If you’ve ever cried after dropping a kid at college and then immediately enjoyed the quiet house and clean kitchen… this episode is for you. I sit down with my friend, speaker, and longtime Pardon the Mess host Courtney DeFeo for a conversation that somehow covers Target boycotts, Auburn obsession, empty nesting, insecurity, friendship boundaries, and the emotional climate of your home—all while making you laugh harder than you expected.

Courtney shares why she’s stepping away from Pardon the Mess after three years hosting the show I originally launched, and we talk honestly about what it means to release something you love with open hands. We get into parenting girls, surviving the college launch years without emotionally collapsing onto your children, and the weird tension of missing your kids desperately while also appreciating that nobody has trashed your house in 48 hours.

We also unpack one of Courtney’s favorite topics: the “tone” of your home. What do people actually feel when they walk in. Safe? Seen? Critiqued? Loved? Included? Courtney shares practical wisdom about small “attitude maneuvers” moms can make that completely shift the atmosphere of a family.

There’s also encouragement here for moms entering a new season. As kids grow up and launch, we talk about how motherhood was never meant to be the end of your story. There’s still purpose, calling, creativity, and probably a few embarrassing new adventures ahead.

All things Cynthia

All things Courtney DeFeo

Pardon the Mess

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