Welcome back to This Mom’s View! We are officially in the thick of the holiday stretch, and if you’re currently hiding in the bathroom with a drink or nursing a seasonal cold while checking off your to-do list—you are in good company.

In this short and sweet solo episode, I deep into the "mixed bag" of the holiday season. From the beautiful chaos of motherhood to the invisible labor that keeps the magic alive, I talk about how my own childhoods shaped the way we celebrate today.

In this episode you'll find:

• The "Ping Pong" Effect

• Creating "Thanks-Christmas"

• The Power of Stability

• The Invisible Labor of Christmas

• New Traditions

• Channeling the Griswolds

Whether you’re a single parent doing it all, a mom of littles dealing with winter germs, or someone trying to navigate a blended family schedule, this episode is a reminder that you get to write your own rule book.

• Instagram: Check out @this_moms_view_ for a visual of the handprint tree skirt—perfect for moms with little ones!

• Share the Love: If this episode made you feel seen, share it with a mom friend who needs a little holiday boost today.

Don’t forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode. Now go tackle that wrapping!

Life on the Home Front: A Law Enforcement Wife's Story

Welcome back to This Mom's View! Grab your drink, find your hiding spot, and join us for a deeply candid conversation about motherhood, marriage, and finding community amidst a high-stakes career.

This week, we're so excited to welcome the host's very own Aunt Yo (Yolanda), a wife and mom to three amazing adult sons (two still at home!). Aunt Yo shares the reality of being a law enforcement spouse for 23 years, from the worries that led her to suggest a career change after a traumatic event, to the power of community in supporting her family.

She opens up about what it was like when her husband, a police officer, was away at the academy, balancing two young boys at home, and the emotional toll of seeing negative portrayals of law enforcement in the media. This episode is a powerful reminder that the spouses and children of our first responders are also on the front line, doing their part by providing a loving, safe space at home.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The Law Enforcement Life: How Aunt Yo navigated 23 years of shift work and inherent risks, and why she was advised not to buy a police scanner.

• The Power of Community: The crucial role a supportive community (both local and within the department wives) played in keeping her family grounded.

• Veteran Mom Wisdom: Aunt Yo’s one piece of tear-inducing advice for new moms (spoiler: it involves snuggles!).

• A Lighthearted Moment: The surprisingly most-used item in her purse!

If you are a spouse of a first responder, feel alone in your journey, or simply need a reminder of the power of maternal community, this episode is for you.

The days are long, but the years are short. Don't forget to follow the show and share this episode with a mom friend who needs to hear it today!

Welcome back to This Mom's View! Join us for real talk and connection as we sit down with Ashley, a wife and mom of three. Ashley opens up about the joys and challenges of raising teenager twins (a boy and a girl!), plus their "cherry on top" seven-year-old daughter.

She shares her family’s deeply personal journey navigating their son's ADHD diagnosis—an experience that led to profound discoveries about their entire family dynamic, including her own brain function. She details the struggles with initial labeling in the school system, the importance of finding supportive teachers, and the tireless work of being her son’s biggest advocate against misdiagnosis.

• Hear the powerful question a therapist asked that completely reframed Ashley's approach to parenting.

• Discussing the tension between demanding respect and showing support.

• The widespread difficulty of maintaining balance in a world saturated with technology.

• Ashley shares the golden advice from a NICU nurse that all parents need to hear.

This episode is a loving reminder that every brain is unique, and it’s crucial for parents to follow their intuition, weed out the noise, and give themselves and their children the patience and grace they need to thrive.