The Art of Parenting

174: Math Mind. With Shalinee Sharma Oct 31, 2024

Are you ready to spark a love for math in your child? Listen in as my guest, Shalinee Sharma, reveals her top tips.

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The Mathematical Mind is something we all possess, yet there are many myths about having a math mind or not. Today my guest shares the beauty that can be found in math and how to guide our children to enjoy and succeed in math.

What We Talked About:

Unlocking the "Mathematical Mind"
Shalinee's four tips for Math confidence
Simple ways to bring math into daily routines
Why visual and hands-on approaches make math meaningful & engaging.
How to make math a game for young kids
The importance of letting go of the "math kid" myth

Things to Remember

“Parenting connects us to the purpose of life.”

“As a parent, you're the guide of your child to help them to do their duty.”

“All children can succeed in Math.”

“Math ability is intrinsic. We all have it.”

“When you hit a roadblock in learning, it's a signal to try harder.”

“Put the myth of the math kid on a shelf and ask for help.”

“There is no humiliation in math. Math is beautiful, it’s fun.”

- Shalinee Sharma

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173: The ABC's of Preschool. With Ms. Amber Jayne Oct 25, 2024

What’s the key to thriving preschool success? Listen in as my guest, Amber Jayne, reveals it all.

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We all know how crucial children's early years of development are for their lifelong joy and success. Today we talk about how to determine what is the best environment for children to thrive.

What We Talked About:

How to identify a high-quality preschool using the four senses rule
Balancing parenthood and business
The role of love and nurturing in early childhood development
How traditional education doesn’t fit every child
The impact of technology on children's development

Things to Remember

“Your parenting style is yours to embrace”

“Always internally check your parenting style because we have the answers always within us.”

“When you walk into a home daycare, a child care center, or preschool, follow your senses.”

“We need to have our children ready for kindergarten. We need to have them build their confidence.”

“If you’re missing the foundation of love, respect, and trust, your child is going to have a hard time wherever they go.”

“If you can't homeschool, just advocate for your child.”

“We’re learning to be a mom just as our children are learning to grow up.”

- Ms. Amber Jayne

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172: The Science of Mommy Brain. With Jodi Pawluski Oct 17, 2024

Is 'Mommy Brain' real or just a myth? Listen in and discover the science behind it with my guest, Jodi Pawluski!

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So often the ‘Mommy Brain’ gets a bad wrap, but did you know everything happens for a reason!? Today I’m talking with a neuroscientist to understand the science of the mommy brain better.

What We Talked About:

The brain changes that occur in mothers during parenthood
Societal and environmental pressures that disproportionately affect mothers
Effects of perinatal mental illness on both mothers and their offspring
Oxytocin and bonding without breastfeeding
Why parenting skill is built through experience
Changes in brain structure and function when learning to care for a child.

Things to Remember

“Parenting is accepting the diversity and working to find what works for you and your child within your household.”

“Motherhood itself has a special list of pressures and to-do's.”

“Your brain can only do so much.”

“Acknowledge all the amazing things that occur in our brains during pregnancy and the postpartum period and not see it as a deficit.”

“Your brain is functioning when it has the capacity and the environment to function well when you're pregnant or postpartum.”

“Pregnant women are much better at memory for parenting-related things.”

“Becoming a parent can increase the chances of mental health struggles.”

“Our brain is really valuable in our transition to parenthood and we need to acknowledge that.”

- Jodi Pawluski

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171: Yogi Beans. With Lauren Chaitoff Oct 11, 2024

Can yoga help children manage big feelings and emotions? Listen in as my guest, Lauren Chaitoff shares her insights.

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Yoga has always been my go-to for relaxing and feeling in tune with my physical body. Today, I’m talking with a yoga instructor who is focused on bringing this ancient practice to children.

What We Talked About:

Ways to introduce yoga to children
How yoga can help both parents and children manage emotions
Building emotional awareness in children
The four pillars of Yogi Bean
Morning and evening yoga rituals for parents and children
How to add a bit of yoga to your daily life

Things to Remember

“Parenting is similar to the breath, a lot of expansion and contraction.”

“When you change how you breathe, you can change how you feel.”

“Having good posture is important for the mind and body connection.”

“When your goal is to get children to sit quietly and still you need to let them move a little bit.”

“Making children aware of their feelings is a lifelong tool to help them cope with bigger feelings.”

“Everything is a phase.”

- Lauren Chaitoff

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170: The Imperfect Parent. With Kate Hamilton Oct 03, 2024

Is there really such a thing as the perfect parent? Listen in and discover the power of being an imperfect parent with Kate Hamilton.

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I truly believe we all strive to be the best parent possible, yet when we strive for perfection is when we get ourselves in trouble. The notion of perfection is unattainable so let’s embrace being an Imperfect Parent instead.

What We Talked About:

Understanding generational behaviors helps us break unhelpful cycles
Parenting as a partnership
Mistakes are valuable learning opportunities for both parents and children.
How to handle unsolicited advice
The “8-Year Rule” for tough conversations
Creating an open family environment

Things to Remember

“There’s not one formula that works in parenting.”

“Parenting is believing in our ability to parent.”

“It's totally okay to fail, it's okay to make a mistake but it's not okay to stop, it's not okay not to learn.”

“Consequences are important to teach our kids but there are times in life when everybody needs a little bit of grace.”

“Imperfection is good and normal.”

“We know our children better than the experts do and we need to trust that we know our children.”

- Kate Hamilton

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169: A Mom Like That. With Aaisha Alvi Sep 26, 2024

Could your understanding of postpartum mental health be missing a crucial piece? Listen in as my guest, Aaisha Alvi shares the realities of postpartum psychosis.

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A Mom Like That is a memoir of a woman’s journey into perinatal and postpartum mood disorders. She shares her honest and harrowing experiences with a healthcare system that does not yet take these issues seriously. A must listen to all.

What We Talked About:

What are perinatal mood disorders
Aaisha's personal experience with Postpartum Psychosis
What is the biological basis of Postpartum Psychosis
What urged Aaisha to write the book 'A Mom Like That'
The lack of awareness among healthcare providers regarding postpartum psychosis

Things to Remember

“Parenting with a mindset that always tries to bring out the best our children will have to offer the world.”

“Postpartum psychosis is one of the most severe psychiatric illnesses a woman can ever experience in her lifetime.”

“When it comes to postpartum psychosis, nobody knows why it occurs.”

“When you have a miscarriage, you don't have a baby to take care of, but you still have biological elements that trigger postpartum.”

“When you lose touch with reality, there is a risk to yourself and your child.”

“Nobody needs to suffer due to shame or stigma.”

- Aaisha Alvi

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168: Healing After Birth. With Jennifer Summerfeldt Sep 20, 2024

What does it take to truly heal after a challenging birth? Listen in and find out in this powerful conversation with Jennifer Summerfeldt.

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Our birth experience, how we came to the world, and how, if able, we give birth to our own have a lasting impact on our overall well-being.

What We Talked About:

Midwifery and alternative birth options
Overcoming the fear induced by mainstream pregnancy advice
Understand different birth paradigms
Choosing birth based on values
The emergence of free birth
The difference between a disappointing birth experience and birth trauma
How birth trauma impacts both the body and mind
How the nervous system reacts during traumatic events like childbirth
Identifying postpartum challenges

Things to Remember

“Parenting is about learning how to listen to that guiding principle that resides in all of us as a human being.”

“It's important that you understand what that birth paradigm includes, that they're motivated by fear, litigation, and money, and to manage and control and take charge of your experience.”

“When you hire a professional or registered midwife, most often you have the option to give birth at home, in a birthing center or a hospital.”

“Any choice out of fear is usually a bad recipe.”

“You can have a disappointing birth experience that is not traumatic.”

“It's not about controlling the outside world. It's about knowing that there's a way for us to ride the waves of life, to ride the stressors of life and it doesn't have to be traumatic.”

“Rest in the role of motherhood.”

- Jennifer Summerfeldt

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167: Stop, Drop, Grow, & Glow. With Holly Swenson Sep 12, 2024

⁠My guest, today is on a mission to bring more wellness, joy, and intentionality to parenting and beyond she shares her powerful approach that encourages us to embrace growth in a deeply intentional way.⁠

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Life is all about growing, expanding, and improving ourselves the best we can. My guest shares her framework to do just that.

What We Talked About:

The "Stop, Drop, Grow, and Glow" Framework
The Five Rights of Parenting
The Importance of Self-Reflection in Parenting
Setting boundaries with screens and devices
Why integrating self-care into your daily routine is crucial

Things to Remember

“Being open to learning from your children models, learning is a lifelong process.”

“Children will teach you about yourself and the work you still need to do more than anyone in life.”

“Your voice is a tool of creation and you have the power to use it to uplift or tear down in your home.”

“Love is the cure for all that ails us, parenting and beyond.”

“Letting your child know how much you love them, and that you're there for them, will plant their spirit in deep, rich soil as they grow.”

“It's important for your child to be a child and not lose their childhood.”

“Parents need to feel more grace in terms of being able to take care of themselves.”

“Be more intentional in how you're choosing to live and parent.”

- Holly Swenson

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166: Raising Securely Attached Kids. With Eli Harwood Sep 05, 2024

Wondering how to build a strong emotional bond with your child? Listen in as my guest, Eli Harwood shares some insights.

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Secure attachment is known to be the one ingredient necessary not only for our survival but also for our positive evolution as a thriving species. We are social beings and need to trust those that care for us. Today Eli shares her research and helps us create a secure bond with those we care for.

What We Talked About:

Creating a secure environment for children
Understanding the attachment theory
Eli’s personal experiences with attachment
The Importance of Parental Self-awareness
The power of apologizing to children
Recognizing and respecting the unique needs & love languages of each child

Things to Remember

“Parenting is a process, there is no final product.”

“Our relationships with our children are all unique.”

“The parent-child relationship affects the development process.”

“When we bring our presence to our children in a way that connotes delight. There's medicine that gets wired between us.”

“Create an experience for your children where they sense that you are a safe place to open up.”

“Messing up and conflicts are part of a relationship that we can repair without shame or self-contempt.”

“Maturity is a relational process.”

“Do the best you can and then trust that when the mess up is acknowledged, there is power in just saying, I'm so sorry.”

- Eli Harwood

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165: The Science of Happiness. With Stella Grizont Aug 29, 2024

What’s your secret formula to happiness? Listen to my guest, Stella Grizont, and find out what science has to say about it.

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Ah, happiness… such a profound emotion. Did you know there was a science to it? Today we are learning how to nurture those happy vibes at home and work for both ourselves and our children.

What We Talked About:

Creating emotional safety for children
The importance of clarity and setting boundaries
The 8 Inner Skills from the Work Happiness Method
Clarity in your goals and decisions, both as a parent and in your career
Why tuning into your own needs is essential

Things to Remember

“Create freedom for your children to be themselves and to know themselves better.”

“Emotion is always in motion. It's just information.”

“Parenting is harder than any job you could do.”

“Our boundaries are there to make it easier for us to be who we want to be.”

“When you're in your play mindset, you're setting yourself up to be more curious and open to possibilities.”

“The people-pleasing tendency is a trauma response. It's a trauma response called fawning.”

“Tending to our own needs is a way of caring better for others.”

“Boundaries are less about no and more about saying yes to what matters.”

“Boundaries are one way we can support ourselves in being who we want to be with greater ease.”

- Stella Grizont

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164: Rejected by Your Child. With Cathy Himlin Aug 22, 2024

Has your child rejected you? Listen in and learn how to handle it with Cathy Himlin.

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It can be tough when you feel rejected by your child, especially when you are going through a separation. Today's guest, a Marriage and Family Therapist helps us understand why and how to manage these situations.

What We Talked About:

The complexities of high-conflict divorces and how they impact children
The underlying reasons why children may reject a parent
Recurring patterns observed in children during custody disputes
How attachment-based methods can help repair strained relationships between children and parents
Practical advice for parents considering divorce
How power struggles within couples can impact parenting
The difference between litigation and mediation

Things to Remember

“Parenting is getting into the child's world.”

“The ideal for children from separated homes, to not be pulled or pushed from either home is to have both parents work together and try to have similar items.”

“You can't go into divorce and figure out what you want unless you understand your options.”

“Trying to make it work is best, because it may just be relationship ruptures or injuries that never got healed.”

“Try to have that lens on what's in the best interest of your child.”

“Have some respite care. Take time in between having children to focus on the marriage.”

“Controlling usually means anxiety.”

“There's no book for each child. Every child is different and we don't know what they're going to turn out to be.”

“All the parenting tools and techniques out there are just tools. It's the relationship that matters.”

“The Family Court system needs to shift focus away from litigation and toward the children and their developmental, psychological, and emotional needs.”

- Cathy Himlin

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163: Raising Citizens. With Lindsey Cormack Aug 15, 2024

How can we prepare our children to be impactful citizens? Listen in and find out why it is important to start young.

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As parents we’re not only raising children we are raising future citizens. My guest today, a professor in Political Science, shares why it is up to us to do so and shares some actionable steps to guide us along.

What We Talked About:

How to start having informative political conversations early on
Simple strategies for introducing politics at home
How to nurture critical thinking with our children
The importance of creating a supportive civic environment
Why Lindsey felt the need to write “Raising Citizen”

Things to Remember

“Parenting is trying to do a little bit better than our parents did for us.”

“Politics is going to happen to us whether we like it or not so it's better if we understand the process.”

“Everyone has a different version of what the good life is and how to get there.”

“Our kids don't need us to be politics or government experts, they need us to model the behavior of learning more.”

“When we're raising a citizen, we're not necessarily trying to raise a partisan.”

“Let's make sure our kids are equipped and capable of getting through the world in a better way than we are.”

- Lindsey Cormack

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162: Parenting at Your Child's Pace. With Dr. Joel Warsh Aug 08, 2024

Curious about the benefits of parenting at your child's pace? Listen in as my guest, Dr. Joel Warsh shares insights you won't want to miss! Click here for the show notes and extra resources. Our children’s well-being and health are among the biggest responsibilities we take on as parents.. Yet today it has become complex to navigate the does and don’ts of our health let alone that of our children. Today I’m speaking with Dr.Joel Warsh an integrative pediatrician on the importance of parenting at your child’s pace.

What We Talked About:

Deciphering the abundance of parenting information
The benefits of Integrative Medicine for family health
The rise of chronic diseases in children
The critical role nutrition & preventive care plays in maintaining your family's health
The impacts social media has on parental expectations
The benefits of homeopathic remedies and other integrative medicine practices in pediatric care

Things to Remember

“Parenting is figuring out what are the best ways to create a healthy, happy home and create healthy, happy, resilient kids.”

“The internet can make you scared about things that you don't really have to worry that much about.”

“If we aren't mindful of what we're doing, then then our children are going to be sick and we're going to be sick.”

“Little changes make a huge difference.”

“Just because you have one symptom does not necessarily mean that you have the scary thing. Most scary things have all the basic symptoms, but the scary things have a lot more to it.”

“If you have a prescription in the first six months to a year, that increases your risk for every disease.”

