The Sober Mom Life

Today’s Real Sober Mom, Laura, grew up in a home with two struggling parents - her father with alcohol addiction and her mother with mental illness. The fractures in her homelife caused her to struggle socially at school, but once she tried alcohol she experienced a sense of relief. Her challenges didn’t feel so hard when she was drinking. At that point, alcohol quickly became enshrined in her life through her teens and twenties.  As an adult, Laura fell into the profile for gray area drinking. When her daughters began to enter their teenage years, she began to worry. Did she want her daughters to have the same experience that she had as a child? The answer was no. It was time to make a change.  Laura’s path to sobriety took many steps, with stops and starts. Finally, community support and education gave her what she needed to completely leave alcohol behind. Today, Laura shares how hypnosis helped her in her sobriety journey, the trauma she has had to face with a therapist now that she is sober, how her relationship with her husband has been affected by her lifestyle change, and the experiences she had on work trips as she was trying to get sober.  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My husband Russell is back on the show, and this time things are a little different - he’s 100 days sober!  Today Russell will share why he decided to commit to one full year of sobriety. We’ll talk about the benefits of creating a goal, how he’s handled challenging social situations without drinking, and the physical, mental and emotional changes he’s experienced in the first 100 days of his sobriety.  Plus, Russell gives his advice for the ever popular question - what to do if you want your partner to stop drinking.  Check out Russell’s first appearance on the show here.  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here:  https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katie and I are here for another installment of SobieTEA, where we spill the tea about our favorite escape: Bravo and reality TV!  This week we’re talking about Suzanne’s first impressions of Love Island, and the dizzyingly jampacked first episode of Season 18 of The Real Housewives of Orange County.  Plus - Katie meets Jax on her LA trip, How Lindsay’s pregnancy will affect Summer House, and our opinions on The Situation’s book.  Do you have topics you’d like us to cover on the next SobieTEA? Send Katie a note at @soberlivingct on Instagram!  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here:  https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Susan Knower, my therapist mom, joins us today for an Ask Me Anything, therapist style! She is a licensed professional counselor with a substance abuse specialization and is here today to answer the most common questions you submitted on Instagram.  We’ll talk about the challenge of convincing a loved one to stop drinking, if trauma can be healed without a professional therapist, how the ‘stages of change’ apply to alcohol, the role of a therapist in a person’s healing journey, our thoughts on rehab, and tips for redirecting your negative internal thoughts.  The following books were mentioned in today’s episode:  Codependent No More by Melody Beattie Buy Yourself the F*cking Lillies by Tara Schuster Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here:  https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shannon always went overboard with alcohol, from the very first time she got drunk from her parents liquor cabinet when she was 15. She spaced out her drinking in her teens and twenties because she always knew she would drink all night once she got started.  Once Shannon began having kids she became obsessed with having a clean, healthy, non-toxic life. She cooked entirely organic and was extremely careful about the chemicals in her home, but she gave alcohol a pass. She turned a blind eye to any information that said alcohol was bad for her health. When a breast cancer diagnosis turned Shannon’s life upside down in 2020, her alcohol consumption began to grow worse and she began extremely angry that she had developed cancer despite her deep commitment to a healthy lifestyle. The fact that she got cancer simply didn’t make sense to her.  In the years following her fight with breast cancer, Shannon finally began to open her ears to the truth about what alcohol can do to the body, and she is so thankful that she started to listen. She kept drinking while she was learning about alcohol's effects, but eventually she knew too much. One year ago Shannon woke up and realized she was done. She is so proud of herself for now having a full year of sobriety under her belt!  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Audrey is back on the show today to celebrate Dry July and her own 2 year soberversary! She’ll tell the story of the last time she ever got drunk and how it kickstarted her path toward choosing sobriety. Plus, we’ll talk about the benefits you’ll receive from trying a Dry July, rising above the shame in early sobriety, the problematic trend of alcohol at children’s birthday parties, and the power of connection in sobriety.  We want you to know - you don’t need anyone’s permission to get sober. You knowing is enough! Hear Audrey’s sobriety story here.  