the child you’re choosing not to have. (yes, we all got chills.) And she couldn’t do it. That was the answer. “You Could Just Have One” Jess brought this realization to a mentor, a friend about ten years older who knew she’d been wrestling with this. Jess told her she thought she was supposed to have kids, and that it was terrifying. Her friend said two things. First: I know you can do this. Second: You could just have one. And Jess said something on the podcast that stuck with us. She said she knew she didn’t need permission. But in that moment, the permission opened a door she didn’t know was available. She got pregnant a month later. “She Has the Best Advocate in Her Back Pocket” Jess is a type 1 diabetic, diagnosed at three. One of her biggest fears about having a baby was passing it on. There’s no guarantee either way, and the not-knowing is its own kind of weight. But when we asked how she navigated that surrender, she said something that wrecked us: “Well, she has the best advocate in her back pocket if it happens.” That confidence didn’t come from nowhere. It came from watching her own mom advocate fiercely for her. Standing in the hallway at school going to bat for her. Making sure her daughter was seen and cared for, even when the systems around her didn’t get it. Jess is carrying that forward now. Designing a Life, Not Just Running a Business Jess has been running Jess Creatives for 15 years. She also founded The Ordinary Business, a podcast and community for business owners who want to do good work and work with cool people without chasing a million-dollar goal. What stood out to us in this conversation wasn’t just her business success. It was how intentionally she’s built her life around it. She doesn’t work Fridays. She has a clear revenue ceiling she’s comfortable with. She turns down projects when she’s full, even when the money is tempting. She’d rather be present at bedtime than answering one more email. And she said something we think every mom building something needs to hear: she’s not willing to say yes to work just for money if it means missing bedtime, staying up until midnight, or skipping the park. “You can wait until my next availability, or you can go find someone else.” That’s not luck. That’s 15 years of designing a life on purpose. The Thing About Mother’s Intuition At the very end of our conversation (the part that wasn’t even supposed to be recorded), Jess said something that we couldn’t not share. She expected mother’s intuition to be loud. Like a clear signal. A flashing sign. And for months after her daughter was born, she thought she didn’t have it. Then she realized: for her, it’s quiet. It’s the small thought that crosses her mind, like “maybe I should take her to the doctor.” Not a dramatic knowing. Just a nudge. She followed one of those nudges once. Double ear infection. That was her intuition. She just didn’t recognize it because she was waiting for it to shout. Why This Episode Matters This is a conversation about grief and motherhood and entrepreneurship and identity and what happens when you stop waiting for life to feel certain and start designing it anyway. If you’ve ever felt like you needed permission to want something, or like your instincts were too quiet to trust, or like you had to have it all figured out before you could take the next step, this one’s for you. If This Episode Hit Close to Home Sometimes you hear a story and realize you’ve been carrying something similar. If you’re in a season where you’re navigating big decisions, identity shifts, or just trying to figure out what you actually want, our coaches get it and would love to help you build a life that fits the season you’re in. 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 Jess * Jess Creatives Website [https://jesscreatives.com/] * The Ordinary Business Website [https://theordinarybusiness.com/] * Jess’ Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jesscreatives/] * Jess’ Threads [https://www.threads.com/@jesscreatives] 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]

Self Care is More Than Just Anthro Clearance

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/] Okay…we thought this episode was going to be practical, like: “10 easy self-care tips for moms.” Maybe a conversation about bubble baths. Maybe a Target run. Maybe one of us would say “drink more water” and we’d all nod in agreement…instead, we somehow ended up questioning the entire concept of self-care (because, of course we did). 🫣 Here’s why: somewhere along the way, self-care started feeling like another thing moms were supposed to optimize. Another thing to buy, another thing to earn, another thing to perform, and a lot of the time, it still leaves us exhausted. The MRI That Accidentally Became Self-Care This episode starts with Anna getting an MRI on Mother’s Day weekend. Which sounds stressful… except she somehow found it relaxing. No phone, no interruptions, a warm blanket, and permission to lay still for 45 minutes…basically a spa day. And while most people would describe an MRI as claustrophobic, Anna’s immediate thought was: “Wow. Nobody can reach me.” Which honestly says a lot about modern motherhood. That story became the jumping-off point for a bigger conversation: What if self-care isn’t always about escaping your life, but about finding ways to feel more grounded inside your life? Maybe Real Self-Care Is More Proactive Than Reactive One of the biggest themes from this conversation was this idea that self-care isn’t always the thing you do after you hit your breaking point. Sometimes it’s the tiny systems that help prevent the breaking point in the first place. Like: * organizing the makeup drawer that irritates you every morning * finally dealing with the chaotic shoe basket by the front door * prepping the coffee the night before * creating rhythms that reduce mental friction (something we also talked about on an episode with Productivity Coach Jennifer Sise [https://www.getmomready.com/p/chronic-decision-fatigue-why-youre] and her idea of “naming your time” - seriously, drop everything and go listen now.) * cleaning the kitchen before bed so tomorrow-you feels calmer Not because these things magically fix motherhood, but because little moments of frustration add up. And when every part of your day feels slightly harder than it needs to be, eventually your nervous system notices. The Difference Between Dopamine and Restoration We also talked about how easy it is to confuse: * fun * distraction * treats * shopping * scrolling * “I deserve this” energy… with actual restoration. To be clear: we are not anti-fun. Nobody here is trying to take away your Target run or your TJ Maxx stroll or your iced coffee. But we are asking a deeper question: What actually helps me show up better for myself and for the people I love? Because those aren’t always the same thing. Sometimes self-care is a massage. Sometimes it’s texting your girlfriends and putting dinner on the calendar before another month slips by. Sometimes it’s finally fixing the thing in your house that’s quietly stressing you out every single day. The Word We Kept Coming Back To: Reset At one point in the episode, we realized maybe what we’re all actually looking for isn’t “self-care.” It’s a reset. A reset for: * your nervous system * your environment * your expectations * your mental load * your attitude * your capacity Not necessarily escape. Just enough space to feel like yourself again. A Few Practical Self-Care Tips We Shared Yes, we did finally get into the practical. Here are some of the little things that genuinely help us feel more grounded lately: * waking up before the kids for quiet coffee + reading time * doing as much life as possible with other moms instead of alone * keeping the kitchen reset at night * creating tiny organization systems that reduce decision fatigue * scheduling “me” tasks and kid tasks throughout the day to make sure everyone is happy instead of trying to do it all at once * reading instead of endless scrolling * making plans with girlfriends before burnout hits None of these are revolutionary. But honestly? That’s kind of the point. We don’t need one more thing to do or buy, we just need to find stillness and joy in the day-to-day. Get Mom Ready Coaching A lot of what we talked about in this episode comes back to something we believe deeply at Get Mom Ready: Most moms don’t necessarily need more information. They need support creating lives that actually feel sustainable. Sometimes that looks like: * processing identity shifts. * reducing mental load. * learning how to stop living in constant overstimulation, resentment, or survival mode. * or having someone help you figure out what actually helps you feel more like yourself again. That’s a huge part of what we do in coaching. If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, disconnected from yourself, or like you’re constantly running on fumes, we’d love to talk with you. 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/]. Maybe real self-care isn’t about constantly trying to escape motherhood. Maybe it’s about creating small rhythms, systems, and relationships that help motherhood feel a little softer to live inside of. If this episode resonates with you, send it to a mom friend who’s tired of being told self-care is just buying another candle. 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]