In this episode, I am joined by Mitch Blackford, a coach specializing in helping moms navigate the complex transition of motherhood and marriage, to talk about how you can go from roommate to romance.

Understanding the Challenges of Motherhood

Motherhood undeniably transforms a woman's life, presenting unique challenges that often lead to feelings of disconnection and overwhelm. Mitch shared her personal journey, highlighting how transitioning from woman to mom can strain a marriage. This transition often leaves women feeling "touched out" and emotionally drained, leading many to place their intimate relationships on the back burner.

The Importance of Intimacy

One of the primary discussions revolved around the critical topic of intimacy — and how motherhood can often make it seem like a distant concept. Mitch emphasized the commonality of feeling emotionally and physically exhausted, which can cause women to shy away from intimate connections, even though it's a...

Marriage and motherhood can be challenging, but achieving growth and improvement doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes, simple, foundational steps can lead to remarkable changes. Here, we're going to discuss a transformative two-step process that can rejuvenate your marriage, streamline your life, and help you become the parent you aspire to be.

Step 1: Establish a Vision

One of the fundamental questions I ask anyone considering working with me is: "What is it that you are wanting?" Many people struggle to articulate their desires, often focusing on what they don't want rather than what they do want. But without a clear vision, it's nearly impossible to see progress.

Your vision is not about psychic abilities but a crystal-clear picture of the future you desire. It includes every facet of life—your marriage, your parenthood journey, your personal development, your relationships, and your career goals. Having this vision simplifies decision-making. Anytime you're...

Is Love Enough to Sustain a Marriage After Kids?

Welcome back to another episode of the Marriage and Motherhood Podcast! In this episode, we explore whether love is enough to keep a marriage strong after kids.

The Shift: From Partners to Parents

When love leads to marriage, it often stems from the deep affection couples have for each other. But once you become parents, life changes drastically. You now face new responsibilities, time constraints, and a significant shift in your relationship dynamics. The priorities shift from each other to the children, leading many to wonder, "Where does our relationship go from here?"

Unspoken Assumptions and Overlooked Needs

It's easy to fall into the trap of assuming love will conquer all challenges. However, once kids enter the picture, love often turns implied rather than demonstrated. The acts of love shift to task-based activities: feeding the kids, handling household chores, and managing schedules. While love fuels these...

Welcome back to another episode of The Marriage and Motherhood Podcast. This topic was inspired by a post I stumbled on in a Facebook group. A woman was asking if sleeping in separate rooms would hurt the marriage. 

Rest or Romance?

A woman in the group shared her problem: she and her husband have trouble sleeping together due to conflicting sleep habits. From taking up too much space to noisy disturbances. Although they have a fantastic relationship outside the bedroom, the poor sleep quality was leading to resentment.

Her main concern? Social norms. The idea of sleeping in separate rooms seemed drastic, and she wondered if it would drive them toward divorce.

Challenging Social Norms

If you’ve been following along with my content, you know that I’m an advocate for challenging social norms. Every marriage is unique, and what works for one couple might not work for another. The concept of following societal expectations blindly can often hinder...

The Changing Dynamics

If you reflect on your pre-kid era, you'll likely notice just how much your marriage has transformed. Pre-kids life was simpler. You could plan spontaneous trips, enjoy quiet dinners, and had flexibility that parenthood quickly consumes. But, when kids come into the picture, their needs and schedules take precedence. This fundamental shift can place significant strain on a marriage.

The Overwhelm of Raising Kids

The pressures and overwhelming responsibilities of parenthood often catch us off-guard. From ensuring we meet their basic needs to managing tantrums and navigating school schedules, every aspect of life requires meticulous planning. It's no longer about just the two of you but about balancing a child's needs with maintaining marital harmony.

Shifting Roles and Added Responsibilities

Becoming parents introduces 'Mom' and 'Dad' roles. This added layer of responsibility can alter how we perceive and interact with our partners....

Welcome back to another episode of the Marriage and Mother podcast! This is part two of the series "What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Parent," designed to support aspiring and current parents with as much knowledge as possible to set them up for success.

The Realities of Self-Care

Last episode, we delved into the evolving dynamic of partnership and how to navigate those changes. Today, we'll be focusing on self-care. Self-care is vastly underrated.

At the very core of our life experiences — as women, partners, mothers, daughters, friends, business owners, or any of the myriad roles we play — self-care is pivotal. If we don't take care of ourselves, every facet of our lives can suffer. Imagine walking around with a baseline feeling of 15 on a scale from 0 to 100, where 100 is the best possible state of being. It's like living in a world where you're perpetually cranky, a lens that taints every experience negatively.

Reframing Self-Care

Just like the...

Welcome back to another episode of the Marriage and Motherhood podcast. In this episode, we're diving into how marriage evolves after you become parents. This topic is relevant to both new and seasoned parents, offering insights and practical advice to help you navigate the changes that parenthood brings to your relationship.

The Changing Dynamics of Partnership

Partnership Before Parenthood

Before you have kids, partnership primarily revolves around mutual decision-making, consultation on important matters, and offering each other support. These principles still hold post-parenthood but on a much different scale. Before kids, it's simpler: Do we make decisions together? Do you consult with me on big matters? Are you helpful to me? Do I feel like we're a team?

The Shift Post-Parenthood

After kids, the specificity of roles becomes more critical. Our expectations for our partners drastically increase. The granular details—like "Who's going to do what?" need...

7 Key Lessons Learned from Our Cross-Country Move and Major Life Changes

After a recent cross-country move from California to Atlanta and a myriad of changes, I'm excited to share the lessons my husband and I have learned.

Whether you're grappling with big decisions or navigating the complexities of family life, these insights could make all the difference. Let's dive in!

1. Keep Each Other in the Loop

Communicating effectively is fundamental. During our move, my husband and I realized that failing to stay updated on each other’s schedules and plans led to a lot of miscommunication. Establishing a routine check-in, whether nightly or weekly, ensures that both partners are aligned and reduces unnecessary friction. One great tool we've found helpful is the Skylight calendar, which integrates with Google Calendar and keeps us organized and on the same page.

2. Discuss Your Goals

Aligning on goals helps you work together rather than at cross-purposes. Take the time to discuss...

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If you love the episode, remember to subscribe, leave a review and share it!

Parenting and Partnership: A Fresh Start For Your Marriage

Is your marriage feeling the impact of the challenges that come with parenthood?

Parenthood doesn't have to mean the end of your love story. Parenthood is just the start of a new chapter in your marriage. Your marriage can have that spark even while you're raising kids.

Don't let yourself get jaded or believe that marriage has to be hard after you become parents. You can learn how to balance love and parenting and make your marriage even better than you imagined. Parenthood was never meant to come between you and your love.

While society may lay out a traditional roadmap for us — education, career, serious relationship, marriage, and family — the reality is that marriage is not a finite goal. It's a journey of growth, evolving with time.

The Excitement of Beginnings:

From the early days of envisioning a life together to the...