Advertise on podcast: Torn: Finding a Mom Life Balance

Fall is in full swing, the holidays are approaching, and the family calendar is filling up fast! But what if planning for the season didn't mean adding another overwhelming to-do list? This week, Athena and Mims continue their Struggling with Fall Overwhelm series by moving from awareness to intentional planning. Instead of trying to do it all, they're inviting families to pause, reflect on what's changed, and have meaningful conversations about what matters most. From evolving family traditions and children's changing interests to balancing time, energy, and finances, we're exploring how to release, reroute, or redesign our plans to make room for more joy, connection, and memories that last. Torn ThoughtPlanning isn't about doing everything. It's about making room for what matters most in the season you're in. In This Episode:✨ What is true now? Reassess your family's interests, priorities, traditions, and changing needs. ✨ What is possible now? Consider everyone's time, energy, commitments, and resources before making plans. ✨ What needs to be released, rerouted, or redesigned? Give yourself permission to let go of traditions or expectations that no longer serve your family. ✨ Plan together. Invite children and partners into the conversation instead of carrying the entire mental load yourself. ✨ Create meaningful experiences. Look beyond checking activities off a list and make space for curiosity, cultural connections, and lasting memories. Try This: Your Family Fall Planning ConversationSet aside 15 minutes with your family and explore three questions: What is true for our family right now? What is possible with the time, energy, and resources we have? What can we release, reroute, or redesign to enjoy this season more? Remember, the goal isn't a perfect schedule. It's a season that reflects the people you're becoming together. Torn Tribe Reflection:What family tradition, expectation, or commitment might you need to release, reroute, or redesign this fall? We'd love to hear how you're planning together and making room for what matters most. Share your thoughts on thie week’s focus to 📧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ 📲 Follow @TornMLB on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠. 💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe 💜

Summer is over, routines are back—and somehow we’re already overwhelmed. This week, Athena and Mims kick off a new series about navigating fall overwhelm. From school schedules, extracurriculars, work responsibilities, family celebrations, holidays, finances, and the everyday mental load, this season can quickly become a whole lot of more. And if you're feeling it, you're not alone. Instead of jumping straight into fixing everything, we're starting with awareness: What is actually taking your time and energy? What matters most in this season? What can you release? And who else can help carry the load? Becoming aware of what's overwhelming you gives you the opportunity to choose what deserves your energy. Take 15 minutes this week and ask yourself: What is overwhelming me right now? What matters most between now and the end of the year? What can I release? What can I ask someone else to help carry? Then share your priorities with the people in your household. You may discover you're carrying something no one else expects—or even wants—you to carry. Torn Tribe Reflection What are you becoming aware of this fall—and what are you ready to release? And if fall isn't overwhelming you, Torn Tribe, tell us your secrets! What systems, boundaries, or choices are helping you protect your time and enjoy the season? This is just the beginning. Next episode, we're moving from awareness to planning—with practical ways to keep fall overwhelm from becoming our permanent state of being. Share your thoughts on Your Awareness of Overwhelm to 📧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ 📲 Follow @TornMLB on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠. 💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe 💜 Torn ThoughtTry This: Your 15-Minute Fall Check-In

School just started, so why are we already talking about summer camp and childcare? Because your opportunity to financially plan for next summer may happen months before summer arrives. This week, Athena and Mims are talking about Dependent Care elections—a benefit many working parents may have available through their employers but may not fully understand or plan for in time. Mims shares how difficult it can be to make an election when you haven't yet figured out next summer's camps, childcare needs, dates, or costs. The takeaway: your benefits-election timeline and your summer-planning timeline need to start talking to each other. Before open enrollment, start estimating how much childcare you'll actually need, researching programs and their registration timelines, and checking with HR about your employer's Dependent Care benefit—including what expenses are eligible. Then, when it's time to make your election, you can use actual projected costs instead of a guess. 💰 Dependent Care: Put This on Your Fall Checklist ✨ Find out when your employer's election period happens. Don't assume it follows the calendar year. ✨ Ask HR how your Dependent Care benefit works and what types of childcare and summer programs are eligible. Not every camp will necessarily qualify. ✨ Estimate next summer's childcare needs now: number of weeks, children's ages, work schedules, vacations and other coverage. ✨ Research camps and costs before making your election so you're not choosing an amount blindly. ✨ Track registration fees, weekly costs and receipts so you understand what you're actually spending and have the documentation you need. Share your thoughts on journaling to 📧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ 📲 Follow @TornMLB on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠. 💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe 💜

