I have a friend named Laney who genuinely does not experience mom guilt. Not because she's a perfect mom, but because she's decided her kids are lucky to have her — and she means it! I used to laugh when she said things like that. But, now, after working for years on myself (I've come so far!), I understand that what I was struggling with wasn't only guilt over my shortcomings as a mom, but it was also guilt over the resentment I felt for everything I was carrying that led me to not enjoy my motherhood very much. The guilt was coming at me from every direction! If any of that sounds familiar, this episode is going to feel like a very welcome exhale. This week's guest is JoAnn Crohn, certified life coach and author of The Best Mom is a Happy Mom. She helps moms go from martyr to model, and this conversation is full of honest, practical tools for getting there. ✨ Why JoAnn's husband didn't even realize the imbalance until they did this one exercise together ✨ The "guilt equation" from a psychologist that will completely change how you think about your own expectations ✨ The thing JoAnn's therapist said that cut through all the noise and told her exactly what being a good mom actually requires If you've ever felt like the mental load of your family's life is sitting entirely on your shoulders, and if you've ever felt the guilt coming from every side, this episode is for you. For full show notes, including takeaways, click here. *** Related Episodes: 445: How to Set Boundaries without Damaging Relationships // Rachel on Happy Mom Summit 436: Embrace the Mom You Are—Not the One You Think You Should Be // Julie Bastedo 270: Simplifying Mom-Life // Chanelle Neilson Episode Sponsors: Tushy Bidet: For a limited time, our listeners get 10% off their first bidet order when you go to HelloTUSHY.com and use promo code 3in30. First Day: For a limited time only, our listeners are getting an insane deal. Use code 3IN30 to get up to 57% Off at FirstDay.com. Knix Teen: It's not just underwear; it's giving our girls the confidence they deserve. Go to KnixTeen.com and use code 3IN30 for 15 percent off. Air Doctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code 3IN30 to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Quince: Head to Quince.com/3in30 for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns Fodzyme: We're so excited to partner with FODZYME and offer you 30% off your first order when you go to icaneatagain.com/3in30.com. Let's Connect! Join me on Instagram! Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course ***

I am recording the intro to this episode during one of the saddest weeks of my life. My beloved brother-in-law, Logan McKenna, died unexpectedly last Sunday morning. He was only 44 years old, and we are simply shattered by this loss. As soon as I got the call, I got into my car and started driving to Utah to be with my sister and her two teenage children. And as I was driving, trying to wrap my mind around the immensity of this loss, I thought, "I am so glad that Logan agreed to be a guest on my podcast a year ago so that we can have his goodness and wisdom recorded forevermore." This episode originally aired in February of 2025, where Logan talked about how to support a loved one who's struggling with mental illness. I decided to re-air it today as a tribute to him, so everyone who listens will get a taste of just how good he was — and will understand just how much he will be missed. The world has lost one of the most special souls who ever lived. I will be clinging to his memory and his legacy this week and always.

I've spent a lot of time thinking about what the word "self-assured" actually means in the context of motherhood. And I think somewhere along the way, a lot of us accidentally absorbed this idea that being self-assured means being self-sufficient — that if we were really emotionally healthy or mature or confident, we would just… handle everything on our own. But what I observed at my SAM Retreat last month completely reframed that for me. The women who seemed most grounded and alive and resilient weren't the ones who never needed support. They were the ones who knew how to seek it, receive it, and offer it to others. In this episode, I'm sharing three takeaways from the retreat, and I hope you walk away feeling more convinced than ever that thriving in motherhood was never meant to be a solo endeavor. 💜 The nature phenomenon I learned about that made me almost tear up (and I'm not a crier!) 💜 Why "just think more positively" wasn't working — and what my nervous system actually needed instead 💜 How I turned a financially impossible dream into the best event I've ever hosted (hint: I didn't do it alone) So here's to letting other people in. Here's to asking for what we need, receiving what's offered, and growing stronger because of the roots we share. For full show notes, including takeaways, click here. *** Mary Oliver Poem Retreat Sponsors & Resources: 🌿 Life Balance Be You with Layne Burkette — somatic therapy and nervous system support Instagram: @lifebalancebeyou Free Nervous System Starter Kit: lifebalancebeyou.systeme.io/3in30 ✈️ Amber on Points — learn how to travel your family for free using credit card points Instagram: @amberonpoints Free Guide to Traveling on Points: amberonpoints.kit.com/b781d78672 🎞️ Isbell Family Films — beautifully edited family films from your everyday iPhone footage Instagram: @isbellfamilyfilms Website: isbellfamilyfilms.com Use code 3IN30 for 30% off — their best deal of the year 🎵 Pep & Perk — uplifting children's music that teaches emotional resilience and confidence Instagram: @pepandperk Stream their new single Rainy Days: platoon.lnk.to/rainy-days-feat-peabodTP Episode Sponsors: BetterHelp: 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms is sponsored by BetterHelp. Go to betterhelp.com/3in30 to get 10% off your first month of online therapy. Quince: Head to Quince.com/3in30 for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns Fodzyme: We're so excited to partner with FODZYME and offer you 30% off your first order when you go to icaneatagain.com/3in30.com. Related Episodes: 433: Making Friends as a Mom: Why It's Hard—and How to Do It Anyway // Dr. Marisa G. Franco 448: Join Our Team! A Word from our SAM Sisters 453: How to Travel for FREE with Your Family (Really!) // Amber Paul Let's Connect! Join me on Instagram! Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course ***

