Amy sits down with therapist Shelley Martinez to talk about one of the most common and misunderstood challenges moms face—anxiety. Shelley opens up about her personal experiences with perfectionism and overachievement before motherhood, and how becoming a mom forced her to confront her anxious patterns. Together, they explore how anxiety manifests physically, why traditional thought-based approaches often fall short, and how moms can use body-based techniques like diaphragmatic breathing, tapping, and movement to calm the nervous system. Shelley’s story is a reminder that healing doesn’t mean eliminating anxiety—it means changing your relationship with it.

Key Takeaways:

• Anxiety isn’t just in your head—it lives in your body, too.

• Breathing techniques like the 4-4-6-2 pattern can calm your vagus nerve and stop fight-or-flight.

• Movement, singing, and laughter are powerful regulation tools for moms.

• You can model emotional regulation for your kids through your own calm.

• Healing anxiety is about rewiring—not perfection.

Highlighted Quotes:

“I didn’t want to be the kind of mom whose kids only remembered the sound of me gasping.” – Shelley Martinez
“You can’t just think your way out of anxiety. Your body has to feel safe first.” – Amy Grace
“As long as you have a body, your nervous system will respond to breath.” – Shelley Martinez
“Every time we learn something new, we’re literally rewiring our brain.” – Shelley Martinez

Keywords: motherhood anxiety, nervous system regulation, diaphragmatic breathing, vagus nerve, tapping therapy, mom stress, emotional regulation for moms, body-based healing

Resources Mentioned:

• Free 25-minute Instant Calm class from Shelley

• Amy’s therapy and coaching resources: amygrace.bio

• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

About the Guest:
Shelley Martinez is a licensed therapist with nearly three decades of experience helping clients heal anxiety, stress, and trauma. After navigating her own lifelong anxiety and motherhood, she now teaches practical, evidence-based tools for rewiring the nervous system. She offers workshops, coaching, and online resources to help women create calm, grounded lives. Learn more at shelleymartinez.com.

About the Host:
Amy Grace is a licensed therapist, course creator, author and podcast host, centering everything she does on one mission—supporting moms to be happy, healthy, thriving, supermoms. For more information about all her offerings and resources, check her out at www.amygrace.bio.

Crisis Disclaimer:
If you are struggling with severe anxiety, depression, or thoughts of self-harm, please reach out for help. In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For international resources, visit [findahelpline.com], which connects you to free, confidential support worldwide.

The holidays can be joyful, sentimental, and full of connection—but they can also stir up anxiety, overwhelm, and boundary violations that leave moms emotionally drained. In this Supermom Short, Amy breaks down practical, real-world tools for setting and enforcing boundaries with family during holiday gatherings. From time limits and parenting decisions to physical boundaries and emotional safety, this episode empowers moms to protect their peace without cutting off important relationships.

• Boundaries are not walls—they’re doors that let in what’s healthy and keep out what harms your peace.

• You can prepare your partner and kids with a simple plan or signal.

• You don’t owe long explanations. A calm, repeated sentence (“We’re heading out at 3”) is enough.

• You can protect your kids in real time with simple redirections.

  Post-event debriefing helps create a better plan for next year.

• “Boundaries help you protect your own emotional bandwidth—and your family’s wellbeing.”

• “If your boundaries make people uncomfortable, their discomfort doesn’t require your guilt.”

• “You’re not responsible for everyone else’s holiday expectations.”

Keywords: holiday boundaries, family dynamics, motherhood stress, emotional safety, parenting boundaries, holiday gatherings, anxiety during holidays

• Emotional regulation strategies (breathing, visualization)

• Communication tools like “broken record” and redirection
  

About Your Host

Amy Grace is a licensed therapist, course creator, author and podcast host, centering everything she does on one mission—supporting moms to be happy, healthy, thriving, supermoms. For more information about all her offerings and resources, check her out at www.amygrace.bio.

This episode discusses emotional overwhelm and family stress but does not replace therapy. If you are struggling with significant distress, please reach out to a qualified mental health provider or crisis resource in your area.

In this inspiring conversation, Amy Grace chats with coach and mother Michele Hoover about the emotional and physical challenges she faced as a young mom battling chronic illness, isolation, and relentless self-comparison. Michele shares how years of feeling unseen and unsupported led her into deep burnout—and how nervous system regulation, mindset work, and emotional healing transformed her approach to motherhood.

