Confessions of a Freebird - Midlife, Divorce, Heal, and Date Differently with Somatic Experiencing, Empty Nest, Well-Being, Happiness
Hi, I’m Laurie James—author of Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go, somatic relationship coach, mother of four adult daughters, divorcée, and recovering caregiver.
I created Confessions of a Freebird as a heartfelt space for women navigating midlife transitions—divorce, empty nesting, loss, dating again, or simply wondering:
“Is this all there is?”
If you're longing for more authenticity, joy, freedom, and purpose, especially after years of putting everyone else first, you're in the right place.
Each episode, I’ll share:
- Practical tools and somatic coaching strategies
- Raw reflections and confessions from my own journey
- Expert conversations on everything from sex, grief, trauma healing, and finances to dating, caregiving, and reinvention
We'll explore what it means to come home to yourself through somatic practices—and how to design a life that feels aligned with who you are now, not who you were 20 years ago or who someone or society has told you to be.
Whether you’re in the sandwich generation, starting over after loss, or dreaming of your next chapter—Confessions of a Freebird is your midlife best friend. Think of it as a permission slip to evolve, heal, and fall in love with your life all over again.
Because the most important relationship you’ll ever have… is the one you have with yourself.
XO,
Laurie
Connect with me:
Purchase my book, Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go, https://www.laurieejames.com/book
IG: https://www.instagram.com/laurie.james/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurie.james.79219754
Confessions of a Freebird - Midlife, Divorce, Heal, and Date Differently with Somatic Experiencing, Empty Nest, Well-Being, Happiness
How Cultural Beliefs Shape Parenting Guilt and Shame for Mothers
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
What if your motherhood guilt isn’t proof you failed, but a sign you’ve been carrying too much for too long?
You can give everything to your children and still hear that relentless inner critic whispering it wasn’t enough — and over time, that pressure can become maternal stress, emotional exhaustion, and even maternal burnout carried quietly beneath the surface.
But what if that voice and the sensations associated with them aren’t telling you the truth?
So much of what we believe about being a “good mother” is shaped by cultural beliefs and unexamined parenting beliefs — expectations that were never designed to be humanly sustainable. The pressure, the second-guessing, the ache of regret…it’s not random. And these thoughts can cause dis-ease in your body.
In this solo episode, I’m talking about parenting guilt and shame, the stories so many mothers carry, and why they can be stored in the body. We’ll look at motherhood through a compassionate somatic lens and make space for a gentler relationship with your maternal identity.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why old emotional patterns can feel so persistent
- How the nervous system reinforces self-critism
- What having impossible standards can do to a mother’s body and sense of self
- Why exhaustion is often a sign that needs attention. It’s not a personal failure
- How inherited messages shape the way you measure yourself
- How to stop mom guilt A body-based approach to without relying on willpower
- Why self compassion for moms is not indulgent, but essential
- How repair can create more honesty, connection, and healing
If you’ve been carrying the quiet belief that you should have done it differently… or that somehow you weren’t enough… You don’t have to keep relating to yourself through criticism and pressure. There is another way to meet yourself — one that includes more understanding, more space, and a different kind of strength.
Cheers to finding your freedom,
Laurie
Click here to purchase my “Nervous System Regulation Starter Kit” it’s ON SALE for $19.99
Click here to purchase my book: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go
Click here to watch the Barbie clip referenced in this podcast
Free Resources
Click here to schedule a FREE inquiry call with me.
Click here for my FREE “Beginner’s Guide to Somatic Healing”
Click here for my FREE Core Values Exercise
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Sandwiched: A book written by Laurie James, detailing her experiences with the "sandwich generation" (raising children while caring for aging parents).
The Voo Exercise: A vocalization technique used to tone the vagus nerve and discharge nervous system tension.
Barbie the movie clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBqlDWHkdHk
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DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL, MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED THERAPIST IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY MEDICAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM.