Pretty In Pink Again

• Episode 6: Preparation, Communication and Regulation with Dr. Christine Lang, How Moms Can Stay Ahead, Communicate Clearly & Keep Their Cool

  🎙 Guest: Dr. Christine Lang, PhD, BCBA – Behavior Analyst & Communication ExpertThis episode explores the three biggest game-changers for moms—preparation, communication, and regulation. Scrambling through the day, struggling to express needs, and feeling overwhelmed doesn’t have to be the norm. The key to success is preparation—but not in a way that leads to control. Instead, strategic preparation creates freedom and ease. This conversation will uncover the power of planning ahead, communicating without blame, and staying calm even when chaos unfolds.SCRAMBLING VS. PREPARINGThe difference between scrambling and preparing is the difference between stress and confidence. Scrambling looks like running late, forgetting things, and reacting to problems instead of preventing them. Preparation doesn’t mean controlling everything—it means setting up systems that reduce decision fatigue and last-minute panic.When done right, preparation allows for more freedom, flexibility, and presence in daily life.COMMUNICATING NEEDS WITHOUT BLAMEKeys to Effective Communication:Expressing wants and needs without blame or resentment.Reframing from “You never help” to “I need support with this.”Avoiding passive-aggression and instead being clear and direct.The importance of stating what’s needed, rather than expecting a partner to “just know.”THE POWER OF PAUSEPause – Actually pause; step back, breathe, find calm, name what is happening.Aware – Notice thoughts, feelings, sensations, and appreciate positive intent.Understand – Listen deeply to understand perspectives and needs.Search for solutions – Courageously address what needs attention.Experiment – Be creative in trying new ways to respond.Learn more: SelfLeadershipCollaborative.comREGULATION – STAYING CALM WHEN OTHERS ARE LOSING ITPractical Strategies for Regulation:Simple techniques for staying calm in high-stress moments.Recognizing triggers and creating strategies to respond, not react.The connection between self-regulation and effective communication.REFRAMING MOM GUILTMom guilt often stems from unrealistic expectations—trying to be everything for everyone at all times. A common struggle: the desire to be at every event, show up for every moment, and do it all.LISTENER Q&A“How do I get my partner to take on more of the mental load without feeling like I’m nagging?”“What’s a simple way to stay calm when I feel myself about to lose it?”“How do I ask for help without feeling guilty?”“How do I manage my teen’s emotions?”PINK SPOTLIGHTChristine’s Spotlight: The power of movement and its profound impact on our lives.Kristina’s Spotlight: The importance of listening.Christina’s Spotlight: This wagon for walks with the kids!Links:Learn more about the power of pause: SelfLeadershipCollaborative.comFind Dr. Christine Lang: WestchesterBehavior.comRecommended podcast: Dr. Becky’s Good Inside episode on repair.Join the Conversation:Subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on Instagram. @prettyinpinkagain Hey PIPAS! Send us a text for episode feedback, ideas, and questions!

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• Episode 5: Confidence & Self-Care Hacks

  Episode Description:Motherhood (and life in general) can make self-care feel impossible. But taking small, intentional steps to feel good in your own skin doesn’t have to be a luxury. This episode is all about real-life, practical hacks to help women feel confident and put together—even on the messiest of days.SEGMENT 1: Why You Can’t ‘Fake It ‘Til You Make It’Why Feeling Good About Yourself Isn’t Selfish—It’s NecessaryThe Early Days of Motherhood: Losing Yourself & the Struggle to ‘Look Alive’ AgainThe Pressure to ‘Just Relax’ vs. the Reality of Needing to Feel Put TogetherSEGMENT 2: External Confidence Hacks✅ Christina’s Go-To Tricks:Her Shark hair dryer for a fast, smooth finish.Sleeping in loungewear sets so she wakes up semi-dressed.Picking out an outfit the night before to avoid morning stress.Her non-negotiables each morning: brushing teeth, eye-brightening cream, daytime serum, eyebrow gel, and lip stain.✅ Kristina’s Essentials:Her “big three” every morning: eyebrow pencil, tinted moisturizer, and mascara.Keratin treatments to make her hair low-maintenance.Investing in athleisure sets—not just for style, but because they promote movement and boost mental well-being.SEGMENT 3: Mental & Emotional Self-Care 🎙 Kristina’s Therapist-Approved Mood Hack:Dr. Christine Lang taught Kristina this 5-step sensory reset:Cold drink (activates the senses).A piece of dark chocolate (small pleasure).A special song (music shifts mood instantly).A calming scent (essential oils, lotion, etc.).Something tactile (like a cozy blanket or a textured object).PINK SPOTLIGHT 🌸 💖 Christina’s Pick: Lip stain—quick, easy, and lasts all day. (Color: Romance)💖 Kristina’s Pick: “A wash and blow dry. I even had one the morning I gave birth to my twins! It’s my quiet time and the best money I spend.”📣 Next Week’s Topic: Dr. Christine Lang joins us! She’s a PhD BCBA and a behavior specialist with life-changing advice for moms.💬 Listener Engagement:• DM us your best self-care hacks!• Subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on Instagram.• Send us your questions for Dr. Lang!Hey PIPAS! Send us a text for episode feedback, ideas, and questions!

