The Transitional Mom Podcast

As a life long optimist; I thought gratitude just 'was' because I was optimistic to external world. But, my internal world was a hot mess. Minimizing self, wondering when things would stop happening to me, and wondering when life would cut me a break, because I was killing myself working so hard, AT EVERYTHING. Yet, what makes gratitude is the deep sense of thankfulness as if you were given a gift. The benefits of gratitude are immense; including a connection to life, disposition to act positively, greater sense of purpose to  Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   I have openings for 1:1 coaching and my Women's Empowerment Group. Experiencing anxiety, self-doubt or fear, let's chat. Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

When everything you've accomplished and learned rattles around in your head instead of on paper, you undermine where you've been and what you overcome. I know it's not intentional; it happens because what has been accomplished gets mixed up with what's next on the list. Listen for a few thoughts and nuggets on how to reward yourself, reflect on the long list of what you've done, the new skills you've learned and where to go next. Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   I have openings for 1:1 coaching and my Women's Empowerment Group. Experiencing anxiety, self-doubt or fear, let's chat. Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

As a strength, leadership refers to the tendency to organize and encourage a group to get things done while maintaining good relations in the group. . Leadership involves setting goals, enlisting effective help, building coalitions, smoothing ruffled feathers and accomplishing goals. Yet, there's something to be said about leading yourself. Regardless of opinions from those around you, only you decide what you do next and what is best for you. So, go lead yourself   Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   I have openings for 1:1 coaching and my Women's Empowerment Group. Experiencing anxiety, self-doubt or fear, let's chat. Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

Zest is about approaching life in general and situations with excitement and energy. Those full of zest are excited to get up in the morning and see their lives as an adventure and contributes to your sense of purpose. Zest is one of the two strengths connected to happiness. Zest is on the bottom of my strengths ladder at 24. Listen to how I incorporated strengths to improve a weakness! Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   I have openings for 1:1 coaching and my Women's Empowerment Group. Experiencing anxiety, self-doubt or fear, let's chat. Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

Perseverance: despite obstacles you finish what you start. You’re hardworking and you organize self to support the needed activities and when all else fails your strength of perseverance helps you push through to the end. This helps build confidence for future success and goals. You have more perseverance than you give yourself credit for. It's likely you believe failure means not good enough instead of lessons learned and new skills acquired. Listen for a few more nuggets on perseverance! Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   Interested in learning how to parent better together or parent while moving your life forward? Let's chat. Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

Empathy is about hearing others and truly listening and understanding their pain. Empathy is not, sympathizing or fixing a problem. Empathy is a meaningful and influential activity. It is a hot topic and can get a bad rap. The bad rap comes in when you make it about yourself. When you turn someone else's conversation into what you've felt, heard or experienced that's similar and that person 'should get over it or move on because all will be OK," you've stepped out of empathy. Empathy requires you to feel uncomfortable and live in that discomfort but not to take the roller coaster ride of emotions the one sitting across from you is taking on. Empathy requires practice and patience. Positive outcomes come from being on the giving and receiving end of empathy. Listen to learn more!   Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   I have openings for 1:1 coaching and my Women's Empowerment Group. Experiencing anxiety, self-doubt or fear, let's chat. Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

Really, no one needs an internal devil and yet, we allow one to take shelter and hang out like it was a best friend You speak to yourself worse than you would speak to any other loved one. Yet, you do it often. What would it look like for you to reduce your negative self-talk and show up with self-compassion? Listen to learn more!   Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   I have openings for 1:1 coaching. Experiencing anxiety, self-doubt or fear, let's chat. Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

So I judged myself hard, why not? Easier to judge self than to have other judge me. Yet, I also assumed others judged me. Then again, sometimes they did; however, I didn't understand a couple things I've come to learn and appreciate about judgement. 1. Judgment is about your decision making process. Judgment is a critical thinking skill 2. When others judge you, it is a reflection of their own insecurities. Listen for more nuggets on ideal use of judgement and how use it as a strength.!   Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   I have openings for 1:1 coaching and my Women's Empowerment Group. Experiencing anxiety, self-doubt or fear, let's chat. Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

