Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
EP 132: February Catch Up
1.9k Plays25 days ago
It’s our February catch-up episode, which means we’re covering a little bit of everything — real life updates, mom chaos, and the random obsessions that are getting us through winter.
Whitney kicks things off with a recap of the wild Nashville ice storm that left them without power for days. Freezing temps, no electricity, kids stuck inside, and parents doing the absolute most to keep everyone fed, warm, and entertained. The cabin fever was real, routines were gone, and survival mode was fully activated.
Candace recaps Gasparilla season — the chaos, the fun, the exhaustion, and the classic post-event realization that “this was amazing” and “I need three business days to recover” can both be true.
Then we get into our latest fixation: Heated Rivalry. We’re recapping it, talking about why we’re so obsessed, and yes… the obsession spiraled far enough that Candace signed Alice up for hockey. (Influenced by TV? Maybe. Regrets? TBD.)
Candace also shares what’s been weighing on her with applying to private schools — the process, the pressure, and the deeper layer underneath it all: re-evaluating why they want to go that route in the first place, and what actually feels aligned for their family versus what just sounds like the “right” move.
If you’re feeling maxed out, stuck in winter chaos, and using a TV obsession as a personality trait right now… welcome. You’re in good company.
Keep up with the Moms and join the conversation on our socials:
📸 Instagram: @momgroupchat
🎵 TikTok: @momgroupchat
Questions/comments/need to vent? Email us at momgroupchat@gmail.com
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to Mom Group Chat Podcast
00:00:07
Speaker
There's no right way to do it.
00:00:12
Speaker
Oh, we're going to get into it. What up, moms? This is Whitney Williams, and I'm here with my best friend, Candice, and this is the Mom Group Chat Podcast. hello What's Oh, I miss you. yeah it feels so good to be here sitting in front of you.
00:00:28
Speaker
it feels good to have electricity and be able to talk to you. No, literally, i feel so disconnected and like not to make it about me. and i'm just kidding. But it was hard. i miss you. I know. And i felt like, I mean, as everyone probably has if you're not living under a rock.
Nashville's Snow and Ice Storm
00:00:51
Speaker
is that Nashville got like bombarded over the weekend slash into the first of the week with not only a snowstorm, but an ice storm. So I was without power. And so like trying to conserve my phone battery, I like wasn't able to really text and stuff. So anyway, I've been m i a but now we're back and our friendship ship is back in order.
00:01:15
Speaker
I mean, our friendship never went anywhere, truly. But it was like a a moment of silence, which I never like. So um can I also say that like everyone on Instagram was like, I'm going to need you and Candice to stop going through natural disasters, please. No, literally.
00:01:35
Speaker
Literally. i was like, what is it with where we live? I think this was just honestly a phenomenon like Well, that's like kind of how we feel about this the hurricanes and the floods. It's like everyone has says that is like a once in a hundred years situation that we went through with like the two storms being back to back. Knock on motherfucking wood. Okay. We better not ever go through that again. I'm knocking on some wood around me. But I kind of feel that way about you guys in this crazy ice storm. I mean, it literally looked like Frozen Live. Mm-hmm.
00:02:09
Speaker
Frozen Nashville edition. It was so crazy. I've never experienced something like this in my life. And anyone that's like older, they're like back in 94 or like back in 78. And you're like, all right. So every like 20-ish years this might happen? Like, I guess. So I don't know. It was the craziest damn thing. And we can get into it in my adventure that we had. But this is our catch up.
00:02:37
Speaker
Yeah. Glad to freaking be here. Honestly, i i I feel like we have so much to catch up on. Like ah ah between like the storm, i guess I don't really have. I mean, mine's just like normal life shit. It's not anything like groundbreaking or anything. i just feel like we haven't caught up in a while. So you guys are like getting we didn't even like take it to the group chat this morning after drop offs like we normally do. We saved it for here for this group chat.
00:03:05
Speaker
Oh, yeah. We're just like going to let it
Cold Weather Impact in Florida
00:03:07
Speaker
divulge. And um damn, I was going to say something. No, I forgot. I have so much like coming to my mind I already forgot. But I do care what you have to say because I know you had some exciting things happen and you have like warm activities going on in your town so I'm jealous okay but it's freaking cold here and I'm over it and I know like that's so spoiled to say based on like what you have been through and I like I'm sorry that I am this way but this is going on our fourth or fifth day of it being in the 30s and like
00:03:43
Speaker
feel and throughout the rest of this week and into the weekend. Like right now on our forecast, we have snow flurries on the forecast for Saturday and Sunday in Tampa, fucking Florida, which you were just talking about your, like the older people mentioning. My mom will not stop saying, well, when I was in high school in 78, we had snow in Tampa, Florida. i remember being at high school and being out in the in the parking lots and us like, you know, so yeah, they it's cold here and I am officially over it. Like I need a gavel, like I'm over it and I just want it to be warm again.
00:04:27
Speaker
And I'm like, I know that's so bratty saying that to you. You're like, yeah, no shit. Yeah. I don't care. I'm like used to it being cold here. It's like not new for me. it's It's just the circumstances that are going on. Like I'm used to it being in the 30s this time of year. But for you, this is when the iguanas fall out of the tree. You know, I'm obsessed with that happening. And then then how's Alice putting on pants? She's surviving.
