Motherhood isn’t all Pinterest boards and playdates — it’s beautiful, messy, exhausting, and full of moments that make you question everything.
Hosted by Karen Chirivi, mom, positive discipline educator, mindset coach, and founder of Keeping Moms Real, this podcast is your safe corner of the internet — where we talk about what motherhood really feels like.
Each week, we unpack the emotions that moms carry: guilt, burnout, identity loss, and the pressure to be perfect. You’ll hear real stories, honest reflections, and practical mindset tools to help you release the guilt, reconnect with yourself, and raise your kids with more love and less overwhelm.
Because you don’t need to do it all — you just need to be real.
✨ Topics include:
Mom guilt & emotional burnout
Balancing motherhood and identity
Gentle parenting & real discipline moments
Self-care that actually fits your life
Mindset shifts for calm, confident motherhood
💛 New episodes every week.
Follow now — and let’s redefine what it really means to be a “good mom.”
#7 - What “Discipline with Connection” Really Looks Like in Real Life
Most moms think discipline is about getting kids to listen.
But in this episode, I’m showing you what actually works.
Real moments, real science, real tools.
If you’ve ever wondered how to discipline without yelling or losing yourself… this one will open your eyes.
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✨ Join The Family — my free community for real moms who want to parent with more calm, connection, and confidence.
→ https://www.skool.com/keepingmomsreal
🎁 Want a free taste of 1:1 coaching?
Book a Free 30-Min Coaching Session to get clarity, support, and practical tools you can use today.
→ https://calendly.com/karenchirivi/discovery-call
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❤️ Learn more👇
→ https://www.skool.com/keepingmomsreal
❤️ Don't Forget To Subscribe 👇
https://www.youtube.com/c/keepingmomsreal
❤️ Instagram 👇
https://www.instagram.com/keepingmomsreal
❤️ TikTok 👇
https://www.tiktok.com/@keepingmomsreal
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❤️ Related Studies & Articles You May Find Helpful:
→Brain Insights and Well-Being
https://drdansiegel.com/brain-insights-and-well-being-3/
→Putting Feelings Into Words
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01916.x
→Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting Education: Promoting Family Mindfulness During the Perinatal Period
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10826-009-9313-7
→Serve and Return
https://developingchild.harvard.edu/key-concept/serve-and-return/
→Anterior pituitary cell networks
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091302212000349?via%3Dihub#s0140
→Effects of stress throughout the lifespan on the brain, behaviour and cognition
https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn2639
→Stress signalling pathways that impair prefrontal cortex structure and function
https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn2648
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DISCLAIMERS:
- Some links may be affiliate links — at no extra cost to you.
- My content is educational and based on my personal experience; it’s not a substitute for professional advice.
- You assume all responsibility for actions taken based on anything you learn from Keeping Moms Real.
#momlife #positivediscipline #gentleparenting
10 Dec 2025
#6 - The Day I Realized My Anger Wasn’t About My Child
In this episode, I share the moment I finally understood that my anger wasn’t about my child...
We’re talking burnout, survival mode, nervous system overload, and why the smallest things feel like the last straw when your cup is empty.
You’ll learn what’s actually happening in your brain when you snap, why it’s not your fault, and simple tools that help you reset in the middle of the chaos.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
✨ Join The Family — my free community for real moms who want to parent with more calm, connection, and confidence.
→ https://www.skool.com/keepingmomsreal
🎁 Want a free taste of 1:1 coaching?
Book a Free 30-Min Coaching Session to get clarity, support, and practical tools you can use today.
→ https://calendly.com/karenchirivi/discovery-call
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
❤️ Learn more👇
→ https://www.skool.com/keepingmomsreal
❤️ Don't Forget To Subscribe 👇
https://www.youtube.com/c/keepingmomsreal
❤️ Instagram 👇
https://www.instagram.com/keepingmomsreal
❤️ TikTok 👇
https://www.tiktok.com/@keepingmomsreal
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
❤️ Related Studies & Articles You May Find Helpful:
→ American Psychological Association — Stress in America Report: https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress
Stress signalling pathways that impair prefrontal cortex structure and function: https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn2648
→ Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting Education: Promoting Family Mindfulness During the Perinatal Period: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10826-009-9313-7
→ How Gratitude Changes You and Your Brain: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_gratitude_changes_you_and_your_brain
→ Parenting in America Today. Mental health concerns top the list of worries for parents; most say being a parent is harder than they expected: https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/01/24/parenting-in-america-today/
→ The polyvagal theory: New insights into adaptive reactions of the autonomic nervous system: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3108032/
→ Harvard Health — Understanding the Stress Response: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-response
→ The Effects of Sleep Loss on Medical Residents' Emotional Reactions to Work Events: a Cognitive-Energy Model: https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article-abstract/28/1/47/2696716?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false
→ Putting Feelings Into Words: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01916.x
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
DISCLAIMERS:
- Some links may be affiliate links — at no extra cost to you.
