The Sweetest (and Toughest) Job

I think we can all agree that the past year has been a wild ride.  Friends, I feel I need to take a break from releasing new content and I’m not sure what that will look like.  What I’m realizing is that it’s okay to take that pause and step back to reevaluate what I want the show to look like, what I want to produce and put my energy in to.On this episode I'm opening up on why I'm taking a pause with the podcast.  If you're feeling like you need a reset, pause or to reevaluate, I hope you find support and encouragement that that's okay! We all need to take a step back at times and give ourself space so we can grow into what's next.Wherever you are on your parenting journey, thank you for  exploring all the topics alongside me - I truly believe parenting is the toughest job but oh it can be so incredibly sweet.  If you haven’t already, don’t forget to hit subscribe so you know when we are back - see you soon friend thank you so much for listening to this podcast, it has been my true passion project!As always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest JobI would love to hear any comments, feedback or ideas on episodes and topics you'd like to hear - please reach out at any time!Visit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.Thank you for listening!

Alyson Premo is a 37-year-old mother to her 10-year-old son, and she’s currently creeping up on 4.5 years of sobriety. Before becoming a Certified Professional Recovery/Life Coach, aka “The Sober Mom Coach,” she was in the Business Development field as a Senior Sales Specialist for a corporate wellness company called Preventure. Virgin Pulse has since acquired that company. She wanted to pursue her purpose in life which is to help mothers ditch the drink to become a more present parent and get out of the mom guilt cycle. Alyson is also the Founder of Sober Mom Tribe. Through her struggles and lack of connection with other sober moms, she created Sober Mom Tribe in July 2018. It’s one thing to be sober, but it’s a whole other level being a sober mom in a culture where wine and motherhood seem to go hand and hand. When she isn’t helping others or being a taxi driver to her son’s soccer practices and games, she enjoys reading, walks on the beach, and sunsets. You can learn more about her at www.sobermomcoach.comOn this episode Alyson very openly takes us through her journey to sobriety.  Alyson knows firsthand the challenges that can accompany living alcohol free in social settings and created a community and coaching business to help support Moms who want to live a sober life or are even just curious about what it means.  I truly believe this is an important conversation and is in no way meant to come with any judgement or nudging anyone to live a sober lifestyle (please note, I do not live my life alcohol free).  Instead, I hope this episode brings forth topics that are not often discussed and perhaps helps a Mama along the way.Highlights from the show include:Alyson’s personal story of her journey to becoming now 4 1/2 years soberBreaking free from the “Mommy needs a drink” cultureReducing the stigma and judgement that comes with choosing to be sober in social situationsMaking changes doesn’t have to be all or nothing - self checking your relationship with alcoholConnect with Alyson:IG: @sobermomcoach - Facebook: Sober as a Mother Podcast - Sober Mom Tribe WebsiteAs always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest JobI would love to hear any comments, feedback or ideas on episodes and topics you'd like to hear - please reach out at any time!Visit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.Thank you for listening!

Somer is the Chief Content Officer and living proof of the results for Raising Families, an organization co-founded by her mother and step-father dedicated to transforming parents from exhausted managers of their to-do lists to inspired leaders of their family teams. Raising Families has helped hundreds of parents with children of all ages to engage more deeply and intentionally, identify and implement their values into daily life, and create a specific plan of action to raise children with the skills and confidence to be successful adults.Highlights from the episode include:The importance of defining what you want responsibility to look like in your householdHow to introduce responsibility actions to toddler ages 1-3 and ages 4+The mindset and framework to encourage responsibilityWhy rewards systems in association with responsibility is problematic In her downtime, Somer can be found laughing a little too loudly watching episodes of Schitt's Creek or occasionally designing homes for friends and family as she is a licensed architect (her career before joining Raising Families.) Somer lives in Southern California with her husband and 4-year-old son. Connect with Somer:IG: @family.life.coach Pintrest: Raising FamiliesWebsite: Raising FamiliesAs always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest JobI would love to hear any comments, feedback or ideas on episodes and topics you'd like to hear - please reach out at any time!Visit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.Thank you for listening!

