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Failing Motherhood — Kids & Family
Failing Motherhood

If you’re riddled with mom guilt, your temper scares you, you’re terrified you’re screwing up your kids and are afraid to admit any of those things out loud….this podcast is for you. Hosted by Danielle Bettmann, parenting coach for families with 1-10-year-old strong-willed kids, Failing Motherhood is where shame-free vulnerability meets breakthroughs.
Every other week is a storytelling interview about one mom’s raw and honest experience of growth that leads to new perspectives and practical strategies and every other week solo episodes focus on actionable insight into parenting your deeply feeling, highly sensitive, *spicy* child.
Here, we normalize the struggle, share openly about our insecurities, and rally around small wins and truths. We hope to convince you you’re not alone and YOU are the parent your kids need. We hope you see yourself, hear your story, and find hope and healing.
Welcome to Failing Motherhood. You belong here!

UPDATE: 08/2026 – Applications are no longer accepted for Wholeheartedly CALM.

Copyright: © 2023 Failing Motherhood

Latest Episodes:

138. The 11 Most Common Fears/Challenges of Parenting a Strong-Willed Child Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

Hard, frustrating, exhausting - is an understatement. Your lived experience as a parent of a strong-willed child is one many can't understand, including yourself sometimes!
There are very real dynamics, fears, and perceptions that make showing up moment to moment extremely difficult, and it's impossible to solve for them without being able to name them first.
This episode is going to give words for what you haven't yet had words to describe.

IN THIS EPISODE, I SHARED...

Proof you're not the only one late night Googling and stressing about these things...
The valid + understandable reasons why you feel the way you do
What you have control over and what you don't

DON'T MISS:

Why you might feel defeated as a "Can do" Parent with a "Do it For Me" Kid

// CONNECT WITH DANIELLE //
Website: parentingwholeheartedly.com
IG: @parent_wholeheartedly
APPLY: parentingwholeheartedly.com/apply

Send us Fan Mail over Text.

Support the show

START HERE:
CALM + CONFIDENT: THE MASTERCLASS
Master the KIND + FIRM Approach your Strong-Willed Child Needs WITHOUT Crushing their Spirit OR Walking on Eggshells
*FREE* - www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/confident

137. Loving + Leaving Alcohol with Stefanie Wilder-Taylor Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

Today's guest, Stefanie Wilder-Taylor, is an author, TV personality, and cohost of the popular podcast For Crying Out Loud. She co-created and hosted the late-night comedy parenting show Parental Discretion with Stefanie Wilder-Taylor for NickMom on Nickelodeon. She’s the author of Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay; Naptime Is the New Happy Hour; It’s Not Me, It’s You; I’m Kind of a Big Deal; and Gummi Bears Should Not Be Organic.
In this episode (and her new book DRUNK-ISH: Loving and Leaving Alcohol (On sale January 16, 2024)), she recounts the rise and fall of her relationship with alcohol, from her online fame as a wine-loving mommy blogger, to her denial, to the disastrous evening when she drove drunk with her kids in the car that marked the end.
The moral of the story we hope you hear from this episode is that it’s less important to figure out whether or not you’re an alcoholic, and more important to decide whether you could benefit from stopping drinking.
IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVERED...

Her compulsion to keep secrets or stay silent when feeling like she was failing motherhood early on
"Mommy wine culture" and all the reasons we happen to drink
Hesitations, pre-conceived notions, and fears about life as a sober mom

DON'T MISS-

Indicators of a problem to watch out for in your (or a loved one's) relationship with alcohol

// MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE//
Ep. 79: Really Wanted and Really Hard
Book: Pregnancy Sucks: What to do when your Miracle Makes you Miserable
Book: Toddlers are A**holes: It's Not Your Fault
// CONNECT WITH STEFANIE WILDER-TAYLOR //
Website/Books: stefaniewildertaylor.com/books
Instagram: @SWilderTaylor
Apple Podcasts: For Crying Out Loud
Pre-Order: Drunk-Ish: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving Alcohol (out January 16th, 2024)

I believe in you + I'm cheering you on.
Come say hi! I'm @parent_wholeheartedly on Insta.
Apply to work together: parentingwholeheartedly.com/Apply

Send us Fan Mail over Text.

