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WADDLES ESCAPED HER PEN. 🐷😳 My daughters got to the barn expecting to see their FFA pig, Waddles, and instead found an EMPTY PEN. Cue one daughter crying, the other calling me worried that I’m about to freak out, and me trying to figure out where in the world our pig went. 😂 We did find her, thankfully, but not without a little panic first. Because apparently, adding an FFA pig to the family means adding a whole new level I did not sign up to beat in this game they call parenting! I did not have lost pig on my parenting bingo card. 🎧 Listen to Shhh My Kids Are Asleep for the full story of Waddles’ great escape! If you love real-life parenting stories, mom life, family stories, and the unexpected adventures of raising kids (and apparently livestock), this episode is for you. I just wanted to support my kid in FFA. I did not realize we were raising an escape artist. 🫠🐷

My daughter got an FFA pig named Waddles. 🐷😂 Because apparently, raising four kids wasn't enough. We're adding livestock to the family plot. In this episode of Shhh My Kids Are Asleep, we're talking about my daughter's FFA pig, Waddles, and what happens when your kid gets involved in FFA (Future Farmers of America). Suddenly you're learning about a whole new world of raising animals, youth agriculture, and livestock projects. Listen, I'm a mom. I've survived school activities, teenage drama, sports schedules, and approximately 47 different school communication apps. But an FFA pig named Waddles? That's a new chapter. If you're a parent raising kids, navigating FFA, or figuring out how livestock projects fit into family life, come hang out with me. We're doing our best, making memories, and occasionally wondering how we got here. Because I love my kids. I really do. But nobody told me motherhood might involve a pig named Waddles. 🐷 Are you an FFA or former FFA family? I want to hear all things raising livestock-related and, of course, animal types and names!!! DM or email me! #FFA #FFAPig #WaddlesThePig #FutureFarmersOfAmerica #YouthAgriculture #LivestockProject #ParentingTeens #MomLife #ParentingPodcast #ShhhMyKidsAreAsleep

The day has finally arrived: my daughter is going to get her driver’s license. 🚗 Except first, I have to pick her up from school because she doesn’t feel good. Then she throws up. Twice. The first time I’m thinking, Wait… is she contagious? The second time I’m thinking, Okay, maybe we need urgent care instead of the DPS. And then… magically better. 👀 Weird. So off we go to the Texas DPS, where I immediately begin sweating over paperwork, including the California driving record I had to print out because we’re out-of-state transplants. Of course, the website says everything should be OFFICIAL, and naturally, the copy I brought is… unofficial. Cool. Cool cool cool. Eventually, I’m told to sit down and watch my precious baby girl walk out of the building to take her driving test. And now I wait. Did she pass? And who from a previous episode was actually her driving instructor?! Buckle up. Yes, that pun was absolutely intended. 😂 This week on Shhh My Kids Are Asleep: She Can Drive Legally Now?

I didn't think this kid was real. Sometimes your kid tells you something so casually that you don’t even think to question it. When my daughter was in 3rd or 4th grade, she started talking about a new friend with a name that sounded way too cool to be real. I took her completely seriously… and somehow convinced myself my kid had an imaginary friend. Fast-forward to open house night, when I got a very rude awakening. Turns out, I had fallen victim to one of the most dangerous combinations known to motherhood: a creative kid, a sarcastic sense of humor, and a mom who apparently doesn’t ask enough follow-up questions. In this episode, I let you in on the “imaginary friend” who was actually very much real and why, when you have a sarcastic child, you might want to keep your eyes and ears open. #Parenting #FunnyMomStories #MomLife #KidsAreFunny #ParentingHumor #MomHumor #KidsSayTheDarndestThings #SarcasticKids #ParentingStories #FunnyParenting #RaisingKids #FamilyLife #MomPodcast #ParentingPodcast #RealMomLife #imaginaryfriend #htx #htown #htxmoms Connect with Rachel: Follow over on Instagram@shhhmykidsareasleep to connect socially Have a CarpoolConfession? Submit your messy parenting story or ask a question [email protected] to be featured on a future episode.  Love the show? Tap follow and hit the 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help otheroverstimulated moms find the podcast.

