Struggle & Strength: Moms Balancing It All with Nikki

Nicole Wallace
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to “Struggle & Strength: Moms Balancing It All,” the podcast for powerhouse moms who are managing family, career, and dreams, all while navigating the chaos of daily life. Hosted by Nikki, a full-time professional, mom of three, and entrepreneur, this show brings you candid conversations about real-life struggles, actionable parenting tips, and insights on nurturing ambition amidst the challenges of motherhood. From balancing work deadlines and side hustles to fostering independence in our kids, we cover it all. Tune in for weekly episodes that remind you you’re not alone in this journey—and help you build resilience, empowerment, and strength. If you’re a mom with big goals and a busy life, join us as we embrace the struggle, find the strength, and juggle it all together.

  1. 3d ago ·  Video

    Episode 89: Why Do I Have No Patience Anymore? | Perimenopause, Mom Rage & Feeling Overstimulated

    Why do I have no patience anymore? One more question. One more interruption. One more kid asking for the exact same thing you already said no to five minutes ago, and suddenly you feel like you're about to lose it. Then comes the mom guilt. Why did I react like that? Was I always this irritable? Is it the mental load? The constant interruptions? My age? Perimenopause? Is it me... or is it my hormones? In this episode of Struggle & Strength: Moms Balancing It All with Nikki, Nikki gets real about something she's been noticing in her 40s: her patience doesn't feel like it used to. It started with her youngest repeatedly asking to download games on his tablet. Nikki realized her kids had discovered a loophole. If Mom is busy enough and they ask enough times, eventually she might say, "Sure. Fine. Whatever." just to get five minutes of uninterrupted time. But that realization led to a much bigger question: What happens when the demands of motherhood collide with a body that may be changing too? In this episode, Nikki talks about: Why constant interruptions can push moms to their breaking point The guilt that comes after snapping at our kids Perimenopause, mood changes and irritability The difference between understanding our emotions and excusing our behavior How overwhelm can affect the boundaries we set with our kids Why the answer might not always be "Mom needs more patience" Learning to recognize what we need before reaching the point of no return Maybe we can't control every feeling that shows up. But we can start paying attention to what happens between the feeling and our response. And instead of immediately asking: "What's wrong with me?" Maybe we start asking: "What's happening with me?" If you've found yourself wondering why the smallest things suddenly feel SO big, this episode is for you. 🎧 Listen now and share it with another mom who needs to know she's not the only one asking this question. 📲 Connect with Nikki: Instagram: @nikkiwallace247 Facebook: @ConnectWithNikkiW

  2. Aug 30 ·  Video

    Episode 88: Why Is It So Hard for Moms to Let Our Kids Figure It Out? | Mom Control & Learning to Step Back

    Why is it so hard for moms to let our kids figure things out on their own even when we know they're completely capable? In this episode of Struggle & Strength: Moms Balancing It All with Nikki, Nikki shares a hilarious and surprisingly emotional moment from her kids' very first cross-country race. Before the race even started, Nikki overheard a couple of dads joking about whether they were going to be “those parents” who ran alongside their kids from the sidelines. Her immediate thought? Who would do that?! Minutes later, Nikki was running all over the course in flip-flops, trying to get to every possible spot where she could cheer, encourage and yes, probably coach her kids as they ran by. And somehow, in the middle of all that running and yelling, she started crying so hard she could barely call out her kids' names. The irony made her realize something much bigger about motherhood. We say we want to raise independent, capable kids. But then we remind them, coach them, fix things for them, anticipate their problems, prevent their mistakes, and sometimes struggle to give them enough space to discover just how capable they really are. Are we helping our kids because they need help or because stepping back is harder for us than it is for them? In this episode, Nikki explores: Why moms struggle to give up control even when our kids are capable The difference between supporting our kids and constantly stepping in Why watching our children struggle can be harder for us than it is for them How over-helping can unintentionally take away opportunities to build confidence Why mistakes, discomfort and figuring things out are an important part of growing up How a mom's role changes as our children become more independent The simple question Nikki is now asking herself before jumping in to help After six years of running with her kids, starting with half a mile and eventually working up to four miles, Nikki realized something while watching them complete their first cross-country race: She had already taught them how to run. Now she had to let them. Because sometimes raising capable kids means resisting the urge to prove how much they still need us and giving them the space to discover: “I've got this.” Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another mom who might just recognize a little bit of herself in the crazy woman running around the sidelines in flip-flops. 📲 Connect with Nikki: Instagram: @nikkiwallace247 Facebook: @ConnectWithNikkiW

