Every Other Weekend

And we don't mean the delightful Disney movie here. We're talking about some very real challenges that parents may be struggling with, especially if their kids are dealing with mental health issues. It can feel very scary and isolating. It can be hard to find resources, so we're going to help you with that. On this episode, we talk with certified parent coach Andy Goldstrom, discussing everything from the stigma that prevents us from talking honestly and openly about mental health to techniques for coparenting more effectively, whether you are still married to that coparent or not. Andy provides us insights, shares his personal experiences, and creates a safe, nonjudgmental space for us to talk about moving from feeling parent trapped to parent prepared.

To learn more about Parent Coaching visit www.parentsjourneycoaching.net

Or contact [email protected] to schedule a free discovery call.

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In this episode, Allison and Jen discuss the experience of Jen and Scott taking the lead on moving Thing 1 into her sophomore year of college. Allison talks about the conscious effort she made to take a backseat and "let go" instead of spearheading the move-in process. She shares how challenging yet rewarding it was to leave space for Jen, Scott, and Thing 1 to have this experience together. They cover the practical elements like dorm shopping and negotiating rental cars, and the emotional aspects of feeling left out while also feeling liberated. Ultimately, Allison sees the value in stepping aside to strengthen other relationships in Thing 1's life. Jen provides thoughtful perspective on how the move went overall and how she, Scott, and Thing 1 worked together through the transition. While letting go as a parent can be difficult but creates space for others to step in and deepen their bonds. There is immense value in giving your co-parent and stepparent space to show up. Even when letting go is hard, have faith that your child is still supported and cared for by others. It allows your child more independence, helps them gain confidence in themselves, their other parent and their stepparents, and can keep you from feeling overwhelmed by giving you as the primary parent a much-needed break! If you can learn to be like Elsa and “let it go,” it can benefit your whole family.

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Get ready for some "first day of school" vibes in this episode! Like friends seeing each other for the first time in a couple months, we catch you up on all our summer highlights, including a catastrophic incident involving fake eyelashes and an errant contact lens. We talk about how it is hot as balls here in North Texas. And then Allison makes a stunning reveal. There are also some exciting changes to the EOW website and socials as well as a sneak peek of some of the great content we have for you in Season Two. We're introducing Every Other Weekend-er challenges for you to try and an easy way to subscribe to EOW so you don't miss a thing! We're ready for an awesome second season and want you to share in all the mayhem, laughs, and things we learn in our blended family's journey.

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In our Season One finale, Editor Julie and Producer Marc host Every Other Weekend Showdown. Allison, Jen, and our VERY SPECIAL GUEST Scott face off with revealing questions about each other. Hilarity ensues. Join the fun as we wrap up our very first season. Thank you for your support of Every Other Weekend! It's been quite a ride and we've enjoyed sharing our experiences with you! in a few weeks we'll return with more episodes, some fascinating guests, and the laughter, tears and swearing you've come to expect!

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Our kids are amazing, resilient creatures. They are seemingly quick to adapt to new routines and family structures. Who can blame us for thinking that they've sailed through a divorce with little to no impact? What we find is that, much like an iceberg, there can be a lot more going on beneath the surface. Their fears, their discomfort, and their desire to not burden us can keep them from sharing some of the feelings they have about our divorces. Even with "good" divorces, kids have concerns or feelings that may bubble up - sometimes right away, sometimes years later. Jen and Allison talk about the need to check in with our kids and strategies for doing so. Because if you're not, you can get blindsided and go down harder than the Titanic, and then we're all fighting to get on that door.

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Ah, motherhood. Historically, we've been told it's our penultimate job as women. And it brings with it ALL. THE. FEELS. It can be rewarding and exhausting and wonderful and terrible all at the same time. And how are we acknowledged for all the work we do every single day as moms? An annual brunch. And that's if we make the reservation ourselves. And what about all the women who mother people in their lives although they may not have physically given birth? We discuss the historical origins of Mother's Day, the very limited societal definition of being a mother, and figure out some ways to acknowledge all the people in our lives who do the job of mothering. We hope to create space for ALL the different ways to "mom" and all the different ways to celebrate it.  We all deserve it, whatever form it takes, because there ain't no hood like the motherhood.

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Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth are the latest in a long line of celebrity splits that have hit the headlines. And, as many celebrities do, they've issued a statement about their impending divorce that seems unrelatable for some of us. Jen and Allison discuss an article about celebrity divorce, celebrity culture more generally, and how all of it can affect us "regular" folks when we're dealing with that life change as well. Are we being unfair to ourselves? Are we being unfair to celebrities? We try to hash it out. The only thing we really agree on is that we love Reese and all her pieces.

Here is a link to the article we discuss:
Why don’t we talk — really talk — about divorce? | Cognoscenti (wbur.org)

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After a painful divorce and battle with breast cancer, Julie found love. But now she had to figure out how to blend the two families, become a stepmom, and deal with two sets of twin girls! Julie shares some of the unique challenges in her family situation and we talk about how the past may still be influencing the present. (Thanks again, intergenerational trauma!) Julie is a beautiful example of someone in the thick of it who is learning and growing and still evolving on her stepmom journey. She is doing it with bravery, grace, and humor. We all can learn a little something from her and thank her for sharing her story.

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Leo Tolstoy famously said, “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” While we don’t completely agree with that sentiment, we’ve repeatedly said that every family and divorce is different. Circumstances can vary wildly, and we are well aware that our experience is not universal. So today we are going to hear from our very first guest – our editor Julie. In the first of a 2-part interview, she shares her story about her background and family history, her first marriage, her difficult divorce and all the aftermath. While some of the details are very different from our experience, we find that a lot of the feelings and challenges have similarities. We are so grateful to have Julie share this raw, honest story.

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We're at it again! In our first episode about mental load, Allison identified the times of year she feels it most and one is fast approaching - end of the school year. The kids are thrilled. The moms are overwhelmed. We discuss some strategies for coping with the crazy and how your mindset going in can make a big difference in how you respond to ALL. THE. THINGS. And that in turn can impact your mental and emotional well-being. We're committed to handling it differently this year. And to giving ourselves some grace, because it's progress, not perfection. If we can just keep Allison from needing a new garage door, it's going to be a huge improvement.

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Website: everyotherweekendpodcast.com
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Merch available at: Every Other Weekend Shop | Printify Pop-Up