September, 2022 - Working Mom Hour

Working Moms & Stay-at-home-Moms

Posted on September 22, 2022September 30, 2022 by Erica

“So how much time do you have while the kids are at school?”

“8-4 or so – “

“Enough for a #Costco run…” ?

WHACK!

The ? point started.

A few minutes earlier I had shared that life was a little intense at the moment.

My stay-at-home-mom teammate assumed I had kids at home during the days, and that I was going to say I only had a couple hours without kids.

We both knew she misspoke, but neither of us made the correction.

What good would it do – she didn’t understand my hard, and I didn’t understand hers.

But it didn’t matter.

I also didn’t tell her my Costco run was arriving at my door that afternoon because it’s not worth my time to go.

Or that I just learned how to buy 136 granola bars at a time vs. 6, and I could learn a lot from my stay-at-home-mom friends.

Moms don’t keep score.

(In pickleball, yes. In life, no.)

Grief in Motherhood

Posted on September 20, 2022September 21, 2022 by Erica

In Ep. 38, we have an emotional and enlightening discussion with Dr. Sherry Walling, mom, trauma psychologist and author of Touching Two Worlds. We share our personal experiences with grief, and discuss how to navigate our needs in motherhood and the workplace. We also chat about the life lessons that grief has taught us, and how to help our children to handle their heavy feelings in healthy ways – like a good cry. Join us!

Episode Links:

Touching Two Worlds: https://www.touchingtwoworlds.com/

Please make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode, and kindly review the podcast on Apple Podcasts so we can reach more working moms. We always want to hear your thoughts, concerns, questions or guest suggestions – email [email protected].

Episode social handles:

@WorkingMomHour

@EMechlinski

@MadsCaldwell

Weekends with Small Kids

Posted on September 15, 2022September 30, 2022 by Erica

Many weekends I seem to be disappointed. My dreamiest moments are when all 5 of us are together. But the reality is, it’s really hard to achieve it peacefully in this season of life.

3 kids with different needs and interests, and 2 parents wanting family time, rest, relationship time, solo time, and building time all at once.

How do you make time for it all, or choose? It’s impossible.

We tend to pile in the stroller, van or golf cart and head to the water when we are all feeling the opposite of peace. ?

I know I’ll miss the young days. But for now, the weekends are little magical moments, sandwiched in between the hard ones. And so, so much yelling.

I’m sure it will result in growth right?! ✨?

Family Trees at School & Adoption

Posted on September 13, 2022September 30, 2022 by Erica

I got a message the other day from my 18mo’s teacher requesting a family photo so they can make family trees.?

My son’s #adoption will soon be finalized. And while we talk often about his biological family and have pictures in his room, I am very much still learning about and uncovering his story.

Having to share something that I don’t have the complete picture or words to use yet, my rational self was laughing, yet I was paralyzed.

As the universe does, this morning I saw an article from our agency with another family’s experience. It was so fantastic, and something any parent or teacher can benefit from, I had to share:

“We got the ‘draw your family tree’ assignment in second grade, and my kid decided to fill it out by drawing her own extra branches on the tree for her birthparents, birthgrandparents, and her two half-sisters. Her teacher sent it home with a note asking her to redo it ‘correctly’. We declined, and let her take the zero grade. I loved it, sent her birthmom a scan of it, and framed it to hang in her room. That’s a zero grade we can support! Leah, adoptive mom”

What an awesome story of being courageous alongside your child, and the lessons are stunning. I only hope my creative brain turns on in this way throughout the journey!?

Way to go, “Leah” and thanks for sharing Adoptions Together & FamilyWorks Together and On Your Feet Foundation.

The full article: https://lnkd.in/g6Epx3ac

Chit-Chat 13: Episode Rewinds & Reflections

Posted on September 13, 2022 by Erica

Join us as Marla turns the tables to interview Erica and Mads about how they're applying lessons learned from some of our favorite episodes from Season 1 into their daily lives. Because when you hear a great piece of advice, you can’t just listen and leave it, right? We share reactions and insights from:

(1:05 – 10:30) Dr. Karen Sheffield-Abdulla from Episode 29, who taught us why high-achieving women tend to put aside emotions in business, and how to counteract this feeling with holistic health practices, putting us in a mindful trance along the way.
(10:35 – 22:10) Jenny Zook of the Confidence Collective on Episode 22, who gives a few closet clean-out tips and why every woman deserves to feel like a badass.
(22:15 – 27:05) Teresa Tanner from the Reserve Squad from Episode 21, who gave every pregnant person at her top 10 banking company access to a personal concierge during and after pregnancy.
(27:10 – 33:50) And Dr. Dr. Nicole Pensak of Episode 17, who taught us about the amazing “Mom Brain” and “Matrescence” and how we can work with our bodies to optimize this important period of growth.

Ep. 37: Stepping into the Role You Deserve with Mom and Washington Business Journal Editor-in-Chief Vandana Sinha

Posted on September 6, 2022 by Erica

In Ep. 37, our PR day jobs and Working Mom Hour worlds collide as we interview Vandana Sinha, Editor-in-Chief of the Washington Business Journal. For 16 years, Vandana has worked her way to the top of a prominent newsroom, while prioritizing her family and using her public platform to address important issues related to women in the workplace. She shares how she takes care of her team, her family and herself. Join us!

Episode Links:

Washington Business Journal: https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/

To submit news or an idea for the “My Story” section of the Washington Business Journal, contact Vandana Sinha, Editor-in-Chief: [email protected].

To be considered for the Washington Business Journal “Small Business Spotlight” feature, contact Michael Neibauer, Managing Editor: [email protected].

Viewpoint: Hello, my name is Vandana Sinha and I am not a cliché

Viewpoint: When the kids aren’t all right