In this episode, Vanessa is joined by her daughters, Laken and Claire, for an honest, thoughtful conversation about Christmas: what makes it magical, and what so often turns it into work.

Together, they reflect on childhood memories, evolving traditions, and the pressure to make everything "just right." They talk openly about perfectionism, anxiety, and OCD, and how the holidays can intensify spiraling thoughts—especially for moms and daughters who care deeply.

This episode is an invitation to slow down, embrace uncertainty, and protect the feeling of Christmas from the pressure to perfect it. Because the magic isn't found in doing more, but rather in presence, connection, and tenderness.

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The teenage years bring big emotions, shifting boundaries, and a new kind of loneliness for moms. With kids' stories becoming more private, we explore the big question: how do we find support without oversharing? Ashley Reeves joins Vanessa in this episode as they dive into vulnerability, safe friendships, resilience research, and why a strong community isn't just good for moms—it's protective for our kids. An essential listen for anyone parenting teens.

Books:

Tiny Humans, Big Emotions

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Vanessa is joined by her sisters in another episode where they discuss the sneaking out hijinks they all got up to in a family of 12 kids as well as how they deal with their own families' stories of teens sneaking around. They wrestle with the big question: how do you trust your kids and let them have their own freedom while also protecting and doing your duty as a parent when it comes to curfews, bedtime, and rules of the home?

Vanessa's sister Shelly also shares about an upcoming product she and her husband are working on called Analog that helps protect families from the dangers of sneaking around online. She provides a checklist to watch out for:

• Set a baseline
  • Check and recheck the parental controls because they do reset
  • Don't let kids delete or install apps without permission
  • Limit screen time on apps
• Also watch out for:
  • Kids changing the timezones
  • Redownloading apps
  • Using VPNs
  • Using Siri to get around certain parental controls
  • Friends' phones