Three years of letting them eat in their car seats with no rule about it left crushed snacks worked so far down into the seat rails that no vacuum was ever getting them out, and a full archive of Trader Joe’s stickers pressed onto the inside of the doors by two kids who understood the car to be an art project.

We are in our car constantly, between driving to our studios all over the Bay Area, the road trips up to Tahoe, the 35 minutes to my parents, the hour to Jason’s parents, the activities, the play dates and exploring the city.

We’re also the kind of family that keeps a car until it is completely, undeniably done, which is how we were still running a 2005 Highlander this year at about $2k a year in maintenance that we just kept paying because the thing still started.

That was the car our au pair drove, which made it the car my kids were in most weekday afternoons. Then this spring I drove it myself for the first time in a while, and the accelerator was jerky, the whole car creaked, and when I went to brake I genuinely questioned whether it could keep handling the hills we live on.

I got out and went to Jason immediately. I wasn’t going to wait around for it to fail with my kids inside.

So it was time for our au pair to take over the 2022 Highlander, and for us to get that all electric SUV we’d been eyeing for years. It’s by far the most we’ve ever spent on a car and I’m not going to pretend otherwise. (Keep reading past the list for the full breakdown of the car we landed on and why.)

My biggest hesitation was whether a new car was going to survive our kids. Buying nice also meant handing them something new to destroy.

We bought it anyway, with new rules, products and systems that have kept it squeaky clean so far… and with way fewer arguments between them, which was a surprising result.

The rules: The only snacks allowed are carrots, cucumbers, and apples, which is to say nothing that crumbs and nothing that gets sticky. And no stickers, or anything else that leaves proof it was ever there. Both kids understand both rules and both kids still ask me for a snack every single time we get in the car, which I have convinced myself to read as optimism rather than defiance to save myself from constant annoyance.

The thing that stopped the fighting isn’t something I bought from Amazon. The second row in our new car has tray tables, like actual airplane tray tables. The whole war these past three years was apparently about territory.

Four months in, the car is still clean. Everything below is what’s keeping a very nice car alive with a 6 and 4-year-old in it every single day.

My car must-haves

1. Seat Protector placed underneath the car seats

2. Mini Vacuum This is weirdly satisfying to use

3. Car trashcan instead of “throw it on the ground” they now have a spot for trash

4. Caddy to put in between the kids to store their toys

5. Magnetic Tracing Pad and Magnetic Alphabet and Counting Pad no-mess kid entertainment

6. Magnetic Tiles we have a pack of these in the car

7. Clixo Itsy Magnetic Building Toys magnetic toys >> anything else for car toys

8. Mini Magnetic Cars a twist on magnetic building blocks

9. Stainless Steel Baking Tray I know, this seems so completely random… and it is. But it’s the perfect surface for all of the above magnetic toys and regardless if you have tray tables or not, trust me your kids need these in the car!

10. Chicco GoFit Booster Seat after extensive research, this is the one I landed on because of the latch

11. Slim Convertible Car Seat I actually sold my Nuna for this one, way slimmer and less bulky

💬 What's your one car rule? Give me the crazy ones.

The Podcast is BACK 🎧

The podcast is back, and I started the season with Jess Jacobs, CEO of Coterie. We chat about what actually keeps her household running, why "divide and conquer" may be making things harder for both parents, and the very good opportunities she's saying no to right now.

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So which car did we get?

I’ll tell you, but the car itself is just the first useful part I’m sharing.

What I also want to hand you is the thing I couldn’t find anywhere while I was researching this: the six criteria we shopped against, a side-by-side of our two finalists from someone who test drove both with a 6 and 4-year-old in the back, what it actually costs us to charge (about $15 at home!!), what the self-driving genuinely does and doesn’t do, and the one decision we made that contradicts everything I just told you about how our family buys cars.

I hit the Substack bestsellers list last month. And I credit it to sharing the months of research on European summer camps, along with my deeper thoughts on tools, systems & mindset for working moms. Curious what’s on that side of the paid subscriber archive? Only one way to find out.

Subscribe now

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“I don’t know how you do it.”

I hear it constantly. So here’s the honest answer: I’m exhausted, and I’m more fulfilled than I’ve ever been. I know my why, I know my priorities, and I’ve built systems around both.

The skills I sharpened over 12 years in tech turned out to be the superpowers that make this life work. That’s true for you too. Most of us just never bring them home.

That’s what this season is for. Every other week, I’m asking the real questions that reveal how other women’s lives actually run, careers develop, and interests turn into building something of their own.

We’re starting with Jess Jacobs.

Jess is the CEO of Coterie, which means a full circle moment for me. Coterie was the first product I ever wrote about on New Modern Mom six years ago. We still use them, still the gift I send every friend who’s expecting.

She was promoted from SVP of Brand to CEO, and just sold the company for a billion dollars. She has two little girls, a third on the way, and a husband who also has a big job, and she’s done all of it working from home.

So I asked what actually holds her household together. She answered instantly, her mom, her sister, a nanny, a college student who drives the girls. “We’ve created this deep bench.”

Then I asked where she keeps track of it all. “I absolutely should have better systems and processes in place at home,” she said. “But I just don’t.”

She’s not failing at it. She decided it wasn’t worth optimizing, and she runs exactly one thing at home with total discipline. It’s the same skill that made her a CEO.

We got into that, why she thinks “divide and conquer” is exhausting for both parents, and the very good opportunities she’s turning down right now.

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The line item I’d protect the hardest

School’s back, which means the mental load just doubled overnight.

Jess talks in this episode about her deep bench: her mom, her sister, a nanny, the college student who drives the girls to activities. Mine has a house manager on it. Outside of childcare, she’s the budget line I’d protect the hardest. She comes daily: cleaning, laundry, meal prep, organizing. She makes my house feel calm despite the chaos in my days.