- My content is educational and based on my personal experience; it’s not a substitute for professional advice.
- You assume all responsibility for actions taken based on anything you learn from Keeping Moms Real.
#momlife #positivediscipline #gentleparenting
3 Dec 2025
#5 - What it looks like to parent without perfectionism?
Trying to be the “perfect mom” almost broke me.
In this video, I’m sharing what it really looks like to parent without perfectionism — the messy, freeing, real-life version.
You’ll learn:
✨ The 3 truths that helped me let go of guilt and control
✨ Why repair matters more than getting it right every time
✨ How progress, not perfection, builds real connection
💛 Join The Family - Our Private Community
Imagine having a space where motherhood doesn’t feel so heavy — where you’re surrounded by moms who get it, and supported with tools that actually help. Inside The Family, we talk about emotional balance, gentle parenting, mindset growth, and real self-care — the kind that lasts. If you’ve been craving connection and calm… this is your invitation. 💛
👉 Join The Family: https://bit.ly/4okBSqh (https://bit.ly/4okBSqh)
🌿 Let’s Stay Connected
Instagram → @keepingmomsreal (https://www.instagram.com/keepingmomsreal)
TikTok → @keepingmomsreal (https://www.tiktok.com/@keepingmomsreal)
YouTube → Keeping Moms Real (https://www.youtube.com/c/keepingmomsreal)
⚠️ Disclaimer
I’m a mom sharing what’s worked for me. The ideas discussed here are for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not replace advice from a qualified professional. You assume all risks for how you use the information shared.
Some links may be affiliate links at no extra cost to you — thank you for supporting this work so I can continue creating free content for moms like you.
26 Nov 2025
#4 - Five Shifts That Changed How I Approach Power Struggles.
Tired of every meal, bedtime, or “no” turning into a battle? You’re not alone—I’ve been there too. In this video, I’m sharing 5 Positive Discipline tricks that helped me avoid power struggles instantly. These simple shifts (like offering choices, using fewer words, and letting go of the need to “win”) transformed the way I parent and created more peace at home.
💛 Join The Family - Our Private Community
Imagine having a space where motherhood doesn’t feel so heavy — where you’re surrounded by moms who get it, and supported with tools that actually help. Inside The Family, we talk about emotional balance, gentle parenting, mindset growth, and real self-care — the kind that lasts. If you’ve been craving connection and calm… this is your invitation. 💛
👉 Join The Family: https://bit.ly/4okBSqh (https://bit.ly/4okBSqh)
🌿 Let’s Stay Connected
Instagram → @keepingmomsreal (https://www.instagram.com/keepingmomsreal)
TikTok → @keepingmomsreal (https://www.tiktok.com/@keepingmomsreal)
YouTube → Keeping Moms Real (https://www.youtube.com/c/keepingmomsreal)
⚠️ Disclaimer
I’m a mom sharing what’s worked for me. The ideas discussed here are for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not replace advice from a qualified professional. You assume all risks for how you use the information shared.
Some links may be affiliate links at no extra cost to you — thank you for supporting this work so I can continue creating free content for moms like you.
19 Nov 2025
#3 - 11 things I Wish I Knew About Gentle Parenting Before I Started
Gentle parenting looks beautiful on paper—calm voices, deep connection, emotional safety. But the truth? It’s hard, it’s messy, and sometimes it feels impossible.
In this video, I’m breaking down 11 brutal truths about gentle parenting that no one told me until it was almost too late. These are the parts of parenting that don’t make it to Instagram—the exhaustion, the guilt, the doubts—and the lessons I’ve learned that are saving my sanity (and my relationship with my child).
💛 Join The Family - Our Private Community
Imagine having a space where motherhood doesn’t feel so heavy — where you’re surrounded by moms who get it, and supported with tools that actually help. Inside The Family, we talk about emotional balance, gentle parenting, mindset growth, and real self-care — the kind that lasts. If you’ve been craving connection and calm… this is your invitation. 💛
👉 Join The Family: https://bit.ly/4okBSqh (https://bit.ly/4okBSqh)
🌿 Let’s Stay Connected
Instagram → @keepingmomsreal (https://www.instagram.com/keepingmomsreal)
TikTok → @keepingmomsreal (https://www.tiktok.com/@keepingmomsreal)
YouTube → Keeping Moms Real (https://www.youtube.com/c/keepingmomsreal)
⚠️ Disclaimer
I’m a mom sharing what’s worked for me. The ideas discussed here are for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not replace advice from a qualified professional. You assume all risks for how you use the information shared.
