Episode notes
Ever had a neighbor become part of your village?
This week I’m sitting down with Melissa — one of my favorite humans, former across-the-street neighbor, and the teacher-mom who helped raise my kids during our cul-de-sac years.
Melissa recently did something incredibly brave: she moved her family out of state, left the only community she’s ever known, and started teaching in a completely new school system.
In this conversation we talk about:
• What actually happens when you move your family to a new state
• Teaching 4th & 5th graders in 2025 — the emotions, the tech, the expectations
• Why kids today struggle with focus, grit, and problem-solving
• The hidden emotional labor teachers carry
• Parenting styles, classroom culture, and what teachers wish parents knew
• How mom friendships become lifelines — especially during COVID-era motherhood
• Cowboy romance books, Amazon “potato shoes,” and the art of driveway therapy.
If you’ve ever lost your village, rebuilt your village, or wished you had one — this episode will feel like a warm cup of coffee on the driveway.
🎙️ Listen, share, and tag a teacher-mom who would love this.