Support the show

START HERE:
CALM + CONFIDENT: THE MASTERCLASS
Master the KIND + FIRM Approach your Strong-Willed Child Needs WITHOUT Crushing their Spirit OR Walking on Eggshells
*FREE* - www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/confident

136. Decluttering TOYS: A Guilt-Free Guide to LESS Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

Tis the season for under-stimulated kids, over-stimulated parents, an influx of gifts and stuff everywhere!
If you have the urge to throw everything away right now, you’re not alone!

If you’d love to have LESS at your house but feel guilty for getting rid of perfectly good (educational even!) toys, this episode is for you.

Today I’m sharing the benefits of less toys for you and your kid(s), your goals to set out and attain, and I break down the steps to take to go through things one shelf at a time.

Cheers to more cooperation, more focused independent play, and more SANITY in 2024!

IN THIS EPISODE, I SHARED...

A step-by-step approach to tackle toys at your house with no guilt whatsoever
Advice on how to involve your kids
My thoughts on toy rotation, books, gifts, and all their trinkets + trash :)

DON'T MISS:

The key mindset shift that sets the tone for everyone!

// CONNECT WITH DANIELLE //
Website: parentingwholeheartedly.com
IG: @parent_wholeheartedly
APPLY: parentingwholeheartedly.com/apply

Send us Fan Mail over Text.

Support the show

START HERE:
CALM + CONFIDENT: THE MASTERCLASS
Master the KIND + FIRM Approach your Strong-Willed Child Needs WITHOUT Crushing their Spirit OR Walking on Eggshells
*FREE* - www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/confident

135. [REPLAY] Special Needs Parenting, Guilt for Siblings, and Mama Bear Love with Paulette Pinero Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

Originally Aired: September 8th, 2020
If nothing prepares you for parenting... how can you possibly be prepared to parent a child with special needs?
After trying everything & realizing her son wasn't able to get the help he needed, Paulette risked everything to leave her home country of Puerto Rico.
After devoting her all to her son, Paulette felt like the ultimate failure when she realized she was missing obvious signs her daughter was behind at school. Paulette felt like she wasn't doing enough and it was all her fault.
This episode is an ode to a dedicated teacher, the sacrifices we make as moms, and learning to step back to watch our kids fly.
// CONNECT WITH PAULETTE //
Lead Media LLC is now Unstoppable Latina - Strategy & Marketing for Latina Consultants
Facebook
Instagram
*FREE* CALM BIG EMOTIONS GUIDE
www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/emotions
// SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CONSULTATION //
wholeheartedly.as.me/call
I believe in you & I'm cheering you on.
Come say hi! I'm @parent_wholeheartedly on Insta.
Subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Write a Review & Share with a friend!

Send us Fan Mail over Text.

Support the show

START HERE:
CALM + CONFIDENT: THE MASTERCLASS
Master the KIND + FIRM Approach your Strong-Willed Child Needs WITHOUT Crushing their Spirit OR Walking on Eggshells
*FREE* - www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/confident

134. [REPLAY] Becoming the Expert of Your Child with Grace Henke Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

Originally Aired: October 6th, 2020
Keeping a brand new human alive when you've never done it before is... A LOT.
When Grace Henke's daughter could not stop screaming, she took her right back to the hospital their first night home!
Supplementing, lip/tongue ties, constipation, gas, panicking about milestones is all overwhelming enough, let alone the constant comparisons to others & the doubt in your own abilities.
Is my daughter alright? Is she behind? Am I behind?
After a whirlwind of a few months, Grace is here to share how she's combating the pressure, embracing her daughter for exactly who she is, and becoming confident as a new mom.
She also dives into her perspective on anti-obedience dog training and the parallels to positive parenting! MIND BLOWN.
// CONNECT WITH GRACE //
https://fairlovedogtraining.com/
*FREE* CALM BIG EMOTIONS GUIDE
www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/emotions
// SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CONSULTATION //
wholeheartedly.as.me/call
I believe in you & I'm cheering you on.
Come say hi! I'm @parent_wholeheartedly on Insta.
Subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Write a Review & Share with a friend!

