Motherhood, according to many women, is one of the most beautiful aspects of life. And although it brings immense joy and fulfillment to mothers, it also comes with challenges and sacrifices along the way.

One of these challenges is solo parenting as a mother who bears all the responsibilities of both parents, which can be incredibly demanding, exhausting and overwhelming. They are burdened with the responsibility of making important decisions alone and dealing with the emotional well-being of both themselves and their children.

It’s not easy balancing all these responsibilities and often, single mothers tend to neglect themselves as they’re too focused on their kids. That’s why it's crucial for us to acknowledge the substantial sdssssss. And for this episode with Julia Karol, we’ll talk about her journey in mothering. 

Show Highlights:

• Julia’s journey in mothering and rewriting the mother code.
• Reframing a relationship that felt catastrophic.
• How do you describe your feelings around new motherhood?
• What’s your vision for yourself as a mom?
• The importance of being comfortable with your intuition.

You can listen to Julia’s podcasts and check out Stork’d through her website (https://www.storkdpodcast.com/) if you’re interested in hearing more about her journey in figuring out single parenthood. 

Mentioned in this episode:

Learn more about the 2024 Spring Equinox Self-Mothering Retreat at https://www.drgertrudelyons.com/spring-equinox-24

Understanding the family in a holistic approach helps us address various issues and improve the well-being and the relationships within the family as a single unit. Since families are interconnected systems and so, the behavior and experiences of a single member of the family may affect everyone. 

Join us in today’s episode with occupational therapist Katie Crosby as we talk about how she started guiding parents in nurturing and supporting their family to strengthen their relationships and promote a sense of security and how she supports both kids and adults to evolve into more of who they are.

Show Highlights:

• How things have evolved for Katie
• Working with parents and whole families.
• Is there a common issue that mothers or parents struggle with?
• All women are capable of being a mother.
• What Rewriting the Mother Code means to Katie

Check out Katie’s website (https://www.thrivinglittles.com/) where you can access her blog and shop. You can also reach her via email ([email protected]). 

Mentioned in this episode:

Learn more about the 2024 Spring Equinox Self-Mothering Retreat at https://www.drgertrudelyons.com/spring-equinox-24

Becoming a mother, for most mothers, is one of the most fulfilling experiences. It can also be a rewarding journey filled with growth and resilience but the journey of being a mother comes with many challenges and sacrifices. 

However, despite these challenges, mothers continue to stand strong and provide love, nurture, and protection for their children. In today’s episode with Ruth Minnick, a mental health professional and artist, we’ll talk about how to navigate life and the depths of parenting.

Show Highlights:

• Ruth’s journey of becoming a mother after a divorce
• Navigating the dating world again
• How to have a masculine and feminine balance in your career
• Losing a child during pregnancy
• What led Ruth to write a second book

Links and Resources:

Check out Living Well Psychotherapy (https://livingwellpsychotherapy.com/) for their professional services. And if you’re interested in purchasing Ruth’s books, which are available on Kindle and in paperback, you can visit her website (https://ruthminnick.com/). 

Ruth's Books:

My Partly Cloudy Day

Trouble with the Capital T 

Mentioned in this episode:

Learn more about the 2024 Spring Equinox Self-Mothering Retreat at https://www.drgertrudelyons.com/spring-equinox-24

As the season of spring emerges, we are reminded of the beauty of birth, growth, and renewal. This season holds a special significance in motherhood and spirituality, as it represents new beginnings and the theme of fertility. In this article, we will explore the importance of motherhood in meditation, the significance of fertility during the season of spring, the power of a self-mothering retreat, and the importance of writing a vision for yourself during this season of renewal.

Show Highlights:

• Motherhood as a force in meditation, representing nurturing, compassion, and love
• The significance of fertility during the season of spring, a time for growth, abundance, and new beginnings
• The power of a self-mothering retreat during the spring equinox to release and rebirth
• The importance of writing a vision for yourself during this season to set intentions and determine concrete steps to achieve your goals

Motherhood as a force in meditation represents nurturing, compassion, and unwavering love. It can serve as a source of solace and protection, especially during times of difficulty. The theme of fertility during the season of spring is a time for new beginnings, growth, and abundance. It is an opportunity for us to connect with ourselves and focus on our priorities. A self-mothering retreat during the spring equinox can offer an opportunity for release and rebirth, allowing us to let go of what no longer serves us and embrace new perspectives. Writing a vision for yourself during this season allows you to set intentions and determine concrete steps to achieve your goals.

As mothers, it is important to embrace this season of fertility and motherhood, and allow it to serve as a source of inspiration and reflection. By rewriting our mother code, we can tap into the power of the season and create a vision for ourselves that allows us to grow, thrive, and embrace new possibilities.

Mentioned in this episode:

Learn more about the 2024 Spring Equinox Self-Mothering Retreat at https://www.drgertrudelyons.com/spring-equinox-24

Nourishing your whole person may not be at the top of your “to-do” list, but it should be. That’s what we’re talking about today with our guest, Georgia Thompson Perkins.

