The Thoughtful Advocate

What does turning 30 really feel like? Does life get better after 30? How do you balance motherhood, friendship, healing, and building your dreams?

In this honest life update, I’m sharing what turning 30 taught me, how motherhood has changed me, what my birthday looked like as a mom of two, and the small moments that reminded me what really matters.

From Facebook Marketplace wins and budget parenting hacks to friendship, gratitude, postpartum recovery, and learning how to slow down, this episode is a real conversation about growing up without losing yourself.

We also talk about:

• what nobody tells you about turning 30

If you’re navigating motherhood, your thirties, healing, or building a life that feels aligned, this episode is for you.

✨ Follow for weekly conversations on healing, sustainability, motherhood, emotional growth, and building a better future.

Turning 30 felt different than I expected.

From a family trip to Niagara Falls to navigating postpartum recovery, road tripping with babies, protecting kids online, and reflecting on childhood trauma, this episode is part life update, part time capsule for her sons, and part reminder that life does not end at 30. Sometimes it begins.

In this episode:

• Does life get better after 30?

If you are entering your thirties, navigating motherhood, healing from your past, or trying to build a meaningful life, this episode is for you.

Did you know that 94% of your brain's gray matter changes during pregnancy? In this episode, Elizabeth Teo breaks down the real science behind what happens to your mind, body, and identity when you become a mother. This is not just a role — it is a complete biological and emotional transformation called matrescence, and almost no one is talking about it.

Elizabeth explores why so many mothers feel like they have lost themselves, why that feeling is actually a sign of growth, and how motherhood quietly builds the boundaries, strength, and self-awareness you never knew you needed. If you have ever looked in the mirror and not recognized the woman staring back, this episode was made for you.

In this episode: What brain scans reveal about pregnancy and postpartum changes, why your priorities shift so dramatically, how motherhood forces you to set boundaries for the first time, what it means to be reborn alongside your baby, and why asking for help is actually a sign of strength.

You are not losing yourself. You are becoming someone more powerful.

In this heartfelt life update, host Elizabeth Teo opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of welcoming baby Jack while navigating life with two under two. From tearful minivan moments to surviving the newborn phase on zero sleep, Elizabeth reflects on childhood nostalgia, a hard-won second C-section recovery, unexpected generosity from strangers, and the profound realization that the family she prayed for as a little girl is finally here. If you have ever felt stuck in a dark place and wondered if life could get better, this episode is for you.

Topics covered: newborn life, postpartum recovery, C-section, two under two, motherhood emotions, mental health, gratitude, family milestones, and finding beauty in the hard seasons.

Most people think codependency only happens in toxic relationships. Mine was the opposite. In this episode, I'm sharing my personal experience with codependency inside a genuinely loving, healthy relationship, where the real wounds were coming from inside me all along.

I cover what codependency actually is, why it develops from childhood trauma and anxious attachment, the signs most people search for but don't always recognise in themselves, and how I slowly healed by learning to truly love myself for the first time at 29.

If you've ever needed constant reassurance from a partner, felt crushing anxiety when they spent time away, or realised your whole identity was tied to someone else, this episode is for you.

In this episode: 00:00 Intro What codependency really means Why it is not always about a toxic partner My story with John and unhealed childhood trauma Losing my identity and friendships How I finally started healing What healthy love actually looks like How to get help

Mentioned in this episode: Kind Laundry sheets, code zerowastecutie for 10% off

#codependency #mentalhealth #healingjourney #anxiousattachment #selfworth #childhoodtrauma #codependencyrecovery #selflove #healthyrelationships #thoughtfuladvocate

At 38 weeks pregnant, exhausted, and running on no sleep, the last thing I needed was last minute cancellations and early departures from childcare I had planned and paid for. But that is exactly what happened. And instead of speaking up, old Elizabeth just said it was fine.

In this episode I am getting honest about what it cost me to be too nice for too long, and what finally pushed me to hold my boundaries firmly, even when it felt uncomfortable.

We talk about why caregiving relationships make it harder to hold the line, what happens when you blur professional and personal, how to address a broken agreement calmly and early, why having a backup childcare plan is non negotiable, and the deeper pattern so many women carry of shrinking themselves to keep others comfortable.

This one is for every pregnant mom, every parent in the trenches, and every woman who has ever asked herself "am I asking for too much?" and then immediately answered her own question by letting it go.

You are not asking for too much. You are asking for what was agreed.