“It's okay to be a little nervous, but don't be overly stressed.”

- Dr. Joel Warsh

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161: Celebrate All Families. With Anne Doherty Aug 01, 2024

Do you think we should dedicate a month to celebrate families? Listen in to find out what Anne Doherty's plan to do just that.

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Families are the backbone of our societies and they have evolved over time. Today my guest wants us to have a whole month every year to celebrate all families.

What We Talked About:

What the concept of Family Month is
Understanding the impacts birth order has
Navigating between biological and chosen families
Integrating our personal challenges into parenting
How early experiences affects a child’s behavior and attachment style
Managing sibling rivalry, especially when introducing a new sibling
How to balance our guilt with the need for self-care and personal growth

Things to Remember

“Parenting is like meditation. It’s an active, moving meditation where you’re focused on the children, the family, and it’s all outside of you.”

“Being human means that you’re part of the family. ”

“Doing something positive is good.”

“Many people want their children to fill a need that they never had filled when they were little.”

“Respect means that you acknowledge them for who they are. You respect their boundaries, and respect your own boundaries.”

“If you keep expecting it to change, you’re never going to be happy.”

“It’s hard to have compassion for yourself until you have compassion for others.”

- Anne Doherty

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160: Money Smart Children. With Anthony Delauney Jul 25, 2024

How can you teach your child to be financially smart? Listen in as my guest, Anthony Delauney, shares his essential advice.

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You would not necessarily think of financial literacy as something a child should know, yet my guest today shares the importance of learning about finances early so we can have money smart children.

What We Talked About:

How Anthony's extensive knowledge in financial planning has influenced his parenting
Introducing financial concepts to children in an engaging and age-appropriate manner
The do’s and don'ts of implementing allowances
Developing healthy financial habits early on
Making the complexity of financial literacy simple
The impact emotions have on financial decisions

Things to Remember

“Parenting is trying to get a sense of how best we can relate to our children.”

“It's hard enough to figure out your own situation, but when you start to incorporate a spouse and children into the mix, it makes the planning process a lot more fun, but also a lot more complex.”

“You can have two children and you can raise them the exact same way and they can become totally different individuals.”

“When children receive the money, it's very important that they maintain some sense of ownership in terms of how it's distributed.”

“Fear of judgment is the number one thing that prevents people from achieving success.”

“The best part about being a child is you can fail in a safe environment.”

“When a child does fail, we want to give them the opportunity to do it, but we need to be extremely mindful of how we react to their failure.”

“Emotion and money do not go well together.”

“Do not introduce certain concepts that your children may not be emotionally prepared to absorb or relate to.”

“As a parent, make sure that you're mindful of how you react.”

“It's not so much what we tell our children. It's what we show them.”

- Anthony Delauney

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159: No Need to Compare. With Kathy Bowers Jul 18, 2024

Why do you think comparing yourself to other parents is a trap? Listen in as my guest, Kathy Bowers explains why it's unnecessary and unhelpful.

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Kathy is a nursery teacher turned life and parenting coach and shares with us some compassionate advice for modern-day parents.

What We Talked About:

The importance of embracing your unique parenting style
The negative effect comparison can have on your parenting
What it takes to truly nurture a child
Strong relationships provide a solid foundation for children
The critical need for self-care when parenting
Communicating expectations and house rules to children
Setting boundaries and maintaining consistency
Overcoming external pressures

Things to Remember

“Every parent can improve their parenting skills. We don't always naturally become parents.” “Failure sets you up to try again. It gives you that strength.”

“Parenting is finding the best way of guiding your children and putting them first.”

“It will happen when it’s meant to happen.”

“Children will always pick the easiest option.”

“Your children will not be your friend because you are the parent.”

“If you can’t meet your own needs, how can you meet your children’s needs?”

“Don’t compare yourself to anybody else. Parenting is a slow step.”

- Kathy Bowers

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158: Becoming Brave Together. With Jessica Patay Jul 11, 2024

Are you ready to uncover the power of shared courage? Listen in as my guest, Jessica Patay shares her inspiring story.

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Parenting is already a journey with many ups and downs add to it a child with special needs, then the community becomes your lifeline. Jessica created an amazing international community so we can all be brave together and we thank her for it.

What We Talked About:

The Mission of 'We Are Brave Together'
The importance of finding a support network for parents caring for children with special needs.
The daily struggles and unique challenges faced by caregivers, especially those caring for children with disabilities.
Understanding Prader-Willi Syndrome
The difference between self-comfort and true self-care

Things to Remember

“What works for one child may not work for your next child. You have to learn the beauty and the complexity of your child to be the best parent for them.”

“Community is everything. When you have a crisis you have to be surrounded by other people who understand and who can validate what you're experiencing.”

“As human beings, as parents, we must invest in our mental health.”

“I know you're tired. I know you're overwhelmed. I know you're exhausted but when you have people around you who get it. It's comforting and transformative.”

“You do not have to be a coach or a therapist to learn how to facilitate a safe sacred space for moms to share.”

“Self-comfort will not sustain you for the long haul of life or caregiving.”

“You have to believe that you deserve to invest in your mental health.”

“Taking care of yourself is not selfish but when we’ve heard the term ‘self-care’ we tend to equate it with selfishness.”

“Focus more on connection than control.”

-Jessica Patay

Click here for the show notes and extra resources.

157: Ditch the Sippy Cup. With Dawn Winkelmann Jul 04, 2024

Do you know whether your child's sippy cup is doing more harm than good? Listen to my guest, an infant feeding expert for the answers.

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An infant feeding expert explains why it’s best to ditch the sippy cup and use an open cup instead when teaching children to learn to drink on their own. She also shared more baby-led weaning advice.

What We Talked About:

What are the benefits of Baby-Led Weaning
How not using a sippy cup can prevent speech delays and feeding issues
Making mealtime safer and more enjoyable for children
What are the feeding Developmental Milestones
Both the immature and mature swallowing patterns in babies.
How to help babies develop essential pre-feeding skills
The natural picky eating stage and how to handle it effectively

Things to Remember

“Parenting is acquiring that knowledge and then making the best decision that works for your family.”

“Baby-led-weaning is allowing the baby to have some control and learn new skills.”

“Skip the sippy cup and use an open cup to help your child meet their feeding milestones.”

“Developmentally, the picky eating phase is normal with the toddlers but not with infants.”

“Babies are born to be able to suck and swallow and that swallowing reflex changes as the baby gets older.”

“Picky eating is a natural feeding and swallowing phase that every child should go through.”

“Two things that a child is doing during that picky-eating phase is they're trying to figure out if that food is still safe for them and they're trying to figure out if that feeder is still safe for them.”

- Dawn Winkelmann

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156: Be Seen. With Marisa Peters Jun 27, 2024

Have you ever had a gut feeling that something was off? Listen in as Marisa Peters inspires and encourages people to embrace being seen.

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Being a new parent can be stressful and exhausting; add to it a devastating health diagnosis, and you’re in for some very challenging times. Today, my guest shares her experience of being diagnosed with stage three rectal cancer after the birth of her third son and what she was inspired to create since then.

What We Talked About:

The key symptoms to be aware of when it comes to Colorectal Cancer
The importance of early detection and why she created “Be Seen.”
How she managed parenting three young boys while undergoing cancer treatment
Creating a supportive environment and open dialogue with children

Things to Remember

“Parenting is tough, and caring for ourselves is also tough.”

“We know that we should have an annual physical. We would never miss those appointments for our children. And yet, as parents, we sometimes miss those for ourselves.”

“Hiding things or calling it something different creates more instability for our children.”

“Life is wild. It will throw us curveballs.”

“Help your kids know that It's okay to walk into these different settings that feel a bit unknown and, sometimes, very scary when you're going through it.”

“Your kids give you as much energy as they take.”

“If we turn the volume off on that inner voice and instinct, we're missing so much of that goodness inside us.”

- Marisa Peters

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155: Oh, Crap! I’m a Parent. With Jamie Glowacki Jun 20, 2024

Are you confused by all the parenting advice available? Listen in to hear what Jamie Glowacki has to say about modern parenting.

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Tune in to an animated discussion about parenting and how we might be messing it up. Jamie and I covered much ground today, from gentle parenting techniques to potty training. Let me know what resonated with you the most.

What We Talked About:

Why gentle parenting might have gone too far
Jamie’s need to share her potty training technique with parents
What is the proper way to go about helping children through tough emotions?
Modern parenting, the impact of overparenting, and how parents can course-correct.
The importance of giving children the tools to solve their problems
The balance between acknowledging children's emotions and not over-attending to every feeling.
The benefits of slowing down and simplifying life

Things to Remember

“Parenting is not a skill. It's a relationship.”

“We have so much information that parents think they can get the perfect solution to raise a happy child, but there is no perfect solution. You have to parent the child in front of you, and that will be different for every person.”

“We are over-parenting in this way of intervening on every single behalf.”

“In some situations, we have to let kids figure it out.”

“We've got to let our kids go back to neighborhood play.”

“Once we bring in the internet, you're letting the entire world into your house.”

“What is exhausting a lot of parents right now, is over attending to every emotion.”

“Potty training is not a measurement of your parenting.” -Jamie Glowacki

Click here for the show notes and extra resources.

154: The Opt-Out Family. With Erin Loechner Jun 13, 2024

How can opting out of the digital world lead to a more fulfilling family life? Listen in as my guest, Erin Loechner shares her inspiring stories.

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Making choices about what we bring into our homes or put in our children’s hands has been a long-standing issue I would like to examine. Today, Erin Loechner shares her journey and how we can become an opt-out family. Listen in for some much-needed inspiration.

What We Talked About:

Erin's journey from being a social media influencer to embracing a low-tech lifestyle
Simple steps to reduce tech dependency in your life
How she created and manages her low-tech family
What parents can do to follow the principles of a low-tech family
The principles behind “people over pixels.”
How tech can hinder our children's need for independence

Things to Remember

“Parenting is… a lot of pivoting, a lot of listening, a lot of following your child's lead. It's a dance.”

“Be more engaging than the algorithm.”

“As parents, we have to model the behavior we want to see and go first.”

“Sometimes we just have to be willing to fail to be able to find out what we're comfortable with and what we're not comfortable with.”

“People over pixels.”

“Move slow and mend things.”

“If we're not capitalizing on the low stakes opportunities, we're certainly not going to be skilled or practiced or well versed when it comes to the high stakes opportunities.”

“Honor the weight of parenting while still holding it very loosely.”

“Parents can connect far better than how technology wants to connect with us.”

- Erin Loechner

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153: Let Grow. With Lenore Skenazy Jun 06, 2024

How can you empower your child to embrace independence? Listen in to my guest, Lenore Skenazy as she shares her time-tested insights.

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Today’s guest was named “America’s Worst Mom” for supporting her son's desire to take the subway home 16 years ago. Since then, she has been on a mission to support parents and schools to help children regain their much-needed independence.

What We Talked About:

Why fostering independence in children is crucial for their development, resilience, and confidence
How societal changes have increased parental fear and overprotection
Practical ways parents can encourage independence in their children
Balancing safety and freedom
How modern technology is reducing family communication
Benefits of Unstructured Free Play
Balancing technology and real-world experiences

Things to Remember

“Parenting is recognizing that kids are going to be who they are. We have got to give them space and time to figure that out on their own.”

“Independence is so crucial to children and so natural. It's like a vitamin.”

“With parents being away, kids are called upon to do new things and recognize just how competent they can be.”

“The more control you think you have doesn’t actually make you more calm.”

“Give your kids chances to help you and to show you how capable, competent, and kind they are.”

“There's too much pressure on parents to know everything and to shape our children when we can’t.”

- Lenore Skenazy

“The child looks for his independence first, not because he does not desire to be dependent on the adult. But because he has in himself some fire, some urge, to do certain things and not other things.” - Dr. Maria Montessori

Click here for the showe notes and extra resources.

152: Fruits of Motherhood. With Linda Fruits May 30, 2024

Have you ever considered changing your family dynamics? Listen in as my guest, Linda Fruits, shares her journey of changing family dynamics.

Click here for the show notes and extra resources.

Sometimes, I encounter people whose life stories intrigue me. Today is no exception. Linda shares her family dynamics as it evolves from the stereotypical heterosexual to a multi-dimensional family unit.

What We Talked About:

Why Linda created "Fruits of Motherhood.”
Navigating early motherhood's isolation and the illusion of social media perfection
The complexities of sexuality and relationships
The vital role that your support networks play in your and your family's well-being
The importance of open communication for healthy family and personal relationships
Revolutionizing family dynamics
Co-parenting with your ex
Unconventional living in the eyes of traditional society
Nurturing supportive environments for our children

Things to Remember

“Parenting is figuring out who you are while caring for kids.”

“When you’re in front of the people who make you feel good, you feel good.”

“No one was telling moms the hard parts.”

“If you don’t have examples of people who do things differently, you don’t know that you can subscribe to something different.”

“We all have roles in which we excel when it comes to parenting.”

“If you're not happy where you are, It doesn't matter what your sexual identity is. You need to have some harder conversations.”

“You have to be flexible with your expectations, not only with the baby but with yourself.”

“It's so easy to get so wrapped up in the things that we're not doing, and then we lose focus on the beautiful things we are doing.”

- Linda Fruits

Click here for the show notes and extra resources.

151: Turning Little Stones. With Caroline Allen May 23, 2024

Are you burnt out working as a childcare provider? Listen in as my guest, Caroline Allen shares her insights on how to keep the joy and wonder alive.

Click here for the show notes and extra resources.

I can relate to Caroline’s words. When I started in a Montessori environment as a second career, some days were hard, yet that sense of wonder kept me going.

What We Talked About:

How Caroline transformed her daycare settings into the first not-for-profit Montessori children's center in the UK
Observing children's behaviors and interests to foster their natural curiosity and learning
The importance of staying passionate and fresh in childcare and education.
Practical tips for caregivers and educators to avoid burnout and stay motivated.
The concept of leaving a lasting legacy for children

Things to Remember

“We don't know our children inside out and never will. They're unique little beings that will always do things that fascinate us.”

“Try to retain that sense of wonder by looking at our children with fresh eyes and seeing them differently.”

“Adults are very quick to put an interpretation on what their children are doing.”

“Allow the wonders of the world to connect with your children.”

“Taking care of your child’s emotional, social, and physical development is the key to raising young adults.”

“We don't need to know everything about our little ones; we just need to work with whatever they're presenting to us in their journey into childhood and young adulthood.”

“We need to have parts of every single day where we are present to our children and give them the focus they deserve.”

-Caroline Allen

Click here for the show notes and extra resources.

150: Feeding Matters. With Jaclyn Pederson May 16, 2024

Is your child's picky eating a sign of something more? Listen in to discover support and insights with my guest, Jaclyn Pederson.

Click here for the show notes and extra resources.

Feeding matters; parents often complain about their child's picky eating habits. We start to wonder if we’re doing something wrong, if our child is a picky eater, or if there’s more to this ordeal. Today, my guest sheds light on a little-known eating disorder that is way more prevalent than we imagine.

