Drafting Motherhood

Drafting Motherhood

por Micaela Burnham

Paternidad Diarios personales

Temporada 1

Building Season 1 | with Micaela Burnham & the Village

Twenty episodes. Four months. One very unexpected journey. In this Season 1 finale of Drafting Motherhood, I’m sitting down to reflect on the conversation we’ve built together over these first 20 episodes. How together, we're creating a place where mothers could share their stories, ask questions, laugh at the chaos, and remind one another that none of us are doing this alone. Those stories now make up The Village Draft, which has become the heartbeat of this show. In this episode, I’m talking about the stories you’ve trusted me with and the unexpected ways these conversations have changed me. I reflect on how my relationship with research evolved, how I learned to trust my own voice, and how this podcast became a creative outlet. But most notably, these opne conversations have helped me in my grieving process; learning to feel things I once only knew how to analyze. I talk about the dinner-table conversations with my in-laws that shaped so much of who I am today. There’s a reason I end every episode by saying, “Let’s keep talking.” Season 1 may be coming to a close, but the conversation isn't. Thank you for sitting at the table with me. I love you. I can't wait to keep building this space with you, and I'll see you all soon for season 2. Let’s keep talking.

Building Career Authors | with Lana McAra

What does it look like to build a successful writing career while raising seven children? For award-winning, bestselling author and ghostwriter Lana McAra, it looked a lot less like a quiet office and a lot more like homeschooling seven children on the Caribbean island of Grenada. Lana has written more than 50 books, sold over one million copies, worked as a professional editor and book coach, and spent more than two decades helping other writers build careers of their own. But some of the years she remembers most fondly are the 25 years she spent teaching her children at home. In this conversation, Lana shares how motherhood unexpectedly became the place where her writing career began, why she started writing during nap times when she didn't have time to read, how she navigated 19 rejection letters and 14 years before receiving her first publishing contract, and how she eventually turned her experience as an author into a career helping other writers. We also talk about building community as an author, becoming visible before your book is finished, the changing publishing industry, and knowing when a recurring idea might actually be a calling. Because sometimes the beginning of a dream doesn't look like the dream at all. Sometimes it looks like a chalkboard, seven children, and a mother finding little pockets of time to write. Thank you for joining us for another conversation in the village! Have a motherhood story, question, or accomplishment you'd like to share? Send it to draftingmotherhoodpod@gmail.com. Lana's resources: Website: http://LanaMcAra.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewriterschair Podcast: https://fictionwriterspodcast.com/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lana-McAra/author/B0BL8SKS9T Vendela Publishing: https://vendelapublishing.com/

The Village Draft Vol. 2 | Real Stories from Real Moms

Welcome back to The Village Draft, a special series where I share your anonymous motherhood stories and we unpack them together. This week we're talking all about friendship, finding your people, and the beautiful, messy process of building a village. From mom friendships that become family to the courage it takes to put yourself out there and make new connections, this episode is a reminder that the village rarely appears overnight. It's built one conversation, one coffee date, and one act of showing up at a time. If you've ever felt lonely in motherhood, wondered how adults actually make friends, or needed a reminder that your people are still out there, this episode is for you. Want to be featured in a future Village Draft? Send your anonymous motherhood stories, funny moments, questions, or reflections to draftingmotherhoodpod@gmail.com. Your story might just become part of the next conversation. A quick note for my YouTube friends: This week's episode is audio-only. Between summer adventures and life with two little girls, something had to give, and this week that meant putting my energy into the conversation instead of the camera. So thanks for being here; let's keep talking!

Building Emotional Resilience | with Constance Lewis

What happens when your child suddenly stops trusting their own body? This week, I'm joined by children's author & parent coach, Constance Lewis. What started as a conversation about a single book quickly became a touching tale that revealed the author's true inspiration. After her son Miles experienced a life-changing seizure at four years old, Constance spent a year fighting for answers before he was officially diagnosed and ultimately underwent brain surgery. Along the way, she watched the medications change his personality, steal his confidence, and make it difficult for him to express what he was feeling. That experience inspired Miles and the Cape of Many Feelings, a children's book designed to help kids identify and communicate their emotions during life's hardest moments. In this interview, we talk about: • Parenting through childhood medical challenges • Helping children build emotional resilience • Why every feeling deserves language Constance shares the inspiration behind her other books, practical advice for parents walking through difficult seasons, and why emotional regulation starts with us. Whether you're navigating a medical diagnosis or simply trying to raise emotionally healthy kids, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that children don't need us to have all the answers. They just need us to be a safe space to feel their feelings fully. Connect with Constance: Website: https://www.colorfulcapesoffeelings.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colorful_feelings.books?igsh=ZHJyemUxZ3o0aXdw&utm_source=qr Books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FKTSFSLX?lv=shuf&bestFormat=true&csmig=1&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_T10V1YXREGT75056YRP3_1&channelId=704&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_T10V1YXREGT75056YRP3_1&plpRedirect=mhFallback If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to leave a rating or review and share it with another parent who could use a little encouragement this week! Thanks for listening, my friends; let’s keep talking <3 Intro- 0:00-3:56 Book inspiration- 3:56-9:31 Host Reflection- 9:31-11:03 Supporting Your Child Through Diagnosis- 11:03-13:51 Available Books/Future Books- 14:04-20:25 Final Thoughts from Guest- 20:25- 22:29 Final Host Reflections- 22:29- 24:16

Things I Swore I’d Never Do as a Mom…Until I Became One

Somewhere between serving separate dinners, calling my soda "spicy," surviving endless renditions of Let It Go, and catching vomit with my bare hands...I became that mom. This week's episode was recorded after nearly three hours of bedtime negotiations with my very chatty toddler, so welcome to the sleepy edition of Drafting Motherhood. Today I'm sharing the things I swore I'd never do as a parent...until I actually became one. From tablets on road trips and cake pop bribes to grocery store meltdowns and girls' trips without the kids, we're laughing at all the ways motherhood humbles us while reminding ourselves that perfection simply isn’t achievable. Because it turns out the best parents aren't the ones who stick to every ideal they had before kids. They're the ones who learn, adapt, apologize when needed, and keep showing up for their kiddos. So grab your reheated coffee, fold that mountain of laundry (or don't), and let's laugh about the expectations we left behind. Good night, friends. Thanks for listening. Let's keep talking. To submit any questions, stories, or advice you have to be shared anonymously on the show, email draftingmotherhoodpod@gmail.com

Building Work Around Your Life | with Anna Runyan

Many women have faced the same question at one point or another in their career... Is this really how I want to spend my life? For Anna Runyan, that moment came while watching her boss return from maternity leave only to lose the job she'd devoted years to. It was a wake-up call that changed everything. In this episode of Drafting Motherhood, I'm joined by Anna, founder of Classy Career Girl, as she shares how she went from managing a $75 million military budget to building a business that helps women create careers on their own terms. Along the way, we talk about finding the courage to start before you feel ready, making time for creativity within motherhood, and why the skills you already have may be exactly what someone else is looking for. As always, this isn't just an interview. Between each chapter of Anna's story, I'll be sharing my own reflections and inviting you to think about what her journey might reveal about your own. Whether you're dreaming of working from home, craving more balance, or simply wondering if you're capable of something different, I hope this conversation reminds you that every new chapter begins with one small step. If this episode sparks an idea or a dream you've been carrying around, I'd love to hear about it. Send your story or business idea to draftingmotherhoodpod@gmail.com, and it might become part of a future Village Draft episode.

Four Questions Every Expecting Parent Is Asking

Whether you're getting ready to have your first baby or your tenth, preparing for a new baby always feels like information overload. Birth plans, hospital bags, and what about when we get the baby home? How does anyone survive those first few sleepless weeks?? In this episode, I'm answering four of the most common questions expecting parents ask: • How do I choose the right childbirth option for me? • Are birthing classes really worth it? • What should I actually pack in my hospital bag? • What's the best way to survive those first few weeks with a newborn? Drawing on my own experiences as a mom, and backed with a bit of historical research, this talk will give you the peace of mind that there isn't one "right" way to become a parent. Whether you're weeks away from meeting your baby or simply trying to feel a little more prepared, I hope this conversation leaves you feeling informed, encouraged, and a little less alone. If you have a question you'd like answered in a future episode, I'd love to hear from you! Send your questions to draftingmotherhoodpod@gmail.com because sometimes the questions we're afraid to ask are the very ones another parent needs to hear. Let's keep drafting motherhood together, one conversation at a time.

Building a Life, Writing History | with Barbara Mojica

What happens when you spend your life building a foundation, only to discover your next chapter is already waiting for you? In this episode, I sit down with Barbara Mojica, author of the beloved Little Miss History series, to talk about the journey behind creating stories that bring history to life for children and families. Barbara shares how her background in education, passion for historical accuracy, and love for teaching have shaped the books she creates with her husband. We talk about finding your spark, following curiosity, and why it’s never too late to begin building something new. Whether you’re an aspiring creator, a parent, or simply someone wondering what’s next, this conversation is a reminder that every season of life has purpose. Keep your heart open, stay curious, and enjoy the building process. Resources from Barbara- website: LittleMissHISTORY.com Email: barbara@littlemisshistory.com Show's email- draftingmotherhoodpod@gmail.com

The Village Draft Vol. 1 | Real Stories from Real Moms

Welcome to the very first edition of The Village Draft, a new recurring segment where mothers from our community share their stories, questions, lessons, and the moments that make us laugh, cry, and occasionally question how our children have survived this long. In this episode, we're opening the mailbox and diving into listener submissions about parenting hacks, self-care, identity shifts, and the journey of remembering yourself after becoming "mom." We share hilarious stories from the trenches of motherhood, practical advice from moms who have learned to pick their battles, and honest reflections on what it means to reconnect with yourself while raising a family. We also explore a deeply moving question from a listener who discovered through motherhood just how easy it is to love a child, and the grief that can surface when that realization shines a light on your own childhood wounds. Whether you're in the thick of diapers and sleepless nights, navigating the return to work, rediscovering old passions, or learning who you are in this season of life, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone. As one listener beautifully shared: "We are parenting in ways no one modeled for us while simultaneously healing our own childhood wounds. Breaking generational trauma is no easy feat. Give yourself grace, allow yourself to heal, and keep showing up." If you'd like to be featured in a future Village Draft episode, submit your stories, questions, advice, mom fails, parenting wins, and everything in between. After all, motherhood was never meant to be written alone. Submit stories here- draftingmotherhoodpod@gmail.com

The Words That Shape Our Children | with Jody Hill

What if one of the most powerful parenting tools isn't something you buy, but something you already use every day? This week on Drafting Motherhood, I'm joined by bestselling author and parenting educator Jody Hill, author of The Parent's Secret Superpower. We discuss positive parenting, breaking generational cycles, emotional regulation, and how our words can help raise confident, resilient kids. Jody shares practical strategies for handling big emotions, navigating appearance-based conversations, and finding the balance between fostering independence and providing support. As a mom on my own healing journey, this conversation left me with powerful tools and a fresh perspective on intentional parenting. If you're working to break unhealthy patterns, strengthen your connection with your children, and raise confident kids, this episode is for you. To access Jody's free guide, you can email podcast@itsjodyhill.com or access the guide using the following link- https://itsjhill.lpages.co/free-confidence-boosters-busters-web/ Show's email- draftingmotherhoodpod@gmail.com

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