Jess and Layne take some time to reflect on the conversations we've had with you over the course of this season. While Very Good Enough is on hiatus, you can still find us in REAL LIFE inside the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Very Good Mothers Club⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  community and join our live monthly calls (4th Tuesday of every month)! Find Jess at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jessica Hover⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Youtube and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jess_hover ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Instagram Find Layne ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@enquiryco⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram

This episode digs into the isolating world of early parenthood. Jess and Layne explore why connecting with other moms (or literally anyone) is crucial for your mental and physical health and offer practical tips on building your support network. Learn how to combat "must be nice" syndrome--that creeping resentment towards partners or friends who seem to have it easier--and how friendship can help you identify these feelings and transform them into productive conversations about your...

Drawing inspiration from a scene in "The Crown," Jess and Layne explore the idea of stepping into your own authority as a parent and trusting yourself to make choices. Key topics include: Dealing with guilt and second-guessing yourself The importance of flexibility and learning from experiences Communicating confidently with your partner and family members We offer practical advice on how to build confidence in your choices and accept that mistakes are part of the journey. Whether...

Jess invites Layne's husband, Conner Cherland, into the studio (it's our living room) for a discussion on time management and life balance. Conner's unique perspective as an artist and entrepreneur offers fresh approaches to common challenges faced by busy moms. We talk about: Practical time management strategies when you're overwhelmed How to prioritize your goals (even if your goal is simply "sleep more") How to break down large tasks into manageable steps Embracing imperfection and...

With the upcoming election adding extra tension to our lives, Layne and Jess dig into the challenge of maintaining relationships when core beliefs differ. We discuss: How to maintain relationships when we disagree on parenting styles, politics, or worldviews? Strategies for having meaningful conversations about sensitive topics Navigating family dynamics when personal beliefs evolve over time How to approach differences in parenting choices (e.g., co-sleeping, vaccinations) Dealing...

You FLOODED our inbox over the last month with responses to our episode, "Fear + Force | Why we're leaving old school discipline styles behind." This week, Layne digs into your stories and questions. We cover: Is yelling ever ok as a parent? How do I get my toddler to listen? Is spanking child abuse? How to be in charge as the parent while still respecting my child's personhood How to manage power struggles with my toddler My 3-year-old gives me the silent treatment. What should I...

Is your little one starting preschool soon? Jess and Layne share their strategies from both the experienced mom and preschool teacher perspectives. Learn how to: Prepare your child (and yourself) emotionally for the first day Handle separation anxiety and tearful goodbyes Communicate effectively with teachers Create a smooth drop-off routine Understand your child's behavior before and after school Use transitional objects to provide comfort Connect with other parents and build your...

Join us as we unpack a real-life playground incident and explore why labeling toddlers as 'mean' or 'bullies' misses the mark. We discuss why your little one's pushing or hitting is actually a direct route to getting what they want, not intentional meanness. We offer practical strategies for responding to aggressive behavior, setting boundaries, and teaching better tools. And we address the importance of healthy aggression in child development and how to channel it positively. Whether you're...

Today we're answering listener questions about a common parenting challenge: how to respond when your child becomes hyper-focused on YOUR emotions. We explore: Why preschoolers suddenly become aware of and fixated on their parents' feelings Navigating situations where your child witnesses your sadness or stress The dangers of leaning on your child for emotional support and healthier alternatives The importance of modeling healthy emotional regulation How to reassure your child...

We know mom's mental health has a huge impact on a child's emotional well-being, but the fact is: a lot of us have anxiety. Or postpartum depression. Or the other kind of depression. We're people. We struggle. So how do you parent well in the midst of mental health challenges? Today, Jess shares her personal journey with medication: what worked, what didn't and how to advocate for yourself in healthcare system. Layne shares how your mental health impacts your child's development and...

Is the constant power struggle leaving you drained? This week, Layne and Jess look at old-school methods of parenting that rely on fear and force to control children's behavior. We dive into how fear hinders internal motivation and discuss ways to foster cooperation. Jess shares her journey raising a strong-willed child, finding leadership without resorting to dominance. We discuss: The long-term effects of fear-based parenting on adults Why compliance shouldn't be our ultimate parenting...

In this episode, Jess shares what she learned through surviving cervical cancer about why prioritizing your well-being is crucial for your entire family's health and happiness. We get into: Practical tips for communicating your needs to your partner How to identify what you truly need when feeling overwhelmed Why mom's wellness is essential for your family's functioning Easy ways to incorporate rest into your busy schedule We explore how to embrace guilt-free rest and share actionable...

This week, Layne and Jess reframe fairness into a more powerful concept: equity, ensuring everyone gets what they need. We offer practical scripts to explain this concept to your child, and discuss how to navigate those inevitable one-toy toddler meltdowns. This episode dives into: Why "no fair" complaints emerge around age 3 and how it relates to brain development Understanding the difference between fairness and equity Emphasizing that parents' needs matter too in family dynamics ...

To kick off Season 6, Jessica and Layne revisit the transformative power of loving your life, even amidst the challenges of raising young children, recovering from cervical cancer and figuring out how to pay bills. Jess introduced us to the mantra "I love my life" in the final episode of last season and while you don't need to hear it to enjoy this episode, it is a conversation that genuinely changed us both and we recommend listening when you can (find the link below)! Today we build on that...

Jess is back to give us an update on her cervical cancer surgery and recovery. We take some time to reflect on the past few months and the conversations we shared with you. Thanks for listening! We'll be back in a bit. In the meantime, binge your favorite episodes and TELL YOUR FRIENDS! Follow us @verygoodenoughpod for updates during the break! Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Very Good Mothers Club⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to be a part of our community and join our live monthly calls (4th Tuesday of every...

In this episode, Jess and Layne face one burning question: how can you truly love your life RIIGHT NOW? We discuss the trap of waiting for our circumstances to change before we can live a life we love and our tendency to overlook our wins, constantly moving the goalposts, missing the opportunity to celebrate our accomplishments. From recognizing the dreams you've already achieved (like becoming a mom!) to finding joy in the daily grind of motherhood, this conversation is all about the power...

In this episode, we dive into the importance of being direct and clear when communicating with your toddler. Say goodbye to the endless search for the "right" parenting language or trying to follow every expert's advice. We discuss why using straightforward language and saying what you mean can strengthen your connection with your child, build trust, and reduce frustration for both of you. Discover how prioritizing clarity over trendy parenting lingo can make your interactions more authentic...

This week's listener question: “As a child I definitely didn’t have some of my emotional needs met, and was shamed for my distress about this. A lot of this centered about me wanting to be with my mum while she was unavailable (through choice not necessity). So now I try to be really available to my children. My oldest found it super hard to give me any kind of space, and my second is currently going through that too. And I don’t know how to own my own space and needs and desires while not...

Are you afraid of failing as a parent? Jess and Layne get real about their deep fears of public failure and share wisdom on why failing fast is a gift. We explore how being willing to fail is essential for building the lives we want, and why falling is a non-negotiable part of learning. Jess shares how feelings of failure during postpartum led her to create YouTube videos documenting her journey, and eventually this parenting community. We dive into celebrating failures alongside successes...

This week Layne and Jess discuss the trend of gentle parenting content on social media that might be missing the mark. Is it sometimes just permissive parenting in disguise? We explore why strong leadership and clear boundaries are crucial for raising happy and secure children. We get into why toddlers might secretly be RELIEVED when you tell them "no", and how setting limits with love actually shows your child how much you care. Listen for tips on how to be the firm AND gentle leader your...

This week's listener question: Random preschool question for you - what happens when kids poop at school? Do the teachers help wipe their booties? Or do they have to do it themselves? 😂 Sorry if this is TMI but my son is 3 and I want to send him to preschool next year but don't see him being able to handle that on his own yet. Email your questions to [email protected] Book a 1:1 coaching session with Layne: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠enquiryco.com/coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Very Good Mothers...

In this authentic (and kind of messy conversation), Jess and Layne revisit our exploration of body image. We ask questions like, "What does it truly mean to be sexy?" and, "How can women cultivate genuine confidence?" Jess shares a profound realization from experiencing cancer: how precious it is to be alive in a body, irrespective of its shape or size. We challenge our own misconception that thinness equals health and happiness and talk about how to treat our bodies with radical kindness and...

This week's listener question: I am 32. I have an 8 month old daughter. I live with my long term partner who is her father. He has two children aged 12, boy, and 8, girl,  that live primarily with their mother, but we have them over every other weekend. Though my partner and I have made a multitude of opportunities to better co-parent, there has been no success. We don't agree with the bad habits that they acquire while with their mother and have set boundaries at our house as best we can...

We had the BEST time talking to Claire Edwards, mom of two known for being very funny on TikTok, about why the internet's negative portrayal of parenting isn't telling the whole story. Claire opens up about how scared she was to become mom because the internet made it look terrible (think: videos of moms having a breakdown in the Target parking lot). Claire shares why she's loving motherhood in spite of her negative expectations, ways parenthood has helped her grow as a person and why being...