Sage Haus does the sourcing and vetting to find your perfect house manager. Use code NEWMODERNMOM for $100 off matching. Book a free 30-minute info call now.

In partnership with Sage Haus.

🔥 Rapid fire with Jess

I text every guest the same questions. Here’s what she sent back.

Professional superpower: A very clear POV
Cooking with: West Bourne’s Avocado Oil
Reading: Strangers by Belle Burden
Listening to: Any Bravo-related podcast
Wearing: I love a button-down
Daily routine: Sofie Pavitt skincare
AI she’s testing: Claude
Non-negotiables: Coffee and family time

And if Coterie diapers are something you’ve been considering, this is your sign to try them now. NEWMODERNMOM takes 20% off.

From right where you’re standing, you don’t need to see the full staircase. You just need to take the first step.

Start here.

Listen Now

Next episode is out in two weeks… and trust me you will want to take notes. Subscribe where you listen.

Barbara

You guys… this may be my worst adjustment yet. And yes, it’s a very-much self-inflicted wound.

Here’s the math: we came home from 6 weeks of a slow Spanish summer to a brand new house in complete disarray, boxes everywhere. The MNTSTUDIO flagship opens at the end of this m…

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Not just what we packed, but the actual system. What goes in the bag, what stays home, and the one $15 item that changed how easy beach days can be entirely.

Every item here has survived multiple summers, multiple kids, and multiple countries o…

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“Wait, you’re working while you’re there?”

“How do you just... move to Spain for the summer?”

“Who watches your kids?”

I’ve answered some version of these four questions every day since we landed, usually more than once. And I get it. Four years ago I would have asked the same things.

This marks our third summer packing up our lives in San Francisco to live and work remotely from Europe, and I don’t see us ever stopping. There is something magical about trading our familiar home routine for a few weeks of total immersion, watching our 4- and 6-year-old adapt to a new culture, and finding our footing in a brand-new city.

But this summer is different. This summer, 30 other families came with us on my dream summer abroad program.

Just one week into living in San Sebastian, Spain, with Roam Collective, the company I co-founded last fall, and we have fallen in love with this beach town. We may have been exhausted and overheated those first few days (yes that heat wave throughout Europe was brutal), and there were a few travel moments I’m still processing. But I can confidently say this is my favorite destination yet.

For the next six weeks, I’m swapping my usual Summer Camp Research programming for something more personal: a weekly, unfiltered log of our life in San Sebastian. Not our vacation… our real, working life. The work calls, the restaurant exploration, the wins, the meltdowns (theirs and mine), and the behind-the-scenes of running a scaling business remotely (we just opened our 4th MNTSTUDIO location two weeks before leaving, and #5 is deep in construction), as well as preparing for Roam Collective Summer 2027 from the city where its first cohort is living.

Here’s what’s inside this week’s edition:

• Every restaurant and beach we visited in week one, with exactly what to order

• Our real first-week routine, including what Roam handled that was one of the best perks I could have imagined

• The airport incidents that have me fired up about kids in public spaces

• My 3-Day Rule for beating jet lag with young kids

• The backstory: how a 3.5-week trip to Tuscany with an 8-week-old became a written-down, non-negotiable core tenet of our family (and eventually a company)

Alright. Let’s get into it.

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Here’s what three years of living and traveling abroad with my family has taught me, I call it my 3-Day Rule: it takes kids three full days to adjust to a major time change. For those first 72 hours, you lower every expectation, assum…

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But let’s be real: Switzerland is also one of the most expensive places on earth. There is no hidden-value angle here, no cheap-living hack I can offer you. You are paying a massive premium for this level of flawlessness. Worth it? You be the judge. Here’s everything you need to make that call.

Logistics: Getting There & Staying There

Ease of Getting There:

• Your camp choice dictates your arrival hub:

  • Geneva-area and French-Swiss mountain camps (Verbier, Villars, Les Crosets) → fly into Geneva (GVA)

  • Zurich and Basel camps → fly into Zurich (ZRH)

• Both hubs handle direct daily flights from the U.S. East Coast (NYC/Newark). West Coast families (LAX/SFO): expect one quick stop in London, Frankfurt, or Paris.

• The commute from the airport:

  • Geneva & Zurich Camps: A seamless 15-to-30-minute train ride from their respective airports.

• Alpine Valley Camps (Verbier/Villars): A scenic 1.5-to-2-hour drive or direct Swiss rail trip from GVA.

Getting Around: Stroller vs. Scooter Realism

• The Stroller: Swiss pavements and train platforms are perfectly flat and accessible, making strollers easy. However, skip the heavy luxury model and bring a durable, compact travel stroller with all-terrain wheels to handle mountain gravel or cobblestones. For mountain valley trails, a high-quality hiking baby carrier backpack is essential.

• Kid Scooters: Pack them immediately. Switzerland is the global capital of micro-mobility. Sidewalks, pedestrian paths, and lakeside promenades are immaculately paved. Kids ride scooters everywhere, it is the easiest way to manage camp drop-offs without a vehicle.

Is a Car Necessary?

• Geneva, Zurich & Basel: No, absolutely not. A car is an expensive liability in Swiss cities due to $8/hour parking fees and highly restricted zones. The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) tram and train network is so hyper-efficient and accurate that you can commute flawlessly using just an SBB Family Pass.

• The Mountain Valleys (Verbier, Villars, Les Crosets): Yes, conditionally. While trains connect major valleys, managing specific mountain camp times, erratic high-altitude weather shifts, and major grocery runs requires a reliable vehicle. Rent early, as automatic transmissions are limited.

Housing:

• Geneva & Zurich Rent: Premium city apartments or lakeside 2-bedrooms range from $6,500–$12,000/month in high-season July.

• Basel Rent: Slightly more approachable, with family flats averaging $4,500–$7,500/month.

• Alpine Resort Chalets (Verbier/Villars): High-end mountain chalets can be priced extremely high, ranging from $10,000-20,000 /month for July blocks.

