Let's Be Real: Mama Journeys

As a mama who had her first baby at the age of 35, she wasn't sure she wanted kids. She was very driven in her career and wasn't certain kids were in her future. But when she got married at the age of 34, 2 months into the marriage, they were pregnant! She is not a huge fan of kids, except her own! She joined some mom groups through a nonprofit that turned into a store and found her people. With her second baby, she was involved in her church and all the moms were amazing supports. In Canada you get 12-18 months of leave and get partial pay. Getting help doesn't mean you failed!!!! That is what she wishes she would have known as a new mom. She thinks her inability to accept help came from being the youngest or the societal pressure to NOT get help with things. When she was becoming a mom, she thought she had to do it ALL. But in the long run, she didn't. Give yourself grace and redefine what doing it all looks like. Growth is good for us. Don't be afraid of growth and change.

Kelly has lived in Colorado since she was 8 and lives in Centennial. She works for a payroll company called PNIHCM and is passionate about her community. The job of being a mama and wife is a 24/7 job. She met her husband way back when she was 19 and got lots of stuff "out of the way" before she had her son. She had her son at the age of 35 and what an adjustment it was! Her pregnancy was a complete surprise because she was on birth control and didn't expect to get pregnant! At 16 weeks pregnant she had a grapefruit sized cyst removed, which was very stressful and then 5 weeks later she had another cyst appear. Her pregnancy was not what she had in mind but it resulted in a healthy, happy baby boy. With her situation and experience, her body decided that they were one and done. She wishes she could go back in time and tell her younger self that she needs to be kinder to herself and stop looking at the "imperfections." One of the biggest challenges she had was wanting her body back. She was "touched out!" Can you relate? Her one is done is the light of her life and her need to be herself and understand that it's OK to not be or do all the things everyone else THINKS you should! She's an amazing mama and friend!

Brenna is a single mom of 2 and closing in on 40 and so excited about the possibilities of the "rock star decade!" She is a police dispatcher for the Colorado State Patrol and her hours are nuts! She also put her application in to be a State Trooper and is starting that process! She became a mama at the age of 22 and her kiddos have different dads. Not knowing what a healthy relationship looked like, she struggled to find true love. Having two kids on her own, her mom homeschooled her and her siblings and that struggle was rough for Brenna while trying to raise her kids the way she wanted to. She was raised Southern Baptist and after graduating high school she walked away from that church. She ended up finding her OWN community through a totally different church setting. Parenting teens has been tough but she understands they are in their own developmental stages but it's no joke. In 2021 her whole life came crashing down when her child told her that her ex husband had sexually abused them. With her ex in prison for his abuse, she is doing her best to heal all of the broken parts that her and her kids have experienced. Her advice is to NOT be a helicopter parent but just be in tune with what's going on with their lives. Let go of the control and choose your battles.

Michelle is a mom of 2 living in Arvada, Colorado and works with companies to help them with their expansion plans. She is a member of YANA's Board of Directors and has been an amazing asset to our program. She started her parenting journey later in life and had her son at the age of 40. She was a corporate climber so starting at the age of 40 was a little rough. She had 2 small kiddos for the global pandemic! She made some changes to her career in that time and switched lanes in her work/life balance. After leaving a work trip early because her first born was sick, she learned really quickly that her kids always come first. The pivotal moments in motherhood really makes you stop and think about how you will continue the life and career she built. With no family in Colorado, her support came from her mom who lives in Michigan but she came and spent 2 weeks/month in the first year! Both kids were 3 weeks early into the world, so her c-sections were a bit scary and it was both her best and worst mama moments. As a career focused mom, she wishes she would have known that chaos is normal. Trying to control it all is impossible and she has learned patience and how to roll with it and GIVE YOURSELF GRACE! It's ok to not be ok. We do our best and that's what our kiddos will remember!

