Ep #108: Empowering Teens with Kristi Simons, the Confident Teen Podcast Host

[music] Mikki: Welcome to Co-Parenting with Confidence, a podcast for those courageous moms out there who want to move past the conflict and frustration of divorce and show up as the mom they truly want to be. My name is Mikki Gardner, I'm a certified life and conscious parenting coach with my own personal dose of co-parenting experience. Throughout my co-parenting journey, I have learned to become confident in who I am as a woman and a mother, and I'm here to help you do the same. If you're ready to learn what it takes to become a great co-parent and an amazing example to your children, well, get ready and let's dive into today's episode. Mikki: Welcome come back to the podcast friend, I'm excited that you're here today because I have a friend of mine on the pod, Kristi Simons, she is the Confident Teen podcast host, and we are going to talk about how you can empower your team even when it feels challenging through co-parenting. Kristi's really an awesome example, doing the work to take care of yourself so that you can be there for other people. We can't pour from an empty cup, and it's so important for us to be able to take care of ourselves so that we can be there to take care of our kids. Mikki: And Kristi talks today about how her own mental health crisis was an opportunity and a catalyst for her to start to approach her life in a more holistic way. And then she started transferring that experience to the students that she helps every day, and the teens. And I know this conversation is going to be really helpful for you to get some ideas on how to support your child, but also how to support you, because most importantly, you are the biggest priority, just like your teen is their biggest priority, but we have to be an example for that. Kristi's going to talk to us about how to be more aligned so that we can be resourceful and grounded, how we can use accountability for ourselves and our teen, and what our teens actually need from us. And it may not always be what we think. And she's going to really help us understand how those small, consistent, imperfect actions are actually the goal. Mikki: So without further ado, let's dive into this conversation, and I look forward to hearing back from you on what you can take away from this. And most importantly, I would love to connect and hear what you thought, so take a screen shot of you listening and tag me and Kristi, so that we can all get in the conversation around how she will empower our teens. All right friends, I am super excited because I have a friend, Kristi Simons, who is here today and talking about something that I know we all struggle with, and so I'm excited to dive into this conversation. Welcome Kristi, thank you for coming today. Kristi: Thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited to be here. I can feel the energy, and I just know that there's a lot that's going to be shared, that's meant to be shared, so I'm super excited for this. Thank you. Mikki: Yeah, absolutely. So Kristi, I talked with everybody in the intro as to what this conversation is about, but before we really dive into that, I want to understand you. Who are you? Why are you here? How did you get here? If you could give us that huge thing in a couple of minutes, that would be awesome. Kristi: Yeah. Sounds good. I actually... I love sharing about my story and my journey, that's where I actually started on my own podcast was sharing about my story and my journey and yeah, I just, I can't believe reflecting back how far I have come. So before I became a mother, I led my life pretty much just not taking care of myself, not showing up for myself, and not treating myself and my body with respect that it deserves. I drank a lot of alcohol, and I was definitely dependent on that, and it was really the cycle and this pattern that I was living in my life that was not serving me or my highest good. And so when I became a mom, everything shifted and everything changed. And I feel like I finally found just this reason, this reason to live and to show up in my life, to be the best version of myself, because I had something, I had a responsibility, and it was the most important one that I had. So after the birth of my son, I did start making small changes in my life with regards to things on the exterior, like my health and my fitness and all the things. I hadn't yet stopped drinking, but it was definitely something that I felt pulled to really start to look at. Kristi: So when I got pregnant with my second child, my daughter, I ended up having a mental health breakdown during that pregnancy, six months into that pregnancy, actually, and that was when I really realized that it was time to just, full stop, take a look at what was going on under the hood is the only way I can really describe it, but I just knew that there was this inner work that needed to be done and to be looked at. And so I took time off of work until my maternity leave and I had her. And after I had her, actually, one of the first decisions I made was to stop drinking, and that is something that I'm still so incredibly proud of, because that is what's best for me and for my life. And yeah, when I started going on that inner journey, and when I say inner journey, I just mean connecting with myself, so showing up for the things in my life that truly mattered. And I had never actually asked myself what it was that I wanted, or if there were even any desires that I had for myself in my life. And my children were actually what I feel actually brought all that to the surface for me, so I'm so incredibly grateful that I became a mom, but also that I started to choose myself and I started to start connecting all of those dots. Kristi: And following those breadcrumbs, which has led me