Why Calm Isn’t the Goal: Rethinking Emotional Regulation in Motherhood with Mackenzie Kinmond Artwork

The Sparkle Project

(Formerly Worthy Mother Podcast)

The Sparkle Project is a feminist podcast for moms who are done carrying the weight of motherhood alone and are ready to connect with who they truly are - their sparkle, if you will.

So many of us feel overwhelmed not because we’re failing, but because we’re mothering inside a patriarchal system that expects us to give endlessly, stay quiet, and lose ourselves in the process. This space challenges those outdated expectations and embraces a more empowered, more supported, more self-honoring version of motherhood.

Hosted by Emily Rose MacDonald, a divorced mom of two on her own journey to shine a little brighter, each episode explores the realities of modern motherhood through a feminist lens that values equity, autonomy, mental health, and the humanity of moms.

You’ll hear conversations about identity, mental health, self-care, healing, and the many ways we can reclaim ourselves in a world that often overlooks the needs of mothers.

If you’re a mom who believes we deserve more than survival, and that our culture has to evolve for moms to truly thrive, you’re in the right place.

Welcome to The Sparkle Project.

Instagram:
@honestlyemilyrose
@thesparkleprojectpod

TikTok:
@thesparkleprojectpod

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The Sparkle Project

Why Calm Isn’t the Goal: Rethinking Emotional Regulation in Motherhood with Mackenzie Kinmond

November 11, 2025 • Episode 174

Do moms really need to stay calm all the time? In this Worthy Mother Podcast episode, Emily talks with Mackenzie Kinmond, parenthood transformation coach and attachment-focused therapist, about the pressure to regulate emotions perfectly, and why it’s making parenting harder, not easier.

Together, they explore:

Why emotional regulation isn’t about being calm 24/7
How shame fuels dysregulation in motherhood
The surprising role of joy in moving out of survival mode
Practical ways to reset your baseline and build emotional resilience

Whether you’re overwhelmed by parenting advice or simply tired of white-knuckling your way through hard days, this conversation offers relief, compassion, and a fresh perspective.

🔗 Connect with Mackenzie:

Instagram: @parenting_with_mackenzie
Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/anchoredparenting
Website: www.mackenziekinmond.com

✨ Let’s keep the convo going:

Follow Emily on Instagram → @honestlyemilyrose
Follow the podcast on TikTok → @worthymotherpodcast

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