The ARMC
Two anxiety ridden Moms and professionals taking on life and work. We've come together to talk about it all and formed The Anxiety Ridden Moms Club or ARMC for short. Welcome to our show, we look forward at what's to come. Thank you for joining us every week for a new episode.
The ARMC
The Target Parking Lot Spiral: Building your Village
We unpack what building a village really looks like in today's world, where many moms feel isolated, overwhelmed, or too anxious to ask for help. From families living far apart to the challenges of finding trustworthy childcare, we dive into what modern support systems look like and why they're vital.
• The modern "village" often doesn't match the nostalgic image of neighbors dropping by and extended family living close
• Building a village means overcoming the fear of asking for help and letting yourself be vulnerable
• Today's village might include online communities, like mom groups on social media or supportive strangers on forums
• Childcare decisions are among the most stressful parts of parenting, especially without family nearby
• Having cameras in daycares can provide peace of mind for parents and protection for children
• Finding people you trust completely with your children is challenging but essential
• Asking for help isn't failure—it's a form of bravery that acknowledges our shared humanity
• You can be part of someone else's village by checking in consistently, even when they don't respond right away
If this episode hit home, share it with a friend and leave us a review. It helps other moms find us. Send us your village stories at theARMC2025@gmail.com or find us on social media @theARMC. We'd love to feature listener voices in an upcoming episode!
Welcome to the Anxiety-Ridden Moms Club, the podcast where two moms, each with her own unique style, come together to navigate the wild ride of motherhood, careers and anxiety.
Speaker 2:I'm Kylie and I'm Gina. There was a time when Kylie and I were direct competitors in corporate America and had different perspectives on growing our careers while managing life and all the things that come with it, but those differences have only made our friendship and our insights richer. I like to call it.
Speaker 1:Trauma bonded Gina. What started out as a difference of opinions evolved into a genuine connection. Our journey from varied viewpoints to a supportive friendship has taught us that every approach has its own strength.
Speaker 2:Now, as co-hosts and best friends, we blend generations of wisdom with fresh, modern ideas to explore the challenges, joys and, yes, even the anxieties of being career moms.
Speaker 1:So, whether you're a seasoned pro or just stepping into the wild world of parenting, a new career or new relationships? Join us as we share stories, offer advice and sometimes even overthink it all together.
Speaker 2:Grab your favorite cup of tea or coffee and settle in.
Speaker 1:Welcome to the Anxiety-Ridden Moms Club, the podcast where we unpack motherhood, anxiety, relationships and all the messy beautiful in-betweens. I'm Kylie.
Speaker 2:And I'm Gina. Today we're talking about something we hear all the time it takes a village. But what if you don't have one? Or what if the village you thought you had disappeared?
Speaker 1:Or what if your village is just you spiraling in your car in a Target parking lot? We've both been there.
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely, and we want to have a real conversation today about what building your village actually looks like in today's world, where a lot of us are isolated, overwhelmed or just too anxious to ask for help.
Speaker 1:Let's start here. Our moms or grandmas probably had more built-in community neighbors dropping by extended family living close.
Speaker 2:But now Now we're in different cities, working full-time, raising kids without family nearby, and the idea of knocking on your neighbor's door feels like a social risk.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it really does. It's no wonder so many of us feel alone, even when we're technically not alone. And when you add in the pressure to do it all yourself, cue the anxiety spiral, yep.
Speaker 2:And let's be real, we often don't ask for help. As I've always told you guys, I don't ask for help because we're afraid of being judged or being seen as not capable or feeling like a burden. Oh gosh, yeah, we, I always feel like a burden. That's my problem. I don't like to bother people.
Speaker 1:And for me it's more. Are they going to think that I'm I'm weak or I can't handle it and you know? So, anyway, what? What does village really mean?
Speaker 2:Because it's not just people who babysit for free or bring you a casserole when you have a baby, although if you got a good casserole, you can bring me one Me too.
Speaker 1:I'll take a good casserole Anytime, anytime.
