Get Mom Ready Podcast

Happy New Year, friends!

This episode of Get Mom Ready is intentionally raw, unproduced, and honest — which feels like the only appropriate way to ease back into life after the holidays. If you’re feeling rested…amazing. If you’re feeling behind, buried in email, and wondering how it’s already January 5th…you’re in very good company.

As we step into a new year together, I wanted to pause and reflect on what resonated most with you in 2025. Because what you listened to — and kept coming back to — tells us a lot about what you actually need right now.

What You Loved Most: Our Stories

The top four most-listened episodes of 2025 were our personal stories:

* My story

* Anna’s story

* Meredith’s story

* Hannah’s story

And honestly? That means more than you know.

I remember telling the team that it mattered to me that I went first — that I led with vulnerability. And then the morning my episode went live, I woke up thinking, What have I done? It felt incredibly exposed.

Your response confirmed what Get Mom Ready is really about:We don’t need perfect advice. We need to know we’re not alone.

Thank you for trusting us with your time, your stories, and your own quiet listening moments — probably while folding laundry or hiding in the car for five extra minutes.

The Episode That Spoke Loudest (Fast)

After our stories, the most-listened episode of the year was:

Decision Fatigue, Mom Guilt, and the Power of Good Enough

What’s interesting? It was only released in November.

That tells me everything I need to know. Decision fatigue is real. Mom guilt is constant. And “good enough” is something we’re all desperately trying to practice — even when it feels uncomfortable.

You can expect us to keep talking about this in 2026. Because if you feel it every day… so do we.

The Next Four Episodes That Resonated Most

If we group our stories together, here are the next four episodes that rose to the top — especially for moms who are tired, thoughtful, and navigating big internal shifts:

* How to Find the Courage to Change Your Mind About Work and Motherhood

* Principled Living: How to Live from Intention Instead of Reactivity

* Choosing a Mindset That Works When Mom Life Feels Overwhelming

* Get Mom Ready Live (our October live recording)

That live episode still holds such a special place in my heart. We pulled it together quickly — partly because Meredith happened to be in Houston — and recorded it at SheSpace, which has been a meaningful space in my own growth journey over the last five years. Getting to share that moment with all of you felt full-circle in the best way.

What’s Coming in 2026

We’re already deep into recording for the new year, and I’m so excited about what’s ahead.

You’ll hear from:

* Alli Worthington — my personal business coach, powerhouse leader, mom of five, and someone I personally learn from

* Priscilla Smith — a stylist and mom bringing such a refreshing perspective

* Jennifer Sise — A business and productivity coach who will help us think differently about capacity and focus

And of course, you’ll continue hearing from me, Meredith, Anna, and Hannah, having the conversations we wish someone had invited us into earlier.

We Want to Hear From You

As always, this community shapes where we go next.

* What topics do you want us to cover?

* What questions are you carrying quietly?

* Would you be open to a live coaching episode — with one or all of us?

If the answer is yes, let us know. Truly.

Here’s to a grounded, honest, good-enough start to 2026. We’re really glad you’re here.

You can find all episodes and updates here on getmomready.com — and we’ll be back in your ears very soon.

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

With you,Holly 🤍

We recorded this episode just days before it airs, which means we’re talking about the holidays in real time.

Not the Pinterest version.Not the matching-pajamas, perfectly-timed-dinner, everyone-gets-along version.

The real one.

If you’re already feeling a knot in your stomach thinking about family gatherings, schedules, expectations, or how you’re going to hold it all together this season, then this episode is for you.

Because here’s the truth:The holidays don’t just add joy. They add pressure.

More people.More plans.More opinions.More logistics.More memories (good and hard).

And for so many moms, it brings up the same quiet question every year:

How do I stay connected…without it robbing my joy or burning myself out?

Let’s Start With a Reframe

One of the most important moments in this conversation came early, when Hannah reminded us of something simple—but powerful:

Most people are not trying to hurt you.

That seven-thirty dinner invitation?The late-night gathering?The unrealistic expectation?

