Intro: Welcome to The Masterful Coach podcast with Molly Claire, where coaches learn skill mastery, business mastery, and life mastery at a whole new level. If you are serious about creating a meaningful coaching business that makes a difference, you are in the right place. And now your host, master life and business coach, Molly Claire.

Molly Claire: Hey, Coach, welcome to the podcast. I have two huge announcements for you. I am thrilled to share these with you before we dive into this week’s episode. Today we are focusing on why coaching moms matters. Mikki Gardner who is a Conscious Parenting Coach is joining me and we are talking really specifically about the unique challenges that you face as you coach a mom. And the unique challenges you face if your niche is really considered one of the mom niches. And we’re also really talking about the impact and the power of this coaching on these women as they navigate motherhood. So, I’m thrilled to bring you this episode.

Before we dive in, let’s talk about two big announcements. Number one, if you have been waiting for the doors to advanced certification to open up, you do not need to wait any longer. Today is the day Advanced Certification in Motherhood and Family Life Coaching is open. You can go to www.mollyclaire.com today, click on Advanced Certification and you can apply there. I will be reviewing all applications personally. And if it seems like the right fit, I am doing one-to-one calls with applicants. We are hand-selecting this group, it is going to be small and intimate and it is going to be amazing. So, check out the details on that.

The next announcement also for those of you who are in the mom niche is that I am offering a free coaching skill mastery class next week. Monday, October 31, I will be speaking to and teaching three essential skills that you need as you coach moms and also convert those paying clients. We will be talking about how coaching on parenting issues is different. We will be talking about how to give your clients quick wins on those tangible nitty-gritty things in their life while also doing deep coaching work. And we’re also going to address those issues that make it challenging for you sometimes to see our mom niche as a viable niche and to charge.

That is what we’re focusing on. I can’t wait to help you all there. We will be doing this call on October 31, at 2:30 Central. I will be teaching, I will be doing Q&A with you, and I will leave time at the very end to answer any questions from those of you interested in advanced certification. So, that is our focus. I cannot wait to see so many of you there.

Okay, let’s talk about this episode. Before I go into the portion with Mikki and me, live, I want to just tell you why this episode exists. This is really a tribute to coaches who work with moms. Moms are way too often the ones to minimize themselves and the work they do carries way too big of a load. And they’re the last ones to ask for help.

And on top of that the moms who aren’t minimizing themselves aren’t carrying too much of a load and aren’t being the last ones to ask for help, but rather are seeking that support, aren’t really fitting the norm of what we say as a good mom. Or they tend to think they should feel guilty for some reason. It’s really crazy. So, I’m here with you to flip this dynamic. And I believe that you as coaches, as you coach these women, coach them on themselves personally and all the ways that their life is different because they are a mom as we do this, everything changes.

So, come with me for a minute and let’s imagine. Imagine a world where women navigating motherhood, feel validated in getting help and support. And in fact, they see it as a positive thing. Imagine them feeling empowered to take care of their own needs. And be not just a caretaker, but also an example of a powerful woman and leader, where we honor the good they do and the profound sacrifices they make. And we speak of those things that these women are doing to help the next generation. We speak about those things as far more valuable than financial gain or all of the outward measures of success.

On top of that, imagine if we no longer judged women based on how much mom’s stuff they do, or don’t do. There’s a novel idea, right? And imagine that we don’t evaluate their parenting based on whatever mood or behaviors their kids are having at that moment. Okay, let’s imagine women giving themselves permission to be secure, confident, and to feel allowed to take up space in the world, and to feel so proud of all they do as a mom and proud of all the ways, they just show up as their own person, free of judgment and criticism, and only filled with gratitude and self-love and self-connection.

I really believe that as we empower women in this way and support them, when this happens, the world will be a different place. So, coach, if you coach moms in some capacity, and have doubted the validity of your niche or struggle to charge or convert clients, you are not alone. And we’re talking about that today too. It’s a big deal. Coaching moms matters. Let’s get started with the amazing, Mikki Gardner.

Okay. So, of course, here I have the amazing, Mikki Gardner. How are you today?

Mikki Gardner: I’m great. I’m super excited to be here with you.

Molly Claire: Good. Me too. Truth be told, Mikki and I have been meeting on Zoom every single day this week. This is the fourth day in a row.

Mikki Gardner: So, a lot of Marco Polo.

