The Momologist™

Latest Episodes:

The Neuroscience of Executive Function & ADHD in Children with Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge Mar 08, 2022

Show notes

“You have to calm the brain. If you don’t calm down that nervous system, no new learning is possible,” explains Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, Integrative and Pediatric Mental Health Expert and Founder of The Global Institute of Children’s Mental Health with thirty years of experience. In today’s episode of The Momologist™, Dr. Capanna-Hodge discusses common mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders in children and the ways her program Brain Behavior Reset can improve mental health outcomes without medication.

Parenting a child with ADHD or executive dysfunction can be challenging and frustrating. Dr. Capanna-Hodge uses a method called BENES, an acronym standing for: begin with one goal, establish consistency, use neuroscience, emphasize desired behavior, and supplements. Through tools like neurofeedback, electromagnetic pulse therapy, and supplements, children with behavioral and developmental disorders can get much-needed help without the risks that come with medication use.

Tune into this week’s episode of The Momologist™ for a conversation about the brain, neurofeedback, and the challenges of raising a child who suffers from developmental, behavioral, or mental disorders. Learn more about the steps you can take to help calm your child’s brain.

Quotes

• “In these 30 years, I have seen a dramatic decrease in the mental health of children and families. Certainly, there are very overwhelmed mothers, really frustrated that they’re going down rabbit hole after rabbit hole trying to help their kids with things like ADHD, and autism, and anxiety which are common today.” (8:25- 8:51)

• “Parents are the most influential, the most powerful people in a kid’s life. Do not give your power away. Do not outsource that. What that means is that you might need to learn that our kids show up as they are. No kid is perfect. No parent is perfect. We have to alter what we’re doing, speak to our kids in a way that their brains can hear it. Not them, but their brains. It means that we have to reinforce those behaviors that we want.” (20:43- 21:16)

• “When your mommy instinct is a little like ‘hey something’s going on,’ that’s when you take action. Don’t wait for somebody. The school isn’t gonna often come to you until it’s bad. Like real bad.” (23:50-24:04)

• “The number one barrier to healing is parents not following the treatment plan.” (57:33-57:43)

• “You have to calm the brain. If you don’t calm down that nervous system, no new learning is possible, no healing is possible and that’s where we need to start.” (1:25:33-1:25:45)

Stats

• “1 in 6 children aged 2 to 8 years have a diagnosed mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder. 1 in 5 children ages 13 to 18 have or will have a serious mental illness. The average delay between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 34 in the US. Moreover, an increasing number of studies indicate that the first signals of behavior problems can appear as early as infancy and toddlerhood. 1 in 5 children entering Kindergarten carries a mental health diagnosis.” (00:45-01:32)

• “It takes 34 times to do something where your brain learns it at an automatic level. But for a kid with attention, learning, behavior, or emotional issues, it’s a minimum of 3x that amount. That’s 100 times.” (36:42-36:57)

Notable links:

Website:

https://drroseann.com/

BrainBehavior Reset™ Toolkit for ADHD & Executive Functioning:

https://www.drrotips.com/toolkitef-homepage

IG: @drroseann

FB: @DrRoseannCapannaHodge

Upcoming Webinars:

www.DrRoseann.com/webinar

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The Momologist™ is a production of The Reel Media Group.

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The Momologist™ Parent News Report - February 2022 Mar 01, 2022

Show notes

Welcome to The Momologist™ News Report! In today’s episode, Sasha shares valuable information about topics in education, finance, current hot topics, and children’s product recalls.

Sasha starts this month’s news report by discussing an important study conducted by BYU about how lack of sleep impacts teenagers’ risk of weight gain and other cardio-metabolic diseases. She discusses relevant financial information on the rising costs of childcare and the overall increase in inflation for consumers across the board. Finally, Sasha finishes her report with notable recalls for popular children’s products.

Tune into this week’s episode of The Momologist™ for the February’s Momologist™ News Report with host Sasha Culpepper. Learn more about important hot topics in children’s education and health and finance that every mom should be aware of.

Stats

• “Teens not getting enough sleep may consume 4 and a half extra pounds of sugar during a school year. New research from BYU conducted at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center says insufficient sleep increases the risk of weight gain and other cardio-metabolic diseases among teenagers because teens have worse dietary habits when they sleep less. This research, which was recently published in the medical journal, Sleep, analyzed the sleeping and eating patterns of 93 teenagers during 2 sleep conditions: spending 6.5 hours each night in bed for 1 week, short sleep, and spending 9.5 hours each night in bed for another week, healthy sleep. The researchers measured the caloric intake, macronutrient content, food types and the glycemic load of foods eaten by teens. Teenagers undergoing short sleep consumed more foods that were likely to spike blood sugar fast, like foods high in carbs and added sugar or sugary drinks compared to when they were in healthy sleep. These changes largely occurred in the late evening, after 9pm. Teens getting short sleep also ate fewer fruits and vegetables across the entire day compared to healthy sleep. Teens in short sleep consumed 12 extra grams of sugar each day. The research was supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.” (00:22-2:20)

• “A study by the University of Zurich has shown that the homeschooling phase also had a positive effect on the health and wellbeing of many teenagers. The researchers conducted an online survey with 3,654 high school studies in Zurich during the lockdown asking about their sleep patterns and quality of life. They then compared the answers with a survey from 2017 with 5,308 young participants. The results showed that during the 3 months in which schools were closed, the adolescents got up about 90 minutes later on school days but went to bed only 15 minutes later on average. Meaning their total amount of sleep increased by about 75 minutes a day. The students in the lockdown group also rated their health related quality of life higher and the amount of alcohol and caffeine they reported consuming was less than the pre pandemic group.” (2:56-4:05)

• “In education, more than 1 in 3 children who started school in the pandemic need intensive reading help. More than 1 in 3 children in Kindergarten through Grade 3 have little chance of reading on grade level by the end of the school year without major and systemic interventions according to a new study by the curriculum and assessment group Amplify based on data from more than 400,000 students in Kindergarten through 5th grades who participated in the dynamic indicators of basic early literacy skills (DIBILS) which Amplify administers.” (4:43-5:22)

• “A recent article released by EdWeek revealed that high school graduation rates dipped in at least 20 of the 26 states that have released their data after the first school year disrupted by the pandemic. The declines were less than a percentage point in some states like Colorado, Georgia, and Kansas. Elsewhere they were larger. Illinois, Oregon and North Dakota saw rates drop 2 points. And Indiana, Maine, Nevada, South Dakota, and West Virginia saw declines of at least 1 point.” (6:56-7:35)