It’s rarely malicious. Often it’s coming from people who haven’t had small kids in decades or who simply don’t live inside your daily reality.

Which means we’re left with a choice:

We can stew in resentment and dread…Or we can communicate.

Not perfectly.Not scripted.Not “therapized.”

Just honestly.

Boundaries Aren’t About Pushing People Away

This episode gently dismantles one of the most misunderstood ideas in modern motherhood: boundaries.

Hannah said it best:

“A boundary is something we do to stay connected, not to cut people off.”

Read that again.

Boundaries aren’t punishments.They’re clarifiers.They’re not about controlling other people—they’re about being honest about what we can do.

A boundary sounds like:

* “We’d love to come, but we need to leave by 6:30.”

* “Five o’clock would work best for our kids—if not, we’ll still come and head out early.”

* “This is what our family needs this year.”

No drama.No moral high ground.No ultimatums.

Just clarity.

And clarity, when offered with kindness, actually protects connection instead of eroding it.

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

When We Don’t Say Anything, Things Get Harder—Not Easier

One thread that kept resurfacing in this episode was avoidance.

Avoiding hard conversations.Avoiding asking for what we need.Avoiding saying something because “it’s not a big deal.”

Until…it is.

As Hannah shared, estrangement often doesn’t begin with one huge blow-up.It starts with small, unspoken hurts that pile up over time.

And while not every situation needs confrontation, a helpful question is this:

Is this making me want to pull away?

If the answer is yes, it may be worth gently naming.

Not to create conflict but to prevent distance.

The Holidays Add More Than We Realize

Beyond family dynamics, the holidays also bring a massive increase in mental load:

* School events

* Performances

* Parties

* Gift-buying

* Clothes for themed days

* Social obligations

* Endless “shoulds”

And social media doesn’t help.

It can feel like everyone else is:✔ Doing everything✔ Loving every minute✔ Creating magical memories

Meanwhile, you’re just trying to survive December without snapping.

So we talked about permission.

Permission to:

* Skip parties

* Say no to traditions that don’t serve your family

* Choose a few meaningful things instead of everything

* Let “good enough” be good enough

One practical idea Hannah shared was sitting down as a family and deciding:What actually matters to us this season?

Everything else is optional.

You’re Allowed to Do Christmas Your Way

This episode wasn’t about lowering standards—it was about choosing them on purpose.

It was about:

* Planning ahead

* Communicating early

* Being on the same team as your partner

* Naming triggers before you’re in the middle of them

* Giving yourself grace when things aren’t perfect

And most importantly, remembering this:

There is no perfect family.There is no conflict-free holiday.There is only imperfect people doing their best.

A Gentle Reminder as You Head Into the Holidays

You don’t have to do everything.You don’t have to please everyone.You don’t have to explain yourself perfectly.

You do get to:

* Ask for what you need

* Protect your energy

* Choose connection over performance

* Assume the best about others—and yourself

If this season feels tender, heavy, or complicated—you are not behind.You are human.

And you’re not alone.

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

Listen to the Full Episode

In this conversation, we cover:

* How to communicate boundaries without sounding defensive

* Why clarity actually builds connection

* How avoidance creates more stress long-term

* Practical ways to simplify the holidays

* How to opt out without guilt

* Why “fumbling” conversations are better than none at all

Resources for You

If you’re needing support beyond this episode, you can find all of our free resources here on GetMomReady.com including:

* The Wellness Guide

* The Medical Mom Guide

* The Principles-Based Living Guide

* Pumping on the Go…and more.

Everything is free, and everything is there to support you wherever you are in your motherhood journey.

From Holly Tate, Meredith Mayo, Hannah Castle, LCSW, & Anna Baker - Merry Christmas!

May this season be honest, gentle, and just a little lighter than the last. 💛

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

Today on Get Mom Ready, Meredith and Holly sit down with our dear friend and co-host Anna—her first full episode back after a couple months away navigating her daughter Emmie’s fourth heart surgery.

And I can’t overstate this: her honesty, clarity, and resilience left both of us speechless (and a little teary).

This episode is a conversation about what happens when life demands more of you than you ever thought you had.

