In this heartfelt Mother’s Day episode, Kate sits down with her mom, Carolyn Warner Elwood, for a deeply personal conversation about motherhood, family, resilience, and the threads of love that carry through generations. Carolyn reflects on her upbringing, her career journey, raising three daughters, and the values that shaped the family culture they still carry today.
From farm adventures and Vietnam-era activism to motherhood, puppies, board meetings, and Wednesday afternoons helping with grandchildren, this episode is a beautiful reminder that mothering is never really finished — it simply evolves.
In This Episode
Carolyn’s Early Years
- Growing up on a farm in a three-story white farmhouse
- Raised in a multigenerational home alongside her parents and younger brother
- Farm adventures and outdoor play as a self-described “tomboy”
- Sweet memories of her grandfather rocking her on the porch and calling her “Posy”
Education & Finding Her Path
- First in her family to attend college
- Attended Cornell College and worked as a student assistant in the sociology department
- Majored in sociology and psychology, inspired by her Aunt Fern, a social worker
- Earned her Master’s in Social Work from University of Iowa
- Living in Iowa City during the Vietnam War protests and social unrest
Love Story & Unexpected Turns
- Planned to move west to Seattle with a friend
- Met her future husband twice at a small bar in Webster, Iowa
- Married just seven months later
- “Never left Iowa after that”
Career & Motherhood
- First job at the Child Psychiatry Clinic at the University of Iowa
- Becoming pregnant with Kate and making the difficult decision to stay home
- Reflections on early motherhood and the pull to remain present with her children
What Kate Was Like as a Child
- “Precocious and loving”
- Favorite phrase: “Oh happy day!”
- Climbed fences, escaped her crib, and made her own breakfast
- A nurturing older sister to her two younger sisters
- Memories of moving to a small town and building community
Community, Service & Family Culture
- Carolyn’s volunteer work and involvement in the community
- Kate attending her first board meeting at just 3 years old
- Stories of raising three girls, beloved puppies, and the heartbreaking loss of their first dog and 10 puppies
- Returning to her professional career once the girls were older and thriving
- Helping Kate raise her own children by caring for them on Wednesdays so Kate could pursue her career
Legacy & What Matters Most
- Carolyn reflects on being most proud of the family relationships and culture they created together
- The importance of giving back, caring for others, and modeling compassion across generations
- How the values passed down from her parents continue to live on through her daughters and grandchildren
Today’s Episode sponsored by:
The Local Hub (https://thelocalhub-ic.com/)
Kate Moreland Coaching (https://www.
Dr Yoga Momma (https://dryogamomma.com/)
Heartland Yoga (https://heartlandyoga.com/)
Want to do coaching work with Kate or mind-body psychotherapy with Betsy?
Kate Moreland Coaching (https://www.
Dr Yoga Momma (https://dryogamomma.com/)
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