You’ll hear real talk on imperfect parenting, attachment styles, people-pleasing, and the surprising power of silly moments on a living room floor. If you’ve ever felt like you’re not enough, this episode will leave you feeling validated, understood, and inspired to start showing yourself the same compassion you offer everyone else.

Key Takeaways

• Chronic illness and unrecognized stress often go hand-in-hand—especially for moms constantly in survival mode.

• Comparison is a major motherhood trap that can lead to disconnection and self-doubt.

• Nervous system regulation is a critical (and often missing) piece of healing and parenting with peace.

• Repair and vulnerability in parenting—especially with teens—can transform relationships.

• Shifting “I should” to “I could” creates space for self-compassion and intention.

• Kids don’t expect perfection—they need love, presence, and repair.

• Embracing your imperfections helps your kids feel safe embracing theirs.

Key Quotes:

From Michele Hoover:

• “I was in survival mode for years without even realizing it.”

• “Comparison is the thief of connection—not just with others, but with yourself.”

• “There is no expectation from your children for you to be perfect. They just want to know they are loved.”

• “The compassion you give everyone else becomes your superpower when you turn it inward.”

• “You’re not failing. You’re just carrying an expectation backpack that isn’t even yours.”

From Amy Grace:

• “Instead of focusing on the highlight reel, we so often get stuck in our outtakes.”

• “Yes, your kid might need therapy. So do we all—and that doesn’t mean you failed as a mom.”

• “Our biggest weaknesses are often the flip side of our greatest strengths.”

• “I will hold on to hope when you can’t.”

Michele Hoover is a coach, educator, and mom of two teens who helps women reconnect with themselves by integrating mindset coaching, attachment theory, and nervous system regulation. After years of chronic illness, burnout, and perfectionism, Michele transformed her life and now supports others in doing the same. She’s passionate about helping moms release shame, rebuild identity, and rediscover joy in motherhood through deep compassion and connection.

• Michele’s Website: ⁠www.michelehoovercoaching.com⁠

• Free Resource: Five Teas to Tame Overwhelm — find it on her website

About Your Host:

Amy Grace is the heart behind Everyday Supermoms, a podcast that inspires and empowers mothers by sharing diverse stories of resilience and connection. As a licensed therapist, she supports moms through all stages of motherhood with transformative therapy intensives and signature courses like The Motherhood Mindset Reset and Create Your Own Motherhood. A mom of six, Amy draws from her own journey—from single parenting to blended families—to create a community where mothers can embrace their unique paths with confidence and grace.
🔗 For more info and your FREE Embracing Your Inner Supermom Workbook, visit www.everydaysupermoms.com
💌 Never Miss an Episode: Sign up here to get weekly updates, summaries, and mom-life tips.

Amy marks 100 episodes with the core lessons moms repeat: expectations rarely match reality; you get to create your own version of motherhood; self-care is essential maintenance, not indulgence; community is non-negotiable; and resilience blooms when you hold the “ands” of motherhood—hard and beautiful.

Key Takeaways

• Expectations vs. reality is where struggle and growth are born.

• “Create your own motherhood”—ditch the box, tailor rhythms to your strengths.

• Self-care = daily maintenance (sleep, nourishment, support), not just spa days.

• Build a village—moms were never meant to do this solo.

• Hold the “ands”: tired and thankful; overwhelmed and proud.

Highlighted Quotes

• “Being a supermom isn’t about doing it all. It’s about doing it with purpose.”

• “Resilience is the superpower.”

• “You are allowed to be tired and thankful.”

Keywords
motherhood expectations, self-care for moms, build your village, resilience, emotional flexibility, Supermom identity, mom mental health

Resources Mentioned

• Supermom Resource Bundle

• Everyday Supermoms website topic search (postpartum, empty nest, etc.).

  NEW PROGRAM: Supermom Sisterhood Coaching Community

About the Host
Amy Grace is a licensed therapist, course creator, author and podcast host, centering everything she does on one mission—supporting moms to be happy, healthy, thriving, supermoms. For more information about all her offerings and resources, check her out at www.amygrace.bio.

Emily Gorrie shares her before-and-after of motherhood: high-achieving, box-checking life → a tender season of postpartum struggle, loss of control, and “where did I go?” She walks us through the mindset and micro-changes that helped her reimagine motherhood—starting with honest emotional check-ins, subtracting tasks and expectations, and creating pockets of support and joy.

