Do you want to join the perfect community for moms? Do you struggle with finding your crowd, or people who "get it?" Do you have a hard time with friends and family understanding your health? I know I sure did! And that's why, eight years ago, I started my blog, Chronically Positive Mom. I wanted to help other moms like me find their way. From there, so many things have happened! The one I really want to focus on today, though, is the community, the perfect community for moms! We have a Hardy Mo...
Jan 10, 2023•13 min•Season 5Ep. 110
My life's dream... My life's dream is to make the world a better place. Originally, my plan was to do that with an army of wonderful children, who would go out spreading love and kindness into the world. But then I heard someone talking about how unfair that is. To the kids. Because seriously, that's a lot of pressure - to be responsible for changing the world as a kid, right? So I moved on, and it took a while to figure out how I can genuinely achieve my dream in life in a different way. Just m...
Jan 09, 2023•9 min•Season 5Ep. 109
Crafting the perfect gift business from home is easier than you think! Sue Monhait, a handmade product creator, passionately encourages small business owners to niche down and test the market before investing in their business, emphasizing the importance of validating products and avoiding the pitfalls of anxiety-inducing debt. Sue Monhait is the founder of Gift Biz Unwrapped, a podcast and resource for handmade product creators. She specializes in helping small business owners get off the groun...
Jan 03, 2023•37 min•Season 5Ep. 108
Medical Gaslighting Examples & what I learned this week... Do you know what medical gaslighting is? Today we're talking medical gaslighting examples, because what I learned this week is that gaslighting is a 2022 word of the year! That's right! It's happened so often, to so many people, that Merriam-Webster (the dictionary people) named "gaslighting" as one of the 2022 words of the year! I've heard so many medical gaslighting examples from my friends, people I've interviewed, and my own fami...
Dec 30, 2022•6 min•Season 5Ep. 107
My New Year Promise - new kind of resolutions When I think about new year resolutions, I think about things that I've been doing wrong. For instance - next year I'm going to lose weight. That implies that this year I was too heavy. Or - my resolution for next year is to get more organized, which implies that now I'm not organized enough. One thing I need more of in my life is positivity. So instead of a New Year's Resolution, I am going to make a promise to myself, my new year promise. New kind ...
Dec 29, 2022•11 min•Season 5Ep. 106
Seriously, It's time for moms to get into the holidays spirit, stop stressing, and just chill out! What would your family say if you stopped scrubbing those dishes and just sat down and played a game with them? Try it and see!! Find out all the deets in this week's episode!! (and delegate some of that work - if everyone does a little, mom can relax!) Thank you for joining me today! I'm having a blast creating Hardy Mom & it would be an honor to have you share it with someone who has a chroni...
Dec 23, 2022•6 min•Season 5Ep. 105
It's time to get ready for the holidays!! The holidays are just around the corner! It's time to get ready!! Here are some simple steps to prepare and not get overwhelmed at the last minute: Make a list of the things that make you feel good about/during the holidays. Tape it to the fridge. Do at least 1 every day. (You get to enjoy the holidays too.) Set and enforce boundaries. Don't want to take the kids out on Christmas morning? Don't. Let others' know they can come to your home at X time. It's...
Dec 19, 2022•18 min•Season 5Ep. 104
Try this for a happier family You're a great mom! You love your kids, you pay attention, take them places, and do what you can. But people still aren't happy. What's up with that? In today's episode you'll discover the simple thing we've done for a happier family, and all it takes is a poster board and some markers or crayons. You'll create something as a family, stick it on the fridge, and consistently remember what you can do for each other to make feel special & happy. Isn't that what we ...
Dec 16, 2022•11 min•Season 5Ep. 103
It is time to say no Are you running all the time? Not running as exercise, but just running from place to place? At the end of a busy day, do you wonder what you've done all day? (knowing it's been a lot, but not really remembering what it was?) It is time to say no to some things (and people) Why? How? Find out more in the episode Connect with Jen: Send me a message HERE Facebook: @thejenhardy Instagram: @thejenhardy Twitter: @thejenhardy Want a community of moms who understands? Join us on Fa...
Dec 14, 2022•10 min•Season 5Ep. 102
No one thought I'd make it through 2014. I spent 6 separate weeks in the hospital, had 20 day-long infusions at home, and a surgery that was nearly the end, but I kept going. Then in 2018 my doctor said those dreaded words, "all I can do is make you comfortable ." But I wasn't ready to go! 7 kids, an amazing husband, and a life I loved were waiting for me, so I started fighting, and I am still fighting today. I chose to LIVE, and I highly recommend it to you too. It's time to get back out there,...
