Vanessa opens the episode with a story about Rudy—the dog she was watching for her son—and the unexpected lesson he taught her: sometimes we misjudge others until we take the time to truly understand them. From there, the conversation explores the shame many women carry around emotional regulation, especially in early motherhood, and what it looks like to grow through it with more awareness and compassion.

They also dive into the weight of big life decisions—like whether to stay home or return to work—and how choosing what's right for your unique circumstances, even when it's hard, can ultimately help you show up as a better, more grounded mom.

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