The Thoughtful Advocate

EP 53: What Turning 30 Changed for Me: Budget Finds, Birthday Reflections & Growing Pains

What does turning 30 really feel like? Does life get better after 30? How do you balance motherhood, friendship, healing, and building your dreams?
In this honest life update, I’m sharing what turning 30 taught me, how motherhood has changed me, what my birthday looked like as a mom of two, and the small moments that reminded me what really matters.
From Facebook Marketplace wins and budget parenting hacks to friendship, gratitude, postpartum recovery, and learning how to slow down, this episode is a real conversation about growing up without losing yourself.
We also talk about:
• what nobody tells you about turning 30• motherhood with two young kids• postpartum healing after C section• budget friendly parenting tips• how to save money as a parent• friendship in adulthood• learning gratitude in hard seasons• balancing dreams and family• lactose intolerance and rebuilding gut tolerance• movie reviews and family life updates
If you’re navigating motherhood, your thirties, healing, or building a life that feels aligned, this episode is for you.
✨ Follow for weekly conversations on healing, sustainability, motherhood, emotional growth, and building a better future.

EP 52: I Turned 30 and Everything Changed | Motherhood, Healing, Identity & Starting Over

Turning 30 felt different than I expected.In this episode of The Thoughtful Advocate Podcast, Elizabeth Teo shares the truth about leaving survival mode behind, healing from a difficult twenties, becoming a mother of two, and stepping into a new chapter of life.
From a family trip to Niagara Falls to navigating postpartum recovery, road tripping with babies, protecting kids online, and reflecting on childhood trauma, this episode is part life update, part time capsule for her sons, and part reminder that life does not end at 30. Sometimes it begins.
In this episode:
• Does life get better after 30?• Why your twenties can feel so unstable• Motherhood and identity shifts• Traveling with babies for the first time• Postpartum healing and physical recovery• Creating memories with your kids• Breaking generational cycles• Protecting your children online• Why documenting your life matters
If you are entering your thirties, navigating motherhood, healing from your past, or trying to build a meaningful life, this episode is for you.

EP 51: Your Brain on Motherhood: The Science of Identity Transformation Every Mom Needs to Know

Did you know that 94% of your brain's gray matter changes during pregnancy? In this episode, Elizabeth Teo breaks down the real science behind what happens to your mind, body, and identity when you become a mother. This is not just a role — it is a complete biological and emotional transformation called matrescence, and almost no one is talking about it.
Elizabeth explores why so many mothers feel like they have lost themselves, why that feeling is actually a sign of growth, and how motherhood quietly builds the boundaries, strength, and self-awareness you never knew you needed. If you have ever looked in the mirror and not recognized the woman staring back, this episode was made for you.
In this episode: What brain scans reveal about pregnancy and postpartum changes, why your priorities shift so dramatically, how motherhood forces you to set boundaries for the first time, what it means to be reborn alongside your baby, and why asking for help is actually a sign of strength.
You are not losing yourself. You are becoming someone more powerful.

EP 50: Every First Hasn't Happened Yet: On Newborns, New Chapters, and the Family I Always Prayed For

In this heartfelt life update, host Elizabeth Teo opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of welcoming baby Jack while navigating life with two under two. From tearful minivan moments to surviving the newborn phase on zero sleep, Elizabeth reflects on childhood nostalgia, a hard-won second C-section recovery, unexpected generosity from strangers, and the profound realization that the family she prayed for as a little girl is finally here. If you have ever felt stuck in a dark place and wondered if life could get better, this episode is for you.
Topics covered: newborn life, postpartum recovery, C-section, two under two, motherhood emotions, mental health, gratitude, family milestones, and finding beauty in the hard seasons.

EP 49: I Was Codependent in a Healthy Relationship, Here's How I Healed | The Thoughtful Advocate

Most people think codependency only happens in toxic relationships. Mine was the opposite. In this episode, I'm sharing my personal experience with codependency inside a genuinely loving, healthy relationship, where the real wounds were coming from inside me all along.
I cover what codependency actually is, why it develops from childhood trauma and anxious attachment, the signs most people search for but don't always recognise in themselves, and how I slowly healed by learning to truly love myself for the first time at 29.
If you've ever needed constant reassurance from a partner, felt crushing anxiety when they spent time away, or realised your whole identity was tied to someone else, this episode is for you.
In this episode: 00:00 Intro What codependency really means Why it is not always about a toxic partner My story with John and unhealed childhood trauma Losing my identity and friendships How I finally started healing What healthy love actually looks like How to get help
Mentioned in this episode: Kind Laundry sheets, code zerowastecutie for 10% off
#codependency #mentalhealth #healingjourney #anxiousattachment #selfworth #childhoodtrauma #codependencyrecovery #selflove #healthyrelationships #thoughtfuladvocate

EP 48: Why I Stopped Being the Nice Girl: Boundaries, Pregnancy, and Childcare That Let Me Down

At 38 weeks pregnant, exhausted, and running on no sleep, the last thing I needed was last minute cancellations and early departures from childcare I had planned and paid for. But that is exactly what happened. And instead of speaking up, old Elizabeth just said it was fine.
In this episode I am getting honest about what it cost me to be too nice for too long, and what finally pushed me to hold my boundaries firmly, even when it felt uncomfortable.
We talk about why caregiving relationships make it harder to hold the line, what happens when you blur professional and personal, how to address a broken agreement calmly and early, why having a backup childcare plan is non negotiable, and the deeper pattern so many women carry of shrinking themselves to keep others comfortable.
This one is for every pregnant mom, every parent in the trenches, and every woman who has ever asked herself "am I asking for too much?" and then immediately answered her own question by letting it go.
You are not asking for too much. You are asking for what was agreed.