The “American Reality” Check:

• Air Conditioning: Virtually non-existent. Stand-alone A/C is extremely rare. While alpine nights stay cool, a city heatwave will require you to use cross-breezes and heavy fans. Always ask your rental host to confirm fan availability.

• Laundry Restrictions: Standalone tumble dryers are rare inside individual Swiss flats. You will likely use a shared building laundry room (Waschküche) that runs on a strict, assigned calendar rotation, or use a balcony drying rack.

• Groceries match Manhattan. Or exceed it. Meat and dairy carry heavy agricultural tariffs, expect upwards of $15/pound for basic chicken breast. Dining out matches or exceeds San Francisco budgets.

The Weather: What to Expect in July

• In the lowland cities (Geneva, Zurich, Basel): beautifully comfortable, hovering between 75°F and 85°F during the day is warm and sunny.

• In the mountain valleys (Verbier, Villars): daytime highs sit at 65°F–75°F, and dropping into the 50s on high trails or cable cars is regular. Pack real layers for the kids, not just a hoodie thrown in as an afterthought.

• The evening vibe: Refreshing and crisp. The moment the sun dips behind the peaks or over the lakes around 7:30 p.m., a cool breeze rolls in. It’s the kind of evening that makes you close your laptop and go outside.

The Swiss Food Scene & Typical Schedule

What to Eat:

• Rösti: A comforting, classic Swiss dish of crispy, pan-fried shredded potatoes topped with melted cheese, fried eggs, or bacon. It is the ultimate kid-approved post-camp refuel.

• Swiss Chocolate & Birchermüesli: Sourced fresh daily. True Swiss oats soaked with milk, yogurt, grated apples, and nuts is the breakfast standard, paired with high-end regional chocolate for treats.

• Raclette / Fondue: Melted cheese scraped over boiled potatoes, gherkins, and pickled onions. Even in July, hitting a mountain lodge for a fondue ritual is a non-negotiable alpine experience.

• Fresh Lake Perch (Filets de Perche): Lightly battered, delicate local fish served alongside fries by the lakeside terraces in Geneva or Zurich.

Typical Eating Schedule:

• Lunch (12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.): Standard and prompt. Most Swiss camps include a hot, premium communal meal or highly structured packed lunch window.

• Zvieri (4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.): The mandatory Swiss afternoon snack. Fruit, local cheese, or bread with a piece of chocolate to power the kids right at camp pick-up.

• Dinner (7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.): Earlier and more family-aligned than Southern Europe, meaning you can easily maintain your kids’ bedtime routines.

Things to Do With Kids

• Lindt Home of Chocolate (Zurich): Take the kids to see the world’s largest chocolate fountain, complete with immersive historical exhibits and unlimited chocolate tasting rooms.

• The Olympic Museum (Lausanne/Geneva Area): A high-tech, interactive sports paradise on the lake where kids can test their running speed, agility, and balance against Olympic records.

• Aquatis Aquarium-Vivarium (Lausanne): Europe’s largest freshwater aquarium, featuring massive indoor biomes, crocodiles, and komodo dragons that kids can view up close.

• Zoo Basel (Basel): Known locally as the “Zolli,” this is an exceptional, centrally located urban zoo with beautiful walking paths and a massive world-class aquarium.

• Mount Pilatus Golden Round Trip (Zurich Area): A bucket-list day trip involving a lake boat, the world’s steepest cogwheel railway, an aerial cableway, and high-altitude mountain playgrounds.

• Verbier Bike Park & Alpine Luge (Mountain Valleys): Ride approachably designed family downhill mountain biking tracks or twist down ski slopes on high-speed mountain carts on rails.

Things to Do Without Kids

• QC Terme Chamonix Day Trip (Geneva Area): Cross the French border for a quiet afternoon soaking in heated outdoor infinity pools directly facing the Mont Blanc massif.

• Lavaux Vineyard Terraces Wine Tasting: Walk through the UNESCO-listed terraced vineyards overlooking Lake Geneva, tasting crisp, exclusive local Chasselas white wines.

• Thermalbad & Spa Zurich: Soak in ancient stone vaults inside a converted historic brewery, finishing with a rooftop thermal pool featuring panoramic city skyline views.

• Fondue at Les Armures (Geneva): Snag a table at Geneva’s most historic old-town institution for an unhurried, authentic cheese fondue paired with local white wine.

• Kunstmuseum Basel Gallery Walk: Explore one of the oldest and most important public art collections in the world, specialized in Holbein masterpieces and modern art.

• Sunset Paddle and Lakeside Lounge (Zurich): Rent a stand-up paddleboard on Lake Zurich at sunset, ending with cocktails at an upscale, historic Badi water lounge.

Local Support

• Sitly: The most active, popular app in Switzerland for sourcing local university students and bilingual sitters.

• Babysitting24 / Rockmybaby: Premier, highly reliable Swiss agencies providing vetted, English-speaking childcare and temporary nannies across Geneva, Zurich, and the alpine resorts.

• Average Rates: Expect to pay $25–$35 CHF/hour ($28-$40). Childcare is exceptionally expensive here, reflecting the nation’s high minimum wage standards.

The Switzerland Summer Camp List

A quick note on how to read what’s below: Your base determines your camp options, not the other way around. Pick the region that fits your family’s summer first. Then pick the camp.

The full list of 14 camps with ages, dates, and pricing, is below for paid subscribers.

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Rebecca Michael is one of only 300 people who hold a VP title at Google. She leads marketing for two of the most used products on the planet, Search and Maps. She is also one of my closest friends, and our kids have been best friends since before Rebecca and I even knew each other existed.

Which means I got something in this conversation that most interviewers don’t get. The real version.

