Episode Description:

Following our raw and powerful conversation last week with birth mother advocate Ashley Mitchell, we are broadening the circle of our conversation. Today, we sit down with adoptive mother Kirsten Johanson for a deeply honest, warm, and eye-opening conversation about what it truly looks like to walk the path of adoption.

Kirsten shares her beautiful journey of adopting her son at 9 months old through an open adoption. She gently pulls back the curtain on the "unseen labor" of adoption—the profound emotional, mental, and physical preparation that prospective parents navigate before they ever hold their baby in their arms. Together, we explore the beautiful concept of the "adoption constellation"—the understanding that adoption isn’t just a transaction, but a lifelong, interconnected journey that deeply touches the birth family, the adoptive family, and, most importantly, the adoptees themselves.

If you have ever wanted to understand the realities of open adoption, or if you simply want to grow in empathy for the different ways we build our families, this episode is full of heart and wisdom.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

• The Unseen Labor: Shifting our understanding of adoption from an "easy route" to honoring the unique, heavy, and beautiful preparation adoptive mothers go through.
• The Adoption Constellation: Looking beyond the traditional "adoption triangle" to see how everyone involved—including extended families and future generations—is uniquely impacted.
• Honoring the Adoptee’s Voice: Understanding how the narratives we use about adoption must serve and protect the child, who didn't get a choice in the process.
• The Reality of Openness: How Kirsten navigates a healthy, respectful open adoption with her son's birth family.

🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode:

• Connect with Kirsten’s work: Visit website: Known Together
• Learn more about the community: Discover THE Adoption Conference
• Join our Tribe: Learn more and join American Mothers
• Celebrate a Mom: Do you know an incredible mom who deserves recognition? Nominate a Mother of the Year today!
• Join the Conversation: We want to hear your thoughts on this episode! Head over to the American Mothers Community Facebook Page to share your heart with us.

A Note from Deanne: Remember, you don't have to be perfect to be a great mother. Give yourself grace along your journey. We love you!

Adoption is often spoken about as a beautiful fairy tale, but the reality is a deeply complex landscape where profound grief and immense love walk hand-in-hand.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Ashley Mitchell—a birth mother in an open adoption, co-founder of Adoption Rights, and a trusted, influential voice in the adoption space for nearly two decades. Ashley strips away the sugarcoating to talk about the raw emotional journey of a birth mother’s post-placement grief. We also dive into the anxieties and self-imposed expectations that adoptive parents face, how to build a healthy relationship between all sides of the adoption triad, and why continuous support groups are a lifeline for everyone involved.

• Ashley’s Story: How her personal journey as a birth mother fueled a 20-year mission to advocate for ethics and transparency in adoption.
• The Hidden Grief: Honoring the intense, lifelong emotions of birth mothers and breaking the myth that they just "move on."
• Bridging the Gap: Navigating the unique, evolving relationship between birth mothers and adoptive parents.
• The Adoptive Parent Pressure: Unpacking the self-imposed expectations and anxieties that adoptive families carry, and how to find peace in the messy reality.
• Finding Your Village: The crucial role of specialized support groups for both birth mothers and adoptive families.

• Connect with Ashley & find birth mother support: Big Tough Girl
• Support Group Curriculums & Resources for Birth Mothers: Knee to Knee
• American Mothers, Inc.(R) - Learn more, join, or nominate an outstanding mom for Mother of the Year(R)

As America celebrates its historic 250th anniversary this Fourth of July, how do we teach our children to love their country without getting caught up in the noise of modern politics?

In this special holiday episode, we sit down with Elizabeth Peace—an Air Force veteran, active-duty Marine wife, public affairs strategist, and 2026 South Carolina Mother of the Year(R). Elizabeth shares her unique "dual perspective" of military life and offers refreshing, practical advice for everyday families. From the character-building power of youth leadership programs to unlocking your own family’s American origin story, Elizabeth reminds us that "patriotism isn't about politics—it's about gratitude and responsibility."

• The View from Both Sides: Why Elizabeth joined the Air Force, and how transitioning into life as a Marine spouse has impacted her children.
• (8:10) Building Future Leaders: How youth organizations like the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and JROTC provide invaluable skills, confidence, and external mentors for today's kids.
• (15:20) Reframing Patriotism: How to shift the conversation toward individual growth, community, responsibility, and gratitude.
• (20:11) Sharing Your Family Legacy: A simple, beautiful way to connect kids to history by exploring how your own ancestors arrived in America and helped build the nation.

