Episode 13 - Meet the Moms Behind the Mic (The Stories Behind This Space)

We’re doing something a little different today. 

Before we begin bringing real moms onto the podcast soon, we wanted to take a moment to pause and let you get to know us a little more—beyond the conversations we’ve been having here. 

In this episode, we’re sharing the stories behind why this space exists. Not the polished versions—but the real moments in motherhood that felt heavier than we expected, the mental load we didn’t see coming, and how those experiences shaped the work we do now. 

We talk about the intersection of our personal experiences as moms and our professional backgrounds, and why it became so important to create a space that feels supportive, honest, and grounded in real life—not performative or overwhelming. 

If you’ve ever felt like you’re holding a lot mentally… or like you should be handling things better than you are… this conversation is for you. 

There is space for you here. 

We’re also so excited to begin bringing this space into real life.

We’re hosting our first in-person event for moms—a space to connect, feel supported, and have honest conversations about the mental load of motherhood.

✨ Event Details:
Messy Mama Moments: Canvas Painting with Your Littles
May 9th — 9am-12pm
Createry Workshop, Littleton

This is a fun event for moms and their littles to get a bit messy and connect with others in our community.

👉 Register here — https://www.messymindedmama.com/canvas-painting-may-9

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:12

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

SPEAKER_01 0:20

And we are here creating space for real talk about motherhood, mental health, and the invisible load so many women carry. Welcome back to Messy Minded Mama. We're gonna be starting a new series in the coming weeks where we're gonna get a chance to bring on moms to share their real stories on the podcast. Real moms, real stories. Yep. And we are so excited for that time to come. But we also realized that this might be a really good time just to slow down a bit and to share a little bit more about Kate and I and really our why behind starting the podcast, why we created this space, why it's so important to us, and maybe even future plans of what we're really excited about as we think about expanding.

SPEAKER_00 1:04

We're big dreamers over here, so you might have to ride our roller coaster a bit, but we are really excited to share why this is so important to us and not just how we got here. We covered that a little bit, Instagram friends, turn real life friends, but to actually slow down and talk about how we see ourselves as moms and what drew us into not just a podcast, but everything messy-minded mama is becoming. Yeah. So we're gonna start with like who we are as as humans, um, but also how we see ourselves as moms, like I said. So if you could describe yourself as a mom in three words, that's hard. That is hard. What would you say about yourself?

SPEAKER_01 1:52

Okay, three words. Um the first two that are coming to mind, I think in this phase of parenting and being a mom, I'll say, are present and maybe like mentally um, I don't want to say exhausted. Messy. Mentally busy. Yes. Messy the best. Yeah, the best way, messy-minded mama. I take that as a compliment because that is truly who I am. But I'd say present, mentally busy, because I really am trying to be there for my kids. That's the reason for pivoting careers and doing all the things that we've talked a little bit about. Um, but I will say my brain is always running in the background, right? Even when I'm present with them, I'm still thinking about our big dreams and all the things that we're looking to create together and separately. So present, mentally busy. Um, I'd also say because I'm a dreamer, whether I'm just trying to stretch myself, grow myself, I think something along those lines resonates and would describe me as well of just trying to do more in this life and do things that I'm really passionate about. So wanting to grow myself and stretch myself in that way.

SPEAKER_00 2:58

Those are really accurate, I think, for you too. And really lean into, like you said, the career shift you've made, but how I've seen you show up as a mom and also all the fun, fun plans we have for messy-minded mama in the middle of the night texts about our big dreams.

SPEAKER_01 3:15

Yeah, definitely. How about for you? Because I think those have shifted for me. So that's like current phase for me. Yeah. What about for you? Whether it's early days or whether it's kind of you as a mom today. How would you describe yourself?

SPEAKER_00 3:27

I think I could probably use the same three if it's just three words: overstimulated, okay, always uh loving, yeah, and intentional. Okay. I think intentional has really shifted in what that means for me. I would like to think I've always been intentional about what I do for my kids and how I show up, but intentional now of what I'm creating outside of the house so that I can be intentional at home.

SPEAKER_01 3:53

Yeah. And I love that there's been changes in that, but that those words can stay true no matter what phase you've been at.

