The Sweetest (and Toughest) Job

I think we can all agree that the past year has been a wild ride.  Friends, I feel I need to take a break from releasing new content and I’m not sure what that will look like.  What I’m realizing is that it’s okay to take that pause and step back to reevaluate what I want the show to look like, what I want to produce and put my energy in to.

On this episode I'm opening up on why I'm taking a pause with the podcast.  If you're feeling like you need a reset, pause or to reevaluate, I hope you find support and encouragement that that's okay! We all need to take a step back at times and give ourself space so we can grow into what's next.

Wherever you are on your parenting journey, thank you for  exploring all the topics alongside me - I truly believe parenting is the toughest job but oh it can be so incredibly sweet.  

If you haven’t already, don’t forget to hit subscribe so you know when we are back - see you soon friend thank you so much for listening to this podcast, it has been my true passion project!

As always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest Job

I would love to hear any comments, feedback or ideas on episodes and topics you'd like to hear - please reach out at any time!

Visit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.

Thank you for listening!

Alyson Premo is a 37-year-old mother to her 10-year-old son, and she’s currently creeping up on 4.5 years of sobriety. Before becoming a Certified Professional Recovery/Life Coach, aka “The Sober Mom Coach,” she was in the Business Development field as a Senior Sales Specialist for a corporate wellness company called Preventure. Virgin Pulse has since acquired that company. She wanted to pursue her purpose in life which is to help mothers ditch the drink to become a more present parent and get out of the mom guilt cycle. Alyson is also the Founder of Sober Mom Tribe. Through her struggles and lack of connection with other sober moms, she created Sober Mom Tribe in July 2018. It’s one thing to be sober, but it’s a whole other level being a sober mom in a culture where wine and motherhood seem to go hand and hand. When she isn’t helping others or being a taxi driver to her son’s soccer practices and games, she enjoys reading, walks on the beach, and sunsets. You can learn more about her at www.sobermomcoach.com

On this episode Alyson very openly takes us through her journey to sobriety.  Alyson knows firsthand the challenges that can accompany living alcohol free in social settings and created a community and coaching business to help support Moms who want to live a sober life or are even just curious about what it means.  I truly believe this is an important conversation and is in no way meant to come with any judgement or nudging anyone to live a sober lifestyle (please note, I do not live my life alcohol free).  Instead, I hope this episode brings forth topics that are not often discussed and perhaps helps a Mama along the way.

Highlights from the show include:

• Alyson’s personal story of her journey to becoming now 4 1/2 years sober
• Breaking free from the “Mommy needs a drink” culture
• Reducing the stigma and judgement that comes with choosing to be sober in social situations
• Making changes doesn’t have to be all or nothing - self checking your relationship with alcohol

Connect with Alyson:

IG: @sobermomcoach - 

Facebook: 

Sober as a Mother Podcast - 

Sober Mom Tribe Website

As always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest Job

I would love to hear any comments, feedback or ideas on episodes and topics you'd like to hear - please reach out at any time!

Visit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.

Thank you for listening!

Somer is the Chief Content Officer and living proof of the results for Raising Families, an organization co-founded by her mother and step-father dedicated to transforming parents from exhausted managers of their to-do lists to inspired leaders of their family teams. Raising Families has helped hundreds of parents with children of all ages to engage more deeply and intentionally, identify and implement their values into daily life, and create a specific plan of action to raise children with the skills and confidence to be successful adults.

Highlights from the episode include:

• The importance of defining what you want responsibility to look like in your household
• How to introduce responsibility actions to toddler ages 1-3 and ages 4+
• The mindset and framework to encourage responsibility
• Why rewards systems in association with responsibility is problematic

 In her downtime, Somer can be found laughing a little too loudly watching episodes of Schitt's Creek or occasionally designing homes for friends and family as she is a licensed architect (her career before joining Raising Families.) Somer lives in Southern California with her husband and 4-year-old son.

Connect with Somer:

IG: @family.life.coach

Pintrest: Raising Families

Website: Raising Families

As always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest Job

I would love to hear any comments, feedback or ideas on episodes and topics you'd like to hear - please reach out at any time!

Visit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.

Thank you for listening!

Kelly is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in CA and also a Perinatal Mental Health Certified professional. She knows firsthand how valuable the right support and resources can be and entered the mental health field to help others find healing too. Kelly offers support to expectant mothers from the moment they want to start a family and throughout the journey that lies ahead after birth. Kelly is a wife and a mom of two who enjoys hiking, listening to podcasts and having a good coffee.

Highlights from the episode include:

• Checking in on your own mental health during pregnancy and postpartum
• Perinatal mental health diagnoses explained including postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum OCD
• Different ways postpartum mental health disorders may manifest themselves
• Postpartum mental health in your spouse or partner
• Difference between baby blues and mental health disorders

On this episode Kelly provides a wealth of information around perinatal mental health.  We discuss how you can self check in with yourself and the different ways that a mental disorder may present itself.  We talk about the shame and stigma around mental health, overcoming this and knowing it’s okay and critically important to ask for help if you need it.

Connect with Kelly:

IG: @allthefeels.therapy

Facebook: Kelly Rodriguez Therapy

Kelly Rodriguez Therapy

Ali Glinsky is a CAPPA Certified New Parent Educator. She's worked with Moms on Maternity, Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley and other organizations to create standalone and multi week physical and virtual events all with the goal of supporting mothers in a new way. She has seen first hand how a supported mother can thrive, which led her to launch virtual pandemic mom groups in March 2021 that educate and empower mothers and most importantly connect them, all virtually. She has two girls ages 2 and 4 and lives in the Bay Area with her family.

