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I don’t think we talk enough about how making close friends as a mom is weirdly hard.

Content Warning: This episode contains sensitive material around self-harm. Please listen with care.

In this episode, I break down my thoughts around mom friendships, dig deep into my own past to understand why I view some things the way I do.

Listen to the full episode of "The Real Reason Adult Friendships Are So Hard" on the Mel Robbins podcast featuring Danielle Bayard Jackson.

Stats referenced:

• In a Harvard study… 51% of mothers with young children reported feeling lonely. Loneliness is linked to early mortality and a wide array of serious physical and emotional problems, including depression, anxiety, heart disease, substance abuse, and domestic abuse. Full article link here.
• Research shows that up to 90% of moms feel lonely after giving birth, and more than half say they feel like they have no friends. Full article ink here.
• Research involving 270,000 people found that friendships were as important—if not more so—to our overall well being as our relationships with our spouses and family. The same researcher also looked into whether the quality of those friendships mattered—it does. People who had strong friendships reported being happier, while people without quality friendships reported more chronic illness. Full article link here.

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In this episode, I’m diving into the spiciest parenting opinions you sent me over Instagram and let’s just say… y’all did not hold back. 😅

Listen to Part 2 here on my Substack

From “Screen time is a cop out” to “Birthday parties actually the worst” to the never-ending saga of potty training, we’re unpacking the hot takes that secretly live in every mom group chat.

I react in real time and share my honest thoughts (as a working mom in the thick of it), and explore the gray areas we don’t always talk about.

This episode is equal parts funny, relatable, and “wait… are we allowed to say that out loud?”

If you’ve ever:

• Handed over an iPad and felt judged
• Dreaded a 3-hour kids’ birthday party
• Questioned your entire existence during potty training

…this one’s for you! Come for the hot takes! Stay for the solidarity!

Mentioned in this episode:

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Subscribe to my Substack for exclusive podcast episodes: https://circlebackafterbedtime.substack.com/

The lollipops I used for weaning: YumEarth Organic Lollipops

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Connect with Lina on @linaforrestal on Instagram
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Read Lina's Blog: www.linaforrestal.com
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In this episode, I am fired up! Here's what I'm sounding off on in this episode:

• Being a "pro-screen time, anti-tablet" parent
• Being a millennial and growing up in AOL chatrooms
• "Raw-dogging" summer break
• Questioning whether to go to kindergarten or skipping straight to 1st grade
• Homeschool vs public school, hot take home school kids have a lot of opportunities for socialization
• Celebrating my son's 5th birthday!
• Struggling having a small house with no storage
• Sounding off on "therapy speak"
• Sounding off on the whole "not telling our kids we're proud of them"
• Fostering a summer of independence for my 5-year-old

What do you think? Leave me a comment or send me a DM on my Instagram if you have any strong feelings about my hot takes.

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Connect with Lina on @linaforrestal on Instagram
Follow the @newmamaspodcast on Instagram
Read Lina's Blog: www.linaforrestal.com
Support the Show: Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/newmamaspodcast)

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In this grab bag episode of topics, I'm taking you on a rollercoaster ride of all my inner thoughts:

• Boundaries with in-laws (I have some hot takes that might piss you off)
• In the body positive movement, no one should shame you for wanting to lose weight
• Saying no to business travel at the moment
• How disappointing people sucks but you have to do it sometimes
• Spicy thoughts around The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (we all need a little pop culture therapy, okay?)
• ...and other things!

If you're a new mom, toddler mom, or just a woman figuring out how to juggle it all, this episode is your reminder that you’re not alone.

PS. Check out my episode on my other podcast, Can I Be Honest, all about marriage and relationships!

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Connect with Lina on @linaforrestal on Instagram
Follow the @newmamaspodcast on Instagram
Read Lina's Blog: www.linaforrestal.com
Support the Show: Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/newmamaspodcast)

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I’m keeping it real about life with a toddler in this audio journal style solo episode. My 17-month-old daughter has officially entered her villain era, and I’m feeling all the challenges of the baby-to-toddler transition. Tantrums, power struggles, the emotional rollercoaster of weaning, I’m talking about why this baby/toddler stage feels SO HARD!

If you’re a new mom navigating toddlerhood and just trying to survive the chaos, this episode is for you. Tune in for an honest, unfiltered take on motherhood and learning to love (OR NOT LOVE) this messy, wild, unpredictable season.

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Connect with Lina on @linaforrestal on Instagram
Follow the @newmamaspodcast on Instagram
Read Lina's Blog: www.linaforrestal.com
Support the Show: Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/newmamaspodcast)

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This episode is a voice note-style vent sesh from one mom to another. I’m sharing the unfiltered truths I never thought I’d say out loud:

• I resent my dogs after becoming a mom (hello, postpartum rage!)
• I want to quit breastfeeding cold turkey (breastfeeding burnout!)
• I went from in-law drama to actually having a healthy relationship with them (yes, it’s possible!).

Whether you’re breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, rage-cleaning, or hiding in your car for five minutes of peace — this one’s for you.

Support the show

Connect with Lina on @linaforrestal on Instagram
Follow the @newmamaspodcast on Instagram
Read Lina's Blog: www.linaforrestal.com
Support the Show: Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/newmamaspodcast)

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In this episode, I chit chat about:

• Why does Easter feel so commercialized now
• Wanting to give my kids the childhood I never had
• Introducing chores and piggy bank to my almost 5 year old
• Mom guilt about feeling annoyed with my kids sometimes
• Mindset shifts that help my day-to-day
• Weaning update
• Poking fun at "sad beige moms"
• ...and more!

Let me know if you liked the car voice memos or if the audio quality was so bad it was hard to listen to.

Until next week!

Support the show

Connect with Lina on @linaforrestal on Instagram
Follow the @newmamaspodcast on Instagram
Read Lina's Blog: www.linaforrestal.com
Support the Show: Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/newmamaspodcast)