EP 47: I Cut My Toddler's Bangs Too Short | 38 Weeks Pregnant, C-Section Prep + Life Updates

We are officially one week away from meeting our second baby and I am sharing all the life updates in this one! From my very first attempt at cutting my toddler's hair (spoiler: the bangs did not go as planned) to everything that actually happens leading up to a planned c-section that nobody really talks about: weekly OB appointments, the hospital pre-call, bloodwork, the antibacterial wash prep, and what to expect the day of.
I also share a Greek yogurt crepe recipe that my toddler is obsessed with and that has become a go-to breakfast in our house, plus a free hack for getting your family into museums using your local library card.
In this video: 00:00 Intro 01:20 Baby's first haircut (and why I used kitchen scissors) 04:30 38 weeks pregnant + c-section prep explained 09:00 Greek yogurt crepe recipe for toddlers 11:30 Free museum passes through your library
If you've had a planned or emergency c-section, I would love to hear from you in the comments. What helped you recover? What do you wish you had known going in?
Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss the birth vlog and newborn update coming soon!
Greek Yogurt Crepes 
• 150 g unbleached all purpose flour• 25 g sugar• 1 pinch salt• 2 large eggs• 300 ml milk• 125 g plain Greek yogurt• 2.5 ml vanilla extract• 14 g unsalted butter, melted• Softened butter for cooking
Do not add baking soda for crepes. It changes the texture and makes them more pancake like.
Consistency Test
After mixing and resting 10 to 15 minutes:
The batter should:• Run off a spoon easily• Look slightly thicker than heavy cream• Coat the back of a spoon in a thin layer
If it feels thick, add milk 15 ml at a time until it becomes fluid.
Cooking Tip for Perfect Thin Crepes
Heat pan over medium heat
Lightly butter
Pour about 60 ml batter
Immediately swirl the pan
It should spread on its own within 2 seconds.If it does not spread easily, it is too thick.
#38weekspregnant #csection #plannedcsection #momvlog #toddlermom #pregnancyupdate #momlife #secondpregnancy #csectionprep #toddlerhaircut

EP 46: 30 Flirty & Thriving: Why Your Thirties Are Better Than Your Twenties (Science Backs It Up)

Everyone told you your twenties would be the best years of your life but what if they were wrong? In this episode, Elizabeth breaks down why your thirties might actually be when life finally clicks. From emotional stability and stronger boundaries to deeper relationships and a growing income, the data points to one surprising truth: 36 is the happiest age for most people, and most wouldn't trade their thirties to go back. If you're dreading turning 30 or still surviving your twenties, this episode will completely shift your perspective on what's waiting for you on the other side.

EP 45: Maternal Mental Health 2026: Why Therapy Before Baby Arrives Is Crucial + Postpartum Depression Statistics Every Mom Should Know

Mental health support for moms isn't optional, it's essential. In this episode of Thoughtful Advocate Podcast, I'm getting real about why finding a therapist BEFORE baby arrives is one of the most important things you can do as an expecting mom. With 1 in 5 women experiencing postpartum depression and mental health issues responsible for nearly 20% of pregnancy related deaths, this conversation is life saving.
I share my personal experience finding therapists for both pregnancies, why waiting until after birth makes it harder, and the specific support systems every parent needs. Whether you're expecting your first or second baby, struggling with anxiety or depression, or just want to prepare for the postpartum period, this episode covers what you need to know.
Critical Statistics Covered:
📊 1 in 5 women experience postpartum depression or anxiety
📊 50% of mothers with PPD remain undiagnosed
📊 Mental health issues caused nearly 20% of pregnancy related deaths in 2020
📊 Second pregnancies often bring higher anxiety and depression levels 📊 Most maternal mental health deaths occur 42 to 365 days postpartum
 
What You'll Learn:
✓ Why finding a therapist during pregnancy (not after) is crucial
✓ How to prepare mentally for becoming a parent
✓ Building your support system before baby arrives
✓ Real talk about fears of having two kids
✓ Maternal mental health resources and crisis hotlines
✓ Questions to ask when finding a prenatal/postpartum therapist
✓ Why mental health preparation is as important as baby gear
 
Mental Health Resources Mentioned:
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: 1-833-852-6262
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (Canada & US)
Tips for water stations, snack prep, and mental health check ins
Perfect for: Expecting moms, second time parents, anyone struggling with prenatal or postpartum anxiety/depression, partners wanting to support their loved ones
This is the honest conversation about maternal mental health that doesn't happen enough. Let's normalize therapy, normalize asking for help, and normalize talking about the hard parts of parenthood.
⚠️ Content Note: This episode discusses maternal mental health, postpartum depression, anxiety, and includes statistics about maternal mortality. Resources are provided throughout.

EP 44: What No One Tells You About Labor & Delivery Nurses (+ How to Build Your Village for Two Under Two)

Having a baby is hard. Having two under two? A whole different level. In this episode of the Thoughtful Advocate Podcast, Elizabeth Teo gets real about what to actually expect from labor and delivery nurses, how to build a support system before your baby arrives, and her honest fears about navigating life with two little ones.
She breaks down the Doers, Listeners, and Resources framework her therapist shared with her so you can map out your village before baby comes, and shares what postpartum recovery actually looks like when you are not doing it alone.
Topics covered: labor and delivery nurse experience, swaddling chaos, breastfeeding and formula, parental leave in Canada, preparing your toddler for a new sibling, and why asking for help is a sign of strength.