45. Tension, Release, and the Beautiful Mess of a Courageous Life — Christie Skousen Part 1

45. Tension, Release, and the Beautiful Mess of a Courageous Life — Christie Skousen Part 2

What happens when a woman built for intensity has no outlet for it? For Christie Skousen, the answer was redirecting all of it toward her five-month-old — and quickly realizing that wasn't going to work. Part 2 picks up with Christie rebuilding: starting the Peery Piano Academy from scratch, writing a curriculum for the San Francisco Conservatory prep program, and slowly figuring out who she was beyond the piano. But this half of the conversation goes somewhere deeper. Christie talks about the cycles she's noticed throughout her life — expansion and contraction, like musical phrasing — and how the blow-ups she never would have chosen (her parents' divorce at 23, losing her older brother to colon cancer at 48, her own 26-year marriage ending) have each broken her open into something bigger. She shares what she's learned about separating her identity from her children's outcomes, why living abroad changed everything about how she parents, and where she's headed next now that her youngest is off to Sydney for a year abroad. Rapid fire answers, a beautiful musical analogy for life that will stay with you, and Christie's honest, grounded take on doing divorce well — Part 2 is the kind of conversation you want to go on forever. Meet Christie Skousen, Founder of the Peery Piano Academy and author of the Peery Method. Trained under Dr. Irene Peery-Fox, Dmitri Boshkirov, and Leon Fleisher at Peabody. An international competition winner and soloist, her students have gone on to Harvard, Yale, Juilliard, UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, and more. Takeaways: * Know where your intensity is going. * Life has phrasing, just like music. * Big blow-ups break you open. * Separate your identity from your kids' outcomes. * Travel expands your world — and your parenting. Chapters: 00:00 Teaching as a Path to Independence 03:43 Parenting with Intensity and Balance 05:07 Make Your Money Work For You 07:06 The Peery Method is Born 09:26 Writing New Chapters in Motherhood 11:07 Navigating Life's Expansions and Contractions 13:44 The Impact of Divorce on Personal Growth 18:06 Embracing Change and New Beginnings 19:02 Parenting Young Adults 25:48 How Living Abroad Broadens Your Horizon 27:57 Rapid Fire Questions Resources: How to Survive Life's Blow-Ups: Lessons from a World-Class Pianist and Mom [https://sendymom.com/2026/05/16/how-to-survive-lifes-blow-ups-lessons-from-a-world-class-pianist-and-mom/] If You Loved This Episode, Try: * 12. Music, Disability Parenting, and Playing for the Love of It [https://sendymom.com/2025/01/03/the-performance-technique-that-will-change-your-life-with-christie-sowby/] * 29. How to Push Past Limits and Find Your "Current Perfect" [https://sendymom.com/2025/09/15/how-to-push-past-limits-and-find-your-current-perfect/] * 37. Resilient Parenting, Risk-Taking, and Medical Aesthetics Done Right [https://sendymom.com/2026/01/19/resilient-parenting-risk-taking-and-medical-aesthetics-done-right/] Subscribe & Connect: 👉 Subscribe: sendymom.com [http://sendymom.com] 👉 Email Becky: becky@sendymom.com [becky@sendymom.com]  Becky’s Free Coaching Calendar [https://calendly.com/becky-sendymom/30min]

45. Tension, Release, and the Beautiful Mess of a Courageous Life — Christie Skousen Part 1

Christie Skousen grew up in a household where practicing piano two hours a day was as non-negotiable as brushing your teeth — the daughter of the legendary Irene Peery Fox, who was performing at Carnegie Hall while pregnant with Christie. By age nine, Christie was teaching piano to pay her own way. By eighteen, she was on her own. And by the time she walked into Leon Fleischer's studio at Peabody as the only freshman he admitted that year, she had already learned the lesson that would define her life: if you do the work, you can do whatever. In Part 1, Becky and Christie dig into what it was really like to grow up inside competitive classical piano — the strategy, the brutality, the subjective judging, and the complicated relationship between talent, hard work, and identity. Christie gets refreshingly honest about how she survived competitions not by leading with her love of music, but by leading with her competitive fire. She shares what she'd tell any kid whose heart is in music but who keeps walking away from competitions empty-handed. And she lays out the philosophy behind the Peery Method — the step-by-step system that has since taken her students to Juilliard, Eastman, and conservatories around the world. Also: she bought a cockatoo in junior high with her own money. Meet Christie Skousen, Founder of the Peery Piano Academy and author of the Peery Method. Trained under Dr. Irene Peery-Fox, Dmitri Boshkirov, and Leon Fleisher at Peabody. An international competition winner and soloist, her students have gone on to Harvard, Yale, Juilliard, UC Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, and more. Key Takeaways: * Process beats destination — always * Competitiveness is a tool, not a character flaw * Let your kids own their stuff * The journey IS the reward * Don't quit Chapters: 00:00 Meet Christie 01:13 The Peery Music Academy 03:04 What? Kids Can Pay For School? 05:19 How Many Kids Buy a Cockatoo for a Pet? 08:10 High-Capacity Parenting with Irene Peery Fox 11:55 Navigating Competitive Classical Piano  19:03 Performance Anxiety and Personal Growth 25:40 The Toll of Exactness 34:43 The Long Game of Music Education Resources: Peery Piano Academy [https://peerypiano.academy/] How to Survive Life's Blow-Ups: Lessons from a World-Class Pianist and Mom [https://sendymom.com/2026/05/16/how-to-survive-lifes-blow-ups-lessons-from-a-world-class-pianist-and-mom/] If You Loved This Episode, Try: * 12. Music, Disability Parenting, and Playing for the Love of It [https://sendymom.com/2025/01/03/the-performance-technique-that-will-change-your-life-with-christie-sowby/] * 29. How to Push Past Limits and Find Your "Current Perfect" [https://sendymom.com/2025/09/15/how-to-push-past-limits-and-find-your-current-perfect/] * 37. Resilient Parenting, Risk-Taking, and Medical Aesthetics Done Right [https://sendymom.com/2026/01/19/resilient-parenting-risk-taking-and-medical-aesthetics-done-right/] Subscribe & Connect: 👉 Subscribe: sendymom.com [http://sendymom.com] 👉 Email Becky: becky@sendymom.com [becky@sendymom.com]  Becky’s Free Coaching Calendar [https://calendly.com/becky-sendymom/30min]