What We Talked About:

Understanding Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) and how it differs from picky eating.
The Four Domains in Pediatric Feeding Disorder
How should you proceed if you suspect our child has PFD?
Early awareness of PFD and its impact on long-term health outcomes
Why is almost no one talking about PFD, even though it is more common than autism or cerebral palsy?
The challenges and complexities of treating PFD and how you can help your child.
Can lip and tongue ties be the culprits in the feeding journey?
The significance of establishing a supportive team including healthcare professionals

Things to Remember

“Parenting is finding beauty in the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.”

“Feeding skills is something that a parent can help a child with. It is a learned task.”

“Children are picky, and it’s a very common thing that happens in toddler development.”

“It's definitely important for parents to always offer nutritious foods.”

“Take it slow and let your child lead the way. They control what goes in their body.”

“At the end of the day, you and your child are trying to establish a successful feeding.”

-Jaclyn Pederson

Click here for the show notes and extra resources

149: Prioritizing Motherhood. With Erica Komisar May 09, 2024

Do you strongly feel that staying home would be best for your child? Listen in to find out why your hunch is correct and critical.

Click here for the show notes and extra resources.

We know in our mama's heart that staying home with our children is important because they need us to. Today, my guest confirmed this instinct we have as mothers and why it is critical to do so.

What We Talked About:

Understanding why the first three years are critical for our child's long-term mental health
Why are daycare centers not equipped to support our children’s attachment needs
What is “consistency of care,” and why is it essential in the early years?
What are other critical stages for our children’s mental health?
The important revolution that needs to happen for the health of families

Things to Remember

“There is no parenting without presence.”

“Without guilt, our conscience isn’t working.”

“The foundation of resilience is that feeling of security in the first three years.”

“Mothers are very attuned to babies' distress.”

“If you are present for your children in the first three years, you’re encouraging a tremendous amount of neural connections to be formed.”

“Your babies are not resilient; your babies are incredibly vulnerable, and they need you.”

-Erica Komisar

“There are many who hold, as I do, that the most important period of life is not the age of university studies, but the first one, the period from birth to the age of six. For that is the time when man's intelligence itself, his greatest implement, is being formed. But not only his intelligence; the full totality of his psychic powers.” - Dr. Maria Montessori

Click here for the show notes and extra resources.

148: Transformed by Birth. With Britta Bushnell May 02, 2024

Are you curious about the magic of daily rituals? Listen in and learn from my guest, Britta Bushnell, how they can transform your life.

Click here for the show notes and extra resources.

I’ve always been fascinated by the transformative process of birth, and why I became a birth doula. Today, I’m excited to be speaking with Britta, a seasoned childbirth educator to explore how birth is truly the first and most crucial initiation into parenthood.

What We Talked About:

The importance of childbirth as an initiation into parenthood.
Mythology and storytelling as meaning-making practices for adults and kids.
Incorporating rituals into family life to help you live and share your values.
How perfectionism can both hinder and help in our parenting
Practical tips for crafting seamless transitions between work and parenting

Things to Remember

“Parenting is a messy, creative, unknowable magical thing that creates a being on the other side.”

“Parenthood is like a yoga practice, that idea of coming to the mat every day and knowing that some days are better and some days are worse, yet you still show up and do your best.”

“What causes us the most suffering is the resistance to what is happening.”

“Parenthood teaches us an openness to the unbidden.”

“Perfectionism is a strategy, and as a strategy, it most often gets in our way.”

“Infants respond well to rhythm and predictability in their lives.”

“To find ways to be tender with ourselves and to forgive ourselves. That is the true antidote to perfectionism's toxins.”

“Children help to create the fabric of the values of the family.”

-Britta Bushnell

Click here for the show notes and extra resources.

147: The Confident Teen Blueprint. With Karleen Savage Apr 25, 2024

Do you want to foster confidence in your teen better? Listen in and discover how you can start today at home.

Click here for the show notes and extra resources.

Helping our teenagers feel confident is critical to their well-being and future success, starting at home. Karleen shares her personal and professional experience as a conflict resolution expert. Listen in to acquire the tools to nurture the confidence your teens need to thrive in life.

We Talked About:

What five universal skills do experts use to resolve conflicts, and how can you use them at home?
What unwanted baggage gets in the way of building your teen’s self-confidence and resiliency?
How conflict resolution skills can enhance parenting, especially with teens.
Curiosity, attitude, and masterful listening are significant tools in resolving family conflicts.
Real-life examples and practical strategies for applying conflict resolution techniques in parenting situations.

Things to Remember

“Even when you get it right, even when you have it right, you can still get it wrong.”

“Curiosity is not just asking questions.”

“Master listening in a conflict situation means you're filling in the gaps.”

“Anytime you're in a conflict, the most important part is connecting with that person.”

“When you want to build confidence in your children, allow them into the solution to bring them back in and give them a space for it.”

“Sometimes situations are for our children to sort through.”

“You’re absolutely meant to be the parent for your child.”

-Karleen Savage

Click here for the show notes and extra resources.

146: Childhood Unplugged. With Katherine Martinko Apr 18, 2024

Is your child's screen time stealing precious moments? Listen in as my guest, Katherine Martinko, shares how to unplug and reclaim childhood. Click here for the show notes and extra resources.

What We Talked About:

Katherine’s desire to write her book “Childhood Unplugged.”’
The effects of excessive screen time have on our children's development and mental health
Navigating digital media use and fostering offline activities
Setting boundaries around screen time and social media use.
Modeling appropriate use of our digital devices to shape healthy screen habits for our children.
Alternative communication methods and developing human communication skills

Things to Remember

“Parenting is about conveying the principles that you believe to be the most important in life to your children and setting them off in the world on the right foot and watching them succeed.”

“The benefits of having a smartphone simply do not outweigh the cons.”

“Handling a smartphone is on par with handling a car. Kids need that level of responsibility and emotional maturity to do it.”

“When you give kids responsibilities around the house, they have less time to hang out in their bedrooms, scroll on their phones, or play video games.”

“We're too caught up with the idea that just because this technology is new and exciting, it is, therefore, good, but we're losing a lot in the process.”

“It is up to us as parents to protect our children from the negative effects of this highly addictive substance the same way that we would limit our children's access to drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes.”

“We promote better independence in children if you're not surveilling them.”

-Katherine Martinko

“Technology is taking us to a place where children are forgetting to play. We need to rescue childhood.” - Mariana Carazo

Click here for the show notes and extra resources.

145: A Race Against Blindness. With Stephen Johnston Apr 11, 2024

How far would you go to save your child's vision? Listen in as Stephen Johnston shares his mission to fight blindness for his son and thousands of others. Click here for the show notes and extra resources.

It’s hard to imagine losing one sight, and even more heartbreaking to discover that your child is. My guest today is a father on a mission to find a cure not only for his child but all persons affected by the onset of blindness.

What We Talked About:

The Precursor of Bardet-Biedl Syndrome
How Steve's parenting approach changed after his son's diagnosis
Steve's journey in creating a nonprofit organization, "A Race Against Blindness"
The importance of mental toughness and perseverance
How Steve and his family found strength and resilience in the face of adversity

Things to Remember

“Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Anything can happen at any given time.” “Everybody can make a difference. It doesn't matter how many or how few resources anyone has. Everybody can make a difference.”

“Start doing things that might prepare your children for challenges.”

“Make sure you have a support network for you and the kids, and you’ll be able to get through whatever it is.”

“Challenges are coming for all of us at some point or another, and the more we prepare ourselves to face those head-on as they happen, the better off we are.”

-Stephen Johnston

Click here for the show notes and extra resources.

144: Rise Above the Story. With Karena Kilcoyne Apr 04, 2024

Do you have difficulty overcoming past trauma to start living the life you desire? Tune in to listen to Karena’s transformative insights.

Click here for the show notes and extra resources. The negative stories we tell ourselves can be quite damaging to our well-being. My guest today shares how to move beyond so we can rise above the story to live a fulfilling life.

What We Talked About:

Why Karena felt compelled to share her story in her book
Her 3-step process to healing from trauma
Why, as parents, it’s crucial to have self-awareness
How to break free from negative self-talk
The unwanted ripple effects of trauma
How to find joy even in difficult times

Things to Remember

“Parenting is taking responsibility to cultivate a self-awareness around our past trauma.”

“What our brain does in the face of trauma is that it tries to keep us safe by writing these stories that keep us in a little box.”

“We have the power to heal. We’re just afraid to do it.”

“There is more for us than just the pain we carry around.”

“We are all here to experience joy and happiness.”

“The powerful notion of honoring your emotions and feeling them in real time goes a long way toward mental and emotional well-being.”

– Karena Kilcoyne

“Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are.” – Brené Brown.

Click here for the show notes and extra resources.

143 The Impacts of Tech on Our Lives. With Forest Bronzan Mar 28, 2024

Do you struggle with digital consumption, whether you or your children in your home? Listen in and learn what we now know about how technology impacts our children. Click here for the show notes and extra resources. I’m concerned about technology's effects on our children’s developing brains. Today, I spoke with Forest Bronzan, a father leading global initiatives, so we can better understand how technology impacts our lives and our children.

What We Talked About:

How technology is changing and impacting the way we raise our children.
The challenges we face in navigating social media
How parents can have open conversations with their children about technology use.
Teaching children critical thinking skills to help them evaluate the information they encounter online.
Setting healthy boundaries around technology use at home.
What is your DORA Score?

Things to Remember

“Parenting is being nimble to navigate an ever-changing world, and in many cases, that's technology.”

“Start early, have conversations at an early age with your children on what your family values are but also with your community.”

“The biggest challenge is that high schoolers aren't aware of the negative influences on the internet.”

“Parents need to pay closer attention to how their children learn about the world.”

“We need to look at ourselves... We need to model the behavior ourselves.”

“There's a lot of challenges and a lot that we don't know yet about the effectiveness of learning apps.”

“There hasn't been a single study showing a positive benefit of social media before high school.”

“Try to put the phone down as much as possible during those first few years and spend time with your child.”

“Time goes by so fast. You don't want to miss those magical years checking a notification.”

- Forest Bronzan

Click here for the show notes and extra resources.

142 The Breakthrough Years. With Ellen Galinsky Mar 21, 2024

What if the teenage years weren't something to fear but a breakthrough opportunity for growth? Listen in as my guest, Ellen Galinsky, unveils a fresh approach. Click here for the show notes and extra resources. Adolescence is a transformative and extremely important time in human development. In her latest book, The Breakthrough Years, Ellen Galinsky shares what the research and adolescents need us to understand.

What We Talked About:

What adolescents want us to know about them
What exactly are executive function skills, and why are they so crucial to children's development
What can parents do to help their children develop executive function skills?
Why turning conflicts into opportunities for learning is critical for all
Agreeing and setting clear expectations with your children and leaving room for mistakes

Things to Remember

“Parents grow and change in parenthood just like children grow and change.”

"Executive function skills are the building blocks for setting goals, perspective-taking, communicating, collaborating, and problem-solving. They are fundamental to life."

“Don't fix it for the child; instead, help them learn the skills to fix it for themselves.”

“We need to make mistakes. Making mistakes isn't a mistake. It's the way we learn.”

“We learn by trial and error, particularly in teenage years.”

“The most important thing we can do as parents is to help our children find their passion.”

“Adolescents are learning to be brave.”

“We need to help them be creators. Not Consumers.”

“Young people who do best in the world have something they care about beyond themselves.”

- Ellen Galinsky

Click here for the show notes and extra resources.

141 Vulnerable Minds. With Marc Hauser Mar 14, 2024

Do you ever wonder how negative early life experiences shape our children’s minds? Listen in as my guest, Marc Hauser explains the effect of early childhood trauma and what we can do about it. Click here for the show notes and extra resources. I know how impressionable young brains are and have always been fascinated with the concept of the absorbent mind. Yet, in this episode, we go a little deeper into understanding how early childhood traumas affect brain development. It was not an easy conversation, but an important one nonetheless.

What We Talked About:

What compelled Marc to write about early childhood traumas in ‘Vulnerable Minds’
The impact of trauma on children's overall development
The different types of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and how they can affect children differently.
The Adverse Ts framework.
Creating safe environments for children to heal
Traumatic signatures and how they shape children's responses to adversity.
Ways to help children develop resilience and cope with adversity.

Things to Remember

“We need to understand both the nature of experiences and the nature of the responses.”

“The earlier adversity occurs, the more likely the damage will occur because the brain is in a fragile state of development.”

“The essence of the magic comes from building trusting relationships.”

“How you help a child who's been abused is different from how you help a child who's been neglected.”

“Different kinds of traumatic experiences can greatly delay the natural development of certain kinds of cognitive, social, and emotional skills.”

“Stress will derail three key parts of learning: Attention, Short-Term Memory, and Self-Regulation.”

“It’s important to recognize that many parents have their own history of traumatic experiences.”

- Marc Hauser

Click here for the show notes and extra resources.

140 Parenting a Disabled Child. With Kelley Coleman Mar 07, 2024

What does it take to navigate the unique journey of parenting a disabled child? Listen to Kelley Coleman as she shares her inspiring insights. Click here for the entire show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie.

I created this podcast to serve parents, all parents, and today Kelley shares what it takes to parent a disabled child and shares with us her guide to doing so.

What We Talked About:

Why Kelley wrote ‘Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child’
The importance of having conversations about disability.
Challenges of navigating the support system for disabled children
Strategies and resources for navigating the complexities of caring for a disabled child.
The impact of disability on siblings.

Things to Remember

“Parenting is about us, the parents. We do not need to try to make our children into something but instead, model the behavior that we would like our children to learn.”

“We are all the best parents for our unique child, and we all do great things.”

“Time is a huge privilege, and we must acknowledge that.”

“Everyone and every child deserves the same access.”

“Parenting and being a caregiver are two distinct jobs when they merge; that's two full-time jobs!”

“We talk about disability as one of the many facets of who my child is a whole and complete human.”

“It reduces our ignorance when we are genuinely curious about other humans as humans.”

“The number one determiner of how a child will feel about their sibling's disability is how the parents feel about the disability and what they are projecting.”

-Kelley Coleman

Click here for more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor.

139 The Montessori Child. With Simone Davies & Junnifa Uzodike Feb 29, 2024

How can you benefit from the Montessori approach? Listen to Simone and Junnifa as they reveal the key ingredients for fostering a thriving Montessori child at home.

Click here for more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor.

What a delight to have two of my Montessori friends on the podcast together. Our paths have crossed many times, and today, I’m excited to learn more about Simone and Junnifas’ latest endeavor, their book The Montessori Child.

What We Talked About:

Children’s Unconscious and Conscious Mind
The different planes of development in Montessori
The importance of sensory learning
Shifting from setting rules to creating agreements collaboratively.
Supporting Independence While Offering Support
The Montessori approach for the whole child

Things to Remember:

“Parenting is the process of being with our children, guiding them and accompanying them.”

“Children change as they grow.”

“It takes some consciousness to start seeing that our children are more capable of doing things as they get older.”

“If you open your eyes, you'll see that each of our children is unique and different. Focus on those things that make them who they are.”