Kelly is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in CA and also a Perinatal Mental Health Certified professional. She knows firsthand how valuable the right support and resources can be and entered the mental health field to help others find healing too. Kelly offers support to expectant mothers from the moment they want to start a family and throughout the journey that lies ahead after birth. Kelly is a wife and a mom of two who enjoys hiking, listening to podcasts and having a good coffee.Highlights from the episode include:Checking in on your own mental health during pregnancy and postpartumPerinatal mental health diagnoses explained including postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum OCDDifferent ways postpartum mental health disorders may manifest themselvesPostpartum mental health in your spouse or partnerDifference between baby blues and mental health disordersOn this episode Kelly provides a wealth of information around perinatal mental health.  We discuss how you can self check in with yourself and the different ways that a mental disorder may present itself.  We talk about the shame and stigma around mental health, overcoming this and knowing it’s okay and critically important to ask for help if you need it.Connect with Kelly:IG: @allthefeels.therapyFacebook: Kelly Rodriguez TherapyKelly Rodriguez Therapy

Ali Glinsky is a CAPPA Certified New Parent Educator. She's worked with Moms on Maternity, Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley and other organizations to create standalone and multi week physical and virtual events all with the goal of supporting mothers in a new way. She has seen first hand how a supported mother can thrive, which led her to launch virtual pandemic mom groups in March 2021 that educate and empower mothers and most importantly connect them, all virtually. She has two girls ages 2 and 4 and lives in the Bay Area with her family.Highlights from this episode include:Talking about postpartum care, real talk on what you need (and don’t)The importance of postpartum supportConsiderations around how you can prepare and set up help postpartumAli’s experience using postpartum doula careWhat postpartum Moms are experiencing right now - you are not aloneConnect with Ali:Instagram: @parentsirl Facebook As always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest JobI would love to hear any comments, feedback or ideas on episodes and topics you'd like to hear - please reach out at any time!Visit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.Thank you for listening!

When Rosalie’s son was four years old, he was attacked by the family dog which resulted in a below knee leg amputation.  This changed her son and the families life and now Rosalie is on a mission to advocate and educate.  Whether it's in person, at events across the country or social media, she consistently connects with other families and amputees.On this episode she is sharing her son Hunter’s journey and what their family has been through over the years since the incident happened.  We talk about the meaning of resilience, how to help your child cope through trauma, going through a traumatic event as a parent and finding the positive and joy amidst huge life challenges.Highlights from the episode include:Helping a child cope with a traumatic eventNavigating emotions surrounding a traumatic experience as a parentHer son’s experience getting his prosthetic and helping him adjust and cope through the processA discussion around resilience and how we think about the meaningThe need for parents to expose our kids more to people who may look different or act different or have disabilities to foster more understanding and inclusionTo learn more about the Mastaler family and connect with Rosalie:Rosalie Mastaler Website IG: @mastalerpartyof5 -Facebook: @MeetHunter211Email: Rosalie.Mastaler@gmail.comAs always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest JobI would love to hear any comments, feedback or ideas on episodes and topics you'd like to hear - please reach out at any time!Visit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.Thank you for listening!

On this episode, I wanted to do something a little different.  I have felt so honored to talk to the many wonderful guests I've had on the show but I also realize how many there have been! The content is dense and wonderful.  On this episode I wanted to highlight 5 things I have learned from this podcast.  These are 5 overarching topics to which there are several relevant podcast episodes.  If any of these topics speak to you and you want more information and color, please do scroll through and listen to the many wonderful episodes available.As always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest JobI would love to hear any comments, feedback or ideas on episodes and topics you'd like to hear - please reach out at any time!Visit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.Thank you for listening!

Wannessa believes in the power of knowledge, community, connection, and healing.  She knows that each of us has the ability to heal, to grow, and to shine within ourselves, as well as the ability to create the relationships and lifestyle of our dreams. It requires connecting with ourselves to access the keys to unlocking our inner knowing and to activating a new height of transparency and authenticity. She brings her own embodiment of healing & sage wisdom that  comes from her heart, her personal experience, and twenty years supporting children and families in the realms of public, private, and non-profit education. Birth Story Medicine is a reflective modality dear to her heart. She truly believes in the sacred space needed to process childbirth. Through a birth story listening session, it is always her intention to guide and support the story teller towards a deeper understanding of themselves & a greater sense of peace. She welcomes you to visit www.birthstorylistening.comHighlights from the episode include:Preparing for birth, the unexpected and uncontrollableBirth story listening explained and who it can be helpful forHow Wannessa found her calling as a Birth story listenerThe importance of taking care of our own mental health so we can show up for our childrenConnect with Wannessa:Wannessa BadgerBirth Story ListeningIG: @wannessabadgerAs always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest JobVisit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.Thank you for listening!

