What is it like to love someone so deeply that their pain lives in your body too?

In this episode of Momming Out Loud, we talk about the moment many mothers quietly think, what have I done?—when our children experience pain and every instinct in us wants to fix it, prevent it, or take it away. We explore the tension between protecting our children and knowing that shielding them from all pain would also rob them of the chance to feel capable, resilient, and whole.

We also talk about what happens when our children witness our pain—how we try to care for them while we’re still finding our own footing, and how motherhood often invites an unexpected reparenting of ourselves. This conversation is about holding both: our resilience and our children’s, our tenderness and our strength, as we navigate the complicated, beautiful work of raising humans while still growing ourselves.

Connect with us at: mommingoutloudpodcast@gmail.com or on

Instagram at mommingoutloudpod

We would love to hear your stories and suggestions for future episodes!

AND, if you are interested in signing up for our Momming Out Loud Circle please email us for more information!

*Hosts: Ali OConnell and Mollie Birney

Who were you before motherhood — and who are you now?

In this episode, we explore identity in motherhood and the profound shift that happens. We talk about who we were before kids, how motherhood changed our sense of self, and the parts of us we still want to grow into.

We name both the grief and the beauty that come with this identity change. There is no going back to an old version of ourselves — but there is integration. We discuss what it means to weave our motherhood identity into our whole selves, without losing who we are.

If you’ve ever felt unsure of who you are after becoming a mom, missed parts of your pre-kids identity, or wondered how to hold all of yourself at once, this conversation is for you.

Connect with us at: mommingoutloudpodcast@gmail.com

We would love to hear your stories and suggestions for future episodes!

AND, if you are interested in signing up for our Momming Out Loud Circle please email us for more information!

*Hosts: Ali OConnell and Mollie Birney

Before the new year begins, we wanted to pause and name the why.

Why Momming Out Loud.

Why now.

Why gathering together matters.

This short holiday clip reflects on the beliefs and experiences that led us here—and opens the door to our Momming Out Loud Circle launching in January. If you’ve been craving deeper connection, space to speak freely, or a reminder that you’re not alone, consider this your invitation.

Connect with us at: mommingoutloudpodcast@gmail.com

We would love to hear your stories and suggestions for future episodes!

AND, if you are interested in signing up for our Momming Out Loud Circle please email us for more information!

*Hosts: Ali OConnell and Mollie Birney

In this episode, we talk about hosting—not the Pinterest version, but the real one. The kind that brings up questions about being “enough,” about whether the house is too messy or too quiet, too chaotic or too curated. We explore how having kids changes our relationship to our space, and how inviting people in can stir up self-judgment and shame. Together, we make the bet that the people who love us will come anyway. And we reflect on what it means to enter each other’s homes leading with love, not critique—offering grace instead of judgment, both to others and ourselves.

Connect with us at: mommingoutloudpodcast@gmail.com

We would love to hear your stories and suggestions for future episodes!

AND, if you are interested in signing up for our Momming Out Loud Circle please email us for more information!

*Hosts: Ali OConnell and Mollie Birney

We are digging into self-compassion on today's episode. Get ready to hear personal examples of our own struggles with finding compassion for ourselves and our children and the ways that we find our way back to the medicine again and again.

Mollie reminds us that "self-compassion is the truth filtered through kindness rather than judgement." AND that "judgement is looking for labels, whereas self-compassion is comfortable with a little more spaciousness".

Today's episode is a reminder that we don't have to get it right all the time and that this self-compassion thing is an ongoing practice. It is the practice of creating more space for ourselves and for those that we love, so that we can literally have more room for curiosity.

Come join us as we challenge our fear and shame through connection, stories and laughter.

Connect with us at: mommingoutloudpodcast@gmail.com

We would love to hear your stories and suggestions for future episodes!

AND, if you are interested in signing up for our Momming Out Loud Circle please email us for more information!

*Hosts: Ali OConnell and Mollie Birney

If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, rate and leave a review or share it with a friend!