• “School districts received 195 billion dollars in federal pandemic aid in 2020 and 2021. The current deadline for spending all the money is September 2024. School administrators say they want until December 2026 to spend the federal funds on improving ventilation, fixing roofs, windows, and doors and modernizing classrooms to account for the oncoming effects of climate change.” (7:43-8:36)

• “The cost of childcare has risen during the pandemic with families spending up to 20% of their salaries. Parents are seeing an average annual cost increase of 41% for center-based child care providers and spending an average of $14,117 annually up from $9,977 pre-pandemic according to data from a recent LendingTree report. The report found households with children younger than 5 were hit hardest.” (8:52-9:26)

• “The Labor Department reported that the Consumer Price Index for January, which measures the costs of dozens of everyday consumer goods, rose 7.5% compared with a year ago. That compared with DOW Jones estimates 7.2% for the closely watched inflation gauge. It was the highest reading since February 1982.” (11:40-12:05)

• “Israel will allow unvaccinated tourists of all ages to enter the country starting on March 1st. The change means that for the first time in almost 2 years, families with children aged 5 or younger can travel to Israel.” (12:59-13:25)

• “The House of Representatives passes the Adoptee Citizenship Act. In February 2022 the House of Representatives passed bill HR-5093 the Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2021 which was included in the America Competes Act of 2022 by a vote of 222 to 210. Families who adopted children from abroad were previously required to go through a lengthy process to naturalize and gain U.S. citizenship for their adopted children in addition to the long, costly and burdensome adoption process. Sometimes the necessary paperwork was not entirely completed and significant numbers of adoptees grew up for years unaware that they were living in the US as noncitizens. The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 eliminated the need for many adoptive families to apply to naturalize their newly adopted children. This law grants automatic citizenship to all foreign-born children brought to the U.S. under the age of 18 and have at least one parent who was a U.S. citizen. It applied to all future adoptees as well as those under the age of 18 who were adopted prior to the CCA’s effective date. Unfortunately, the 2000 CCA law only applied to future adoptees and adoptees who were under the age of 18 on its effective date. It did not apply retroactively to those adoptees who faced the same dilemma but aged into adulthood before the CCA took effect. The Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2021 corrects this gap in the law by confirming international adoptees US citizenship status regardless of if they were over the age of 18 when the CCA took effect.” (14:22-16:38)

Notable links:

Episodes Noted:

Episode 5 - Common Barriers To Adoption with Mary Beth Chapman, Co-founder of Show Hope

Episode 17 - Tips For Homeschooling with Aubrey Hargis, Montessori Parent Educator and founder of Child of The Redwoods

Product Recalls Mentioned:

*Abbott - Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare powdered infant formulas

*Boppy - Original Newborn Loungers, Boppy Preferred Newborn Loungers, Pottery Barn Kids, Boppy Newborn Loungers

*Colony Brands - Children’s Wood Wagons

*Loveevery - Drinking Cups with Handle in The Inspector Play Kits

*Stance - Kids Crew Socks

*Stack Em’ Up Books - Children’s Stackable Adam the Apple™ Toys

*AllMeInGeld - Children’s Nightgowns (sold exclusively on Amazon.com)

*Zeno - Infant Walkers

*Valco Baby - Snap Duo Trend Strollers

*Games Workshop - Koyo Bounca The Squig Plus Toys

*Children’s Robes imported by Baopteil (sold exclusively on Amazon.com)

Health Segment Sources:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220107084431.htm

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220105111355.htm

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-fda-postpones-panel-meeting-discuss-pfizer-covid-vaccine-kids-under-5-2022-02-11/

Education Segment Sources:

https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/more-than-1-in-3-children-who-started-school-in-the-pandemic-need-intensive-reading-help/2022/02

“High School Graduation Rates Dip Across the US in 1st year of Covid”

Source: Education Week Vol. 41 page 2 Issue 20 February 2, 2022

“School Leaders Ask Government for Extension of Deadline for using Covid funds”

Source: Education Week Vol. 41 page 2 Issue 20 February 2, 2022

Finance Segment Sources:

https://fortune.com/2022/01/28/the-cost-of-child-care-in-the-us-is-rising/amp/

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2022/02/10/january-2022-cpi-inflation-rises-7point5percent-over-the-past-year-even-more-than-expected.html

Hot Topic Segment Sources:

https://www.haaretz.com/amp/israel-news/covid-keeps-shrinking-in-israel-but-drop-is-serious-cases-infection-rate-halts-1.10622893

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-20/australia-pins-hopes-on-tourism-resurgence-as-borders-reopen

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/COVID-19-Country-Specific-Information.html

Recall Segment Sources:

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/abbott-voluntarily-recalls-powder-formulas-manufactured-one-plant

https://www.similacrecall.com/us/en/home.html

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/The-Boppy-Company-Recalls-Over-3-Million-Original-Newborn-Loungers-Boppy-Preferred-Newborn-Loungers-and-Pottery-Barn-Kids-Boppy-Newborn-Loungers-After-8-Infant-Deaths-Suffocation-Risk

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2022/Colony-Brands-Recalls-Childrens-Wood-Wagons-Due-to-Violation-of-Federal-Lead-Paint-Ban-and-Lead-Poisoning-Hazard-Recall-Alert

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/fda-investigation-cronobacter-and-salmonella-complaints-powdered-infant-formula-february-2022

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2022/Stance-Recalls-Kids-Crew-Socks-Due-to-Choking-Hazard

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2022/Lovevery-Recalls-Drinking-Cup-With-Handle-in-The-Inspector-Play-Kit-Due-to-Choking-Hazard-Recall-Alert

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2022/Stack-Em-Up-Books-Recalls-Childrens-Stackable-Toys-Due-to-Violation-of-the-Federal-Lead-Paint-Ban-and-Lead-Poisoning-Hazard

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2022/Childrens-Nightgowns-Recalled-by-AllMeInGeld-Due-to-Violation-of-Federal-Flammability-Standards-and-Burn-Hazard-Sold-Exclusively-on-Amazon-com

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2022/Zeno-Recalls-Infant-Walkers-Due-to-Fall-and-Entrapment-Hazards-Recall-Alert

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2022/Valco-Baby-Recalls-Snap-Duo-Trend-Strollers-Due-to-Fall-Hazard

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2022/Games-Workshop-Recalls-Koyo-Bounca-The-Squig-Plush-Toys-Due-to-Choking-Hazard

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2022/Childrens-Robes-Recalled-Due-to-Violation-of-Federal-Flammability-Standards-and-Burn-Hazard-Imported-by-BAOPTEIL-Sold-Exclusively-on-Amazon-com

Questions, Comments or Suggestions about The Momologist News Report?