Key Takeaways

• Tiny, consistent changes shift your whole trajectory over time.

• Subtract first: delegate, press pause, or drop the “shoulds” to create room for you.

• Emotional check-ins are a daily compass; name it so you can navigate it.

• Community doesn’t have to be perfect—micro-moments of support matter.

• It’s okay to change your mind. Most decisions aren’t permanent.

Highlighted Quotes

• “Taking things off my plate is how I put myself back on it.” — Emily

• “Action grants us clarity.” — Emily

• “Very few decisions in life are permanent.” — Amy

Keywords
Motherhood joy, postpartum, perfectionism, control, burnout, nervous system, self-care for moms, boundaries, community, therapy for moms

About the Guest
Emily Gorrie is an early motherhood coach who offers compassionate, hands-on support to new moms navigating the transition into early motherhood. She creates a safe, grounded space for women to feel seen, supported, and connected—especially during a time that can feel isolating. Through personalized guidance, Emily helps mothers invite more joy and self-love into their daily lives, so they can show up as the mom they want to be for their family.

She is a mom of two and the host of Project: Mom, a podcast sharing honest, unfiltered stories of women journeying through motherhood and entrepreneurship.

Emily is also the voice behind Reimagine Motherhood, where she helps moms release perfectionism, subtract the nonessential, and rediscover joy through small, sustainable shifts. Her story includes an emergency C-section, a tough recovery, and an undiagnosed postpartum season that sparked honest conversations and practical tools.

Want to connect with Emily or learn more about her work? Visit emilygorrie.com or follow her on Instagram @reimagine.motherhood. Find all of her resources at https://linktr.ee/emilyfgorrie.

About the Host
Amy Grace is a licensed therapist, course creator, author and podcast host, centering everything she does on one mission—supporting moms to be happy, healthy, thriving, supermoms. For more information about all her offerings and resources, check her out at www.amygrace.bio.

Between Halloween sugar highs and December wish lists, November is the sweet spot to build real-deal gratitude—not as a holiday task, but a heart habit. Amy shares how gratitude lowers anxiety, strengthens relationships, and trains our brains to spot what’s good—then walks through simple family practices you can start today: table prompts, gratitude jars, weekly thank-you notes, mindful family walks, charitable giving, and the flip-the-list “already-have” exercise.

Key Takeaways

• Gratitude reduces stress and anxiety and refocuses attention on “what is,” not “what if.”

• Kids who practice gratitude tend to be happier, more empathetic, and sleep better.

• Make it practical: dinner-table prompts, gratitude jars, weekly thank-you notes, mindful walks, and “already-have” lists.

Highlighted Quotes

• “Gratitude is one of those invisible superpowers that makes life feel lighter.”

• “The truth is that gratitude isn’t something we teach once—it’s something we live.”

• “Between the sugar and the shopping, make space for the sweetness of gratitude.”

Keywords
Gratitude for kids, family gratitude practices, anxiety relief for moms, mindfulness for families, thank-you notes, gratitude jar, November gratitude, already-have list, Everyday Supermoms podcast, Amy Grace

Resources Mentioned

• Operation Christmas Child (shoebox giving)

About the Host
Amy Grace is a licensed therapist, course creator, author and podcast host, centering everything she does on one mission—supporting moms to be happy, healthy, thriving, supermoms. For more information about all her offerings and resources, check her out at www.amygrace.bio.

In this week’s Everyday Supermoms episode, Amy Grace chats with Tamara Cortoos, a mother of two, entrepreneur, and founder of the Midlife Crossroads Academy. Tamara shares her journey of becoming a mom later in life after IVF, raising her son and daughter abroad without family support, and eventually moving back to Belgium to give her children roots and connection with their grandparents.

She opens up about the challenges of motherhood—especially letting go of control as her kids grow older, navigating conflict with a child who is just like her, and facing an identity shift in her forties. Tamara vulnerably shares how she grappled with midlife struggles like comparing herself to others, questioning her career path, and confronting ageism when she tried to start over professionally.

Her story led her to create the Midlife Crossroads Academy, a coaching platform that helps women navigate midlife transitions with confidence, purpose, and self-compassion. This episode is filled with wisdom and hope for any mom wondering who she is beyond motherhood and what her next chapter could look like.

Key Takeaways:

• Motherhood at any age comes with unique challenges. Tamara shares her perspective of becoming a mom at 37 and 39, including the joys and the struggles.

