Change Isn't Coming. It's Here: Leading Yourself Before You Lead Your Family Through Change

As parents, we often tell ourselves that once things settle down, we’ll finally get organized, find our rhythm, and feel more in control. But what if change isn’t an interruption to life? What if it’s simply part of it?

In this episode, Jackie reflects on her family’s recent move back to the United States, stepping into a demanding new leadership role, and rebuilding routines, relationships, and support systems at home—all while life keeps moving. Drawing on her experience as a leadership strategist and mom of five, she explores an important truth: we don’t get to process change first and parent second. We’re parenting while we’re changing, too.

Before we can effectively lead our children through change, we need to notice what that change is doing in us. What are we holding onto? What feels uncertain? What are we trying to control? And who are we becoming in the process?

Jackie shares three simple questions to help parents pause, reflect, and lead more intentionally through whatever season they’re in. Because our kids aren’t the only ones becoming. We’re becoming right alongside them.

EPISODE CREDITS

Host: Jackie Mourot, Ed.D.

Learn more: TheBusinessofParenting.com 

Before the Rush: One Question to Ask Before the School Year Begins

Back-to-school season can quickly become a blur of schedules, supplies, activities, and endless to-do lists. But before the rush begins, there’s one question worth asking: What does my family need most from me in this season?

In this short episode, Jackie shares three simple ways to enter the new school year with greater intention: observe before you organize, choose one thing to give more of, and look for the minute moments—those small, everyday opportunities to connect that are already woven into family life.

Because preparing for the year ahead isn’t only about getting our kids ready. It’s also about preparing ourselves to be the parents they need in the season ahead.

EPISODE CREDITS

Host: Jackie Mourot, Ed.D.

Learn more: TheBusinessofParenting.com 

You Can't Own It All: The Teenage Years — Managing Your Responsibilities Without Owning Theirs

When our teenagers make poor choices, it’s easy to turn their mistakes into evidence of our failure as parents. We question what we missed, what we should have done differently, and whether we somehow got it wrong.

But there’s an important leadership distinction in the teenage years: we are responsible for our leadership, but we are not responsible for every choice our teenagers make.

In this third episode of Seasons of Leadership series, Jackie explores how parents can navigate the delicate balance between accountability and ownership. Using the Own, Influence, Release framework, she looks at what belongs to us, what we can shape, and what we eventually have to allow our teenagers to carry for themselves—including the consequences of their choices.

Because raising responsible adults sometimes requires resisting the urge to rescue them. We can hold our teens accountable, rebuild trust, and continue guiding them without carrying every decision as our own.

If this episode resonated with you, don't forget to follow, subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a parent who could use the reminder that we can love our teenagers deeply, hold them accountable, and lead them well—without carrying the weight of every choice they make.

EPISODE CREDITS

Host: Jackie Mourot, Ed.D.

Learn more: TheBusinessofParenting.com 

In the startup years of parenting, interruptions can feel like the enemy. Between work, responsibilities, and endless to-do lists, many parents spend their days trying to manage interruptions more effectively.

But what if we've been thinking about interruptions all wrong?

In this episode of the series, Seasons of Leadership: Helping Parents Become the Leaders Their Families Need—In Every Season, Jackie explores why some of the most important moments in family life arrive disguised as interruptions. Through personal stories, leadership lessons, and two practical tools—Stop and Count and Think in Common—she challenges parents to rethink the moments they're tempted to rush past.

Because sometimes the interruption isn't getting in the way of the work.

It is the work.

If this episode resonated with you, don't forget to follow, subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a parent who could use the reminder that some of the moments that shape a family arrive disguised as interruptions.

EPISODE CREDITS

Host: Jackie Mourot, Ed.D.

Learn more: TheBusinessofParenting.com 

Graduation is often celebrated as a milestone for our children—but what if it’s also a profound leadership transition for parents?

In this deeply reflective episode kicking off the new Seasons of Leadership series, Jackie explores the emotional and identity shifts that accompany graduation season and the evolving role parents must learn to embrace as their children step into adulthood.

Through personal stories, leadership insights, and honest reflections on letting go, control, purpose, and rediscovering ourselves beyond constant management, Jackie invites listeners to reconsider graduation not as the end of parenting, but as the beginning of a new leadership season.

This episode is for any parent navigating the beautiful and often disorienting tension between holding on and releasing well.

Because healthy leadership was never meant to create permanent dependence—it was meant to prepare people to stand.

If this episode resonated with you, don’t forget to follow, subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a parent walking through graduation season and wondering what this next chapter is asking of them too.

EPISODE CREDITS

Host: Jackie Mourot, Ed.D.

Learn more: TheBusinessofParenting.com 

In this episode of The Business of Parenting Podcast, Jackie returns with a timely conversation about leading your family with purpose in a busy season. Life does not always slow down when we need it to, and most parents cannot wait for the calendar to clear before parenting with intention.

Jackie explores why purpose becomes even more important, not less, when family life feels stretched, rushed, or overwhelming. Purpose does not remove the busyness, but it helps us decide what matters most inside it.

Through a practical leadership lens, this episode offers three simple ways to return to purpose at home: finding the “good enough mark,” looking for meaningful minute moments of connection, and modeling grace instead of perfection.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, follow, subscribe, or leave a review/comment to let us know what resonated most, and share it with a parent who might need the reminder that you don’t have to wait for life to calm down to lead your family with love, intention, and purpose.

EPISODE CREDITS

Host: Jackie Mourot, Ed.D.

Learn more: TheBusinessofParenting.com 

In this supplemental episode of the Partnering for Life mini-series, Jackie speaks directly to single parents and sole decision-makers at home. Drawing from her experience being raised by a single mother, she reflects on what strong leadership looks like from a child’s perspective and reframes family leadership through the lens of the “sole founder.” This episode explores how clarity, support systems, sustainable rhythms, and internal alignment help single parents lead with confidence, build stability, and shape lasting family culture.

If this episode resonated, please follow along, leave a review, or share it with a parent who might need the reminder that leading alone doesn’t mean leading without strength or strategy.

EPISODE CREDITS

Host: Jackie Mourot, Ed.D.

Learn more: TheBusinessofParenting.com | MommyDoubles.com

In Part 3 of Partnering for Life, Jackie reflects on what happens after vision is defined and ownership is clarified—because life keeps changing. Through personal stories and leadership insights, she explores how couples can build rhythms of recalibration, stay connected through busy seasons, and revisit alignment before small tensions grow into distance. Strong partnerships aren’t built on one good conversation—they’re sustained through intentional return.

 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow, subscribe, or share it with a parent who might need the reminder that strong family leadership isn’t about perfection—it’s about staying connected, course-correcting early, and choosing alignment again and again.

EPISODE CREDITS

Host: Jackie Mourot, Ed.D.

Learn more: TheBusinessofParenting.com | MommyDoubles.com

In Part 2 of Partnering for Life, Jackie explores the invisible work and mental load that often strain even strong marriages. From tracking school schedules to anticipating needs, unseen responsibilities can quietly create imbalance and resentment if they’re never named. In this episode, Jackie unpacks the difference between “helping” and true ownership and shares practical ways couples can clarify responsibility, build shared leadership, and strengthen their partnership at home.

​​If this episode was helpful, I’d love for you to follow along, leave a review, or share it with a parent who might need the reminder that invisible work is real leadership—and that clarity and shared ownership are essential for healthy partnerships at home.

EPISODE CREDITS

Host: Jackie Mourot, Ed.D.

Learn more: TheBusinessofParenting.com | MommyDoubles.com

In the first episode of the Partnering for Life mini-series, Jackie explains why couples cannot effectively co-lead their family if they haven’t first co-defined what they’re building together. Drawing from business leadership principles, she explores the importance of shared vision, defining success for your family in the current season, and surfacing unspoken assumptions before they turn into frustration. If you want to strengthen your marriage and lead your family with greater clarity and intention this year, this episode lays the foundation.

If this episode resonated with you, don’t forget to follow along, leave a comment, or share it with a parent who might need the reminder that alignment comes before execution—and that taking time to co-define what matters can change the entire direction of family life.

EPISODE CREDITS

Host: Jackie Mourot, Ed.D.

Learn more: TheBusinessofParenting.com | MommyDoubles.com