If you've ever worried that you've messed up your relationship with your kids — whether it happened this morning or years ago — this episode is going to bring you a lot of comfort. This week's guest is Wendy Snyder, founder of Fresh Start Family and author of the brand new book Fresh Start Your Family, and she is living proof that it is never too late to start fresh.Wendy shares some of her own biggest parenting mistakes in this episode with a vulnerability that I find so rare and so refreshing — and the hope she offers on the other side of those mistakes is something every mom needs to hear. 💜 The reason Wendy's 84-year-old father begged her not to write this book — and what he texted her when he finally read it 💜 What Wendy's four-year-old said to her after one of her worst parenting moments 💜 Why the parenting patterns you inherited aren't your fault — and how to update your system It is never too late for a fresh start. I hope this episode feels like hope. For full show notes, including takeaways, click here. *** Announcement: Buy Wendy's Book Fresh Start Family! Related Episodes: 452: You Yelled… Now What? How to Repair and Reconnect // Devon Kuntzman 465: When Your Spicy Child Takes All Your Energy (And What That Means for Their Siblings) // Mary Van Geffen 266: Parenting Strong-Willed Kids // Wendy Snyder Episode Sponsors: First Day: For a limited time only, our listeners are getting an insane deal. Use code 3IN30 to get up to 57% Off at FirstDay.com. Knix Teen: Finally period protection that keeps up with long school days and everything in between. Go to KnixTeen.comand use code 3IN30 for 15 percent off. Quince: Head to Quince.com/3in30 for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns Download Cash App Today: #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at CashThis Cash App Prepaid Card Program Agreement outlines the terms and conditions governing the Cash App Prepaid Card Program.Direct deposit and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit CashCash App Podcast Disclosuresfor full disclosures. Let's Connect! Join me on Instagram! Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course ***

Last week, Dr. Lexie Kite gave us tools for our own body image resilience. But there's a particular kind of helplessness that comes from watching your child struggle with theirs. It can be heartbreaking to hear them say something and not know what to do with it. This week's guest is my Communications and Podcast Manager, Steph Wood, who has done deep personal and practical work in this area and brings both wisdom and hard-won experience to this conversation.This episode is the perfect companion to last week's — if you haven't listened to that one first, I'd love for you to start there, and then come back and hear about: 💜 The YouTube video about poodles and bulldogs that Steph says changed how she talks about bodies with her kids 💜 How a conversation with her dad helped Rachel find the courage to start her own body image work 💜 What Steph's teenage daughter says to herself when she's spiraling about her body (and how she learned it) These conversations aren't easy to have, and knowing how to show up for your child in them takes practice and grace. I hope this episode gives you a little more of both. For full show notes, including takeaways, click here. *** Announcements: Steph put together a list of her favorite body image resources for parents, you can find that here. Poodle Science: YouTube Video about Body Diversity Related Episodes: 480: How to Stop Letting Your Body Image Steal Your Summer // Lexie Kite 322: How to be a Body-Positive Parent // Zoë Bisbing 302: How to Heal Your Relationship with Food // Natalie Shay Episode Sponsors: BetterHelp: 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms is sponsored by BetterHelp. Go to betterhelp.com/3in30 to get 10% off your first month of online therapy. Knix Teen: Finally period protection that keeps up with long school days and everything in between. Go to KnixTeen.comand use code 3IN30 for 15 percent off. Quince: Head to Quince.com/3in30 for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns Download Cash App Today: #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at CashThis Cash App Prepaid Card Program Agreement outlines the terms and conditions governing the Cash App Prepaid Card Program.Direct deposit and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit CashCash App Podcast Disclosuresfor full disclosures. Let's Connect! Join me on Instagram! Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course ***

I have spent so many summers halfway out. Physically present at the lake, the pool, the family barbecue — but mentally somewhere else entirely, cataloguing how I looked instead of actually living. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. This week's guest is Lexie Kite, PhD, co-author of More Than a Body and leading expert in body image resilience.Lexie and her twin sister Lindsay have spent decades researching how women can stop letting their bodies hold them back from their own lives — and in this conversation, she gave me some of the most practical, grounding tools I've heard on this topic. In this episode, you'll hear: 💜 Why Lexie — a body image resilience researcher — says she doesn't love how she looks in a swimsuit, and why that's actually the point (this reframe genuinely surprised me) 💜 The three paths we all take when a body image disruption hits — and the one that actually leads somewhere good 💜 What Lexie said to her daughter about dressing for practicality over pretty that you can start using with your own kids today So here's to getting in the water this summer. Here's to being in the pictures. Here's to enjoying the only summer — and the only body — you've got. For full show notes, including takeaways, click here. *** Related Episodes: 322: How to be a Body-Positive Parent // Zoë Bisbing 302: How to Heal Your Relationship with Food // Natalie Shay 434: How to Actually Enjoy Summer as a Mom     Sponsors: Knix Teen: Finally period protection that keeps up with long school days and everything in between. Go to KnixTeen.comand use code 3IN30 for 15 percent off. Quince: Head to Quince.com/3in30 for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns Download Cash App Today: #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at CashThis Cash App Prepaid Card Program Agreement outlines the terms and conditions governing the Cash App Prepaid Card Program.. Direct deposit and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit CashCash App Podcast Disclosures for full disclosures. Let's Connect! Join me on Instagram! Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course ***

My kids are 11 and 14, and I will be the first to tell you that teaching them practical life skills is not my strongest suit. I am genuinely good at the emotional work, the hard conversations, the staying connected through difficult seasons. But the cooking, the chores, the keeping-a-home-running piece of parenting is an area where I know, with great compassion for myself, that we have room to grow. Summer has a way of opening up just enough space to do something new, and this episode will give you a clear and hopeful place to start if you're like me and it's not your biggest strength. This week's guest is Katie Kimball, founder of Kids Cook Real Food and a life skills educator who has been doing this work with her own four kids long enough to be living the results.She gave me so much hope that it is not too late — even if your kids are older, even if you feel like you've missed the window, even if you've been meaning to do this for years and just haven't gotten there yet, and even if, like me, you sat down with a life skills expert and within the first five minutes had to ask what a chef's knife was. Come join us to hear: 💜 Why Katie's 14-year-old was vacuuming the stairs unprompted on his day off from school, and the surprisingly simple system behind it 💜 The exact language shift Rachel made with her own son that reframed how he thinks about contributing to the family — and why the words matter more than you'd think 💜 Why Katie says letting your kid use a sharp knife might be one of the best things you can do for their mental health If you've been meaning to do more of this and just haven't quite known where to start, this conversation is for you. For full show notes, including takeaways, click here. *** Announcements: Katie's Life Skills Now Summer Camp is happening June 8–12, 2026 — a free, week-long event where over 70 teachers (including me!) teach kids practical and emotional life skills. Register here. Flecks of Gold: This week is also the last week of our Mother's Day Sale — all journals are 10% off through the end of the week! Related Episodes: 373: Teaching Children to Work Without Being a Drill Sergeant // Danielle Porter 369: How to Teach Your Kids about Money // Abby Chipman 350: Rethinking Chores: A Quick Mindset Shift to Help with Overwhelm Episode Sponsors: BetterHelp: 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms is sponsored by BetterHelp. Go to betterhelp.com/3in30 to get 10% off your first month of online therapy. Knix Teen: Finally period protection that keeps up with long school days and everything in between. Go to KnixTeen.comand use code 3IN30 for 15 percent off. Quince: Head to Quince.com/3in30 for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns Download Cash App Today: #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at CashThis Cash App Prepaid Card Program Agreement outlines the terms and conditions governing the Cash App Prepaid Card Program.. Direct deposit and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit CashCash App Podcast Disclosures for full disclosures. Let's Connect! Join me on Instagram! Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course ***

There comes a point in parenting where you realize the approach that worked when your kids were little just doesn't work anymore. The rules, the structure, the ability to redirect and reset — it all starts to feel like it's slipping. And if you have a teenager, you might already know that feeling well (iykyk 😅). The older our kids get, the more we bump up against a humbling truth most of us weren't quite prepared for: We never really had control to begin with. And once we accept that, we can finally ask a much better question — not "how do I get my teenager to behave?" but "how do I stay connected to this person I love so much while they figure out who they are?". That's exactly what today's episode is about. This week's guest is Emily Ricks, a certified life coach who especially loves working with moms of teenagers. She shares three mindset shifts that can help any mom of a teen move from white-knuckling the relationship to genuinely enjoying it, including: 💜 Why Emily admitted that having a teenager "woke the Kraken" in her — and how she found her way back to connection 💜 Why the rules you're enforcing are likely costing you the very thing you're trying to protect 💜 What it actually looks like to take back your "emotional remote control" in the middle of a heated moment with your teen If you're in the trenches of raising teenagers, this one's for you. *** Announcements: Flecks of Gold Mother's Day Sale: Shop the Mother's Day Sale! Get 10% off every journal, plus free shipping! Use code MOMS10. Emily's Free Guide Related Episodes: 393: How to Enjoy (Not Just Endure) the Teen Years // Amie Anger 396: How to Help Your Teen Live a Better Story 303: How to Talk to Teenagers // Brooke Romney Episode Sponsors: Air Doctor:  Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code 3in30 to get up to $300 off today. Air Doctor comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, plus a three year warranty (an $84 value) free. Knix Teen: Finally period protection that keeps up with long school days and everything in between. Go to KnixTeen.com and use code 3IN30 for 15 percent off. Shopify: Start your business today with the industry's best business partner, Shopify, and start hearing ✦[CHA CHING]✦ Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/3in30. Let's Connect! Join me on Instagram! Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course ***