• Comparison is a thief of joy. Midlife often brings questions like “Who am I?” and “What’s next?”—and it’s easy to feel behind.

• Letting go of control is key. Parenting kids who mirror your own personality can be hard, but leaning into open communication helps build trust.

• Midlife isn’t just an ending—it’s a transformation. It’s a time to release old definitions of success and embrace new purpose and creativity.

• Community and roots matter. Returning to Belgium gave Tamara’s children a chance to know their grandparents and feel a sense of belonging.

• “Every country has its pros and cons, but you can make home anywhere you go.” – Tamara Cortoos

• “I wasn’t entirely sure I was ready for kids at 37, but I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t.” – Tamara Cortoos

• “I kept thinking, I have everything I wanted, but it still doesn’t feel like enough.” – Tamara Cortoos

• “The biggest sign you’re in midlife is realizing your time isn’t infinite.” – Tamara Cortoos

• “As moms, we’re often in perimenopause at the same time our kids hit puberty—sometimes it feels cruel, but it’s also a chance to grow.” – Amy Grace

• “If we can go back to our kids after conflict and say, ‘I was wrong there,’ we’re teaching them how to build healthier relationships.” – Amy Grace

Tamara is a life coach, entrepreneur, and founder of the Midlife Crossroads Academy, where she helps women navigate the often-overlooked challenges of midlife with confidence and clarity. A mom of two, she became a parent later in life after her own journey with IVF, and has lived in Belgium, Spain, London, and Australia. Drawing on her experiences with motherhood, career transitions, and overcoming ageism, Tamara empowers women to let go of limiting beliefs, embrace their unique strengths, and create lives full of purpose, growth, and belonging.

• Midlife Crossroads Academy – ⁠midlifecrossroadsacademy.com⁠

Amy Grace is the heart behind Everyday Supermoms, a podcast that inspires and empowers mothers by sharing diverse stories of resilience and connection. As a licensed therapist, she supports moms through all stages of motherhood with transformative therapy intensives and signature courses like The Motherhood Mindset Reset and Create Your Own Motherhood. A mom of six, Amy draws from her own journey—from single parenting to blended families—to create a community where mothers can embrace their unique paths with confidence and grace.

👉 For more info and your FREE Embracing Your Inner Supermom Workbook, visit www.everydaysupermoms.com.

In this bite-size Halloween episode, Amy explores five very real fears most moms face—I’m not doing enough, I’m messing up my kids, I’ll lose myself in motherhood, something bad will happen to my kids, and I’ll never get it all together—and offers calm, doable practices for each. Expect reframes, “good enough” mantras, rhythm over balance, and grounded safety steps you can use today.

Key Takeaways

• Swap perfection for presence: My presence matters more than perfection.

• Repair over perfection: Imperfect moments become resilience lessons when we model apology and self-compassion.

• Identity evolves: Schedule non‑negotiables that light you up; design a motherhood that fits you.

• Turn anxiety into action: Safety plans + problem-solving; then release what you can’t control.

• Trade “daily balance” for seasonal rhythm; ask for help, use small resets.

Highlighted Quotes

• “Fear will always show up where love lives—walk with it, don’t let it drive the car.”

• “You cannot be brave if you’re not afraid.”

• “My presence matters more than perfection.”

Keywordsmom anxiety, guilt, perfectionism, resilience, identity in motherhood, safety planning, rhythm over balance, mental load, self-compassion, repair

Resources Mentioned (max 3)

1. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988 (U.S.)

2. National Maternal Mental Health Hotline — 1‑833‑9‑HELP4MOMS (1‑833‑943‑5746)

3. Postpartum Support International — www.postpartum.net

About the HostAmy Grace is a licensed therapist, course creator, author and podcast host, centering everything she does on one mission—supporting moms to be happy, healthy, thriving, supermoms. For more information about all her offerings and resources, check her out at www.amygrace.bio.

What happens when your idea of motherhood doesn’t match your reality? In this heartfelt conversation, Amy Grace sits down with Kate Kripke, a therapist and motherhood coach, to explore what it really means to be a “good mom” . Kate shares her personal journey of growing up with high-achieving parents, experiencing postpartum anxiety after the birth of her first daughter, and eventually creating the Calm Connection System—a 12-week program to help mothers build secure attachment with their children while caring for themselves .

