Not Quite Grownup

Caitlin Kindred
  • 4.9 (163)
  • How To
  • Updated Weekly

For elder millennial moms who are politically progressive, emotionally exhausted, and sick of “perfect‑parent” propaganda. This podcast is a warm, funny, and unapologetic space for moms who want to laugh, cry, and rage at the world without pretending they’ve got it all together. We talk about parenting, mental health, and politics the way real friends do—messy, honest, and full of grace. If you’re tired of performative parenting content and want a show that centers empathy, accountability, and joy, this is your safe space. New episodes drop Tuesdays. Find me at www.notquitegrownup.com or @not_quite_grownup on social media.

  1. 1d ago

    Back-to-School Routines: Why My System Totally Failed by Day 4

    Send Caitlin a Text! It's day four of school, the bus comes in six minutes, and Caitlin's carefully planned back-to-school systems have already fallen apart. This episode is about what happened when trying harder wasn't the answer, and the one new thing that actually stuck in this year's routine. Stay up-to-date with Not Quite Grownup. Join the email list.— Who Should Listen Moms whose back-to-school routines are already falling apart, even after real planningAnyone who's bought the new planner, the color-coded pens, or the habit tracker app that died by day fourParents who feel like they're failing at their own adviceListeners who need to hear that it's okay if the "right" systems just don't work for your family— What You'll Get Why a system can work perfectly over the summer and still collapse by day four of the school yearThe real problem: it's not laziness or lack of effort; it's building routines for a family that doesn't actually exist in your houseWhy the "new planner, new me" trap rarely works, and why that's not a personal failingThe one small change Caitlin's keeping (four words: teeth, socks, shoes, backpack) and why it's working where everything else didn'tA reminder that the routine or system that'll actually stick is probably already in your house—it's just not the shiny new one— Your Host Caitlin Kindred is the host of Not Quite Grownup, a podcast for moms navigating the gap between who they're "supposed" to be and the messy, real version of adulthood. — Sources & Mentions School Morning Rules for Moms Who Hate Mornings by @rosettewilson_ on ThreadsNext episode teaser: the avalanche of back-to-school paperwork and formsWelcome to Not Quite Grownup. Let's do this.  Subscribe to join other Not Quite Grownups here >>>Follow on Instagram and Threads @not_quite_grownup.Please, rate, review, and subscribe for more Not Quite Grownup stories. Love you, mean it. Support the show Visit notquitegrownup.com for more content and the latest updates. Or connect on social media @not_quite_grownup on Instagram and Threads.

  2. Aug 11

    Back-to-School Self-Care for Moms: How to Keep the Summer Joy Going

    Send Caitlin a Text! Your Favorite Summer Habits Don't Have to Retire in September Just as I finally settle into summer ease, the back-to-school countdown starts creeping back in. In the finale of the Sane Mom Summer series, I ask the question that matters most as fall approaches: does the joy have to end just because summer does? (Spoiler: duh, no.) Stay up-to-date with Not Quite Grownup. Join the email list.— Who Should Listen Moms who feel that familiar anxiety creeping back in as summer winds downParents who tend to let self-care slide the second the school year startsMoms looking for a simple, doable way to protect the good parts of summer through fallAnyone who's followed the Sane Mom Summer series and wants the wrap-up— What You'll Get Why summer joy tends to disappear the second school startsHeather Moulder's self-care equation, and why "self-care" belongs above the to-do list instead of buried at the bottom of itA simple exercise: naming three specific things from summer that genuinely made you feel like yourselfHow to actually protect that time with one bigger, calendar-worthy ritual and one small, recurring oneThe throughline for the whole Sane Mom Summer series: you get to notice what works for you and build around it— Your Host Caitlin Kindred is the host of Not Quite Grownup, a podcast for moms navigating the gap between who they're "supposed" to be and the messy, real version of adulthood. — Sources & Mentions Heather Moulder's self-care equation (work + family + chores + other — with "other" including self-care), referenced as the framework for prioritizing self-care in the epsiode How To Stop Feeling Guilty About Taking Care Of Yourself | Heather MoulderHow To Say No Without Feeling Guilt (Step-By-Step Instructions) | Heather MoulderSane Mom Summer series: Episode 205: Lowering the standard for a less “picture perfect” summerEpisode 206: ConfidenceEpisode 207: Not letting the internet dictate your summerEpisode 208: ADHD in summer modeEpisode 209: Making the B2S transition more manageableWelcome to Not Quite Grownup. Let's do this.  Subscribe to join other Not Quite Grownups here >>>Follow on Instagram and Threads @not_quite_grownup.Please, rate, review, and subscribe for more Not Quite Grownup stories. Love you, mean it. Support the show Visit notquitegrownup.com for more content and the latest updates. Or connect on social media @not_quite_grownup on Instagram and Threads.

