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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:

128. The Reality of Human Trafficking + How to Protect Your Kids with Alexandra Ford Oct 31, 2023

Show notes

Today's topic is a heavy one; dark and possibly triggering...but we don't leave you hanging. It's not one that I would advise playing in the car with kids around, but it is necessary listening if you aim to be an aware, conscious parent in today's society.
Alexandra Ford (previously Stevenson), a former trafficking victim turned activist, started her anti-trafficking work at 11 years old. 10 years later, she was trafficked. And it wasn't until another 10 years passed that she was able to identify what happened to her as trafficking.
In today's episode, Alexandra not only walks us through her story, but depicts the truth about human trafficking: what it really is, why it's so hard to recognize and stop once you're in it, and what's actually worth spending your time on as a parent to protect your kids.
IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVERED...

How human trafficking is different from the movies; much closer to home, yet harder to recognize
The progression of the relationship that binds and traps victims
Practical things we can implement in each age and stage to help prevent our kids from being susceptible to this path

DON'T MISS-

How to put traffickers out of business for good

// MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE //
American Human Trafficking Hotline-
1-888-373-7888 Text* 23333
Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline-
1-833-900-1010
// CONNECT WITH ALEXANDRA FORD //
Website / Book Waitlist: TheLaughingSurvivor.com
Instagram: @thelaughingsurvivor

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

127. The 3 D's of Lasting Change: Does Your Family Have What It Takes? Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

It's HARD + SCARY to unlearn, re-learn, and teach new ways of being with your child as a united front with your partner, improve your child's behavior, and become more and more confident by the day (ESPECIALLY with strong-willed kids)!
What sets the families apart that succeed in truly changing their lives for good?

There's much more insight to be gleaned from the actual journey toward growth than from anything to do with the power struggle that happened at breakfast this morning.
Today I'm breaking down the questions I ask to determine whether families have the three necessary components that create transformational change.
IN THIS EPISODE, I SHARED...

The Transformation Triad: the 3 D's
Why change just doesn't last if you don't have all 3
Whether or not it matters how much they're struggling

DON'T MISS:

Dee's wisdom shared inside Wholeheartedly CALM

// MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE //
Ep. #28 - How to Do the Work with Sarah Saldi

// 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

126. When Productivity Masks High-Functioning Anxiety with Becky Gleed, PMHP Oct 17, 2023

Show notes

Motherhood is hard for everyone, so how do you know when what you’re experiencing is not what everyone is experiencing?

Today’s guest, Becky Gleed is a busy working mom of two fun, spirited girls, a licensed marriage and family therapist and a certified perinatal mental health professional ! She owns and operates a private mental health practice right outside of Washington, D.C. specializing in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

In today’s episode we talk about how the egregious policies and lack of support she witnessed while working in emergency psychiatric care for moms informed the work she does now. We covered the breadth of mental health and mood disorders postpartum parents experience and why it’s critical to seek support sooner than later.

In a world that equates busyness with success, how do we differentiate when productivity is a mental health concern? Becky shares key indicators, next steps and power thoughts for moms struggling with high functioning anxiety, and insight on when and why to get help.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVERED...

How to recognize the root of what's driving your productivity
Why you need to differentiate your identity from your symptoms
What happens years down the road when you DON'T get help

DON'T MISS-

Key take home messages to remind yourself of often

// MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE //
Postpartum Support International: postpartum.net
// CONNECT WITH BECKY GLEED //
Website: rebeccamgleedlmft.com/
Instagram: @employedmotherhood
Audible Promo Code: 2NSL4SARSEWAC
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

125. 11 Reasons Why Gentle Parenting Feels Impossible to Implement Oct 10, 2023

Show notes

GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK FOR GOODNESS SAKE!
There are likely more than a handful of very legit reasons why doing this hard thing feels even harder for you right now.
Are you aware of them enough to know how to overcome them?

IN THIS EPISODE, I SHARED...

Often underestimated, proven ways your progress has been held back
Why some of the approaches you've been working so hard to implement aren't working at all
How learning more in some ways does more of a disservice than a benefit

DON'T MISS:

#11- the key to transformation

// 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

124. The Case for Embracing Screens + Video Games with Mx. Ash Brandin, EdS Oct 03, 2023

Show notes

NOTE: This episode will not answer every question you have in hopes of finding the *perfect* formula for managing screens and video games at your house. However, I guarantee you will see them in an entirely new light one hour from now, no matter your child's age.
Mx. Ash Brandin, EdS (they/them) has been a public school educator for over a decade. . After years of research and starting their Instagram page @thegamereducator, they have helped over 100,000 families make screen time beneficial for the whole family.
The COVID-19 Pandemic brought forth a reckoning in how we view and interact with screens, especially as parents. Ash believes screens should be a part of our lives, not the center of our lives and helps caregivers navigate the world of tech using consistent loving boundaries.
IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVERED...

