In this episode, I talk about what I’ve started calling the Gilmore Girls Effect: the experience of growing up feeling more like your mother’s friend, therapist, or emotional support person than her child. I explore how these blurred mother-daughter boundaries can shape us long after childhood, especially for oldest daughters, overachievers, and mothers who are already carrying far too much.

I talk about:

• Why the relationship between Lorelai and Rory feels very different when you watch Gilmore Girls as an adult
• What emotional parentification can look like, including being expected to manage a parent’s feelings, relationships, or responsibilities
• How being praised as “mature for your age” can sometimes hide the fact that you were carrying things that were never yours to hold
• Why this dynamic can lead to overfunctioning, resentment, exhaustion, and motherhood burnout later in life
• How naming what happened, practising healthier boundaries, and remembering that you were the child can create space for compassion and healing

This episode is not about blaming our parents or suggesting that mothers and daughters cannot be close. It is about recognizing the difference between closeness and responsibility, and learning that healthy boundaries can actually make our relationships feel safer and more connected.

If you grew up taking care of everyone else, struggle to put your own needs first, or worry about repeating the same patterns with your children, this episode may help you feel a little more understood. You were a child, and some of what you were carrying was simply too heavy.

If you’re craving a slower pace, softer expectations, and a reminder that you’re not alone in figuring this all out — you’re in the right place.

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🌿 Slow Motherhood Tools & Support:

Free Quiz: What’s Keeping You Stuck in the Hustle?https://authenticlivingguidance.ca/quiz

The Slow Motherhood Journal Pack:https: //authenticlivingguidance.ca/slowmotherhoodjournal

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✨ Therapy for Moms (Ontario & Quebec)Book a free consultation: https://emilieavongreen.ca/contact

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🌸 Connect on Instagram: @authentic_living_with_emilie

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If this podcast resonates, please follow, share, or leave a review so this work can reach more mothers who need gentleness, too.

—————————————————————————————

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for psychotherapy, medical advice, mental health assessment, or diagnosis. Please seek support from a licensed mental health professional for individual care.

I didn’t plan to record this episode. I was in the middle of doing my laundry, when a thought came to me about something I get asked all the time: how do you put yourself out there like that? And the truth is… it hasn’t been natural for me. In this episode, I share what it’s really looked like behind the scenes — the discomfort, the shaky beginnings, and the slow, intentional way I’ve stretched myself into a life that feels aligned.

I talk about:

• ​What people don’t see behind “putting yourself out there” — the nerves, the doubt, and the messy first steps
• ​How repeated exposure (and a lot of discomfort) slowly builds confidence over time
• ​Why you don’t need to do everything — just finding your way of showing up in a way that feels right
• ​Letting go of the fear of being seen (and the truth that people aren’t watching as closely as we think)
• ​Gently challenging yourself to step outside your comfort zone, in a way that still honors your pace

If you’re craving a slower pace, softer expectations, and a reminder that you’re not alone in figuring this all out — you’re in the right place.

—————————————————————————————

🌿 Slow Motherhood Tools & Support:

Free Quiz: What’s Keeping You Stuck in the Hustle?https://authenticlivingguidance.ca/quiz

The Slow Motherhood Journal Pack:https: //authenticlivingguidance.ca/slowmotherhoodjournal

Mentorship Info:

https://www.authenticlivingguidance.ca/slow-motherhood-mentorship

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✨ Therapy for Moms (Ontario & Quebec)Book a free consultation: https://emilieavongreen.ca/contact

—————————————————————————————

🌸 Connect on Instagram: @authentic_living_with_emilie

—————————————————————————————

If this podcast resonates, please follow, share, or leave a review so this work can reach more mothers who need gentleness, too.

—————————————————————————————

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for psychotherapy, medical advice, mental health assessment, or diagnosis. Please seek support from a licensed mental health professional for individual care.

In this episode, I’m joined by my friend (and fellow business sister) Rachel Anne Hamelin for a fun and meaningful conversation. We talk about her new book, Permission To: A Journey of Breaking Patterns and Redefining Self, and the heart behind her new venture, Project Permission — a community movement creating space for women (especially moms) to exhale, reflect, laugh a little, and stop carrying everything alone.

