MOMFESSIONS: Why Summer Isn’t A Break

MOMFESSIONS: Why Summer Isn’t A Break

We’re back with Momfessions–—our month-long series, talking about how we really feel about some of parenting's biggest, hottest topics. And I’m joined by my teammate at CARRY Media [https://carrymedia.com/], Kristen White, a mom to three boys.  This week: Why Summer Isn't a Break. We spend all year dreaming about summer, but when it finally arrives, many of us are juggling childcare, camps, schedules, work, guilt, and the pressure to make it all feel magical.  In this episode, we're sharing our real thoughts about summer, why so many parents feel exhausted before it even begins, and practical ways to enjoy it without burning out. Plus, Kristen introduces a simple idea called "Proof of Mom" that just might change the way you experience this season. Because your kids aren't the only ones allowed to have a summer. Let's Talk About It.  Listen in to learn more: [0:00:37] Complicated Feelings About Kids Home All Day [0:01:08] Expectation vs Reality of the Perfect Summer [0:03:25] Proof of Mom and Moms in Their Own Memories [0:05:01] The Impossible Math of Summer Childcare [0:09:27] Lowering the Bar on a Magical Summer In this episode, we are digging into summer parenting challenges for working parents, including summer childcare and scheduling issues, managing the mental load, letting go of unrealistic expectations and the pressure to make summer magical, why it's okay for kids to be bored, and why children benefit from seeing their parents enjoy summer, hobbies, and personal time too. LINKS Connect with Paula on Instagram  [https://www.instagram.com/paulafaris/?hl=en] Paula’s Newsletter is on Substack!!  [https://paulafarisofficial.substack.com/] THE CARRY ALL weekly newsletter  is on Substack!!  [https://officialcarrymedia.substack.com/] Download the Savor Your Summer Guide HERE [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6a0290eee8af687e0799c64e/t/6a0d1c6a9732d7076d9c61de/1779244138649/CARRY+Media+-+Savor+Summer.pdf] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

MOMFESSIONS: We Survived Maycember. Barely.

All month long, Kristen White and I are sharing our Momfessions – how we really feel about some of parenting’s biggest, messiest, most talked-about topics. Kristen is my teammate at CARRY Media [https://carrymedia.com/] and a boy mom to three boys, so trust me: we have thoughts. First up: Maycember. You know…the month we just survived. But barely.  It’s the month that feels like December-level chaos but delivers exactly none of the holiday magic. Concerts. Field days. Teacher gifts. Sports banquets. Spirit weeks. Summer planning. Working. Parenting. Existing. Graduations!  In this episode, we’re looking back at what May did to us, why modern parenting feels unsustainable this time of year, and practical ways to make sure next May doesn’t completely take us out. Because if next May looks exactly like this May…we may not make it. Let’s Talk About It.  Listen in to learn more: [0:00:00] Maycember Overwhelm for Parents [0:06:59] Mental Load and Triple Logistics in May [0:09:54] Letting Go of Guilt and Missed Events [0:18:38] You Can’t Do It All, and That’s Okay [0:21:03] Minimum Viable Parenting Mindset [0:24:16] Evolving Beyond the Pinterest Mom [0:24:57] Workplaces Need May Flexibility In this episode, we are digging into surviving the chaos of “Maycember,” the challenges of balancing school activities with standard work hours, how our communication with our kids shapes their perceptions, practical strategies for managing busy families, giving yourself grace as a parent, and how employers can better support working parents during the demanding month of May. Connect with Paula on Instagram  [https://www.instagram.com/paulafaris/?hl=en] Paula’s Newsletter is on Substack!!  [https://paulafarisofficial.substack.com/] THE CARRY ALL weekly newsletter is now on Substack!!  [https://officialcarrymedia.substack.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

I Wish Someone Had Told Me My Kid’s Graduation Would Wreck Me

I knew this would be emotional.  I just didn’t realize it would be this hard. In the final episode of my I Wish Someone Had Told Me series, I’m sitting down with Niro Feliciano—a mom of four who’s already been through this—to talk about my daughter’s graduation…and honestly, I’m a hot mess. People can try to explain what the moment is like, but until you’re in it, it’s hard to fully comprehend. Someone once described it as “grief wrapped in celebration,” and honestly, that’s the best way to put it. You’re so proud. Super excited for them.And at the same time… you’re trying to process how fast it all went. We talk about: * That “weird trifecta” of emotions—happy, sad, and everything in between * How the rhythm of your family changes overnight * And what’s on the other side of this: a different, and often deeper, relationship with your child Niro is also our comfort animal (lol) because she offers perspective, encouragement, and the reminder that this season—while hard—is also full of growth and beauty. If you’re in this season—or heading toward it—let’s talk about it.  Because it’s not the end, but it is a change. And it’s okay to feel all of it. Let’s Talk About It. Listen in to learn more:  * [0:03:03] Mixed emotions of grief and celebration around a child’s graduation * [0:04:59] Parenting goal framed as launching capable, confident, independent kids * [0:08:35] Graduation grief linked to the speed of childhood and the passage of time * [0:16:09] New grief opening a box of earlier grief and regrets about parents * [0:17:09] Practical strategies: choose moments to be present and plan future anchors In this episode, we are digging into why high school graduation can feel like grief wrapped in celebration, how parenting years pass so quickly, why major life transitions can resurface past grief, the evolving parent-child relationship after graduation, and practical advice for parents navigating every stage of raising teens and young adults. THE CARRY ALL weekly newsletter  is on Substack!! https://officialcarrymedia.substack.com/ [https://officialcarrymedia.substack.com/] Paula’s Newsletter https://paulafarisofficial.substack.com/ Connect with Paula on Instagram  [https://www.instagram.com/paulafaris/?hl=en] Niro Felicano  [https://www.nirofeliciano.com/] Paula’s Favorite Protein Powder 15% off [https://thepeachiespoon.com/?rfsn=8647660.93b706f&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=8647660.93b706f] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

