Has this ever happened to you? The kids are home, the house is a mess, there's laundry to do, dishes to wash, and You. Feel. Exhausted. You don’t want to look at this mess, your kids just aren’t cleaning it, and you just can’t do it all yourself. So many moms have asked how to get kids to pick up, so today I'm sharing my secret. It’s as simple as counting as high as their age. Listen to this episode to find out more, and please share with a friend. Thanks! Jen I’d love to hear from you! Share yo...
Mar 08, 2022•14 min•Season 3Ep. 46
When I was getting ready to start this podcast, I knew I needed something fun to introduce it, and what's more fun than a catchy jingle? I've had fun creating it, and I hope you enjoy listening to it too! When you're done, check out the latest episodes here . Thanks for listening, Jen Questions or comments? Go to HardyMom.com
Feb 23, 2022•1 min
Want to know what the Hardy Mom Podcast is all about? If you've got health challenges from anxiety to zika, the Hardy Mom Podcast is here for you! There is expert advice as well as tips & tricks to help you live well. Learn how to move forward, even when your body is pushing back (and get those kids to help out too!) Look forward to hearing from you here , Jen Find more at HardyMom.com...
Feb 22, 2022•2 min
I LOVE presents! Honestly, I do love getting them - who doesn't? But I truly love giving them even more! As the older kids have become adults, they haven't wanted to ask for gifts, and I just found out why. The answer might help you too. They don't want to over-ask, and just didn't know what kind of price point we were aiming for. They know we can't do things like buy them a new home or furniture, and they felt awkward, so we gave them our budget, and then they were happy to let us know what the...
Dec 20, 2018•21 min•Season 2Ep. 45
Is the holiday season a time of joy, or do you wish it could just all be over already? You don't have to suffer through the holidays! 1. Set boundaries. You don't have to have Aunt Edna stay with you for two weeks over the holidays if she upsets you and/or your family. She can stay in a with other family, a hotel, or her own home. 2. Eat what makes you feel good. No, ice cream for breakfast, lunch, and dinner isn't the best choice unless you've just gotten your tonsils out, but start enjoying yo...
Dec 12, 2018•30 min•Season 2Ep. 44
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” -Yoda Yes, I'm a Star Wars geek. But there is some wisdom found in Yoda's words. If nothing else, it shows us that we can quickly get from a subtly uncomfortable place to a place of darkness quickly. And let's face it, when mom's angry, everybody suffers! If you find yourself getting angry quickly, this is the show for you. As moms we all get angry, but we can control how we show and handle th...
Dec 06, 2018•30 min•Season 2Ep. 43
"When I was in the hospital I didn't have that role model" (amputees, or people in a wheelchair).."and that's what I've been trying to be for other people." Kirstie Ennis If you haven't heard of Kirstie Ennis, here's a quick introduction (you can learn more here: Kirstie Ennis is redefining beautiful. When you look at her picture, you know right away Kirstie is a beautiful woman, but she doesn't always feel that way. You might not notice the scars on her face, or her prosthetic leg, but Kirstie ...
Nov 29, 2018•25 min•Season 2Ep. 42
5 Things to be thankful for: 1. You're here! Every day that you wake up, you have hope. Hope that tomorrow will be better, that you'll feel well, and that new opportunities will present themselves 2. Scientific Advances Did you know that kerosene was used as a treatment for many common ailments 100 years ago? And in 1952, both tuberculosis and syphilis had no cure. Today you can go to the store and pick up modern miracles every day! Babies that are born early have a much greater chance of surviv...
Nov 22, 2018•24 min•Season 2Ep. 41
Are you sick & tired of being sick & tired? Even moms who are totally healthy get exhausted sometimes. The secret to how to get the sleep you need is in this episode You'll also discover: What a 'Bip' is and how it can help you (I'd now recommend Apple Watch or equivalent) How tickets can save your sanity How to get the kids to be quiet so you can rest Some things Jen wishes she learned decades ago, and more! Thank you for joining me today! Want more? Go to HardyMom.com and you'll find w...
Nov 15, 2018•22 min•Season 2Ep. 40
"Many women spend more on their clothes than they do on an annual vacation, and yet put more strategy on the vacation than the closet." -Sarah Moore Sarah Moore's "3 S" Strategy - Sort, Share, Stop: SORT: First, sort clothing to keep and get rid of, then sort it so you can store it easily in your closet. Sort into Yes, No, and Maybe. Get rid of the No pile. Then makes outfits with the rest. Either get rid of the things that don't make an outfit or commit to buying the other piece(s) you need. St...