All of us have hard feelings that need somewhere to go — frustration, resentment, grief, the anxiety that just sits there and won't quite leave. And if you're anything like me, finding a reliable way to process any of it doesn't always come naturally. We push through, or we vent to someone who didn't necessarily sign up for it, or we just wait for the feeling to pass on its own. And sometimes it does. But sometimes it doesn't, and it just kind of settles in. This week's guest is Kim Christensen, a published writer and master's graduate in creative writing who has spent her career helping people find their voice — even people who never thought of themselves as someone who does that sort of thing. In this episode, you'll hear: ✏️ The surprising research on what just two minutes of a simple daily practice can do for your physical health — and why the numbers are bigger than you'd expect ✏️ Why the most healing version of this practice has absolutely nothing to do with being good at it ✏️ The one question Kim says you can answer today, even if you have no plan and no idea where to start So if you've been carrying something heavy lately and you're not quite sure where to put it, I hope this episode can offer a tool that can help. For full show notes, including takeaways, click here. *** Related Episodes: 424: When LIFE Doesn't Turn Out as Planned // Jessica N. Turner 407: A Two-Minute Daily Practice to Transform Your Mental Health 319: Three Tools I Use to Manage Anxiety and Depression // Cheryl Cardall, Ember Pilati Episode Sponsors: First Day: For a limited time only, our listeners are getting an insane deal. Use code 3in30 to get up to 57% Off at FirstDay.com. Knix Teen: Finally period protection that keeps up with long school days and everything in between. Go to KnixTeen.com and use code 3IN30 for 15 percent off. Shopify: Start your business today with the industry's best business partner, Shopify, and start hearing ✦[CHA CHING]✦ Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/3in30. Let's Connect! Join me on Instagram! Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course ***

There is a specific kind of worry that lives in the back of most mothers' minds —the worry that we're not doing it right. That somewhere in the gap between who we are and who we wish we were, our kids are absorbing something we never meant to give them: our unresolved stuff. Our triggers, our patterns, the things from our own childhoods that we're still working through. Is all of that making its way to our children? The uncomfortable truth is that some of it will. That's just the reality of being parented by a human. But what Eli Harwood taught me in this conversation is that parenthood itself is a developmental stage, which means we are not finished, and the work we do on ourselves is one of the most profound gifts we can give our children. This week's guest is Eli Harwood, licensed therapist, author, and creator of Attachment Nerd.In this conversation, Eli shares why doing the deep inner work of understanding your own emotional world isn't just good for you — it's the foundation of everything your kids actually need from you. In this episode, you'll hear Eli share: 💜 Why she built an asterisk right into her book title (you'll love her reasoning!) 💜 What it means when she says our kids can't rely on us for needs we haven't learned to meet in ourselves 💜 What she said to her child after being barky and short at the end of a long day If you have ever looked at your kids and felt that specific worry that you might be getting this wrong, I think you're going to find my conversation with Eli both honest and deeply freeing. For full show notes, including takeaways, click here. *** Related Episodes: 415: How to Get Help for Mental Illness // Sarah McKenna 458: Three Simple Phrases Your Kids Need to Hear from You // Eli Harwood 387: Why Calming Yourself Helps Calm Your Child // Eli Harwood, MA, LPC Episode Sponsors: Knix Teen: Go to knixteen.com and use code 3IN30 for 15 percent off. Shopify: Start your business today with the industry's best business partner, Shopify, and start hearing ✦[CHA CHING]✦ Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/3in30. AirDoctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code 3IN30 to get up to $300 off today! Let's Connect! Join me on Instagram! Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my lifeF ind Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course ***

I have been a striver my entire life — the kind of person who color-coded her notes, lost sleep to get straight A's, and genuinely believed that doing more and finishing faster was just who she was. Until the season when it didn't work anymore, and I found myself wondering if what I actually needed wasn't a better system, but permission to put some things down. This week's guest is Yvette Henry, author of Release, Rest, Remain: A 30-Day Devotional to Embrace Abiding Over Striving. In this episode, she gives language to something I think so many of us moms carry but rarely take the time to name — and a rhythm for living that actually feels sustainable. A note: this is a faith-rooted conversation, which isn't my typical format — but the three takeaways Yvette shares are for every mother, regardless of where you land spiritually. In this episode, you'll hear: 🤍 Why the tiredness you're feeling might have nothing to do with sleep — and the seven types of rest that actually replenish you 🤍 The glass ball and rubber ball framework — and how to tell the