Molly Claire: I’m sure she’s looking forward to the weekend. But regardless, it’s so good to have Mikki here. And I’m excited to share her with all of you today. She is an amazing coach, period, in general. She has worked with many of my clients in my programs. She focuses on, of course, co-parenting, and you bring a lot of wisdom and amazing skill. And so thank you for being here to share with my audience.

Mikki Gardner: Thank you for those lovely words. It’s an honor to be here. And I’m excited about this conversation.

Molly Claire: Yes. So, of course, the conversation today is really talking about you coaches who work with moms, even if mom isn’t in the name of your niche, or it’s not on your website. Really working with women who are mothers, who are navigating that space of motherhood, and the unique challenges. And of course, next week we have the master class coming up that will be offered. That’s going to be a great place for all of you working with moms, come learn how to advance your coaching skills.

And just as we kick off this advanced training, Mikki and I wanted to talk to you, tell you about why what you do matters, and answer some of those crucial questions that you have. So, Mikki, let’s talk first. All of you Coaches listening who coach women in this space, Mikki why do you think coaching moms is such a big deal? I’m going to share my thoughts on it as well.

Mikki Gardner: Yeah, I think it is so underrated. But a lot of things in our culture, all the big fancy shiny things get all the attention. But moms are the one day in and day out, making it happen, struggling, sacrificing, and trying to figure it out with very little help. And then you add on top of it this “hot mess” mom culture that has been glorified. It’s who can be a bigger mess? How many days can I go without showering or being able to go to the bathroom by myself? And having a giant gallon of wine at the end of it on social media. It’s become something to make fun of.

But I think that there’s an underlying issue here and that we give all of the attention and the support and the kudos and the trophies to the people doing the big flashy things. But moms are the ones who are day in and day out creating the next generation. And it is the next generation, I believe, that is going to decide the future of this world. I mean, we are at a tipping point, whatever you believe, religiously, politically, or any of the things. We’re at a tipping point. And it’s that next generation, and I feel like now is the time to support moms, so that we can support our children.

Molly Claire: Yes. And as you were talking, I wish I had the statistics right in front of me, but I know that statistically, studies show that in households where there are dual incomes, even those in which the woman is actually more of the breadwinner, regardless of most breadwinner or stay at home mom or anywhere in between, that women take responsibility for way more of the load of the responsibility of the household, of kids, of all of it. It’s completely out of balance out of whack. And, honestly, I think that’s got to shift.

And even for the sake of thinking about these coaches supporting these women, I think as women, we don’t really think that we should need help, we don’t ask for help, we think that we should just be able to do it all, to be at all, and to figure it all out. And too many women are drowning, not only overwhelmed but drowning, not even knowing who they are having a sense of self. So, I just think that’s part of why it’s, it’s such a big deal for moms, for women to have someone supporting them, have a coach.

Mikki Gardner: I agree with you, Molly. But it’s also not just them thinking this, it’s we are being told this, across the board, from the moment we come out of the womb as women, as soon as you get married, all of the things, it is literally driven into us. Whether it’s government, church, media, friends, or whatever it is. And I don’t really care where the message came from, we have to stop, we have to stop the message. We have to say, “Enough is enough.” And because we do take on all the load, because we’re told from every direction, that’s what we’re supposed to be doing.

Molly Claire: Mikki, that’s such a good point. Because I know oftentimes, especially when I first started out, I’ve worked with a lot of women who come from a conservative background, religious background. And I think a part of me thought that was to blame for them believing that in these extreme roles where they should be the ones to take everything on. But actually, that’s not true. Because the more people I work with, and the more experience I have, I see this as it is across the board that as women, we take too much on. It’s not glamorous, right? There’s nothing glamorous about it.

And I honestly just think as women, we really minimize the amount of stuff we do. So, right now, kudos to all of you listening, all of you women, and whether you’re actually a mom, or whether you play that nurturing, helping role that women play. It’s a big deal.

Mikki Gardner: A hundred percent.

Molly Claire: Yeah. As you were talking about the glamour, I had this like vivid memory of going into the doctor’s office, when I wasn’t feeling well and he said, “So, you have kids?” And I was kind of offended. I’m like, what? He’s just looking at me. Do I look ragged? Do I look like I have baby weight? I had dried Cheerios on my shoulder. I’m like, yes, glamorous. No, no, no.

Mikki Gardner: But at least you have an excuse for that Cheerios on your shoulder.

