This interview is with Mandi StGermaine, Co-Founder at MBS | The Woman Beyond the Cape.

Mandi StGermaine, Co-Founder, MBS | The Woman Beyond the Cape

Mandi, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey to becoming an expert in parenting?

My name is Mandi St. Germaine, and I am a mom and stepmom to 4 beautiful girls. I have navigated through many seasons of parenting while balancing being a military spouse for over 20 years. Raising a family through frequent moves and five deployments has given me a deep understanding of resilience, adaptability, and how to build strong connections. I am passionate about sharing what I’ve learned with others, whether it’s through tips, building strong family relationships, or simply sharing my day-to-day life through social media to show the ups and downs of motherhood.

Your background is really interesting.  Could you share a pivotal moment in your life that solidified your passion for helping other parents?

A pivotal moment in my life that solidified my passion for helping other parents was during our third deployment. I had two children under two and struggled to find a healthy balance. I often found myself overwhelmed and recognized that it was taking a toll on my health. I decided to join a health-and-wellness company to prioritize working out and eating healthier. This journey led me down a road of self-discovery and connections. This experience cultivated a desire in me to share my testimony with other moms that felt like they had “lost themselves” and give them tips to improve the balance between mom and woman.

You mentioned using the OurHome app and a “Family Fun Jar” as a reward system. What advice would you give to parents who are struggling to find a system that effectively motivates their children?

Motivating your children is often challenging to find things that work for everyone. For our family, dividing and conquering chores is vital. We keep track of each person’s chores, and after we accomplish them, we have a family reward. This could be something from watching a movie together, playing a game, or going out to dinner as a family. Being consistent with these routines sets expectations for your family.

Also, celebrating their efforts and showing them that when we work as a family, we can accomplish more faster. Motivating children is about creating an environment where they feel capable and rewarded. Also, making it fun and exciting builds connection and growth within your family dynamic.

Many parents find it challenging to balance their personal and family lives. How do you prioritize self-care while managing the demands of parenthood?

Balancing self-care with the demands of motherhood is a challenge, but doable. You can’t pour from an empty cup, so prioritizing self-care has to be intentional. Each day, I wake up before my family and do my morning devotional and journaling. During this time, I am able to set my intentions for the day and ground myself in my faith. I also carve out 30 minutes to do a workout. Physical health is just as important as mental health.

Another strategy I use is to involve my girls in my healthy habits. We often plan healthy meals together and choose healthy snacks that we can all enjoy. When my girls were little, we also planned playdates on Saturdays at the park so that the moms could get in a quick workout while the children played. Self-care can even be as simple as taking 10 minutes for yourself each morning or night to refocus and be thankful for this season in your life.

You’ve spoken about the importance of shared experiences with your family. What are some creative and budget-friendly activities that you recommend for families to connect and create lasting memories?

Being a military family, most of our time together is spent finding ways to connect after long weeks and months apart. Some of our favorite activities to do together were family movie nights, game nights, cooking together, and camping. We relied heavily on each other since we did not live near family, and these activities allowed us to enjoy our family time on a budget.

For instance, while living in North Carolina and Texas, we would often go tent-camping by nearby lakes to enjoy family time. We would fish, swim, and explore the wooded areas and finish the night off with s’mores and stories. Our time together is treasured, and creating lasting memories by doing activities we love will be something our family always remembers.

Technology plays a significant role in children’s lives today. How do you navigate screen time and the use of technology in your own household?

Screen time is regulated during the school-week. With our evening time already limited, we focus on our schedule to ensure that it serves the best purpose for our family. During the week, the girls get home from school and have 30 minutes to decompress with screen time. After this time, we work on homework and study before dinner. We often have dance practice and have to schedule our family time around activities.

On Wednesdays, our schedule is light, and we dedicate this day to our family time. We cook together and end the evening with a family movie. This provides us with a balance of screen time throughout the week. On the weekends, if we do not have a lot scheduled, the girls are allowed to have more screen time in their downtime.

Raising resilient and confident children is a goal for many parents. What strategies have you found most effective in fostering these qualities in your own children?

Resilient and confident children are one of our most important goals for our children. Especially raising military children, we have to adapt to new environments, face adversity, and cope with changes in our family dynamic. Some strategies we used to teach resilience and confidence are modeling what that looks like, encouraging flexibility, praising their efforts, and teaching social-emotional strategies.

We would embrace the hard times together and discuss how we were all coping with the changes. We often shared journals to write down our feelings when it was too difficult to share openly. We embraced these moments and watched each other grow through adapting and communication.

Every parent faces challenges. Can you share a parenting mistake you’ve learned from and the valuable lesson you took away from that experience?

One challenge I often face is being over-stimulated and learning to regulate my own emotions. Being over-stimulated is bound to happen, but it doesn’t have to take over your life. I know firsthand how easily the demands of motherhood can lead to feeling completely overwhelmed. I often caught myself taking a “time-out” and asking for help when I needed it most. I had to learn to set boundaries and give myself permission to rest when needed. The key is knowing that it’s OK to ask for help, take breaks, and know that you do not have to be “perfect” to be a good mother.

What advice would you give to new parents who are just starting their parenting journey?

Being a parent can bring on a whirlwind of emotions. It is the best gift and job in the world, but it can be overwhelming at times. Trust your instincts and know that no one knows your family better than you do. Make the right decisions for you and your family, and know every family dynamic is unique. Ask for help when you feel yourself getting overwhelmed. Chances are the people you are asking for help have been there before and can assist you with compassion and understanding.

Take time for yourself and prioritize your health and well-being. Like I said before, you can’t pour from an empty cup, and self-care is vital to being your best self. Lastly, give yourself grace. Parenting is hard, and you are not going to get it perfectly. Be kind to yourself and allow space for mistakes. You are doing your best and that is enough. This is the only job that will be the most challenging but also the most rewarding. Enjoy the journey!

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

We are all in this together. Each child and family member is unique, and so is each parenting experience. Adapt, change, and most importantly, be kind to yourself along the way. You are more than the cape you wear; you are a person beyond the cape. You deserve to be loved and nurtured, too.