We talked about a philosophy she lives by: the Good Enough Mother, a concept rooted in decades of psychology research that essentially gives you permission to stop chasing perfection in your parenting. Not because your kids don’t deserve your best, but because your best is not the same as perfect. And the research is clear: kids who are raised by good enough mothers are actually more resilient, more emotionally secure, and better equipped for the real world than kids raised by mothers running on fumes trying to get everything right.

I think about this concept constantly. On the days I’m distracted during homework. On the nights dinner is chicken nuggets and french fries. On the *quite often* mornings I’m short on patience before I’ve had coffee.

Good enough isn’t giving up. It’s giving yourself room to be human, and it turns out, that’s exactly what your kids need most.

This episode will make you feel less alone in your fight to always be the perfect mom.

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If you missed this one the first time around, add it to your queue this week. And if you've already listened, I think you'll hear something new the second time around.

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💬 Drop a comment: What’s one area of motherhood where you’re trying to embrace “good enough” instead of perfect?

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• 📤 Hit ‘Share’ to send this to your group chat

Thanks for listening,

Barbara

The French Alps are like a fairytale. The scale of the landscape slows your nervous system down whether you want it to or not. The mornings feel longer. The food tastes better. And you stop trying to optimize the day and just live inside it.

For families who love nature, movement, and a quiet that actually restores you, this is the setting you’ve been looking for.

The logistics take a little planning (mountain roads mean a car is non-negotiable) but the tradeoff is a summer that feels nothing like ordinary life.

Logistics: Getting There & Staying There

Ease of Getting There:

• Flights: Fly into Geneva Airport (GVA). Direct flights from the US East Coast are common and highly efficient. From the West Coast expect 1 stop in major hubs like London, Paris, or Frankfurt.

• The Commute: Most camps are about a 1-hour drive from GVA.

Getting Around: Stroller vs. Scooter Realism

• The Stroller: Leave the heavy luxury stroller at home. You need a durable, compact travel model with all-terrain wheels to handle steep inclines, cobblestones, and gravel paths. For actual trail hikes or navigating resort stairs, a premium hiking baby carrier is completely non-negotiable.

• Kid Scooters: Pack them conditionally. Paved, pedestrianized resort loops in towns like Morzine, Avoriaz, and central Chamonix are a major win for quick scooter navigation. Skip them entirely if your home base is a rustic chalet on unpaved roads.

Is a Car Necessary?

• The Reality: Yes, absolutely. While Chamonix offers a free valley train, commuting is impossible without your own car.

• Rent Early: Sourcing an automatic rental requires booking months in advance out of the French side of Geneva Airport.

• ZTL and Parking Passes: Many historic or pedestrianized alpine villages tightly restrict vehicle access via camera-enforced Zones à Trafico Limitato or automated bollards.

Housing:

• Chamonix & Megève Rent: A central 2-bedroom chalet or modern apartment ranges from $5,500–$12,00/month in July.

• Morzine Rent: Alpine chalets in Morzine average $3,500–$9,000/month for July.

The “American Reality” Check:

• Air Conditioning: Stand-alone A/C is incredibly rare in the French Alps.

• Laundry: Standalone clothes dryers are virtually non-existent in French rentals.

The Weather: What to Expect in July

• The Temperature: Intensely variable. Valley floors like the center of Chamonix can hover between 78°F and 88°F during the day, feeling hot under the direct alpine sun. However, the moment you ascend a cable car or hit a high trail, temperatures can instantly drop into the 50s or 60s.

• The Evening Vibe: The alpine air crisp-ups the moment the sun dips behind the peaks around 7:30 p.m. You will definitely need a light jacket or a sweater after 8:00 p.m.

The Eastern French Food Scene & Typical Schedule

What to Eat:

• La Tartiflette / Fondue: A comforting alpine staple of sliced potatoes, lardons, and melted Reblochon cheese. It is heavy, rich, and the ultimate kid-approved reward after a day of climbing mountains.

• Fresh Baguettes & Local Comté: Sourced daily from the village boulangerie and fromagerie. Pairing a raw-milk cheese with a warm crusty loaf is the simplest, cheapest, and most authentic way to handle family picnic lunches.

• Tarte aux Myrtilles: Traditional wild mountain blueberry tart found in every bakery across the Haute-Savoie. It’s sweet, slightly tart, and non-negotiable after a long hike.

• Savoie Charcuterie: Cured mountain hams and dry sausages (saucisson sec) seasoned with local herbs, perfect for packing into camp backpacks.

Typical Eating Schedule:

• Lunch: 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

• Le Goûter: 4:30 p.m. The essential French afternoon snack. Crepes, fresh fruit, or a pastry to fuel the kids before a later dinner.

• Dinner: 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Things to Do With Kids

• Step Into the Void / Aiguille du Midi (Chamonix): Take Europe’s highest vertical ascent cable car up to 12,605 feet. Kids will be completely awestruck stepping into a five-sided glass cage suspended over a 1,000-meter drop.

• Mer de Glace & The Red Train (Chamonix): Ride the vintage red cogwheel train up to France’s largest glacier, then descend into a massive, hand-carved ice cave complete with glowing ice sculptures.

• Lake Annecy Beach Day (Annecy): Spend a sunny afternoon renting paddleboards or electric boats on Europe’s cleanest lake. Head to Plage d’Angon for shaded grassy lawns and safe, shallow lake swimming for young kids.

• Les Gets Splash & Adventure Park (Morzine Valley): Take the kids to a massive, floating inflatable obstacle course right on the lake, surrounded by alpine forest.

• The Alpine Coaster / Luge (Chamonix/La Clusaz): Ride a thrilling, kid-controlled mountain toboggan on rails that twists down the ski slopes through sharp turns and drops.

• Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc Tramway: Board the highest rack railway train in France to climb past waterfalls and dense alpine woods to the glacier fields.

Things to Do Without Kids

• Wine Tasting in the Savoie Valley: Take a morning drive down the mountain passes into the vineyards of Chambéry or Cruet to taste crisp, high-altitude white wines like Jacquère and Altesse directly from local producers.