Molly Claire: I did. Sometimes we don’t have an excuse for the mess. And I think coaching women is such a big deal. As I’ve always said, I can’t imagine an Olympic athlete, not having not one coach, but many coaches, many people helping for this big moment in their life. And here we are, as women, like you said, raising this next generation, women need support. And I’m probably jumping ahead a little bit in the discussion, but I have to just say, you coaches who stand up and say, “I coach moms. I help coach women in this space of figuring out family dynamics, managing the chaos and the schedules and parenting.”

I know from working with a lot of coaches, that can be a space of, “Is this really a good enough niche? Is this really a niche that can work?” But I just want to say to you that stand up and see and realize the value in helping these women, thank you. Because as women, we’re not doing it ourselves. We’re not saying hey, we need a little bit of space, we need a little bit of support. So, just as a coach saying, “I help women with this,” I think right there it’s validating what these women are doing.

Mikki Gardner: Absolutely. And I think oftentimes, we’ve also been told to not want, not need anything, not ask for anything, like you talked about. So, there is that hurdle in front of us. And so as coaches working with moms, we have to understand that that hurdle may be there. But how are we going to get over it and still bring the moms in? And oftentimes, we’re willing to do more for our children than we are for ourselves. But one thing I know, as a conscious parenting coach, just as a mom, is that children learn what is caught not taught.

We can say all we want, but they really are learning moment by moment how we’re showing up. And that’s the same for our clients. It’s also how are you showing up. How are you acting? How are you being a living, breathing example? And so it’s really important to really start to make these shifts and to take a stand, so that moms know there’s another option here and can be brought into the conversation that way. If that makes sense.

Molly Claire: Yeah, absolutely. And those of you listening, you can see why I have Mikki in to support me in this advanced certification that’s coming up. Because you bring so much perspective and so much brilliance to the scene and all of this. And what Mikki just brought up as well is something that we’re going to be working with coaches on is overcoming that niche insecurity because it’s a thing.

Mikki Gardner: It’s a thing.

Molly Claire: Mom niche insecurity and like, “Will they pay for this? Is this a valid niche?” When I started out, I was working with moms. I wrote my book, I poured all my time and energy into that. And I wish that this weren’t true. I wish I weren’t telling you this right now. But I remember having thoughts like, well, I wasn’t really as exciting a coach as someone else, or not as valid of a niche, I just help moms. Which wasn’t really true because inside I knew there was a reason I was helping these women, because it was important. And so, there are hurdles to get over there. And thankfully, there are a lot of ways to do that, where you can really step into being confident and serving these women unapologetically.

Mikki Gardner: Unapologetically, absolutely, keyword.

Molly Claire: That’s right. Okay, so Mikki, in working as a co-parenting coach in your business, I would love for you to share some of the differences, like changes you see in your clients personally. Because they come to you typically for co-parenting, and there’s very much this parenting aspect of it. But what are the personal changes that you see as they work with you as a coach?

Mikki Gardner: Yeah, I think it’s really they do come all hoping that I have that magic pill that can make their ex not be so difficult. If I had it, I would be a gazillionaire at this point.

Molly Claire: I know, right? Talk about a viable business.

Mikki Gardner: I know, I’m trying to figure it out. But really what I do is to help them understand and normalize what’s going on. And to really start to loosen the grip on: “I can’t stand where I’m at. I can’t stand the conflict. How do I learn to say it in a way that he’ll understand me? How do I do it so that people think that I’m nice?” It’s all of those things. And what I help them understand is that, really, it’s stepping into the agency and the strength that they do have, so that they can move forward, no matter what’s happening.

I always use the analogy of being the strongest oak tree. We want our roots so deep in the ground and so tall with such a beautiful canopy, that lush, amazing life that we have, that energy that we give off as moms when we truly are centered and present. Our kids get to sit underneath so that they get the shade and the safety and the love. And no matter what windstorm comes by because, in co-parenting, there are many often all the time and just parenting. But it’s like we can lose some leaves, but we’re not tipping over. So, I think what I help moms do is really ground down so that they can stand up, so that they feel the strength to move forward. And we do that in a number of different ways of healing and presence and work. But I always love the oak tree analogy.

Molly Claire: Yeah. Because it really speaks to the personal nature of it. It’s not about the kids, per se. It’s not about the ex. It’s not about all of that. It’s really them being that strong, confident, grounded person that then has a benefit for everyone else.

