Ever feel like you kids’ toys are taking over, yet no one’s actually playing with them? In this week’s episode, I sit down with Myriam Sandler - creator of the popular MotherCould community and author of Playful By Design - to unpack the real reasons independent play feels so elusive…and what actually works.

From play hotspots to boredom breakthroughs, you’ll walk away with practical, judgement-free strategies to help your kids play more (and fight less), without turning your home into a Pinterest project.

We discuss:

●      The real reason your kids might not be playing with their toys (even when the bins are overflowing)

●      Why boredom isn’t a problem - it’s a launchpad for self-led play

●      The hidden mindset trap that keeps moms stuck as entertainers - and how to shift out of it

●      How to move from managing stuff to designing and environment that works with your kids, not against them

This conversation will help you rethink what independent play really looks like and give you simple, doable ways to create a home where it happens naturally. 

✨ Want more support creating rhythms and spaces that actually work for your family? Join the waitlist for the Surviving to Thriving Toolkit at survivingtothrivingtoolkit.com and get ready to move out of survival mode—for good.

Have you ever gotten really excited about decluttering your house, jumped in with both feet, started making progress, and then very quickly found yourself getting frustrated with your kids for undoing your work? Or maybe you cleared a space and felt great about it - until they moved in and started playing there and it drove you crazy?

If that sounds familiar, I've been there too, and I want to share with you two ideas today to really encourage you on your decluttering journey.

In this episode, I share:

• The decluttering epiphany I had during this survival season.

• The four distinct layers of decluttering (I guide you through all of them in the Surviving to Thriving Toolkit)

• The "two-minute tidy space" concept that's been incredible in our bedrooms

• Why decluttering is the starting line, not the finish line

Decluttering isn't about creating a Pinterest-perfect home - it's about finding YOUR threshold where things flow smoothly, where cleanup feels manageable, and where you can find peace at the end of the day. It's not the finish line, but the starting point that makes everything else possible.

Join the waitlist for my Surviving to Thriving Toolkit at survivingtothrivingtoolkit.com if you'd like guidance through all four layers of decluttering and beyond.

Summer’s coming, which means it’s time to start asking some questions. Not the “what camps should we sign up for?” kind, but the deeper ones that help you create a summer rhythm that actually serves your family (and doesn’t leave you burned out by mid-June.)

In this week’s episode, I’m sharing eight questions I’m working through right now as we prepare for summer in our home - questions that help me make intentional choices before things get busy.

In this episode I share:

• How I start thinking about summer (before the calendar fills up)

• The question that helps me avoid comparison traps

• How collaborating with your kids helps create a summer that works for everyone

• And how to work with your current circumstances instead of fighting them

Whether you’ve got big changes coming, are craving more simplicity, or just want a rhythm that feels good to everyone, this episode is here to help you start making intentional decisions for the months ahead.

And if you want even more support for feeling confident and grounded in your everyday life, head to survivingtothrivingtoolkit.com to get on the waitlist.

On this week’s episode, I’m talking with anger coach Elizabeth Androeski, an anger coach for Christian moms. She opens up about her journey from being an angry, reactive parent to finding peace in everyday motherhood. Elizabeth shares the practical steps that helped her cope with parenting challenges without responding in anger - changes that completely transformed her family life.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• How Elizabeth transformed from feeling constantly on edge and frustrated with her toddler to becoming a calm, patient mom who can be light-hearted and playful.

• The two-part approach that made real change possible

• Her game-changing morning routine that took her stress levels form 8/10 to 1/10

• A simple perspective shift that completely changes how you view challenging behavior

One of my favorite insights from our talk is that “anger and curiosity cannot coexist.” When we’re curious about what’s happening with our kids instead of trying to control them, we create space for understanding rather than conflict.

Elizabeth’s story reminds us that transformation is possible, even when parenting feels overwhelming. If you’re in that overwhelmed space right now, I’ve created something that can help.

The Surviving to Thriving Toolkit offers practical, bite-sized strategies that fit within your circle of influence - small changes that can turn a hard day around and help you move from merely surviving to truly thriving in motherhood.

Join the waitlist HERE.

