Momfessions Podcast: Recent Episodes
Beth Ferreira and Emily Youree, Fort Worth Moms
Momfessions discusses the beauty and burden of motherhood and how it translates into sweet moments, funny stories, heartache, and challenges.
Whether it is a brand new state, a new town, a different school, or moving up to a new building, the Momfessions team discuss every angle of parenting a new kid at a new school.
What are you DONE with??? Packing lunches? Laundry? Unloading the diswasher? Breaking up arguments?
Are you raising siblings? Are you a sibling? This episode is allll about siblings -- our back stories and our parenting styles.
Confidence in motherhood is a fluid situation, an evolving status. For Jenn, the infant stage challenged her confidence AND bolstered it, becoming the foundation for confidence to grow.
Moms are the ones who often organize the celebrating, so what happens when mom is the one who should be celebrated??? Who plans that?
Erinn and Emily have two totally different experiences and perspectives on this topic! What are the pros and cons of sleepaway summer camp??? There's plenty to chat about and think through, especially if you are a first-time, sleep-away camp parent.
The conversation centers around this point: "Respect forms the cornerstone of healthy political discourse. Teaching our children to listen actively, empathize, and consider different viewpoints equips them with essential life skills." That's great in concept, but how do we actually model that, teach that, and live that in practical ways?
Several moms speak up about how they handle the tantrums happening in their homes -- or at the grocery store.
Special guest Kim Garrett, a former writer on the Fort Worth Moms team, joins Emily and Erinn to talk through a really important topic -- supporting kids dealing with grief.
Now that we are a few years post-you-know-what, we can see the impact it had on our kiddos. In this episode, Emily and Erinn chat about those educational impacts . . . and we hear from several moms who provide ideas and ways they have supported their kiddos educationally. Education interrupted is now turning into education redirected. We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!Recommended ResourcesAs you heard on this episode — we’ve grown! Momfessions is now part of Beal Media — which manages Collin County Moms, Dallas Moms, and Fort Worth Moms. The featured resource highlighted in this post is our MANY Facebook community groups for moms living in the DFW metroplex. To find one, two, or a ton to join, check out these options: Meet moms in Collin County Meet moms in the Dallas area Meet moms in the Fort Worth area
Ever wonder what to do with military-focused holidays? Ever feel confused about what you're supposed to do because there are so many mismatched traditions?
We hear from NINE different women, sharing about how that "ideal mom" causes guilt, shame, and "should be's" for the silliest of reasons.
Listen in as Chanda, a mom to three grown boys, gives practical advice about creating a home they want to come back to.
It's another honest episode of Momfessions for ya! And this time Emily and her guest talk openly about vulnerability and all the walls, blockades, lies, etc. we employ to avoid it.
Listen in to this episode as she walks through the steps and "practice points" they've used to help her son get more comfortable with the idea of not being the best.
This episode of Momfessions Podcast dives into the stereotypes and struggles mothers encounter when they also wear the business owner hat.
It has nothing to do with lunch, and everything to do with being in the middle of care giving for two generations.
Losing a pet is so hard personally, and then add in the fact that you are the parent helping your children through this loss is a whole other layer of hard.
Listen in as Beth, Emily, and special guest Stephanie Flies, the director and founder of City Mom Collective, talk about the ins and outs and pros and cons of that work-from-home life.
Beth and Emily reveal their families' choices for childcare through the years and discuss the challenges that come with balancing budget, working hours, and childcare needs.
Not only are these young adult years stretching for the child, but they are also stretching for the parent. So, how can you best navigate them?
What are the parenting strengths and weaknesses for each enneagram type? Listen to this episode for the answers and insights!
How do your expectations of fatherhood influence the way you interact with the father of your children?
What adoption myths still exist in American culture? Learn more about this evolving conversation by listening to this episode -- and sharing it with others.
Momfessions Podcast and Dear White Women joined forces for episode 72! Beth and Emily teamed up with Misasha Suzuki Graham and Sara Blanchard for a discussion about what it is like being a mom in a transracial family.
What do moms actually do all the time? Well, now we know thanks to the insightful observations and commentary from our offspring. ;-)
The school year is winding down: Beth and Emily both served as room moms for their first graders' classes. They give their report in this episode. While Beth and Emily do not live far from each other, their experiences really differ!
Beth and Emily reveal their worst forgetful offenses and chat about strategies to curb the forgetting. A few other mothers chime in with helpful tips and funny stories.
Beth and Emily visit with Dr. Lea Feghali to discuss how potty training impacts pelvic floor health -- yes, pelvic floor habits for our littles. It is truly a fascinating conversation.
This episode provides several tips on ways to lower the grocery store bill and how increased prices are impacting the ability to use typical cost saving strategies, like bulk buying.
If you are looking for mom-to-mom advice about parenting teenagers, then this is THE episode for you. The end. It's that good. That's all we have to say.
Why can't we keep our houses clean? What is the psychology behind the piles and the avoidance? How are our ideals paralyzing us? We tackle these questions and more in this episode of Momfessions Podcast.
Moral of the story? Let's celebrate each other . . . let's tell our gal pals why we appreciate them and need them!
Which episodes were the top five episodes of Momfessions Podcast in 2021? Listen and find out . . . right along with Emily, who went in to this episode clueless about the top posts.
That's right, your cervix may need some attention, ladies. Listen in for good tips, new recommendations, and a few laughs (because we are still middle school kids at heart).
Adios, goodbye, and maybe a bit of good riddance to 2021. Beth and Emily look back at the milestones of this year in all its parenting challenges and joys, finding new ways to make connections, and rediscovering so much about themselves.
It's a commitment we're making right here in the presence of the interwebs: We will make family fun again.
If you could only secure one thing for your child, what would it be? And we don't mean a Nintendo Switch, but more like . . . you can secure contentment, kindness, success, or faith. Things like that. What would you choose?
Come to terms with getting older? Beth and Emily discuss such and more -- especially since they recently turned another year older.
Here's a topic where we are divided: pets. One of us is pro-pet. The other is, eh, pro-less pet responsibility. And heavens, how do you handle the whole pet situation with kids???
One question set off a discussion that filled an entire episode: What's your gut reaction when you hear the term "parent/teacher relationship"? All three of us had a different response. Yes, all three. A fellow team member and former teacher joined the conversation. Laurie gave insights both as an educator and as a mother. This is a good one, y'all!
Beth and Emily talk discipline fatigue, how the pandemic changed their approach, and how to handle all the discipline issues with teachers, grandparents, etc.
Take a listen as grandmothers for all walks of life share the burdens and beauty of their grandmothering experiences.
Warning: You will crave cornbread dressing, chicken and dumplings, and (maybe) corned beef and cabbage after you listen to this episode.
Beth and Emily dive deep into this topic, so moms can find space for "me time" instead of drowning in guilt and shame.
This episode is also known as the jackpot of parenting. Hear GREAT tips and encouragements from mothers, who have already walked through the middle school years with their kiddos.
The ladies are talking dirty -- dirty laundry, that is. All three tackle the laundry in different ways.
More than anything, we hope our discussion prompts you to think through how YOU are flipping the script -- and maybe even what you want that script to be.
Some of us made big schooling changes and some of us didn't. Take a listen and learn the whys behind where Beth and Emily -- and a few friends -- landed when it comes to education decisions for our kids.
Beth and Emily discuss with Dr. Kristen Criado, a pediatric psychologist, the ins and outs of parenting children who struggle with clinical anxiety. We ask allllll the questions, so tune in to find the answers that may turn into THE answers you need for your kiddo.
How do you cope with change and then guide your kids through changes in life, both large and small? That's the topic in this episode!
Happy Mother's Day -- it's the super bowl of holidays for mom. Listen to some funny, sweet, and startling confessions in this special edition episode. We discuss expectations, traditions, and disappointments.
This episode discusses what it's like to experience pandemic pregnancy, birth, and babies. What are the extra burdens and surprise blessings?
Should we, shouldn't we? What lessons from the pandemic will change our approach and choices?
What started out as a light-hearted chat about Beth and Emily's differing feeding choices turned into a moving -- and at times surprising -- discussion with other mothers about the pressures women encounter when it comes to feeding journeys during the baby stage.
Moms -- who live and breath this every day and who devote themselves to raising their kids the best ways they can -- chat about their experiences of parenting a child with a ADHD diagnosis.
In this episode, Beth shares candidly about her 20-year journey with mental health challenges. Emily talks too about how grief triggered panic attacks in her life. It's a powerful episode, and one we think many can relate to.
It's magical and a mile marker -- in your child's life and yours. Beth and Emily -- and a few call-in friends -- share some secrets they wish they knew before the big kindergarten year. Take a listen!
In this episode, we hear from Stephanie, who is an accomplished professional, community supporter, and a mother of two. She is also a Black woman.
Another year of Momfessions Podcast is in the books. Beth and Emily revisit the top five most popular episodes -- one by one in surprise style.
I mean, how long do we have? If EVER there was a loaded question, it is this one: What did you learn in 2020?
So many topics come up: Unspoken gender roles, cultural demands on moms, juggling childcare, budget issues, and more. We could fill 10 episodes with our thoughts and feelings on this subject! Take a listen and share yours with us.
The adoption community and conversation is changing rapidly, especially during the last three years or so. The ladies talk about this and more, including how to create opportunities for your kids to talk about adoption and giving power back to the triad members.
Beth and Emily -- and a few friends -- discuss how they are handling (or not handling) the holidays this year. We also talk about an upcoming VIRTUAL EVENT happening on November 7 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.. It's Home for the Holidays :: A Virtual Moms Night In.
Ever wonder what the youngest of four, the oldest of five, and an only child might have to say about birth order? You are about to find out in this episode! Birth order not only impacts your family dynamics, but it also impacts the way you parent, interact with extended family, and more.
Here's a little taste of what we talk about: "Our disciplinary reasons and methods have shifted from 'let's change the behavior so that everyone is comfortable' to 'let's look at what we're doing and how it impacts the people around us.'"
"Food is a big deal" is our favorite quote from episode 31. And we spend our time talking about it and how food impacts our emotions and relationships.
Guess what? Beth and Emily noticed the stress and strain from the pandemic started impacting their gynecologic health, so they called on a friend and longtime Fort Worth Moms supporter, Dr. Jamie Erwin of Vivi Women's health, to help. And by help, we mean answer all of their questions. ;-)
Beth and Emily chose different schooling options for their kids. They talk about this civilly. They are still friends. Be like Beth and Emily. ;-)
"My kids will never have food on their face in public" and other statements made loudly and confidently prior to kids . . . that's what episode 28 is allll about. Beth and Emily dish on the many times they have "eaten their words" since becoming a mom.
Pioneer parent and team member Heather chats with Momfessions in this episode all about social media safety for our kids.
Join Beth and Emily -- wherever you are on this road and where they are -- to journey together . . . and to commit to learn more about how to dismantle racism in and through our parenting.
Summer traditions keep us sane. They are the serving as the center point of familiarity we can all gather around this summer. Yes, some traditions, like out-of-town vacations, may be paused or look different in 2020, but there are many traditions holding true -- even in the middle of the pandemic.
This episode is a bit longer than typical for Momfessions, but it is an important one that reflects on the generational damage caused by abuse and the hope cycle breakers can bring. It's not an easy question to answer -- how can you parent well after surviving abuse -- but it's one paramount to explore.
Beth and Emily chat about the importance of self-care, their own summer transitions, and which tips can really make a difference.
In this episode, Beth and Emily, along with some "phone-in" friends, talk about the really hard aspects of the new normal and the really beautiful joys that have risen out of it. We bet you can relate! Take and listen and share your pandemic burdens and beauties in the comments below.
We don't know about you, but we could REALLY use a laugh. So, we looked through all our mishaps and funny moments that never made the cut. We're sharing these in this bonus epsiode. Laugh with us and at us, please!
Episode 21 finds Beth and Emily chatting about childhood milestones -- ones their kids missed, how they handled it, and what they did and didn't stress about. Also, joining Momfessions Podcast is a special guest from My Health My Resources Tarrant County.
For this milestone episode, Beth and Emily get quite the laugh as they discuss "Ridiculous Mom Worries." Take a listen, empathize with them, and share your own stories,
This episode is all about expectations versus reality: What is it really like parenting toddlers? And answering that ever important question: What do I wish I knew? Beth, Emily, and few more friends sit down to share wisdom learned in the toddler trenches.
The pelvic floor area -- yes, you have one of those -- changes as age, stress, and/or childbirth become part of our stories. Lacey answers some straightforward questions and gives honest asnwers about pain, intercourse struggles, incontinence, and more in this epsiode.
This is a rather juicy episode where we go bold or go home: We are talking about uninvovled grandparents.
No matter the hue of your skin or the texture of you hair, these are conversations we need to have with each other -- mother to mother. Those discussions can foster ideas that will impact our parenting, and that parenting will impact the future our children inherit.
With lines like "you can trust yourself around food," and disecting the shame cycle that sometimes surrounds dieting, this is an important, practical, and helpful listen for any woman -- mom or not.
Do you remember where you were standing when the thought occurred to you: Moms are responsible for the magic of the holidays? Beth and Emily discuss that and more -- traditions, what their mamas did, and how they pull off Christmas each year -- in this episode of Momfessions. Happy holidays! Mamas, you've got this.
We're not talking about breastfeeding versus bottle, or when or where your baby sleeps. No, we are talking about what we wish we knew during those newborn days to help us survive -- and maybe even have moments of thriving.
Y'all. This is a good one to listen to over and over. For most of our adult lives the concept of hospilatliy stumped and scared us. Katherine Sasser, a hospitality guru, explains, sets us straight, and quite frankly, encourages us.
Beth and Emily chat about Emily's adoption journey in this behind-the-scenes Q & A. The pair discusses everything from the why and the how to the hard and happy.
Sneak treats when no one is looking? Lie a little about when Chick-fil-a is actually open? Don't enjoy playing pretend with your kids? Hear this and all our other confessions in episode 10, "Momfessions Confessions." Several listeners joined in on this one to share their sneaky moments too. All in solidarity, ladies!
Is this content hard to hear? Is it hard to wrap your mind around? Is it so scary because it's so real and so right in your backyard? Yes. But PLEASE LISTEN.
Rebekah Charleston started life in all the average, every day ways but found herself in her teens and twenties a victim of sexual violence and explotation. Her story sparks a discussion mothers neeeeeeed to be having: How do we raise children who value and respect sex and other people?
Take a listen and join the conversation below by adding your comments.
We're talking about alll those parts below the belt, ladies. From discussions about how we were taught to how we are teaching our kids about reproductive function and health . . . and, y'all, what surprised us most about our vaginas and her friends as we've aged.
From "pillow" panties with ice packs and stool softeners to beautiful moments of joy and empowerment, Beth and Emily invite several ladies to share their best advice about child birth -- including how to navigate that process as an adoptive mom.
You're in luck! In this episode, Beth and Emily chat with the wonderful Chalna, who we've dubbed the "best elementary school mom ever." And what makes her so great? You'll just have to take a listen to hear her six rules and all her hilarious antics.
The best advice you've received about motherhood likely came from the people who know you best. In this episode of Momfessions Podcast, our team shares the best advice we've received from our mamas throughout the years.
We had ALLLLLL the questions about what a doula is, how she can give support during birth, and if this magical lady could walk through all of motherhood with us. (Hey, hey #motherhooddoula.) Cate Wiggins, our friend from First Spring Doula, answered each and every questions -- even the personal ones. Catch it all in this episode of Momfessions!
Kristy hangs out with us to talk about vacation planning from a single mom's point of view, but her tips apply to us all.
Co-hosts Beth Ferreira and Emily Youree share their summer strategies, hoping you can relate, laugh, and gain some tips about what to do . . . and not do!
What are the most beautiful aspects of motherhood? What are the burdens being a mom gave you? Momfessions Podcast discusses the beauty and burden of motherhood and how it translates into sweet moments, funny stories, heartache, and challenges. Hosted by Beth Ferreira and Emily Youree, Momfessions is a Fort Worth Moms production.