We talk about:

• What led Rachel to write Permission To — and the patterns she had to name (and break) along the way

• Her own experience with burnout, and what shifted when she stopped trying to “push through”

• Why burnout feels so present right now for women and mothers — and how the state of the world plays into it

• What Project Permission is really about: reflection, relief, and the kind of freedom that comes from laying down the weight

Rachel also has a book launch happening Sunday, March 1st — you can RSVP here: https://www.rachelannehamelin.com/event-details/book-launch/form
Follow Rachel here:
Website: www.rachelannehamelin.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/project_permission

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Émilie's information:

✨ Therapy for Moms (Ontario & Quebec) Book a free consultation: https://emilieavongreen.ca/contact

—————————————————————————————

🌸 Connect on Instagram: @authentic_living_with_emilie

—————————————————————————————

If this podcast resonates, please follow, share, or leave a review so this work can reach more mothers who need gentleness, too.

—————————————————————————————

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for psychotherapy, medical advice, mental health assessment, or diagnosis. Please seek support from a licensed mental health professional for individual care.

In this episode, I’m sharing a bit of a real-time rant from behind the scenes of editing my book. I talk about maternal mental health beyond the postpartum stage. The part that just gets labeled “motherhood” and brushed off as normal. I share what I’ve been finding (and not finding) in the research, why that frustrates me so deeply, and why putting language to mom burnout matters more than we think.

I talk about:

• ​How I don’t work in the perinatal space, and why motherhood after postpartum deserves just as much attention
• ​What recent 2025 reports in Canada and the U.S. are revealing about rising burnout and worsening mental health in moms
• ​How we’ve normalized exhaustion, overstimulation, and resentment as “just motherhood”
• ​The invisible load, emotional labor, and unrealistic expectations that so many women are quietly carrying
• ​Why naming what you’re experiencing isn’t about complaining, it’s about removing shame

This one is honest, a little fiery, and rooted in my deep belief that mothers deserve language, research, and real support, not just memes about being tired and a glass of wine at the end of the day.

If you’ve ever thought, “Why is this so hard? Is it just me?”, it’s not just you. And if you’re craving a slower pace, softer expectations, and a reminder that you’re not alone in figuring this all out, you’re in the right place.

—————————————————————————————

🌿 Slow Motherhood Tools & Support:

Free Quiz: What’s Keeping You Stuck in the Hustle?https://authenticlivingguidance.ca/quiz

The Slow Motherhood Journal Pack:https://authenticlivingguidance.ca/slowmotherhoodjournal

Mentorship Info:

https://www.authenticlivingguidance.ca/slow-motherhood-mentorship

————————————————————————————-

✨ Therapy for Moms (Ontario & Quebec)

Book a free consultation:https://emilieavongreen.ca/contact

—————————————————————————————

🌸 Connect on Instagram:@authentic_living_with_emilie

—————————————————————————————

If this podcast resonates, please follow, share, or leave a review so this work can reach more mothers who need gentleness, too.

—————————————————————————————

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for psychotherapy, medical advice, mental health assessment, or diagnosis. Please seek support from a licensed mental health professional for individual care.

In this episode, I talk about something that comes up quietly for so many mothers but rarely gets spoken out loud — what happens when we get sick, slow down, and suddenly feel guilt, shame, or even depression for needing care ourselves. I share my own experience of being really sick for a week, the thoughts that surfaced while I rested, and the reminder I had to keep coming back to: that caring for ourselves is not failing our children, it’s part of caring for them.

I talk about:

• ​ The guilt and shame that can creep in when we can’t show up the way we usually do as mothers
• ​ How sickness and exhaustion can distort our thoughts and make us forget who we really are outside of that moment
• ​ Allowing motherhood to change with the season we’re in, instead of forcing ourselves to perform through it
• ​ Why rest, easier days, and even more screen time are not failures, but forms of care
• ​ The quiet way we model self-compassion and boundaries for our children when we let ourselves heal

If you’re moving through a hard or slower season, and wondering if you’re doing enough, this episode is a gentle reminder that love is still felt even when your capacity changes. If you’re craving a slower pace, softer expectations, and a reminder that you’re not alone in figuring this all out, you’re in the right place.

—————————————————————————————

🌿 Slow Motherhood Tools & Support:


The Slow Motherhood Journal Pack:
https://authenticlivingguidance.ca/slowmotherhoodjournal

Mentorship Info:

https://www.authenticlivingguidance.ca/slow-motherhood-mentorship

————————————————————————————-

✨ Therapy for Moms (Ontario & Quebec)
Book a free consultation:
https://emilieavongreen.ca/contact

—————————————————————————————

🌸 Connect on Instagram:
@authentic_living_with_emilie

—————————————————————————————

If this podcast resonates, please follow, share, or leave a review so this work can reach more mothers who need gentleness, too.