Apparently, not all high school activities are created equal. In this episode, I’m rating school organizations from a mom’s perspective, starting with cheerleading vs. water polo. And let me just say… these two organizations could not be more different. Cheer? A well-oiled machine. Calendars, communication, uniforms, traditions, senior nights, the whole thing. Water polo? Let’s just say there’s a little more “wait…what are we doing?” energy. After having kids involved in different school activities, I’ve learned that every organization has its own personality, level of chaos, parent involvement, and completely different way of doing things. So let’s rate them. Because if I’m going to spend years driving to practices, games, meetings and senior nights, I feel like I’ve earned the right to have opinions. Cheer vs. water polo: Which organization gets the mom stamp of approval? Listen in for the ratings and the very real differences between two completely different high school activities. #Parenting #HighSchool #Cheerleading #WaterPolo #SchoolActivities #Teenagers #MomLife #HighSchoolSports #HoustonMoms #TexasMoms

My 4th grader got lost at Disneyland in the rain… or at least that’s how she remembers it. 😂 She turned the whole 5–7 minute parenting panic into a school story about getting lost at Disneyland, searching every ride, and eventually being rescued by a Disney employee. We found her, everyone was okay, and now it’s a funny Disneyland family vacation story with a bigger reminder: parenting is messy, kids remember things differently, and none of us get it right every time. In fact, they will even make you revisit those scary times when they go to school sharing the story. Have you had a scare like that? Tell me about your last Disney trip! ·  ✨ Connect withRachel: Follow the daily chaos over on Instagram @shhhmykidsareasleep to watch this week's reels! ·  💬 Have a Question? Submit your messy parenting story or ask a question at [email protected] to be featured on a future episode. ·  🎧 Love the show?Tap the 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help other moms find the show! #tx #htx #Houston #moms #lost #Disneyland

The Six-Line S is BACK. 😂 If you were a 90s kid or an early-2000s teen, you already know exactly what I’m talking about. That weird little S we doodled absolutely everywhere has somehow made its way into my kids’ school pictures… as MARKETING. Excuse me?! Who approved this?! 😂 Obviously, someone on that marketing team is our age, because there is no other explanation. I had to say something. Cut it out. LOL. #90sKids #2000sKids #90sNostalgia #MillennialMoms #MomHumor #ParentingHumor #Nostalgia #ParentingPodcast #Houston #Texas #Texasmom

I tried to make an episode about mom group chats. I really did. But sometimes you have a topic in mind, a plan in your head, and absolutely none of it wants to cooperate. So instead of forcing the mom-group-chat episode, I gave up and talked about what actually happened over Labor Day weekend. My husband decided we were going to relax. Like… actually relax. And for once, I didn’t fight it. Then my daughter decided I had a much more important assignment: becoming the official camera woman for her very own “Tim McGraw” weekend, thanks in part to one very specific Tim McGraw lyric that apparently became the soundtrack to the whole thing. And because I have now been a Texas mom for an entire YEAR, naturally I have some questions. Specifically: MUMS. I know girls wear them for homecoming. I know they can be enormous. And beyond that? Ma’am. I am lost. So if you are a Texas mom who understands the sacred tradition of mums, please know that I need the 101 course because apparently I have been living here for a year and missed the orientation. Basically, this episode is what happens when you stop trying to make the pieces fit and just let the weekend become the episode. And yes… I had to end it exactly where I felt it needed to end. (Again I do not own the rights to any Tim Mcgraw Music.) #Houston #texas #texasmoms #TimMcGraw #LaborDayWeekend #HOCO #Mums

