This week on the podcast I am going solo. I dive into some commonly asked questions that I have received many times about marriages, how to make things work, why I decide to share what I share about my marriage and having problems and over coming problems in a marriage. I give some examples from my life and talk about why it's important to vocalize this (but not air out your dirty laundry) and why everyone going through challenges should know this is normal. This particular topic was also an extension from a topic covered in "She's Not the Worst Mom" episode briefly and by popular demand was discussed in more detail this week.

I also answer a common question I get a lot - why I started this podcast - which is also intertwined for me with the marriage topic.

July is my birthday month and the month last year I decided to start this podcast so aligned with that, I share some big announcements about the podcast. I share some fun new things that are coming your way in August and some big changes for my one year podcasting anniversary, which will be in October. I also talk about why YOU should make a big deal out of your birthdays.

Lastly, in honor of my birthday month, I have decided to donate funds to the Sick Kids Foundation. For each download I get this month, 10 cents (or more) will go to Sick Kids Foundation per download. 

To learn more listen to this episode and follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/momlikethatpodcast/

Why did I go for Sick Kids Foundation? Learn more about them at https://www.sickkidsfoundation.com/

This week on the show we have one of my favorite people come on the show! Sara Buckley the creator of Not the Worst Mom social media accounts came on the show to talk to us. We talk about her having kids and getting pregnant in high school and the challenges that come with that. We talk about having kids young vs. older, the response she had from people because of her young pregnancy and the response she had from her family and her husband (then boyfriend).

We talk about how having supportive parents through the pregnancy process and the impact it has on how people deal with situations.

We discuss the impact of raising kids without technology when her kids were young and the strong presence of technology and social media today.

We also discuss the fears and worries she might have for her kids as they enter their early and late teens and the conversations her and her husband are having with their kids about sex (looking at it with a healthy lens) and how she viewed sex herself when she was young.

We also discuss the dynamics of a long lasting relationship, how fights and even near divorce experiences play a part in it and why its important to drop the stigma around having the lows in your relationships. 

We also discuss how Sara started her Instagram account a year and a half ago and how it's led her into a career in stand up comedy.

Lastly, we end the episode with the most epic drinking game: Never Have I Ever: Parenting and Relationship edition. Spoiler alert! This one is not appropriate to listen to at work or around kids. Bonus spoiler alert! I share how Jeremy proposed to me with Sara while we played the game (a story you don't want to miss).

Sara Buckley is the founder and creator of her social media platform Not the Worst Mom. Vegas native, Sara has been married to her husband for the last 14 years and together they have 3 kids (her first one she has when she was still in high school). Sara started @Nottheworstmom (on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) as a platform to tell jokes. It's quickly grown into an awesome community of women who understand the value of keeping their own identity through motherhood and a few dads with a great sense of humor. 

Follow Sara on Instagram for more sassy and real mom truth bombs. https://www.instagram.com/nottheworstmom/ 

Follow us on Instagram for more podcast related updates. https://www.instagram.com/momlikethatpodcast/

This week on the podcast we welcome expert educator and author Lisa Collum on the show. Lisa, who is a mom to 4 kids as well as a very successful entrepreneur running 2 businesses comes on the show to talk about her story of becoming the successful woman she is today. We talk about how it all began, the challenges she faced along the way and where she is today. We discuss the struggles being a young woman and a mother adds when pursuing the same success and business choices as a man but the obstacles and hindrance that comes along the way as a female. We talk about Lisa's particular life stories as she climbed her way to success and how she tackled them. We discuss with her how she balances her busy life and what that looks like for her in her house. We also discuss what it's like raising 4 children who are all very different and the importance of giving them their own unique touches that they need as no 2 kids are the same.

Lastly, with summer vacation starting in Canada (and already started in the US) Lisa shares some great tips for parents to engage their children ages 3 - 6 into learning reading through fun and without making it structured. 

 Lisa Collum is a mom of 4 (13,10,7 and 2) and the founder and owner of Top Score Writing and owner and principal of Coastal Middle and High School. She has been married for 14 years and her life is a crazy chaos. While leading 2 successful businesses and empowering educators and parents through her speeches, she also shares posts and stories on her IG to try to show other moms that you can do it all. What she likes to share most with moms is that you can work and have babies and balance it all out. To follow along with Lisa find her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lisacollumceo/

Follow our Instagram account for more updates from us at https://www.instagram.com/momlikethatpodcast/

This week's episode is the perfect way to kick-off summer vacations for the kids. As summer vacations begin for the kiddos, so do the plans of family trips, road trips, local trips and stay cations. While these trips can be a lot of fun, there are so many aspects of doing family vacations especially with little kids that can be a source of anxiety for parents. So we brought in a traveling expert on the show to talk to you and share her best tips and secrets on making family vacations more fun and less troublesome.

We had Sara Warren (creator of @travelswithtots Instagram account) come on the show to speak to our audience about making family vacations fun. We talk to her about the common questions parents have when it comes to traveling, why some parents don't feel comfortable traveling with kids and how to reduce that discomfort, tips and tricks for traveling with kids as young as newborns, all the way to school going ages. She parts some great wisdom on scoring the best deals with airlines, hotels and resorts and how to take advantage of travel perks parents may not even realize exist. Sarah also shares with us what some of her favorite locations are and why. 

You will learn so much from this episode so make sure you have your pen and paper handy! 

This week on the podcast we talk to Ela W., founder of Sitterhood Inc. We talk to Ela about the increasing workload for moms, even though there's more equality in house hold work, even though dads are more supportive and involved in the day to day activities at home and outside of home, the workload for mothers continues to increase compared to our parents' generations and the way they raised their kids and the support they had. 

We talk about the changes over generations and how the concept of having your village to support you isn't the same as it used to be. We talk about the increasing mom guilt and work load and the lack of the "village" that exists now, that we need to help raise our children. Moms need a break to reset their minds, to take time for themselves or even do chores that are easier done without caring for a kid at the same time, but most of us struggle to find that support on a regular basis.  Ela shares her story with us and what support looks like for her, and how she finds help. We talk to Ela about how the need of finding a support system so she can have a break ended up with her creating a service and online community called Sitterhood. Ela shares with us the full purpose of sitterhood, and how moms can find support in other moms in their own areas.

Ela is a stay-at-home mom and the founder of Sitterhood, an online community where parents can connect for occasional childcare. She worked in Advertising/Marketing for over 10 years, until having her son almost four years ago. She currently lives in Hamilton, Ontario with her husband and two kids. Her vision is to build a community for parents to grow their support network and make occasional childcare more accessible for all parents across Canada.

To learn more about Sitterhood, go to https://sitterhood.ca/

Follow Sitterhood on Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/sitterhood

Follow Mom Like That Podcast on Instagram for more info and updates from the podcast. https://www.instagram.com/momlikethatpodcast

This week on the podcast we have a fellow working mom Karen on the show. Karen who is a girly girl like me, is also a boy mom. On the show today we talk about life as a working mom. We recorded this episode in 2 sessions. The first session was recorded when Karen had recently transitioned into a new job that allowed her flexibility to work from home. For me, I was going back to work after being off for 3 months. So we decided to come back 6 weeks later and get our perspectives again as new learnings, experiences, ideas and thoughts started flourishing for both of as as we went through our new working mom life phases.

We talk about the challenges we face on a daily basis as working moms, from managing home life, spending time with kids, relationship with our spouses and the guilt that comes along with all of it. We talk about the mom guilt, the work guilt and the mental load that never goes away. We also share some great tips on what works for us to keep our sanity and get time in with our families.

Karen was a great guest (felt more like a co-host) and this episode provides a lot of value and insights on a working mom life. A mom of 3 boys, and a great writer, she has her own blog and a hilarious Instagram account. Her work has been featured on Scary Mommy, Today's Parents, Her View From Home, among other great publications. You can find her on Instagram and on her blow through the following links:

https://www.instagram.com/mobtruths/

https://mobtruths.com/

To read some of her articles about life as a working mom check out these links:

https://mobtruths.com/2018/01/working-mom-making-it-work/

https://mobtruths.com/2018/07/working-mom-guilt/

https://mobtruths.com/2017/10/8-simple-ways-to-ease-morning-chaos/

And make sure to follow along with Mom Like That Podcast on Instagram and through our website

http://www.momlikethat.ca/

https://www.instagram.com/momlikethatpodcast/

This week on the episode we welcome a mom who definitely knows way too much! Gila Pfeffer came on the show to share her story with us. Gila is an mom to 4 kids (3 teens and 1 who acts like a teen). Originally from the US, Gila moved to UK 10 years ago where she has continued to increase her knowledge of knowing too much.

