It’s the first Monday of Thanksgiving break and I’m coming to you from the basement in a towel and a moo-moo, giving a real-time life update. From my daughter’s tonsil surgery and autoimmune history, to my 12-year-old wanting to spend more time at his dad’s, to rethinking what Thanksgiving and Christmas actually look like after last year’s disaster… we’re going there. If you’re a mom feeling the holiday pressure, co-parenting chaos, or just craving nachos instead of turkey, this one’s for you.

In this episode, I invite you into a very real Monday morning of Thanksgiving break: hair in a towel, cozy moo-moo, kids still asleep upstairs, and a daughter scheduled for tonsil surgery this afternoon.

We talk about:

• Why school holidays feel so different now that I’m not homeschooling

• How I’m supporting my 17-year-old through tonsil surgery (homeopathy, collagen, AO scans, etc.)

• My own history with Epstein-Barr and what I believe about autoimmune issues and childhood trauma

• The spiritual journey I’ve been on quietly in the background—and why I’m finally ready to share more next week

• The heartbreaking moment my 12-year-old asked if he could “basically just live at dad’s”

• The tension of wanting influence as a mom when you’re co-parenting and don’t have equal time

• Why last year’s Thanksgiving with 15 unhelpful guests was a hard no, and what we’re doing differently this year

• Our new plan: pie for breakfast, fancy nachos for dinner, and a quiet family day at our favorite hot springs

• Big-family budgeting, secondhand couches, and how one “deal” turns into new rugs, pillows, and art

• The pressure moms carry around holidays—and permission to make this season simpler and kinder to your nervous system

If you’re someone who loves your kids fiercely, worries about screen time, carries mom guilt, or is renegotiating what holidays look like post-divorce or in a blended family, I think you’ll feel very seen here.

This is An Unfiltered Life, where I share the real stuff -motherhood, business, healing, and everything in between. I’m Melissa, and if you want links, resources, or to reach me directly, head to MelissaLahti.com.