- Junnifa Uzodike

“Be the child’s guide on their journey, accept them for who they are, and step back to see that they are capable.”

“Teenagers just want to be able to feel they belong and make a change in the world.”

“Just let yourself grow through the highs and lows of everything that you learned.”

- Simone Davies

“Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.” - Dr. Maria Montessori

Click here for more from Jeanne-Mariem, Your Parenting Mentor.

138 Being the Dad You Wish You Had. With Nick Adams Feb 22, 2024

Are you ready to rewrite the fatherhood script? Listen in as how my guest, Nick Adams, redefined fatherhood.

Click here for more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

We all want to do better than our parents. It is part of parenting. Today, my guest shared his guide to being the father he wishes he had had.

What We Talked About:

Why Nick felt the need to write his book
Why is the father's role so important
The Five Big Stones of Effective Fatherhood
Common Challenges Fathers Face
Building solid and loving relationships between fathers and their children.

Things to Remember:

“Parenting is maintaining relationships and raising significant, effective adults.”

“Instead of stressing over all of the things you could be trying to do, let’s focus on the truly important things.”

“Fatherhood is a superpower.”

“There’s power just in being.”

“A huge part of my parenting is having a life-long relationship with my children and helping them become effective, responsible adults.”

“Parents need to see the best in their children and help them see the best in themselves.”

“The goal of parenthood is not perfection. It’s progress.”

-Nick Adams

Click here for more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

137 Compassionate Encouragement. With Jeanne-Marie Paynel Feb 15, 2024

Have you ever wondered… ”What have I gotten myself into!?” When reflecting on your parenting journey? You are not alone!

You’re amazing! I wanted to share my love and gratitude for you and invite you to join me in my Keep Cool & Carry On Discipline Challenge. Let’s debunk the myth that parenting has to be hard together. Click here for more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

What I Talked About:

Changing our mindset to debunk the myth that parenting has to be hard
The foundation of Positive Discipline
My Free 7-Day Keep Cool & Carry On! Discipline Challenge
Looking forward to the doors of the Parenting School opening soon

Things to Remember:

“With a positive and intentional mindset, parenting can be a joyous, fulfilling adventure.”

“We all strive to have significance and belonging. Our children's behavior informs us whether or not they feel they have significance and belonging.”

“The essence of discipline is to develop self-discipline.”

– Jeanne-Marie Paynel

“Too often we forget that discipline really means to teach, not to punish. A disciple is a student, not a recipient of behavioral consequences.” – Daniel J. Siegel

“Of all things, Love is the most potent.”

“Discipline must come through liberty.”

– Dr. Maria Montessori

Click here for more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

136: Notes from a Child Psychologist. With Dr. Tasha Brown Feb 08, 2024

Are you curious about the psychology behind your child's actions? Tune in as my guest, Dr. Tasha Brown shares her insights and expert notes.

Click here for the show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor.

When working with parents or, as apparent myself, I often wonder if this situation warrants seeking the advice of a professional psychologist. Today, Dr. Tasha Brown helps us clarify when it is essential to seek them out.

What We Talked About:

How to know when you and your child need to meet with a psychologist
Dr. Tasha’s Parent Management Training
The difference between Labeled intentional praise and unlabeled praise.
Positive reinforcement and "cool down" spaces instead of punitive “timeouts.”
Age-appropriate expectations for children
Early signs of depression in adolescent girls and how to support them

Things to Remember:

“When you work with children, you’re not just working with an individual. You’re working with a family.”

“We know that the more attention we give to certain behaviors, the more we see them, even if they’re negative.”

“When it’s important to the family's well-being that the child listens right away, we teach parents how to make appropriate requests of their children.”

“Set the expectations but also manage your expectations.”

“When children have what we call ‘protective factors,’ it decreases their likelihood of anxiety and depression as adolescents.”

“Children are not born with the language they need to express their BIG emotions. The adults in their lives model and teach them how to communicate effectively.”

― Dr. Tasha Brown

For Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, click HERE

135: Activate Your Intuition. With Victoria Shaw Feb 01, 2024

Are you highly connected to your intuition? Listen in as my guest shares some insight on how you can activate your inner wisdom.

Click here for more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

We are all gifted with powerful intuition; whether we choose to listen to it or not is another question. Today, my guest shared some important strategies to tune into our own and help our children do the same.

What We Talked About:

How can we tune into our inner knowing
Supporting and protecting our highly intuitive children
Healing your inner child to become more present as a parent.
Connecting with your child on a soul level

Things to Remember:

“When we can connect with our children simultaneously on the human and the soul level, that’s when the magic happens.”

“When tapping into your intuition, you connect with your soul.”

“Intuition is that deep knowing that you have that has nothing to do with what you know with your mind, and it is always right.”

“Our natural resting state as the soul is a perfect state of well-being.”

“Connecting with your intuition is learning to trust it.”

“Your intuition will tell you what is the most aligned choice or truth in the now.”

- Victoria Shaw

Click here for more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

134: Asking Powerful Questions. With Allison Task Jan 25, 2024

Curious about the impact of asking yourself some powerful questions? Tune in as my guest, Allison Task, shares insights on attunement and connection.

Click here for more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

Asking powerful questions is fundamental to being attuned to ourselves and our children. Today, my guest, a life coach and mother of four, helps parents through life-changing transitions.

What We Talked About:

Helping career-driven women transition into Motherhood
Questions parents can ask themselves to tune in to themselves and their children
Staying attuned to family while traveling for work
Suggestions of what we can do to feel attuned to ourselves and to our child

Things to Remember

“Tune in to what you want and let go of visions of yourself that are no longer in sync with what you want.”

“There’s a big difference between what we think will happen when we have our child and what does happen.”

“Physically attuning with your child can be powerful and connecting.”

“You’re here to co-regulate with them until they can regulate on their own.”

- Allison task

Click here for more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

133: Emotionally Aware Parenting. With Dr. Maiysha Clairborne Jan 18, 2024

Are you curious about cultivating emotional intelligence in your children? Listen in as my guest, Dr. Maiysha Clairborne, shares transformative insights.

Click here for more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

Becoming a parent often reveals unhealed trauma, and our children will activate emotions we did not even know existed, which is why it is so important to do our healing work as we parent.

What We Talked About:

What is Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)
How can we be self-aware as parents
What might be the blind spots we have when parenting
Trauma Responsive Communication
How can we help our children navigate trauma

Things to Remember

“Flexibility comes with creatively listening to the deeper context of what our children are communicating.”

“When we start to see the behavior as the communication, then we can begin to ask the right questions.”

”Communication is more than just words. Only 7% of communication are words, 93% is everything else.”

“The meaning of your communication is the response you get.”

“Trauma has an impact on our thinking, behavior, and communication.”

“Going through the healing process helps to stop the behaviors, communication, and thoughts that inflict trauma on the younger generation.”

“We have to practice self-compassion and self-love throughout our parenting journey. Or else we will continue to traumatize and re-traumatize ourselves and that's no good for our children.”

- Dr. Maiysha Clairborne

Click here for more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

132: Taming Our Busy Brain. With Dr. Romie Jan 11, 2024

Ever wish you could hit pause on your buzzing brain? Listen in as we dive into the secrets of taming our busy minds with Dr. Romie Mushtaq.

Click here for more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

As parents, especially new parents, it’s critical to learn about taming our busy brains if we want to be there for our family and ourselves. Learn about some of the culprits of brain drains.

What We Talked About:

The eight weeks brainSHIFT protocol Dr. Romie has created
The importance of unwinding our Busy Brains
The Power of Micro-habits for Brain Improvement
How and why it is essential to restore your sleep cycle
Daily Digital Detox is a way to calm your senses and nervous system
A few essential nutrition biohacks that can benefit brain health
The ‘additional stress’ for the new parents and want to watch out for

Things to Remember

“Parenting starts with showing radical self-compassion to yourself first.”

“Sometimes as children, intuitively, we know what’s going to happen in the future.”

“We can love what we're doing and still have mental health challenges and burnout.”

“Diet is a four-letter curse word in a brain shift community.”

“A child of any age can sense your anxiety.”

“Your brain is not broken, your mind is not a mess, and your spirit did not depart your soul. Just take our hand, and let’s brain shift together.”

- Dr. Romie

Click here for more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

131: Raising Good Humans Every Day. With Hunter Clarke-Fields Jan 04, 2024

How do you embrace mindfulness in everyday parenting? Listen in to Mindful Mama Hunter Clarke-Fields as she leads the way to raising good humans every day.

Click here for more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

What a wonderful way to start the new year mindfully! I'm thrilled to have Hunter back on the podcast to share her mindfulness approach to raising good humans every day.

What We Talked About:

Her definition of Mindfulness
Learning to be in a ‘being mode’
Hunter’s C.L.E.A.R Method
How to be more present with our children
Nurturing Mindfulness with Our Children
The Raising Good Humans Guided Journal
Understanding what ‘unskilled words’ are in Parenting

Things to Remember

“Mindfulness is an incredible tool to help us be less reactive.”

“Blaming and shaming doesn’t work.”

“We do not have to fix and solve all our children's problems.”

“What our children ultimately want from us is to be seen, heard and accepted.”

“You wouldn’t be a great parent if you didn’t mess up sometimes.”

- Hunter Clarke-Fields

“When you love someone, the best thing you can offer is your presence. How can you love if you are not there.” - Thich Nhat Hanh

Click here for more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

130: Moving Smart. With Gill Connell Dec 21, 2023

Have you ever wondered why movement is crucial for your child's learning? Listen in to find the answers with our special guest, Gill Connell.

Click here for more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor. An essential conversation with child development expert Gill Connell on the importance of movement. Listen in to learn how to help your child learn through movement.

What We Talked About:

The importance of understanding our children’s movement pattern
The evolution of movement
What do children need in a well-balanced physical diet?
The primitive reflexes of the newborn
The necessity of letting our children walk barefoot

Things to Remember

“You need to think like a child when engaging with children.”

“There’s a natural way for children to develop their balance system.”

“Children need experiences that involve stamina, resilience, agility, and being able to use their bodies in different ways, move in different ways.”

“Out of frustration comes determination and resilience.”

“Play is the key to children learning about their world."

“Play and outside spaces help children develop their readiness for learning in many different ways.”

“Movement is the starting point for wiring the brain for learning.”

- Gill Connell

Click here for more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

129: Minimalist Moms. With Diane Boden Dec 18, 2023

How do Minimalist Moms embrace the 'less is more' philosophy in parenting? Listen in as my guest spills the beans on minimalist living for moms.

Click here for more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

It is the season of giving, yet we want to be intentional about not cluttering our homes and creating more waste. My guest today has chosen to be a minimalist and shares how you can, too.

What We Talked About:

What is Minimalism?
Involving kids in our minimalist lifestyle
Why we don't need to buy so many things for our kids
Navigating Minimalism in the Holiday Gift-Giving Season
How to deal with Birthday parties when you are a Minimalist Mom

Things to Remember

“Live life with intention.”

“People are more important than things.”

“There are so many things in our life that we can’t control, but we can control the amount of things we bring in. We are the gatekeepers of our homes.”

“The stuff doesn’t matter. It’s the relationship.”

“Our job is to be a guide. It's not to direct their every move.”

“People can live with a lot less than they think they can.”

- Diane Boden

Click here for more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

128: Navigating Overwhelm. With Stephanie Rosenfield Dec 14, 2023

Do you get frustrated that you are not the parent you thought you would be? Listen in to find some very useful tools to manage those emotions. Click here for more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor. My guest today is a speech therapist turned life coach for moms, supporting them in navigating overwhelm. The first step is learning to be aware to diffuse the negative emotions we might be feeling.

What We Talked About:

The importance of finding your calm in Motherhood
Her four-step process of diffusing negative emotions
The buckets of emotional management
What it means to be a Life Coach for Mothers

Things to Remember

“There is no right way to parent.”

“My body is the first indication that something is going to happen.”

“All of us went into motherhood wanting to experience joy and happiness and raise good humans and society makes that difficult based on the expectations of moms.”

“Once you have control over how you feel, the next step is to be able to communicate differently.”

“A lot of us tend to look to other people or experts on what to do with our lives. We outsource decision making which can be so disempowering.”

“Follow things that bring you joy and inspiration and unfollow those that don’t.”

“Creating the awareness on how you feel can lead to a diffusion.”

- Stephanie Rosenfield

Click here for more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

127: Reclaiming Parenthood. With Tracy Gillett Dec 11, 2023

Do you want to regain confidence in your parenting decisions? Listen in to find out how to let go of outdated myths. Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor. I am so grateful to have had this conversation; I’ve wanted to talk to Tracy here about the idea of reclaiming parenthood for a long time, and I'm thrilled to share it with you today. Her views, backed by science, are a breath of fresh air.

What We Talked About:

Reconnecting with our instincts and the natural flow of Motherhood
How does Tracy’s approach to parenting differ from her upbringing?
The Psychological impact of excessive praise on children
Debunking myths about infant sleep and learning to parent through the night
The importance of breastfeeding and what it means to do so full-term

Things to Remember:

“Nobody knows your child like you do. You are the decision maker.”

“We’ve lost the village, and we can recreate it in other ways.”

“It’s an incredible burden on a child if they’re trying to make their parents happy all the time. "

“The more we over praise, the more children start to think that they are valued for what they do not for who they are.”

“Praise the process rather than the outcome.”

“What we need to foster as mothers is that we don't need to be the same all the time.”

“A bad day doesn’t mean bad parenting.”

- Tracy Gillett

Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

126: Advanced Parenting. With Kelly Fradin Dec 07, 2023

Struggling to navigate your child's unique diagnosis? Listen in as my guest shares insights on finding parental support during difficult moments. Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor. Learning to deal with your child’s unique set of diagnosis or disability can be very isolating. Today, my guest, a pediatrician and author of Advanced Parenting, shares how we can find support as parents during these challenging situations.

What We Talked About:

How to get support when navigating complex health or learning diagnosis
Helping parents cultivate healthy mindsets despite traumatic situations
Empowering whole family dynamics amidst challenging diagnosis
The importance of opening up and sharing your situation with others
Why parents face denial with difficult situations
How the medical system is flawed when it comes to supporting parents

Things to Remember

“Parenting is about incorporating our understanding of children's development and their needs.”

“It’s one size fits one when it comes to parenting.”

“It’s not always predictable how hard it is to go through a challenge based on a diagnosis alone.”

“Challenges of all shapes and sizes can have a bigger impact on us as parents.”

“The first step is deciding to take a step.”

“If you take care of yourself first and think about where you are, you can get to a healthier place to make decisions and prioritize what your family needs next.”

“The parent is the expert on the Child.” - Kelly Fradin

Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

125: Parenting the First 3 Years. With Ann McKitrick Dec 04, 2023

Are you finding yourself perplexed when it comes to understating your little one? Listen in to find out how to make the early years manageable. Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor. Early parenthood is a huge learning curve and one of the biggest transitions you go through as an adult. Today, my guest sheds some light on how to better prepare for the parenting experience.