Ellanee Wilson is a former English teacher turned certified sleep coach. She began her journey as a sleep coach after having her first daughter and experiencing firsthand how difficult the transition into motherhood is and how a large part of that difficulty is related to sleep. She founded Sleep Coach Mom in 2019 and has been on a mission to not only help families sleep better, but to help moms feel supported during their journey as a parent. She does one-on-one coaching, but also holds virtual support groups for women discussing areas of motherhood well beyond sleep. She loves what she does and wants all moms to feel empowered and free of judgement when working with her. Highlights from the episode include:Advice on toddlers climbing out of the crib and transitioning to big kid bedNight wakings and the difference between nightmares and night terrorsThinking through reasons for a regression or night wakingsEarly risersSleep Coach Mom WebsiteFacebook: Sleep Coach Mom - Team Sleep - IG: @sleep.coach.momOK to wake ClockHatch Sound Machine and Wake ClockAs always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest JobVisit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.Thank you for listening!

Brandi Frazier is a passionate high energy Mama, Wife and Master Educator who is on a mission to empower women and teach them how to advocate for themselves. After a traumatic post pregnancy complication experience Brandi created @beeempoweredmama which is an organization that provides online resources, workshops and community for all Mamas to unite!Highlights from this episode include:Her personal journey and struggle with prenatal care and how she advocated for herselfThe importance of doing your research during pregnancy and in preparing for birth and postpartumHaving a partner that knows your wishes to help you advocate during labor and deliveryHer powerful story of advocating for herself postpartum which saved her lifeBee Empowered Mama:www.BeeEmpoweredMama.comIG:  @beeempoweredmamaFacebook: @beeempoweredmamaAs always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest JobVisit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.Thank you for listening!

Jennifer Blossom is a boy mom of two, occupational therapist, and CEO/Founder of Blossoming Moms.  Her mission is to unravel the “hot-mess Mom” stigma and helping Moms live with more joy and peace in the everyday of motherhood.  On this episode, Jennifer and I are talking about simple ways to help live the everyday of Motherhood with calm, purpose, intention and with less pressure to do it all perfectly.Highlights from the episode include:When the overwhelm of Motherhood is all-consuming, taking a step back to make changesReclaiming identity in MotherhoodTime management and prioritization tips and mentality strategiesSimple shifts to make Motherhood more manageable Blossoming Moms is a digital wellness brand that helps overwhelmed moms simplify motherhood using healthy habits and simple strategies. Jennifer's desire is to help moms break-free from survival mode so they can live with more meaning, fulfillment, and joy in their everyday lives. Jennifer is also the host of the top-rated mom podcast, The Blossoming Moms Show, and lives in a little fishing town with her husband and sons just south of Anchorage, Alaska. blossomingmoms.coIG @blossomingmoms_co Facebook: Blossoming Moms Pintrest: Blossoming MomsApps Mentioned:CalmSoul SpaceAs always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest JobVisit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.Thank you for listening!

Amy is cofounder of The Courage Brand, a company dedicated to instilling courage and confidence in our future women.  Under the Courage Brand is the ENTRE Girls Leadership Academy.  Amy talks about the Academy’s mission and we discuss the importance of encouraging confidence, leadership and empowerment in our girls.Highlights from the episode include:Why Amy and Kelly founded The Courage Brand with a goal of instilling courage and confidence in our future womenHow we can think about encouraging courage in our daughtersTearing down girls’ assumptions of weaknessReframing social media as perfectly imperfectHow we can also encourage our sons to grow up to be respectful, inclusive and supportive menAs a former online TV host, Amy will make you laugh until you cry and find a way to make every #momlife moment humorous - even on the days when adulting seems way too hard. Amy has an award-winning sales and leadership background of coaching and managing very dynamic teams. As a coach, Amy has built her career on bringing out the best in everyone around her and helping each person she touches perform at their best, and believe in themselves. As a coFounder of Give Her Courage, Amy has committed her life's work to helping women know their worth and break the paradigm that comes with age.IG: @givehercourage.  Courageous Conversations Podcast Give Her Courage Website

Nena has been a doula since 2018 and a registered nurse since 2015. She is currently working with clients virtually after taking some time off because of work, COVID, and being pregnant herself. She recently started training to become a breastfeeding consultant. Nena lives in Dayton, OH and is Mom to a three month old baby girl. Highlights from this episode include:Virtual Doula services in the time of CovidHow to prepare for birth confidentlyLetting go of the comparisons with birthPostpartum care and the importance of caring for yourself after birthBaby blues vs Postpartum DepressionBirth in the time of CovidFollow Nena on IG: @mommynmellcEmail Nena at: mommynmellc@gmail.comAs always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest JobVisit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.Thank you for listening!

