Stop Trying to Be the Strong Mom: Grief, Joy and The Power of Vulnerability

Stop Trying to Be the Strong Mom: Grief, Joy and The Power of Vulnerability

Author: Anna Seewald March 10, 2026 Duration: 49:45

Rebecca Thompson, family physician, on redefining strength in motherhood and why vulnerability matters more than being the "strong mom." An honest conversation about the difference between pity and compassion, the tension between privacy and oversharing, and the emotional truth that grief and joy can coexist. This episode explores what it means to be witnessed in your story—and how holding the long view can sustain us through the messy, beautiful work of parenting.

Get her book: Held Together: A Shared Memoir of Motherhood, Medicine, and Imperfect Love – Navigating Grief and Joy Through Women's Diverse Journeys to Parenthood, Family, and Community 

LINKS AND RESOURCES

Podcast Production by Aminur. 


Anna Seewald hosts Authentic Parenting, a space for those who believe that raising children is deeply intertwined with growing themselves. This podcast moves beyond quick tips and strategies to explore the inner work required to parent with intention. Conversations here are grounded in a trauma-informed perspective, offering a compassionate lens through which to examine family patterns and reactions. The core idea is that by consciously addressing our own histories and connecting with our authentic selves, we can interrupt cycles of generational stress. What you’ll hear in each episode are thoughtful discussions and practical insights aimed at transforming daily challenges into opportunities for connection. The goal isn’t perfection, but fostering a family life with more calm, understanding, and genuine joy. It’s about creating an environment where children can thrive without carrying burdens forward. Tuning into this podcast feels like a supportive dialogue, reminding you that the journey of parenting is also a profound path of personal discovery. It’s for anyone ready to embrace the motto of raising their children while growing themselves.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Authentic Parenting
Podcast Episodes
The Screen Time Advice That's Hurting Your Kids [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:33
What if some of the screen-time advice you've been following is outdated? This candid conversation gets real about kids, smartphones, social media, screen-free meals, bedtime and what screens are really doing to family l…
Failure to Launch: When Your Young Adult Won't Move Forward [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:41
Your young adult is home, not working, and has no idea what comes next. Is it failure to launch or something deeper? In this episode, Evan Sanchez explains why your young adult may not be lazy or unmotivated, why pushing…
From Reactivity to Responding: A 90-Second Reset [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:05
Can you become calm in just 90-seconds? What does calm mean? How does it feel? Why choose the power of the pause? We can't think out os stress. Disvoer the LAR-LAR method to calm, connection and kindness. Get her book: T…
Discovering the Transformative Power of Walking [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:25
Courtney Conley on how something as simple as a daily walk can transform not just your physical health but your mental health, your relationships, and your overall well-being. We explore: the 10,000-step rule is wrong yo…
How to Heal a Dysregulated Nervous System [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:02
If ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected and wondered what's actually going on in your body—this episode is for you. Physiotherapist Jessica Maguire on what the nervous system actually is, what the vagus nerve do…
Rediscovering Play as An Adult [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:43
Rachael Renae, an author, artist, play and creativity enthusiast on the power of on how to prioritize play to overcome blocks, better connect with yourseves and your people, and confidently live big, fulfilling lives. Mi…
Rethinking Modern Fatherhood, Mental Health, and Masculinity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:53
Kevin Maguire, author of The New Fatherhood, about what is shifting inside modern fatherhood and why so many men are trying to parent differently than they were parented themselves. Did you know that dads can experience…