00:04:56
Speaker
Um, she is surviving. I feel like she's actually gotten a little bit better. Maybe it's just like practice now over the past couple of weeks. We've had a lot of cold weather, so she's just like getting used to it now. I will say this whole week of school, they, it's funny cause they had this last year too, but it was not cold when they did it. They always do a winter wonderland week at school and they have this like big, um, igloo. Yeah. Igloo that they put up and Anna and Elsa come and visit school.
00:05:26
Speaker
Okay, and like cool. it's Yeah, I know. It's just like, I don't know. They like lean into winter wonderland frozen stuff. And so that's happening this week. And so the past two days that I have dropped them, including today, um olaf has just been in the lobby of school. Like, I mean, it's like a person in an Olaf costume. But yeah, Olaf has been in the lobby to like greet the kids to come to school. So anyways, today she was wearing an Elsa dress to school because this is the day that Elsa is visiting her classroom.
00:05:54
Speaker
And, um, so, but obviously we had to lay, I mean, it was like literally 35 when we left the house this morning. So I had to layer underneath her Elsa dress and on top of her Elsa dress to make sure like she's warm enough. Um, but she's doing better. So she's just, she's, I think she's also just realized like, yo, it's cold. Like I don't really have a choice, you know? Yeah. We also had Olaf bowling today at school.
00:06:23
Speaker
Like they already sent pictures. i'm like, it's frozen week. I know. it's ah like National frozen day. I don't know, but they had that at school too. They sent pictures already. I was like, that's sweet, but yeah. Costume.
00:06:38
Speaker
There's slack in there. But yeah. Okay. Start from the beginning. Tell us about your adventures in your frozen in your frozen real life frozen ah movie. Like obviously you knew it was coming. Talk to us about like how you prepared and what you guys did and then just like walk us through the whole thing.
Family Challenges During the Storm
00:06:59
Speaker
Did we prepare? i don't know. um i mean, it was such a joke like last week about everyone like panic buying and, you know, the bread's gone, the eggs, the milk, and you're just like, everyone's so dramatic. And then it's like, actually, they weren't. ah And but really, it was like you. Thank God we had some stuff that like wasn't.
00:07:19
Speaker
like perishable I guess so that we could heat it up on the stove because the damn electricity went out but it was all fun and games on Saturday like that's when the big snow came we were sledding um the kids were having fun like everything was great and then it took a turn on yeah like Saturday night into Sunday and Monday it just started freezing rain like sleet so then it just froze on top of the thick ass snow and so then we just had ice The ice on the trees on every single tiny limb, branch, whatever, is is an inch thick. Like, it's said that my town of Brentwood got the most ice out of any town in the Nashville, like, surrounding area. Yeah.
00:08:05
Speaker
And it just was like the scariest fucking thing ever. Trees were exploding. Like i saw TikToks of Minnesota trees exploding. I'm like, oh, that's crazy. No, it was actually happening. Like the trees were so cold, so heavy. They were saying the limbs were between like 300 and 700 pounds from the ice. So they were just like crashing down like massive trees. And you just hear bangs. all throughout the neighborhood. it sounded like a cannon was going off. It looks like a damn war zone here
00:08:37
Speaker
But every time it popped, you're like, oh shit, is it a whole tree or is it just a massive branch? Is it going to fall on my house? like We had four conveniently like fly across our driveway. So like our cars have been stuck in the driveway and in the garage. Thank God we park inside. Yeah.
00:09:00
Speaker
Oh my God. Yeah. Thank God. So the cars were in the garage, but they're stuck in there. And then our backyard is like insanity right now. Our pool is probably fucked. Like I got some DMS of people being like,
00:09:15
Speaker
you don't cover your pool. Like what? And i'm like, this doesn't happen. Like the electricity doesn't go out. We're able to run our water. Like the water doesn't normally freeze over. Like the water is just yeah constantly running and pushing. It froze a little last year, but it's fine. Like once it unfreezes, we're kind of scared the lining might be ripped. So we'll probably have to replace that. And then we don't know if the pipes are frozen under the pool. So Mama might be getting new pool, which is such first world problems. Like, I don't yeah'm complain about that. That's so stupid. But it's like, damn, that sucks. I mean, it's probably not going to be a cheap endeavor. You know what I mean? So it's totally fair for you to be like, oh, my God, that's so annoying and inconvenient. Like, 100%.
00:10:04
Speaker
one hundred percent And that was like, so I talked to my mom this morning and she's like, so like, what's the plan moving forward on the pool? Like, what are you going to do if this happens again? I was like, it probably will never happen fucking again.
00:10:17
Speaker
Like, she's like, i mean, it's like four grand to get a generator or four grand to get ah a pool heater. And I'm like, I think I'd rather get the pool heater and risk it. And just like, hopefully the power never goes. Yeah. And then you can use your pool all year round. Yeah. so I'm like, I'm just going to...
00:10:34
Speaker
I don't know. i just I was like, this is probably just once in every 20-year thing you know that this happens. So normally it's fine. like The people that lived here before us lived here for 12 years and never covered it. So I'm like, okay, we're just the lucky ones. Maybe I'm like so naive here, but like would covering it actually... draining it or something and covering it know an option.
00:10:59
Speaker
But they always like told us not to because we have a saltwater pool and they're like, it's just a lot of trouble. If you just run it through the winter, it's just good to go in the spring. So they're like, we recommend not doing any of that because then you have to get it cleaned because it's nasty and whatever. But anyway, we were just following what the people before us did. and when you say lining, you mean like the edge, like the bottom of the pool?
00:11:25
Speaker
Yeah, it's just like the lining that goes around it. where But is that not like cement? It's like a overlay. There is some ah in there, but you have a lining that holds all the water too. So, you know, it's like that, like, i have no any food you know how a pool has like patterned.
00:11:44
Speaker
Yeah. I guess lining to me, like lining in my head feels like fabric or something, but kind of it can rip. So if it's frozen, like we're not allowed to go out there and break up the ice to make it thaw quicker. Like, cause that could like rip the edges. Like you just have to let it undo itself. Yeah. Okay. Well, I'm going to send you easy melty vibes. Everything just thaws. The the things are not frozen and like everything's fine and it's going to be fine.
00:12:14
Speaker
But anyway, that's not even my like most concern. That's probably my husband's biggest concern is
Evacuation and Resilience
00:12:20
Speaker
the pool. It's like not mine. I'm just like, whatever. i can't, I don't have control over what's happening with that. But yeah so our power went out on Sunday. We were we were good for so long and then boom it went out at like during nap like at 12 30 and so chris was like i want to stay here like we have a gas fireplace and we can just heat up the room and like we had it on and it was still like kind of fucking cold and our friends invited us to spend the night with them because they have toddlers the same age um so it was kind of like
00:12:55
Speaker
i was I was on board going and Chris was like I want to stay here and make sure the pipes don't burst and then I want to check the pool and like what if a tree falls on our freaking house he's like I just want to be here so he was like wanting to such a man thing he wanted to stay here and I was like I'm on the other side of the fence I was like I have my foot out the door i said I'm ready to go like I'm ready to get the fuck out of here like I don't want to spend the night here my phone's draining yeah I'm like, okay, we're going to pull our damn mattress in front of the fireplace and I'll sleep in here. Like when people are offering us to stay, I was let's leave. like Why would we choose uncomfortability? I mean, I wasn't, I, it was like such a weird feeling. Like I had that like pit in my stomach because trees just kept crashing everywhere. And you're almost like, I just want to make sure nothing like comes through like the one tree,
00:13:48
Speaker
potentially was gonna fall on like Margo's room. So like that's probably the closest one. So I was like so terrified that was gonna happen. But I'm like, what am I gonna do? Sit here and just wait for that to happen? So we, during nap started packing.
00:14:04
Speaker
Yeah. Well, they woke up and we went over there and stayed two days because our power was out for over 48 hours. How did you get over there? Because like are the roads Friends had to come. They had to pick us up because our cars were stuck in the garage. So like our friend David risked his motherfucking life coming over here. know. Were scared driving back over there?
00:14:27
Speaker
if The road, the actual like main roads had been cleared. So that was fine. It was like neighborhoods were really fucking scary. And like power lines are down. um Trees are across roads. Like it was kind of nuts. ah But we got lucky um that he was able to get over here and grab us. And like he came and got all four of us. And then... um yeah we hung out over there and like y'all I stayed with thank god a working from home fam I was telling Candice I said they had desks everywhere they had one in the guest room they had one in their room they had one in the office he had an office I was like this is my kind of place they could honestly they should start charging rent and have a co-working space like oh my god I'm over here at work pay us $25 day
00:15:20
Speaker
And I mentioned, like, Chris got a new job. He literally started it last week. So he no longer, like, works at a hospital, like, in general surgeries where he would have, like, had to go in. he like, works for a place now that has, like, elective surgery. So he didn't have to work Monday and Tuesday.
00:15:39
Speaker
so guess who got signed up for daddy daycare? It was him. And he was like, what the hell? Like... He's like missing his hospital job. yeah He's like, I didn't sign up for this because the rest of us, I was like, well, work isn't slowing down just because Nashville fucking froze over. So I just like worked in my little room and I was tee, tee, tee, tee.
00:16:02
Speaker
So it was interesting. You know, the kids were wound up from being stuck inside. But yeah, that's my next question is like, what was it like with the kids being stuck inside so long and with so many like unknowns? And I'm sure anxiety is high on y'all's end. Like, what was it like from like, I know us as as moms, I was watching all these people stuck inside and I was like, God bless you guys.
00:16:30
Speaker
It was like not great, Bob. You know what I'm saying? Like it's fine. like it I don't know. They had their moments of like being really good. They entertain each other so well. Like that was the nice part.
00:16:46
Speaker
But second, like one starts whining, they all start whining. So then you have four chirping off and you're just like, Oh, my God. What?