Kate explains the difference between living in achievement brain versus connection brain, and why many mothers struggle when reality doesn’t match their expectations. She offers compassionate wisdom on how to let go of perfectionism, normalize the full range of emotions in motherhood, and embrace the power of slowing down.

This episode is an invitation to remember that being a supermom isn’t about doing it all—it’s about feeling grounded, connected, and trusting that both you and your children are truly okay.

Key Takeaways:

• Your childhood shapes your motherhood. Growing up around perfectionism and anxiety can impact how you parent—but you can rewrite that script .

• Postpartum anxiety is common. Struggling in motherhood doesn’t mean something is “wrong” with you—it means you’re human .

• Achievement brain vs. connection brain. Doing more isn’t the key to being a good mom; learning to slow down and connect is .

• Resilience starts with self-compassion. Taking care of your own inner world equips you to support your kids when they face hard emotions .

• “The emotional air our parents breathe out is the emotional air we breathe in—and our kids are breathing us in too.”

• “I was pumping every two hours, trying to get it right, because I believed if I didn’t, something was wrong with me.”

• “We keep asking: can women do it all? But that’s the wrong question. The real question is: how do I want to feel in motherhood?”

• “It’s not the doing that makes us good moms. It’s our ability to be steady when life feels messy.”

• “If I can believe that I’m okay, then I can trust that my kids are okay too.”

About Today's Supermom Guest

Kate Kripke is a licensed clinical social worker, maternal mental health expert, and coach dedicated to helping women break free from perfectionism and thrive in both motherhood and life. After experiencing postpartum anxiety herself, she founded the Postpartum Wellness Center of Boulder and later created the Calm Connection System, a 12-week program helping moms build secure attachments with their children while cultivating self-trust and emotional resilience. A sought-after speaker and author, Kate empowers high-achieving women to step out of the “do it all” mentality and embrace the joy, messiness, and magic of motherhood .

• Kate's Website: https://www.katekripke.com/

• Follow Kate on Instagram: @katekripke

About Your Host:

Amy Grace is the heart behind Everyday Supermoms, a podcast that inspires and empowers mothers by sharing diverse stories of resilience and connection. As a licensed therapist, she supports moms through all stages of motherhood with transformative therapy intensives and signature courses like The Motherhood Mindset Reset and Create Your Own Motherhood. A mom of six, Amy draws from her own journey—from 

single parenting to blended families—to create a community where mothers can embrace their unique paths with confidence and grace.

For More Info and your FREE Embracing Your Inner Supermom Workbook visit www.everydaysupermoms.com 

Never Miss an Episode: Join the email list to receive weekly updates including podcast episode summaries, tips for moms and more. Sign up Here

Amy Grace has courses designed for moms to help them thrive in motherhood and be the best mom they can be. Check out her Courses and Love your Motherhood!

Amy shines a light on the invisible work that keeps families running—scheduling, driving, forms, logistical planning, and the constant mental tabs moms keep open. She shares personal stories (including recovering from two knee surgeries) that made the “invisible” suddenly visible to her family, and offers language, validation, and a practical nudge to celebrate one unseen task this week.

Key Takeaways

• The “invisible load” includes both tasks and the thinking behind them—planning, anticipating needs, remembering details.

• Much of a mom’s work is only noticed when it stops getting done (illness, travel, recovery).

• Amy describes this as the “emotional architecture” of family life—unseen beams that hold the house together.

• Many moms serve as the “default parent,” which compounds stress, sleep disruption, and emotional exhaustion.

• Gentle assignment: notice and celebrate one invisible thing you do—and point it out to your people.

Highlighted Quotes

• “Invisible doesn’t mean unimportant. It means essential.”

• “So often the only time our invisible work is seen is when we can’t do it.”

• “This is the emotional architecture—unseen beams holding the family together.”

Keywords
invisible load, mental labor, default parent, emotional labor, motherhood stress, mom burnout, unseen work, family systems, validation for moms, boundaries

Amy's Children's Book

My Dad Knows a Superhero is a beautiful picture book that highlights the often unseen superpowers of moms and celebrates moms as the superheroes they are. Buy it now for your kids, or for the amazing moms in your life. Buy it on Amazon

About the Host
Amy Grace is a licensed therapist, course creator, author and podcast host, centering everything she does on one mission—supporting moms to be happy, healthy, thriving, supermoms. For more information about all her offerings and resources, check her out at www.amygrace.bio.