Everyday Supermoms: Podcast for Moms- Real Stories, Parenting Tips, Inspiration and Support

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.

In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we are addressing this important topic here on Everyday Supermoms. 1 in 3 women experience intimate partner violence in their lifetimes. Tori Whitaker, a mom, coach, and survivor whose journey from domestic violence to empowerment is nothing short of remarkable. Tori opens up about her early marriage, the hidden struggles with her husband’s addiction, and the devastating escalation into abuse. She vulnerably shares what it was like to escape with her infant son, seek refuge in a women’s shelter, and rebuild her life from scratch.

With honesty and strength, Tori describes how she worked multiple jobs, pursued her passion in fitness, and slowly created a safe, joy-filled life for her children. She talks about breaking generational cycles, redefining motherhood on her own terms, and building her coaching platform that helps moms move beyond survival into thriving.

Her story is a powerful reminder that resilience doesn’t mean avoiding hardship—it means choosing love, grit, and hope in the face of it.

Key Takeaways

• Abuse is often a “slow leak.” Tori shares how toxic dynamics crept in gradually, making them harder to recognize early on.

• Motherhood as motivation. Becoming a mom was the turning point that gave her the courage to leave and protect her son.

• Rebuilding takes time. From a women’s shelter to building a career in fitness, Tori’s journey proves that small steps lead to big victories.

• Resilience is learned. Her background as a gymnast taught her to “just do it”—a mindset she carried into rebuilding her life.

• “Abuse isn’t advertised—it’s a slow leak.” – Tori Whitaker

• “When you’re protecting your child, there’s a zero-tolerance policy. That’s when the mama bear comes out.” – Tori Whitaker

• “Failure is not an option. That’s always been my mantra.” – Tori Whitaker

• “I wasn’t going to be a statistic. I refused to pass this cycle on to my kids.” – Tori Whitaker

• “Mom is part of who I am, but it’s not all of who I am.” – Tori Whitaker

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

Tori Whitaker is a fitness and mindset coach on a mission to help moms break free from the “martyr mom” narrative and live fully as themselves—while also being present, joyful mothers. A survivor of domestic violence and a single mom turned coach, she uses her story of resilience to empower women to find strength in nutrition, fitness, and mindset. Tori’s passion is helping moms simplify the chaos, embrace abundance, and create a motherhood they truly love.

• Tori Whitaker on Instagram: ⁠@torikwhit⁠

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.

Moms, life rarely goes as planned—and that’s exactly why flexibility is one of your greatest superpowers. In this Supermom Short, we’re talking about how to strengthen that flexibility muscle so you can pivot with grace instead of frustration. Whether it’s a sick kid, a canceled plan, or another day that didn’t go according to schedule, I’ll show you how reframing change can reduce stress, model resilience for your kids, and open up unexpected joy.

Listeners will learn simple, actionable tools to become more adaptable, such as reframing rigid routines, lowering unrealistic expectations, and celebrating wins when they successfully pivot. This episode is both encouraging and practical—a reminder that letting go of control doesn’t mean chaos, it means freedom.

Key Takeaways

• Flexibility lowers stress. Adaptable moms regulate emotions and model calm for their kids.

• Rigidity creates frustration. Over-scheduled routines and high expectations make change harder to handle.

• Reframing is powerful. Seeing detours as possibilities builds emotional intelligence and resilience.

• Practice daily pivots. Let small changes stretch your flexibility muscle for the bigger ones.

• “Truly, it’s not about the plan—it’s about how we respond when the plan changes.” – Amy Grace

• “Sometimes Plan Z ends up being even better than Plan A.” – Amy Grace

• “Presence beats perfection—even when the plan falls apart.” – Amy Grace

• “Every time we pivot with grace, our kids learn how to do the same.” – Amy Grace

• My Dad Knows a Superhero by Amy Grace – featuring flexibility as one of the superpowers that moms are armed with.

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 help mothers 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 inspiring episode of Everyday Supermoms, Amy Grace talks with Shruti Kumar, a lawyer-turned-conscious parenting coach who became a mother while living as an expat in the Netherlands. Shruti opens up about the challenges of adjusting to a new culture, language, and healthcare system, all while stepping into motherhood at a young age.

She reflects on the isolation of raising children without family nearby, her struggles with postpartum loneliness, and the pressure of redefining her identity when career doors closed. But Shruti also shares the beauty she discovered—like postpartum support services in the Netherlands, breastfeeding freedom, and the unexpected kindness of other moms who became part of her village.

This conversation is filled with wisdom about letting go of perfection, leaning into values, and intentionally building community. Shruti’s story is a powerful reminder that no matter where we are, motherhood is not meant to be done alone.

Key Takeaways

• Motherhood abroad comes with unique challenges. Navigating healthcare, language barriers, and cultural differences adds layers of stress.

• Losing and redefining identity is part of the journey. Shruti shares how rejections, isolation, and body changes impacted her sense of self.

• Villages can be built. Support doesn’t always come naturally—it can be found in WhatsApp mom groups, playdates, or even strangers willing to help.

• Your values shape your motherhood. Shruti emphasizes parenting intentionally around what matters most, not societal expectations.

• “Sometimes the village is hidden and appears only when we dare to ask.” – Shruti

• “Motherhood shifts your entire identity, and some days it feels like you’ve lost yourself.” – Shruti

• “I remind myself: this is a hard day, not a hard life.” – Shruti

• “Our values dictate how we move through motherhood.” – Shruti

• “Kids won’t remember the spotless house, but they’ll remember the snuggles and laughter.” – Amy Grace

Shruti Kumar is a conscious parenting coach and expat mom of two living in the Netherlands. Originally trained as a lawyer in India, she experienced firsthand the challenges of starting over in a new country while becoming a mother at 24. Drawing from her personal journey of postpartum loneliness, identity shifts, and learning to build community from scratch, Shruti now empowers moms to parent intentionally, embrace imperfection, and create meaningful connections rooted in their values.

