I Didn't Sign Up for This - Honest Conversations about Parenthood with @honestly.kaitlyn - podcast cover

I Didn't Sign Up for This - Honest Conversations about Parenthood with @honestly.kaitlyn

Kaitlyn Nilleswww.buzzsprout.com

Did any of us really know what we signed up for before we had kids? 


Kaitlyn didn’t and while she loves being a mom to her two daughters, before becoming a mom, she always imagined motherhood looking like a perfectly curated mom influencer account on Instagram. After her first daughter was born, she was hit with the reality that motherhood was nothing like it appeared. 


Join us while Kaitlyn and her guests discuss the real and honest truth about motherhood that no one else likes to.


New episodes every Tuesday! 


Follow Kaitlyn on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube @honestly.kaitlyn


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Episodes

Not Goodbye & First Kid Free Vacation

In this episode, Kaitlyn and Cody discuss their recent kid free trip since their honeymoon over 12 years ago. We chat about things like if we missed our kids when we were gone and Cody’s sobriety at an all inclusive resort. Kaitlyn also shares a special announcement about the podcast. Don’t forget to follow the podcast on Instagram: @ididntsignupforthispodcast and for more everyday mom life, follow me on Instagram @honestly.kaitlyn , TikTok: @honestly.kaitlyn and YouTube: @honestly.kaitlyn If yo...

Nov 26, 20241 hr

Redefining Motherhood with Hannah Olson

Today, we're joined by Hannah Olson, who’s on a mission to redefine what it means to be a mother. Hannah sheds light on the distinction between motherhood as a relationship and caregiving as a role, advocating for a fairer distribution of caregiving responsibilities and the crucial need for societal support for mothers. Our conversation also explores how language shapes our perceptions of motherhood and emphasizes the value of prioritizing quality time and meaningful connections over routine car...

Nov 19, 20241 hr 7 min

The Mental Load and Creating Equity with Paige Turner

Hey Friends! Today we are chatting with Paige Turner who is a mom of four and content creator who talks about the often-overlooked topics of invisible labor and domestic work. In our conversation we explore the mental load that mothers carry, the inequities in domestic responsibilities within relationships, and the importance of communication and equity in partnerships. To connect with Paige, you can follow her on Instagram @sheisapaigeturner and TikTok: @sheisapaigeturner FairPlay Tasks Spreads...

Nov 12, 202449 min

Scheduling Intimacy, Burnout and Work/Life Balance

Ask and you shall receive! Cody is back on the podcast for a candid, off the cuff conversation about scheduling intimacy, what it means to live a balanced life, being intentional with our schedules for self care time and being completely exhausted after the kids go to bed. Don’t forget to follow the podcast on Instagram: @ididntsignupforthispodcast and for more everyday mom life, follow me on Instagram @honestly.kaitlyn , TikTok: @honestly.kaitlyn and YouTube: @honestly.kaitlyn If you enjoyed th...

Nov 05, 202451 min

Parenting in the 80's and 90's - Interview with My Mom

Hey friends! Today we are talking with my mom about her parenting journey through the 80’s and 90’s as a stay at home mom to six kids - yes I said six! We discuss things like how parenting has changed over the last 30 years, the unrealistic expectations placed on modern mothers, balancing family life and the impact on marriage after kids. Thank you so much for listening and if you enjoyed this episode, make sure to leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast! Don’t forget to follow the podcas...

Oct 29, 202456 min

Real Talk: Tired and Overwhelmed

Hey friends! Last week I posted a poll on Instagram wanting to know why you’re feeling so tired and overwhelmed as a parent. We go over the results, I read some verbatims and I share the overwhelming mental load that comes with parenting, the societal expectations placed on mothers, and the struggle to balance work and family life. This is another real and raw episode so get ready to hear how I feel about certain things, I truly do not hold back in this episode. Thank you so much for listening a...

Oct 22, 202435 min

Why Is Making Mom Friends So Hard?

