🎉 ANNIVERSARY EDITION!!!

....of Shhh My Kids Are Asleep! 🎉

WE MADE IT! One episode every Tuesday. Another year of hitting record, telling stories, oversharing a little, laughing a lot, and somehow keeping this thing going week after week. ❤️

For this special anniversary episode, I’m answering YOUR questions—and a few of my own. We’re talking about me, the podcast, motherhood, marriage, raising four kids, the things I’ve learned, the things I’m still figuring out, and what it’s really like to keep creating something when you have absolutely no idea where it’s going to take you.

What has motherhood taught me?
Has marriage changed after four kids?
What have I learned about myself?
And after a full year of podcasting…was it worth it?

Most importantly, we're celebrating something I'm genuinely proud of: a published episode every single Tuesday for an entire year. 🎙️

And if I didn't answer a question you think I NEED to answer... send it my way! 😂

📧 Email me at [email protected] and your question could make it into a future episode.

Thank you for listening, sharing, laughing with me, and letting me talk into a microphone about the beautiful, crazy, unpredictable, ridiculously silly thing that is life with kids.

Here’s to another fun year. 🥂

Now…let’s see what happens next.

I realized that I have posted a new episode every week for over the past year... and then I recap the rough week I had.

I got sick. Like, REALLY sick. And while I was trying to recover, life kept moving around me.

But something unexpected happened: my kids stepped up.

Two of them made dinner. One helped get the baby home from school. My husband helped wherever he could. And somewhere in the middle of a really rough week, I had one of those moments every mom needs sometimes...the reminder that maybe I’m doing something right.

Because raising kids isn't just about being there for every little thing. It's also about knowing that when you can't do it all, they can.

This week, I realized my kids are going to be alright. And honestly? So am I. ❤️

After 20 years of marriage and four kids, how do you keep the spark alive?

For us, apparently, it involves a little game we’ve been playing for years. 😂 It started early in our marriage, back when I was still learning how to find the fun in all the ordinary moments of being married. Somehow, all these years and four kids later, we’re still doing it.

And the last time? Let’s just say I gave my husband my number… and people working got involved. 😳😂

But the sweetest part wasn't what happened between us. It was watching our kids watch us. Two were in my car, two were in his, and somehow nobody was embarrassed by their ridiculous parents. In fact, one of my daughters said she can't wait to do something like this with her own family someday.

Maybe that's the real secret to keeping the spark alive: finding little ways to choose each other, have fun together, and let your kids see that marriage can still be playful after 20 years. But don't take my word for it. I am still figuring this whole thing out.

And now I want to hear from you: What little things do you and your partner do to keep the spark alive after kids? Send me your stories! 💕

The internet is officially out of control. 😂

This episode was sparked by an internet couple from West Virginia who somehow became the subject of a full-blown investigation by the court of public opinion. The guy posted a video telling a story about what had and was happening in his life...but, like most human beings, he didn’t tell the internet every single detail.

And apparently, that was enough.

Because the internet filled in the blanks for him. People started making accusations, creating theories, digging into their past, and deciding what must really be going on in their relationship and their lives.

And honestly? I found it fascinating.

Because when did we collectively decide that if someone posts a 60-second video, we are entitled to the entire backstory? When did “I don't know what happened” turn into “I have investigated the situation and here is my conclusion”? 😂

The court of public opinion will have you convicted, divorced, remarried, diagnosed, and emotionally rehabilitated before you even finish uploading the video.

And that got me thinking about how we do this with EVERYTHING now, especially as moms.

There is always a new trend.

My daughter recently showed me this thing called “12 Things for 12th Grade.”

Twelve things.

For 12th grade.

Because she’s a senior.

And I was like… GIRL. WHAT?! 😂

Apparently, seniors are supposed to have this list of 12 things they want for their first day of senior year, because apparently simply surviving senior year, applying to college, keeping your grades together, participating in activities, and making it to graduation wasn't enough.

Now we need a curated senior year experience, starting with day 1.

And don't even get me started on painted senior jeans.

That is a WHOLE other episode.

Because apparently we have entered an era where your pants need to tell your entire life story before you walk across the graduation stage.

So we're talking about all of it , the internet's obsession with knowing everything about everybody, the way people create entire narratives from incomplete information, and the never-ending stream of trends our kids bring home that leave us standing there like…

“Who came up with this, and why are we doing it?”

Because between the internet detectives, the senior trends, and these painted jeans, I am tired. 😂

Welcome to parenting in the age of the internet.

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!

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram/Social DMs: Shhhmykidsareasleep
• Follow on TikTok: Shhhmykidsareasleep
• Subscribe on YouTube: Shhhmykidsareasleep

Connect With Me!

I want to hear from you!

How do you say your freeway numbers?

What are your teenage driving stories or horror stories?

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