Becoming a mother is life altering and really does lead to a rebirth in Moms.  Vered shares her personal journey and how she made her way back to music through motherhood and how she is now helping families connect with their babies through the magic of music.Highlights from this episode include:Why lullabies are important for both babies and parentsUsing your voice and music to sootheWhy you should give mirroring vocals a tryA fun tip to help get you through the “witching hour”!Connect with Vered:www.babyintune.comwww.babycrashcourse.com IG: @babyintune Facebook: Baby In TuneYou Tube: Baby In TuneTo listen to the music:SpotifyAmazonItunesVered is a musician, music therapist, founder of Baby in Tune, and mom of 3. She teaches parents of babies how to use music to speak their baby’s language, get more sleep, and have more fun. When she had her first baby eleven years ago, she struggled with nursing issues, felt overwhelmed and utterly exhausted all the time. In a moment of frustration she pushed herself to sing to her baby. Through the immediate soothing that she and her baby BOTH felt, and the connection that developed between them, Baby in Tune was born. Vered uses her natural ability to write songs that give words to the experience of parents and babies, combined with her passion for blending music therapy techniques with concepts from psychology, to help thousands of parents feel like they know what they’re doing. When she is not leading classes or training instructors, Vered can be found lecturing at conferences such as Zero to three, and doing staff trainings at organizations such as Sanctuary for Families. Her three award winning albums for families can be found on Spotify/Amazon/itunes. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and three kids, who brought her back to music through motherhood.As always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest JobVisit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.Thank you for listening!

Hayley Augusta is the host of "No Sex in the Suburbs," a podcast dedicated to everything that happens after happily ever after. She is married and has two little boys, one is neurotypical and the other has autism and hyperlexia. Hayley left behind her career in media when her son was diagnosed to focus on her family and riding the wave of an ASD diagnosis and all it entails. Hayley believes in keeping it real and having fun. She lives with her family in the deep burbs of Los Angeles, CA. On this episode, Hayley openly shares what it was like navigating specialists and opinions that ultimately led to her son being diagnosed with autism and hyperlexia.  She shares their challenges and what worked for their family, we also discuss how to be a friend to another parent with a child that has an ASD diagnosis.Highlights from the episode include:Advocating for your childHayley’s experience trying to find the right evaluations, diagnosis and therapyUnderstanding Autism and the diagnosisHow to be a friend and supportive to a parent of a child with special needsTo connect with Hayley follow her on IG @nosexinthesuburbsListen to her Podcast No Sex In The Suburbs wherever you get your podcasts.As always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest JobVisit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.Thank you for listening!

Dana is a mom to four, when her youngest didn’t sleep for the first two years of his life, she finally found help with a sleep consultant, it took five days for him to learn to sleep through the night.  This changed everything for Dana! Now she is helping other families find solutions to sleep challenges with their children.  Dana is also creator and host of the Winning at The Mom Life Podcast.  On today’s show Dana shares some of the common mistakes parents make when it comes to their children’s sleep so other parents can avoid these challenges.Highlights from the episode include:Tips to help kids 5+ years relax before going to bedCommon misconceptions about babies, children and sleepThe importance of awake time windows and how to think about changing them as your baby growsCommon reasons some children are early risers and/or waking up throughout the nightRest Assured Consulting : www.liveandrest.comVisit the website to Download: 4 Steps to Reducing the OverwhelmPodcast: Winning at the Mom LifeIG: @thedanastoneRelax Kids : Meditation Turtle As always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest JobVisit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.Thank you for listening!

Jessica is a mom to five beautiful children including her two oldest, a set of twins.  Her road to starting their family was an extremely difficult one filled with infertility diagnosis, pregnancy loss, immense disappointment and uncertainty.  She shares her journey and experiences through it all in hopes of helping other Moms out there feel less alone in their journey and to take away some of the stigma that surrounds certain areas of infertility.Highlights from the episode include:Her diagnosis, experience and treatment with Endometriosis and other infertility diagnosesMoving forward after pregnancy lossHer experience with IVF and how her family grew after the birth of her twinsHer goals as Mom to five to raise explorers and adventurous kidsJessica is a wife and mom of five from Knoxville, Tennessee. Jessica enjoys living an active life and exploring with her family, both locally and further afield. Though her instagram account @raising_explorers, Jessica encourages other families to build stronger families through shared experiences.Connect with Jessica:Raising ExplorersBlog Post on "The Road to Our Twins"IG: @raising_explorers