Send us Fan Mail over Text.

Support the show

START HERE:
CALM + CONFIDENT: THE MASTERCLASS
Master the KIND + FIRM Approach your Strong-Willed Child Needs WITHOUT Crushing their Spirit OR Walking on Eggshells
*FREE* - www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/confident

133. [REPLAY] Boundaries with Parents with Jamie Cooper Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

Originally aired: October 13, 2020 (Ep. 26)
"You want your parents to be involved in your child's life, but at what cost?"
Both of Jamie's parents are alcoholics and are still in a gut-wrenching divorce that's been going on for years. She has been working daily to break the chain of trauma, and what once crippled her has made her so much stronger.
"It was a scary thing to realize that this is no longer something that only affects me. This affects my kids. I have to ensure my kids are safe."
Disappointment. Lies. Heartbreak. Guilt. Grief.
If you've ever been stuck trying to navigate boundaries with your extended family, this episode is for you. Get ready to take notes from Jamie's example.

Send us Fan Mail over Text.

Support the show

START HERE:
CALM + CONFIDENT: THE MASTERCLASS
Master the KIND + FIRM Approach your Strong-Willed Child Needs WITHOUT Crushing their Spirit OR Walking on Eggshells
*FREE* - www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/confident

132. How to Be the CALM to Your Strong-Willed Child's Storm: Moving Beyond Theories to Application with Omaya + Andrew Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

Parents to a 4-year-old strong-willed son and an almost 2 year-old daughter, Omaya + Andrew are here to share the biggest mindset shifts they internalized that made it possible for them to go from constantly splitting up their family to avoid setting off their strong-willed child to watching their sibling relationship thrive and taking both kids hiking as a solo parent!
They reflected on what they've done well to parent together as true partners, processing the information in real time and tagging each other out in the moment.
But most importantly, they hope by hearing their story you'll not only feel incredibly validated, but realize how possible it is to make sense of all the theories when you have individualized insight.
IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVERED...

The problem with spending your energy trying to rationalize with someone who’s behavior is by definition, irrational
What it really means to respond to the emotion, not the action
How empowering it is to move from avoidance to acceptance of your child's BIG emotions

DON'T MISS:

What to do with your fears that your child is the *worst* child of all the kids you know

// CONNECT WITH DANIELLE //
Website: parentingwholeheartedly.com
IG: @parent_wholeheartedly
APPLY: parentingwholeheartedly.com/apply

Send us Fan Mail over Text.

Support the show

START HERE:
CALM + CONFIDENT: THE MASTERCLASS
Master the KIND + FIRM Approach your Strong-Willed Child Needs WITHOUT Crushing their Spirit OR Walking on Eggshells
*FREE* - www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/confident

131. Best GIFTS for Strong-Willed Kids (unconventional, practical and long-lasting ideas that are still fun to open!) Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

No matter the occasion, when buying a gift for the kid(s) in your life, you want to WOW them without breaking the bank or seeing your investments lying in the "toy graveyard" 2 months from now, taking up space or making a mess, never to be played with again.
I GOT YOU!
I've compiled a huge list of mostly unconventional items your strong-willed child will lose their mind for, and continue playing with for months or years to come! They're not super expensive, they're not super messy, they're not annoying, and they still retain the "fun to watch them open" factor!
The overall GOAL for gifts for strong-willed kids is that the gifts create a feeling of being BIG/grown up, getting to be the boss, feeling important or in control through play.

Remember, if we don't proactively give them outlets to get this very real need met, we leave it up to them and they'll find a way, it just won't be mutually beneficial.
// CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE BLOG POST //
https://www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/blog/best-toys-for-strong-willed-kids
IN THIS EPISODE, I SHARED...

