HERself

Anyone else feeling the weight of COVID-19 on their relationship? We brought Dr. Tracy back on the podcast to dive into the topics and questions you had in regards to relationship struggles in uncertainty. How can you keep your bond strong in hardship?Communications strategies when life is tenseFact plus feeling languageWhen you feel like blaming or getting defensive, what to do insteadEvery storm will run out of rain but when the end is unknown, using strategies to prevent relationship stress are more important to implement now than ever before.Resources:Dr. Tracy’s WebsiteDr. Tracy’s Podcast: I’m Not Your ShrinkBe Connected MembershipDr. Sue Johnson Let’s connect!HERSELF INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/herselfpodcastMEET DR TRACY:: instagram.com/dr.tracydMEET AMY: instagram.com/ameskieferMEET ABBY: instagram.com/abbyrosegreenHERSELF SHOWNOTES: www.herselfpodcast.com

Tracy joins the podcast today. She is answering questions about individual stress, anxiety, and emotions as we all wade through the coronavirus epidemic. She walks through several positive strategies we can use to get out of our mind and into the present moment as much of our stress is anticipatory. With 40,000-50,000 thoughts a day, it is no wonder that we can feel overwhelmed. She teaches us strategies on how to bring self-compassion and awareness into our lives to help us. She also speaks to people that are in really tough situations: those that are pregnant, about to deliver a baby, and those that are on the front lines. We hope that you find this episode as helpful as we both did. It felt like an enormous hug, exactly when we needed it the most.Resources:Dr. Tracy’s WebsiteDr. Tracy’s Podcast: I’m Not Your ShrinkBe Connected MembershipLet’s connect!HERSELF INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/herselfpodcastMEET DR TRACY:: instagram.com/dr.tracydMEET AMY: instagram.com/ameskieferMEET ABBY: instagram.com/abbyrosegreenHERSELF SHOWNOTES: www.herselfpodcast.com

We made a pivot this week. This episode won’t be on severity stats or the latest closure, but will be on how we are doing and coping with the news in the world today. It’s a tricky time for all of us and we hope our vulnerability and honesty about the struggle and pain helps you not feel so alone. As always, we will also leave our listeners with what is working and the tangible ideas you can implement today to propel you, your family, and the community forward. We even have a special guest entrance just after the 27:30 mark. This is the new reality for so many of us.At the end of the episode and for the first time ever, we are sharing a preview of our next month of content and the guests we will be having on the podcast to help us all get through this extremely challenging time. We will get through this together.Let’s connect!HERSELF INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/herselfpodcastMEET AMY: instagram.com/ameskieferMEET ABBY: instagram.com/abbyrosegreenHERSELF SHOWNOTES: www.herselfpodcast.com

“I have to stop forcing the old, and building the new.” How many times have you battled to keep our old life to end the day exhausted and unsuccessful? Sometimes we have to jump on a new train if we are heading the wrong direction, as difficult as that may be! Amy joins the podcast to tell her journey through the trenches that the role of a mom and step mom can take. Her truth is inspiring and allowed us to put ourselves in another woman’s shoes. The grit she has built through pivots in her career, the tests of postpartum depression and anxiety, struggles with blending families and her love of the Lord shine bright in today’s episode and throughout her life.Let’s connect!HERSELF INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/herselfpodcastMEET AMY BERNHARD: https://www.instagram.com/amy_bernhard_/MEET AMY: instagram.com/ameskieferMEET ABBY: instagram.com/abbyrosegreenHERSELF SHOWNOTES: www.herselfpodcast.com

Shannon Tripp is doing A LOT of things. She is a former pediatric ER nurse, she homeschools her 4 children, has a beautiful marriage with her husband Ryan, and recently launched a course to help caregivers feel confident in emergency situations. We ask her about her big move to Hawaii, about homeschooling, the emergency situations that every parent/caregiver should be prepared for, and more. Listen in on how this mama tackles all of this and shows up with her bright smile.Resources:Shannon Tripp Website and Course: https://shantripp.mykajabi.com/offers/coriNT2a/checkout?coupon_code=HERSELFUse discount code HERSELF at check out for 30% off now through the end of March! Let’s connect!HERSELF INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/herselfpodcastMEET SHANNON: https://www.instagram.com/shantripp/MEET AMY: instagram.com/ameskieferMEET ABBY: instagram.com/abbyrosegreenHERSELF SHOWNOTES: www.herselfpodcast.com

