Experience Motherhood

There's something a little uncomfortable about spending an entire summer series talking about slowing down — and then white-knuckling your way through a weekly release schedule anyway.

I noticed it. And I decided to do something about it.

In this short solo episode, I'm sharing an honest update about where I am this summer, why new episodes are going on pause until fall, and why choosing this actually feels like one of the most aligned decisions I've made in a while. If you've been struggling to give yourself permission to slow down this season — even when everything in you says you should — this one is for you.

In This Episode:

- The honest truth about where my energy is going this summer (and why it's a good thing)

- Why pushing out weekly content started to feel like it was working against everything I've been talking about

- The ambitious mom / present mom tension — and what it actually looks like to choose presence when it costs you something

- What I'm coming back with in the fall

- How to stay connected this summer while new episodes are on pause

Resources & Links:

- 🌿 Join the Present Mom Summer Practice — a free 6-week email series for moms who want to actually feel present this summer, not just try to be. This is where I'll be showing up all summer long: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/summer-of-grace

- 📖 Grab the free Busy Mom Guide: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/busy-mom-guide

- 🌿 Interested in a deeper space beyond the podcast? Join the interest list: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/a-place-to-go-deeper

If this episode gave you permission to breathe a little easier this summer, the best thing you can do is share it with a mom who needs to hear it. And leave a rating and review — it takes two minutes and genuinely helps other moms find this community. Thank you for being here.

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)

Experience Motherhood more!

• Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhood
• STAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAIL
• Sign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818m
• Get access to other free guides
• Website: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com

-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast!
Your support is incredibly meaningful!

Support the Show
A small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!

Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!


Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.

You know the feeling of being physically present but mentally somewhere else entirely. Sitting at the dinner table, at the park, at your kid's game — and your brain is already three steps ahead.

Most moms don't need to be told to be present. They need to know how to actually get there. That's what we're talking about today.

In This Episode:

• Why presence doesn't always look the way we picture it — and why that matters
• The honest truth about why this kind of moment doesn't just happen on its own
• What I mean when I say presence is a muscle, not a personality trait
• What gets in the way for high-achieving moms specifically (mental load, planning mode, performing motherhood instead of living it)
• What I've been doing differently — and what's actually working
• An invitation to practice this intentionally all summer long

Join the Present Mom Summer Practice — a free 6-week email series for moms who want to actually feel present this summer, not just try to be. https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/summer-of-grace

Connect with Liz:

Where do you lose presence the most — is it the mental load, the phone, the planning ahead? I'd love to know. Come find me on Instagram and tell me.

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)

Experience Motherhood more!

• Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhood
• STAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAIL
• Sign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818m
• Get access to other free guides
• Website: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com

-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast!
Your support is incredibly meaningful!

Support the Show
A small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!

Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!


Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.

If you're a busy mom trying to juggle everything — and still get a healthy dinner on the table — this episode is a fan favorite for a reason! I'm joined by Allison Schaaf, a Chef, Registered Dietitian, and Founder & CEO of Prep Dish, and a mom of three. After years of working as a personal chef and at high-end spas, Allison knew there had to be a more efficient, cost-effective, and sanity-saving way to get healthy, crowd-pleasing meals on the table. That's how Prep Dish was born — and this conversation is still just as relevant today as when it first aired.

In this conversation, Allison shares:

• Why meal planning is a total game-changer for busy moms
• The easiest way to start meal planning (even if it feels overwhelming)
• Three grocery shopping tips to save time and make healthier choices
• How meal planning supports healthier eating habits without adding pressure
• Must-have kitchen tools that make meal prep faster and easier
• Strategies for handling picky eaters and different dietary needs
• How to meal prep efficiently when you only have 30 minutes to spare

Allison's passion is making mealtime efficient, healthy, and delicious. Whether you're brand new to meal planning or just looking for fresh ideas to simplify your week, you'll walk away from this episode feeling equipped and inspired — and maybe finally ready to ditch the 5pm panic.