Susanna Peace Lovell is a mama and a life coach and advocate for families with kiddos with disabilities. She has a daughter with many extreme needs and it led her to this work. Her daughter is about to turn 18, living in LA and her and her ex-husband raise her collectively. She had ALL the motherhood answers before she became a mom (like a lot of us do) and then reality hit! Her daughter was diagnosed with a plethora of medical conditions and her mamahood journey was NOTHING like she was prepared for. She, and her daughter cried for the first 18 months of her life and she wondered if she would ever find a "normal" that wasn't hard. She has had a rough mamahood journey of almost 18 years but she knows that without the support of her mom, and even her mother-in-law, she wouldn't be the mama she is now. Her mission to help other parents of kiddos with disabilities keeps her grounded and inspired. You can find her at https://www.susannapeacelovell.com and her book at https://a.co/d/hty6wFX

Dianna is a classical homeopath in Littleton who wrote a book about newborn death. She does a lot of grief work with mamas who have experienced a loss. After four pregnancies, she has one living child and her unique experience is what helps her share with other mamas. There are over one million babies who die before their first birthday EVERY YEAR! Grieving is something we don't talk about in this country. She is a member of the Colorado End of Life Collaboration and it is an organization she is very proud of. She is a death expert who says "be there, support them, let them know you care." She was an older mama and no one talks about menopause and raising small children. There are so many different "shades" to motherhood and we need to experience all of them! She is mothering a boy and without having boys in her life before he was born, it's not always easy but she is learning as she goes. She wishes she would have had some awareness of the challenges and differences in parenting later in life. Some days motherhood is disappointing and it's ok! Let's be real!!! Find her at frontrangehomeopathy.com

She and her husband are high school sweethearts and she was married at 20! She wasn't sure she wanted kiddos but after 10 years of marriage, they decided they did! She was in the hospitality industry during the pandemic but that wasn't ideal as a new mom. Hotels are open 365 days a year and 24 hours a day! That wasn't working for her and her family so she decided it was time to realign her priorities and change her career on top of a pandemic and being a new mama! Her biggest realization was that relationships change when you have kiddos and that's hard and sometimes heartbreaking. She has made some amazing friends and has a huge village and is very thankful for her support. Her mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer when baby number one was 6 weeks old. It was heartbreaking and sad for her to watch and not be able to turn to her and ask for advice. Her friends helped her work through all of that along with the loss of her mom. During that time, she also experienced miscarriages so her village carried her through it. When she was pregnant with number 2, who was a boy, she was a little worried about parenting a boy. She was a bundle of nerves about it all (and if she had enough love to give to both). The terrible 2's got her and her worst mama moment came the day of family pictures! She wants mamas to know that you can't control or know everything that is going to happen. Just take it for what it is. You got this mama!

Kelli is a badass CEO of a Colorado nonprofit called BCC Evolution (now Make Mental Health Matter), a mental health and suicide awareness nonprofit. They focus on the education aspect after her sister took her life. Kelli was a teen mom at the age of 16 as a junior in high school. She put her daughter up for adoption because she watched her sister go through it as a teen mom and didn't want that for her life. So she asked for an open adoption and is in contact with the family with lots of adoption in her family. She had her second child much later in life and then was a single mom. NOT the experience she wanted. With family support and really great sisters, she felt she had some pretty decent help with the birth of her son. Her son had seizures at a young kiddo and that was one of the hardest things she ever had to go through because the unknown was rough but he is healthy now and doing great. She wants moms to know that there is no cookie cutter way to raise kids. Every parent is different, every child is different and there is no guide book! Roll with the punches and it's never going to be perfect. Lean on other moms and ask the questions just know that their answers may not pertain to you but other opinions can't hurt. You can find them at their website at makementalhealthmatter.org.

