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Episode 25: Friendships: Finding Mom Friends, Friendship Breakups, and Modeling Healthy Friendships for Kids with Dr. Miriam Kirmayer We've all heard how important it is to have your “mom circle” but has anyone else ever thought that this is actually really hard to find? If you've felt this, you're not alone. Adult friendships can be really hard especially as new moms. This week Rachael speaks with Dr. Miriam Kirmayer to talk all about adult friendships. Find out why it is so hard to make new friends as an adult, how to navigate friendships when parenting styles conflict, and how attachment style can impact friendships. They chat all about the importance of friendships for moms and having a “circle” of other moms and some of the potential effects on people who don't have connections. Find out some tips on ways to make and meet new connections, plus so much more! Dr. Miriam Kirmayer is a clinical psychologist, leading friendship expert, and influential speaker on human connection and social support. With over a decade of research on the science of friendship, Dr. Miriam is revolutionizing the way we show up for, mentor, and connect with each other. She is one of the first and only clinical psychologists to specialize in adult friendship and shares guidance on navigating friendship and relationship challenges with tens of thousands of people through her popular online community. She is also a mom of two. Instagram (@miriamkirmayer): https://www.instagram.com/miriamkirmayer/ Facebook (@miriamkirmayer): https://www.facebook.com/MiriamKirmayer LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/miriam-kirmayer Learn more about her NEW course, Confidently Connected: Building Meaningful Friendships here! Register now until Sunday, February 11th at 9:00 pm EST! Registering for the course gives you access to…. The Friendship Forum! The live workshop that kicks off the course the evening of February 13th at 8:00 pm EST. Rachael is a mom of 3, founder of Hey, Sleepy Baby, and the host of this podcast. Instagram (Show page) Tiktok (Rachael's tiktok account) Show Website
We know you've heard the old saying it takes a village! In this day of age, we understand it may be hard, but not impossible, to have your own village.Jen and Florence Ann Romano discuss the importance of building a "village" of supportive relationships, particularly for mothers. They emphasize that building a village isn't always easy, and it takes time and effort to find the right people who align with your values and personalities. Florence also stresses that having a full social calendar doesn't necessarily mean you have the right people in your life, as the right people should "fill up your cup, not deplete it." She shares her personal experience about how one of her best friendships was formed through a mutual friend and how she encourages readers to share their own stories of how they met their best mom friends.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SUBSCRIBE NOW
We know you've heard the old saying it takes a village! In this day of age, we understand it may be hard, but not impossible, to have your own village.Jen and Florence Ann Romano discuss the importance of building a "village" of supportive relationships, particularly for mothers. They emphasize that building a village isn't always easy, and it takes time and effort to find the right people who align with your values and personalities. Florence also stresses that having a full social calendar doesn't necessarily mean you have the right people in your life, as the right people should "fill up your cup, not deplete it." She shares her personal experience about how one of her best friendships was formed through a mutual friend and how she encourages readers to share their own stories of how they met their best mom friends.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SUBSCRIBE NOW
Today we are celebrating 100 episodes of the Girls Talking Life podcast with a special behind the scenes show, answering your questions, sharing favorite episodes, and of course, my Favorite 5! Cheers! Mentioned in this Episode Don't Ignore the Nudge Podcast Open Door Sisterhood Podcast #19 with Hollie Daniels Favorite Episodes (of 50-100): #85 Confront the Limits of your love with Amy Wolff #79 Manage Your Money on Mission with Katie Jones #74 A Warm and Welcoming Home for the Holidays with Alieta Casey #73 Breast Cancer Warrior with Kaci Sintek #61 Living Victoriously with Mental Illness with Carla Arges #57 Finding Mom Friends with Melanie Dale #51 Taking Left Turns with Jesus with Kristan Dooley Summer of Friendship Series Ways You Can Support the Show Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts Share the Show with a Friend Make a Purchase Using an Affiliate Link Shop Girls Talking Life Products Yohonna's Favorite 5 Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC Cream Stitchfix* Pure Haven Pink Grapefruit Sugar Body Scrub* The Faster Way to Fat Loss with Abby Miller* The Bible Recap Podcast and Reading Plan (Let me know if you're starting the plan in January 2023)! *This is an affiliate link, but please know that this is something I truly love and would (and do!) recommend to my friends and family. Using one of these links to purchase a product or service directly supports Girls Talking Life at no extra cost to you. CONNECT WITH GIRLS TALKING LIFE Get the GTL Newsletter | Instagram | Facebook
Things change when you become a mom and one of those things is your social calendar. Can you still have a social life? ABSOLUTELY! But today were here to chat about how things change when you become a mama and why that means you need to go out and make some mom friends, trust us...it's important!
