In this deeply honest conversation, we unpack divorced parenting, co-parenting expectations, and the emotional reality behind what it actually looks like when two people separate but still share children.

One host shares openly that she doesn’t fully resonate with the word “co-parenting” in her situation — and that becomes the foundation for a raw, layered discussion about communication breakdowns, emotional triggers, healing timelines, and the difference between intention vs reality after divorce.

At its core, this episode is about acceptance — not of perfection, but of reality. And learning how to move forward when the picture you once had no longer exists.

“You can’t fix someone else’s experience of divorce — you can only manage your own.”

Raw. Honest. Unfiltered. Real life parenting after separation.

00:00 – Intro: Divorced parenting vs co-parenting
04:10 – What “co-parenting” actually means (vs reality)
08:35 – Default parent dynamic carries into divorce
13:20 – Trying to create “healthy co-parenting” early on
18:45 – Emotional triggers when communicating with an ex
23:10 – Why separation doesn’t equal emotional distance
27:55 – Different expectations of divorce outcomes
32:40 – “You leave before you leave” discussion
37:15 – Why communication styles break down post-divorce
41:50 – Protecting kids while managing adult emotions
45:30 – The hope of peaceful co-parenting vs reality
49:10 – Identity shift: mother, wife, and now single parent
52:00 – Rebuilding life, stability, and emotional independence
55:10 – Final reflections: acceptance, growth, and moving forward

#ShesNotDone #CoParentingJourney #DivorcedParents #DefaultParent #MomLifeUnfiltered #MotherhoodUnfiltered #DivorceHealing #SingleMomLife #BlendedFamilies #ParentingAfterDivorce #EmotionalLoad #MentalLoadMoms #ModernMotherhood #RealParentingTalk #HealingJourney #RelationshipTalk #MomPodcast #HonestConversations #WomenSupportingWomen #LifeAfterDivorce #ParentingRealTalk

Thank you for being here! And remember, you are NOT alone and you are Not done.

xxx Andrea & Kouelee

Here is where you can find us online:

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/shesnotdonepod/

Tiktok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@shesnotdonepod

Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/@Shesnotdonepod

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/Shesnotdonepod?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

What does it really mean to be the "default parent"?

In this episode, Andrea and Kouelee dive into the invisible responsibilities that often fall on one parent—the mental load, emotional labor, decision-making, and constant availability that come with being the default parent. They discuss how children naturally gravitate toward one parent, why many moms struggle to "clock out," and how carrying the weight of a household can impact marriage, connection, intimacy, and personal identity.

From being touched out and exhausted at the end of the day to navigating resentment, communication breakdowns, and the challenge of trusting your partner to step in, this conversation is an honest look at the realities many parents experience but rarely talk about openly.

Whether you're married, divorced, co-parenting, or simply feeling overwhelmed by the mental load of family life, this episode will remind you that you're not alone.

Timestamps

00:00 – What being the default parent really means

04:30 – Why kids always seem to choose mom first

08:15 – The invisible mental load parents carry

12:00 – Did we unintentionally create the default parent dynamic?

16:30 – The importance of having a strong co-parent

20:45 – Feeling touched out and craving silence over connection

25:30 – How parenting exhaustion impacts marriage and intimacy

30:00 – Resentment, communication, and relationship breakdowns

34:45 – Surviving the toddler years and reconnecting as a couple

38:30 – Choosing a partner: what really matters when life gets hard

42:00 – Trust, reminders, and carrying the mental load

46:00 – Consistency, emotional safety, and why kids keep coming back to mom

Thank you for being here! And remember, you are NOT alone and you are Not done.

xxx Andrea & Kouelee

Here is where you can find us online:

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/shesnotdonepod/

Tiktok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@shesnotdonepod

Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/@Shesnotdonepod

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/Shesnotdonepod?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

Mom friends can be lifesavers—or leave you completely drained.

In this episode, Kouelee and Andrea dive into the complicated world of mom friendships: how they're formed, why some last a lifetime, and why others fade away. From awkward playground small talk and birthday party anxiety to finding the people you trust with your children, they explore what makes a true mom friend.

The conversation touches on parenting differences, trust, sleepovers, raising kids in Europe versus America, friendship after divorce, and the challenge of making meaningful connections as an introvert. Most importantly, they discuss how the best mom friendships often evolve into something much deeper: real friendship.

Whether you have one trusted mom friend or a whole village, this episode is a reminder that the right people make motherhood a little less lonely.

00:00 – Welcome back + the mom friend who recharged your battery

04:30 – Trust, playdates, and parenting differently than we were raised

09:00 – What makes a truly great mom friend?

13:00 – Why making mom friends as an adult feels so hard

18:00 – The different roles mom friends play in our lives

22:00 – Losing friendships, outgrowing people, and friendship after divorce

27:00 – Sleepovers, trust, and finding your parenting village

30:00 – Making mom friends as an introvert

31:30 – Final thoughts on friendship, community, and motherhood

#MomFriends #MotherhoodUnfiltered #MomsSupportingMoms #VillageMindset #FriendshipAfterKids #FindingYourVillage #IntrovertMom #RealMotherhood #MomConversations #ShesNotDonePodcast

Thank you for being here! And remember, you are NOT alone and you are Not done.

xxx Andrea & Kouelee

Here is where you can find us online:

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/shesnotdonepod/

Tiktok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@shesnotdonepod

Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/@Shesnotdonepod

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/Shesnotdonepod?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio