August 4, 2025 • 51 mins
Ever had your car literally explode in your driveway? Sisters Alexis and Addison dive into the beautiful chaos of summer motherhood with refreshing honesty and unexpected humor. This casual check-in episode reveals what's keeping them sane during these unstructured months—from morning walks while listening to scripture to the surprising confidence boost of finally getting a new bra.
The conversation takes a vulnerable turn as they share their "mom fails" and the parenting expectations they've had to abandon along the way. You'll laugh along with their confessions while nodding in agreement that motherhood rarely matches our pre-child expectations.
What truly shines is their spiritual journey and how it's transforming their responses to life's challenges. Rather than being derailed by their collective summer disasters—understanding of God's sovereignty.
They offer practical wisdom for handling "mom anxiety" and resetting after those inevitable moments when patience runs thin. Their insights on presence, perspective, and grace provide the perfect summer reset for any mother feeling overwhelmed.
Stay tuned for exciting news about three upcoming podcast series: Enneagram Mama exploring how personality shapes motherhood, a wellness series featuring expert advice, and a special kids series hosted with Alexis' daughter.
Whether you're thriving or just surviving this summer, this episode reminds you that you're exactly the mother your children need right now. Connect with Mama of the Wild Crew on Instagram and leave a review to help other moms discover this supportive community.
It would mean the world to me if you would like, subscribe leave a review and/or share with a friend if you enjoyed this episode! Please find me on Instagram, tag me, comment, or DM me. Let me know what you enjoyed and what you’d like to hear next. I love hearing from you!
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Mama of the Wild Crew
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Alexis Schmoker (00:00):
Hey Mamas, and welcome back to Mama of the Wild
Crew podcast.
This episode is going to be alittle bit different because
I've got my sister, addisonSewell, here with me and we're
not going to go through like ourusual setup because we're going
to just do like a summercheck-in If you've been seeing
the Instagram post updates,anything like that.
We are working on some newstuff which we'll dive into in
(00:23):
this episode, but we just wantedto touch base in summer and see
how everyone's doing.
So, hey, addie, hello, thanksfor having me, of course, and if
you guys have heard, is itepisode two?
I think that you came onEpisode two.
If you haven't, go back andlisten to episode two.
This is, like I said, my sisterAddison Sewell.
She is a high school counselor,encour teens, and a fellow mama
(00:45):
.
It's a little bit BriggsPatrick I almost called him
Biggs, briggsie P and Briggsie PPatrick.
Uh, briggs is three days olderthan group girl, so we have a
lot of fun.
It is always craziness aroundhere right now because they are
now three and a half, so so justalways crazy.
But, like we said, we're goingto touch base a little bit of
(01:07):
summer.
We're going to talk aboutwhat's giving us life this
summer, do a Bible recap, checkin a little summer reset what we
want to do better.
Um, I didn't have this, I didn'ttell you, but I've got, I've
got to fill you guys in on a momfail because we just got back
from the pediatrician and, um,my family has pinworms.
What is that?
(01:27):
Stop, it's like, I guess littleworms um, that is I don't know
comes out, comes out.
Should I leave?
I asked.
I was like well, is it like?
How contagious is it?
(01:47):
And she's like well, it's like,or so don't let creeper put her
hands in your mouth, but anyway, that is what jordan is taking
the kids to do right now is topick up the train for our
pinworms.
Addison Sewell (02:01):
That's disgusting.
I'm not going to sugarcoat that.
Alexis Schmoker (02:05):
So anyway, if anyone else has had pinworms out
there, I'm feeling really great, but anyway, we obviously have
something going on right now.
So anyway, I hope everyone elseis doing well.
Do you have a mom?
Addison Sewell (02:25):
what even well, I guess my mom felt is kind of
out of my control.
I'm gonna put that out there.
But if you've seen Lex post, wewent to Miami for a girls trip.
So we have a little sister,avery, that graduated OSU and is
going to PA school, and so, I'mnot gonna lie, I talked her
(02:45):
into asking my parents to do atrip instead of a graduation
party.
So thank you, mom and dad.
But we went to Miami on thesame day that my son started
T-ball, which is his firstT-ball game ever.
He was supposed to do T-ballall summer.
There was like four weeks.
I knew I had missed the fifthweek and then it rained out and
(03:07):
that was his first ever T-ballgame, actually first and second,
because they had a doubleheader, so we missed Briggs' first
ever T-ball game.
Alexis Schmoker (03:16):
Oh, that was a bummer, but he looked so cute,
he was so cute.
But you've made it up since.
And he got the MVP trophy thatday, yeah, and he got the MVP
trophy that day, yeah.
Well, crew Pro went to the lastgame and we had a Wilder's
birthday party and a houseshowing and everything.
So I was like cleaning up fromthat before our showing.
And she got back and I said howdid Bubby do?
And she said well, not verygood, he didn't get the trophy.
And I was like what?
(03:37):
And she's like no, some otherkid got the trophy.
And she was like but bubby wasbetter, but he didn't get the
trophy because bubby already gotthe trophy.
He already got the trophy.
So then we had to like talkabout the trove, which I didn't
really know what she was talkingabout either.
So then I'm like making it uplike well, the other team won,
and she's like, no, they didn't,no, they didn't.
Addison Sewell (03:55):
It was a character trophy, so I will give
it.
The i9 sports group does like acharacter word of the week and
like tries to teach these littlekids you know some character
traits, and so Bubby got it lasttime, oh okay.
And another little kid got itAnother little kid had
exemplified the character trait.
Alexis Schmoker (04:14):
Okay.
Well, group girl thought thatit was ridiculous.
So thanks, group girl, yeah,okay.
So let's dive into what'sgiving us life this summer.
So I had initially told youthat we're going to talk about
two things, but then, as I waswriting stuff down, I thought of
more which I thought waspositive.
So, first thing, element LMNThydration packets, which this is
(04:34):
not sponsored, but maybe itshould be by element hydration
packets.
If you haven't seen onInstagram, I'm obsessed with the
element hydration packets.
I do the mango chili one.
It's a little spicy but it'sgood, but like literally go-to
summer grab keeping me hydratedonce a day.
They're super salty though, butI like them.
Addison Sewell (04:56):
Yeah, cause that's the one that I had, like
the chocolate, and then almostlike, had like a little
chocolate thing.
I don't know that.
Alexis Schmoker (05:00):
I recommend the chocolate one, but cause that's
the one that you tried and Iprobably should have offered it.
We got like a sample pack andso I did offer you the chocolate
one, but didn't you have awatermelon one or something.
Yeah, yeah, I think.
Addison Sewell (05:16):
I did, yeah, did you like it?
Yeah, but I think you're tryingto say that you didn't like the
chocolate one, so you gave itto me, yeah, okay, she's great
at promoting this product as youcan tell, but anyway I do love
it.
Alexis Schmoker (05:28):
So element hydration I would.
I would definitely recommend it.
You can get them on amazon, butthe mango chili you have to go
to the actual website.
Very good, uh, jordan gets themfrom free, from for free from
his chiropractor though, sothat's why shout out to that
chiropractor.
Uh, walks with wilder.
We've been doing like gratitudewalks in the morning.
Um, it's mainly Jordan and creware still asleep and Wilder
(05:51):
wakes up really early.
So instead of like trying to domy Bible reading while he's
crawling all around, it was somuch easier.
Whenever he didn't move, youknow, I just put him in a
stroller, I give him food, causenow he can like hold his own
little pouches and whatnot, andso we just go for a walk.
First thing, like I literallylike put my contacts in and
(06:12):
that's it, put a bra on, we goand I listen to the bible recap
on my phone, whereas that isdifferent, because before I like
would sit down and makenotations in my bible and.
But, guys, you know it is.
It is the way of life right now.
We are like on the move.
So trying to like be superchill and flexible with that
change and I'm really cool aboutit, but it has been good.
(06:35):
So, like, I just put it on andwe go and we just like, look at
the birds and it's nice and it'snot hot, too hot, like first
thing at 6 o'clock in themorning, so that's been good.
Um, recommend that the chosen Ihave you started watching it yet
?
No, yes, um, we're all caughtup and I don't know when the
(06:56):
next block of three episodes iscoming out.
I keep trying to ask trap gbtand I'm not getting a straight
answer.
But I've been watching it withcrew pearl too and she loves it.
It's so good.
Guys, if you haven't startedwatching the Chosen Amazon Prime
, start watching the Chosen.
It'll change your life.
It's so good.
Next one Wilder is givingkisses now, so cute.
Addison Sewell (07:18):
Yes.
Alexis Schmoker (07:18):
I'll be like give me a kiss and he'll give me
a kiss, so that's also bringingme joy, and he'll give me a
kiss, so that's also bringing mejoy.
Um, I got a new bra.
I will add that to my bringingme life, giving me life.
This summer, guys, I was somiserable, like I don't know why
, I didn't just go buy a brasooner.
But I went in, bought a new bra.
(07:39):
So everyone, go buy yourself anew bra.
Um, guys, I guess this could bekind of controversial, I don't
know, do do what you will withit.
I got some fresh Botox and thatalso gives me life.
I'd say Botox.
It was actually to go, but, um,you know, I feel like getting
fresh neurotoxin changes mypersonality and it just makes me
(08:03):
feel better about myself and Iam a huge supporter of
neurotoxin, changes mypersonality and it just makes me
feel better about myself and Iam a huge supporter of
neurotoxin.
So, um, if you don't loveneurotoxin, that is fine too,
because I've also recently got ahydro facial and I would also
recommend that.
Um, another thing I would say Ihad like tried to be so chill
(08:25):
on myself this postpartum round,because with Crew Pearl I kind
of struggled like with my bodyafter having her, and so after
Wilder, or even really beforeWilder, I had told Jordan like
I'm giving myself two years Likebefore I even think about what
my body needs to look like likeI don't know.
(08:49):
It was just hard.
Like I went to go try on jeansand I remember like standing
there trying on jeans and likeeven jeans that I thought were
way going to be way too big forme, like I couldn't even get up
over my new hips and it likerocked me, i't know.
So I was giving myself so muchmore grace this time because you
eventually get back to feelingyou're like more like yourself.
(09:10):
But like that initialpostpartum hump for me
personally, like with my bodyimage, was really rough.
So I was giving myself a lot ofgrace this go-around.
So Wilder just turned one um,but I think I kind of like went
too far into giving myself araise and guys.
I mean that by like, I hadn't umgotten my eyebrows waxed, I
(09:32):
hadn't gotten a haircut, um, Iwas just literally wearing my
pajamas all the time whenever.
I wasn't at work.
And like I wear scrubs for workbecause I'm a nurse.
So, like I, my family gives mestuff because I have uniforms,
I'm a uniformed girl, I wearscrubs to work and then I have
like certain clothes that I wearoutside of work.
(09:54):
So, if you know me, um, Ipromise I'm not wearing that.
Well, sometimes I maybe I'mwearing the same clothes that I
have worn previously, but I buylike, once I find something that
I like to wear, I'll buymultiple of the same thing.
Um, so I I literally was like,okay, I need to maybe reconcile
that a little bit.
And so, like Addie said, we hadthis girl's trip coming up, so
(10:18):
it kind of pushed me to like goget a haircut and get my
eyebrows waxed and I got afacial and all these things
obviously like cost money.
So I'm not saying it to like goout and spend a bunch of money,
because obviously that too waslike part of the reason I wasn't
like going and doing all thesethings, but I was spending all
these this money like on kidsclothes that they didn't need.
(10:41):
But like what our family neededwas for me to get a haircut and
for me to buy a new bra.
So if that is you right now andyou feel like you are in this
kind of like postpartum slumprut, whatever, go get your
eyebrows waxed like get yournails done, and maybe it'll
change your life a little bit.
(11:01):
I hope so.
Addison Sewell (11:03):
Or tattooed.
That's probably controversial,but I am a redhead, if you don't
know me, and I never hadeyebrows Like you couldn't see
them.
But I also don't know how to domakeup well enough to like put
on my makeup, and so that's whatI told my husband.
I just never felt like done up,like I'm just not great at
makeup, and so I got my eyebrowstattooed and I feel like a new
(11:25):
person.
It gave me confidence.
Alexis Schmoker (11:27):
Yeah, I think that's what like.
I guess what I'm trying to sayis that it gave me just like a
different confidence.
And it's not.
It wasn't like, oh, I have togo out and lose X amount of
weight or I have to do that,Like it was.
It didn't have anything to dowith like what my body looked
like, Like I'm still verycomfortable and at peace, like
with my body, Um, but it wasjust like giving me.
(11:48):
It gave me a little life that Ididn't know, that I was like
needing, I guess.
And once I got I like got myhaircut and got my eyebrows
waxed and, you know, unmobilizedmy forehead, I felt great and I
I was like watch out, becausemom's on the loose, you know, I
was just feeling more myself.
I did try and do a backflip atAerotopia after because I was
(12:11):
feeling so fabulous and I'mgoing to have to continue to
practice that because that didnot go.
Did you pee your pants A littlebit.
Yeah, you're such a kid Alittle bit, but anyway, what's
giving you life this summer,addy?
Addison Sewell (12:27):
So I were do not work in the summers.
So I know I'm very blessed, I'mvery, very grateful that I
don't work in the summers.
However, I'm not meant to be astay at home mom, so there's
like that weird balance that Ifeel my kid still goes to
daycare part time, um, and Ikind of like was like losing
routine, similar to like how youdo postpartum.
(12:48):
And so this summer I toldmyself Briggs and I were gonna
make a little list everyThursday.
He was gonna stay with mebecause I would.
My hard part was like we'd wakeup and I'd be like do I take
him to school, do I not?
What do we do?
And so we just straight up saidevery Thursday it's mom and
Briggs day.
Mainly he has speech.
If you need a speech therapist,we've got a great one, um, but
(13:11):
we go to speech and then we dolike a fun little mom and Briggs
day, um.
So that has been helpful, likegiving me some sort of routine.
And then I started this summersaying I was going to run a mile
every day and, let's be honest,I walked a mile that's awesome
Almost every day I did every dayof June.
(13:32):
July was a little funky, butthat honestly gave me the most
life and encouragement and justlike that I was accomplishing
some days or something every day.
So, yes, I bought the weightedvest, do it, it's been great.
And yes, I'm sure I look alittle silly walking, but I love
walking.
That's when I do my Bible recap, I listen to it and then I go
(13:55):
home and do like the writtenpart, but that has given me life
and then just being like givingmyself some grace, I think
sometimes, like all school year,I'm like bam, bam, bam, what
have I got to do?
And so some days I would read abook, some days I would watch a
tv show, so some days I wouldgo get a margarita with a friend
(14:16):
at lunch, like just givingmyself the flexibility to like
truly enjoy.
And then Ben and I did a lot oflike day dates, because it's so
hard to get a date night, andso we did a lot of day dates on
the days he wasn't working.
Alexis Schmoker (14:28):
So yeah, that is so nice because it is so hard
to get date nights.
I feel, like whenever Jordan isin school, it's almost easier
for us to like meet for lunch orsomething, because, I don't
know if you guys know, myhusband's a teacher, soccer
coach, so he is the primarycaregiver, like during the
summer, of the kids.
(14:48):
So then, like, we can't go outto lunch because there he's got
these kids with him.
Yeah, I'm like I have a lunch,a free lunch, at work, but here
he's tagging, tagging alongthese kids, um, which obviously
is like great, but in means oflike just having a tiny bit of
time just the two of us, uh,which we'll dive into that too,
(15:09):
cause that's something that Ihave on my list of wanting to to
do better.
Okay, but we've kind of bothtalked about the Bible recap, so
let's check in on that Bible ina year.
How's it going?
What's your favorite part andany encouragement?
So for me, I feel like it'sbeen going really well.
Um, I think it's one of thebest decisions that I've ever
(15:29):
made in my entire life and Icould not recommend it enough.
And if you're like me, likewhenever I first kind of I heard
about this, I heard Tara LeeCobble come on the whoa that's
good podcast, probably a yearand a half before I even started
the Bible recap, and it issomething that like I heard
about and I was like that soundslike a really good idea and
(15:53):
just kind of kept hearing aboutit, kept seeing her on Instagram
, but I never like made the jumpand I was kind of like I just
don't have time for that.
And then I finally decided itwas January of last year Like
yeah, I'm doing this and it hasbeen so great, like I have
learned so much um, just aboutGod, his character, everything,
(16:15):
and it has truly shaped likeeverything about my life.
So if there is one thing Ithink that anyone is like trying
to do to grow themselves, Icould not recommend Tara Lee
Copple um Bible recap enough, umfavorite scripture God moment.
I don't know that I have likean exact moment, but also, if
(16:36):
you know me, I have a hard timelike picking favorites or
comparing things.
Jordan will be like what wasyour favorite part of the day?
I'm like I like loved it.
I love different things aboutdifferent things, but over
arching, I would just saylearning about God's character
has shaped so much.
And she said the other day, likeon one of her recap videos,
(16:59):
like as you start to hear God'svoice and know God's voice.
It's familiar to you.
And so I think she used theexample of like if a stranger
calls, okay, guys, we just hadto pause this because I was
literally saying if a strangercalls, you might have to be like
who is this, but if your momcalls, you know who it is, she
(17:19):
doesn't have to introduceherself.
And then, all of a sudden, wehear someone talking and my
family is not at our house.
We hear someone talking in theliving room and it's my dad, and
he doesn't have his phone.
His phone is in Tulsa, and sohe was like can I use your phone
?
You can hear his flip-flops,flop-flop-flopping, but anyway,
(17:41):
Anyway, I forget what I wassaying.
So, just hearing his voice andlearning his voice, you become
familiar with his voice andyou're able to hear it and see
it, um, all the time.
So I think that that would belike my biggest takeaway is just
being more familiar with God'svoice and it's I've learned so
much that I almost I'm like, whyhave I waited this long to do
(18:05):
this?
But also I think everything islike maybe for a reason and like
I'm at the maturity or just acertain stage in life to where
it's just speaking to me in theright time and I'm like having
the right lens and just hopethat I continue to read it every
year and see it through adifferent lens and just learn
and grow more and more each timeokay, I would say that the
(18:28):
bible recap, like she said,alexis is honestly the one that
found it and she sent it likethe Amazon link to me.
Addison Sewell (18:34):
I was like I think I'm going to do this and I
was like, girl, I can't beconsistent at that, there's no
way.
And so for me to say that we'relike 207 days into it, I
honestly, I'm not going to lieI'm a little shocked with myself
that I've been consistentenough in it.
However, I kind of, once westarted it, she said at the very
(18:56):
beginning and I might've saidthis on episode two of just you
are influencing what your childknows about Christ, and that
kind of hit home of like what ifI'm explaining something wrong?
Or what if I'm um, not teachingbreaks as much as I could be?
So, honestly, my motivationreally has been I have to know
as much as possible and be ableto hear, you know God's voice,
(19:20):
and even just like the more youread in it, then the more like
my, maybe I can hear like thewhispers, or I see things
differently, like I'll hearsomebody say something and I'm
thinking about it scripturally,or scripture comes out of my
mouth and I'm like I don't evenknow, I knew that.
But that's what I want Briggsto know and kind of like we both
(19:44):
have said like we wanted it tobe like super structured and I
wanted to have quiet time at acute coffee shop and
realistically, it's on my way todrop Briggs off at school and
so like what it like how coolfor your child to be listening
to scripture um, obviously hedoesn't interact with it, but
it's been cool to like sharethat with him.
(20:05):
Um, my favorite scripture or godmoment so far has honestly just
been like the stories that Ididn't know about.
And then I kind of think like,okay, the bible has been around,
like how?
And we've been raised in church, how did we not know some of
this?
But you have to rememberthere's so much in it like the
(20:25):
bible's huge covers so much time, and so it's been cool to like
see things that I truly likedidn't even know happened or
existed, like I didn't even know.
Amos is a book in the bible likeliterally no clue, and so
there's been some things thathave just been like eye-opening,
like good and bad, um, and Ithink it's just kind of taught
(20:48):
me a little bit more about likeGod's sovereignty and how he's
over everything good and bad.
Um, I really clung to likeRomans 8, 28 and just how he can
use all things to work togetherfor the good of those who
believe in him, and I think he'sreally just shown up on the
pages.
Um, even in some of the storiesthat I was like I don't know
(21:09):
how this really relates or I'mconfused by it.
I think I've learned a lot morethan I realized I was going to.
Alexis Schmoker (21:16):
Yeah, absolutely.
And that kind of brings us intolike your summer reset, what we
want to do better and what hasbeen hard this summer, and so
I've like kind of had a hardsummer.
I feel like it's just been onething after another and it's not
like huge things, and my kidsare healthy and my husband's
healthy and I'm healthy andeveryone is safe, and that's
(21:38):
really what matters, Um, andthat's all.
That's really all that matters.
But just like material issueshave like come up.
Like if you guys have beenfollowing along, you know our
house has been up for saleforever, since January, um,
which has been like justchallenging with keeping it
clean and having showings withlittle kids.
(22:00):
So if you've ever had showingswith little kids, you know it is
next to impossible to keep yourhouse clean and like get it
clean on a dime, um, when I likework full-time and I have like
tiny little kids and dogs andit's just.
It's just been ridiculous kindof, but grateful again that we
(22:20):
have a house to sell.
Uh, our fence blew down in atornado and then we fixed it and
then it the other part blewdown in the tour, the next
tornado.
And then, like our washer ordryer, something, something
broke, I can't even remember now.
And then, like Jordan's carbroke and then we borrowed our
(22:41):
in-laws car and then it broke,and then we bought Jordan a new
car and then the next day my carblew up in our driveway and I
mean blew up.
Thank goodness our childrenwere not in it.
Like I went to go turn the caron to cool down, put all my
stuff in the car, went back into go get the kids.
Jordan comes in and is likeyour car is blown up in our
(23:02):
driveway.
Addison Sewell (23:03):
And.
Alexis Schmoker (23:04):
I was like, of course it has, of course it has.
And then, like Eddie said, wewent to Miami and I got stolen
from in Miami.
I mean, literally, I was like,of course I just got robbed.
Why would I know that?
You know, it was just like justmultiple things like that that
(23:25):
it almost feels like, yeah, ofcourse that happened, you know.
Um, but, like Addie said, god isso sovereign and whereas I feel
like I would have been soovercome by these things, like
just not being able to function,with the anxiety of not being
in control of things, um,because I am very much like a
(23:46):
control person and I want toknow the plan and I can operate
a lot out of fear, like I have,like I've got to check these
things off and fear is drivingme, so I've got to know an
answer, whether it's good, bador indifferent.
Like I need to know an answer tothis and I need to know it now,
whereas I feel like I've beendoing better about just letting
(24:11):
go of control and like knowingGod is sovereign and like
everything has a plan, and likewith the house stuff, like
there's a reason, there's areason that, like the contract
fell through, there's a reasonwe're back on the market.
There's a like, there's a timewhen we'll move, like with the
cars.
You know we have just been veryclose these last few weeks
because we've had, you know, onecar, but also we're so blessed
(24:32):
to have one car like, and we'regoing to be blessed to have two.
You know, like we're normallytwo car family.
We're going to eventually we'regoing to figure out my car, but
just like a blessing to havesome of these things like
stripped away.
I guess, um, and just again,every time like something else
happens, it's like, of course,but our kids are healthy and
(24:55):
we're healthy and everyone'ssafe, so all of these things in
our life really don't matter.
You know, so I feel like that issomething that has been hard,
but that I am working on.
Um and other things that I likewant to work on and improve is
schools kind of around thecorner for us?
Um, I'm I'm a little bitexcited to have routine back in
(25:18):
my life, kind of like you weresaying, addie, it's I can.
I can thrive more on routine, Ithink, than I can like just
trying to be real cool and gowith the flow, which is so fun,
but also I need a little bit ofroutine, um, so I think it'll be
nice to just have a little bitmore of a set routine and then
maybe Jordan and I can try andschedule some more time like
(25:38):
alone, whether it just be like aquick lunch date or coffee date
or whatever that may be.
Um, cause Jordan also picked upnew soccer team, so, like our
evenings were already busy.
Now they're more busy.
So, just trying to really findthat, and I think next weekend
we're going to do like a littlegetaway.
We were initially going to goto Florida, just the two of us,
(26:02):
but then my car blew up, so nowI think we're just going to go
glamping.
That'll be fun, though.
Yeah, I think it'll be fun.
Yeah, it will be fun, it will.
We haven't gone yet, though.
That's the other thing.
We have tried to have anovernight, just like the two of
us, for a year, literally, andsomething has gone wrong every
single time.
Like last time, I don't, Ican't even say it.
(26:24):
Like last time my kids tried tospend the night at an overnight
, like there was a mass tragedyand we had to go pick them up.
So it's just been like thingslike that, that you're like how
is this happening?
And so, yeah, we're going toget away and we're going to be
safe.
Everyone's going to be safe andhealthy, and it's going to.
It's going to be great.
(26:44):
But anyway, what are thingsthat you were going to improve
on?
Well, you're like, but youstarted back to work this week.
Yeah, so I say, say summer, butI guess for the school year
what's your reset?
Addison Sewell (26:55):
well, um, we are changing Briggsie to a
different school and I think allgoing with you are I'm starting
to see a lot of me in him and alot of Ben in him, and one of
those being that he needsroutine and he needs a little
bit more structure, and so we'reputting him in more of like a
(27:16):
school atmosphere versus wherehe's at right now.
We absolutely love it.
He's been there since he waslittle little, but he's going to
go to a Christian-based school,and so that's one thing that
I've really been struggling withthis summer of the change and
transition.
But I think he'll love itsummer of the change and
transition, but I think he'lllove it.
Um, and that's kind of one ofthose things that we're just
(27:37):
like totally resetting our lifeof just what's important.
Like you're saying, my kids, myhusband's healthy, my kids are
healthy, my family's healthy.
What is our goal?
Our goal is to train up adisciple.
How do I get there?
By teaching him scripture.
Is there a place where I canput him that he's going to learn
more scripture?
Yes, we're moving him, um andso I think just trying to
(27:59):
ingrain our whole life aroundthe bigger picture versus just
making decisions on a whim, um,and so that's one thing I've
been a little bit more focusedon is just what's our end goal?
Our end goal is to get toheaven.
How can I shape my family'senvironment to encourage that
(28:20):
goal?
Alexis Schmoker (28:20):
Yeah, and it's cheaper.
Addison Sewell (28:24):
Yeah, y'all, it is cheaper.
What?
Even so, if you have a lot ofkids in daycare, I get it Like
that is it's my house payment.
Alexis Schmoker (28:34):
Yeah, it's rough out there on those daycare
streets.
Addison Sewell (28:37):
And I have one, so good for y'all that have
multiple.
That's yeah, yeah, it's wild.
Alexis Schmoker (28:42):
It sure is.
It sure is, and we're kind ofdoing like the opposite, which
I've kind of talked to you alittle bit about that.
I've been a little school orwhatever for teachers kids, so
(29:07):
we're so excited and she's kindof getting a little bit bigger
to where she starts to talkabout scripture and she's always
singing and you know everything.
So I'm excited for her to beable to like go and be a light.
But I want to make sure thatI'm very like adamant and on top
of continuing like all of ourtalk and all of our teaching and
everything that I can at homewith her.
(29:29):
So if you guys will just likekeep that in in your prayers.
Um, obviously we were publicschool kids.
Addison Sewell (29:34):
We got public school and my kid will be a
public school kid.
Yeah, um, but I at this pointand that's the thing too I think
part of mom guilt is hey, she'sdoing X, y, z with her kids.
I should do that, whereas it'swhatever is best for you and
available to like yeah, it'swhatever is best for you and
(29:57):
available too, like yeah.
So don't compare.
I think that's one thing I'mlearning too.
That's hard is just like yeah,we were just talking about this,
but you are created to be yourchild's parent and you know them
best.
So what is best for your childtoday, in this moment?
And that's how you make adecision, not externally.
Alexis Schmoker (30:12):
Yeah, absolutely, moment, and that's
how you make a decision.
Not externally?
Yeah, absolutely, becausecomparing can be just the enemy.
Yeah, like in every sense.
Like whether it becomes likeyour body, comparison of
yourself, your kids, comparingto other kids, your situation to
other people's situation.
Like you just have to know thatyou're in.
We're going to talk about thistoo.
You are in the middle of god'splan right now.
So, even just reading the Bible, reading the Bible stories,
(30:35):
sometimes I'll catch myselfthinking like how crazy, like
that these people lived throughthis.
And like the other day we weretalking about, if you go back
and be in any time period, whatwould it be?
In Jordan, I was like, oh, whenJesus was here.
And I was like, yeah, that'd beawesome.
But also like we are in themiddle of God's plan right now.
So, whatever you're doing withyour family and everything, like
(30:56):
, know that God is sovereign andall things work for those who
love him.
So try not to compare and I knowit is so hard, it's so hard and
I think, especially for women,it's harder, but anyway, okay,
we're going to go to Q and acause.
On Instagram, we did like alittle Q and a box, so I picked
out a couple of these, and I didnot tell Addie what they were
before she came up.
(31:16):
How kind of her.
Yes, okay, so number one how doyou calm your mom anxiety in
the middle of summer chaos?
Addie, I'll let you go first.
Addison Sewell (31:36):
I think we're kind of talking about this why
is it easier to calm your momanxiety with more children and
like maybe one more adult?
So I think it's I do so muchbetter when it's you, me, crew
pearl wilder briggs versus meand brings like I love that
one-on-one time, but like whenI'm feeling anxious I know I've
got to get out of this house andI've got to go beer on other
people and so sometimes I'll endup in the car ride with my
husband going to work, like he'sprobably wanting me out of that
(31:57):
car but like I just have to bearound other people.
Um and so that's one way.
Um, I've been calming my momanxiety over the summer and,
like we've said a bajilliontimes, keeping a little bit of
structure.
Um, and I've said yes tomultiple trips, which, if you
know me, I don't do well withtraveling, I don't do well with
(32:18):
being away from my littleenvironment, and so I had just
decided I'm just going to sayyes to every trip, and so I've
done a girl's trip, we did atrip with my little family, I've
done some Oklahoma city tripsto see some of my college
friends, and so I think, justsaying yes to what I truly want
to say yes to and saying no towhat I truly want to say no to,
(32:39):
yeah, definitely, because I feellike you you yourself that's
something that you can strugglewith.
Alexis Schmoker (32:43):
Oh yeah, like over committing to things and
saying, yes, I feel like Iabsolutely agree with doing like
little play dates.
I definitely do better wheneverI'm stressed out or whatever.
Whenever there's other peoplearound, and it doesn't have to
be anything fancy, like I'lljust sometimes text you or text
people and be like hey,breakfast at my house.
Like we're having breakfastanyway, I know you're having
(33:05):
breakfast too.
Like just don't, don't.
You don't have to put clotheson your kids.
Like put them in the car andcome over.
Like you don't have to bringanything.
If you want to bring somethinggreat, like we've got food here.
No one's going to eat the foodprobably anyway.
Um, you know, like I've gotcoffee.
That's really the only thingthat matters.
Show up, like if it's fineoutside, we'll turn on the water
(33:26):
table or whatever it may be, orwe can just literally watch
them in the floor.
It really doesn't matter.
But just like having peoplearound makes such a difference
and I think too, like havingthose people that you know you
can text and text I mean I'monly talking like 7am.
Like we're all up, like again,we're all going to have
(33:46):
breakfast, like it doesn't haveto be a 10 o'clock, 11 o'clock,
1pmm.
Hang out like my best time,honestly, is before nap time,
like 7 to 9 30 am she'sliterally non-joking.
Addison Sewell (33:58):
Her kid's first birthday party was at 8 45 in
the morning yeah, and it wasgreat, it was perfect.
Alexis Schmoker (34:03):
It was perfect like we did breakfast, we did
the water slide, everyone leftand then we still had the whole
day and wilder went down for forhis nap.
So maybe find like those coupleof people if you're needing
that, that like are on the samepage, that can text like, hey,
come over at seven, 30.
Like I'll have some fruit andsome coffee, you can bring the
(34:23):
yogurt and it'll be great.
Um, or just like meet at acoffee shop.
There's multiple differentlittle coffee shops around here
that have like little playthings or something.
But I know sometimes it can behard and it can be hard with nap
schedules, so I get that.
Um, like Addy said, doing maybelittle getaways.
I have kind of gone theopposite this year because I
(34:44):
will say yes to every traveltrip thing and I'm trying to be
better about not doing thatbecause my husband has us on a
financial plan.
So I am being good um and doingthe opposite of trying not to
spend a whole lot of money andenjoy our time like locally
doing little things around.
(35:05):
Hints are glamping upcomingexperience.
Um other things time in myBible.
I need that and I think I do itevery morning and you know, god
says his mercies are new everymorning and it just like helps.
I missed it last someday lastweek and I was so fussy about
(35:27):
what?
Oh, because we were going to umstate park Natural Falls with
the waterfall or whatever.
So the night before I had goneto Walmart and got like sandwich
stuff or whatever, and wheneverI got back, jordan was asleep
and so I woke him up, likecoming in.
I'm like, hey, we still havemore groceries out.
I'm like trying to carry crewin because Wilder had already
gone down but she wanted to cometo the store with me and her
(35:53):
princess sandals, you know, soit was a whole her tippy toe
shoes, it was a whole thing.
Um, so we get the food in.
I think he's going out to likeget the rest of the food.
We wake up in the morning to goto the camp, go to turner falls.
I'm like ready to pack thelunches, because I got up early.
Uh, it's not in there, it'sstill in the car and our trunk
is open and all of the food isin the car and it had been out
(36:14):
there overnight, open, all ofthe sandwich, I was like, and
then so I had to go back to thegrocery store early in the
morning and buy all the food,come back, remake everything.