Why is making mom friends so hard?! In this weeks solo episode we chat about it! I talk about my personale experience making mom friends, feeling isolated as a first time mom and practical tips on making mom friends, both in person and online. Thank you so much for listening and if you enjoyed this episode, make sure to leave us a review and subscribe to the podcast! Don’t forget to follow the podcast on Instagram: @ididntsignupforthispodcast and for more everyday mom life, follow me on Instagra...

Oct 15, 202428 min

Connecting with Your Partner in 4 Minutes

Hey friends! Welcome to this weeks episode! Today we are chatting with Tera Wages, the CEO of Connection Codes about the importance of emotional regulation, and the need for connection in parenting and marriage. We talk about why parents are really overwhelmed (hint: it’s not always our to-do list) and she shares a tool that will help you connect with your partner in as little as 4 minutes a day. I hope you enjoy this episode and don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! You c...

Oct 08, 202448 min

I Didn't Sign Up For Being The Default Parent

Today we are chatting about things we didn’t sign up for this week - particularly focusing on default parenting. I share some recent personal experiences with overwhelm, especially while managing sick kids and balancing work responsibilities. I also chat about the emotional toll of parenting, the struggle for equality in shared responsibilities, and the exhaustion that comes with daily life. I also chat about things I do when I am feeling particularly overwhelmed or honestly, kind of fed up with...

Oct 01, 202429 min

An ExMormon’s Take on "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives"

In this weeks episode, I share my thoughts about Secret Lives of Mormon Wives as an ExMormon living in Utah. We talk about the Utah culture, soda shops, “soaking”, and if Mormons really get laughing gas while getting Botox. I also give my opinion on each of the cast and and some key moments in the show. There might be some spoilers so if you haven’t watched or care, save this to listen to later! I end with reading your submissions about things you didn’t sign up for this week. Thank you so much ...

Sep 24, 202445 min

Parenting is Completely Overwhelming

Hey friends! In today’s solo episode, we are going to chat about my personal experience with anxiety and stress as a parent! Yay! I deep dive into the recent report from the US Surgeon General on parental stress and share my personal feelings and thoughts about social media, the challenges of balancing work and parenting, the lack of affordable childcare, and more! I also give a first impression of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives as an exMormon living in Utah. Link to the US Surgeon General’s Repor...

Sep 17, 202442 min

Finding Joy While Doing Less with Christine Landis

Christine Landis, founder of Peacock Parent, joins us this week to discuss the benefits of running a household like a business, outsourcing low joy tasks to improve quality of life and how we as parents should treat time like currency. Christine is a mom and a former CEO, who retired herself at 36 years old after selling her business. She spends her time helping parents run a household that empowers them to buy back time so you can show up present, energized and the best version of yourself. To ...

Sep 10, 202449 min

Back to School Rants and More Babies?

Welcome to this weeks cluster of an episode where Kaitlyn and Cody discuss topics such as the difficulties of managing kids school schedules for working parents (several rants included) and how to decide if you should have more kids (no, this isn’t an announcement!). We dig into the financial pressures of raising kids, paying for college, impacts to mental health, lack of paid leave and age gaps. Don’t forget to follow the podcast on Instagram: @ididntsignupforthispodcast and for more everyday m...

Sep 03, 202438 min

Independent Play and Toy Rotation Tips

Today we are chatting with Andrea Brambila about independent play! If you have a baby or toddler, you’ve probably seen content around independent play and how to get your child to play independently so you can get sh*t done! Andrea is an independent play specialist and is here to give us alllll the tips! We chat about easy ways to start teaching independent play, 10 minute toy rotations and how to connect with your child without feeling like you have to sit on the floor and play pretend for hour...

Aug 27, 20241 hr 1 min

Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Dating after Kids and Sex!

Everyone and their dog has been talking about ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ series that is set to release in September but I thought I would add to the noise with my unique perspective as an ex-Mormon living in Utah. I also chat about date nights, connecting with your partner and sex after baby! Don’t forget to follow the podcast on Instagram: @ididntsignupforthispodcast and for more everyday mom life, follow me on Instagram @honestly.kaitlyn , TikTok: @honestly.kaitlyn and YouTube: @honest...

