Jess Freeman spent years being pretty sure she wasn’t going to have kids.

Not in a dramatic, announcement-to-the-world way. More like a quiet, steady conclusion she carried after losing her mom in a car accident at 24, two months into running her business full time, two weeks before Christmas.

Her brain did what a lot of our brains would do. No mom. Can’t be a mom. Not happening.

And for a long time, that felt like the answer.

The Workbook That Changed Everything

Years later, after a fostering experience that was equal parts meaningful and traumatic, after watching close friends have babies, after sitting in the tension of “I genuinely don’t know if I’m supposed to do this,” Jess did what any type-A woman would do.

She found a workbook on Amazon.

Somewhere around chapter eight, there was a prompt: Write a letter to the child you’re choosing not to have. (yes, we all got chills.)

And she couldn’t do it.

That was the answer.

“You Could Just Have One”

Jess brought this realization to a mentor, a friend about ten years older who knew she’d been wrestling with this. Jess told her she thought she was supposed to have kids, and that it was terrifying.

Her friend said two things. First: I know you can do this. Second: You could just have one.

And Jess said something on the podcast that stuck with us. She said she knew she didn’t need permission. But in that moment, the permission opened a door she didn’t know was available.

She got pregnant a month later.

“She Has the Best Advocate in Her Back Pocket”

Jess is a type 1 diabetic, diagnosed at three. One of her biggest fears about having a baby was passing it on. There’s no guarantee either way, and the not-knowing is its own kind of weight.

But when we asked how she navigated that surrender, she said something that wrecked us:

“Well, she has the best advocate in her back pocket if it happens.”

That confidence didn’t come from nowhere. It came from watching her own mom advocate fiercely for her. Standing in the hallway at school going to bat for her. Making sure her daughter was seen and cared for, even when the systems around her didn’t get it.

Jess is carrying that forward now.

Designing a Life, Not Just Running a Business

Jess has been running Jess Creatives for 15 years. She also founded The Ordinary Business, a podcast and community for business owners who want to do good work and work with cool people without chasing a million-dollar goal.

What stood out to us in this conversation wasn’t just her business success. It was how intentionally she’s built her life around it.

She doesn’t work Fridays. She has a clear revenue ceiling she’s comfortable with. She turns down projects when she’s full, even when the money is tempting. She’d rather be present at bedtime than answering one more email.

And she said something we think every mom building something needs to hear: she’s not willing to say yes to work just for money if it means missing bedtime, staying up until midnight, or skipping the park. “You can wait until my next availability, or you can go find someone else.”

That’s not luck. That’s 15 years of designing a life on purpose.

The Thing About Mother’s Intuition

At the very end of our conversation (the part that wasn’t even supposed to be recorded), Jess said something that we couldn’t not share.

She expected mother’s intuition to be loud. Like a clear signal. A flashing sign. And for months after her daughter was born, she thought she didn’t have it.

Then she realized: for her, it’s quiet. It’s the small thought that crosses her mind, like “maybe I should take her to the doctor.” Not a dramatic knowing. Just a nudge.

She followed one of those nudges once. Double ear infection.

That was her intuition. She just didn’t recognize it because she was waiting for it to shout.

Why This Episode Matters

This is a conversation about grief and motherhood and entrepreneurship and identity and what happens when you stop waiting for life to feel certain and start designing it anyway.

If you’ve ever felt like you needed permission to want something, or like your instincts were too quiet to trust, or like you had to have it all figured out before you could take the next step, this one’s for you.

If This Episode Hit Close to Home

Sometimes you hear a story and realize you’ve been carrying something similar. If you’re in a season where you’re navigating big decisions, identity shifts, or just trying to figure out what you actually want, our coaches get it and would love to help you build a life that fits the season you’re in.

You can learn more about coaching by booking a call with Meredith or send us a DM on Instagram @getmomready.

Find Jess

* Jess Creatives Website

* The Ordinary Business Website

* Jess’ Instagram

* Jess’ Threads

Get Mom Ready is the community for driven moms living full lives and figuring out how all the pieces work together. Subscribe to get every episode and article delivered to your inbox.

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Okay…we thought this episode was going to be practical, like: “10 easy self-care tips for moms.”

Maybe a conversation about bubble baths. Maybe a Target run. Maybe one of us would say “drink more water” and we’d all nod in agreement…instead, we somehow ended up questioning the entire concept of self-care (because, of course we did). 🫣

Here’s why: somewhere along the way, self-care started feeling like another thing moms were supposed to optimize.

Another thing to buy, another thing to earn, another thing to perform, and a lot of the time, it still leaves us exhausted.

The MRI That Accidentally Became Self-Care

This episode starts with Anna getting an MRI on Mother’s Day weekend.

Which sounds stressful… except she somehow found it relaxing.