Speaker 2:It's the friend who answers your unhinged text at midnight. The coworker who knows when you're having a day and covers for you. The mom at school pickup who gives you a look that says same girl.
Speaker 1:Sometimes your village is a group chat. Sometimes it's your therapist, sometimes it's your mom or it may be a boundary with your mom and for anyone listening. We're hoping that we can be your village. Right, that would be awesome To let us in. Yeah, I love helping others. Me too. We're here for you, for whatever stage of life you're in, and if you are lacking a village, that's what Gina and I are here for. We want to be your village.
Speaker 2:Right, we might roll our eyes at mom groups, but those strangers on Reddit at 3 am helped me through some rough nights.
Speaker 1:Hey, I, you know, as we started this podcast, there's so much of the promoting ourselves and the podcast and, to be honest with you, it feels a little out of out of the norm for me just talking about ourselves and flooding people's feeds and and all of the things, because I have this, like you know, guy sitting on my shoulder saying quit being annoying. Like if they want to follow, they'll follow. If they want to listen, they'll listen, but everything, everything and the research we've done talks about like, just keep doing it, keep posting, because algorithms and different things are crazy. But you know, gina, my boss puts some pressure on me sometimes. No, she's like, where are our downloads out? Like, come on what's happening. And I, you know, I learned the best through karma, I feel like, and so I was not making fun of, but I was having maybe some judgy thoughts about TikTok and these women on there, the mom follow party. So with TikTok and again, any socials, that we do is literally just to get this podcast out there because we want to help as many people as we as we can. So if we're annoying, drop us a comment and tell us, because we don't know what you see, what you don't see what you're loving, what you're not loving. So we, we would love nothing more than feedback. But um, on tiktok there are.
Speaker 1:There's a movement of moms, and not just moms, but content creators. Creators you have to have a thousand followers to get into the content creator program, and so in the content creator program means that you can post links and earn commission on on different things like that, and and again. That is not our goal. Our goal is to be seen and heard by as many people as possible and to help and relate to as many people as possible, and you do that through followers. So you know, I had some unhealthy thoughts about these. They're calling them mom follow parties and so they get on there and they have these videos and it's like mom follow party and if you comment where you're from and how many kids you have, then anyone that likes your comment you go and follow and they kids you have. Then anyone that likes your comment you go and follow and they follow you back. So it's really cool way of mom supporting moms and you know, in turn, you're each building your, your followers and different things.
Speaker 1:So it you know, within a couple of days I had these thoughts like God, this is so annoying. Why are these going on my page to now? I'm a part of like 10 mom parties, so it's you know, it's the online stuff. So when you say we roll your eyes at mom groups, it's, they're out there. But I do think there is a lot of good, there's a lot of good help within that, and moms learn from other moms, right. And if you're not as fortunate as like I am, with my mom down the road and not down the road, there's, there's one house literally in between you know my mom and I. But if you're not fortunate of that and online's what you have, there is some really good content out there, and so get out there and then follow some moms, starting with with us, where we're here for you. Message comment email whatever it is.
Speaker 2:I think that's the thing, though, is I think that sometimes, when we hear the mom groups, you do kind of think, oh OK, what's what's going on over here? But I think, as we've even been going through this, the more you realize like they are really some cool groups, I mean, and I think that there are a lot of you know. One of the things I think, at some point, we'll probably obviously really discuss is women supporting women, and why is it that our first initiation of anything to do with like your initial reaction to a mom's group is like oh god, what is this? Or we gotta go to this party and it's just a bunch of girls. Oh my god, right, it's kind of stressful when you think about it, and it's because I think we always feel like are we going to be judged? It all goes back to all the things we talk about when you're kids and you feel judged and you're worried and stress out what games are they going to rope you into? That's true.
Speaker 1:I know At baby showers they're like, oh my God, we're going to play games. Yes, I kind of like the games. I guess I don't like it. I like the game show network and I like games but whatever.
