In this kickoff to our “Behind the Screens” series, Athena and Mims unpack the messy middle of modern screen life—starting with the why. Do families need time limits, or is the bigger issue content and context? From Athena’s humbling phone-use self-audit to Mims’ reflections on social media’s psychological pull, they begin to explore boredom as a brain booster, the dopamine loop of games, and how inconsistent rules turn into constant negotiations at home. They also ask what habits we’re actually teaching when we outsource self-control to timers and pop-ups.In this episode:Screen time vs. content: what matters mostFinding your why before making rulesModeling healthy habits (even when it’s hard)Join the convo: What’s your why for screen time? How do you set limits (for you or your kids), and how do your kids participate in that plan?Connect with us:📧 tornmlb@gmail.com📱 Instagram / Facebook / X: @tornmlb💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe! 💜
Theme: Navigating the balance between structure and empathy.Positive Discipline That Works: Creative consequences that teach, not punishFrom Meltdowns to Mindfulness: Helping kids regulate emotions during tantrums or defianceBack-to-school season is here and the routines are rolling in. This week, Athena and Mims get real about the difference between discipline (habits we build) and boundaries (the yeses and nos that protect our peace)—and how to teach both without constant power struggles. From tone checks and time-outs to family calendars, faith-framed routines, and consequences that actually connect, they share what’s worked, what’s flopped, and how they course-correct after tough moments (hello, “mom, are you okay?” tears). You’ll hear candid stories about missed deadlines, picture-day chaos, and raising kids who can reflect, self-regulate, and apologize—just like we do.Got a discipline dilemma or a boundary win, Torn Tribe? Send your Torn Thoughts to 📧 tornmlb@gmail.com or DM @TornMLB. Let’s learn, laugh, and reset together.Connect with us:📱 Instagram / Facebook / X: @tornmlb💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe! 💜
Athena and Mims dive into sibling dynamics: rivalry vs. healthy competition, birth-order tendencies (oldest/middle/youngest/only), and practical ways to nurture lasting sibling bonds. With candid stories (board-game meltdowns, back-to-school budgeting, “alpha dog” energy in all-boy homes, and mixed-age families), they show how our own sibling roles follow us into adulthood—and into how we parent.Highlights & Key IdeasRivalry → Connection: Reframe “winning” as skill-building, teamwork, and celebrating each other’s milestones.Birth Order Matters (…and so does spacing & gender): Oldest often “paves the way,” middles crave visibility/uniqueness, youngest leans on charm & access; big age gaps and mixed genders change the script.Model the Cheer Squad: Teach kids to root for one another (not just race one another).Different doesn’t mean behind: Younger sibs often appear faster simply because of exposure—don’t compare, stay curious.Know your lane as a parent: Your own sibling role shows up in your default parenting settings (planner, peacemaker, driver, free-spirit). Use it—don’t be limited by it.Segments:1) Sibling Rivalry Survival Guide: Turning Competition into ConnectionPractical swaps: cooperative board games sometimes; rotate “wins;” name strengths out loud; normalize losing without shaming.2) Birth Order Blues & BonusesHow “oldest energy,” “middle flair,” “youngest sparkle,” and “only-child depth” show up—plus how spacing and gender stacks amplify or soften those traits.3) Raising Team PlayersRituals that bond: shared chores with joint goals, sibling shout-outs at dinner, “coach for a day,” and quarterly check-ins where kids set family goals for each other.🎯 Torn Tribe: Sibling Superpower Quiz: Ask yourself (and your kids!): Which are you—Peacemaker ☮️, Leader 👑, Wild Card 🃏, Rock 🪨, or Caretaker 🫶?Share your results with us and tell us how it shows up at home.Listener Shout-Outs:💌 Stephanie — for calling our convo candid and relatable.💌 Whitney — for naming the honesty & vulnerability that moved you. Keep ’em coming, TornTribe!Connect with us:📧 tornmlb@gmail.com📱 Instagram / Facebook / X: @tornmlb💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe! 💜