  3. Jul 28

    Back-to-School Tips for Moms: 4 Ways to Make the Transition Feel Manageable

    Send Caitlin a Text! A back-to-school commercial ruined Caitlin's day—and made her realize why the whole season feels like a giant mom-run group project. In this episode, she breaks down why back-to-school hits so hard, and shares real (borrowed, stolen, and tested) tips to make the transition feel manageable. Stay up-to-date with Not Quite Grownup. Join the email list. -- Who Should Listen Moms feeling that tight-chest anxiety just thinking about back-to-schoolParents managing the shift from loose summer routines back into school-year logisticsParents of kids having big feelings about a grade-level milestone (last year of elementary, etc.)Anyone in the Sane Mom Summer series looking to carry that "easier on yourself" energy into fall-- What You Get In This Episode Why back-to-school hits so much harder than it should: (because it's more than a logistics checklist, it’s a full family transition)A reframe that makes it manageable: Change “let’s have the perfect first day” to “what actually matters right now?”Four practical resets: reset sleep/wake times early, simplify the first week, use visual supports, and talk openly with your kid about the transitionA grab bag of extra tips—practicing the school drive, tax-free shopping weekends, the lunchbox leftovers talk, and a genius trick for back-to-school clothes shoppingA reminder that it’s okay for the first two to three weeks to be a little bumpy!-- Host Bio Caitlin Kindred is the host of Not Quite Grownup, a podcast for moms navigating the gap between who they're "supposed" to be and the messy, real version of adulthood. Sources & Mentions -- Episode 77 — "Back to School Prep: Two Teachers and Moms Help You Start the School Year Right" (with former co-host Jenny), for additional back-to-school tipsSane Mom Summer series recap: Episode 1 (lowering the bar), Episode 2 (confidence), Episode 3 (not letting the internet run your nervous system), Episode 4 (ADHD in summer mode)Tax-free weekend / state sales tax holiday for back-to-school shopping in Texas: Friday, August 7, through Sunday, August 9, 2026Next episode teaser: wrapping the Sane Mom Summer series by carrying summer's ease into the school yearWelcome to Not Quite Grownup. Let's do this.  Subscribe to join other Not Quite Grownups here >>>Follow on Instagram and Threads @not_quite_grownup.Please, rate, review, and subscribe for more Not Quite Grownup stories. Love you, mean it. Support the show Visit notquitegrownup.com for more content and the latest updates. Or connect on social media @not_quite_grownup on Instagram and Threads.

  4. Jul 14

    ADHD in Summer: Why the Chaos Hits Moms Harder

    Send Caitlin a Text! How Summer Secretly Wrecks Your ADHD Brain School's out, routines are gone, and if your ADHD brain feels extra chaotic right now, you're not lazy — you're just missing the structure summer quietly stole from you. In this episode of the Sane Mom Summer series, Caitlin breaks down why ADHD symptoms intensify in summer and shares real, low-effort supports that actually help. Stay up-to-date with Not Quite Grownup. Join the email list.— Who Should Listen Moms with ADHD (diagnosed or self-suspected) who feel more scattered, emotional, or overstimulated once summer hitsParents managing shifting routines, camp schedules, and loosened structureAnyone in the Not Quite Grown Up "Sane Mom Summer" series looking for practical, non-glamorous coping toolsListeners who feel shame around not "enjoying summer enough"— What You Get in This Episode A reframe for ADHD shame: scattered ≠ lazy — it means your brain needs different supports, not more willpowerWhy summer specifically wrecks ADHD coping mechanisms (hint: it's the missing structure, not you)The "acceptance before action" mindset, borrowed from an unexpected source (Amanda Knox)Five concrete, unglamorous tools: visible reminders, external structure, task-shrinking, action-before-motivation, and low-stakes systems (baskets, checklists, snack bins, alarms)Permission to stop chasing motivation and just start the smallest possible step— Your Host Caitlin Kindred is the host of Not Quite Grownup, a podcast for moms navigating the gap between who they're "supposed" to be and the messy, real version of adulthood. Diagnosed with ADHD at 38, she brings that lens to episodes like this one, talking openly about what actually helps rather than what's supposed to. — Sources & Mentions Sane Mom Summer series: Episode 205 — Lowering the standard for summerEpisode 206 — ConfidenceEpisode 207 — Not letting the internet dictate your summerEpisode 208 (this one) — ADHD in summer mode— What’s Next Back-to-school without the mommy meltdown Welcome to Not Quite Grownup. Let's do this.  Subscribe to join other Not Quite Grownups here >>>Follow on Instagram and Threads @not_quite_grownup.Please, rate, review, and subscribe for more Not Quite Grownup stories. Love you, mean it. Support the show Visit notquitegrownup.com for more content and the latest updates. Or connect on social media @not_quite_grownup on Instagram and Threads.