Resources Mentioned:

• Elizabeth’s Website:emotionallyhealthylegacy.com

• Free resource: 5-step training to break free from the shame cycle - available at endmomshame.com

• Elizabeth's podcast: Emotionally Healthy Legacy

We just back from a six-day road trip with our family of six, and I’m excited to share my latest tips for making travel work with a bunch of kids (especially while 25 weeks pregnant).

After years of taking these trips - including our annual month-long summer adventure - we keep finding ways to make things 1% better each time. 

In this episode I share:

• How we solved our food challenges by bringing an Instantpot and griddle to cook simple hotel room meals

• Why eating at restaurants for lunch instead of dinner completely transformed our evenings

• The pre-packed toiletry and activity bag system that saved me from hunting down everyone’s toothbrushes

• How we handled long car rides with zero screens and kept everyone happy

• Finding the right mix of free museum visits, hotel swimming, and paid activities

I’ll also share our biggest challenge – dealing with overtired kids in tight hotel quarters where everyone can hear everything! And the important parenting lesson we learned about solving problems rather than trying to control behavior.

If you’re interested in seeing exactly how our travel systems work, I’ll be sharing all of that in the Family Systems Playbook to the Surviving To Thriving Toolkit. You can join the waitlist HERE to be the first to know when the doors open again!

Resources

Cooking Set: https://amzn.to/3E0uwae (affiliate link)

Toiletry Bags: https://amzn.to/4jkGryp (affiliate link)

Activity Bags:https://amzn.to/4jghZ1a (affiliate link)

Brother Label Maker: https://amzn.to/4i13Jbz (affiliate link)

Sterilite Drawers: https://amzn.to/420Rw1V (affiliate link)

Instant Pot: https://amzn.to/43IDJhO (affiliate link)

Griddle: https://amzn.to/42py9OZ (afiliate link)

Previous Travel Episodes

20 Secrets For a Fun Road Trips With Kids: https://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/20-secrets-for-a-fun-road-trip-with-kids-episode-172/

Successful Family Road Trip Systems: https://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/successful-family-road-trip-systems-episode-224/

Easy Car Organization on A Budget: https://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/easy-car-organization-on-a-budget-episode-265/

Reflection and Travel Tips From A Family Road Trip + 5 Day Hotel Stay: https://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/reflection-and-travel-tips-from-a-family-road-trip-5-day-hotel-stay-episode-309/

The Ultimate Guide to Family Road Trips: https://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-family-road-trips-episode-273/

I’ve been working with moms for years, helping them plan weeks they can win. One of the biggest challenges I see is what happens when you get to the end of the week with loads of unchecked tasks still on your list.

In this episode, I’m sharing a brand new process (complete with a downloadable flowchart!) that I’ve been using for years but finally put down on paper. 

This simple framework will help you:

• Process every unfinished task effectively at the end of the week

• Stop carrying over the same items week after week

• Know exactly where each task belongs in your planning system

• Set yourself up for a clean slate and a winning week ahead

Whether you’re using the Thriving In Motherhood Planner or your own systems, these principals will work for you! I walk through what to do with tasks that need to happen daily, weekly, or monthly, plus how to handle ideas that don’t have deadlines but you don’t want to forget.

The goal isn’t to do everything – it’s to make intentional choices about what matters most and create momentum in your life by having weeks where you actually finish what you plan.

Download the free flowchart HERE and start processing your own unfinished tasks today!

Problem solving is one of those skills I’m truly passionate about - for us moms and for our kids. When our children know how to solve problems, they can face whatever challenges come their way with confidence.

In today’s episode, I talk with Linsey Jensen about three simple principles that help our kids become better problem solvers. Whether you’re dealing with homework struggles, teaching science concepts, or just trying to get your kids to clean their rooms, these ideas will change how you approach teaching this important skill.

Linsey shares:

• Why making our kids the heroes of their own experiences builds confidence.
•  
• How discovery creates deeper learning than following directions
•  
• A simple framework for breaking big tasks into manageable steps

As a bonus, Linsey shares some of the amazing tools she’s created.

