The Mama Circle

• 51. My mother-in-law moved in to ‘help’...and made everything worse

  This week we’re diving into the mother-in-law problem: when support turns to control, and when well-meaning advice becomes a slow erosion of your confidence.We’ll talk about:Why mother-in-laws often overstep after a baby arrivesThe emotional undercurrent of fear, loss of relevance, and controlWhy “you’re too sensitive” is code for I don’t want to take responsibilityHow to hold boundaries without blowing up the relationshipWhat healthy, respectful help can actually look likeBecause sometimes “help” isn’t help and it’s a hidden cost of modern motherhood.🎧 Listen now to My mother-in-law moved in to ‘help’ — and made everything worse.And if you’ve ever thought, “It’s not just me, right?” then no, it’s definitely not just you.Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, if you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it, this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

  --------  

  43:57

  --------

  43:57
• 50. How to save on groceries - what my family actually spend in a month

  Food prices keep climbing — but what does it actually cost to feed a family right now?In this episode, Nat takes you through her real grocery numbers (around €550–€600 a month for two adults and a toddler) and the small, realistic shifts she’s making to spend less without losing the joy of a full fridge.You’ll hear:What a €600 monthly grocery shop looks like for her familyWhy constant “top-up shops” are quietly draining your budgetThe small swaps and habits that save money without adding stressHow batch cooking and bulk buying stretch food (and sanity) furtherWhy “using what you already have” builds financial confidenceThis isn’t about restriction — it’s about feeling more in control of what you spend, using what you’ve got, and bringing intention (not guilt) back into your weekly shop.Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, if you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it, this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

  --------  

  29:21

  --------

  29:21
• 49. A love letter to my son - The Gifts of Motherhood

  In today’s episode, I’m taking a step back to reflect on the gifts motherhood has given me through my son, Jackson.This is the softer side of the story... the one where motherhood gives more than it takes. From clarity and courage to the kind of love that remakes you from the inside out, these are the lessons that changed me.It’s not a sugarcoated list, either. Some of these “gifts” came wrapped in exhaustion and tears. But they’ve all shaped me into someone stronger, softer, and more grounded than before.If you’ve found motherhood to be both a teacher and a test, this one’s for you.In this episode:The five gifts motherhood gave meWhy “barely making it” can still mean you’re winningHow love redefines your standards for everything elseWhat it really means when motherhood gives back Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, if you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it, this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download it here.⁠⁠⁠⁠Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

  --------  

  35:09

  --------

  35:09
• 48. The real reason mums are exhausted - hello, The Mental Load!

  You know that feeling when you’re wiped out but can’t explain why? You’ve been running on autopilot, juggling birthday gifts, nap schedules and meal plans, but it’s not just the doing that’s exhausting. It’s the thinking about everything.In this episode, Nat dives into the real reason mums are exhausted: the mental load. She unpacks how it quietly drains mothers, how gender roles and social conditioning created it, and what to do when you feel like the household project manager instead of an equal partner.You’ll hear:What the mental load actually looks like day to dayWhy it’s not about doing too much, but holding too muchHow gender roles and conditioning keep mums overloadedThe resentment loop that creeps into relationshipsHow to start sharing the load without another argument🎧 Listen if you’ve ever felt like the manager of your household instead of a partner in it.Because it’s not just you, and it’s not what you think.🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, if you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it, this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download it here.⁠⁠⁠Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

  --------  

  35:42

  --------

  35:42
• 47. When having a baby breaks your marriage (and why it really happens)

  So many of us feel blindsided by how much motherhood changes our relationships. Nobody warns you how having a baby can completely rewrite the dynamics between you and your partner...the exhaustion, the resentment, the unspoken mental load.In this episode, Nat reads two Reddit posts from mums whose marriages started crumbling after having kids and reflects on why it really happens. From the invisible load to unmet needs, shifting identities, and structural cracks that existed long before the baby, this one’s a deep, honest look at why modern motherhood leaves so many couples struggling to stay connected.If you’ve ever wondered, “Is it just us?” — you’re not alone.In this episode:The difference between structural vs. circumstantial relationship strainWhy unmet needs (sleep, rest, connection) turn into resentmentHow the mental load creeps in and erodes partnershipWhen to question if staying together is helping or harmingWhy separation isn’t failure, and what rebuilding support looks likeListen if you’re:Feeling unseen or unsupported in your relationshipWondering if your marriage can survive early motherhoodCraving validation and a reminder you’re not the only one🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, if you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it, this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download it here.⁠⁠Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin⁠⁠📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode

  --------  

  30:07

  --------

  30:07

More Education podcasts

Trending Education podcasts

About The Mama Circle