In this episode, we cover:How bullying for teenage girls can be subtle and insidious: It may look more like relational or indirect aggression than traditional bullying, but that doesn't make it any less serious. Social media has acted as an accelerant for social problems amongst adolescence: externalizing their public identities makes it harder to be authentic and empathetic. Why fear of being a "helicopter parent" has led many parents to be too hands-off when it comes to their children's social and emotional (but not academic!) experiences. How can a restorative justice model help our kids navigate relationship challenges at every stage, from preschool through adolescence? There is nothing more important than showing up for our children and getting involved during social and mental health crises: we're teaching them that they are loved beyond measure, that we have their backs, and that their emotional needs are worth advocating for.In this Stace and Steph episode, we talk about showing up for our kids to advocate for their emotional needs, even when it makes us question ourselves, and even when it makes us uncomfortable. We navigate that grief, anger, and sense of injustice that happens when our kids' teenage experiences don't go the way we envisioned—there is nothing more painful than watching our kids suffer. We'll discuss the impact social media has had on Gen Z, creating the uncharted territory of a modern teen mental health crisis. Steph shares her struggles with stepping in to advocate for her daughter, and brainstorms ideas for how we as parents could effect positive change. Where to find us:www.motherplusser.comInstagram: @motherpluspodcast

In this episode, we cover:The reality of pregnancy discrimination and the damaging narrative that "having babies means you aren't serious about your career."What it looks like to be a mother + writer, and how having kids can actually enhance our creative process.Balancing the good and bad of modern motherhood: more honest, candid conversations paired with unrealistic expectations and overwhelm. The tempting trap of parenting trends that ultimately make moms feel worse about themselves + the rabbit hole of social media.There is no "right way" to be a mother AND there is no "right way" to be a mother plusser: pursuing the other side of your plus is not a one-size-fits-all! Nancy Reddy is the author of Pocket Universe (LSU, 2022); Double Jinx (Milkweed Editions, 2015), a 2014 winner of the National Poetry Series; and Acadiana (Black Lawrence Press, 2018). With Emily Pérez, she’s co-editor of The Long Devotion: Poets Writing Motherhood (UGA, 2022). Her essays have appeared in Slate, Poets & Writers, Electric Literature, Romper, Brevity, The Millions, and elsewhere. The recipient of a Walter E. Dakin Fellowship from the Sewanee Writers’ Conference and grants from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the Sustainable Arts Foundation, she teaches writing at Stockton University. She’s working on a narrative nonfiction book about the animal experience of early motherhood.You can find Nancy here:NancyReddy.comhttps://www.instagram.com/nancy.o.reddy/ Sign up for her “Good Creatures” Newsletter about mothering history and culture here: https://goodcreatures.substack.com To download our FREE Mother Plus Permission Slip, click here:https://www.motherplusser.com/Permission-Slip  

In today’s episode, we talk about:Getting out of the box of what you think your business and life "should" look like, and step into your own space. Stop thinking about "balance" and start thinking about "flow" to avoid guilt and overwhelm. How to overcome limiting beliefs by getting quiet and re-examining your thoughts. Are you avoiding certain tasks you don't like? Instead of procrastinating and worrying, time how long it takes you to complete it, then focus your intention and watch the time shrink. Saying no to multi-tasking and yes to giving yourself breaks to relax and reset. Marcy is a mom of 7 + a wife to 1 lucky guy & lover of all things football, salt water & lipgloss. She is a self-crowned Productivity Queen + a Business Coach, Course Creator, Podcaster & CEO of her own Planner Company. Marcy's personal mission is to empower 100K women to make $100K while prioritizing her family, AND HERSELF.Where you can find Marcy:https://www.marcykmomboss.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@marcykmombosshttps://www.facebook.com/MarcyKMomBOSS/https://www.instagram.com/marcykmomboss/Visit 3HourBoss.com and use the code MOTHERPLUS to get 15% off her mini-course, the 3 Hour Boss. It's awesome and absolutely worth is -- Stacey can vouch for it. Download the FREE Mother Plus Permission Slip Guide:https://www.motherplusser.com/Permission-Slip

In this episode, we cover:Why do we judge moms for using childcare?Accepting the type of mother we are, even if we are different from other moms, and find people who understand and support you. The mother needs to be as happy as her kids: changing the definition of "selfishness" to be "filling" self and caring for self. It's important to acknowledge and accept that ambivalence—even hating motherhood at times— is normal.Mothers are often stretched to the breaking point: asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Laura G. Owens is a writer based in Orlando, FL. Her focus is mind & body wellness, social commentary, sharing hard personal truths and shattering shame. You can find her work on Huffington Post, Scary Mommy, Purple Clover, Psych Central, Motherwell, Grown and Flown, AKA Mom, and Parent.co.Laura-Owens.comTwitter: @LauragOwensFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/laura.g.owens

In this episode, we cover:What happens when you feel like you're a "different kind of mom?"Our guest Laura shares that early on, she knew she needed more—more time away, more of her own interests. Learn about Mothers and More—a national club Laura was a part of whose focus was simple: Mom needs to be happy, whatever that looks like. Why we need to have real conversations about our ambivalent feelings about motherhood AND find other moms who understand us. Why you are allowed to have childcare—even if you are a stay-at-home-mom! Feel the guilt and do it anyway! How writing helped Laura process her conflicting feelings. Laura G. Owens is a writer based in Orlando, FL. Her focus is mind & body wellness, social commentary, sharing hard personal truths and shattering shame. You can find her work on Huffington Post, Scary Mommy, Purple Clover, Psych Central, Motherwell, Grown and Flown, AKA Mom, and Parent.co.  Laura-Owens.com Twitter: @LauragOwens Facebook

