Mighty As A Mother

In the wake of motherhood, women are facing a new, modern dilemma. Becoming a mother affects so much of who we are - psychologically, emotionally, physically, and professionally. By listening to today’s show, be prepared to understand how our well-being as new mothers and the well-being of our relationships impact our identities.

In today’s episode, we are joined by the esteemed Dr. Molly Millwood - a mother to two boys and a clinical psychologist and licensed psychotherapist with an advanced specialization in women's mental health, intimate relationships, and marital therapy. She's also the author of one of our favorite books, To Have and To Hold: Motherhood, Marriage, & the Modern Dilemma, which serves up a blend of her personal narrative, a plethora of scientific research, and real-life stories from Molly’s clinical practice, which provides a much-needed lifeline to new mothers everywhere.

In today’s episode, Molly dives deep into many topics facing mothers today, including guilt, shame, mourning life before baby, and navigating marriage after welcoming a baby. We have some real talk around:

♥️ What the "modern dilemma" is and why Molly believes mothering might just be harder now than it has ever been

♥️ The double-edged sword of social media for new mothers, the "mask of motherhood" and performative vulnerability

♥️ The challenges that our intimate partnerships face when a baby arrives, how parenting widens the gender gap and is often hardest for people who've strived for equality in their relationships

♥️ Practical tips around how to put a hard stop to martyrdom and begin prioritizing ourselves

We hope you love this episode and feel less alone, more heard and a heck of a lot more normal!

Links:

• Molly's Book

For more authentic and honest motherhood conversation, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify Podcasts | Google Podcasts

Join in on the conversation and follow along with us on Instagram: ⁠@mightyasamotherpodcast⁠!

If you’ve ever been forced to return to work so soon after welcoming a child, or taken unpaid maternity leave, or wondered how you’d juggle your career and caring for a human, we see you.

Frankly, American societal infrastructure is stacked against mothers and caregivers, which is why we sat down with esteemed author, columnist, and fellow mom Jess Grose to discuss why it feels so hard to be a mother in America. Jess is an opinion writer at The New York Times who often writes about women, parenting, and culture. She was named a Glamour Game Changer for her realistic coverage of parenting during the pandemic and is the author of several books including Sad Desk Salad, Soulmates, and Love, Mom, and most recently a book appropriately titled Screaming on the Inside: The Unsustainability of American Motherhood - which was voted by People Magazine as one of the best books of 2023.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Jess’ own motherhood journey and the motivation behind her column and best-selling book
• The history behind American parenthood, and how we are now in a modern world with an antiquated infrastructure that leaves working parents and caregivers hanging
• How to embrace being a “good enough” mom and avoid feelings of failure

Jess is kind, humble, and brilliant. This episode on motherhood is one you surely won’t want to miss!

Links:

• Screaming On The Inside: The Unsustainability of American Motherhood by Jess Grose
• https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/next-question-with-katie-couri-131117/episodes/the-parenting-deep-dive-part-1-156582216/transcript
• https://www.nytimes.com/by/jessica-grose
• https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/04/opinion/women-men-work.html

For more authentic and honest motherhood conversation, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify Podcasts | Google Podcasts

Join in on the conversation and follow along with us on Instagram: ⁠@mightyasamotherpodcast⁠!

We had so much fun sitting down with Dr. Morgan Cutlip to talk all things maternal mental health. A highly sought-after relationship expert with a PhD in psychology, Dr. Morgan knows firsthand what it feels like to lose yourself in motherhood and she's determined to help the next generation of mothers. Through her work, she has helped hundreds of thousands of people learn how to form and maintain healthy relationships and has been featured on Good Morning America, Teen Vogue, The New York Times, Women's Health Magazine, and more. Her new book, Love Your Kids Without Losing Yourself, is available now (spoiler alert - it’s great!). Morgan is not only relatable and approachable, but she’s downright hilarious. As a wife and mom of two, she understands firsthand the challenges many of us encounter as we learn how to mother while not losing every single piece of who we were before we became mothers. In this episode, you will learn: ♥️ How regular check-ins with ourselves help us mamas stay in a healthy mindset ♥️ Why we can control our intention around parenting but we cannot control how our children will interpret our parenting ♥️ How changing our relationship with traditional mothering belief systems can change our experience in motherhood for the better ♥️ What the starvation principle is and why we shouldn’t wait until our marriage is starving to schedule that date night We hope you love today's episode as part of our ongoing maternal mental health series. If you have a topic you want covered on our show, please send us an email: [email protected]. We would love to hear from you! Links: Dr. Morgan Cutlip website Dr. Morgan Cutlip Instagram Love Your Kids Without Losing Yourself book For more authentic and honest motherhood conversation, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Podcasts | Google Podcasts Join in on the conversation and follow along with us on Instagram: ⁠@mightyasamotherpodcast⁠!

Marriage is a living thing. Early on in our relationships, we shower our partners with love and attention (obviously, we want them to want to marry us!) Yet once kids enter the scene, it’s not uncommon for partners to begin living parallel lives, with passion and deep connection unintentionally falling by the wayside (hello sleepless nights, toddler tantrums, and packed schedules!).

In today’s episode, we sat down for part two of our compelling conversation with expert Dr. Molly Millwood to unpack just how everyone - parents included - long for a sense of attachment.

When we reach out to our partners, we want to know that they’ll be there.

We want answers to the questions: Will you be there for me? Can I count on you? Do you have my back? Do I still matter to you?

If you’ve ever wondered the answer to those questions, dreamed of rekindling the connection you had pre-kids, or are looking to establish some technology-free ways to connect with your partner, this episode is one you won’t want to miss.

Molly breaks down the ways in which we can approach sex, intimacy, emotional attunement, while also challenging ourselves to manage our expectations based upon the season of life your relationship is in.

Join us for part two of this important conversation to ensure you’re properly investing in your marriage, knowing what it is you’re fighting for, and creating small, shared experiences with your partner to ensure you’re set up for a joy-filled, healthy marriage to last the long haul.

Links:

1. Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole by Susan Cain
2. Happily Date Box

For more authentic and honest motherhood conversation, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify Podcasts | Google Podcasts

Join in on the conversation and follow along with us on Instagram: ⁠@mightyasamotherpodcast⁠!

In this episode, we’re joined by Sarah Olin, the Co-Founder and CEO of LUMO Leadership.

With over 10,000 hours of coaching and facilitation experience, Sarah has advised top executives at renowned organizations such as the United Nations, Google, and the NBA (just to name a few!). Her passion for empowering individuals and organizations is palpable, focusing on fostering connection, advocacy, and personal growth.

Sarah’s insights are particularly invaluable for mothers navigating personal and professional growth amidst challenges. In this episode, you’ll learn about:

1. The Difference Between Coaching and Therapy: Sarah walks us through coaching as a transformative and essential tool, especially beneficial for mothers balancing career, parenthood, and personal growth and breaks down when you should seek coaching versus when to seek therapy.

2. Conquering Imposter Syndrome: Drawing from personal experiences, Sarah discusses strategies to overcome self-doubt whenever it creeps in.

3. Juggling Motherhood and a Demanding Career: Sarah provides insights into the motherhood penalty and shares her strategies for effectively managing both parenting and professional responsibilities, including practical advice she deploys herself as it relates to self-care and stress management.

4. Lessons from Motherhood: Reflecting on her journey, Sarah shares profound lessons learned from navigating the complexities of parenthood, offering wisdom gained from her own experiences raising her pre-teen daughter.

5. Cultivating Supportive Communities: Sarah underscores the significance of community and connection for women, offering guidance on fostering meaningful relationships in both professional and personal spheres.

This episode promises to be a source of inspiration and practical wisdom for all - join us as we delve into navigating the intersection of motherhood, career, and personal fulfillment!

Links:

• Sarah Olin on LinkedIn
• Register to sign up for LUMO’s weekly newsletter: https://39764092.hs-sites.com/lumonewsletter
• LUMO works directly with businesses to tailor their offerings to each company’s specific needs. For more details on how LUMO can help your company take care of new and expecting parents in your organization, feel free to reach out to: [email protected]
• Blessing of the B-Minus

For more authentic and honest motherhood conversation, subscribe to Mighty as a Mother:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify Podcasts | Google Podcasts

Join in on the conversation and follow along with us on Instagram: ⁠@mightyasamotherpodcast⁠!