I Wish Someone Had Told Me Perimenopause Could Affect My Mental Health This Much

There was a season not long ago when I didn’t feel like myself at all. Overwhelmed. Emotional. In a really dark place. No one really prepares you for this part. Perimenopause isn’t just hot flashes and mood swings; it can quietly impact your mental health in ways you don’t expect. Even though I could point to many of the reasons… I wasn’t at all prepared for how deeply it would affect me. In this episode, I’m opening up about that season, and I’m joined by my friend, psychotherapist Niro Feliciano, to help make sense of what so many women in midlife are quietly experiencing. For many of us, it’s a perfect storm: grief, stress, shifting identity, and hormonal changes all colliding at once. We talk about: * Why some women experience anxiety or depression for the first time * Why this stage of life can feel so emotionally intense * How hormonal shifts impact your brain, mood, and sense of self * And what actually helps: support, connection, and getting the right kind of care If you’ve been feeling off, overwhelmed, or not like yourself… you’re not alone, and you don’t have to carry this by yourself. Let’s Talk About It.  Listen in to learn more:  [0:03:17] Suicide Risk Peaks at Midlife [0:06:49] Therapy as Lifeline in the Darkest Season [0:13:10] Dopamine, Screens & Perimenopause Vulnerability [0:15:11] HRT, Testosterone & Rethinking SSRIs [0:21:18] Social Health, Friendship & Longevity In this episode, we are diving into how perimenopause affects mental health, including hormone-related mood changes, stress, anxiety, and depression, the “perfect storm” of emotional challenges and stressors in midlife, finding the right therapist, and the powerful role of friendship and emotional support in overall wellness.  If you need someone to talk to, you can call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

I Wish Someone Had Told Me Adults Have the Worst Phone Habits

We tell our kids to get off their phones…But, um, if we’re honest, we’re often the worst offenders. 🤭 So how do we actually build healthy, sustainable phone habits that work in real life? In part two of my I Wish Someone Had Told Me series, I’m back with psychotherapist Niro Feliciano, and we’re not just naming the problem—we’re talking about how to fix it. We talk about: * Why adults actually have the worst phone habits * The surprising stat about Gen Z that might give you hope * Why more time online can leave us feeling more disconnected * The “slow living” movement and simple ways to start * Practical, doable habits you can implement right away If you’ve ever picked up your phone for one thing… and lost 30 minutes, you’re not alone. The goal isn’t to ditch your phone, it’s to finally feel in control of it! Let’s Talk About It.  Listen in to learn more:  [0:00:41] Adults Have Worse Phone Habits Than Their Kids [0:02:20] Gen Z Leads the Way in Cutting Screen Time [0:04:14] Mornings Without Phones Improve Mood and Productivity [0:09:58] Dopamine, Addiction, and Doing Media Fasts [0:12:02] Grayscale, App Moves, and Notification Detox [0:19:12] Enjoying Life More When the Phone Isn’t Visible [0:20:43] Embracing Slow Living and Intentional Offline Moments SUMMARY:  In this episode, we are diving into how to create healthier phone habits through phone-free moments, analog activities, and slow living, practical tips for setting better boundaries with screen time, and why life feels more balanced and fulfilling when your phone is put away. LINKS Connect with Paula on Instagram  [https://www.instagram.com/paulafaris/?hl=en] Get Paula's personal newsletter [https://www.paulafarisofficial.com/newsletter] Niro Felicano  [https://www.nirofeliciano.com/] THE CARRY™ ALL NEWSLETTER by and for working moms [https://carrymedia.com/the-carry-all/] Paula’s Favorite Protein Powder 15% off [https://thepeachiespoon.com/?rfsn=8647660.93b706f&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=8647660.93b706f] YOUTUBE  Connect with Paula on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/paulafaris/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/paulafaris/?hl=en]  THE CARRY™ ALL NEWSLETTER by and for working moms  https://carrymedia.com/the-carry-all/ [https://carrymedia.com/the-carry-all/]  Get Paula's personal newsletter [https://www.paulafarisofficial.com/newsletter] https://www.paulafarisofficial.com/newsletter Paula’s Favorite Protein Powder 15% off [https://thepeachiespoon.com/?rfsn=8647660.93b706f&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=8647660.93b706f] https://thepeachiespoon.com/?rfsn=8647660.93b706f&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=8647660.93b706f [https://thepeachiespoon.com/?rfsn=8647660.93b706f&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=8647660.93b706f]  Connect with Niro - https://www.nirofeliciano.com/ [https://www.nirofeliciano.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]