Mama You Belong

Kirsten and Molly trace how micro self care rituals, witnessing a transformative birth, and the mother tree metaphor point to a different way of caring and showing up for each other and our children. We share how mutual aid led by moms keeps communities alive while we practice radical acceptance and parenting through ongoing societal collapse and crisis. • micro choices that steady nervous systems • returning to sleep, books, and play • witnessing Molly's sister's transformative and supporte...

We sit with the dissonance of parenting during a state crackdown in Minnesota, holding mother rage and grief while trying to protect childhood for our children. Stories from Minneapolis, a terrifying night terror, and our feelings as mothers. • naming the split between normal routines and escalating state force • how algorithms, media gaps and proximity shape what we know • whiteness, safety as illusion and why change is allowed • anger as data, grief underneath and redirecting hate into lov...

Winter presses in and everything gets louder, especially the expectations placed on moms during the holidays. In this episode, we return from a hiatus to talk honestly about the mental load of motherhood in December, the pressure to create holiday magic, and how easy it is to perform joy while running on empty. We swap stories, a road trip that dodged snowstorms, a surprise porcupine encounter, and a partner who literally clapped at a lamp.... But beneath the laughter is a deeper truth many o...

Kirsten traces the journey from pressure-filled, sleep training newborn days to a more child-centered and connected approach to sleep. Together, we share how postpartum rage became a compass, how sensory needs shaped real rest, and why prioritizing relationship over rules brought relief. • check in: school strain reaches a tipping point and home education is considered; Molly pursuing an amazing creative endeavor! • Kirsten's experience as a first time mom. The sleep "shoulds" were HEAVY • p...

Infertility is one of the most painful and isolating experiences a mother can face. In this raw conversation, we share one mom’s journey of turning pain into purpose—and why sharing real motherhood stories matters for building community and healing. Meet Kathleen—craniosacral therapist, licensed massage therapist, breathwork teacher, entrepreneur, founder of Smoke Perfume, and mother to 15-month-old daughter, Pearl—as she navigates a perfect storm of overwhelm. With her husband temporar...

Have you ever found yourself spiraling with worry in the middle of the night? You’re not alone. In this vulnerable conversation, we talk about motherhood anxiety, the mental load of moms, and the fears that keep us awake long after our kids are asleep. Hot dogs for dinner (AGAIN), and summer mom chronicles. We discuss the challenges of transitioning to summer with school-aged children and the struggles of early motherhood, particularly around sleep deprivation and nighttime parenting. ...

Parenting conversations often leave fathers out—but dads belong too. In this episode, Phil Desmarais and Chad Hilgenberg share their stories of becoming fathers, navigating belonging, and finding their voice in the journey of parenting alongside moms. Phil Desmarais is the Director of Performance at Excel North Physical Therapy and Performance in Duluth, MN. Chad Hilgenberg is a general contractor and carpenter, and is the owner of Hilgenberg Construction LLC in Duluth, MN. ...

What does “nervous system regulation” even mean when you’re a mom pulled in a million directions? We unpack the buzzword, talk about overstimulation, stress, and what finding calm looks like in the middle of messy, real-life motherhood. Hint: Is it really regulating or is it us policing ourselves? Our discussion begins with a candid reflection on exhaustion and coping methods, transitioning into the pressures society places on mothers in relationship to their ability to “regulate”...