Thoughts on a Walk by 3Milemom

It was an honor and a privilege to interview Andrew Turner, as the first male guest on Thoughts on a Walk (but not the last!). He is a single dad of two, his youngest has STXBP1 – same as my son Mason. Andrew lives in British Columbia and in the past few years has started to hike again, with both boys. Hiking and camping was something he loved to do before he had kids and shares a few lessons that he’s been learning along his journey. He shares about how The Walking Dad got started, and encourages us to all get moving. Andrew blogs and photographs his family’s hikes and shares helpful tips and resource for other special needs families who might need some additional accessibility information to plan for a hike. Regardless if your family needs accessible trails, Andrew shares advice for any family about hiking and getting outdoors. Its obvious his boys are the light of his life, and he shares how and what it’s like raising them. This specific blog post about his son Lachlan is mentioned in the episode and if you read it, I know you will want to hear more. If you know a single parent, Andrew gives some advice that was helpful for him. He also shares what’s the most impactful things his friends do for his special needs son. Andrew shares two great parenting hacks that are great for kids of any age. Follow him and his journey on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thewalkingdad_ca/

Ali Prichett and I had an incredible conversation, where Ali is honest and real and shares her wisdom of what she’s learning about herself and her family this season. Listen up and grab a pen because what she shares is worth taking notes! She talks about people pleasing, crazy schedules, making back up plans and serving the community around her – even when she’s busy. Ali’s shared before with the 3MileMom Commununnity in a blog post about Thriving in the Midst of Surviving motherhood. You might want to take notes while Ali digs into how she’s transformed the way she reads her bible and made it one of her favorite spiritual practice. Her tips she shares are something that anyone can achieve and an easy way to get started or to keep reading. Find the links to more resources on her blog. Ali’s mom hack is genius and something I’ve already started to implement in my own family! Hope you enjoy! If you haven’t already, sign up for the 3MileMom Challenge!

Join me and Jody Drange in a conversation about the chaos of her current season. She’s a working mom of two littles and volunteers on leadership at her church’s MOPs group. She shares about how this season has been incredible to see God show up in the details of everyday living and how His timing is perfect. She has a peace despite the chaos, has been growing her in faith. Jody shares her own tips of simplifying, as she she prepares for a big move. She also shares more about how she simplified her social calendar but how impactful it is to her mental health too. Jody tells about how hard it is for her to ask for help, and then being OK to receive the help, yet it has been necessary in this season. Her community is also a huge part of her life, and she gives advice how it could look like in your own life, regardless of your season. She encourages listeners to welcome in the new people as they start to show up. Also, you will love her mom hack at the end – one from Emily Ley’s book Simplified Life.

Listen in on my conversation with one of my very best friends Jenny Roberts. Her mom and my mom have been best friends since high school. She is the friend I go to when I want to know what to read next because she is a librarian (yes, there are young librarians!). Jenny shares about her journey through the early years of motherhood. While she knew from a very young age she wanted to be a mom, her journey of becoming a mom has looked different than what she expected. Jenny is a totally different mom than she thought she would be and she’s loving this current season. Jenny also shares some very personal and honest moments about her postpartum depression that you may relate with, or know someone who does. She also speaks to how you could help a friend who is struggling with postpartum or what to do if you may think you are experiencing something similar. She speaks about her emotions and how they are directly impacting the way she has been affected physically and mentally. She is my hero with her dedication of her self care and she shares how she needs the time to decompress before she puts her “motherhood” hat on.

Join me and Andrea Fortenberry as we walk through what she’s learning and loving this season. Andrea is a few steps ahead of me in my own motherhood journey and she was one of my “mentor moms” as I ran headfirst into motherhood. I have loved learning from her wisdom and advice as I find my own footing in motherhood. Andrea shares how she’s giving her kids more responsibility, even though it’s easier if she did it herself! She shares what she’s learned the hard way, and you may relate to her own story. Andrea also shares how she’s recently submitted her book proposal for “The Perfectionist Guide to Motherhood”, and we can’t wait to see it published. And the mom hack is for all you momma’s who are in the potty training season… Its been a lifesaver for me! PS. Apologies for some of the weird noises in while we recorded – no idea what that is! PPSS. If you listen close, you can hear BOTH of my kids. <THIS IS REAL LIFE>

Join me and Amber Deibert as we talk about her current season. She shares about how she went from traveling and working crazy hours at startups in San Francisco to building her own coaching business. She shares her path to building the flexibility she desires and how she has become a better mom for her son and future daughter. We talk about what she’s learning and loving in this current season. Ambers shares a mom hack about how we can adjust our thoughts, called a “thought download”. She shares about how she simply retools her negative thoughts of “I’m not a good enough mom” and tries to find a new thought to think more positively. It’s so simple yet impactful to change the way our thoughts can take over mind. Learn more about Amber Deibert  here.

Here’s the story of how 3MileMom got started. 3 miles is enough. Enough to make a difference. In your health. Your sanity. And maybe even in your relationships. Will you join me this season to get moving? Join the April Challenge and 3MileMom community .

I’ve heard people say to never judge a run by it’s first mile. And I’m saying to never judge a year by its first month. In 2019 January was rough. It was the month we thought, maybe there’s something else going on here with my son Mason. February even worse. So many unanswered questions about Mason. So many missed milestones. And yet we look back at 2018 and can see the gifts that we’ve been given. Have you ever had a year that didn’t start out as well as it finished? Try looking back at that year and try and find one thing you were grateful for each month. You may be surprised with the little things that were gifts along the way. Mom Hack: Try getting up FOR your kids instead of WITH them.