My guess is that you’re burned out. Between working and parenting and managing the home, you’re fried. But, we can’t find words to articulate why. And, when it comes to having necessary conversations with our partners about sharing the load, we will often avoid it altogether because we don’t want to come across as a “nag”. 

Next thing we know, our relationship is suffering. 

In many ways, Paige Connell (@SheIsAPaigeTurner on Instagram) is saving relationships. She’s a mom of four who talks a lot about Mental Load and how it can make or break a relationship. 

We’re going to discuss how (and why) to have these conversations with our partner, the danger in letting the little things build up, plus how equity in relationships leads to happy and healthy families. 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more : 

(06:17) The Mental Load and Domestic Labor 

(09:37) Unseen Mental Load in Relationships 

(12:38) Men's Participation and Birth Rate 

(27:31) Challenges of Gendered Expectations 

(31:32) Redefining Gender Roles and Expectations 

(35:43) Challenging Gender Expectations for Men

(44:16) Financial Considerations in Dual-Income Families 

(50:02) Empowering Boys to End Cycle

In this episode, we are diving into defining the mental load, the danger of avoiding hard conversations with your partner, different societal standards and expectations for moms and dads, the value assigned to paid vs. unpaid work, how to have conversations with your partner about the mental load in a way that is respectful and productive, considering the long term impacts of being a stay at home parent, and why childcare is not only a women’s issue.

Follow Paige on IG

Paige’s Audio Course on The Mental Load 

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We’re in need of some levity and laughs, so I’ve invited the very funny Peaches (from @PeachesAndDiesel104) to the show. 

You might be one of her 500k followers that are drawn to her ridiculous and relatable content, like I was. Only to learn that Peaches is an empty-nesting mom of two, navigating midlife and menopause. 

While we have the most amount of fun in this conversation, you might just find that Peaches has inspired you to try something new, fun and crazy. She’s already got my wheels churning! 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It.

Listen in to learn more: 

(12:42) Navigating Empty Nesting With Humor

(24:38) Navigating Menopause and Fitness After 50

(36:53) Wedding Dress Parties and Friendships

(40:26) Real Moms, Real Life

(51:20) Revisiting Wedding Dresses and Conversation

SUMMARY:

In this episode, we are digging into finding humor and joy in midlife, what it’s like to be an empty nester, saying yes to things that bring you joy, being willing to try something new, navigating menopause, and the importance of friendship in midlife. 

My Favorite Weighted Vest

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There’s a lot we don’t agree on in this country. But one issue that gets overwhelming support among voters is the need to support moms and families in this country, from paid family leave, to affordable childcare and improved maternal health. 

Those issues shouldn't be a luxury. They should be a necessity, if we want to support families and grow our economy. 

I’m talking to Erin Erenberg, the co-founder of Chamber of Mothers, a non-partisan organization that is doing the work on those very issues in Washington, D.C.

Erin shares why she’s optimistic about these issues, plus how we can get involved in changing the game for moms and families. 

Also, hear why we shouldn’t have to choose between kids and career in this country. 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more : 

(01:39) Support for Moms 

(08:40) Empowering Moms for Change 

(15:48) Moms in Leadership Driving Change 

(18:38) Optimism for Maternal Support Initiatives 

(24:45) Policy Shifts Cultures on Working Moms 

(35:36) Men and Women Facing Gender Equality

(39:52) Advocating for Working Moms 

In this episode, we are digging into the importance of paid family leave, the number one barrier to women in the workforce, the importance of access to affordable and quality childcare, the economic impact of policies that support families, different perspectives of motherhood and work, and why moms make great employees.

Links: 

Learn about Chamber of Mothers 

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Connect with Paula

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We’re capping our series on dating and relationships with a conversation about how to keep it spicy with your partner. 🌶️

Over half of Americans don’t date their partner regularly, and it’s taking a toll on our relationships. We’re spending all our energy on our kids, and we’re not prioritizing one another. 

However, for the couples that are intentional about connecting, they typically have happier and more stable relationships. 

So, what do we do next? John and I talk about some really creative ways to connect with your partner and a few ideas to keep it spicy. We also give an update on our connectivity challenge. 