In this episode, we cover:Why we are nostalgia junkies and have an obsession with all things 1980s and 90s...We are drawn to music, movies, TV shows, and books from our past now because they bring us comfort and remind us of a simpler time. Bringing our own childhoods into our lives with our children is a way to light us up and make "play" more fun. Ideas to bring our 80s-90s culture to our kids: read-aloud book club with our favorite childhood books; taking back the radio with OUR music, the Pop Classic children's book series with TV series/movies. Embrace the 80s-90s values of simplicity and freedom: Steph shares her obsession with creating a 1980s summer.In this Stace and Steph episode, we talk all things 1990s and 1980s. Take a trip down memory lane with us as we share our favorite music, movies, TV shows, and books from the 1980s and 1990s. We dive into why exactly nostalgia is so comforting for us (spoiler: there's a great Clueless quote in here that sums it all up) and why it's so fun to share it with our kids. In this episode, we reference the Pop Classics book collection (not affiliates; just fans)To get our free guide on how to find the thing that lights you up again, visit:https://www.motherplusser.com/Permission-Slip

In this episode, we talk about:Getting curious and becoming an observer: Start noticing how you feel when you enter a space, then ask yourself "How do I WANT to feel in here?"Starting from a place of gratitude and appreciation—what do you love about the rooms in your home?How motherhood changes our spaces, and how we can take small steps and get the whole family involved.  Rather than a major overhaul once a year, make "letting go" a regular part of your family's routines. Michal and Stacey have a "discovery call" to share with listeners what it's like to work with a designer to turn a room you despise into a room you love, and to inspire you to look at your home differently. Michal Lauren Hunt is a seasoned interior designer with 15 years of experience focusing on large corporate workplaces, sustainability practices and evidence-based design.  More recently, she has taken her passion for creating positive change through physical space from workplaces into the home environment.  Her studio, TRIO Design Collaborative, seeks to bring peace and ease into the home through intentional design and simplicity.  TRIO’s mission to create more peace and ease is inspired by Michal’s alter-ego as “Mama” to three kids under 8 and the recognition that life can feel chaotic and crazy, but your home doesn’t have to. Website:  www.triodesignco.comInstagram:  www.instagram.com/triodesigncollaborative/Facebook:  www.facebook.com/triodesigncollaborative

In this episode, we cover:Why this mom went from a successful career to becoming a stay-at-home momWorking moms cannot have it all: how society sets us up for failure to juggle careers and our families.Having a flexible career and balanced work-family life should not feel like an unachievable utopia . . . but it does. Delegation is everything: get your family on board so you can truly take care of yourself. Why it’s important to have honest conversations with women about what balancing work and family life really looks like.Michelle Sporkin has been a stay-at-home mom for two children, ages 10 and 8, for three years. She spent pent 10+ years working in the medical industry for companies including Johnson and Johnson, Genzyme, Intuitive Surgical and Medtronic. She lives in Manhattan Beach, CA with her family. 

In this episode, we cover:Raising kids in the 1980s vs. now--was it easier and less high-pressure to be a mom then? The importance of raising independent children who don’t think the world revolves around them. How Barb and Suzanne teamed up to get their MD/doctorate degrees while raising young kids. Identifying your values and priorities and remembering you cannot do it all: “getting our educations was our self-care.”Ask for help to achieve your goals: Find a Barb/Suzanne, team up with a friend, recruit family and neighbors.Barb Gablehouse and Suzanne Barchers were moms raising their children in the 1980s when they both made major life choices--Barb to go to medical school, and Suzanne to get her doctorate. In this episode of the Mother Plus Podcast, they share how they got through this stage of life, taking care of young kids and juggling work and school--primarily by leaning on each other and raising their children together. They’ll share insights about encouraging independence in their kids, time management strategies, and prioritizing what really mattered the most to them. Barb is a retired pediatrician, and Suzanne is an educational publishing consultant and international speaker and workshop leader.

In this episode, we talk about:You don’t have to be a “real writer” to learn how to present yourself in writing in your own words. How to write like you talk and use your authentic voice to reach your target audience.Overcome impostor syndrome by remembering the value of your own voice--nobody else is exactly like you, with your skill set and life experiences. It’s okay to pursue a job you love, whatever that looks like--your family will be okay. Why we don’t have to let motherhood change us.Sarah Voris is a copywriting coach on a mission to teach female entrepreneurs that they don’t have to have a fancy college degree or training to be able to write for their online businesses in a way that deeply connects with their audience. With her experience of writing for 6 and 7 figure businesses, she’s learned how to connect to people through story and authenticity, and doesn’t teach women how to write so they sound like the coolest influencer or the latest best-selling author in their industry. None of that matters! She teaches women to write in a way that sounds just like THEM. So no matter if it’s sales pages, email sequences, or social media, their audience feels like they’re just sitting down to coffee with a friend and can ramp up that “know, like, and trust” factor which turns into sweet, sweet dolla bills. Find her on her website: sarahvoris.com