Lindsey is a mom of 2 girls and the program director of the Backcountry Wilderness nonprofit for our Community Association. She is passionate about protecting our wildlife in Colorado. She was in a hurry to be a mom and had baby number one at the age of 26 right after her husband graduated from PT school. She is a Colorado native who returned in her adult years because she LOVED the mountains and Colorado as a whole. Her biggest challenge as a mom has been doing parenthood the way that SHE wanted and not necessarily how others thought she should. She feels her husband was one of her best supporters and her parents were available and amazing people who showed up when she needed it but gave the space when she needed it. She wishes she would have trusted her mama gut when it came to knowing what was going on with her daughter, who has dyslexia. She learned from that experience and now is her girls' biggest champion.

Marta is a mom of 3 and a full time student pursuing her graduate degree in Social work. As an intern for YANA, she has contributed a TON of knowledge to our organization and she is a huge asset to us! They live the farm life and are encouraging her three kids to find happiness in whatever that is, even if it isn't higher education. Healthy relationships have healthy conversations and discussions that show conflict resolutions that show them what the real world looks like (as unfortunate as that is sometimes). Her first child was a NICU experience and it was quite traumatic. She thought her birthing plan was a binding contract but God had other plans! She labored for over 30 hours and her son came out blue and not crying. As a healthy, happy kiddo now, it all worked out but it really made her realize that challenges at birth aren't always the plan but they are God's plan. With baby number three, she experienced Postpartum Depression and Anxiety. She really struggled and she didn't know why. She can look back now and see what it was but she couldn't admit it then (like so many moms). "I've done this twice before so I got this." But she didn't and her dark time really taught her to get the support when needed and don't be afraid to ask for it. Grieving her circle of friends was hard but the new circle came into place and made it ok. She wishes she would have known it was ok to reach out for help. BRAVERY OVER SHAME! There should be no shame in asking for help! It truly takes a village to take care of mama!

She is a stay at home mom but was a theater actress and CEO of a Yoga studio for years. Her journey started at an advanced maternal age. Her home birth was magical and was exactly what she wanted it to be. She had 2 midwives, a doula, a birth photographer and her husband for her birth and LOVED it. She was radically supported and was only in labor for 5 hours as opposed to the 40 hours of the first birth! Her birth stories are unique and different but also HERS and she takes pride in that. Her first baby was born during a global pandemic and she struggled with Postpartum Depression and with shame and guilt about "letting her husband down" even though her husband would have never had those thoughts about her but she put those expectations on herself. Her second mama journey experience was so different than her first because with baby number two she wanted to prove to everyone she could be the best mama ever! And that wore her out and made her exhausted in a different way. She and her husband are Colorado natives (which is really rare) and they have a TON of support with lots of family around but her husband was her biggest supporter. Her mom and her mother in law have been amazing supporters and adore their grandchildren. She LOVES breastfeeding and is very proud of the two years she breastfed her first. After experiencing a miscarriage between her two kiddos, it really impacted her third pregnancy (second birth) and her anxiety throughout that time. This is normal and she wants other mamas to know that all of the things you go through in the postpartum timeline is NORMAL and it's ok to ask for help and advice. You are not alone!

Lainne had a natural home birth with her son at the age of 36. She has had a lot of chaos in her mama journey and didn't know the father well and she does not have a relationship with him so being a single mom was quite the challenge. She was shocked at her numbness during pregnancy and because of her traumatic childhood, she was not as prepared to be a mom as she wishes she would be. She didn't recognize herself when she became a mom and realized her ancestral karma was holding her back. Epigenetics is the study of which genes are expressed and when and why. In our DNA there are traits that are passed down and we don't always have control of those things and how we react to them. With a waterfall of challenges when she had her son, the biggest was battling with the father, her son was an American and she wasn't (she's from Canada) and was in fear of losing her child, along with being a single parent. Lainne has a wealth of knowledge about being a mom of a neurodivergent child and you can find her at her website at lainne.com. Lainne Love on social media too!

