Rebecca Michi (Mickey) is a Mom of two, Wife of one and children's sleep consultant who would not ever dream of telling you to leave your children to cry-it-out. Rebecca loves helping families turn drama into dreamland. When she's not Momming, Wifeing, or consulting you can find her either running (rather slowly) or sipping coffee in Seattle.

I have been so excited about this interview because Rebecca was immensely helpful to me when Vinnie was a teeny, tiny tyke.  Through stalking Rebecca on Facebook and participating in her Facebook Q&As for a number of months, I learned everything I needed to know about getting Vinnie on schedule, how to put a sleep routine in place, and what I should expect as he grew.  Rebecca provided me with tremendous relief over and over again.  

In this interview, Rebecca shares:

• When a baby is old enough to get on a sleep schedule
• What a sleep routine looks like 
• Why you don’t have to suffer through crying-it-out
• The 2-3-4 Rule (I swore by this with Vinnie!)
• How to get your child to go to bed earlier and/or sleep in later

Links Mentioned:

Rebecca’s Website 

Rebecca on Facebook

Program: 28 Day Easy Sleep Challenge

I recently received an email from Shameless Mom Rachel that brought me to tears.  She talked about her experience with Postpartum Depression and suicidal ideation and how The Shameless Mom Academy has been part of her healing.  Her words of gratitude were humbling, to say the least.  

Rachel’s email inspired me to create this episode on gratitude.  I am so grateful Rachel shared her story.  Her story will help Shameless Moms, for sure.  Our stories connect us to each other and inspire us to reach out of our comfort zones.  Our stories are essential for learning and healing and growing.  This is why I share so many of my stories.  

In addition to my gratitude for Rachel’s story, I want to share 10 ways gratitude can improve your life.  If you think gratitude is a little too “woowoo” for you, this list is for you!  

Last, but not least, I want to share my friend Scott Colby’s upcoming event, The Ultimate Gratitude Challenge.  Scott will be sharing interviews with 35 of his colleagues (myself included) over the course of 35 days.  Scott’s interviews are all about how gratitude helped people out of addiction, loss and grief to improve self worth, relationships and overall quality of life.  Scott has a fabulous line up of interviewees.  This entire summit is online and free.  

Links Mentioned:

Article: The 31 Benefits of Gratitude You Didn’t Know About: How Gratitude Can Change Your Life 

Scott Colby’s Ultimate Gratitude Challenge

Shameless Mom Interview with Jen Briggs

In Episode 51, I talked about how to find your passion by:

• Defining what you love
• Defining where you thrive
• Defining what stifles you
• Defining who you want to be

Be sure to listen to Episode 51, if you haven’t already!  

Today I’ll build upon finding you passion by discussing:

• Transitions between passions and life plans
• How to create time and space for building your passion
• How to hustle, smarter
• Where your support is
• Be kind to yourself, but also fierce
• How to find mentors and follow those who have gone before you

The idea of “following your passion” sounds really nice – but actually following your passion takes #ladyballs and a serious plan.  This episode will help you put some pieces together so you can move forward, daily; so you can feel confident and excited; so you can finally do that thing you’ve been dying to do.

I also share all the amazing, inspirational and informational podcasts I have learned from – that have allowed me to follow my passion of starting and building a podcast. 

Finding your passion is no small thing.  After you become a mom, you forget what you enjoy and you lose track of past hobbies.  When you make an effort to former passion projects, whether it’s on a professional or personal level, you likely find that the things that totally filled you up and fueled you before kids don’t do that any more.  It’s all… just different, somehow….

My work has shifted in many ways since becoming a mom.  My hobbies have too.  My time is different – and way more valuable.  So, I’m really picky about how I spend it.  I only want to do the things that add value to my life in some way.  It has taken me some time to figure this out and define things.  

Today, I’m going to share with you the things I’ve learned in the last 4 years of mothering and working and living a life that fulfills me.  Here is the basic framework, be sure to listen in for a much more detailed explanation:

• Know what you love 
• Know where you thrive
• Know what stifles you
• Know who you want to be

You can read the full show notes and access all the links and resources at www.shamelessmom.com

For our 50^th episode I wanted to do something a little fun and a little special.  I actually recorded this in the 30 minutes before my IVF egg retrieval.  I’m not sure it reinforced the idea that I truly want to go for #2, haha…

My mom has always done a great job of painting motherhood in a beautiful picture:  

“Your children will always be your proudest accomplishment.”

“There is nothing like a mother’s love.”

“I don’t remember you ever waking up at night.”

“You are your sister were easy babies.”

Moms have a knack for making it look like we just wake up every day and knock everything out of the freakin’ park.  As our children age, that is how we remember it too.  

“You were the happiest baby in the world.”

“The days just flew by.”

“Nothing compares to being a mom.”

You know what else nothing compares to?  

Sipping wine with my husband on a beach without a small child in site.

Or spending a day all alone with no one needing a damn thing from me. 

As our children age, we idealize the past and it gets better and better.  As NewbornLand becomes a distant memory, we find ourselves falling in love with the memories, rather than recalling the reality, which was survival, barely. 

