Why 85% of Women Struggle With Mother-in-Laws and What to Do About It with Dr. Tracy Dalgleish
Modern Mom ProbsShow Notes
In this episode, Tara sits down with clinical psychologist, podcaster, and author of the new book "You, Your Husband, and His Mother," Dr. Tracy Dalgleish for an honest and eye-opening conversation about one of the most universally challenging family dynamics: the relationship between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. Together, they unpack why an incredible 85% of people experience conflict in this area, exploring how cultural shifts in parenting, emotional socialization, and postpartum expectations all play a role. Dr. Tracy introduces her powerful Vault Method, a structured framework that helps couples navigate in-law relationships with clearer communication, stronger boundaries, and a deeper understanding of their own emotional patterns.
Tara and Dr. Tracy dive into the difference between healthy and unhealthy family systems, shedding light on why daughters and daughters-in-law are often treated differently and how these dynamics can create guilt, resentment, or pressure, especially for new moms. Dr. Tracy outlines the six types of mothers-in-law, from the supportive types who foster emotional independence to the blamers who scapegoat others instead of looking inward. Through compassionate, relatable examples, she and Tara highlight the importance of self-awareness, emotional detachment from guilt, and the courage to set boundaries that protect your well-being.
Listen to this episode if you want to walk away with practical tools to create healthier family relationships, open up communication with your partner, and navigate in-law challenges with more clarity, confidence, and calm.
Links:
More from Modern Mom Probs
In this episode, Tara sits down with Keesha Scott, mother of three, podcaster, certified parenting coach, and author of the new memoir Cake for Dinner, for a refreshingly honest conversation about dismantling the pressure to be a perfect mother. Drawing from her own experiences with addiction recovery, high-achieving environments, and raising teenagers, Keesha opens up about why modern mom culture often feels impossibly harsh. Together, they tackle the competitive nature of modern childhood and the pitfalls of overparenting, highlighting how stepping back from the "must do everything" mindset can actually build greater resilience, confidence, and independence in our kids.
In this conversation, Tara chats with Emily Feret, the self-proclaimed "anti-mommy influencer," for a refreshingly candid conversation about stripping away the pressure of perfection in motherhood. Emily shares the story of how her "normalizing normal" movement was accidentally born out of pandemic boredom on TikTok, quickly growing into a massive community built on unfiltered honesty, messy homes, and finding humor in the chaos of everyday life. They discuss the profound impact of seeing real, uncurated lives online, and how sharing the unvarnished truth, from dealing with mom guilt over toddler cavities to embracing the actual bodies we have, can instantly make motherhood feel less isolating.
In this enlightening episode, Tara welcomes back author and podcast host Cory Allen to discuss his new book The Quiet Age: Creating a Calm Life in a Chaotic World, and explore why slowing down feels more urgent now than ever. Their conversation dives into how digital overload, reactive living, and a culture of constant urgency can disconnect individuals from their own bodies and inner sense of direction. Tailored especially for busy parents feeling stretched thin by the demands of modern life, Tara and Cory examine how to step off the "freight train" of the mental load, noting that while cell phones often carry the effects of our disconnection, they are not the entire root of the problem.
In this hilarious episode, Tara sits down with Stephanie Drake and Arthur Meyer, the creative minds and co-hosts behind the hit satire series ABC Parenting. The trio dives deep into how the show brilliantly parodies the overwhelming, contradictory flood of online parenting advice that leaves so many parents feeling like they are failing. Stephanie (an actress and writer, known for her role as Meredith in Mad Men) and Arthur (a veteran comedy writer whose credits include The Tonight Show) share how their own real-life anxieties shape their sharpest sketches. The conversation highlights how ABC Parenting turns the fear-based messaging of modern parenting into comedy gold.
In this episode, Tara sits down with author, artist, and Emmy-winning animator Loryn Brantz for an honest conversation on creativity, modern parenting, and what’s really going on behind the scenes in children’s media. Loryn opens up about shifting from traditional animation on classic shows like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Sesame Street to writing children’s books, sharing how a very relatable toddler meltdown inspired her new book, I Am a Spicy Nugget. She and Tara unpack practical strategies for co-regulation and handling big emotions, explaining why doing the inner self-work and reparenting ourselves beats relying on cookie-cutter parenting scripts every time. They also tackle the changing landscape of creative content, diving into Loryn’s advocacy for artist protection against AI after her public battle over The Good Advice Cupcake. From the rise of AI-generated slop in children’s shows to her behind-the-scenes work, Loryn reminds us that human connection is at the heart of storytelling. This conversation is a candid look at the emotional work of raising good humans while fighting to protect genuine creative integrity for the next generation. Links: https://lorynbrantz.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lorynbrantz/