The Sober Mom Life

Alcohol was a normalized part of Renee’s early life. Going back and forth between her mom’s and dad’s homes, she was regularly around drinking in ways that never felt dangerous at the time. So, it seemed natural to start drinking in her teens. As an adult, alcohol continued its regular place in her life, but she slowly began to experience its dark side. Her husband’s drinking had gotten out of control. After two hospitalizations for acute pancreatitis, her husband’s doctor was clear: he had to quit drinking for his health. While he wasn’t happy about the news, he did get sober. He’s now been so for nine years. From there, Renee’s drinking felt well contained, but she still saw beer as a reward at the end of the day. After her father’s death in 2022, which was hastened by a lifetime of heavy drinking, her own drinking began to ramp up until she was often drinking a 12-pack a night. The escalation felt worrisome and her peace of mind and body were suffering. It took a bit of time, but something began to click: she was ready to quit. Renee committed herself to a big perspective shift. She was no longer going to see alcohol as a ‘reward’. Instead, she learned about rock bottoms and interventions in order to help her visualize the rock bottom that she was trying to avoid for herself. Renee feels so much more calm and inner peace in sobriety! Within six months she was able to get off of her anxiety meds. She now commits herself to sharing her story in hopes that it helps others find the courage to quit. Enrollment for the next Sober Mom Retreat is now live, and you’re invited! We’ll be gathering at the Mountain Shadows Resort in Arizona from Feb 27-Mar 2, 2025. If you’re looking for community and self care in sobriety, this retreat is for you! Book your spot here. Are you looking for community in sobriety? Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For $40/month, you’ll get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free! We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed, the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cristina shares her personal journey with alcohol, revealing how it intertwined with her experiences in high school and college. She highlights the importance of family support and the challenges faced when confronting her addiction. The discussion includes transformative moments that led to her commitment to sobriety, emphasizing the profound growth that comes from helping others. Insights into the role of occupational therapy in addiction recovery show the significance of community in healing. It's a heartfelt exploration of identity and reconnecting with one's roots.

Discover clever and humorous responses to the question, "Why aren’t you drinking?" with over 50 insightful reasons that empower personal choices. Delve into the challenges of sobriety in a drinking culture, especially during the holiday season, while fostering community through a retreat for women. Explore the negative effects of alcohol on digestion and health, using relatable anecdotes and humor to highlight the journey of self-discovery in sobriety. Prioritize mental well-being and redefine social interactions without alcohol.