As a mama of one and a son who joined the military, that fear was encompassing because she had no idea how to handle that. When she was a new mom, she was on her own as a single mom. She had support from her parents when her son grew but lost both of her parents to cancer. She feels that she has grown closer to her mom since she passed because she learned about her moms past and her life trauma and how that made her who she was. Blessed with the most amazing son and having such amazing memories of his childhood made her tear up because she loved being his mama and could NOT be more proud of him. As the first Doctor in the family, he called and was worried about being the first to graduate (before her) and upsetting her. She wrote a children's book about her dad called Papa's Scooter, a Legacy of Love. Check it out on Amazon! Lori is a beautiful mama with a lot of love for her amazing son and she wants you to know that you are doing a great job!

Candace has been a working mom for many years and owns Holistically Well (insert tag here). Even though she wasn't always 100% sure she wanted to be a mom. She envisioned herself as the professional woman in New York City, living the dream of being a working woman who blew your socks off. After five years of trying, she finally got pregnant and were now a military family. The military doesn't really support infertility and the struggle of it. After a miscarriage on her own, in her own home all alone she finally felt the need to be a mom. This was the first time she had that motherly feeling the need to have a family. Her mama journey was full circle because the day her daughter should have been born, she found out she was pregnant with her son. She did not enjoy pregnancy and her birth story was quite a traumatic experience. Her dyslexic son is an amazing kiddo but her need to be a mama bear sometimes can be the catalyst to reeling it back to allow him to be his own advocate. Finding a balance of how to handle discipline with each age is tough but if you tap into yourself and allow yourself to see your own truth. You can find her at holisticallywellut.com

As a lifelong educator, she has dedicated her life to the education of children. She started her mama journey just before turning 30. With grown kids, she remembers having very little support throughout having little ones. She moved to Colorado with no family there and struggled with the lack of help. Even though she was in education and taught while having kids, she didn't ever teach her own children. Her neighbors were her biggest supporters and they created her own village. As she grew as a mom, and now a grandmother, she did some remembering back to the days of reading stories and singing songs to put them to bed. When your kids become parents and acknowledge how hard it is to be a mom, that's a good feeling. She wishes she would have let her kids struggle more. The need to rescue him was so powerful that she always jumped in to help, creating a less persistent adult. She wants you to think about letting them struggle more. When you are in the thick of it and you feel like it's never going to end, cherish what you can because it goes by sooooo fast! Check out her work at https://ecclacolorado.org/counties/douglas-county-early-childhood-council-dcecc/

Samantha and I have a long history and it was such a joy to chat with her. She was a flower girl in our wedding way back in 1995! Samantha was 26 when she had number one and after having number one, number two was a whole different story and it was hard letting go of not having control over the unknown. The mom guilt for number one was really hard to navigate as well. Her biggest supporter was her mama (who happens to be my BFF!). She loved hearing from her that she is doing a good job! As a mama of a 7 and 4 year old, her favorite part of being a mom is when they want HER to put them to bed and spend time with them. To feel loved and accepted by your kids is really the best part of being a mom. She wishes she would have started a journal of the things her kids have said. She wishes she would have known that pretty much everything you hear about being a mom like "it gets easier" is all a bunch of bullshit. Absorb where you are right now and live in the moment as much as possible. Everything is going to change, for the good or the bad within probably minutes so just go with it.

Marissa is running for MAYOR of Lone Tree, Colorado and is kicking off her journey into the crazy world of politics! She is a mom of 2 girls and is passionate about leaning into her community. As a mom of one, her biggest challenge with having her second child was the unknown of how to handle things when your baby isn't meeting the same milestones as your first. Where do you turn? Who do you tell? As the mom, we are supposed to "know" and it wasn't until someone in her hairstyle chair said to her, "Developmental Pathways is amazing" that she finally allowed herself to be open to the possibility that they needed help. After her daughter was given the support she needed, she has thrived. It hasn't come without many heartaches but it has gotten MUCH better and Marissa has learned to open herself up to what is out there that can help you along the way. She wants other mamas to know that it's ok not to know, it's ok to ask for help and you need to find your village. Her biggest supporter, to this day, is her husband and she is so excited about this next adventure. MARISSA FOR LONE TREE! https://www.marissaforlonetree.com/, https://www.rootsandmaneco.com/

