This one is for every new mom in the thick of year one and every seasoned mom who needs to remember how sweet and hard it all was.

Kate and Rebecca sit down with Jackie Castro, a familiar face from their student ministry days who has grown up, chased her dreams across the country, landed in New Hampshire, and is now a first-time mama to almost-one-year-old James. Jackie is a semi-retired singer-songwriter, social media professional, and content creator sharing new motherhood and everyday life in New England. She came into this conversation braced for the hard parts of year one — and left us all with a reminder that the joy was bigger than she ever expected.

About Jackie:

Jackie Castro is James’s mom, a semi-retired singer-songwriter, and content creator sharing the magic in the everyday. She grew up in Rockwall, Texas, spent time in Austin and Nashville chasing music, and now lives in New Hampshire with her husband Zach and baby boy James. Find her at @thejackiecastro on Instagram.

In This Episode:

• What actually surprised Jackie most about year one and it was not what she expected
• She was braced for the hard and was not prepared for this much joy even in the middle of the night feedings
• The changing table moment: how mom guilt hit for the first time and what she and her husband did about it
• Is this forever? The question every new mom asks at 4am and the answer that finally gives peace
• How becoming a mom completely changed the way Jackie sees God as a father and how she started praying bigger
• Working in social media as a mom content creator – the healthy way to use it and when it becomes harmful
• Isolation in a new town – working from home, finding community, and the little things that help
• Earlier years of anxiety, depression, and chasing dreams that felt lonely and unfulfilling, and what rest actually feels like now

Connect With Jackie:

@thejackiecastro on Instagram

Connect With Us:

gathermoms.com | @gathermoms | Join our Patreon at gathermoms.comms | Join our Patreon at gathermoms.com

Gather Moms: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Kate Henderson: Instagram | Facebook

Rebecca Bradford: Instagram | Facebook