  5. Jun 30

    5 Easy Steps to Keep Social Media from Wrecking Your Summer Fun

    Send Caitlin a Text! You started summer with one goal: keep life calmer, lighter, less chaotic. Then you scrolled for two minutes and suddenly your summer looks underwhelming compared to someone else's perfectly curated highlights. Your nervous system is dysregulated, your confidence is shaken, and you're convinced everyone else has figured something out that you missed. Let’s fix that. Click here for this episode’s blog post with links to sources and even more content.Stay connected: Get reminder emails!Summary Your real life matters more than content, even when it doesn't photograph well. A meaningful summer doesn't require a curated feed. It requires protecting your attention and refusing to absorb other people's chaos as your own. This episode shows you how. — You Need This Episode If... You feel tense, anxious, or "behind" after scrollingYou're scrolling for relief when you're tired but ending up more friedYour feed makes you feel like you’re sucking at summer— What You'll Get Why your brain reaches for social media when tired (and why it backfires)How algorithms actually work—dwell time is the algo-impact you didn't know aboutClear signs your feed is dysregulating you4 practical boundaries that fit real mom life (ex: “shower before screens”)A self-check question to stop spiraling and return to what's actually real— Your Host Caitlin is the host of Not Quite Grownup and a content marketer who knows her way around an algorithm. She's also the woman who will pry Threads from her cold, dead hands, so this isn't about quitting social media—it's about protecting your peace within it. Welcome to Not Quite Grownup. Let's do this.  Subscribe to join other Not Quite Grownups here >>>Follow on Instagram and Threads @not_quite_grownup.Please, rate, review, and subscribe for more Not Quite Grownup stories. Love you, mean it. Support the show Visit notquitegrownup.com for more content and the latest updates. Or connect on social media @not_quite_grownup on Instagram and Threads.

  6. Jun 16

    Stop Overexplaining: The 1 Thing I'm Doing to Boost My Confidence

    Send Caitlin a Text! You're allowed to quit the gym without explaining why. You're allowed to say no without an explainer paragraph. You're allowed to let someone else sit with their discomfort while you trust your decision. This episode is about what real confidence looks like, and it doesn't require you to be loud, polished, or certain. — You Need This Episode If: You find yourself overexplaining every decision you makeYou've been managing everyone else's feelings instead of trusting your ownYou’re looking for a way to build the kind of confidence that spills into other areas of your lifeWhat You'll Get: A realistic definition of confidence that actually works for momsWhy overexplaining kills your confidence (and how it opens the door for pushback)The gym cancellation story that changes everything about how you see boundariesPractical ways to build self-trust with small choicesWhy silence is one of your most powerful tools— Your Host: Caitlin is the host of Not Quite Grownup, a podcast for moms who are trying to keep it together with their watered-down iced coffee and realistic expectations. She's figuring this out in real time, right alongside you. — Bottom Line: Real confidence isn't about being loud or having it all figured out. It's about knowing what you want, trusting your decisions, and being willing to let things be a little awkward, one small choice at a time. Click here for this episode’s blog post with links to sources and even more content.Stay connected with Not Quite GrownupWelcome to Not Quite Grownup. Let's do this.  Subscribe to join other Not Quite Grownups here >>>Follow on Instagram and Threads @not_quite_grownup.Please, rate, review, and subscribe for more Not Quite Grownup stories. Love you, mean it. Support the show Visit notquitegrownup.com for more content and the latest updates. Or connect on social media @not_quite_grownup on Instagram and Threads.