to where I am today and doing the work that I do. So I am a teacher, I have been for the last 12 years. I teach at an all French grade school. And just recently, I still am teaching part-time, but more so recently, I have branched out to start doing my own thing, so it's holistic youth education. I work one-on-one with teens to help support them along their journey, to help them see their potential and to help build their confidence. And it's been incredibly rewarding. I can't believe three years ago when I got pregnant with my son, where I was compared to where I am today, in only three years later, but it's really when you put your... When you really put intentional action into the things that you desire in your life, it's incredible what you are capable of. Mikki: Yeah. Thank you for sharing that, Kristi. And I really appreciate your vulnerability to be open and honest about what's going on. I think that motherhood is the biggest imitation to transformation. Kristi: 100%. Mikki: These souls come into our life for our evolution and theirs. And a lot of times we resist it or we don't know that's what's going on, or we don't want to do the work, all the things. And I appreciate that your, as you called it, mental health breakdown happened during a pregnancy, but I also know for a lot of my listeners, they can probably relate to feeling that way, feeling just the desperation, the loneliness, all the things that come from being shattered, so to speak, into a million little pieces post-divorce, because that's what it feels like. And the journey that you just very quickly walk us through, and I think we'll get into more and more as we talk about this, but you're not broken, but it's, how do you align your life in a way that you can fully live it, embody it, feel good, all of these things. And we were talking just before this started, but we all want for our kids to have that life, and the way for our kids that have that life is for us to be able to be the example for them of possibility and how to live with intention and purpose. So that's what I was so excited about this conversation today to be able to dive into. Kristi: Yeah. Oh, me too, I'm so excited. And you're right, it's just, for me too, I just feel like the support that I have found in community as well, in other women who are showing up and doing the work as well, to help with any challenges you have in your life. It's just, that has been an incredible piece of this too, so I'd love to touch on that after. Mikki: Yeah, oh, I'm glad you brought that up because it really is important. We were not meant to raise children in isolation. And way back, and we're still wired this way in DNA, women were very much after pregnancy and for quite some time, allowed rest. And people brought the baby to her to be able to feed the baby, but then otherwise, she was off the hook, so to speak, healing herself while other women were caring for her child all within the same proximity. And we're all struggling so much with parenting and mothering these days, but a lot of it is because we're literally doing it in isolation. And I think for a lot of moms post-divorce, this is even, feels like it's on steroids. You feel so alone. And if you don't have family and friends, the idea of being able to care for yourself and to go on your own inner journey is like, who has time for that when you're just trying to get through the day, and then also help your children. And so that's where I wanted to bring this conversation is, one thing we all have in common is we really want our kids to be okay. We want our kids to do well. We want them to succeed. And so I'm curious, twofold, but I'm curious, what do you see, especially with maybe the one-on-one clients that you have, or the, or all the kids that you interact with as a teacher, what do you see them struggling with? Maybe a couple of things. Kristi: Yeah, one of the things that comes up for sure is just that self-trust, trusting themselves, trying something new, trying something challenging. And then also challenging those stories. And I feel like this is something that we all struggle with. All of those things are things that... The things that I named, I literally struggled with as well, we're all humans. It's learning to navigate that and learning how to almost rewire yourself so that you can set yourself up to try new things, learn lessons even if you fail, I still see that as a success. Mikki: Can you break those down a little bit, each one? 'Cause I know you and I talk about this and it seems like just what we talk about, but if you could break down self-trust, trying new things, or why they aren't, that would be super helpful. Kristi: For me, especially what I have seen from myself and with my students, is that having somebody to hold you accountable even to the things that you want to do has been a game changer, I know that too, it has been really powerful as well. For them to really start to build self-trust within themselves, they need to learn to talk about the things that are on their heart, that are on their mind, and really just give voice to the things that they desire and they want for their lives. I often have a lot of my students tell me that they just really appreciate that somebody's listening but not telling them what to do. Kristi: So I feel like one of the most important things that I've even learned in all this work that I've done is just to be the best possible listener that I can be, and then to ask the right questions to help them find the answers that they have within already. And part of that self-trust is then figuring out what it is that works for you, or what it is that you want to call into your life, so they decide on something and then they take action on it. Kristi: And you just keep doing that, you just keep taking small, consistent