HERself

Mom guilt has shaped so many seasons of our motherhood journeys, but it does not hold the same power it once did. In this honest and reflective conversation, we look back on what used to weigh heavily on our hearts and compare it to the much shorter lists we carry today. From work-related guilt and feeling torn between responsibilities, to struggling to fully enjoy our kids while managing the chaos of daily life, we share the real-time challenges we are still navigating. We also open up about the pressure of meeting different needs within the same family and how growth, perspective, and practical shifts have helped us loosen guilt’s grip. Our hope is that hearing where we have been and how far we have come helps you peel back a layer of guilt in your own motherhood story.

Key Topics Covered:
Amy’s early fears about bonding, attachment, and whether her firstborn would recognize her after returning to work.
The internal struggle around justifying time with friends during the early years of motherhood.
Abby’s vulnerable admission of questioning whether she was cut out for motherhood during a difficult phase.
The specific work pressures that tend to trigger guilt in this current season.
Navigating overlapping sports schedules and creating a fair system when multiple kids need to be in different places at once.
Wanting meaningful one-on-one time with each child but feeling stretched thin.
The emotional load of managing kids versus enjoying them.
Parenting a spirited child whose needs require extra time and attention.
Practical mindset shifts that have helped us move from shame toward self-compassion.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Listen to Episode 12. Mom Guilt: How We’re Working Through It: https://www.herselfpodcast.com/listen/12-mom-guilt-how-were-working-through-it

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

Let’s connect!

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

Editing your life doesn’t require a dramatic overhaul, it starts with small, intentional shifts every single day. In this episode, we explore what it really means to take an “edit” mindset into your routines, your responsibilities, and even the expectations you carry. From closets to calendars to long-held commitments, we share how thoughtful adjustments can reduce overwhelm and create more breathing room in this season of life. If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, this conversation will help you step back, reassess, and take ownership of what stays and what goes.

Key topics covered:

Practical strategies for deciding what to donate, sell, or keep in your wardrobe.
How trends influence buying habits and how to shop more intentionally.
Four closet decluttering challenges you can implement immediately.
Why overcommitting can crowd out what matters most.
Navigating guilt around volunteering and kids’ activities.
Managing group text dynamics and communication overload.
Evaluating whether networking events align with your current season.
Understanding “legacy commitments” and reassessing past obligations.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

LMNT: Free Sample Pack with purchase:  drinkLMNT.com/HERSELF 

BETTERHELP: 10% off first month at: http://betterhelp.com/herself

Let’s connect!

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

Some comments linger longer than they should. A tone, a look, an offhand remark from your partner, your child, or a friend can spiral into a story in your head before you even realize it. This conversation unpacks what it really takes to not take things personally, especially in the relationships that matter most. From defensiveness and truth triggers to slowing down your reactions and separating someone else’s mood from your responsibility, we share practical mindset shifts that create more peace at home and in your friendships.
Key Topics Covered:
• The connection between defensiveness and hidden truths.
• Why pausing before reacting changes everything.
• Separating your partner’s emotions from your own sense of worth.
• The role tone plays when giving and receiving feedback.
• Helping kids regulate before expecting repair or apology.
• Teaching children awareness of how their words impact others.
• Navigating the sting of feeling like a means to an end as a parent.
• Modeling reciprocal conversations and emotional awareness at home.
• How past friendship wounds shape present reactions.
• Real life examples of working through friendship conflict without escalation.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

HERSELF AMAZON STOREFRONT: https://amzlink.to/az0BrkLl5pX9u 

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

Let’s connect!

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

No one really tells you how much parenting shifts once your kids reach school age, and there are a few things we deeply wish we had known sooner. The early years are all-consuming and survival-focused, which makes forward thinking feel nearly impossible. Now on the other side of that stage, we reflect on the bigger transitions kids experience once they enter school and the areas that deserve a little more intention.

Key topics covered:
What changes once kids enter school and why it can feel like a whole new parenting phase.
How friendships evolve from “everyone is invited” to more complex social dynamics.
Coaching kids through hard friendship moments, apologies, and repairing relationships.
Why it’s important to remember your child’s experience may look different from your own.
The impact of words and helping kids understand how their choices affect others.
How to handle notes home from school and why the truth often lives in the middle.
The value of volunteering at school and gaining perspective on a teacher’s day-to-day.
Being pro teacher and why believing the teacher matters.
Managing the overwhelm of school paperwork, sign-ups, and assignments.
Creating systems at home so responsibilities don’t fall through the cracks.
Teaching kids to apologize with intention, not just to avoid consequences.
Why school-aged parenting can be challenging and incredibly fun at the same time.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

LMNT: Free Sample Pack with purchase:  drinkLMNT.com/HERSELF 

Let’s connect!

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

We turned the conversation over to you and asked one powerful question: In what ways do you struggle with comparison? The overwhelming response was the realization that comparison shows up far more often than we think, especially around money, careers, bodies, relationships, and even our kids. We unpack why comparison feels so loud today, how much of what we see is a highlight reel, and why everyone’s starting point, values, and circumstances are completely different. From navigating career shifts and body image to friendships, marriage, and parenting, this episode is a reminder that you are not behind, broken, or doing life wrong. You are simply living your own version of it.
In this episode, we talk about:
The sneaky ways comparison shows up, especially the thought of “What am I doing wrong and how can everyone else afford this?”
Why social media hides financial stress, marriage struggles, and real life challenges.
How different values and priorities shape what people choose to spend money and energy on.
Career comparison and promotions, including Abby’s experience leaving the corporate world and redefining fulfillment.
Why your job might not be the problem and how finding fulfillment outside of work can change everything.
Body comparison, genetics, and why not everything is meant to come easily or naturally to everyone.
The truth behind our friendship and why working together skews what people see.
Comparing kids, milestones, achievements, and even siblings within the same family.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast

HERSELF AMAZON STOREFRONT: https://amzlink.to/az0BrkLl5pX9u 

Let’s connect!

HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast

MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer

MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.