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The Momologist™ is a production of The Reel Media Group.

For inquiries, please email: contact@thereelmediagroup.com

Tips For Homeschooling with Aubrey Hargis Feb 22, 2022

Show notes

“You and your child are partners. You are walking through this journey together,” explains Aubrey Hargis, Montessori Parent Educator. In today’s episode of The Momologist™, Aubrey sheds light on the ins and outs of homeschooling and the Montessori system.

Aubrey discovered that she wanted to be an educator through her own experience in both Montessori environments and traditional public school environments. As a parent educator, Aubrey helps guide parents through the world of homeschooling, dispelling myths and instilling confidence as she goes. Homeschooling is as much of a learning experience for the parents as it is for the child.

Tune into this week’s episode of The Momologist™ for a conversation about different modalities of education and what it takes to homeschool your child. Join us as Aubrey pulls back the curtain on homeschooling and shares firsthand experience as an educator and a mother.

Quotes

• “I kind of grew up in a Montessori environment. My mother was a Montessori teacher, and so were all of her friends. All of my friends went to the little Montessori schools in our small Texas town. Mostly, it was a very homeschool-like situation, because the schools were not big, fancy, Montessori private schools. They were little home-like environments. I went to several of them until I transitioned into public schools in my area around 4th grade. From there, with this grounding in Montessori, being able to see how different my own education was in those early years compared to the education that I received when I joined the public schools in my area, which were very traditional type of teaching, I knew that I wanted to go into education myself.” (5:31-6:43)

• “I’ve been a homeschooler as long as my kids have been born. So, that’s about 14 years now.” (8:09-8:16)

• “I started out blogging. That was a time when I think a lot of us were out there trying to find community in the online space, where it didn’t really exist previously. What I found when I started interacting online with other parents was there were so many misconceptions about Montessori out there and so many people who were trying to capitalize on Montessori education and make money from it in ways that were less than authentic or genuine. My journey really started there.” (9:55-10:47)

• “Most brand new homeschoolers try to replicate a classroom environment at home. This can work to some extent. Children need a space to do their work. But when children are at home, they want to be relaxed. They have a relationship with you and other family members. They don’t want to be ‘at school’ while they’re at home.” (18:46-19:21)

• “I think a lot of new homeschoolers come into homeschooling thinking ‘I have to be the teacher. I have to do this whole extra job. I need to micro-manage and document every single minute of my child’s day so that I know they’re receiving a quality education.’ And that alone makes parents feel super overwhelmed. It’s a path to failure.” (19:23-19:50)

• “The truth is that most homeschoolers don’t homeschool all day. It just doesn’t take that long to educate your child or do the kind of direct teaching that they need. If you think of a child in school for 7- 7 ½ hours during the day, not including after-school programs, you’re thinking that child must be in top brain activity learning for 7 hours a day. That is not true. There’s so much downtime that happens naturally at school that parents aren’t aware of. It is actually happening in the classroom. The teacher does not stand in front of the classroom and talk to students all day. There is place for you to be inside this homeschool environment and to be just as you are, the parent that you already are. You and your child are walking this education path together. You’re gonna be learning together but you don’t need to be so uptight about it. It doesn’t have to be like a school. It can be an alternative form of education.” (20:25-21:43)

• “We mostly don’t spend a ton of time at home. I know that this sounds funny, but homeschoolers actually don’t school at home most of the time. They actually school or learn about the world out and about in the world itself.” (22:54-23:12)

• “I often recommend to new homeschoolers that they sit down and do some brainstorming. I would recommend to sit down and write down some of your family’s values. What kind of things do you believe about childhood? What kinds of things do you believe about what’s important for your children to learn in their future? That will kind of start to set you down a path of exploring different educational philosophies that might resonate with you. I would never say that you need to pick just one.” (25:27-26:04)

• “Your child actually needs to have role models of other people who are learning. That’s going to be one of your primary jobs as a homeschooling parent. You and your child are partners. You’re walking through this journey together. You are not directing everything.” (36:30-36:45)

• “You’re not alone in this journey. There is a homeschooling community out there for you wherever you are in the world. If you can find a homeschooling community that is local, that is awesome. But many parents around the world don’t have a solid homeschool local community. If you don’t, a second option is to drive to one. Third option, there is an online community just waiting for you.” (37:31-38:25)

• “The magic of Montessori is so much deeper. It actually happens in a nonvisual way. What I think it comes down to is that full and total appreciation of childhood. If you can learn how to observe this precious little being that is growing, and trust and value this child, and be patient and calm and at peace, that is where you’re going to find the real Montessori lurking in the background.” (1:05:24-1:06:15)

• “If there is one thing I would wish for you over anything else, it’s for you to understand that you should not feel like you have to take this journey on with perfection. That is the biggest hangup that I see for parents that are homeschooling. In the Montessori community in general, parents feel like they have to create the perfect environment for their children or to behave in a perfect way with their children. There’s just no such thing as that. The more love that you can give yourself, the more self tending that you can do in your regular life to help you to feel okay with being imperfect, I think the better. That’s just going to give you a better experience homeschooling to see yourself as the learner too instead of the teacher.” (1:18:48-1:19:43)

Website:

www.ChildoftheRedwoods.com

IG: @childoftheredwoods

Homeschool of the Redwoods:

* Primary begins March 7th

* Constellation has ongoing open enrollment for annual memberships. Interested members can get a sample of Montessori homeschooling materials at childoftheredwoods.com/free

Aubrey’s Book Recommendations:

The Absorbent Mind by Maria Montessori

The Secret of Childhood by Maria Montessori

Discovery of the Child by Maria Montessori

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The Momologist™ is a production of The Reel Media Group. For inquiries, please email: contact@thereelmediagroup.com

”Write” Into Motherhood with Asher Fogle Paul Feb 15, 2022

Show notes

“I’ve had to learn and give myself the grace to say there are times when I can be fully present as a mom and I need to focus on that. And there are times when I can accept help and am grateful for it,” explains Asher Fogle Paul, mother, journalist, and author of Without A Hitch. In today’s episode of The Momologist™, Asher discusses the shift from full-time journalist to full-time mother and the difficulties women face balancing their careers and motherhood against societal pressures.

When Asher envisioned motherhood, she always anticipated being a full-time working mom. However, when her daughter was born, it became more difficult to balance her own needs, her marriage, her career, and the needs of her child. Asher tells listeners that motherhood required her to learn to let go and not compare herself to her peers because everyone’s measure of success looks different. She found that going freelance worked best for her in the end because it gave her time to continue writing and spend more time with her family.