🎉 ANNIVERSARY EDITION!!! ....of Shhh My Kids Are Asleep! 🎉 WE MADE IT! One episode every Tuesday. Another year of hitting records, telling stories, oversharing a little, laughing a lot, and somehow keeping this thing going week after week. ❤️ For this special anniversary episode, I’m answering YOUR questions—and a few of my own. We’re talking about me, the podcast, motherhood, marriage, raising four kids, the things I’ve learned, the things I’m still figuring out, and what it’s really like to keep creating something when you have absolutely no idea where it’s going to take you. What has motherhood taught me? Has marriage changed after four kids? What have I learned about myself? And after a full year of podcasting…was it worth it? Most importantly, we're celebrating something I'm genuinely proud of: a published episode every single Tuesday for an entire year. 🎙️ And if I didn't answer a question you think I NEED to answer... send it my way! 😂 📧 Email me at [email protected], and your question could make it into a future episode. Thank you for listening, sharing, laughing with me, and letting me talk into a microphone about the beautiful, crazy, unpredictable, ridiculously silly thing that is life with kids. Here’s to another fun year. 🥂 Now…let’s see what happens next.

I realized that I have posted a new episode every week for over the past year... and then I recap the rough week I had. I got sick. Like, REALLY sick. And while I was trying to recover, life kept moving around me. But something unexpected happened: my kids stepped up. Two of them made dinner. One helped get the baby home from school. My husband helped wherever he could. And somewhere in the middle of a really rough week, I had one of those moments every mom needs sometimes...the reminder that maybe I’m doing something right. Because raising kids isn't just about being there for every little thing. It's also about knowing that when you can't do it all, they can. This week, I realized my kids are going to be alright. And honestly? So am I. ❤️

After 20 years of marriage and four kids, how do you keep the spark alive? For us, apparently, it involves a little game we’ve been playing for years. 😂 It started early in our marriage, back when I was still learning how to find the fun in all the ordinary moments of being married. Somehow, all these years and four kids later, we’re still doing it. And the last time? Let’s just say I gave my husband my number… and people working got involved. 😳😂 But the sweetest part wasn't what happened between us. It was watching our kids watch us. Two were in my car, two were in his, and somehow nobody was embarrassed by their ridiculous parents. In fact, one of my daughters said she can't wait to do something like this with her own family someday. Maybe that's the real secret to keeping the spark alive: finding little ways to choose each other, have fun together, and let your kids see that marriage can still be playful after 20 years. But don't take my word for it. I am still figuring this whole thing out. And now I want to hear from you: What little things do you and your partner do to keep the spark alive after kids? Send me your stories! 💕

The internet is officially out of control. 😂 This episode was sparked by an internet couple from West Virginia who somehow became the subject of a full-blown investigation by the court of public opinion. The guy posted a video telling a story about what had and was happening in his life...but, like most human beings, he didn’t tell the internet every single detail. And apparently, that was enough. Because the internet filled in the blanks for him. People started making accusations, creating theories, digging into their past, and deciding what must really be going on in their relationship and their lives. And honestly? I found it fascinating. Because when did we collectively decide that if someone posts a 60-second video, we are entitled to the entire backstory? When did “I don't know what happened” turn into “I have investigated the situation and here is my conclusion”? 😂 The court of public opinion will have you convicted, divorced, remarried, diagnosed, and emotionally rehabilitated before you even finish uploading the video. And that got me thinking about how we do this with EVERYTHING now, especially as moms. There is always a new trend. My daughter recently showed me this thing called “12 Things for 12th Grade.” Twelve things. For 12th grade. Because she’s a senior. And I was like… GIRL. WHAT?! 😂 Apparently, seniors are supposed to have this list of 12 things they want for their first day of senior year, because apparently simply surviving senior year, applying to college, keeping your grades together, participating in activities, and making it to graduation wasn't enough. Now we need a curated senior year experience, starting with day 1. And don't even get me started on painted senior jeans. That is a WHOLE other episode. Because apparently we have entered an era where your pants need to tell your entire life story before you walk across the graduation stage. So we're talking about all of it , the internet's obsession with knowing everything about everybody, the way people create entire narratives from incomplete information, and the never-ending stream of trends our kids bring home that leave us standing there like… “Who came up with this, and why are we doing it?” Because between the internet detectives, the senior trends, and these painted jeans, I am tired. 😂 Welcome to parenting in the age of the internet.