SPEAKER_02 4:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 4:00

Being a mom. I think that's awesome to be able to like hang on to something and be like, this is how I want to show up because this is authentically me. Right. But it can look a little different, even using those same words. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:10

Overstimulated always. I mean, that never goes away. Yeah. But I for me, that feels like a very real combination of motherhood of overstimulated, loving, and intentional, but what intention actually means or what alignment, I use that word a lot, what alignment means. So those definitely would be my three words. And we've talked about like they change. Do you ever feel like those change depending on the day, not just the stage of motherhood?

SPEAKER_01 4:37

Yeah, totally. And I think even going back to like the jokes about mentally dizzy or exhausted or messy or whatever that is, I think even just thinking about that, like there can be a different mental state that I'm in. And they might all seem like a little chaotic, but they're targeted, I think, in different ways towards different things. So yeah, I do think depending on the day, things can definitely shift and change.

SPEAKER_00 4:58

Yeah, I agree. I always laugh when I talk about or think about my mental state. Um, and there's TikTok or Instagram audio that's like, I am unstoppable. And then it goes, no, unstable. That's the one. And my kids love that. But I resonate with that as a mom sometimes. Of I could wake up and be like, I'm gonna rock this day as a human, as a mom, as an employee, whatever. And then the mental flood comes in of all the things, and I'm like, oh, maybe not. Yeah, so unstable. That's it. Unstable. Yep. So the chaos is, I think chaos is something, even the best loving chaos. For me, chaos just is a great description for motherhood.

SPEAKER_01 5:44

Yeah, yep. I think it's so funny you talk about like waking up in the morning with like this idea, this plan. I think for me, it's like I go to bed feeling so motivated for everything I'm gonna get done the next day. And then maybe it's like not a good night's sleep or something that kind of throws it off track. But it's like I wake up the next morning and I'm in a completely different dead space. I'm like, I don't even know who that woman was at 10 p.m. last night with like all these ideas and all these things I felt like I was gonna be able to get. Or just opposites at night.

SPEAKER_00 6:10

I'm like, I need to do this, and how am I gonna do this? Like mental spiral. And then in the morning, I'm like, I'm a badass. I got this.

SPEAKER_01 6:19

We need to be exchanging these messages to each other at the right time. Yeah. Like lift each other up when we need it the most.

SPEAKER_00 6:25

Absolutely, absolutely. Oh my gosh, that's so funny.

SPEAKER_01 6:29

So I'm curious, I want to hear from you today. What's something that people would not expect about you?

SPEAKER_00 6:36

I think because of all the things that I do, I'm a therapist, I do the podcast podcast, podcast. Yep. Um, I have a blog and I share a lot about myself. Yeah. I would like to think I come off pretty personable. Yes. Um, and I do really like networking and engaging and supporting people. And so I come off pretty extroverted. And I can be, and I actually really crave quiet and alone and silence. And so I have this introverted component. But I think those like that piece, not a lot of people expect me to really need that silence, that that home time. We were actually laughing a little bit about how similar our kids are to like certain parents this weekend because Taylor was gonna take the kids to Lava Island to go play. And Bryn was like, I would like to lay in bed and read. Yeah. And Sawyer's like, get me out of the house and with the people, which Brynn is me. She is my child. I want to be at home, I want some silence, I need that so I can go do this. And I think it extends beyond, like, oh, I just need to reset my battery. Yeah, I need a full decompress so that I can do things like this. And I don't know that people really expect that. Yeah. Knowing me because I come off bubbly sometimes totally.

SPEAKER_01 8:03

I after knowing you for a while now, like I would not have guessed that about you unless you did share and did open up about like what is really behind everything, right? And what it does take in you to be able to show up in this space or any space where you actually do need to be more on, I'll say, right? Like it can be exhausting when you go places and you're not just a part of it, but when you are like the part of it, when you're a therapist and people are depending on intent listening and really being completely turned on for the people that we work with, yeah, can be mentally draining. So I'm sure it's a number of things like you mentioned, but even just the job you carry and the responsibility that you hold in that position, it definitely calls for decompression and well-deserved decompression. But thank you. But I would not know that about you either unless you had shared.

SPEAKER_00 8:51

Yeah, I definitely have to push myself a bit to to put myself out there and to be on and personable. And I like I like going to events and and networking, but I have to actually work myself up and prep myself for some of these things, or even this, how much I share on here. I am not normally a big like, let me go share my life with people and especially vulnerable things. And here, again, I have to kind of psych myself up a little bit to do it because I like to be home and private and in my little space. So it's kind of a weird balance for me, but I think I can do those things because I give myself that time and I'm aware of it. Yeah, yeah. What's your energy? I mean, I want to know what's unexpected about you too, but I also want to know about your energy.

