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Keeping Moms Real

Keeping Moms Real

Written by: Karen Chirivi
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About this listen

Motherhood isn’t all Pinterest boards and playdates — it’s beautiful, messy, exhausting, and full of moments that make you question everything. Hosted by Karen Chirivi, mom, positive discipline educator, mindset coach, and founder of Keeping Moms Real, this podcast is your safe corner of the internet — where we talk about what motherhood really feels like. Each week, we unpack the emotions that moms carry: guilt, burnout, identity loss, and the pressure to be perfect. You’ll hear real stories, honest reflections, and practical mindset tools to help you release the guilt, reconnect with yourself, and raise your kids with more love and less overwhelm. Because you don’t need to do it all — you just need to be real. ✨ Topics include: Mom guilt & emotional burnout Balancing motherhood and identity Gentle parenting & real discipline moments Self-care that actually fits your life Mindset shifts for calm, confident motherhood 💛 New episodes every week. Follow now — and let’s redefine what it really means to be a “good mom.”© 2025 Karen Chirivi Parenting Relationships Self-Help Success
Episodes
  • #7 - What “Discipline with Connection” Really Looks Like in Real Life
    Dec 17 2025

    Most moms think discipline is about getting kids to listen.
    But in this episode, I’m showing you what actually works.
    Real moments, real science, real tools.

    If you’ve ever wondered how to discipline without yelling or losing yourself… this one will open your eyes.

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    ✨ Join The Family — my free community for real moms who want to parent with more calm, connection, and confidence.
    → https://www.skool.com/keepingmomsreal

    🎁 Want a free taste of 1:1 coaching?
    Book a Free 30-Min Coaching Session to get clarity, support, and practical tools you can use today.
    → https://calendly.com/karenchirivi/discovery-call

    ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••­­­••••••••••
    ❤️ Learn more👇
    → https://www.skool.com/keepingmomsreal

    ❤️ Don't Forget To Subscribe 👇
    https://www.youtube.com/c/keepingmomsreal

    ❤️ Instagram 👇
    https://www.instagram.com/keepingmomsreal

    ❤️ TikTok 👇
    https://www.tiktok.com/@keepingmomsreal

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    ❤️ Related Studies & Articles You May Find Helpful:
    →Brain Insights and Well-Being

    https://drdansiegel.com/brain-insights-and-well-being-3/

    →Putting Feelings Into Words

    https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01916.x

    →Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting Education: Promoting Family Mindfulness During the Perinatal Period

    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10826-009-9313-7

    →Serve and Return

    https://developingchild.harvard.edu/key-concept/serve-and-return/

    →Anterior pituitary cell networks

    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091302212000349?via%3Dihub#s0140

    →Effects of stress throughout the lifespan on the brain, behaviour and cognition

    https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn2639

    →Stress signalling pathways that impair prefrontal cortex structure and function

    https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn2648


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    DISCLAIMERS:
    - Some links may be affiliate links — at no extra cost to you.
    - My content is educational and based on my personal experience; it’s not a substitute for professional advice.
    - You assume all responsibility for actions taken based on anything you learn from Keeping Moms Real.
    #momlife #positivediscipline #gentleparenting

    Show More Show Less
    24 mins
  • #6 - The Day I Realized My Anger Wasn’t About My Child
    Dec 10 2025

    In this episode, I share the moment I finally understood that my anger wasn’t about my child...

    We’re talking burnout, survival mode, nervous system overload, and why the smallest things feel like the last straw when your cup is empty.

    You’ll learn what’s actually happening in your brain when you snap, why it’s not your fault, and simple tools that help you reset in the middle of the chaos.

    ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••­­­••••••••••
    ✨ Join The Family — my free community for real moms who want to parent with more calm, connection, and confidence.
    → https://www.skool.com/keepingmomsreal

    🎁 Want a free taste of 1:1 coaching?
    Book a Free 30-Min Coaching Session to get clarity, support, and practical tools you can use today.
    → https://calendly.com/karenchirivi/discovery-call

    ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••­­­••••••••••
    ❤️ Learn more👇
    → https://www.skool.com/keepingmomsreal

    ❤️ Don't Forget To Subscribe 👇
    https://www.youtube.com/c/keepingmomsreal

    ❤️ Instagram 👇
    https://www.instagram.com/keepingmomsreal

    ❤️ TikTok 👇
    https://www.tiktok.com/@keepingmomsreal

    ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••­­­••••••••••

    ❤️ Related Studies & Articles You May Find Helpful:

    → American Psychological Association — Stress in America Report: https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress

    Stress signalling pathways that impair prefrontal cortex structure and function: https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn2648

    → Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting Education: Promoting Family Mindfulness During the Perinatal Period: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10826-009-9313-7

    → How Gratitude Changes You and Your Brain: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_gratitude_changes_you_and_your_brain

    → Parenting in America Today. Mental health concerns top the list of worries for parents; most say being a parent is harder than they expected: https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/01/24/parenting-in-america-today/

    → The polyvagal theory: New insights into adaptive reactions of the autonomic nervous system: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3108032/

    → Harvard Health — Understanding the Stress Response: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-response

    → The Effects of Sleep Loss on Medical Residents' Emotional Reactions to Work Events: a Cognitive-Energy Model: https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article-abstract/28/1/47/2696716?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false
    → Putting Feelings Into Words: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01916.x


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    DISCLAIMERS:
    - Some links may be affiliate links — at no extra cost to you.
    - My content is educational and based on my personal experience; it’s not a substitute for professional advice.
    - You assume all responsibility for actions taken based on anything you learn from Keeping Moms Real.
    #momlife #positivediscipline #gentleparenting

    Show More Show Less
    18 mins
  • #5 - What it looks like to parent without perfectionism?
    Dec 3 2025

    Trying to be the “perfect mom” almost broke me.
    In this video, I’m sharing what it really looks like to parent without perfectionism — the messy, freeing, real-life version.
    You’ll learn:
    ✨ The 3 truths that helped me let go of guilt and control
    ✨ Why repair matters more than getting it right every time
    ✨ How progress, not perfection, builds real connection

    💛 Join The Family - Our Private Community
    Imagine having a space where motherhood doesn’t feel so heavy — where you’re surrounded by moms who get it, and supported with tools that actually help. Inside The Family, we talk about emotional balance, gentle parenting, mindset growth, and real self-care — the kind that lasts. If you’ve been craving connection and calm… this is your invitation. 💛
    👉 Join The Family: https://bit.ly/4okBSqh

    🌿 Let’s Stay Connected
    Instagram → @keepingmomsreal
    TikTok → @keepingmomsreal
    YouTube → Keeping Moms Real

    ⚠️ Disclaimer
    I’m a mom sharing what’s worked for me. The ideas discussed here are for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not replace advice from a qualified professional. You assume all risks for how you use the information shared.
    Some links may be affiliate links at no extra cost to you — thank you for supporting this work so I can continue creating free content for moms like you.

    Show More Show Less
    13 mins
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