actions. It's okay if they are imperfect, that's the whole point, nobody's perfect, so we just need to completely let that idea go. But yeah, it's just that consistency of taking small actions towards the things that you want. And then you start to believe in yourself, you start to show up differently, you start to feel differently about the challenges as well, and again, this is as you grow that muscle. But yeah, it really just starts with first asking yourself and trusting that you have the answers and then just taking action and knowing that if it doesn't work, that's okay, it was because you were meant to learn a lesson and try again. Mikki: I love that. Yeah, I'm listening to this. You're 100% right. I'm listening to it from the kid perspective, but it's absolutely what we moms need, right? Kristi: Yes. Yeah, it works for everybody. It works for all, but yeah, it really truly is just about co-creating with those around us in relationship to whoever it is, partner, teen, child, everything is just a relationship. And as long as you're co-creating and not trying to essentially rescue and just give that person all of the answers, that's when you're going to notice that they're going to really grow and thrive. Mikki: Okay, so can you talk little bit more about what that might look like, when you said co-creating versus rescuing? Kristi: Yeah, so do you want me to look at it from a lens of with my students, what we do? Mikki: Yeah, and from... 'cause I'm sitting here trying to be in the listeners who thinking, well, what does that even look like? How do I know if I'm rescuing or if I'm co-creating? It's like this idea of we want to control the outcome, we want them to do what we want or get the result that we think they need to get, and where... Could you just pull that apart a little bit, what it looks like to be co-creating with that versus controlling and rescuing. Kristi: Yeah, so I see it as co-creating. You're basically like a cheerleader, you're somebody who is a part of their team, you are there to listen and to support, but to also help them see and understand that they are capable of taking the action. So what I've always loved to do because I feel like putting pen to paper is so important and so powerful, journaling, mind mapping, whatever it is, whatever that looks like for you, so really helping the other person to take all of those answers that they have within and putting them on paper. You're just asking the question, helping them to see what it is they need to do to get to that next place that they want to get to if that makes any sense. Mikki: Yeah. And I'm thinking as you're talking with teens especially, when you have littles... You know, you're a mom of littles, mothering is different, they need more rules, they need more structure, they need more assistance, they need... There's a difference. Then you get to a teenager who needs something very different, and I think that's where they really need that cheerleading, the listening, the supporting from more of a hands-off, allowing them to really step in. And so I hear that that's co-creation is empowering them, yet still being with them. Kristi: Yeah, exactly. And also just remembering that at the end of the day, if we're constantly rescuing, it means that... Often that will mean that a lesson is being taken out of the equation. And this is obviously still something that I do with my own children, but something that I'm more aware of now. But something as simple as... My children, just the other day, I cut up some melon and they just left it all on their floors in their bedrooms with all the peels and everything. And rather than taking them in there to co-create with them, show them we don't leave this here or whatever I would say, I don't know, let's walk it over to the garbage together, let's co-create, let's do this together. I'm cheerleading, I'm a part of their team, I'm coaching them through it, but I'm not doing the action. But of course, I did go in there and I just grabbed everything and I threw it in the garbage, didn't have that conversation at all because it takes time to understand that, but just from... I'm just trying to give a very basic example, but yeah, that's where I see it. Kristi: If we rescue, there's no lesson learned. And then of course, moving forward, all that teaches them, is that somebody's always going to take care of something for me, and I feel like that's where we need to break that a little bit. I doesn't mean that we can't when they need help, it's just being more aware of the areas where you can just make a lesson out of it, help them to co-create with you and learn rather than just doing it for them. Because that's what really starts to break down that confidence and that self-trust as well. Mikki: So I couldn't agree more on all of those things, and I want to talk about, you had mentioned at the beginning of this, the accountability. Talk about accountability and why it's so important for teens and for ourself. Kristi: I could definitely speak to my experience in the last three years, but also for teens, I can see that as well. So I'll start with myself. I have never ever... The thought has never even crossed my mind to ask for help, to look for support, to invest in myself, until I finally got to a place where I realized like, oh my gosh, I don't know what to do, so it's time to find somebody who can mentor me through that, who can coach me through that. So I have invested in myself in the last few years, I hired a coach, and really, truly I feel like it's just... Kristi: It's really challenged me to just see the world and my life and question the things that I believe in, that I value, and it's just, it's given me so much perspective, so much direction, and it really has like fueled this like fire inside of me to really bring my power into the things