Mom guilt comes in all shapes and sizes, but one thing we can all agree on is that none of us are immune to its stresses. The pressure we put on ourselves as moms is HEAVY. But, how can we start to question mom guilt, wrestle it, and overcome it?Tears were shed during this episode as we dug deep into own mom guilt and talked about how we’ve faced it over the last 4 years. We’re RIGHT there with you if it is something you still face- as you’ll hear, we still face it too.Let’s connect!HERSELF INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/herselfpodcastMEET AMY: instagram.com/ameskieferMEET ABBY: instagram.com/abbyrosegreenHERSELF SHOWNOTES: www.herselfpodcast.com

The most tangible interview the HERself podcast has done to date! As we know, all moms are working moms whether they are in an office or at home surrounded by kids. Elicia Shepard gives tips SAHM, working moms, and women in general can do to improve their relationships with children, their spouses, and most importantly… themselves. The importance of community and asking for help are more prevalent in this role and season than most. You’ll be nodding your head in agreement with how this everyday woman has created a life of intention through easy to implement strategies and clear communication. If you have a pressing question, wait for our rapid fire round at the end and it may pop up!Resources:Busy Toddler: For Creative ActivitiesMotherhood is a Team Sport Podcast: EpisodeLet’s connect!HERSELF INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/herselfpodcastMEET ELICIA: https://www.instagram.com/moremamacita/MEET AMY: instagram.com/ameskieferMEET ABBY: instagram.com/abbyrosegreenHERSELF SHOWNOTES: www.herselfpodcast.com

Molly Millwood joins the podcast today as our first author in our first ever book club. If you have read her incredible book To Have and To Hold: Motherhood, Marriage, and the Modern Dilemma...you know how powerful her message is. We both consider this a must read book for every new mama as we found it to be a life changing book. It is both freeing and validating for women in the throes of one of life’s biggest transitions: motherhood.Special takeaways: Resentment for our partners are generally formed around unrealistic expectations The goal of being a “good enough” motherThe inequities between men and women when it comes to parenting are realGiving voice around fear, depletion, longing and hunger will win over passive aggressive communication every timeA man’s ability to accept influence from their partner is directly related to marital stabilitySeeking professional therapy should be normalized and we could all benefit from itResources:Molly’s book: To Have and to HoldMolly’s Website: www.MollyMillwood.comLet’s connect!HERSELF INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/herselfpodcastMEET MOLLY: instagram.com/molly.millwood.phd/MEET AMY: instagram.com/ameskieferMEET ABBY: instagram.com/abbyrosegreenHERSELF SHOWNOTES: www.herselfpodcast.com

Our husbands are back on this week’s episode and we go through some of our hardest challenges and conversations that we’ve experienced in our relationships to date. Skeletons come out of the closet and seasons of contention are brought to the forefront, this was not an easy episode to record. But, we think it’s important because we know others might be in their hard season right now. You are not alone. We’re hoping you might be able to pull a tip or two to help propel your relationship forward. Thanks to our guys for coming on and providing the male perspective again. Resources:The Five Love LanguagesLet’s connect!HERSELF INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/herselfpodcastMEET AMY: instagram.com/ameskieferMEET ABBY: instagram.com/abbyrosegreenHERSELF SHOWNOTES: www.herselfpodcast.com

Relationships take work. Period. And good relationships are worth putting the time and energy into. Progress over perfection is key to creating a relationship that two unique people can both enjoy but we all know that some advice is better than others. We give our honest thoughts on some of the common advice we have all heard and share what we’ve really found helpful.Abby’s TakeawaysJust because he does it differently, doesn’t make it wrongHis opinions matter tooAmy’s TakeawaysLearn how to argueRealize that you’re different people and lean into itWe will have our husbands back on next week to dig into these further and also give their take on growing in a relationship.Resources:Love UnendingLet’s connect!HERSELF INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/herselfpodcastMEET AMY: instagram.com/ameskieferMEET ABBY: instagram.com/abbyrosegreenHERSELF SHOWNOTES: www.herselfpodcast.com