What do you say when a Mom looks at you and says, "I don't know what to do." Maybe she's asking whether to move her toddler into a big-kid bed. Maybe she's wondering if childcare is the right decision. Maybe she's exhausted from months of broken sleep and questioning everything she's doing. Whatever the question, most of us respond the same way. We want to help. We want to reassure. We want to make the uncertainty feel a little smaller before the conversation ends. That's where phrases like,...

“Just trust your gut.” “You'll just know what to do.” I’m sure you’ve heard these exact lines, or something similar. I’m guilty of saying it, too! I’ve absolutely said, “Just listen to your Mama gut.” And, of course, I’ve said it with the best of intentions. With a desire to encourage a Mom to shut out the noise around her, to ‘listen’ for a right answer. I now believe that is a mistake. The more I've read about motherhood, the more I've questioned that phrase. Where would intuition even...

Why I Don’t Use the Word “Coaching” I’m often asked whether what I do is coaching. The short answer is no. Not because coaching is wrong or ineffective. There are many skilled professionals doing thoughtful work. But the word doesn’t accurately describe what happens in the space I hold with parents. Language matters. It shapes expectations. It tells you what kind of help you’re stepping into. Coaching Implies Strategy. Early Parenting Requires Something Else. In most contexts, coaching...