Gotcha Mama

Big announcement in this episode!

Transition happens all the time.

Maybe you’re going through a transition right now too.

I've talked to other moms who are feeling it.

If you're wondering "What's the next thing?" for you, you aren't alone.

After the interviews with Merritt and Mary Kathryn in episodes 85 and 86 about pursuing dreams as a mom (and lots of thought, prayer, and conversations with friends) I’ve felt a confirmation in my soul that it’s time for a new season.

Not just personally, but also with Gotcha Mama and what I’m doing to support and encourage moms...

Tune in to find out more!

For show notes and resources mentioned: http://www.gotchamama.com

GOTCHA MAMA INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/gotchamama/

GOTCHA MAMA FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/gotchamama/

No parent wants to see their child struggle.

But there's a point when our help isn't actually helping them learn the skills they need to be responsible, resilient adults down the road.

Coming to their rescue every time they forget something at home...

Resolving arguments with friends for them...

Once or twice is not an issue.

But when it becomes an all-the-time thing, it can set them up to be the college kid whose mom calls their teacher because they didn't get the grade they wanted. Yikes!

So how do we teach them to be resilient when all we want to do is protect them?

That's what my guest Meredith Brough and I discuss in this episode.

Meredith has a lot of experience raising children and working with children. She's been married for 24 years and has 5 children ranging from 12 to 21-years-old. 

She also has over 30 years of experience caring for kids in various roles, as a nanny, preschool teacher, running a daycare from her home, and more.

We talk about:

• Some of the challenges and obstacles that she experienced raising her five kids
• Some ways that moms sometimes try to make things “perfect and protect our children from reality” and How we can stop doing this so much 
• The importance of resilience and learning consequences for kids
• How to know the balance of teaching and protecting and how she’s tried to teach her children to “struggle well”

Connect with Meredith:

www.sweetslumbertime.com

www.instagram.com/sweetslumbertime

www.facebook.com/sweetslumbertime

For show notes and resources mentioned: http://www.gotchamama.com

GOTCHA MAMA INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/gotchamama/

GOTCHA MAMA FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/gotchamama/

Maybe you realize that NOW IS the time to pursue what God has put on your heart.

Right here in the middle of motherhood with little kids, you're going to pursue this dream.

But you don't want to pursue it in a way that creates anxiety and overwhelm.

Not in a way that's driven by comparison of what someone else is doing or guilt for "not being enough" for your children OR in your business.

Good news. There's a better way.

And my guest this week, Mary Kathryn Tiller, shares her heart for encouraging mom entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams in a way that "moves at the pace of Jesus".

Mary Kathryn is a mom of two and a writer.

Her passion is helping entrepreneurial mamas connect more deeply with Christ so they can find the strength they need to thrive in all He’s called them to do. 

Mary Kathryn is full of wisdom and encouragement.

We talk about:

• How we can embrace motherhood AND our calling without “hustling harder”
• WHY it's important for moms to pursue what's on their heart in the middle of motherhood 
• That if Jesus is the center of everything we do, we can move at His pace and trust that He'll unfold our dreams in a way that gives us life- not anxiety. THIS is SO good!
• And her free resource Five Pockets of Time and How to Make Them Work for You as an entrepreneur and mom with young kids

You're going to walk away from this conversation feeling lighter and inspired. I know I did!

Connect with Mary Kathryn:

https://www.instagram.com/marykathryntiller

https://www.facebook.com/marykathryntiller

www.marykathryntiller.com

www.newmerciesformoms.com

For show notes and resources mentioned: http://www.gotchamama.com

GOTCHA MAMA INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/gotchamama/

GOTCHA MAMA FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/gotchamama/

How do you know it's the right time to pursue your dream?

You've got kids and all kinds of other things to worry about right now, right?

Maybe you think to yourself "I'll start when the kids are back in school" or "next year when it's not as wild". Ha!

Okay, hold on. Let's back up a minute. First, how do you even know what your dream IS?

Did you know all along and are maybe just hesitant because it feels "selfish" or "irresponsible"?

Did God drop it in your heart in a moment - BAM - and you knew!?

Or do you still wonder and struggle to figure out what your dream is? By the way, you're not alone if this is you.

No matter where you land on the "dreamer spectrum" (just made that up), you will find all kinds of value from this conversation with my guest Merritt Onsa.

Merritt is the host of the Devoted Dreamers podcast.

She's a trail guide for the passionate and creative Christian woman who wants to get over her fear of failure, comparison, and imposter syndrome so she can get moving on her God-shaped dream without wasting more time second-guessing herself, procrastinating, or trying to be perfect.

Sound like you?!

Merritt believes it would be a tragedy if your God-shaped dreams stayed hidden. She helps you to unpack and sift through what God has uniquely gifted you with. And speaks truth and love over you as you navigate the journey forward.

