The Sober Mom Life

Real Sober Mom Erin’s childhood revolved around her father’s alcohol addiction and she made a promise to herself: that would never be her. Amidst her parents divorce during high school, though, she developed a new opinion: Alcohol felt like it gave her control. And that felt good. From the beginning, Erin knew that she drank differently than others. Once she started she didn’t want to stop. And so, she developed a reputation of a party girl, and the party didn’t slow down until motherhood. Motherhood gave her a sense of purpose, but as her kids got older and her relationship became more dysfunctional, alcohol crept back into the driver’s seat of her life, until she received her second DUI. The probationary period around her DUI resulted in nine months of sobriety, and she truly believed that she could manage alcohol after that. What she didn’t know was that the shame and negative effects of alcohol could roar back into her life two-fold. She knew then - she needed a permanent change. Grandmotherhood gave her the final push she needed to change her life. Sobriety for Erin began one day at a time, through faith, community and accountability, and she doesn’t regret a single sober day. Every day that she wakes up clear headed is another reminder that she’s done the right thing. Community makes all the difference. Join The Sober Mom Life Cafe for 6+ Peer Support meetings each week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. Sign up for our next ‘Fresh 30’ and ‘Beyond 30’ cohorts. Learn more here! Get Your Copy of my book! The Sober Shift Join me on Substack: https://suzannewarye.substack.com/Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Real Sober Mom Bailey chose sobriety not as a ‘punishment’, but as a gift to herself. After a lifetime of difficult relationships with her parents, Bailey became a mom herself. Fear and postpartum depression consumed her because she was terrified of repeating the cycles that had played out in her own family and with her own mom. Bailey sought help, and through her work with an excellent therapist she chose to do the hard work of healing so that she could give her kids a very different kind of family: one filled with unconditional love. Sobriety is central to Bailey’s healing work, and it has given her the clarity to fully feel her feelings. She simply loves being a mom and offering her kids a relationship with a supportive sober mom means the world to her. Community makes all the difference. Join The Sober Mom Life Cafe for 6+ Peer Support meetings each week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. Sign up for our next ‘Fresh 30’ and ‘Beyond 30’ cohorts. Learn more here! Get Your Copy of my book! The Sober Shift Join me on Substack: https://suzannewarye.substack.com/Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Courtney joins me for another installment of SobrieTEA and we are two episodes into the Summer House reunion. It’s… a lot. So much so that we’re dedicating this entire episode to our reunion thoughts. We’ll talk about everything having to do with the Amanda and West controversy. Is West a pathy? (what is a ‘pathy’?) What kind of furniture was Meija building at West’s house (and how serious was their relationship?!)? Is this the reputation rehab that Kyle needed? Plus, we’ll discuss the refreshing amount of tears coming from the men of the show, and we’ll discuss the line when reality stops being fun and starts turning dark. Community makes all the difference. Join The Sober Mom Life Cafe for 6+ Peer Support meetings each week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. Sign up for our next ‘Fresh 30’ and ‘Beyond 30’ cohorts. Learn more here! Get Your Copy of my book! The Sober Shift Join me on Substack: https://suzannewarye.substack.com/Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After years of feeling like a socially awkward pre-teen, alcohol arrived in real sober mom Laura’s life. It seemed to give her the courage to embody the persona of a ‘hot fun party girl,’ and with it, she left her sense of awkwardness behind. From there on, ‘booze and boys’ took priority over everything else in Laura’s life. The party didn’t stop when Laura entered her professional life. It didn’t stop when she got married. And it didn’t stop when she had kids. It just kept changing, and eventually it took on a new role - as a coping mechanism for the identity crisis of motherhood and resentments that she was struggling with in her life. Laura began to question: did she have a problem with alcohol? Laura’s first attempt at sobriety was cut short by Covid. Future attempts, including medication and moderation, felt fruitless. She struggled to understand what she was ‘doing wrong’ when everywhere else could drink ‘normally’. It was The Sober Mom Life podcast that gave Laura her first peek into who she really wanted to be as a sober woman. Now 2 ½ years sober, she’s been a valued part of the Sober Mom Life cafe ever since! If you’re in Southern Illinois, check out Clear and Connected, Laura’s sober community in Clinton County! @ccsoberwomenCommunity makes all the difference. Join The Sober Mom Life Cafe for 6+ Peer Support meetings each week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. Sign up for our next ‘Fresh 30’ and ‘Beyond 30’ cohorts. Learn more here! Get Your Copy of my book! The Sober Shift Join me on Substack: https://suzannewarye.substack.com/Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

My friend Jess of A Sober Girl’s Guide is back to tell us all about her proactive sobriety support app: Bestday. Bestday shifts the question away from ‘why am I not drinking?’ to ‘Why am I wanting to drink?’. The app’s customized daily ‘risk score’ will help you proactively prepare for the moment when a craving might hit. This kind of clarity can make all the difference in sustained long term sobriety.The benefits of the app go so much deeper than sobriety, though, and no one knows that better than Jess. Jess unexpectedly lost her mom right as the app was getting close to launch, and the daily tracker helped her immensely in navigating her grief. We’ll get deep into grief in this conversation: how grief parallels early sobriety, how to support yourself (and others!) through the grief process, and even what not to do if someone you love is deep in grief. If you’re in Vancouver, you’ll get to experience Bestday in person! This summer Jess and Bestday will be all around Vancouver with The Bestday mocktail bar. Learn all about it here! Download the Bestday app for freeCommunity makes all the difference. Join The Sober Mom Life Cafe for 6+ Peer Support meetings each week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. Sign up for our next ‘Fresh 30’ and ‘Beyond 30’ cohorts. Learn more here! Get Your Copy of my book! The Sober Shift Join me on Substack: https://suzannewarye.substack.com/Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the child of a parent in recovery, today’s Real Sober Mom Meagan was always aware of the dangers of alcohol. It served to keep Meagan away from drinking… until college, of course, when suddenly everyone was doing it. In college and grad school, Meagan kept drinking to a weekend activity. Slowly but surely, though, it found its way into the role of her daily ‘best friend’ during a heavy period of loneliness and heartbreak. After a difficult conversation with her current husband, and his recommendation of Quit Like a Woman, Meagan got sober for three years! Motherhood came rushing into Meagan’s life when, through foster and natural birth, she became a mom of three… all in one year. Challenges with one of her children wore her down, and she found herself reaching for that old ‘best friend’ alcohol to cope. After three years of sobriety, moderation felt possible. Yet, moderation showed itself to be a lie, and addiction took hold. After a terrible experience when she almost lost it all, Meagan knew: alcohol must leave for good. Meagan now attends AA and The Sober Mom Life Cafe! She’s crafted the sobriety support that she needs. She wants you to know - don’t ever be afraid of starting again… and again… and again. Sobriety will click, and each step you take on the journey is so worth it. Community makes all the difference. Join The Sober Mom Life Cafe for 6+ Peer Support meetings each week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. Sign up for our next ‘Fresh 30’ and ‘Beyond 30’ cohorts. Learn more here! Get Your Copy of my book! The Sober Shift Join me on Substack: https://suzannewarye.substack.com/Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Juliet Warner’s road to sobriety began at age 20 with her first stint in rehab for opiate addiction. For 8 years, she was in and out of rehab and treatment facilities as she struggled with the push and pull of addiction. At 28, her sobriety solidified when she committed to the steps in AA. Yet, she always wondered - would she be able to drink ‘normally’ someday? Alcohol hadn’t been central to her addiction, after all. Alcohol slowly but surely found its way into Juliet’s life eight years later through mommy wine culture. After 9 months, a major mental health slide, and more blackouts than she felt comfortable with, Juliet realized that alcohol was a drug just like all the rest… and one that was no longer welcome in her life. Juliet now shares her story of motherhood and sobriety and is dedicated to helping others on their sober journeys. Check her out @thejulietsocial. Community makes all the difference. Join The Sober Mom Life Cafe for 6+ Peer Support meetings each week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. Sign up for our next ‘Fresh 30’ and ‘Beyond 30’ cohorts. Learn more here! Get Your Copy of my book! The Sober Shift Join me on Substack: https://suzannewarye.substack.com/Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sure, you can do sobriety alone, but it’s so much more fun to do it with a community. Cafe leaders Jen and Amanda join me on the pod to give you a sneak peek into what you can expect to find in a sober community. Whether you’re interested in joining The Cafe or joining another incredible sobriety community, let this be your sign to give it a go! These connections are unlike any others that you will find in your life - a community of women who get it, and who can walk with you no matter what stage of sobriety you are in. Community makes all the difference. Join The Sober Mom Life Cafe for 6+ Peer Support meetings each week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. Sign up for our next ‘Fresh 30’ and ‘Beyond 30’ cohorts. Learn more