(some tech difficulties, apologies!)
**POSSIBLE TRIGGER WARNING** In this week's SERIES FINALE-- I brought all the way back, from a special period in my life--my high school bff, Isabella Lamoureux! Bella is a very proud trans woman, Mama Brain to her cats, & fellow geek! Bella discusses her own personal & difficult journey, as a trans woman, but also sharing the hate, the struggles in young womanhood, the judgement, the strength, we ALL WOMEN, have to endure-- simply because we are not the "norm" type of women. Bella & I discuss what makes a woman, for us, and that a woman isn't just one thing. Bella beautifully expresses that as a woman, she didn't feel the acceptance and love, from a community that should have. We mention that EVERY woman, should go and support each other, in their own personal struggles-- because we are already are put on this judgmental platform, that doesn't need more judgment! Series finale ending with how it started: women connecting as women! WOMEN + TRANSGENDER WOMEN+ DISABLED WOMEN= WOMEN 

Find Confessions of a Mama Brain, in the very near future.. we will be evolving in multiple different ways, while still supporting Mamas, as the main objective! Thank you, thank you, for sharing, getting triggered, & supporting, during these amazing THREE seasons, with me!

**POSSIBLE TRIGGER WARNING** In this week's SURPRISE BONUS EPISODE-- I (solo, for the LAST TIME), discuss the origin of my social media love/hate relationship, how it affected me, and my mental health, as a young adult. I also shine a light on how social media TREATS Mamas, and how that spills onto our motherhood, and causing to question everything else. I share and remind that we can still control how little or how much we take in.. to hype our fellow parents up--instead of using social media as a means of 'attack'. I mention my hopes for how social media would feel & look like--a community of parents, just like us.. SUPPORTING!

**TRIGGER WARNING** In this week's episode-- I return one of my favorite humans, and a repeat Mama Brain guest offender-- Bhavna Middlebrook! Bhavna is a fellow Mama Brainer of her three kiddos, while being the realtor-extravaganza,  PTA-community leading unicorn. Bhavna and I discuss the origins of our toxic traits, and how it had begun to affect the future relationships, and past ones, we had to choose to walk away from. Bhavna & I mention how we strive to break that toxic trait cycle, when it comes to our motherhood-- but also shining a light, when that doesn't always get to happen. We also REMIND that we are ONLY human, we WILL mess all this up... and yet, we still try to live another day, for a better less-toxic-ish family life, and a HEALTHIER Mama!

In this week's episode, I brought back some of my former Mama Brain guests! My cousin Sam Sullivan, NY-based photographer, Nicki Rae, fellow podcaster, and author, and one of my oldest friends Melissa--all share our different experiences, from our different backgrounds-- with our children's milestone challenges, and developmental delays. We mentioned how easy it was, not knowing or caring what expectations were, for our parents...and how drastically that's changed NOW. We discussed our first fears, and how we are continuing to advocate for our children, researching the materials, to best support our kiddos--but remembering THEY ARE JUST KIDDOS. I also mention remembering to  break the stigma and constant comparisons between our children and other mom's experiences, TRUST YOUR MOM GUT, and JUST BE THERE, FOR YOUR CHILD-- is what should truly be measured & expected!

Sam Sullivan: @samsullivanphotography & samsullivanphotography.com
Nicki Rae: @authornickirae

Resources: healthychildren.org; parentcenterub.org; copaa.org
    

In this week's episode, I discuss the-still-stressful-life of being a parent, and balancing virtual work & those pesky Zoom meetings. I mentioned my evolution, as a work from home Mama Brain, and what the last three virtual years have shaped my family, as well as myself. I share how I had to RE-prioritize my children and mental health, when it came to my professionalism, and being present for those Zoom meetings--while also remembering I need to be more than just their Mama. I remind us that the only job that matters, that counts-- is the Mama gig, and knowing jobs come and go, but what our kids see and receive from us--should be the motivation. 

Hi! I am back, from my hiatus! We continue with season 3(and it's the LAST season, of my series!), discussing how much we beat ourselves up, in regards to all things parenting...but that 'gentle' parenting, can feel like damn hemorrhoids, sometimes. I mention my still-current struggles with using my "inside" voice, instead of the yelling--but I also admit that my own children trigger me. And that is normal. I discuss what we feel is right, for US, in our home. And at the end of the day, we not only survived parenthood--our children are still safe, loved, and both the children and I are still learning how to make it through another day, and try our best to NOT do, what the previous day entailed. It's a balance, and each family, each parent, has to find and navigate their own 'gentle', in parenting.

On this week's episode- I bravely discuss the trials, tribulations, and all the stress that comes with our children, and the gift that doesn't keep giving: Santa. I mention the expectations our overworked parent selves, tend to set. The fear we have, of breaking that Christmas magic, if we spill not only the secret of Santa's BS, but the fact the parents are the Santa. As if that's a disappointment? I discuss how my beautiful and romanticized upbringing, keeps  making me feel that the expensive gifts and ideas for new traditions--should hold the same effect. I try to remind us that the magic and gifts are all around our children, and as long as we help them see that is the priority-- whatever gift we provide, wouldn't matter less!

**Possible Trigger Warning**In this week's episode-- I brought back, my MVP of my podcast's guest appearances: Yazmin Diaz. Yazmin is a fellow Mama Brainer of 3 boys, and one of the super moms I most admire. Yazmin and I, candidly & morbidly, discuss how we(in our OCD Mama Brains) think our spouses would manage, should they move on, and when, and how the routine of our children-- would look like, and our families' lives, after our demise. As funny as our would-be scenarios sound, we also mention our gratitude, for our partners. The trust of knowing our spouses would honor us, and our love for them, while making sure our children have the life, we had envisioned for them. We also mention the gratitude for their support, and our wishes--while navigating the difficult conversations, when it comes to our family and mortality. 

In this week's episode-- I discuss the true importance, reasons, and ways, us Mamas/parents take showers. We, as parents, often feel guilty & even anxiety, to give ourselves any EXTRA LONG time, for ourselves, even as small as showering. I mention how I used to be scared to maneuver shower & having littles, but as my motherhood evolved, so did my abilities to be able to enjoy those showers..AND NOT FEEL GUILTY ABOUT IT. It may start with just a shower, but we have to keep making spaces, for our self care.. to feel & be better people.. and therefore, better parents!