• Thermal Spa Day at QC Terme (Chamonix): Spend a quiet afternoon soaking in heated outdoor infinity pools facing the snow-capped massif of Mont Blanc, complete with therapeutic steam rooms and zero noise.

• Dinner at a Michelin-Starred Alpine Lodge: Book a milestone, adults-only table at an estate for a unique and once in a lifetime type of meal.

• Twilight Canyoning: Suit up for a guided evening descent down local mountain waterfalls and narrow stone gorges, ending with an unhurried bistro dinner in the village.

Local Support

• Sitly: Available in Eastern France for sourcing local, bilingual student sitters.

• Baby-Sitting Chamonix / Alpine Childcare: Regional agencies providing vetted, English-speaking childcare options across the Chamonix and Morzine valleys.

• Average Rates: Expect to pay ~€25/hour. Childcare is more expensive here, reflecting high local seasonal wages.

The Eastern France Summer Camp List

7 fun French summer camps for kids 3-17!

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After months of meticulous planning and running 1000 miles per hour, I am so ready for this European summer. When it comes to packing for a long trip, my philosophy is simple: pick a clear color scheme to maxi…

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How many different versions of yourself do you show up as before 10am?

You’re a mom getting kids out the door. A professional with a full inbox waiting. Maybe a partner trying to actually connect with the person sleeping next to you. A person with creative ideas you haven’t had time to pursue. A human being who’d really like a hot cup of coffee for once.

That’s not chaos. That’s a multi-hyphenate life.

And this week’s podcast episode is for every woman who’s been living that life but hasn’t yet given herself permission to own it.

ICYMI I’m re-releasing some of the episodes that resonated most in the history of The New Modern Mom Podcast as I gear up for our relaunch this summer.

Up now: Hitha Palapu. CEO of Roshan Pharmaceuticals, author of two books, speaker, and mom of two boys. She’s one of the most honest, clear-eyed people I’ve talked to about what it actually takes to hold multiple identities without losing yourself.

We got into her Gentle Wednesdays practice, the weekly marriage meeting she swears has made their date nights genuinely fun again, and the Magic 20 List, which is now the first thing I’m trying when I get overwhelmed by a new idea.

But the part that stayed with me most? She talked about knowing when to close a chapter. How the decision that looks like quitting from the outside is actually one of the most powerful multi-hyphenate moves you can make.

This one is worth the listen (or re-listen).

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And if this one resonates, a quick review takes 30 seconds and genuinely helps more moms find the show. ⭐

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💬 Drop a comment sharing which of your hyphens feels most unclaimed right now?

• ❤️ And PLEASE give this post a little love below

• 📤 Hit ‘Share’ to send this to your group chat

Thanks for listening,

Barbara

There is only one reason I personally haven’t seriously considered this region: Southern Italy in July is hot. Relentlessly hot. You have to go into this experience knowing and expecting Mediterranean sun that slows everyone down. I’m originally from Dallas and recall every single summer growing up being miserably hot… hopping from pool to A/C to lake on rotation. That’s not me. But if you love a good toasty day, keep reading…

The positive tradeoff is that the heat is exactly what forces the region into its slow-paced lifestyle. Because it’s too hot to rush, you’re practically required to trade the frantic pace of American life for a late-afternoon riposo (siesta), long sea days, and a lifestyle centered around the evening hours. Moving here means stepping away from highly curated tourist spaces and sliding into the authentic, slow, and sun-drenched ways of the Southern Italians.

Logistics: Getting There & Staying There

Ease of Getting There:

• Campania: Fly into Naples International Airport (NAP), which is highly central and just a 15-minute taxi ride from the historic center.

• Puglia: Use Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI) or Brindisi Airport (BDS) depending on which side of the coast you base yourself.

• Sicily: Fly into Palermo Falcone-Borsellino (PMO) for the western side of the island or Catania-Fontanarossa (CTA) for the east.

• Sardinia: Fly into Olbia Costa Smeralda (OLB) or Alghero Fertilia (AHO) if staying on the northern side of the island or Cagliari Elmas (CAG) for the far south.

• Flights: Seasonal direct flights from the East Coast straight into Naples and Palermo are common. If you are flying from the West Coast, it’s going to be a long travel day(s). And expect big delays if flying an Italian airline.

Getting Around: Stroller vs. Scooter Realism

• The Stroller: You need a highly compact, lightweight travel model with durable wheels. A baby or toddler carrier is way easier.

• Kid Scooters: Leave them at home.

• Is a Car Necessary?

  • Naples: No. Use the Metro and regional trains (like the Circumvesuviana) for day trips.

  • Puglia & Sicily: Yes, absolutely. If your camp is in Siracusa, Trapani, or the Puglian countryside, you cannot survive without a rental car.

  • Sardinia? Yes, absolutely. While you can manage without one in main city hubs like Cagliari, you cannot manage a summer camp routine or explore the island without a car.

Housing:

• Naples: A 2-bedroom in a family-safe, upscale neighborhood like Vomero or Posillipo ranges from $2,700–$5,000/month.

• Sicily: High-end coastal apartments in Palermo (Mondello area), Trapani, or Siracusa (Ortigia) have a large range from $2,400–$4,000/month in July.

• Puglia: A central apartment in Bari or a traditional country house (masseria) further south in Brindisi ranges from $3,000-$7,000/month.

• Sardinia: In the ultra-exclusive Costa Smeralda (Porto Cervo/Porto Rotondo), expect high-season July rates of $4,500–$8,500/month. If you look slightly further south to San Teodoro, or west to Alghero, apartments range from $2,500–$4,500/month.

The “American Reality” Check:

• Air Conditioning: This is an absolute dealbreaker. Do not trust descriptions that say “naturally cool stone walls.” You must explicitly verify that your rental has high-functioning A/C in every bedroom.

• Laundry: Washers are standard, but you will be hanging your laundry on a drying rack on the balcony.

