Motherhood is chaos — beautiful chaos, but chaos nonetheless.

In this episode of From 9 to Mom, working moms Danielle and Catie get real about the whirlwind of back-to-school season: strep throat within the first week, an epic band-aid shortage, and the emotional gut-punch of a kid starting kindergarten for the first time. They swap practical back-to-school and kindergarten prep tips for moms, share the story of a 7-year-old's first "breakup," and give an honest update on toddler eye patching for lazy eye (amblyopia).

The conversation turns into real talk about mental load and burnout for working mothers — and an attempt to "romanticize your everyday" as moms, from Starbucks runs to chaotic family dinners.

They also dig into potty training struggles, toddler bathroom chaos, and a genius home-organization hack using ChatGPT for decluttering and interior design.

If you're a working mom juggling a 9-to-5, a side hustle, and the beautiful mess of raising little kids, this episode is your permission slip to laugh at the chaos with us.

This episode was brought to you by Social Med Consultants .

a mom-owned social media marketing agency helping medical and aesthetic practices grow with strategy that gets real results — from social strategy and branding to top-tier filming and photography. Mention "From 9 to Mom" for a free marketing audit.

Okay but can we talk about how Katie Holter went from a chaotic pediatrician's appointment to founding an entire baby product brand??

Katie, mom of three and founder of August & Ivy, sits down with Catie and Danielle to spill literally everything.

She takes us behind the scenes of building a product from scratch — patents, tech packs, factories that ghost you, and why "bamboo fabric" is not the eco win you think it is. Zero industry background, all figured out along the way.

But this isn't just a business episode. Katie gets real about developing severe preeclampsia postpartum, leaning hard on her village while juggling three kids and two full-time jobs, and why she believes every mom with an idea should just take the first step already.

Total self-starter energy, and we are here for it.

Want to try the Ivy Go bag for yourself? Use code 92MOM20 for $20 off.

Follow along with August & Ivy:

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Summer went by way too fast and somehow it's already time to talk backpacks, school supplies, and meet the teacher gifts. In this episode Danielle and Catie catch up from two different houses (long story, it involves strep throat) and dive headfirst into all things back to school.

They talk through the backpack debate (Spidey backpack or big kid plane backpack, does it fit a binder), the never ending list of school supplies and spirit week swag, and why meet the teacher gifts have officially spiraled out of control. Danielle shares her plan to survive Colton's second grade shopping list including a very expensive Messi jersey situation, while Catie preps for kindergarten and preschool at the same time and drops a genius Kohl's Cash hack you need to hear.

They also get a little nostalgic, swapping stories about their own back to school shopping memories growing up, and get real about that weird mix of excitement and sadness that comes with summer ending. Plus some very funny camp stories from the kids that you don't want to miss.

Chapters:

00:00 Danielle and Catie catch up from two different houses
01:06 Counting down to the first day of school
02:23 School supply lists, spirit week, and meet the teacher gifts
05:10 The backpack debate: Spidey backpack vs a new big kid backpack
09:57 Target school supply obsession and the girls section jealousy
11:16 Back to school shopping memories from their own childhoods
17:30 The Kohl's Cash hack you need to know
20:42 Kindergarten prep, the bus, and public school talk
21:26 Funny camp stories that had them laughing