Good (Enough) Mother | Ashley Fenker (EP29)
Minimalist Moms Podcast | Purposeful Life & Parenting Tips
Diane Boden
4.7 • 1K Ratings
🗓️ 18 April 2025
⏱️ 36 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
This podcast is part of the Clear Intentions series of the show.
What does it mean to be a "good enough" mother in the midst of chaos, chronic illness, and creativity? In this episode, Ashley Fenker shares the story behind her book Good Enough Mother: Stories and Essays, and how the isolation of the 2020 pandemic sparked her return to writing. In our conversation today, Ashley opens up about her struggles and the healing power of journaling, reflection, and creative expression. This honest conversation explores the messy, beautiful reality of motherhood—and the freedom that comes with letting "good enough" be enough.
Links Discussed in This Episode |
- Previous Episode: The Opt-Out Family with Erin Loechner (EP339)
- Previous Episode: Intentional Learning at Home with Erin Loechner (EP200)
- Previous Episode: Minimalist Living: The Big Apple with Elizabeth Passarella (EP159)
- Connect with Ashley:
- Website
- Book: Good (Enough) Mother by Ashley Fenker
About Ashley|
Ashley Fenker is the author of the new release, Good (Enough) Mother: Stories and Essays, which ranked #1 Top New Release on Amazon. It was distinguished as a recipient of Awards & Accolades from Kirkus Reviews and it was selected by editors to be featured in the May 1, 2025 issue of Kirkus Reviews Magazine. Her articles and essays have appeared in O, The Oprah Magazine, Upworthy, HuffPost, HelloGiggles, Fathom Magazine, Scary Mommy, Coffee + Crumbs, and more. Her essays have gone viral, bringing in hundreds of thousands of page views from readers across the globe. She lives in a quiet country house in Maryland with her husband and their growing family.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | If you're pregnant postpartum or planning to be, or you've got a friend in that season, listen |
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| 1:03.8 | code minimalist for 20% off your first order. At the end of the day, I'm still going to lay in bed |
| 1:09.1 | and think, like, I did a really good job. |
| 1:11.4 | It's so hard. I'm like constantly reworking those voices in our head of what are they going to |
| 1:18.3 | think. And am I living up to someone else's standards? Just because we tell a story one way at one point, |
| 1:26.7 | it doesn't mean we have to continue to tell the story |
| 1:29.7 | in the same way as time goes on. That's the beauty of memories. I start to just approach my days |
| 1:37.2 | differently. I see my ordinary life in a different way. I pay attention to very small sensory details of smells and sounds and |
| 1:47.7 | taste that I just normally would ignore. What does it mean to be a good enough mother in the |
| 1:55.5 | midst of chaos, chronic illness, and creativity? In today's episode, Ashley Finker shares the story behind her book, |
| 2:03.5 | Good Enough Mother, Stories and Essays, and how the isolation of the 2020 pandemic sparked her |
... |
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