6. The Hardest Parts of Parenthood & Partnership No One Talks About (& How We’re Working Through Them)

Written By Brittany Broderick

One of the biggest catalysts for growth and change happens when you become parents, but there’s so much that isn’t talked about in this transition. In this deeply personal episode, Britt is joined by her husband David for an honest look at how parenthood can stir up old wounds, activate your nervous system, and bring your attachment history to the surface. Together, they reflect on their relationship journey—from meeting while Britt was still in the thick of trauma recovery, to navigating codependency in their early years, to finding their footing as parents. They talk about the overstimulation, grief, and identity shifts that come with raising kids, the most rewarding lessons they’ve learned along the way, and their shared dreams for the future.

Chapters

  • 00:00 – Setting the Intention
     Why Britt wanted to record this conversation and what listeners can expect.

  • 05:00 – Homeschooling & Education Choices
     David shares his experience being homeschooled and why they chose this path for their kids.

  • 10:00 – Montana Land & Family Dreams
     Their RV trip, buying land in Montana, and the vision for retreats and generational family space.

  • 13:00 – Relationship History & Early Struggles
     How they met, navigating Britt’s trauma recovery, and what David held onto in the hard years.

  • 19:00 – Parenthood as a Mirror
     What surprised them most about becoming parents, overstimulation, and identity shifts.

  • 24:00 – Different Parenting Styles & Triggers
     How their childhoods shape how they parent today, and how they navigate conflicts.

  • 29:00 – What Parenting Has Taught Us
     The awe, the challenges, and what their kids are teaching them about being human.

  • 32:00 – Doing Things Differently
     Why they’re not filling schedules with activities, their stance on sleepovers, and screen time boundaries.

  • 34:00 – Audience Q&A: Healing Abandonment & Codependency
     Britt shares how her abandonment wound shaped codependency, and how healing secure attachment takes time.

  • 39:00 – Audience Q&A: Staying Connected in Stressful Seasons
     How they prioritize marriage when life feels overwhelming.

  • 41:00 – Audience Q&A: What Men Don’t Talk About
     David on the hidden mental and emotional load men often carry.

  • 42:00 – Audience Q&A: David’s Mom & Caregiving
     The reality of supporting his mother’s health journey while raising a young family.

  • 47:00 – Audience Q&A: A Pain I’d Take Away
     The earliest wounds Britt still carries and how they show up in life today.

  • 49:00 – Audience Q&A: Tender Lessons in Fathering a Daughter
     How becoming a girl dad has softened David and what he’s learning now.

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Brittany Broderick
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