difference between what you need to protect and what you can safely let fall 🤍 What it can look like to remain present in your own life, even on the most ordinary days Presence is not a reward for finished productivity — it's available to you right now, in whatever ordinary moment you're standing in. I hope this episode reminds you of that. For full show notes, including takeaways, click here. *** Related Episodes: 441: Self-Care for Moms That Actually Works // Mia Hemstad466: Permission to Pause129: Rethinking Meditation as Busy Moms // Dr. Leah Weiss     Sponsors: Knix Teen: Go to knixteen.com and use code 3IN30 for 15 percent off. Shopify: Start your business today with the industry's best business partner, Shopify, and start hearing ✦[CHA CHING]✦ Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/3in30. BetterHelp: 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms is sponsored by BetterHelp. Go to betterhelp.com/3in30 to get 10% off your first month of online therapy. Let's Connect! Join me on Instagram! Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course ***

Happy 3 in 30 Day, my friends! Today is March 30th — which, numerically, is 3/30 — and years ago I dubbed this our national holiday. When I started 3 in 30, I did not set out to build a community. I was a busy mom who desperately wanted a parenting resource that would just get to the point already — and when I couldn't find one, I sat down at my kitchen table with a cheap microphone and created it. What I did not anticipate is that moms all over the world would listen, and that through it all, something that genuinely feels like a community would grow up around this little show. To celebrate, I asked the 3 in 30 community to send in voice messages and written notes about their favorite episodes and why those episodes mattered. In today's episode, you'll hear eight of those messages — each one followed by a short clip from the episode being mentioned. In this episode, you'll hear: 🎙️ A mom who finally stopped feeling guilty about resting — all because of one permission-giving line from one of our guests 🎙️ A mom who was walking alone during COVID when an episode about mom guilt made her feel, for the first time, like someone understood exactly what she was going through 🎙️ A mom who lost her mother years ago and started a food tradition with her own children after hearing an episode about keeping a loved one's memory alive — and how her kids now ask for it every year Almost nine years of getting to the point and actually helping busy moms in the trenches. That's what this community is, and I'm so grateful it exists — and that there is so much good here waiting for you whenever you need it. For full show notes click here. *** Featured Episodes: 293: Rethinking Housework // KC Davis 469: 3 Ways to Lighten the Load of Motherhood // Greg McKeown 24: Fighting Against Mom Guilt 186: Helping your Children Connect with Someone You've Loved & Lost // Dara Kurtz 461: "I Hate You, Mom" — How to Respond When Holiday Stress Brings Big Emotions 415: How to Get Help for Mental Illness // Sarah McKenna 416: When Someone You Love Struggles with Mental Health // Logan McKenna 433: Making Friends as a Mom: Why It's Hard — and How to Do It Anyway // Dr. Marisa G. Franco 118: How to Raise Confident Children // Marilyn Faulkner Episode Sponsors: Knix Teen: Go to knixteen.com and use code 3IN30 for 15 percent off. Skylight: Right now, get $30 off the 15-inch Calendar at MySkylight.com/TAKEAWAYS. Let's Connect! Join me on Instagram! Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course ***

Spring is a season I genuinely love, but it also has a way of sneaking up on me. One minute I'm enjoying the slower pace of winter, and the next I'm looking at my calendar wondering when it got so full. If you're coming off of Spring Break trying to find your footing again, or you can already see Maycember on the horizon and feel your shoulders creeping up toward your ears, this episode is for you. A few years ago, during one of those stretched-thin, running-on-fumes seasons, I shared three things that were genuinely helping me stay sane. I went back and listened recently and thought, these are still so good, and I wanted to share them again, because I think we could all use some practical tools to reach for when life piles up. In this episode, you'll learn: 🌸 The simple two-column list that cuts through mental overwhelm and tells you exactly what actually has to get done (and what can wait) 🌸 Why choosing just three non-negotiable soul care essentials — even tiny ones — can be the thing that holds you together during your busiest weeks 🌸 The mindset shift that keeps the spiral at bay, and why what you say to yourself during hard seasons matters more than almost anything else And one more thing worth mentioning — this episode is less than 15 minutes long. So if you're already feeling the busyness piling up and the idea of a full episode feels like one more thing on your list, this one was made for exactly that moment. Short, sweet, and full of things you can actually use. For full show notes, including takeaways, click here. *** Related Episodes: 353: How to Declutter Your Busy Schedule // Miranda Anderson 333: How Can a Busy Mother Get Back to the Essentials? 463: What If Your Only New Year Goal Was to Let Go of the Shoulds?   Episode Sponsors: Wildgrain: For a limited time, Wildgrain is offering our listeners $30 off your first box - PLUS free Croissants for life - when you go to Wildgrain.com/3in30 to start your subscriptiontoday. Let's Connect! Join me on Instagram! Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course *** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, I found out that one of my kids' teachers unexpectedly lost her husband in a car accident. She's in her early 30s with a toddler, and when I was telling Ryan, I just started to cry. I don't often cry, so it surprised both of us a little. The truth is, I was crying for her — and for all of the heaviness that has been building in my heart for months. The political division, the international conflicts, the injustice — it has felt like a lot lately. My teenage son sometimes says to me when we talk about hard things, "Mom, why does life have to be so hard?" And I tell him, "I don't know, Buddy. But you're right — and I also know that it is beautiful too."This week's guest is Shannan Martin, bestselling author of the brand new book Counterweights, and she has a practice for holding both of those things at once. In this episode, you'll learn: 💜 Why Shannan writes down both the weights AND the counterweights every night — and what happens when you hold them together on the same page 💜 Why Shannan (a self-described introvert) pushes herself to gather people in her home regularly — and the surprisingly low bar she sets to make it actually happen 💜 The tiny silver fork that has become one of her most treasured daily rituals (you'll understand when you hear it) For full show notes, including takeaways, click here. *** Announcements: March 30th is 3 in 30 Day — and this year I'm celebrating by highlighting YOU! Share your favorite episode and its impact at 3in30podcast.com/tellrachel before March 20th, and your message may be woven into a very special episode. Related Episodes: 424: When LIFE Doesn't Turn Out as Planned // Jessica N. Turner 401: How Radical Gratitude Can Change Your Life // Dr. Tanmeet Sethi 390: Living with Grief without Losing Yourself // Shelby Quinlan Sponsors: Shopify: It's time to turn those "What Ifs" into ✦[CHA CHING]✦ with Shopify today. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial at shopify.com/3in30. BetterHelp: 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms is sponsored by BetterHelp. Go to betterhelp.com/3in30 to get 10% off your first month of online therapy. AirDoctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code 3in30 to get up TO $300 off today! AirDoctor comes with a 30-day money back guarantee, plus a 3-year warranty—an $84 value, free! Let's Connect! Join me on Instagram! Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course *** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I didn't learn until I was 40 years old that my body moves through four distinct phases every single month — and that each one of those phases affects my mood, my energy, my patience, and my ability to connect with the people I love. Which means that the version of me who felt so present and empathetic last Tuesday wasn't just "having a good day." And the version of me who snapped at everyone before dinner on Friday wasn't failing. Both of those women were showing up exactly on schedule — I just didn't have the language for it yet. This episode is about what becomes possible when we finally have that language, and how empowering it is to understand our bodies well enough to show up the way we actually want to — and to have real grace for ourselves when that's harder. This week's guest is Shara Jackson Harper, a licensed mental health therapist, hormone and cycle guide, and mother of five who helps women understand how their internal rhythms shape the way they show up for the people they love most. In this episode, you'll learn: ✨ The golden conversation Shara had with her 15-year-old son — and the specific reason she believes the timing made all the difference ✨ Why most women are often carrying a "basket of shame" about their hard days, and what Shara says we can do with it instead ✨ The simple three-part formula Shara uses to talk to her own family about where she is in her cycle — and why her kids actually know what "lower bandwidth week" means So here's to understanding ourselves a little better, giving ourselves a little more grace, and showing up for our people in the ways we actually want to.   For full show notes, including takeaways, click here. *** Announcements: Hormone Cycle Guide: Shara has created a free handout with an overview of all four phases of the menstrual cycle plus a printable tracker to help you start noticing your own patterns. Grab it at 3in30podcast.com/cycleconnection.   March 30th is 3 in 30 Day! This year I wanted to celebrate by highlighting YOU. I'm collecting voice messages from listeners sharing your favorite episode and what about it made an impact or stayed with you, and my podcast editor is going to weave them all together into one really special episode. Prefer to write it out instead? You can do that too. Just head to 3in30podcast.com/tellrachel before March 20th. It only takes a minute, and I really cannot wait to hear from you. Related Episodes: 410: Align Your Goal-Setting with Your Menstrual Cycle // April Davis of Haus of Vagina 314: How to Feel Like Yourself in Motherhood // Aleisha McKean 205: How to Coach Yourself Through Big Emotions // Georgia Anderson Episode Sponsors: Skylight: Skylight offers a 120-day guarantee—if you're not thrilled, full refund. Right now, get $30 off the 15-inch Calendar at MySkylight.com/TAKEAWAYS. That's M-Y-S-K-Y-L-I-G-H-T dot com slash TAKEAWAYS Let's Connect! Join me on Instagram! Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course *** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A year ago this month, the travel and motherhood world lost Elise Caffee — blogger, adventurer, mother of three, and the woman behind the hashtag "take the trip." Elise believed, down to her bones, that making memories with your kids was always worth it — the chaos, the cost, the exhaustion, all of it. This episode is for her.   This week's guest is Tiffany Rosenhan, Elise's dear friend, co-author, and co-founder of Jumelle Press. Together, they wrote Pippa and Poppy Adventure — a beautiful children's book about two identical twins exploring Europe — and Tiffany is here today to carry Elise's message forward. With spring break just around the corner, her three takeaways feel especially timely — whether you're heading somewhere far or just loading up the car for a day trip an hour from home. In this episode, you'll hear: 🧳 The story of why Tiffany's family pulled their kids out of school and traveled abroad for five months — and why she says she'd do it again without hesitation 🧳 What Elise's daughters did three weeks after she passed away, and what it reveals about the culture she built in her family 🧳 The surprising science behind why travel builds stronger memories in kids' brains than almost anything else you can do together So here's to loading up the car, booking the day trip, or simply putting the phone down and being present with your people this spring. The memories don't require a passport — they just require you.   