There are seasons in motherhood when a well-intended reminder to “just focus on what you’re grateful for” makes you feel worse instead of better, because you’re exhausted, you’re not loving motherhood the way you thought you would, and the idea that gratitude will fix it all feels invalidating. I’ve been there more than once. That’s a big part of why I loved this conversation with my friend Monica Packer. Monica and I are both raising neurodivergent kids who come with their own set of challenges, and we’ve each been in the throes of some really hard stages. And yet, a small, daily gratitude practice has been one of the things that helped carry us both through them. (And no, it didn’t solve all the problems, but it did help!) This week, Monica, host of the About Progress podcast and founder of the More for Moms Conference, turned the tables and interviewed me for her conference, armed with her well-loved, slightly battered Flecks of Gold journal full of yellow Post-its marking the monthly tips inside it that have made the biggest difference for her. Together, we talked about what makes gratitude feel real, and how to keep the practice going in the busiest, messiest, most imperfect seasons, missed days and all. In this episode, you’ll hear: ✨ The clever way one of my Self-Assured Motherhood moms captures her flecks in the moment ✨ What to do when your kids “never” get along or your teenager “always” has an attitude ✨ What it means when you can’t think of a single good moment from your day As we head into a month full of gratitude prompts, I hope this conversation helps you see that gratitude, practiced in small and honest ways, is anything but trite, and that it can be one of the most powerful tools you have during your hardest seasons. For full show notes, including takeaways, click here. *** Announcements: ✨ Our Early Bird sale is here! From November 2 through November 9, everything in the Flecks of Gold shop is $5 off, no code needed, and every order comes with a free Flecks of Gold for Kids Download. It’s perfect for those of us who like to get our holiday shopping done early, whether you’re treating yourself or tucking one away for a mom you love. Shop at 3in30podcast.com/gold. 💛 Want more from Monica? Her entire More for Moms Conference is available as an Archive Pass, full of sessions designed to help moms feel more like themselves. Get it at aboutprogress.com/moreformoms and use code 3IN30 for $10 off. Related Episodes: 401: How Radical Gratitude Can Change Your Life // Dr. Tanmeet Sethi 404: 3 Ways to Teach Children Gratitude 109: How to Find Gratitude in the Marathons of Life // Taffy Micheli Episode Sponsors: BetterHelp: 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms is sponsored by BetterHelp. Go to betterhelp.com/3in30 to get 10% off your first month of online therapy. Quince: Give the gift of quality this holiday season. Go to quince.com/3in30 for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Freestyle: Get 30% off your first 3 months of a Freestyle diaper subscription at freestyle.world/3in30 with code 3in30. That’s a full month of premium diapers delivered to your door for just $49/month for your first 3 months. Ethos: Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at ethos.com/3in30. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Trustpilot rating as of 8/1/2026. Let's Connect! Join me on Instagram! Get weekly-ish emails with BTS of my life Find Your Magic in Motherhood: Free 3-Day Email Course ***