• Learn more about the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Youth Programs
• Explore Junior ROTC (JROTC) Programs
• American Mothers, Inc. Mother of the Year(R) Information and Nominations

Episode Summary: As mothers, we are hardwired to give, serve, and pour into others—but how good are we at receiving? In this special roundtable episode, Deanne is joined by Charity Haderlie, National Chair of the Mom to Mom program, to discuss a beautiful question: Have you found your soul mom? Together, they break down the barriers that keep us from accepting help, share how to open our hearts to genuine connection, and redefine what it means to show up for each other. Whether it’s a lifelong friendship or a supportive connection for just a single moment, finding your "soul mom" changes everything.

Key Takeaways:

• The Art of Receiving: Why allowing others to help you is actually a gift to them, letting them share their heart with you.
• A Mom for a Moment: Understanding that a soul mom connection doesn’t require a lifelong timeline to be meaningful—sometimes it’s about a single moment of perfect understanding.
• Showing Up and Being Present: Practical insights on how to truly be there for another mother by simply offering your presence and a willing heart.
• Connecting Across the Nation: How mothers everywhere are linking arms to ensure no mom walks her journey isolated or alone.

Links & Resources:

• Nominate a Mom: The 2027 Mother of the Year nominations are officially open! Head over to www.americanmothers.org to honor an incredible mom in your life today.

Disclaimer:

The views, information, or opinions expressed during the American Mothers: Mom to Mom Podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of American Mothers, Inc.® and its members or employees. AMI is not responsible and does not verify for accuracy any of the information contained in the podcast series available for listening on this site.

Episode Summary:

We wear the title of "Mom" with so much pride, but who are we when we step outside of it? In this episode, Deanne sits down with the newly named 2026 National Mother of the Year, Dr. Kenae Black. Dr. Black shares her passionate heart for helping mothers show up for themselves, open their hearts to community, and find emotional soundness in an unprecedented world. From her powerful philosophies on loving leadership at home to her impactful nonprofit work, this conversation is the exact reminder you need that you are doing a good job—and that it's okay to pour back into your own cup.

Key Takeaways:

• The Power of Community: How opening our hearts allows us to be poured into by women we never expected.
• Showing Up Differently: Why the most radical thing you can do in this season is intentionally show up for yourself.
• Leading by Loving Example: Dr. Black's philosophy on guiding our children through grace, emotional maturity, and owning our mistakes.
• Rest, Reflection, & Reach Back: A look into her DC-based nonprofit, Reach Back, Spring Forward, and her restorative The Will of Wellness Retreat.

Special Announcements & Links:

• Dr. Kenae Black’s New Book: She Poured Back Into Herself - Freshly published on May 7th! Grab your copy here at Amazon
• 2027 Mother of the Year Nominations: Nominations are officially open! Nominate an incredible mom in your life today at www.americanmothers.org.

The Shift—Resilience and the Reality of Motherhood

"It’s not about being perfect; it’s about showing up through the changes."

In the final part of our series, Deanne Taylor looks at the wisdom shared by the 2026 Mothers of the Year to talk about the steady strength it takes to keep going. From helping our kids find their footing to discovering the "beautiful busy" of our own daily lives, this episode is a heart-to-heart on how we adapt when life gets unpredictable.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear:

• Helping Kids Keep Going: Why we should help our children navigate challenges rather than just trying to fix everything for them.
• A Work in Progress: Understanding that building resilience is a journey we take alongside our children.
• The Beautiful Surprises: Honoring the parts of motherhood you just can't anticipate—like the bittersweet realization of how much they need us, and how we learn to let go.
• What Self-Care Actually Looks Like: Why finding your "me time" is personal—whether it’s volunteering, a night at the movies with friends, or a quiet hour with a book.

Key Takeaways:

• The Power of Your Team: Why we aren't meant to do this alone and the importance of finding your community.
• Meeting the Moment: How we learn to change our approach as our kids grow and their needs shift.
• The Long View: Realizing that your presence and your willingness to keep showing up are the greatest legacies you can leave behind.