00:16:56
Speaker
And then they're all hungry at the same time. They all need water at the same time. And you're just like, go play, go play. And you're trying to like usher them off any chance you get. ah It was a lot, but also probably better that we were all together, to be honest. Yeah. like Like at least they have friends to play with and stuff for sure. They got their energy out. They were both exhausted. Like Margo was napping two and a half to three hours, which she never does. She was sleeping like a champ. Graydon was sleeping. I was like, okay, they're like fricking tuckered out playing all day. So that was great.
00:17:35
Speaker
um But otherwise, it felt like we were like snowed in on a ski vacation with them. I'm like, well, we were planning on going skiing with them anyway. So this was like our fake ski trip of just being stuck inside. And David is an amazing cook. So we had some yum freaking food. And Chris and I were just spoiled. And they were so great.
00:17:59
Speaker
So nice. I was like, I need to take them a care package full of food. toilet paper trash bags like all the things that we used i'm like yeah y'all are the best they were so so nice oh wow well i'm so happy y'all made it through and that it wasn't too treacherous um everything i've i'll look back on it fondly now you know i'm be like yeah yeah what a cute little time i guess you know Yeah. You'll have to keep us updated on how, because like the ice is really start just now starting to melt, right?
00:18:34
Speaker
No. We're not really. No, it's like still freezing all week. I think we're supposed to get more snow. it is a little bit melty, but of course my driveway doesn't face like the sun. I'm like, it's going to have to be in the 40s before that shit melts.
00:18:53
Speaker
But it's Yeah. fine Okay. Well, keep us updated because that is not just so wild. Sorry. I feel like I just talked a lot and... Oh my God. Please. i like This was your chance to update and everyone wanted to know. like I had so many, even like girls in my due date group being like, how's Whitney? like Everyone knows, obviously, that you're the queen of Nashville. So...
00:19:20
Speaker
Well, sheba. Thanks for asking. And I was like, there's I was like sending people updates. I'm like, she's fine. They went to a friend's house who has power. Like trees are falling like, you know, crazy.
00:19:34
Speaker
was But I had so many people asking about you. That is the sad part. Like I love my neighborhood because it's so like has many like has so many mature trees and like it's so woodsy and beautiful. And now I'm like, oh, it looks like a tornado ripped through here. Yeah. Which is like bald for a while.
00:19:53
Speaker
It was exactly like a damn tornado came through here, except it was like. more painful you're watching it in like real time as like the landscape of your home is just so true it's like emotion yeah and you're like yeah this is devastating it wasn't like one big swoop it was just like yeah it sucked i was like get me that was like the reason i wanted to leave because i was i was like jumping at every tree that was banging like holding your breath yeah get me out of here And it was so quiet over there. i was like, this is great.
00:20:26
Speaker
I'm so happy that we left. It's nice. Do they live in Brentwood too? Yes. They live like two and a half miles away, but there was like little pockets of people's power being out. Like in Belle Meade, the richest neighborhood in Nashville, their power is still out. Like it is day what?
00:20:44
Speaker
forward I was gonna say I saw Shawn Johnson. They still don't have power and I think they they I don't know where they live, but I know they're in Nashville somewhere. Yeah. um If they're over there then certainly. like It's like the really nice old like parts of Nashville um where there's like a lot of mature trees. That's what's happening is the trees are falling on power lines. So like ours are luckily underground. So they were able to like get ours back up. But people who's had trees like fall on power lines and like actually knock them over, they were saying it's going to be two weeks.
00:21:17
Speaker
So that fucking sucks. That's crazy. Yeah. Well, I'm so happy that y'all are safe and back home and power's back on and you're in your cute little warm house and sweater and kids are back in school. That's a win. Oh God. it feels so good. Were you so excited to drop them today? i would be like, Yeah.
00:21:41
Speaker
yeah um Love them. Like they are sweet C-Cola. So cute. But I needed some time, you know? understandable 100 oh well so happy you're safe and that things are better um it's cold here honestly i'm over it i'm ready for some warm weather i'm ready for spring break weather which is like not too hot you know but like warm yeah yeah
00:22:13
Speaker
And it's it's on the horizon, you know, for us. And like this really always is the coldest time in Tampa. And then we get to mid-February, late February, things really start to feel like spring break.
00:22:24
Speaker
And I'm like, that's what I'm, that's my eye on the prize right there. Well, I know Gasparilla is going on, so what's the haps?
Gasparilla Festivities
00:22:33
Speaker
So we did Children's Gasparilla on Saturday, and it was honestly such a pardy experience. It was being being in the VIP stuff is honestly key. So we had my, our aunt owns a Chick-fil-A or Vinny's aunt owns a Chick-fil-A. And then my brother works for Ashley furniture. and um, those are the two biggest sponsors of the Gasparilla parade. It's literally hunt the, it's the Chick-fil-A children's Gasparilla parade presented by Ashley. Literally what it says.