Georgia Perkins is a multifaceted health enthusiast, dedicated to helping others create a healthy and balanced lifestyle in mind, body, and spirit. As an integrative nutrition and health coach, health and wellness blogger, recipe developer, content creator, and freelance writer, Georgia wears many hats. Through her holistic health coaching practice, Georgia guides clients towards transforming their relationship with food and exercise while implementing wellness habits to cultivate a happy and balanced life. 

Georgia's uplifting and inspiring social media presence has garnered a loyal following and caught the attention of an interviewer who is curious to learn more about her journey to becoming a young entrepreneur in the health and wellness space. Despite Georgia's success, she remains humble and acknowledges that she, like everyone else, is continually learning and growing.

Show Highlights:

• Georgia’s journey to being a solopreneur
• Trusting your gut and letting your intuition guide you
• Who you surround yourself with is a big factor in your health and wellness.
• Primary and secondary food - a concept you may have never heard.
• The whole person approach to wellness and nourishing your soul.
• The intuitive voice is always right. You just have to trust it.
• Using neuroscience to help decipher your feelings

Links:

Georgia’s Website

Follow @goognesswithg on social media

Mentioned in this episode:

Learn more about the 2024 Spring Equinox Self-Mothering Retreat at https://www.drgertrudelyons.com/spring-equinox-24

Known for its many benefits, meditation has been an effective practice to improve one’s mind, body and spirit. Since meditation can foster a sense of inner calm, balance, and contentment in life, many people use it as a preventative measure for overall well being.

Join us in today’s episode as we learn more about refocusing your mind and finding your purpose in life with davidji – a mind, body, health and wellness expert who has taught millions of people to heal their hearts, plant powerful intentions and manifest their dreams.

Show Highlights:

• Using meditation as a way to find balance
• Four areas of existence
• Consider your tombstone
• Why you should surround yourself with people who don’t agree with you
• How yoga and meditation can be used to ease stress and anxiety.
• Meditation is always about consistency, not duration.

If you’re planning to start with your meditations or interested in learning more, you can access davidji’s free guided meditation videos, tools, and other resources on his website (https://davidji.com/). He also does meditation training for those who want to level up their practice so make sure to check out his website.

Mentioned in this episode:

Learn more about the 2024 Spring Equinox Self-Mothering Retreat at https://www.drgertrudelyons.com/spring-equinox-24

Bringing new life into the world is a profound experience that deserves the utmost care and attention. For Mary Sommers, Academic Affairs Director of the Midwest Maternal Child Institute and a Certified Professional Midwife, this sacred journey is her life's work. With over 35 years of experience and over 1,800 deliveries under her belt, Mary's wisdom and expertise in the field of midwifery are unparalleled. From co-founding a not-for-profit homebirth service to studying maternal health programs abroad, Mary has dedicated her career to empowering mothers and their families. In this interview, we sit down with Mary to hear her insights on the joys and challenges of being a midwife and her passion for improving maternal and children’s health.

Show Highlights:

• Mary’s background in midwifery and community health
• The importance of collaboration in midwifery
• The dark night of the soul and birth
• How can we support Mothers on their birth options
• The importance of having a birth plan.
• What the phrase “moral injury” in care means
• Similarities between birth midwives and end of life doulas

As we celebrate motherhood, let us also recognize and appreciate the significant role that midwives play in supporting and empowering mothers on this amazing journey.

Mentioned in this episode:

Learn more about the 2024 Spring Equinox Self-Mothering Retreat at https://www.drgertrudelyons.com/spring-equinox-24

For a long time, it has been reinforced to many of us that being a mother caring for her children and taking care of her home is a woman’s most important role. At present, women have been empowering themselves while still being able to provide care.

In today’s episode with Marianne, we’ll talk about the importance of women – particularly, being a mother – in the current times where public policies are almost proactively neglectful of our children.

Show Highlights:

• America’s children are the biggest collateral damage
• It’s not just about our children, it’s also about our grandchildren
• Principles of peace-building
• We are the most medicated society in the world and in some ways the least healthy
• There’s no magic wand to heal society
• Why women need to be at the forefront of imagining the world that we want

The code of natural genius within the mother is already there. What we need to do is unlearn the diminishment of that and make a stand for that and other women too because we're not going to get there unless all of us get there.

We have to be inclusive. For that, we need to see other women struggling to get past the patriarchal prejudices in their lives. Do what you can to lend a hand. We need to do this together.

To find out how to be involved as a volunteer in Marianne's Presidential campaign, and if you resonate with what Marianne has shared so far, you can check out Marianne’s website (https://marianne2024.com/). 

You can also connect with Marianne at https://marianne.com/.