This episode is dedicated to the first 50 episodes of the Shameless Mom Academy and the nearly 50,000 downloads of Shameless Moms listening in to learn and laugh together every week.  Thank you for the love and support.  You make my motherhood journey so much better. 

I received some amazing feedback from Episode 47: I See Someone Handsome (How To Look In The Mirror).  I wanted to take some time to go through a couple messages specifically, as they were powerful and deeply impacted me.  

As a direct result of the feedback I got from Shameless Moms Anne and Meg, I felt compelled to be a little more bold than normal in a recent social media post and in sharing the photo that goes with this episode (the internet has never met my bare belly before!) 

I’m so glad Episode 47 was impactful for you, my lovely and super rad listeners.  I’m so glad you’re looking in the mirror and seeing things a little differently than just a week ago. I want to inspire you to recognize your radness every damn day.  It can take time and practice to change your self talk.  It can take a tremendous amount of humility and courage to “fake it till you become it”.  But it is entirely possible to change your relationship with YOU by taking Radical Responsibility in your self care and self love habits.  

It starts today.  It starts with you.  It starts with just a little inspiration.  I hope this episode, in conjunction with Episode 47, are the inspiration you need to See Someone Handsome. 

Today I am talking with my friend and colleague Shawna Kaminski.  Shawna is a fitness professional, former teacher and single mom.  She is as focused and determined as they come.  She works from a place of passion and she pushes herself out of her comfort zone as often as possible.  This has allowed her to reach great heights professionally, while raising two teenagers.  

I admire Shawna for her tenacity and determination to RISE when the going gets tough.  I’ve watched her push herself and grow like crazy in the last few years.  She is a force.  

Today, Shawna will share:

• How changing professions has made her feel like she never has to “work” again
• How following her passion carried her through her toughest parenting moments
• What it’s like to build multiple businesses while raising teenagers
• The benefits of baby steps
• How she is impacting and improving women's relationships with their bodies as they age

You can read the full show notes and access all the links and resources at www.shamelessmom.com

The other day, Vinnie stood in front of the mirror brushing his teeth and exclaimed, “I see someone handsome!”  When is the last time you looked at yourself in the mirror and shouted with glee?  Let’s all get better at looking in the mirror.  How you talk to yourself in the mirror reflects how you talk to yourself in all areas of your life (remember, “how you do anything is how your do everything.”)

Listen in to hear some shocking statistics on how children view their bodies.  Then follow these 7 steps to love your body a little more:

1. Pull yourself out of the comparison trap
2. Divorce the D word
3. Disengage from people who make you feel LESS, build relationships with those who make you feel MORE
4. ID three likes, with no “buts”
5. Buy clothes you love, that flatter you as you are
6. Own your wins and share them
7. Be vulnerable

Also in this episode: an update on my first 8 days of IVF meds!

Links Mentioned:

Psych Central article: Why Do Women Hate Their Bodies

Rockstar social media influences: Molly Galbraith, Erin Brown, Jill Coleman

Buzzfeed Article: Getting Rid of Clothes I Hated Help Me Love My Body

Portia Smith is a writer, influencer and all-around obsessed-aficionado over at Obsessed By Portia.  Finding the #MomLife balance is her forte – ensuring style, fitness and happiness are well-maintained. The Obsessed by Portia brand is about channeling your inner #Superwoman – find your passion, be adventurous, and always arrive looking damn good.

In this interview, Portia shares:

• How she got started as a mommy blogger (in secret)
• Her best tips for following your passion and starting your own gig
• How to build relationships and connect with your “competitors”
• Ways to engage your family in your passion
• The superpower she wants to give you: Sincere Undeniable Confidence, Always

Links Mentioned:

www.obsessedbyportia.com 

Obsessed By Portia on Facebook

Obsessed By Portia on Instagram

Obsessed By Portia on Twitter

We’re at a time of year when people are preparing for transitions.  Maybe you’re getting ready to send your child to a new school – or maybe his/her first school ever (tear…)  Maybe you’re getting ready to send your child off to college.  Maybe you’re preparing to return to school yourself.  Maybe you’re getting ready for a new job or a new season or position in your current job.  Maybe you’re getting ready to add a child to your family (I’ve learned I have some “secret pregnant” followers – sending you toooons of love, mamas!)

You probably know by now that I’ve been preparing for IVF.  It’s been a long process of preparation, as nothing happens quickly in The Land of the Infertile.  I sat down to note the steps I’ve taken to prepare, as I thought this might be helpful to you as you anticipate a change or a transition in life.  

These are the things I’ve done to mentally prepare for IVF, but you can apply them to many other situations.  I would love to hear how they might apply to something big you have coming up.  Shoot me a message [sara@shamelessmom.com] and let me know!

6 Ways to Mentally Prepare for Anything

1. Don’t be tied to outcomes
2. Plan rewards for all outcomes 
3. ID all pros and cons in advance
4. Know your strengths and weaknesses
5. ID your support system
6. Clear extra “stuff” out of your life

Listen in and see how you can apply these to your life.  Please share this episode if you think it might help someone else who is facing a big event or transition.  For those of you about to tackle big things, know I am with you and I have your back. Always.