Motherhood can be beautiful, messy, overwhelming, and sometimes surprisingly lonely. But finding your village can make all the difference!

In this episode of The Ashley Ventrice Show, I’m joined by Ali, the founder of NJ Stay at Home Mom, an online community with 10,000 Instagram followers dedicated to helping moms connect through free mom events and activities throughout Northern New Jersey.

We talk about the special events Ali shares and hosts, why building friendships as a mom can feel so difficult, and what motherhood looks like in today’s world. If you’re a toddler mom who wants to meet other moms but feels shy, nervous, or intimidated about showing up to a group where you don’t know anyone, this episode is for you! We share encouragement and practical tips to help you take that first step toward finding your people.

Ali and I also have so much in common! We were both teachers who decided to take our passion for helping families and turn it into an online platform to bring people together.

Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, a working mom, or a mom navigating the toddler years, you deserve connection, support, and friendships that remind you you’re not alone.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How NJ Stay at Home Mom helps mothers find free events and connect with other moms in Northern New Jersey
• Why making mom friends can feel so hard in adulthood
• How to overcome shyness and attend your first mom group or event
• The challenges of being a mom in today’s busy, demanding world
• How two former teachers turned their passion into online communities
• Why finding your village matters, especially during the toddler years

If you’re ready to get out of the house, meet new friends, and find your mom village, tune in!

Enjoyed this episode? Follow The Ashley Ventrice Show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, leave a review, and share this episode with a mom who could use a little connection and encouragement.

Because raising emotionally resilient children starts with supporting the moms raising them, too.

Connect with Ali at thenjsahm

Follow Me:

👉 Visit my website http://www.ashleyventrice.com

👉 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ashleyventriceco

👉 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleyventriceco

👉 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ashleyventriceco

👉 Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/ashleyventriceco

Join:

👉 Toddler Community on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1641FC2sDa/

In memory of Hayden Panettiere, who spent years speaking openly about her postpartum depression and the complicated relationship with her mother-slash-manager — this episode is about the thread that connects the two. An OT mom breaks down the real research on childhood adversity and postpartum risk, how long postpartum actually lasts (hint: way longer than six weeks), the warning signs to watch for during pregnancy, and why medication isn't one-size-fits-all. You did nothing wrong. Let's talk about it.

Follow Me:

👉 Visit my website http://www.ashleyventrice.com

👉 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ashleyventriceco

👉 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleyventriceco

👉 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ashleyventriceco

👉 Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/ashleyventriceco

Join:

👉 Toddler Community on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1641FC2sDa/

What if the secret to raising emotionally intelligent kids was hiding in a picture book? This week, I’m joined by sisters Eunice and Sabrina Moyle — the creative duo behind Hello!Lucky, the bestselling children’s book brand known for My Mom Is Magical!, My Box of Feelings, and other joy-filled, pun-loving reads that help kids name and navigate big emotions.

As a Child Development therapist, I geeked out with them on how storytelling shapes emotional development in toddlers and preschoolers — and how parents can use books as everyday tools for building resilience, self-awareness, and connection at home.

In this episode, we cover:

• How Hello! Lucky designs books that teach real emotional regulation skills
• Age-appropriate ways to talk to toddlers about feelings (without the meltdown)
• Using humor and play to make hard topics (potty training, transitions, big emotions) easier
• What Child Development-backed research says about emotional development in early childhood
• Practical takeaways for building your child’s “feelings vocabulary” starting today

Whether you’re a toddler mom looking for your next favorite bedtime read or you just want simple tools to help your child understand their emotions, this conversation is packed with warmth, expertise, and laugh-out-loud moments.

Hello! Lucky:

👉 Website https://www.hellolucky.com

👉 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/helloluckykids/

👉 Purchase “My Box of Feelings” https://amzn.to/44F1tTi

Follow Me:

👉 Visit my website http://www.ashleyventrice.com

👉 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ashleyventriceco

👉 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleyventriceco

👉 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ashleyventriceco

👉 Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/ashleyventriceco

Join:

👉 Toddler Community on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1641FC2sDa/

Follow Me:

👉 Visit my website http://www.ashleyventrice.com

👉 YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ashleyventriceco

👉 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleyventriceco

👉 Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ashleyventriceco

👉 Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/ashleyventriceco

Join:

👉 Toddler Community on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1641FC2sDa/