00:23:08
Speaker
So my brother got tickets to the, and Ashley was legit. It had, it was like a 10. It had face painting and games and like all sorts of stuff. And then you got, we got bleacher seating. And then we also had bleacher seating tickets for the Chick-fil-A portion of the parade. And um it was just so fun. We ended up inviting friends because we had so many tickets. So we just kind of like split up and dispersed. and all the parade is so fun it is definitely like overstimulating it's like lots of loud music luckily there's no like guns or cannons because like in the adult parade it's like every five seconds it's i mean fake guns i need to you know like pirate fake guns and cannons being like you know let off and um
00:24:00
Speaker
That's what's so crazy about the weather too is like for children's Gasparilla, I'm not joking, guys. It was 85, 90 degrees. It was so warm. My kids, I put, i Evie was in a super thin long sleeve like dress, red dress. And I was, her cheeks were bright red. Like she was hot. And I was like, oh my God. um Take it off. And I got, I literally got like a sunburn on my face because we were in the sun and at at the bleachers. And um I actually think that's what this is like a side tangent here, but we, I had made a big picture of margaritas before the children's parade. So the children's parade is an alcohol free event. They don't sell alcohol there. That doesn't mean people don't drink it before and bring it with You're just so smart. Yeah. So we luckily have friends who live right by there where we're able to park and like have a home base, you know. So I brought a big pitcher of margaritas and I we didn't have straws or anything. So I was drinking like a cup of margarita and then I was sitting in the sun and I think I got like lime burn around my head.
00:25:08
Speaker
Oh my God. And so I have this, it's actually gotten a lot better today, but like I had like a rash around my list. The margaritas betrayed me literally. You're like, do you need a straw next time. No, really. ah so anyways, the kids had a blast.
00:25:26
Speaker
Um, I feel like it was like, they truly enjoyed it. They were all standing on the edge of the parade and You know, pirates were giving them beads. The Chick-fil-A float came by and they were throwing out free kids meal coins like just by the handfuls. And no, Whitney, you should have seen Vinny and I. We were like, like it was a scavenger hunt. We were like picking them up off the floor because they were everywhere.
00:25:55
Speaker
I'm not kidding. We have a stack of free kids Chick-fil-A things like this big. um And so like, in fact, tonight we're going we already said like we're going to go to Chick-fil-A and use our free coins. Might as well.
00:26:07
Speaker
Yeah. um So it's just such a fun event and such like a Tampa culture thing. you know, it's so fun. And then this weekend is the adult parade, which Vinny and I are doing for the first. I mean, we do it.
00:26:25
Speaker
it's not the first time obviously, but for the first time in a while to the point where we like got a sitter and we like doing it, doing it. We are going with our friends, Hannah and Alec.
00:26:36
Speaker
They're coming with us to the yacht club for the like, and that's where like the pirates that are in the big ship that like do the invasion Gasparilla day, that's where they like leave from. That's where they all drink and get ready and then they all board the ship and go. So that is like it really is like Gasparilla headquarters there.
00:26:56
Speaker
It's legit. It's rowdy. It's heavy drinking. um I will say what's weird about this year is the weather. I mean, it is supposed to be in the 30s with 40 mile per hour winds.
00:27:11
Speaker
Well, I told Candace, what did you say? You said, how am I supposed to be a sexy pirate this weekend? I think I actually said slutty. I was like, how am I supposed to dress like a slutty pirate in 30 degree...
00:27:25
Speaker
I said, girl, you got to wear that turtleneck with that peekaboo boob. You know what i'm saying? Just like let it hang. I ordered. So my ah like I had such a cute outfit planned that is obviously not happening. But I am still i'm I ordered some things on Amazon. I ordered those tights that look like you're wearing tights that you can see your legs through, but it's actually like thermal.
00:27:49
Speaker
Got it. So I got those. I'm going to still wear the, I had planned to wear like black shorts and black high boots originally, but now I'm going wear those like thermal tights underneath. And then i think I'm going have to wear a sweater. Like I bought a red sweater to go with the shorts and then I'm still going to wear the, I have it right. sitting Oh yeah. Yeah. But the head scarf and some big hoops and I'll still have the high boots I'm just, you know, it is what it is. So, and like, I'm going to attempt to, maybe this is stupid of me, but whatever.
00:28:26
Speaker
I'm going attempt to not wear a jacket. I'm gonna layer underneath the sweater yeah and not wear a jacket. and Okay, it's the Yacht Club. Like, I know they're going to have tents, and my thought is they're going to have heaters. Like, I'm pretty sure. Like, I know that they own them already. Like, it's – I feel like there will be heaters, and I just feel like we'll be fine. Plus, if not, I just – I've been to one other cold Gasparilla back in like 2017, 2018 probably. And y'all, the amount of Fireball I drank at that Gasparilla. That was like our way that we kept warm is I swear to you the entire day I didn't drink anything except shots of Fireball, which is repulsive to me now. And like...
00:29:12
Speaker
But who knows? Maybe if I get cold enough on Saturday, we'll see. But I'm excited to have like a child-free day and my mom's keeping them overnight so that i we can just like have ourselves a day.
00:29:25
Speaker
That's the actual key is the next morning help. That is... literally a lifesaver. So that's great. My mom already said, she's like, you can pick them up at like noon on Sunday. I'm like, say less Wow. no Yeah.