Along my journey as a mom of 3 I have had some pretty awful mom friend experiences and some awesome ones! I have had friends I had to say bye bye to and some that I go the extra mile to call, see, support. What's the barometer of where we spend our energy finding meaningful mom friendships?? For me the golden question I ask is DOES THIS PERSON LEAVE ME ENERGIZED OR EXHAUSTED? Today I chat with Coach Marcy on the strategies she teaches for moms to surround themselves with meaningful friends and most importantly how to become the best woman, mom, and friend we can be. Would love to hear your feedback on your morning routine to take care of your mind body and soul! Thanks for contributing to Making Motherhood Easier with us! Cheers, Michelle I Help Moms Founder
Hey Mama who wants to grow her friendships but doesn't quite know how…Welcome to Part 4 of a Vision for Your Friendships. Today I'm sharing with you some of the ways I've been able to cultivate the relationships I truly want. Friendship begins in the mind. When I first became a stay-at-home mom, I imagined I would be automatically connected to all those moms I saw out for a stroll with each other and their kids. But it wasn't that easy. Even back then, before I knew what mindfulness was, I knew this line of thinking wasn't going to get me anywhere. Another way to get thoughts out of our minds is to journal. Just write down some of the thoughts you're having about friendship.I had to shift my thinking so I was open to opportunities that didn't fit my original picture of what I thought my mom friend life would look like.I started chatting with one mom who happened to show up at the park around the time I did. I invited her to my house that very first day! We became friends. This wasn't the gaggle of moms I imagined. But she was my first mom friend. I also pushed myself out of my rhythm and got to the park earlier a day or two a week. A couple of conversations led to a group of moms inviting me to their weekly playdates. We have pictures of what the seasons of motherhood are going to look like. And in order to live a more satisfying life, to savor the season we're in, we may have to adjust our picture. Friendship gives us a sense of belonging, allows us to have adult conversations, support, wisdom, knowledge, chats that are honest, vulnerable, and authentic. I've talked about what you can do to make connections when they're not just happening organically in Episode 22. Listen to that episode for more details, but here's a few ideas. MOPSIf you've got a child – from infant to preschooler, walk don't run to the nearest MOPS group. MOMS IN PRAYERIf you're a mom with school-age and beyond kids, this is an international group with local groups that pray for an hour a week for our children and their schools. A life-changer for me.There's also MeetUps groups, Music Together, Mocha Moms, YMCA/YWCA, churches, synagogues, yoga studios, and more local groups. Google Mom Groups in my area. If you have a group of friends or even acquaintances you can gather with, consider meeting regularly over a shared interest like a book or study or area in which you'd like to grow. I met with my Friday group for 20 years. Here are the elements of this kind of group.1. Commitment of One - Our group started because one woman felt called to host and make space in her home and calendar to host women every week for spiritual growth. 2. Commitment of at Least Some – Gather a core group of five or so women who are committed to meeting. We met most Fridays, from 1:00-3:00 pm before our school-age kids got home. 3. Agreed Upon Topic – Our group wanted Christian spiritual fellowship and growth. Together, we decided what book or study we would dive into. 4. KISS Principle – Keep It Simple Sweetheart – Our hostess put out a setup for tea. There was no pressure to feed people. Brown bag lunches were welcome. 5. Community Mentality – All were welcome. All gatherings were strictly confidential. Most attendees were Christian, seekers were welcome. If the idea of starting this kind of group is intimidating but you'd love to do it, reach out to me using the Contact Form in the show notes. I'd love to help.
Welcome to the 9-Week Bonus Series dedicated to the Satisfied SAHM Strategy. Each week we will cover one piece of the strategy so stay-at-home-moms can learn how to create consistent self care routines that are actually enjoyable to maintain. In week seven, we're talking about why making mom friends is vital to thriving as a stay-at-home-mom and how you can make some. Grab your FREE copy of the Satisfied SAHM Strategy here. Undomestic Mom Burnout Remedy Relief Workbook Book a coaching session with me here. Epsiodes Mentioned: How to Make Mom Friends
“Finding mom friends is like dating. But without being treated to dinner, flirty texts and sex. Or maybe it is…no judgement.” - Meghan Q BarrettHow you choose your mom friends is up to you! =)www.allyoumama.comIG - @meghanqbarrett
Today's episode is with the lovely Hannah King. Hannah is a wife, mother, and small business owner from central California. In our conversation, she shares about the joys and hardship that come with being a fire wife, her experience with postpartum depression, and how she's managed to build community and find mom friends as a young mom herself. SHOWNOTES: Hannah King CONNECT WITH PAIGE: Instagram LOVE IN A COTTAGE COMMUNITY: Instagram | Facebook Group
Melanie Dale joins me for a fabulous conversation about Mom Friends; how we make them, why we need them and how it helps our kids. Melanie tells us that it’s important for us to have other mom friends so we can model healthy relationships for our kids and so we realize that we’re not alone in the parenting challenges we face. She says, “my mom friends actually make me a better parent.” Melanie walks us through the bases for mom friends, the four phases our relationships may go through from an acquaintance you make small talk with at soccer practice, to someone you invite for a night out without the kids. Melanie shares her “wow, that’s so awesome” approach for when another mom gives us the lowdown on her strong opinion of something we might not agree with. She says it allows the “relationship to breathe and to develop trust.” She tells us to lighten up about different parenting choices. And finally we talk about teaching our kids to be good friends. Melanie says “as my kids are going through relationship challenges and dealing with other friends” she tries “to coach from the sidelines and not get on the field.” Melanie is the author of four books, including Calm the H*ck Down: How to Let Go and Lighten Up about Parenting. She’s a staff writer for Coffee+Crumbs, hosts the podcast Lighten Up with Melanie Dale, and has contributed writing to everything from the (in)courage Devotional Bible to Shudder’s Creepshow. She lives in the Atlanta area with her husband of twenty years and their three kids from three different continents. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Calm the H*ck Down: How to Let Go and Lighten Up About Parenting Women Are Scary: The Total Awkward Adventure of Finding Mom Friends 20 Ideas for Zoom Calls BESIDES talking about Coronavirus MELANIE’S FAVORITE 5 Vampire Teeth Jammies Doc Martins Abel Perfume Harney and Sons Cinnamon Tea Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer CONNECT WITH MELANIE Instagram | Facebook | Website THE GATHERING PROJECT A five-day experience to plan, prep and gather with your girlfriends. The Gathering Project begins on March 15th. Register today at girlstalkinglife.com/thegatheringproject. Use code GTL50 for 50% off your registration. My mission is to help you gather, have conversations, create meaningful connections, and build lasting friendships.
We discuss the importance of friendship as mothers and discuss the two different types of "mom friendships": those who are your friend more for the sake of your kids because they have kids that get along well with yours, and those who you just click with and who you could talk to about anything. We also discuss how to go about finding good mom friends.
