THE MOMS WE THOUGHT WE'D BE vs. WHO WE REALLY ARE

Send us a text In this episode of the Miles with Moms podcast, we talk about your typical random stuff (caffeine and catheters, anyone?) and then we dish the dirt on the types of moms we are vs. the types of moms we thought we would be. We cover a wide array of topics such as how we deal with messes, our husbands, discipline, chores, big emotions, and bedtime routines--to name a few. Per usual, we all bring different experiences and opinions to the conversation, but we find many common threads including the fact that none of us became the moms we thought we would be. Our conversation highlights the realities of parenting expectations versus actual experiences, the chaos that often accompanies family life, and the lessons learned from our own childhoods. We hope you enjoy, relate, and laugh along with us! Chapters 06:00 Running and Conversation: The Perfect Pair 08:51 Parenting Styles: Expectations vs. Reality 12:08 Shoutouts and Celebrations 14:56 Diving into Parenting Styles 17:25 Parenting Styles and Household Dynamics 31:34 Lessons from Growing Up in Big Families 35:03 Creating Ownership and Responsibility in Kids 39:31 Unexpected Relationships and Misunderstandings 40:26 Parenting Regrets and Styles 41:09 Balancing Rigid Routines with Flexibility 42:49 Embracing Individuality in Parenting 46:04 Evolving Parenting Styles 49:32 Finding Balance in Parenting Dynamics 51:27 The Importance of Community in Parenting 01:15:05 Understanding Our Parents Through the Lens of Parenthood 01:20:04 The Reality of Parenting and Self-Reflection podcast, motherhood, running, parenting styles, caffeine, humor, community, support, marathon, friendships, parenting, household dynamics, self-sufficiency, parenting styles, family relationships, chaos management, childhood memories, parenting expectations, sibling relationships, balance in parenting, parenting, relationships, routines, individuality, community, regrets, styles, motherhood, flexibility, challenges, motherhood, parenting, vulnerability, community, guilt, emotional management, self-reflection, expectations, support, empathy Whitney Heins is a mom of 2, a lifelong runner, a VDOT-certified running coach for moms who run, and founder of the resource, themotherrunners.com . When training for her first marathon as a mom, she found a dearth of information related to running and motherhood. She also felt extremely isolated as a new mom. As a former TV journalist and a freelance writer she decided to use her skills to fill the void with an online resource and community, called The Mother Runners. Whitney also recognized a need for run coaches who understood the demands of motherhood, so she also became a running coach—unearthing a passion for helping moms reap the rewards and empowerment of running. Coming out of a long injury cycle, she ran a 2:54 marathon and 1:20 half marathon in her 40s. She lives in Knoxville, TN with her husband, two kids, and three dogs. www.themotherrunners.com Instagram: @themotherrunners YouTube: The Mother Runners whitney@themotherrunners.com