No phone, no interruptions, a warm blanket, and permission to lay still for 45 minutes…basically a spa day.

And while most people would describe an MRI as claustrophobic, Anna’s immediate thought was:

“Wow. Nobody can reach me.”

Which honestly says a lot about modern motherhood. That story became the jumping-off point for a bigger conversation:

What if self-care isn’t always about escaping your life, but about finding ways to feel more grounded inside your life?

Maybe Real Self-Care Is More Proactive Than Reactive

One of the biggest themes from this conversation was this idea that self-care isn’t always the thing you do after you hit your breaking point. Sometimes it’s the tiny systems that help prevent the breaking point in the first place.

Like:

* organizing the makeup drawer that irritates you every morning

* finally dealing with the chaotic shoe basket by the front door

* prepping the coffee the night before

* creating rhythms that reduce mental friction (something we also talked about on an episode with Productivity Coach Jennifer Sise and her idea of “naming your time” - seriously, drop everything and go listen now.)

* cleaning the kitchen before bed so tomorrow-you feels calmer

Not because these things magically fix motherhood, but because little moments of frustration add up. And when every part of your day feels slightly harder than it needs to be, eventually your nervous system notices.

The Difference Between Dopamine and Restoration

We also talked about how easy it is to confuse:

* fun

* distraction

* treats

* shopping

* scrolling

* “I deserve this” energy…

with actual restoration.

To be clear: we are not anti-fun.

Nobody here is trying to take away your Target run or your TJ Maxx stroll or your iced coffee.

But we are asking a deeper question:

What actually helps me show up better for myself and for the people I love?

Because those aren’t always the same thing. Sometimes self-care is a massage. Sometimes it’s texting your girlfriends and putting dinner on the calendar before another month slips by. Sometimes it’s finally fixing the thing in your house that’s quietly stressing you out every single day.

The Word We Kept Coming Back To: Reset

At one point in the episode, we realized maybe what we’re all actually looking for isn’t “self-care.”

It’s a reset.

A reset for:

* your nervous system

* your environment

* your expectations

* your mental load

* your attitude

* your capacity

Not necessarily escape. Just enough space to feel like yourself again.

A Few Practical Self-Care Tips We Shared

Yes, we did finally get into the practical. Here are some of the little things that genuinely help us feel more grounded lately:

* waking up before the kids for quiet coffee + reading time

* doing as much life as possible with other moms instead of alone

* keeping the kitchen reset at night

* creating tiny organization systems that reduce decision fatigue

* scheduling “me” tasks and kid tasks throughout the day to make sure everyone is happy instead of trying to do it all at once

* reading instead of endless scrolling

* making plans with girlfriends before burnout hits

None of these are revolutionary. But honestly? That’s kind of the point. We don’t need one more thing to do or buy, we just need to find stillness and joy in the day-to-day.

Get Mom Ready Coaching

A lot of what we talked about in this episode comes back to something we believe deeply at Get Mom Ready:

Most moms don’t necessarily need more information. They need support creating lives that actually feel sustainable. Sometimes that looks like:

* processing identity shifts.

* reducing mental load.

* learning how to stop living in constant overstimulation, resentment, or survival mode.

* or having someone help you figure out what actually helps you feel more like yourself again.

That’s a huge part of what we do in coaching.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, disconnected from yourself, or like you’re constantly running on fumes, we’d love to talk with you.

You can learn more about coaching by booking a call with Meredith or send us a DM on Instagram @getmomready.

Maybe real self-care isn’t about constantly trying to escape motherhood. Maybe it’s about creating small rhythms, systems, and relationships that help motherhood feel a little softer to live inside of.

If this episode resonates with you, send it to a mom friend who’s tired of being told self-care is just buying another candle.

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We thought this conversation would be about breastfeeding.

But like so many conversations in motherhood… it became about so much more.

It became a conversation about identity, expectations, how nothing quite prepares you for the reality of feeding your baby no matter how much you think it will, and ultimately… it became a conversation about this:

Motherhood is both grief and joy, all at once.

As Shelby Nelson, known as Supportive Breast Friend, an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) candidate who so much of her time supporting and educating moms through their feeding journeys, shared in the episode:

“Motherhood is grief. These changes are gonna bring grief. And I think also accepting that and keeping that in the back of our minds as we move through motherhood… it really takes off some of the stress and burden of the changes of seasons.”

On a day like Mother’s Day, where we celebrate, reflect, and maybe feel a little bit of everything, this felt especially true.

What This Episode Is Really About

Yes, we talk about breastfeeding, pumping, weaning, and feeding decisions; but underneath all of that, this episode is about:

* The unexpected emotional weight of feeding your baby

* The identity shifts that come with motherhood

* The pressure we put on ourselves to “get it right”

* The reality that every mom’s journey looks different

* And how to hold grief and joy at the same time

Because feeding your baby isn’t just physical. It’s relational, emotional, and deeply personal. All of our experiences are unique, and no one experience is the “right” one.