Whether there is "good" screen time and "bad" screen time
The brilliance of video games and how to work WITH them
The need to sit in the discomfort of prioritizing our own needs as parents

DON'T MISS-

The privilege of discovering ourselves so our kids have an easier time doing the same

// CONNECT WITH ASH BRANDIN //
Resources: Linktr.ee
Instagram: @thegamereducator
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

123. Good Cop / Bad Cop: The Broken Record Relationship Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

This episode goes out to every family that is trying to break the cycle and feels like it might break their marriage.
There's a vicious cycle that plays itself out over and over like a broken record in these dynamics in ways that account for the inevitable stress on your relationship that is parenting a strong-willed child.
Not only does this episode shed light on the unseen contributors and look at it in new ways, but it points out two proven ways to put an end to this dynamic between you for good.

IN THIS EPISODE, I SHARED...

The step-by-step Groundhog Day happening daily in homes everywhere
The unspoken, unaddressed factors holding your partner back from going ALL IN on your new parenting approaches
Why it's worth addressing NOW

DON'T MISS:

How to stop "throwing spaghetti" at your partner

// 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

122. Breakthroughs + International Travel with our Strong-Willed Child with James + Vanessa Sep 19, 2023

Show notes

Parents to boys age 7 + 4, Vanessa + James, are here to be completely honest with you about how they've gone from regretting their decision to have kids, to enjoying international travel with them, tantrum-free.
They ended up sharing a powerful story about a recent trip they took that drove home so much of the perspective that we need to be compassionate with our kids and their need to make sense of the world.
But most importantly, you'll get to hear how they think, which is one of the most powerful impacts of working with a mentor or coach; being able to not only relate, but adopt their mentalities, viewpoints, perspectives and mindset.
IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVERED...

How the way they're wired and trained as a physician and a scientist make parenting even more challenging
The accommodations they made to make their trip to Mexico so successful
How James' strength of staying really calm was actually making things worse

DON'T MISS:

Why they're SO glad they didn't do one-on-one parenting coaching

// 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

121. Solo Motherhood by Choice, PMDD, + Leaving a Legacy with Emily Mulligan Sep 12, 2023

Show notes

We cover a lot of topics in this episode, so buckle your seat-belts. Today we get a front row seat to learn from a mom already wise in her years, Emily Mulligan!
Emily is a solo mum by choice to two little girls living on the West Coast of Australia. She walks us through her journey into creating her family, as well as her experience in discovering and managing her PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder, a very severe form of PMS).
Crippled by low self-esteem, depression + anxiety as well as an overwhelming feeling of never feeling good enough, Emily has recently discovered her calling outside of a career, working on the impostor syndrome one day at a time!
IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVERED...

The thoughts + experiences that led Emily to donor conception
The way she differentiates depression + anxiety from a hormonal disorder
How her personal project became a social movement

DON'T MISS-

Ways Emily has leaned on friends and community resources to support her and her girls

// MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE //
Ngala (Australia)
// CONNECT WITH EMILY //
Join the waitlist: TheLoveMumProject.com
Instagram: @thelovemumproject
Personal IG: @emilygracemulligan
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

120. Whining + Screaming: MAKE IT STOP Aug 29, 2023

Show notes

In nearly every coaching conversation this week this topic was brought up so it only made sense to talk about it here!
I break down what's happening if your child is using this behavior often, how to get ahead of it and how to break free of it by putting it in a box!

IN THIS EPISODE, I SHARED...

The two likely elements at play when a child is whining
Strategies to eliminate the need for the behavior
How to talk it out without escalation

DON'T MISS:

Why it's more effective to allow the screaming than try to stifle it completely

// 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

119. High Risk Pregnancy, NICU stays, Gestational Surrogacy and Stress Physiology with Parijat Deshpande Aug 22, 2023

Show notes

Preterm birth accounts for over 1 in 10 births in the United States. Prematurity is one of leading causes of long term health complications & death in children. Half of all maternal mortality loss can be prevented.

My guest today, Parijat Desphande is working to end this high risk pregnancy crisis so families don’t meet their child earlier than they should.
Parijat is a bestselling author, speaker, consultant, and film producer who is dedicated to improving outcomes and ending preterm birth by adding a trauma-informed, neurobiological lens to prenatal care. She has served and supported thousands of pregnant people through her live events, one-on-one work, and bestselling book, Pregnancy Brain: A Mind-Body Approach to Stress Management During a High-Risk Pregnancy.
In this episode, Parijat documents her roller-coaster journey of becoming a mother without a baby in her arms, her and her son surviving birth at 24 weeks, and navigating viable options to bring a sibling into the world, ultimately through surrogacy.
IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVERED...

How Parijat saved her son's life by prolonging his premature birth
Ways to support yourself or someone else through a long NICU stay
What "somatic capacity" is and how to expand yours

DON'T MISS-

Why meditation should be LAST on your list
The work that needs to be done to stop the high risk pregnancy crisis

// MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE //
Book: BURNOUT: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski PhD
// CONNECT WITH PARIJAT DESPANDE //
ParijatDesphande.com
Book: Pregnancy Brain
Instagram: @healthy.highriskpregnancy
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

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