What We Talked About:

Debunking Early Childhood Development Myths
How Today's Technology Impacts Our Relationships with Children
Advice for Building Deep Connections with Your Children
Essential Traits of Professionals Caring for Young Children
Deeper Understanding and Managing Our Children's Meltdowns

Things to Remember

“Parenting is a developmental process.”

“Your foundational relationship with your child is the main one.”

“Your baby always loves you best.”

“Having boundaries while providing respect and dignity for who your child is as a person is fundamental.”

“Consider your own development alongside your child to understand yourself and let that inform how you respond to your child.”

- Ann McKitrick

“Some researchers sensibly suggest that rather than worrying which programs our children are watching, we should concentrate on trying to reduce the total amount of time they spend in front of the screen.” - Hugh Mackay

“The most important period of life is not the age of university studies but the first one, the period from birth to the age of six.” - Dr. Maria Montessori

Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

124: Vulnerability as a Strength. With Todd Adams Nov 30, 2023

Do you worry about your child being too vulnerable? Listen in to find out why it is important to be vulnerable, especially for men. Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor. It was a delight being able to have a rich conversation with a father working with men. I don’t often get the opportunity to ask men how they feel about being fathers or how fathers can change the outdated paradigm of masculinity.

What We Talked About:

Breaking barriers and embracing vulnerability in men
How he helps men retrain themselves and become self-aware
How to help Fathers raise their sons to be mature masculine men
The importance of being self-aware of the baggage we carry from our own childhood
The quality of relationships and the loneliness epidemic among men in the US

Things to Remember

“The best way to parent is to model the behavior you want to see.”

“It's hard to give somebody love if you can't love yourself. It's hard to give somebody patience if you don't have patience yourself.”

“We're not attracted to what's best for us. We're attracted to what's most familiar.”

“The quality of our life is dependent upon the quality of our relationships.”

“Vulnerability is one of the biggest strengths that I see in men.”

“Do whatever you need to do to maintain that electricity between you and your partner.”

“Stay curious around your children. They're here to teach you as much as we're here to teach them."

“Every obstacle is there to help you become a better version of yourself.” - Todd Adams

“Masculine and feminine roles are not biologically fixed but socially constructed.” - Judith Butler

Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

123: Dysregulation and Neurofeedback. With Dianne Kosto Nov 27, 2023

Would you be willing to try anything to help your child? Listen in to learn how my guest discovered neurofeedback to help hers. Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor. I believe it is ingrained in us that when we discover something that can help others, we want to share it. And that is exactly what my guest today is: “a mom on a mission’ to share her discovery of how neurofeedback helps her child regain his confidence and the spark in his eyes. What We Talked About:

What exactly is Neurofeedback
Dianne's long journey to discovering Neurofeedback
How we can integrate neurofeedback into our homes
The importance of re-training the brain instead of medicating it
When and who can utilize Neurofeedback

Things to Remember:

“Expect the unexpected. The only constant is change.”

“Every brain does have nuances, and it's very complex. It's one of the most complicated things in the universe.”

“Never force the brain to do anything it’s not ready for.”

“You’re gonna enjoy the journey a lot more if you’re not expecting.”

- Dianne Kosto

Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

122: A Mother's Memoir. With Jeannie Ewing Nov 23, 2023

Do you wonder how other people do this whole parenting thing? Listen in to find out how my guest navigates. Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor. Sometimes, life and motherhood can throw you some curveballs. Today, my guest had a few of her own challenges and shared how she has managed them all.

What We Talked About:

The grief she feels raising her neurodivergent children
How to guide our children through the grief process
Her daughter’s journey of navigating life with a sibling with Apert Syndrome
How to foster support raising a Neurodivergent child
How she manages parenting and sibling dynamics while caring for a special needs child
The need for maternal support from the community

Things to Remember

“There really is no way to teach or mentor someone to parent.” “How you love your child and how you learn to love yourself is the essence of giving birth to anything creative.” “Grief isn’t just about bereaving the loss of a living thing that has died, it’s about grieving any devastating loss. “Once grief enters your life, it doesn’t leave.” “Allowing your child to feel safe enough with you to be able to cry, to be angry, and to be just validated.” “Motherhood is part of your identity but not the totality of who you are.” - Jeannie Ewing Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

121: The Quiet Rebel. With Tracie Jae Nov 20, 2023

Are you at a loss on how to have critical conversations with loved ones? Listen in as my guest shares her strategies. Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor. “What can I do?” is a question I often ask myself and how I came across Tracie's work. The notion of a quiet rebel intrigued me. I hope this conversation sparks curiosity and initiates authentic conversations. They are critical to have.

What We Talked About:

Why authentic conversations are critical to have.
The importance of leaning into our children’s curiosity
Do not be afraid to answer all why questions
How can we educate our children about the beauty of differences
Tracie’s ‘What Can I Do’ challenge
Her LOVE model for creating honest and respectful exchanges

Things to Remember:

“Parenting is making it to the other side with everybody happy, healthy, and whole.”

“If you think you can handle it, you also need to be ready to discuss it.”

“Parents have a lot of ability to restrict what comes and goes in their house.”

“We stop learning, we stop growing when we stop asking questions.”

― Tracie Jae

“Most important, whenever our children respond with feelings of guilt, or even shame, we can respond with, 'I love you anyway.' The way you respond to your children in the tough times will become their inner voice later in life.” ― Britt Hawthorne

Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

120: The Mother Load. With Meredith Ethington Nov 16, 2023

Ever wondered about the silent mental load parenthood brings? Listen in as my guest shares her personal and professional aspects of this transformative journey.

Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor. Becoming a parent is a life-changing event, yet little is shared about the overwhelming mental load it entails. Today, my guest shared her personal and professional views on the mental health concerns parents have. What We Talked About:

Meredith’s New Book ‘The Mother Load’
The mental load in parenting
How can new parents prevent the feeling of being overwhelmed
Breaking down the stigma around talking about the hard part of parenting
What our parents tell us in our parenting
What is ‘Toxic Positivity’

Things to Remember:

“Parenting is figuring out how to adjust your parenting strategies and methods with lots of different personalities.”

“We need to prioritize self-care and not call things ‘self-care’ that aren’t.”

“I think a lot of times we get overwhelmed because we have such high expectations or we’re trying so hard to get everything right.”

“Keep trusting your gut, you’re doing a good job.”

“We’re all struggling, no one’s doing it perfectly, and what people need is some empathy and connection.”

“There’s no such thing as a perfect parent, and it’s okay to just be you.”

- Meredith Ethington

Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, your parenting mentor.

119: Bringing Therapy Outdoors. With Dr. Laura Park Figueroa Nov 13, 2023

Do you spend time in nature with your child? Listen in to discover why it is so important for you and your child. Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor. Nature has always been my most dedicated therapist; when I’m feeling out of sorts, a walk outside will often help restore my calm. Today, my guest and I talked about bringing therapy outdoors. What We Talked About:

What exactly does an occupational therapist do
Why did Laura decide to take her practice outdoors
What are the challenges and advantages of being in nature vs. being indoors when treating children
The “Just Right Challenge”
When should you see an Occupational Therapist

Things to Remember:

“Nature often offers challenges that are beyond our comfort level.”

“Nature-based therapy can happen anywhere.”

“All of us exist in this continual context of nature.”

“Kids can do hard things, we can do hard things, and that’s really what helps us to grow and change.”

“Problems fester when they’re not brought to life.”

― Dr. Laura Park Figueroa

“There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” ― Alfred Wainwright

"Nature is a guide that teaches children how to move about.' ― Dr. Maria Montessori

“When we spend time outside in beautiful places, a part of our brain called the subgenual prefrontal cortex, quiets down, and this is part of the brain that is associated with negative self-reported rumination” ― Florence Williams

Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor.

118: Coping Skills For All. With Janine Halloran Nov 09, 2023

Do you sometimes feel at a loss on how to help your child with their emotions? Listen in to get some important pointers.

Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor. Identifying our emotions and learning how to cope with them is essential to our overall well-being. Teaching these skills to our children is my guest’s expertise.

What We Talked About:

The importance of identifying emotions
Her approach to teaching coping skills to children
Ways to process children’s anger and frustration
The healthy passive and active use of the digital world

Things to Remember:

“Parenting is the balance between being able to teach and connect and redirect when needed.”

“When you can identify what you feel, it’s automatically easier to self-regulate.”

“Teach in the moments of calm.”

“Resting is essential. It’s a part of the things that we need to do to continue to do the work we’re doing.”

- Janine Halloran

“When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary.” - Fred Rogers

Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor.

117: World View Parenting. With Kayla Tychsen Nov 06, 2023

Ever wonder what it takes to be a world-schooling family? Listen in to find out how my guest navigates it with her family. Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor.

Current Event Update: this episode was recorded earlier this year before Kayla had to leave her home to keep her family safe.

Every once in a while, I get to meet an Insta-friend in person. Meeting and learning about World View Parenting and all the adventures Kayla and her family have chosen to experience was delightful.

Her desire for her daughters to be honored and respected is very inspiring. Listen in as she shares what she looked for when choosing a school for them while living abroad.

We Talked About…

Her desire to share her experiences
Raising world citizens
The importance of doing self-healing work to raise your children
World schooling and traveling with young children
How to raise children with a worldview awareness
Her priorities when choosing a school for her children

Things to Remember:

“As my child grew, I realized that I had to learn to look inward and not just outward to the needs of my child.”

“Our children can be our inspiration for becoming better versions of ourselves.”

“My children are absorbing me.”

“Start digging into the process of healing.”

“Take the pressure off of doing things perfectly or trying to have it all figured out.”

“Have conversations in your home about other cultures and other countries.”

- Kayla Tychsen

Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor.

116: Digital Detox for the Soul. With Jeanne-Marie Paynel Nov 02, 2023

Do you ever feel the urge to turn everything off? Listen in as I share my 60 day digital detox for the soul.

Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor.

Caring for the soul and nervous system by allowing myself to have a 60 day digital detox. I thought it is appropriate to re-introduce myself and share with you what to expect for the next few months. Always good to connect with you. What I Talked About:

Who is Jeanne-Marie today?
Here to support you in preparing your home for your child’s needs
What is and what I Like about being a Birth Doula
Why it is important to take a break from our digital world
When you have adult children quality time with them is extremely special

Things to Remember:

“Birth is a beautiful, natural period of life.”

“We need to adapt our home for our children’s needs.”

“It’s flabbergasting how connected we are to our devices and we feel the need to always be looking at them.”

“Keep on parenting and being the best parent you can be and know that support is available when you need it.”

- Jeanne-Marie Paynel

“Help me to do it myself.” - Dr. Maria Montessori

“Just as a woman's heart knows how to pump, her lungs to fill with air, and her hand to pull back from fire, so her body knows how to birth.” - Virginia Di Orio

“Take a break from the noise of social media and listen to the whispers of your own soul.” - Deepak Chopra

Click here for show notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor.

115: Calm the Chaos. With Dayna Abraham Aug 10, 2023

Are you frustrated that your child is being made to fit in a box they do not fit in? Listen in to Dayna as she shares her personal experience and all the helpful strategies she has developed to help us go from surviving to thriving.

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor.

What a delight to finally speak with Dayna. She has a wealth of information and personal stories on how to go from surviving to thriving as a parent and family. Her book, which will help us Calm the Chaos comes out this week.

What We Talked About:

What made her do a 360º to help her and her family
Creating what she was missing to support her neurodivergent child
Her framework helps us find our calm in challenging times
How to peacefully navigate all the stages of your child’s development
Her book Calm the Chaos is being released this week

Things to Remember:

“Parenting is finding and navigating your way through the peaks and valleys with your children.”

“When children don’t feel like they fit in when they feel like they’re broken, when they feel like they’re bad or something’s wrong with them, that's when we see more challenging behaviors.”

“Raise children and acknowledge who they are.”

“Instead of jumping into the strategies and tactics to take care of whatever challenge you're having with your kid, you must first take care of yourself.”

“Start actually creating solutions with your children.”

- Dayna Abraham

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor.

114: Focus on the Journey. With Dr. Claire Rubman Aug 03, 2023

Do you struggle with your child enjoying reading? My guest today shares her wisdom on how we can help our children be good readers and learn from reading.

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

Reading is a complex task, and knowing how our child’s brain works will help you make reading fun, enjoyable, and part of everyday life. My guest today shares her many years of experience and research on the topic of reading comprehension.

What We Talked About:

How can we encourage lifelong readers and learners
The importance of letting our children be bored
Why she felt the need to write her book and share the research
Our undivided attention is extremely beneficial to our children’s development
The way our child’s brain works to process information.
Ideas of how to make reading part of everyday life and not only bedtime
The importance of hands-on activities as opposed to passive screen time.

Things to Remember:

“We can parent better when we know how our children’s cognitive process works.”

“In the primary grades, we learn to read and then later on, we read to learn.”

“The Journey is the most important part, not necessarily the end goal.”

“Television is a passive activity.”

“Boredom is the beginning of creativity.”

“Let your children lead and learn to follow.”

“Enjoy the child you have, not the child you wish you had.”

- Dr. Claire Rubman

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

113: The Parenting Translator. With Dr. Cara Goodwin Jul 27, 2023

Would you like to have a translator to make sense of all the parenting advice out there? Listen in to find out what some of the research is saying.

The information we have access to can be overwhelming at times. How can we really process it all? My guest today does just that, she translates it all for us.

What We Talked About:

Finding reliable science-backed resources for parents
Did the global Pandemic affect our children’s cognitive and emotional development
How parents can help their children affected with PTSD
How accommodating our children’s fear is doing them a disservice
What the research is saying about screen time for our young children
Toilet and sleep training

Things to Remember:

“Parenting is the art of combining multiple sources of information and choosing what is best for your individual child and family.”

“Sometimes research can be misinterpreted.”

“The most effective for anxiety is validating their feelings and pushing them to face their fears and challenge themselves.”

“We don’t want our children to live a life with absolutely no anxiety. That’s not the real world.”

“We do know that screen time is correlated with a lot of negative child outcomes."

“High-quality interactions between a child and a caregiver is better for a child’s learning and development than screen time.”

“Parent’s mental health has a huge impact on children’s well-being."

- Dr. Cara Goodwin

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

112: Kids Eat in Color. With Jennifer Anderson Jul 20, 2023

Do you struggle with what your child will and will not eat? Listen in to find solutions for a healthy diet for the entire family.

Today I’ll eat just about anything, but it wasn't always this way. I know how stressful it can be for parents when their children want nothing with the food they have prepared. Today a kind compassionate and knowledgeable registered dietitian shares how we can best support our children with healthy eating habits.

What We Talked About:

Why Jennifer started Kids Eat in Color
What are some red flags regarding our children’s eating habits to watch out for?
Techniques to make your child feel empowered at the dinner table
What are the characteristics of extremely picky eaters
The food disparity in the USA
The new weight guidelines for children from the American Academy of Pediatrics

Things to Remember:

“Picky eating has many different causes.”

“Once a child knows that they’re not going to be pressured and can truly relax at the table, they can branch out. ”

“Just providing safe food is not going to be enough but a starting point.”

“Every person should be able to have access to food, and they should be able to have access to a balanced diet.”

“We don’t need to focus on weight.”

- Jennifer Anderson

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor.

111: Raising Resilience. With Sara Olsher Jul 13, 2023

When life gives us some difficult situations, whether divorce or a cancer diagnosis, how can we best explain it to our children? Sara used her creative and psychology background to do just that and has developed fabulous resources for all of us, whether dealing with simple or complex situations and raising resilience along the way.

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

Have you had to explain a difficult situation to your young children? Listen in to find what one mother created to help us all.

What We Talked About:

What brought her to create what she needed but could not find
The importance of predictability for children's mental health
Parents need better tools to teach social and emotional skills
Why it is important to talk about hard situations with our children
Some of Sara’s discoveries as she did her research for her books and resources
What exactly are Protective Factors when it comes to Mental Health

Things to Remember:

“Parenting means you have to be willing to get creative, make mistakes and make beauty out of all the mess ups that you make.”

“Kids understand way more than we give them credit for.”

“Grief happens when anything is taken away without your consent.”

“Change is grief for kids.”

“You cannot get through life today without having some coping skills.”

“You don’t have to be perfect to be awesome.”

- Sara Olsher

“Children have the resilience to outlive their sufferings, if given a chance.” - Ishmael Beah

“Children are resilient and strong with powerful spirits.” - Rhea Perlman

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

110: Social Justice Parenting. With Traci Baxley Jul 06, 2023

What are you doing at home to raise compassionate anti-racist children? Listen in to learn what positive impact you can have.

Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

I don’t know about you, but I sometimes get overwhelmed with despair when thinking about all the social injustices people experience daily. Thanks to my compassionate and kind guest and author of Social Justice Parenting, Dr. Baxley, I now know that we can all bring justice to all.

What We Talked About:

How Traci came to do the work she is doing today with parents and educators.
What exactly is Social Justice Parenting
How do we raise Anti-Racist children
Creating safe, affirming spaces of belonging in our homes
The five building blocks of her social justice framework ROCKS
What is Active Hope, and how can you create your ripple effect

Things to Remember:

“It’s important that our kids are learning about each other, learning truths and how we deal with each other, how we accept, embrace and support one another.”

“More than ever, it’s important that families are being intentional with the way that they’re showing up for their children.”

“Make kindness a habit in our homes.”

“Kids generally want to make things right. They want to make things fair.”

“Don’t overschedule and be really present during those small moments.”

“Lean in to your fears and the things that scare you because it’s unpacking those things that really makes us better parents.”

“Allow children’s curiosity to lead the conversations and the things that we do with them and not our own fears.”

- Traci Baxley

“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” - Angela Davis

“Continue to speak out against all forms of injustice to yourselves and others, and you will set a mighty example for your children and for future generations.” - Bernice King

“Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.” - Cornel West Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

109: Baby-Led Weaning Made Easy. With Katie Ferraro Jun 29, 2023

Are you intrigued about what baby-led weaning is all about? Listen in to find out the best approach to introducing solids safely to your little one.

The introduction to solid can be daunting for some. My guest today explains the child lead concept of Baby Led Weaning. It made so much sense to me and was very aligned with the child-led approach of Montessori parenting.

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

What We Talked About:

How she discovered Baby Led Weaning out of necessity.
The origins of Baby-Led Weaning
Some of the biggest myths concerning Baby Led Weaning
The pre-loaded spoon approach to self-feeding
The importance of practicing using an open cup and skipping the sippy cup
Readiness cues are needed before introducing solids
The concept of the division of responsibility and saying no to the empty plate club
The potential BLW has to avoid picking eating in children

Things to Remember:

“Learning how to eat is a full sensory experience.”

“The fun and the joy that you see in your babies’ independence and learning how to handle and eat food is totally worth the trade-off of the mess that it makes.”

“Infants don’t need anything except breast milk or formula prior to six months.”

“We use the weaning period to help them learn how to get nutrition from food.”

“We as parents or caregivers have three jobs. We are responsible for what the child eats and when they eat and where they eat.”

“The child inherently knows when they are full or when they are hungry.”

“How much your baby eats early on in the weaning process does not matter.”

- Katie Ferraro

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

108: It’s always OK to Pause. With Blanca Velazquez-Martin Jun 22, 2023

Do you ever wonder if how you are disciplining helps your child's social-emotional growth? Listen in to find ways you can positively impact your child's EQ.

What exactly is science telling us about the benefits of adopting a gentle and respectful way of parenting? Today my guest answers some of these important questions.

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

What We Talked About:

Our willingness to grow when becoming parents
Why Blanca choose to be a Montessori parent
Understanding the positive evolution of respectful parenting
Dan Siegel’s model The Brain in the Palm of the Hand
Why timeouts don’t work and what actually happens to your child when sent in timeout
The important role co-regulation plays with your children
Learning to stay calm when you’re about to lose it benefits both you and your child

Things to Remember:

“Parenting is an everlasting willingness for growth and humility within our relationship with the young people in our lives. ”

“Gentle and respectful parenting is not about just being permissive. It’s about having respect for the child’s phase of emotional and socioemotional development.”

“No child can learn if they are feeling threatened, if they are feeling unsafe.”

“The brain doesn't learn from a place of shame, children don't learn from a place of fear.”

“Pausing is okay. It is okay to not do something immediately.”

“The adult is the most important tool in the room.”

“A tantrum is not an emergency.”

- Blanca Velazquez-Martin

“Kids do well if they can.” - Dr. Ross Greene

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

107: Lasagna Love. With Rhiannon Menn Jun 15, 2023

How are you being good to yourself and your community mama? Listen in to learn how my guest filled a void thru her Kindness movement.

Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

Every so often I discover someone online I wish I knew in person, Rhiannon is one of them. I was so intrigued by the kindness movement she started during the 2020 global pandemic that I had to invite her to share the story of Lasagna Love and Be Good to Mama with you. Enjoy!

What We Talked About:

What inspired Rhiannon to create Lasagna Love
How Montessori aligns with her personal values
Her tips and mindset needed to travel with young children
Being careful not to lose your identity when you become a parent
Why she needed to create Be Good to Mama

Things to Remember:

“The information is out there, but the answer is within you.”

“The number one thing about traveling with children is mindset.”

“By taking care of myself first, on the surface, that sounds selfish, but truly it makes me better at taking care of the people around me.”

“I learned not to walk into parenting with expectations, both of myself and of my kids.”

“Your children will be happier with you as a mom who can model for them how to take care of yourself and love yourself and be kind to yourself.”

- Rhiannon Menn

“Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution.” - Kahlil Gibran

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

106: Play Learn Thrive. With Alanna Gallo Jun 08, 2023

Do you struggle with needing to entertain your child? Listen in to learn why you really don’t need to.

Alanna has been traveling the world with her four children and we were finally able to catch up. Her philosophy at Play Learn Thrive of slowing down and simplifying your home is music to my ears. Have a listen and let me know your thoughts.

What We Talked About:

How and why Alanna chooses to travel internationally with her four children
The parent mindset shifts needed to let go of parental burnout
How the baby industry has you believing you “need’ things you really don’t
The importance of involving our children in everyday tasks
Feeling the need to constantly entertain your child is doing them a disservice

Things to Remember

“Parenting is about building a relationship.”

“Children learn best from natural experiences.”

“Children are born wanting to help.”

“If we want to be happier as parents and as moms, the key is for us to focus on slowing down and enjoying all of it.”

“When you’re striving for perfection, you’re always going to feel defeated, you’re always going to feel like a failure.”

- Alanna Gallo

“When you travel with your children, you are giving them something that can never be taken away… Experience, Exposure, and a way of life.” - Pamela T. Chandler

“Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.” - Dr. Maria Montessori

“We must take the child into the world and there he can take in all the impressions he needs.” - Dr. Maria Montessori

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

105: The Unflustered Mom. With Amber Trueblood Jun 01, 2023

Do you know what your anxiety style is? Listen in to find out how to determine it.

Parenting keeps us on our toes, and today Amber Trueblood, author of The Unflustered Mom shares how we can flourish as a parent and in life when we discover our particular anxiety style.

What We Talked About:

How anxiety is not a one size fits all
The five anxiety styles; Lover, Fighter, Executive, Visionary and Dynamo
All anxiety styles have specific strategies to deal with them
The life lessons that each style teaches us
How your anxiety style affects your parenting
Understanding our child’s anxiety styles

Things to Remember:

“Anxiety looks different in everyone. It is not a one size fits all concept.”

“When you have less anxiety, less feelings of overwhelm and stress, you’re going to be a more patient parent.”

“Understand yourself so you can communicate to your partners more effectively."

“Once you understand how you want to receive and give love, you can communicate that to others.”

- Amber Trueblood

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” - Maya Angelou

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

104: Uplevel Your Parenting Mindset. With Lorena Seidel May 25, 2023

Are you craving a deeper connection with your children? Listen in to learn the important role your mindset plays.

*Trigger warning - mention of child abuse* Lorena and I met many years ago and have been exchanging ideas and similar approaches to enhancing parenting ever since. Listen in as she shares her approach to healing our childhood traumas to better parent the children we have been entrusted with.

What We Talked About:

The important work of rewiring from generational patterns of toxic upbringing
Our parenting mindset and how to upgrade it
What are limiting beliefs and how to transform them
Lorena's four pillars of her work
What are family meetings and how to set them up to have a connection
The importance of sharing your vision and dreaming together.
You are your child’s social-emotional coach

Things to Remember:

“One generation of emotionally intelligent parents will be able to raise a new generation of humans who can finally heal humanity.”

“Nothing really shifted from me until I upgraded my mindset and my emotional intelligence skills.”

“We have the best intentions, we don’t have the best mindset or the best strategy or skills.”

“We all know who we are when we are in a great state of mind.”

“A lot of the time, our children’s misbehavior comes from lack of skills.”

“The Family Meeting creates the opportunity for a shared vision.”

“Being our children’s social-emotional coach is the most important role we’ll ever have as parents.”

- Lorena Seidel

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

103: What’s Your Coping Style? With Dr. Sam Rader May 18, 2023

Are you wanting a better understanding of why you or your child react a certain way? Listen in to learn all about your Coping Style.

I had never heard of Source Coding until today. My guest Dr. Sam has developed a way of knowing what a parent and child’s embedded Coping Style is and how to shift it. It’s fascinating and I hope you enjoy learning about it as much as I did.

What We Talked About:

What is Source Code and how it came about.
What Dr. Sam's many years as a psychologist taught her about coping styles
What we should be mindful of as we raise the next generation
We discussed a few of the Coping Styles; Disconnected, Symbiotic, Frustrated, and Indulged.
Dr. Sam’s shared about her upcoming Parenting As Love, a 13-week course

Things to Remember:

“Everything that we experience in this reality is a function of how we were parented.”

“Parenting is the most sacred and most important art form and hopefully guided by love.”

“The coping styles are passed down unconsciously through the generations.”

“When we shift, our children shift.”

“We feel connected to this world when people can finally understand us.”

“When you can actually share your real self with someone, disagree at times that’s when a real healthy, lasting relationship can get born from that solid sense of self.”

“Be easy on yourself, fill yourself up with love so you can also be more loving with your children.”

“The way out for all of us is to do the work on ourselves first.”

- Dr. Sam Rader

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

102: The Shock of Parenthood. With Kathleen Cawley May 11, 2023

We often enter parenting a bit naive and elated at the idea of becoming a parent. And then it hits us!

Parenthood is a massive life change and a massive personal growth journey. Kathleen shares with us today her view on this major life change and how we can improve how we care for parents.

What We Talked About:

The massive shock and personal growth parenthood brings on
How Finland can be described as a utopian society for families
How we need to let go of the “Motherhood Mystique”
The shock of parenthood is for everyone, not just mothers
How her husband had to put his foot down at work to have a work-life balance
Getting help, especially in the early years
The negative effects the US Educational System is having on our children
Her IVF journey and what she recommends to others on that journey

Things to Remember:

“Growth and change come with losses and pain, and that’s okay.”

“Allow children to be children for a longer period of time.”

“The most intense years don’t go on forever.”

“Do not be afraid of needing support and try to get it any way you can.”

“Children are born with this intense desire to learn and grow. It is within them”

“It enriches our lives if we can connect with other parents and create our village.”

- Kathleen Cawley

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

101: Follow Your Child. With Saniyyah Khalilallah May 04, 2023

Are you letting your child help around the house? Listen in to find out why it’s important to do so.

I’m always on the lookout for quality books to help support children’s independence. Sanniyyah has outdone herself with her first two books sharing the importance and beauty of Montessori life skills. Listen in to learn more about how you can support your child’s need for independence.

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

What We Talked About:

How Saniyyah discovered Montessori
Why she wrote her first two books
What role does a Paraprofessional play in a school setting
What is her definition of Montessori
What parents need to know about Montessori
Why Montessori is not for every parent
How she prepares herself to be in the presence of children
What does it truly mean to do Montessori at home

Things to Remember:

“Following a child is what you do when you’re guiding children in a Montessori environment.”

“Montessori is about following the child’s interest and following what lights up a child and creating the education around that interest.”

“Montessori can be for every child but it’s not for every parent."

“Giving them time and opportunity to be their best selves makes a big difference for the child.”

- Saniyyah Khalilallah

“Follow the child but follow but follow the child as his leader.”

The child is much more spiritually elevated than is usually supposed. He often suffers, not from too much work, but from work that is unworthy of him.

To stimulate life, leaving it free, however, to unfold itself--that is the first duty of the educator.

The word education must not be understood in the sense of teaching but of assisting the psychological development of the child.

- Dr. Maria Montessori

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100: Take Time to Celebrate With Jeanne-Marie Paynel Apr 27, 2023

Do you take time to celebrate your wins, however big or small they are? Listen in as I celebrate with you today.

100 episodes might not seem like a lot to some but for me, it’s an important milestone. I encourage you to always take stock of what you have been doing well. We tend to always notice what’s not going well, and today I invite you to celebrate with me.

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

What I Shared About:

What I’ve learned creating 100 episodes
The importance of noticing what’s going well, instead of focusing on what’s not
The Transforming Toddlerhood Conference. May 3-7
The Childhood Potential Conference. May 10-12
My Live Q&A “Creating a Screen-Free Home”. May 12
The Positive Parenting Conference. May 18-21
Choosing a screen-free childhood for my family
Choose your free download on my website
Be on the lookout for my Parenting Toolbox coming your way soon
Attending the 29th International Montessori Congress in Bangkok. August 2-6
My celebration ask of you; please review and share The Art of Parenting
Thank you for your support

Things to Remember:

“It's essential for parents to learn to take a pause.”

“I’m a firm believer that today's screens and handheld devices are robbing our youngest children of some significant developmental milestones.”

“You have a choice. You get to choose what you bring into your home, what you put into your children's hands.”

“Every generation gets to evolve their parenting. It is our opportunity to elevate humanity.”

“Take a pause, cheer yourself on, and acknowledge your milestones, big or small.”

- Jeanne-Marie Paynel

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

99: Reproductive Mental Health. With Dr. Kat Kaeni Apr 20, 2023

Depending on the season you’re in, have you had to deal with perinatal mood disorders? Listen in to find out what some red flags might be and how to get support.

Today I am speaking with Dr. Kat. a psychologist specializing in perinatal mental health. If you’re in your reproductive season of life then listen in.

What We Talked About:

What are some ‘red flags’ to watch out for during the reproductive season of life
What exactly is a baby brain?
How soon and for how long is it possible to experience PMAD (perinatal mood and anxiety disorder)?
Perinatal mental health does not only affect the birthing person
Suggestions on how to best support a new family
What can be done to prevent PMAD?

Things to Remember:

“People need help and support and that’s very real and very normal.”

“There are lots of reasons why someone might not notice they have a postpartum mental health condition or they might not have access to help or know that they can get help.”

“Non-birthing parents historically haven’t been checked in with or tuned in to see how they are doing.”

“With any life change, there’s an increased stress.”

“It’s okay if you don’t feel okay.”

- Dr. Kat Kaeni

“You are not alone. You are not to blame. With help, you will be well.”

-@postpartumsupportinternational

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

98: Raising a Transgender Child. With Rachel Gonzales Apr 13, 2023

What personal unpacking have you had to do to accept your child as they are? Listen in to learn from my guest what she has had to unpack to raise her transgender daughter.

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

What We Talked About:

How her daughter revealed her true essence to the world.
Parents must go through their own transition as they support their child
Guiding transgender children to know when it is safe to be open about who they are to other people.
The unfathomable issues her family has had to deal with to keep her children safe from threats and danger
How schools can be supportive of LGBTQIA+ children

Things to Remember:

“90% of parenting is unpacking your own things, your own bias, your own issues, your own childhood and your own expectations of what you think parenting will be.”

“Follow your child, they know who they are.”

“Any child that isn’t feeling safe is not going to learn.”

“Trust that you know yourself and you know your child.”

“We are not going to change hearts and minds if we all hide.”

“I can say that having a transgender child is one of the best things that could have happened to me. I am a much better person and human.”

- Rachel Gonzales

“This world would be a whole lot better if we just made an effort to be less horrible to one another.”

“We deserve to experience love fully, equally, without shame and without compromise.”

- Elliot Page

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

97: An End to Arguing. With Linda & Charlie Bloom Apr 06, 2023

Do you wonder if you will ever stop arguing with your significant other? Listen in to hear some insightful answers.

For Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor click HERE

This episode dedicated to healthy respectful relationships was recorded on Valentine’s Day 2023. Listen in to an insightful conversation about how to nurture our relationships and how to disagree with respect.

What We Talked About:

Linda and Charlie celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary
Approaching differences with curiosity and wonder
The inevitable challenges children bring to our relationships
Navigating the absence of the village when raising a child
Arguing with respect
When should you draw the line in an argument
Things we can do to improve our chances of a successful interchange
Arguing in front of our children

Things to Remember:

“If we do our own work to evolve into who we can be, a person who is of high integrity, honest, courageous, and who has some good relationship skills we’re getting our children off to the best possible start.”

“It’s so important to check in with yourself and to find out what you are experiencing and tell the truth starting with yourself.”

“Differences are inevitable but conflict is optional.”

“It’s an exquisite gift to our kids to see a model of a working partnership."

- Linda Bloom

“Anybody who is in a relationship for any amount of time knows that differences are inevitable.”

“The time in a couple's life where they’re most vulnerable to having serious breakdowns and divorce is the first year after the birth of the first child.”

“It is the parents' work to provide a responsible model for our children.”

- Charlie Bloom

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

96: Unwired. With Gaia Bernstein Mar 30, 2023

How are you dealing with technology for yourself and your children? Listen in to find out what we can do to avoid our children being addicted.

If you’re anything like me you're also concerned about the effects the digital world is having on our children. My guest and author of "Unwired" today share the same concerns and give us some actionable steps to take. Listen in!

What We Talked About:

How and why Gaia felt the need to write ‘Unwired’
The challenges of raising children in today’s technology world
What we can do as parents when it comes to introducing of technologies in schools
The basic intermittent reward model being used by technology to keep us addicted
Modeling an alternative to using technology

Things to Remember

“Parenting is about being open and pragmatic.”

“The way that technology is designed is manipulative and addictive.”

“Whatever happens in school filters into the home.”

“Kids learn better in person.”

“Kids and gambling don’t mix.”

“You should not blame yourself for things not working out. Technology has stacked the odds against us.”

“The evidence for tech addiction is already out. We know what is happening.”

- Gaia Bernstein

“There’s no WiFi in the forest, but you’ll find a better connection.” - Unknown

“What would our lives be like if our days and nights were as immersed in nature as they are in technology?”- Richard Louv

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

95: Newborn Sleep. With Kim West Mar 23, 2023

Are you having a difficult time figuring out your child’s sleep needs? Listen in to find a way that just might be what you’ve been looking for.

Kim West, The Sleep Lady shares some important information about helping our youngest humans have healthy sleep habits from the start.

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

What we talked about:

Why she felt the need to write a specific book about newborn sleep
The baby lead approach to sleep
Sleep shaping and the elements involved
What and how a regulated wake-up will help us establish a healthy routine
Understanding that we need to help our child find their natural circadian rhythm
The 4 factors of F.A.S.T. (feeding, attachment, soothing, and temperament)
Understanding our children and our own temperament and how to navigate them
How SOAR (stop, observe, assess, respond) will help you better understand your child

Things to Remember:

“Our child is our teacher.”

“We best learn in a calm state and the same is true for our babies.”

“We are comforted by routines.”

“Learn to love and get to know who you’ve been given because there really are many gifts in each of our children’s personalities.

“Make the whole family the priority, not just the baby.”

“Don’t let anyone take away from you that you are your baby’s expert.”

- Kim West

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

94: You’re Pregnant Not Broken. With Deb Flashenberg Mar 16, 2023

Are you fearful about the idea of giving birth? Listen in to know you are not alone and what a doula can do to help.

I have to admit I’m a baby and birth nerd so when Deb accepted my invitation to be on the podcast I was delighted. If you are expecting or thinking about becoming a parent then have a listen and if you are wondering what doula do this is for you too.

What We Talked About:

How she became a birth and anatomy geek for the sake of her students
The importance of knowing you have choices when it comes to birthing
What is and how Spinning Babies can help you prepare for a less dramatic birth
What exactly is a Doula's role?
The difference between a birth or postpartum Doula
Why it is important to know more about your pelvic floor
The evolution of birth over the past twenty years
Some myths when is comes to birthing

Things to Remember:

“I took what I learned from watching births and integrated it into my yoga.”

“A doula is protecting the birth zone for the laboring person.”

“Our bodies are very smart.”

“Never compare yourself to anyone else because your journey is your journey.”

“Know who you are, know what you want. Trust yourself and trust the process.”

- Deb Flashenberg

“Just as a woman’s heart knows how and when to pump, her lungs to inhale, and her hand to pull back from fire, so she knows when and how to give birth.” - Virginia Di Orio

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

93: Reclaiming Your Path to Joy. With Rachel Macy Stafford Mar 09, 2023

Do you have distraction-free time? Listen in to find out why they are important and how to create them for yourself.

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Rachel was instrumental when I started out as a soulpreneur she gave me the confidence to persevere. Today we sat down to discuss her forthcoming book "Soul Shift". I know you’ll enjoy this soothing and inspirational conversation.

What We Talked About:

How to set boundaries to be a “Hand Free Mama”
Committing to starting our days connected to our inner thoughts
Learning to have compassion for yourself.
The ills of perfection and how it can rob you of so much
Her journey to reclaim her own inner joy

Things to Remember:

“The biggest preventer of having distractions take over our lives is to have boundaries.”

“Kids love being a part of decisions and will keep you accountable.”

“There’s power in sitting with uncomfortable feelings and the truths that come up.'

“There’s no set right or wrong way to reclaim yourself and the joy within you. It’s your journey.”

“If you make a commitment to check in with your inner world before, you check in with the outer world, your day is going to be more meaningful.”

“Be vulnerable, that's how we actually connect with people and that’s how we feel true belonging.”

“Perfection is not your friend.”

“Focus on all that you are, instead of what you’re not.”

“Tell perfection... you’re not needed here, I’m going to show up bravely, boldly, flawed, and full of hope.”

- Rachel Stafford

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

92: Let Them Be Uncomfortable. With Susan Groner Mar 02, 2023

Are you tired of feeling like you have to micromanage everything? Listen in to find out why you should not.

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

Today, Your Parenting Mentor interviews The Parenting Mentor and how she discovered her calling and made good use of her experiences as an anxious parent and why she believes letting our children be uncomfortable at times is essential.

What We Talked About

Sue’s CLEARR Method explained which includes Communication, Love, Empathy, Awareness, Rules/Respect
How can parents break free from believing they are in charge and control everything?
Allowing our children to feel uncomfortable
Shifting our perspective to be better guides for our children

Things to Remember

“Our kids deserve respect; hearing their ideas, their feelings and validating those feelings.”

“Kids don't like to be dictated to.”

“It’s a huge privilege to watch a human being develop, evolve and grow.”

“Sit back and enjoy the ride. Stop wasting time, you don’t need to micromanage your children.”

“I wish I had me when my kids were younger.”

– Susan Groner

“Free the child’s potential and you will transform him into the world.” – Dr. Maria Montessori

“By acknowledging our children’s emotions, we are helping them learn skills for soothing themselves, skills that will serve them well for a lifetime.” – John Gottman, Ph. D

“When our children see us expressing our emotions, they can learn that their own feelings are natural and permissible, can be expressed, and can be talked about. That’s an important thing for our children to learn.” – Fred Rogers

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

91: Practicing Mindfulness. With Josephine Atluri Feb 23, 2023

Do you wonder what the true benefits of having a mindfulness practice are? Listen in to find your answers.

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

Mindfulness is a deep state of awareness that we can choose to practice on a daily basis. Today a mindfulness expert shares a few ideas on how to embody a state of mindfulness for your and your family’s well-being.

What We Talked About:

Practicing being fully and mindfully present with our children
Utilizing a time of transition to add a mindfulness moment to your day
The importance of always taking a moment to center yourself
How we can encourage our children to practice mindfulness and develop their personal awareness
Creating some affirmations for yourself

Things to Remember:

“Parenting is a balance of controlled chaos.”

“The beauty of utilizing mindfulness is that it doesn't have to be a long drawn-out process.”

“You’ll be better equipped to handle the chaos if you’ve taken a moment to center yourself first.”

“Mindfulness is being curious about what is happening and why.”

- Josephine Atluri

“Mindful parenting is the hardest job on the planet, but it’s also one that has the potential for the deepest kind of satisfaction over the life span, and the greatest feeling of interconnectedness and community and belonging.” - Jon Kabat-Zinn

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

90: Liberated Parenting. With Yolanda Williams Feb 16, 2023

How are you creating or finding community to support your parenting efforts? Listen in to find what my guest suggests and is doing herself.

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

I’m always seeking to learn and improve myself as a human being and this conversation about Liberated Parenting helped me do just that. Learning from others' experiences and points of view is critical in liberating ourselves from harmful and oppressive systems that are still prevalent today.

What We Talked About:

Being a Black conscious parent living in the United States today
What does it mean to be culturally responsive?
CRT; Critical Race Theory explained
Getting away from operating from fear
The importance of healing and learning from our past
Being willing to ask hard questions
Finding and building community
Insidious racism that exists today
Hope and joy as we usher in the next generation

Things to Remember:

“We have a lot of unhealed childhood trauma and in order to be the best parents we can be we have to deal with it.”

“If black children are free, then everyone is free.”

“Everyone exists, not just black people. There’s so many different beautiful ethnicities and cultures that all deserve to be celebrated.”

“Joy, love, and patience with one another is what’s missing in the world. It’s being overshadowed by fear.”

“We have to look at how the past is impacting the present.”

“Reduce the shame of asking for help.”

Yolanda Williams

“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” – Audre Lorde

“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” – Albert Camus

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

89: Tending to the Whole Child. With Dr. Lori Baudino Feb 09, 2023

Do you ever wonder what your child’s gestures and movements mean about their mental health? Listen in and find how you can predict their needs using movement.

Click here for Show Notes and Resources

It’s music to my ears when an expert talks about the ‘whole child’. Today we explore the importance of movement and how we can guide, support and predict our children’s needs by observing their movement.

What We Talked About

Understanding how movement therapy can help us and our children integrate many emotions
Observing how our child moves and interacts with others
How parents can use simple movements or dance to connect with their children
Educating our children about their 3 brains, head, heart, and gut
Understanding the polyvagal theory and the function of the vagus nerve
We are naturally feeling moving beings

Things to Remember

“Movement is always happening and it’s always available. We might not be able to move with big jumping motions but we can always move.”

“We have 3 brains: The one in your head, the one in your heart, and the one in your gut.”

“Find an opportunity to really connect with your child not only through words but with your whole mind, body, spirit.”

– Dr. Lori Baudino

“Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person’s physical, emotional, and mental states.” – Carol Welch

“Movement is the essence of life.” – Bernd Heinrich

“The body says what words cannot.” – Martha Graham

“The child has an instinct to coordinate his movements and to bring them under control.”

“Watching a child makes it obvious that the development of his mind comes through his movements.”

– Dr. Maria Montessori

“Trust only movement. Life happens at the level of events, not of words. Trust movement.” – Alfred Adler

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

88: Shame-Proof Parenting. With Mercedes Samudio Feb 02, 2023

Do you want to learn how to heal your own traumas to better parent? Listen in to learn about the shame-proofing framework and how to trust the great guide that is within you.

Click here to access the show notes and additional resources.

What We Talked About:

The framework of Shame-Proof Parenting that she has developed
How she helps parents heal from their personal shame stories
What is the Parental Identity Development Model and how to make sense of your own parenting journey
How grief shows up in our parenting

Things to Remember:

“Many of us come into the parenting world with shame stories already created.”

“The parent of a toddler's main task is to figure out how to accept themselves.”

“I am the child of the parent I want to help.”

“It is never too late to make a change in your parenting, once you decide.”

“No matter what you decide to do with your kids, you're going to grieve.”

“Once you become a parent, you can never go back to not being a parent.”

– Mercedes Samudio

"If your children fear you, they cannot trust you. If they do not trust you, they cannot learn from you." – Lori Petro

"Children behave best when they feel most loved. Shame isn’t a strategy to encourage good behavior; it leads to compliance and then to rebellion." – Sarah Boyd

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

If you enjoyed this episode please make sure to leave a review. Thank you!

87: Forget Me Not. With Olivier Bernier Jan 26, 2023

Wondering how to make education more inclusive? Listen in to find out how this father is using his talent to make a difference for all children,

Today I’m excited to have the first father on the show, Olivier, a fabulous visual storyteller who shares with us the journey of being his child’s advocate in a segregated school system in his documentary film Forget Me Not.

For Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor Click Here

What We Talked About:

Becoming a parent of a child with down syndrome
What it means to be your child’s advocate
What is inclusive education and what we can all do about it
What does IEP mean
Getting advocates to help you on this journey is crucial

Things to Remember:

“Every child has their challenges.”