The pencils are sharpened, the backpacks are packed, and the calendars are already overflowing—but what about the things that aren’t on the school supply list? This week, Athena and Mims talk about creating the real back-to-school checklist: the people, systems, boundaries, and communication that help a family navigate the school year without one person carrying it all. From carpools and shared calendars to protecting rest and actually asking for help, we’re figuring out how to move beyond surviving the school-year madness and build rhythms that help the whole family thrive. The school gives you a supply list. Give yourself permission to create the support list your family actually needs. ✨ Build your help crew before you need them ✨ Sync school, work, activity, and family calendars ✨ Protect downtime instead of filling every open space ✨ Embrace carpools and divide the drop-off/pickup load ✨ Share school communication instead of defaulting to one parent ✨ Speak up when a system isn't working for your family ✨ Give yourself grace when even the best-laid plans go sideways What’s on your family’s back-to-school checklist that the school never told you you’d need? Share your thoughts on journaling to 📧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ 📲 Follow @TornMLB on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠. 💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe 💜 Torn ThoughtIn This Episode:Torn Tribe Reflection

Why is asking for help sometimes harder than doing everything ourselves? This week, we unpack what keeps us from making the ask- from fear of rejection and inconveniencing others to vulnerability, trust, and the pressure to keep all the plates spinning. We reflect on knowing our people, recognizing our limits before we hit overwhelm, and remembering that accepting help can actually deepen our relationships. Sometimes, asking someone to show up isn’t a burden- it’s an invitation into community. Torn Thought: What could feel lighter this week if you simply asked for help? Plus, in What’s Mending You?, we talk about the gift of being trusted to help, reconnecting with longtime friends, and finding restoration in moments of reflection. 🎧 Come do parenting with us—because we can do it better together. Share your thoughts on journaling to 📧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ 📲 Follow @TornMLB on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠. 💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe 💜

Summer learning doesn't have to look like worksheets. The best lessons often happen through curiosity, play, and everyday life. This week, Athena and Mims share creative ways to keep reading and math alive over summer break—without turning them into chores. From researching the perfect family dog and budgeting expenses to board games, baking, geography, libraries, and following your child's interests, they explore how learning becomes meaningful when kids don't even realize they're doing it. 🌟 Torn ThoughtReading and math aren't school subjects to survive—they're lifelong tools that unlock curiosity, confidence, and opportunity. In This Episode: Creative alternatives to summer packets Turning children's interests into reading adventures Everyday math through games, budgeting, cooking, and problem-solving Raising curious, lifelong learners instead of worksheet completers Why learning happens far beyond the classroom Giving kids ownership of their summer learning 💛 Torn Tribe ReflectionWhat's one everyday activity your family does that secretly teaches reading, math, or problem-solving? Torn Tribe Reflection: Who in your family has a story you want to hear while you still can?Share your thoughts on journaling to 📧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ 📲 Follow @TornMLB on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠. 💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe. Choose Grace. 💜