Mikki Gardner: Absolutely. And this is where it applies to coaches, too. When we’re building that business, we want to be able to be so grounded, so determined, so anchored in our mission, what we’re doing, that people will just want to come into the safety of that.

Molly Claire: Yes. And so, coaches that are listening, that serve women in motherhood in that capacity, just take this in for a minute and think about how different these women’s lives are, when working with a coach when working with Mikki. And so I think this is just an important point to reiterate how much it matters to serve these women and the difference that it makes personally. And I know just thinking back to… of course, I work with women building their business now and obviously, talk with my clients so often about managing home life and business, it all comes into play.

But I even think back to when I was just working with women, on their issues as a mom, and really seeing the transformation in them to where they, as you said, become more grounded, more confident, they feel more in control of themselves. And it was amazing to see the difference that this impact had on their relationship with their spouse if they had one. And just the way that they connected with their kids. Because that’s what we all want. We all think, well, I want to be a good parent, and I want to do all the things so that my kid has this success. But when these women can have that greater connection and relationship with their kids, it’s everything.

Mikki Gardner: It is. And I always go back to the Buddhist teaching on attachment. Because they have such a beautiful way of understanding it. But when you were just talking, it reminded me so often, we’re always trying to fix things for everybody around us. We know we’re doing that so that we can feel better. But when we’re in that fixing, when we’re in that doing, we’re in a very weak state, because we’re attached to an outcome that involves other people doing what we want. So, we’re handing away all of our power versus non-attachment.

The idea that we’re… and I always have my palms open. That’s that idea of being able to be so grounded. You don’t necessarily have to know what’s going on. It’s not even though things have to be going well. But you are grounded in your knowledge, you really connecting with yourself and what’s true for you, and being able to be aware of reality versus what you want. So, that’s always that, whether it’s at home, whether it’s parenting, whether it’s business, it really always comes back to that awareness in which are you attached? Are you white-knuckling it? Or are you more in a place of being able to give and receive?

Molly Claire: Yeah. And the difference is huge, right?

Mikki Gardner: It is huge.

Molly Claire: Yeah. Okay, so let’s talk about it. Let’s talk about why so many coaches of moms struggle to charge or struggle to charge very much or question the viability of the niche. I’ve been thinking about this and one of the things that this is really why so in the advanced certification, of course, we’re helping with coaching skills, new techniques, new approaches, the difference between what you need to bring when you are coaching parenting issues and all of these things. And one of the things I felt was really important for us to bring into the training was actual business help on the niche insecurities.

Because it’s such a hang-up that Mikki and I can help these coaches be the best coaches ever. But if they have too much insecurity about their niche, we’re going to be a little stuck. So, I want to speak to this, and I want to have you share your thoughts as well, Mikki. But I think that I especially hear things like, “Well, moms can’t afford it.” Which is so fascinating. As if like immediately when you become a mom, you have no money. Moms can’t afford it. And to be honest, this is what I think Mikki, I’m dying to know your opinion about this.

But as I’ve thought about this, and as I’ve worked with clients, I really do wonder if a big part of why we minimize the validity of coaching moms is, are we ourselves minimizing the validity of being a mom? Are we so used to minimizing, “Well, I don’t do that much. This isn’t that big of a deal” And we take so much of it for granted that we almost transfer that into that niche. So, this is my theory. I’m open to your thoughts either way on this

Mikki Gardner: I agree with you. I do, because it’s again, so pervasive, all of these thoughts that we have had and they just show up in these little ways. And I think we also minimize this because it’s almost like there are too many variables with moms. Whether it’s the other parent, whether it’s the kids, whether it’s your circumstances. To be able to get that result, it’s not like we’re talking about losing 25 pounds or doing something else. There’s almost this elusiveness. And do we really have any control as moms over what happens?

So, there’s this automatic kind of, “I don’t know.” And that’s where I think as moms, not anymore. It’s really taking that stand, it’s taking ownership. It’s saying, “No, I can’t control my children. But I can be the greatest influence in their life.” And that’s what changes things. Not trying to control them, but influence them.

Molly Claire: Yes, oh, that’s so true. And think about this, because it’s almost like, as a woman with kids in that mom space in that mom role, we are navigating so many different emotions, not only our own, but our kids’ emotions, up and down, it’s like so many moving parts all the time. And this is kind of what it’s like. It’s like, motherhood is one of those jobs or roles, or however you think about it, where you are doing so much, with very little to show for it tangibly, so little to show for it. It’s like if we think about building a coaching business, and we know we do these things in the beginning, and we don’t see a lot of results, and then over time, we see more results. And that’s a slow enough process for all of us.