If you enjoyed this conversation, I’d love for you to join the Surviving to Thriving Toolkit waitlist! I’ve created this program to help you move through the five steps from surviving to thriving in motherhood. It’s all about identifying what problems to solve in your life at the right time and in the right way, so you can stop feeling stuck on the endless treadmill of demands and start thriving instead.

Join the waitlist HERE.

Resources from this episode:

Lindsay's Etsy Shop for Escape Rooms, Logic Puzzles, and Science Kits

Episode 20 with Lindsay

Circuit Wiz Kits

Lindsay's Website Covalent Moments

Today I’m sharing a delightful conversation that I had with Erin Loechner author of, “The Opt Out Family.” Erin and I dive into what it really means to create a low-tech family life and explore practical ways to reduce technology’s grip on your home while cultivating richer, more meaningful alternatives that both parents and children genuinely enjoy. This is longer than my usual episodes, but the conversation was just too good to cut anything out! 

In this conversation, Erin shares:

• Her journey from social media influencer to intentionally stepping away from screens

• Simple ways to bring her family motto to life in your home

• Practical ideas for discovering what truly delights your children

• How to earn your children’s trust and respect in a digital world

• What it looks like to opt INTO wonder, creativity, and human connection

I hope this episode gives you plenty to think about as you consider technology’s role in your family life. If reducing technology use in your life is something you’re considering, I have a free gift for you! My Technology Fast Workbook guides you through a 30-day break from technology. You’ll create your own personal rules, set up your environment for success, and learn how to reflect on the experience to make lasting changes. This isn’t just a temporary challenge - it’s a way to become truly intentional about technology’s place in your family and discover what matters more!

Get it HERE.

The transition from quarter 1 to quarter 2 here from March to April is one of my absolute favorites because we’re not coming off major holidays, our routines are set for the next little while, school schedules are still flowing, and the weather’s warming up! It’s such a perfect time to reset in a couple of different ways.

In this episode I’ll walk you through:

• A complete RESET framework for reviewing your vision for the year

• How I’m decluttering  my digital life – including my email inbox, phone apps, and Google Drive folders

• My approach to physical spaces now that I realize my home should work, even when I’m not my best

I’m sharing all my real-time discoveries about what’s actually working in my life right now – practical tips you can implement even during busy seasons. You’ll hear exactly how I’m setting up systems that don’t require me to be at full capacity to maintain a peaceful home.

This isn’t perfection – it’s about taking these little windows of opportunity to make tiny changes that create big results over time.

Ready to make progress on your own reset? Click HERE to grab a checklist of everything we’re covering so you can start making progress right away! 

Resources

Thriving in Motherhood Planner: https://pages.thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/wyw-page-5620

Technology Fast Workbook: https://pages.thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/technology-fast

Create Your Vision Workbook and Mini-Course: https://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/vision/

Episode 218: How to Start a Prayer Journal https://thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/starting-a-prayer-journal-episode-218/

Tiago Forte Email System: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXdEVeoGRRc&t=287s&ab_channel=TiagoForte

Are you feeling overwhelmed by complicated clearing systems and endless to-do lists? In this episode, I’m sharing our family’s journey from complete survival mode (where we abandoned all cleaning systems) to creating simple, sustainable routines that keep our home relatively clean without exhausting my limited pregnancy energy. 

I’ll walk you through:

• How to identify YOUR daily cleaning priorities based on your family’s actual pain points

• Our “confiscate and clean” strategy that’s transforming our tidying habits

• Why we’re tackling deep cleaning with music and turning it into a family activity

• How just 20-30 minutes of focused cleaning each morning is creating dramatic results

This isn’t about perfect Pinterest-worthy spaces or following someone else’s complicated checklist. It’s about figuring out what matters most to YOU, making it easy to maintain, and celebrating the progress that comes from consistent simple actions.

Whether you’re pregnant like me, in a busy season with young children, or just tired of the clean-then-crash cycle, this episode offers practical inspiration for creating cleaning systems that actually work for your real life.

Ready to move from surviving to thriving? Grab my FREE 5-Step Path from Surviving to Thriving checklist HERE to help your figure out where you’re at and where to focus your time and energy.