You Don’t Have to Love Every Moment To Be a Good Mom with Dr. Margo Lowy
This week, I’m joined by Dr. Margo Lowy: psychotherapist, maternal mental health expert, and author of Maternal Ambivalence: The Loving Moments and Bitter Truths of Motherhood. Our conversation dives deep into the emotional duality of motherhood, the fierce love and joy, alongside resentment, guilt, rage, and the quiet grief we often feel but rarely speak about.Dr. Lowy beautifully introduces the concept of maternal ambivalence: the ability to hold both light and dark feelings in motherhood without shame. Together, we unpack how motherhood is messy, interrupted, and imperfect, and how in that mess, there’s profound beauty. We talk about societal pressure, the curated perfection of social media, and how to begin offering ourselves the grace and permission we extend so easily to others.As a mom of three, I found so much comfort and clarity in this reminder: we don’t have to love every moment to love our children deeply. The meltdowns, the guilt, and the need for space are all part of the story. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the contradiction of motherhood or questioned your enoughness, you’re not alone in this. I hope this episode reminds you that your feelings are valid, and that there’s room for all of them. Don’t forget to share your reflections with me on Instagram or leave a review so other moms know they’re not alone in what they’re feeling too.Connect with Dr. Margo LowyWebsite: https://drmargolowy.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmargolowyAriana's Links:Website Instagram: @ArianaJoyChristie @YourCupofJoyPodcastTikTok: @ArianaChristie
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Getting Real on Growing Your Family and Growing Apart with Alex Cunningham
On this episode of Your Cup of Joy, I’m joined by my friend Alex Cunningham, content creator and the voice behind This Family Tree. Today, we’re sitting down to have the kind of conversation that usually stays between close friends, but we’re bringing it here, raw and unfiltered!Alex opens up about one of the most emotionally layered decisions a mother can face: whether or not to grow her family. We talk about what it’s like when your heart says one thing, your body says another, and your relationships add even more voices to the conversation. Alex vulnerably shares her experience with the unspoken tensions of family planning including pregnancy complications, the mental gymnastics of reconciling dreams with reality, and how sometimes, no choice feels 100% right. We also talk about the evolution of adult friendships and how our circles have shifted over time. What make a friendship truly resilient? What happens when convenience fades and real life takes over? Alex shares what she values most now in her relationships, why she’s no longer performing to keep connections alive, and how we both find comfort in the friends who can hold space, not keep score.This conversation with Alex is full of the things we don’t say out loud often enough. It’s a reminder that joy isn’t a luxury, it’s a lifeline. It’s okay to change your mind, to take up space, and to honour what’s true for you, even when it’s complicated.If this episode filled your cup, I’d love for you to share it, leave a review, or send it to a friend who might need it. Until next time! Connect with Alex: Instagram: @thisfamilytree Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/this-family-tree-podcast/id1460690037TikTok: @thisfamilytreeAriana's Links:Website Instagram: @ArianaJoyChristie @YourCupofJoyPodcastTikTok: @ArianaChristie
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The Default Parent Dilemma: Navigating Parenthood, Partnership, and Mom Guilt with Renee Reina
In this week’s episode of Your Cup of Joy, I’m joined by Renee Reina: content creator, host of The Mom Room podcast, fellow co-host of Friend Of, and most importantly, one of my closest friends. Together, we dive into one of the most transformative and validating conversations I’ve had about motherhood. If you’ve ever felt like you were holding your entire household together with invisible strings and no one really noticed, this episode is a must-listen. We talk about what it means to be the “default parent”, the silent weight of being constantly “on,” the overstimulation that comes with never being alone, and the subtle dynamics that fall into place when no one is looking. Renee shares her own evolution, from early postpartum to now raising a school-aged child, and how her marriage shifted along the way. I share the raw realities of parenting twins, trying to “do it all,” and realizing I had taken on roles I never meant to keep.This isn’t just a vent session. It’s a space to reflect, to laugh, and most importantly, to feel seen. We explore what it takes to have hard conversations with our partners, how to shift the dynamic, and what it actually looks like to ask for help without guilt.If you’re in the thick of things right now, I hope this conversation brings you comfort and clarity. Remember, it’s not about finding the perfect balance, it’s about finding a blend that works for you. So take this time for yourself to tune in and fill your cup, because you deserve it. If this episode resonated or hit home, send it to a fellow mom who could use a little joy today too.Connect with Renee:Instagram: @thereneereina / @themomroomTikTok: @thereneereinaListen to “The Mom Room”: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-mom-room/id1521655911Listen to “Friend Of”: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/friend-of/id1804716774Ariana's Links:Website Instagram: @ArianaJoyChristie @YourCupofJoyPodcastTikTok: @ArianaChristie