From Nepal at 15 to Launching An Art Business: Leslie Morley on Faith, Fear, and Creative Calling

At fifteen, Leslie Morley boarded a plane to Nepal alone. She lived in a rural village, served in an orphanage, and came home with a worldview she’s still unpacking. But the bravest thing she’s ever done wasn’t Nepal—or starting her art business painting Heavenly Mother. The bravest thing is staying: showing up for her kids, her faith, her creativity, and the work of being known. In this episode, artist Leslie Morley joins Becky to talk about faith and courage, creative motherhood, and how to raise brave kids without losing connection. They explore imposter syndrome, gratitude vs. guilt, and what it means to live “alive and awake in Christ.” This conversation weaves together Latter-day Saint faith, sacred art, and the daily courage it takes to stay connected to God, your family, your community, and yourself. If you’ve ever felt afraid to share your gifts, unsure in motherhood, or disconnected from your faith, this episode will ground and encourage you. Meet My Guest: Leslie Morley is a Christian artist known for paintings of the Divine Family—Heavenly Father, Heavenly Mother, and Jesus Christ. She studied art at Southern Utah University and art history in Italy. Her work invites a deeper relationship with God through sacred art. A mother of two, Leslie believes creativity is a form of testimony: you are known, you are held, and heaven is closer than you think. Find her at LeslieMorley.com [http://LeslieMorley.com] and @lesliemorleyarts. Key Takeaways: • How to raise brave, resilient kids through daily connection • Faith over fear: turning belief into action • Creativity as grounding for overwhelmed moms • Gratitude vs. guilt and overcoming comparison • Imposter syndrome in motherhood and creative work • Emotional vulnerability as real courage • Connecting with God, family, self, and community • Using your gifts without fear Chapters: 00:00 Who is Leslie Morley? 04:40 On Being an Imposter 09:06 Lessons from India: Gratitude and Humility 15:28 Oregon Nomads: A Year of Free Range Learning 16:57 Connecting with Nature as a Grounding Force 23:06 Building Love in Your Family 25:11 Connecting with Children 29:12 Midway 30:39 Connecting with Yourself through Creating 34:14 Out From the Bushel Blog 36:22 Family Mottos 38:23 Leslie Morley Art 45:42 Mosaic of Christ 47:08 Savoring Moments of Motherhood 49:38 Rapid Fire Questions Resources: The Four Connections That Make a Life Feel Whole [https://sendymom.com/2026/04/25/the-four-connections-that-make-a-life-feel-whole/] Subscribe & Connect: 👉 sendymom.com [http://sendymom.com] 👉 becky@sendymom.com [becky@sendymom.com] Becky’s Free Coaching Calendar [https://calendly.com/becky-sendymom/30min] If you loved this episode, try: How To Not Die in the Wilderness and Learning to Smell the Daisies [https://sendymom.com/2025/03/03/how-to-not-die-in-the-wilderness/] How to Connect with Your Children: The Science of “Good Enough” Parenting [https://sendymom.com/2026/03/28/how-to-connect-with-your-children-the-surprising-science-of-good-enough-parenting/] Art After Motherhood: Creating Without Guilt [https://sendymom.com/2025/04/28/balancing-your-creative-genius-with-motherhood-without-the-guilt-art-after-motherhood/]

How to Say Yes When Life Feels Unfair: Raising Special Needs Kids, Cancer, and Loss