Dec 12, 2022•12 min•Season 5Ep. 101
WOW! This is the 100th episode of Hardy Mom!! And to celebrate your awesomness as a listener, I'm sharing my best tips & tricks with you. The top 15 hacks that cover all the big #momlife things. These are the 15 best life hacks for moms that I've used over the past 33 years. Use them & I promise it's going to be easier! 1. Make your bed 2. Decide to smile 3. Journal (discover the rest in the epiosde and at HardyMom.com ) Thank you for joining me today! I'm having a blast creating the Be...
Dec 09, 2022•11 min•Season 5Ep. 100
I have a challenge for you! No, it's not publishing 30 episodes in 30 days to both a podcast and YouTube. That would be overwhelming! How do I know? That's what I just did! But I did learn. A lot!! And I want you to have the same experience. And the opportunity to learn & grow. I've got a challenge for you, and you can do something like: read a page a day; color in a coloring book every day; write a chapter in a book a day; make a call a day to family. You get the picture, anything you want!...
Dec 08, 2022•11 min•Season 4Ep. 99
Do you know what to say to someone with chronic illness? How can those close to you know what to say when you’re not feeling well? Start by telling them the kinds of things you’d like to hear. For instance, that they love you no matter what. Maybe you’d like to have them pick up something when they’re already at the store, or have them deliver your favorite dish the next time they make it. They won’t know what you need if you don’t tell them. (You could forward this list and give them some ideas...
Dec 07, 2022•10 min•Season 4Ep. 98
What NOT to say to someone with chronic illness Seriously, we've heard it all! And if these things worked, there would be no more illness in the world. What a great place that would be! Many people don’t know what to say to someone with a chronic illness. Unfortunately, they frequently feel like they have to say something. They think they are being helpful, but end up saying things that are intrusive, upsetting, or make us feel uncomfortable. It is good to let them know when they do it so they s...
Dec 06, 2022•10 min•Season 4Ep. 97
Want to start your day right? Make your bed Journal - write your plans, your dreams, your goals. Make a plan! (Check out my journals…) Take your medicine Eat something healthy - don’t feel like eating? Make a smoothie! Decide to smile - some days happiness is a choice, and it’s always contagious Benefits of my journals? They’re 5-year journals, so you can track your progress year after year, and they have monthly prompts that will keep you on track. (whether you get mine or others, I highly reco...
Dec 05, 2022•8 min•Season 4Ep. 96
Ever Wondered Why? Do you ever wonder “why me?” Why do I have these symptoms? Why am I the one who has to go through this? Why can’t I do what it seems like everyone else can do? Well, I don’t have the answer to the question “why me?” But I have the answer you need. Ready? It’s…….Stop asking the question "Why me?" Start Asking Yourself How: How can I make it better? How can I do what I want to do? How can I modify my favorite things to make them work for me? Start by subscribing or following to ...
Dec 04, 2022•10 min•Season 4Ep. 95
Are you a busy mom? (Every mom is a busy mom, am I right?) In today's fast paced world, it is more important than ever to learn how to manage your time effectively. After 33 years as a mom (with young kids still at home) I've had the time to work on these hacks to make my life easier. Try one or all of them & they'll help you too! Here are 10 tips to help you get started: 1. Make a list of the tasks you need to do and prioritize them according to importance. This will help you organize your ...
Dec 02, 2022•12 min•Season 4Ep. 93
5 Benefits to playing board games with family Connection - no matter how old your kids are - age 3 to adult - you'll have a conversation & connect Laughter - it really is medicine Quality time - everyone NEEDS it (and the screen time is taking it away) Eyeball time - Love - play the games that make each other feel loved. Games that inspire tears are out! Fun - just because you're a mom doesn't mean you can't have fun - you SHOULD be showing your kids that live can be fun!! Find out more in...
Dec 01, 2022•16 min•Season 4Ep. 92
Children With Special Needs Have a Lot to Teach Us! What if you could wake up each day smiling in the face of the challenges ahead of you? What if your health challenges were seen as an obstacle course to play through instead of a ten foot tall brick wall blocking your future? What if happiness through it all was possible? Having a chronic illness or disability can be difficult. Having a chronic illness as a Mom can be totally overwhelming! We need to adapt to; symptoms, medications & their ...
Nov 30, 2022•7 min•Season 4Ep. 91
Are you tossing & turning all night? Wondering how to sleep with chronic pain? Remember the "good ol' days" when you had a bedtime & you had to stay in bed & sleep? Most of us slept a lot as kids! We went to bed and stayed asleep. Then, changes started happening. Hormones, kids, and stress, to name a few. It became harder to fall asleep, then to stay asleep. I don't know about you, but I wake up at least 2 times every night. Sometimes it's me, sometimes it's a dog, or a child, but I ...