MENTIONS IN THE EPISODE:
✨ Looking for a SAFE watch/phone option for your child? Gabb watch or phone -- save $25 with code: MOTHERHOOD

✨Ready for clean ingredient skincare? Check out Oliveda!

Connect with Allison Schaaf and Prep Dish:
Click here to get 14 days free to try out Prep Dish!
Instagram

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)

Experience Motherhood more!

• Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhood
• STAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAIL
• Sign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818m
• Get access to other free guides
• Website: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com

-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast!
Your support is incredibly meaningful!

Support the Show
A small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!

Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!


Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.

The last week of school carries more than most of us realize. On the surface it's teacher gifts and car line and end-of-year parties — but underneath all of that is something much bigger. A chapter is closing. Your child is crossing from one version of themselves into another. And so are you. If you've been feeling something this week that you can't quite name — part relief, part grief, part nostalgia, part anxiety — this episode is permission to slow down long enough to actually feel it. Because this moment is worth more than your to-do list is giving it credit for.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why the last week of school is a threshold moment — and what that actually means for you as a mom
• The emotional cocktail of end-of-year that nobody talks about: relief, grief, pride, and anxiety all at once
• The feelings we don't give ourselves permission to have — including the relief that feels like guilt and the grief that feels disproportionate
• Why ambitious moms are especially prone to staying in logistics mode this week instead of letting themselves feel what's actually happening
• The identity wobble that quietly shows up when the school-year structure is about to disappear
• A simple end-of-year pause practice to help you close the loop on this chapter before summer begins
• What to say to your child this week — and why specificity matters more than you think
• Why you deserve an end-of-year acknowledgment too, not just your kids

If you've been holding it all together for one more week and haven't stopped to let yourself feel what this season is carrying — this episode is for you. You don't have to perform the right emotions. You just have to show up honestly for the ones you actually have.

MENTIONS IN THIS EPISODE:

📎 Grab the free End of Year Reflection Card — a simple one-pager with questions to help you honor this school year before summer begins, for your child and for yourself: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/end-of-year-reflection 

Interested in a deeper space beyond the podcast? I’m gathering an interest list as I listen and discern what support might come next: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/a-place-to-go-deeper

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)

Experience Motherhood more!

• Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhood
• STAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAIL
• Sign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818m
• Get access to other free guides
• Website: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com

-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast!
Your support is incredibly meaningful!

Support the Show
A small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!

Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!


Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.

You made it to summer — so why does it feel harder, not easier?

If the end of the school year brings relief for about five minutes before your brain starts building a new system, you're not broken. You're wired for structure. And for high-achieving moms, the unstructured weeks of summer don't signal rest — they signal anxiety. In this episode, I'm naming what's actually happening in your nervous system when summer hits, why the slow-down feels so hard, and three practical tools to help you loosen the grip without losing yourself.

In This Episode:

• Why your nervous system doesn't automatically shift when the school year ends — and why that's not a character flaw
• The four summer nervous system patterns high-achieving moms fall into (do you recognize yourself?)
• The identity question that surfaces when the routine pauses: who am I if I'm not managing everything?
• Why the comparison spiral hits harder in summer — and what to do with it
• The difference between a routine that grounds you and a schedule that controls you
• What the research actually says about what your kids need this summer (spoiler: it's a lot less than the color-coded calendar)
• Winnicott's "good enough mother" concept and why the imperfect summer is actually doing something
• A question to ask yourself before you add one more thing to the summer calendar

Resources & Links:

• 🌿 Join the Present Mom Summer Practice — a free 6-week email series for moms who want to actually feel present this summer, not just survive it. No homework, no checklist — just honest encouragement and one small practice each week: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/summer-of-grace

Connect with Liz:

What's your summer nervous system pattern — overscheduler, optimizer, helper who can't stop, or checker outer? I'd love to know. Come find me on Instagram and tell me yours.

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)

Experience Motherhood more!

• Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhood
• STAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAIL
• Sign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818m
• Get access to other free guides
• Website: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com

-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast!
Your support is incredibly meaningful!