She lost a child. She’s raising a daughter with Down syndrome and autism. She battled breast cancer—and still chose to say yes. In this powerful episode of the Sendy Mom Podcast, Kim Dodds shares how she navigates grief, special needs parenting, and serious illness with resilience, faith, and a forward-moving mindset. Rather than staying stuck in “Why me?”, Kim opens up about accepting reality, leaning on community, and choosing growth through life’s hardest seasons. A mother of six with a degree in Exercise Science from BYU, Kim brings both lived experience and practical wisdom to this conversation. We talk about supporting a child with complex needs, coping with loss, strengthening family relationships, and using tools like movement, connection, and mindset shifts to heal. If you’re facing a difficult season, Kim’s story offers hope, perspective, and real-life encouragement to keep going—even when life feels unfair. Key Takeaways: * Resilience grows when you accept reality and choose your response * Adversity in childhood and parenting can build empathy, strength, and adaptability * Support systems and community resources are essential for navigating hard seasons * Grief and trauma take time, but healing and growth are possible * Creative outlets, movement, and journaling support mental health and recovery * Strong relationships, faith, and perspective shape how we endure and thrive Chapters: 00:00 Introducing Kim Dodds 04:33 When a Parent Has Mental Health Issues 08:08 Raising a Special Needs Child 14:14 Changing Careers: Choosing Your Hard 20:15 Hard Chooses You: Losing a Child 25:57 Inspiring Distractions 29:38 Navigating Life Choices and Resilience 34:28 Faith Through the Trial 37:35 Sex After Marriage 40:53 Crossroads: Children Leaving the Nest 43:29 Diagnosis: Breast Cancer 49:11 The Sendy Support Group 52:07 Positive Outlook During Trials 56:40 Rapid Fire Questions  If you loved this episode, try: How to Connect with Your Children: The Surprising Science of “Good Enough” Parenting [https://youtu.be/SgzbqPMgjYg] Music, Disability Parenting, and Playing for the Love of It [https://sendymom.com/2025/01/03/the-performance-technique-that-will-change-your-life-with-christie-sowby/] Parenting Complex Needs, TBI, and Choosing Empathy with Candace Berquist [https://sendymom.com/2025/11/24/raising-children-with-complex-needs-teaching-love-empathy-and-charity/] Resources: How to Say Yes When Life Feels Unfair: Raising Special Needs Kids, Cancer, and Loss [https://sendymom.com/2026/04/11/how-to-say-yes-when-life-feels-unfair/] Free Coaching & Subscribe: 👉 Subscribe: sendymom.com [http://sendymom.com] 👉 Email Becky: becky@sendymom.com [becky@sendymom.com]  Becky’s Free Coaching Calendar [https://calendly.com/becky-sendymom/30min]

How to Connect with Your Children: The Surprising Science of “Good Enough” Parenting

You’re right. There is a secret to raising resilient children. In this episode of the Sendy Mom Podcast, host Becky Brouwer sits down with parenting expert, TaLisha Landon to talk about connecting with children in nature, understanding where tantrums come from, and how to show up with consistency, love, and a willingness to keep trying. With a 30% rate of good parenting, you can raise highly capable children who are well-equipped for the challenges of life. If you wondered if you were messing it all up, you’re not. This episode is for you. TaLisha and Becky also discuss practical ways to connect with your children outdoors and ways to uncover hidden talents in yourself and in your children by being a “Generalist”. Meet My Guest: TaLisha has a degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Human Development from Utah State University. She is trained in several research-based parenting programs (EveryDay Strong, Circle of Security Parenting, Strengthening Families Program 10-14). As a parent of 4 children, she prioritizes emotional safety, connection, and building confidence. TaLisha’s current project is writing and illustrating a children’s book. This project weaves together the outdoors and what we know about raising resilient children. It demonstrates to kids they’re strong enough to climb, safe enough to feel, and loved enough to keep going, building resilience on the trail and in life. Key Takeaways: * You can learn anything if you’re willing to be a novice at it * It takes consistent action to produce monumental results * Observation can be a superpower * Teenagers don’t always want to do what you think should be fun * Give your children choices with family vacations and values * Our thoughts are powerful * What it means to be Sendy in life and parenting * The role of outdoor activities in building resilience * Applying Maslow's hierarchy of needs to parenting * Creating secure attachments with children * The importance of emotional safety and connection Chapters: 00:00 Introducing TaLisha Landon 04:15 An Emulous Observer 09:12 What is a Generalist or Polymath 15:02 Everyday Strong Program: Build Resilience in Kids 21:30 Connecting Through Outdoor Activities 26:57 Circle Security Parenting 31:15 The Benefit of Imperfect Parenting 33:04 Midway 35:21 Learning New Creative Outlets 36:53 Why TaLisha is Sendy 40:00 Outdoor Adventure with Kids 43:20 Practical Advice for Hiking with Children 45:33 Regulating Emotions: Child and Parent 49:10 Rapid Fire Questions Mentioned in the Show: Everyday Strong with United Way of Utah County Circle of Security Parenting Strengthening Families Program 10-14 Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein SHARP Survey The Office Ogden Nature Center @utahmountainmama Free Coaching & Subscribe: 👉 Subscribe: sendymom.com [http://sendymom.com] 👉 Email Becky: becky@sendymom.com [becky@sendymom.com]  Becky’s Free Coaching Calendar [https://calendly.com/becky-sendymom/30min]