Plus, what most women really want from their partner. 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more: 

(02:25) Prioritizing Marriage Over Busy Family Life (81 Seconds)

(08:05) Lack of Dates in Relationships (49 Seconds)

(20:16) Sharing the Mental Load in Relationships (120 Seconds)

(24:51) Spicing Up Relationships (67 Seconds)

(30:02) The 222 Rule for Relationships (18 Seconds)

In this episode, we are diving into prioritizing your relationship with your partner, how loving our partner well influences our kids’ emotional health and future relationships, common barriers to regular date nights, the importance of finding a shared interest with your partner, connecting with your partner physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally, and ideas for spicing up date nights. 

LINKS:

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Connect with Paula

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One thing I haven’t been ready for has been navigating our teenagers dating. And I know so many of you feel the same. So, I’ve invited therapists Sissy Goff and David Thomas back on the show to help us work through it. (Jesus, Take the Wheel, PLEASE!) 

This is the conversation I wish I’d had years ago, when this whole process started in our home. 

Everything we’re talking about in this episode is based on a question or topic that you sent us. 

We’ll be looking at this topic from five main angles: 

Something I wasn’t expecting to happen? I had a change of heart about how I feel about my kids dating in high school. 

This is an episode you’ll want to share with all your friends going through this season of parenting….and maybe you’ll listen to it with your teens, as well. 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more: 

(07:04) Healthy Intimacy in Teen Dating

(11:00) Age-Appropriate Relationship Building in Adolescents 

(17:17) Navigating High School Dating Quality

(24:46) Navigating Parental Boundaries and Communication

(31:45) Setting Boundaries in Relationships 

(36:20) Parenting and Communication With Adolescents

(41:20) Conversations About Sex and Parenting

(47:59) Limiting Technology in Dating Conversations 

(54:27) Navigating Parental Boundaries and Communication 

In this episode, we are digging into a helpful framework for viewing teen dating, why we should allow our teens to date, the purpose of teen dating, changing our expectations around teen dating, how dating has changed over time, parent and therapist concerns about teen dating, intensity versus intimacy in relationships, the emotional impact of sexual intimacy, teaching our teens healthy intimacy and boundaries without shame, and why boundaries are about more than just sex.

RAISING BOYS AND GIRLS PODCAST

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We all have single friends. After all, 40% of Americans are single. 

As we continue our series on relationships and dating, I’ve invited my dear friend Annie F Downs on the show to talk about what it’s like dating in your 40s and what our single friends want us to know. 

Annie has never been married, and she hilariously shares what she’s looking for in a guy (you’ll never guess her type!) and where the majority of singles want to find love, plus the role their married friends can have in it. 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more:

(02:34) Unequal Household Labor in Relationships 

(06:26) Time Management Mishap With Annie 

(09:48) Evolution of Dating in Technology 

(15:25) Navigating the Dating Pool 

(31:07) Marriage vs. Singleness in Religion 

(40:38) Summer Lovin' Podcast Impact 

(46:49) Deep Friendship and Unconditional Love 

LINKS

Get Paula’s Personal Newsletter  

Connect with Paula

Connect with Annie

Single Purpose League

The Fairplay Cards

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Love isn’t enough -- especially when you have kids.

Love doesn’t pay the bills or pick up the domestic load at home. 

And often, that lack of connection (it’s never just one thing) leads to the eventual breakdown of a relationship. 

@Honestly.Kaitlyn’s Kaitlyn Nilles says it was a myriad of issues that led to her divorce and life as a single mom of two young children. 

Now, Kaitlyn is opening up about what it’s been like to date as a single mom, why divorce was the best thing that happened to her….and the plot twist that not even she saw coming. 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more:

(04:04) Successful Co-Parenting After Divorce 

(08:15) Priorities in Dating and Parenthood 

(12:24) Balancing Motherhood and Self-Care 

(18:13) Rekindled Feelings After Divorce 

(22:39) Reevaluating Gender Roles After Divorce 

(25:59) Domestic Task Delegation and Tools 

(38:29) Weekly Family Board Meetings for Coordination 

In this episode, we are delving into putting yourself back out there after divorce, why love is not enough to sustain a relationship, what it’s like to be a single mom, encouragement for single parents, developing a respectful co-parenting relationship, and the importance of sharing the invisible work of the home and family. 

Get Paula’s Personal Newsletter  

Connect with Paula

Connect with Kaitlyn 

The Fairplay Cards

Paula’s Episode on the Mental Load 

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Because relationships are the #1 topic you’ve been asking me to talk about, I’m doing a series on dating and covering it from a lot of different angles—from dating after divorce to navigating our teen dating and how to keep it spicy with our partner. 

