# 81. Who wants to be a better mom? Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/mothering-ourselves-mindfully-7036456/81-who-wants-to-be-a-better-mom Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/mothering-ourselves-mindfully-7036456/81-who-wants-to-be-a-better-mom.md Podcast: [Mothering Ourselves Mindfully](https://stenobird.com/podcast/mothering-ourselves-mindfully-7036456) Published: 2026-03-03T09:00:00+00:00 Episode link: https://www.theschoolofmom.com Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/d6e9c687-ed04-4ed9-a957-07c4eb5aa6ce.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/mothering-ourselves-mindfully-7036456/episodes/81-who-wants-to-be-a-better-mom Duration seconds: 1243 ## Resource In this episode, I'm walking through a snowy winter scene reflecting on a question that's been coming up a lot lately: what does it really mean to want to be a better mom? I share the story of my very first brand positioning statement from 2020, why I pushed back on it then, and why five years later I've completely changed my mind. This episode is an invitation to explore how growth and self-compassion aren't opposites — and why wanting more for yourself as a mom is something to be proud of. Key Points The marketing positioning statement that made me anxious in 2020 — and why I embrace it now Why I was over-protecting moms from their own shame, and the shift I've made since The difference between wanting to be better from a place of "I'm not enough" vs. "I'm ready and available" What "better" actually means in my world: more steady, more grounded, more integrated — not more perfect The conversation I had with my daughters asking them how I could be a better mom — and what they said Why shame is like an appendix: we've largely evolved past needing it, and it rarely drives healthy action Who I'm speaking to now: the self-aware, high-functioning mom who is activated by growth, not shamed by it How wanting to be better actually helps us integrate the parts of ourselves that feel like they're never enough Quotes "There is nothing wrong with you as you are, and you still get to want more from yourself." "Better, ironically, means that you've integrated the parts of yourselves that don't feel like they're good enough." "I am perfectly imperfect. I embrace all parts of myself — and they're super lucky because of that." "It's possible to grow and to be better without shame." Resources Mentioned Send Sarah a voice note! → Send Sarah your voice note right here! https://www.speakp… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/mothering-ourselves-mindfully-7036456/episodes/81-who-wants-to-be-a-better-mom/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/mothering-ourselves-mindfully-7036456/81-who-wants-to-be-a-better-mom.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.