Speaker 2:But I do think that having these things actually have it's even opened my eyes to. I wish I would have had it when I was younger. I would have joined some of those groups, because some of these groups that we have found I think are cool and they can really give you that village. If you don't have family close, by that you have somebody else that's maybe going through certain things in life that you're going through Talking to each other, helping each other. You know, finding your group of people.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and that is one thing I will say and that I really enjoy about TikTok and I you know, I've said it before it's just there are some content creators out there that, uh, just make me laugh and you're like, oh my God, you're a hot mess, but you, it's relatable, it's so relatable. And you're like I am so sick and tired of seeing the perfect little families and the perfect little posts and the perfect you know what I mean, mean so, like, I really enjoy the ones that just you get to see the good, bad, the ugly, or they get on camera without makeup, right? You know, I told Gina when you know, during this podcast, I'm like if we record on a Saturday like I don't wear bras on Saturdays, well you know, but uh, you've got people online just just showing it and telling it like it is, and and then I find comfort in that. That makes me I think that that's given me the confidence to kind of break out on our own Cause. It's like, yes, if Susie can just lay by the pool and talk shit and like people are here for it, then then maybe we do have something to offer. You know, so it is, it's a blessing, blessing and a curse, so anyway. So anyway, building building your village starts with, I think, letting people in, and whether that be, however, however that may be, you know it's. It's really freaking hard, and especially when you've been burned or ghosted or just trained to to handle everything yourself, yourself for sure.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you know how did how. What did your village look like? Because, like I said, my, my mom lives a house down, and Wyatt we talked about in the last episode was born premature and so he was immunocompromised and so he couldn't go to daycare for the first year of his life. And let me tell you about my. My village between my mom has two sisters and I have two sister in laws that have been around for a long time, and it took every single person. I had to work. I had to work. I carried the insurance and you know, working was was not an option for me. Working was was not an option for me and these people. You know it started with my, my aunts, going to the house when, when we found out that I wasn't coming home without a baby and that was never my intent when.
Speaker 2:I went to the hospital that day because I was only 29 weeks.
Speaker 1:They, you know were, were cleaning and setting up cribs and you know all kinds of things while I was in the hospital. But then, for for the first year of of my son's, he couldn't, he couldn't go to daycare. So it was a text on Sunday night saying who can take Wyatt this week. And, my God, I probably didn't tell them enough. But without them, I don't, I don't know what we would have done. They stepped up in a big way between my like I said my aunts and my, my sister, sister-in-laws and and family and other friends Like, and that's I. You know, I live in a small town, so we're all, we're all super close and super close in proximity and different things, but, like your parents live out of town. So what did your? What did your village look like?
Speaker 2:So well, my parents lived out of town when I had um Kylie, so I didn't have them around during that time. But when I had austin I did, and luckily at that time I did because, um, since he was colicky and he threw up all the time when I was looking for daycares, they kept telling me well, people are going to think your child's sick all the time and then we're going to have a problem with other parents thinking like, well, I mean the kids over there throwing up and this, it was going to cause them problem, with other parents thinking like, well, I mean the kids over there throwing up and it was going to cause them problems. So then I thought, ok, well, I can't not work. I mean I have to work. So luckily I could go part time.
Speaker 2:So I kind of changed what I was doing at my job.
Speaker 2:I was at they. I just changed a little bit up of what I was doing there so that way I could work three days a week and my mom took him during that time and if I wouldn't have had that I I really don't know what I would have done, because literally nobody wanted him and it and I also. It didn't feel very comfortable or didn't know anybody very well in the area because I'm not from the St Louis area, so I had very limited as far as friendships or other. So I would not, I would have just had to stop working. I mean, I would have been in a, in a bind during him. I I mean, realistically, all I had was the fact that my parents did help me but I didn't have anybody else. So it just like when you know, I'd shared with before in regards to I had a coworker that helped me when he was colicky when I was at home and continued on probably till he was done screaming all the time, which is about four months.
