Are We Okay? Navigating the Invisible Weight of Parenting

Are We Okay? Navigating the Invisible Weight of Parenting

Nobody hands you a report card when you become a parent, but somehow it can still feel like you're constantly being evaluated. In this episode of It Takes a Village, we're talking about the emotional weight of parenting, the parts that don't always make it into the milestone posts or parenting books. From wondering why parenting feels so much harder than you expected to navigating grief, sleep deprivation, potty training pressure, and the reality that every child has a different temperament, we're unpacking the invisible mental load so many parents carry. We also share stories about shielding our kids from pressure and shame, handling big feelings, adult relationships, and the trap of comparing your family to the carefully curated versions we see from other parents. At the heart of this conversation is one question: How do you know you're doing okay when nobody is grading parenting? If you've ever wondered whether you're messing it all up, or if everyone else somehow knows something you don't, this episode is for you. It's an honest conversation about letting go of impossible expectations, embracing the child you have instead of the one you imagined, and remembering that "doing okay" often looks a lot messier and individualized than we expect.

Are They Okay? First Foods, First Fevers, First Fears

Season 2, Episode 2 of It Takes a Village takes a different path. Instead of structuring this season strictly by age and milestones, we’re shifting toward conversations centered around shared experiences, emotions, and the realities of parenting that don’t always fit neatly into timelines. Because the truth is: milestones can be helpful, but they can also create pressure, comparison, and fear. In this episode, we catch up on some major life updates, a new puppy, a life-changing trip through Croatia and Greece, and the emotional closing of a business chapter, while diving into the hazy, overwhelming, beautiful stretch between 3 months and 1 year old. This season of parenting is packed with firsts: first foods, first fears, first teeth, first illnesses, first moments of independence. We talk about introducing solids, allergies, choking anxiety, and the strange realization that you are responsible for teaching another human literally everything, how to eat, sleep, poop, process pain, and exist in the world, even though you can’t remember learning any of it yourself. We also unpack the emotional side of teething, the fear that comes with seeing your child experience pain for the first time, and how differently every child develops. Some babies get all their teeth at once, others over years. Some hit milestones early, others don’t. So, how much weight should milestones really hold? When should you trust the charts, and when should you trust your gut? This episode is a reminder that parenting rarely follows a straight line — and that sometimes the most important thing you can do is listen to your child, yourself, and the people you truly trust.

Mind the Gap! Small Humans, Massive Milestones

Welcome to Season 2 of It Takes a Village! Meltdowns & Milestones: Welcome to the Toddler Years. In Episode 1, Mind the Gap (3 Months–1 Year): Small Humans, Massive Milestones, we catch up on what happened during our break, reflect on the Season 1 interviews that changed us the most, and dive headfirst into one of the hardest transitions of early parenthood: the pressure to “have it together” long before anyone actually does. We talk about returning to work, bringing babies to work, the impossible choices many families face around maternity and paternity leave, and the emotional whiplash of trying to balance identity, finances, caregiving, and sleep deprivation all at once. We also unpack the endless flood of parenting advice, from mommy boards and Facebook groups to family, friends, and strangers on the internet, and how overwhelming it can feel trying to figure out whose voice to trust. Because at three months postpartum, the world often expects you to be fully functioning again… even when you’re still learning how to survive. And somewhere in the middle of all the noise, expectations, and opinions, you realize only you truly know what you and your baby need.

Special Episode: Tough Topics, Tougher Village with Lana Athey

This special live episode of It Takes A Village Podcast was recorded at the Gunnison Arts Center, a place that holds deep history for two of our hosts, Megan and Brieanna, who once worked within its walls and helped shape its creative community. Returning to the GAC not just as organizers, but as storytellers, felt like coming home with a new purpose. The room was full in the best way: parents, kids, friends, and neighbors gathered together, with little voices and shifting chairs welcomed rather than silenced. Instead of feeling disruptive, the presence of children felt like proof of the very thing this podcast stands for: that community doesn’t require perfection or quiet, just honesty and belonging. Each audience member who stepped up to the microphone asked a thoughtful, brave question, turning the live recording into a shared conversation rather than a performance. With Lana Athey of Gunnison Tough as our special guest, the dialogue moved between strength and vulnerability, personal stories and collective resilience, weaving a powerful reminder of what it means to show up for one another. And then, as the evening continued, the community stayed together for the screening of Butterfly in a Blizzard. Watching the film in the same space, surrounded by the same people who had just shared stories and questions, made the experience even more profound. It was a night of connection, courage, and community, a living example of what it truly means to say: it takes a village. Resources Mentioned 1. Gunnison Tough "How to Get Help" - https://gunnisontough.com/how-to-get-assistance/ [https://gunnisontough.com/how-to-get-assistance/] 2. Gunnison Tough Programs - https://gunnisontough.com/programs/ [https://gunnisontough.com/programs/] 3. Living Journeys Support Groups - https://livingjourneys.org/assistance/ [https://livingjourneys.org/assistance/] 4. GVH Cancer Screening Access Fund - https://www.gunnisonvalleyhealth.org/our-services/cancer-care/cancer-screening-access-fund/ [https://www.gunnisonvalleyhealth.org/our-services/cancer-care/cancer-screening-access-fund/] 5. Women's Wellness Connection for women over 50 - https://www.gunnisoncounty.org/260/Womens-Wellness-Connection [https://www.gunnisoncounty.org/260/Womens-Wellness-Connection]

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!

Join It Takes A Village Podcast for a special community-centered day at the Gunnison Arts Center on January 16th. The afternoon begins with a live podcast recording at 4 pm, featuring honest conversation, shared stories, and a little audience interaction, because this Village believes in learning and growing together. We’re thrilled to welcome special guest Lana Athey from Gunnison Tough, bringing her perspective, experience, and voice into the conversation. This live recording is pay-what-you-can (or free) with first-come, first-served seating. In the evening at 7 pm, stay for a screening of Butterfly in a Blizzard, a powerful and deeply personal film that explores resilience, connection, and lived experience. The podcast is proud to co-sponsor this screening in support of storytelling that sparks empathy and dialogue. Film tickets are $10. Attend one event or join us for the full day. However you choose to participate, you’re invited to show up, connect, and be part of the Village. Movie Tickets: https://www.gunnisonartscenter.org/film-screening-events