It’s about adrenaline and advocacy, fear and fortitude, and the very real stretch of motherhood that doesn’t happen in curated moments—but in hospital chairs, sleepless nights, and the tiny victories of a 3-year-old taking her medicine.

It’s also about growth. Not the Instagram kind. The kind you only recognize when you look back and realize:

“Wow. I handled that differently than the last time. I’m not the same person anymore.”

Below are a few of the biggest themes from Anna’s story—offered gently, because if you’re in a season of crisis, transition, or simply feeling stretched thin…this episode will meet you there.

1. Seasons Give Us Permission to Be Different

One of the most powerful things Anna said was this:

“I can cognitively know it’s a season, but I don’t always give myself permission to live like it is.”

Same, girl. Same.

This time, she let herself do the season she was in:— Eat protein bars at midnight instead of real meals— Sleep upright in a hospital chair— Let the house go— Let her normal rhythms go— Let her expectations go— Let herself be held instead of holding everything together

And in doing so, she found a grace and groundedness she didn’t even know she was capable of.

What would shift for you if you stopped fighting your season…and started cooperating with it?

2. You Don’t Know Your Capacity Until Life Pulls It Out of You

This may be the quote of the year:

“Our boundaries aren’t stretched and pushed—and we don’t grow—until our circumstances demand it.”

Anna didn’t set out to be a superhuman.She didn’t choose this level of endurance.She didn’t wake up with a plan for how to stay connected, calm, and present through medical trauma.

But when the moment required it, something in her rose.

Not perfectly.Not without tears.Not without frustration.Not without breakdowns in bathroom stalls and whispered prayers for strength.

But she rose.

There is a kind of strength inside mothers that only emerges in fire. And it doesn’t arrive with fanfare. It arrives because it has to.

3. Parenting Requires Curiosity, Not Control

A moment that stopped us in our tracks:Emmie refusing her medication—refusing it so consistently that the hospital wouldn’t discharge her.

Every mom listening felt that tension:The stakes are high. You’re exhausted. Your patience is fried. You just want your baby to please take the medicine so you can go home.

But instead of forcing or panicking, Anna—along with her support team—got curious.

What would motivate her?How does her little mind work?What matters to her right now?

When they realized the strongest motivator was separation from Mom, everything shifted.And later, when she learned “taking medicine = staying home,” the reasoning clicked.

What a beautiful reminder:

Kids aren’t giving us a hard time. They’re having a hard time.And parenting is less about control, more about creativity and connection.

4. You Can Do Hard Things, But You Don’t Have To Do Them Alone

Anna talked about the difference between this surgery and the last one.

Last time:— Phillip had shingles— He couldn’t stay in the room— He lost his job— She felt isolated, overwhelmed, and underwater

This time:— He was able to be present— He brought his science mind to medication decisions— They operated as a team— They supported, relieved, and uplifted each other

And somewhere in the mix—of prayer, personal growth, and simply time—something healed between them.

Not magically.Not in a straight line.But enough to carry them through one of the hardest seasons of their lives with unity and tenderness.

This episode is a reminder that marriage in crisis doesn’t have to collapse. Sometimes, it becomes the lifeboat.

5. Growth Isn’t Perfection—It’s Progress

One thing we deeply appreciate about Anna: she made it clear she wasn’t a saint in that hospital room.

She broke down.She got frustrated.She lost her temper.She complained.She was human.

But she saw her growth.She noticed the difference in her mindset.She noticed the new strength inside herself.She noticed the gentleness she extended to her own heart.She noticed she was becoming someone more rooted, more resilient, more aware.

Progress, not perfection.Always.

(We’re putting that on a mug. Or a sweatshirt. Or Anna’s forehead. TBD.)

If You’re a Medical Mom—or a Mom in Crisis—You Are Not Alone

If this episode stirred something tender in you, please know:

You don’t have to walk your hard season alone.

Anna has created incredibly thoughtful resources for medical moms, available for free right here on GetMomReady.com.Meredith has her wellness guide.Hannah has grounding and mindset tools.Holly has her working-mom and household-systems resources.

