We are digging into self-compassion on today's episode. Get ready to hear personal examples of our own struggles with finding compassion for ourselves and our children and the ways that we find our way back to the medicine again and again.

Mollie reminds us that "self-compassion is the truth filtered through kindness rather than judgement." AND that "judgement is looking for labels, whereas self-compassion is comfortable with a little more spaciousness".

Today's episode is a reminder that we don't have to get it right all the time and that this self-compassion thing is an ongoing practice. It is the practice of creating more space for ourselves and for those that we love, so that we can literally have more room for curiosity.

Come join us as we challenge our fear and shame through connection, stories and laughter.

Connect with us at: mommingoutloudpodcast@gmail.com

We would love to hear your stories and suggestions for future episodes!

AND, if you are interested in signing up for our Momming Out Loud Circle please email us for more information!

*Hosts: Ali OConnell and Mollie Birney

If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, rate and leave a review or share it with a friend!

Welcome back to Momming Out Loud. Thanks for joining the conversation!

This week we are talking about all the big feelings and focusing on how we walk along side these big feelings with our children and the importance of modeling our own ways of managing said feelings.

We discuss the evolution of language around emotions, the challenges of managing behavior, and the significance of allowing space for feelings. We emphasize the need for parents to reflect on their own emotional experiences and to foster an environment where children can express their emotions without shame. We also manage to touch on boredom and the intimacy of asking for what we need.

What you might takeaway from this episode:

• We often see edited versions of parenting that hide the chaos and the realness of day to day life.
• Naming emotions as 'big feelings' helps reduce judgment.
• Modeling healthy anger is crucial for children.
• Boredom can lead to creativity and self-discovery.
• It's important to separate feelings from behavior.
• Allowing space for emotions can prevent them from escalating.
• Children learn to ask for their needs from us.
• Managing our own feelings is a continuous practice.
• Intimacy in relationships involves vulnerability in expressing needs.
• Parenting is an experiment in emotional intelligence.

Connect with us at: mommingoutloudpodcast@gmail.com

We would love to hear your stories and suggestions for future episodes!

AND, if you are interested in signing up for our Momming Out Loud Circle please email us for more information!

*Hosts: Ali OConnell and Mollie Birney

If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, rate and leave a review or share it with a friend!

This week Mollie and Ali explore the pervasive issue of comparison in parenting. They discuss how social media exacerbates feelings of inadequacy, the pressure of parenting benchmarks, and the role of shame in shaping parenting experiences. Through conversation Ali and Mollie highlight the importance of trusting one's instincts, navigating societal expectations, and finding balance in parenting styles.

In conclusion, let's keep practicing and embracing imperfection, talking about the hard stuff and building our village.

Takeaways

• Comparison often leads to feelings of inadequacy and shame.
• Social media can intensify the comparison trap for parents.
• It's not fair to compare our insides with someone else' outsides.
• Parenting benchmarks can create unnecessary pressure and anxiety.
• Shame grows in the dark; sharing experiences can shed light on it and alleviate it.

• Finding balance in parenting requires self-compassion and understanding over and over again.
• Community support is vital in overcoming the challenges of parenting.

Connect with us at: mommingoutloudpodcast@gmail.com

We would love to hear your stories and suggestions for future episodes!

*Hosts: Ali OConnell and Mollie Birney

If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, rate and leave a review or share it with a friend!

Keywords: parenting, comparison, social media, self-trust, shame, body image, parenting benchmarks, community support, parenting expectations

*Friendly Warning* This episode includes honest conversation about Santa as a metaphor. We highly recommend listening WITHOUT kids who still believe in the magic!

Welcome to the holiday episode of Momming Out Loud!

In this conversation, Ali and Mollie explore the complexities of loss, grief, and the impact of family dynamics on holiday traditions. The discussion delves into the challenges of explaining loss to children, the pressures surrounding holiday expectations, and the delicate balance of maintaining traditions while fostering joy and connection. The hosts reflect on their own experiences with Santa and the importance of creating meaningful rituals that honor both the light and dark aspects of life.