• Shruti’s Website: ⁠empoweredconnections.nl⁠

• Instagram: ⁠@empowered.connections⁠

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 Supermom Short, Amy Grace guides listeners through a quick, meaningful self-check-in using her HEART framework—an easy five-step method to help moms pause, reflect, and care for themselves intentionally.

Each letter in HEART represents one area to gently assess:

• H – Health: How is your body feeling? Are you tired, hungry, or tense? Take a few moments to stretch, hydrate, and rest.

• E – Emotions: What feelings are showing up for you right now? Naming emotions reduces stress and models emotional regulation for your kids.

• A – Awareness: What’s taking up most of your mental space? Doing a “brain dump” or simplifying your to-do list can help you focus.

• R – Relationships: Who have you connected with this week? Reach out to someone who fills your cup—it makes a real difference.

• T – Take Action: What’s one small, tangible thing you can do today to nurture yourself? Even five minutes of mindfulness, music, or movement counts.

Amy emphasizes that self-care isn’t selfish—it’s essential. Research from the Journal of Family Psychology (2022) shows that moms who check in regularly on their well-being report lower stress and higher resilience.

Key Takeaways

• Self-care can be simple. A few minutes of awareness each day can make a big impact.

• Naming emotions helps regulate them. It’s not weakness—it’s modeling emotional intelligence for your kids.

• Your body tells the truth. Listen to it before it burns out.

• Connection matters. Social support reduces isolation and boosts maternal mental health.

• Tiny actions lead to transformation. A five-minute walk or pause for breath can shift your entire day.

  
  

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.

This week Amy Grace talks with Janice Johnson Dowd, a licensed social worker, mother of four, and author, to talk about the intersection of motherhood, alcohol use, and recovery. Janice opens up about the early messages she received about “doing it all,” the stress of raising kids while her husband frequently traveled, and the mom-guilt that came with shortcuts like fast food dinners.

She shares how drinking, which didn’t begin until her forties, gradually became her way of managing stress, boredom, and grief—especially while caring for her aging parents. Janice describes how what started as “just a glass of wine” eventually led to secret drinking, blackouts, and her children stepping in as caretakers.

Through honesty, intervention, and treatment, Janice found her way to sobriety and has now been sober for 12 years. She speaks passionately about the need for family-focused recovery programs, the importance of accountability, and the hope that broken relationships can be repaired with time and persistence.

Key Takeaways

• Addiction is often subtle and progressive. It can start with “just one glass” and quietly become a coping pattern.

• Kids notice more than we think. Even when parents believe they’re hiding struggles, children sense and internalize the effects.

• Accountability matters. Long-term treatment, recovery programs, and support systems dramatically increase chances of sobriety.

• Recovery is a family process. Healing requires not only the individual, but also repairing relationships with children and loved ones.

• Hope is possible. Even after years of pain and distance, reconciliation and healthy connection can be rebuilt.

• “Addiction is not just a me disease—it’s a family disease.” – Janice Johnson Dowd

• “My motivation for recovery was my kids. I couldn’t stand the thought of losing them.” – Janice Johnson Dowd

• “We’ve normalized drinking so much that moms don’t even realize how harmful it can be.” – Janice Johnson Dowd

• “It took persistence and patience, but my kids and I are closer than ever today.” – Janice Johnson Dowd

• Janice’s Website: janicejohnsondowd.com

• Instagram: @parenting_in_recovery

• Book: Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery by Janice Johnson Dowd

Janice Johnson Dowd is a licensed social worker, speaker, and author passionate about supporting families impacted by addiction. A mom of four and 12 years sober, she combines her professional background in family therapy with her personal story of recovery to bring hope and tools for healing. Her book, Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery, offers practical guidance for families navigating the difficult but transformative process of recovery together.

• Janice’s Website: ⁠janicejohnsondowd.com⁠

• Instagram: ⁠@parenting_in_recovery⁠

• Book: Rebuilding Relationships in Recovery by Janice Johnson Dowd

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.

In the blur of new motherhood, the little things can make the biggest difference. In this episode, Amy Grace shares her best practical and emotional tips for the postpartum season—things she’s learned as a therapist, a coach, and a mom of four. From creating rest-friendly routines to building lasting memories, these tips will help new moms feel more confident, supported, and connected in those early days.

Key Takeaways

• Rest without guilt: prioritize healing and let the dishes wait.

• Make life easier: diaper stations on each floor, mini fridge in the bedroom, skip unnecessary nighttime diaper changes.

• Remember babies are portable—don’t feel trapped at home.

• Ask for help early and often—don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed.

• Meet emotional needs: snuggles, soothing, and attachment build lifelong trust.

• Capture memories: take pictures with you in them, and try a one-sentence journal.

• Honor your emotions: allow yourself to cry, name feelings, and celebrate small wins.

• Boost bonding and mood: snuggle your baby often, talk/sing to them, and use a personal playlist to keep your spirits up.

• “Babies are portable—don’t feel trapped at home.”

• “Meeting a baby’s emotional needs in the first year builds lifelong trust.”

• “You don’t have to love every minute, but you can treasure the ones you do.”

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 therapy intensives and signature programs 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 embrace their unique paths with confidence and grace.