You can find all of it here:

✨ GetMomReady.comEverything is free. No paywall, no hoops.

Scroll a bit—articles and videos mix together on Substack—but everything is there waiting for you.

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

Listen to the Full Episode

You’ll hear:

• The moment Emmie understood “medicine = home”• How Anna managed her mental health while being literally unable to leave her daughter’s side• How she and Phillip strengthened their marriage through trauma• The surprising joy she found in being a temporary stay-at-home mom• Why seasons matter—and how to live inside yours with more grace• And yes, the story behind the infamous “beef water” protein powder

Sponsor Love

A huge thank-you to our sponsor Pediped — use code MOMREADY for 20% off your first order of high-quality children’s shoes.

If this episode touched you, please share it with a friend who needs to feel less alone today.

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

We’ll see you next week, mama.You’re doing so much better than you think.

💛Holly, Meredith & Anna

If you’ve ever found yourself standing in the kitchen at 5:30 p.m. wondering, “What on earth do I feed these children?” — or debating screen time rules, or trying to squeeze a workout into the tiniest slice of your day — then you know that motherhood is one big, long chain of decisions.

And not just big decisions.The tiny ones, the repetitive ones, the ones that never end…those are the ones that quietly wear us down.

In this week’s episode, we explore the everyday negotiations moms make with our kids, our partners, our schedules, and most importantly, ourselves. And we kept coming back to three themes: decision fatigue, mom guilt, and the surprising freedom of choosing “good enough.”

Below is a recap of the biggest takeaways.

The mental load isn’t about time — it’s about brain space.

We talk about mental load all the time, but this episode brought it down to earth.

It’s not just doing the thing, it’s thinking about the thing:

* deciding what to cook

* deciding whether to send lunch to daycare

* deciding which show is appropriate

* deciding when you can possibly work out

* deciding whether the house needs cleaning or the kids need your attention more

* deciding if this is the week you finally meal plan (…probably not)

As Hannah said in the episode: “It’s not time — it’s brain power.”

The brain power it takes to sort through a million tiny choices all day long leaves us tapped out, irritated, and sometimes questioning whether we’re even doing a “good job.”

And that’s where the value vs. cost lens becomes a lifeline.

Value vs. Cost: A simple way to make decisions easier

Meredith introduced this idea beautifully: Every decision has a value and a cost.

For example:

The meal planning example

A mom who values eating around the table may choose sheet-pan meals over elaborate dinners because the cost (time + mess + mental energy) is too high in this season.

Another mom may value ease and peace in the evenings, so she chooses mac-and-cheese some nights with zero guilt.

Both are right.

The daycare lunch example

For Holly, the cost of prepping Iris’s food every day is higher than the value she’d gain by sending healthier options. So she chooses the daycare meals — and names it as a decision she feels good about, not guilty about.

The screen time example

For Hannah, the constant decision-making around TV — What can they watch? For how long? Is this appropriate? — was draining her whole afternoon.So she decided: No TV on school days.

The value: less stress.

The cost: more art projects and a messier house… but worth it.

When we’re honest about what we value in this season, costs become easier to accept.

Good Enough Is Good Enough

This phrase came up repeatedly.

Not as a cop-out.As a grounding truth.

“Good enough” means we stop chasing some imaginary ideal of the perfect mom — the one who cooks organic meals, keeps the house tidy, creates magical routines, and still manages to train like an athlete.

“Good enough” gives you permission to choose what matters today and let the rest be…good enough.

As Meredith said:“Name it and move on.”Name what season you’re in.Name what you’re choosing.Name what you’re letting go of.And move forward without shaming yourself.

Remove decisions wherever you can

A big theme of this episode was reducing unnecessary decisions, not because we’re weak, but because we’re human.

Where can you streamline?Where can you create defaults?Where can you outsource?Where can you eliminate a recurring decision altogether?

For Holly, it was incorporating a post-daycare-drop-off walk so she doesn’t have to choose when to move her body.

For Hannah, it was eliminating weekday screen time so she doesn’t have to police it.

For Meredith, it was releasing the pressure to train like an athlete and embracing the season she’s in: walking, Pilates, and baby-on-hip strength training.

Sometimes the healthiest choice is simply the one that keeps you from burning out.

A takeaway for you this week

Where are you carrying unnecessary decision fatigue?

* Meals?

* Screen time?

* Laundry?

* Workouts?

* House tasks?

* Your kid’s school choices?

* Weekend plans?

* Routines?

Ask yourself:

* What do I truly value in this season?

* What is the real cost of trying to live that out?

* What decision can I remove, simplify, or delegate?

* Where can I choose “good enough” and let the guilt go?

Motherhood becomes a lot lighter when we stop performing and start deciding with intention.

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

A reminder: You’re invited into our community

If you want support, structure, and resources for this kind of principled, grounded motherhood, our Get Mom Ready community is full of tools to help you live this out at your own pace.

You don’t have to consume everything.It’s not a course.It’s a buffet.A tribe.A resource library for whatever you’re facing this week.

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

This week’s episode started a little… off the rails. 😅 Anna was out, Holly couldn’t remember what episode number we’re on, and we hadn’t prepared a topic ahead of time for today’s conversation.

And honestly? That was perfect.

Because where we landed was exactly what so many moms are living in:

* Transitioning from a demanding job into staying home

* Wondering how not to create “new bosses” for yourself

* Feeling both grateful and restless in a new season

* Trying to figure out what your actual capacity is now that life looks different

We ended up having a really honest conversation about capacity, seasons, and being a kind boss to yourself.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

1. When Your Job Changes but Your Internal Boss Doesn’t

Meredith shares about a coaching client who’s leaving a high-capacity job to become a stay-at-home mom. Her big question:

“How do I not make new bosses for myself at home?”

We talk about:

* How easy it is to carry the same pressure, urgency, and “shoulds” into a new season

* The idea that wherever you go, you take you with you

* How to notice when you’re recreating a pressure cooker in a place that was supposed to be restful

2. Bringing the Best of Your Old Season Into the New One

We circle back to Hannah’s Principled Living Guide and how it can help you ask:

* What from my previous job/season do I want to bring into motherhood?

* What rhythms, routines, or expectations do I want to gently let go of?

* What actually matters for this season of our family, not the imaginary ideal in my head?

Hannah shares a simple example: “tidy times” with her kids instead of cleaning all day, every day. Little containers of order instead of letting cleaning boss you around.

3. The Guilt of Paying for Childcare (and Feeling Like You Must “Earn” Every Minute)

We go there.

Hannah talks about:

* Paying for childcare and feeling like every single hour has to be “income producing”

* The paralysis of having one free hour and not knowing whether to run, eat, organize, or rest so you do none of it and then judge yourself later

* The invitation to disappoint the voice in your head that says you must be maximally productive at all times

Meredith names it so well: sometimes you have to let that inner voice be disappointed so you can actually live the life you say you want.

4. The Danger of Going “All In” on One Identity

Holly shares a “hot take” she’s still working out:

* Women who go all in on being a full-time stay-at-home mom or a full-time working mom can sometimes ignore a big, important part of themselves

* When that part feels unfed or unseen, it can leak out as resentment, misery, or the sense that “everyone is miserable”

* The goal isn’t a perfect balance; it’s honesty:

* What part of me feels fulfilled right now?

* What part feels undernourished?

* Is there a small, creative way to honor that part in this season?

5. Extra Time vs. Extra Capacity

Holly shares about leaving her full-time job and realizing:

* There’s a difference between having time on your calendar and having energy in your body

* You can have open blocks on your calendar and still feel totally spent

* Or, like she’s feeling now, you can have extra energy and not quite know where to put it

We talk about treating that extra energy with curiosity instead of urgency:

“What do I want more of, not just what else can I cram into this day?”

6. Seasons, Not Life Sentences

We keep coming back to this idea:

* Some seasons you wake up at 5am and work out.

* Some seasons you sleep every second you can because…baby.