00:29:43
Speaker
Yeah. I'm excited. so yeah, we're in deep Gasparilla mode over here and it's, I know I've said this before, but like, I really feel like my new year is starting next week. Honestly, like I just still,
00:29:56
Speaker
feel like my house is disaster my my christmas stuff is at least put away but like i feel like my life is still not in order can i tell you it's gonna like october she's like all right new year's starting my new year starts in august okay no you've been saying that every damn week girl literally January is just... God, it is such a clusterfique. I don't know what else to describe it as. It's always like the longest month of the year. It's just things things aren't there yet.
00:30:31
Speaker
February, you get your traction. So I'm i'm with you. i feel like... The second I finally caught up, bam, snowstorm and my kids are home. And I'm like, hey.
00:30:42
Speaker
And we're back. It's like, I just feel like I haven't been able to like get into a full rhythm, like without something happening or some There's no rhythm. So I'm hoping that February is going to give me the, I'm but to find the beat, and you know?
00:30:59
Speaker
I'm trying to think of what else is happening. I finished Heated Rivalry. wow. and Let me tell you, it's one of the most fun I've had watching a TV show in a while.
00:31:10
Speaker
i just like need every everyone, every single person to get on board with heated rivalry because it is the best show. Like it was so good. It's so good. Like I would watch it again right That second, same. That second to last episode is the most perfect episode of television I have ever seen. That ending was like I have I actually I'm not kidding right now i have have chi i'm just thinking about it it's so good the love story happening is so good I'm literally obsessed and I sent this to Whitney yesterday but the heated rivalry has gone to my brain because last night I did something so crazy this is like really crazy for you i signed Alice up for hockey
00:32:03
Speaker
Our girly girl princess. Our girly girl princess who's literally... I sent her to school with glitter in her hair today. She is starting hockey in February. bean Oh my god i i I told Candice I was so proud of her because and I said it's giving Sporty Spice. It's giving Mary-Kate Olsen because she was like such a girly girl but like she played soccer and she was like into like field hockey and all that shit and i was like...
00:32:32
Speaker
Candice doing this like is like out of left field. I was like, it is that gift. That's like bamboozled because this is like so out of left field for you. And I'm like, wait, Candice, this is like really fucking cool of you to sign her up for hockey.
00:32:46
Speaker
So there's a couple of reasons why I did that. I mean, and I hate to say this, but one of the biggest reasons is just how affordable it was.
00:32:57
Speaker
like to be it was only 120 for the whole eight weeks which like is kind of crazy and they get their own hockey stick and like it comes with their own gear that's nice which i'm like that's cool it's obviously like not on ice it's like you know hockey fundamentals okay you know but eventually next year if she likes it she could you know we'd move to the whatever But I just thought it's something different. She has a couple of friends doing it with her. I just feel like, I don't know. It just felt like something cool and different. It's hosted by the Lightning, which is the hockey team here. So I don't know. It just felt right. I don't know.
00:33:39
Speaker
Yeah, you're in the mindset of hockey right now. So like, why not? Also, like what a niche women's sport to get your child into. And what if they're good? Like, hello, college.
00:33:52
Speaker
Hello, Olympics. Yeah. Catch me in Russia at the next Winter Olympics. What if the heated rivalry cast comes to visit these little kids?
00:34:03
Speaker
That's like part of the package. Y'all, I just got goosebumps. My husband would be like, are you okay? I'm like, no, I'm not. I'm actually really not. Are they gay in real life? Do you know? One is. Okay.
Parental Decisions on Education
00:34:21
Speaker
um What's his name? Corey? so Story? Corey? Whatever. The Texas one is. Okay. okay I can't remember their names now. They're kind of like yeah losing steam on my TikTok. They were living rent-free on it for five weeks. Literally. i was seeing them everywhere. And that was before i even watched the show. So I was like, who are these people and why are they on every single video? Yeah. um And then I think the other one has, um why am I like blanking on their fucking names on the show? They, he has a girlfriend. Well, it's Ilya ilias Shane.
00:35:01
Speaker
Shane is not, okay which is upsetting. I want them both to be, but it's fine. know. I know. So yeah, I'm going to have a little hockey princess for a couple weeks. I'm so excited. I'll keep you guys updated on like what it's like. And I'm interested to see how many... So the friend we signed up with is also a girl. So we I know at least Aubrey and Alice will be there together. But I'll be interested to see like how many girls there are. I kind of feel like it will be mostly boys. Probably. But who knows? Maybe that's my gender norm brain like you know doing its thing. It could surprise me. So...
00:35:36
Speaker
So cool. We'll see And interesting. um I'm proud of you. I love it. That's so cool. Little sporty spices. And Graydon starts T-Ball next month. hiding He's got all his gear. He looks so old and big in his T-Ball gear. feel like every photo I see of him recently, I'm like, what?
00:35:59
Speaker
That is a child boy. maturing really quickly. oh How do you feel about it? oh he's the older he gets, the sweeter he's becoming. He's okay. Well, that's a dollop. Yeah.
00:36:15
Speaker
He's just getting so sweet. I'm like, wow, this is really fun. He's still wild as fuck, but what a little sweetie pie. Cutie, cutie.
00:36:26
Speaker
So cute. Um, He's a big dude, though. He's just tall and a massive child. Yeah, like he. There was like our neighbor next door has a grandson who's, I guess, six. And they're all here, like getting out from the storm. I guess they they don't have electricity. And they were like, so how old your son? Like six? And we were like, he's four.
00:36:51
Speaker
He's just big. He was taller than their kid who was six, um which is great. Hopefully that continues. I know what else. i And I could do a whole freaking episode on this. Truly, i don't know if anyone cares. I have so many thoughts about it, but we have been in the like private school application process um for Catholic school, and Alice got her first acceptance this week. Oh, my God. Great. um So that's exciting. the one you want it? Like the main one you want? ah To be honest, like we're not really like tied to any of them. If I'm being honest, like one of them is like the nicest, most expensive one. But I also just don't know if that's like the right fit for us necessarily. So I'm just kind of like hoping that the like acceptances like do some deciding for me, sadly. um
00:37:45
Speaker
But the one that she got into is where Vinny went to school growing up. So it's like very familiar. for him and for us in like my mom actually went there also. So, um, it's a Tampa, Tampa staple, you know? Um, and we're excited just to like, that we have an option. I will say there's been so much discussion between me and friends of, or like the parents of Alice's friends who are not necessarily from Tampa. Okay. I feel like why I could do a whole episode on this is like,
00:38:20
Speaker
I feel like i I just grew up going to Catholic private school and that's like all I know. And so did Vinny. So that's kind of like all we know and like what we grew up with. And then I have friends now who either did not grow up here or they did grow up here and they went to public school and they're kind of like challenging my ideas and not in a way that they're like, why would you do that? It's more of like, they're like,
00:38:47
Speaker
it like genuinely wondering why I'm choosing that route over public school. And I don't know. It's just bringing up some questions or thoughts where I'm like, why, why do I want to do that? And I'm not, I didn't enroll her in her current like place. She goes now. And the like VPK opt-in has passed for public school. like I would be out of luck. So like we're going to do private, but it almost makes me just want to explore the public options more.
00:39:19
Speaker
yeah Before kindergarten, because, you know, obviously like we grew up Catholic and like we are Catholic. That part of it is not like super, super, super important to me.
00:39:31
Speaker
Um, so I don't know. It's just like so many thoughts, so many choices. The money thing is big too. Like how much those schools cost and how that would affect our lifestyle. Like I don't, and it's not like we're just going to have one kid going to private school. We're going to have potentially three if we decide to have a third.
00:39:49
Speaker
And that's a lot of money. And like, I don't ever want to not take, be not be able to take a vacation or like I don't know, like not have the lifestyle that we want because we're sending our kids to private school if there are other options that aren't that expensive that are just as good. You know what I mean?
00:40:07
Speaker
For sure. And I think that's all valid. Like Chris and I both went to private school our whole life. So it's like I think it's just a familiarity thing where you know that it is a good choice without you having to do research. You just know But it's like I think research is the only way that would make you feel better about totally a public school option. Just visiting and like word of mouth, et cetera. But um I think like I was talking to my new friend Hannah, who she was a public school teacher. And I asked her, I was like.
00:40:41
Speaker
Can you go and like tour the private school or sorry, can you go and tour the public schools? Like, I feel like that's another thing. Like all these private schools we got to visit and like go see and like meet the teachers and the principals, whereas like public school, it's so like,
00:40:57
Speaker
You're just zone there. And like, yeah that's it. And I drop them off. That feels like weird to me, but maybe that's just because I'm so familiar with like the other process. So anyways, all of all's this to say, I'm just like, I feel like I still have so many like question marks and thoughts around the school and I'm, honestly kind of happy that she regardless she's going to go to private school for like what you know e c four vpk whatever you want to call it and then i can still make a change before kindergarten if if i want and i mean once you're in private school it's really hard to pull out like well i know that if we did pull out we'd probably never get back in
00:41:40
Speaker
Exactly. They say once you pull out, you kind of lose your spot. Or like if you like a lot of people here in Nashville recommend starting private school and middle school, like they're like, just do whatever elementary school um education like through public. And then it's like,
00:41:59
Speaker
middle school on is where it starts to like really matter for like college and whatnot. But that's like been a lot of the recommendation from everyone around here. But I live in a good, like I moved here because the schools are good. So I'm not like, I know that worried.
00:42:18
Speaker
Like my, We're not zoned for like a great public elementary school. And my friend Hannah, who knows the um like public school, like world and more than i do. She was like, oh, you know, she had asked me like why we didn't do, why we aren't considering public.
00:42:37
Speaker
public school. And I was like, Oh, well, we're not zoned for a great one. And she was like, Yeah, but you could do choice. And I was like, I didn't even know that was an option. Like, I genuinely just don't know the public school like process. And I'm kind of like, Oh, damn, like, if I had known that maybe I would have kids, I just didn't, I don't know. yeah It's kind of crazy that like this information isn't posted anywhere for um like you have to seek it out and you have to be an advocate for yourself and your child. And like, I just didn't know any better. And I'm like kind of kicking myself that I didn't.
00:43:12
Speaker
All's that to say, like, I'm just going to explore my options a little bit more. And also we could get in or like we're going to get in hopefully to these private schools and maybe we fall in love and love the community. And like that's. um It's just like, can I just say, it's so it's moments like this like where being a mom is like a little bit overwhelming. This is like my child's future. You just hope you're doing the right thing. Yeah, I just want to do the right thing. I want to expose her to the right things. I want to expose her to the right people. also to to different types of people too. It's like such a mind fuck.
00:43:51
Speaker
Like I always compare, like I went to private school, but I have so many friends that didn't and they're yeah fine. They're just fine. They are doing great, if not better.
00:44:03
Speaker
yeah It just depends on how you are as a person, like how all that, how much it all matters to you. But like, I mean, um I don't know. I just feel like everyone else, it all washes out. We're all fine. like Yeah. I don't know. Totally.
00:44:19
Speaker
I, is just as like like a random side tangent about something religious that Alice has started to say that is so funny to me. So obviously her little school she goes to now, like is not Catholic, but it's like connected to a little church. It's like, she goes to like a little church school.
00:44:36
Speaker
That's so sweet and cute. I love it there. But she has now, whenever she talks about anyone dying, she so she says they died on the cross.
00:44:46
Speaker
Oh, no. So she literally, like, this morning brought Evie a dog, Stuffy, and she was like, this is my dog. He died on the cross. And then she was, I guess, my mom always tries. His name is Jesus. Yeah. She was my mom always tries to talk about to Alice and Evie about my dad, who obviously like he passed away in 2014, but like my mom tries to do a really good job of like just making sure that he, his like memory is there and you know, which I love, you know? And so like when they see pictures of my dad around my mom's house, they always say grandpa Bob and stuff, which is so sweet. And recently was,
00:45:31
Speaker
asked about grandpa Bob and she asked where he is And my mom said he's in heaven. And she, would and Alice said, Oh yeah, he died on the cross.
00:45:45
Speaker
And I was like, no, no, not really. Kids are so fucking funny for no reason. It's funny. I think it's funny.
00:45:56
Speaker
That's like, this is like a random thing. It's just something Graydon said. And i was like, And there's like a red spot in my car. And they were like, Graydon said, that must be blood from when I was a baby. Everything's from when he was a baby. If he doesn't remember something, it's from when he was a baby.
00:46:12
Speaker
and I was like, Graydon, you did cut up in your head when were a baby. Do you remember that? And he said, yeah. And I was like, no, you don't. And then I was like, Graydon, do you remember like going to the doctor? And like having your ears hurt really bad. I was saying like if the trauma still lived there. He goes like like when I got earwack in my ear. Like he called it earwack.
00:46:35
Speaker
Earwack. I love that. Yeah. He said like my earwack. And I was like no. I'm like earwax. Graydon earwax. But I was just like okay. He doesn't remember that. But for some reason he's still scared of the doctor. But yeah. That was funny. I'm like, y'all be saying crazy shit.
00:46:53
Speaker
That is so funny. Dude, your ear whack. Okay. i I love the like whole kids say the darndest thing. Like I love when they say something funny.
00:47:04
Speaker
So great. So great. I'm glad we got to catch up today. um Hopefully in the next coming episodes. i want I want to do the, for all our new girly gals out there, yeah guys, if you're listening, we were hoping to do like interview each other situations since we haven't done it in, oh my God, we've almost been doing this three years.
Future Podcast Plans
00:47:25
Speaker
I know. Isn't that crazy? We haven't done this in three years. Yeah, we are going to do a updated like all about each of us episode, like all about Whitney and all about Candace. So we are going to post a question box for each of us. And we want to know like what you guys want to know, what what you want us to like dive a little deeper on.
00:47:48
Speaker
I think we'll cover all of the basics of like who we are, where we live, like. When's my birthday? Obviously. just Yeah. Like birthdays, kids. ah My life story.
00:48:00
Speaker
I think we should talk about like work and childcare situations so that everyone knows like. hey how I met my husband. Oh, yeah, we could do that. And just what else do you want to know?
00:48:13
Speaker
Yeah. My other love of my life. Yeah. My my work wife, literally. um So we'll be doing that. Yeah. Okay. love I'm excited to do this. I like will love to interview you. Maybe that'll be that. We'll put the question box up for Candace this week so that we can get them in and then we'll do mine the next week or something so I can interview you.
00:48:40
Speaker
Okay. love it. Love us. We're queens. Love so much. And I'm so happy that you are safe and warm and you. I'm jealous of your damn weekend. i i want a margarita rash around my mouth. I'm not going to lie.
00:48:54
Speaker
um It was looking kind of crazy. I also like Vinny kissed me and he was like, what is wrong with your lips? And I was like, I don't know. I have like sandpaper lips. He was like, ow, that hurt.
00:49:08
Speaker
Well, y'all have fun. i love you. And that's it. Game over. Bye. love you Bye. Thank you so much for being a part of our mom group chat. New episodes drop every Tuesday. And don't forget, the group chat is blowing up on our Instagram page. So make sure you're following along over there. All right, gotta go. My toddler just put something in her mouth.