Join me as I chat with Author Melanie Dale. She is an author, speaker, and mother of three children from three different continents. Her book is Calm the H*ck Down is infused with quirky humor, profound insight, and accessible advice. This book teaches you how to dial back the stress of raising children with the simple premise that we all just need to lighten up a bit. Grab her books at Calm the H*ck Down https://amzn.to/2Joz0Lr { affiliate link} Infreakinfertility : How to Survive when Getting Pregnant Hard https://amzn.to/38TgYJZ { Affiliate link} It's Not Fair: Learning to Love the Life You Didn't Choose https://amzn.to/3hAQFfp {Affiliate link} Women are Scary: The Totally Awkward Adventure of Finding Mom Friends https://amzn.to/382qBqD { affiliate link) Add links to other books here --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/chatsfromtheblogcabin/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/chatsfromtheblogcabin/support
What is the most exciting thing about your favorite TV show? It's when they do a crossover episode with your other favorite TV show, right? When Flash has a crossover with Supergirl, when The Walking Dead has a crossover with Fear the Walking Dead...it's very exciting. Well, I am a fan of Surviving Sarah Podcast, and the host Sarah Bragg is one of my favorite people. We have cooked up monthly crossover episodes for you guys where we take a topic and talk about how to lighten up about it on my show and how to survive it on her show. And today is the first one! We're talking about how we can lighten up about friendships, the challenges of maintaining friendships as we move into new life stages or locations, believing the best in each other, setting expectations for our friendships, and how developing friendships is an important part of self care. We're going to flip the script and ask, "How can I be a good friend?" rather than "How can I get a good friend?" If you have a friend, want a friend, or are a friend, there's something here for everyone, so listen in, and lighten up! Links from the show: Surviving Sarah Podcast Sarah Bragg on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter Women Are Scary: The Totally Awkward Adventure of Finding Mom Friends
Leah Heffner talks with Melanie Dale about her work with Children's Hope Chest and how she and her family work with this organization. They also discuss essential oils and the Zombie Apocalypse. As always they discuss using their gifts and what that looks like and Leah shares what would be her Epic Lip Sync Battles song of choice. -Children's Hope Chest -Essential Oils and the Zombie Apocalypse About Melanie Dale Melanie Dale is a minivan mama and total weirdo who stinks at small talk. Her laugh is a combination honk-snort, and it’s so bad that people have moved away from her in the movie theater. She adores sci-fi and superheroes and is terrified of Pinterest. Author of Women Are Scary: The Totally Awkward Adventure of Finding Mom Friends and It’s Not Fair: Learning to Love the Life You Didn’t Choose, she’s also a monthly contributor for Coffee+Crumbs, and her essays are featured in their book, The Magic of Motherhood. She’s a panelist for MomsEveryday TV, an advocate for Children’s HopeChest, and a speaker for churches, conferences, and events across the country. Living in the Atlanta area, she enjoys recording her podcast, Lighten Up with Melanie Dale, blogging at Unexpected.org, and raising her three kids from three different continents. - Women Are Scary -It's Not Fair Melanie Online Unexpected - Facebook - Instagram Leah and Life Around the Coffee Cup Online Life Around the Coffee Cup - Facebook - Instagram Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Android A big thank you to this month's sponsor: I love Seeds Family Worship because it is word-for-word Bible verses set to great music. There is not one ounce of kids boppy type tunes, but songs that the whole family will love. Their DVDs teach hand motions to go alone with the songs. They have CDs on different topics to learn more about God and the Bible. And, what I love MOST is how the songs get stuck in my head and they work their way into my heart. Life Around the Coffee Cup listeners get 20% off their order + Free Shipping at Seeds Family Worship. Just enter promo code LIFE at checkout.
Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe by Email In This Episode Leah Heffner talks with Melanie Dale about personality types and how they impact marriages and other relationships, how they are both pro facial hair on men, thumbs down on chin hairs for the ladies, while also finding mustaches ironic except on Tom Selleck. They also marvel over their kids getting older. -Personality Types (Myers Briggs and Enneagram) -Love Stories and Not Remembering or Not Being Remembered The First Time We Met our Husbands -Facial Hair -Tom Selleck and Daveed Diggs as narrators -Port-a-Potty Swim Meet -Having Big Kids About Melanie Dale Melanie Dale is a minivan mama and total weirdo who stinks at small talk. Her laugh is a combination honk-snort, and it’s so bad that people have moved away from her in the movie theater. She adores sci-fi and superheroes and is terrified of Pinterest. Author of Women Are Scary: The Totally Awkward Adventure of Finding Mom Friends and It’s Not Fair: Learning to Love the Life You Didn’t Choose, she’s also a monthly contributor for Coffee+Crumbs, and her essays are featured in their book, The Magic of Motherhood. She’s a panelist for MomsEveryday TV, an advocate for Children’s HopeChest, and a speaker for churches, conferences, and events across the country. Living in the Atlanta area, she enjoys recording her podcast, Lighten Up with Melanie Dale, blogging at Unexpected.org, and raising her three kids from three different continents. - Women Are Scary -It's Not Fair Melanie Online Unexpected - Facebook - Instagram Leah and Life Around the Coffee Cup Online Life Around the Coffee Cup - Facebook - Instagram Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe by Email Don't forget to enter the LATCC Launch Giveaway! You can win one of FIVE great bundles. Find out how to enter here. A big thank you to this month's sponsor: I love Seeds Family Worship because it is word-for-word Bible verses set to great music. There is not one ounce of kids boppy type tunes, but songs that the whole family will love. Their DVDs teach hand motions to go alone with the songs. They have CDs on different topics to learn more about God and the Bible. And, what I love MOST is how the songs get stuck in my head and they work their way into my heart. Life Around the Coffee Cup listeners get 20% off their order + Free Shipping at Seeds Family Worship. Just enter promo code LIFE at checkout.
Melanie Dale is a minivan mama and total weirdo who stinks at small talk. Her laugh is a combination honk-snort, and it’s so bad that people have moved away from her in the movie theater. She adores sci-fi and superheroes and is terrified of Pinterest. Author of Women Are Scary: The Totally Awkward Adventure of Finding Mom Friends and It’s Not Fair: Learning to Love the Life You Didn’t Choose, she’s also a contributor for Coffee+Crumbs, and her essays are featured in their book, The Magic of Motherhood. She’s a panelist for MomsEveryday TV, an advocate for Children’s HopeChest, and a speaker for churches, conferences, and events across the country. Living in the Atlanta area, she enjoys recording her podcast, Lighten Up with Melanie Dale, blogging at Unexpected.org, and raising her three kids from three different continents. Melanie is giving away a FREE 7-day guide to loving your life! Come on over to www.annieleigh.com to grab all the links and free stuff from the show!
