The word "magic" has come up in almost every one of my coaching sessions this month.

If you're feeling responsible for creating a picture-perfect holiday season, you're not alone.

What starts as excitement quickly turns into rushing, planning, and managing everyone's experience.

The ease and joy you wanted? Gone.

In today's episode, I talk about how your stress affects your child more than you realize—and what actually creates the kind of magic they'll remember.

https://lessdramamoremama.com/381

When my older daughter was in preschool, I volunteered to be the room mom.

After that year, the teacher asked if I wanted to do it again.

I said no and felt zero guilt. None.

I simply didn't want to spend my time that way again.

Saying no made my life easier, not harder.

As the holidays approach, many moms convince themselves they should say yes to things they don't want to do (e.g. class parties, hosting, baking, gifting, organizing, coordinating), and then wonder why they feel stretched thin and resentful by December 15.

In today's episode, I'm talking about why holiday boundaries can feel so hard and what to do about it.

If you struggle to set and enforce boundaries, especially at the holidays, this episode will help you understand why your body won't let you say no, and what needs to change for you to protect your limits without abandoning yourself.

https://lessdramamoremama.com/380

You know that lump in your throat you try to swallow when you want to hold back tears?

Most of us do it automatically.

We tell ourselves we have to be strong because crying will make our kids worry, or that holding it together proves we're in control.

But what if tears aren't a sign of weakness at all? What if they're a gift to you and your kids?

In this episode, I'm sharing why sadness isn't something to fix or avoid.

You'll learn how allowing yourself to feel it (and sometimes express it in front of your kids) can regulate your nervous system, deepen your connection, and show your kids what emotional health really looks like.

https://lessdramamoremama.com/379

Nervous system work is the missing piece for so many moms who've tried therapy or mindset coaching and still find themselves reacting in ways they don't like.

In this episode, I'm sharing clips from an actual coaching session of mine. Over the course of the episode, you'll hear a mom's nervous system move from activation and anxiety to calm, relief, and hope—and I'll walk you through what's happening at each stage.

If you're curious about what somatic coaching is and how it can help you stay calm and connected, tune in to this episode.

https://lessdramamoremama.com/378

With Halloween just a few days away, I'm revisiting an early episode of the podcast that's still incredibly relevant.

I'm talking about the masks we wear as moms — not the kind that come with costumes and candy, but the ones we put on to appear calm, capable, or cheerful when we're actually struggling underneath.

You'll hear how these emotional masks keep us from the genuine connection we crave, and how learning to take them off can bring more peace, confidence, and authenticity into your life and relationships.

If you've ever felt like you had to hold it all together on the outside while quietly unraveling inside, this episode is for you.

https://lessdramamoremama.com/377

When your child is yelling, swearing, or completely losing it, your nervous system instantly screams, "This isn't safe!"

You might find yourself fighting back, shutting down, or trying to fix the situation—none of which actually helps.

In this week's episode, I share a powerful story of one of my clients that shows what regulation looks like when a child's emotions are running high.

You'll hear how she stayed calm and steady while her teen son was yelling and swearing, how she communicated with him, and how she created connection between them.

If you want to know what it actually looks like to be regulated in the middle of your child's storm, this episode will show you the way.

https://lessdramamoremama.com/376

You know those times when everything seems fine . . . no crisis, no chaos . . . and instead of relaxing, you feel restless, uneasy, or suspicious?

That's your nervous system struggling to trust safety. After years of running on stress, stillness can feel like danger.

In this week's episode, I'm unpacking why safety can feel unsafe and how to retrain your system to trust it again.

You'll learn how to recognize when your brain's pulling you back into dysregulation and the steps to help yourself stay grounded when safety feels uncomfortable.

If you've ever found yourself waiting for the other shoe to drop—or even creating drama when life starts to feel too good—this episode will help you understand what's really happening and how to work with your body, not against it.

https://lessdramamoremama.com/375

Sometimes the thing holding you back isn't your kids, your schedule, or even your past. It's a belief you learned long ago that still feels true.

Beliefs like:

• "I have to do everything perfectly or I've failed."
• "It's selfish to take time for myself."
• "If I ask for help, I'll look weak."

These thoughts can quietly shape how you show up as a mom—how patient you are, how much pressure you put on yourself, and how willing you are to reach out for support.

In this week's episode, I share what elephants (yes, elephants) can teach you about breaking free from the beliefs that keep you stuck, so you can parent with more calm, confidence, and self-compassion.

https://lessdramamoremama.com/374

As moms, we can carry so much guilt.

Every time we lose our patience, yell, or withdraw, it's easy to carry those moments around and let them weigh on us.

But what if those moments weren't proof you're a bad mom, but signals from your nervous system?

In this week's episode, I share how self-forgiveness isn't just about being kind to yourself, but about understanding what's happening in your body.

When you recognize your reactivity as nervous system information, you can stop fighting yourself and start working with your biology.

Forgiving yourself with this deeper awareness doesn't just break your own cycle of self-criticism. It also shows your kids that mistakes are human and that repair is always possible.

https://lessdramamoremama.com/373

Today is the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashana. Even if you don't celebrate it like I do, this time of year has so much wisdom to offer us as moms.

Rosh Hashana is about reflection, renewal, and intention—three practices that can completely transform the way you parent.

In today's episode, I invite you to pause, look honestly at your parenting, and decide how you want to show up for your kids in the year ahead.

https://lessdramamoremama.com/372