Eps 118 | What Nobody Tells You About Investing in Yourself
Enough Mom Podcast
Did you pour out love on everyone around you this Valentine's Day—and forget to save any for yourself? You bought the valentines, made the heart-shaped pancakes, slipped the notes into the lunchboxes... and then turned that same gaze inward only to become your own worst critic. In this episode, Jennifer gets practical about what it really looks like to invest in yourself—not as a trendy self-care concept, but as the foundation of everything we've been building together in the last five episodes. Because here's the truth nobody talks about: compassionate parenting begins with compassionate...
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Eps 117 | Compassionate Parenting: A Better Way Forward
Enough Mom Podcast
Are you caught in the crossfire of the parenting wars? Tired of being told you're either too soft or too strict? Has someone made you feel guilty for apologizing to your child—or for holding a firm boundary? In this episode, Jennifer tackles the false dichotomy that's tearing apart mom communities and church small groups alike: gentle parenting vs. authoritarian parenting. She unpacks the fear that's actually driving both sides of the debate, clears up the dangerous confusion between gentle and permissive parenting, and introduces a framework she calls compassionate parenting—an approach...
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Eps 116 | From Burnt Out to Lit Up: Rediscovering What Makes You Come Alive
Enough Mom Podcast
Are you going through the motions of motherhood but can't remember the last time you felt truly alive? Do you find yourself wondering who you even are anymore beyond "mom"? Have the things that once brought you joy become just another obligation on your endless to-do list? Jennifer unpacks the dangerous pattern of numbing and disconnection that keeps mothers stuck in survival mode—and shows you the path back to rediscovering what makes you come alive. Through personal stories of her own journey from burnt out to lit up, she explores why we lose ourselves in the first place, the difference...
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Eps 115 | Breaking Free From Shame: Why Your Courage Matters
Enough Mom Podcast
This episode is for every mama caught in the shame spiral who believes one mistake defines her entire story. Have you been replaying that moment when you lost your temper, forgot something important, or didn't show up the way you wanted to? Are you stuck in the hallway of your mind, convinced that one misstep means you've failed completely? Jennifer shares a powerful moment from her recent speech and debate tournament where she watched a bright, capable student spiral into shame after forgetting part of her speech—and realized how many mothers are stuck in that same hallway. Through the lens...
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Eps 114 | The Permission Slip You've Been Waiting For
Enough Mom Podcast
This episode is for every mama who's been waiting for permission to be who you are, to do what you want to do, to dream bigger. Mama, have you been waiting for your kids to get older, for your husband to tell you it's okay, for someone else to validate your desires before you pursue them? That permission slip might never arrive—until you write it yourself. In this episode, Jennifer shares the four specific permission slips moms are often waiting for and why giving yourself permission isn't selfish but rather a crucial act of stewarding the life you've been given. Whether you want...
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Eps 113 | When You Wish You Could Start Over
Enough Mom Podcast
This episode is for every mama carrying the weight of parental regret—wishing you'd done things differently, taught them better, shown up more intentionally. Whether your children are still at home or already grown, this episode will help you understand why your regret doesn't have to be the end of the story. You'll discover how to heal relationships with adult children, how to repair with kids still under your roof, the power of neuroplasticity in creating new relational patterns, and how to initiate conversations that create space for truth and reconnection. If you've ever thought "I wish...
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Eps 112 | You're Not Behind - You're Beginning
Enough Mom Podcast
This episode is for every mama who's tired of feeling one step behind, constantly surprised by schedule conflicts, or exhausted from managing everyone else's lives. You'll discover why regular family check-ins are essential, the difference between managing and leading your family, how to ask questions that empower your kids instead of control them, and the three strategic times each year to pause and realign your family's commitments with your values. Whether you have little ones trying new activities or teenagers navigating their own schedules, this episode will help you stop managing magic...
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Eps 111 | Stop Managing, Start Leading: Family Check-Ins
Enough Mom Podcast
In this practical and empowering episode, Jennifer introduces her family check-in method that transforms chaos into calm—without micromanaging every detail. As we step into a new year, she reveals how three strategic conversations per year can change your family's schedule from reactive scrambling to intentional leadership. Drawing from years of managing teenagers with work schedules, a family restaurant, and homeschool activities, Jennifer shares the exact framework for leading your family with confidence while giving your kids space to grow into capable, independent humans. This episode is...
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Eps 110 | Breaking the Cycle: Why Emotional Intelligence is the Most Important Leadership Skill You'll Ever Learn
Enough Mom Podcast
Jennifer explores why emotional intelligence is the most critical leadership skill you'll ever develop as a mother. Drawing from corporate leadership research and personal experience, she reveals how your nervous system regulation directly impacts your children's brain development, health, and future relationships—and how breaking toxic patterns today creates a healthier legacy for generations to come. This episode is for every mama who's realized she's parenting differently than she was parented, who's seen her own reactive patterns show up with her kids, or who's ready to break cycles that...
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Eps 109 | When your kids want things you can't afford
Enough Mom Podcast
In this essential holiday episode, Jennifer tackles one of the most stressful aspects of gift-giving season: how to respond when your children ask for expensive things you can't afford. Through practical strategies and compassionate insight, she reveals how these moments aren't really about the toys at all—they're about emotional regulation, parenting triggers, and teaching children resilience through discomfort. This episode is for every mama who's felt the weight of comparison when other families buy expensive gifts, who's struggled with guilt around saying no to her children, or who's...
info_outlineThrough vulnerable storytelling about near-drowning experiences and parenting struggles, Jennifer reveals that courage isn't about being fearless—it's about having strength in the face of difficulty. She shares how moving from controlling, fear-based parenting to compassionate parenting required tremendous courage, and how you can take your own courageous steps forward.
This episode is for every mama who feels like she's drowning, who's afraid of making the wrong choice, or who's carrying the full mental load alone. You'll learn the three things that make motherhood harder and the three courageous actions you can take today.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Welcome to Episode 102: Finding Courage in Motherhood
00:05 - Introduction: Courage, Confidence, and Calling
01:30 - Guided Breathing Exercise: Finding Calm
03:00 - The Beach Story: A Childhood Fear of the Ocean
06:00 - Fast Forward: Saving My Son from the Waves
08:00 - The Lesson: Until You Stand Up, Everything Feels Like Drowning
09:30 - What Is Courage? Strength in the Face of Difficulty
10:00 - Three Things That Make Motherhood Harder
11:00 - #1: Fear of the Unknown Isolates Us
12:00 - #2: Chasing the "Right Way" to Parent Frustrates Us
13:00 - #3: Doing Everything Yourself Is Debilitating
14:00 - Three Courageous Actions You Can Take
15:00 - Action #1: Make Changes & Step Out in Faith
16:30 - Action #2: Accept Grace & Let Go of Control
18:00 - Moving Away from Fear-Based, Authoritative Parenting
19:30 - My Journey: From Spanking and Yelling to Compassionate Parenting
21:00 - What Comes First: Courage or Confidence?
22:30 - Action #3: Ask for Help—You Can't Do This Alone
24:00 - "I Can't Do This" Has Two Meanings
25:30 - Guilt vs. Shame: You Made a Mistake, You're Not a Mistake
26:30 - Practical Ways to Show Courage in Motherhood
28:00 - Courage with Kids: Apologizing, Setting Boundaries, and More
29:30 - Final Encouragement: You Are Learning to Swim
31:00 - Join the Enough Mom Community & Closing
KEY TAKEAWAYS
✨ Courage = strength in the face of difficulty, not the absence of fear
✨ Until you stand up, everything will feel like you're drowning
✨ Three things that make motherhood harder: isolation from fear, chasing the "right way," and doing it all alone
✨ You have enough for the journey you're on TODAY
✨ Courage comes before confidence—doing hard things builds our belief in ourselves
✨ We cannot guide our children through journeys we haven't taken ourselves
✨ "I can't do this" can mean defeat OR an admission that you need support
✨ Guilt says "I made a mistake" / Shame says "I am a mistake" - you are NOT a mistake
✨ It takes courage to admit what you don't know
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Jennifer's Powerful Ocean Metaphors
"Until you stand up, until you are lifted out of the water, everything will feel like you're drowning. Until you decide to make certain changes and overcome or learn or get a different perspective on the struggles that you're facing, everything will feel like the waves are crashing over you."
On Parenting Transformation
"The spirits of my children are more precious than my need for them to do the thing I need them to do right now."
On Building Courage
"We cannot guide our children through journeys that we have not taken ourselves... but our kids will learn from us—from our mistakes as much as our actual lessons."
ABOUT THE HOST
Jennifer Bryant is an educational leader, having worked in every sector of school from public to private to homeschool. She is a California girl living in Hawaii, homeschool mama to teenagers, and recovering perfectionist. As an ADHD mom and former authoritative parent turned compassionate parent, she brings raw honesty and deep insight to conversations about maternal mental health. Jennifer is passionate about helping mothers find courage, build confidence, and walk boldly in their calling.
RESOURCES & LINKS
Instagram: @jennifer_bryant_
Facebook: Jennifer Bryant
X (Twitter): @jennifer_bryant_
Website: jenniferbryant.com
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*Disclaimer: Jennifer Bryant is not a licensed professional counselor. The content shared on this podcast is based on personal experience and educational research. All medical and scientific information is credited to appropriate sources. For professional mental health support, please consult a licensed therapist or counselor.*
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