In this episode of Experience Motherhood, I’m joined by therapist, business owner, and mom of three Kristin Mervich for an honest conversation about what happens when motherhood and life take an unexpected turn. We talk about how ambition, identity, and expectations can shift when everything feels off script, and what it really looks like to redefine success during seasons marked by uncertainty and change.

Kristin shares how navigating her child’s cancer diagnosis reshaped both her personal and professional life and offers a grounded perspective for moms learning how to let go of the plan they once had. This conversation is reflective, steady, and full of wisdom for anyone moving through an unexpected season and trying to honor what matters most now.

In this episode, we cover:

• Redefining success in unexpected seasons of motherhood
• How hardship can reshape ambition and identity
• Navigating major life transitions while caring for your family
• Motherhood, career shifts, and evolving definitions of balance
• Mom guilt, limited capacity, and internal pressure
• Releasing perfectionism and trusting yourself in uncertain seasons

If you’re a mom navigating an unexpected season, questioning who you are now, or learning how to let go of the plan you once had, this episode is for you.

MENTIONS IN THE EPISODE:

Grab a copy of my free Busy Mom Guide: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/busy-mom-guide

Connect with Kristin Mervich!

Follow Kristin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resourcedmother/

Follow Kristin’s therapy practice on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outsmartingocd/

Learn more about Kristin’s group practice: https://outsmartingocd.com/

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)

Experience Motherhood more!

• Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhood
• STAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAIL
• Sign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818m
• Get access to other free guides
• Website: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com

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Support the Show
A small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!

Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!


Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.

In this episode of Experience Motherhood, I’m talking about a side of mom anxiety that doesn’t always get named: the kind that looks responsible, capable, and “on top of everything.” I share why managing anxiety isn’t about getting rid of it or becoming a calmer, less sensitive version of yourself, but about learning how to relate to it in a way that doesn’t cost you who you are.

I reflect on a season in my own life when I could manage everyone else’s emotions with ease, yet felt quietly disconnected from myself. From the outside, things looked fine. Inside, I was constantly bracing, anticipating the next need, and holding everything together. That experience opened my eyes to how often anxiety in motherhood shows up as control, vigilance, and over-functioning, and why it’s so easy to confuse anxiety with competence.

In this episode, I gently unpack why control deserves compassion, how anxiety often acts as a strategy rather than a flaw, and a few small but meaningful shifts that can help you soften without letting everything fall apart. We explore what it means to notice anxiety without letting it lead, and how staying connected to yourself inside of motherhood doesn’t require a drastic change, just awareness, permission, and trust.

If you’re a mom who carries the mental load, keeps things running, and feels both capable and exhausted, this episode is for you. You don’t have to become less driven to feel calmer. You can be responsible and rested, present and imperfect, and you’re not doing motherhood wrong.

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)

Experience Motherhood more!

• Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhood
• STAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAIL
• Sign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818m
• Get access to other free guides
• Website: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com

-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast!
Your support is incredibly meaningful!

Support the Show
A small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!

Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!


Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.

In today’s episode of Experience Motherhood, I’m welcoming back someone I truly adore — Abby Rose Green. Abby is a mom of three, a podcaster, influencer, and Down syndrome inclusion advocate. She has a gift for helping women feel less alone in motherhood while empowering them to take the next small step forward, even on the days when everything feels heavy. This conversation is filled with honesty, humor, and plenty of laughter, especially as two very type A women reflect on ambition, control, and the realities of modern motherhood.

Abby first joined me back in episode two, and so much has evolved since then. In this episode, we talk about what it really looks like to honor your ambitions while raising kids, and how Abby has navigated building meaningful work alongside motherhood without losing the parts of herself that matter most. We reflect on why doing work that aligns with who you are — rather than just what looks successful on paper — can be deeply fulfilling.

We explore the idea of alignment, not as a buzzword, but as the practice of listening to your gut, checking in with your values, and noticing when something no longer feels sustainable. Throughout the conversation, we touch on the mental load of motherhood, navigating partnership and shared responsibilities, and how loosening control, redefining productivity, and letting go of perfection can make everyday life feel more manageable.

This episode is for the mom who feels ambitious and stretched thin, who wants to pursue meaningful work while staying present in her life right now. Abby’s perspective is grounding, relatable, and a reminder that you can care deeply, want more, and still do it imperfectly — because that’s the point.

MENTIONS IN THE EPISODE:

Grab a copy of my free Busy Mom Guide: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/busy-mom-guide

Connect with Abby Rose Green!

Follow Abby on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbyrosegreen/

Listen to the HERself podcast here

Listen to Abby’s previous episode: Parenting When You Are Tired With Abby Rose Green

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a message :)

Experience Motherhood more!

• Follow over on Instagram: @experiencemotherhood
• STAY CONNECTED THROUGH EMAIL
• Sign up for the Experience Motherhood Newsletter: https://experiencemotherhood.myflodesk.com/kac05b818m
• Get access to other free guides
• Website: https://www.experiencemotherhood.com

-->Take one minute to subscribe, rate and review the podcast!
Your support is incredibly meaningful!

Support the Show
A small donation of $5, $10 or more is an amazing way to keep this podcast going and support me! Thank you so much for listening!

Until next time. . . Go Experience Motherhood!


Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only. In no way is this therapy or clinical advice.