On the show today I talking to one of my favorite women, Melanie Dale. Melanie runs the website, Unexpected where she writes about motherhood, friendships, infertility, adoption, orphan care, and so much more. What I love about her site is it feels like one big hug and then a completely satisfying belly laugh. Melanie is also the author of two books: Women Are Scary: The Totally Awkward Adventure of Finding Mom Friends and It's Not Fair: Learning to Love the Life You Didn't Choose. We talk about that "It's Not Fair" on the episode since it just released LAST WEEK! Whoo-hoo! Go, Mel! In fact, I loved this book so much I have an extra copy to give away; directions are in the podcast episode. On the podcast we talk about the Shalom Sista Manifesto point, "We Will Choose Subversive Joy". She gives is the best advice on motherhood and laughter, she's gives us permission to own our feelings, and she her end of the show quote is spot on! It was a really great conversation and I hope you'll take a listen. Practicing the Shalom of Laughter, Osheta
Putting into words what it's like becoming a mother is tricky. For some, the words flow easily and they are filled with beautiful stories and smart analogies. For others, there's lots of swears and a through-line of, "am I doing this right?" I feel like I fall somewhere in the middle. Ah fuck it. I'm definitely the latter. That's why when I met Lindsay Kavet and found out about Expressing Motherhood I couldn't wait to hear more about it. Expressing Motherhood is an ongoing live stage show where moms, and sometimes dads, share their stories about motherhood. Lindsay co-created the show with her friend Jessica Cribbs and have been performing it with a rotating cast all over the US since 2008. I first found out about Expressing Motherhood from my friend Jill Simonian from TheFabMom.com (hey gurrrl!). She saw that I am clearly a gifted writer and have a deep-seeded need (read: desperate) to perform and thought this would be a perfect place to feed my soul. I think she might be onto something.... Expressing Motherhood Co-Founder Lindsay Kavet I was lucky enough to have Lindsay come on the show and tell me more about the #ExMoShow and what it's all about. We also talked about how moms are represented in Hollywood today, and both agreed Hollywood could be doing a better job of casting more realistic versions of moms. Or at least tell better stories about them. I mean, not all of us are frazzled and running around like a chicken with our head cut off trying to do it "all". Mother's Day, I'm looking at you. We also talked about her first play date rejection, how important mom friendships can be, and what it's really like raising a kid in Hollywood. The actual city, not the "scene." And Lindsay shares how you can get involved with Expressing Motherhood. It could be just the big break you're looking for to share that story about your toddler pooping in the dog's water dish! For more information go to ExpressingMotherhood.com Follow ExMoShow on Twitter & Instagram @ExMoShow and on Facebook.
Happy Hour #41 with Melanie Dale. Melanie is a geek on a God-ride, a minivan mama and total weirdo who stinks at small talk. Her laugh is a combination honk-snort, and it's so bad that people have moved away from her in the movie theater. She adores sci-fi and superheroes and is terrified of Pinterest. Author of Women Are Scary: The Totally Awkward Adventure of Finding Mom Friends, she's also a contributor for Coffee+Crumbs and an advocate for Children's HopeChest. Living in the Atlanta area, she blogs at Unexpected.org about motherhood, orphan care, adoption, and sometimes poo. Her book: Women Are Scary: The Totally Awkward Adventure of Finding Mom Friends Melanie talking about her "mom balls" and "sitting shirt" Melanie's reading: Rachel Held Evans Year of Biblical Womenhood& she's recently read Bossypantsby Tina Fey I'm reading (when we recorded this): The Girl on the Trainby Paula Hawkins (I have finished and recommend!) Three things Melanie is loving: The Walking Dead + Skinny Scarves by Freedom in Fashion + The Kentucky Mule
This week on Mom Talk Radio, Melanie Dale, author of Women Are Scary: The Totally Awkward Adventure of Finding Mom Friends, shares tips on “mom-dating”. Spotlight on Moms features Melanie Herschorn of UdderlyHotMama.com. Belisa Silva, Head of Content and Communications at GLOSSYBOX, shares why GLOSSYBOX is good for moms. Michelle Brown, founder of ihelpmoms.org, shares how parenting has changed over the years. Vicki Reece, author of Joy of Mom: Celebrating a Mother’s Love, shares tips from her new book.
It takes a village. In this episode you will learn how to create one from "momlationship” expert Melanie Dale, the author of the new book Women Are Scary: The Totally Awkward Adventure of Finding Mom Friends. Learn how to take a new mom acquaintance through the four “bases” of mom dating to create the nourishing friendships you are craving. “We make each other better moms, better humans,” writes Dale. “We need each other, because mothering is just too darn hard." In this interview, Dale shares her unexpected journey into momalationships and the lessons she has learned as she has built her own support network. Learn how to develop real soul-southing relationships, avoid foot-in-the-mouth moments and navigate the pitfalls of new friendships. Sign up for Inspiring Mama's free online series 3 Minutes to Zen: Short Happiness Practices for Parents - Get Instant Access Learn more about Melanie Dale and buy her book: Show Notes