—————————————————————————————

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for psychotherapy, medical advice, mental health assessment, or diagnosis. Please seek support from a licensed mental health professional for individual care.

In this episode, I’m sharing a very real, very raw reflection that hit me while driving, the kind that sits heavy in your chest and won’t let go. As my daughter gets closer to starting school, I find myself scared, angry, and grieving the world our children are being shaped by. This isn’t a polished take or a neat conclusion, it’s me laying it all out, wondering how we protect childhood, softness, and humanity in a system that keeps asking us to go faster.

I talk about:

• ​ The fear that comes up as our kids enter systems built on pressure, performance, and hustle
• ​ What I’ve witnessed working with children and teens experiencing anxiety, burnout, and fear of failure
• ​ Why slow motherhood feels like both an act of care and quiet resistance
• ​ The grief of realizing how much is outside our control once we become parents
• ​ Holding frustration and hope at the same time — and believing change is still possible

If you’re craving a slower pace, softer expectations, and a reminder that you’re not alone in worrying about the world our children are growing up in, you’re in the right place. This one is for the parents lying on the floor, staring at the ceiling, wondering how we got here, and how we move forward, together.

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🌿 Slow Motherhood Tools & Support:

Free Quiz: What’s Keeping You Stuck in the Hustle?https://authenticlivingguidance.ca/quiz

The Slow Motherhood Journal Pack: https://authenticlivingguidance.ca/slowmotherhoodjournal

Mentorship Info:

https://www.authenticlivingguidance.ca/slow-motherhood-mentorship

————————————————————————————-

✨ Therapy for Moms (Ontario & Quebec)

Book a free consultation: https://emilieavongreen.ca/contact

—————————————————————————————

🌸 Connect on Instagram: @authentic_living_with_emilie

—————————————————————————————

If this podcast resonates, please follow, share, or leave a review so this work can reach more mothers who need gentleness, too.

—————————————————————————————

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for psychotherapy, medical advice, mental health assessment, or diagnosis. Please seek support from a licensed mental health professional for individual care.

In this episode, I’m reflecting on something that feels absolutely essential to a slow, sustainable life: having people in your corner. I share why support systems matter so much—especially for mothers—and how building real connection in adulthood takes intention, vulnerability, and a willingness to put yourself out there (even when it feels awkward).

I talk about:

• ​ Why social support is one of the strongest predictors of wellbeing—and why so many of us are missing it
• ​ How motherhood can deepen isolation and fuel self-judgment when we don’t have people to talk to
• ​ The reality of adult friendships: busy schedules, mismatched calendars, and the effort it takes to stay connected
• ​ Why relationships with other women and mothers feel so different—and so healing
• ​ What it looks like to bravely say “do you want to be friends?” and trust that the risk is worth it

If you’re craving deeper connection, gentler support, and reassurance that you don’t have to do life or motherhood alone, this episode is for you.

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🌿 Slow Motherhood Tools & Support:

Free Quiz: What’s Keeping You Stuck in the Hustle?https://authenticlivingguidance.ca/quiz

The Slow Motherhood Journal Pack:https://authenticlivingguidance.ca/slowmotherhoodjournal

Mentorship Info:

https://www.authenticlivingguidance.ca/slow-motherhood-mentorship

————————————————————————————-

✨ Therapy for Moms (Ontario & Quebec)Book a free consultation:https://emilieavongreen.ca/contact

—————————————————————————————

🌸 Connect on Instagram:@authentic_living_with_emilie

—————————————————————————————

If this podcast resonates, please follow, share, or leave a review so this work can reach more mothers who need gentleness, too.

—————————————————————————————

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for psychotherapy, medical advice, mental health assessment, or diagnosis. Please seek support from a licensed mental health professional for individual care.

In this episode, I share a part of my story I haven’t really told before — not why I became a therapist for moms, but why I became a therapist at all. It started with a question I was asked recently and opened the door to reflecting on the messages I internalized growing up, especially around intelligence, worth, and the need to prove myself. This is a quiet, honest unpacking of how our early experiences shape the way we move through the world — and how awareness can be the first step toward living differently.

I talk about:

• ​The childhood school experiences that led me to believe I wasn’t “smart enough”
• ​How internalized messages become self-fulfilling prophecies if we don’t question them
• ​The difference between academic performance and intelligence — and why context matters
• ​How striving to prove ourselves can quietly fuel anxiety, burnout, and overgiving
• ​Why awareness is such a powerful (and gentle) starting point for healing and change

If this episode brings up memories, questions, or old stories you’ve been carrying, know you’re not alone. And if you’re craving a slower pace, softer expectations, and space to reflect on who you are beneath the proving — you’re in the right place.