For full show notes, including takeaways, click here. *** Announcements: March 30th is 3 in 30 Day — and this year I'm celebrating by highlighting YOU! Share your favorite episode and its impact at 3in30podcast.com/tellrachel before March 20th, and your message may be woven into a very special episode. Related Episodes: 453: How to Travel for FREE with Your Family (Really!) // Amber Paul 418: Staying Home for Spring Break? 3 Ways to Make it Memorable (and Manageable!) // 3 in 30 Team 431: 3 Road Trip Hacks for Traveling with Kids // Brittney Hanks Episode Sponsors: BetterHelp: 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms is sponsored by BetterHelp. Go to betterhelp.com/3in30 to get 10% off your first month of online therapy. Bubs Naturals: Live Better Longer! For a limited time only, our listeners are getting 20% OFF at bubsnaturals.com by using code 3in30 at checkout. Let's Connect! Join me on Instagram! Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course *** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A few years ago, I read a book that made me think it was reading my mind. In the introduction, the author asks: Do you ever feel like you're running faster but not moving any closer to your goals? Do you want to make a higher contribution but you lack the energy? Are you teetering right on the edge of burnout? I wrote, "Yes, yes, yes!" next to each question in the margin of my copy. The book is Effortless by Greg McKeown, and it's the follow-up to his first book Essentialism, which I talked about in last week's episode. In today's episode, Greg talks about how we can lighten the load of motherhood without burning out. Greg acknowledges that life is genuinely hard—raising children is hard, paying the bills is hard, strained relationships are hard—and he's not promising to eliminate those hardships. But he does offer tools that can help lighten the load, and that's exactly what we talk about in this episode. In this episode, you'll learn: 💜 Why striving for 100% effort actually makes you less effective—and the optimal pace that will help you go further without burning out 💜 The question Greg asks when everything feels overwhelming (hint: it's not "what can I cut?" but something far more freeing) 💜 What radical gratitude actually means—and why it's the only thing powerful enough to counter the suffering we all experience in motherhood If you've been running on empty, if the mental and emotional load feels crushing, or if you're wondering how to keep showing up when everything feels so hard, this conversation will meet you right where you are. For full show notes, including takeaways, click here. *** Announcements: My Declutter Your Motherhood audio course walks you through the exact process I use to release the "shoulds" that don't fit me anymore and make room for what actually brings me joy. Related Episodes: 468: Stop the Runaway Train: How to Get Back to What Actually Matters 412: How to Overcome Overwhelm 401: How Radical Gratitude Can Change Your Life // Dr. Tanmeet Sethi Episode Sponsors: Boll & Branch: Get 15% off your first set of sheets plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/3IN30. Laundry Sauce: For a limited time only, our listeners get 20% off your entire order when you use code 3in30 at LaundrySauce.com. Skylight: Right now, Skylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15 inch Calendars by going to MySkylight.com/TAKEAWAYS. Let's Connect! Join me on Instagram! Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course *** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Right now I am definitely feeling the pull to simplify things in my life. I even said to my husband the other day, "I feel a bit like I'm on a runaway train!" Luckily, it's not the first time I've felt this way. I now know that this happens sometimes and life will suddenly accelerate faster than I intended. But here's what I've learned: I'm not actually on a runaway train. I can choose to get off. The harder question is how—and that's exactly what this episode is about. As I take a break from new episodes this month in an effort to get off the train, it was important to me to re-air this episode that essentially taught me how to figure out what actually needs my energy—and what doesn't. It's based on Greg McKeown's book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. Greg's work has been part of my mental bookshelf for a decade, and these lessons about becoming an essentialist help me recalibrate whenever I need them. In this episode, you'll learn: 🚂 Why the word "priority" was originally singular (and stayed that way for 500 years)—and what that means for how we should be living our lives 🚂 The question Greg McKeown asks himself when he's overwhelmed in a hotel room at midnight that helps him figure out what actually matters right now 🚂 How to stop diffusing your energy in a million directions and start making real progress in the areas that matter most For full show notes, including takeaways, click here. *** Announcements: I'm taking a break from airing new episodes during February so I can rest and honor the needs of my body, mind, and spirit. I'm practicing what I preach by sanctifying my soul care this month, and I hope these encore episodes inspire you to do the same. This episode beautifully supports the fourth principle of the Self-Assured Motherhood Framework: Sanctify Your Soul Care. Related Episodes: 438: How Soul-Care Can Help You Enjoy Motherhood More: Real Stories from Moms Like You // SAM Sisters 441: The 4 Types of Self-Care Every Mom Needs // Mia Hemstad 412: How to Overcome Overwhelm Episode Sponsors: Boll & Branch: Get 15% off your first set of sheets plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/3IN30. Wildgrain: Wildgrain is offering our listeners $30 off your first box—PLUS free Croissants for life—when you go to Wildgrain.com/3IN30 to start your subscription today. AirDoctor: Head to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code 3IN30 to get up to $300 off today! AirDoctor comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, plus a 3-year warranty—an $84 value, free! Let's Connect! Join me on Instagram! Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course *** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's easy to notice when your marriage feels disconnected, but it's much harder to know what to actually do about it. And it's even harder to look at your own part in the dynamic instead of just wishing your partner would change. This Valentine's Week, I'm bringing back one of my favorite conversations with Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife, a relationship and sexuality coach whose work has profoundly impacted my own marriage. In this encore episode, she shares three concrete, actionable things we can do right now to become better partners and strengthen our marriages. In this episode, you'll learn: 💜 The one quality Dr. Jennifer looks for in a great partner (most of us avoid it, but it's what makes marriages actually work) 💜 Why how you handle disappointment matters more than compatibility 💜 What's really behind sexual disconnection—and it's not lack of desire Dr. Jennifer has a gift for helping us see our blind spots without shame, and this conversation gave me concrete things I could actually do instead of just wishing things were different. While this episode won't hand you a perfect marriage, it will show you how to stop waiting for your spouse to change and start working on what you can actually control. For full show notes, including takeaways, click here. *** Announcements: Dr. Jennifer's book That We Might Have Joy: Desire, Divinity and Intimate Love is now available. I listened to it on audio and then immediately ordered the paperback so I could mark it up. Grab it here. I've created an entire playlist of relationship-focused episodes. Access it here. Related Episodes: 342: Communicating to your Partner that Things Need to Change // Eli Harwood 222: How to Repair after a Fight with your Partner // Jocelyn and Aaron Freeman 223: Sex and Motherhood // Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife Episode Sponsors: Boll & Branch: Get 15% off your first set of sheets plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/3IN30. First Day: For a limited time only, our listeners are getting an insane deal. Use code 3IN30 to get up to 57% Off at First Day dot com. That's up to 57% Off and a Free Gift with code 3IN30 at FirstDay.com. After you purchase, they will ask you where you heard about them. PLEASE support our show and tell them our show sent you. BetterHelp: 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms is sponsored by BetterHelp. Go to betterhelp.com/3in30 to get 10% off your first month of online therapy. Let's Connect! Join me on Instagram! Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course *** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Six weeks before I recorded this episode, I woke up early with my heart pounding so hard I couldn't ignore it. The house was dark, everything was quiet, and as I lay there thinking about the medication I was on, the surgeries I'd been through, the pace I'd been keeping, this thought came to me so clearly: This is my life. No one is going to fix this for me. I am the one who has to change this. I was dealing with chronic health issues, and my body was forcing me to confront some hard truths about how I was living. That morning, I realized I couldn't keep pushing through and ignoring what my body was trying to tell me. So I did something that terrified me—I took a full month off from my podcast even though I had 40 people waiting to be guests.That was back in 2019, and I'm re-airing this episode now because I'm taking my own advice again. This time it's different—my health issues from 2019 have resolved, and I'm not in crisis mode. I'm pausing this February simply because I need space to breathe, think, and recalibrate. I'm not waiting for the summer chaos or for things to fall apart. I'm choosing rest before I need it desperately, and I want you to know that you can do the same. In this episode, you'll learn: 🧘🏽‍♀️ Why waiting for the "right time" to rest might be the very thing keeping you stuck 🧘🏽‍♀️ The one realization that shifted everything about how I approach my responsibilities (hint: it starts with "I could...") 🧘🏽‍♀️ The three practical steps to taking a pause that actually restores you instead of just adding to your guilt If you've been running on empty and telling yourself you'll rest later, this episode is your permission slip. You don't have to wait for a breakdown to take a break. For full show notes, including takeaways, click here. *** Announcements: Need help figuring out what actually needs to stay in your life and what you can let go? My Motherhood Decluttered course helps you clear the mental and emotional clutter so you can focus on what truly matters. Learn more by clicking on the link. Related Episodes: 441: The 4 Types of Self-Care Every Mom Needs // Mia Hemstad 437: Boundaries and Emotional Resilience in Motherhood // Dr. Jen Riday 320: Making Space for Self-Care: It Might Not Be As Hard As You Think // Dr. Nicole Sparks Episode Sponsors: Boll & Branch: Get 15% off your first set of sheets plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/3IN30. Hand Lettered Design: You can get 10% off your order at Hand Lettered Design with the code Rachel10 at checkout. Let's Connect! Join me on Instagram! Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course *** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices