Episode 10 - What Our Kids Really Think About Us as Moms

We did something bold… and possibly a little risky.

We invited our kids onto the podcast.

No prep. No coaching. Just completely unfiltered honesty from the people who know us best—and aren’t afraid to call us out.

In this episode, we’re hearing motherhood from their perspective:
what they think we do all day, what we’re really good at, what annoys them… and how they know they’re loved.

It’s equal parts humbling, hilarious, and surprisingly sweet—and a reminder that even when it feels like we’re not doing enough, our kids are paying attention to the things that matter most.

If you’ve ever wondered what your kids actually think about you… this is your sign (and maybe your warning).

If this episode made you laugh, feel seen, or tear up a little—share it with another mom who needs it.

And if you’re feeling brave… ask your own kids these questions and let us know how it goes 😅

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:11

Welcome to Messy Minded Mama, a podcast for moms who look managed but might feel a bit messy on the inside. I'm Kate. I'm Jen.

SPEAKER_05 0:20

And we are here creating space for real talk about motherhood, mental health, and the invisible load so many women carry.

SPEAKER_03 0:28

Welcome back to Messy Minded Mama.

SPEAKER_05 0:33

We're back today, and we are taking a very bold risk. We have officially invited our first guest onto the podcast, and they are the people who know us the best, but also those that will humble us the fastest. So today with us, we have all four kids.

SPEAKER_04 0:53

And we didn't prep them, we didn't coach them. We have no idea what they're about to say, which feels like a really questionable decision on our part. But here we are. So today we're interviewing Jack L. Brennan Sawyer, all about motherhood, what we're like as moms, what they think we do all day, what we're good at, and maybe what we're not so good at. So if you've ever wondered what your kids think about you, this is your warning. Because it's about to get real in here. You guys, we're gonna ask each of you some questions. We're gonna go just down the line, okay? We're gonna introduce you to all of our listeners. You guys have anything you want to say first?

SPEAKER_05 1:35

No.

SPEAKER_04 1:36

No.

SPEAKER_05 1:38

Okay, let's get started.

SPEAKER_03 1:40

What is your name and how old are you? My name's Jack, and I'm seven years old. What's your name? And how old are you? My name is Elle, and I'm five years old.

SPEAKER_02 1:51

My name's Brent, and I'm seven years old. What's your name?

SPEAKER_03 1:55

Hi, Sawyer.

SPEAKER_04 1:57

And Sawyer, how old are you?

SPEAKER_03 1:59

Um three.

SPEAKER_04 2:01

Three, that's right.

SPEAKER_03 2:02

Jack, what do you like to do for fun? Uh, go outside and go on hikes and runs. Ooh, I like that. You're a runner like your dad, huh? How about you, Al?

SPEAKER_05 2:12

What do you like to do for fun?

SPEAKER_03 2:15

Go from places and get uh cannon be a nice curtain.

SPEAKER_04 2:20

Ooh, all the sweet treats. Ryan, what do you like to do for fun? I like to ride. Ride what? Horses. Oh, that's a good one.

SPEAKER_02 2:31

A few little sister?

SPEAKER_04 2:32

Oh, with your little sister. Of course. So what do you like to do for fun?

SPEAKER_03 2:39

I like to do the one that champagne to do flips. Wow. Flips.

SPEAKER_04 2:45

That's super fun.

SPEAKER_02 2:46

Front flips or back flips? Which one? Front flips? Wall flips.

SPEAKER_04 2:52

Wall flips. Roll flips?

SPEAKER_02 2:54

Roll flips. I like your roll flip floor.

SPEAKER_04 2:56

Hey Jack and L. What's your mom's name?

SPEAKER_03 2:59

Jen. Jen.

SPEAKER_05 3:01

Good job, guys. I did not know what we were gonna get next time. You wanted to know how to call Jen. If you need to find me now, you know how. Okay, how about Brennan Sawyer? What is your mom's name? Caitlin. Caitlin. What do you call me? Um mom. What do you call me?

SPEAKER_03 3:25

Breadbowl.

SPEAKER_05 3:26

What did you used to call me?

SPEAKER_03 3:28

Mom Greg. I need her to eat.

SPEAKER_01 3:35

Love that. I love that.

SPEAKER_04 3:38

Maybe you love it for the piggy of jail, but how old do you think your mom is?

SPEAKER_03 3:46

42.

SPEAKER_05 3:48

Nailed it.

SPEAKER_04 3:49

42. How old am I? 35. 45.

SPEAKER_05 3:53

I'm 35.

SPEAKER_04 3:55

My name is Brendan. And my name is Fred Bob.

SPEAKER_05 3:58

Brennan Sawyer, what do you think your mom's job is?

SPEAKER_03 4:02

Um play day.

SPEAKER_05 4:06

Play date.

SPEAKER_01 4:06

Playdates. Jeffko? Yeah, I do work for Jepka. Messy minded mama.

SPEAKER_05 4:14

Messy minded mommy. A pure mind wellness. It's my job.

SPEAKER_03 4:21

Your little slicky.

SPEAKER_04 4:24

Love that. You guys got it all right. You guys know all the things we're over here doing. Brynn what's the other one I do? Do you know? Messy butt. Manage.

SPEAKER_05 4:34

Perfect. These kids are doing great things for us.

SPEAKER_03 4:36

That's where we post all the stuff about uncoming.

SPEAKER_05 4:42

Okay, more chicken. Coming your way, Sawyer.

SPEAKER_04 4:46

Um, how much money do you think I make?

SPEAKER_03 4:50

Um zero. 200.

SPEAKER_04 4:56

Is that a lot of money? 5,000. Is 200 a lot of money? Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 5:01

5,000 a week, a year. 5,000 plus. 5,000. Okay. Snuffle. Jen, I think you're bankrolling us from here on. I know. That's great. I'll take that. Is that how much do you do?

SPEAKER_05 5:17

We'll talk about that later.

SPEAKER_04 5:21

Jack and L, who's your favorite parent?

SPEAKER_03 5:24

Lawn.

SPEAKER_05 5:26

Dad jokes. It's a dad joke. How about Brennan Sawyer? Favorite parent? Mom or dad? I can't choose one.

SPEAKER_04 5:34

I love that. You shouldn't.

SPEAKER_05 5:36

I am that.

SPEAKER_04 5:37

Perfect. Okay, we're gonna talk about your mom. Oh, you want to tell a joke? Go ahead. Go ahead. Knock knock. Who's there?

SPEAKER_03 5:46

Boo. Boo-hoo. It's just a joke. You don't need a cry. I'm the one. I'm the one. Okay, tell us your favorite joke. Um knock knock.

SPEAKER_05 5:56

Who's there?

SPEAKER_03 5:57

Uh El.

SPEAKER_01 6:00

El who? Oh, what the L look! Who's there? Um. Interrupting. Who's there?

SPEAKER_04 6:12

Bell. Belle Who? Bell Princess.

SPEAKER_05 6:16

That is a good one.

SPEAKER_04 6:18

Hey, um, Jack, what is something that your mom is really good at? Uh, her job. Oh, that's really nice. Thank you. El, what do you think? Um, what does your mom do that makes you feel really happy?

SPEAKER_03 6:35

Hang out with me the most on weekends.

SPEAKER_05 6:38

On the weekends, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 6:40

And doesn't have to walk as much on spring break. That's so fun. Stay home for 10 days. Almost. Spring break was a long time. It was. And I thought I'm gonna heal the lies.

SPEAKER_05 7:00

Hey Bryn. Yeah. What is your favorite thing to do with your mom?

SPEAKER_04 7:05

Uh get our nails stuck. Oh, get our nails done. Oh, okay. Looks like I might need to do some of that, huh? It's time.

SPEAKER_05 7:12

Say mom, make the appointment.

SPEAKER_04 7:15

What's your favorite thing that um you do with mommy?

SPEAKER_03 7:18

I like to um hang out with you and daddy.

SPEAKER_04 7:24

That's so nice. We are back from a bathroom break. Because, you know, kid. So what is something that your mom, what is something I always say? Fred, get up. Because why do I say that?

SPEAKER_01 7:45

Because I don't get up in the morning. Oh, what's something mommy always says? Get up in the morning.

SPEAKER_03 7:52

Okay. Hey.

SPEAKER_05 7:53

What's something that I always say?

SPEAKER_03 7:55

Stop watching TV. Do you have anything? Be safe. Be safe. I do see not a lot. Always say that. It's every morning she says it. I do, because every morning you have to get up.

SPEAKER_04 8:12

Jacqueline, what's something that your mom does that's annoying?

SPEAKER_03 8:16

Um, blow dry her hair after she takes a shower. Yeah, because it's so loud. I honestly don't care about the noise.

SPEAKER_01 8:25

Well, that I do that's annoying. I care about noise. Uh mess with me. How do I mess with you? You tickle me. You don't like being tickled. No. So you're what's something mommy does that's annoying?

SPEAKER_05 8:37

Um, um you always tickle me. Tickle monster, it sounds like. Okay, what? If you had to say that I did something all day long, what do I do? Maybe on like a Sunday.

SPEAKER_03 8:54

Uh, you always talk about your podcast. We do do a lot of that. You do edit.

SPEAKER_05 9:02

And editing, yep, okay.

SPEAKER_04 9:04

For those of you that don't know, Jen is the master of the editing behind the podcast. What is something I do all day?

SPEAKER_02 9:12

Take me to horse lessons and watch tortoise. That is what we do.

SPEAKER_05 9:17

How nice of your mom to be doing that for you.

SPEAKER_04 9:20

What do you think mommy does all day? Take me to a mask at school. Take you to school. Sawyer, what's something mommy's bad at? Riding the bike at home.

SPEAKER_03 9:34

Riding my bike at home? Wait, that's too killing. Okay, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 9:38

Yep, yep, yep.

SPEAKER_03 9:39

Mom killing. That resonates across the book. You're not going to be able to get it. I'm putting her ski boots on because it's so hot. My mom's bad at skiing. Oh, he's not snowboarding.

SPEAKER_04 9:55

Wow. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 9:56

Can we ask it to you?

SPEAKER_04 9:58

Okay, we're gonna move on from this topic. So, Jack and Elle, how do you know that your mom loves you?

SPEAKER_03 10:06

Because she always says it. Oh. Okay, when we go to bed.

SPEAKER_04 10:11

It's not true. Do you like that? She tells you that. Jack says no. Elle says yes. Thumbs and feet up.

SPEAKER_03 10:22

Yes. Four thumbs up.

SPEAKER_05 10:25

How about you guys, Brynn and Sawyer? How do you know that your mommy loves you? The way she just looks at me. Oh.

SPEAKER_01 10:32

She says, Oh, good night when you sleep. I say goodnight when you sleep.

SPEAKER_05 10:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 10:41

What do you think your mom does when you're sleeping?

SPEAKER_03 10:45

Um always close the door. Always let it go on her computer. Wakes up at 2 a.m. and gets on her computer. Okay, some nights. Some nights are texting. Yes, true. How dare you? That's why you're here. You laughing now.

SPEAKER_05 11:07

Or maybe we're chatting at 2 a.m. sometimes.

SPEAKER_04 11:10

Because I'm laughing. What do you think your mom worries about?

SPEAKER_03 11:17

When I try to do a um when I try to do a when I try to jump backwards off into a pool.

SPEAKER_05 11:28

For sure.

SPEAKER_02 11:29

What makes mommy worry? When my soccer ball rolls on to the uh street and you tell me not to go to the street, and I do, you worry.

SPEAKER_04 11:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 11:40

I won't. Or when I drive too fast and Jeep. Oh yeah, that's a good one too.

SPEAKER_05 11:47

Yeah, we feel the same way at our house. The Jeep.

SPEAKER_04 11:50

Do you think mommy has friends? Oh yeah. Oh yeah. I think does mommy have friends? No? Oh, okay. What about you? Does your mommy have friends? Yes, you.

SPEAKER_05 12:03

I have one.

SPEAKER_03 12:07

I'm not about K. Not KP. Not KP.

SPEAKER_05 12:11

I'm KP. So here, what makes your mom really happy besides you? What else?

SPEAKER_03 12:18

Play by myself. She'd be so happy. I mean when I play by myself.

SPEAKER_05 12:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 12:24

Mom's happy when I do dance a cactus. The cactus dance. Love it.

SPEAKER_04 12:32

What makes your mom happy besides you? Um I don't know. Coffee? Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 12:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 12:46

What makes your mommy happy? What do you think makes your mom happy?

SPEAKER_03 12:49

I don't get it. You don't get it? When she runs out of coffee, she acts like there's an emergency to get coffee. Emergency. Emergency needs.

SPEAKER_05 12:59

It is coffee. These aren't emergency. These aren't facts. It is an emergency.

SPEAKER_03 13:04

No, it isn't coffee. You don't need coffee to wake up. We do. Just do this.

SPEAKER_04 13:08

Just do this. I'm awake. We're gonna ask you a question and you guys are gonna say yes. You already asked us a whole bunch of questions. I know. I'm gonna ask you even more. This one you're just gonna say yes if your mom does that, or no if your mom doesn't do that. And you guys can all say it at the same time.

SPEAKER_00 13:25

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 13:26

Okay. Has your mom ever said just a minute? But it took forever.

SPEAKER_03 13:34

Well, you said just a minute. 500,000 minutes.

SPEAKER_05 13:38

I know, right? Has your mom ever hidden snacks from you? Yeah. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 13:45

Sawyer, does mommy hidden snacks from you?

SPEAKER_05 13:47

Like candy.

SPEAKER_04 13:48

Sawyer says yes. Maybe candy.

SPEAKER_03 13:50

Mommy said no. I say no.

SPEAKER_04 13:54

Um, let's see. Has your mom ever been late somewhere? Yes.

SPEAKER_05 13:59

Yes. Does your mom like her quiet time? Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 14:06

Of course. Does your mom get overwhelmed sometimes? Yeah. Yes.

SPEAKER_05 14:12

Does your mom like to be the boss?

SPEAKER_04 14:15

Yes. Is your this one you have to answer the question, okay? Does your mom get silly or serious more?

SPEAKER_03 14:26

Serious!

SPEAKER_05 14:28

Oh okay, we'll work on our sillies. Um, has your mom ever forgotten something that's really important? Yes, yes, like what?

SPEAKER_03 14:41

Um, a stuffed animal when I go to school. Shoot. I've done that, huh, Brent?

SPEAKER_04 14:46

Yeah, yeah. Does your mom give good hugs?

SPEAKER_05 14:50

Yes. Yeah, okay. Four thumbs up. Does your mom love you a whole lot? Yes.

SPEAKER_04 15:01

Does your mom work really hard? Yes, oh my goodness, you guys. Okay. Um, if your mom was of food, what food would she be? Chicken. Chicken box. Chicken! So here wants to say, what kind of food would mommy be? Um a chicken box. A chicken box. Chicken box. Okay. What kind of food would you? You guys said coffee. Mm-hmm. Because coffee's food. What's one word that describes your mom? Jack and L. What is one word that describes your mom?

SPEAKER_03 15:40

Uh JJ. JJ, that's my nickname.

SPEAKER_05 15:45

Okay. Jennifer. Jennifer. Okay, there we go. Not like nice or like loving or describe word.

SPEAKER_04 15:54

Like my mom is so uh.

unknown 16:00

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 16:02

So what about you? What do you think? Mommy is so what?

SPEAKER_03 16:06

Um nice. Oh, so sweet.

SPEAKER_05 16:12

Uh, what do you think your mom would do if she had a whole day by herself? Oh, ooh, ooh. Okay, Brennan.

SPEAKER_04 16:18

Um give me hugs. Okay. What would what would your mom do, Jack? Drink coffee. Drink coffee, yeah. What do you think, El?

SPEAKER_03 16:29

Uh, go on my computer and sneak candy promise. It's up to you. You go on my computer and sneak marshmallows. I'm sneaking marshmallows.

SPEAKER_04 16:39

Yeah, sometimes you eat our marshmallows. I don't think so. Do you have questions for your mom about what it's like to be your mom? Fun. You think it's fun? What about like, do you think that being a mom is hard? Yeah. Yes. Yeah. What makes it hard, do you think?

SPEAKER_03 17:00

Uh, because it's hard to do it. To make us listen! When she's sick and we want to play video games, can we ask her to try to help us fix it? And she's like, no. When we're sick and we and we really don't feel good. What do you think, Brace? Yeah, I said, do you think being a mom is hard?

SPEAKER_04 17:19

Oh no. No, you think it's easy? Well, sometimes it looks hard. What what times do you think it looks hard?

SPEAKER_01 17:27

Um, when you have to deal with us being wild. Oh yeah, when you guys are wild.

SPEAKER_04 17:34

What do you think, Sawyer? Do you think being a mom is hard? Yes. What do you think is hard about being a mom?

SPEAKER_02 17:42

We get what they say you can't get wild.

SPEAKER_01 17:46

When I say you can't be wild, because especially when we're downstairs and you're doing something. Oh, that's a true thing. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 17:55

She tells us to go downstairs because she wants us to um she wants to do stuff by herself and have quiet time. Why do you think moms need quiet time?

SPEAKER_05 18:07

Good question.

SPEAKER_03 18:08

Uh, because they need to work and they're doing a very important call that actually isn't that important. Because it's very important. No, it's very not important like Jack's.

SPEAKER_04 18:23

Brendan, what do you think? Why do moms need quiet time? So they can meditate. So they can meditate. Okay. That's a good one. That is.

SPEAKER_05 18:43

He has the best, most infectious laugh ever. And then his um, he's a good hugger when he decides to give me hugs. What about for Elle?

SPEAKER_04 18:58

What's your favorite thing about Elle?

SPEAKER_05 19:00

My favorite thing about Elle is that she is so strong and has there's like three different little voices that Elle can do that you never know which one you're gonna get. And it makes us all laugh. And we say she's she's the funniest one in the house. For sure. For humans do your sign language turtle.

SPEAKER_03 19:25

No. Oh, and her sign language right now.

SPEAKER_05 19:29

She does the cutest little sign language turtle. Oh Kate. Peace. What is your favorite thing? Right, that's me. What's your favorite thing about Bryn?

SPEAKER_04 19:41

I love how, oh, she's mugging me right now. I love how in tune with people's feelings Brynn is, how kind she is, how loving she is. She's just a kind-hearted human. And I love that. She knows me.

SPEAKER_03 19:58

And she's a good snuggler. About you. Yeah. You forgot one thing about me.

SPEAKER_04 20:04

What did I forget? My green eyes. Oh, I do love your green eyes. Beautiful eyes. And my favorite thing about you, Sawyer, is even though you're wild, that's part of what I love so much because you are fiercely independent and fiercely spirited, and I love that about you because you are just gonna run the world someday.

SPEAKER_05 20:30

You sure are. I love that.

SPEAKER_03 20:31

Someday you're gonna be taller than her. It's not hard to do.

SPEAKER_04 20:37

I'm almost taller than my grandma. Okay. Tell me, Jack, about a time that your mom made you feel really special.

SPEAKER_03 20:47

Um when she uh when she said yes when I asked her to snuggle me in bed.

SPEAKER_05 20:57

I love our snuggles.

SPEAKER_04 20:59

What about you, Elle? What's the time that your mom made you feel special?

SPEAKER_03 21:04

Um when she um takes me to uh uh uh places where I want to go, and she says yes.

SPEAKER_05 21:18

Oh, that's a good one. That's great.

SPEAKER_03 21:20

And when I asked for cookies, she said yes, and like that saw uh ailhead, she said yes.

SPEAKER_05 21:27

Bryn, your turn. What is something your mom does that makes you feel special?

SPEAKER_04 21:33

What was that for? What does that mean? Uh lovely.

SPEAKER_05 21:39

The three squeezes, you squeeze it. You love that.

SPEAKER_02 21:44

Something that makes me feel special is when my mom says yes to going to a horse lesson and we both When we both get to what?

SPEAKER_04 21:54

Tack. Oh, when we get to get the horse ready together.

SPEAKER_05 21:57

Oh, we love that special time with mommy, right?

SPEAKER_04 22:01

Okay, so if you could tell your mom one thing that you want her to remember, what would that be?

SPEAKER_03 22:10

When we go to the ranch and our dog poops, she pinks it up and then she puts it somewhere, and then she always forgets, and my sister has to remind her to get it back. To get it.

SPEAKER_05 22:26

So that was supposed to be a nice emotional. It was supposed to be uh oh, I'm gonna tell you all the wonderful things about my own is great, Jack.

SPEAKER_04 22:37

Al, what's something you want your mom to remember?

SPEAKER_03 22:42

Um when she when she says when she says um I um when she says um I can do something then then she died she hasn't rubbish water to it, and then I ask her, and then she said, I didn't say that, and she has to yeah, that's what I was gonna say.

SPEAKER_05 23:06

Maybe we need a a rephrase for this question.

SPEAKER_04 23:09

I'm kind of afraid to ask you. What's something you want me to remember?

SPEAKER_03 23:13

I want my mom to remember. I want this cactus. So cute pregnant in my brain.

SPEAKER_05 23:22

I know.

SPEAKER_03 23:22

It's so cute.

SPEAKER_04 23:24

Okay, I'm back. Okay. Well, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 23:30

We're officially humbled today. I'd say we are. We have no idea what they were going to say today. And honestly, we're not sure. I don't know how I feel about it yet, Kate. I don't know how you feel about it.

SPEAKER_04 23:43

I'm not sure if I want to laugh or cry or I want more questions.

SPEAKER_05 23:48

Thank you.

SPEAKER_04 23:50

Everybody likes more crap. The question session is complete. So um, now that we are officially humbled, question session is over. We got through it with about 15 I'm thirsty, chairs spinning. So if this made you laugh, cry, feel seen, tag us on Instagram, tag us at messy.minded.mama. Share your kids' answers with us to some of these questions because I really want we have to I want some camaraderie here. We need it. Please share.

SPEAKER_05 24:26

And maybe don't ask your kids these questions unless you're ready to be humbled. Totally. Thanks for joining us today. We'll see you next time. Thank you for being here with us today. If something in this episode resonated, we're really glad you listened. Messy minded or not, you're not alone in this, and you don't have to have it all figured out.

SPEAKER_04 24:46

If you'd like to stay connected, you can follow Messy Minded Mama wherever you listen to podcasts. And follow us on Instagram at messy.minded.mama. We'll be back to connect again soon. Thanks for being here.