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• Episode 4: (Trying to) Let Go of Control in Motherhood

  Episode Summary: This week, Christina and Kristina dive into the ever-present struggle of letting go of control as moms. From managing schedules to setting boundaries, they explore why mothers feel the need to control everything and how to find a balance between structure and flexibility.✨ Key Topics:Kristina’s Hack for Staying Organized: She swears by her Amazon Echo Show to display the family schedule, making it visible to everyone—so the mental load isn’t just on her. It’s a simple way to bring structure without micromanaging! Check it out hereChristina’s Journey with Control: With baby #1, a controlled schedule worked like magic, but with baby #2, she quickly realized that rigid structure wasn’t the answer. She shares how she adjusted her mindset and approach.The Need for Control: Why do moms feel pressure to manage everything? Is it about caring or a lack of trust in others?Boundaries vs. Control: How to set rules without becoming overbearing.WHAT THE FLOCK!? : They share moments that backfire while trying to control the situation. Trusting the Process: Letting go can lead to better outcomes for both moms and kids.💖 Pink Spotlight:Christina’s Self-Care Shift: She’s cutting back on coffee (gasp!) to help manage her anxiety—and it’s actually working!Kristina’s Game-Changer: She got laser hair removal at LaBella Medical in Farmington, CT and says it’s life-changing. (Bonus: Mention Pretty in Pink Again for 20% off your treatment!)📣 Next Week: Self-Care & Confidence Hacks—small, intentional routines that help moms feel put together and empowered.💬 Join the Conversation:DM us your stories about control & letting go!What do you identify as? Type A or B?Subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on Instagram. @prettyinpinkagain @christinatarabishy @kristinabontempoMention Pretty in Pink Again at LaBella Medical for 20% off laser hair removal!Hey PIPAS! Send us a text for episode feedback, ideas, and questions!

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• Episode 3: It Takes a Village, Why is it So Hard for Moms to Ask for Help and then Admit to Having Help?