Speaker 2:But after that, other than that, I really didn't have anybody. And with Kylie, I think because I didn't have anybody with Austin, I didn't ask for anything. My parents weren't around and I would have never asked anybody else to help me. I just did what I had to do and she was a good baby, luckily, and didn't have never asked anybody else to help me. I just did what I had to do and she was a good baby, luckily, and didn't have all those problems. So she was easy and all that.
Speaker 2:And I had actually some friends that lived across the street and they had someone who watched their daughter and so I met her and she was wonderful. She became like a grandma to my daughter. So it was really at least, since my parents weren't here, kind of gave her grandma to go visit every day, and so I was very happy. So I got very lucky and they definitely became a lot to do with our family. We became extremely close to them and but you know, my husband was his family Also. I mean, we live probably 45 minutes away from them and his parents are. They weren't around even at that time. They had both passed away, so we didn't have them either.
Speaker 2:And you know siblings, they work and have their jobs, so you kind of are limited when you get into those situations and then if you don't have friends or other people who can even recommend where to put your child, that also adds a whole other aspect of anxiety during the entire thing. So my village was always kind of small, but I'm thankful for any help I ever got from anyone throughout the entire time. And I'm not good about asking for help, which is why I will tell everybody all day long don't do what I did. Do what I'm telling you to do. Get a village you know, find your friends, find your people.
Speaker 2:If you are newer to a city, I probably should have found my mom's groups. At that point in time it just wasn't that easy to find. We didn't have all these different social media, even things. There wasn't as much going on. And now that there are, I think that that's where these mom's groups are important. I think it's extremely important and I wish I would have had it. There's a vulnerability to saying I'm not okay, can you help. It's not weakness, it's bravery.
Speaker 1:Say that again because for a lot of us, asking for help feels like failure, but in reality it was one of the toughest parts of managing people. You know attendance is important and you've got a business to run and in order to successfully run a business you need people to show up. But you know my last job I was there for 15 years. So a lot of these people, I knew their stories and I knew their backgrounds and I knew that their mom passed away when they were little and they moved a thousand miles away for whatever reason, and it's just them. And so you've got the pressure of these corporations that have attendance policies that are strict and different things like that. But then people are calling you and saying my kid's sick and I don't, I don't know what to do and you have to. It's a constant, it's a constant balancing act to just you want to hold people accountable and again, you have a business to run. But also you want to be human. You want to be human and you want to.
Speaker 1:You, you understand and you recognize and I don't know how how some of these people, people, do it without, without a village, because even even to this day, if I'm, you know, I work from home and have a little bit of flexibility, but if school calls that a kid's sick and I have a conference call scheduled, like I call my mom, I call someone in my village, and there are so many people out there that don't have that and I don't, I really don't know how they they manage being, you know, working moms or single moms or all of the above, or single dads out there, whatever, whatever it may be, it's just, it's it's so important to find, to find your people and shout out to those that, whatever it may be, it just it's it's so important to find, to find your people and shout out to those that are doing it by themselves because, girlfriend, I don't, I don't know how you do it, but you're, you're doing amazing and uh, and we're here for you.
Speaker 2:Right, I mean you have to. Really, I think a lot of people have to give thought to. You know who belongs in their village, and so you definitely want to look towards family first. If you have that supportive family and it's not always just because you don't live close, maybe it's just you don't have that supportive of a family or maybe they're just not able to be able to help you in certain ways. You know, look to any close friends and definitely for sure look to other fellow moms, because they were going to be the ones to give you that advice and tell you who else can help you or who they know that they trust, and try to build your village, you know, one piece at a time, so that you have that support, because there's going to be moments that you need a break and you need help.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and real talk. Building a village also means protecting it, and not everyone gets access to you, your energy, your kids or your trust, and that is so freaking scary too. It is hard to be a mom. One of the territories it's about two hours from where I live now but there was a recent story of a child at daycare and he was autistic and I believe he was four Don't quote me on that, but I believe he was four and it came out that at the daycare one of the workers had put a very, very, very heavy, weighted blanket on him and he wouldn't lay down for his nap. So she, on top of the blanket, put her legs and when the mom got there to pick her son up, hours and hours later, no one had checked on him and he was found deceased. And it shook a whole community. It shook a lot of moms.