Katie and I are here for another installment of SobrieTEA, where we spill the tea about our favorite escape: Bravo and Reality TV! Today’s show is all about the Real Housewives! First, we’ll talk about the great (and too short!) season of Real Housewives of Orange County that just wrapped, the big storylines on Real Housewives of Salt Lake, why both The Real Housewives of Potomoc and The Real Housewives of New York are falling flat this season, and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills trailer. Plus - the best hot mic moments, What What Crappens, and the Southern Charm trailer Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For $40/month, you get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free! We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is here! Grab your copy here:  https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I recently asked on Instagram “What is better sober?” and SO many of you said sex. So, light the candles ladies, because we’re going there. Hilary Phelps is back on the pod today for a chat all about the beauty of sober sex! We’ll talk about the ways in which sobriety leads to intimacy, how greater self-awareness can lead to connection, how to approach sober sex and handle feelings of awkwardness if the experience is new for you, and why you deserve to feel empowered about your sexual wants and needs. For more about Hilary’s story, check out her first episode on the Sober Mom Life. Learn more about Hilary Phelps here! Join us in the The Sober Mom Life Cafe! For $40/month, you get access to 12 weekly peer support meetings, the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club and happy hour, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, and even a monthly Bravo chat! For a limited time, get one week free! We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Exciting changes are coming to the Cafe and the podcast, starting November 1st! Today, I’ll share with you why I’ll only be releasing new episodes on Mondays starting in November, and what that means for the Real Sober Moms series (Don’t worry! They’re not going away!). Then, I’ll give you a sneak peek into some exciting changes that will be coming to the Sober Mom Life Cafe starting November 1st. (Hint: there will be so many more weekly support meeting options, and a new monthly Bravo call!)  Try our NEW and IMPROVED Cafe FREE for a week!  We have more meetings, more hosts and even more connection. Join here for $40/month and get a week free! In addition to daily peer support meetings, you’ll get access to the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, merch discounts and so much more.And finally, I’ll share a bit about what to expect at the next Sober Mom Life retreat, including the exciting news that you won’t need to be a Cafe member to sign up! We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When my online friend Jaana, the awesome woman behind @thismomsgonnasnap, told me that she didn’t have her first drink until she was 32 years old, I had to know more! Today, Jaana shares with us how her Mormon upbringing kept her sober well into adulthood, how easy it was for her drinking to become habitual when she finally ‘broke the seal’ and allowed alcohol into her life, and why she chose to step away from the Mormon faith.Plus! She’ll give her viewpoint on the representation of mormons on reality TV shows like Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives!  Be sure to check out Jaana on Instagram @thismomsgonnasnap where she shares an refreshingly unvarnished view on mom life. Try our NEW and IMPROVED Cafe FREE for a week!  We have more meetings, more hosts and even more connection. Join here for $40/month and get a week free! In addition to daily peer support meetings, you’ll get access to the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, merch discounts and so much more.We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I'm bringing back one of my favorite episodes!There comes a time in every woman’s sobriety journey when she feels called to proudly own sobriety and leave the shame behind. ‘Coming out’ as sober to your family, friends, or even publicly can feel scary! So today, Audrey and I are here to help you think through how to handle these conversations and announcements when you’re ready. We chat about tactics and phrases for sharing your sobriety story, tackling fears of rejection, how to handle the dreaded ‘forever’ question, and the importance of building new relationships that are rooted in sobriety. If you haven’t heard Audrey’s sobriety story, check it out here! https://mykindofsweet.com/2023/08/lesson-from-one-year-of-sobriety/Try our NEW and IMPROVED Cafe FREE for a week!  We have more meetings, more hosts and even more connection. Join here for $40/month and get a week free! In addition to daily peer support meetings, you’ll get access to the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, merch discounts and so much more.If you’re looking for a community of wonderful sober moms to support you while you build your own sober life, join us inside The Sober Mom Life Facebook group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1542852942745657We have merch!!!! Check it out here!Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on InstagramLove this show? Let me know by rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not meant to diagnose. Anyone who is perfectionistic does not necessarily have a personality disorder. Please see your therapist with concerns or questions. Perfectionism is one of the most common topics we talk about inside of the Sober Mom Life Cafe. An overwhelming need to be ‘perfect’ can feel suffocating, and can be a major driving factor for drinking. Today my therapist mom, Susan, is here to help us understand what perfectionism is, how it is related to drinking, and what to do if you are struggling with perfectionist tendencies. We’ll talk about the diagnostic criteria for OCPD (Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder), how it differs from OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), how perfectionism can affect your life and the lives of those you love, and the first steps you can take to release yourself from the expectation of perfectionism. Try our NEW and IMPROVED Cafe FREE for a week!  We have more meetings, more hosts and even more connection. Join here for $40/month and get a week free! In addition to daily peer support meetings, you’ll get access to the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, merch discounts and so much more.We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Audrey is here for part two of our chat. Today we’ll talk about my book and Audrey’s recent sober vacation to Hawaii! Writing a book has been so similar to sobriety in that I’ve had to take the process one day at a time. I’ll share what that was like, and why I was confident that I would successfully reach the finish line. Then, Audrey will tell us all about her recent sober vacation to Hawaii! She had a lot of insights and realizations on the trip, and she’ll share them here. Try our NEW and IMPROVED Cafe FREE for a week!  We have more meetings, more hosts and even more connection. Join here for $40/month and get a week free! In addition to daily peer support meetings, you’ll get access to the exclusive Cafe social feed, our monthly book club, the chance to share your story on The Real Sober Moms, merch discounts and so much more.We also have The Sober Mom Life Community for just $5.95/month - In the Community, you’ll receive access to the exclusive Community social feed (like Facebook, but better!), the exclusive community chat, our monthly book club, and one free weekly meeting. My mocktail recipe book, ‘No Ethanol Needed’ is finally here! Grab your copy here: https://mykindofsweet.com/2024/01/the-no-ethanol-needed-mocktail-ebook-is-here/Click here to follow The Sober Mom Life on Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices