3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms

For years, the most common advice I’ve heard (and given) to overwhelmed moms is some version of “do less,” and I still believe in it for so many of us. But some women hear that advice and feel a pang of loss, because the full, busy, people-filled life they’ve built is exactly the life they love, and they just wish they didn’t feel so stretched thin all the time.

Maybe that’s you, and you don’t want to give up the volunteering, the hosting, the garden, or the creative projects that make you feel most like yourself. That tension is real, and it deserves a better answer than “just cut something.”

This week’s guest is Stacey Mork Collins, certified life coach and my longtime Self-Assured Motherhood co-teacher.Stacey shares why overwhelm isn’t always a sign that something needs to go, and how getting curious about what’s underneath it can help you hold a big life with so much more ease.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

🌻 The one day a year Stacey cares what her kids wear (and why every other day they’re in stained hand-me-downs), because understanding what you value can turn a constant source of friction into a choice you feel good about

🌻 How Stacey pulled off a farm-to-table dinner for 100 people that raised over $10,000 for her kids’ school, and what her own family ate for dinner that week, because not every area of your life needs your best effort at the same time

🌻 The question Stacey asks every client who says “I don’t know,” because you often have more wisdom than you’re giving yourself credit for

So here’s to keeping the big, beautiful lives we’ve built, and to learning to hold them with a little more ease and a lot more self-trust.

For full show notes, including takeaways, click here.

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Announcements:

Connect with Stacey Mork Collins, who coaches moms with so many good things in their lives who still can’t figure out why it all feels so hard.

Related Episodes:

446: Is Perfectionism Good or Bad? // Katherine Morgan Schafler

334: 3 Ways to Lighten the Load of Parenthood // Greg McKeown

435: How to Make Decisions Without Overthinking // Kendra Adachi of The Lazy Genius

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With the holidays coming up, many moms wish they could visit family or plan a getaway—but the price of flights makes it feel impossible. That’s why I’m re-airing this popular episode with Amber Paul from Amber on Points, who teaches families how to travel for free (or almost free) using credit card points.

Two years after recording this, I’ve now been practicing what Amber teaches—and it’s truly changed what’s possible for our family. I know it sounds too good to be true, (that’s exactly what I thought at first!), but it’s real—and it’s absolutely worth learning.

In this encore episode, you’ll hear:

✈️ Why opening multiple credit cards (responsibly!) can actually improve your credit score

✈️ How to use welcome offers strategically to earn far more points from the spending you already do

✈️ Why you might qualify for a business card even if you’re just side-gigging

A quick note: conversations about money and credit can bring up a lot of feelings. Wherever you are in your financial journey, this episode is meant to spark possibility—not pressure.

For full show notes, including takeaways, click ⁠here⁠.

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Announcements: Grab the free companion guide (with Amber’s favorite starter cards) by clicking ⁠here⁠!

Related Episodes:⁠

369: How to Teach Your Kids about Money // Abby Chipman⁠⁠

430: Plan Meaningful Family Travel Without the Stress // Meggie Busath⁠⁠

507: A Fun Way to Get Involved in Your Family Finances // Amber Paul⁠

Episode Sponsors:

Quince: Make your fall wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com/3in30 for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.

Ethos: Take 10 minutes to get covered today, with life insurance through Ethos. Get your free quote at Ethos.com/3in30. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.

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For a long time, I was happy to let our family’s finances be something I vaguely thought about. Like, I knew we weren't spending more than we made, but I couldn't have told you exactly how much we spent on groceries each month. It wasn’t until I started traveling on points that I had a reason to care where our money was going, and I’ve been surprised by how much more confident I feel now that I do.

This week’s guest is my friend and points travel mentor, Amber Paul, back on the podcast to talk about why it matters so much for moms to be involved in the family finances, and why starting with something fun, like your next family trip, works so much better than starting from a place of anxiety or "should."

In this episode, you’ll hear:

✈️ The memoir that made me so passionate about this topic (because it shows what can happen when women stay out of the finances for too long)✈️ How Amber’s family ended up bunny-sitting in Budapest (because a little creativity can stretch a travel budget further than you’d expect)

✈️ The app I open at night instead of Instagram (because tracking your spending is a lot more satisfying when it feels a little like a game)

If you’re like me and tend to zone out the moment money comes up, I think you’ll find this episode helpful and motivating. And if you’ve always been right on top of your family finances, I think you’ll find it a great springboard into the fun and freeing world of traveling on points.

For full show notes, including takeaways, click here.

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Announcements: Ready to try traveling on points? Grab Amber’s free beginner’s guide at 3in30podcast.com/points for a recap of this episode and her current card recommendation

Related Episodes:

453: How to Travel for FREE with Your Family (Really!) // Amber Paul

369: How to Teach Your Kids about Money // Abby Chipman

203: 3 Ways to Change your Money Mindset Today // Sara Payne

Episode Sponsors:

Tushy: For a limited time, our listeners get 10% off their first bidet order when you go to hellotushy.com and use code 3in30 at checkout.

Quince: Make your fall wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com/3in30 for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.

Ethos: Take 10 minutes to get covered today, with life insurance through Ethos. Get your free quote at Ethos.com/3in30. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.

Let's Connect!

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Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course

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Nine years ago this month, I recorded the very first episode of 3 in 30 in my closet, took a deep breath, and pushed publish. That night I celebrated with my husband and our two little kids, never imagining the people I'd get to learn from or the women I'd get to work alongside in the years ahead.

Every October I look back on that day with a little bit of awe and a lot of gratitude, and this year I wanted to celebrate the show's birthday in a way that felt especially meaningful to me, by handing the microphone to my team members Emily, Christy, Abby, and Steph, who are each sharing the 3 in 30 episode that has made the biggest difference in her life.

What moved me most about their conversation is that none of them expected their episode to be impactful. They came looking for help with their kids, or they almost skipped it altogether, and they walked away having learned something about themselves that shifted how they show up at home.

In this episode, you'll hear:

🎂 The praise strategy Christy says felt "a little bit like a con man" at first, and why she still relies on it

🎂 The permission Abby had been giving her kids for years but never gave herself

🎂 Why Steph dreaded editing the episode that ended up staying with her most.

If 3 in 30 has made a difference for you, the best birthday gift you could give me is to leave a review on Apple Podcasts telling me which episode stood out and why (I read every single one), and then share that episode with a friend. Thanks for nine years of listening!

For full show notes, including takeaways, click here.

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Related Episodes:

026: How to Praise Your Child When It Feels Like There is Nothing to Praise // Tony Overbay

190: Becoming a Less Angry Mom // Natalie Hixson

401: How Radical Gratitude Can Change Your Life // Dr. Tanmeet Sethi

476: How to Deal with Your Stuff So Your Kids Don't Have To // Eli Harwood

Episode Sponsors:

Quince: Make your fall wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. Please tell them we sent you!

Ethos: Take 10 minutes to get covered today, with life insurance through Ethos. Get your free quote at Ethos.com/3in30. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram!

Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life

Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course

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The power struggles in our home used to be about car seats and leaving the park. Now they're about phones, sleepovers, and YouTube. But whether you're dealing with little kids you can pick up or teenagers who tower over you, the key to handling power struggles is usually the same.

When a power struggle starts, it's so tempting to dig in and prove who's in charge. But I've learned that the tighter I grip, the harder my kids pull, especially as they get older and need more room to grow.

This week's guest is Denaye Barahona, PhD, child development expert and founder of Simple Families.In this encore conversation, she shares a gentler way through power struggles, one where nobody has to win, and where we can hand over control little by little without losing our connection (and without backing down on the things that matter most!).

In this episode, you'll hear:

💜 The one question Denaye asks herself before she digs in because so many of our standoffs turn out to be about our preferences, not our principles

💜 The irony Denaye points out about kids' attention spans because we complain they can't focus while constantly interrupting what they're focused on

💜 The freezing, miserable family ski day that taught Denaye to change her mind, because sometimes the power struggle we most need to let go of is the one we're having with ourselves

So here's to loosening our grip a little, and to trusting that handing over power, bit by bit, is part of raising kids who can one day hold the power well.

For full show notes, including takeaways, click here.

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Related Episodes:

211: Raising Independent Teens and Tweens // Amy and Margaret from What Fresh Hell Podcast

478: What Every Mom of a Teenager Needs to Hear // Emily Ricks

393: How to Enjoy (Not Just Endure) the Teen Years // Amie Anger, Child & Family Therapist, LCSW



Episode Sponsors:

BetterHelp: 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms is sponsored by BetterHelp. Go to betterhelp.com/3in30 to get 10% off your first month of online therapy.

Quince: Make your fall wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. Please tell them we sent you!

Ethos: Take 10 minutes to get covered today, with life insurance through Ethos. Get your free quote at Ethos.com/3in30. Application times may vary. Rates may vary.

Let's Connect!

Join me on Instagram!

Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life

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