Nov 29, 2022•12 min•Season 4Ep. 90
Are you living in zombie apocalypse mode? Is the whole world crashing in & not giving you a second to rest? It's time to STOP! I know, "everyone else is doing it." But you don't need to! Did you know your kids won't even remember what they did before the age of 6? It's true. You can stop all that running & take time to really focus on what's important. You might not even know what that is right now because you're so busy! The zombies are loose, and it's time to stop them. And sometimes, ...
Nov 28, 2022•14 min•Season 4Ep. 89
You've got a lot of responsibilities & limited time. Who's got time to date their spouse? You do! Seriously, the most important, and longest lasting and closest relationship is the one you have with your spouse. Don't just let it die, keep it alive & happy by dating, doing loving things for each other, and bring back that romance! Thank you for joining me today! I'm having a blast creating the Bedridden Mom Series & it would be an honor to have you share these episodes with someone w...
Nov 27, 2022•15 min•Season 4Ep. 88
How to create your passion project (and why you need one) Over the past few months I've spent several nights in the hospital, including a few in ICU. There's been a lot more resting, and a lot less running around. But instead of being upset, I've used that time to work on the journals I've been wanting to do and work on this 30 day Bedridden Mom Series. When our bodies decide to take breaks, we can either move forward or give up. Please don't give up! Find something you'd like to do and focus on...
Nov 25, 2022•12 min•Season 5Ep. 86
10 Things to be thankful for when you have a chronic illness: I know, sometimes the pain, fatigue, and other symptoms can leave us feeling less thank thankful! But after we have our pity party, we've got to get back to focusing on the positive. Why? Because our physical and mental health depend on it! If you're not feeling very thankful today, maybe something on this list will help! Listen to the episode or read the full transcript at HardyMom.com Thank you for joining me today! I'm having a bla...
Nov 24, 2022•11 min•Season 4Ep. 85
How to Survive Family Gatherings, and Enjoy them Too!! We've all been there, leaving a family gathering and saying, "never again!" But we do, over and over. There's always that one guy (that one guy is in every group, and sometimes it's a girl!) who makes us nuts. It's time to stop being surprised by the unsurprising! If Aunt Betty says something upsetting every single time you see her, prepare for her to say something upsetting. Don't let her catch you off guard again! Go into this gathering lo...
Nov 23, 2022•10 min•Season 4Ep. 84
Communicating expectations is the key to relationships (but it's not always easy) In any relationship, personal or professional, communicating expectations is key. By clearly communicating what we expect from the other person, we can avoid misunderstandings and frustration. When expectations are not met, it can lead to disappointment and resentment. Good communication is the key to any good relationship, whether it be with a significant other, friend, family member, or co-worker. Oftentimes when...
Nov 22, 2022•14 min•Season 4Ep. 83
Ice cream for lunch? Wear those comfy clothes instead of pajamas? Sometimes we just need to do things our own way!! It took many years for me to realize that there don't have to be rules for every single thing I do. And while we still need to handle our basic responsibilities and take care of our kids, we really can relax a lot more and give ourselves permission to do things in the way that's easiest and best for ourselves when we don't feel well! How about you? Do you give yourself permission t...
Nov 21, 2022•14 min•Season 4Ep. 82
Brain fog is real! Here are my top 10 brain fog hacks: the first 3 you might know... Use your phone. Also, your tablet, computer, and smart watch if you have them. Try to use the same operating system, like all Apple or Android, so that everything flows seamlessly together. Set reminders. For everything! Appointments, taking the trash out, anything you need to do will be beeping on your phone. Eat healthy. Your brain needs healthy food to do its best work. Yes, you're tired & it's hard, but ...
Nov 20, 2022•12 min•Season 4Ep. 81
Pre Made Healthy Meals Are A Must When You're Bedridden! You can't get out of bed. You're nauseous, in pain, and your kids are hungry. What's a Mom to do? 1. You need a plan! If you haven't planned on this, order food. Yes, it costs more, but if you & your kids don't eat that's going to be a bigger problem! 2. Make that plan! Listen to the previous episode about making a 30 day plan (BONUS - there's a free printable you can get on that page to write your meals out!) 3. Purchase the foods for...
Nov 19, 2022•6 min•Season 4Ep. 80
Have you ever been asked, "What's for dinner?" I don't know about you, but that question drives me crazy! (every single day when I hear it - IF I haven't taken my own advice in this episode) And honestly, that happens when I don't know the answer! How can you always have the answer? Have a plan! Learn how to make a monthly meal plan Yes, a monthly plan for meals! Once you do that, post it up in the kitchen & whenever someone asks you that question, tell them to look. BOOM! No more! Find out ...
Nov 18, 2022•8 min•Season 4Ep. 79