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here:  https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kathryn has been a lifelong overachiever, but that didn’t stop her from being a heavy drinker. It did, however, mask her view of what alcohol was doing to her life. In 2019, Kathryn received her first hint of a wakeup call when she fell down a flight of stairs after a night of drinking. This injury resulted in an emergency surgery months later and has left her with permanent nerve damage.  Kathryn absolved alcohol of blame for the fall and continued drinking. During the pandemic, struggling with the insecurities that arose from her injury, Kathryn turned to alcohol more than she ever had before. Her drinking became a source of strife between her and her boyfriend and was central to their breakup. In the aftermath she went on a booze filled trip that culminated in a massive hangover and anxiety attack. This time, she heeded the wakeup call and committed herself to sobriety and personal growth. This journey led her back to her boyfriend and she quickly became pregnant.  A beautiful transition into parenthood made Kathryn think she could invite alcohol back into her life. She thought she’d now be able to moderate safely. This started a back and forth dance with drinking, until she could finally see the benefits of sobriety clear as day.  Kathryn is now completely confident in her choice to stay sober. She feels like she can have just as much fun when she’s sober, and has no interest in ever going back!  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here:  https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gill Tietz of Sober Powered is here to help me kick off Dry July with an Alcohol 101 lesson. From her perspective as a former biochemist, Gill drops some major bombs about alcohol’s effects that will forever change how you look at the substance.  We’ll dive into what alcohol is, how it affects our bodies and brains, how alcohol consumption affects women's bodies differently, and alcohol withdrawal symptoms.  If you’re struggling in your sobriety, let this episode enlighten you to all of the science-backed reasons why quitting is one of the best decisions you will ever make!  Learn more about Gill on Instagram and check out her Dry July series on the Sober Powered Podcast.  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today my brother Jay is joining me for a conversation that he and I both know a lot about - grief and sobriety. Our society encourages us to be quiet about the complicated and overwhelming feelings of grief, but it needs to be talked about, so today we’re doing just that.  Jay lost his best friend one month ago in a tragic accident, and today he’s here to share with us how he has been processing his traumatic loss, and how sobriety has played into his experience. Jay wants you to know that there is no substance that will take away the pain of loss. Grief can only be managed with time.  If you’re struggling with grief and sobriety, check out my other episode on the topic here.  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Best selling author Emily (Belden) Bond joins me today for an eye opening conversation about her breast cancer journey and how it has changed her relationship with alcohol.  Emily shares the unbelievable story of how she was diagnosed, how her treatment has unfolded over the past year, what she experienced when she shared her diagnosis publicly, and how cancer has forever altered her relationship with alcohol.  Emily urges all women to seek testing for breast cancer, no matter your age. Please share Emily’s diagnosis story with 8 other women to help raise awareness! 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lives.  Learn more about Emily and her writing on her website and her Instagram!  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here:  https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dawn’s parents never hid the dangers of drinking from her, and because of this Dawn grew up fearing alcohol. Yet, even as she became older and tried to put barriers between her and drinking, alcohol was waiting in the shadows of her life, ready to pounce.  As the mom of four kids (including triplets!) there was no room in Dawn’s early motherhood for alcohol. Then, just as she’d gotten all of the kids into school, her husband was diagnosed with cancer. The emotional load of these hard years wore Dawn down to the point that she developed severe insomnia. As her children grew older and her husband’s prognosis improved, Dawn finally had the chance to let her guard down, and alcohol slipped right into her sleepless nights. She attempted sobriety and moderation multiple times, but she put alcohol on a pedestal, so her attempts didn’t stick.  Dawn’s outlook began to change as she supported a dear friend through her end of life journey with ALS. After an honest conversation with her sons opened her eyes, she began to practice radical acceptance around the fact that quitting alcohol was imperative for her mental and physical health.  Dawn finds it so exciting to make such a radical change in her life at 50! Sobriety allows her to experience the little moments that hold so much magic, instead of jumping from big moment to big moment with numbness in between. She wants you to know: Though the transition might be hard, keep going. Peace will be on the other side. Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! Try it free for one week!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the biggest worries that often comes up in our groups is: How do I travel without drinking? Whether it be a trip to Europe or an all inclusive vacation, it can be hard to envision what travel can look like when you take the focus off of alcohol.  My mom, who’s almost 2 years sober, just got back from a trip to Paris! Today she’s here to share everything she experienced on her sober trip in hopes that you’ll feel inspired to experience a sober trip of your own.  She’ll share how her sobriety was treated by her travel companions, how she communicated her sobriety to others, the NA options that were available to her, and what it felt like to stick to her values and commitments as she traveled.  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here:  https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Growing up on the road following the Grateful Dead tour, Elan didn’t experience much in the way of boundaries. This loose childhood caused Elan to feel uncared for and unsafe. Alcohol wiped that feeling away, and she quickly began to rely on the substance. As Elan got further into childhood, her father remarried, and his new wife installed strict boundaries. Elan rebelled intensely, and landed in the first of many treatment centers at age 13.  It’s clear to Elan now that treatment could only work for her if the yearning for change came from within, and Elan simply wasn’t ready. So, she continued to drink throughout her teens and twenties, until her alcohol consumption resulted in a debilitating bout of pancreatitis. Though she was told to stop drinking alcohol, she was prescribed painkillers to deal with the pain, and she quickly became addicted to those instead. This led to a dangerous time in her life that resulted in her partner dying as a result of his own experience with painkillers.  It was at that moment that Elan experienced a wakeup call. Feeling her own grief, and seeing the grief that poured from his loved ones, Elan realized she never wanted to make someone feel like that. She was killing herself, and she needed to stop.  Elan chose sobriety at 28 and began a deep spiritual journey to learn who she was, how she felt, and how to process it all. She found that sobriety offered her access to the full range of human emotion - and that true joy was only available to her within a sober life. Sobriety has been a massive portal for her personal growth, and she feels like she’s only just beginning!  Elan can be found on Instagram @joyreignitionspecialist Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Audrey and I are back with another installment of Ask Me Anything!  Today we’re giving our thoughts on how to handle your new sobriety in so many circumstances - on vacation, during family visits, at sporting events, and more.  Plus, we’ll share some of our lowest drinking moments, our advice for talking to kids about alcohol, an update on upcoming Sober Mom Life retreats, and even some affordable fashion tips!  Would you like to submit a question for a future AMA? Leave a 5-star review on The Sober Mom Life Podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave your question in the review! Are you new to sobriety? Grab our 5 Tips to Help you Through your First 30 Days of Sobriety!  My mocktail recipe e-book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ here to help you through the summer! Grab your copy here.   Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! Try it free for one week!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katie and I are here for another installment of SobieTEA, where we spill the tea about our favorite escape: Bravo TV!  This week we’re talking about the Vanderpump Rules 3-part reunion, the latest developments on The Valley, Carl and Lindsay’s breakup from a sober perspective, and the status of the Real Housewives of New Jersey reunion.  Plus - The Traitors Season 3 cast announcement, celebrity spottings, the missing alcohol on Below Deck Mediterranean, and Katie’s Bravo-centric plans for her upcoming LA trip Do you have topics you’d like us to cover on the next SobieTEA? Send Katie a note at @soberlivingct on Instagram!  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julia Dzafic is back on the show to share a story that is so relatable and important. If you are new to sobriety and summer is feeling like a challenge, then this is a must listen!  Julia’s first appearance on the podcast highlighted her first experience with sobriety, but as summer rolled around that year, she felt like she had a grip on alcohol. Maybe it was finally possible for her to drink in a controlled and moderated way. Moderation seemed to work for a month, but by three months Julia found herself right back where she’d started - unable to control her drinking. It was then that she realized, once and for all, that alcohol did not work for her body.  Today, Julia is 6 weeks sober, and this time it feels permanent. Julia vulnerably shares the lessons she learned from her moderation attempt, and how she is doing sobriety differently this time around. We talk about self compassion, social anxiety, relationships, and so much more.  