here! Get Your Copy of my book! The Sober Shift Join me on Substack: https://suzannewarye.substack.com/Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kelley Kitley grew up in a world where alcohol wasn’t only normalized… it was the family business. As a kid, she lived above her family’s bar and she could not wait until she was old enough to experience what this drinking thing was all about. Now a licensed clinical social worker with 13 years of sobriety under her belt, Kelley helps women navigate their own relationships with sobriety, and she gets it. We talk about the ways in which alcohol was central to Kelley’s family life growing up, her attempts to ‘dodge the bullet’ of addiction by studying psychology, the mental strain of moderation, her experiences in and opinions of AA, her excellent memoir MY Self, and what it was like to go public with her personal story as a psychologist. Follow Kelley on Instagram @kelleykitleyCommunity makes all the difference. Join The Sober Mom Life Cafe for 6+ Peer Support meetings each week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. Get Your Copy of my book! The Sober Shift Join me on Substack: https://suzannewarye.substack.com/Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re back from the spring Sober Mom Life retreat in Mexico, and I don’t even have words for how wonderful it was. Seriously, these retreats just keep getting better and better. The women were absolutely incredible and the sense of community we created together is going to last way beyond that weekend. If you’ve been curious about what actually happens on our sober retreats, then listen in! Courtney, my mom and I will talk about what to expect on a sober retreat and what might surprise you about the experience. Check out our next retreat here. Community makes all the difference. Join The Sober Mom Life Cafe for 6+ Peer Support meetings each week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. Get Your Copy of my book! The Sober Shift Join me on Substack: https://suzannewarye.substack.com/Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

My amazing Bravo obsessed friend Courtney joins me for this very important installment of Sobritea to discuss the shock heard round the Bravosphere: Amanda and West’s relationship announcement. We have so many questions. What about Kyle and Ciara? What is West’s appeal?! What in the ChatGPT word salad was that announcement? Is this as bad as #Scandoval? Plus - The unexpected let down of Beverly Hills and the unexpectedly strong start to The Valley. Our opinions on how kids are handled on Bravo. And, our final thoughts on Southern Charm now that the season is complete. Community makes all the difference. Join The Sober Mom Life Cafe for 6+ Peer Support meetings each week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. Learn more about The Sober Mom Life fall retreat! Get Your Copy of my book! The Sober Shift Join me on Substack: https://suzannewarye.substack.com/Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you’ve been going back and forth on sobriety, this episode is for you. Erin Washington, the host of ThERINpy, is 28 days sober. She’s on her third Dry January, and for the first time it feels…easy! While she’s not ready to commit to a sober life, she is definitely ready to commit to ‘not drinking today’ and she’s excited to see what can unfold from here.  We get deep into the nitty gritty of how her aversion to restriction has kept her drinking in the years since she recovered from disordered eating. Erin shares all of the things that currently feel challenging in sobriety (social situations, dating, an intense sweet tooth. Sound familiar?). Plus, Erin will share the exact brand of NA wine that is SO good it has made her believe she could possibly give up alcohol for good. Check out Erin’s podcast ThERINpy and find her on Instagram @iamerinwashingtonLearn more about the fall retreat! Community makes all the difference. Join The Sober Mom Life Cafe for 6+ Peer Support meetings each week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. Learn more about The Sober Mom Life fall retreat! Get Your Copy of my book! The Sober Shift Join me on Substack: https://suzannewarye.substack.com/Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sobriety coach Sara Kaufman-Bradstreet is six and a half years alcohol-free, one and a half years cannabis-free, and has never lost her excitement for a sober life. Today, Sara shares the story of how she ditched alcohol hand-in-hand with her husband, how cannabis became a crutch in her alcohol-free life and when she realized that it was time to also ditch that, the lessons she’s learned quitting one substance at a time, and the freedom and self connection she has found within sobriety.  Follow Sara and learn all about her offerings on IG @no_more_wasted_daysApril’s Fresh 30 and Beyond 30 small groups are now open for enrollment!Learn more about the fall retreat! Community makes all the difference. Join The Sober Mom Life Cafe for 6+ Peer Support meetings each week and a private Facebook group to connect with sober and sober-curious women. Get Your Copy of my book! The Sober Shift Join me on Substack: https://suzannewarye.substack.com/Follow on Instagram @thesobermomlifeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.