Motherhood Uncut

This week we had the total honor of talking with Caitlin Murray about the role of humor in mothering. We dive into the backdrop of Caitlin’s amazing Instagram feed (you likely know it, she has over a million followers!) Called Big Time Adulting, and we talk honestly and authentically about the role that humor (and connection) plays in getting us through the toughest mothering moments and connecting with others in the process.

Caitlin Murray is a humorist, content creator, writer, podcaster, mother of three and wife of one. She is the creator of Big Time Adulting. In 2016, Caitlin’s oldest child was diagnosed with Leukemia at age three. Caitlin began sharing with family and friends about their journey and, specifically, her experience as a mother. Caitlin started her Instagram account in 2018 and has amassed over a million followers who appreciate her for her honest and humorous takes on motherhood.

Find Caitlin on Instagram @bigtimeadulting or on her podcast Big Time Adulting anywhere you find your podcasts

Learn more about Kate Kripke at https://www.katekripke.com and on Instagram at @katekripke

Interested in learning more about her Calm Connection System Program and see if you qualify? Book your FREE call to learn more at https://www.calmconnectionsystem.com/call-ig

Learn more about Deb Rubin at https://motherdaughterjourney.co and on Instagram at @themotherdaughterjourney

Interested in learning more about Deb’s workshops, join her for a free Webinar on December 14th. In this webinar Deb will talk about how to get your daughter to talk to you. https://motherdaughterjourney.co/webinar

And... If you liked this podcast episode, please consider sharing with just one other mom out there who might find it useful. Let’s spread the love and make sure that nobody mothers alone.

In this episode Kate and Deb discuss the integrative therapeutic approach called Internal Family Systems therapy and how to use it with mothering.

The Internal Family Systems Model is an approach to individual psychotherapy developed by Richard C. Schwartz in the 1980s. It combines systems thinking with the view that the mind is made up of relatively discrete sub-personalities, each with its own unique viewpoint and qualities.

By learning how different parts function as a system and how the overall system reacts to other systems and other people, people in therapy can often become better able to identify the roots of conflict, manage any complications arising, and achieve greater well-being.

The IFS model has 5 basic assumptions:

• The human mind is subdivided into an unknown number of parts.
• Each person has a Self, and the Self should be the chief agent in coordinating the inner family.
• Parts engaging in non-extreme behavior are beneficial to the individual. There is no such thing as a “bad part.” Therapy aims to help parts discover their non-extreme roles.
• Personal growth and development leads to the development of the internal family. Interactions between parts become more complex, allowing for systems theory to be applied to the internal system. Reorganization of the internal system may lead to rapid changes in the roles of parts.
• Adjustments made to the internal system will result in changes to the external system and vice versa. Therefore, both the internal and external systems need to be adequately assessed.

Disclosure, Deb has been studying IFS for about 4 years and attempted to give a very simple description of the practice so listeners can start to understand the concept. This practice has many terms that she did not go into such as; “managers, firefighters, blending, unburdening” and so on. This was intentional because Kate and Deb did not want to overwhelm the listener. There are many great resources to deepen your understanding of this model, but some great book recommendations include “The Sum of All Parts” and “No Bad Parts” both by Richard Schwartz.

Thanks for listening and enjoy the show.

Today we dive deep into a post that went viral on Kate’s Instagram Feed. Tens of Thousands of women responded to this post and said that they had never felt so heard and validated in their lives. So, we break down these 4 reasons in detail and give concrete examples of what you can do to reduce your worry, guilt, and overwhelm.

Remember to share your feedback with us! We always want to hear from you. Email [email protected]

To learn more about Kate and her work visit www.katekripke.com and follow her on her IG feed @katekripke

To watch a free 30-minute webinar on the three things that lead to reduced worry and guilt in motherhood visit: https://www.calmconnectionsystem.com/register-ig

To schedule a FREE call with Kate to discuss how she can support you to both mother well and pursue your career goals, visit:

https://www.calmconnectionsystem.com/call-ig

To learn more about Deb and her work and to register for her newsletter and sign up for her workshops visit: www.motherdaughterjourney.co

In this episode, we begin by updating each other on where they’re at in our parenting journey. This led us to a conversation about a recent article we read that inspired us: Maybe Bad Grades Aren’t That Bad. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/23/opinion/grade-inflation-high-school.html

We started to explore the journey or sometimes race that our kids partake in regarding grades, pressure, self-motivation, and of course, personal responsibility. We also talk about achievement and different learning styles. Thanks for listening and hope you enjoy the show.

Want us to answer your questions in our next Q and A episode? Record a question and email it to us at [email protected]

To learn more about Deb Rubin and her work visit https://motherdaughterjourney.co/ and follow her on Instagram @themotherdaughterjourney

To learn more about Kate and her work visit www.katekripke.com and follow her on Instagram @katekripke

To book your FREE call with Kate to discuss her 12-week program for moms struggling with anxiety and mom-guilt go to: https://www.calmconnectionsystem.com/call-ig

Today’s episode is a bit different and a bit longer than our typical episodes. I am taking you on a journey with me. Like, a literal journey. A couple of weeks ago, I ventured, by myself, to the south of Japan for a 6-day walk on the Kumano Kodo- I recorded myself through this adventure, and so this episode today is a peek into my inner thoughts, my experiences along the trail, and interactions with people who I met along the way. This is me, sharing me. When I am mostly all alone.

For photos from Kate’s walk, click here: https://www.katekripke.com/blog/is-it-ok-to-want-alone-time-in-motherhood

The Kumano Kodō is a series of ancient pilgrimage routes that crisscross the Kii Peninsula, the largest peninsula of Japan. These mountainous trails are used by pilgrims to the "Kumano Sanzan" - the Three Grand Shinto Shrines of Kumano. Shinto (which is translated as “the way of the gods”) is Japan's native belief system and predates historical records. It overlaps in part with Buddhism, but is, in itself, its own religious faith.

The focus of Shinto is Nature, and the way that it supports us, which for me is an easy place to put my spiritual self. The walk that I did took me over mountain passes, through dense forests and in and out of small Japanese villages along the way.

I am hopeful that you get, if even just a little bit, an experience of this place, it’s beauty and magic, and the way in which nature reminds us all to simply be exactly who we are.

This walk got me out of my comfort zone and required me to, quite literally, walk my talk. I did, indeed, pull up my brave pants. So now, pull up a chair, and join me.

Thank you to our sponsor, the One Clock. Designed by artists, researched by wake scientists, and filled with unique music created by Grammy award winning musician Jon Natchez (The War on Drugs), this clock will change the way your nervous system starts each day. One Clock, wake up better. https://www.oneclock.co/

To learn more about Kate Kripke, visit https://www.katekripke.com/

On Instagram @katekripke

If you are interested in talking with Kate about receiving personalized support in motherhood, book a free clarity call at: https://www.calmconnectionsystem.com/call-ig

And, if you are ready to feel better but aren’t yet ready to join a more formal coaching program, sign up for Kate’s Aligned Mama Reset and 21-Day Wellness Challenge: https://itlist.com/i/2316/aligned-mama-reset-21-day-interactive-wellness-challenge

And.. big favor- If you found this episode useful to you, please consider sharing it with a friend. Let’s make sure that nobody ever needs to mother alone.

For questions, comments, and topic suggestions, email [email protected]