* Some seasons you volunteer for everything.

* Some seasons your only “extra” is survival.

And that’s allowed.

You’re not signing a lifetime contract with any one rhythm. You get to pivot, reset, and change your mind as life changes.

Practical Ideas We Mentioned

These came up organically in the conversation and are too good not to list out:

* Use our Principled Living Guide to name what matters in this season and what you’re okay releasing.

* Create “tidy times” instead of cleaning constantly—short, intentional cleanups instead of an all-day mental load.

* Make a list on your fridge: “Things [Your Name] Likes To Do.” When you get an unexpected pocket of time, you don’t have to remember from scratch.

* Give yourself a personal, non-kid, non-work goal:

* Run a race

* Take a class

* Grab quarterly coffee with someone

* Learn something just because you want to

* Think in seasons: What do you want more of this fall/winter/spring? Walks? Friend time? Rest? Creative work? Start there.

* Be the boss you wish you had. If you’re “the boss of you” now, can you be a kind, compassionate one?

A Little Love Note to Anna & Emmie 💛

We recorded this episode on the day baby Emmie was in surgery, and we felt Anna’s absence so deeply. Good news - Anna and Emmie have been back home for a few weeks and Emmie is recovering really well. We’re beyond grateful!

Also: Anna, we know you told us the episode number. Multiple times. In writing. We accept our fate. 😂

Resources Inside the Get Mom Ready Paid Community

If this episode stirred something in you, our paid community has tools to help you actually do something with it:

* Hannah’s Principled Living Guide – To help you identify your core principles and filter decisions through them

* Meredith’s Postpartum Wellness Guide – For taking care of your body and nervous system after baby

* Holly’s Pumping On-the-Go Guide – For working/pumping moms trying to make it all work

* Anna’s Medical Mom Guide – For moms navigating medical journeys with their kids

We’ve heard from some of you that it feels like a lot of resources (which, honestly, we take as a compliment). Think of it as a buffet - take what you need for this season and leave the rest for later.

Reflection Questions

If you want to go deeper after listening, here are a few journal or voice-note prompts:

* Where am I currently overwriting my true capacity with “shoulds” or old expectations?

* What part of me feels fulfilled in this season—and what part feels undernourished?

* If I could choose one small, kind way to be a better boss to myself this month, what would it be?

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

Huge thanks to pediped for sponsoring this episode and helping us keep this community going.

Our listeners get 20% off their first order with code: MOMREADY

Shop their shoes at:

https://pediped.com

If you grab a pair, DM us pics of your kiddos in their new shoes so we can cheer with you!

Traveling with kids isn’t a vacation—it’s an adventure with snacks. In this episode, we trade the glossy reels for real-life rhythms: the “loaf of bread” baby who snoozes through flights, the squirrely toddler who doesn’t, and the car-trip rules that keep everyone safer (and saner).

We dig into choosing your trip’s purpose on purpose. Is your goal character-building memories or maximum kid joy? That single choice clarifies everything from schedules to expectations. You’ll hear our tips for staying sane with your spouse (“same team” energy), how humor and narrating out loud regulate everyone’s nervous system, and the small logistics that buy big peace. Plus our hottest tip: pack a “Colleen Bag.” Tune in to find out what that golden nugget is.

In Today’s episode

* Real trips, real talk: Chicago with a mobile toddler, solo-parent flights, and a 9-hour red-eye with an 8-month-old (yes, the scream happened—and the flight still ended).

* Mindset reframe: Hard ≠ bad. Travel builds resilience for you and your kids. You get to choose what that looks like.

* Model it out loud: Simple narration scripts to teach coping to your kids (“This is hard, and it will build character that I want”).

* Partnership on purpose: A pre-travel “same team” pact or safe word to cut the snippy spirals.

* Environment hacks that buy margin: Right hotel/floor, monitor-to-patio range for post-bedtime connection, and when public transit beats parking + car seats.

* Block out the noise: Parent for your child, not the crowd—other people’s opinions don’t ride home with you.

* Empower the kid: Make them a teammate with clear roles that unite you instead of frustrating you.