SPEAKER_01 9:35

Yeah. Um, I have always thought I am extroverted. Yeah. And again, like social like you, like when I'm in the space and really um just like craving that interaction with people, then I have no problem usually like showing up in like this bubbly fun way. I have found over the years that shifted a little bit to where I do want more restful time and I do want, I don't know, more time in like the I guess smaller settings and more intimate conversations, more intimate settings with people that I'm really close to and people that I feel really comfortable in front of. So putting me in a setting today where I might be surrounded by newer people or people that I don't have that relationship with or haven't had a long-term relationship with feels less comfortable to me now than it used to in my life. So there has been a little bit of a shift, but I would still describe myself, I think, as an extrovert mostly. I don't need that much um reset time or that much to like read my mind. I don't. I need a few hours and I can probably like bounce back into it and be back. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:36

Where does Tyler fall on his energy?

SPEAKER_01 10:38

Yeah, so I think he's definitely shifted the same as I have. I think he was always an extrovert, at least that was my view of him, but definitely shifted to be more introverted today. And we'll even talk about just being social doesn't feel like maybe as comfortable to him as it used to. And I honestly, like, I think for both of us to try and figure that out a little bit of what is that shift? What's behind that? Yeah. Um, how can we feel really comfortable in any setting that we really want to? Okay. Um, and I don't think it's that hard for us, but I do think it's shifted, and that shift feels weird sometimes.

SPEAKER_00 11:12

Yes, absolutely. Taylor is a people person all the time. Yep. Like Friday night, he's like, Who are we gonna see? Should we have game night? What can we go do? I need to get out of the house. I'm like, you're like, oh, have fun. I will be here reading my book. Have so much fun. Yeah, um, and so we have to find that balance of he craves and likes social interaction. It is meaningful to him. That fills him up. And I'm like, I don't want to look at another human on a Friday night. Yeah. And so um finding that balance for us in our relationship has been uh, I wouldn't say a challenge, but definitely a conversation point. Yeah. And it's really me being like, I'm comfortable staying at home, and you go do what fills you up, and then we find space together too. But yeah, I'm definitely the homebody in our relationship.

SPEAKER_01 12:02

And I'd say right now, Tyler's probably the homebody, and our our schedules just kind of miss sometimes, right? Like he's so passionate about running and being up early in the morning. Yeah, I'm more passionate about like sleeping in when I can and having like late nights or being social and going out with friends, which might mean a late night. And so we're just kind of like missing each other. So yeah, in our relationship, it's something that we've had to talk about as well and kind of figure out how does this how do we balance each other out in that way, yeah, in really good ways sometimes, but then also how do we make time for each other that we're both getting our cup filled when we need it.

SPEAKER_00 12:33

What's your unexpected thing?

SPEAKER_01 12:34

Okay, um you're like, I was ready. I'm so ready for this. I think my anxiety that I carry, I it just in like recent maybe year, two years, I have been very open about talking about anxiety because of the impact that it has had on me that I honestly didn't know like how much weight that was carrying. Yeah, I think even pre-therapist, I had it, and I don't think anyone really would have guessed that about me. I think now that I am a therapist, I think people definitely don't expect me to because why would a therapist have anxiety, right? It's like, no, we do. We all we're human, like we're talking about. We're sharing this to be real and to be raw, and that is something that the anxiety, the overstimulation, and panic, I guess I'll say, is one thing that would definitely catch people off guard.

SPEAKER_00 13:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:23

Because anyone that knows me as a mom would probably describe me as a little bit helicopter-y, and then and maybe associate that with anxiety of like making sure my kids are safe and kind of always looking over them. But the panic and the panic attacks that I have had and that I've carried in some of those moments where the anxiety has gotten to be too much, I don't think anyone would know that was happening. Tyler would maybe be the only one that would like recognize, okay, this is she's going into like panic mode. But nobody else around me in a situation where I might be experiencing that would ever be clued into it. Yeah. Um, so I don't think that I think it that's the additional added-on weight of anxiety when you get to that point of having panic attacks. And I don't think that anyone really knows that experience that I've gone through and had.