Trista is a coach of women and focuses on empowering women. She gave birth in Costa Rica at home as a single mom. She lived in Costa Rica for seven years to learn a new culture, Spanish and more about sustainability. She is one of six kids and always wanted to give birth at home. One of her biggest challenges was going from having the baby in her belly to always having him on her boob. The demands are huge to moms and never ending. When her son started to mirror her yoga practice, she saw the fruits of her labors. She felt she truly sees her positive energy coming through her four year old. Her worst mama moment came when she saw the fear in her son's eyes when she yelled at him. THIS is what it means to be a good mom (recognizing that we don't always have our s*#! together!). She fell in love with the idea of having a child and a family but didn't really have the systems in place to support that. She wishes she would have had more in place. She has great resources so check out her linktree at https://linktr.ee/tristagoforth.

Melissa is a wife and mom of 2 teen girls. Holistic health and life coach helping girls and women break free issues with food. Being a mom is so hard because you watch yourself walk outside of your body with NO control. Being a mom is a 24/7 job because someone always needs something. Her kids are 27 months apart and that seemed to work well for them. Overwhelming at first but as they grew, it was better. Her best mama moment is right now! She is loving how much they need her in a totally different way and with their brains more developed, it's been fun with them. When she was overwhelmed and the kids were so young, it was hard on her. She wishes she would have known that it is not going to always stay this way. It changes so quickly but she couldn't see past it at the time. Moms, you matter and it is ok to take care of yourself. YOU need to do what YOU need to do to be the best version of you! You can find Melissa at free2Bcoaching.com

Jenn is a life coach and helps people to be proactive in their resilience. She helps people prepare and practice for the curve balls that are thrown at us. She is an adoptive mom of a 15 year old girl who brought her daughter home at 5 weeks old. She is a 2-time kidney transplant recipient so couldn't carry children so decided to be an adoptive mom. Her story is quite unique and full of hope, love and big things. Her daughter has a life threatening disease that she has learned how to manage and support while navigating motherhood, running a business and "being where her feet are." She wishes she would have known that she was not put on the planet to make her child behave or obey but to help shape the person they will become. You can reach her at [email protected] for more information about proactive resilience!

A native California girl challenged with not being able to surf every day. Her and her family are about to retire from the military after 20 years of service. With baby number one, she almost lost her life in childbirth. As a family, they have moved 8 times in 13 years! As a military family, this was their "normal" but watching their kids struggle with those moves was gut wrenching. She wants other moms to know that you are doing better than you think you are. You CAN do hard things and you should never stop playing with your kids! Experiences over stuff, every time.

As a new author of a book about postpartum stuff that helps moms with the 4th trimester, her honest, raw thoughts and experiences are helping moms everywhere. She is a young, intelligent mom with so much to share. She learned early to set boundaries and let her friends and family know what they have for expectations and highly suggests that for all moms. There are two goals after having a baby…one is to keep that baby alive and thriving and also for YOU to heal and thrive too. Mom's health and wellbeing needs to be a bigger priority. Her first few weeks after birth were really hard on her and she uses her experience to help other mamas. Insta: https://www.instagram.com/postpartum_mom_guide/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550836755889

Married at 19 and baby number one at 20, Melinda flew across the world to Ethiopia, Africa to be with her husband who was stationed in the Navy there. She had to birth on her own, mother for the first three weeks on her own and then be a mom in Africa! It was quite a challenge but in her words, "you just did it, you had no other choice." After returning to Michigan, they had baby number two and then she had the support of her family but in only two short years, her entire world was turned upside down when her husband was killed in a car accident. He was active military when it happened and she was left to figure out how to parent on her own without her spouse and rock. To add insult to injury, her father died two years later from a heart attack and she was left again to pick up the pieces. Listen to her story of resilience, love, dedication and one hell of a badass who just so happens to be my mother-in-law! As a family, we are blessed to have her as our matriarch and Nana who gives of her heart and soul to those she loves.