Speaker 1:You're trusting someone with your life every time you drop them off, whether it's a licensed daycare, because that happens too. It was a licensed daycare and there's actually it's out there and I signed a petition for it, but it's called Conrad's law and it's that every daycare or childcare facility has cameras. Yes, and I think that. I think that is huge. But this, this poor mom is just trying to support her family and go to work and do the right thing and she comes back to find her child, her child, deceased.
Speaker 1:And I can't, I can't even imagine, I can't wrap my head around it. Um, I can probably say I might end up in jail if something like that happened. Like I, it just. You know these babies are our lives and the fact of the matter is they're not you know, they're just. You know. Sometimes they're just a number to somebody else or they're just another fee that they make per month and you're handing your kid off to someone else and then that goes both ways. There are people that have quit their jobs and been stay-at-home moms because they don't trust anyone to be, you know, with their kids, and so it's finding a balance. And how do you know if you can trust the people that you're dropping your kid off with every day just to go make a living? You know.
Speaker 2:Well, and I think that's like when Austin was young, the daycare he had to go to a daycare after he, finally, after he was about eight months, I, you know, stopped having my mom have to be responsible, you know, regularly to help me, and so at that time, you know, at least they did have a daycare that was able to have the cameras at that, you know, and that was a big deal to me. I went to a lot of other places and I wouldn't get a vibe real quick whether, yeah, this isn't gonna happen. I had went to a lot of daycares before I picked the one that I would put them in and at least I felt like, if I can, throughout the day, peek in on somebody made me feel better. Or even if, like, when I went to go pick him up, you could go into this one room and look on the camera to see what they're doing before you entered into the room. So, you know, you kind of knew what was going on and it just gave me.
Speaker 2:It gave me definitely peace of mind to put him in a brick and mortar, you know, daycare, licensed daycare. And then I had the complete opposite with my daughter, where I put her at somebody's home, but you know, she was literally grandma's house ultimately and I did know, like I said, a very close friend had her daughter there and how it went and you just knew. You just knew you're in a good place. But I think nowadays, with some of the stories I've heard and the tragedies that have gone on that are so sad, nowadays, with some of the stories I've heard and the tragedies that have gone on that are so sad, I definitely don't think I would put a child somewhere that didn't have cameras anymore. I mean, you know it's kind of crazy to think, like you go to a doggy daycare, they have cameras everywhere.
Speaker 1:You watch dog all day long.
Speaker 2:That is so true. I mean some places, and so all you you know pet mamas, you know you watch that puppy dog all day long. You get on that camera and you should be able to have that right to do that with your child for sure.
Speaker 1:You know that's so funny because when Wyatt was in the NICU, you know you have to. There are certain boxes you have to check in order for them to go home, and you know obviously one of them because he, you know, had a feeding tube that we would use if he, you know he was born so early and so some of those sucking and different things come later in the development of the baby, and so some of those things, like he, he didn't have, and so he had to take bottles for so many days, you know, by himself, and not not take any of it. So we would feed him via a bottle and then, if he would get tired or he would have a bradycardia where all the alarms and bells and whistles go off, they would finish his feeding via a feeding tube and so he had to drink his bottle. I think I don't know if it was like a week straight on his own, no assistance whatever, and there was a night nurse and I'm sure she was. Well, I have my own thoughts, but let's say, for the sake of this, that she was super busy that night and, whatever the case may be, she charted that, she fed him through, she didn't attempt a bottle. And we were on like day six and we had to get to day seven for him to go home after two months in the NICU, like day six. And we had to get to day seven for him to go home after two months in the NICU. And she had charted that she fed him via his, his feeding tube and we had to then kind of reset and and start from scratch. And I'm like I wish I would have had a camera in there because I'm telling you she didn't even try to feed him via a bottle and and I don't know, but that was just my emotional self thinking at that time. And then we didn't, from there on out, we did not leave him by himself. So we made sure around the clock that someone and again shout out to my mom, my aunts, my cousins, my grandma, even God rest her soul but everybody took time and had certain days that they spent with Wyatt in the NICU. So he was never, ever by himself. Just because we had to meet those goals, we had to get home.