Support the Show
A small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!

Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!


Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.

Here's something nobody tells you before you become a mom: the hardest part isn't the sleep deprivation or the hard days. It's the gap between the mom you thought you'd be -- and the mom you actually became.

Episode 100. I can't believe I'm typing that. And in honor of this milestone I'm getting personal - really personal. I'm talking about where I was when I started this podcast, what 100 episodes have taught me about motherhood (and myself), and the mom I didn't expect to become. This one is for every mom who has ever felt like she's falling short of who she thought she'd be. You're not. And I hope this episode reminds you of that.

In This Episode:

  - The honest truth about where I was when I started Experience Motherhood -- and what I didn't see coming

  - What 100 episodes have actually taught me about motherhood, identity, and showing up imperfectly

  - The mom I pictured myself being vs. the mom I actually am -- and why the gap doesn't mean you're failing

  - The quiet grief so many moms carry and what to do with it

  - Why the mom you became is actually the mom your kids need

  - What your kids are really learning from you (it's not what you think)

  - The hard truth about building this podcast -- and why I'm not going anywhere

  - A note to my early-podcast self that I hope lands for you too

MENTIONS IN THE EPISODE:

  - 🎉 Episode 100 Giveaway -- win a $25 Starbucks gift card! Head to Instagram @experiencemotherhood for all the details

  - 📖 Grab the free Busy Mom Guide -- real, practical things that help you simplify your days and show up more like the mom you want to be: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/busy-mom-guide

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)

Experience Motherhood more!

• Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhood
• STAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAIL
• Sign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818m
• Get access to other free guides
• Website: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com

-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast!
Your support is incredibly meaningful!

Support the Show
A small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!

Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!


Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.

Motherhood doesn't always need more ideas — sometimes it needs a little permission to do less. In today's episode, I'm sharing the things that are genuinely making my life feel lighter right now. Not a perfect system, not an aesthetic routine, just a handful of real shifts that are helping me show up more like the mom I actually want to be.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why trying to "get ahead" of your life is quietly draining you — and what to do instead
• The permission slip to lower the bar in the areas that don't actually matter
• Why doing too much for your kids might be working against both of you
• The small connection ritual that's been making a real difference with my boys
• What I do when the day starts to spiral — and how to interrupt it before it takes over
• The tiny boundary that's giving me more breathing room than I expected
• How I simplified dinner for three boys and what that actually freed up

If you've been feeling like you're running on empty and waiting for things to slow down — this episode is for you. It doesn't have to be complicated to make a difference.

MENTIONS IN THIS EPISODE:

📎 Grab the freebie mentioned in this episode — The 5-Minute Connection Menu — 10 simple ways to connect with your kids today: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/5-minute-connection-menu

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)

Experience Motherhood more!

• Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhood
• STAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAIL
• Sign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818m
• Get access to other free guides
• Website: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com

-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast!
Your support is incredibly meaningful!

Support the Show
A small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!

Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!


Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.

Motherhood is hard enough on its own — but when your child is struggling with ADHD, emotional regulation, or behavioral challenges, it can start to quietly chip away at how you see yourself as a mom. In today's episode, I'm sitting down with Dr. Michelle Casarella, a licensed psychologist who specializes in supporting moms raising children with ADHD. As both a clinician and a mom who has lived this experience herself, Michelle brings a rare mix of professional insight and real-life understanding to a conversation that so many of us need to have.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why motherhood feels so much heavier when your child is struggling — and why that doesn't mean you're failing
• The guilt moms carry when their child has ADHD or big feelings, and how to start releasing it
• What it's really like to raise a child whose brain works differently (and why the standard advice often falls short)
• How to support your child's emotional regulation without losing yourself in the process
• Why high-achieving, capable moms are especially vulnerable to burnout in this season
• The shift from chaos and conflict to calmer, more connected parenting
• Practical, evidence-based strategies Michelle uses in her therapy groups for moms of ADHD kids

If you've ever found yourself wondering why does this feel so hard or am I doing something wrong — this conversation will feel like a deep exhale. You are not alone, and you don't have to figure this out by yourself.

Connect with Dr. Michelle Casarella:  Instagram: @dr.michelle.casarella

MENTIONS IN THE EPISODE:

Interested in a deeper space beyond the podcast? I’m gathering an interest list as I listen and discern what support might come next: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/a-place-to-go-deeper

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)

Experience Motherhood more!

• Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhood
• STAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAIL
• Sign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818m
• Get access to other free guides
• Website: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com

-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast!
Your support is incredibly meaningful!

Support the Show
A small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!

Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!


Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.

Can I ask you something kind of real?

When was the last time someone asked how you were doing - not as a mom, not as a partner, not as whoever needs something from you - and you actually had an answer that wasn't "tired" or "good, just busy"?

Because I've been sitting with that one lately. And honestly? It took me a minute.

This is the finale of our mini-series, and I really wanted to end here - on this idea of what happens when you quietly disappear in the middle of motherhood. Not in a dramatic way. Not a breakdown or a big identity crisis. Just that slow, subtle thing where you look up one day and realize you've been ordering the practical thing for so long you forgot what you actually wanted. Or a friend asks what you do for fun and you automatically list your kids' activities. Or you're alone in Target for 20 whole minutes and you genuinely have no idea what you would even buy for yourself.

That's what we're talking about today. I'm calling it functional disappearance - you're still here, lunches are packed, emotional support fully online - but somewhere underneath all of that, there's a version of you that's just been on hold.

The good news? She hasn't gone nearly as far as you think.

In This Episode:

• What "functional disappearance" really is — and why it happens so quietly
• The moment in Target that made me realize how much I'd drifted from myself
• The stages of mom "me time" (stage one: announcing you need alone time — rookie mistake)
• Why you don't need a whole day off to start coming back to yourself
• Small, real moments that help you remember who you are underneath the schedules and the mental load
• The "both/and" of motherhood — you can love this and still miss the person you were before
• A gentle question to carry with you this week

MENTIONS IN THE EPISODE:

Interested in a deeper space beyond the podcast? I’m gathering an interest list as I listen and discern what support might come next: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/a-place-to-go-deeper

Missed the mini-series? Start with Episode 95 (glimmers) and Episode 96 (the mental load)

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)

Experience Motherhood more!

• Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhood
• STAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAIL
• Sign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818m
• Get access to other free guides
• Website: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com

-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast!
Your support is incredibly meaningful!

Support the Show
A small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!

Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!


Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.

You know that feeling when your brain has approximately 100 tabs open — and at least 17 of them are frozen, 12 are playing music you can't find, and one is reminding you that the field trip form still isn't signed?

Yeah. That's motherhood lately.

In part two of the A Week in My Life, Emotionally mini series, I'm getting into the running list — the one that never actually turns off. The one that follows you from the bathroom sink to the dinner table to the moment you're about to fall asleep and your brain suddenly goes, hey, did you change the laundry?

If you've ever carried something nobody else can see, this episode is going to make you feel a lot less alone — and maybe even laugh a little.

In This Episode:

• The "100 tabs open" feeling and why it resonates so deeply with moms
• The laundry you remembered three times and still didn't do
• Why forgetting the snacks isn't proof you're failing — it's proof you're carrying too much
• The midnight spiral that goes from groceries to mom guilt in seconds
• Being interrupted 47 times while trying to do one single thing
• Why the running list is actually evidence of how much you love your people
• A reframe that might make you a little more gentle with yourself

📲 What's your most ridiculous running list moment this week? DM me on Instagram 📧 On my email list? Hit reply — I genuinely want to hear it 

 Busy Mom Guide: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/busy-mom-guide

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)

Experience Motherhood more!

• Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhood
• STAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAIL
• Sign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818m
• Get access to other free guides
• Website: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com

-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast!
Your support is incredibly meaningful!

Support the Show
A small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!

Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!


Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.