So I was like in a mood, I wasbeing a little grouchy.
And then on the way there,jordan was like asking me what I
had read in my Bible thatmorning.
(36:35):
And I was like, well, I didn't,because I had to go to a
grouchy store.
And he was like I can tell, Ican tell.
So I listened to it on the waythere and then I felt better.
Addison Sewell (36:45):
But I think just like For real.
Alexis Schmoker (36:46):
It gives you perspective, it gives you
perspective, because because weforget, we're human and we
forget, and I think that it's sogood to like have that new
perspective.
And that brings us into ournext question how do you reset
after a bad mom moment?
um, guys, this is still a workin progress for me, I think oh
yeah um, I feel like this issomething that I could do better
(37:08):
with and I've noticed that,like when I start to feel heated
, cruise in that stage where,like she feeds off that energy
so we just can vibe off of eachother real fast and things
escalate.
So one thing I have starteddoing is like whenever I'm
getting a little bit frustrated,I will like start singing about
it and I always I'll be liketelling crew sit down, you know,
(37:30):
can you sit down?
And then I'll be like can youplease sit down, please, you
know, because I'm about to loseit.
Um, and I think just likesinging or doing like a funny
voice or a funny face orsomething, even though I am like
about to lose it, kind ofdeescalates the situation
whenever I feel like I'm like onmy last little, my last little
nerve, um, and then, speakingscripture out loud, I will say
(37:55):
all the time and if you've beenaround me you've probably heard
this I'll be like I can do thehell things through Christ who
strengthens me.
I can do all things throughChrist who strengthens me.
And I'll be saying it kind ofsarcastically, because sometimes
I feel a little bit sarcasticabout it, but I'm so serious,
like it's something that I feelso deeply and I truly believe
that and I think, just likespeaking that scripture out loud
(38:16):
, or like literally saying aprayer out loud, like super
short, like dear Lord, pleasegive me patience with these
children.
Dear Lord, please give mepatience with these children,
you know, and crude willsometimes like mock me, um, yes,
but just like I don't know,stay trying to stay calm,
praying about it, like trulyasking God, like for patience,
(38:37):
and just like new perspective indifferent situations, and then,
um, circling back like andapologizing because crew is at
the point where she definitelyknows and I want her to know
that like you can have an upsetmoment or like a disagreement,
or maybe handle something wrong,and but it's important to say
(38:58):
sorry and know that these peoplestill love you and you are
still loved and that it's okay,and like even mommy can kind of
mess up sometimes.
What about you, adi?
Addison Sewell (39:08):
Yeah, I mean all of the same things.
I feel like I have startedhaving to like okay, briggs, I'm
going to give you a coupleminutes, mommy needs to walk
away for a minute.
And then I feel like, if I can,at least walk away, get out,
get a little perspective andthen come back.
But now he's picked up on it,but I don't know if it's a good
thing.
He'll be like one minute, mom,one second, and we're all
(39:31):
telling him five more minutes.
And he'll be like you need fivemore minutes, mom.
And I'm like, well, okay, we'reat least learning that we need
to take a second, walk away andwe'll come back.
And then I think, just theapologizing thing walk away and
we'll come back.
And then I think, just theapologizing thing, I think
that's like you said, like justa life lesson of we're not
(39:52):
perfect, but just because youmessed up doesn't mean that's
the end of the road, like youcan go back, apologize, and that
doesn't have to ruin our wholeday.
We can say sorry, we can end it, I love you.
Now what's next?
And I think that's one of thehard parts, because if you let
every little toddler tantrumruin your day, your day will be
ruined.
I think that's one of thosethings where I've had to just
(40:14):
decide like, okay, he's threeand a half little boy,
something's going to go wrongand we're going to have to have
like to regroup, but I'm notgonna let it ruin my day.
And they pick up on that.
I feel like after he has timeout or after he gets his
thinking or whatever, and I comeback in a different vibe or
energy, he matches it, um and sowhich is powerful?
(40:37):
That you have that much powerover the environment that you
are in?
Um.
So I think, just likecontrolling my own emotions and
they talk about that a lot atmom collective, one of the mom
small groups that we're in oflike, you have to control your
emotions before you can.
You know your kids get theoverflow of you, so they're
(40:58):
getting your emotions, whetherthat's going to be good, bad or
ugly, you know.
Alexis Schmoker (41:01):
So, yeah, you truly are like the heartbeat of
the house.
Yeah, yeah, definitely, um,what is an I'll never do that
that you have most definitelydone as a mom.
I will go first.
Mine is co -sleeping.
Um, I know, guys, don't cancelme, but with crew pearl, we were
(41:23):
, we were just trying to surviveand so she still sleeps with us
and I, before kids said I willnever, never, ever, ever.
And guys, I don't want to.
It's not that I want to, jordandoes.
Jordan loves cuddling with her,and it's not that I don't love
cuddling with her.
But Wilder, I like put him downin his bed and I see him in the
(41:44):
morning and he sleeps great andI sleep great and crew, we just
um, are still surviving.
So I would say that that islike my biggest thing that I
said I will never, ever, ever do.
And she's three and a half, soshe will grow out of that.
Addison Sewell (42:00):
She can't sleep with you in her college dorm, I
guess.
I don't know, maybe Alexis saysshe's going to move to college
with him, so that might be apossibility.
One thing I don't know if it'sa never, but I always envisioned
myself of like being this, likesuper strict mom and like my
kids being always super done up,and I almost felt like even
growing up, like we would kindof joke about that.
(42:20):
And I'm not gonna lie, my kid'scute it's not that he's like
you know, goes out and whateverbut he went through a Lightning
McQueen phase and that's all hewore.
Y'all was those ugly LightningMcQueen shirts and like never
would I have ever thought Iwould let my kid go out not
matching wearing a LightningMcQueen shirt.
(42:40):
So I think, like I don't know,just being, I feel like I'm a
lot more chill and then theco-sleeping breaks up with us.
What year and a half?
Alexis Schmoker (42:53):
so, yeah, you just gotta do what you gotta do.
Out there I would say, I meanas long as you can sleep, but we
were kind of talking earliertoo you just have like all these
expectations, I think, beforeyou become a mom, and don't like
let that dictate you.
Like you don't know what kindof mom you're going to be, I
think, until you are a mom, andit changes with every kid, I
(43:15):
would say, because you changeand we all grow and evolve and
that's a good thing.
And then another question wegot was tell me more about the
new podcast series coming.
So, guys, I'm excited aboutthis.
I we are working on three newdifferent podcast series right
now.
So that is why I'm not puttingthem out once a week right now,
because we've got a bunch ofthings in the works.
(43:35):
So one of them that we've gotin the works is Enneagram mama.
So if you don't know whatEnneagram is, it's like a tool,
I would say, to help you kind ofbetter understand yourself.
So God created each of us on apurpose, for a purpose.
So in this series we're goingto really dive into each
(43:56):
Enneagram type and see how eachtype reflects God's design and
motherhood.
So, whether you're like thisjustice seeking type one, the
nurturing type two or a peacefultype nine.
Your personality isn't a flawof yours.
It's a reflection of his image.
So we're going to dive deepinto the different types of
motherhood, or the differenttypes of Enneagram with
(44:16):
motherhood, and just how likeyou can feel and be connected
through real stories, biblicaltruth and grace-filled
encouragement.
I found out I'm a type two,which honestly took some
convincing for me to to agreewith, because I thought that I
was a type three but I wanted tobe a type seven.
Um, I'll share more about that,like in the series, but be on
(44:39):
the lookout on social mediabecause I'm going to be reaching
out just to see differentEnneagram type moms that would
be interested in coming andtalking with me.
Another series we're working onand this is a working title
because I don't know what I'mgoing to call it yet, but it's
like a mama wellness series andit's going to be a series where
we bring in just differentexperts in each kind of wellness
(45:02):
of a mom.
I I mean from fitness to beauty, to spirituality, to health, to
finances, to pelvic floor, um,basically all the things that
support a thriving mom Cause,like we've talked about, like
you are the heartbeat of yourhome, and it doesn't.
I'm not even talking just momin this, I guess I should just
say woman wellness.
Um, and we need to, you know,make sure that we're okay, and
(45:25):
I'm really doing this kind of,too for myself, because I
honestly need this, just like anall around wellness series.
So, again, keep a lookout forthat, and if that's something
that you have expertise in,honestly, like the finance one
is the one that I don't knowanyone.
So if you're like a hardworkingfinance mom out there, reach
(45:46):
out to me, cause I need, I needyour advice, okay, and then the
last one, which I am the mostexcited about, is going to be a
new kids series called the wildcrew kids.
Um, it's going to be a fun,faith filled mini series hosted
with me and my girl crew, pearlSchmoker.
We've already like recorded alittle bit and it's definitely
(46:06):
going to take like more time andpatience than I have, but I'm
excited about it because we likelove Miss Letty, we love the
little lights and she's so intothe deep blue sea podcast right
now, and I was, like I wassaying earlier, like I just want
to make sure we're alwayshaving that conversation going
and I thought, well, why notjust, like, do a podcast with
(46:27):
her, because she likes podcastsand it's something that we can
listen to in the car and learnabout different things.
So right now, we're kind ofgoing through each of the fruits
of the spirit, and then we'realso going to be focusing on the
armor of God, and so I'm superexcited to be putting that out
there.
So keep an eye out for that.
(46:50):
Um, it's gonna be silly, butit's gonna be rooted in Jesus
and just something fun that wecan, you know, start
conversations with our littles.
So just a little bit of finalencouragement and takeaways, um,
something that we both want themom to walk away with today.
Addie, what would you want?
Addison Sewell (47:00):
I kind of was thinking that, just because you
have an idea of what your familystory could look like, so maybe
you think that you are going tohave all your kids super close
together, or your kid is goingto be the kid that is always
matching and he ends up in aLightning McQueen shirt that you
were created to be the mom ofyour children today, in the time
(47:24):
frame and time span that Jesusdecided.
So just know that you are whereyou're exactly supposed to be
and to take heart in that and bepresent where you are.
I think sometimes I struggle tolike look too far forward or
too far back.
But today is today and Briggsneeds me today and my husband
needs me today.
(47:45):
And how are we going to makethe most out of today?
So just knowing that you are inthe right place and you're
doing the right thing by showingup every day.
Alexis Schmoker (47:54):
Yeah, that's so good.
Presence is something that Istruggle with too, like always
trying to think about what'snext, or, guys, I can even like
catch myself on vacation ordoing like a fun activity that
I've like been excited to do andlike thinking like, oh well,
next time we should try thisactivity, or what if next time
we bring the kids and we do this?
Or what if next time we invitethese people Like no, like just
(48:14):
be present and enjoy this moment?
And so that's something that Ido need to work on myself too.
So that's a good challenge forme.
Takeaway I want people toremember just that God is
sovereign and you had kind ofsaid earlier like you're not
going to mess up his plan and hedoes all things for those who
love him, all good things forthose who love him.
So just trying to remember thatwhenever things feel crazy and
(48:38):
chaotic and um, another thingthat has really helped me lately
is just always like havingworship music on.
I feel like that's somethingeasy that you can do, but it's
it's honestly, it's an armor,like it's a shield, it's a
defense, like it's giving praiseto God, and so that has been
something that has been an easytakeaway for me to do that.
(49:01):
I feel like others could do,and it's just a good one.
So, anyway, any.
Any last thoughts?
Addison Sewell (49:07):
No, just thank you for showing up for your
family and for your kids and forbeing you, and you're doing the
right thing by seeking Christ,and he will use you as long as
you're available.
Alexis Schmoker (49:18):
Yeah, we love you guys.
We will see you soon and reachout on Instagram.
Dm me, message me, text me,whatever you know how to get a
hold of me.
Follow Mama of the Wild Crewunderscore podcast on Instagram.
Guys, if you would to go onwhatever platform you listen to,
whether it's Apple Music onSpotify and rate or leave a
(49:40):
review for the show it's how itgets to other moms out there I
would absolutely appreciate it.
Um, thank you guys.
You guys are not alone.
You're not broken.
You've got this.
You're becoming.
Let's go out and do it.
Love you guys.
Hey Mamas, and welcome back to Mama of the Wild
Crew podcast.
This episode is going to be alittle bit different because
I've got my sister, addisonSewell, here with me and we're
not going to go through like ourusual setup because we're going
to just do like a summercheck-in If you've been seeing
the Instagram post updates,anything like that.
We are working on some newstuff which we'll dive into in
(00:23):
this episode, but we just wantedto touch base in summer and see
how everyone's doing.
So, hey, addie, hello, thanksfor having me, of course, and if
you guys have heard, is itepisode two?
I think that you came onEpisode two.
If you haven't, go back andlisten to episode two.
This is, like I said, my sisterAddison Sewell.
She is a high school counselor,encour teens, and a fellow mama
(00:45):
.
It's a little bit BriggsPatrick I almost called him
Biggs, briggsie P and Briggsie PPatrick.
Uh, briggs is three days olderthan group girl, so we have a
lot of fun.
It is always craziness aroundhere right now because they are
now three and a half, so so justalways crazy.
But, like we said, we're goingto touch base a little bit of
(01:07):
summer.
We're going to talk aboutwhat's giving us life this
summer, do a Bible recap, checkin a little summer reset what we
want to do better.
Um, I didn't have this, I didn'ttell you, but I've got, I've
got to fill you guys in on a momfail because we just got back
from the pediatrician and, um,my family has pinworms.
What is that?
(01:27):
Stop, it's like, I guess littleworms um, that is I don't know
comes out, comes out.
Should I leave?
I asked.
I was like well, is it like?
How contagious is it?
(01:47):
And she's like well, it's like,or so don't let creeper put her
hands in your mouth, but anyway, that is what jordan is taking
the kids to do right now is topick up the train for our
pinworms.
Addison Sewell (02:01):
That's disgusting.
I'm not going to sugarcoat that.
Alexis Schmoker (02:05):
So anyway, if anyone else has had pinworms out
there, I'm feeling really great, but anyway, we obviously have
something going on right now.
So anyway, I hope everyone elseis doing well.
Do you have a mom?
Addison Sewell (02:25):
what even well, I guess my mom felt is kind of
out of my control.
I'm gonna put that out there.
But if you've seen Lex post, wewent to Miami for a girls trip.
So we have a little sister,avery, that graduated OSU and is
going to PA school, and so, I'mnot gonna lie, I talked her
(02:45):
into asking my parents to do atrip instead of a graduation
party.
So thank you, mom and dad.
But we went to Miami on thesame day that my son started
T-ball, which is his firstT-ball game ever.
He was supposed to do T-ballall summer.
There was like four weeks.
I knew I had missed the fifthweek and then it rained out and
(03:07):
that was his first ever T-ballgame, actually first and second,
because they had a doubleheader, so we missed Briggs' first
ever T-ball game.
Alexis Schmoker (03:16):
Oh, that was a bummer, but he looked so cute,
he was so cute.
But you've made it up since.
And he got the MVP trophy thatday, yeah, and he got the MVP
trophy that day, yeah.
Well, crew Pro went to the lastgame and we had a Wilder's
birthday party and a houseshowing and everything.
So I was like cleaning up fromthat before our showing.
And she got back and I said howdid Bubby do?
And she said well, not verygood, he didn't get the trophy.
And I was like what?
(03:37):
And she's like no, some otherkid got the trophy.
And she was like but bubby wasbetter, but he didn't get the
trophy because bubby already gotthe trophy.
He already got the trophy.
So then we had to like talkabout the trove, which I didn't
really know what she was talkingabout either.
So then I'm like making it uplike well, the other team won,
and she's like, no, they didn't,no, they didn't.
Addison Sewell (03:55):
It was a character trophy, so I will give
it.
The i9 sports group does like acharacter word of the week and
like tries to teach these littlekids you know some character
traits, and so Bubby got it lasttime, oh okay.
And another little kid got itAnother little kid had
exemplified the character trait.
Alexis Schmoker (04:14):
Okay.
Well, group girl thought thatit was ridiculous.
So thanks, group girl, yeah,okay.
So let's dive into what'sgiving us life this summer.
So I had initially told youthat we're going to talk about
two things, but then, as I waswriting stuff down, I thought of
more which I thought waspositive.
So, first thing, element LMNThydration packets, which this is
(04:34):
not sponsored, but maybe itshould be by element hydration
packets.
If you haven't seen onInstagram, I'm obsessed with the
element hydration packets.
I do the mango chili one.
It's a little spicy but it'sgood, but like literally go-to
summer grab keeping me hydratedonce a day.
They're super salty though, butI like them.
Addison Sewell (04:56):
Yeah, cause that's the one that I had, like
the chocolate, and then almostlike, had like a little
chocolate thing.
I don't know that.
Alexis Schmoker (05:00):
I recommend the chocolate one, but cause that's
the one that you tried and Iprobably should have offered it.
We got like a sample pack andso I did offer you the chocolate
one, but didn't you have awatermelon one or something.
Yeah, yeah, I think.
Addison Sewell (05:16):
I did, yeah, did you like it?
Yeah, but I think you're tryingto say that you didn't like the
chocolate one, so you gave itto me, yeah, okay, she's great
at promoting this product as youcan tell, but anyway I do love
it.
Alexis Schmoker (05:28):
So element hydration I would.
I would definitely recommend it.
You can get them on amazon, butthe mango chili you have to go
to the actual website.
Very good, uh, jordan gets themfrom free, from for free from
his chiropractor though, sothat's why shout out to that
chiropractor.
Uh, walks with wilder.
We've been doing like gratitudewalks in the morning.
Um, it's mainly Jordan and creware still asleep and Wilder
(05:51):
wakes up really early.
So instead of like trying to domy Bible reading while he's
crawling all around, it was somuch easier.
Whenever he didn't move, youknow, I just put him in a
stroller, I give him food, causenow he can like hold his own
little pouches and whatnot, andso we just go for a walk.
First thing, like I literallylike put my contacts in and
(06:12):
that's it, put a bra on, we goand I listen to the bible recap
on my phone, whereas that isdifferent, because before I like
would sit down and makenotations in my bible and.
But, guys, you know it is.
It is the way of life right now.
We are like on the move.
So trying to like be superchill and flexible with that
change and I'm really cool aboutit, but it has been good.
(06:35):
So, like, I just put it on andwe go and we just like, look at
the birds and it's nice and it'snot hot, too hot, like first
thing at 6 o'clock in themorning, so that's been good.
Um, recommend that the chosen Ihave you started watching it yet
?
No, yes, um, we're all caughtup and I don't know when the
(06:56):
next block of three episodes iscoming out.
I keep trying to ask trap gbtand I'm not getting a straight
answer.
But I've been watching it withcrew pearl too and she loves it.
It's so good.
Guys, if you haven't startedwatching the Chosen Amazon Prime
, start watching the Chosen.
It'll change your life.
It's so good.
Next one Wilder is givingkisses now, so cute.
Addison Sewell (07:18):
Yes.
Alexis Schmoker (07:18):
I'll be like give me a kiss and he'll give me
a kiss, so that's also bringingme joy, and he'll give me a
kiss, so that's also bringing mejoy.
Um, I got a new bra.
I will add that to my bringingme life, giving me life.
This summer, guys, I was somiserable, like I don't know why
, I didn't just go buy a brasooner.
But I went in, bought a new bra.
(07:39):
So everyone, go buy yourself anew bra.
Um, guys, I guess this could bekind of controversial, I don't
know, do do what you will withit.
I got some fresh Botox and thatalso gives me life.
I'd say Botox.
It was actually to go, but, um,you know, I feel like getting
fresh neurotoxin changes mypersonality and it just makes me
(08:03):
feel better about myself and Iam a huge supporter of
neurotoxin, changes mypersonality and it just makes me
feel better about myself and Iam a huge supporter of
neurotoxin.
So, um, if you don't loveneurotoxin, that is fine too,
because I've also recently got ahydro facial and I would also
recommend that.
Um, another thing I would say Ihad like tried to be so chill
(08:25):
on myself this postpartum round,because with Crew Pearl I kind
of struggled like with my bodyafter having her, and so after
Wilder, or even really beforeWilder, I had told Jordan like
I'm giving myself two years Likebefore I even think about what
my body needs to look like likeI don't know.
(08:49):
It was just hard.
Like I went to go try on jeansand I remember like standing
there trying on jeans and likeeven jeans that I thought were
way going to be way too big forme, like I couldn't even get up
over my new hips and it likerocked me, i't know.
So I was giving myself so muchmore grace this time because you
eventually get back to feelingyou're like more like yourself.
(09:10):
But like that initialpostpartum hump for me
personally, like with my bodyimage, was really rough.
So I was giving myself a lot ofgrace this go-around.
So Wilder just turned one um,but I think I kind of like went
too far into giving myself araise and guys.
I mean that by like, I hadn't umgotten my eyebrows waxed, I
(09:32):
hadn't gotten a haircut, um, Iwas just literally wearing my
pajamas all the time whenever.
I wasn't at work.
And like I wear scrubs for workbecause I'm a nurse.
So, like I, my family gives mestuff because I have uniforms,
I'm a uniformed girl, I wearscrubs to work and then I have
like certain clothes that I wearoutside of work.
(09:54):
So, if you know me, um, Ipromise I'm not wearing that.
Well, sometimes I maybe I'mwearing the same clothes that I
have worn previously, but I buylike, once I find something that
I like to wear, I'll buymultiple of the same thing.
Um, so I I literally was like,okay, I need to maybe reconcile
that a little bit.
And so, like Addie said, we hadthis girl's trip coming up, so
(10:18):
it kind of pushed me to like goget a haircut and get my
eyebrows waxed and I got afacial and all these things
obviously like cost money.
So I'm not saying it to like goout and spend a bunch of money,
because obviously that too waslike part of the reason I wasn't
like going and doing all thesethings, but I was spending all
these this money like on kidsclothes that they didn't need.
(10:41):
But like what our family neededwas for me to get a haircut and
for me to buy a new bra.
So if that is you right now andyou feel like you are in this
kind of like postpartum slumprut, whatever, go get your
eyebrows waxed like get yournails done, and maybe it'll
change your life a little bit.
(11:01):
I hope so.
Addison Sewell (11:03):
Or tattooed.
That's probably controversial,but I am a redhead, if you don't
know me, and I never hadeyebrows Like you couldn't see
them.
But I also don't know how to domakeup well enough to like put
on my makeup, and so that's whatI told my husband.
I just never felt like done up,like I'm just not great at
makeup, and so I got my eyebrowstattooed and I feel like a new
(11:25):
person.
It gave me confidence.