Resources Mentioned:

• Meet the 2026 Mothers of the Year: Watch the full interviews and hear their stories firsthand at AmericanMothers.org.
• Connect with the Community: If you're heading to the convention, come find us! We can't wait to see you there and continue these conversations in person.

Disclaimer:

The primary purpose of this program is to educate and inform. The views, information, or opinions expressed during the American Mothers: Mom to Mom Podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of American Mothers Incorporated, its members or employees. AMI is not responsible for, nor does it verify the accuracy of the information contained in the podcast, nor does a series constitute any professional advice or services.

"Love is the safety net that lets our children truly thrive."

In Part 2 of our special series, Deanne Taylor explores the "Emotional Bond"—the heartbeat that keeps a family steady. Curating the best insights from the 2026 Mother of the Year video interviews and written philosophies, this episode dives into how a mother’s consistent presence creates the security a child needs to grow..

How does a mother’s love transform a child’s confidence? This episode explores the profound impact of creating emotional security. Deanne curates the best advice from mothers across the country on building a child’s self-esteem through the simple, powerful act of "being there."

In This Episode, You’ll Hear From:

• The "Safety Net" Group: Real talk on how unconditional love creates the environment where children feel safe enough to fail, grow, and eventually soar.
• The Power of "Being There": Why showing up—even when you're exhausted—is your most significant parenting tool.
• Mother vs. Friend: Navigating the balance of providing emotional security while still offering firm guidance.
• Self-Care for the "Soul Mom": Why loving yourself and getting some sleep is essential to pouring into your kids.

Key Takeaways:

• The Heartbeat: Understanding love as an active verb, not just a feeling.
• Building Self-Esteem: How emotional security at home translates into confidence in the outside world.
• Practical Wisdom: Real-world advice on "parenting on purpose" and aligning your life with your values.

Resources Mentioned:

• Meet the Moms: See the faces and read the full stories of the 2026 Mothers of the Year featured on the website at AmericanMothers.org.
• Soul Mom Community: Follow us on social media to share your own "Heartbeat" moments and how you're building confidence in your home. Facebook: American Mothers Community American Mothers Inc.

Coming Up Next:

Stay tuned for Part 3: The Pivot, where we’ll talk about resilience, overcoming challenges, and finding the strength to keep going when motherhood gets tough.

"We aren't just teaching our kids what to do; we are teaching them who to be."

In this kickoff episode, Deanne Taylor curates the most powerful moments from the 2026 Mother of the Year video interviews. After diving into the stories of 36 incredible women from across the country, Deanne has selected 12 "Soul Moms" to help us explore the foundation of intentional parenting.

How do we actually raise kind kids when there are so many different voices out there? From the quiet power of integrity and humility to the active service of the Golden Rule, these mothers share the practical ways they are guiding their families. Whether it’s starting a summer running camp, sharing a miniature horse through 4-H, or simply learning not to be reactive in a tense moment, this episode is a beautiful reminder that your unique passions are exactly what your community needs.

• The "Core Values" Group: Insights on teaching honesty, accountability, faith, and the bravery it takes to do what’s right.
• The "Golden Rule" Group: Real-life examples of service, from military family foundations and T-ball coaching to creating fitness communities for busy moms.

• Your Mom Intuition: Why your core values act as the internal guide for your home.
• The Heart Meets the Hands: How to transition from teaching kindness to living it out in your neighborhood.
• Intentional Kindness: A fresh perspective on the Golden Rule—asking what people need and treating them how they want to be treated.

• Meet the Moms: Want to see the faces behind these voices? Read the full bios and see the videos of all the 2026 Mothers of the Year at AmericanMothers.org.
• Join the Conversation: Follow us on social media to share which "Soul Mom" nugget resonated with you most today!

Don't miss Part 2: The Heartbeat, where we dive into the power of unconditional love and building our children's confidence.

Disclaimer:

The primary purpose of this program is to educate and inform. The views, information, or opinions expressed during the American Mothers: Mom to Mom Podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of American Mothers Incorporated, its members or employees. AMI is not responsible for, nor does it verify the accuracy of the information contained in the podcast, nor does a series constitute any professional advice or services.