Tune into this week’s episode of The Momologist™ for a conversation about balancing your passions and motherhood. Join us as Asher teaches us to give ourselves the grace to go along with the ebbs and flows in creative life and family life.

Quotes

• “I didn’t ever envision myself being a stay at home mom or not having creative aspirations. I always thought I would work full time. And then when my daughter was born…I enrolled her in a daycare around the corner from my office. We rode the subway every day together, which was like an extra hour of the day that we got to snuggle and hang out. That part of it was really great. I still loved my work, but, to be honest, it was really hard…I came to the point where I realized something had to give. At the end of the day, I felt like I wasn’t being the writer I wanted to be or the editor I wanted to be. I wasn’t being the mom that I wanted to be. I certainly wasn’t being the wife that I wanted to be. So we made the decision for me to go freelance. It was hard. It was a big identity shift that I didn’t really want at the time. I knew it needed to happen…but it was just like I don’t know what my identity looks like at this point.” (08:34-10:52)

• “It’s a position of privilege to even be able to make the decision to go freelance in that context. In hindsight, I’m grateful that we had that choice, but it was definitely a tough transition. I think it took me a long time to find my sea legs.” (11:08-11:25)

• “I felt like I didn’t have enough time with my daughter. I was a little bit miserable thinking about how much of the day I missed with her…this was pre-pandemic. The idea of working remote a couple days a week, which I broached to my workplace, they weren’t open to it. It just wasn’t an option.” (12:05-12:34)

• “This isn’t a knock on the companies that I worked for…but even in these female-dominated places there were very few people at my life stage. I knew mothers who had pushed through and made it to the other side and they had older kids in school all the time…there was definitely a little bit less grace for those ‘my daughter is sick’ or ‘she’s teething,’ ‘my mother in law can’t come in today and help.’ It just wasn’t a culture of allowances and none of my peers had kids yet.” (13:02-14:06)

• “The identity shift was huge. After I quit working, I got pregnant with my son pretty quickly after that. Writing definitely was on the back burner for a little while. It was a lot of giving myself grace. Promising myself, okay this is something that will be there. It was very hard watching people that were my peers get Senior Editorial jobs, and run publications, and write books and do all sorts of things while it felt like everyone was kind of leaving me behind. There was a process of having to let go a lot of comparing myself to other people…Everybody’s path looks different. Everybody’s career looks different. Everybody’s barometer for success looks different. There are plenty of people I worked with whose barometer for success would’ve been a stable marriage and 3 kids and I have that. There are plenty of people whose barometer was running publications and they did that. For me it was having to first off let some of that go and then also keep doing it. Even if it was just a freelance article every once in a while. I have great friends in the industry who were really wonderful about giving me assignments, not overwhelming me but giving me enough that I felt like I was still working, still involved in the industry…When the book started it became also something I could work on at my own pace…and have as a goal even when some of the other goals and benchmarks for me had changed.” (18:54-20:56)

• “I’ve had to learn and give myself the grace to say there are times when I can be fully present as a mom, and I need to focus on that. And there are times when I can accept help and am grateful for it and can say ‘okay my children are gonna be fine and I need to focus on work stuff.’” (25:54-26:14)

• “Without A Hitch is about a girl named Lottie who thinks that she’s going to marry her college boyfriend. She has her entire life planned out marrying this guy. College graduation rolls around and low and behold… he breaks up with her. She’s kind of sent into a spiral…There had been elements of that in our own stories…so she ends up working for a wedding planner and plans some of the most lavish, elaborate events for Southern wealthy clients and eventually through that journey plans her ex-boyfriend’s wedding and is forced to reckon with herself, why she had put so much of her identity in one person and kind of put parts of herself aside for that.” (35:16-36:28)

• “So many things are cultural, so many things are regional and about life. And at the end of the day obviously, as you know, there’s no real timeline. I think we all put these things on ourselves to have it all, to have it all at the same time, to have it all immediately or as everyone passed me by. I think one thing that Mary and I have talked a lot about is that there is no perfect timeline for anybody other than you.” (43:33-44:07)

Connect with Asher Fogle Paul:

https://asherfoglepaul.com/

https://www.instagram.com/asherpaul/

Subscribe to our Mailing List:

www.TheOfficialMomologist.com

Connect with The Momologist™:

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The Momologist™ is a production of The Reel Media Group.

For inquiries, please email: contact@thereelmediagroup.com

Elderberry Health Benefits for Families with Stephanie Rickenbaker Feb 08, 2022

Show notes

DISCLAIMER: The views provided in this episode and the show notes are for informational purposes only. No material is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this episode.

“Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, actually talked about elderberries in his papers. He called them his ‘medicine chest,’” explains Stephanie Rickenbaker, owner of Sweet’s Elderberry, a company that creates elderberry supplements loaded with health benefits. Stephanie first learned about elderberry syrup after her husband was diagnosed with leukemia. Although he is now healthy and in remission, his diagnosis prompted Stephanie to reexamine how the things she puts in her body impact her overall well-being.

While elderberries have been used as a natural remedy since ancient times, the media only recently caught onto their antiviral and antioxidant properties. Stephanie tells listeners that once the benefits of elderberry were more broadly publicized, she couldn’t produce her syrup fast enough. Clinical studies have shown that elderberry supplements like Sweet’s Elderberry syrup can help increase immunity and shorten the duration and intensity of illnesses like the flu. One of the biggest draws of Stephanie’s syrup is that it not only works to boost immunity, but it also tastes delicious, so kids will readily eat it!

Tune into this week’s episode of The Momologist™ for a conversation about elderberries, balancing between motherhood and entrepreneurship and the connection between diet and disease. Join us as Stephanie explains what motivated her to begin making major lifestyle changes, the difficulties of starting a business as a new mom, and why you should consider adding elderberries to your family’s health regimen.