Things We Love + Links

* Book 1:1 coaching with Hannah, Meredith, Holly, or Anna—schedule directly on the site.

* 👟 Sponsor: Pediped — use code MOMREADY for 20% off your first order at pediped.com.

* Inspo from two of our favorite women—Helen Keller and Sara Blakely.

* Subscribe to Get Mom Ready for Sunday-night episode drops + resources: getmomready.com

* Join the paid community for guides and group coaching (Meredith’s Wellness Guide, Holly’s Pumping Guide, Hannah’s Principled Living, Anna’s Marriage-in-Parenting toolkit).

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

Practical Reflection Questions

* What’s one mindset reframe I can borrow this week?

* Which two hacks from this episode would help us most on our next trip?

* Where can I reduce friction (hotel choice, transit, packing) to create one pocket of connection?

* What narration line will I practice with my kid to model regulation?

* What’s our couple safe word or pre-trip agreement to keep us united?

* What goes in our version of the Colleen Bag (name 3 items)?

* Where am I parenting for the crowd instead of for my child—and how will I block out the noise?

This week we’re turning down the shame around nutrition and remembering food is fuel. Hannah is traveling (we miss you, friend!), so it’s Holly, Anna, and Meredith—our certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner—digging into how food, wellness, and mom life all collide.

Meredith brings her best tips for navigating the overwhelm of nutrition in real life—when you’re short on time, not sure what to believe, or just tired of thinking about what’s for dinner.

We covered everything from morning hunger and cortisol to whether peanut butter counts as protein (Meredith has thoughts) and the importance of morning light.

But most importantly? Spoiler: it’s not about perfection, it’s about paying attention to how your body feels and making small, doable shifts.

Things We Loved This Week

* Meredith’s favorite peanut butter – Maranatha (don’t tempt us with a spoonful straight from the jar)

* Naked Collagen in your coffee – extra protein without changing the taste

* Prime Protein Powder – an easy grab for busy mornings

* Naked PB – peanut butter powder for more protein, less fat

* Kelly LeVeque, Best-selling author, celebrity holistic nutritionist and wellness expert – If you’re not already following her, go do it now.

* 👟 And thank you to our sponsor, Pediped! Use code MOMREADY for 20% off your first order at pediped.com.

Practical Reflection Questions

* What would it look like for you to add just one simple nutrition habit this week?

* When do you notice your body feels best fueled? Can you create a repeatable system around that?

* Are you holding yourself back with all-or-nothing thinking? What’s one “middle ground” choice you could try today?

✨ Want Meredith’s full Wellness Guide and extra resources from this episode? Join the Get Mom Ready paid community.

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This week we’re diving into a topic that feels tender, vulnerable, and oh-so-universal: body image in motherhood. From Target pajama fails in the hospital to Pelotons collecting dust in the garage, we’re getting real about what it looks like to live in (and love) our changing bodies.

In this conversation, we cover:

* Why “the weight will just fall off” might be the least helpful phrase ever

* Shame in the closet—why keeping old jeans in sight isn’t actually motivating

* Joyful movement vs. punishment: how to reframe exercise

* Permission to let movement look different in different seasons (walking counts!)

* How compassion—not shame—actually helps us show up better in our bodies

We laughed (hello lanolin-stained tops 🙈), we cried, and we wrestled honestly with how much pressure we put on ourselves to “get back” instead of asking, what’s actually good and kind for me in this season?

Things We Loved This Week

Sponsor Love: This episode is brought to you by Pediped. Use code MOMREADY for 20% off your first order at pediped.com.

💡 Other shoutouts from this convo:

* Mindset by Carol Dweck (strikes again 🙌)

* Peloton (don’t sponsor us 😂)

* ClassPass (DO sponsor us please 🙌)

* Evelyn Tribole & intuitive eating

Put it Into Action

Some actionable ways to rethink body image with kindness this week:

* Audit the “shoulds.” Ask yourself: what am I telling myself I should be doing that isn’t actually helping me? (Think Peloton guilt, old jeans in the closet, or meal plans that feel like punishment.)

