This week has been an absolute whirlwind.

The girls came home from cheer camp with incredible honors, including Leadership Awards and All-American recognition. We squeezed in senior portraits (and yes... why are they so expensive?), varsity sports banner photos, and then jumped right into another round of camp. This time, Dive camp.

As if that wasn't enough, we're also moving... again. Two moves in less than a year wasn't on my bingo card, and while it's stressful for me, I know it's a huge adjustment for my girls too.

In the middle of all the madness, I found myself thinking about the idea of a nest.

As moms, we spend so much time "nesting"...creating a safe place for our children to grow. Then one day they leave the nest, and eventually we hear about becoming empty nesters.

But this weekend I learned a new term: soiling the nest.

It's the idea that some kids, often without even realizing it, start pushing boundaries or creating conflict as they get closer to leaving home. It's thought to be a way of making the transition easier on themselves. But does it really make leaving any easier? Or does it just make those final moments together harder?

Join me as I unpack a weekend full of celebrations, milestones, moving boxes, and one parenting concept that completely changed the way I look at this season of life.

Plus, if you are going through a nest soiling, reach out to me! I wanna hear from you! We are all just parents trying to survive!

This week has been a whirlwind! We officially signed for our new home, and while we're incredibly excited, the timing couldn't be busier.

Before we can even move in, we've got painters giving the house a fresh look and contractors replacing the flooring. It's exciting to know we'll be starting this new chapter with a home that already feels a little more like ours.

Our two oldest daughters are headed off to summer cheer camp at Great Wolf Lodge as mascots for their school. It's a little bittersweet because Great Wolf Lodge is somewhere I've always wanted to take them as a family, and now they'll get to experience it without me. At the same time, I'm genuinely so happy they're getting this opportunity.

While the big girls are away, the little ones will be staying behind with us, and we're hoping to knock out the majority of the move. It got me thinking... wouldn't it be amazing if moms could just leave for a few days and come home to find everything magically packed, moved, unpacked, and organized? A girl can dream!

I also talk about our new home and one feature my water-loving kids are already cashing in on: the pool and hot tub. I know they'll spend as much time as possible out there once we're settled, and I can't wait to see how happy they are.

With school starting in just a couple of weeks, the clock is definitely ticking. Between coordinating contractors, packing boxes, moving our family, and getting everyone ready for a new school year, these next few days are going to be busy. Our goal is to get into the new house with enough time to settle in, establish our routines, and actually get some sleep before the first day of school.

Join me as I share the excitement, the wild ride, and all the emotions that come with another big family move and why this one feels like the start of something really special.

What is a girl to do?

(Plus: How to Spot a Californian)

50 episodes in the books! 🥂

I originally wanted to celebrate this major milestone with a special blooper reel, but as you know, life comes at you hard and fast sometimes. Instead, we are diving straight into a packed weekend recap and a major milestone for my oldest daughter. My husband and I took a trip to Dallas over the weekend. Because of his work schedule, we had to take separate cars, which turned into a mini road trip saga of its own. While we squeezed in a little historical sightseeing, caught up with family, and hit up a theme park, this episode focuses entirely on the drive home (you'll have to tune into future episodes for the rest of the Dallas Trip).

Also in this episode:

• The Freeway Litmus Test: Why saying the word "the" before a freeway number instantly exposes you as a Californian.
• Behind the Wheel: My daughter officially achieved her highway driving time with me in the passenger seat! I break down the stress of being a human broken record ("stay in your lane, go the speed limit") and why watching her learn always teaches me something new about myself.
• Big Announcements: The podcast is officially on TikTok and YouTube Shorts!

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Connect With Me!

I want to hear from you!

How do you say your freeway numbers?

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Drop into my inbox or DMs to share your thoughts!

In this episode, I'm diving into my unexpected journey through the World Cup. I talk about the heartbreak of both the United States and Norway being knocked out, and how watching the tournament made me realize that soccer (or football, depending on where you're from) has a lot more in common with water polo than I ever expected.

For years, the only soccer stars I really knew were Beckham, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, mostly because of the elementary school kids I used to work with. Back then, Ronaldo was always considered the greatest. Fast forward to today, and even my 8 year old daughter still talks about how amazing Ronaldo is. Meanwhile, I first learned about Erling Haaland through social media and found myself eager to watch him play.

All of this led to my husband becoming completely invested in the final rounds of the World Cup, turning what should have been a casual viewing experience into an intense but surprisingly fun family event.

I also explore one of my favorite parenting "what if" scenarios: What if parents could use soccer's yellow and red card system? Imagine a mom pulling out a yellow card at a playdate as a warning, or a red card that means a child has to leave early and misses the next playdate altogether. It could be a game changer.

We also talk about sportsmanship, why players like Erling Haaland set a great example for kids, and how Team USA made history by successfully overturning a red card decision during the tournament. As for my own kids? They've managed to make it through the summer card-free. No yellow cards. No red cards. Just a surprisingly blemish-free summer... so far.

#ErlingHaaland #Ronaldo #WorldCup #Soccer #ParentingPodcast #MomLife #SportsParenting #PlaydateProblems #FamilyPodcast #ShhhMyKidsAreAsleep

If you ask my family, they'll tell you one thing: if it isn't on the family calendar, it doesn't exist.

With working teenagers and a house that always seems to have something going on, I finally reached a point where I needed one place for everyone to communicate. So I created a shared family calendar, and now everyone knows the rule.

Need a ride? Add it to the calendar.

School event? Put it on the calendar.

Work schedule changed? You already know what to do.

If it isn't there, the answer is automatically no.

This week I'm talking about how one simple system has reduced stress, cut down on last-minute surprises, and helped our family stay on the same page. Plus, we'll chat about the digital wall calendars everyone seems to be buying lately—and whether they're actually worth the investment or if a simple shared calendar gets the job done just fine.

Because sometimes the best family organization system isn't the fanciest one… it's the one everyone actually uses.

This week, I escaped the house for a kid-free lunch date with three other moms, and honestly, it was overdue.

We covered some very important topics: why Texas weather seems personally offended by everyone, the reality of flooding season, and the shocking discovery that Tex-Mex and San Diego Mexican food are not the same thing. To be clear, Tex-Mex isn't bad—it’s just different. Apparently, I’m still processing that.

I also unlocked a brand-new fear thanks to our conversation: ant balls. If you've never heard of them, congratulations on your peaceful existence. If you have, then you understand why I'm reconsidering everything I know about nature.

Between flash floods, floating ant colonies, and missing California burritos, I'm doing my best to adjust to Texas life. It would probably be a lot less stressful if someone could point me toward a proper California burrito.

Grab your lunch, your sweet tea, or your emotional support burrito and join me for this week's mom chat. I am currently accepting any and all overnight carne asada. lol

This week, I'm fighting two battles: turning my kids away from their screens and trying to breathe in a house with a broken AC.

After realizing my daughters were slowly transforming into iPad zombies, I pulled a move straight out of the old-school parenting playbook and introduced them to something they had never heard of: the Book It! program. Well... sort of. I may have convinced them we have our own exclusive family book club. Is it parenting genius or manipulation? You decide.

Meanwhile, our air conditioner is leaking refrigerant, my asthma is not impressed, and Texas summer has entered the chat. Between tracking reading progress, negotiating screen time, and wondering if every breath should sound like a wheezy from Toy Story, it's been a rough few days.

I also want to hear from you! I know Book It isn't the only reading rewards program out there. What other programs are your kids using? Email me and let me know.

Also, if you're interested in sponsoring the podcast, sending a product for review, collaborating on a promotion, or having me share something with my audience, reach out! You can find me on Instagram or send me an email.

Grab your headphones, hide from your responsibilities for a little while, and join me for this short episode of Shhh... My Kids Are Asleep.

Bonus Episode!

Happy Juneteenth! In this bonus episode, I take a completely unplanned detour into the wild world of sourdough bread, again..

After watching a woman somehow bring a crusty, dried out sourdough starter back to life, I have questions. A lot of questions. Can you get sick from that? How was that starter not beyond saving? And why did it take what felt like 2–3 business days of feeding, stretching, folding, and waiting before she could finally bake a loaf?

Speaking of stretch and folds... why are there so many of them?

We also discuss the ever-growing list of sourdough accessories: jars, scrapers, proofing baskets, more baskets, and whatever that bubble wand mixing gadget is called. At what point did making bread become a full-time hobby with its own equipment budget?

And after all that suspense, the creator ended the video before showing the final loaf. Ma'am. Respectfully... what?

So, do I want to start making sourdough? The jury is still out. Join me as I process my confusion, admiration, and mild skepticism over the internet's favorite bread-making obsession.

#ShhhMyKidsAreAsleep #BonusEpisode #Sourdough #MomPodcast #Juneteenth #BreadTok #ParentingPodcast

This week, I learned two things: If The Rock calls, I cannot be trusted with important opportunities, and waiting for a possible traffic ticket is a special kind of torture.

After driving past a school bus stop arm, I've been watching the mailbox like a hawk, wondering if Texas is about to send me an expensive reminder to pay better attention. Along the way, I somehow end up talking about Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, a woman whose joke earned her the ultimate celebrity hookup, and why the anticipation of punishment is often far worse than the punishment itself.

You know that feeling when someone texts, "We need to talk"? Yeah. It's basically that... but with a school bus.

Also, tell me where you're listening from! Someone recently asked where my listeners are located, and while I do have analytics, I'd love to hear from you directly. I'm looking at you, San Diego, Visalia, Fresno, and Nipomo, California. Yes, I realize there's a good chance that's just my family, but I'd still love to know where you're tuning in from. Let me know in the comments or send me an email!

[email protected]

****This episode is coming in a little later in the day than usual because Texas decided to turn into a weather documentary and life got loud, but we made it to Tuesday anyway.****

My teens are working doubles. My little ones spent the day hanging out with me... right up until dinner was over and suddenly I was no longer the most interesting thing in the house. 😂

Nobody really prepares you for all the different seasons of parenting. One minute they're climbing on you, asking for snacks every five minutes, and the next they're busy building lives, making plans, working jobs, and finding their own adventures.

I'm so proud of who they're becoming.

I just miss them a little too.

Parenting is strange like that. Every new season is something to celebrate... and something to grieve at the same time. It's bittersweet.

Here's to learning more about these hard-working teens and too cool youngin's of mine!

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