  7. Jun 2

    Sane Mom Summer: Why Summer Breaks Moms—And a Better Way to Cope

    Send Caitlin a Text! Summer is supposed to be relaxing. Barefoot kids, popsicles, pool days, sleeping in. So why does it make you feel like you're barely holding it together? The answer isn't that you're doing something wrong. Summer genuinely breaks moms—not because you're weak, but because the structure you've been relying on all year suddenly disappears and gets replaced with a thousand tiny decisions you have to make every single day. This episode is about why that happens, what it actually costs you, and how to get through summer without completely losing your sh*t. — You Need This Episode If... Summer has you making decisions from 6 AM to bedtime with no breaksYou're feeling guilty for not making summer "special" enoughYou're exhausted by the constant "what should we do today?" questionsYou want practical ways to protect your sanity (not add more to your plate)— What You'll Get Why summer breaks moms: The decision fatigue that comes from losing routineHow the pressure to make summer "magical" actually works against youWhat your nervous system actually needs during unstructured monthsWhat "sane" actually looks like: Four realistic weekly goalsPermission to lower the bar without guiltReal talk about what your kids actually rememberPractical ways to cope: How to pre-decide choices so you're not deciding the same thing every dayBuilding tiny rituals that protect your peaceProtecting your evenings (and why it matters)Setting boundaries around the pressure to perform in the summer— Your Host Caitlin is a former teacher, current mom, someone who is already losing her mind in June, and someone who’s learning that surviving summer break with your sanity intact is the real win this season. — Summer doesn't need to be amazing. It needs to be survivable in a way that leaves you still liking yourself and your kids at the end of August. Give yourself permission to lower the bar. It’s enough to just get through it. — Sources & Mentions Read the blog post → Subscribe so you never miss an episode → Have a topic you want me to cover? Send me a text using the link at the top of the show notes. Love you, mean it. — Next episode: Building real confidence, bathing suit season aside. Welcome to Not Quite Grownup. Let's do this.  Subscribe to join other Not Quite Grownups here >>>Follow on Instagram and Threads @not_quite_grownup.Please, rate, review, and subscribe for more Not Quite Grownup stories. Love you, mean it. Support the show Visit notquitegrownup.com for more content and the latest updates. Or connect on social media @not_quite_grownup on Instagram and Threads.

  8. May 19

    Why 'Forgive, Don't Forget' is Actually the Ultimate Self-Care

    Send Caitlin a Text! Senior year of college. My best friend and roommate. An envelope of cash in the freezer, a lie about her father dying, expensive purses showing up, and then a "break-in" so terrifying that I got in a cop car and drove around looking for the alleged attacker. Weeks later, I found out the truth from a newspaper headline. The entire thing was staged. No confession. No apology. From the newspaper. In front of other people. This episode is about what forgiveness looks like when the person who hurt you won't own it, and you still have to figure out how to move forward without letting rage live in your body forever. Click here for this episode’s blog post with links to sources and even more content.Stay connected: Subscribe to our newsletter!— You Need This Episode If... You're stuck waiting for an apology that's never comingYou're exhausted by the anger but don't know how to put it downYou keep rehearsing what you'd say if they ever acknowledged what they didYou're worried about the next steps after forgiveness— What You'll Get The story: A friendship betrayal so bizarre it still stings, and the years of grief, rumination, and rage that followed What forgiveness isn'tWhat forgiveness actually isWhat "forgive but don't forget" really means:How to know when you’ve reached a turning point— Your Host Caitlin is a former teacher, current mom, someone who lost her best friend and most of her social circle to a betrayal she found out about in a newspaper, and someone who learned the real meaning of forgiveness. — Sources & Mentions Apology and Forgiveness in Reconciliation: How Words Can Mend | Beyond IntractabilityOn Rupture and Repair: A Relational Approach | RIAP Psychological ServicesApology and Restitution: The Psychophysiology of Forgiveness After Wrongdoing | PMCForgiveness in Close Relationships | Very Well MindForgiveness and Reconciliation | Stanford Encyclopedia— What’s Next Planning my summer series! Starting after Memorial Day, episodes will release every other week so I can have a little summer and put some things together. Have a topic you want me to cover? Send me a text using the link at the top of the show notes. Love you, mean it. Welcome to Not Quite Grownup. Let's do this.  Subscribe to join other Not Quite Grownups here >>>Follow on Instagram and Threads @not_quite_grownup.Please, rate, review, and subscribe for more Not Quite Grownup stories. Love you, mean it. Support the show Visit notquitegrownup.com for more content and the latest updates. Or connect on social media @not_quite_grownup on Instagram and Threads.

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4.9
out of 5
163 Ratings

About

For elder millennial moms who are politically progressive, emotionally exhausted, and sick of “perfect‑parent” propaganda. This podcast is a warm, funny, and unapologetic space for moms who want to laugh, cry, and rage at the world without pretending they’ve got it all together. We talk about parenting, mental health, and politics the way real friends do—messy, honest, and full of grace. If you’re tired of performative parenting content and want a show that centers empathy, accountability, and joy, this is your safe space. New episodes drop Tuesdays. Find me at www.notquitegrownup.com or @not_quite_grownup on social media.

Information

  • Creator
    Caitlin Kindred
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    212
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Not Quite Grownup
  • Show Website
    Not Quite Grownup

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