No Guilt Mom | Overcoming Mom Guilt, Mental Load & Parenting Tips for Moms

If you've ever dealt with mom guilt after losing your cool with your husband and wondered why you get so mad at him over little things, this episode is for you.

New here? Start with our ⁠Start Here playlist⁠ — five episodes that will change how you think about motherhood.

Author Jackie Kelley and her husband run their marriage on a set of rules they made up themselves, and her new book, So You Married a Human, comes out today. In this honest and funny conversation, Jackie and JoAnn trade stories about passive aggression, shared-space chaos, and the unrealistic expectations so many of us carry into marriage.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why "use your words" became Jackie's first marriage rule, and how to say what hurt you without slamming cabinets and hoping he notices

The "you also suck a bunch" rule, and how to tell which little annoyances are worth letting go

How the "wait for it" rule helps a fast emotional processor and a slow one talk without a fight

Why so many fights come from mismatched expectations, and the questions to ask before the dinner, the party, or the holiday gift budget

Why rules written for marriage also work with kids, coworkers, and in-laws

Resources mentioned in this episode

Jackie Kelley on Instagram: @stayathomejackie

Jackie's book, So You Married a Human (out October 6, 2026)

The Happy Mom Reset (free class)

No Guilt Mom Inner Circle

JoAnn's book: The Best Mom is a Happy Mom

No Guilt Mom Podcast page

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New here? Start with our Start Here playlist — five episodes that will change how you think about motherhood.

If you've ever tried gentle parenting and still wondered what to do when your kid says shut up to you, this episode is for you.

When your kid tells you to shut up, your face gets hot and your brain can go blank. In this solo episode, I explain what is usually going on underneath those words and walk you through five calm steps for kids third grade and up, plus an easy adjustment for younger kids. You'll also hear why your own triggers matter and why you deserve the same pause you give your kids.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why "shut up" usually means overwhelm or a need for more say, not disrespect

The question that gets you further than "what do I do?": what happened right before

Five calm steps for kids third grade and up: let the shock land, get quiet and don't tower, name it and leave, take the time you need, and come back to repair

How to adjust for younger kids with a simple "I need to go to the bathroom, I'll be right back"

How to work with your own triggers and why you deserve a tap out

Resources mentioned in this episode

The Happy Home Ladder

No Guilt Mom Inner Circle

The Best Mom is a Happy Mom

Penn State study on harsh parenting and children's stress regulation

Laura Markham on parenting triggers (Today's Parent)

No Guilt Mom on Instagram (share your strategy on the five steps post)

NoGuiltMom.com

Follow the podcast on Spotify

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

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New here? Start with our Start Here playlist, five episodes that will change how you think about motherhood.

You validate your kid's feelings. You explain the reasoning behind every rule. And your kid still melts down anyway. Child development specialist and author Dr. Siggie Cohen joins JoAnn to explain the missing piece: why kids speak the language of emotion while parents default to logic, and exactly what to say when bedtime, screens, or "get ready" turns into a nightly fight.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why explaining the "why" behind a boundary doesn't get your kid to comply

The real reason "how many times do I have to tell you" backfires every time

How to validate your kid's feelings without caving to what they want

The exact language to use during transitions like bedtime and screen time

Why staying calm and confident, not permissive, is what actually helps your kid through a meltdown

Resources mentioned in this episode:

You Are the Parent by Dr. Siggie Cohen

The Happy Mom Reset (free class)

Ready to feel calmer and more confident in your parenting? Join us for the free Happy Mom Reset class.

Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to https://heypolo.com/ngm or use code NGM and get 70% off your first year!
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If you're carrying the mental load and wondering how to stop being the default parent, this episode is for you.

New here? Start with our ⁠Start Here playlist⁠ — five episodes that will change how you think about motherhood.

Nobody sits down and decides to become the default parent. It happens one "I'll just grab it" at a time. In this solo episode, I share the seven rules I follow so I'm not the default parent in my house, from the "go ask Dad" rule I started when my kids were little to the overflowing trash I refuse to take out.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why being the default parent is a set of habits, not a personality trait

How to end the "I do everything" fight by seeing the real split in your house

Why doing your partner's jobs to be nice backfires, and what to say instead

The simple "go ask Dad" rule that retrains your kids

Why "it's just easier if I do it" is a trap, and how to let your partner do it his way

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Home Responsibility Calculator (free): see the real split in your house

Skylight Calendar: $30 off the 15-inch calendar #ad #sponsored

The Fair Play Deck by Eve Rodsky

The Best Mom is a Happy Mom by JoAnn Crohn

No Guilt Mom on Instagram: come tell me your calculator results

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New here? Start with our Start Here playlist — five episodes that will change how you think about motherhood.

If you've ever struggled with people pleasing and wondered why you put everyone else's needs before your own even when it's costing you, this episode is for you.

Psychotherapist Jessica Anne Pressler joins JoAnn to talk about self-abandonment, the pattern of putting everyone else first until you disappear from your own life. They dig into where it starts in childhood, how it shows up as people pleasing and trauma bonding in adult relationships, and how to finally start trusting yourself again.

In this episode, you'll learn:

What self-abandonment actually means, and why most moms do it without realizing it

Why your kids learn more from watching you take care of yourself than from anything you tell them

What a trauma bond is and why it can feel like an addiction

The gray rock method for dealing with someone who wants a reaction from you

A simple script for talking back to the inner voice that keeps you stuck (Jessica calls it "the traitor within")

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Jessica Anne Pressler on Instagram

Jessica's novel, Traitor Within, out now

The Happy Home Ladder

No Guilt Mom Inner Circle

The Happy Mom Reset (free class)

The Best Mom is a Happy Mom (JoAnn's book)

No Guilt Mom podcast page

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No Guilt Mom on Instagram

No Guilt Mom on YouTube

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