Jenny Robbins is a mental health counselor at South Platte Counseling. She is a mom of 2 boys with only one on this earth. She was first a young mom at the age of 20 and a college student and also an older mom at the age of 37! She was part of a network of moms with her second son and without that group, she couldn't have been strong enough to get through the death of her first son 11 years ago. As a therapist who specializes in grief and trauma, she helps people move forward after a deep loss. She wishes she would have realized how fast it all goes and to enjoy every moment and be "in" it. She wishes she would have known this more as a younger mom but she knows it now!

Jazmin Slaughter is a publicist and mother of one who gave birth during a global pandemic. She was so focused on building her career and education that she wasn't sure she was wanting to be a mom at the age of 25. But when she got pregnant, that changed everything, She has a Bachelor's degree and is working on her Master's degree. She wishes she would have known that the sacrifice of time would be the hardest part of motherhood. She didn't value her "me" time. She wants moms to keep trying your best even when you don't have your best to give. Give yourself grace. She is someone who is your partner for innovative and impactful public relations campaigns. You can find A Hint of Jazz Management at www.hintofjazz.com

Dru Ahlborg was an older mama at the ages of 37 and 40. She could not believe they let her drive away from the hospital with a newborn all by herself! Who said she was ready for this? Her oldest son had to go through many feed therapists and had a lot of her first years as a new mom were exploring foods and getting him to get through his food issues, which centered around textures. It was a big challenge as a new mom. As her kids grow she is learning that moms and daughters can have some challenges that can make or break you. As a mom, sometimes we say the things that don't serve our kids and we need to listen and support them. She runs the Bullying Recovery Resource Center to give parents support when they need help with bullying of their kids. Their mission is to defend bullied kids and help them rebuild their lives. They teach and coach parents in advocacy for their kids' mental health. They do a lot of education and partner with mental health agencies as well as neurodiverse groups. Check them out at https://bullyingrecoveryresourcecenter.org.

We spoke to Angela exactly a year ago (Check out the episode back on November 29, 2022) This is her one year update! Angela Fuller is a mother, a dedicated fitness instructor, a competitive gymnast, an inspirational speaker, and even an American Ninja Warrior, as featured on NBC's latest season of ANW this summer. Angela's journey is a testament to her resilience, having overcome a broken back and battled through postpartum depression by choosing faith over fear. Today, at the age of 43, she defies expectations, flipping and soaring through the air. Angela's true passion lies in motivating mothers to rediscover their love for movement and self-care after having children, emphasizing that self-care is indeed self-love, an essential part of nurturing both yourself and your kids. Her mission is to inspire mothers, demonstrating that it's never too late to pursue your dreams.

Randi Bevington is such a joy to call my friend. We have been friends for over 20 years and from day one, I have thought she was a badass. As a mama of two littles, she has proven that she truly is. Her quote, "we are always managing relationships" really hit me hard because that's exactly what we do as moms. We are always managing relationships and those relationships are constantly changing. WOW. That's exhausting and frustrating because just when you think you have things figured out, the world, you or the other person in the relationship changes. Her advice to find your tribe and ACCEPTING the help (and even ask for it when you need it) is SMART! Give a listen to help you feel that you are not alone in this motherhood journey!

Cheryl Schuberth- Cheryl was a corporate mama trying to do all the things when she realized that she wasn't giving her best self to her family so she stopped running the rat race and changed gears. Now a mama of 2 boys ages 20 and 18, she took her worst mama moment and turned it into a positive by helping other parents of teenagers. Celebrate the wins, acknowledge all the things you are doing well and stop beating yourself up! Peacing it Together is her company connecting parents everywhere. Check out her website peacingittogether.com

Heather started her journey without a lot of background knowledge about babies or being a mom. Followed her gut most of the time but when she was 9 months old she was diagnosed with cancer! The moment that happened changed everything. Motherhood is not about martyrdom. You can find her at [email protected] or https://heatherreedcoaching.com/

Dr. Sonal Patel is a trained pediatrician and NICU doctor as well as a parent of 4 boys! She is married to her college sweetheart and after living through Hurricane Katrina, she was 6 months pregnant and activated in a horrible hurricane. She hates the phrase, "bounce back" because you aren't bouncing back to anything. You are a totally different person now, you are a mom and we need to allow ourselves to be that new person. As a south Asian mama, she believes in a community of moms from generations and that made all the difference. You can find her at NAYACARE.org.

Tess is a single mom who divorced when her son was five because there was a substance abuse issue that created a need for her to leave. After many years of trying to work things out, she made the decision to leave when it was the right time. She says the time in the car with your kiddo can be the most amazing conversations you can have. Take the time. You don't have to be perfect, you can just be yourself. Reach out to her at mindfulkidsandfamilies.com or [email protected].

A producer in LA who wants mamas to know "You can only do what you can do." It's that simple. The word "perfect" should be taken out our vocabulary because there is no such thing and we try too hard to emulate it and often its at our deficit. Quality is more important that quantity when it comes to time with your kids. Make sure they know that you are there so that relationship will always have an open door. Don't love your kids in spite of who they are but BECAUSE of who they are.

Mary Lanni was a delightful mama to chat with and her advice is to place a mask on yourself before assisting others. Also you may have to advocate for your parenting choices and your kids as motherhood goes on because everyone has an opinion and will question all that you do (especially when you are doing things differently than they did). Advocating for your choices isn't selfish, it's necessary for your own mental health.

Jen is an amazing mama who has been through a lot in the past few years as she manages some very tricky rare medical diagnosis'. Her advice and mama journey lead her share that it's ok to screw up and not have all the answers. As a mama who struggled with a partner who had a mental condition that changed who he was as a human being and created a need for her to leave with her son for safety reasons, she has done everything in her power to create a stable, loving home for her and her son.

We tell our kids to push themselves outside their comfort zone and sometimes we need to do the same. Moms are constanly pushing themselves outside their comfort zones and we should be proud of where we are going and what we can do. When we have those proud mama moments, it makes the hard times just a little bit easier. Vita teaches us that sometimes when our lives don't work out the way that we THOUGHT it should, it can be even better than we imagined (but it isn't always easy to see the other side of the tunnel). As a coach and badass mama, Vita has some great REAL experiences that could help you!

Rebekah is not only a mama of 3 but a DOCTOR of Physical Therapy and one hell of a badass black belt in Taekwondo!! She truly is one of a kind who always adds humor to every situation and is a delight to hang out with! As a family of five black belts, they are a strong, loving family who live life to it's fullest. Rebekah's experiences and words of wisdom will give you some interesting things to think about and experience all the feels.

"Allow yourself your wins." What words of wisdom from Emily Sutherland, a beautiful soul, entrepreneur, mama, friend, mama champion and so much more. Her business, Next Level Nutritian, found at nextlevelnutritionist.com helps people understand how nutritian is and will determine your health goals and create a reasonable plan to achieve them, bringing balance between Mind, Body, Spirit and Home. She wants every mama to be proud of herself and what a miracle she truly is and that begins with what we put in our bodies. Give a listen to see if you can learn from Emily.

Danielle is a powerhouse badass who has been through a lot to get to where she is today. She wears many hats as a business woner, advocate for change, mom, wife, etc. She never thought she wanted to be a mom! She became one, went through a lot of struggles but in the long run is thoroughly blown away by the best adventure of her life. She is part owner of Break Up with Cake, an all-natural gluten-free and vegan, handmade, fresh and ultra premium snack. Check out their website at breakupwithcake.com.

