Walking Beside Julia: How Coaching Shaped Me as a Mom
Time with my daughter Julia looks nothing like I once imagined, and it is more precious because of it. From walking the dog to late night talks about dreams, failure, and phones, I see how the years of doing my own coaching work have changed the mom she has. Coaching has taught me how to lead with curiosity instead of fear, and that shift is shaping Julia’s ability to face challenges and grow in ways I never learned at her age.
Time with Julia looks nothing like I pictured it would. And yet, it is more precious than anything I could have imagined.
Some of our sweetest moments are the simple ones, like walking Harper together. Recently, with Mike out of town, I got to see my relationship with Julia in a new light. High school has brought a wave of new experiences, and it has been a front row seat to her becoming her own person.
I think back to when she was 5. That is when I hired my first coach, because I knew if I wanted to be the mom she needed, I had to change. At that time, I was a chronic worrier, full of fear, excuses, and self doubt. I had no idea how to handle rejection, disappointment, or my own emotions, and though I was an entrepreneur I kept playing really small and I knew that was not what I was meant for.
Fast forward to now. My mind still whispers that I am not good enough, but here is what I do know… I have become good at being a mom who
knows how to process her emotions instead of drowning in them,
speaks to herself with more kindness,
leads by example,
and shows up fully present.
Because of that, Julia is learning things I never knew at her age. She is learning how to process disappointment and embarrassment when auditions do not go as planned. She is learning that failure can be both hard and a teacher. Her volleyball team has not won a game yet, and she is learning to manage her focus, celebrate the small wins, and find the gains that are not defined on a scoreboard.
We talk about dreams. We laugh at our silly nicknames. We clash over phone restrictions and Snapchat. She tells me when she is mad, and I explain my fears and choices. I share my own embarrassments and failures. She sees my resilience.
And maybe most importantly, I can hold space for all of her feelings without making them mean something about me. Her emotions belong to her. Her mistakes are hers to grow from. My job is to stay curious, not accusatory.
This is what coaching has given me. It changed me, and because of that, it has shaped the mom Julia has. I am honored to be part of an industry that is helping humans show up in the way they want to instead of the patterns they never realized they learned, the ones that would have otherwise imprisoned them.
I will never stop being a student of my life as I grow and evolve, and I get to now watch my own daughter do the same. Even as she gets older I am still unwinding the generational patterns that I refuse to burden Julia with, and I trust it is all happening in divine timing even when I feel like I am failing. It is simply not true.
Your Brain Lies to You Every Day
Your brain lies to you every single day—not to hurt you, but to keep you small. Those lies look different for everyone, but here’s the truth: when you stop listening and start doing what you actually want, success becomes inevitable.
Here’s the wild thing about your brain: it lies to you every single day.
Not because it’s cruel.
Not because it doesn’t want the best for you.
But because it’s wired for safety, not success.
And safety often looks like smallness.
The Sneaky Nature of the Lies
These lies don’t come wrapped in neon signs that say: “Don’t grow! Don’t change!”
No, they show up in sneaky, believable ways. They sound like:
“I’ll start tomorrow.”
“I’m too tired today.”
“I’m not ready yet.”
“What if I fail?”
“This is just who I am.”
And because they feel reasonable, you trust them.
The truth?
They’re not reasonable at all. They’re roadblocks disguised as logic.
Why Your Brain Does This
Your brain’s number one job is survival. Growth, expansion, going after big goals—those things feel risky.
So your brain offers you thoughts that keep you safe, small, and in the known.
But safe doesn’t equal fulfilled. And small doesn’t equal successful.
What Happens When You Stop Listening
Here’s the shift: success is inevitable when you stop listening to those lies and start leading your brain instead.
When you take action even when your brain whispers:
“Don’t post that, people might judge you.”
“You’ll never stick with this workout routine.”
“Better not try, it might not work.”
And instead, you say:
“I’ll post anyway.”
“I’ll show up for myself today.”
“I’m willing to see what’s possible.”
That’s when everything changes.
The Truth That Sets You Free
Your brain will always offer lies to keep you small.
But you don’t have to believe them.
When you choose to do the thing you actually want—not the thing that feels “safe”—your life can’t help but expand.
Because the real truth is this:
Your success isn’t about talent, luck, or timing.
It’s about whether or not you listen to your brain’s lies.
Success is inevitable when you don’t.
What Is Life Coaching
The other day, someone asked me, “What does a life coach actually do?” If you’ve ever wondered the same, this post is for you. I break down how coaching helps you stop spinning, get clear, and make powerful decisions in every area of your life—from food and body to business and relationships. It’s not therapy. It’s future-focused, empowering, and life-changing.
The other day I met someone who had never heard of a life coach before.
Totally understandable.
When I told them what I do, they looked a little confused.
And it made me think... maybe you’ve been getting these emails, reading my posts, liking them even, but still wondering:
“What exactly does she do?”
So let me break it down.
I’m a life coach.
That means I help you get from where you are now... to where you really want to be in your life.
I help you stop spinning, stop feeling stuck and start moving toward a life you are totally obsessed with.
Whether it’s your relationship with food, your body, a business, money, yourself, or you just want to feel better in life overall... I help you release the overwhelm and get back in the driver’s seat OF YOUR OWN LIFE!
There are so many ways we do this, through mindset tools, processing emotions, and really looking at your thoughts and beliefs, just to name a few.
And no... this isn’t therapy.
Therapy is great and very much has it's place but I’m not here to analyze and dig through your past.
I’m here to help you BELIEVE in and CREATE your future.
A life coach helps you with your indecision.
Honestly, that’s the number one thing I do…help you make powerful, grounded decisions.
Decisions about what you want.
How to move toward it.
And how to stop living on the fence in your own life.
On average, a person has between 50 to 100 open decisions floating around in their mind or "on their desk" at any given time, ranging from minor daily choices to major life decisions.
So, instead of spinning in:
“I don’t know what I want... I don’t know what to do... I don’t know how to get there...”
I help you get clear.
Clear on what you want.
Clear on what’s been keeping you stuck.
Clear on the kind of thoughts, feelings, and actions that will actually serve your future so you stop repeating the same patterns and start creating results you’re proud of.
Because nobody creates big results by living in “I don’t know", or constantly delaying decisions.
If you’re curious or want to know what this could look like for you, I offer a free consultation.
Just a conversation to see what’s really going on and if coaching is a fit for you.
Here’s the link to book:
Free Consult Calendar Link
Still not sure? Hit reply and ask me anything. I’m happy to talk it through.
PLUS—I’ll be sending another email later this week showing exactly how I’ve been helping clients and potential clients in real time, with real scenarios. So keep an eye out for that.
With all the love,
I’ll be in touch soon,
Allison