We talk about:

• How what she learned through her motherhood journey also helped her to listen to her heart in pursuing her God-shaped dream as a mom
• What her God-shaped dream is
• How she gets past fears and insecurities to pursue her dream
• How we can live out what God has called us to do without putting too much value on what WE are doing
• Letting dreams percolate for the right timing

Connect with Merritt:

Devoted Dreamers podcast

www.merrittonsa.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/devoteddreamers

https://www.instagram.com/merrittjo

https://www.pinterest.com/merrittonsa/_created

For show notes and resources mentioned: http://www.gotchamama.com

GOTCHA MAMA INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/gotchamama/

GOTCHA MAMA FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/gotchamama/

If you’re feeling a lack of focus or direction. Or generally feel like you're spinning your wheels- this episode is for you.

For the past several months I've had a lack of focus.

I feel scattered and overwhelmed by pretty much everything.

And I KNOW I’m not alone in this.

When I feel like this, even when I’m doing my quiet time with the Lord and praying, I notice that I still search outside myself for direction and information.

It’s like information quicksand.

The more I sign up for courses, webinars, and freebies and read blogs, and books, the more I move and let information in, the more stuck I feel.

So, I did what (I think) you’re supposed to do in quicksand: stop, relax and move slowly and intentionally.

I am NOT going to tell you 15 ways to declutter your mind.

We're trying to simplify and focus here not try to take in MORE information.

I’m going to share with you ONE easy starting point to declutter your mind today.

I talk about:

• The question to ask yourself to help you decide what you need to focus on.
• What I did that helped me to immediately feel more focused and lighter.
• One thing you can do after listening to this episode to help you clear out the mental clutter that’s keeping you feeling lost and distracted.

For show notes and resources mentioned: http://www.gotchamama.com

GOTCHA MAMA INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/gotchamama/

GOTCHA MAMA FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/gotchamama/

Change and uncertainty are difficult for most everyone.

And 2020 has been a roller coaster of emotions, loss, change, and uncertainty.

Especially for kids.

As a parent, you want to protect your kids. You want to help them grow into resilient and confident adults.

Part of that is helping them process difficult discussions and situations. Sometimes it's hard to know how to talk about things like illness, loss, or big transitions and change.

Things that can make adults anxious and feel overwhelmed.

Changes and uncertainty are part of life though. So how do we help our children process and deal with change and uncertainty in a healthy way?

My guest on this episode, Susie Harder, talks about a creative way to do that. Pulling from her background as a speech therapist and a mom, she created an innovative way to help parents guide their children through difficult discussions of change, loss, and uncertainty.

Susie is the founder of the Junior Author’s Program, a community project that engages students around the world in collaboratively writing a children’s book.

Not only does it help students participate in a meaningful project, but the storyline of the book itself is written to help the children who lost their home in the Central California Creek Fire.

Proceeds from the sale of the book will be given to the families who lost their homes in the devastating fire.

We talk about:

• What a speech pathologist does to help kids
• How being a mom has affected being a speech pathologist
• The unexpected moment with her son that sparked her idea to create the innovative Junior Author’s Program
• What the Junior Author's Program is all about and the bigger vision for it
• How she suggests navigating conversations with your kids around sensitive topics

Connect with Susie:

https://www.juniorauthorsprogram.com

https://www.facebook.com/juniorauthorsprogram

For show notes and resources mentioned: http://www.gotchamama.com

GOTCHA MAMA INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/gotchamama/

GOTCHA MAMA FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/gotchamama/

Sometimes, no matter how hard you try to keep it all together as a mom of a newborn, you feel overwhelmed, anxious, and depressed.

On top of the enormous hormonal shift that's happened after having a baby, there are outside factors that can cause additional stress on you as a new mom.

Maybe your husband got a new job that requires him to travel more so he's not there to help as much.

You're moving to a new city.

You got laid off from your job.

Your baby has colic.

You don't have family near you.

You're sleep-deprived...

It all piles up.

But you feel alone and like you don't know who to talk to.

My guest this week, is Keisha Reaves. Keisha has been counseling and working with women in the mental health field for sixteen years.

She's a mom herself and is certified in perinatal mental health.

After witnessing the stigma of mental health, she’s made it her mission to normalize therapy. 

Keisha candidly shares her own challenges with postpartum anxiety and the stressors that not only affected her but that she sees affect other moms who come to her also.

Keisha shares so much wisdom around mental health for moms in this episode.

We talk about:

• What her personal postpartum experience was like with her two children
• The key things she did with her second pregnancy and postpartum that made a huge difference in her mental health
• Factors that may make mental health issues more likely for a mother  
• The differences women of color experience in pregnancy and postpartum health and why she’s so passionate about providing access to resources and mental health services to women of color

Connect with Keisha:

www.pushthrumom.com

https://www.instagram.com/pushthrumom

https://www.instagram.com/keisha_reaves

For show notes and resources mentioned: http://www.gotchamama.com

GOTCHA MAMA INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/gotchamama/

GOTCHA MAMA FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/gotchamama/

"Is he sleeping through the night yet?"