Aug 20, 202437 min

Recovering from Burnout and her Sobriety Journey as a Type A Personality

Abby Calabrese joins us to share her journey of overcoming burnout and her decision to quit alcohol. She discusses the challenges of motherhood and the chaos it brings and how alcohol became a coping mechanism for stress and burnout. We also discuss Abby’s journey through burnout and overwhelm as a working mom and she shares alternative ways to de-stress and take care of herself. Abby offers a video course and one-on-one coaching to help individuals navigate burnout and find balance in their liv...

Aug 13, 20241 hr

Q&A with Cody Q&A with My Ex-Husband/Boyfriend or Whatever the F**k You Want to Call Him

You asked, Cody answers! Last week we did a Q&A on Instagram stories for Cody and the responses were overwhelming so we decided to do a podcast episode! Cody answers questions about our recent trip, our decision to get back together, his sobriety journey and more! Hope you enjoy! Don’t forget to follow the podcast on Instagram: @ididntsignupforthispodcast and for more everyday mom life, follow me on Instagram @honestly.kaitlyn , TikTok: @honestly.kaitlyn and YouTube: @honestly.kaitlyn If you...

Aug 06, 202443 min

Horrible Threes and What’s up with Kids Birthday Parties?

My baby is four which means we are officially out of the “horrible threes” stage. On this episode I talk about horrible threes, epic meltdowns, how none of my parenting approaches have worked with my younger daughter and ask myself: when do kids start getting easier. I also chat about kids birthday parties, the pressure to make them “Instagram worthy” and give some updates on PMDD and live stressors. Don’t forget to follow the podcast on Instagram: @ididntsignupforthispodcast and for more everyd...

Jul 30, 202425 min

Debriefing our Two-Week “Memory Making" Trip with Kids

It’s been two weeks since I’ve released a new episode and this is a good one! Cody joins us on the podcast where we debrief our recent vacation and the challenges of traveling with kids. We touch on the status of our relationship, updates to the podcast and get into the highs and lows of the trip, managing expectations, the Taylor Swift concert and dealing with tantrums in public. You can get $10 off your inflatable bed for airplanes with discount code: KAITLYN10 visit https://www.flyawaydesigns...

Jul 23, 202455 min

Teaching Your Kids about Money and How to Start Saving for Retirement

Today we are talking with Caroline Tanis who is a Financial Advisor and speaker who focuses on helping her clients build their desired lifestyle. In our conversation, we talk about how to talk to your kids about money, introducing them to allowance, spending and saving. We chat about changing our mindset about money being evil and how families who are living paycheck to paycheck can save for the future. We also chat about what parents should be doing to save for retirement, their kids college an...

Jul 16, 202452 min

The Dangers of Screentime, Social Media and Smartphones with Tessa Stuckey

Today we are talking with Tessa Stuckey, who is a therapist and licensed counselor who shares her insights and experiences working with teenagers and parents around screentime, social media and smartphones. Tessa shares a lot about the addictive nature of screens, the negative effects on emotional development and self-worth, and the importance of delaying social media and smartphones until an appropriate age. You can connect with Tessa on her website: https://www.tessastuckey.com and Instagram @...

Jul 02, 20241 hr 3 min

What’s Harder? Going from 0-1 or 1-2 Kids? & Birth Story!

Hi friends! This week I am sharing my birth stories, postpartum experience, and whether I think going from 0-1 kids or 1-2 is harder. I share how my postpartum experiences varied between both kids, chat about colic, breastfeeding issues, feeling like a failure as a new mom and my experience being pregnant and giving birth during the pandemic. I did not create an outline before I started recording so be prepared for me to be completely adhd in this episode. Enjoy! Don’t forget to follow the podca...

Jun 25, 202442 min

Uncoupling and Co-Parenting Peacefully with Meg Campbell

This week we are chatting with Meg Campbell who is a divorced mom who has done a fabulous job of uncoupling and co-parenting with her ex husband. Meg helped me tremendously when I was going through my divorce and just came out with her memoir called “With Grace and Gratitude: A Memoir of Uncoupling, Co-parenting and Collective Healing.” Listen while Meg discusses her experience with divorce and how she was able to uncouple peacefully. You can follow Meg on Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/m...

Jun 18, 20241 hr 8 min

Vacationing with Kids is not a Vacation and Therapy Session

In this solo episode, I chat about vacationing with kids and why I don’t consider it a vacation - it’s a memory-making trip! I also open up about taking a family trip with Cody, my ex-husband, and how separation and divorce is an emotional rollercoaster. If you’re planning a vacation to St. George, Utah and want to stay at a beautiful home with soft white sand and a lagoon, you can get 15% off your stay at @thebeachfronthome with code KAITLYN15% (make sure to use the % in the code!) Don’t forget...

Jun 11, 202429 min

Trad Wives, Deep Diving into the Influencer World and Solving Her Great Grandmother’s Murder

Today we are chatting with Jo Piazza who is the author of THE BOOK OF THE SUMMER - The Sicilian Inheritance. In our chat, we talk about the difference between #tradwives and stay-at-home moms (spoiler - they aren’t the same thing), her podcast Under the Influence where she deep dives into the influencer world and her book The Sicilian Inheritance. You can follow Jo on Instagram at @jopiazzaauthor , listen to her podcasts, Under the Influence and The Sicilian Inheritance , and make sure to pick u...

Jun 04, 202444 min

Dating as a Single Mom with Melissa Ann Marie

Hey friends, today we are chatting with Melissa Ann Marie ( @melissaannmariee ) about dating as a single parent in your 30’s. Join us for this fun and candid conversation where we spill the tea about what it’s really like dating in your 30’s, what we don’t like about dating apps, red flags and a few bad dates we’ve both had. Melissa is a solo mom to her almost 13-year-old son and a full-time content creator and podcaster. You can follow Melissa on Instagram and TikTok and listen to her podcast G...

May 28, 20241 hr

Put Your F*cking Phone Down, Kid Influencer Accounts, and Deciding On Having One Kid

Today we are chatting with Renee Reina from The Mom Room Podcast about parents being constantly connected to their phones, kid-focused influencer accounts, navigating social media, and the pressure society puts on parents to have more than one child. Buckle up because this is a jam-packed episode. You can follow Renee on Instagram and TikTok and listen to her podcast on Apple , Spotify and YouTube ! Don’t forget to follow the podcast on Instagram: @ididntsignupforthispodcast and for more everyda...

May 21, 202452 min

Double Standards in Parenthood

Have you ever been at the grocery store and your partner was told what an amazing father they were for simply parenting their child? Today we are chatting about it and all the double standards in parenthood! (try not to be triggered)! We also chatted about life updates including custody schedules and a couple of questions I received after leaving my corporate job. Don’t forget to follow the podcast on Instagram: @ididntsignupforthispodcast and for more everyday mom life, follow me on Instagram @...

May 14, 202428 min

All Moms Work! Stay at Home Mom Chat with Mary Hendricks

In this week’s episode, we are chatting with Mary Hendricks from the @theverymarylife where we dig into some of the challenges stay-at-home moms face. We chat about losing your identity after becoming a mom, the financial struggles that stay-at-home moms face, societal expectations, and the division of labor. You can follow Mary on Instagram and TikTok and listen to her podcast Picking Daisies: https://theverymarylife.com/podcast Don’t forget to follow the podcast on Instagram: @ididntsignupfort...

May 07, 20241 hr 1 min

Quitting My Corporate Job and Starting a Small Business

I can’t believe I’m saying this but… I’m quitting my corporate job and pursuing entrepreneurship full-time. EK! In this episode I chat about my corporate background, how I decided to leave, my small business, and what I plan on doing after corporate life. Wish me luck! Go and connect with me on my small business Instagram @onyourwayco and browse my products at www.onyourwayco.com Don’t forget to follow the podcast on Instagram: @ididntsignupforthispodcast and for more everyday mom life, follow m...

Apr 30, 202444 min
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