We talk to Gila about her move to UK, why she started this account, her journey with breast cancer and her double mastectomy, and what life is like today with her kids in their teens and one about to leave mama's nest.

We talk to Gila about the impact of raising kids in this technological world and what that means for us and our kids today. We talk to her about how she's so much more than just a mom. She's a woman first, who had breast cancer, who moved continents, is raising teens and is an incredible writer. We discuss all these pieces of her and how they make her who they are today - which is why she doesn't let one event define her entire life.

Gila is incredible talented, funny and charming. She's philosophical and definitely knows a lot, which is why this conversation with her was incredible. To hear more from Gila, follow her on Instagram, where she keeps motherhood real and funny. Follow along with her blog as well to read more about the pieces she's been working on.

https://the-mom-who-knew-too-much.com/

https://www.instagram.com/the.mom.who.knew.too.much/

Follow Mom Like That Podcast on Instagram for more podcast updates

https://www.instagram.com/momlikethatpodcast/

This week on the podcast we have Mom and Buried come on the show to talk about what it's like living with Multiple Sclerosis and raising kids. Heather goes by @momandburied on Instagram and is the other half of @dadandburied

We talk to Heather about her story, how and when she found out she had MS, what has happened since, what her symptoms are and what it's like living with an invisible illness. We talk about the questions and comments people have, how to be more aware and mindful of people with invisible illnesses and what Heather is doing to provide support and awareness to others going through the same thing. We also talk about the impact this has on raising kids for Heather and how she copes with it daily.

To learn more about the podcast make sure to follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/momlikethatpodcast/

Also make sure you are following Heather https://www.instagram.com/momandburied/

This week on the podcast we are talking to parenting expert Michelle Carlson about hand in hand parenting. We talk to Michelle about what Hand in Hand parenting is, the brain science behind the method and why it's effective. Michelle shares with us some great tools and tips that we can start applying in our lives with our children immediately. I have been using her tips and they really do work! We also take up questions on the podcast asked by the Instagram community about struggles they have had with raising their kids.

"Michelle lives in Los Angeles with her two girls 9 and 12. Before becoming a Hand in Hand certified instructor in 2015, she worked for 12 years in public schools as a teacher and counselor. She also served as an adjunct professor in the Department of Education instructing in the teacher credentialing program. None of which prepared her to be a mom. After years of consequences, bribes and star charts she found Hand in Hand parenting, created by Patty Wipfler. It reshaped the relationship she shares with her daughters, and she credits it with changing her life. 

Michelle has helped herself and others make meaningful connections, work on sibling rivalry, and alleviate school problems.  Aggression, fears, withdrawnness and sleep are just some of the struggles she has shared and helped others rectify.

You can follow Michelle on Instagram and Facebook with the handle @peaceandparenting https://www.instagram.com/peaceandparenting

You can also find her on her website (which has amazing tools for parents) http://www.peaceandparentingla.com/

Lastly, make sure you are following Mom Like That Podcast for more updates on the podcast and other content that is fun, insightful and relatable. https://www.instagram.com/momlikethatpodcast

We are back again with Auroosa from This is You Podcast in part 2 of the Interfaith Relationship series.

In part 2 of the episode we talk about an incident from my past in respect to being a non practicing Muslim. We then take the time to discuss the fears I have of the future and raising my kids in a world where I feel I have to protect them from people who hate on either side of their racial and religious background and how I will navigate that. We discuss some topics around Islamophobia and my fear around my kids reaction to that in the future as well as how to navigate trying to protect my kids from these fears but also having open conversations about their dual identity.

For more on this episode, follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/momlikethatpodcast/ 

Curious what my wedding was really like? Check out these highlight videos from my wedding and the pre-wedding event.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUTgfO8Z8PE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xefD8-tmgBo