Episode 163: Growth in the Chaos — How Our Parenting Has Inspired Our Personal Evolution🎙 Torn Thought: “Parenting stretches us in ways we didn’t expect—growth isn’t optional, but what we do with it is.”🌱 ThemeParenting may feel chaotic, lonely, and overwhelming, but it’s also a catalyst for profound personal growth. In this episode, Athena and Mims explore how the chaos of raising kids has shaped their own identities, talents, and resilience.✨ Episode Highlights📊 Research Spotlight: 66% of parents surveyed said parenting left them feeling lonely and isolated—yet it became an unexpected path to personal growth.🎭 Unlikely Passions: From teaching Shakespeare in homeschool co-ops to rediscovering theater, writing, and coaching sports, parenting opened surprising doors.🏀 Modeling Growth: Showing kids how to try new things (and sometimes fail) sparked hidden strengths in both parents and children.🕊 Faith & Reflection: How asking hard questions and digging deeper together can create stronger spiritual and emotional roots.💡 Growth in Weakness: Parenting reveals blind spots—like patience, anger, or guilt—and gives us opportunities to heal and evolve.🔑 TakeawayParenting isn’t just raising children—it’s raising ourselves. Chaos can be the classroom for our greatest growth, if we’re willing to lean in.🫶 Stay ConnectedWe want to hear from YOU, Torn Tribe:What has parenting taught you about yourself?How has the chaos shaped your growth?📚 Resources MentionedCreative Coaching: A Beginner’s Guide to Coaching Youth Basketball - Learn more about how parenting inspired Athena to write and coach—this guide is a perfect resource for any aspiring youth coach.Why Parents Are Lonely and How They Can ConnectRead the insightful article from the Greater Good Science Center that inspired this episode.📧 tornmlb@gmail.com📱 Follow @tornMLB on Instagram, Facebook, and X.
🎙️ Episode 162: Back to Our Roots – Parenting Without the MaskAfter a long summer pause, Athena and Mims return to the mic to revisit why they started Torn in the first place—creating a safe, judgment-free space to talk about the messy, beautiful truth of parenting.From unfiltered confessions to the surprising loneliness that can come with motherhood, they explore:Unfiltered Motherhood — Why your honest feelings about parenting might make people uncomfortable (and why that’s okay).The Pendulum Swing — From euphoric highs to deep lows, and how those shifts impact relationships, routines, and self-image.The Loneliness Factor — How parenting can feel isolating, even when you’re never “alone.”Judgment in Disguise — Why criticism often comes dressed as “advice” and how to protect your peace.Reflections & Resets — Building regular check-in rhythms (quarterly, seasonally, or around life milestones) to measure growth and stay intentional.💡 Torn Thought: Parenting is a journey—your kids aren’t the only ones growing.📣 Call to Action:Send us your real parenting confessions via email or DM. We want to hear the unfiltered moments no one talks about, so we can laugh, reflect, and extend grace together.Connect with us:📧 tornmlb@gmail.com📱 Instagram / Facebook / X: @tornmlb💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe! 💜
🎧 Episode 161: Halfway There: Parenting Resets for the Rest of the Year🎙️This episode is your mid-year check-in with Athena and Mims as they reflect on wins, changes, and challenges from January through June. From recital nerves to lunch menu debates, to supporting adult children and navigating career milestones, they ask: What’s working? What needs recalibrating?🌀 Torn Thought: “Am I missing something?”✨ Main Themes:Parenting Reset: How small shifts—like lunch planning or more communication—make a big difference.Seasonal Wins: From job changes and recital triumphs to high school graduations and adult children stepping into careers.Letting Go of Control: Navigating unexpected transitions with resilience and grace.Mid-Year Reflection: Choosing grace over guilt and celebrating family rhythms.💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe 💜💌 Connect with us: 📧 tornmlb@gmail.com 📱 Follow @tornMLB on Instagram, Facebook, and X. ⭐ Rate & review to help others find the show!#TornTribe #MomLifeBalance #AmIMissingSomething #MidYearCheckIn #MendingMoments #ChooseGrace
