The word "magic" has come up in almost every one of my coaching session this month.

If you're feeling responsible for creating a picture-perfect holiday season, you're not alone.

What starts as excitement can quickly turn into rushing, planning, and managing everyone's experience.

And the ease and joy you wanted? Gone.

In today's episode, I talk about how your stress affects your child more than you realize—and what actually creates the kind of magic they'll remember.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/381

When my older daughter was in preschool, I volunteered to be the room mom.

After that year, the teacher asked if I wanted to do it again.

I said no and felt zero guilt. None.

I simply didn’t want to spend my time that way again.

Saying no made my life easier, not harder.

As the holidays approach, many moms convince themselves they should say yes to things they don’t want to do (e.g. class parties, hosting, baking, gifting, organizing, coordinating), and then wonder why they feel stretched thin and resentful by December 15.

In today’s episode, I’m talking about why holiday boundaries can feel so hard and what to do about it.

If you struggle to set and enforce boundaries, especially at the holidays, this episode will help you understand why your body won't let you say no, and what needs to change for you to protect your limits without abandoning yourself.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/380

You know that lump in your throat you try to swallow when you want to hold back tears?

Most of us do it automatically.

We tell ourselves we have to be strong because crying will make our kids worry, or that holding it together proves we’re in control.

But what if tears aren’t a sign of weakness at all? What if they’re a gift to you and your kids?

In this episode, I’m sharing why sadness isn’t something to fix or avoid.

You’ll learn how allowing yourself to feel it (and sometimes express it in front of your kids) can regulate your nervous system, deepen your connection, and show your kids what emotional health really looks like.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/379

Nervous system work is the missing piece for so many moms who’ve tried therapy or mindset coaching and still find themselves reacting in ways they don’t like.

In this episode, I’m sharing clips from an actual coaching session of mine. Over the course of the episode, you’ll hear a mom's nervous system move from activation and anxiety to calm, relief, and hope—and I’ll walk you through what’s happening at each stage.

If you’re curious about what somatic coaching is and how it can help you stay calm and connected, tune in to this episode.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/378

When your child is yelling, swearing, or completely losing it, your nervous system instantly screams, “This isn’t safe!”

You might find yourself fighting back, shutting down, or trying to fix the situation—none of which actually helps.

In this week’s episode, I share a powerful story of one of my clients that shows what regulation looks like when a child's emotions are running high.

You’ll hear how she stayed calm and steady while her teen son was yelling and swearing, how she communicated with him, and how she created connection between them.

If you want to know what it actually looks like to be regulated in the middle of your child’s storm, this episode will show you the way.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/376

When your child is yelling, swearing, or completely losing it, your nervous system instantly screams, “This isn’t safe!”

You might find yourself fighting back, shutting down, or trying to fix the situation—none of which actually helps.

In this week’s episode, I share a powerful story of one of my clients that shows what regulation looks like when a child's emotions are running high.

You’ll hear how she stayed calm and steady while her teen son was yelling and swearing, how she communicated with him, and how she created connection between them.

If you want to know what it actually looks like to be regulated in the middle of your child’s storm, this episode will show you the way.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/376

You know those times when everything seems fine . . . no crisis, no chaos . . . and instead of relaxing, you feel restless, uneasy, or suspicious?

That’s your nervous system struggling to trust safety. After years of running on stress, stillness can feel like danger.

In this week’s episode, I’m unpacking why safety can feel unsafe and how to retrain your system to trust it again.

You’ll learn how to recognize when your brain’s pulling you back into dysregulation and the steps to help yourself stay grounded when safety feels uncomfortable.

If you’ve ever found yourself waiting for the other shoe to drop—or even creating drama when life starts to feel too good—this episode will help you understand what’s really happening and how to work with your body, not against it.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/375

Sometimes the thing holding you back isn’t your kids, your schedule, or even your past. It’s a belief you learned long ago that still feels true.

Beliefs like:

“I have to do everything perfectly or I’ve failed.”

“It’s selfish to take time for myself.”

“If I ask for help, I’ll look weak.”

These thoughts can quietly shape how you show up as a mom—how patient you are, how much pressure you put on yourself, and how willing you are to reach out for support.

In this week’s episode, I share what elephants (yes, elephants) can teach you about breaking free from the beliefs that keep you stuck, so you can parent with more calm, confidence, and self-compassion.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/374

As moms, we can carry so much guilt.

Every time we lose our patience, yell, or withdraw, it’s easy to carry those moments around and let them weigh on us.

But what if those moments weren’t proof you’re a bad mom, but signals from your nervous system?

In this week’s episode, I share how self-forgiveness isn’t just about being kind to yourself, but about understanding what’s happening in your body.

When you recognize your reactivity as nervous system information, you can stop fighting yourself and start working with your biology.

Forgiving yourself with this deeper awareness doesn’t just break your own cycle of self-criticism. It also shows your kids that mistakes are human and that repair is always possible.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/373

Today is the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashana. Even if you don’t celebrate it like I do, this time of year has so much wisdom to offer us as moms.

Rosh Hashana is about reflection, renewal, and intention—three practices that can completely transform the way you parent.

In today's episode, I invite you to pause, look honestly at your parenting, and decide how you want to show up for your kids in the year ahead.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/372

We’ve spent the last several weeks on the podcast exploring fight, flight, freeze, and fawn — all the ways your nervous system jumps in to protect you.