• The “Riposo” (Siesta): The region shuts down completely between 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Grocers, shops, and restaurants close so everyone can escape the heat.

• Trash Management: Southern Italian cities, particularly parts of Naples and Palermo, struggle with public waste management. It can be jarring for American families. Focus your housing searches on residential, upscale neighborhoods to minimize this.

The Weather: What to Expect in July

• The Temperature: Expect daily highs ranging from 85°F to 93°F in Naples, while Puglia and inland Sicily can easily climb to 95°F–100°F during a heatwave.

• The Evening Vibe: The entire community revives after 7:30 p.m. when the sun goes down and a cooler sea breeze rolls in.

The Southern Italy Food Scene & Typical Schedule

What to Eat:

• Pizza Napoletana (Campania): Wood-fired, soft, and simplistic.

• Panzerotti & Taralli (Puglia): Fried dough pockets filled with tomato and mozzarella, and crunchy savory seed rings.

• Granita con Brioche (Sicily): Semi-frozen fresh fruit or ice served with a warm, fluffy sweet bun.

• Pane Carasau (Sardinia): A paper-thin, incredibly crispy flatbread. Drizzled with local olive oil and sea salt (called Pane Guttiau).

• Street Seafood: Paper cones packed with fried calamari and small local fish bought fresh by the harbor.

Typical Eating Schedule:

• Lunch: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. The main meal of the day before the afternoon shutdown.

• The “Merenda”: 5:00 p.m. The late afternoon snack, usually gelato or fruit, to hold everyone over until a late dinner.

• Dinner: 8:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Restaurants rarely even open their doors before 8:00 p.m.

Things to Do With Kids

• The Ruins of Pompeii & Herculaneum (Campania): Walk through real ancient Roman cities frozen in time. Opt for Herculaneum with younger kids. It’s smaller, better preserved, and offers more shade.

• Family Pizza Making Class (Campania): Book a workshop in Naples where master pizzaioli teach kids how to stretch the dough, throw on fresh toppings, and watch it rise in a wood-fired oven.

• Città della Scienza (Campania): This is a massive, hands-on science museum featuring a great interactive planetarium and a museum dedicated entirely to the human body.

• Puppet Theatre / Opera dei Pupi (Sicily): Take the kids to a traditional Sicilian marionette show.

• Mondello Beach Day (Sicily): Spend a classic day renting umbrellas and chairs on the white sands of Mondello.

• Bioparco di Sicilia (Sicily): A zoo and botanical garden that features life-sized dinosaur models hidden along the garden paths.

• Syracuse Boat Tour (Sicily): Rent a small boat from Ortigia island to explore sea caves and swim in crystalline water.

• Zoosafari Fasanolandia (Puglia): One of the largest drive-through safari parks in Europe.

• Grotte di Castellana (Puglia): Escape the sweltering July heat by exploring this massive, spectacular underground cave system that stays a cool 65°F year-round.

• Sardegna in Miniatura (Sardinia): This interactive park features 1:25 scale models of the island’s landmarks, a planetarium, and an outdoor dinosaur park with life-sized, moving prehistoric creatures.

• La Maddalena Archipelago Boat Tour (Sardinia): Charter a boat or hop on a catamaran from Palau to cruise the protected islands. The waters are shallow, completely translucent, and calm. It’s perfect for kids to safely snorkel or jump off the boat into the natural swimming pools.

Things to Do Without Kids

• Sunset Cocktails in Positano (Campania): Take a high-speed ferry from Naples to the Amalfi Coast for an evening of coastal views and upscale dining away from the city.

• Wine Tasting on Mount Etna (Sicily): Take a day trip to taste high-altitude, volcanic Nerello Mascalese wines.

• Explore Lecce’s Baroque Architecture (Puglia): Known as the “Florence of the South,” spend a late night wandering through illuminated limestone cathedrals and boutiques.

• Dinner in a Puglian Grotta (Puglia): Book a romantic dinner overlooking the Adriatic Sea inside a naturally carved limestone sea cave at Polignano a Mare.

• Sunset Sea Serenade in Cagliari (Sardinia): Rent a private sailboat to cruise around the cliffs of the Sella del Diavolo (Devil’s Saddle) at sundown, pairing a local Vermentino wine tasting with traditional Sardinian charcuterie.

• Agriturismo Dining in the Barbagia Interior (Sardinia): Book a dinner at a traditional agriturismo (working farm restaurant) where island dishes are cooked slowly over open fires.

Local Support

• Sitly.it: The primary, highly active platform in Italy for finding local university students and babysitters.

• Babysits.it: Excellent for sourcing English-speaking or international caregivers, particularly in hubs with international schools like Naples, Bari, and Palermo.

• Average Rates: Incredibly budget-friendly compared to northern Europe. Expect to pay €8–€15/hour, with the higher end reserved for native English speakers or specialized baby care.

The Southern Italy Summer Camp List

I’ve found 10 super fun camps for ages 18 months to 14 years old!

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Next up: Divya Gugnani.

Entrepreneur. Investor. 5x CEO. Mom of three, including a newborn at the time of this recording.

Before we hit record, I didn’t know Divya personally. By the time we finished, I wanted to be her best friend.

She’s one of those people who carries an enormous amount without making it look performed. Multiple companies, two preteens, a new baby, a cross-country move, and somehow she shows up with real clarity about what matters and what doesn’t. No hustle glorification. No pretending it’s easy. Just honest systems and a perspective that I keep coming back to.

The thing that stuck with me most: her “no zero days” rule. On the days where a full workout isn’t happening, she does one minute of jumping jacks. That’s it. Progress over perfection, every single day. Simple, but two years later and I think about it constantly.

If you missed this one the first time, add it to your queue this week. And if you’ve already listened, it hits differently the second time around.