Speaker 1:I remember the car seat test. I was sitting on the floor because with preemies sometimes they just forget to breathe, and so he had to sit in a car seat for four minutes and not. Typically it happens when they fall asleep or in a deep sleep and then they forget to breathe and then their heart rate goes down and whatever. And I would sit there and like I was watching him, but I would rock that damn car seat If he started to fall asleep, because I'm like kid, we are so close to getting out of this place, to making a jailbreak, Like you got to pass this test, but cameras would have been Wonderful.
Speaker 1:Wonderful, because then you don't have to, then you don't have to wonder and from a daycare provider perspective also being on the business side of things is is accidents happen and things, things happen. You know, nothing gets on my nerves more as when a kid is with whomever is caring for them throughout the day and then the parent wants to place blame on accidents happening. That would happen to anyone. You know what I mean, like what happened to that knot on his head. Well, how does that happen? Well, he's starting to walk. So whether he's at your house or Tom Dick and Harry's house, it doesn't matter. He fell and I think cameras would help provide all of that, because you can check in and see whatever that. You know what I mean. Like, I think that it would help. It would go both ways. So I don't really understand daycare facilities, not wanting them or not having them. If you've got all your ducks in a row, it shouldn't be an issue.
Speaker 1:So Wyatt stayed with family and then Nora I was so lucky and she would tell everybody today how much she loved Dee Dee's house and we had someone that you know became another grandma Dee Dee and Roger, her husband, and again, to this day, nora adores them and they were the best, but they came to us via referral and Didi's always full, so that whole it's hard, man, it is hard. And then the cost Didi, was very reasonable and I don't know how some of these people pay yes, and I think that you were fortunate. You were fortunate to get to be picky, choosy, because you know your finance, finances allowed that and some people don't have that, and how do you weed that out? How do you? How do you know who you're leaving your kid with.
Speaker 2:It's hard, it's very, very difficult. It's hard, and I mean that's why it does help If you at least have some form of a village that is surrounding you. For certain things I think it just makes it that much better to just finding the right places to put your kids and feel comfortable. Normalize outsourcing, normalize leaning on people. You're still the mom. You're still the mom. You're still amazing. Having a village doesn't make you less. It makes you human.
Speaker 1:Follow your gut If you feel something's not right or something's off. It probably is, and maybe whom you're leaving your kid with it. Maybe it's not a them issue, maybe it's just that you guys don't, you don't vibe well, or whatever the case may be. But you have to have, you have to have a bond with these people that you're living, you're leaving your kid with and you have to trust them. You have to trust them with every part of your, your body and unfortunately, sometimes we do and sometimes we're wrong. Um, and you know, god forbid tragedy, tragedy strikes.
Speaker 1:Hopefully that that's not the case, but gosh, there's been just so many stories in the, in the news, I feel like over the last year, um of shit going wrong at daycares, and you know that's what makes it scary and stressful when you're, when we're trying to figure this all out and, um, sometimes you know, you definitely just have to have faith and and trust and just pray when you go to work and I trust my mom with my entire life, soul, heart, all of the things and, um, I hope she doesn't get mad at me for for throwing this out there but she watches kids all of the time and I've mentioned before, there is one house in between my mom and I, so it's not far, but kids can be little assholes and so there have been times where they're outside playing and she runs into switch.
Speaker 1:You know she would never leave them outside by themselves or whatever it may be, but one like sneaks away. So I'm like laying on the couch and somebody's like aunt kylie and I'm like what the fuck are you doing here? What are you doing? And then I call my mom, I'm like did you know?
