Hospital Round Two: Choosing Gratitude When Parenting Gets Really Hard

Hospital Round Two: Choosing Gratitude When Parenting Gets Really Hard

Two months after our first hospital stay, Korbin was admitted again with respiratory distress. This episode is a real-life update from the middle of it all—not after everything is neatly wrapped up. I'm sharing what this second hospitalization felt like, why I wasn't overwhelmed the way people expected me to be, and how gratitude has become something much deeper than "looking on the bright side." We talk about: * What happened during our second hospital stay * Why I chose gratitude instead of fear * Trusting yourself as a parent during medical uncertainty * Building a plan instead of living in panic * The tiny parenting moments that remind us our consistency matters (including the sweetest moment when Korbin chose a hug instead of hitting) If you're parenting through hard things right now, I hope this episode reminds you that it's possible to hold uncertainty and hope at the same time. You don't have to pretend everything is okay. You also don't have to let fear write the whole story. Disclaimer: This episode shares our family's personal experience and is not medical advice. Always work with your child's healthcare team regarding medical concerns or treatment decisions.

Life Lately: ICU, Healing & MBA Life (TW: Child hospitalization, grief)

TW: Child hospitalization, medical trauma, grief, and child loss mention. It's been two months since my last update, and a lot has happened. In this episode, I'm sharing a very personal life update—from navigating a difficult grief-filled April, to Korbin's unexpected hospitalization and ICU stay in May, to the lessons I learned about trusting my mom intuition when something didn't feel right. I also talk about: • Advocating for your child when your gut says something is wrong • What it was like spending days in the ICU at Cook Children's • The emotional aftermath of bringing a sick child home • Leaning on family support during hard seasons • Returning to normal life after medical trauma • Growing our playdate community • Starting an intensive MBA Pivot Accelerator • Balancing motherhood, business, and personal growth This season has stretched me in ways I never expected, but it has also reminded me how resilient children, families, and mamas can be. Thank you for being here and for listening. Have a calm and colorful day, friend.

Mama Failure Moment Was Actually Success

This one hit deep. In this episode, I share a real, raw parenting moment that honestly felt like failure… but turned out to be one of my biggest wins. After building a simple, loving connection ritual with my son, saying “I’m so happy to see you,” he shocked me one morning with, “I’m so sad to see you.” And yeah… it hurt. Instead of reacting the way my past self would have, I paused. I breathed. I chose to respond as my favorite self. We talk about: * What to do when your child says something that stings * The internal battle between reacting vs responding * Mom guilt and the “I’m failing” spiral * Why emotional regulation in the moment is the real win * How “failure” moments are often your biggest growth moments If you’ve ever walked away from a parenting moment feeling like you messed it up… this episode will shift your perspective. You might be doing better than you think.

We Hired a Sleep Consultant... And I'm Not Forcing It

I didn’t think we’d ever be here… but we officially hired a sleep consultant. After 2.5 years of nursing, co-sleeping, traveling nonstop, and hitting reset over and over again, I realized something: It’s not that anything is “wrong”… but it could be more supportive for all of us. In this episode, I’m sharing: * Why we decided to get support (even though things were “fine”) * What gentle sleep training actually looks like in our home * The emotional side of night weaning, for both mama and toddler * How we’re making this a connection-based experience, not a forceful one * Our brand new bedtime routine (and the real-life resistance that came with it) * What it feels like to be supported as the mama for once This is night one of a 6-week journey, and I’m bringing you along for all of it, the messy, the meaningful, and the milestones. If you’ve ever felt torn between what’s working and what could be better… this episode is for you. Let’s do this in a way that feels calm, connected, and actually sustainable.

When Mama Has Big Feelings Too

Even the emotional regulation coach still has big emotions too. In this episode, Jessica shares a very real parenting moment with her toddler, Korbin. After several late nights working and an overtired little one biting and jumping for attention, Jessica found herself overwhelmed and not showing up as her favorite self. Instead of blaming her toddler or pushing the feelings down, she modeled something powerful, taking responsibility for her emotions and asking her child for help. What happened next was a surprisingly tender moment that shows just how capable young children are of empathy and connection when we invite them into it. This episode is a reminder for every Calm & Colorful Mama that: * You are human * You will have moments where you feel overwhelmed * And those moments can still become beautiful teaching opportunities If you've ever snapped, cried, or felt like you weren't the mama you wanted to be that day, this conversation will remind you that you're not alone. Sometimes the most powerful parenting moments come when we simply say, "I'm not my favorite self right now." Have a calm and colorful day.