“All I want for my son is for him to have a full life and have the opportunity to be the best version of himself.”

“It’s so hard to be objective when it’s your own child.”

“It’s not doom and gloom, take it moment by moment and you’ll figure it out together.”

“You just cannot put expectations on your child for what they are going to be.”

“What you’re seeing in an inclusive classroom is a mirror of what society should be. You’re seeing children that don’t see differences, they see each other for who they are.”

- Olivier Bernier

“There is no greater disability in society than the inability to see a person as more.” - Robert M. Hensel

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

86: Observe with Love. With Jeanne-Marie Paynel Jan 19, 2023

Do you ever wonder what is meant “to be a scientific observer”? Listen in to find out why observation is so important in nurturing our child’s potential.

Click here to get your free guide and journal plus the Show Notes.

I’ve often been asked to explain the significance of being a 'scientific observer'. Today I’m answering this important question.

What I Talked About:

What is observation
How to be a scientific observer
What to Observe
Observing ourselves, the environment, and our children

Things to Remember:

“Observation is a perpetual mindfulness practice using all of our senses.” - Jeanne-Marie Paynel

“Do less, observe more, enjoy most.” - Magda Gerber

“The most important is to respect all reasonable forms of activity in which the child engages and try to understand them.”

“An observer obviously needs something to observe and he must be trained in order to be able to see and recognize objective truth, he must also have at his disposal children placed in such an environment that they can manifest their natural traits.”

“There is in the child a special kind of sensitivity which leads him to absorb everything about him, and it is this work of observing and absorbing that alone enables him to adapt himself to life. He does it in virtue of an unconscious power that exists in childhood…”

“When dealing with children there is greater need for observing than of probing”

"Even when helping and serving the children, she (the teacher) must not cease to observe them, because the birth of concentration in a child is as delicate a phenomenon as the bursting of a bud into bloom."

- Dr. Maria Montessori

“Observe first. Wait a second. Then act only if you have to.” - Dr. Silvia Dubovoy

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

85: Being a Pleasure Positive Parent. With Tilly Storm Jan 12, 2023

Do you struggle to find time and energy for intimate pleasure while parenting? Listen in to find out how to get your mojo back.

For Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor, Click HERE!

Reconnecting with our partner after birth can sometimes be difficult, Tilly walks us through what it means to be a pleasure-positive parent, and partner plus the importance of listening to our own needs and desires.

What We Talked About:

How our birth experience can affect our sexuality as a new parent
How to get our mojo back
The importance of prioritizing your intimate relationship
How to be a pleasure-positive parent
How our body holds so much wisdom and how to listen to it
What she did do instead of keeping her children in traditional school during the pandemic
Why she chose to look for a Montessori high school

Things to Remember:

“First, do the work yourself because when you do it for you, you avoid passing it on to your children unconsciously.”

“Birth Trauma is real.”

“You can’t expect sex and relationships to just go along without putting any time, energy or effort into them. They are learned skills.”

“Pornography is the worst way that your kid could ever learn anything about their sexuality.”

“Do not lose yourself. Maintain your own identity apart from your children.”

- Tilly Storm

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

84: Embodied Parenting. With Charlotte Awdry Jan 05, 2023

How have you evolved as a parent or educator in comparison to how you were raised?

For Show Notes and more from Your Parenting Mentor CLICK HERE

You know the feeling when you meet someone and know that you have so much in common. Well, that is exactly what happened with my first guest of 2023. We met on Zoom in August 2020 and became fast friends. Listen in as she shares her passion for embodied parenting and Montessori education.

What We Talked About:

Our own rebirths when we become parents
How our parenting is always evolving based on how we were raised
How to honor the unfolding of our children's essence.
The misconceptions and illusions we have about Montessori education and parenting
The gift of working with a diverse population

Things to Remember:

“Can we block out the noise to hear ourselves, hear our heart, and trust in our child's innate goodness?”

“Parenting, it’s the toughest job in the world with no training.”

“The more we understand our children, the more we understand ourselves.”

“We have all the wisdom we need inside of ourselves and we must honor that.”

- Charlotte Awdry

“Parenting is our opportunity to evolve.” - Jeanne-Marie Paynel

“Believe in your children and they will believe in themselves too.” - Vicki Reece

“The child is much more spiritually elevated than is usually supposed. He often suffers, not from too much work, but from work that is unworthy of him.” - Dr. Maria Montessori

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

83: Looking Back to Move Forward. With Jeanne-Marie Paynel Dec 29, 2022

How do you wrap up your calendar year? Do you even bother? Listen in as I review a bit of 2022.

I do love good end-of-year planning and to do it well it’s important to look back to take stock of what has been. Join me in this last episode of 2022 as I go down memory lane to better plan 2023. I also want to know who you want to hear from in 2023.

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

What I Talked About:

Reviewing the year; personal, podcast, and projects
Defining what a doula does and my volunteer experience being one
The Parenting School and how you can join in 2023
Finding an accountability group
So grateful to be able to celebrate my father’s 90th
A Montessori pilgrimage of the soul, while in Italy
Proud of my children’s adventures and accomplishments
Always trying something new to keep learning
Why it’s a good idea to have a digital detox every once in a while

Things to Remember:

“The Art of Parenting is for you, the parents and caregivers of the next generation.” - Jeanne-Marie Paynel

“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a goin on.” - Hal Borland

“When it comes to social media, there are just times I turn off the world. Sometimes you have to give yourself space to be quiet, which means you’ve got to set those phones down.” - Michelle Obama

“In order to move forward, you have to look back.” - Matt Maher

"You just need to have the courage to eliminate everything that doesn't directly feed what you really want." - James Clear

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

82: Raising Humans with Heart. With Sarah MacLaughlin Dec 22, 2022

Are you wanting to parent differently than how you were parented? Listen in as my guest and I discuss the inevitable evolution of the art of parenting.

Click here for Show Notes and resources from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

I first met Sarah a few years back when she was a guest on the Be the Best Parent You Can Be interview series. She has since written another wonderful parenting book Raising Humans with Heart and had so many wonderful nuggets of wisdom to share. Enjoy!

What We Talked About:

What are developmentally appropriate expectations
When can we expect children to share voluntarily
Emotional competence and how to help your children be competent
Why having a village is important for both caregivers and children

Things to Remember:

“Sharing is overrated.”

“All feelings are welcomed. All feelings are acceptable.”

"Redirection will lose its steam if we never allow the child to have their feelings."

– Sarah MacLaughlin

“It’s not our job to toughen our children up to face a cruel and heartless world. It’s our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless.”

“When little people are overwhelmed by big emotions, it’s our job to share our calm, not join their chaos.” – L.R. Knost

– L.R. Knost

“Our parenting is not decided in moments of failure, but in the ways, we choose to learn from those failures and change our future responses.” – Dr. David Erickson

“Parenting is a most difficult job for which you cannot really prepare yourself.” – Magda Gerber

Knowing oneself comes from attending with compassionate curiosity to what is happening within. – Dr. Gabor Mate

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." – Maya Angelou.

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

81: Dealing with Concerning Behavior. With Kim Hopkins Dec 15, 2022

Are you wanting a deeper understanding of your child’s concerning behavior and how to help them do better? Listen in to learn a profound process to get them there. It’s time to let go of antiquated forms of discipline such as restraining, secluding, or paddling children, and today my guest shares exactly what to do instead.

Click here for Show Notes and Additional Resources!

What We Talked About:

Helping children solve problems that might be causing challenging behavior
Advocating for doing away with punitive methods of discipline such as restraining, seclusion, and paddling
The 3 step process of Collaborative and Proactive Solutions developed by Dr. Greene
A few of the skill deficits that our children need support developing

Things to Remember:

“When we view kids with an accurate compassionate lens, we are able to create interventions that actually work and work long-term.”

“Children do well, if they can.”

“Nothing good happens in the heat of the moment.”

“Children are not lacking motivation, they already want to do well.”

“Fantastic things happen when we work proactively with our children.”

― Kim Hopkins

“Power causes conflict...collaboration brings people together.”

“Behaviorally challenging kids are challenging because they’re lacking the skills to not be challenging.”

― Ross W. Greene, Ph.D.

“When we invite children to problem solve, we are teaching them a life skill and nurturing the perception that they are capable.” ― Jane Nelsen

“Too often we give our children answers to remember rather than problems to solve.” ― Roger Lewin

Click here for Show Notes and more Resources from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

80: Tuition Free Montessori. With Sarah Harvey Dec 08, 2022

Ever wonder how Montessori schools come to be? Listen in to relish in my guest’s joy and enthusiasm for bringing tuition-free Montessori to her community.

What We Talked About:

How she discovered Montessori
Her reasons for building a public Montessori in Atlanta Georgia
How to blend Montessori with conventional public education
Making sure the children she serves are well represented in her staff
The meaning of Sankofa

Things to Remember:

“Our mission is for our children to live a life of purpose.”

“Don’t let perfection be the enemy of getting things done.”

“Look into the past, to know what worked and bring it into the present.”

“Be kinder to yourself and enjoy, rather than trying to control everything.”

- Sarah Harvey

“The greatest sign of success for a teacher is to be able to say, ‘The children are now working as if I did not exist.”

“The teacher has two tasks: to lead the children to concentration and to help them in their development afterward.”

- Dr. Maria Montessori

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

79: Enjoy the Moment. With Jessica Rolph Dec 01, 2022

Do you want to know what is the best toy for your child’s development? Listen in to find your answers.

I found a kindred spirit to talk to about the importance of the early years for our children’s brain development. Listen in as Jessica shares how we can nurture our children’s immense potential.

What We Talked About:

Knowing what children need as their brains develop
Making Montessori concepts available to everyone
Whether or not screen time has any benefits for young children
How grandparents and other family members can interact
The importance of serve and return communication when it comes to language development

Things to Remember:

“There’s no better tool for mindfulness than parenting.”

“The child is guiding us, showing us what they’re hungry to learn.”

“Be confident that you’re making the right choices with your parenting.”

“Play and learning can be such a place of joy.”

“Invest in those early years, it will pay off.”

- Jessica Rolph

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” - Fred Rogers

“We must help the child to act for himself, will for himself, think for himself; this is the art of those who aspire to serve the spirit.” - Dr. Maria Montessori

“The word education must not be understood in the sense of teaching but of assisting the psychological development of the child.” - Dr. Maria Montessori

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

78: Junk Food Addict to Healthy Living. With Tameeko Clark Nov 24, 2022

Are you craving a healthier lifestyle but can’t seem to break some unhealthy habits? Listen in to understand why that might be.

My guest today shared how she went from being a junk food addict to a holistic nutritionist for the sake of her and her family’s health. Listen in as she shares the mindset shift that needs to happen for healthy living.

What We Talked About:

Being a junk food addict and learning to break those patterns
How to incorporate healthy living for the entire family
Where to start when we want to change our lifestyle and how to stick to it
Getting the family culture and vibe right
Meal strategy vs. meal planning
Learning to let go of “The Clean Plate Club”
The important of creating your own personal wellness menu

Things to Remember:

“We set ourselves up for failure when we take on too much too fast.”

“Start small, start where you are. What’s one habit you’d like to build and one you’d like to bust?"

“One of the biggest reasons we're not able to stick with new habits is because we don’t start with the mindset.”

“Our food choices do not dictate our self-worth, our self-image.”

“Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s a requirement”

- Tameeko Clark

“Investing in early childhood nutrition is a surefire strategy. The returns are incredibly high.” - Anne Mulcahy

“There is nothing unhealthy about educating youngsters about nutrition” - Pierre Dukan

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

77: Newborn Mothers. With Julia Jones Nov 17, 2022

Do you wish you had a bigger village to help you better parent? Listen in as my guests explain why we are not meant to be doing it alone.

I’ve been following Julia for some time now and was delighted to be able to have this conversation with her on the importance of creating supportive villages to nurture newborn mothers.

What We Talked About:

Having a holistic approach to postpartum care for new families
The societal changes that need to take place to support new families
Re-learning what has been lost when it comes to caring for new mothers
What it takes to have a successful breastfeeding journey
What exactly is ‘baby brain’

Things to Remember:

“When a baby is born, so is a mother.”

“The happy healthy mom is going to be the best parent."

“A mindset shift is necessary to really understand that it takes a village to raise a child.”

– Julia Jones

“The natural state of motherhood is unselfishness. When you become a mother, you are no longer the center of your own universe. You relinquish that position to your children” – Jessica Lange

“There are places in the heart you don’t even know exist until you love a child.” – Anne Lamott

"There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.” – Jill Churchill

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

76: Mommy Burnout With Dr. Sheryl Ziegler Nov 10, 2022

Are you feeling a little off and wondering why? Listen in to find out what are some signs you might be experiencing burnout.

Knowing and understanding the signs that something might be off is the first step to taking your mental health seriously. My guest today shares her wisdom on this important topic.

What We Talked About:

Parenting is an ever-evolving dance
The importance of trusting yourself and your gut
Why is it so hard to seek out help when you suspect something is wrong or don’t feel like yourself
Defining Mommy Burnout and how to know you are experiencing it.
How to avoid Mommy Burnout.
Helping your children have good Digital Wellness.

Things to Remember:

“Parenting is like a dance. Sometimes you want to speed up and sometimes you’ve got to lay low. Sometimes you have to let them shine and sometimes you have to be the one to take a lead.”

“Take the things that inspire you and that you learn and make them your own. It’s your own artwork.”

“Self-care is health care.”

“Ban busy. Busy builds walls.”

“To do it in community is so much easier than to be on your own. That means attracting people with the same value that you have.”

- Dr. Sheryl Ziegler

“Burnout is what happens when you try to avoid being human for too long.” - Michael Gungor

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

75: Demystifying Perinatal Mental Health. With Bethany Warren Nov 03, 2022

Are you looking for answers to your mood shifts during pregnancy or postpartum? Listen in to find your answers.

Our mental health during the reproductive years can be a lot to handle. Learning what to watch out for and knowing when to ask for help is critical. Listen in as Bethany shares her expertise with us.

What We Talked About:

The importance of supporting new parents, parents-to-be and those struggling with fertility.
What exactly are Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs)
Some red flags that might mean you’re suffering from PMADs
How to parent while recovering from birth or reproductive trauma
Breaking multigenerational patterns and learning to parent in our own ways

Things to Remember:

“Your moods are going to change when becoming a parent, your emotions are going to change during pregnancy and the postpartum period. It’s important to de-pathologize that.”

“You’re the best advocate and expert on you. If you are feeling off, please get help.”

“If you’re noticing that you’re struggling on whatever level, it doesn’t have to be that you are severely impacted, you deserve support and care."

- Bethany Warren

"Do I wish I had never endured postpartum depression? Absolutely. But to deny the experience is to deny who I am." - Bruce Dallas Howard

"You are not alone. You are not to blame. With help, you will be well. - unknown

"Being a mom has made me so tired. And so happy." - Tina Fey

Click here for Show Notes and more from Jeanne-Marie, Your Parenting Mentor

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