  3. Aug 24 ·  Video

    Episode 87: We're Not 1950s Moms... So Why Are We Still Trying to Be? | Motherhood, Identity & Expectations

    We're raising families in a completely different world, so why are so many moms still trying to live up to an outdated definition of what a “good mom” should be? In this episode of Struggle & Strength: Moms Balancing It All with Nikki, Nikki sits down with her friend Laura for a conversation that was supposed to be about friendship...and quickly became something much deeper. Identity. Who are you when you take away the titles? Mom. Wife. Career woman. Business owner. Daughter. Volunteer. Household manager. And what happens when we keep adding more and more roles until we can barely find the woman underneath them? Laura shares her own experience of going from an ambitious career woman and entrepreneur to becoming a new mom after a major move, and realizing she kept describing herself by saying, “I used to...” Her identity had not caught up with her reality. That realization sparked a powerful conversation about the version of motherhood women have been taught to chase: the mom who takes care of everyone, keeps the house running, prepares the meals, raises great kids, succeeds professionally, stays healthy, looks good, maintains relationships...and somehow does it all happily. Except maybe the problem isn't that we're failing at motherhood. Maybe we're trying to succeed at an impossible version of it. In this episode, Nikki and Laura talk about: ✨ Why attaching your identity to one role can leave you questioning who you are when life changes ✨ The pressure moms feel to “do it all” and still make it look effortless ✨ Why mom guilt seems to exist no matter which choice we make ✨ Decision fatigue and the invisible mental load moms carry every day ✨ Why outsourcing, simplifying and asking for help aren't signs of failure ✨ The difference between managing your time and managing your priorities ✨ Why taking care of yourself models something important for your children ✨ How boundaries protect your energy for the things only YOU can do ✨ Why knowing who you are also requires knowing who you're NOT And Laura leaves us with a challenge that might be harder than it sounds: Say no to something this week. Not because you're selfish. Not because you don't care. But because every no creates room for a more intentional yes. Maybe being a good mom was never supposed to mean becoming everything to everyone. Maybe our kids need to see women who love their families deeply without disappearing inside motherhood. Subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with another mom who needs permission to stop trying to do it all. 📲 Connect with Nikki: Instagram: @nikkiwallace247 Facebook: @ConnectWithNikkiW

  4. Aug 16 ·  Video

    Episode 86: Why Moms Struggle When Kids Go Back to School | Mom Guilt, Growing Up & Letting Go

    When did they get so big? Back to school is supposed to be exciting. New teachers. New friends. New experiences. A fresh start. So why can it also make a mom want to cry? This week, after Meet the Teacher nights, back to school bashes and preparing three kids to enter fourth, fifth and sixth grades, Nikki found herself confronting one of the hardest parts of motherhood: You spend years helping your children become independent, and then one day...they actually start needing you less. In this episode of Struggle & Strength: Moms Balancing It All with Nikki, we're talking about the bittersweet emotions of watching your kids grow up, back to school mom emotions, letting go, mom guilt and learning to appreciate the season of motherhood you're in before it becomes another memory. Because motherhood is filled with firsts we celebrate. First steps. First words. First days of school. But it's also filled with something much harder: Lasts we don't realize are lasts when they're happening. The last time they ask to be picked up. The last time they crawl into your bed after a bad dream. The last time they need help tying their shoes. The last time they reach for your hand walking into school. Firsts announce themselves. But lasts are quiet. Nikki also talks about the pressure moms put on themselves to create the perfect childhood, especially during summer. Did we make enough memories? Did we spend enough time together? Did we do enough? Maybe childhood isn't measured by how much we squeeze into every summer. Maybe the ordinary moments are the ones our kids will remember most. And maybe watching our children grow up isn't about losing them at all. It's about learning how to become the mom they need in each new stage. If you're looking at your kids this back to school season wondering where the time went, this episode is for you. ❤️ Be excited for who they're becoming. ❤️ Miss who they used to be. ❤️ And remember that both feelings can exist at the same time. Because maybe we don't actually want our kids to stay little forever. Maybe we just want more time. The Promise of Struggle & Strength: Helping high-achieving moms reconnect with themselves so they can build a life that aligns with their values instead of just surviving their responsibilities. 📲 Connect with Nikki: Instagram: @nikkiwallace247 Facebook: @ConnectWithNikkiW

  5. Aug 9 ·  Video

    Episode 85: Why Moms Get So Emotional About Kids’ Sports | When Their Wins and Losses Feel Like Our Own

    Have you ever watched your child compete and somehow felt like YOU were the one competing? After watching my daughter struggle during her 3 meter competition at USA Diving Nationals, I found myself genuinely upset. And then I had to ask myself a hard question: Why am I taking this so personally when it wasn't my competition? If you're a sports mom, you may already know the answer. We don't just watch our kids compete. We live the journey alongside them. We rearrange schedules. Drive to practices. Pay the fees. Book the hotels. Pack the bags. Encourage them after hard practices. Celebrate the breakthroughs. Calm the nerves. Sacrifice weekends. And quietly carry so much of the work that makes their opportunities possible. So when they win, we feel it. And when they lose, sometimes we feel that too. In Episode 85 of Struggle & Strength: Moms Balancing It All with Nikki, we're talking about the emotional side of youth sports and what happens when supporting our children's dreams slowly turns into becoming emotionally attached to their results. I share what happened at USA Diving Nationals, why my daughter's disappointing competition affected me so deeply and the realization that completely changed how I looked at everything our family had invested into her sport. Because maybe we've been measuring the return all wrong. Maybe the return on everything we pour into our kids isn't the medal. Maybe it's the person they're becoming while chasing it. In this episode, we talk about sports parenting, motherhood, disappointment, resilience, parental expectations, the invisible work behind competitive youth sports and learning to let our children's journey truly belong to them. You'll also hear why disappointment isn't something we always need to fix for our kids and why learning how to lose, recover and keep going may be one of the most valuable lessons sports can teach them. If you've ever sat on the sidelines, in the bleachers or beside the pool with your stomach in knots while your child competed, this episode is for you. The Promise of Struggle & Strength: Helping high-achieving moms reconnect with themselves so they can build a life that aligns with their values instead of just surviving their responsibilities. 📲 Connect with Nikki: Instagram: @nikkiwallace247 Facebook: @ConnectWithNikkiW

  6. Aug 2 ·  Video

    Episode 84: Why Moms Need to Stop Waiting to Take Care of Themselves | Healthy Moms, Healthy Families

    What if the greatest gift you could give your family isn't doing more... but taking better care of yourself? This week, a conversation at a community event stopped Nikki in her tracks. A mom walked up after seeing the health products on her table and said something that so many women quietly believe: "Now that my kids are grown, it's finally time for me to start taking care of myself." Those words sparked an important question: Why do so many moms believe they have to wait until everyone else is taken care of before they deserve to take care of themselves? In this heartfelt episode of Struggle & Strength: Moms Balancing It All with Nikki, Nikki shares her own health journey and why becoming healthier wasn't about losing weight or looking a certain way. It was about becoming a stronger, healthier, more present wife, mom, and leader. If you've been putting yourself at the bottom of the priority list, this episode is a reminder that taking care of yourself isn't selfish. It's one of the greatest investments you can make in your family. In This Episode You'll Learn: ❤️ Why so many moms wait to prioritize their own health ❤️ How small daily habits create lifelong change ❤️ Why self-care is about stewardship, not selfishness ❤️ How your children learn healthy habits by watching you ❤️ Why taking care of yourself allows you to show up better for the people you love ❤️ Practical ways to begin putting your health first today One of the biggest lessons from this episode is this: Your family doesn't need a mom who sacrifices herself into exhaustion. They need a mom who's healthy enough to keep making memories with them. If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another mom who has been waiting for "someday" to take care of herself.

  7. Jul 26 ·  Video

    Episode 83: The High-Achieving Mom Trap | Why Doing Everything Is Keeping You Overwhelmed

    Do you ever feel like you're carrying your entire family on your shoulders? If you're a high-achieving mom, you've probably said these words before: "It's just easier if I do it myself." "By the time I explain it, I could have already finished it." "If I don't remind everyone, it won't get done." But what if your greatest strength is also the thing that's keeping you overwhelmed? In this episode of Struggle & Strength: Moms Balancing It All with Nikki, Nikki shares a conversation with a fellow mom that sparked a powerful realization about the mental load so many women carry. As a Chief Operating Officer who leads teams at work and a mom who naturally takes charge at home, she explores how high-achieving women often become so capable that they unintentionally create families that depend on them for everything. This isn't an episode about blaming husbands or keeping score. It's about recognizing the patterns that leave so many moms exhausted and discovering how true leadership at home sometimes means stepping back so others have the opportunity to step up. In This Episode You'll Learn: 💛 Why high-achieving moms often feel like they're carrying the whole family 💛 The hidden trap behind saying, "It's just easier if I do it myself." 💛 How leadership lessons from the workplace can transform your family life 💛 Why doing everything yourself may actually keep you overwhelmed 💛 How to create space for your spouse and children to grow in responsibility 💛 Why letting go of control isn't weakness...it's leadership Remember: You don't have to prove your worth by doing everything. Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is let someone else carry part of the load. If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another high-achieving mom who needs this reminder today. The Promise of Struggle & Strength: Helping high-achieving moms reconnect with themselves so they can build a life that aligns with their values instead of just surviving their responsibilities. 📲 Connect with Nikki: Instagram: @nikkiwallace247 Facebook: @ConnectWithNikkiW

  8. Jul 20 ·  Video

    Episode 82: Why Moms Just Want to Feel Chosen | The Emotional Side of Motherhood Nobody Talks About

    Have you ever felt overlooked... even after giving everything to your family? As moms, we spend countless hours planning, packing, organizing, encouraging, and making sure everyone else has what they need. Most of that work happens behind the scenes and often goes unnoticed. After her daughter's national diving championship, Nikki experienced a moment that unexpectedly hurt. It wasn't about jealousy or needing attention. It was something much deeper. She simply wanted to feel... chosen. That moment led to a life-changing realization about her own mother and why she often longed for more time and affection after raising four children. In this heartfelt episode, Nikki explores the emotional side of motherhood that so many women experience but rarely talk about...the quiet desire to know that after pouring so much into everyone else, you still matter. Whether you've ever felt invisible, unappreciated, or like everyone is excited to see everyone except you, this episode is a reminder that you're not alone. In This Episode You'll Learn: ❤️ Why so many moms quietly long to feel chosen ❤️ The hidden emotional weight of motherhood ❤️ Why children naturally gravitate toward others and why it can still hurt ❤️ How becoming a mom can completely change the way you understand your own parents ❤️ Why feeling seen is one of every mother's deepest emotional needs ❤️ How we can intentionally help our families recognize the invisible work moms do every day Remember: Wanting to feel chosen isn't selfish. It's human. If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another mom who needs to know she's seen, valued, and deeply loved. The Promise of Struggle & Strength: Helping high-achieving moms reconnect with themselves so they can build a life that aligns with their values instead of just surviving their responsibilities. 📲 Connect with Nikki: Instagram: @nikkiwallace247 Facebook: @ConnectWithNikkiW

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Welcome to “Struggle & Strength: Moms Balancing It All,” the podcast for powerhouse moms who are managing family, career, and dreams, all while navigating the chaos of daily life. Hosted by Nikki, a full-time professional, mom of three, and entrepreneur, this show brings you candid conversations about real-life struggles, actionable parenting tips, and insights on nurturing ambition amidst the challenges of motherhood. From balancing work deadlines and side hustles to fostering independence in our kids, we cover it all. Tune in for weekly episodes that remind you you’re not alone in this journey—and help you build resilience, empowerment, and strength. If you’re a mom with big goals and a busy life, join us as we embrace the struggle, find the strength, and juggle it all together.

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