This week has been an absolute whirlwind. The girls came home from cheer camp with incredible honors, including Leadership Awards and All-American recognition. We squeezed in senior portraits (and yes... why are they so expensive?), varsity sports banner photos, and then jumped right into another round of camp. This time, Dive camp. As if that wasn't enough, we're also moving... again. Two moves in less than a year wasn't on my bingo card, and while it's stressful for me, I know it's a huge adjustment for my girls too. In the middle of all the madness, I found myself thinking about the idea of a nest. As moms, we spend so much time "nesting"...creating a safe place for our children to grow. Then one day they leave the nest, and eventually we hear about becoming empty nesters. But this weekend I learned a new term: soiling the nest. It's the idea that some kids, often without even realizing it, start pushing boundaries or creating conflict as they get closer to leaving home. It's thought to be a way of making the transition easier on themselves. But does it really make leaving any easier? Or does it just make those final moments together harder? Join me as I unpack a weekend full of celebrations, milestones, moving boxes, and one parenting concept that completely changed the way I look at this season of life. Plus, if you are going through a nest soiling, reach out to me! I wanna hear from you! We are all just parents trying to survive!

This week has been a whirlwind! We officially signed for our new home, and while we're incredibly excited, the timing couldn't be busier. Before we can even move in, we've got painters giving the house a fresh look and contractors replacing the flooring. It's exciting to know we'll be starting this new chapter with a home that already feels a little more like ours. Our two oldest daughters are headed off to summer cheer camp at Great Wolf Lodge as mascots for their school. It's a little bittersweet because Great Wolf Lodge is somewhere I've always wanted to take them as a family, and now they'll get to experience it without me. At the same time, I'm genuinely so happy they're getting this opportunity. While the big girls are away, the little ones will be staying behind with us, and we're hoping to knock out the majority of the move. It got me thinking... wouldn't it be amazing if moms could just leave for a few days and come home to find everything magically packed, moved, unpacked, and organized? A girl can dream! I also talk about our new home and one feature my water-loving kids are already cashing in on: the pool and hot tub. I know they'll spend as much time as possible out there once we're settled, and I can't wait to see how happy they are. With school starting in just a couple of weeks, the clock is definitely ticking. Between coordinating contractors, packing boxes, moving our family, and getting everyone ready for a new school year, these next few days are going to be busy. Our goal is to get into the new house with enough time to settle in, establish our routines, and actually get some sleep before the first day of school. Join me as I share the excitement, the wild ride, and all the emotions that come with another big family move and why this one feels like the start of something really special.

What is a girl to do? (Plus: How to Spot a Californian) 50 episodes in the books! 🥂 I originally wanted to celebrate this major milestone with a special blooper reel, but as you know, life comes at you hard and fast sometimes. Instead, we are diving straight into a packed weekend recap and a major milestone for my oldest daughter. My husband and I took a trip to Dallas over the weekend. Because of his work schedule, we had to take separate cars, which turned into a mini road trip saga of its own. While we squeezed in a little historical sightseeing, caught up with family, and hit up a theme park, this episode focuses entirely on the drive home (you'll have to tune into future episodes for the rest of the Dallas Trip). Also in this episode: The Freeway Litmus Test: Why saying the word "the" before a freeway number instantly exposes you as a Californian.Behind the Wheel: My daughter officially achieved her highway driving time with me in the passenger seat! I break down the stress of being a human broken record ("stay in your lane, go the speed limit") and why watching her learn always teaches me something new about myself.Big Announcements: The podcast is officially on TikTok and YouTube Shorts! Email: [email protected]/Social DMs: ShhhmykidsareasleepFollow on TikTok: ShhhmykidsareasleepSubscribe on YouTube: Shhhmykidsareasleep Connect With Me! I want to hear from you! How do you say your freeway numbers? What are your teenage driving stories or horror stories? Drop into my inbox or DMs to share your thoughts!