Today, in the final episode of the From Protection to Connection series, I’m talking about what happens when your nervous system actually feels safe.

Discover what nervous system regulation really looks like in parenting, why co-regulation matters, and how your regulation sets the tone in your home.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/371

In this episode of Less Drama More Mama, I’m unpacking one of the most misunderstood nervous system survival responses: fawn.

From the outside, fawning looks like kindness, helpfulness, or flexibility.

But underneath, it’s really your nervous system trying to keep you safe through people-pleasing and self-sacrifice.

I share personal and client examples, as well as practical ways you can start showing up authentically while still maintaining love and connection with your kids.

If this resonates with you, don’t miss my free workshop, It Ends With Me, happening this week. You’ll discover your unique survival patterns, how they’re impacting your parenting, and what to do about them. Sign up at lessdramamoremama.com/free-workshop

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/370

You’re running on empty…and can never seem to refill your tank.

You stare at your to-do list…but can’t make yourself move.

You go quiet when your kids need you most…and then beat yourself up for shutting down.

This is the freeze response — your nervous system’s way of protecting you when life feels too big or too much.

In today's episode, I’m breaking down what the freeze response is, how it shows up in your parenting, and what to do about it.

If you ever feel stuck, numb, or overwhelmed, this episode will help you understand what’s happening inside you and how to take small steps toward calm, connection, and confidence.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/369

What if the reason you're so busy all the time isn't actually because you have a lot to do?

What if it's your body's way of avoiding the uncomfortable emotions you'd rather not feel?

In today's episode, I'm diving into the flight response -- your nervous system's way of saying, "this feels unsafe, so let's escape."

You'll learn why you feel compelled to stay busy with household tasks instead of slowing down to connect, and why you suddenly remember an "urgent" task every time you think about having a hard conversation with your teen.

Listen now to learn how to get grounded when your flight response kicks in, so you can finally be present for the moments that matter most.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/368

If you’ve ever raised your voice and instantly regretted it, felt your whole body tense when your child ignored your request, or snapped at your child for something seemingly small, chances are you've felt the fight response in action.

Those moments can leave you questioning yourself as a mom, when in reality, your nervous system is simply trying to protect you.

Building on last week’s overview of the nervous system, part two of my From Protection to Connection series dives into what the fight response actually looks like in parenting. Spoiler: it’s not just the big blow-ups. 

By the end, you’ll be able to recognize fight patterns for what they are – automatic responses in your body, not a personal failing.

That awareness alone can give you the space to respond with more calm and connection in the future.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/367

Back-to-school season is here, and for many moms, that means more stress, more rushing, and more moments that push you to your limit.

Maybe you’ve found yourself yelling, shutting down, or saying yes when you really wanted to say no and then thinking, "Why do I keep doing this? I know better!"

These reactions aren’t personal failings. More often than not, they’re your nervous system slipping into survival mode without you even realizing it. And many of those responses were wired into your nervous system in childhood, when you first learned what it took to feel safe.

This episode will show you that when you start noticing what’s happening inside your body in those heated moments, you take the first step toward changing what happens inside your home.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/366

"Mothering is messy and interrupted and loving."

"Motherhood is about making mistakes and repairing them. And that's how we learn."

"As moms, we do our best. We make it up as we go along and we muddle through."

Those are some of the things Dr. Margo Lowy wishes someone had told her earlier in her parenting, and it’s exactly what she shares in this week’s episode of the podcast.

Dr. Lowy is a psychotherapist and the author of ​Maternal Ambivalence: The Loving Moments & Bitter Truths of Motherhood​. She holds a PhD from the University of New South Wales, where she researched maternal ambivalence, and she’s a columnist for Psychology Today.

In our conversation, we discussed the parts of motherhood no one likes to talk about... the moments when you don’t feel loving, when your kid is being a "little sh*t," and you wonder if you’re even cut out for this.

Dr. Lowy brings compassion and clarity to the feelings so many moms carry quietly, and helps you see them not as failures, but as part of the full, human experience of being a mom.

Tune in for this compassionate, grounded insight that every mom needs to hear.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/365

As my summer hiatus comes to an end, I’ve been reflecting on how I spent my time during the past two months and the insights I gained.

I’m excited to share what I’ve learned with you and how it can help you show up as a more grounded, present mom.

In today’s episode, I’m giving you a recap of my summer, including the lessons that can support you in your parenting and emotional well-being as you head into the new school year.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/364

Recently, I found myself crying over things that normally wouldn’t faze me, running on broken sleep, dragging through the day, and and binge-watching TV more than I’d like to admit. Everything seemed heavier than usual.

I realized I was in a funk.

I know I’m not the only mom going through this right now, especially as the slower pace of summer starts to shift and everything feels a little "off."

After listening to this episode from 2020, I took my own advice and it helped me feel more in control, more grounded, and less stuck.

If you’re feeling blah, unmotivated, or just not yourself lately, I hope it helps you, too.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/363

Have you ever heard one of your kids say, “You love them more than me”?

It’s easy to dismiss, but sometimes those comments open the door to a deeper reflection: Is there a pattern here I haven’t noticed?

This week on the podcast, I’m bringing back an episode that explores the uncomfortable (but important) question: Do I have a favorite child?

You’ll hear how favoritism shows up in everyday parenting, why your thoughts matter more than you might think, and how your kids’ perception of favoritism can impact your relationship with them.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/362