Speaker 1:and she was like oh my god get them back here, um, but like I said, I I trust her with with everything that I've got.
Speaker 2:But, but kids can, they're a little you know, yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah, they're sneaky, they're sneaky, they're sneaky.
Speaker 1:So it is so hard. It is so, so, so hard, but anyway, let's you know, we want to hear from you guys. Share a moment when your village came through or when you really needed one and you didn't have one.
Speaker 2:We want to hear from you and we want to hear your story. Right, it's just like. You know, I had that coworker that came over to my house and you know it's just having those people come over. Maybe a friend brought food, a partner stepped up, maybe a stranger showed some kindness.
Speaker 1:You've definitely got me, you know, got me thinking that that coworker that you've talked about, that's just. I think that I could do more for the people around me and my, my inner circle, just to show up for them and be there for them, and, whether it's a new baby, whether it's a new, a new job, a new, just a new chapter in their lives, I I need to do a better job of stepping up for the people that are important for me, because this last year it's been no secret that it hasn't been a cakewalk for me and some people, including you, have really stepped up in a big, big, big way for me, and I definitely want to return the favor to some people around me. So I want to be a village for others, for sure.
Speaker 2:Yes, and I think we all need to be mindful of that and make sure that you reach out to. You know, people that you know are getting ready to start that family or having stress going on, no matter what it may be. There's obviously definitely more stressors in life than just having children. So, you know, offer that you're there. You know, even if it is setting a date, I can do it. On this day Like this is when I can help you.
Speaker 1:It doesn't make any difference. I think all those things matter. Or keep reaching out, even if they don't respond to every text and I am the worst at texting I will either read something and it'll be in the middle of something at work and then forget to respond. Or my recently I have typed out a big, long response and forgot to hit send and then when I go back, like two days later, I'm like oh my gosh, I never responded. So you know, just keep reaching out. Keep reaching out to people, even if they don't respond right away. It's most likely not because they hate you, it's because they're distracted or something's else on their mind. Or I'll text my mom and I won't get a response, and then I'll call her and she'll be like oh, I'll call her and she'll be like, oh, and.
Speaker 1:I'll be like where are you? You know, I remember a time when you know my mom wasn't my best friend. And now, right, if she doesn't answer my text in five minutes, I'm calling or sending you know, sending the troops to find my mom. But it's because you know somebody was watching something on her phone and I'm like well. I thought you were dead. I thought you were dead, so anyway.
Speaker 2:So here's your reminder today you deserve a village, not because you can't do it alone, but because you shouldn't have to For sure.
Speaker 1:And whether your village is one person or 10, online or in person, blood or chosen family, you're allowed to lean on them, and if you don't have one yet, we're here, we see you and don't be afraid to build your village one little step at a time.
Speaker 2:It might look different than you imagined, but it can still be beautiful.
Speaker 1:All right, mamas. Thanks for being a part of our village. If this episode hit home, share it with your friend and leave us a review.
Speaker 2:It helps other moms find us, and if you've got a story about your village, or your lack of one, send it our way. We'd love to feature some listener voices in an upcoming episode.
Speaker 1:Until next time, deep breaths, mama, you've got this and also follow us on Instagram or Facebook or TikTok. At the ARMC, our next episode is going to be all about the toddler days. So you won't want to miss it, you can absolutely email us at the ARMC 2025. So the T-H-E, so you won't want to miss it, you can absolutely email us at theARMC2025. So the T-H-E-A-R-M-C-2-0-2-5 at gmailcom. We would love, love, love to hear from you If no one's told you lately.
Speaker 2:Let me be the one to say it You're not failing, you're growing. You're not broken, you're becoming and you're doing better than you think.
Speaker 1:Thanks for being here today. If this episode resonated with you, I'd love if you'd subscribe, leave a review or share it with another mom who might need to hear this. You can also connect with us on Facebook or TikTok at TheARMC.
Speaker 2:We'd love to hear your story, Until next time, give yourself grace, breathe deep and remember peace is possible.