Nov 07, 2018•24 min•Season 2Ep. 38
UPDATE: I'm no longer in a wheelchair when I get tired, or a walker. My cane has been gathering dust in the garage for three years! I've moved to paradise, changed my mindset, overcome my trauma (most days) and am a different person from the one who created this episode! Reach out to me here , and I'll tell you more. In today's episode, I'm talking about being abandoned in an empty terminal, in a wheelchair, at the Nashville Airport by the United Airlines flight crew. There are a lot of feelings...
Oct 31, 2018•27 min•Season 2Ep. 39
Do you ever feel like the lone employee in "Mom's Diner?" Sarah Moore shares how to end that, and enlist help to make meals fun again. Today Sarah Moore discussed: When it comes to meal planning - "simplify, simplify, simplify." Google meal plans so you don't have to come up with your own. Simple, easy, and healthy. Assign themes to each day: Pasta Monday, Taco Tuesday, burger day, pizza day, British food day, Indian food day, etc. Make the same theme each Monday, Tuesday, etc so you don't have ...
Oct 25, 2018•21 min•Season 2Ep. 37
Are you living in paperwork overwhelm? Do you have so many pieces of adorable children's artwork you just don't know what to do with it all? Do you need a simple way to control papers? Then this is the episode for you! This series is different, because instead of an interview, Sarah Moore will be giving 4 separate master classes that make up the 4 Organization episodes. Today's master class is about Taming the Paper Monster. Sarah Moore's 3 Step Paper Reduction Strategy : 1. Stop the paper comin...
Oct 18, 2018•22 min•Season 2Ep. 36
Do you ever wish your house was more organized? Are you tired of clutter? Then this is the series for you! We're starting it off with 5 simple ways to declutter with minimal energy. This series is different, because instead of an interview, Sarah Moore will be giving 4 separate master classes that make up the 4 Organization episodes. Sarah Moore's 5 Simple Steps to Decluttering : Let go of things mentally before you let go of them physically. Stop bringing new things into the house. Get the thin...
Oct 11, 2018•17 min•Season 2Ep. 35
034 - Women's Cancers: The Importance of Knowing Your Body with Dr. Noah Goldman "It's about knowing yourself and knowing what's normal for you... taking the initiative to seek help if there's something that just doesn't seem right to you." --Dr. Noah Goldman Today Dr. Goldman and I talked about: The Importance of listening to your body ALWAYS have abnormal bleeding checked by a doctor. It probably isn't cancer, but it's a sign something isn't right. Why you should have your screenings, even as ...
Sep 27, 2018•31 min•Season 2Ep. 34
Whether your diagnosis will mildly affect your health, or drastically impact your lifespan, telling your children about it is a good idea. But just because something needs to be done, don't make it easy. That's why I'm talking with Diana Sloan today. She's got great ideas about how to talk to kids about cancer. (Her ideas will work for any diagnosis) UPDATE - I am crying as I write this. This is the hardest part of working with Moms with illness. Diana Sloan passed away April, 2021. She fought h...
Sep 20, 2018•39 min•Season 2Ep. 33
According to the World Health Organization: 9.6 million people worldwide are estimated to die from cancer in 2018 30-50% of cancers could be prevented. You read that right! 30-50%! That's why we need to talk. Today I'm talking about: Why it's important to talk about cancer, even if it makes us uncomfortable My experiences with my family and cancer World Health Organization Statistics (found here; http://www.who.int/cancer/en/ ) And MORE Want to be part of the conversation? Please send YOUR quest...
Sep 13, 2018•15 min•Season 2Ep. 32
UPDATE May 2022 - CJ is going strong, educating women about uterine cancer. Today CJ Colas and I talked about: Uterine cancer What it's like being a mom of a young child while going through cancer treatment. Warning signs of uterine cancer Her determination to beat cancer and how she's doing it. How she got diagnosed, and the importance of knowing your body. CJ's nonprofit, and how she's using her diagnosis to help others. Advice for other women struggling with cancer. The importance of not givi...
Sep 06, 2018•37 min•Season 2Ep. 31
Today Dr. Cindy Blackwell and I talked about: What an occupational therapist does The fact that play is the primary occupation of the child. It's our kid's job to play. Children learn about how the world works through play. Limiting screen time is important. Especially for kids with disabilities or delays, and can cause sensory overload. It's a good idea to go on a "sensory diet," feeding our sensory systems in a healthy way. Screen time can be like a sugar rush for the brain that can cause a cr...
Aug 30, 2018•40 min•Season 2Ep. 30
Parijat's advice: "Trust your body. Your doctor is the medical expert in the room, but they will never be the expert on your body, that's you. So don't ever forget that. Bring your expertise into the room. Make them listen. Explain what's going on as clearly as you can, and if they won't listen, walk away." Today, Parijat Deshpande and I talked about: Parijat's own story of high-risk pregnancy. She had endometriosis, and needed to use IFV to get pregnant. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is rar...