Mentioned in this episode:

Learn more about the 2024 Spring Equinox Self-Mothering Retreat at https://www.drgertrudelyons.com/spring-equinox-24

Are you familiar with an apéritivo? It provides all the flavor and sophistication of a traditional cocktail, without the negative effects of alcohol. This means that everyone can enjoy a drink without the risk of impaired judgment or a hangover the next day.

Figlia is a modern, non-alcoholic aperitivo company helping create moments to remember. In Italy, aperitivo culture is a ritual for people to come together by enjoying conversation over drinks—no special occasion needed. Figlia honors this tradition with all the complexity and flavor but without the alcohol.

Founded in 2020, Figlia was created by Lily Geiger in honor of her late father, who battled alcoholism. This experience led Lily to explore society’s relationship with alcohol as well as her own. Many conversations later, she found that others shared her desire for community without the pressure of consuming alcohol. This inspired Lily’s mission to create an aperitivo that preserves its culinary integrity and fosters community without the negative effects of alcohol.

Figlia was born as a tribute to the power of family—both the given and the chosen—and the value of open conversation to build community.

Show Highlights:

• How Lily got to be the founder and CEO of Figlia.
• How the brand, Figlia is giving back.
• When you have a bigger vision, it’s time to name it.
• How Lily’s company is a labor of love.
• How Lily has been bootstrapping Figlia.
• What’s in store for Lily’s future.

I think you can agree that Lily Geiger is a remarkable entrepreneur. Her journey and story are incredibly inspiring, and she continues to make a positive impact on women's health and wellness through her brand. Lily's passion and dedication to empowering women to take control of their health have been the driving force behind Figlia's success. Her efforts to provide accessible and effective solutions for women's health make a significant difference, and her story is a reminder of the importance of pursuing one's dreams and making a positive impact on the world.

Links and Resources:

https://drinkfiglia.com/

Follow Figlia on Instagram

Mentioned in this episode:

Learn more about the 2024 Spring Equinox Self-Mothering Retreat at https://www.drgertrudelyons.com/spring-equinox-24

Surely, even though we’re still in the first few months of a new year, many people just like me are already quite overwhelmed not just because of hectic schedules but even personal matters. 

For my first ever impromptu podcast episode, I’ll be tackling about life in general and how praying the rosary has helped me get through most of my experiences.

Planning is not always rosy and easy

In general, planning is full of uncertainties and complexities which is why it is not always rosy and easy. There may be obstacles that can arise. Some people are going to have strong feelings about how something should go, and some would feel totally different about it.

This is because there are many factors that affect the outcomes of your plans and you forget to take these into careful consideration. In fact, even the best plan can fail if it is not properly and effectively executed. This goes to show that execution requires coordination and communication.

Waking up in the middle of the night and saying the rosary

One of the things I started doing when waking up in the middle of night, instead of just laying there, tossing and turning and being stressed about not sleeping, is getting up and walking around our space in Mexico and saying the rosary.

There’s this book entitled ‘The Way of the Rose’ written by Clark Strand and Perdita Finn that highlights connection with the Divine Feminine through the rosary which is an ancient practice not just for Catholic rituals but even to many religions.

Personally, I was raised as a Catholic and so, I have an orientation to the rosary. It gives me a comforting feeling when I use the rosary especially as a form of meditation. 

The power and importance of our pain silenced

About 30 years ago, Andrea O’Reilly started Demeter Press for the purpose of bringing up the topic of motherhood into the world of academia advocacy. For my second submission to Demeter Press, a feminist academic press with a wide variety of offerings, I’ll be speaking about women’s essentialist experience every year. 

Pain is a natural part of one’s life experiences. For some, pain is silenced which causes them to feel isolated and unsupported. In some cases, a woman in childbirth is not intended to be quiet. However, our patriarchal society kind of wants her to be whether that's in the pain or the pleasure of birth. 

It was great to have that space kind of uninterrupted and to dive into the literature on that to be with my own feelings about it and to share some other women's experiences that have been transformed out of a relationship with pain. 

How light has messed with our circadian rhythms

When you read ‘The Way of the Rose’ you’ll see light and darkness in a completely different perspective. The book tells us about how darkness is the time of the feminine and how powerful it is.

We’re addicted to the light and now, it has messed with us and our circadian rhythms or our internal clocks that is responsible for many of our physiological processes like sleep, metabolism, and hormone regulation.

Being exposed to light during the day triggers the release of cortisol which helps us be alert and get energized. On the other hand, exposure to darkness at night helps in the release of melatonin which promotes sleep and relaxation.

How do we listen to ourselves when we’re anxious?

Many people have different ways of dealing with their anxiety. As I have mentioned, when I’m laying in bed and feeling anxious, I pray the rosary and it helps put me to sleep. 

One time, I heard this voice in my head that said it’s about being with the Divine Feminine Mary in whatever form that resolves your anxiety away. I felt like I was holding her hand as I was holding the rosary and walking around. 

My focus now is to...