But when you’re talking about being a mom, especially because to your point, those variables, i.e. our kids, and a spouse, and the dog or whatever, it’s out of our control. And so what we think is a success, first of all, much of it is not measurable. And we’re flat wrong about what success means sometimes. We’re expected for someone else to be a certain way for us to be successful. And that is the number one place I see women getting stuck.

Mikki Gardner: Absolutely. It’s defining success for yourself.

Molly Claire: Yes. And I think the more the coaches listening, the more we can empower women to really see themselves as successful. See, the good they do and really, actually appreciate who they are as a woman, throwing out all of these rules about how many mom things we do, or how many mom things we don’t do, or what that even means what it means to be a mom. We think we’re supposed to fit in this box and it just doesn’t work. And I find that as we help women to be the most authentic, the most themselves. They are the best mom, and they are the version of moms that is perfect for them, which is always the version that their kids need.

Mikki Gardner: Always.

Molly Claire: Okay, so we got totally off on a tangent, I want to come back to this idea of why coaches struggle to claim the niche of mom coach and to feel confident and really charge for it, charge and see it as a viable business. I’d love to know your thoughts, Mikki.

Mikki Gardner: I think they struggle because of what we just said. Because it is more, “intangible.” The success of your clients, what you are, the result you’re offering them, how you’re going to help them, what the end goal is, I think because it is a little bit more abstract. Like you said, there’s very little “success” that you see day to day. And so I think it’s really learning as the coach, what is it that I’m offering? How am I painting that picture for them, of the intangible of the way that they’re feeling, to be a mom? A friend of mine, one of her kids is struggling and we were talking about that and she said, “Well, you know, Mikki, you can only be as happy as your happiest child.” And I was like, “Oh.”

Molly Claire: That’s bad news.

Mikki Gardner: Whoa, what?

Molly Claire: That is bad news.

Mikki Gardner: So, I think it really is about educating moms about a new paradigm. It’s a new shift. And that’s what mom coaches have to start to get really good at is shifting the paradigm and then connecting the dots so that the mom understands, “I want that. That’s what I want. I didn’t even know I want it. But that’s what I want.”

Molly Claire: Yes, I totally agree Mikki. I think that as coaches serving moms, the intangible aspect impacts them both in how they message and market. Which is one of the things we’ve in fact, Mikki and I have been working up close and personal with our group right now with messaging, messaging, messaging. Oh, my gosh. So, believe it or not, there is a way to make the intangible tangible from a messaging perspective, which helps to bring people in the door. And to Mikki’s point, as well, is, as you really see the tangible in the tangible yourself, that is when you can have more confidence in what you do.

And then as you learn with that marketing and messaging to connect those dots for the client, that’s when I believe coaches confidently invite people in as clients and ask them to pay them. And it is definitely a lucky client that is allowed the opportunity to pay and get help.

Mikki Gardner: A hundred percent.

Molly Claire: Yeah. So, anyway, you guys listening, if you have that niche mom, of course, those of you that are coming with us to certification, we have got you, we are going to talk about those insecurities. But if you’re listening to this, really make sure that you are not getting caught in this place of questioning the validity of the power of what you do. And if you can charge for it… and here’s the other thing I want to say on that before we move on here is that, when it comes to building a coaching, business and charging, just remember that there are so many ways to run a coaching business and so many ways that you can make money as well. And I think sometimes people get caught on having just high-ticket one-to-one, and this is the answer. And yet their specific niche of moms might also include maybe some issues around spending money.

And so it’s like, okay, hold on, there’s a mismatch between your niche and between these price points. So, it’s really important to really evaluate, who is this person. What is their potential money mindset? And what program price point option makes sense for them? And so I definitely think those things are worth considering. But even if you have a specific niche, that maybe is not likely to pay a high-ticket price, it doesn’t matter. There are so many options for how you can serve people and not overburden yourself and make good money and have amazing success with your clients. So, that’s my piece of advice on that.

Mikki Gardner: I love that. There is no one I believe better than you at being an example of this and helping teach. It’s what I see when I’m with you coaching in the groups, and just really offering so many options. It’s not one way, there are so many ways, and you get to choose. And I think Molly, you are the master teacher of this concept and teaching and showing and empowering women to do it. And that’s why I love what you’re saying and what you do.

Molly Claire: Thank you so much. Yeah, I mean, I hope it’s true. Any of you that feel like maybe you’re in a place where you’re like, “I can’t do this” or “This isn’t working.” There are so many options. There’s always a way. And I love the work. You know that, Mikki. I love it. I get so excited when we do enrollment and then I’m like, “Okay, now we get to get to work with coaches.” So, it’s so fun.

Okay, I want to talk about—and Mikki, I don’t know if you have any experience in this specifically. But I would love to hear any thoughts that you may have really about what happens when these coaches claim the niche and do feel confident and move forward.

And I’ll just share my experience and then you can share anything and maybe even your own experience. But I know that when I really stepped into that space of claiming it and feeling confident. It was as I had my book out, and I think there was something about that process for me that really solidified what I was teaching and doing. And I mean in full disclosure, I think I leaned on that a little bit for confidence. But regardless, I saw that, as in that space as a coach for moms. I was able to be I believe more of an advocate for them. More of a voice standing confident and tall saying you deserve to have this help. And I’m here for you, I’ve got you.

And it’s almost like, even just saying that even for the consultations, or many sessions I had where people didn’t work with me, they ended up not choosing that path. Just them meeting with you, as a coach all of you, and you saying, “Hey, you deserve help,” and showing them more as possible, you can change those women’s lives, even if they never work with you. And I think that’s pretty powerful to think about. Any thoughts on that Mikki or anything you’ve experienced, or as you’ve seen coaches just claim their niche? Because I know you’ve worked with a lot of coaches in the business and everything.

Mikki Gardner: I just think that shift, that moment where you see them step into themselves and step past the judgments and the opinions, and they sort of step up and claim it, there’s a shift, and there’s brilliance and a beautiful moment, where you just see them take off. And I always love because, for the coaches that you work with behind the scenes, we are like, “Come on, come on, they’re so close, you’re right there.” And then we do everything we can, and you do so much for them to support them. I mean, that is one thing in your program, it is so hands-on. And there is so much love and support there. But it’s just such a beautiful thing to see women really just own it and try. It’s so much fun.

Molly Claire: It’s so fun. I can’t make anyone feel anything. But till the day I die, I am still going to try to infuse confidence in these women. I’m going to keep fighting the good fight because it’s amazing. And I say that jokingly, but there are definitely ways that I feel like we really are able to cultivate an opportunity for coaches to build greater self-trust, greater confidence, greater self-knowing, and having them really connect with their mission. And that’s the key, them connecting with themselves is the key.

Mikki Gardner: Exactly. And knowing that they get to choose their direction, they get to choose the journey that they’re on. I think a lot of times in this industry, there’s a lot of one-way, you need to do it this way. Or this is the way it should look, this is what you should want. All of those things, when really you get to decide and when you step into what means the most to you, what matters to you, that’s where all the magic happens.

Molly Claire: Yeah, that’s everything. Okay, so this has been awesome. I’m going to shift gears just a little bit. And we’re just going to say a few things about advanced training. I’m going to say a few things about it. And then we’re going to share with you some parting thoughts as to what we hope you might gain from this. So, Advanced Training Certification is amazing and awesome. As I mentioned, at the beginning of this podcast next week, we are doing a coaching-skill mastery class that is specific to the three essential skills that you need when coaching moms, and also for converting clients, because that’s, of course, an issue.

So, hopefully, you’ll all come and take advantage of that. And there will be an opportunity to hear more about advanced training at the end of that as well. But I just wanted to tell you if any of you are looking for in the New Year – because we are starting in January – looking for a place to up-level and expand your skills. This training is specifically tailored for all of those issues that come up for women when they are navigating motherhood. And this doesn’t just mean having a brand-new baby or Cheerios on the shoulder. But this is really even the changing relationships that happen over time.

Because just the other day – I’m trying to remember who it was that was saying this – but essentially, that the time we spend as a mom when our kids are under our care is way less time than the time we’re a mom when they’re adults. And so it’s like motherhood is an ongoing journey. And so this training is really specific to those personal challenges, insecurities, and fears that come up for moms. This is for parenting issues. Mikki brings an entirely different set of expertise when it comes to parenting than I do, which is why I wanted her in there as well. We’re going to be focusing on that.