Aug 22, 2018•30 min•Season 2Ep. 29
Joy Acaso LCSW's Top Parenting 101 tips ( see more at HardyMom.com ) Parents need to take care of themselves so they don't feel overwhelmed. Rules and relationships have to go hand in hand. If we put everything into our family but don't take care of ourselves, the guilt comes out, then we start to parent out of hurt, and fear, and anger which isn't good at all. If you're parenting alone and hitting your breaking point, the first thing to do is slow down and take 10 minutes to figure out a game p...
Aug 15, 2018•50 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Do you wonder how in the world you're going to keep up with technology and keep your kids safe? If you're a parent, this is a must-listen episode! Jamey Tucker and I talk about: The importance of open communication with your kids about tech safety, and creating an environment that allows them to come to you with questions and concerns Secret Locker apps (you need to know about these!) Hidden meanings behind emojis The apps police warn parents about Video chat rooms, and what's happening inside t...
Aug 08, 2018•50 min•Season 2Ep. 27
Today's Discussion: Season 1: It's been so much fun with lots of unique guests! It's been a wild and crazy ride! Thank you for joining me on this journey so far Season 2: Each month will have its own topic August is Parenting Month September is Cancer Month, featuring some amazing women who aren't afraid to talk about the "C" word. November is Women in the Military Month, where I talk to women about what it's like to serve, the physical and emotional toll it can take, and how they're bravely han...
Aug 03, 2018•15 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Have you listened to episode 24 about ditching the guilt? If not, check it out at jenhardy.net/episode24 . Are you happy? Do you do things on a regular basis that make YOU happy? Or does all of your energy go towards those around you? Sure, as moms we need to focus on our kids needs and put our family first, most of the time. But taking some time for ourselves, and doing the things we enjoy doing is crucial. Some questions to ask yourself to discover what makes you happy: Think back to when you ...
Jul 20, 2018•30 min•Season 1Ep. 25
"Life is much easier if you don't have surprises flying at you like baseballs from a pitching machine." Are you one of the women struggling with stress and the pressure of parenting? Then this is the episode for you! Today I'm talking straight from my book, "The Sick Mom's Guide to Having Fun Again: If I can do it, you can too!" to help you combat the stress and find peace. Some things I talk about: Breathing strategies to reduce stress "Three minutes and a mantra" How to get it all out in 10 mi...
Jul 13, 2018•34 min•Season 1Ep. 24
It's time to talk about why it's important to slow down BEFORE you have a near-death experience. When I called the gas company out because of a funny smell I noticed when my oven was on, I had no idea we'd been exposed to carbon monoxide for the past year. Not only that, but there was more danger lurking in my home that was equally deadly. It's made me realize how lucky I am to be here. Those errands I had last week that drove me nuts I'm enjoying this week! Why? Because if I wasn't here, someon...
Jul 06, 2018•21 min•Season 1Ep. 23
"If you take nothing else from this (episode), it's recognizing that it's actually quite a radical act of self-respect to allow yourself to rest when you're tired." -Brodie Welch Brodie helps caring, high-achieving, women put themselves on their own to-do lists so they can trade stress and burnout for energy, joy, and vibrant health. She has helped thousands of clients improve their digestion, sleep, and mood; dial in a regular bodymind practice, and step into the next version of themselves. Som...
Jun 20, 2018•47 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Victoria Lewin is currently working on a book series for schools in the UK called, "Who Cares for Us?" She is compiling contributions from young carers and their families all over the world. It's covering young carers awareness, disability awareness, and anti-bullying awareness. The first book in the series is due to be published n 2019. THE DEFINITION OF YOUNG CARER (from carers.org) IS: A young carer is someone aged 18 or under who helps look after a relative with a disability, illness, mental...
Jun 13, 2018•58 min•Season 1Ep. 20
BIO: Bri Pruitt is a wife, Mom, RN and Certified Health Coach who is passionate about guiding you to a nontoxic lifestyle so that you can experience true wellness. Bri has eliminated many of her symptoms: brain fog, headaches, etc. by simply eliminating chemicals in her home. Today, she talks about simple ways to change the way you feel by changing the products you use. Household cleaners, soaps, and even makeup can contribute to our symptoms, and there's an app to help you find out which ones t...
Jun 06, 2018•36 min•Season 1Ep. 19
It’s summer, and kids everywhere are saying things like: Are we there yet? I'm bored, what can I do? I don't want to help clean up, why are you making me? The same things happen all the time, especially on school breaks & weekends. You can't stop those questions from coming, but you can be prepared with answers! And that's what today's episode is all about. Do you need some suggestions for: What to do? How to keep everyone busy? How to keep the house clean? How to get everyone to help? Here ...
Jun 01, 2018•28 min•Season 1Ep. 18