A Few Baby Feeding Truths We Keep Coming Back To

* No one expects it to be this hard

* You can prepare… and still feel unprepared

* You might feel empowered and exhausted at the same time

* You might want to stop… and never want it to end

* You’re allowed to change your mind (daily, hourly, mid-feed)

And maybe most importantly:

Healthy mom + healthy baby > everything else

If You’re In This Season Right Now…

This episode is for you if:

* You’re navigating breastfeeding, pumping, or weaning

* You’re questioning your decisions (constantly)

* You feel pressure to do it a certain way

* You’re grieving a version of motherhood you expected

* Or you just need someone to say, “this is normal”

Resources + Links

Connect with Shelby:

* Instagram

* Follow her to stay tuned for her website + upcoming support group

* Podcast: Supportive Breast Friend

* Apple

* Spotify

Each of our stories on becoming moms + our breastfeeding/pumping stories

* Becoming a Mom: Holly’s Story of Miscarriage, Pumping, and Finding Herself

* Parenting in the Middle of Medical Chaos: Anna’s Story as a Medical Mom

* Trusting Your Gut (and Laughing Through the Tears): Meredith’s Story

* Intentional Living & Growing Your Capacity: Hannah’s Story

Holly’s Story on Shelby’s Podcast:

* Supportive Breast Friend episode featuring Holly

Starting Solids + Nutrition:

* Katie Ferraro podcast

The Book that Broke Meredith’s Heart:

* They Bloom Because of You: Poems on the Infinite Love, Growth, and Magic of Motherhood

Want More Support?

If this episode stirred something in you, if you’re holding a lot right now, or if you’re trying to figure out how to navigate motherhood on your terms, Get Mom Ready Coaching is here for you.

We don’t give you more to do. We help you become a version of yourself that can actually hold your life.

Motherhood is a series of “last times.” The last feed, the last middle-of-the-night wake-up, the last version of who you were before everything changed, and maybe that’s what Mother’s Day holds too: a moment just to notice it all.

You don’t have to rush past it, and you don’t have to hold onto it forever. You just get to be in it: the grief, the joy, and all of it at the same time.

Happy Mother’s Day!

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There’s a tension a lot of moms don’t say out loud. You finally have the option to step back, go hybrid, or stay home, and instead of just feeling grateful, you feel weird.

* Guilty.

* Privileged.

* Unsure if you’ve “earned” it.

* Questioning if it’s “okay” not to work a 9-5.

This week on Get Mom Ready, all four of us sat down and went there because this isn’t just about work.

* It’s about identity.

* It’s about money.

* It’s about relationships.

* It’s about how the rules for women have changed faster than we’ve emotionally caught up with.

And it’s complicated!

The Conversation We’re All Quietly Having

We started with a simple question: What does it look like to move from full-time work to something more flexible… without guilt?

And quickly realized there’s no clean answer. Because:

* You can feel grateful and still feel uncomfortable

* You can choose this life and still question it

* You can love your days and still wonder if you’re doing enough

That tension isn’t failure, it’s being a modern mom.

Why This Feels So Hard (Even When It’s Good)

Here’s something we don’t talk about enough: Women have only had the ability to build independent financial lives for a few generations, so of course this feels new.

We are:

* The first (or second) generation to fully navigate career + motherhood

* The first to have real flexibility and autonomy

* The first to ask: what do I actually want my life to look like?

No one handed us a clear blueprint for this, so we’re building it in real time.

The Identity Piece No One Warns You About

Even when motherhood becomes the priority, there’s still a part of you that wants to exist outside of it. Not because you don’t love your kids. But because you’re still… you.

In this episode, we talked about:

* Wanting work that feels meaningful, not just necessary

* The pull toward part-time or hybrid work you actually enjoy

* The fear of losing yourself entirely in one role

And the truth is: You don’t have to pick one identity, you’re allowed to hold multiple things at once.

The Money Conversation (That Shapes Everything)

Let’s be honest, this decision is never just emotional. It’s deeply financial. We talked about:

* Lowering expenses to create freedom

* Taking a pay cut for flexibility

* The real stress of month-to-month tradeoffs

And also: The quiet calculation every mom is making:

“Is this worth it?”

Time. Energy. Childcare. Work. Presence. It’s all connected.

The Part No One Likes to Admit: Guilt + “Earning It”

One of the most honest moments of the episode came from this:

“I feel like I haven’t done enough to earn this life.”

That feeling? It shows up in different ways:

* “I should be more productive if I have this flexibility”

* “Other people don’t get this option”

* “I didn’t sacrifice enough to deserve this”

And underneath it is a belief many of us carry: If you’re not suffering, you must not be doing it right.

Let’s Challenge That for a Second

What if that’s not true?

What if:

* You don’t have to grind to prove your worth

* You don’t have to justify enjoying your life

* You don’t have to earn rest, presence, or joy

What if the goal isn’t to be exhausted, but to actually build a life that fits you?

The Permission We’re Giving Ourselves (and You)

Here’s where we landed:

* You can love your kids and want something for yourself

* You can enjoy your life without apologizing for it

* You can change your mind in different seasons

* You can build your life on your terms

And maybe most importantly, you don’t have to do it the same way forever.

One Line We’re Taking With Us

“You can do all the things. You just can’t do all of them at the same time.”

This is a season, and all seasons change.

If This Episode Hit Home…

You’re not alone in this. This is exactly the kind of conversation we’re having every week, honest, nuanced, and rooted in the real lives we’re actually living.

Subscribe at getmomready.com to get:

* New episode drops

* Articles you won’t see anywhere else

* Resources to help you navigate this season

Want support actually applying this to your life?

Knowing what you need and actually building a life around it are two very different things. That’s where coaching comes in.

Get Mom Ready coaching is designed to help you:

* Get clear on what you actually want in this season

* Work through the guilt, pressure, and “shoulds”

* Build rhythms that support both your life and your identity

Not a one-size-fits-all plan, not more “ you should…,” just thoughtful, personalized support to help you move forward.

And We’d Love to Hear From You

Where are you right now in your relationship with motherhood and work? And what’s the tension you feel most?

Reply, DM us, or share this with a friend who’s in it too.

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There’s a conversation happening right now that we don’t want moms sitting out of.

Recently, Reese Witherspoon posted on Instagram about learning AI and why women need to be part of shaping it. Not later. Not once it’s figured out. Now.

And this week’s episode felt like the perfect continuation of that conversation.

Because if we’re honest, most moms are somewhere between this feels overwhelming, I don’t trust it, and I know I should probably learn this…

That’s exactly why we invited Shreya Gulati, founder of Moms Build AI, to help us think through it, not as tech experts, but as moms.

🎧 What This Episode Is Really About

This isn’t a “here’s how to master AI” episode.

It’s a conversation about how we don’t get left behind, how we protect what matters most, and how we use something like this without losing ourselves or our kids in it.

Subscribe to Get Mom Ready resources for free.

Meet Shreya

Shreya spent her career in tech, advising AI startups and investors. But after becoming a mom, everything shifted.

She deeply resonated with the quote from our episode with Ericka Graham:

“You have to renegotiate your past life with your future.”

Instead of going back to corporate, she started asking a bigger question: what happens if moms aren’t part of shaping AI?

Because historically… we haven’t been in the room early enough. Not with social media. Not with screens. And we’ve seen how that’s played out.

The Core Tension With AI

This is the tension we kept coming back to:

AI can save time, reduce mental load, and make things easier. But it can also replace human connection, increase pressure, and make everything feel more optimized.

So what do we do with that?

Shreya said it simply:“Don’t go to it for judgment. Go to it for information.”

Get Mom Ready is completely free.Subscribe to get our resources in your inbox weekly.

Where This Actually Helps

When you bring AI into real life, it starts to feel less intimidating.

It can take things like meal planning, grocery lists, and weekend decisions and just… make them easier. Not to help you do more, but to help you carry less.

It’s also incredibly helpful for getting unstuck: drafting a hard email, organizing your thoughts, or just getting started on something you’ve been putting off.

And one of the most practical things she shared was using voice dictation during the in-between moments. Walking, driving, pushing a stroller—turning thoughts into something usable later. For moms, that’s often the only time we have.

But the key is this: it supports your thinking. It doesn’t replace it.

You can use it to compare schools or organize options, but you still visit, decide, and trust your gut.

The AI Conversation We Have to Have About Kids

This is where it gets more complicated.

Because there’s no clear guidance yet. No long-term data. No proven “right way” to handle AI with kids.

Which means we don’t get to outsource this decision.

AI is already everywhere, even if we don’t realize it. And our kids will encounter it earlier than we expect. Avoiding it completely may not actually protect them, it might just leave us unprepared.

What stood out most is thinking about this like an ongoing conversation, not a one-time talk. Staying informed enough to guide instead of react. Applying the same boundaries we already think about with screens.

And recognizing that if we’re not learning it ourselves, it’s going to be really hard to help shape how our kids use it.

The Question That Stuck With Us

At one point we asked, does AI give us more time, or just more to do?

And the answer is… both.

Which brings it back to us.

What do we actually want our days to feel like? What’s worth optimizing, and what’s worth slowing down and enjoying?

AI doesn’t answer that for us. It just amplifies whatever we choose.

Where to Start With AI

Shreya kept this part refreshingly simple.

Pick one tool, ChatGPT or Claude. Start with something you already hate doing. Don’t try to learn everything. And follow one or two trusted resources instead of overwhelming yourself.

That’s it.

Free AI Resources for You

Shreya has built an incredible library of free resources for moms who want to start learning. You can find them here.

And follow her Instagram for daily tips on staying informed about AI.

She shares things like a “first 30 minutes with AI” guide, step-by-step prompts, privacy tips, and practical ways to actually use this in your day-to-day life.

Final Thought

This isn’t about becoming a “tech mom.”

It’s about being the same kind of mom you already are, thoughtful, protective, curious, and willing to learn for the sake of your family.

Because whether we like it or not, AI is shaping the future.

The question is, will moms help shape it too?

If this episode felt helpful, send it to a friend who’s been saying,“I know I should learn this… I just don’t know where to start.”

Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode:

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This episode is your permission slip to escape perfectionism.

Because the truth is, the shame spirals don’t work.

Meet Ericka

This week, we sat down with Ericka Graham:

* A mom of two boys

* A preacher at Ecclesia in Houston

* A former NFL wife

* Co-founder of Project 88 (a nonprofit that raised $1.9M)

* Host of the podcast Curiously with Ericka Graham

And she’ll be the first to tell you she’s also a “messy mom.” Not in a chaotic way. In an honest, human, deeply freeing way.

Her best quotes from the episode are highlighted below, and believe us… you don’t want to miss them.

Don’t miss an episode.

Motherhood Will Change You (And That’s the Point)

“When you become a mom, you have to renegotiate your past life with your future.”

Motherhood isn’t just an addition. It’s a reorganization. A sifting of what stays and what falls away in this new season.

And here’s the part we don’t talk about enough:

Every decision comes with loss.

“I get stuck thinking there’s a perfect decision that won’t come with loss.”

But that version doesn’t exist.

The Trap: Trying to Do It All “Right”

We feel it when:

* We’re not performing like we used to

* We forget something important

* We don’t feel like the “put together” version of ourselves

And our default response? Shame.

“The shame spirals don’t work.”

They don’t make you better. They just keep you stuck.

Why Perfection Is Actually the Problem

“A perfect mom would not be a good mom… because they’re perfect.”

Your imperfections aren’t the issue. They’re the gift.

They’re what make you human, relatable and a safe for your kids to be imperfect too.

A Better Way to Live (and Mom)

Ericka said yes to getting help organizing her pantry. No spiral. No overthinking. No meaning-making. Just… “come on over.”

That kind of freedom comes from letting go of this idea that you have to be everything (because you don’t).

You don’t have to be:

* the most organized

* the most productive

* the best at everything

You just have to be present enough to notice what matters.

Thanks for reading Get Mom Ready! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Curiosity > Certainty

“The opposite of faith isn’t doubt. It’s certainty.”

And motherhood will strip you of certainty fast. But in its place comes curiosity.

* What does this season require?

* What can I let go of?

* What actually matters right now?

That’s where peace in motherhood is found.

If This Episode Felt Like You…

Send it to the friend who’s been saying, “I feel off, but I don’t know why.”

Or the one who’s:

* trying to figure out who she is now

* comparing herself to her old life

* quietly wondering if she’s doing this wrong

She’s not… and neither are you.

Listen + Connect with Ericka

* Podcast: Curiously with Ericka Graham

* Instagram

* Substack

* Sermons: Ecclesia Houston on YouTube

* Facebook

You don’t have to be perfect to be a good mom. In fact, perfection is the enemy of a present motherhood.

If you’re in a season of renegotiating who you are, what you carry, and what you let go of, coaching can help you do that with intention.

Our Get Mom Ready coaches are here to walk with you through it.

You can book an exploratory call here to get started or email us at [email protected].

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Shownotes + Links

You’re tired.But not just “mom tired.”

You feel off.More anxious than usual.More reactive than you want to be.

And you can’t quite explain why.

If any of that resonates, this episode is for you.

This week, we sat down with Dawn Marraccino, coach for women in midlife (or really any transition), READY-certified coach, mom of four, grandma of three, and someone who has lived just about every version of motherhood you can imagine.

Single mom at 20.Blended family.Working mom.Stay-at-home mom.Empty nester.And now… living on a sailboat in San Diego (casual).

But what makes this conversation so powerful isn’t just her story.

It’s the moments where you go:

“Wait… that’s happening to me too.”“Oh… I thought that was just me.”“No one told me THIS part.”

Seriously, all of us teared up at one point or another.

Some of our favorite “this is me” moments

* “I didn’t know everyone didn’t talk to themselves the way I do.”

* “I thought I was having a nervous breakdown… it was my hormones.”

* “You can do anything. But you can’t do everything.”

* “Don’t become the villain in your own story.”

* “It’s all hard. Just choose your hard.”

What we talk about in this episode

Motherhood in every season

* Becoming a mom at 20 vs. later in life

* Blended family dynamics (and the real, messy parts)

* What changes when your kids become adults

Work, identity, and all the hats

* Why “working mom” can look a hundred different ways

* Letting your career evolve with your season

* The tension of wanting to work and be present

The conversation every woman in her 30s needs to hear

* Perimenopause (yes… it might already be happening)

* Symptoms no one connects to hormones: anxiety, rage, brain fog, vertigo

* Why so many women feel like they’re “losing it”

The deeper work

* Parenting your kids… while learning to parent yourself

* Community vs. doing it alone

* Letting go of the “perfect life” narrative

If this sounds like the mental load you’re working through, we offer coaching for high-achieving moms wanting to master your many roles in life. Book a call to see if coaching is right for you.

The line we can’t stop thinking about:

“You are enough exactly how you are. You don’t have to do one more thing.”

Resources + Links

* Dawn’s recommended book on perimenopause: The New Perimenopause: An Evidence-Based Guide to Surviving the Zone of Chaos and Feeling Like Yourself Again.

* Dawn’s website.

* Dawn’s Substack (Grit & Grace).

* Follow Dawn on Instagram.

* The Ready Framework that Dawn said changed the way she coaches forever.

If this episode felt like you…

Send it to a friend who’s been saying, “I feel off but I don’t know why.”

Or the one who’s:

* trying to discover what’s next

* questioning everything

* or just trying to feel like herself again

Because transitions don’t mean you’re falling apart.

They might be the moment you finally come back to yourself.

Dawn is the kind of coach you want in your corner.

She’s deeply passionate about helping women navigate the in-between, with grit, grace, and the kind of wisdom that only comes from living it.

Book a coaching call on Dawn’s website.

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Show Notes: What we Talked About + Coaching Link

There are some parts of motherhood that aren’t necessarily hard because they’re huge.

They’re hard because they happen every single day.

Dinner. Bedtime. School pickup. Getting out the door. Managing expectations for a “fun” weekend. Thinking about the thing you have to do later… five hours before you actually have to do it.

And the very real thing that happened to Holly 2 minutes into our recording…getting the dreaded call from school that your kid has a fever and needs to come home. Cue rescheduling the afternoon meetings, cancelling your productive afternoon, and embracing the call of motherhood.

In this week’s episode, we ended up talking about all of it: meal planning, bedtime checklists, school pickup resets, Disney World expectations, and the mental pressure moms carry before anything has even happened yet.

And honestly? That’s kind of the point.

Because so often, the issue isn’t that we’re doing motherhood “wrong.”It’s that there’s too much friction built into the way we’re trying to do it.

Sometimes the most helpful question isn’t:

“How do I become better at this?”

Sometimes it’s:

“Why does this feel so hard in the first place?”

This episode is full of the kinds of practical, real-life shifts that come from asking that question.

A few of the things we talked through:

* taking the pressure off the belief that you have to do something because “that mom” does it

* creating a “bank” of meals instead of having to make the decision from scratch each week

* noticing where the friction is in your routine and adjusting from there

* stopping work 10–15 minutes before pickup to reset your brain before mom mode

* preparing kids for what’s coming instead of assuming they’ll just roll with it

* holding expectations loosely so one hard moment doesn’t define the whole experience

One of our favorite takeaways from this conversation was this:

“The goal isn’t perfection. It’s reducing friction.”

That tiny mindset shift feels small, but it changes a lot.

Because once you stop forcing yourself into a system that doesn’t work for your brain, you can actually build one that does.

Maybe that looks like taking the pressure off of perfect routine.Maybe it looks like doing more with other moms to make the “daily grind” more fun.Maybe it looks like buying pre-chopped onions and calling it a win.Maybe it looks like realizing your kids don’t need the most elaborate plan to have fun, they just need a mom who isn’t completely maxed out.

That’s really what this episode is about: getting curious about the pressure points instead of just powering through them.

And maybe, just maybe, giving yourself permission to make things easier.

Because you’re allowed to do that.

You’re allowed to choose the version of motherhood that works for your actual capacity.You’re allowed to prepare more (or less).You’re allowed to expect less perfection.You’re allowed to care about your experience too.

And if you’ve been feeling like every routine in your life has just a little too much drag in it right now, this episode will probably feel very familiar.

And if this conversation hits a little too close to home, coaching might be the next right step. We offer coaching calls for moms who want practical support, fresh perspective, and help untangling the mental load. You can book a call here.