Takeaways

• Navigating loss is a complex emotional journey.
• Explaining grief to children requires sensitivity and honesty.
• Holiday traditions can evoke both joy and pressure.
• The Santa myth can be a source of trauma for some families.
• Creating rituals can help foster connection and meaning.
• It's important to balance expectations with the joy of the season.
• Simplicity in traditions can lead to deeper connections.
• Children's understanding of magic evolves over time.

• Finding joy in the chaos of holiday preparations is essential.

Connect with us at: mommingoutloudpodcast@gmail.com

We would love to hear your stories and suggestions for future episodes!

*Hosts: Ali OConnell and Mollie Birney

If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, rate and leave a review or share it with a friend!

Keywords: loss, grief, holiday traditions, family dynamics, Santa, parenting, rituals, expectations, joy, connection

Trigger warning: we are talking about triggers this week!

The things that just send us into fight or flight, rage, withdrawal and/or have the ability to make us feel about 5 years old in our own emotional responses.

Ali and Mollie share some of their own personal triggers in motherhood: not feeling listened to, being over stimulated, feeling embarrassed by our children's behavior. We discuss our own shame both as adults and the shame we felt as children and the ways that we are trying to do things differently.

This week we remind ourselves that we are "playing the long game". We talk about how we are not trying to shame our children into submission and compliance; that we are focusing on the relationships, and because of that, it takes time.

Connect with us at: mommingoutloudpodcast@gmail.com

We would love to hear your stories and suggestions for future episodes!

*Hosts: Ali OConnell and Mollie Birney

If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, rate and leave a review or share it with a friend!

This week is all about redefining "success" in motherhood.

Mollie and Ali delve into the complexities of motherhood, exploring the evolving definitions of success, the emotional weight of parenting, and the importance of connection. We discuss the pressures to maintain identity, the challenges of postpartum experiences, and the generational models that shape our own understanding of motherhood. We emphasize the need to redefine success and Enoughness in a way that honors personal experiences and fosters self-trust.

Takeaways

• Success in motherhood is a nebulous concept.
• The metrics of success have evolved over the decades.

• Grieving the loss of our old version of self is a crucial part of motherhood.

• Generational models of motherhood influence current perceptions.
• Balancing career and motherhood requires constant negotiation.
• Unconditional love in parenting requires tools and self-awareness.
• Understanding enoughness is a personal journey.
• Connection with others is vital for navigating motherhood.

Connect with us at: mommingoutloudpodcast@gmail.com

We would love to hear your stories and suggestions for future episodes!

*Hosts: Ali OConnell and Mollie Birney

If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, rate and leave a review or share it with a friend!

Welcome to our first episode of Momming Out Loud!

Hosts Mollie and Ali explore the complexities of parenting, focusing on the chaos and emotional challenges that arise in daily interactions. We discuss experiences with scheduling, the dynamics of parenting, and the importance of repair and THE Relationship. We reflect on our emotional responses, the struggle for connection, and the desire to parent differently while acknowledging the difficulties of maintaining composure in challenging situations.

Takeaways

• Parenting can feel overwhelming and chaotic at times.
• It's important to acknowledge and validate your own feelings of overwhelm.
• Comparison to others can diminish your own experiences and feelings.
• Repairing relationships with children is crucial for emotional health.

• Creativity in parenting can be challenging in the moment.
• Disobedience can be a valuable skill for children to develop.
• Self-awareness is key in understanding emotional responses.
• It's okay to seek permission for rest and self-care.
• Parenting is a dynamic relationship that evolves over time.

Connect with us at: mommingoutloudpodcast@gmail.com

We would love to hear your stories and suggestions for future episodes!

*Hosts: Ali OConnell and Mollie Birney

If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, rate and leave a review or share it with a friend!

Coming soon to your headphones! A show about the messy middle of motherhood — where two former therapists turned moms trade perfection for honesty and self-help for self-compassion.

Each week, Ali and Mollie explore the stuff we whisper about but secretly crave to say out loud: identity shifts, emotional triggers, and those “who even am I?” moments of mom life.

Momming Out Loud. Solve nothing. Share everything.