Alexis Schmoker (11:27):
Yeah, I think that's what like.
I guess what I'm trying to sayis that it gave me just like a
different confidence.
And it's not.
It wasn't like, oh, I have togo out and lose X amount of
weight or I have to do that,Like it was.
It didn't have anything to dowith like what my body looked
like, Like I'm still verycomfortable and at peace, like
with my body, Um, but it wasjust like giving me.
(11:48):
It gave me a little life that Ididn't know, that I was like
needing, I guess.
And once I got I like got myhaircut and got my eyebrows
waxed and, you know, unmobilizedmy forehead, I felt great and I
I was like watch out, becausemom's on the loose, you know, I
was just feeling more myself.
I did try and do a backflip atAerotopia after because I was
(12:11):
feeling so fabulous and I'mgoing to have to continue to
practice that because that didnot go.
Did you pee your pants A littlebit.
Yeah, you're such a kid Alittle bit, but anyway, what's
giving you life this summer,addy?
Addison Sewell (12:27):
So I were do not work in the summers.
So I know I'm very blessed, I'mvery, very grateful that I
don't work in the summers.
However, I'm not meant to be astay at home mom, so there's
like that weird balance that Ifeel my kid still goes to
daycare part time, um, and Ikind of like was like losing
routine, similar to like how youdo postpartum.
(12:48):
And so this summer I toldmyself Briggs and I were gonna
make a little list everyThursday.
He was gonna stay with mebecause I would.
My hard part was like we'd wakeup and I'd be like do I take
him to school, do I not?
What do we do?
And so we just straight up saidevery Thursday it's mom and
Briggs day.
Mainly he has speech.
If you need a speech therapist,we've got a great one, um, but
(13:11):
we go to speech and then we dolike a fun little mom and Briggs
day, um.
So that has been helpful, likegiving me some sort of routine.
And then I started this summersaying I was going to run a mile
every day and, let's be honest,I walked a mile that's awesome
Almost every day I did every dayof June.
(13:32):
July was a little funky, butthat honestly gave me the most
life and encouragement and justlike that I was accomplishing
some days or something every day.
So, yes, I bought the weightedvest, do it, it's been great.
And yes, I'm sure I look alittle silly walking, but I love
walking.
That's when I do my Bible recap, I listen to it and then I go
(13:55):
home and do like the writtenpart, but that has given me life
and then just being like givingmyself some grace, I think
sometimes, like all school year,I'm like bam, bam, bam, what
have I got to do?
And so some days I would read abook, some days I would watch a
tv show, so some days I wouldgo get a margarita with a friend
(14:16):
at lunch, like just givingmyself the flexibility to like
truly enjoy.
And then Ben and I did a lot oflike day dates, because it's so
hard to get a date night, andso we did a lot of day dates on
the days he wasn't working.
Alexis Schmoker (14:28):
So yeah, that is so nice because it is so hard
to get date nights.
I feel, like whenever Jordan isin school, it's almost easier
for us to like meet for lunch orsomething, because, I don't
know if you guys know, myhusband's a teacher, soccer
coach, so he is the primarycaregiver, like during the
summer, of the kids.
(14:48):
So then, like, we can't go outto lunch because there he's got
these kids with him.
Yeah, I'm like I have a lunch,a free lunch, at work, but here
he's tagging, tagging alongthese kids, um, which obviously
is like great, but in means oflike just having a tiny bit of
time just the two of us, uh,which we'll dive into that too,
(15:09):
cause that's something that Ihave on my list of wanting to to
do better.
Okay, but we've kind of bothtalked about the Bible recap, so
let's check in on that Bible ina year.
How's it going?
What's your favorite part andany encouragement?
So for me, I feel like it'sbeen going really well.
Um, I think it's one of thebest decisions that I've ever
(15:29):
made in my entire life and Icould not recommend it enough.
And if you're like me, likewhenever I first kind of I heard
about this, I heard Tara LeeCobble come on the whoa that's
good podcast, probably a yearand a half before I even started
the Bible recap, and it issomething that like I heard
about and I was like that soundslike a really good idea and
(15:53):
just kind of kept hearing aboutit, kept seeing her on Instagram
, but I never like made the jumpand I was kind of like I just
don't have time for that.
And then I finally decided itwas January of last year Like
yeah, I'm doing this and it hasbeen so great, like I have
learned so much um, just aboutGod, his character, everything,
(16:15):
and it has truly shaped likeeverything about my life.
So if there is one thing Ithink that anyone is like trying
to do to grow themselves, Icould not recommend Tara Lee
Copple um Bible recap enough, umfavorite scripture God moment.
I don't know that I have likean exact moment, but also, if
(16:36):
you know me, I have a hard timelike picking favorites or
comparing things.
Jordan will be like what wasyour favorite part of the day?
I'm like I like loved it.
I love different things aboutdifferent things, but over
arching, I would just saylearning about God's character
has shaped so much.
And she said the other day, likeon one of her recap videos,
(16:59):
like as you start to hear God'svoice and know God's voice.
It's familiar to you.
And so I think she used theexample of like if a stranger
calls, okay, guys, we just hadto pause this because I was
literally saying if a strangercalls, you might have to be like
who is this, but if your momcalls, you know who it is, she
(17:19):
doesn't have to introduceherself.
And then, all of a sudden, wehear someone talking and my
family is not at our house.
We hear someone talking in theliving room and it's my dad, and
he doesn't have his phone.
His phone is in Tulsa, and sohe was like can I use your phone
?
You can hear his flip-flops,flop-flop-flopping, but anyway,
(17:41):
Anyway, I forget what I wassaying.
So, just hearing his voice andlearning his voice, you become
familiar with his voice andyou're able to hear it and see
it, um, all the time.
So I think that that would belike my biggest takeaway is just
being more familiar with God'svoice and it's I've learned so
much that I almost I'm like, whyhave I waited this long to do
(18:05):
this?
But also I think everything islike maybe for a reason and like
I'm at the maturity or just acertain stage in life to where
it's just speaking to me in theright time and I'm like having
the right lens and just hopethat I continue to read it every
year and see it through adifferent lens and just learn
and grow more and more each timeokay, I would say that the
(18:28):
bible recap, like she said,alexis is honestly the one that
found it and she sent it likethe Amazon link to me.
Addison Sewell (18:34):
I was like I think I'm going to do this and I
was like, girl, I can't beconsistent at that, there's no
way.
And so for me to say that we'relike 207 days into it, I
honestly, I'm not going to lieI'm a little shocked with myself
that I've been consistentenough in it.
However, I kind of, once westarted it, she said at the very
(18:56):
beginning and I might've saidthis on episode two of just you
are influencing what your childknows about Christ, and that
kind of hit home of like what ifI'm explaining something wrong?
Or what if I'm um, not teachingbreaks as much as I could be?
So, honestly, my motivationreally has been I have to know
as much as possible and be ableto hear, you know God's voice,
(19:20):
and even just like the more youread in it, then the more like
my, maybe I can hear like thewhispers, or I see things
differently, like I'll hearsomebody say something and I'm
thinking about it scripturally,or scripture comes out of my
mouth and I'm like I don't evenknow, I knew that.
But that's what I want Briggsto know and kind of like we both
(19:44):
have said like we wanted it tobe like super structured and I
wanted to have quiet time at acute coffee shop and
realistically, it's on my way todrop Briggs off at school and
so like what it like how coolfor your child to be listening
to scripture um, obviously hedoesn't interact with it, but
it's been cool to like sharethat with him.
(20:05):
Um, my favorite scripture or godmoment so far has honestly just
been like the stories that Ididn't know about.
And then I kind of think like,okay, the bible has been around,
like how?
And we've been raised in church, how did we not know some of
this?
But you have to rememberthere's so much in it like the
(20:25):
bible's huge covers so much time, and so it's been cool to like
see things that I truly likedidn't even know happened or
existed, like I didn't even know.
Amos is a book in the bible likeliterally no clue, and so
there's been some things thathave just been like eye-opening,
like good and bad, um, and Ithink it's just kind of taught
(20:48):
me a little bit more about likeGod's sovereignty and how he's
over everything good and bad.
Um, I really clung to likeRomans 8, 28 and just how he can
use all things to work togetherfor the good of those who
believe in him, and I think he'sreally just shown up on the
pages.
Um, even in some of the storiesthat I was like I don't know
(21:09):
how this really relates or I'mconfused by it.
I think I've learned a lot morethan I realized I was going to.
Alexis Schmoker (21:16):
Yeah, absolutely.
And that kind of brings us intolike your summer reset, what we
want to do better and what hasbeen hard this summer, and so
I've like kind of had a hardsummer.
I feel like it's just been onething after another and it's not
like huge things, and my kidsare healthy and my husband's
healthy and I'm healthy andeveryone is safe, and that's
(21:38):
really what matters, Um, andthat's all.
That's really all that matters.
But just like material issueshave like come up.
Like if you guys have beenfollowing along, you know our
house has been up for saleforever, since January, um,
which has been like justchallenging with keeping it
clean and having showings withlittle kids.
(22:00):
So if you've ever had showingswith little kids, you know it is
next to impossible to keep yourhouse clean and like get it
clean on a dime, um, when I likework full-time and I have like
tiny little kids and dogs andit's just.
It's just been ridiculous kindof, but grateful again that we
(22:20):
have a house to sell.
Uh, our fence blew down in atornado and then we fixed it and
then it the other part blewdown in the tour, the next
tornado.
And then, like our washer ordryer, something, something
broke, I can't even remember now.
And then, like Jordan's carbroke and then we borrowed our
(22:41):
in-laws car and then it broke,and then we bought Jordan a new
car and then the next day my carblew up in our driveway and I
mean blew up.
Thank goodness our childrenwere not in it.
Like I went to go turn the caron to cool down, put all my
stuff in the car, went back into go get the kids.
Jordan comes in and is likeyour car is blown up in our
(23:02):
driveway.
Addison Sewell (23:03):
And.
Alexis Schmoker (23:04):
I was like, of course it has, of course it has.
And then, like Eddie said, wewent to Miami and I got stolen
from in Miami.
I mean, literally, I was like,of course I just got robbed.
Why would I know that?
You know, it was just like justmultiple things like that that
(23:25):
it almost feels like, yeah, ofcourse that happened, you know.
Um, but, like Addie said, god isso sovereign and whereas I feel
like I would have been soovercome by these things, like
just not being able to function,with the anxiety of not being
in control of things, um,because I am very much like a
(23:46):
control person and I want toknow the plan and I can operate
a lot out of fear, like I have,like I've got to check these
things off and fear is drivingme, so I've got to know an
answer, whether it's good, bador indifferent.
Like I need to know an answer tothis and I need to know it now,
whereas I feel like I've beendoing better about just letting
(24:11):
go of control and like knowingGod is sovereign and like
everything has a plan, and likewith the house stuff, like
there's a reason, there's areason that, like the contract
fell through, there's a reasonwe're back on the market.
There's a like, there's a timewhen we'll move, like with the
cars.
You know we have just been veryclose these last few weeks
because we've had, you know, onecar, but also we're so blessed
(24:32):
to have one car like, and we'regoing to be blessed to have two.
You know, like we're normallytwo car family.
We're going to eventually we'regoing to figure out my car, but
just like a blessing to havesome of these things like
stripped away.
I guess, um, and just again,every time like something else
happens, it's like, of course,but our kids are healthy and
(24:55):
we're healthy and everyone'ssafe, so all of these things in
our life really don't matter.