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Coming Back to Myself & Healing Postpartum Rage, Burnout, and Exhaustion
Today I’m doing something I don’t often do on Your Cup Of Joy, recording solo! I’m opening up about something I’ve never fully shared before: how I found my way back to myself. For years, I believed that being a good mom meant putting myself last. That selflessness somehow made me better. But what I learned the hard way is that losing yourself in motherhood isn’t noble,it’s painful.I’m sharing what postpartum really looked like for me and how, in the midst of all the rage and anxiety, I lost sight of who I was outside of motherhood. When I finally took a good look in the mirror, I barely recognized the person staring back at me. That moment became a turning point and the start of an intentional journey to reclaim my joy.I’ll be getting into the shifts and mindset changes that slowly brought me back and helped me move out of survival mode. I’ll touch on how through movement, food, community and choice, I started filling my own cup—not just for me, but for the people I love most. This episode isn’t a weight loss guide (although I will be discussing my weight loss), but it’s a reminder that self-care isn’t selfish. That joy doesn’t arrive all at once, and that even when it feels impossible, you can begin again.If this episode resonates, I’d love to hear from you. Message me, share your story, or tell me what you’re doing today to fill your own cup. If you’ve been listening to Your Cup of Joy and finding pieces of yourself in these stories, please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe. It truly means so much. Until next time, keep showing up for you. You’re worth it!Ariana's Links:Website Instagram: @ArianaJoyChristie @YourCupofJoyPodcastTikTok: @ArianaChristie
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How to Pivot with Purpose: Life Lessons from Power Yoga’s Pauline Caballero
What happens when a mother of two decides to follow her heart, take a risk, and build a business rooted in connection? In this episode of Your Cup of Joy, I sit down with Pauline Caballero—co-founder of Power Yoga Canada and Power Yoga Collective, author of Pivot: Change Isn't Coming, It's Here, and a woman who has built her life and business around community, discipline, and unapologetic authenticity. From painting studio walls before ever teaching a class, to leading an international yoga collective, Pauline shares how a desire for belonging sparked a movement.We talk about the tension between ambition and motherhood, the myth of balance, and the power of movement as medicine. Pauline opens up about moments of imposter syndrome, entrepreneurial failures, and the very real work of rebuilding her marriage after stepping away to stay true to herself. She shares the radical self-care practices that anchor her amidst chaos, and how building a business has been one breath, one mistake, and one bold step at a time.This conversation is an honest reminder that growth is messy, values matter more than the polish, and authenticity isn't a trend—it's a commitment. If your cup feels a little empty lately, consider this your refill!Connect with Pauline:Find Pauline’s book: Pivot: Change Isn’t Coming, It’s HereInstagram: @paulinecaballeroLinkedinPower Yoga CanadaPower Yoga CollectiveAriana's Links:Website Instagram: @ArianaJoyChristie @YourCupofJoyPodcastTikTok: @ArianaChristie
‘Your Cup Of Joy with Ariana Joy Christie’ represents a community of people coming together to learn more about self-care and about the importance of doing things FOR yourself. It’s a space to inspire, to learn, to grow and to challenge.For many years, Instagram has been a profound tool in understanding and cultivating community during both the challenging and grief-filled moments in Ariana’s life, along with the beautiful and empowering ones. Ultimately, she has curated this powerful space that embraced and supported her healing journey, all while establishing intimate connections and relationships filled with immense support and care!‘Your Cup Of Joy’ will continue to welcome a culture of community and sharing, welcoming a new audience into empowering and honest conversations and moments.Each episode of ‘Your Cup Of Joy’ will leave you with a feeling of gratitude, compassion, and inspiration - for yourself and your community. Ariana is on a mission to encourage other people (including herself) to indulge in self care, regardless of who you are and what that looks like for you. Taking the time to fulfill yourself, enables you to show up better in the relationships and roles you play in life. This is a system and community of support and accountability!So, what are you waiting for?! Take your moments and tune in to weekly episodes with Ariana Joy Christie that will be sure to encourage you to … fill YOUR cup with joy!
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