meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Don't Mom Alone Podcast

Choosing Connection Over Critique :: Rachel Macy Stafford [Ep 280]

Don't Mom Alone Podcast

Don't Mom Alone Podcast

Education, Leisure, Kids & Family, Parenting

4.9 • 2.3K Ratings

🗓️ 6 April 2020

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Rachel’s 'Hands Free Mama' mentality is all about finding balance in a media-saturated, perfection-obsessed world. And it’s about seizing the little moments that life offers us to engage in real and meaningful interaction.

In this episode, Rachel shares realizing she 'd lost connection with her people. How she believed a lie that in order to be loved and accepted she needed to hide certain parts of herself, the messy parts, the imperfect parts. A pivotal moment happened when she vulnerably shared these thoughts with her daughter and found acceptance.

“Opening that door to being human actually brings us closer together. Then we can connect from that place of 'I'm struggling' and that doesn't mean there's something wrong with me. That doesn't mean I need to hide it. It means I need to reach out and talk to someone about this so we can work together to see how we might go forward.”

We dive into what Rachel’s learned in her parenting journey as a mom of teens and preteens. She talks about how choosing true connection with our kids can bring them closer to us and keep the lines of communication open as they grow up. 

“This is all about redefining what our role is as a parent. It is not the authoritarian model anymore. It is the guide, the truth teller and the encourager. Not the enforcer, not the half listener, not the critic. That those roles are only going to get us further and further from each other when the idea is right now we need to come closer.”

Connect with Rachel: 

FREE LIVE LOVE NOW LISTENING PLAN: 

Links Mentioned:  

Featured Sponsor: LittlePassports.com Use Code DMA to save 15% off a subscription. 

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Hey y'all, welcome back to the Don't Mom Alon podcast.

0:11.4

I am your host Heather McFadian and this is the place where I'm going to walk alongside

0:17.0

you and connect you with people and resources so you know that you don't mom alone.

0:23.5

This episode number 280 of the privilege of inviting Rachel Macy Stafford, Hands Free Mama,

0:30.7

on to the show.

0:32.5

Opening that door to being human actually brings us closer together.

0:38.9

Then we can connect from that place of I'm struggling and that doesn't mean there's

0:45.4

something wrong with me.

0:46.7

That doesn't mean I need to hide it.

0:49.2

It means I need to reach out and talk to someone about this so we can work together to see

0:56.3

how we might go forward.

0:58.8

And that's why this book is all about redefining what our role is as a parent.

1:04.9

It is not the authoritarian model anymore.

1:09.2

It is the guide, the truth teller, the encourager, not the enforcer, not the half listener, not

1:17.8

the critic.

1:19.4

Those roles are only going to get us further and further from each other.

1:24.0

When the idea is right now, we need to come closer.

1:29.2

Rachel's a New York Times best-selling author.

1:31.6

She's the mom to two.

1:32.7

She started the Hands Free Mama movement years ago and now she has a new book coming out

1:36.9

at the end of April.

1:37.9

It's called Live Love Now.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Don't Mom Alone Podcast, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Don't Mom Alone Podcast and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.