In Episode 160 of Torn: Finding a Mom-Life Balance, Athena and Mims return for the second installment of their summer planning series, equipping the Torn Tribe with a practical and heartfelt Summer Toolkit designed to support families in three core areas: Supplies, Sanity, and Structure.🧠 Torn Thought: “Preparedness brings presence. Let’s enjoy the season instead of surviving it.”🧺 Supplies to Have on Hand- Summer essentials: sunscreen, water toys, snacks, notebooks, art supplies, and first-aid items- Household items for parents working from home: kid-friendly snacks, books at the right reading level, a stocked art station, screen-time boundaries, and outdoor activity options- Pool/beach bags packed and ready: cooler, towels, goggles, flip flops, backup clothes, and snacks- Reusable tote filled with portable snacks (chips, fruit, pretzels) to reduce the “I’m starving” moments🧘♀️ Sanity Savers- Schedule one friend meet-up per child each week—build in social outlets to reduce tension and encourage independence- Identify your “buffer days” where there’s minimal running around- Plan ahead for medical needs: physicals, prescriptions, and locations of nearest clinics when traveling- Try a parent hobby: painting, reading, writing, learning a language, or summer reading challenges for YOU📅 Structure for Summer Days- Theme Days: Rotate through reading, science, cooking, art, or adventure days- Free Play Days: Let your child choose how they spend the day to balance out structured time- Skill or sport exploration: Use the summer to try something new as a family or per child- Craft & Game Zones: Reorganize home spaces to highlight engaging options and reduce screen time- Library trips, cultural reads, and storytelling podcasts to keep imagination and curiosity alive📣 Stay Connected & ShareAthena and Mims also encourage the Torn Tribe to share their favorite summer tips and download the Torn Tribe Summer Prep List (linked in show notes and on social).💌 Got Torn Moments or Mends to share? Drop us a line at tornmlb@gmail.com.🎧 Listen, Follow, Subscribe & Share!Find us on Instagram, Facebook, and X.💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe 💜
🎙️ Episode 159: Mother's Day Offering Part I: Easing into Summer with Intention and ClarityIn this all-new episode of Torn: Finding a Mom-Life Balance, co-hosts Athena and Mims gift the Torn Tribe a much-needed summer planning reset. With school winding down, it's easy to feel the pressure—but this episode is your invitation to approach the season with purpose, flexibility, and family collaboration.💭 Torn Thought: “Planning isn’t pressure—it’s protection of your peace.”✨ In This Episode:Biweekly Summer Check-Ins: Learn how setting aside time to plan (as a form of self-care!) helps everyone feel grounded—and how to make it a family affair, not just a mom mission.Go-To Summer Resources: Tap into your community with gems like:▪ Summer at the Library - Summer Reading Programs▪ Movies in the Park▪ Local park events (like watching synchronized fireflies at Congaree!)▪ Museum admission specials▪ Food tours and culinary adventuresHelpful Tools: Organize your summer with planning apps and family event newsletters like:▪ Mommy Poppins – NYC & NJ▪ Macaroni Kid – South Charlotte▪ Charlotte ParentAthena & Mims’ Regional Summer Picks: Favorite spots for beach days, concerts, splash pads, and Fourth of July celebrations.🌞 Whether you’re juggling camp schedules, planning low-cost adventures, or simply trying to carve out time for joy, this episode brings fresh ideas and real-life support to help you ease into summer with clarity.💌 Got Torn Moments or Mends to share? Send us a message to📧 tornmlb@gmail.com.🎧 Listen, Follow & Share! Find us on Instagram, Facebook, and X: @tornmlb💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe! 💜