I wished and hoped through many years of my life. Hope, as a strength. Hope can look like many things. A couple of examples: 1. Setting a long list of unachievable goals only to never take action and wonder when good things will happen 2. Positivity all the time without acknowledgement that crappy things happen in life and you work through them to get back to the good. Hope is optimism; however, hope requires action. Hope alone will not bring you what you desire. Action with you hope produces results. Listen for more nuggets on how using strengths. Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   I have openings for 1:1 coaching and my Women's Empowerment Group. Experiencing anxiety, self-doubt or fear, let's chat. Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

When someone says to you, 'you don't do that well, go do it better.' What do you feel? What do you say? Getting better at something is almost always desirable; however, when the goal is to improve the weakness, the pain to work through that weakness is grueling. What if you improved your weakness using a strength? How do you use strength to improve a weakness? Listen for more details. Cheers! Stacy   I have openings for 1:1 coaching and my Women's Empowerment Group. Experiencing anxiety, self-doubt or fear, let's chat. Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

The last of a series exploring my journey to Purpose. I believe everyone has a purpose, maybe several purposes. Whatever you feel calling you, explore it. Understanding now everything happens for a reason, I also know I ignored what was speaking to me. Some procrastination came from self-worth, or the lack of; some, came by way of priorities. Regardless of your situation, you deserve to do what you love; however, only YOU will grant yourself permission to do the work. What are you waiting for, go get it! Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   I have openings for 1:1 coaching and my Women's Empowerment Group. Experiencing anxiety, self-doubt or fear, let's chat. Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

I believe everyone has a purpose, maybe several purposes. Whatever you feel is calling you, explore it. This is the 2st of a 3 episode journey exploring my Journey to Purpose. My early 30's were a hot mess. And then, something in me decided enough was enough. I started to take a stance and begin exploring what I believed was tugging at me. Listen for more details!   Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   I have openings for 1:1 coaching and my Women's Empowerment Group. Experiencing anxiety, self-doubt or fear, let's chat. Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

I believe everyone has a purpose, maybe several purposes. Whatever you feel is calling you, explore it. This is the 1st of a 3 episode journey exploring my Journey to Purpose. Knowing from a very young age my destiny included helping others, my belief system of working hard and financially providing for self and family consumed so much energy. And my limiting beliefs second guessed when I would have time to do what tugged at me for so long. Listen for more details!   Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   I have openings for 1:1 coaching and my Women's Empowerment Group. Experiencing anxiety, self-doubt or fear, let's chat. Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

Self-acceptance is a bitch. You are born into the world without anxiety or pre conceived notion of life. You learn all of the sh*t from our experiences, our perception and our perception of perfection. You are an imperfect human. So am I. And when the world finally makes a little sense or you finally feel like you fit into a space, acceptance of self is just a little easier. Acknowledging the moments you accept yourself for the holistic human you are - is powerful. Never stop, it's a process! Today I speak to my journey of self acceptance and when my life and the world around me started to make sense. Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   I have openings for 1:1 coaching and my Women's Empowerment Group. Experiencing anxiety, self-doubt or fear, let's chat. Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

Thought provoking conversation between generations on racism. I did not do as good of job as I thought when it comes to talking about racism. The 21 YO and I talk about it. In fact, our family has a long way to go; however, we've started the conversations and are committed to the dialogue. I did struggle with using my platform to talk about racism. I'm a white female and we are a white family. And it's not about us. It's about our friends and our loved ones who live in racism daily. That said, my goal is to help even one family move beyond 'how to I even start…' because the answer is 'just start talking.' You can't do anything about the past, you can only move forward. We commit to being part of the change. Will you join us? Stacy  

It's been almost 3 months in quarantine; I've learned a lot about my young adult children, including how they function as adults. This is the second in a series of unscripted and real questions from me to my 21 year old son. This week is about his perspective on ADHD, what it's like to be a human with it, how it has impacted him, how he copes, how he survives and thrives. (P.S. I was humbled by some of his responses….)   Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   I have openings for more 1:1 coaching, parent couple's coaching as well as a couple of seats for my Women's Empowerment Group starting late spring. Interested? Let's chat. Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

