don't skip this episode because you think it's not for you, I promise you, it's for you!

Between different types of seats, confusing guidelines, and your parents or in-laws constantly asking you, "when can they be forward facing?" it's a lot.

In this episode, I’m joined by Michelle Pratt from Safe in the Seat to break down car seat safety in a way that actually makes sense. We’re covering exactly how to choose the right car seat for your child, when to make transitions, and the most common mistakes parents don’t even realize they’re making.

If you want to feel confident that your child is safe every time you get in the car, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode we cover:

• The 6 key questions every parent should ask when choosing a car seat
• How to choose the right car seat for your baby or toddler
• The full car seat timeline (infant seat → convertible → booster)
• When it’s actually safe to forward face your child
• The most common car seat installation mistakes parents make
• How to know if your car seat is installed correctly

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IMPORTANT LINKS

•✨ Join our Mom Club on Patreon HERE ✨ 👈🏼

• Check out Laila’s Clean Makeup Bag Staples HERE

• Or shop the whole nontoxic makeup site HERE
◦ Use Code ADVOCATE10 for 10% off!

• Connect with Michelle HERE

• Pinch test video HERE

• Inside out trick video HERE

• Car Seat Finder Quiz HERE

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Every single parent needs to listen to this episode!!! CLICK PLAY and listen all the way through. My word, jaw dropping stuff!!!

We talk about the gut microbiome, common disruptions like antibiotics and parasites, and simple ways to help kids thrive from the inside out.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting advice about toddler nutrition or gut health, this episode is for you. You’ll walk away with practical tips to support your child’s gut naturally, understand warning signs, and feel confident navigating everyday challenges!!

In this episode, we discuss:

• What the gut microbiome is and why it matters for toddlers
• How early life factors shape a child’s gut health
• Signs your toddler might be struggling with gut issues
• Common disruptions: antibiotics, parasites, and diet
• Practical ways to support a healthy gut through food and lifestyle
• How to recover gut health after antibiotics
• How to spot and manage parasites in young children
• One simple step parents can take today to support their child’s microbiome

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IMPORTANT LINKS

•✨ Join our Mom Club on Patreon HERE ✨ 👈🏼

• Check out Laila’s Clean Makeup Bag Staples HERE

• Or shop the whole nontoxic makeup site HERE
◦ Use Code ADVOCATE10 for 10% off!

• Connect with Dr. Song HERE

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In this solo episode, I’m sharing a more personal side of my story and talking about something I don’t discuss often on the podcast: my faith.

If you’ve been listening for a while, you know I’m a devout Catholic and my relationship with the Lord has deeply shaped how I experience motherhood. Especially in the moments that feel messy, exhausting, or overwhelming.

Today we’re talking about why modern motherhood often feels so chaotic, the pressure to control every detail of parenting, and why true peace as a mom doesn’t come from having everything perfectly figured out.

I also share how my faith life has changed since becoming a mom, what prayer looks like in this busy season, and how inviting God into ordinary moments of motherhood has completely shifted my perspective.

If motherhood feels overwhelming right now, this episode is a reminder that peace isn’t waiting on the other side of a perfectly clean house or perfectly behaved kids, it’s available right in the middle of the chaos

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why modern motherhood feels so overwhelming
• Social media comparison and parenting pressure
• Helicopter parenting and the desire to control outcomes
• How faith can change the way we experience motherhood
• Finding God in ordinary motherhood moments
• Praying as a busy mom
• Surrendering control and trusting God in parenting
• Finding peace in the chaos of raising young children

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IMPORTANT LINKS

•✨ Join our Mom Club on Patreon HERE ✨ 👈🏼

• Check out Laila’s Clean Makeup Bag Staples HERE

• Or shop the whole nontoxic makeup site HERE
◦ Use Code ADVOCATE10 for 10% off!

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In today’s episode, we’re breaking down the real numbers, real strategies, and real mindset shifts that make one-income living doable, even in today’s economy!

I’m joined by Mammas On A Budget to talk through what their family budget actually looks like on one income, how to reduce financial stress without feeling restricted, and practical ways moms can bring in extra money without taking on a full second job.

This conversation is not about extreme frugality or deprivation. It’s about intentional spending, contentment, and building a family life that aligns with your values.

If you’ve ever thought, “We could never afford for me to stay home,” this episode will give you tangible starting points and fresh perspective.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What a real life one income family budget can look like
• Common reasons moms assume staying home isn’t possible
• Simple budgeting advice for families transitioning to one income
• Budget tips
• Joint vs. separate bank accounts
• Credit card strategies for organized spending
• How to avoid financial stress and constant restriction on one income
• Mindset shifts around contentment, materialism, and comparison
• Smart shopping strategies and price matching
• Practical ways moms can earn an extra $500–$1,000 a month from home
  Flexible, stay-at-home-friendly income ideas

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IMPORTANT LINKS

•✨ Join our Mom Club on Patreon HERE ✨ 👈🏼

• Check out Laila’s Clean Makeup Bag Staples HERE

• Or shop the whole nontoxic makeup site HERE
◦ Use Code ADVOCATE10 for 10% off!

• Connect with Selah Joy HERE

The apps we discussed for earning money back:

• 🔥 Fetch (scan receipts) - linked HERE 🔥
• 🔥 Upside (for gas) - linked HERE 🔥
• Coin Out (scan receipts) - linked HERE
• Rakuten (online shopping) - linked HERE

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Lenore Skenazy, author of Free-Range Kids, has been sounding the alarm for years: in our effort to protect our children, we may actually be holding them back.