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And if this one resonates, a quick review takes 30 seconds and genuinely helps more moms find the show. ⭐

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Hit ❤️ below if you’re adding this to your queue. 💬And tell me in the comments… are you a “schedule everything” person like Divya, or are you still figuring out your system?

Thanks for listening,

Barbara

This week I gathered up my latest batch of skincare empties. I’m sharing what works, what d…

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I of course visited Amsterdam during my study abroad semester, but I also had the opportunity to go back in my mid-twenties for work… and let me tell you I had one of the craziest nights of my life that involved a rave in a warehouse on an island and returning home on the train at 6am 😆 I imagine going back as a family though would feel different in all the right ways.

And I grouped Belgium here, not because the cultures are similar (they are not), but purely because geographically they are very close to each other with major cities less than 2 hours apart by train. This could be a very fun, very easy 2-part urban summer adventure. And fun fact: my grandmother was from Antwerp and I’ve always wanted to visit.

Logistics: Getting There & Staying There

Ease of Getting There:

• Amsterdam: Fly into Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)

• Belgium: Fly into Brussels Airport (BRU)

• Flights: Both are massive international hubs with direct flights from most major U.S. cities.

Getting Around: Stroller vs. Scooter Realism

• The Stroller: The Netherlands is extremely flat, making strollers a dream. In Brussels, you’ll hit more hills and cobblestones.

• The Cargo Bike: If you are in Amsterdam, rent a cargo bike. You can throw two kids, their camp bags, and your groceries in the front bucket and zip across the city in 10 minutes.

• Is a Car Necessary? Absolutely not. Between the trains, trams, and bikes, a car is actually a liability (especially with €7/hour parking in Amsterdam).

Housing:

• Amsterdam Rent: A family-friendly 2-bedroom in areas like Oud-Zuid or De Pijp ranges from $7,400–$12,000/month.

• Brussels/Waterloo Rent: More affordable than Amsterdam. You can find high-end 2-3 bedroom apartments in Ixelles or Waterloo for $4,300–$8,000/month.

The “American Reality” Check:

• Air Conditioning: Like most of Northern Europe, A/C is rare in homes. July temperatures are usually a comfortable 70°F–75°F, but if a heatwave hits, you’ll be relying on open windows and fans.

• Stairs: Historic Dutch and Belgian townhomes are notorious for “staircases from hell.” They are steep, narrow, and winding. If you have a toddler, triple-check the floor level of your rental.

Typical Eating Schedule:

• Lunch: 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Early compared to most European countries!

• Dinner: 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. These countries follow a more “Northern” schedule, making it easy to keep the kids’ bedtime on track.

The Weather: What to Expect in July

• The Temperature: Perfectly mild. Expect daily highs around 70°F–75°F in Amsterdam and 74°F–78°F in Brussels.

• The Evening Vibe: You’ll want a light jacket for dinner on the canal. The sun doesn’t fully set until nearly 10:00 p.m., so the “Golden Hour” lasts all evening.

Things to Do With Kids

• Canal Boat (Amsterdam): Skip the big tour boats. Rent a small electric boat in Amsterdam, and navigate the quiet back canals yourself.

• NEMO Science Museum (Amsterdam): A giant green boat-shaped building where every single thing is meant to be touched.

• Vondelpark (Amsterdam): Massive playgrounds, a paddling pool, and outdoor theater. It’s the city’s backyard.

• Artis Royal Zoo (Amsterdam): One of the oldest zoos in Europe, located right in the city center with a planetarium and aquarium.

• Efteling (Netherlands): An hour from Amsterdam, this is a “fairytale” theme park.

• The Atomium (Brussels): A giant iron crystal structure you can go inside. It feels like a retro-futuristic spaceship.

• Mini-Europe (Brussels): A park with 1:25 scale models of Europe’s famous monuments. Kids feel like giants.

• The Chocolate Museum (Bruges): Watch demonstrations and participate in tastings in one of Belgium’s most beautiful “Venice of the North” cities.

• Plopsaland (Belgium): A massive, toddler-friendly theme park perfect for younger children

• Pairi Daiza (Belgium): Voted the best zoo in Europe several years running; it’s a massive animal sanctuary and botanical garden

Things to Do Without Kids

• The Heineken Experience (Amsterdam): Tour the brand’s historic original brewery, finishing with cold pints at the rooftop bar.

• The Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam): Go for “The Night Watch,” stay for the incredible library.

• Westerkerk Tower Climb (Amsterdam): Book a private tour to climb the tower for the highest and best views over the Jordaan district.

• Beer Tasting in Brussels: Visit Delirium Café or a local brewery like Brussels Beer Project to taste the world’s best Trappist ales.

• Antwerp Day Trip: Only 45 minutes from Brussels, Antwerp is the diamond and fashion capital perfect for high-end shopping and dining.

Local Support

• Sitly: The most popular app in the Netherlands for finding local sitters.

• Charly Cares: A vetted “Babysitting Angel” service in the Netherlands.

• Bsit: The primary app used in Belgium (especially Brussels and Antwerp) to find local, community-reviewed sitters.

• Average Rates: Expect to pay €12–€18/hour. Rates in Amsterdam and Brussels are at the higher end of that range.

The Netherlands and Belgium Summer Camp List

12 unique summer camps in The Netherlands and Belgium for kids 2-17!

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Up now: Jeanelle Teves.

How the F do you actually do it all?

It’s the question that started this podcast in the first place, and honestly, Jeanelle gave me one of the most grounded, real answers I’ve ever heard.

She’s the Chief Commercial Officer at Bugaboo, and when we recorded this two years ago, she walked me through exactly how she architects her days, her weeks, her support systems, without pretending any of it is effortless… and it’s clear these systems are what led her to successfully launch a professional community, Work Lunch, and become a children’s book author over the past year, while still leading as an executive in her 9 to 5.

This was one of our most listened-to episodes for a reason. I still hear from women who say it changed how they think about their mornings, their planning, their whole approach to showing up.

If you haven’t listened yet, now’s the time. If you have, it’s worth another play.

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What you’ll take away:

• 🌅 A morning routine that actually holds up for working moms

• 📅 The quarterly + weekly planning system that cuts mental load

• 🎯 A simple framework for knowing what to actually prioritize

• 🤝 What a real support system looks like, at home and in community

• 🔄 Why consistency, not perfection, is always the long game

A two second favor? Please leave a quick ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ after listening.

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💬 Drop a comment with your favorite part of the episode.

• ❤️ And PLEASE give this post a little love below

• 📤 Hit ‘Share’ to send this to your group chat

Thanks for listening,

Barbara

But right now I’m in the middle of multiple new studio build-outs, a packed events calendar, planning MNT’s Portugal retreat, prepping to take the whole family abroad for the summer, and getting delivera…

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A stark contrast to my very poor decision as a 21-year-old study abroad student who went to Stockholm in the middle of February. I saw the inside of bars, museums and spent an entire day in IKEA because it was truly impossible to be outside, even with my 3 jackets on. HA!!

Everyone speaks English perfectly and the “nature-first” approach to parenting is incredibly refreshing (pun intended). It’s the perfect place to base yourself if you want a productive work summer without the heat-induced brain fog of the South.

Logistics: Getting There & Staying There

Ease of Getting There:

• Denmark: Fly into Copenhagen (CPH). It is one of the most efficient airports in the world, with a 15-minute train ride directly to the city center.

• Norway: Land at Oslo (OSL) or Stavanger (SVG). Both are well-connected to major European hubs like London or Amsterdam.

• Sweden: Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) is the main gateway. The Arlanda Express train gets you to the city in 20 minutes.

• Finland: Helsinki (HEL) is a major hub for flights coming from the U.S. and Asia.

• Flights: Direct flights from the East Coast (NYC, Newark) are common. From the West Coast, you’ll likely have one stop in London, Reykjavik, or Copenhagen

Getting Around: Stroller vs. Scooter Realism

• The Stroller: Sidewalks are wide, elevators are everywhere, and buses/trains have dedicated stroller bays.

• Kid Scooters: Mandatory. Every Nordic kid owns a scooter. The cities are incredibly flat and paved for wheels. It is the easiest way to get your kid to camp without a car.

• Is a Car Necessary? No. In fact, in cities like Copenhagen and Stockholm, a car is a liability with expensive parking and limited traffic zones. The public transit and bike lanes are so elite that you can easily manage camp drop-offs without one.

• Copenhagen Cargo Bikes: In Denmark, biking isn’t just a hobby, it’s a lifestyle. I highly recommend renting a cargo bike. You can throw the kids and all their camp gear in the front bucket and navigate the city like a local.

Housing for a 2-bedroom rental:

• Denmark: In Østerbro or Hellerup (near the camps) ranges from$5,500–$8,500/month.

• Norway: In Bekkestua (Oslo area) or Stavanger, expect to pay $3,500–$5,000/month.

• Sweden: Östermalm or Södermalm in Stockholm will run $5,500–$8,500/month.

• Finland: Helsinki is slightly more affordable, with nice 2-bedrooms in Töölö or Espoo ranging from $2,800–$4,200/month

The “American Reality” Check:

• Air Conditioning: You will almost never find A/C in Nordic homes. The good news? You don’t need it.

• Laundry: Washers are standard, but dryers are rare. However, many Nordic apartments come with access to a high-tech “drying room” (torkrum) in the basement that can dry a whole load of laundry in an hour.

• Cost of Living: The Nordics are more akin to San Francisco or New York pricing. Do not come here expecting the “everything is so much cheaper” mentality you find in Southern Europe. From groceries to your morning coffee, you are paying premium prices.

The Weather: What to Expect in July

• The Temperature: Mild and perfect. Expect highs between 68°F and 75°F. Occasionally it hits 80°F, but it’s rare.

• The Evening Vibe: Eternal twilight. It never gets fully dark, and the air stays crisp. You will definitely need a light jacket or a sweater after 8:00 p.m.

The Nordic Food Scene & Typical Schedule

What to Eat:

• Smørrebrød (Denmark): Open-faced sandwiches. Kids love the “simple” versions with egg or cucumber; parents can go wild with pickled herring and remoulade 🤪

• Köttbullar (Sweden): The classic meatballs with lingonberry jam.

• Fresh Berries: In July, the strawberries and cloudberries are at their peak. You’ll find stalls on every corner.

• Kanelbullar: Cinnamon or cardamom buns are a daily ritual for Fika (coffee break).

Typical Eating Schedule:

• Lunch: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. They eat early here!

• The “Fika”: 3:00 p.m. Coffee and a pastry. It’s a cultural requirement.

• Dinner: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Much earlier than Southern Europe, which is great for maintaining kid routines.

  

Local Support

• Sitly: Available in Denmark, Norway, and Finland for local sitters.

• Yepstr (Sweden): A popular app in Stockholm for finding local youth to help with childcare or odd jobs.

• Average Rates: Expect to pay €18–€25/hour. Childcare is more expensive here, reflecting the high local wages.

The Nordic Summer Camp List

13 unique Nordic summer camps for kids 4-17!

To access my research on European summer camps plus my thoughts on tools, systems & mindset for working moms, consider upgrading your subscription. All for just $8/month.

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I like to say I was meant to be a blonde and the universe just made a mistake, which is why it somehow looks extremely natural. Between a very good hairstylist and the fact that my son is very blonde, it’s no wonder this fun fact catches people off guard.

My blonde journey…

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The real gift I want on Mother’s Day? A solo night away or a weekend with friends.

Is that always realistic? No.
What is realistic is making it very easy for your partner to get it right.

So here’s the plan: send a clear signal.

And for your mom/MIL/collectively known to your kids as “grandmas,” I pulled together a one-stop list so you’re not scrambling the…

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