Quotes

• “Wellness was not on my radar. And I kind of have regrets about what did get it on my radar, but it had to start somewhere. Right after I got married…my husband was diagnosed with leukemia…and that was a big eye-opener to me.” (06:15-06:45)

• “The thing about being an entrepreneur is you’re never done. There’s always something going through your head, and it’s hard to shut it off.” (15:39-15:58)

• “I do have some regrets about how invested I was in the business and growing and doing all of the things that I needed to do to make it successful when my babies were little because I missed out. I was distracted, and that’s just the honest truth.” (16:24-16:40)

• “You can’t do it all and do a good job.” (18:40-18:45)

• “Elderberry are these beautiful little tiny blackberries…With any food, particularly berries, the darker they are, the more antioxidants. They grow in these beautiful clusters and before they become berries, they are flowers…the elderflowers are usually in bloom early summer. For hundreds of years it has been known how their health benefits. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, actually talked about elderberries in his papers. He called them his medicine chest. They’re loaded with antioxidants, very antiviral. There are several clinical studies out there that show their benefits. There’s a study that shows it reduces the symptoms and duration of the flu. They’re very antiviral. You’re not supposed to eat them raw. They need to be cooked. It’s a very powerful natural remedy.” (21:40-23:43)

• “When I started, it was not that popular. In 2017, there was a huge flu. They talked about it on the news and word got out. Honestly, I could not make elderberry fast enough…the same thing happened when the pandemic started. March of 2020 was our biggest month ever. That big flu outbreak in 2017, the news talked about it and I think maybe Dr. Oz talked about it. People started trying it and saw oh gosh this knocked out my cold. Or gosh my flu was shortened, my symptoms went away and it tasted good. It’s a remedy that’s got a lot going for it. It works, it’s got the clinical studies that back it up, it tastes good, and it’s available.” (31:55-33:14)

• “The honey that we use is the best you can buy. We’re really the only ones that have the seasonal honey…the seasonality of our honey and the production, safety, we make it in this commercial kitchen that I bought last fall. I have a professional chef that makes it for me. We’re actually produced as a supplement instead of a food, which is a much higher standard. We’re inspected by the FDA. The standards…are much higher standard for that supplement label.” (56:42-57:55)

Stats

• “In Europe, they don’t make syrup the way we make it. Fifty percent of the elderberries that they grow are used for dyes. Like food dye, clothing dye.” (25:30-25:49)

• “One tablespoon of our elderberry syrup has 1500mg of elderberry.” (29:11-29:18)

Notable links:

Website:

https://www.sweetselderberry.com/

Sweet’s Blog Posts Referenced:

https://www.sweetselderberry.com/blogs/news/elderberry-and-cytokines

https://www.sweetselderberry.com/blogs/news/how-to-identify-elderberry

https://www.sweetselderberry.com/blogs/news/sweets-diy-kits-step-by-step

https://www.sweetselderberry.com/blogs/news/holistic-virus-care-kit

IG: @SweetsElderberry

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Raising Humans in a Digital World with Diana Graber Feb 01, 2022

Show notes

“If you have a choice between connecting with someone on a device or doing it in person, always choose a person before screens,” encourages Diana Graber, Author of Raising Humans In A Digital World and developer of the Cyber Civics curriculum. In today’s episode of The Momologist™, Diana breaks down important concepts related to screentime, cyberbullying, media literacy, and more as they pertain to raising children in our increasingly digital world.

Digital technology has unquestionably changed the way we raise our children. Diana developed the Cyber Civics curriculum that is now used in middle schools throughout 48 states and internationally to help prepare children to be conscientious digital citizens. She discusses the impact of screens on early child development and how to use technology more intentionally. She also covers several topics important for parents, including online safety, “oversharenting,” cyberbullying, and critical thinking.

Tune into this week’s episode on The Momologist™ for a conversation about raising children in a digital world. Join us as Diana helps teach moms and children to navigate the often complicated world of technology.

Quotes

• “Stop thinking so much about time and start thinking about content. Ask yourselves, what are our kids doing online? Time is really an ineffective measure right now because we don’t know if they need it to do schoolwork and all that. It’s more important to look at what they’re doing online.” (01:08-01:24)

• “I have yet to meet a teacher that doesn’t agree that kids have changed dramatically in the last 10 years. Their ability to stay on task and to stay focused today as it was pre-devices is just really different. They have to move faster and they have to be more on top of it…it didn’t use to be like that…Anecdotally, what teachers are seeing is a shift in kids’ ability to pay attention.” (17:11-17:46)

• “If your child is going to watch something, do it together. Be mindful of what they’re looking at and as much as possible limit it when they’re young. Don’t be so hard on yourself if you’re not able to stay to that strict one hour per day. Every expert out there will tell you we are in extraordinary times and we are all doing the best that we can.” (31:31-31:55)

• “They don’t need help learning how to use the tools. They need help developing the hardware upstairs that they use the tools well and smart and ethically.” (39:09-39:19)

• “If you have a choice between connecting with someone on a device or doing it in person, always choose a person before screens.” (41:27-41:34)

• “Moms, be easy on yourselves. This is a tough time and you’re doing the best you can. If you’ve got little ones just get through the day and be mindful of having those face to face interactions. And if you have older children, I really hope you advocate for digital literacy education in your classrooms. I can’t say enough, digital literacy is today’s literacy. It is so complex and there’s so many parts to it. Parents are super busy and don’t fully understand this world themselves. If kids are getting this education together in school it is powerful and it empowers them to look out for one another and as a community to lead the education and to be a fully digital literate participant in today's internet life. And they’re good citizens online and off, which is super important.” (1:18:38-1:19:30)

Stats

• “Only 15% of parents are in the know about their kids’ social networking habits and how those behaviors can lead to cyberbullying. 31% of children ages 12-18 have lied about their age in order to access a website. Only one third of households with internet access are protecting their children with filtering or blocking software.” (02:15-02:40)

• “A study from 2010 assessed the viewing habits of 1,323 children in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades over 13 months, and it found that the children who spent more than 2 hours a day in front of a screen either playing video games or watching TV were 1.6 to 2.1 times more likely to have attention problems.” (15:59-16:25)

• “It takes most children 12 years of life to develop abstract thinking skills. Abstract thinking is a prerequisite to ethical thinking.” (22:36-22:45)

• “[The American Academy of Pediatrics’] most recent recommendations are 0 to 2 no screens at all except doing face-time/zooming that kind of thing to see facial expressions…then they say kids 18 months to 24 months, if you choose to introduce screens, choose screens that you do together. And up to age 5 or so, they say one hour of screen time per day maximum.” (28:06-28:32)

• “The Goldilocks Hypothesis. They found that screen use exists on a bell curve…too much time on screens will lead to not great mental health for kids as does too little time or no time on screens…this is more for older kids, almost adolescents. It’s like 2.5 hours per day is that sweet spot that leads to the best well-being for children.” (34:06-34:43)

• “The tech limiters’ children are twice as likely as the children of mentors to access porn, to post rude or hostile comments online, 3x as likely to go online and impersonate a classmate, peer or adult.” (35:57-36:10)

• “92% of 2-year-old children have an online profile with photos and info posted within weeks of their birth. Parents post an average of 1500 images of children on social media before their 5th birthday.” (49:17-49:33)

• “The prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain that is the judgment center takes 26 years to fully develop.” (51:49-52:04)

Connect with Diana Graber:

www.cybercivics.com

www.cyberwise.org

www.dianagraber.com

IG: @Cyber.Civics

FB: @BeCyberwise

Twitter: @DianaGraber | @BeCyberwise

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The Momologist™ News Report - January 2022 Jan 25, 2022

Show notes

Welcome to The Momologist™ News Report! In today’s inaugural episode, Sasha divulges valuable information about topics in education, health, finance and children’s product recalls.

Sasha kicks off this month’s news report with a study about pandemic-related public school disruptions in the United States. She goes on to discuss important health research, including studies on the benefits of delayed cord clamping in preterm births, cardiovascular health benefits for breastfeeding mothers, and the dangers of phthalates in relation to pregnancy. Sasha also provides information about the child tax credit, the current rise in uninsured and underinsured children, and inflation with a focus on food and real estate costs. Finally, Sasha reviews notable recalls made for popular children’s products.

Tune into this week’s episode of The Momologist™ for the very first Momologist™ News Report with host Sasha Culpepper. Learn more about important hot topics in children’s education, health and finance that every mom should be aware of.

Notable Stats

• “For the week of January 10th, 2022, Burbio reported that there have been 6,273 K-12 pandemic-related public school disruptions in the USA.” (00:26-00:38)

• “Breastfeeding reduces mothers’ cardiovascular disease risk. Women who breastfed were less likely to develop heart disease or a stroke or die from cardiovascular disease than women who did not breastfeed according to a meta analysis published in a pregnancy spotlight issue of The Journal of the American Heart Association….Compared to women who never breastfed, women who reported breastfeeding during their lifetime had an 11% decreased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Over an average follow-up period of 10 years, women who breastfed at some time in their life were 14% less likely to develop coronary heart disease, 12% less likely to suffer strokes and 17% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease. Women who breastfed for 12 months or longer appear to be less likely to develop cardiovascular disease than women who did not breastfeed.” (02:40-04:18)

• “An Australian-led study found that aiming to wait just 60 seconds to clamp the umbilical cord of very premature babies at birth continues to have benefits 2 years on, decreasing the child’s risk of death or major disability….Researchers found that delaying clamping reduces a child’s relative risk of death or major disability in early childhood by 17%. This included a 30% reduction in mortality before the age of two. In addition, 15% fewer infants in the delayed clamping group needed blood transfusions.” (06:42-07:56)

• “A third of US kids lack good and consistent health insurance…The rate of underinsured youngsters rose from 30.6% to 34%, an additional 2.4 million kids from 2016 to 2019 according to an analysis led by University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers.” (08:46-09:11)

• “According to a forecast published by Trading Economics, the cost of food in the US increased 6.3% in December of 2021, over the same month in the previous year. It is the highest food inflation since October of 2008. Food inflation is expected to be 5% by the end of this quarter. In the long term, the US food inflation is projected to trend around 2% in 2023 and 2.1% in 2024 according to their econometric models.” (10:18-11:01)

• “A Market Watch article published this month highlights that the shelter component of the inflation barometer increased .4% between November and December, down slightly from a .5% uptick the prior month. Nevertheless, annual growth set records. In particular, the component that measures the equivalent rent that homeowners would pay for their house rose 3.8% between December 2020 and December 2021, the highest rate since 2007...The median rent nationwide increased 17.8% over the course of 2021.” (11:03-12:24)

Episodes Noted:

Episode 1 - Preparing for a Non-Toxic Pregnancy with Emma Rohman

Education Segment Sources:

https://cai.burbio.com/school-opening-tracker/

https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/supreme-court-blocks-biden-vaccine-mandate-applying-to-schools-in-much-of-the-country/2022/01

https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/about-us/coronavirus/ohs-covid-19-updates

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/21a240_d18e.pdf

Health Segment Sources:

https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/supreme-court-blocks-biden-vaccine-mandate-applying-to-schools-in-much-of-the-country/2022/01

https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/about-us/coronavirus/ohs-covid-19-updates

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/21a240_d18e.pdf

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220112094017.htm

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211209201654.htm

Hot Topic Segment Sources:

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-child-tax-credit-and-advance-child-tax-credit-payments-resources-and-guidance

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211206080221.htm

Recall Segment Sources:

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2021/Fisher-Price-Recalls-4-in-1-Rock-n-Glide-Soothers-After-Four-Infant-Deaths-2-in-1-Soothe-n-Play-Gliders-Also-Recalled

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2022/Hanna-Andersson-Recalls-Baby-Ruffle-Rompers-Due-to-Choking-Hazard

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2022/Backyard-Play-Systems-Recalls-Playsets-with-Wooden-Roof-Due-to-Entrapment-Hazard-Recall-Alert

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2022/Longwood-Forest-Recalls-Angel-Line-Bunk-Beds-with-Angled-Ladders-Due-to-Serious-Entrapment-and-Strangulation-Hazards-2-Year-Old-Childs-Death-Reported

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2022/Karmas-Far-Recalls-Infant-Bath-Seats-Due-to-Drowning-Hazard-Recall-Alert

Questions, Comments or Suggestions about The Momologist News Report?

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How to Create a Baby Registry with Yasmine Moussa Jan 18, 2022

Show notes

“There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to motherhood,” says Yasmine Moussa, blogger and entrepreneur. Yasmine’s blog, The Gentle Nursery, helps expecting and current moms take the guesswork out of making safe, non-toxic choices for their families. In today’s episode on The Momologist™, Yasmine breaks down how to create the best baby registry for your needs.

Yasmine explains that the first step to creating your baby registry is to decide what types of products you want and choose where to register based on the availability of those products. It’s important to include items for yourself for during and after pregnancy on your registry as well. She recommends including unique ideas such as a diaper fund, a doula fund, and other crowdfunding-style options to ensure your needs are met once the baby arrives. Yasmine dives into each area of baby care, from formula and diapers to crib mattresses and car seats, to help listeners learn what to look for and what to avoid.

Tune into this week’s episode on The Momologist™ for a conversation about making healthy product choices for yourself and your baby and how to create the perfect baby registry without getting overwhelmed. Join us as Yasmine breaks down important safety tips for mothers, so they can choose the most natural, non-toxic products for their baby. If you are pregnant, thinking of becoming pregnant, or have a loved one who is pregnant, don’t miss out on this episode!

Quotes

• “Just start with selection. Which stores are going to offer the products that you’re going to want for your baby? Really start with product selection. Look for places that offer what you want or they give you access to the products that you want through a universal baby registry.” (13:20-13:57)

• “There’s also things that are going to support you as a new mom…you also want to include things that are going to support you in the postpartum like breast pump parts, nursing accessories, parenting books. Remember, this is happening to the whole family, so you want to factor yourself in as well and don’t just make it a baby registry but really help your guests provide you with what you’re going to need.” (29:13-29:41)

• “I think the cooler thing to do is to have a diaper fund on your registry. That’s one of those alternative crowd-funding things that you can add to some of your registries. I really like the idea of a diaper fund. And the reason I think it’s good to not overwhelm yourself with a diaper stash before your baby is born is because sometimes babies react to diapers. You might have to switch brands.” (45:59-46:27)

• “Your baby’s crib mattress is the most important item to have nontoxic in your nursery because your baby spends thousands and thousands of hours sleeping in their first year of life and the materials in your baby’s crib mattress can off-gas into their breathing zone…You definitely want to avoid anything in your baby’s crib mattress along the lines of synthetic fabrics, polyester, even things labeled as eucalyptus. Vinyl waterproofing is a really big one because that’s a big off-gasser. Flame retardant chemicals. You want to look for mattresses that are naturally flame resistant using materials like wool. Avoid polyurethane film. Whenever possible in life I would say avoid polyurethane film. Ideally, when it comes to mattresses, you want to avoid products that are made in China. As far as I’m concerned, your crib mattress is where the budget should go. Do not cut corners on the crib mattress.” (51:29-52:55)

• “There’s no hard and fast rules when it comes to motherhood.” (1:12:00-1:12:03)

• “Keep the baby toys simple in the very beginning especially. Your baby doesn’t need a lot in the beginning. They really just want to see your face and do peek-a-boo. Keep it simple, especially when your baby is little.” (1:19:18-1:19:34)

• “As far as from a toxicity standpoint, it’s very important to consider what your baby’s playing with, how sensitive they are and what materials something is made from. A lot of times with babies under ten months, everything ends up in their mouth. So, during this short period of time, you really want to prioritize non-toxic toys, non-toxic materials.” (1:20:02-1:20:28)

• “I don’t want anybody to get overwhelmed. That is not the goal. The goal is to feel empowered and the goal is to feel like you have a good sense of what matters, what matters to you, and what you can do something about and what you can’t do something about. You can’t control everything. That’s not the goal. It’s to control what matters and influence what matters.” (1:25:42-1:26:04)

• “Flame retardant chemicals are generally known to be quite ineffective at reducing flammability. Certain product classes require flammability testing and resistance. A lot of mattresses, car seats, manufacturers will use flame retardant chemicals to meet these government regulations. The problem with that is that’s kind of the cheap and easy way of doing it, of meeting these regulations, passing these regulations and being able to put your product out on the market. But the problem is these flame retardant chemicals are ineffective, and really unhealthy. There are numbers and numbers of firefighters that have gone on record stating that these chemicals make fires more toxic, are not achieving anything, and are just hurting the individuals that are exposed to them.” (1:30:37-1:31:39)

• “The best advice I can give you as a mom who has been there, done it, and learned things along the way is just to be true to yourself. The only time I really regret decisions that I made is when I didn’t trust myself and I listened to other people that I thought I should be listening to. That’s when I kind of get down on myself and I think okay I wasn’t honoring myself. I know I have my own preferences. I know what works for me and when I didn’t do that that’s when I felt like I wasn’t happy with the choices that I made. Really be true to yourself. Know that you can do things differently, you can do things your own way. You can do what works for you and that’s okay. That’s perfectly a great way to start out your motherhood journey, by really being true to yourself and knowing what matters to you. Everything else will fall into place.” (1:48:33-1:49:26)

Notable Links:

Episode References:

Episode 1: Preparing For a Non-Toxic Pregnancy with Emma Rohmann of Green At Home

Episode 9: Child-Proofing In and Around Your Home with Brett Horn, founder of Charlie’s House

Website: www.gentlenursery.com

IG: @thegentlenursery

FB: The Gentle Nursery

FB Group: Non-Toxic Mommies

Join the Wait List for Baby Registry Bliss:

https://www.gentlenursery.com/waitlist/

**Use the code MOMOLOGIST to save $5 off your registration**

Yasmine Moussa’s Prenatal Wellness Company: Biomeology

**For a LIMITED TIME, save 10% on your purchase using the link below** *

[Note: The link below contains an affiliate link, meaning we’ll earn a small commission if you purchase through this link]

Biomeology Website

IG: @biomeology

FB: Biomeology

Topic Links:

Crib Mattresses:

https://www.gentlenursery.com/natural-baby-registry-guide/non-toxic-organic-crib-mattresses/

Car Seats:

https://www.gentlenursery.com/natural-baby-registry-guide/non-toxic-car-seats/

Formula:

https://www.gentlenursery.com/natural-baby-registry-guide/best-organic-baby-formula/

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Eye Health and Nutrition for Children with Dr. Neda Gioia Jan 11, 2022

Show notes

“Teach them young. Teach them what they’re eating, why they’re eating it,” says Dr. Neda Gioia, optometrist and founder of Integrative Vision. In today’s episode of The Momologist™, Dr. Gioia delves deep into the links between child nutrition and eye health.

Dr. Gioia explains that nutrition is a vital component of eye health due to the antioxidants we need to get from our foods. She explains the importance of carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, for ocular health and identifies which foods contain these antioxidants. When children don’t eat well, nutritional deficiencies can cause ocular damage as their bodies develop. Dr. Gioia also addresses key questions around screen time, the impacts of blue light, eye protection for sports, and more.

Tune into this week’s episode of The Momologist™ for a conversation about the role nutrition plays in eye health. Join us as Dr. Gioia tackles common myths and misconceptions about vision and addresses which foods to include in your child’s diet to promote healthy eye development. If you have concerns about your child’s ocular health or simply wish to ensure healthy eye development, don’t miss out on this episode!