—————————————————————————————

🌿 Slow Motherhood Tools & Support:

Free Quiz: What’s Keeping You Stuck in the Hustle?https://authenticlivingguidance.ca/quiz

The Slow Motherhood Journal Pack:https://authenticlivingguidance.ca/slowmotherhoodjournal

Mentorship Info: https://www.authenticlivingguidance.ca/slow-motherhood-mentorship

————————————————————————————-

✨ Therapy for Moms (Ontario & Quebec)

Book a free consultation:https://emilieavongreen.ca/contact

—————————————————————————————

🌸 Connect on Instagram:@authentic_living_with_emilie

—————————————————————————————

If this podcast resonates, please follow, share, or leave a review so this work can reach more mothers who need gentleness, too.

—————————————————————————————

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for psychotherapy, medical advice, mental health assessment, or diagnosis. Please seek support from a licensed mental health professional for individual care.

In this episode, I’m sharing my honest thoughts on ambition — especially for women and mothers — and why I don’t believe it has to be sacrificed in order to live slowly. I talk through the tension so many of us feel between wanting more for ourselves and wanting a grounded, present life with our families, and how I’ve learned (the hard way) that these two things don’t have to cancel each other out.

I talk about:

• ​Why ambition has been framed as “anti-motherhood” — and how much that story has shaped us
• ​The false all-or-nothing thinking that says you’re either successful or slow
• ​What slow living actually looks like when you’re building a career or business
• ​How values, boundaries, and energy capacity matter more than hustle
• ​Redefining success in a way that supports your life instead of draining it

If you’re craving a slower pace, softer expectations, and permission to want both presence and purpose — you’re not alone, and you’re in the right place.

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🌿 Slow Motherhood Tools & Support:

Free Quiz: What’s Keeping You Stuck in the Hustle?https://authenticlivingguidance.ca/quiz

My Newsletter:

https://authentic-living-guidance.kit.com/47d6da619f

Mentorship Info:

https://www.authenticlivingguidance.ca/group-mentorship

————————————————————————————-

✨ Therapy for Moms (Ontario & Quebec)Book a free consultation:https://emilieavongreen.ca/contact

—————————————————————————————

🌸 Connect on Instagram:@authentic_living_with_emilie

—————————————————————————————

If this podcast resonates, please follow, share, or leave a review so this work can reach more mothers who need gentleness, too.

—————————————————————————————

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for psychotherapy, medical advice, mental health assessment, or diagnosis. Please seek support from a licensed mental health professional for individual care.

In this episode, I’m sitting down with my friend (and Child Development Consultant) Natasha to talk honestly about what really happens to our kids during the holidays — the overstimulation, the meltdowns, the confusion, the “acting out,” and how much of it is actually their nervous system asking for help.

We share the signs of overstimulation, how to spot them sooner, and the simple things you can do in the moment: stepping outside, finding a quiet room, lowering your body to their level, using sensory tools, or having a small “calm kit” ready to go.

We also talk about setting boundaries with family ahead of time, creating safety people, how to open gifts in a way that doesn’t overwhelm kids, and how long it actually takes them to recover after a big event.

And for moms — we get into the in-between moments too: how to recharge, let go of the pressure to make everything magical, and build small traditions that feel meaningful instead of chaotic.

This conversation is warm, practical, and full of permission to make the holidays gentler for both you and your kids.

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🦋Nat's business links

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/share/17guK665YJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/natashadermers

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🌿 Slow Motherhood Tools & Support:

Free Quiz:

What’s Keeping You Stuck in the Hustle?https://authenticlivingguidance.ca/quiz

The Slow Motherhood Journal Pack:

https://authenticlivingguidance.ca/slowmotherhoodjournal

Mentorship Info:

https://www.authenticlivingguidance.ca/slow-motherhood-mentorship

————————————————————————————-

✨ Therapy for Moms (Ontario & Quebec)Book a free consultation:

https://emilieavongreen.ca/contact

—————————————————————————————

🌸 Connect on Instagram:

@authentic_living_with_emilie

—————————————————————————————

If this podcast resonates, please follow, share, or leave a review so this work can reach more mothers who need gentleness, too.

—————————————————————————————

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for psychotherapy, medical advice, mental health assessment, or diagnosis. Please seek support from a licensed mental health professional for individual care.