492: Why Abby Is Done Fighting Over Screen Time (and Other Back-to-School Shifts) // 3 in 30 Team

492: Why Abby Is Done Fighting Over Screen Time (and Other Back-to-School Shifts) // 3 in 30 Team

Author: Cloud10 August 3, 2026 Duration: 38:38
If the back-to-school season is already creeping up on you (the supply lists, the new routines, the mental math of who needs to be where and when), you are not the only mom feeling that low hum of stress. Every year it sneaks up faster than I expect it to, and every year I tell myself this is the year I'll feel ready. And... I never quite do. (Maybe you can relate! 😆) So today I'm handing the mic to three of my favorite people to talk this through with: Abby, our Finance Director, Emily, our Marketing Director, and Christy, our Operations Director. Each of them is going to walk us through how one of their core values is shaping a real decision or mindset shift they're making this back-to-school season. These aren't Pinterest-perfect systems, but they are an honest look at what's actually working for them right now. Whatever season of motherhood you're in, however many kids or what ages, there's a good chance one of their stories will feel a little like your own, and might just help you lead this season with more intention and a lot more peace. Some of what you'll hear includes: 🍎 Why Abby decided she's done fighting her kids over Chromebooks, and what she's trying instead 🍎 The "black trash bag energy" Emily admits she brings to every new school year (and why she's doing something different this time) 🍎 The line Christy's mom used on her as a kid that she still thinks about decades later For full show notes, including takeaways, click here. *** Announcements: If this conversation has you wondering what your own core values actually are, our Self-Assured Motherhood quiz is a great place to start. It only takes a couple of minutes and gives you a real starting point for where to focus your energy this season. Take it at 3in30podcast.com/quiz. Related Episodes: 478: What Every Mom of a Teenager Needs to Hear // Emily Ricks 449: 3 Simple Strategies to Prevent After-School Meltdowns // Alyssa Blask Campbell 306: Creating Back-to-School Routines for a Smooth Transition // Mika Perry Podcast Sponsors: BetterHelp: 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms is sponsored by BetterHelp. Go to betterhelp.com/3in30 to get 10% off your first month of online therapy. Quince: Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com/3in30 for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. K12 Powered Schools: See how K12 Powered Schools can help unlock your child's full potential. Enroll online today at K12.com/3in30. Zenni: Go to zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for fifteen percent off your first order, plus free shipping on all US orders over sixty five dollars. Let's Connect! Join me on Instagram! Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course ***

Motherhood often feels like a constant juggling act, leaving little time for lengthy advice or complicated strategies. That’s the exact gap that 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms fills. Each episode is built on a simple, powerful premise: delivering three practical, doable takeaways within a half-hour. Host Rachel Nielson, who brings her perspective as a mother, teacher, and writer, understands that a busy parent’s brain is already full. She curates conversations and shares insights that cut straight to what’s useful, focusing on real-world application over theory. You’ll hear discussions rooted in the daily realities of family life, covering everything from educational activities for kids and navigating family dynamics to personal well-being amidst the beautiful chaos. This isn’t about adding more to your to-do list, but about finding smarter, more peaceful ways to manage what’s already there. The tone is consistently encouraging, aiming to replace overwhelm with a sense of capability and even magic. Tuning into this podcast feels like a coffee chat with a knowledgeable friend who leaves you with clear, actionable steps-not just more noise. It’s a resource for any mom looking to gather concrete ideas for parenting, personal growth, and creating a more harmonious home, all within the span of a daily commute or a folded laundry pile.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms
Podcast Episodes
494: Voice Your Values // The Back-to-School Check-In for Moms #1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:40
It's back-to-school season, and our kids are about to be assessed on their reading, their math, and their writing. But what if we gave ourselves an assessment for how we're doing as moms? (And I don't mean a test involvi…
491: How to Change Someone's Life (Without Even Realizing It) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:55
With back-to-school season right around the corner, I keep thinking about a moment from my own high school years – a moment so small I barely registered it at the time. I noticed a kid sitting alone, stuck out my hand, a…
490: 3 Things to Remember When Parenting is Difficult [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:26
Lately, my kids have been watching a lot of TV. More than I'd like to admit. And for a while, I let myself spiral about it. What kind of mom lets her kids zone out on screens all day? What is that doing to them? But then…
489: How My Mom Helped Me Know Myself [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:37
Grief has been close to my family lately, and in the weeks since losing my brother-in-law Logan, I've found myself returning again and again to the memories that hold the people we love, long after they're no longer here…
488: A Letter to My Body (and Two Other Essays I Wrote in Recovery) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:42
I have been a writer my whole life. Long before this podcast existed, writing was how I made sense of my hardest seasons, how I figured out what I actually thought and felt, and how I slowly found my way through pain I d…
485: The Resentment that Moms Don't Talk About // JoAnn Crohn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:10
I have a friend named Laney who genuinely does not experience mom guilt. Not because she's a perfect mom, but because she's decided her kids are lucky to have her — and she means it! I used to laugh when she said things…