My "5 Rules to Live By" when buying toys
Oodles of practical gifts you haven't thought of, like over 100+
Ideas that give strong-willed kids a huge sense of power + control!

DON'T MISS:

The 3 gifts that take the cake!

// CONNECT WITH DANIELLE //
Website: parentingwholeheartedly.com
IG: @parent_wholeheartedly
APPLY: parentingwholeheartedly.com/apply

Send us Fan Mail over Text.

Support the show

START HERE:
CALM + CONFIDENT: THE MASTERCLASS
Master the KIND + FIRM Approach your Strong-Willed Child Needs WITHOUT Crushing their Spirit OR Walking on Eggshells
*FREE* - www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/confident

130. Is this Normal? Peeing your Pants, Hemorrhoids, Period Pain and All Things Pelvic Floor with Dr. Sara Reardon (@the.vagina.whisperer) Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

Today I am talking to Dr. Sara Reardon (@the.vagina.whisperer), board-certified pelvic health physical therapist and founder of an online on-demand workout platform for your pelvic floor and core. She's here to talk about all things pelvic floor, dropping basic knowledge we all wish someone would have told us by now but no one has.
Together we work to normalize the conversation, not the pain or the misery.
You might begin to realize that what you're experiencing is more common than you think. But also not necessarily normal. And there is something that you can do about it.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVERED...

Dr. Sara's two core truths she's learned in motherhood
The difference between a pelvic floor therapist and an OBGYN
Direct answers to questions like "Do you need pelvic floor therapy if you have a C-Section?"
Why kegels aren't the answer for everyone - and could actually make things worse

DON'T MISS-

The priceless (and disgusting) parts of being known on social media

// MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE //
Magnesium Citrate - Natural CALM
// CONNECT WITH DR. SARA REARDON //
Website: https://thevagwhisperer.com
IG: @the.vagina.whisperer
TikTok: @thevagwhisperer
7 days free pelvic floor workouts: https://thevagwhisperer.com/membership/
I believe in you + I'm cheering you on.
Come say hi! I'm @parent_wholeheartedly on Insta.
Schedule your FREE Consultation: wholeheartedly.as.me/call

Send us Fan Mail over Text.

Support the show

START HERE:
CALM + CONFIDENT: THE MASTERCLASS
Master the KIND + FIRM Approach your Strong-Willed Child Needs WITHOUT Crushing their Spirit OR Walking on Eggshells
*FREE* - www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/confident

129. BEST Books for Strong-Willed Kids Nov 07, 2023

Show notes

Think of literally anything. There's a fantastic children's book on it!

Books can be used to meet your strong-willed child's need for control through a power reversal role, as well as teach them important social-emotional life skills!
I've compiled 29 of my very favorite books I highly recommend to my clients, and have categorized them by - Offers Control, BIG Emotions, Best for Toddlers and Skill Building.
While they are linked to an Amazon wishlist below, feel free to reserve and rent them from your local library!
// CLICK HERE TO FIND THE FULL LIST //
IN THIS EPISODE, I SHARED...

29 Books I Wholeheartedly Recommend
Why You Need Power Reversal Books in your Life ASAP
Who my All-Time Favorite Author/Illustrator is!

DON'T MISS:

Omaya + Andrew's wisdom shared inside Wholeheartedly CALM

// MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE //
Ep. #53 - Parenting Around Family

// CONNECT WITH DANIELLE //
Website: parentingwholeheartedly.com
IG: @parent_wholeheartedly
APPLY: parentingwholeheartedly.com/apply
FREE CONSULT: wholeheartedly.as.me/call

Send us Fan Mail over Text.

Support the show

START HERE:
CALM + CONFIDENT: THE MASTERCLASS
Master the KIND + FIRM Approach your Strong-Willed Child Needs WITHOUT Crushing their Spirit OR Walking on Eggshells
*FREE* - www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/confident

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