You know your triggers.

You understand why certain things your kids say or do set you off. You've read the parenting books. You've listened to the podcasts. You know how you want to respond.

And yet — in the moment — you still react.

Why?

Because survival patterns override insight.

In this week's episode, I share how I shifted patterns in my love life — and how the same principles can apply to parenting.

If you understand your triggers but still react in the moment, this episode will show you what's happening in your nervous system — and what shifts it.

https://lessdramamoremama.com/392

Winter can be hard on moms.

And right now, much of the U.S. is dealing with extreme cold, dangerous wind chills, school closures, and being stuck inside more than usual.

When your world shrinks and your responsibilities don't, parenting can feel even heavier.

In this episode, I break down why winter affects your mood, energy, and nervous system. You'll also hear four grounded ways to get through winter without pushing yourself harder.

If winter feels challenging for you, this episode offers understanding, relief, and practical support for getting through this season with more gentleness and intention.

https://lessdramamoremama.com/391

The hardest part of parenting for me, especially as my kids get older, is watching them make a choice I wouldn't make and letting them do it anyway.

I have to take a breath and remind myself—it's their lives, not mine.

In today's episode, I share a personal story about a time when my daughter and I had very different perspectives and how I navigated the tension between trusting her autonomy and honoring my own values.

If you've ever felt torn between wanting to protect your child and wanting them to become independent, this episode will resonate.

https://lessdramamoremama.com/390

There are thoughts many moms have that feel too scary, shameful, or unacceptable to say out loud.

Thoughts like:
"I don't like my kid right now."
"I can't do this anymore."
"I wish I could just disappear."

And almost immediately, those thoughts are followed by guilt, shame, or a voice that says, What kind of mother even thinks this?

That's what today's podcast episode is about.

Not fixing those thoughts.
Not reframing them.
Not judging them.

But about the importance of speaking your truth—allowing yourself to say what's real, even when it feels uncomfortable or risky.

https://lessdramamoremama.com/389

If procrastination has been a lifelong issue for you, as it has been for me, there's a good chance you've spent years trying to solve it.

More discipline. Better systems. Tighter deadlines. Pep talks. Shame.

And if any of that actually worked, I'd be the first one to tell you to do it.

This week's episode looks at procrastination through a nervous system lens, as a response that once served a purpose.

When you understand why your system learned to delay, avoid, shut down, or stay busy with everything except the thing that matters, the pattern starts to make sense. And when something makes sense, you can respond to it differently.

You don't have to push harder or fix yourself.

As you start noticing what your body is doing, you can learn to work with it and take small steps forward.

https://lessdramamoremama.com/388

January can come with a lot of pressure.

Set goals. Build momentum. Hit the ground running. Fix what's not working . . . and do it fast.

Today's episode goes in the opposite direction.

Instead of talking about how to change faster, I talk about why slowing down is often the fastest way to get different results in your parenting.

When something isn't working, it makes sense to want it fixed immediately. Especially if you're snapping at your kids, feeling guilty, or watching yourself repeat patterns you swore you'd stop. The instinct is to push harder and try to do better.

What I see over and over, though, is that trying to change too quickly actually keeps moms stuck in the same patterns.

Listen to the episode to see how slowing down can move you forward faster this year.

https://lessdramamoremama.com/387

I've been choosing a Word of the Year every December since 2014.

It's a practice I return to because it gives me a steady way to orient myself toward how I want to show up, what I want to focus on, and who I want to become.

A Word of the Year can reshape your parenting without the pressure and rigidity of traditional goal setting.

In this last episode of the year, I share what my 2025 word taught me in ways I didn't expect, and which word I'm choosing for 2026. I also give you tips on choosing a word for yourself that supports your growth, rather than coming from self-criticism or "fix yourself" energy.

This episode is reflective, practical, and meant to help you move into 2026 with more intention and aliveness.

Do you have a word for 2026? Let me know what it is!

https://lessdramamoremama.com/386

In the Chinese zodiac, 2025 was the Year of the Snake, associated with shedding old layers and releasing what no longer fits.

2026 is the Year of the Horse, which represents forward movement, momentum, and action.

As we head into the last weeks of December, I wanted to bring back an episode from the podcast archives that fits naturally with this transition and discusses what it takes to reinvent yourself from the inside out.

https://lessdramamoremama.com/385