that I truly desire. And that's where I feel like accountability and having a coach or somebody just to, and again, it doesn't have to be a coach, it could just be anybody, anybody to hold you accountable weekly, monthly, whatever it is to the goals that you have for yourself. It is so powerful. And especially if you can find that community with other like-minded women, mothers, people, yeah, it's incredible. And then for our teens, like I've even noticed just a lot of moms will come to me for support, even with just like their teen fearing, making decisions or not believing that they are capable of going back to high school to finish those credits to graduate. And yeah, it's just, it's that fear. It's that resistance. It's feeling blocked. And it's not, like I said, it's not believing in oneself and just lacking that they need that person that can see and believe in them. Like I needed my coach in the beginning of my journey. Kristi: I needed somebody to see and believe in my potentials that I could finally see and believe it too. Mikki: Yeah, I love that. And I love that you sort of put such a nice point on that because we need that and our kids need that. And I'm also constantly thinking about when we are in the middle of, or just after divorced, or maybe even a couple years out, oftentimes our children, it takes them a little bit for the dust to settle, and then they can start to process what's been going on. It's kind of like the pandemic. Everybody's rug got pulled out from them at the same time, right? And all the things happened and then the dust settled. And then we started to process sort of what had happened. And I think a lot of times, at least my audience, and I know my clients, they feel like the reason that their kids are struggling or that they can't help their kids more is because of the divorce. Because... Or because of the separation, because they're no longer in the same space, and so they've somehow lost this ability to help kids be accountable, help be the supporter, be all of those things. And granted in high conflict situations, it is harder. And not but, but and how do we still show up with those small, consistent actions to be there for ourselves and our children? And I think what you so beautifully just talked about was we have to do that for ourselves find that community, find that mentor, find that coach, somebody to believe in you. Mikki: To help show you the way so that you can do that for your children. And so I'd love to kind of talk about that a little bit more, because again, so often we feel like, oh, well, it's because of the divorce or the separation. That's why, or because of the other co-parent, I can't help my kids. And that just, that's one of those stories, like you talked about at the beginning, that it's like, we just have to stop it and rewrite it and not that we're denying that it's challenging. But how do we want to show up even when that's true? Kristi: Yeah, oh, I'm like, where do I want to go with this? Because there are things that are coming up like, I guess I could share this. Again, on the theme of vulnerability, it does not, it no longer makes me feel anything around like shame or guilt for sharing about my story. I feel like so many people can relate. You start to realize the more that you share that we are all human, living this human experience, and so many of our stories are actually so much more relatable than we think. So I was kind of like telling you a little bit about this before we hopped on. But yeah, I have been challenged in the last year since I have quit drinking with my relationship, my husband does still drink. So it, yeah, it has been difficult, but looking back at just how much change and growth I've seen in myself since all of this started for me is just that, yeah, really learning to release that control that I thought I had, that was a game changer. Kristi: It was really about turning around those conversations that I was having and the way that I was showing up. So recognizing that when I show up from a place where I am not grounded or centered, when I'm reactive, that is never going to lead to a positive outcome. So it's about really being aware of the state that you're in and then recognizing that you cannot control anybody but yourself. And so what's been most important for me in terms of all of that has been taking care of myself first and foremost. I am always priority one on my to-do list. I don't really like to have to-do lists, but let's just say, yeah, you do have to do list... Mikki: If you had one. Kristi: But I just don't like to stick to them. But yeah, I'm always first choice and I have no guilt saying that either. But yeah, and then I'm able to show up better and have those conversations from a place that I feel proud of. And that's not to say that I don't still lose my shit sometimes, but for the most part, I can also come back to those conversations afterwards and say, Hey, look, I realized that I may have been projecting my fears, my anxieties, my anger onto you. And yeah, I've just been able to have a lot more compassion for myself, for the other person, my husband in this case, and recognizing that again, he has his own journey, he has his own learning to do, he has his own healing to do, and the only person that I can control in this situation is me. I can also co-create with him. I can be a support for him. I can try to understand and to listen and to ask questions, but at the end of the day, it's all on you. It's about controlling what you can in your own life, in your own little bubble. Mikki: Yeah, I appreciate you being so honest and because we can all relate. We can all put ourselves in those situations and very much, I think when we have one coping strategy and we stop using that, we have to... It expands, it pushes us all of those things. And