In this conversation, we dive into what’s happened to childhood over the past few decades, why independence is declining, why parents feel more pressure than ever to supervise and structure everything, and what it’s costing our kids.

From helicopter parenting and “bulldozer” parenting to overscheduled calendars and screen heavy childhoods, we unpack how modern parenting norms may be limiting the very skills our kids need to thrive.

This episode isn’t about judgment. It’s about perspective, and practical ways to raise capable, confident, independent kids in a culture that often pushes the opposite.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The message behind Free-Range Kids and why it still matters today
• The essential skills children need to grow into independent, resilient adults
• Why modern parenting culture often discourages independence
• The downsides of helicopter parenting and bulldozer parenting
• How overprotection can increase anxiety in children
• Why mixed-age play and community matter more than we realize
• Whether kids actually prefer structured activities, screens, or unstructured play
• The power of giving kids real responsibility
• What the Let Grow movement is and how it helps families foster independence

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re hovering too much… or worried that giving your child more freedom feels risky in today’s world… this episode will challenge and encourage you in the best way.

Raising independent kids doesn’t mean being uninvolved. It means gradually stepping back so they can step forward.

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IMPORTANT LINKS

•✨ Join our Mom Club on Patreon HERE ✨ 👈🏼

• Check out Laila’s Clean Makeup Bag Staples HERE

• Or shop the whole nontoxic makeup site HERE
◦ Use Code ADVOCATE10 for 10% off!

Read Lenore's Book HERE

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Today’s episode is a little more personal 👀👀

We’re entering a brand new season as a family, and I wanted to bring you into it! (It's long overdue to be honest)

If you’ve been walking through motherhood alongside me, this one feels extra special to share.

I’m also talking about something I haven’t shared much about before, what I personally focused on while trying to conceive. Not from a “how to guarantee pregnancy” perspective, but from the mindset of: If I do get pregnant, how do I want to feel? How can I support my body well now?

This episode is honest, reflective, and full of what’s ahead.

We cover:

• Our pregnancy announcement and how we found out
• What I focused on while trying to conceive (from a health and mindset standpoint)
• Preparing your body for pregnancy in a sustainable, non-obsessive way
• How this pregnancy has felt emotionally so far
• Answers to common questions I’ve already been getting
• What this new season means for our family rhythm
• What this means for the future of the podcast

Thank you for walking through motherhood with me 🤍

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IMPORTANT LINKS

•✨ Join our Mom Club on Patreon HERE ✨ 👈🏼

• The prenatal I’m taking is linked HERE

•Truly Free Home- Toxin Free Laundry Detergent and Cleaning Supplies HERE
◦ Use Code LEARNINGTOMOM for 30% off!

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Afraid you may be on your way to burnout? Or maybe you're already there? Curious to know the signs, and know how to get out of it? You're in the right place!

Dr. Sasha Shillcutt breaks down how burnout develops, why modern moms are especially vulnerable, and how to recognize the early warning signs before you hit a breaking point. This conversation is practical, validating, and deeply freeing for moms who feel like they’re failing when really… they’re overloaded.

If you’ve ever thought, “Why can’t I handle this better?”, this episode will help you understand what’s really going on and how to start protecting your energy, your time, and your mental health.

In this episode, we cover:

• What burnout actually is (and how it’s different from normal tiredness)
• Why so many moms experience burnout in modern motherhood
• The emotional and mental load mothers carry every day
• What the path to burnout really looks like over time
• Early signs of mom burnout you shouldn’t ignore
• How to prevent burnout before you hit a breaking point
• How to set realistic expectations in motherhood
• Why perfectionism fuels burnout
• Practical ways to say “no” without guilt
• Protecting your time, energy, and capacity as a mom

This episode is for the mom who loves her kids deeply but feels like she’s running on empty, and wonders if this level of stress is just “part of the job.” (It’s not.)

You deserve support, margin, and a motherhood experience that doesn’t cost you your mental health.

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IMPORTANT LINKS

•✨ Join our Mom Club on Patreon HERE ✨ 👈🏼

•Truly Free Home- Toxin Free Laundry Detergent and Cleaning Supplies HERE
◦ Use Code LEARNINGTOMOM for 30% off!

Connect with Dr. Shillcutt HERE

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College educated women with five or more children are NOT the cultural norm, so why are some choosing this path anyway?

In this fascinating conversation, economist and author Dr. Catherine Pakaluk discusses the birth dearth, shares what she discovered after interviewing educated American women who chose large families in an era defined by career ambition.

We talk about the “birth dearth,” modern motherhood, identity, purpose, and the deeper motivations behind family size

We talk about:
- What Hannah’s Children is about and why Dr. Pakaluk wrote it

- What the “birth dearth” is and why it matters culturally

- The current state of birth rates in America

- Why she specifically studied college educated women with five or more children

- Common misconceptions about large families

- Themes that emerged around identity, purpose, and meaning in motherhood

- How these women viewed sacrifice, work, and fulfillment

- Encouragement for women who feel unsure about having another child

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IMPORTANT LINKS

•✨ Join our Mom Club on Patreon HERE ✨ 👈🏼

•Truly Free Home- Toxin Free Laundry Detergent and Cleaning Supplies HERE
◦ Use Code LEARNINGTOMOM for 30% off!

Read Dr. Pakaluk's book HERE

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