For the final episode of the season, I am honored to chat with Lina Acosta Sandaal, MA, LMFT, a respected development expert, author, and founder of Stop Parenting Alone. She has just transitioned to interim Head of School at KLA Academy. We discuss everything from “how to choose the right school for your kid” to what we think about gentle parenting and other trends out there. We get into some of the most important life skills we strive for our kids to develop, and how to preserve our relationships in the process. Let’s dive in! https://www.klaacademy.org/

Sometimes it almost feels like we can describe our lives and identities as the pre-kids version of us versus the post-kids version of us. One of the areas, of many, that tend to become impacted by having kids is intimacy with our partners and security within our own bodies/identities. All of this can feel hopeless at times, or even like a big loss for women. Additionally, a mother’s everlasting mental load can be a blocker of intimacy and connection. Dr. Lisa Paz, marriage and family therapist, talks us through the challenges that women face both immediately postpartum and even years after having kids. She also provides us with practical suggestions for feeling more secure in our bodies, reconnecting with our partners, and finding intimacy once again—even if it is in a new way. Let's dive in! Disclaimer: Sexual Content--appropriate for adults only.

I have found one of my favorite motivational speakers ever—in my morning workout classes! Casey Gilbert, Fitness Instructor and Online Coach, works with individuals to get them “Un-stuck” and back on track with their fitness, nutrition, and mindset. Casey has literally made me a more mentally strong person, leading me to be a better mom, wife, friend, and person. I am so inspired by the way he can motivate people that I asked him to come on the podcast and give us some insight into how he does this and how we can take some of it for ourselves and share it with our kids. As someone who has battled with anxiety and depression, Casey also uses his social media platforms to de-stigmatize mental health (especially in boys/men) and makes sure to show people that what you see on the outside is not the full story. We also talk about childhood core beliefs, and what kids really need to hear from their parents. There are so many great nuggets in the episode and I'm certain you will leave more inspired and ready to face challenges. Let’s dive in!  IG: @CaseyfGilbert  http://Caseygilbertfitness.com

On this episode, Fia Aliotta , certified mindfulness coach, explains why mindfulness can be such a beneficial tool and approach in life—and how we can start introducing this to our kids at a young age. We also talk about the importance of self-compassion, especially for those kids who have a hard time making mistakes. Self-compassion is a part of developing a growth mindset. We also cover what co-regulation and co-dysregulation looks like, as well as what we can do to help shift the emotional energy of our child (and within ourselves). Lots of good stuff in this one so let’s dive in!Fia Aliotta  www.kindfullywithfia.com IG  @kindfullywithfia

Mom rage. What is it? How do we get there? How to cope in these really tough moments!? We are so lucky to have Dr. Tanya Cotler, Clinical Psychologist, author and speaker who specializes in reproductive mental health, infant mental health and parent-child attachment on this episode. We also cover tough parenting topics like shame, separation anxiety, parent triggers, boundary-setting, and more. We talk, in depth, about Dr. Cotler’s repair map, a guide she uses with parents to access both self-compassion and compassion for your children on your path to reconnect and preserve your relationship. There is so much wisdom in this episode—Let’s dive in!

Okay parents- TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT SEX can surely give some us the heeby jeebies! Let’s take all the advice we can get on the matter- and the first being that these anatomy/consent/touch conversations should happen much sooner than most people think. In this episode I chat with Dr. Lisa Paz, who holds a Doctorate in Clinical Sexology and is a Board Certified Sex Therapist and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She is also a mom of 3 boys. She guides us so nicely on the how-to’s in what can feel like such a tricky area for many. We also touch on intimacy after kids, but will have an entire other episode dedicated to this in the near future! Dr. Paz has an online course on talking to kids about sex. Lisa Abbie Paz, LMFT, PhD www.DrLisaPaz.com Let’s dive in.

Featuring Natalie Goldstein of Rise Child Development, in this episode we talk about the importance of understanding just how much our sensory systems, and the way they dictate our bodies and brains, really matters. Sensory processing matters in the way make sense of children’s behaviors. It also matters in the way we can help our children regulate (or even dysregulate). Every child (and parent) has their own sensory profile/preferences and it can make the world of a difference to explore it. I find this topic fascinating and also critical—I hope every parent listens! Let’s dive in!

While we don’t have full control over our children’s development, there are influences we have on the way our children develop. In this episode, SLP, Vanessa Stocki chats with me about how to create an enriching environment to support speech and language development in your child. She gives up practical daily strategies that we can practice at home with our little ones. Vanessa gives us her opinion on screen time for littles (you may be surprised by it!) and at the end we talk about when to look for extra support (red flags). Let’s dive in.

He made it on here! Okay, I know our version of co-parenting doesnt work for many people, but take a listen to our story. In this episode we get up, close, and personal about our dynamic—and the blended family aspect. We talk about the hard stuff, the easy stuff, and the important stuff. We share how it’s been to confront our not-so open-minded community in doing things our own, unique way. Let’s dive in!