We’re going to be focusing on family dynamics and even the practical nitty-gritty because one thing that I see a lot in coaches and I’m sure you’ve seen this as well, Mikki, is we want to do deep work with our clients. We want to really get to the heart of it and we want to look at their thoughts with them and their emotions. We want to do all that. And these moms are coming in saying, “Well, could you just help me manage the schedule, that would be really helpful. Or if you could get my kids to clean their room, I would actually prefer that we work on that.”

And so that’s a part of this, too, is how do you both give your clients these practical, tangible quick wins, while also doing this deep and lasting work. So, the training is so comprehensive. And obviously, you can find out way more about it on www.mollyclaire.com, under Advanced Certification, and hopefully, you’ll come to the live call and hear about it as well. Applications are open, actually, today is the day that they’re open when this is airing.

And so you can actually apply. I am going through personally every application, and we will determine if it seems like a fit for you, you will get an email and be able to schedule a one-to-one call because we really want this to be a small, intimate group as we work on this. I know that was all a mouthful, but that is an overview. If you work in this space, and you are interested in having more skills, and more ability to help your clients, this is absolutely the place to do it. So, anything to add to that, Mikki?

Mikki Gardner: No. I’m just so excited about it and really is going to be so extraordinary and needed.

Molly Claire: Yeah, I totally agree. And some people have wondered about it being for parenting coaches, like parenting coach training, and that’s why I kept this broader name, Motherhood and Family Life because it’s so much more than parenting. And I think it’s important to remember that and not minimize what it is, it is motherhood, it is a big deal.

Mikki Gardner: It’s a huge deal.

Molly Claire: Okay, so the last thing we want to share with all of you as we send you off, is some of our hopes for every one of you here listening. If you are a coach or moms and I know I have some things to share, we’ll just go back and forth. Mikki, thoughts? What do we want these women or men to take away, who are coaching moms?

Mikki Gardner: I guess really, don’t minimize it. If it is in your heart, if this is what is in your heart to do, it’s there because this is what you’re supposed to do. And it is needed more now than I honestly believe it ever has been. And we have got to change that paradigm and start making motherhood and giving it the importance that we all know that it has.

Molly Claire: Yes, absolutely. And also for you as a coach for moms, to get the support that you need, just like you’re providing this support for these moms, because we could all use to get more support. So, get the support you need and treat your niche as the powerhouse value that it is. Because it is like Mikki said. It’s a big deal.

Mikki Gardner: Yeah. And I’ve heard it, and I really believe it that you reach for the highest branch, you see. And so it’s your job, it’s up to you to reach for the highest branch. And so to really stretch and go and push yourself and learn new skills and be reaching and learning, it only benefits everyone behind you.

Molly Claire: Yes. And that’s a big thing. And it’s like, the more you as a coach can decide to master your skills, again and again, and learn more, knowing you never have them mastered, but you’re always expanding them. I think that’s how you can really serve your clients in the best way.

Mikki Gardner: Yeah.

Molly Claire: Okay, two more things I’m going to throw out there, and then we’re going to let you all go. Show up for these women. They need you.

Mikki Gardner: They need you so much.

Molly Claire: And honestly, if you feel called to do this, you probably need to be there for them as well. I believe there is healing and growth that happens both ways when we really lean into what we’re supposed to do. And just to reiterate what Mikki said, what I’ve said, validate motherhood for women worldwide. Validate womanhood, these women on their own as a worthy person of taking up space, and having love and care and permission to go after their dreams. Because I just think it’s time. It’s time, right?

Mikki Gardner: It is time.

Molly Claire: Yeah, it is so awesome. Okay, well, Mikki, we hope to see many of you in the Advance Certification. We’re going to have an amazing time building those skills and supporting you in your business starting in the New Year. And Mikki, thank you so much for being here and being a part of it.

Mikki Gardner: Oh, thank you, Molly, I appreciate the opportunity and I just love any chance to talk with you and spread this message.

Molly Claire: Awesome. All right, we’ll see you guys soon. Here we go!

Mikki Gardner: Bye.

Molly Claire: Have a good one.

Outro: Thanks for listening to the masterful coach podcast. If you’re ready for complete support as you build your coaching business, check out Molly’s collaborative community, The Masterful Coach Collective. It’s a place where you’ll have access to the best experts in the biz, community support and guidance as you build your perfect business 90 days at a time. Visit www.mollyclaire.com for details.