Momming as a Millennial is back! I hope you had a relaxing, rejuvenating holiday and are ready to tackle 2025. After taking December off to focus on my family and celebrate the holiday season, I have a new episode ready to share with you.

When my guest, Amanda Phillps got a text message from her son’s preschool teacher telling her he was crying “too loudly” and disrupting the class, she started doubting her decision to send him to school. The teacher told her he had to “get it together” otherwise he would be asked to leave, permanently. 

At a complete loss, she reached out to me and posed some truly heartbreaking questions: 

1. I am beside myself upset because he needs the interaction and socialization with other kids and adults. If he gets “dismissed,” then what do I do? 

2. Am I to punish him for having big feelings? 

3. I am a stay-at-home mom—did I do him a disservice by NOT sending him to daycare? 

4. What if I can’t find an opening anywhere that will take him? 

The saddest thing for a parent is being unable to console your child when they are hurting or upset. Overcome with emotion from reading her message, I set out to find her some answers. 

Join me and Amanda as we discuss her journey as a stay-at-home mom, the impact of the pandemic on family structure, and all aspects of the daycare debate. She is a great guest, totally open and willing to answer all of my probing questions. 

Amanda Phillips has been a household CEO and time management specialist for the past seven years. As hard as the job can be, she wouldn’t trade this time with her children for anything.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why more and more American women are leaving the workforce to stay at home with their children. 

• COVID, childcare costs, political and societal influences—oh my! 

• One mom’s journey of leaving the workforce to stay home with her babies. 

• How do finances work when there’s one income? A stay-at-home mom’s purchasing power.  

• One thing stay-at-home-moms and working parents have in common. 

• The great debate—is it better to send your child to daycare or keep them home?

Resources & Links:

• It’s clear the COVID pandemic disproportionately impacted women in the workforce, especially in female-dominated sectors. 

• What is the average cost of child care? Depends on what state you live in. 

• More and more American women are forgoing work outside the home to take care of their children, citing the high cost of childcare as the biggest driver. 

1. I reference this study from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) when discussing daycare vs. staying home.

Connect with Amanda:

• Follow on Instagram

Connect with Christine:

• Follow on Instagram

• Follow on TikTok

• Check out my website

More about Momming as a Millennial podcast: 

Welcome to Momming as a Millennial, the podcast where we dive into the challenges and triumphs of being a millennial mom in today’s dynamic world. Join your host, Christine Giarrizzo, on this candid journey as we navigate the complexities of motherhood, from tackling outdated stereotypes, to embracing our individual parenting styles.

In each episode, we explore the intersection of tradition and modern parenting. We’ll look at unsolicited advice and internet noise, as well as gender roles and expectations handed down by our parents and grandparents, in order to find what resonates with our true, authentic selves.

Tune in for honest conversations, genuine stories, expert insights, and a supportive community that understands the unique circumstance of navigating parenthood as a millennial. Together we’ll rewrite the narrative, challenge societal norms, and celebrate the diverse voices that make up our generation.

Let’s redefine what it means to be a mama in the millennial era.

Be sure to hit subscribe so you never miss the latest episode! Reviews help us reach more rockstar millennial mamas, and are always greatly appreciated.