How many times have you heard that question as a parent to a new baby?

You might be surprised to hear what a Certified Sleep Expert has to say about what "sleeping through the night" really means...

"Sleep when the baby sleeps" is another common piece of advice for moms of newborns.

So what happens when the baby DOESN'T sleep?!

Dare I mention sleep training?

I know it can be a controversial topic (like so many decisions in motherhood, unfortunately).

So I wanted to get some answers from Certified Sleep Expert and Founder of Good Night Sleep Site Alanna McGinn in this episode.

Alanna sets the record straight on what sleep training is, what it isn't, and some reasons you might decide to do it.  

Alanna has established the world-wide brand of Good Night Sleep Site as being a #1 sleep resource for families.

She and her team of sleep consultants help families (baby to adults) and corporations overcome their sleep challenges to have well-rested smiles in the morning.

We talk about:

• Why she started sleep coaching
• How to know the right method of helping your child to get sleep
• The 4 key tools involved in her sleep training method
• What “sleeping through the night” really means 
• The piece of advice about newborn sleep she gives that I wish I would’ve known with my first child

Connect with Alanna:

www.goodnightsleepsite.com

https://www.facebook.com/GoodNightSleepSite

https://www.instagram.com/gnsleepsite

This Girl Loves Sleep podcast

For show notes and resources mentioned: http://www.gotchamama.com

GOTCHA MAMA INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/gotchamama/

GOTCHA MAMA FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/gotchamama/

When Ellie and her husband received unexpected prenatal test results, it changed everything for their family.

Doctors told the Sanazaros that their baby girl would be born with a genetic condition - the test detected an extra chromosome.

With no history of genetic conditions, Ellie and her husband were shocked. But prayerfully went through the whole pregnancy preparing their hearts and home to receive a child with special needs.

When Rosalie was born, follow-up testing revealed that there was nothing atypical. The test that claimed to be 99% accurate had been WRONG.

But that happy birth was just the beginning of Ellie's story.

She and her husband continued to feel like God had been preparing them to be parents to a child with special needs.

And that's the path that led Ellie and her husband Scott to Down Syndrome adoption.

A little over one year ago, Finn joined her family with the help of the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network. 

Ellie shares her amazing journey to adopt Finn and all about her passion for raising inclusive children that led to writing the Image Bearer children's book.

We talk about:

• Her pregnancy story with her first child where she received incorrect and shocking prenatal test results and what that was like for her and her husband
• Why she and her husband decided to adopt a baby with Down Syndrome and the process they went through
• How she, her husband, and their two girls prepared to welcome a child with disabilities into their family
• Why she felt called to write Image Bearer children’s book
• How parents can help their children celebrate other children who are made “wonderfully different” and be more inclusive

Connect with Ellie:

Imagebearerbook.com

https://www.instagram.com/imagebearerbook

https://www.instagram.com/mr.finncredible

For show notes and resources mentioned: http://www.gotchamama.com

GOTCHA MAMA INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/gotchamama/

GOTCHA MAMA FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/gotchamama/

Postpartum can bring hair loss, low energy, crazy skin and digestion issues, anxiety, or poor sleep.

You may have experienced one or all of these after you had a baby. [Raising my hand]

They're definitely common issues.

But are they symptoms of something that we should be paying attention to? Something that we don't have to just live with.

After talking to my guest this week, Maranda Bower, I started to question everything I knew about how to take care of my body postpartum.

She brings up some fascinating perspectives and compelling information about how nutrition plays a part in our healing not just in the months postpartum, but YEARS postpartum. 

Yes, years. Did your ears just perk up? 

Maranda is a Postpartum Bliss Coach and Womb Whisperer® who's supporting women in experiencing deep authentic healing, while eliminating postpartum depression and anxiety. 

If you are experiencing any of the "common" postpartum challenges around mental or physical health, I highly recommend taking a listen to this episode!

We talk about:

• Her own postpartum journey that led her to want to be a postpartum coach
• How the work to heal your mind and body in the few years (not months or weeks) after you have a baby will impact your life FOREVER
• How the “common sense” approach to eating and recovery after having a baby is actually ruining your body and hormones
• Some signs and symptoms that you may have hormonal imbalances postpartum. Don't miss this!!
• What types of foods will help and hinder your recovery postpartum

Connect with Maranda:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PostpartumMaranda/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/postpartummaranda/

Website: https://www.marandabower.com

Free download: Transformative Healing in the Years Postpartum

For show notes and resources mentioned: http://www.gotchamama.com

GOTCHA MAMA INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/gotchamama/

GOTCHA MAMA FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/gotchamama/