SPEAKER_00 14:12

Yeah, and it's hard to I think express it or communicate in a way that people will understand, especially when people know you're a therapist and they're like, oh, you've got all these skills and you're calm and you're regulated, and I'm like, no, ma'am. Yeah, I am at times, and I do have this big box of tools, sure. Totally. But you have to actually remember to be able to tap into them. And I think that can be hard. I'm really good at helping other people access and utilize them, and I know what they are, but I don't always do a great job myself of utilizing them or talking about them because I think we put pressure on ourselves too, is like, oh, I'm a therapist, I should be able to handle this. And really, we're human.

SPEAKER_01 14:53

Yeah. Yeah. And it's taken a long time, like you said, to actually take the tools that I've learned and use them to my best benefit and use them in a way that is actually working for me. So you're right, we have access to it, but it is a whole different ballgame when you have to really take it upon yourself to carve out that time, carve out that energy, right, that it takes to apply the tools. So, you know, we work with it all the time in the clients that we have, and it's we know so deeply how to help, but it the change really lies within, right? It lies within everyone that has it right in front of them and wants to take that on for themselves. And it's not always easy to do. So yeah, I've struggled with that just like you know, uh tons of other people in this world have. So um something that you wouldn't always know, but something that exists and that I've been working through.

SPEAKER_00 15:40

And I love that you're talking openly about it and normalizing it because it is a hard thing. And I think motherhood brings up so many situations, at least it did for me, and from what I've heard from others, that we wouldn't necessarily ever face if we weren't in that position. And you have this desire to care and protect a whole other human in a way that you never have before. Yeah, and so anxiety gets heightened. Yeah. And so I really appreciate that you talk so openly about those experiences to try to help bring the it's real and it's okay to talk about it.

SPEAKER_01 16:15

Yeah, yeah. And we'll get to our a little bit more about our why later, I think, but I think it all goes into that, right? This is the why for just showing up and wanting to create this space is to be vulnerable and to be honest in our own experiences and not to say that everyone is walking in those same shoes and living that same experience, but if it can help one person at the end of the day say, Oh man, I've been carrying this too, and it's okay. Yeah, and maybe there are ways that I can get help or support, then that's why we're here. That's what we want to do this for.

SPEAKER_00 16:46

Exactly.

unknown 16:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:47

So right now you're in the middle of building a lot of different things. Oh, totally. What does a real day in the life of Jen look like?

SPEAKER_01 16:56

Sure. Okay, so all the morning madness, all the morning chaos we've talked about before, getting up. I am the only one at home because Tyler leaves the house super early for work. So the only adult home. I am home with two children. I'm home with a crazy dog who has the most energy in the morning. So cute. Oh, he is. We'll have to post a picture of the dogs. We will. Oh my gosh, adorable. We love them, but they can be a lot and just add an extra. So the breakfast lunches obviously getting out the door. My days, this is the thing I love about the work that I'm doing and that we're doing together, is that every day can look a little different, but there's also chaos in that. So it's jumping from uh full client load one day to brainstorming workshops the next day to planning events the following day, right? To building out so many things that we want. And by the time, so I pick my kids up at 2.35. By the time that point of the day rolls around, my day and my brain isn't totally shutting off, right? So then I go back into mom mode, but I'd say like I'm a half and half, right? I'm trying to be fully present from 2.35 on as much as I can. And some days I give in to that completely and say, today is a kid's day and I am there for them.

SPEAKER_02 18:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 18:06

Others' days I have too much on my brain still that I'm not gonna be the best, even with them, if I'm not kind of getting a couple more to-dos done. So my afternoons could be full of extra work and closing out some tabs while the kids are um with me, and then we do our evening routine. Yeah, you know, all the things. So a little bit of chaos, but it's all for the good at the end of the day.

SPEAKER_00 18:28

But things that you've worked so hard to build and to have meaning for you. The podcast, the events, the time with your kids. Yeah. I know those were all a big part. And then the therapy piece, which has been such a we've talked about that, but such a calling for you too. So yeah, I love that you've built we've built, you've built all the things this life that has so much meaning for you.

SPEAKER_01 18:49

Yeah, I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm so grateful to be able to get this opportunity to be present, to do the work that I'm doing. All the things is so important. So happy to do it and curious for you because you're in the you're in the same boat.

SPEAKER_00 19:03

And chaos, that word just keeps coming back. And you know, I I think right now, especially like as we're recording this, like my my life is very full, and it's very full in a lot of really great ways and a lot of transitional ways still. Um, and I always laugh because my mom and I were just talking the other day, and she called and she's like, Hey, what are you doing? I was like, working, and she's like, uh-huh, working on what? She said, There's too many things. And I was like, Oh, that's I didn't actually ever think about that. Um, but it is true. Like, I, you know, still working part-time for the job that I'm transitioning out of. I've got my therapy practice, and then all the stuff we're doing here, but then soccer and horses and the morning madness and the drop-offs and the pickups and um more horses. And so I think a lot of it is built in shifting from one thing I'm passionate about or working on to another through the day. And I feel I'd like to say I do a really good job of it, but I I do feel like my brain is usually like 47 browser tabs open at once, and I kind of rotate through them. Um, so I'm trying really hard to like focus on one task, finish that before I shift, but I think my brain is moving a little faster than that until I'll start this and then I'll shift to this, and then I'll start the. So I need to work on that. But it's just very full, but it's again full in a way that I wouldn't have any other way because it's full because I found passion, and it's full because I'm prioritizing things that are important to me right now. And I will be really honest, like my husband carries a lot of the household stuff. I've said this before, and I will say it again, and I will toot that morning for him because I honestly couldn't do all of these things without the support that I have from him too. But like you said, you know, it's I pick them up. They do aftercare some days, which gives me a little buffer. Sure. But I pick them up and it's like I want to be present, but I also am still working on this. And so the fact that he manages some of that and I get just the dedicated time with them, or I get dedicated time to keep working, or you and I were on a call. Is that last night or the night before?

SPEAKER_01 21:25

Four nights ago, I think. You know, 8 p.m.

SPEAKER_00 21:27

Yeah, because that's when we have time. Yeah, I I feel really lucky that we have some of that, but it also takes the work for us and the passion to do it. So yeah, um full and chaos and great.

SPEAKER_01 21:41

Yeah, yep. And the extra curriculars you brought up, it's like I didn't even think about that. Like, what are when are we running to like little sports activities and all the other birthday parties and all the other things that need to fill the time as well? So there is a lot there, and shout out to my husband as well. Tyler is great. The other night we were on the phone and they were. We're both doing bedtime with all four of our kids, right? So it was nice to be able to carve out time in an evening to do that and keep exploring more stuff.

SPEAKER_00 22:08

So yeah, I think it's important too. Like we talk about the chaos and all the things, but I also try to think I try to think about when we're taking time to not do any of it and just be. Um, and I was actually laughing about this the other day because that's for me, it's my shower. Like, yeah, I like my 10 to 15 minutes alone in the shower where nobody is talking to me before I've had coffee, usually safer for everybody. Yep. Your Jack just said that coffee we act like coffee is an emergency, and he's not wrong because it is. But two mornings ago, I was in the shower, which is my 10 minutes of silence, and Sawyer comes in and sits on the floor and starts talking to me. And I'm like, this is so sweet. And also I'm so overstimulated because I need that time. So while the chaos is great and we live it and in a lot of ways, like we chose that, but it's also motherhood and all the things we're juggling. And I also sometimes just want my quiet. So I think remembering that we have to set no matter what phase, era, season, whatever word you want to use, and you're working so hard that you we have to still find that time to like give back to ourselves and I'm not proud of how I handled her sitting on the floor, but I she was sitting there talking, and I was like, Oh, that's really great, honey. Like, mommy needs a few minutes, and she just kept going and then she started screaming because she was mad that I was interrupting her her monologue. Yep. And so I was like, hey, Sawyer, scoot a little bit. And I was like, okay, mommy needs 10 minutes, and I closed the door. And she was like, Well, that was wooed.

SPEAKER_01 23:45

Oh my gosh, little Sawyer.

SPEAKER_00 23:47

Then she went and found her dad.

SPEAKER_01 23:48

So she went right where she needed to be at that point in time. I was like, perfect.

SPEAKER_00 23:53

But not my proudest moment, but I needed that. I need that time. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:57

So well, taking that time, no matter how you do it, right? Is it allows you to show up differently in the rest of the day when you really do need to be on? So I don't blame you for you know carving out that space and being able to like make that your own for sure.

SPEAKER_00 24:12

So I want to shift. Like we got a lot of like background stuff, but when did it shift into like motherhood felt heavier or like you recognized that you wanted that shift so much? Like what kind of led you into this space, I guess.

SPEAKER_01 24:28

Yeah, definitely probably as soon as having Jack, I think things started to shift a little bit for me, just because I realized that the balance that I envisioned when I was gonna become a mom didn't exist. And it was because I was working a full-time job that I had to be out of the house every single day for. So pretty early on, I think it shifted to say, okay, there has to be a better way that I can balance this life. Doesn't mean I knew exactly what it's gonna look like, right? I think I've talked about that before in like the career pivot, and it started with like this timeline and it became, you know, this vision that I was starting to like paint and dream out for a while. But definitely early on, of the constant worry that I was carrying, him having, you know, certain him being like just hard to settle, gastro issues, all the things that he was that was going on with him made that worry feel so heavy. And that's when things started to shift of I can't constantly be thinking about that or be on in that way and give everything to this job. Right. And again, I've also shared it, it comes down to is this time away from them worth it and important? And so that continued question in my mind of is this worth it and building out this career in this way, is that really what I want to do? Became kind of the biggest eye-opener for me of no, it's not, and I want to do something else that I'm more passionate about and does allow me flexibility, but really have me show up in the way that I want to professionally too.

SPEAKER_00 25:57

I love that. And I love like we talked about before of you having this pivot and this plan, but really reevaluating of like I've done this for so long. And it's not that you hate it, no, and it it's just that it no longer fit what you wanted to work towards. Yeah, and so you found a way that maybe was a little chaotic, messy, but still giving you now what you wanted. And I love that you felt that that drive and the passion and and you found a way to make it happen.

SPEAKER_01 26:26

So yeah, yeah. And again, you different story, different path for you of maybe getting here. But I think when did you realize, like, what did it take for you to say, like, okay, I want something different?

SPEAKER_00 26:37

Yeah, I was actually just talking with someone about this earlier, too, of like early motherhood, which we did a whole episode on, versus like my kids now as they get older. And early motherhood, like we talked about, was really hard and a lot of like self-criticism. And but I still I had a lot of flexibility and I had a lot of like I was still growing a lot in my career and my job in that early motherhood, especially with Bryn. And now as they're getting older and they're more independent, and they're more into activities, and I kind of recognize this time is a bit more fleeting. Yeah, and I started looking at how I wanted to show up and what I wanted that to be. And I've said this before, I I am not someone that was like, I want to be a stay-at-home mom. That is just that for me felt like a world of heart. Yeah. For me, like it's not, I don't know, it's weird to say like I'm not built for that because it sounds like I don't want to be with my kids, but I still needed something, I still need something else so that I can be the mom that I want to be, I think. And I just kind of realized that how I was seeing the importance of my long-standing career that I had worked so hard to build, and I love that job, and I love everything, like the team, everything about it. It wasn't that anything was bad, it just was I started building some of these other things and watching me like I was working 50, 55 hours, 60 hour weeks, and a lot of that was self-induced. I mean, I recogni I recognize that, but something just I got to a point where I was like, I have to pick a path because I want to be with my kids more, yeah, but I'm invested in this job and this career that I've done for a decade, but I want to build something that I feel so passionate and drawn to. And so for me, that was like where it all turned a bit of I have to choose and nothing feels wrong. Yeah, just kind of a weird space to be. So I was calling it my one foot risk of like I've been straddling these worlds for the last over a year. Yeah, and I just was like, I have to, I have to decide because I want to raise my girls to be strong and dependent women, and I want them to see me chase my dreams. Yeah. And they want to hang out with me right now. I mean, sort of, most days. Yeah. And so I want to soak that up. And so I wanted to create a space where I could still do these things that I feel drawn to of supporting moms and women and still supporting the aging population, because that's still a huge passion of mine. Yeah, but also not be working 50, 55 hour weeks so that I can fully be a present mom with more time to give them. Yeah. And I'm really liking that.

SPEAKER_01 29:28

Yeah. You talk about the almost like this guilt that's carried with like I can't be a stay-at-home mom. I wasn't built for it. I think it is so fair to feel that way. It's so fair to say that out loud. I am the same way. I think I am a better mom because I have something else to do that I do feel passionate about. And then when I do show up with the kids, then it isn't more intentional with them. But it I am fulfilled by being able to do things that matter to me.

SPEAKER_00 29:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 29:54

And that give me that own identity. So I think permission for you to feel okay with not with being able to say that that being a stay-at-home mom isn't for you, it's not for everybody. We've talked about that for the people that are doing it. We uh cannot imagine. We applaud you. We cannot imagine that work. But I think giving space to say, no matter what that path looks like, and no matter how you're showing up for your kids, that it is okay. And uh this time is so short, too. So to be able, what you're talking about of having time with your kids when they do want to hang out with us, when they do want to have us be as present as we can be, then it's kind of you know a win-win situation for us right now. And so that's what I'm loving so much, too.

SPEAKER_00 30:38

Me too. And I love what we're creating, I think, and that leads into it, right? Is we we started kind of our we start not kind of, we started our own separate paths of the therapy, and I started the blog and then Instagram, which is that is crazy town to me that like I spend so much time on social media now. Because I'm pretty sure in the last, I'm pretty sure in the last nine months since I started the blog, and especially now with the podcast and the I am on social media in more in the last nine months than I was in the last nine years. Oh, yeah, same. And um, I think the part that stood out for me of of how we ended up here really is I started to share more about motherhood and my thoughts in my journey, and I found community, online community, which sounds so crazy to say. My internet friends, right? But I found community of moms who were also feeling the same way and connecting, and I had seen it through my therapy work, and people were being really honest, but also so uplifting and so supportive. Yeah, and that's where I was like, I want more of this, yeah, I want to create more of this space. So that was really my why of why the blog, the blog initially, but then the podcast of, but then I told you, I said I don't want to do a podcast by myself, and I don't either, and Jen wanted to do a podcast that didn't want to do it by herself either, and so here we are. Yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_01 32:06

And I think it's the same with me when it comes to social media. I never thought that I would be on there as much. I do not consider myself a content creator to this day, an influencer creating content all the time and and doing things. I think, again, for all the right reasons, right? It's it's giving if even one person sees a quote or something that we're sharing in that space that and can take that away and feel better about what's going on in their situation, or take it and use it as a tool in therapy that they can like take and use for the better good for themselves. Then that's ultimately the intent behind it. But yeah, the why of wanting to extend that further and the reach is there when you think about therapy and getting in front of clients and everything we're able to do. But when you really think about what this can open up for, what we dream of when it comes to meeting people more in person, right? And creating that sense of community around us too. There's such good things, there's such good opportunities, not just for us, but for other people to not feel alone in their own journey and have a good sense of community that they can lean into and have fun with, right? It doesn't all have to be heavy and you know, we we understand the mental health side that needs time, needs care, needs attention. Not all life needs that, right? In that way. It can be getting out and having fun and relating to people in, you know, the chaotic way. Um that can be really uplifting too.

SPEAKER_00 33:30

And building that, I think that was our big thing that we've even continued as we grow messy-minded mama outside of just a podcast, is the sense of community, especially for us right now, local. Right? We're Denver moms, we live in the suburbs of Denver, and we want to connect moms because motherhood can feel really isolating. And so that's been a big part of why we wanted to do the podcast, why we have the multiple Instagrams that we do, and why we're kind of venturing into what's next for us, which we'll get to. But I think it's it's also just fine for us finding ways to support moms and women outside of just therapy. Yeah, because therapy is great and needed, and we're strong advocates for it, and not everybody needs a therapy moment, not everyone needs a diagnosis, they just need some other support, and that's what we want to build. And I don't I don't know if I've ever told you this, but one of my favorite parts about us having a podcast is having Bryn listen to it and cheer it on and talk about it. Yeah, and she loved being on it. I mean, like totally, yeah, she loved that part, but I love that she gets to see me lean into this and take a risk, even though it's messy, but she sees me chasing it and her reflecting it back to me or like her saying even yesterday she wanted to start a blog. She was like, I want to write a blog called Bryn's World, and I was like, done, we will find a way. Fun fact they make uh domains or whatever you want to call it for kids to write blogs. So I love that. We will be researching that a little bit, but that's probably like the mom community and what we've built in our friendship has been such blessings, and that part for me also just hits home in a different way.

SPEAKER_01 35:12

Yeah, I agree. The kids think that they are famous because of the episode that they were on the podcast, are famous, and just getting them to yeah, see it, be a part of it, and all of that just warms my heart as well.

SPEAKER_00 35:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:24

What's been another one of your favorite parts of just what we've built so far? I mean, hearing from the people that we've heard from so far and people that have been engaging, people that have been listening. I have gotten multiple text messages, I've gotten multiple DMs of people saying, like, what you're building resonates. It's so relatable. And I think seeing that across the spectrum a little bit of like different moms in different phases of their life. I was at dinner with friends the other night and um they had some other people there, so I was kind of describing what I'm doing, and Tyler was, you know, toot in the horn of the podcast and stuff, but I was describing it and I described it as like a mom space. And one of my friends who is a dad said, Is it just for moms? And he's like, I've been listening, and it was it's so nice to hear other people outside of just maybe even who we imagine is listening and getting something out of it, kind of take it in and have it feel relatable is just really rewarding and why we're doing it.

SPEAKER_00 36:18

I love that. I love that he was listening too. And fun fact, Taylor and Tyler will be running the podcast here soon for an episode. They will. I don't know if they know that yet. Taylor does. Okay, Tyler's Tyler, you're gonna come on the podcast.

SPEAKER_01 36:34

Totally. It's gonna be great.

SPEAKER_00 36:36

No, I'm really excited, and I I agree that the outreach that we've heard. And if you haven't sent us a message yet and want to, we want to hear from you. We love hearing from people. Stay tuned on our Instagram for the messy mom hotline. We'll see what that is coming up.

SPEAKER_01 36:56

Yeah, definitely. I can't, I'm so excited for all the things because we do want to hear from you. I think it's so important for us to if you can take one thing we're saying, perfect, and like use that and relate to it, then that is our goal. But also to have other moms sharing their experiences and their stories. And again, we will have people on being able to do that. But if you can send us messages of anything you want to share, then we will definitely help you know share that message on part of this podcast as well.

SPEAKER_00 37:24

Yeah, we're really excited. So we talked about our songs, we talked about why this podcast exists. You want to share a little bit about what we've got? Sure. We stream of things.

SPEAKER_01 37:36

What we have coming. So Kate said it earlier, we like to dream big, and and we love just being able to help people in any way that we can. So our latest thing that is coming, latest and greatest, I'll say, is an event that we have planned, local event in our community in Littleton for moms around Mother's Day and moms and littles, really being able to not just have mom show up, but have you bring your little ones. We love seeing it. We love seeing the chaos, we love being a part of it, and we'll be a fun little event that we will share all the details for. And beyond that, we look to hold future events as well, and really, again, this sense of community. I think we're still dreaming out what that looks like when it comes to in-person events. I would love to see us do something more virtual too, just to bring in space from all over the place. Yeah. Um, but we have a lot of really good things coming your way, and we're just so excited to be able to take it beyond just the podcast in this room that we're in and these voices.

SPEAKER_00 38:40

See the room that we're in. Right. And our I mean, you will. I'll post a picture of it of our super professional podcast studio. But I I agree. I'm really the community building piece has been such a staple of our conversations. And so to be able to host events where we, you know, the one coming up on May 9th is a paid event, but we're also looking at some free events and how we can find space for moms and just moms to have some time to build community, have some space, maybe have a quiet corner or something to just relax, but then also have some family building or mom and little's time. And so we are planning a host of events, a lot of events coming up. And our messy mom hotline is another way that we can connect with people and um more merch is always on the way if you're interested. But we've got big dreams.

SPEAKER_01 39:38

We do, and we will keep you all posted. We'll put some stuff in our show notes today as far as links to at least the the latest, greatest event that's coming your way. Our website, messymindedmama.com, always has some great information too. So we will keep you posted as we create new things and everything that's coming your way.

SPEAKER_00 39:57

So, as always, we leave you with a little closing thing segment. Yep. Clothing, clothing, clothing. We have clothing, but closing quote. Um, so if you're listening and you feel like you're caring a lot, like your brain never shuts off, like you're doing everything and still wondering if it's enough, you are not alone in that. And I think that's something we both want moms to hear as we talk about community. So you're not alone in that, and we are here to support you. Thanks for listening. We'll see you next time.

SPEAKER_01 40:30

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_00 40:41

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.