Summer break brings freedom, flexibility… and bedtime battles. This week, Athena and Mims unpack the challenge of balancing late summer nights with the routines everyone needs to thrive. From teenagers staying up until 1:00 a.m. to younger kids catching a “second wind,” they explore how every family can find a rhythm that works without letting comparison steal the joy of summer. The sisters discuss why one bedtime rule doesn’t have to fit the entire season, how communication and trust can help children develop responsibility, and why parents shouldn’t feel guilty for protecting their own rest. They also reflect on teaching kids to recognize their body’s need for sleep, giving age-appropriate independence, and embracing flexibility for vacations, camps, and special summer memories. In this episode, we discuss: Why bedtime often becomes the biggest parenting battle during summer break.Creating flexible routines instead of rigid rules.Helping children build responsibility and self-awareness around sleep.Letting go of comparison and choosing what works for your family.Protecting your own rest and self-care as a parent.Torn Thought: Summer routines don’t have to look like school-year routines. Find the rhythm that allows your family to enjoy the season while still caring for everyone’s well-being. What’s Mending Us Athena shares how coaching basketball camp reminded her why she loves the game and reflects on the motivation she finds through “secret competitions” that keep life fun and purposeful. Mims shares how returning to work with a new team energized her while also embracing the full pace and joy of summertime with her family. Share your Torn Thoughts to 📧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ 📲 Follow @TornMLB on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠. 💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe. Choose Grace. 💜

Revisiting a previous episode from May 2025! In Episode 160 of Torn: Finding a Mom-Life Balance, Athena and Mims return for the second installment of their summer planning series, equipping the Torn Tribe with a practical and heartfelt Summer Toolkit designed to support families in three core areas: Supplies, Sanity, and Structure. 🧠 Torn Thought: “Preparedness brings presence. Let’s enjoy the season instead of surviving it.” 🧺 Supplies to Have on Hand- Summer essentials: sunscreen, water toys, snacks, notebooks, art supplies, and first-aid items- Household items for parents working from home: kid-friendly snacks, books at the right reading level, a stocked art station, screen-time boundaries, and outdoor activity options- Pool/beach bags packed and ready: cooler, towels, goggles, flip flops, backup clothes, and snacks- Reusable tote filled with portable snacks (chips, fruit, pretzels) to reduce the “I’m starving” moments 🧘‍♀️ Sanity Savers- Schedule one friend meet-up per child each week—build in social outlets to reduce tension and encourage independence- Identify your “buffer days” where there’s minimal running around- Plan ahead for medical needs: physicals, prescriptions, and locations of nearest clinics when traveling- Try a parent hobby: painting, reading, writing, learning a language, or summer reading challenges for YOU 📅 Structure for Summer Days- Theme Days: Rotate through reading, science, cooking, art, or adventure days- Free Play Days: Let your child choose how they spend the day to balance out structured time- Skill or sport exploration: Use the summer to try something new as a family or per child- Craft & Game Zones: Reorganize home spaces to highlight engaging options and reduce screen time- Library trips, cultural reads, and storytelling podcasts to keep imagination and curiosity alive 📣 Stay Connected & ShareAthena and Mims also encourage the Torn Tribe to share their favorite summer tips and download the ⁠Torn Tribe Summer Prep List⁠ (linked in show notes and on social). 💌 Got Torn Moments or Mends to share? Drop us a line at [email protected]. 🎧 Listen, Follow, Subscribe & Share! Find us on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠. 💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe 💜

Legacy comes alive when we ask questions, listen closely, and make space for the stories our elders carry. In this special episode, Zeke and Sophie Grace join Torn for a legacy interview after speaking with their grandpas. From childhood memories in Jamaica and Chicago to hard work, patience, perseverance, retirement, karate, family businesses, and life lessons, their conversations remind us that legacy is not only what we inherit—it is what we notice, name, and carry forward. Torn Thought: Legacy can be passed down in everyday conversations. The gems are already there—we just have to ask. In This Episode: ✨ Zeke and Sophie Grace make their Torn debut ✨ What they learned from interviewing their grandpas/ abuelos ✨ Family values like perseverance, planning, hard work, patience, and listening ✨ Why elders’ stories matter ✨ How simple questions can open meaningful conversations ✨ The joy of preserving family memories in their own voices Torn Tribe Reflection: Who in your family has a story you want to hear while you still can? Share your thoughts on journaling to 📧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ 📲 Follow @TornMLB on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠. 💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe. Choose Grace. 💜