After having her son, Erica Davis was surprised when her body started physically changing after she stopped breastfeeding.  She decided she needed to focus on her fitness and get back in shape but couldn't find any comfortable clothing to wear that she could feel strong and confident in.  She decided then to create her own and founded her company Imperfect Mommers.Erica and I chat about juggling all the roles - Mom, Wife, Entrepreneur, Working Full-Time and holding it all together.Highlights from the episode include:Her postpartum journey that led her to start her company Imperfect MommersHow she juggles working full time, helping with remote learning, being mom, wife and entrepreneurHer advice from one busy Mom to others on managing it allErica Phillips Davis is Owner of Imperfect Mommers and Co-Owner of Feet for $5ive.She is a Charleston, SC native and has been living in Charlotte, NC for 7 years now. She graduated from Lander University in upstate South Carolina and served 8 years in the US Army Reserves. She is married to her husband, Laval and a mother of one son, Chandler. She has 2 dogs, Bliss a boxer/lab mix and Blanco a French Bulldog. She is a working mom as a Sr. Logistics Analyst at a corporate company. She loves spending time with my family, working out and traveling.Her goal with her businesses is to find ways to help women, specifically mothers, by making their lives a little easier. With Imperfect Mommers, she provides great quality apparel at affordable prices. She also offers the SnapBack Box with home workout equipment for those that are unable to get to the gym. She is working hard to grow her business and get the name out there.https://www.imperfectmommers.comhttps://www.feetfor5ive.comIG: @ImperfectMommersFacebook: Imperfect Mommers

In 2020 we released 37 new and original episodes on the podcast.  Thank you so much for listening! Sharing the podcast with others and leaving a rating or review, following us on social media - these all mean so much to me and is the fuel I use to keep creating and producing the show.  I absolutely love any and all feedback so don’t hesitate to DM me or email me with any thoughts, likes, dislikes or ideas on topics you’d like to hear.I want to ask - If you have a personal experience you would be willing to share, I would LOVE to hear from you! My goal for future episodes is to focus on more stories from parents that are relatable, educational and help us all feel a little less alone in the magnitude of raising children.Now lets chat for a minute about the crazy year that we just said goodbye to.  We can all agree that 2020 was nutty! To live through the current pandemic has been challenging and flat out exhausting.  I want to first acknowledge you, Mama for making it to welcoming 2021 and no matter how messy it was at time, you are still and are always a good Mom.  I want to point out to every Mom listening is you have undoubtedly become a stronger Mom, a different Mom.  Greeting 2021, you have the resilience and the now knowledge of how to keep powering on.  Sure, some days are really rough.  But there are also tons of moments and days sprinkled in where relationships are nurtured and you get a few more squeezes from your little one, a few more peeks at how your kids interact as siblings, maybe the pressure to be out and about and that you have to be doing it all when you're recovering postpartum has been relieved in a good way.  Maybe you aren’t spending hours upon hours carpooling to activities.  Maybe you get to spend some extra time with your kids as you find yourself needing to work from home - and everyone is home.  I believe there are golden moments that can be found that have been created out of a tough year.  In my humble opinion, these are the lessons and reminders I want to carry forward to 2021.  For any Mama that needs to hear this - Remind yourself as we march into the new year that you got this! Especially on the extra tough days that seem like a never-ending uphill climb.  You are strong, you are the absolute best mama to your kiddos.  Give yourself all the grace in that these times are different, they are unique and unique to different families navigating the changed world around us.  I am so appreciative for all who have joined me along the way with this podcast - it truly is my passion project and my hope is that it will help, inspire, motivate, encourage and send love to Moms out there.  I feel it, friends, 2021 is going to be a good year.

Lindsay Ford is a parenting mentor and the author of The Positive Parenting Framework. She helps moms interpret what their child is really saying when they act out and gives them the strategies they need to restore a sense of calm and cooperation back into their homes. You can find out more about Lindsay and how she can support you at theparentingframework.comHighlights from this episode include:The difference between tantrums and meltdowns and how parents can interpret themTools and strategies to diffuse tantrum and meltdown situationsWhat to do when a tantrum or meltdown happens at home versus out in publicThe root of tantrums and meltdowns and why they happenConnect with Lindsay via IG @lindsaythinkfeeldecideAs always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest JobVisit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.Thank you for listening!