drinking was one of yours and it was one of mine. And then in the same situation, when you're in relationship with someone who is still using that coping strategy and you're not, there's all the things that come up around that and that's a different podcast. But coming back to this conversation, I think it was really important because you saying I am always priority number one, I can't think of a better, stronger message for our children than to teach them that they are always priority number one in their lives. And as you were talking, I was sort of relating that to my son struggles at school and he's 13 and there's part of him that's just a 13 year old boy with a 13 year old boy brain that like, that is a whole ball of wax that I don't know that much about as a 47 year old woman, but I'm trying my best here to work with him. Mikki: But he also has some learning challenges and different things going on. And for him having two houses has been really challenging as it relates to school, consistency, being able to have sort of the space and the habits to succeed and it's been a journey that we've been on and trying to figure out, well, how can I help him learn how to become successful with him taking care of himself? And I sort of, as you were talking, I realized inadvertently, unconsciously, I understood that if I'm taking care of myself and being that example, then I can then empower him, not from a place of judgment or fear, but to say like, Hey kiddo, yeah, there's some challenges here. You know, I'll be totally honest. My ex, they have a three year old at the house, a 13 and a three year old, those are like massively different life stages. The three year old just wants to play every time he comes home from school when he needs to do homework. And it's like, how do those things? And so his frustration level gets really, really high and understandably, but how can he learn to advocate for himself, understand what he needs, communicate those needs, execute on those things so that he's building the habits that are going to help him. Mikki: And so as you were talking about that I know you were talking about sort of as it relates to you and your husband and those conversations, I thought it was a really beautiful also reminder to us we can't control what happens in the other co-parent's house. And we don't want to just throw our hands up and say, well, kid sorry, not my house, not my time. That doesn't feel helpful for them. And so how can we be that consistency? How can we be that help even when we're not with them, but how, and I think as I'm talking this out loud, it really is about empowering them, whatever age and stage they are to be able to do this for themselves. What do you think? Kristi: Yeah. And it's about showing them that you're connecting to yourself, teaching them to connect to themselves. And as you were talking, I was like, I just need to bring up to just, just in regards to like emotion and expressing that feeling safe to be able to use their voice, to express exactly how they're feeling and knowing that somebody is going to be there to listen without judgment and yeah, just to also model that as well. My son, he's so freaking cute. He cracks me up this morning. We go, we get to daycare and you know when they just throw things out of like, you're just like, where did this come from randomly? He's like, well, actually that's a lie. I guess we did. So we did drive with our dog in the car to daycare. Sometimes she likes to take that drive with us. So we were getting out of the car and we're walking into the daycare and he's like, mommy, Layla makes me really mad. Like, Oh my, why, what did she do? He's like, she makes me really mad when she like lays in my room because she takes up so much space and I have no room to build things and play. It's like, my gosh, you are so cute. Kristi: And one mom was like coming in after me and she just like started laughing. She thought it was so funny, but just the way like emotion, everything, but then expressed it and he got it off his chest and I was like, okay, thank you for letting me know and yeah, I don't know. It was just kind of in that moment that I realized like, Oh my gosh, like he's using like the language, like he's able to explain why he just, for some reason, I don't know why in that set, that moment he got mad about it, but he thought about it. He was mad about it and he wanted to express it and it was just, yeah, it was one of those moments where you're just like, Oh my God, the work that I do on myself, he watches me. He's listening. I'm always telling him if I'm sitting there crying on the couch, mommy's just sad right now because, and it'll be okay. I just have to move through it. Mikki: Yeah, absolutely. And I love that you sort of pointed that out because the little, they are really in touch with their feelings. You watch a three-year-old have a tantrum, have that giant feeling. And then 10 seconds later, they're fine. Because they let all of it out. They move through it. They're like, okay, there it is. And then they move on. But from years of suppressing. If there's one thing we're really good at, it's suppressing emotion, saying you don't like... Oh, I don't have that. I'm not willing to feel that. And all of that suppression doesn't make it go away. It just stores it for later. And when we have the, whatever you want to call them, the breakdowns, the sort of those moments where we just feel cracks, oftentimes it's from just so much emotion being stored up for later that it's just too much. And so really learning how and reminding our children that they can feel their emotions. And I think that's part of what you were saying for them to do big, scary things or try new things, they have to be willing to feel the uncomfortable emotion and still move through it. Mikki: And so the more