Legacy is not just something we leave behind—it is something we build every day through our stories, values, relationships, traditions, and the way we show up for one another. In this episode, Athena and Mims reflect on the legacies that shaped them, from the strength of abuelas to the family stories, cultural traditions, faith, food, and lessons that continue to ground them. Inspired by themes from Encanto and Coco, they explore how each family member adds their own thread to the legacy being created. They also share why they are inviting their kids into the conversation next—to hear what legacy looks and feels like through their eyes. Torn Thought: Legacy starts at home. It lives in the stories we tell, the values we model, and the memories we intentionally create. In This Episode: ✨ The values and traditions we inherit ✨ How family stories shape identity ✨ Honoring those who came before us ✨ Helping kids recognize the legacy they carry ✨ Creating memories through photos, stories, scrapbooks, and shared experiences ✨ Why every family member’s “thread” matters Torn Tribe Reflection: What story, value, or tradition do you hope your children carry forward? Share your thoughts on journaling to 📧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ 📲 Follow @TornMLB on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠. 💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe. Choose Grace. 💜

What happens when life is filled with so much goodness that you can no longer keep up with it? After an intentional break from the podcast, Athena and Mims return to share the real reason behind their pause. Between milestones, caregiving, work, celebrations, leadership, and everyday responsibilities, they realized something important: sometimes our bodies arrive before our spirits do. In this honest conversation, they explore the fears that keep us from slowing down, why rest often feels harder than work, and how creating space for reflection can help us show up more fully for the people and moments that matter most. Whether you're navigating a busy season, feeling stretched too thin, or struggling to give yourself permission to rest, this episode is a reminder that pausing is not quitting—it's preparation. In This Episode: ✨ Why taking a pause can feel uncomfortable—even when it's needed ✨ The fear of disappointing others when you choose rest ✨ Decision fatigue, overwhelm, and recognizing your limits ✨ The difference between earned rest and intentional rest ✨ Building a sustainable rhythm instead of constantly pushing through ✨ Lessons from leadership, legacy, and creating space for reflection Torn Thought:In the middle of moving, producing, caregiving, solving, leading, and responding to everyone else's needs, we can forget to check whether our spirit has arrived where our body already is. Sometimes we need to pause long enough to catch up. What's Mending Us:💛 Reflecting on legacy, leadership, and what we leave behind 💛 Embracing God's enduring mercy and faithfulness Torn Tribe Reflection: What fear is keeping you from taking the pause you need? Share your thoughts on pausing to 📧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ 📲 Follow @TornMLB on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠. 💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe 💜

🎙️  Episode Summary: Are you overwhelmed—or truly burnt out? In this episode, we break down the difference between normal stress and burnout, and how to recognize when your tank is truly empty. Busy vs. Burnout The invisible pressure of modern life. How burnout slowly creeps in ⚖️ Busy vs. Burnout Busy: Temporary stress, still motivated, rest helps Burnout: Constant depletion, no motivation, rest doesn’t restore 🛠️ Quick Resets Delegate, drop, or lower the bar on 1–2 things Protect your sleep + reduce screen time Use quiet moments to reset (car rides, waiting time) Move your body + stay hydrated ❤️ Real Talk“You don’t always crash… sometimes you just slowly disappear from yourself.” 📣 For the Torn Tribe Check in with yourself—busy or burnt out?  🔗 Stay Connected Follow us @TornMLB  ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠. ✉️Email: [email protected] 💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe 💜

