Join us as we welcome Brooke Heinzmann, a 33-year-old mother of three from Chicago, to The Real Mom Hub. With refreshing honesty and humor, Brooke shares her unfiltered motherhood journey—from the shocking reality of life with her firstborn to finding her rhythm as a parent of three. Brooke offers unique perspectives on finding community, letting go of guilt, & embracing the beautiful mess of motherhood. Her candid stories about breastfeeding struggles, co-sleeping "hacks," & learning to trust her instincts will resonate with any mom who's ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting advice or parenting ideals.
Main Topics & Discussion
The Shock of First-Time Motherhood
Brooke describes her first three months with her daughter Willa with brutal honesty, & she shares how she and her husband called those first eight weeks the "Angry Plant stage"—having a baby that could scream but gave about as much affection as a houseplant. While everyone asked if she was experiencing the bliss of new motherhood, Brooke struggled with a difficult baby, painful breastfeeding, & sleep deprivation. Her experience highlights the disconnect between expectations & reality for many new parents, especially when your first child happens to be particularly challenging.
Finding Freedom from Parenting Guilt
One of the most powerful themes in Brooke's parenting journey is her evolution from anxiously following "rules" with her firstborn to giving herself permission to parent in ways that worked for her family with subsequent children. From co-sleeping to contact napping, Brooke shares how she stopped stressing about what she was "supposed" to be doing & instead focused on what made sense for her family. Her insight that "you get the kid you get" challenges the notion that parents can control their children's temperaments through specific techniques, offering liberation from the weight of parenting guilt that so many mothers carry.
Creating Family Rhythms Through Faith and Tradition
Brooke's journey to Judaism provided her family with meaningful structure and community. She describes how Shabbat offers a weekly rhythm of connection & rest for her family—a deliberate pause from technology & outside pressures that fosters deeper bonds. Despite the preparati
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Host & Show Info
Hosted by: Cally & Emily O’Leary
About the Hosts: We’re real moms and real sisters. We may look and sound alike, but our motherhood journeys are uniquely ours. We all do Motherhood differently, and thank goodness for that. Let’s learn and grow together.
Podcast Website: https://therealmomhub.com/
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