Quotes

• “If we isolate our questions to just the eye, we’re going to miss so many other connections that we might be able to see." (13:39-13:46)

• “Kids are not actually eating well…The problem is, when these eyes age, are we starting them on the right foot? How can we protect the vision as the child develops? Lutein and zeaxanthin, which are the best type of carotenoids for the eyes, found in green leafy vegetables as the highest percentage…as well as the yellow of the yolk of an egg, goes into the eye and directly plants itself in parts of the eye especially something called the macula. The macula is a teeny tiny spot in the eye, in the retina, that contributes to over 90% of your vision and we have to replenish that area of the eye with these high level antioxidants. Kids are being exposed to higher amounts of reactive oxygen species, oxidation, which is unfortunately more apparent nowadays than maybe 100 years ago. We want to replenish them with these higher level antioxidants more consistently and the dietary intake is really important.” (16:42-18:35)

• “The problem with ocular nutrition is the problem with nutrition, period. The one problem that we have in ocular nutrition is these eyes are aging and they’re becoming more nearsighted. The rate of nearsightedness is increasing by a very high rate in children and this is a global problem, not a USA problem. Being nearsighted in and of itself puts you at risk for certain ocular diseases. It’s not just a simplistic ‘I wear glasses and contacts.’ That's the easy thing. It increases my risk of retinal damage, macular issues, glaucoma issues as I go into my elder years. So that’s a double whammy for these kids.” (18:50-19:47)

• “The biggest foods are your classic vegetables and fruits. The biggest vegetables for ocular carotenoids are your green leafy vegetables and it’s a daily ingestion not weekly.” (19:51-20:07)

• “First we have to step back. The glasses you buy in general have to go through checks and balances. Blue light unfortunately has zero checks and balances. It is an unregulated word. You have no idea what you’re getting. You’re starting already with confusion. The label has zero regulation…You have to be very careful to even know what you’re buying. Is it a myth? Yes. It is a myth as of now. There’s not enough research that has come out that solidifies that blue light from your screen is literally damaging your eye…You have to step back and you have to make your own judgements.” (22:38-24:23)

• “The biggest takeaway is teach them young. Start young. Teach them what they’re eating, why they’re eating it. Not: they have to eat it. As long as you educate yourself on food, because this is an inherent problem in our country…we are only becoming sicker and nutrition is one of the key elements of why. So, teach them young and know what foods you’re supposed to eat in general. Make it a part of your plan and show them why. This is to support your eyes. You can see better when you eat these foods. Give them the why and it works if you start them young.” (53:44-54:35)

Stats

• “An iris has 256 unique characteristics. Over six times more than your fingerprints. Your eye muscles are the fastest muscles in your body. Scientists estimate that people can see at least a million colors.” (00:48-1:04)

• “The average American ingests 1 to 2 milligrams of carotenoids.” (14:59-15:05)

• “The American Academy of Ophthalmology states that there isn’t any scientific evidence to support the use of these [blue light] glasses.” (22:09-22:18)

• “The screening [at the pediatrician] is not a routine eye exam…When are you supposed to have a routine eye exam? Six to twelve months. The American Optometric Association started a program called the Infant See Program where we promote infants to get an eye exam…We can see ocular problems in babies that can be found early and managed early and fixed. The brain to eye connection is very flexible under the age of 7 where you can actually mold certain connections between the eye and the brain.” (32:42-34:13)

• “Six to twelve months is the first time you’re supposed to get a routine eye exam. And if everything’s fine obviously, again around three to five years of age, which no one does. And then again right before their first grade level, so around six. Not a screener, but a routine eye exam.” (34:18-34:43)

• “The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends sports eye protectors with polycarbonate lenses. They note that 90% of children’s eye injuries can be prevented with protective goggles.” (50:29-50:51)

Notable links:

Website: www.integrativevision.com

Instagram: @integrativevision

FB: Integrative Vision

Learn More About Dr. Gioia’s Ocular Nutrition Consulting Services (Eye Exam PLUS™):

https://integrativevision.com/eye-exam-plus/

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Expert Tips on Decluttering Your Home with Katy Wells Jan 04, 2022

Show notes

“Your home doesn’t have to be perfect,” insists Katy Wells, declutter expert and host of the Maximized Minimalist Podcast. In today’s episode of The Momologist™, Katy dives into some of her favorite tips and tricks for decluttering and reorganizing your home more effectively.

Katy tells our listeners how to handle clutter, particularly toy clutter. She discusses several ways that we can minimize clutter, involve our family members in the clean-up process, and be more in control of what comes into our homes. While it can sometimes be tempting to reorganize items into different bins, Katy explains that it can often be more effective to clear out unnecessary clutter entirely. She explains the difference between clutter and expected mess and how to reframe your mindset about what your home should look like in order to reduce your stress levels.

Tune into this week’s episode of The Momologist™ for a conversation about how to begin the process of decluttering your home, how to rethink your relationship with stuff, and how to treat yourself and your family members with more compassion. If you are often overwhelmed by the amount of clutter in your living space, don’t miss out on this episode!

Quotes

• “Your home doesn’t have to be perfect in order to serve you and your family. The moment I realized that, I gave myself and my family so much more compassion and it felt all of a sudden like a weight lifted off my shoulders. Our homes, they don’t have to be perfect. Instead of striving for a home that’s always tidy and Instagrammable after image, I switched my mindset to ‘I want to strive for a home that’s easy to tidy.’” (13:43-14:06)

• “Even really small progress…is progress… Done is better than nothing at all.” (14:47-15:02)

• “If clutter and mess and just too much bothers me, then it also impacts my kids in some way.” (20:42-20:48)

• “The goal of toys is to get our kids to play and use their imagination and do what they were made and created to do. The more a toy does, the less your child will do with it.” (21:14-21:28)

• “There’s no better time than when our children are young to instill some of these really great life skills like being able to pick up after themselves and be responsible for their things.” (24:17-24:29)

• “Clutter is disorganized excess, stuff that simply doesn’t belong. Expected mess is a mess that happens from living life. Dirty dishes on the counter, laundry to be done, socks on the floor, toys on the floor. Normally, without clutter, expected mess is maybe annoying but it’s nothing to fret over…Expected mess should be fairly simple to handle. The issue comes up when we have clutter on top of that…Clutter makes expected mess a million times harder, and a million times longer to handle, and a million times more frustrating to handle because you’re constantly working through and around clutter.” (44:43-45:47)

• “Procrastination is one of the main reasons we have clutter and then clutter causes procrastination.” (51:56-52:00)

• “Is your relationship with stuff toxic? If all it does is steal your time, steal your energy, drain your bank account, cause you stress and give you really nothing in return but a ten second dopamine hit, that’s not a really fair balance or exchange. That’s not a friend I would ever want in my life, so why am I allowing my stuff to run my life?” (54:00-54:24)

Stats

• “Twelve billion dollars annually is spent on specifically unwanted gifts.” (34:08-34:15)

• “It costs an average of $10 per square foot to store things in our home.” (37:29-37:33)

• “Decluttering pays dividends in the long run. There are actual studies that show simply by decluttering your home, you can save up to 40% of time doing household chores.” (43:44-43:56)

Notable links:

Book Recommendations by Katy: Essentialism by Greg McKeown

• https://www.amazon.com/Essentialism-Disciplined-Pursuit-Greg-McKeown/dp/0804137382

Connect with Katy Wells:

Website: https://www.katyjoywells.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katyjoywells

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maximizedminimalist

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