We are officially one week away from meeting our second baby and I am sharing all the life updates in this one! From my very first attempt at cutting my toddler's hair (spoiler: the bangs did not go as planned) to everything that actually happens leading up to a planned c-section that nobody really talks about: weekly OB appointments, the hospital pre-call, bloodwork, the antibacterial wash prep, and what to expect the day of.

I also share a Greek yogurt crepe recipe that my toddler is obsessed with and that has become a go-to breakfast in our house, plus a free hack for getting your family into museums using your local library card.

In this video: 00:00 Intro 01:20 Baby's first haircut (and why I used kitchen scissors) 04:30 38 weeks pregnant + c-section prep explained 09:00 Greek yogurt crepe recipe for toddlers 11:30 Free museum passes through your library

If you've had a planned or emergency c-section, I would love to hear from you in the comments. What helped you recover? What do you wish you had known going in?

Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss the birth vlog and newborn update coming soon!

• 150 g unbleached all purpose flour

Do not add baking soda for crepes. It changes the texture and makes them more pancake like.

After mixing and resting 10 to 15 minutes:

The batter should:

If it feels thick, add milk 15 ml at a time until it becomes fluid.

Heat pan over medium heat

Lightly butter

Pour about 60 ml batter

Immediately swirl the pan

It should spread on its own within 2 seconds.

#38weekspregnant #csection #plannedcsection #momvlog #toddlermom #pregnancyupdate #momlife #secondpregnancy #csectionprep #toddlerhaircut

Everyone told you your twenties would be the best years of your life but what if they were wrong? In this episode, Elizabeth breaks down why your thirties might actually be when life finally clicks. From emotional stability and stronger boundaries to deeper relationships and a growing income, the data points to one surprising truth: 36 is the happiest age for most people, and most wouldn't trade their thirties to go back. If you're dreading turning 30 or still surviving your twenties, this episode will completely shift your perspective on what's waiting for you on the other side.

Mental health support for moms isn't optional, it's essential. In this episode of Thoughtful Advocate Podcast, I'm getting real about why finding a therapist BEFORE baby arrives is one of the most important things you can do as an expecting mom. With 1 in 5 women experiencing postpartum depression and mental health issues responsible for nearly 20% of pregnancy related deaths, this conversation is life saving.

I share my personal experience finding therapists for both pregnancies, why waiting until after birth makes it harder, and the specific support systems every parent needs. Whether you're expecting your first or second baby, struggling with anxiety or depression, or just want to prepare for the postpartum period, this episode covers what you need to know.

Critical Statistics Covered:

📊 1 in 5 women experience postpartum depression or anxiety

📊 50% of mothers with PPD remain undiagnosed

📊 Mental health issues caused nearly 20% of pregnancy related deaths in 2020

📊 Second pregnancies often bring higher anxiety and depression levels 📊 Most maternal mental health deaths occur 42 to 365 days postpartum

What You'll Learn:

✓ Why finding a therapist during pregnancy (not after) is crucial

✓ How to prepare mentally for becoming a parent

✓ Building your support system before baby arrives

✓ Real talk about fears of having two kids

✓ Maternal mental health resources and crisis hotlines

✓ Questions to ask when finding a prenatal/postpartum therapist

✓ Why mental health preparation is as important as baby gear

Mental Health Resources Mentioned:

Perfect for: Expecting moms, second time parents, anyone struggling with prenatal or postpartum anxiety/depression, partners wanting to support their loved ones

This is the honest conversation about maternal mental health that doesn't happen enough. Let's normalize therapy, normalize asking for help, and normalize talking about the hard parts of parenthood.

⚠️ Content Note: This episode discusses maternal mental health, postpartum depression, anxiety, and includes statistics about maternal mortality. Resources are provided throughout.

Having a baby is hard. Having two under two? A whole different level. In this episode of the Thoughtful Advocate Podcast, Elizabeth Teo gets real about what to actually expect from labor and delivery nurses, how to build a support system before your baby arrives, and her honest fears about navigating life with two little ones.

She breaks down the Doers, Listeners, and Resources framework her therapist shared with her so you can map out your village before baby comes, and shares what postpartum recovery actually looks like when you are not doing it alone.

Topics covered: labor and delivery nurse experience, swaddling chaos, breastfeeding and formula, parental leave in Canada, preparing your toddler for a new sibling, and why asking for help is a sign of strength.