that we can help them do that without making it mean anything or be the scary thing. But the only way to be able to do that for them is to be able to do it for ourselves. Kristi: 100%. I truly believe that all humans, like we just want to be seen, heard, loved and supported. We cannot do any of this alone. It is our journey to take individually, but we're meant to surround ourselves with people that are going to see us, hear us, love us and support us and just understand all of us for the person that we are. All the emotions, everything gets to be there, all the contrasting, conflicting challenges. It's all just a part of the journey. And sometimes we can get... Or I should speak for me, I can get very caught up in just that tornado. Yeah, it's just it's coming back to center. It's just being able to ground yourself back into the things that that truly matter and just trying to lead your life from there as best as you possibly can. Mikki: Yeah. So I would keep you here all day, but we have to I always try to be mindful of keeping these bite size. One thing that really came up is going back to this idea of accountability, because what I love from what I've heard from some of your clients that I know, and just from you in our conversations... And I'm saying this to the moms out there, there are times, and I know this in my own life, that we are not the right person to support our children through something. Our sole job is to love them, to help them. But sometimes it's not actually us getting in there. And I think like you just... It reminded me of what you just said is really getting the support that your kids need. So often... I know so often we feel like, well because the other co-parent or this or that, but really pushing yourself to not only be doing your own work individually, but as it relates to your kid do they need outside help? Do they need someone like you, Kristi, to come in and love them and to see them and to support them? Mikki: And I think oftentimes we feel like we shouldn't or don't want to sort of welcome people into our mess, but that's oftentimes the thing that can help us clean it up the most. And so whether it's somebody at school to support your child, at church, a friend, a coach, someone like you to support them, really being willing to broaden the idea of what does support look like so that we can help our kids because we can't just like we're not meant to do it all alone. We can't do everything and we can't be everything for our children. And if there is conflict with the other co-parent, oftentimes finding somebody to support our child... And it's not always just the therapist, but like someone like yourself to help them be successful in one area of their life so that that can then translate to all areas. Kristi: Yeah. And it's very challenging sometimes to see like what you just to see what you don't know, to see and understand what you don't yet understand... So having somebody just to turn around some of those thoughts and those stories for you or to really question them, it can be incredibly powerful and just ton of realizations and new doors and new opportunities will just start to unfold. Mikki: So, yeah, I love that you're out there doing this for kids because it's just so needed. But I'm really glad that you're doing it first and foremost for yourself because it's the ripple effect, which is what we all need to be doing. We want a different world. We start with our world. Kristi: 100%. And I feel like once you once you go there, the ripples just keep getting bigger and bigger once you start doing this work. So I'm telling anybody who is listening, it is worth it in like the absolute best of ways. So, yeah, just stick to the things that you love. Mikki: So I ask everyone the same question at the end of the podcast, and I want to ask you. So this is Co-Parenting with Confidence. So how do you define confidence and how do you cultivate it in your life? Kristi: Oh, well, this question, I've been really, really focused on this ever since I transitioned my Imperfect Creatrix podcast to the Confident Teen podcast. So obviously, I've spent a lot of time just kind of thinking about all of this. And still, I feel like what it keeps coming back to for me is just focusing on your growth, being fully present and just able to laugh and have fun and not take yourself too seriously, knowing what you are capable of and really questioning those stories when they come up. Because ultimately, I just feel like a lot of them aren't even yours. And, yeah, once you start to recognize that, you really start to connect to your confidence, which we all have, by the way, everybody has it. They've just forgotten how to access it. So, yeah. Mikki: I love that. Oh, I love that. Thank you so much, Kristi. So tell people how they can find you. Kristi: Oh, yes, probably the best place would be Instagram. My handle is @mamatoHandB. So that's H for Hendrix for my son and B as in Beatrix for my daughter. And yeah, I'm active there on the podcast. As I said, it just newly transitioned. We're going through a rebrand, but it's at Confident Teen podcast. Mikki: Awesome. So I'll put all of that in the show notes to make it really easy. Kristi, thank you for your time today. I really appreciate it. And I know that so many moms will resonate with you and your story. And I can't wait to see the ripples from this conversation. Kristi: Thank you. Mikki: Oh, and one more thing. The legal stuff. This podcast is solely intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for any medical advice. Please consult your physician or a qualified medical professional for personalized medical advice. Thanks for listening to Co-Parenting with Confidence. If you want more information or resources from this podcast, visit co-parentingwithconfidence.com. I'll see you next week.