Welcome back to Momming Out Loud. Thanks for joining the conversation!

This week we are talking about all the big feelings and focusing on how we walk along side these big feelings with our children and the importance of modeling our own ways of managing said feelings.

We discuss the evolution of language around emotions, the challenges of managing behavior, and the significance of allowing space for feelings. We emphasize the need for parents to reflect on their own emotional experiences and to foster an environment where children can express their emotions without shame. We also manage to touch on boredom and the intimacy of asking for what we need.

What you might takeaway from this episode:

• We often see edited versions of parenting that hide the chaos and the realness of day to day life.
• Naming emotions as 'big feelings' helps reduce judgment.
• Modeling healthy anger is crucial for children.
• Boredom can lead to creativity and self-discovery.
• It's important to separate feelings from behavior.
• Allowing space for emotions can prevent them from escalating.
• Children learn to ask for their needs from us.
• Managing our own feelings is a continuous practice.
• Intimacy in relationships involves vulnerability in expressing needs.
• Parenting is an experiment in emotional intelligence.

Connect with us at: mommingoutloudpodcast@gmail.com

We would love to hear your stories and suggestions for future episodes!

AND, if you are interested in signing up for our Momming Out Loud Circle please email us for more information!

*Hosts: Ali OConnell and Mollie Birney

If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, rate and leave a review or share it with a friend!

This week Mollie and Ali explore the pervasive issue of comparison in parenting. They discuss how social media exacerbates feelings of inadequacy, the pressure of parenting benchmarks, and the role of shame in shaping parenting experiences. Through conversation Ali and Mollie highlight the importance of trusting one's instincts, navigating societal expectations, and finding balance in parenting styles.

In conclusion, let's keep practicing and embracing imperfection, talking about the hard stuff and building our village.

Takeaways

• Comparison often leads to feelings of inadequacy and shame.
• Social media can intensify the comparison trap for parents.
• It's not fair to compare our insides with someone else' outsides.
• Parenting benchmarks can create unnecessary pressure and anxiety.
• Shame grows in the dark; sharing experiences can shed light on it and alleviate it.

• Finding balance in parenting requires self-compassion and understanding over and over again.
• Community support is vital in overcoming the challenges of parenting.

Connect with us at: mommingoutloudpodcast@gmail.com

We would love to hear your stories and suggestions for future episodes!

*Hosts: Ali OConnell and Mollie Birney

If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, rate and leave a review or share it with a friend!

Keywords: parenting, comparison, social media, self-trust, shame, body image, parenting benchmarks, community support, parenting expectations

*Friendly Warning* This episode includes honest conversation about Santa as a metaphor. We highly recommend listening WITHOUT kids who still believe in the magic!

Welcome to the holiday episode of Momming Out Loud!

In this conversation, Ali and Mollie explore the complexities of loss, grief, and the impact of family dynamics on holiday traditions. The discussion delves into the challenges of explaining loss to children, the pressures surrounding holiday expectations, and the delicate balance of maintaining traditions while fostering joy and connection. The hosts reflect on their own experiences with Santa and the importance of creating meaningful rituals that honor both the light and dark aspects of life.

Takeaways

• Navigating loss is a complex emotional journey.
• Explaining grief to children requires sensitivity and honesty.
• Holiday traditions can evoke both joy and pressure.
• The Santa myth can be a source of trauma for some families.
• Creating rituals can help foster connection and meaning.
• It's important to balance expectations with the joy of the season.
• Simplicity in traditions can lead to deeper connections.
• Children's understanding of magic evolves over time.

• Finding joy in the chaos of holiday preparations is essential.

Connect with us at: mommingoutloudpodcast@gmail.com

We would love to hear your stories and suggestions for future episodes!

*Hosts: Ali OConnell and Mollie Birney

If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe, rate and leave a review or share it with a friend!

Keywords: loss, grief, holiday traditions, family dynamics, Santa, parenting, rituals, expectations, joy, connection