  Episode Summary: Spoiler alert- this was a hard one for us! Personally to record, so we know it’s a tough topic! This week, we’re tackling why moms struggle to ask for help. Is it guilt? Fear of judgment? The pressure to do it all? We’re reframing the idea of asking for help as a strength, not a weakness, and sharing real-life moments when we realized we couldn’t (and shouldn’t) do it all alone.Key Takeaways: ✅ Asking for help strengthens friendships and builds trust. ✅ Saying no to help can push people away. ✅ Help isn’t transactional—you don’t owe someone just because they helped you. ✅ Outsourcing isn’t failure; it’s a tool that helps moms thrive. ✅ Learning to embrace your support system (spouse, childcare, friends) can make you a better parent.Ways to Accept Help Without Guilt: 🚗 Carpooling—share the load. 👩‍👧‍👦 Mom swaps—trade tasks with a friend. 🛑 Just say YES—no over-explaining, just “Yes, please” and “Thank you.” 🏡 Embracing childcare or household help as a way to balance life and motherhood.The “I Don’t Do It All” Movement: 📌Normalize conversations around outsourcing and support. 📌 Give “Grateful for My Village” shoutouts—publicly acknowledge the help you receive. 📌 Share behind-the-scenes moments—the messy reality behind “perfect” mom life. 📌 Answer honestly when someone asks, “How do you do it all?” 📌 Acknowledge help without guilt—help looks different for everyone.🌸 Pink Spotlight: 💖 Kristina’s Pick: Barre3 https://www.instagram.com/barre3farmingtonvalley?igsh=NzFwZTIxdHM3cGpm– Movement as therapy, childcare, variety, friendships, and an online platform.💖 Christina’s Pick: Beam – A nighttime hot chocolate for better sleep (magnesium, reishi, and L-theanine). Prioritize your sleep for a productive and healthy year with up to 35% off Dream by Beam. Just use code CHRISTINAT at checkout. You all know I loooove me the Brownie Batter flavor, you'll thank me!Join the Conversation📌 Follow us on Instagram: @prettyinpinkagain @christinatarabishy @kristinabontempo 📌 Share this episode with a friend 📌 Leave us a review—it helps other moms find this space!🔜 Next Episode: Letting Go of Control Hey PIPAS! Send us a text for episode feedback, ideas, and questions!

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• Episode 2: The Breakdown of Having Kids in Your 20s vs. 30s, Myth vs. Our Reality

  Episode SummaryWelcome back to Pretty in Pink Again! In this episode, we’re unpacking the conversation around having kids in your 20s vs. your 30s—the pros, the challenges, and the myths that come with both.Kristina shares her experience of becoming a mom at 26 while she and her husband were still growing their careers. At first, motherhood felt like a natural transition, but as their family grew, so did the challenges. She reflects on how having twins in her 30s was a completely different experience—mentally, physically, and logistically.Christina opens up about her struggles with infertility and the emotional toll of trying to conceive in her 30s. She shares how motherhood forced her to take a step back from her career, the reality of working from home with a baby, and why she wants to ban the phrase “bouncing back” after having kids—because you don’t bounce back, you bounce into something new.We’re also debunking some of the most common myths about having kids at different ages—because while some of them hold truth, others are just outdated narratives that don’t fit every journey.Episode Highlights:💡 Kristina’s Story: Motherhood in her 20s felt easy at first, but as life got fuller, balance became harder. She shares advice from her doctor about life being “more linear, not heavier” and explains the “container” analogy for managing responsibilities.💡 Christina’s Story: Motherhood in her 30s came after a tough infertility journey. She reflects on the challenges of stepping back from work, the identity shift, and the misconceptions about work-from-home flexibility with a baby.💡 Debunking the Pros & Cons of Having Kids in Your 20s vs. 30s:•Kids in Your 20s:✅ More energy for the sleepless nights.✅ Easier physical recovery (but let’s stop saying ‘bounce back’—your body evolves, not reverts).✅ Less overthinking—just diving in.⚠️ Harder to balance career growth & personal goals.⚠️ Financial stability might be a challenge.⚠️ Knowledge is power… but too much knowledge can lead to paranoia!•Kids in Your 30s:✅ More patience & life experience—less panic over the small things.✅ Typically more financially & emotionally stable.✅ More confidence in parenting decisions.⚠️ Fertility struggles can be more common.⚠️ Less physical energy for the newborn/toddler phase (but does anyone really have energy at 3 AM?).🌸 Pink Spotlights:💖 Christina’s Pick: The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins – a simple but powerful tool for pushing past hesitation. Learn more here.💖 Kristina’s Pick: Handbag University by Bethenny Frankel – finding high-quality, functional bags that elevate your look. Check it out here.Join the Conversation📌 Follow us on Instagram: @prettyinpinkagain @christinatarabishy @kristinabontempo 📌 Share this episode with a friend who needs to find her flock 📌 Leave us a review—it helps other moms find this space!Next Episode TeaserNext week, we’re talking about asking for help in motherhood—why it’s so hard, when we finally did it, and what we learned. We’ll cover everything from hiring help to school decisions and the biggest mistakes we made along the way. And most important, why do women hideHey PIPAS! Send us a text for episode feedback, ideas, and questions!

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