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What if the thing making motherhood feel so hard… isn’t just the workload?

What if part of the exhaustion is coming from spending your energy on things you don’t actually value, but feel like you’re supposed to?

Anna came in with a simple question:“How do I figure out my values in motherhood?”

Not in a fluffy way.In a “my days feel chaotic and I’m barely keeping up” kind of way.

What unfolded is a conversation every mom needs about misalignment, mental load, and the things we’re doing just because we think we should.

The real problem (that no one tells you)

You might not be overwhelmed because you’re doing too much.

You might be overwhelmed because: you’re doing things that aren’t actually important to you, but you feel like they should be.

And that gap? That’s where burnout lives.

The example we couldn’t stop coming back to: DINNER

Meal planning. Grocery shopping. Cooking. Cleaning. Repeating.

Anna said what we’re all thinking:

“I have a system for meal planning and prep… and I still hate doing it.”

And that’s the tension:

* The system works

* But it’s built around something she doesn’t actually value

So instead of asking:“How do I get better at this?”

We asked:“Do you even want to keep doing this?”

What we uncovered (aka the actually helpful part)

1. Start with what you don’t value

Anna realized:

* Home-cooked meals every night? Not it for her

* Eating together / eating nutritious meals / quality time? Yes

That shift matters.

Because when you stop forcing what isn’t yours,you finally have space for what is.

2. Systems don’t fix misalignment

You can optimize your routine all day long, but if it’s built around obligation, you will still feel exhausted.

Alignment first. Systems second.

3. You’re not just low on time, you’re low on energy

Some things don’t just take time…

They take so much mental and emotional energy:

* decision fatigue

* guilt

* resentment

And when your day is full of those things?Of course you feel maxed out.

Try this instead of spiraling: get curious

Instead of:

“Why can’t I just do this like everyone else?”

Try:

“Hmm… where did I learn that this matters? Who’s voice am I listening to? How can I find what matters to me and focus more on doing that well?”

That one question can unravel a LOT.

4. You might be discovering yourself for the first time

Some moms feel like they just want to get back to “their old selves,” you know, pre-kids. And some of us feel like we never even figured out who we were in the first place.

* what we like

* what we value

* what we want

And honestly? That’s allowed to take time.

5. The simplest test: do you clench or exhale?

When you imagine not doing “the thing”…

* Do you feel tight, stressed, resistant? → 🚩

* Or do you feel relief, space, ease? → 👀

That exhale? That’s data. Recognize it and start figuring out what does bring you joy if you want to start prioritizing your life around your values.

Of course, there are some jobs in life we just have to do, but for the most part, we get to decide what we pursue, what we spend energy on, and how we do those things to maximize joy in the process.

Okay but what do I DO with this?

We didn’t just stay theoretical. Here’s where this lands practically:

If dinner is draining you:

* Try meal delivery for a season

* Use pre-made grocery options

* Repeat meals you already know work

* Lower the bar (a lot)

* Or outsource where you can

And most importantly, take the time to learn what does put food on the table in a life-giving way for YOU.

Because maybe your value isn’t cooking from scratch.

Maybe it’s having energy left at the end of the day or enjoying time with your family.

Get Mom Ready is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

If this episode felt a little too relatable…

If you’re:

* constantly overwhelmed by decisions

* doing things out of guilt

* unsure what actually matters to you anymore

You don’t need another hack.

You need:

* space to think

* someone to process with

* permission to do things differently

That’s what coaching is for.

You can book a call with Hannah or Meredith here.

Links & things we mentioned

* The blow dryer/shark-airwrap situation… if you know, you know. We were influenced in real time 😂

* If you want to go deeper on the time vs. energy conversation, revisit the Jennifer Sise episode. It pairs perfectly with this one and will reframe how you think about capacity.

* If this episode stirred up identity questions like “what do I even like anymore?”, the Priscila Smith episode is a must-listen. It’s one of our best conversations on rediscovering yourself and your style.

* When Meredith referenced looking at finances before outsourcing meals, that came from the Becca Gonzalez episode - super practical if you’re trying to make changes without blowing your budget.

* The book True to You came up as a next step if you want to go deeper on identity, boundaries, and understanding your own patterns in relationships.

* For our Houston moms, Tres Market is one of those “this could save dinner this week” places! Great prepared meals you can grab and be done.

* Julie Barnes’ meal planning system is a practical solution if you like structure but hate the decision-making. Think: pre-built grocery lists + less Pinterest spiraling.

* And of course, everything we create (podcasts, weekly resources, coaching) lives at Getmomready.com

And yes…HelloFresh, if you’re reading this…we are ready for a partnership.🤝

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Show Notes: What we Talked About + Products

This week on Get Mom Ready, we started with a travel horror story.

Airport chaos.A toddler meltdown on a plane.And a mom crying under a blanket mid-flight.

You know… the usual.

But somewhere in the middle of swapping travel stories, the conversation turned into something bigger:

How do we actually set ourselves up for success as moms?

Not just when traveling.

But anytime we’re trying to juggle work, motherhood, logistics, identity, and our own sanity.

This episode is one of those conversations where we start talking about travel…

…and end up talking about support systems, guilt, experimentation, and what it takes to feel present in our own lives.

Also, purely by accident, all three of us showed up wearing denim.

Completely unplanned.Completely on brand for moms everywhere.

So if you want to witness the accidental Denim Day, you can watch the episode at GetMomReady.com.

In this episode we talk about…

What it actually looks like to navigate travel as a mom.

The logistics.The emotions.The unexpected curveballs.

We get into:

• traveling with kids vs. without them• preparing caregivers before you leave• the difference between real guilt and fear of what other people might think• the tiny logistical decisions that dramatically reduce mental load• how to ask for help without apologizing for it• why a spirit of experimentation might be one of the healthiest mindsets in motherhood

And yes, we also talk about what happens when your kid gets the flu on a work trip and you find yourself in an ER at 2 AM in Tampa.

Motherhood keeps things humble.

The mindset we keep coming back to

One of the biggest themes that came up in this conversation was something we all want to hold onto more:

The spirit of experimentation.

Instead of asking:

“Am I doing this the right way?”

What if we asked:

“What happens if I try this?”

Motherhood changes constantly.

What works when your baby is 6 months oldmight not work when they’re 2.

What worked last yearmight not work this year.

Experimentation gives you permission to:

• try something• learn from it• adjust• change your mind

And honestly? That might be one of the most freeing parenting tools there is.

A few things that actually helped

A lot of what made travel feel doable weren’t huge life changes.

They were small, practical decisions.

A caregiver “playbook”

Before leaving, we talked about how helpful it can be to create a shared note with things like:

• routines• preferences• school logistics• important contacts• pet instructions• random household things you don’t want someone guessing about

Not because everything has to be perfect.

But because preparation helps everyone breathe easier.

Identifying your triggers

Every parent has a couple of things that spike their anxiety more than others.

For some it’s choking.

For others it’s driving.

For others it’s sleep.

Instead of pretending those concerns don’t exist, sometimes it helps to just name them.

Sometimes readiness looks like saying:

“Hey, this is one of my things. Will you humor me?”

It’s not about control.

It’s about giving your nervous system a little more peace.

Making travel lighter (literally)

One travel tip that came up in the episode was a portable car seat option that made traveling so much easier.

The RideSafer Travel Vest works like a wearable car seat and folds into a small bag.

If you’ve ever tried to manage a toddler, a suitcase, a backpack, and a giant car seat through an airport… you know why this matters.

When the plan falls apart

Of course, motherhood loves to test our plans.

In this case, everything was going perfectly…until a toddler woke up throwing up at 1 AM.

Cue the ER visit.

Cue the Uber ride in the middle of the night.

Cue the moment where you think:

“Why did I think traveling with a toddler was a good idea?”

But the interesting thing?

Even in the chaos, the takeaway wasn’t “never do this again.”

It was actually the opposite.

Sometimes the things we’re most nervous about are the things that remind us:

We can handle more than we think.

A reminder about support systems

Another theme that kept surfacing in this conversation:

People often want to help more than we realize.

Grandparents who love extra time with grandkids.Friends who are willing to be “on call.”Partners who hold down the fort.

We’re not meant to do motherhood alone.

And sometimes the bravest thing we can do is simply let people show up for us.

If this episode resonated

We’d love to hear from you.

Tell us:

• what season of motherhood you’re in• what you’re experimenting with right now• what topics you want us to cover next

You can reach us at: [email protected]

And if you’re in a season where work, motherhood, identity, and life logistics all feel like they’re colliding…we offer Get Mom Ready coaching.

You can book a discovery call and choose the coach who feels like the best fit for your season here.

If this conversation resonated…

You’re exactly who Get Mom Ready is for.

Every week we share honest conversations about motherhood — the identity shifts, the mental load, the work-life tension, the things nobody really prepares you for.

If you want these conversations delivered straight to your inbox, make sure you’re subscribed.

Because motherhood is a lot easier when you realize: you’re not the only one figuring it out.

Subscribe below and we’ll see you next week.

One last thought

This episode may start with travel.

But the deeper question we kept coming back to was this:

What helps us feel ready for the life we’re living?

Ready to leave.Ready to ask for help.Ready to try something new.Ready to change our minds.

Ready to grow.

And sometimes…

ready to handle a midnight ER visit in Tampa.

Listen on Apple, Spotify, and Getmomready.com on your way to the grocery store or in the drop off line today.