After more than 2 months in quarantine; I've learned a lot about my young adult children, including how they function as adults. It's been fun spending time with them and it has made me curious. This is my first of a few episodes where I get one of the kids involved. Unscripted and real, I ask him questions about being a child of a single parent, some of his favorite and not favorite memories. Completely unscripted and raw, he shares his perspective on life so far and his early revelations on happiness…   Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   I have openings for more 1:1 coaching, parent couple's coaching as well as a couple of seats for my Women's Empowerment Group starting late spring. Interested? Let's chat. Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Email hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

Why would I fake something if I'm trying to live authentically? It doesn't make sense to practice and practice and practice with the thought that it's fake. While I used to believe in the 'Fake it until you make it' mentality, I now understand it's not about faking it, it's about living it.   Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   I have openings for more 1:1 coaching, parent couple's coaching as well as a couple of seats for my Women's Empowerment Group starting late spring. Interested? Let's chat. Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

A little rant on self-actualization and whether it's really a title we want to achieve. Understanding what it's like to be 22 and knowing now what it's like to be 47, I'm not sure I want to be self-actualized. Listen to learn more about why you may not want to be the black sheep too! Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   I have openings for more 1:1 coaching, parent couple's coaching as well as a couple of seats for my Women's Empowerment Group starting late spring. Interested? Let's chat. Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Email hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

Losing a job is never easy and someone always has a quick response. For us, even if the job wasn't fulfilling or only served a purpose (long or short term), the blow to ego and loss of purpose can limit how we move forward. In fact, we don't often talk about are the feelings of shame, disappointment, fear, and angst. This episode is as a tribute to my friends near and far who've experienced this in the past or are now. Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   I have openings for more 1:1 coaching, parent couple's coaching as well as a couple of seats for my Women's Empowerment Group starting late spring. Interested? Let's chat. Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

This is the final episode of a 6 episode series titled 'Anxiety.' The focus of this episode is repeating what you've learned and moving forward. You've made it! Congratulations!!! Now what? I can't lie, anxiety will live on; however, allowing it to live through you instead of to you is key! Anxiety can be used to motive but anxiety doesn't control you unless you allow it. Remember, your toolbox will always be available and new tools can be added at any time. Empower yourself to do the best things for you in the moment! Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   P.S. I am a certified life coach, not a licensed clinical professional. Please seek professional counseling as necessary Interested in moving through anxiety or the learning about the coaching process in general? Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

This is episode 5 of a 6 part series on 'Anxiety' with a focus of feeling different. Anxiety may never go away like we wish for it; however, awareness and understanding of next steps is key. Remember your toolbox is available anytime. Now is the time to reflect on what you've accomplished, the positive influence on your relationships and your overall perspective. When possible, insert gratitude. Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   P.S. I am a certified life coach, not a licensed clinical professional. Please seek professional counseling as necessary Interested in moving through anxiety or the learning about the coaching process in general? Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

This is episode 4 of the 6 part series on 'Anxiety' with a focus of feeling different. Now what? You've made it more than 50% of the way through the process and it is possible you're feeling different than you were when you first started. What do you do with those feelings? How do you move forward? Listen to learn next steps and how to process the new feelings.   Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   P.S. I am a certified life coach, not a licensed clinical professional. Please seek professional counseling as necessary. Interested in moving through anxiety or the learning about the coaching process in general? Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

This is episode 3 of the 6 part series on 'Anxiety' Today's focus is getting comfortable with the uncomfortable. We get comfortable living in anxiety even if we don't like the feelings of angst. Disrupting the pattern creates even more discomfort. Listen to learn what's possible and tips on allowing the uncomfortable.   Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   P.S. I am a certified life coach, not a licensed clinical professional. Please seek professional counseling as necessary. Interested in moving through anxiety or the learning about the coaching process in general? Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

Follow me on an 'Anxiety' a 6 part series from the real person, woman, human, and parent perspective. I believe anxiety has it's place but that doesn't meant it should take permanent residence in my mind, body and soul. The first episode will walk you the beginning of my process when I decided anxiety was no longer welcome in my life to the extent I allowed for decades. In fact, I will introduce you to the exercises I learned and the processes I navigated on the road to moving through anxiety. Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   P.S. I am a certified life coach, not a licensed clinical professional. Please seek professional counseling as necessary. Interested in moving through anxiety or the learning about the coaching process in general? Email me at hello@stacyidema.com Website www.stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

Number 10 of my Top 10 Mom Lessons learned. Taking some time to reflect on all that I've learned even while recording the this series. Life, relationships, parenting - all bleed together and yet it's all practice. Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   To learn about the coaching process or interested in being coached, email me at hello@stacyidema.com Visit Me @ stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

Number 9 of my Top 10 Mom Lessons learned. I geek out talking about curiosity. Curiosity is a baseline emotion. It's like hanging out mid-ladder on a 12 rung ladder. It doesn't require you to go really high and it helps you stay above low. It's a must listen on a different perspective of curiosity and how it can reframe negative thoughts and feelings. Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   To learn about the coaching process or interested in being coached, email me at hello@stacyidema.com Visit Me @ stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

Number 8 of my Top 10 Mom Lessons learned. When I wrote the article kindness was focused on the adult relationship or my perception of how it should be. Now, I realize making space for self kindness is just as important as leaning into kindness for others. Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   To learn about the coaching process or interested in being coached, email me at hello@stacyidema.com Visit Me @ stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

Number 7 of my Top 10 Mom Lessons learned. Did you know consistency and spontaneity go hand in hand? It's true! I had no idea. Then I learned what it was like to live with someone who flies by the seat of his pants. Somehow we make it work. Learn what I've come to appreciate while staying true to myself. Cheers!   Thanks for listening! Stacy   To learn about the coaching process or interested in being coached, email me at hello@stacyidema.com Visit Me @ stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

Number 6 of my Top 10 Mom Lessons learned. Ah yes. I thought communication also meant organizing, coordination and leading the charge with everything related to kids. I also thought everything related to or anything that impacted the kids that was on my mind had to be shared or spoken. I mean that's the best way to communicate, right? Since I can't change the past, learn how I approach communication now that the kids are adults and we trying to connect and communicate in a different way. Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   To learn about the coaching process or interested in being coached, email me at hello@stacyidema.com Visit Me @ stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

Number 5 of my Top 10 Mom Lessons learned. Boundaries have been one of my toughest life lessons. And I made it more difficult because I said yes to all the people I thought needed to hear it and no to those that deserved the yes. Doing differently never comes easy; but now I understand the importance of boundaries. Another hard knocks lesson in the school of life. Cheers!   Thanks for listening! Stacy   To learn about the coaching process or interested in being coached, email me at hello@stacyidema.com Visit Me @ stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

We go into situations with such conviction and determination that our idea and one approach will work the best, always! Yet, we get caught up in the minutia of life, forget things (and life) change and (not so) suddenly are shocked when the process and system within our home fail. Of course, the last step of the domino affect is our realization that change is needed. Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   To learn about the coaching process or interested in being coached, email me at hello@stacyidema.com or check out any of my social media accounts. Visit Me@ stacyidema.com Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

I truly believe in walking away from heated situations or feelings and regrouping at a later time. BUT as life happens, so do those imperfect moments. A few nuggets of my journey, my intent and how I regroup with adult children on the past and (hopefully) influence the future. Cheers and thanks for listening! Stacy   Visit Me www.stacyidema.com Instagram @skehrenidema Facebook @stacyidemacoaching Medium @skehrenidema Twitter @stacyidema

Number 2 of the Top 10 Mom Lessons learned. It bleeds a little back into #1; however, I share a moment when I didn't practice what I preach. The consequences were real and recovery was long. My intentions were pure; yet it's a good example when good intentions produce not the intended or desired outcome. Lesson learned. Cheers!   Thanks for listening! Stacy   Website: thecuriositycoach.co Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook:stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

Almost two years I published a Top 10 Mom Lessons learned. It was my first article and one I sat with a long time before publishing as I pondered what it was like to be a mom, single mom, stepmom and co parent. I'll spend the next 10 weeks speaking to my perspective at the time I published the article and where I've changed or my perspective is more holistic now. I might even share a time or two I really messed up - because why not - it' all part of the process. The first of 10 is the reminder that even though kids are part of the relationship, they're not responsible for your relationship. Cheers!   Thanks for listening! Stacy   Website: thecuriositycoach.co Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook:stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

Honestly, I'm not sure what or who convinced me the transition from teen to adult would be more 'seamless' than any other transition. And yet, I'm here to share the story about more sleepless nights than I could've ever imagined, matched with stifling anxiety and the pit of worry that took residence in my stomach for years. In fact, some weeks I've felt like I was being punked. Fortunately, I've survived to share the stories and I'm sure I'll have more to share as the last two make there way through the teen to adult process. Cheers!   Thanks for listening! Stacy   Website: thecuriositycoach.co Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook:stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

Being smart isn't all that it's cracked up to be…. Sharing my perspective on the now 19 year old and her journey through elementary, middle, and high school. As a young women she's learning what it means to be smart, ask for help, admit she's not perfect, redefine success and not let anxiety define her humanness. Cheers!   Thanks for listening! Stacy   Website: thecuriositycoach.co Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook:stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema

Marriage is hard, heck most relationships are hard. Yet when you take the leap into marriage the second time (and kids are included), it's can be easy to forget why you're together. You likely didn't marry to raise kids so keeping your relationship front and center SHOULD be a priority even on the bad days. How do you make that happen? Listen to learn how we (me and hubby) navigate this roller coaster together. Cheers!   Thanks for listening! Stacy   Website: thecuriositycoach.co Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook:stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema   -------------------------------------------------------------------------   Music by Pond5 Cover photo by Shari Fleming Photography Photo artwork by Derek Hood

True, sincere and genuine self - reflection is much more difficult than we'd expect. It's not uncommon to look at everything or everyone else around us and identify the activity that includes them as our successes and failures. What would it look like to really check in with self - ask yourself if you're ok with who you are, what you do, where you are and how you take care of self. Cheers and Happy New Year!   Thanks for listening! Stacy   Website: thecuriositycoach.co Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook:sta cyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema   -------------------------------------------------------------------------   Music by Pond5 Cover photo by Shari Fleming Photography Photo artwork by Derek Hood  

It's easy to get caught up in the mistakes our kids make and feel like we are the ONLY parent that is going through what we're going through at the time. Maybe their choice is a reflection on us and maybe it's just them going through their own crap, breaking rules, pushing boundaries and understanding consequences. Comparing ourselves (and our kids) or assuming the next family (or kid) doesn't do 'something bad' doesn't do us or any kid ….any good. With the permission of one, now adult child, I share a personal story of his mess up and my perspective on this what we believe our kids do or don't do. Cheers. Thanks for listening! Stacy Website: thecuriositycoach.co Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook: stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music by Pond5 Cover photo by Shari Fleming Photography Photo artwork by Derek Hood

PODCAST SUMMARY What would it look like if your anxiety mirrored you through the actions and words of your kids? I thought my kids would never experience what I experienced because it was easier to teach them what I couldn't seem to learn myself. I was wrong, really wrong. Listen to learn more about how I starting working through my anxiety and my perspective on what it felt like when anxiety plays out before my eyes. A humbling experience. Cheers. Thanks for listening! Stacy Website: thecuriositycoach.co Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook:stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music by Pond5 Cover photo by Shari Fleming Photography Photo artwork by Derek Hood

Fortunately, my step kids have never called me the Step Monster. Although I'm certain they've thought of it or other unpleasant words. I'm almost always, Stacy or Seesi or Dad's Wife (in humor). I learned stepping into a their world with a genuine desire to do the right thing didn't mean life would work out really well, even though I knew them for some time before my husband and I were partners. Stepmomming doesn't mean that you won't feel defeated, feel as if you add no value or aren't valued. More often than not, we feel two steps forward and five steps back and the feeling of defeat and sometimes rejection can feel worse than when are our own kids drive us crazy or reject us. It's possible we try harder to fit in with our step kids than with our own. Fellow stepmoms, allow yourself space to breathe, healthy boundaries and the importance of 'not my issue to solve,' no matter how much you believe you know better. Cheers. Thanks for listening! Stacy Website: thecuriositycoach.co Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook:stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music by Pond5 Cover photo by Shari Fleming Photography Photo artwork by Derek Hood

Who would have thought parenting would get more difficult when your kids become adults? I sure as hell didn't… When they're so close to becoming an adult and then they're in the midst of early adulting, it is hard to remember they don't need us to fix everything or take away all of their pain. Sometimes holding space is the only immediate solution. The rest is not for us to figure out. Cheers. Thanks for listening! Stacy Website: thecuriositycoach.co Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook:stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music by Pond5 Cover photo by Shari Fleming Photography Photo artwork by Derek Hood

Seriously, I thought I had this mom thing in the bag before I became I even became one myself. Then the mom thing happened and then they grew up or maybe I grew up. Parenting and perfect should never go in the same sentence. There's no such thing as a perfect mom, nor do you want to be one, trust me! Cheers. Thanks for listening! Stacy Website: thecuriositycoach.co Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook:stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music by Pond5 Cover photo by Shari Fleming Photography Photo artwork by Derek Hood

I thought co parenting the second time around would be easier, especially understanding the approach my (now) husband and his ex wife wanted to do together. And yet, sometimes emotions run off in a direction we don't expect or when you're in the moment what you want to do and what you actually do differ greatly. Kids give you a run for your money and sometimes the frustration seems never ending. Wishing hard might work; however, everyone reacts and response differently when shit hits the fan, including me. Cheers. Thanks for listening! Stacy Music by Pond5 Cover photo by Shari Fleming Photography Photo artwork by Derek Hood

When you lean into co parenting and it works until it doesn't anymore. What do you do? There's only so much you can control and the best you can do is doing everything you can to stay consistent. Life changed for us when more humans entered the world. The love for all involved wasn't lost; however, life changed and we didn't adapt well to the change. Co parenting is possible for all. I truly believe it, especially if you're committed to wanting something different and willing to put in the effort. Not all relationships start or end like ours; however, even today I wish our story was a different. No matter what, it all works out in the end and it's on us to make the best of the situation. Cheers. Thanks for listening! Stacy Website: thecuriositycoach.co Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook:stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music by Pond5 Cover photo by Shari Fleming Photography Photo artwork by Derek Hood

Single parenting is hard. Hell, parenting is hard. But single parenting doesn't = 100% kid responsibility. Creating boundaries are important even when we don't feel the other parent won't do whatever it is as well as we can. As long as saying 'no' or 'not this time' won't create a situation that would physically or emotionally hurt our children or saying it's okay to say 'no' or 'maybe another time.' Proactive negotiation can also help define boundaries. When we go in always saying 'yes' because we believe it's the best thing for our kids, eventually resentment creeps in, especially when that 'yes' is not reciprocated. The process is never easy; however, it can be more than tolerable. Thanks for listening! Cheers, Stacy Website: thecuriositycoach.co Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook:stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music by Pond5 Cover photo by Shari Fleming Photography Photo artwork by Derek Hood

A little early exploration of parenting and relationships. Just because you have kids together doesn't mean you are partners or family. Pieces and parts might feel like it; however, we need to come into a relationship at 100%. Doing so doesn't make us bad, it just means we're not ready. Life gets real and things don't turn out as planned, so we live, learn, move on and just keep in mind that there are no instructions to parenting or relationships and sometimes doing the best you can is all you can do and being honest with yourself and the others impacted is important. Thanks for listening! Stacy Website: thecuriositycoach.co Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook:stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music by Pond5 Cover photo by Shari Fleming Photography Photo artwork by Derek Hood

Parenting is challenging. Whomever told you it wasn't, lied! Single parenting is even more challenging and when you transition into co-parenting and step parenting - worlds connect and collide. Hi, I'm Stacy and I find people fascinating and life as a parent, fabulous (most days)! I've navigated parenting, single parenting, co parenting (twice) and step parenting. Some days I really mess up the parenting thing and other days I rock it. Focused on creating a community through real and raw and real stories about how life can happen as a mom, wife, life coach, entrepreneur, and over 40's woman. I look forward to sharing nuggets of my experience and the lessons I've learned along the way. Thanks for listening! Cheers, Stacy Website: thecuriositycoach.co Instagram: skehrenidema Facebook:stacyidemacoaching Medium: skehrenidema Twitter: stacyidema ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Music by Pond5 Cover photo by Shari Fleming Photography Photo artwork by Derek Hood