Did you know that 40% of Americans are single? Either they’re divorced, widowed or never married. That blew my mind. 

So, this week, I’ve invited Patrice Washington to the show to talk about her journey dating after divorce. You may be familiar with Patrice because she’s built a professional platform as a financial expert, but her personal life was another story, as she found herself divorced in her 40’s and a single mom. 

Patrice shares her journey back on the dating scene, what it’s like blending families and the “twist” on her experience. 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more:

(02:55) Dating After Divorce

(14:29) Navigating Dating

(27:17) Importance of Showing Authentic Self

(32:31) Dating Preferences and Parenting Priorities 

(39:02) Embracing Radical Honesty in Relationships 

(43:54) Rekindling Love (66 Seconds)

In this episode, we are diving into what dating after divorce is really like, getting clear on what you want in a partner, modeling respect and boundaries in dating for our daughters, making and finding time to date when your life is full, being your authentic self in dating and relationships, and advice for putting yourself back out there in the dating world.

Connect with Patrice

Patrice’s Podcast

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John and I have learned a lot about the whole college process and can’t wait to share it with you–from the first thing you should do in the process to what our role as parents should be, plus why it’s more stressful than ever. 

In this episode, you’ll hear from our teenage daughter, Caroline, plus the former Admissions Director of Dartmouth, Becky Sabky, shedding some light on this confusion and competitive process. 

And, Caroline shares her most important takeaway, yet, from the college process. 

This episode caps our January HOT TOPICS series, where John and I are talking about our hottest topics ever on the podcast. 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen to learn more :

(01:33) Navigating the College Admissions Process 

(09:24) Common Mistakes in the College Application Process 

(14:37) Evolution of College Culture in America 

(18:42) Career Paths Beyond College Expectations

(26:48) College Admissions and Personal Worth 

(32:25) Supporting Kids With Changing Majors

(42:04) Choosing Between Passion and Practicality 

(51:12) Degree vs Experience in Job Hunt 

In this episode, we are diving into understanding the college admissions process, what really matters in a college recommendation letter, a parent’s role in the college admissions process, words of wisdom for navigating a college rejection letter, the pros and cons of a gap year, and advice for navigating financial aid.  

Read Becky’s book

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“Let's Talk about College “ Podcast Series

https://pod.link/1707980698/episode/90ca8adb88e395c47b460c978d178871

https://pod.link/1707980698/episode/54884efb32bce19ded771107a2d4c37b

https://pod.link/1707980698/episode/a45ebfb86e7b836ed5156f1f7b3f1065

https://pod.link/1707980698/episode/b41bb523dce7a143d5f3334c8f0411cc

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There was a change of power in the White House this week and it only seems appropriate to talk about politics, specifically how we can discuss politics with those who don’t necessarily align with our views. 

Maybe the reason we’re so divided is because we’re talking about it wrong? Or because we have unrealistic expectations? 

In this episode, you’ll hear from Sharon McMahon, aka America’s Government Teacher on how we can effectively talk politics with our kids, family and friends. 

This episode is part of our January HOT TOPICS series, in which John and I discuss the hottest topics on the podcast. 

, 

Life Happens. Let’s Talk About It. 

Listen in to learn more:

(03:53) Navigating Political Conversations With Empathy 

(06:40) Family Values and Moral Imperatives 

(20:30) Information Filtered Through Various Perspectives 

(26:54) Blurred Lines in Journalism 

(34:47) Empowering Unsung American History Book 

(41:06) Approaching Conversations With Curiosity 

SUMMARY

In this episode, we discuss how to teach our kids to talk about politics respectfully, approach political conversations with curiosity, learn from and befriend people we disagree with, give our children age-appropriate agency, the key to teaching and developing critical thinking skills, why bias and lies are not the same thing, and understand the difference between fact reporting and opinion content.

LINKS

Get Paula’s Personal Newsletter  

Connect with Sharon

Sharon's new book

1440 News (Paula’s pick)

Alloy Menopause Telehealth for Menopause

(use my code: PAULA42103 for a $15 credit towards your RX!

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Let’s Talk Politics with Sharon FULL Episode - https://pod.link/1707980698/episode/d6077692af15638e353ba59f6f2945c1

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