🎙️ Show Notes:   In this episode, we we kickoff a series on stress by unpacking the invisible mental load of parenting, the pressure to “do it all,” and the societal systems that make it harder than it should be. From school schedules to work demands to self-imposed expectations—we’re naming it all and finding a path back to peace. 🔥 What We’re Talking About The invisible mental load parents carry every day Why modern life feels misaligned with family needs The pressure to justify your time, energy, and boundaries The reality of decision fatigue + overstimulation Recognizing when you’re “living on the edge” (snappy, overwhelmed, reactive) 🚩 Signs You’re On the Edge You’re snapping at everything and everyone Your inner dialogue sounds like: “I always… they never…” You feel like everything depends on you You struggle to accept help (or control how it’s given) Small things feel like big triggers 🛠️ Small Shifts to Move from Edge → Peace Name what you need (don’t wait until you explode) Take a timeout—step away before the breaking point Ask for help—and accept it imperfectly Check your self-talk (“I always/they never” is a warning sign) Release control and focus on what you can manage Invite your family into your reality (share your stress, don’t hide it) ❤️ Real Talk Moments “It’s not always exhaustion… sometimes it’s control.” You don’t have to carry it alone. Name it, share it, and give yourself permission to reset. 🔗 Stay Connected, Torn TribeFollow us @TornMLB  ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠. ✉️Email: [email protected] 💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe 💜

✨ Episode Summary This week on Torn: Finding a Mom-Life Balance, we continue our bullying series with special guest Tom Ramsey, a conflict resolution specialist and author of Slaying the Giants: The ABCs to Stop A Bully. Through personal stories and practical tools, we unpack how bullying impacts both children and adults—and how building confidence, awareness, and communication can change everything. Key Takeaways Bullying is bigger than we thinkOver 160,000 students skip school daily due to fear of bullyingConfidence is a shieldWhen self-esteem grows, how you carry yourself changes—and bullies notice The first bully is often internalNegative self-talk shapes how we show up and what we tolerate Bullies look for easy targetsThey tend to avoid those they perceive as confident or equal It starts at homeSafe, loving environments help prevent both being bullied and becoming a bully 🛠️ Practical Tools For Parents: Create a safe, emotionally supportive environment Listen actively—don’t dismiss concerns as “just teasing” Model healthy communication and conflict resolution For Kids & Teens: Speak up: Tell a parent or trusted adultSet boundaries: It’s okay to say, “I don’t like how you’re treating me”Find your thing: Passion builds confidence (sports, arts, hobbies, etc.)Choose your circle: You don’t have to stay where you’re not respected 🧠 Powerful Mindset Shift “You need to change the inside to change the outside.” Confidence, self-worth, and awareness are the foundation—not just for stopping bullying, but for how we show up in every space (school, work, relationships). 📚 Resources Slaying the Giants: The ABCs to Stop a Bully by Tom Ramsey Free PDF available by contacting Tom Ramsey at [email protected]   🔗 Stay Connected with the Torn Tribe📲 Follow @TornMLB on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠. 💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe 💜

Bullying does not just affect the child in the moment. It stirs up a whole wave of emotions for everyone involved — denial, disbelief, anger, sadness, guilt, and even confusion. In this episode, Athena and Mims continue the bullying series by unpacking the mixed feelings that surface when bullying hits close to home. They reflect on how bullying can show up in schools, workplaces, families, and even everyday situations, and why our first emotional reaction matters. From questioning whether a child is being bullied, doing the bullying, or simply struggling to respond, they explore how easy it is to minimize what is happening before fully seeing it for what it is. This conversation is a reminder to slow down, process before reacting, and create room for honest conversations that lead to healing, accountability, and growth. Because bullying does not just leave a mark on behavior — it can shake identity, trust, and confidence too. In this episode: Why denial and disbelief are common first reactions to bullying How bullying can trigger emotions similar to grief The danger of reacting before processing Supporting your child without labeling them by one bad moment Why awareness, reflection, and conversation matter on both sides of the story Torn Thought: Bullying brings up mixed feelings — and naming them helps us respond with wisdom instead of reaction. Share your Torn Moments or Mends to 📧 ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ 📲 Follow @TornMLB on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠. 💜 Choose Grace, Torn Tribe 💜