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_outlineThis 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 to start a business, set boundaries with extended family, pursue hobbies, or simply prioritize yourself without guilt, this episode will help you understand that you're allowed to want more—and you don't need anyone else to sign off on your life.
🎧 Listen Now
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/enough-mom-podcast/id1846967110
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CWYwsLjG84ggXwfGSUWoO
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jenn_bryant
Website: https://jennifer-bryant.com
📖 In This Episode
[00:00] Introduction: The permission slip you've been waiting for
[01:45] Looking back 10 years: How the Practical Family blog became the Enough Mom Podcast
[03:40] The maternal identity crisis—80% of women lose their sense of self in the first 5 years of motherhood
[06:03] What are we actually waiting for? Four specific permission slips mothers seek
[08:10] The cultural messaging that keeps us small and why we feel guilty for wanting more
[12:15] The research on unfulfilled potential and its impact on maternal mental health
[14:30] Permission Slip #1: For the mom who wants to start a business or side project
[18:45] Permission Slip #2: For the mom who wants to pursue hobbies and personal interests
[23:20] Permission Slip #3: For the mom who wants to invest in herself (physically, mentally, financially)
[28:50] Permission Slip #4: For the mom who wants to set boundaries with extended family
[31:19] How this connects to our three pillars: courage, confidence, and calling
[33:00] Final encouragement: You are allowed—ready, set, go
[34:00] Introduction to the Dream Reconnection Journal
🎁 Featured Resources
Dream Reconnection Journal - Ready to reconnect with your dreams and give yourself permission to pursue them? This journal features easy-to-follow prompts that take just 15 minutes each. Use it as a 7-day journey, once-a-week practice, or complete it all in one intentional day.
Available in Three Formats:
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Large Print Journal (8.5x11): https://practicalfamily.shop/products/dream-reconnection-journal
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Small Pocket Journal (5x8): https://practicalfamily.shop/products/dream-reconnection-journal-small
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Digital PDF Version: Coming soon https://practical-family.kit.com/products/dream-reconnection-journal-digital
Each colorful journal page is uniquely designed with space for reflection and growth. Perfect for the mama ready to stop waiting for permission and start pursuing her calling.
The OVER Framework - Are you overwhelmed and need practical help getting unstuck? Download Jennifer's free OVER Framework to help you move from chaos to clarity: https://practical-family.kit.com/015034ee27
💬 Connect with Jennifer
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferbryant__/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferLoganBryant
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@jenniferbryant__
X: https://x.com/JennBryant_hi
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jenniferbryant__
Website: https://jennifer-bryant.com
📬 Subscribe & Share
Love this episode? Subscribe to the Enough Mom Podcast so you never miss an episode! New episodes drop every Tuesday with conversations that help you move from overwhelmed to confident—from comparison to calling. https://practical-family.kit.com/ba00fc36f1
Share this episode if you know another mama who's been waiting for permission to pursue her dreams. Send her this link and let her know: she's allowed.
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👋 About Jennifer Bryant
Jennifer Bryant is the host of the Enough Mom Podcast and an educational leader with 25+ years of experience. As a homeschooling mother of two teenagers, she helps moms break free from comparison culture and step into confident, authentic parenting through her three-pillar framework: courage, confidence, and calling.
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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. For professional mental health support, please consult a licensed therapist: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us