The EMBER Project Podcast

Unwrapping the Holiday Myth

In this powerful solo episode, I open up about my very first Christmas as a young single mom. I talk honestly about what it looked like to try to create a magical holiday with almost no money, a handful of used toys, super cheap decorations, and Christmas cookies paid for with food stamps. I share the pride I felt saving $180 in a Christmas Club account, the deep shame that came when some of the gifts weren’t age appropriate, and how heavy the pressure felt to make everything look perfect for my daughter, even when I was falling apart inside.
I also explore how holiday burnout hits early mothers differently. We already walk into the season feeling like we’ve disappointed people, like we have something to prove, like we have to make up for becoming moms “too soon.” I talk about how the myth of the perfect holiday — the matching pajamas, the perfect tree, the Instagram-ready moments — wasn’t even around back then, and thank goodness, because the weight of comparison would have crushed me even more.
This episode sets the stage for Part Two, where listeners will hear more from Nicki and from a mom who recently reached out online asking for Christmas help. Her honesty adds an important layer to this conversation about shame, survival mode, and the reality of trying to hold your family together during the holidays.
If this episode touches you, please check out our work at www.theEMBERproject.org.

Welcome to The EMBER Prodcast!

Welcome to the EMBER Project, Where Early Mothers Become Empowered and Resilient. I am your host, Susan, a mom at barely 16 , now approaching 50 and realizing how my experience could stop other teen moms from allowing themselves to be held back by their early motherhood. I believe that by supporting and mentoring early mothers, we can break the cycle of generational poverty. Potential is like an EMBER. It can be ignored or smothered,  losing all of its promise of light and warmth. Or an EMBER can be fed and fanned into a bright flame. Those ideas became the foundation of the EMBER Project. 

Episode 2 - Living in the Moment or Making Choices?

In this mini episode we talk about the moments that we experience, and how they shape our lives. Remember, if you are a teen mom and are interested in joining The EMBER Project, please CLICK HERE.
If you are interested in seeing how you can make a difference in the life on an early mother, CLICK HERE.
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The EMBER Podcast Introduction Episode

Meet the founder of The EMBER Project as well as learn some of the statistics on early motherhood that make it clear how important this project is.