Some links may be affiliate links at no extra cost to you — thank you for supporting this work so I can continue creating free content for moms like you.
12 Nov 2025
#2 - How This One Sentence Helped Me Handle My Toddler’s Tantrums Differently
I’ll never forget the day my daughter had one of those tantrums — the kind that feels like it’s never going to end. Nothing I said or did worked, and I felt completely helpless. Then, a simple sentence popped into my head that completely changed how I handle those moments.
So, if you’re tired of feeling triggered, overwhelmed, and unsure how to respond, this mindset shift can be your lifeline in the heat of the moment.
💛 Join The Family - Our Private Community
Imagine having a space where motherhood doesn’t feel so heavy — where you’re surrounded by moms who get it, and supported with tools that actually help. Inside The Family, we talk about emotional balance, gentle parenting, mindset growth, and real self-care — the kind that lasts. If you’ve been craving connection and calm… this is your invitation. 💛
👉 Join The Family: https://bit.ly/4okBSqh (https://bit.ly/4okBSqh)
🌿 Let’s Stay Connected
Instagram → @keepingmomsreal (https://www.instagram.com/keepingmomsreal)
TikTok → @keepingmomsreal (https://www.tiktok.com/@keepingmomsreal)
YouTube → Keeping Moms Real (https://www.youtube.com/c/keepingmomsreal)
⚠️ Disclaimer
I’m a mom sharing what’s worked for me. The ideas discussed here are for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not replace advice from a qualified professional. You assume all risks for how you use the information shared.
Some links may be affiliate links at no extra cost to you — thank you for supporting this work so I can continue creating free content for moms like you.
5 Nov 2025
#1 - I Felt Like a Failure as a Mom After Divorce – Here’s What I Know Now
I disappeared for two years… and here’s why.
This isn’t the story I thought I’d tell, but it’s the one I needed to.
After my divorce, I carried so much shame that I silenced myself — I thought I had to disappear to survive.
But I’m done hiding.
I’m no longer ashamed of my story, because it made me who I am.
And if you’ve ever felt like you had to hold it all together or disappear just to make it through — this one’s for you.
You’re not alone, and you don’t have to pretend to be okay anymore.
This is the beginning of Keeping Moms Real — coming back real, raw, and ready to rebuild… with you.
💛 Join The Family - Our Private Community
Imagine having a space where motherhood doesn’t feel so heavy — where you’re surrounded by moms who get it, and supported with tools that actually help. Inside The Family, we talk about emotional balance, gentle parenting, mindset growth, and real self-care — the kind that lasts. If you’ve been craving connection and calm… this is your invitation. 💛
👉 Join The Family: https://bit.ly/4okBSqh (https://bit.ly/4okBSqh)
🌿 Let’s Stay Connected
Instagram → @keepingmomsreal (https://www.instagram.com/keepingmomsreal)
TikTok → @keepingmomsreal (https://www.tiktok.com/@keepingmomsreal)
YouTube → Keeping Moms Real (https://www.youtube.com/c/keepingmomsreal)
⚠️ Disclaimer
I’m a mom sharing what’s worked for me. The ideas discussed here are for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not replace advice from a qualified professional. You assume all risks for how you use the information shared.
Some links may be affiliate links at no extra cost to you — thank you for supporting this work so I can continue creating free content for moms like you.
16 Oct 2025
Keeping Moms Real: A Soft Landing for the Overwhelmed Mom 💛
Motherhood isn’t meant to be perfect — it’s meant to be real.
Welcome to Keeping Moms Real — a soft landing for overwhelmed moms.
Hosted by Karen Chirivi, a Positive Discipline educator and mindset coach, this channel is your space to breathe, reconnect, and remember that being a “good mom” isn’t about doing it all — it’s about doing what matters.
💛 Join The Family - Our Private Community
Imagine having a space where motherhood doesn’t feel so heavy — where you’re surrounded by moms who get it, and supported with tools that actually help. Inside The Family, we talk about emotional balance, gentle parenting, mindset growth, and real self-care — the kind that lasts. If you’ve been craving connection and calm… this is your invitation. 💛
👉 Join The Family: https://bit.ly/4okBSqh (https://bit.ly/4okBSqh)
🌿 Let’s Stay Connected
Instagram → @keepingmomsreal (https://www.instagram.com/keepingmomsreal)
TikTok → @keepingmomsreal (https://www.tiktok.com/@keepingmomsreal)
YouTube → Keeping Moms Real (https://www.youtube.com/c/keepingmomsreal)
⚠️ Disclaimer
I’m a mom sharing what’s worked for me. The ideas discussed here are for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not replace advice from a qualified professional. You assume all risks for how you use the information shared.
Some links may be affiliate links at no extra cost to you — thank you for supporting this work so I can continue creating free content for moms like you.
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