In this episode, Chelsi sits down with Rachael Choate, a life coach, mom of three, and LA County fire wife, to talk about the moments we don’t usually say out loud. The mom rage. The messy reintegration. The mental load of fire family life.

Rachael opens up about what it’s like raising three young kids while her husband works 24-hour shifts, how they’ve learned to communicate through exhaustion, and why the chaos when he comes home can feel harder than when he’s gone. Together, they explore the stories we tell ourselves about what our spouses are thinking, the guilt that follows when we lose our cool, and the small shifts that make a big difference in connection and patience.

This conversation is honest, comforting, and a reminder that you’re not broken, you’re just tired, and you’re doing better than you think.

Follow Rachael: https://www.instagram.com/rachaelchoate_/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mom Rage and Family Life

05:20 Navigating the Firefighter's Academy and Early Marriage

11:07 Reintegration Challenges and Communication Strategies

19:25 Understanding Emotional Needs and Decompression

20:21 Navigating Life as a Fire Wife

21:36 The Importance of Vulnerability in Community

22:33 Understanding Murphy's Law and Mom Guilt

23:31 The Challenges of Planning in a Firefighter Family

24:53 Normalizing the Chaos of Family Dynamics

28:00 Addressing Mom Rage and Emotional Overload

31:18 Finding Grace in Parenting Challenges

35:36 Resources for Fire Wives and Moms