🔁 REPLAY Episode #98: A Note of Gratitude💭 Special Note: Gratitude and anxiety take up the same residency in our brains—they can’t coexist. So when anxiety starts to creep in, let it be a signal to invite gratitude in. Practicing gratitude is one of the most powerful ways to guard your mind and bring yourself back to peace.Revisiting a 2022 episode: On this week’s replay episode of Torn: Finding a Mom-Life Balance, co-hosts Athena and Mims pause to share gratitude—for the people, moments, and circumstances that make life sustainable, special, fun, and full of love. It's a heartfelt reminder to cherish what we have and who we share it with.🍂 Wishing our Torn Tribe in the U.S. a warm and Happy Thanksgiving, and sending appreciation to each of you, wherever you are.Share your torn moments, mends, and feedback with us at 📧 tornmlb@gmail.com.🎧 Listen, Follow & Share! Find us on Instagram, Facebook, and X: @tornmlb💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe! 💜
🎙️ New Episode Alert! Women’s History Month: The Power of Her Love (Part II)In this powerful continuation of our Women’s History Month celebration, Torn: Finding a Mom-Life Balance co-hosts Athena and Mims explore the trailblazing parenting models shaped by extraordinary women who’ve influenced their mom journey. From spiritual strength to emotional vulnerability, discover the moments these models first resonated, the lessons they unlocked, and how Athena and Mims have woven them into their own parenting practices.✨ Highlights include reflections on Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly, Dr. Shefali Tsabary’s conscious parenting approach, the faith-filled guidance of Mary, mother of Jesus, and the empowering prayers of Stormie Omartian.🌟 Don’t miss Torn Thought Thursdays on social media! Share your torn moments, mends, and feedback with us at 📧 tornmlb@gmail.com.🎧 Listen, Follow & Share! Find us on Instagram, Facebook, and X: @tornmlb💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe! 💜
🎙️In this special Women’s History Month episode of Torn: Finding a Mom-Life Balance, co-hosts Athena and Mims reflect on the incredible women who have shaped their parenting journey. Discover the lessons they’ve learned from these inspiring figures—their wisdom, strength, and nurturing skills—and how Athena and Mims apply those lessons in their own mom playbook.✨ Plus, don’t miss our all-new Torn Thought Thursdays on social media! Share your torn moments, mends, and share feedback with us at 📧 tornmlb@gmail.com🎧 Listen, Follow & Share! Find us on Instagram, Facebook, and X.💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe! 💜
🎙️ New Episode Alert! Is Self-Doubt Driving My Parenting?Join co-hosts Athena and Mims in this bi-weekly installment of Torn: Finding a Mom-Life Balance as they dive into the impact of self-doubt in parenting. Learn how to recognize moments when self-doubt takes over, define its role in your parenting journey, and explore strategies to manage it—so it doesn’t interfere with your child’s confidence, growth, and risk-taking.✨ Plus, don’t miss our all-new Torn Thought Thursdays on social media! Share your torn moments, mends, and feedback with us at tornmlb@gmail.com.🎧 Listen, Follow & Share! Find us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter: @tornmlb💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe! 💜
Join co-hosts Athena and Mims in this bi-weekly installment of Torn: Finding a Mom-Life Balance as they dive into the question: Is "Mom-Life Balance" even possible? 💭✨ Listen in as they unpack how balance became part of the podcast title and how their conversations, interviews, and real-life moments have reshaped their understanding of what balance truly means.💡 When have you achieved it? Lost it? Reclaimed it? Let’s talk about it!Don’t miss the all-new Torn Thought Thursdays on social media! Share your torn moments, mends, and feedback with us at tornmlb@gmail.com.🎧 Listen, Follow & Share! Find us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter: @tornmlb💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe! 💜
Join cohost Athena and Mims for an interview. Betsie Barker has an approachable style of hospitality that inspired Athena to reconsider what it takes and how to to embrace imparting the gift of hospitality. Listen in to hear how Batsie approaches preparation to host, shares that experience with her family and encourages Athena, Mims and the Torn Tribe to lean in to extending an invitation, open door and warm welcome! Check out the podcasts new Torn Thought Thursdays on socials. Reach out with feedback, torn moments or mends to tornmlb@gmail.com - Listen, Follow and Share the podcast at IG, Facebook and Twitter: @tornmlb. Choose Grace, Torn Tribe!