Highlights from this episode include:

• Talking about postpartum care, real talk on what you need (and don’t)
• The importance of postpartum support
• Considerations around how you can prepare and set up help postpartum
• Ali’s experience using postpartum doula care
• What postpartum Moms are experiencing right now - you are not alone

Connect with Ali:

Instagram: @parentsirl 

Facebook

As always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest Job

I would love to hear any comments, feedback or ideas on episodes and topics you'd like to hear - please reach out at any time!

Visit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.

Thank you for listening!

When Rosalie’s son was four years old, he was attacked by the family dog which resulted in a below knee leg amputation.  This changed her son and the families life and now Rosalie is on a mission to advocate and educate.  Whether it's in person, at events across the country or social media, she consistently connects with other families and amputees.

On this episode she is sharing her son Hunter’s journey and what their family has been through over the years since the incident happened.  We talk about the meaning of resilience, how to help your child cope through trauma, going through a traumatic event as a parent and finding the positive and joy amidst huge life challenges.

Highlights from the episode include:

• Helping a child cope with a traumatic event
• Navigating emotions surrounding a traumatic experience as a parent
• Her son’s experience getting his prosthetic and helping him adjust and cope through the process
• A discussion around resilience and how we think about the meaning
• The need for parents to expose our kids more to people who may look different or act different or have disabilities to foster more understanding and inclusion

To learn more about the Mastaler family and connect with Rosalie:

Rosalie Mastaler Website 

IG: @mastalerpartyof5 -

Facebook: @MeetHunter211

Email: [email protected]

As always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest Job

I would love to hear any comments, feedback or ideas on episodes and topics you'd like to hear - please reach out at any time!

Visit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.

Thank you for listening!

On this episode, I wanted to do something a little different.  I have felt so honored to talk to the many wonderful guests I've had on the show but I also realize how many there have been! The content is dense and wonderful.  On this episode I wanted to highlight 5 things I have learned from this podcast.  These are 5 overarching topics to which there are several relevant podcast episodes.  If any of these topics speak to you and you want more information and color, please do scroll through and listen to the many wonderful episodes available.

As always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest Job

I would love to hear any comments, feedback or ideas on episodes and topics you'd like to hear - please reach out at any time!

Visit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.

Thank you for listening!

Wannessa believes in the power of knowledge, community, connection, and healing.  She knows that each of us has the ability to heal, to grow, and to shine within ourselves, as well as the ability to create the relationships and lifestyle of our dreams. It requires connecting with ourselves to access the keys to unlocking our inner knowing and to activating a new height of transparency and authenticity. 

She brings her own embodiment of healing & sage wisdom that  comes from her heart, her personal experience, and twenty years supporting children and families in the realms of public, private, and non-profit education. Birth Story Medicine is a reflective modality dear to her heart. She truly believes in the sacred space needed to process childbirth. Through a birth story listening session, it is always her intention to guide and support the story teller towards a deeper understanding of themselves & a greater sense of peace. She welcomes you to visit www.birthstorylistening.com

Highlights from the episode include:

• Preparing for birth, the unexpected and uncontrollable
• Birth story listening explained and who it can be helpful for
• How Wannessa found her calling as a Birth story listener
• The importance of taking care of our own mental health so we can show up for our children

Connect with Wannessa:

Wannessa Badger

Birth Story Listening

IG: @wannessabadger

As always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest Job

Visit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.

Thank you for listening!

Ellanee Wilson is a former English teacher turned certified sleep coach. She began her journey as a sleep coach after having her first daughter and experiencing firsthand how difficult the transition into motherhood is and how a large part of that difficulty is related to sleep. She founded Sleep Coach Mom in 2019 and has been on a mission to not only help families sleep better, but to help moms feel supported during their journey as a parent. She does one-on-one coaching, but also holds virtual support groups for women discussing areas of motherhood well beyond sleep. She loves what she does and wants all moms to feel empowered and free of judgement when working with her. 

Highlights from the episode include:

• Advice on toddlers climbing out of the crib and transitioning to big kid bed
• Night wakings and the difference between nightmares and night terrors
• Thinking through reasons for a regression or night wakings
• Early risers

Sleep Coach Mom Website

Facebook: Sleep Coach Mom - Team Sleep - 

IG: @sleep.coach.mom


OK to wake Clock

Hatch Sound Machine and Wake Clock

As always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest Job

Visit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.

Thank you for listening!

Brandi Frazier is a passionate high energy Mama, Wife and Master Educator who is on a mission to empower women and teach them how to advocate for themselves. After a traumatic post pregnancy complication experience Brandi created @beeempoweredmama which is an organization that provides online resources, workshops and community for all Mamas to unite!

Highlights from this episode include:

• Her personal journey and struggle with prenatal care and how she advocated for herself
• The importance of doing your research during pregnancy and in preparing for birth and postpartum
• Having a partner that knows your wishes to help you advocate during labor and delivery
• Her powerful story of advocating for herself postpartum which saved her life

Bee Empowered Mama:

www.BeeEmpoweredMama.com

IG:  @beeempoweredmama

Facebook: @beeempoweredmama

As always, we would love to connect with you to continue the conversation on Instagram @sweetestandtoughestjob or on Facebook The Sweetest and Toughest Job

Visit our website www.sweetestandtoughestjob.com for additional episodes, resources, guest contact info and blog posts.

Thank you for listening!