You know, so I feel like that issomething that has been hard,
but that I am working on.
Um and other things that I likewant to work on and improve is
schools kind of around thecorner for us?
Um, I'm I'm a little bitexcited to have routine back in
(25:18):
my life, kind of like you weresaying, addie, it's I can.
I can thrive more on routine, Ithink, than I can like just
trying to be real cool and gowith the flow, which is so fun,
but also I need a little bit ofroutine, um, so I think it'll be
nice to just have a little bitmore of a set routine and then
maybe Jordan and I can try andschedule some more time like
(25:38):
alone, whether it just be like aquick lunch date or coffee date
or whatever that may be.
Um, cause Jordan also picked upnew soccer team, so, like our
evenings were already busy.
Now they're more busy.
So, just trying to really findthat, and I think next weekend
we're going to do like a littlegetaway.
We were initially going to goto Florida, just the two of us,
(26:02):
but then my car blew up, so nowI think we're just going to go
glamping.
That'll be fun, though.
Yeah, I think it'll be fun.
Yeah, it will be fun, it will.
We haven't gone yet, though.
That's the other thing.
We have tried to have anovernight, just like the two of
us, for a year, literally, andsomething has gone wrong every
single time.
Like last time, I don't, Ican't even say it.
(26:24):
Like last time my kids tried tospend the night at an overnight
, like there was a mass tragedyand we had to go pick them up.
So it's just been like thingslike that, that you're like how
is this happening?
And so, yeah, we're going toget away and we're going to be
safe.
Everyone's going to be safe andhealthy, and it's going to.
It's going to be great.
(26:44):
But anyway, what are thingsthat you were going to improve
on?
Well, you're like, but youstarted back to work this week.
Yeah, so I say, say summer, butI guess for the school year
what's your reset?
Addison Sewell (26:55):
well, um, we are changing Briggsie to a
different school and I think allgoing with you are I'm starting
to see a lot of me in him and alot of Ben in him, and one of
those being that he needsroutine and he needs a little
bit more structure, and so we'reputting him in more of like a
(27:16):
school atmosphere versus wherehe's at right now.
We absolutely love it.
He's been there since he waslittle little, but he's going to
go to a Christian-based school,and so that's one thing that
I've really been struggling withthis summer of the change and
transition.
But I think he'll love itsummer of the change and
transition, but I think he'lllove it.
Um, and that's kind of one ofthose things that we're just
(27:37):
like totally resetting our lifeof just what's important.
Like you're saying, my kids, myhusband's healthy, my kids are
healthy, my family's healthy.
What is our goal?
Our goal is to train up adisciple.
How do I get there?
By teaching him scripture.
Is there a place where I canput him that he's going to learn
more scripture?
Yes, we're moving him, um andso I think just trying to
(27:59):
ingrain our whole life aroundthe bigger picture versus just
making decisions on a whim, um,and so that's one thing I've
been a little bit more focusedon is just what's our end goal?
Our end goal is to get toheaven.
How can I shape my family'senvironment to encourage that
(28:20):
goal?
Alexis Schmoker (28:20):
Yeah, and it's cheaper.
Addison Sewell (28:24):
Yeah, y'all, it is cheaper.
What?
Even so, if you have a lot ofkids in daycare, I get it Like
that is it's my house payment.
Alexis Schmoker (28:34):
Yeah, it's rough out there on those daycare
streets.
Addison Sewell (28:37):
And I have one, so good for y'all that have
multiple.
That's yeah, yeah, it's wild.
Alexis Schmoker (28:42):
It sure is.
It sure is, and we're kind ofdoing like the opposite, which
I've kind of talked to you alittle bit about that.
I've been a little school orwhatever for teachers kids, so
(29:07):
we're so excited and she's kindof getting a little bit bigger
to where she starts to talkabout scripture and she's always
singing and you know everything.
So I'm excited for her to beable to like go and be a light.
But I want to make sure thatI'm very like adamant and on top
of continuing like all of ourtalk and all of our teaching and
everything that I can at homewith her.
(29:29):
So if you guys will just likekeep that in in your prayers.
Um, obviously we were publicschool kids.
Addison Sewell (29:34):
We got public school and my kid will be a
public school kid.
Yeah, um, but I at this pointand that's the thing too I think
part of mom guilt is hey, she'sdoing X, y, z with her kids.
I should do that, whereas it'swhatever is best for you and
available to like yeah, it'swhatever is best for you and
(29:57):
available too, like yeah.
So don't compare.
I think that's one thing I'mlearning too.
That's hard is just like yeah,we were just talking about this,
but you are created to be yourchild's parent and you know them
best.
So what is best for your childtoday, in this moment?
And that's how you make adecision, not externally.
Alexis Schmoker (30:12):
Yeah, absolutely, moment, and that's
how you make a decision.
Not externally?
Yeah, absolutely, becausecomparing can be just the enemy.
Yeah, like in every sense.
Like whether it becomes likeyour body, comparison of
yourself, your kids, comparingto other kids, your situation to
other people's situation.
Like you just have to know thatyou're in.
We're going to talk about thistoo.
You are in the middle of god'splan right now.
So, even just reading the Bible, reading the Bible stories,
(30:35):
sometimes I'll catch myselfthinking like how crazy, like
that these people lived throughthis.
And like the other day we weretalking about, if you go back
and be in any time period, whatwould it be?
In Jordan, I was like, oh, whenJesus was here.
And I was like, yeah, that'd beawesome.
But also like we are in themiddle of God's plan right now.
So, whatever you're doing withyour family and everything, like
(30:56):
, know that God is sovereign andall things work for those who
love him.
So try not to compare and I knowit is so hard, it's so hard and
I think, especially for women,it's harder, but anyway, okay,
we're going to go to Q and acause.
On Instagram, we did like alittle Q and a box, so I picked
out a couple of these, and I didnot tell Addie what they were
before she came up.
(31:16):
How kind of her.
Yes, okay, so number one how doyou calm your mom anxiety in
the middle of summer chaos?
Addie, I'll let you go first.
Addison Sewell (31:36):
I think we're kind of talking about this why
is it easier to calm your momanxiety with more children and
like maybe one more adult?
So I think it's I do so muchbetter when it's you, me, crew
pearl wilder briggs versus meand brings like I love that
one-on-one time, but like whenI'm feeling anxious I know I've
got to get out of this house andI've got to go beer on other
people and so sometimes I'll endup in the car ride with my
husband going to work, like he'sprobably wanting me out of that
(31:57):
car but like I just have to bearound other people.
Um and so that's one way.
Um, I've been calming my momanxiety over the summer and,
like we've said a bajilliontimes, keeping a little bit of
structure.
Um, and I've said yes tomultiple trips, which, if you
know me, I don't do well withtraveling, I don't do well with
(32:18):
being away from my littleenvironment, and so I had just
decided I'm just going to sayyes to every trip, and so I've
done a girl's trip, we did atrip with my little family, I've
done some Oklahoma city tripsto see some of my college
friends, and so I think, justsaying yes to what I truly want
to say yes to and saying no towhat I truly want to say no to,
(32:39):
yeah, definitely, because I feellike you you yourself that's
something that you can strugglewith.
Alexis Schmoker (32:43):
Oh yeah, like over committing to things and
saying, yes, I feel like Iabsolutely agree with doing like
little play dates.
I definitely do better wheneverI'm stressed out or whatever.
Whenever there's other peoplearound, and it doesn't have to
be anything fancy, like I'lljust sometimes text you or text
people and be like hey,breakfast at my house.
Like we're having breakfastanyway, I know you're having
(33:05):
breakfast too.
Like just don't, don't.
You don't have to put clotheson your kids.
Like put them in the car andcome over.
Like you don't have to bringanything.
If you want to bring somethinggreat, like we've got food here.
No one's going to eat the foodprobably anyway.
Um, you know, like I've gotcoffee.
That's really the only thingthat matters.
Show up, like if it's fineoutside, we'll turn on the water
(33:26):
table or whatever it may be, orwe can just literally watch
them in the floor.
It really doesn't matter.
But just like having peoplearound makes such a difference
and I think too, like havingthose people that you know you
can text and text I mean I'monly talking like 7am.
Like we're all up, like again,we're all going to have
(33:46):
breakfast, like it doesn't haveto be a 10 o'clock, 11 o'clock,
1pmm.
Hang out like my best time,honestly, is before nap time,
like 7 to 9 30 am she'sliterally non-joking.
Addison Sewell (33:58):
Her kid's first birthday party was at 8 45 in
the morning yeah, and it wasgreat, it was perfect.
Alexis Schmoker (34:03):
It was perfect like we did breakfast, we did
the water slide, everyone leftand then we still had the whole
day and wilder went down for forhis nap.
So maybe find like those coupleof people if you're needing
that, that like are on the samepage, that can text like, hey,
come over at seven, 30.
Like I'll have some fruit andsome coffee, you can bring the
(34:23):
yogurt and it'll be great.
Um, or just like meet at acoffee shop.
There's multiple differentlittle coffee shops around here
that have like little playthings or something.
But I know sometimes it can behard and it can be hard with nap
schedules, so I get that.
Um, like Addy said, doing maybelittle getaways.
I have kind of gone theopposite this year because I
(34:44):
will say yes to every traveltrip thing and I'm trying to be
better about not doing thatbecause my husband has us on a
financial plan.
So I am being good um and doingthe opposite of trying not to
spend a whole lot of money andenjoy our time like locally
doing little things around.
(35:05):
Hints are glamping upcomingexperience.
Um other things time in myBible.
I need that and I think I do itevery morning and you know, god
says his mercies are new everymorning and it just like helps.
I missed it last someday lastweek and I was so fussy about
(35:27):
what?
Oh, because we were going to umstate park Natural Falls with
the waterfall or whatever.
So the night before I had goneto Walmart and got like sandwich
stuff or whatever, and wheneverI got back, jordan was asleep
and so I woke him up, likecoming in.
I'm like, hey, we still havemore groceries out.
I'm like trying to carry crewin because Wilder had already
gone down but she wanted to cometo the store with me and her
(35:53):
princess sandals, you know, soit was a whole her tippy toe
shoes, it was a whole thing.
Um, so we get the food in.
I think he's going out to likeget the rest of the food.
We wake up in the morning to goto the camp, go to turner falls.
I'm like ready to pack thelunches, because I got up early.
Uh, it's not in there, it'sstill in the car and our trunk
is open and all of the food isin the car and it had been out
(36:14):
there overnight, open, all ofthe sandwich, I was like, and
then so I had to go back to thegrocery store early in the
morning and buy all the food,come back, remake everything.
So I was like in a mood, I wasbeing a little grouchy.
And then on the way there,jordan was like asking me what I
had read in my Bible thatmorning.
(36:35):
And I was like, well, I didn't,because I had to go to a
grouchy store.
And he was like I can tell, Ican tell.
So I listened to it on the waythere and then I felt better.
Addison Sewell (36:45):
But I think just like For real.
Alexis Schmoker (36:46):
It gives you perspective, it gives you
perspective, because because weforget, we're human and we
forget, and I think that it's sogood to like have that new
perspective.
And that brings us into ournext question how do you reset
after a bad mom moment?
um, guys, this is still a workin progress for me, I think oh
yeah um, I feel like this issomething that I could do better
(37:08):
with and I've noticed that,like when I start to feel heated
, cruise in that stage where,like she feeds off that energy
so we just can vibe off of eachother real fast and things
escalate.
So one thing I have starteddoing is like whenever I'm
getting a little bit frustrated,I will like start singing about
it and I always I'll be liketelling crew sit down, you know,
(37:30):
can you sit down?
And then I'll be like can youplease sit down, please, you
know, because I'm about to loseit.
Um, and I think just likesinging or doing like a funny
voice or a funny face orsomething, even though I am like
about to lose it, kind ofdeescalates the situation
whenever I feel like I'm like onmy last little, my last little
nerve, um, and then, speakingscripture out loud, I will say
(37:55):
all the time and if you've beenaround me you've probably heard
this I'll be like I can do thehell things through Christ who
strengthens me.
I can do all things throughChrist who strengthens me.
And I'll be saying it kind ofsarcastically, because sometimes
I feel a little bit sarcasticabout it, but I'm so serious,
like it's something that I feelso deeply and I truly believe
that and I think, just likespeaking that scripture out loud
(38:16):
, or like literally saying aprayer out loud, like super
short, like dear Lord, pleasegive me patience with these
children.
Dear Lord, please give mepatience with these children,
you know, and crude willsometimes like mock me, um, yes,
but just like I don't know,stay trying to stay calm,
praying about it, like trulyasking God, like for patience,
(38:37):
and just like new perspective indifferent situations, and then,
um, circling back like andapologizing because crew is at
the point where she definitelyknows and I want her to know
that like you can have an upsetmoment or like a disagreement,
or maybe handle something wrong,and but it's important to say
(38:58):
sorry and know that these peoplestill love you and you are
still loved and that it's okay,and like even mommy can kind of
mess up sometimes.
What about you, adi?
Addison Sewell (39:08):
Yeah, I mean all of the same things.
I feel like I have startedhaving to like okay, briggs, I'm
going to give you a coupleminutes, mommy needs to walk
away for a minute.
And then I feel like, if I can,at least walk away, get out,
get a little perspective andthen come back.
But now he's picked up on it,but I don't know if it's a good
thing.
He'll be like one minute, mom,one second, and we're all
(39:31):
telling him five more minutes.
And he'll be like you need fivemore minutes, mom.
And I'm like, well, okay, we'reat least learning that we need
to take a second, walk away andwe'll come back.
And then I think, just theapologizing thing walk away and
we'll come back.
And then I think, just theapologizing thing, I think
that's like you said, like justa life lesson of we're not
(39:52):
perfect, but just because youmessed up doesn't mean that's
the end of the road, like youcan go back, apologize, and that
doesn't have to ruin our wholeday.
We can say sorry, we can end it, I love you.
Now what's next?
And I think that's one of thehard parts, because if you let
every little toddler tantrumruin your day, your day will be
ruined.
I think that's one of thosethings where I've had to just
(40:14):
decide like, okay, he's threeand a half little boy,
something's going to go wrongand we're going to have to have
like to regroup, but I'm notgonna let it ruin my day.
And they pick up on that.
I feel like after he has timeout or after he gets his
thinking or whatever, and I comeback in a different vibe or
energy, he matches it, um and sowhich is powerful?
(40:37):
That you have that much powerover the environment that you
are in?
Um.
So I think, just likecontrolling my own emotions and
they talk about that a lot atmom collective, one of the mom
small groups that we're in oflike, you have to control your
emotions before you can.
You know your kids get theoverflow of you, so they're
(40:58):
getting your emotions, whetherthat's going to be good, bad or
ugly, you know.
Alexis Schmoker (41:01):
So, yeah, you truly are like the heartbeat of
the house.
Yeah, yeah, definitely, um,what is an I'll never do that
that you have most definitelydone as a mom.
I will go first.
Mine is co -sleeping.
Um, I know, guys, don't cancelme, but with crew pearl, we were
(41:23):
, we were just trying to surviveand so she still sleeps with us
and I, before kids said I willnever, never, ever, ever.
And guys, I don't want to.
It's not that I want to, jordandoes.
Jordan loves cuddling with her,and it's not that I don't love
cuddling with her.
But Wilder, I like put him downin his bed and I see him in the
(41:44):
morning and he sleeps great andI sleep great and crew, we just
um, are still surviving.
So I would say that that islike my biggest thing that I
said I will never, ever, ever do.
And she's three and a half, soshe will grow out of that.
Addison Sewell (42:00):
She can't sleep with you in her college dorm, I
guess.
I don't know, maybe Alexis saysshe's going to move to college
with him, so that might be apossibility.
One thing I don't know if it'sa never, but I always envisioned
myself of like being this, likesuper strict mom and like my
kids being always super done up,and I almost felt like even
growing up, like we would kindof joke about that.
(42:20):
And I'm not gonna lie, my kid'scute it's not that he's like
you know, goes out and whateverbut he went through a Lightning
McQueen phase and that's all hewore.
Y'all was those ugly LightningMcQueen shirts and like never
would I have ever thought Iwould let my kid go out not
matching wearing a LightningMcQueen shirt.
(42:40):
So I think, like I don't know,just being, I feel like I'm a
lot more chill and then theco-sleeping breaks up with us.
What year and a half?
Alexis Schmoker (42:53):
so, yeah, you just gotta do what you gotta do.
Out there I would say, I meanas long as you can sleep, but we
were kind of talking earliertoo you just have like all these
expectations, I think, beforeyou become a mom, and don't like
let that dictate you.
Like you don't know what kindof mom you're going to be, I
think, until you are a mom, andit changes with every kid, I
(43:15):
would say, because you changeand we all grow and evolve and
that's a good thing.
And then another question wegot was tell me more about the
new podcast series coming.
So, guys, I'm excited aboutthis.
I we are working on three newdifferent podcast series right
now.
So that is why I'm not puttingthem out once a week right now,
because we've got a bunch ofthings in the works.
(43:35):
So one of them that we've gotin the works is Enneagram mama.
So if you don't know whatEnneagram is, it's like a tool,
I would say, to help you kind ofbetter understand yourself.
So God created each of us on apurpose, for a purpose.
So in this series we're goingto really dive into each
(43:56):
Enneagram type and see how eachtype reflects God's design and
motherhood.
So, whether you're like thisjustice seeking type one, the
nurturing type two or a peacefultype nine.
Your personality isn't a flawof yours.
It's a reflection of his image.
So we're going to dive deepinto the different types of
motherhood, or the differenttypes of Enneagram with
(44:16):
motherhood, and just how likeyou can feel and be connected
through real stories, biblicaltruth and grace-filled
encouragement.
I found out I'm a type two,which honestly took some
convincing for me to to agreewith, because I thought that I
was a type three but I wanted tobe a type seven.
Um, I'll share more about that,like in the series, but be on
(44:39):
the lookout on social mediabecause I'm going to be reaching
out just to see differentEnneagram type moms that would
be interested in coming andtalking with me.
Another series we're working onand this is a working title
because I don't know what I'mgoing to call it yet, but it's
like a mama wellness series andit's going to be a series where
we bring in just differentexperts in each kind of wellness
(45:02):
of a mom.
I I mean from fitness to beauty, to spirituality, to health, to
finances, to pelvic floor, um,basically all the things that
support a thriving mom Cause,like we've talked about, like
you are the heartbeat of yourhome, and it doesn't.
I'm not even talking just momin this, I guess I should just
say woman wellness.
Um, and we need to, you know,make sure that we're okay, and
(45:25):
I'm really doing this kind of,too for myself, because I
honestly need this, just like anall around wellness series.
So, again, keep a lookout forthat, and if that's something
that you have expertise in,honestly, like the finance one
is the one that I don't knowanyone.
So if you're like a hardworkingfinance mom out there, reach
(45:46):
out to me, cause I need, I needyour advice, okay, and then the
last one, which I am the mostexcited about, is going to be a
new kids series called the wildcrew kids.
Um, it's going to be a fun,faith filled mini series hosted
with me and my girl crew, pearlSchmoker.
We've already like recorded alittle bit and it's definitely
(46:06):
going to take like more time andpatience than I have, but I'm
excited about it because we likelove Miss Letty, we love the
little lights and she's so intothe deep blue sea podcast right
now, and I was, like I wassaying earlier, like I just want
to make sure we're alwayshaving that conversation going
and I thought, well, why notjust, like, do a podcast with
(46:27):
her, because she likes podcastsand it's something that we can
listen to in the car and learnabout different things.
So right now, we're kind ofgoing through each of the fruits
of the spirit, and then we'realso going to be focusing on the
armor of God, and so I'm superexcited to be putting that out
there.
So keep an eye out for that.
(46:50):
Um, it's gonna be silly, butit's gonna be rooted in Jesus
and just something fun that wecan, you know, start
conversations with our littles.
So just a little bit of finalencouragement and takeaways, um,
something that we both want themom to walk away with today.
Addie, what would you want?
Addison Sewell (47:00):
I kind of was thinking that, just because you
have an idea of what your familystory could look like, so maybe
you think that you are going tohave all your kids super close
together, or your kid is goingto be the kid that is always
matching and he ends up in aLightning McQueen shirt that you
were created to be the mom ofyour children today, in the time
(47:24):
frame and time span that Jesusdecided.
So just know that you are whereyou're exactly supposed to be
and to take heart in that and bepresent where you are.
I think sometimes I struggle tolike look too far forward or
too far back.
But today is today and Briggsneeds me today and my husband
needs me today.
(47:45):
And how are we going to makethe most out of today?
So just knowing that you are inthe right place and you're
doing the right thing by showingup every day.
Alexis Schmoker (47:54):
Yeah, that's so good.
Presence is something that Istruggle with too, like always
trying to think about what'snext, or, guys, I can even like
catch myself on vacation ordoing like a fun activity that
I've like been excited to do andlike thinking like, oh well,
next time we should try thisactivity, or what if next time
we bring the kids and we do this?
Or what if next time we invitethese people Like no, like just
(48:14):
be present and enjoy this moment?
And so that's something that Ido need to work on myself too.
So that's a good challenge forme.
Takeaway I want people toremember just that God is
sovereign and you had kind ofsaid earlier like you're not
going to mess up his plan and hedoes all things for those who
love him, all good things forthose who love him.
So just trying to remember thatwhenever things feel crazy and
(48:38):
chaotic and um, another thingthat has really helped me lately
is just always like havingworship music on.
I feel like that's somethingeasy that you can do, but it's
it's honestly, it's an armor,like it's a shield, it's a
defense, like it's giving praiseto God, and so that has been
something that has been an easytakeaway for me to do that.
(49:01):
I feel like others could do,and it's just a good one.
So, anyway, any.
Any last thoughts?
Addison Sewell (49:07):
No, just thank you for showing up for your
family and for your kids and forbeing you, and you're doing the
right thing by seeking Christ,and he will use you as long as
you're available.
Alexis Schmoker (49:18):
Yeah, we love you guys.
We will see you soon and reachout on Instagram.
Dm me, message me, text me,whatever you know how to get a
hold of me.
Follow Mama of the Wild Crewunderscore podcast on Instagram.
Guys, if you would to go onwhatever platform you listen to,
whether it's Apple Music onSpotify and rate or leave a
(49:40):
review for the show it's how itgets to other moms out there I
would absolutely appreciate it.
Um, thank you guys.
You guys are not alone.
You're not broken.
You've got this.
You're becoming.
Let's go out and do it.
Love you guys.
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