Join cohost Athena and Mims in their first new episode of 2025. Learn their words for the year and why they encourae the Torn Tribe to consider choosing a word of focus or theme for the year. How do you start the year with purpose and intention? What are you working to manifest in 2025? Check out the podcasts new Torn Thought Thursdays on socials. Reach out with feedback, torn moments or mends to tornmlb@gmail.com - Listen, Follow and Share the podcast at IG, Facebook and X: @tornmlb. Choose Grace, Torn Tribe!
Join cohost Athena and Mims in their first episode of the new year (2023). Hear the intentions they set for personal growth, quality time and mindset shifts for themselves that will surely influence their families and specifically share a model for their children to be reflective and intentional with their most precious commodity- time. How do you start the year with purpose and intention? What are you working to manifest in 2023? Reach out with questions, Torn Moments or Mends to tornmlb@gmail.com - Listen, Follow, Subscribe and Share the podcast. @tornmlb on IG, Facebook and Twitter. Choose Grace, Torn Tribe!
Join hosts Athena and Mims as they consider how to spread grace with the octogenarians of the family- what would the holidays be without the older generation and the memories we keep making together each year while near or far. Reach out with feedback, torn moments or mends to tornmlb@gmail.com - Listen, Follow and Share the podcast at IG, Facebook and Twitter: @tornmlb. Choose Grace, Torn Tribe!
Join cohosts, Athena and Mims for this bi-weekly installment. As we close out 2024, we’re taking a moment to reflect and connect with you, our Torn Tribe. In this special episode, we’ll revisit the parenting wins, challenges, and day-to-day moments that were shaped by this year’s podcast topics—all with a fun, sitcom-style flashback twist! Now, it’s your turn! We’re planning for 2025 and want to know: What topics inspire you? What challenges are you navigating? Share your Torn Moments or Mends by emailing us at tornmlb@gmail.com. Listen, Follow, Subscribe and Share the podcast. Connect with us on social media @tornmlb on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Choose Grace, Torn Tribe! 🎙️✨
Join cohosts, Athena and Mims for this bi-weekly installment unpacking indecision inspired by The Hidden Brain Podcast Episode "Emotions 2.0: The Benefits of Mixed Emotions". What do you think about indecision? How do you view the indecisive? Perhaps this episode will help you reframe your view of indecision and help you embrace indecision and the possibilities it allows. Torn Tribe, rate review and share to help bring the podcast to new listeners. Reach out with questions, Torn Moments or Mends to: tornmlb@gmail.com - Listen, Follow, Subscribe and Share the podcast. @tornmlb on IG, Facebook. Choose Grace, Torn Tribe!
Join cohosts, Athena and Mims for their reflection inspired by a devotional prompt in Strength in All Seasons by Julie Lavender: "If Jesus Talked To You About Mom Guilt, What Would He Say?". What might this perspective offer? How do the sisters define "mom guilt"? What causes it? How do we identify it and release it, adjust expectations of ourselves and choose grace? For more on getting "Beyond the Guilt" see Season 4 Episodes 1 through 8 on youtube. Torn Tribe, rate review and share to help bring the podcast to new listeners. Reach out with questions, Torn Moments or Mends to: tornmlb@gmail.com - Listen, Follow, Subscribe and Share the podcast. @tornmlb on IG, Facebook. Choose Grace, Torn Tribe!