* Choose fun first. If movement bored you today, try something that sparks joy instead—walking, dancing in your kitchen, or a new class. Joyful movement counts.

* Reframe your closet. Keep only the clothes that feel helpful right now. Box up or donate the rest so your daily choices don’t come with shame attached.

* Replace shame with compassion. When the critical voice pops up, remind yourself: “If shame worked, it would’ve worked by now. Compassion is the way forward.”

💌 Want the reflection questions and key takeaways delivered straight to your inbox each week? Subscribe at GetMomReady.com

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

A huge thanks to everyone who came to the live recording! It was the first time we’d ever done an in-person recording, and we had tons of fun. It was so special for Holly to be hosting it at SheSpace, a place that has meant so much to her growth, personally and professionally over the last five years.

Hannah Castle, LCSW walked us through an exercise of three questions to helps us identify the principles we want to center on:

* When I’m at my best as a mom, what’s true about me?

* What do I want my kids to feel in our home?

* If I could hold onto one principle in hard moments, what would it be?

We also invited everyone to subscribe to us here at GetMomReady.com and consider joining our paid community where we do live coaching calls and have a buffet of resources for you to pick and choose from on your motherhood journey.

Until next time!

Holly, Hannah, Meredith, & Anna

P.S. A HUGE thanks to Case Mundy, our audio engineer and producer of today’s show that made the recording and live stream possible. If you’re looking for an audio engineer to take your event to the next level, email Case here.

Hey, Get Mom Ready crew! This week we’re talking mindset—not as a buzzword, but as the everyday attitude + beliefs that guide how we show up… for ourselves, our kids, and each other.

In this episode, we dig into:

* Surfing & the “messy beginning”: why humiliation reps are actually growth reps (Mer’s Hawaii saga 🏄‍♀️).

* Growth vs. fixed mindset (thanks, Dr. Carol Dweck): what it looks like for moms in real life.

* Words matter: reframing “I have to” → “I get to,” and why your self-talk sets your ceiling.

* Check the facts vs. ride the feelings: a quick reality check tool when the spiral starts.

* Belief-checking: noticing the stories under the story (and when to phone a therapist/friend).

* Whose voice is in your head (and in your AirPods)? Curating inputs on purpose.

* Principled living x mindset: aligning tiny choices (like packing lunches) to what you value.

* It’s okay to be… annoyed: emotions can coexist with love; seasons change.

* Perspective > comparison: how to borrow inspiration without borrowing shame.

* Two reflection prompts to take into the week:

* Whose voices am I listening to right now?

* How can I live today in a way I’d want to live again?

Resources we love

* Mindset by Carol Dweck — The research behind growth vs. fixed mindset. For moms and kids, try the “yet” shift (“I can’t do this… yet”), praise effort/strategy over outcomes, and model trying new things (even when you feel like a buffoon on a surfboard). TED Talks and summaries are great if you’re nap-trapped.

* Quiet by Susan Cain — This one celebrates introverts (kids and adults). Super helpful for understanding different energy needs at home, designing calmer routines, and giving your quieter kid (or quieter self) room to thrive without guilt.

* Pediped Shoes — Because mindset also shows up in how our kids move through the world. We love Pediped for giving little feet healthy support (and bonus: they’re actually cute).

* Get 20% off your first order with code MOMREADY

Try this (quick wins)

* Fact Check in 30 seconds: “What do I know? What am I feeling?” Name both. Act from facts, care for feelings.

* Voice Audit: Write the 3 voices you’ll let shape your parenting mindset this season (a real-life friend, a book/podcast, and your own inner compass).

* Tiny Reframe: Swap one “have to” for a “get to” today and notice the shift.

Coming Soon…

Alli Worthington, Author of Remaining You While Raising Them, will be joining us on the pod in a few weeks. If you have questions for Alli, share them with us at GetMomReady.com, and be sure to tune in when her episode drops.

🎧 Tune in to Episode 7 wherever you listen to podcasts, and tell us your favorite takeaway—and which voice you’re choosing to turn up this week.

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