"You were made to be YOUR kids' mom. They need YOU." What a profound statement from our guest on this week's podcast. She is so right. SO many moms are too hard on themselves and think that other moms are doing a better job or would be a better mom for their kids when in fact, your kids are meant to be YOUR kids and you are doing a great job. When we are doing the absolutey best we can do, that's enough! Give a listen to Chrissy and her wisdom and beautiful story.

Have you ever sat across from someone and were in total awe of their beauty and grace and then they opened their mouth and you were astounded by their life story, their kindness and their talent? Well that happened to me with Mrs. Colorado, Natalie Oliver Atherton! She is a beautiful soul with so much love to give. She is starting a nonprofit, she sings and performs, she is a coach and a mom of grown, beautiful humans. She has done it all and she has some great tidbits to share.

GO BLUE! Jenny and her husband, Tom are fello Michiganders who live in Colorado and have two great kiddos. Her story shows that even though our kids don't always follow the path that we think they should, they can make great choices and do wonderful things with their lives. Her mamahood journey shows that you can still do the things you love and negotiations with your kiddos can help make memories you will cherish forever.

Cyndi and I met years ago when she was a neighbor of mine. We watched our kids grow up together, we were in the same babysitting co-op and we became lifelong friends. She has been through a lot in the past few years but has come out the other side in a magical way. I am so proud to call her my friend and listening to her story made me realize what an amazing human being she is and just how much I adore her!

WOW. What an amazing human Julie is and you will learn SO much! She, and her daughters created a "method" to treat generational trauma and how it holds you and your body back from healing and moving forward. Our interview really opened my eyes to what trauma really is and how it can greatly affect your wellbeing in so many ways. Give a listen and think about how different your life could be if you address the trauma that may be holding you back!

As a young mom, Jasleen has felt reverse ageism where people don't take her seriously because she is young but her ability to see motherhood as an honor and the love she has for her daughter is inspiring and well beyond her years. She works hard every day to be the best mom she can be and build a life for her daughter and husband. Her ability to understand that it's ok not to love being a mom every moment of every day but still love the child you created with all of your heart is another reason she was such a joy to interview. This episode celebrates a full year of episodes of Let's Be Real! We are so excited to keep talking to all the mamas!

Melanie is one amazing mama, doing it all on her own with three kids, all with a diagnosis of autisim. She juggles school, a full time job, three kiddos, a house and ALL of the things. She knows that positive mental health is essential for a productive home and future. With three kiddos who have special needs and have waivers with the state, she is constantly fighting for what they need. Her number one supporter has always been her three kids and she is one hell of a good mom! Learn from her, hear her story and understand that YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

Stephanie is a badass business owner of Fit4mom, a mama connection exercising program for all mamas with or without a stroller (used to be called Stroller Strides). She is the mama of daughters agest 6 and 8 and her number one piece of advice is to find your village! Connecting with moms, building community and creating lifelong bonds is essential for moms to feel accepted and part of a team. Fit4moms can totally help you create those! Hear Stephanie's mama journey now!

As a homeschooling mama, Monika has a unique perspective of motherhood AND educator. Her adventures and dedication to her family are truly inspiring. Her advice is to take a deep breath and know that it will all be ok...don't sweat the small stuff and enjoy the ride. Even when the ride is bumpy, it will lead you to the next adventure.

WOW! Kelly is one amazing human being who is earning kudos and honors from international organizations for her work as an advocate against human trafficking. Her generational trauma has created her focus in helping other humans heal and discontinue the havoc it causes. Trauma changes how you parent, live and create relationships and she wants everyone to know that healing and understanding how it can affect your world is very important. Kelly's accolades are too many to list but she is doing HUGE things internationally and is a wealth of knowledge about human trafficking and so many other subjects. Give a listen!

Emily is a badass single mom who wants all moms to know that they are enough just as they are. Even when your momma journey isn't going the way that you envisioned it to go, you are doing everything right for you and your kids. Emily's momma story will inspire you and prove that the best mommas are the ones that give a 100%.