Julia’s just released a beautiful cookbook, Garden Grown!  Follow Julia on Instagram @lemonstripes Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! Try it free for a week!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Karen grew up in a home without alcohol, but that didn’t stop it from finding her in high school. Binge drinking quickly became a part of her life, and she chose not to go to college because she knew she would party it away. After making her way through beauty school, Karen became a mom, and drinking ended up slipping pretty easily into the backseat of her life. She was able to moderate her drinking for years.  Then, Karen’s children got older, and more space appeared in her days. She consistently began to fill that new free time with alcohol. Like so many moms, the pandemic pushed alcohol to the center stage of her life, and in a full resurgence of her drinking, Karen struggled to show up for her family and experienced her first blackout - at age 53. It seemed like something was wrong, and Karen committed to Dry January to see if alcohol was the problem. On Day 18 something incredible happened. She ‘woke up’. The lights were brighter, the colors were more vivid, and Karen started to wonder - what had she been missing while numbing out with alcohol? That experience led Karen to dive deep into quit lit, podcasts and meetings in the Sober Mom Life Cafe. All the while, though, she kept drinking. But over the months she found courage to ask herself a big question: What was she getting from alcohol? And, was it making her experience better in any way?  Karen committed to 90 days of sobriety to find out. By Day 40 it was clear to her - alcohol was making her life harder and was robbing her of experiences. She was not going back.  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summer has arrived! The days are long, the weather is gorgeous, and the pool party invites are starting to arrive. If the idea of not drinking this summer is causing you anxiety, this episode is for you.  Today we’re going to prepare you for your first sober summer, so you can experience the magic that can be found in these long, beautiful, alcohol-free days. We’ll talk about making the decision to stay sober, reconnecting with your younger self who loved summer before alcohol, and how to manage the social challenges that might arise in a sober summer.  If you’re looking for more resources for your sober summer, check out my latest blog post: How to Navigate Your First Sober Summer with Ease!  My mocktail recipe e-book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is here to help you through the summer! Grab your $7 copy here.   How to Socialize Sober  Join us in The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! Your First week is free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katie and I are here for another installment of SobrieTEA, where we spill the tea about our favorite escape: Bravo TV! This week we’re talking about the season finale of Vanderpump Rules, Brittany’s frustration at Jax’s drinking, the problematic drinking culture on Summer House, and Carl and Lindsay’s fight.  Plus - PK and Dorit, Why budgets are being slashed in reality TV, and the bizarre behavior of the guests on Below Deck Down Under.  Do you have topics you’d like us to cover on the next SobrieTEA? Send Katie a note at @soberlivingct on Instagram!  Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! For a limited time, get one week free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Kristen Beckett of @mocktailsandmarathons joins me for a great conversation about the false promise of moderation, the challenges of navigating drinking and sobriety with a partner, and the beauty of the online sober community.  A fellow Wisconsite, Kristen grew up in a home where drinking was seen as a normal part of everyday life. After the traumatic birth of her daughter, however, she began to lean on alcohol for more than just a way to unwind. The progressive nature of the substance then took hold, and during Covid she began drinking in the mornings to stave off the hangover from the night before. What followed were multiple rock bottoms, a trip to the ER, many Day 1’s, and ultimately the moment when it just clicked… and she was done.  Kristen began @mocktailsandmarathons as a way to unpack her experiences during early sobriety, and she found so much healing and growth in the community she has built there!  Kristen wants to encourage you to stick with it! You will find your groove.  Are you new to sobriety? Read How to Navigate Your First Sober Summer with Ease!  My mocktail recipe e-book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ here to help you through the summer! Grab your copy here.   Join us in The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For just $25/month, you get access to 8 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed (like Facebook, but better!), our monthly book club, the monthly Q+A, the ability to join the retreat, and the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and merch discounts! Your First week is free!  We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices