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...

Welcome back to another episode of the Marriage and Motherhood podcast! In today’s episode, we feature one of my favorite health experts, Casey Everhart to talk about how we can start eating our way to feeling happier and more energized, and it doesn't involve dieting.

Casey Everhart brings immense knowledge and firsthand experience on health, fitness, and nutrition. As a personal trainer and nutrition coach with a master’s degree in health and human performance, Casey’s journey started with her struggles with weight, body image, and mental health. From being a competitive gymnast to battling disordered eating, Casey turned her struggles into strength. She now helps busy moms find balance through quick at-home workouts and a sustainable nutrition philosophy.

Protein: The Building Block of Health

One of the central themes of our discussion was the importance of protein in our diets. Casey explains that protein contains amino acids, which are...

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....

Understanding The Impact of Meditation

Meditation is often misunderstood as a practice reserved for yogis, hippies, or people who have a lot of free time. However, Marisa’s journey is a testament to the tangible, life-altering benefits of meditation, even for skeptics.

Marisa Lonic is the founder of Mama Work It and Marisa Lonic Coaching and Consulting. Through her platforms, she helps women manage the juggle of mom life, work life, and everything in between. Initially skeptical about meditation, Marisa has transformed into a staunch advocate, utilizing it both personally and professionally.

How To Get Started with Meditating

Meditating has immense benefits and you can start with guided meditations, both live and recorded. If you've found meditating difficult, know that even seasoned meditators have trouble focusing, so if you find it challenging, know that you're not alone. Guided meditations offer structure, helping novices ease into the...

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...

In this episode of the Marriage and Motherhood Podcast, I am joined by Mikki Gardner to discuss the complex world of co-parenting. Mikki is a certified life and conscious parenting coach, host of the Co-Parenting with Confidence Podcast, and author of The People Pleaser’s Guide to Co-Parenting Well. With her background in navigating life post-divorce and helping moms transition through the emotional and practical difficulties of co-parenting, Mikki shares invaluable insights on managing these complex relationships.

Understanding Co-Parenting and Its Challenges

Co-parenting is a subject that many listeners may not have direct experience in but, as Mikki explains, the principles often apply to all types of parenting, including married couples.

She defines co-parenting as parenting with anyone that you don’t agree with 100 percent of the time. So, across the board, this is everyone.

Mikki emphasizes the significance of being...

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...

What is Mom Rage?

Alexis begins by explaining that anger is one of our six primal emotions and often carries a lot of shame and stigma. For many of us, anger is connected to negative childhood experiences and suppressed feelings. She emphasizes how societal expectations and the immense mental load on mothers contribute to this intense emotion.

Moreover, Alexis discusses the modern push for gentle parenting and how it can sometimes lead to moms emptying themselves emotionally without realizing it. The constant need to empathize with children without addressing our own needs creates a "perfect storm" for mom rage.

Addressing Mom Rage: Key Strategies

Self-Forgiveness

One of the crucial strategies Alexis talks about is self-forgiveness. Moms often hold onto shame and guilt after an outburst, which can perpetuate the cycle of anger. She shares a four-step process she uses with her clients to forgive themselves before they attempt to repair their relationship with their...

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...

This episode is inspired by a recent conversation I had about the dynamics of relationships and the importance of being observant. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you're noticing subtle changes in your partner's behavior and jumping to conclusions without verifying the truth behind those assumptions? If so, you're not alone.

The Power of Observation

Many of us tend to make quick assumptions about why our partners are acting a certain way without taking the time to confirm if those assumptions are true. It's natural to be perceptive and notice changes in demeanor, but it's equally essential to be observant of our own thoughts and beliefs.

Challenging Your Assumptions

One key skill to develop is the ability to challenge our thoughts and differentiate between facts and perceptions. By questioning the validity of our assumptions, we can avoid escalating misunderstandings and conflicts in our relationships.

Communicating Authentically

Articulating our...