It’s been a minute!I love the podcast. And every time I tried to come back to this space, something big got in the way (like having a baby)…and with the most recent event being, the October 7th massacre and violence vs. civilians in Israel. Then the growing wave of antisemitism, and the climate of violence and intolerance in general. It’s definitely been a lot to navigate emotionally, especially as a Jewish mother. Here’s to hoping the new year brings more light and kindness. Let’s dive in.

Girls are starting to diet really young (some at age 6). We are seeing more concerns with body image and relationship with food show up earlier and earlier. In this Episode, Registered Dietitian Raquel Papu Cohen & Soli Faerman of Luna interview me on why this is happening and how we can help model healthier body image and relationship with food at home with our young kids. They chime in from a dietitian’s lens. It’s an episode you don’t want to miss! You can find out more about their virtual hub, Luna at https://www.joinluna.co/ or follow them on instagram at @join.luna

I’m this episode, I chat with Jessica Sawiki, a certified child sleep consultant in the “Gentle Sleep Coach” program, in representation of all sleep-deprived parents out there (so….everyone 🫠). First we cover all things newborns and babies like routines, schedules, habits, swaddles, and then we move on to toddlers and older kid concerns like bedtime battles, nightmares, and good sleep etiquete. This was a super informative episode where Jessica answered lots of the questions I received from my social media followers. Let’s dive in!  To work with Jessica, reach out on website (hyperlink https://www.lulisleep.com/ ) or on IG @lulisleep

In this episode, Sarah Rotterman, mindfulness educator, joins me in the exploration of a taboo emotion in our society, anger. We talk about its purpose and the importance of allowing its existence in our life. We then cover when it becomes problematic and Sarah gives us some practical tools, games, and metaphors to help teach our children about their own anger, as well as how to help manage it in healthy ways. Let’s dive in!You can learn more about Sarah Rotterman at https://www.rottermind.com/ .

Many parents struggle with “picky eating”—but sometimes resistance to new foods goes beyond just being “picky.” Join me in this conversation with speech pathologist and feeding therapist, Melanie Gorin, who walks us through some of the other reasons behind picky eating, some of the signs to look for for when to find more support, and for some tips and tricks around helping kids try new foods and making mealtime fun.  Melanie Gorin @melgslp melgslp@gmail.com

Fantasy: my kids will love each other at first sight and be bonded forever.Fantasy: I will “just know” how to balance it all and parent both kids, in totally different stages. Reality: it’s all more complex than this! In this episode, I share with you what’s been one of the biggest transitions and adjustments of my life—going from one child for 8 years, to two children (and back to the newborn stage). I share with you the good, the bad, and the ugly. Happy listening!

By now we all know the physical health benefits that exist with moving our bodies, but adding sports to your kid’s life can extend the benefits way beyond the physical. In this episode Stephanie Dargoltz, LMHC, sports psychology consultant, and founder of Head In The Game, chats with me about the mental health benefits and important life skills, such as resilience, that can come from introducing your kids to sports, even at a young age. We talk about what to do when your kid wants to quit because they aren’t good at something, as well as how to guide our kids through their wins and loses. It is such a cool episode that you don’t want to miss! Find out more about Stephanie’s work with athletes by visiting her website (https://www.sdheadinthegame.com/)(please hyperlink this to. The word website) Or contact her at stephanie@sdheadinthegame.com

Many parents fear getting their children evaluated—and this makes sense. The fear of labels comes up for many. How will a diagnosis affect a child in their school? Amongst their peers? Or generally in their life? In this episode I invite Dr. Sanaa Mrabet, a licensed psychologists that provides evaluations to children as young as 18 months. She helps us better understand when a child may benefit from getting evaluated, how to go about it, and how to confront parental fears that may arise in the process. This is an important topic that is often not talked about enough as mental health diagnoses still carry stigmas, It is important that with information and conversations such as these, we continue on the journey to de-stigmatize mental health. For more information on Dr. Mrabet, visit www.potentialitysolutions.com

I am SO excited about this episode. Those of you that have worked with me, or followed me for a while know that I preach (and practice) conscious parenting. Many of you have heard about Conscious Parenting by now–it is such a revolutionary framework for how to raise our kids–but how do we implement it? And what gets in the way of it? Well, who better to answer these questions than the Conscious Parenting guru herself, Dr. Shefali! Dr. Shefali tells us about her new book, The Parenting Map, and digs into some of the deep concepts that it carries. We chat about some of the parenting misconceptions we hold–around our parenting fantasies, our parenting fears, our parenting responsibilities, and on honoring the essence of our children. I ask Dr. Shefali to talk about one of the biggest triggers I hear from parents–disrespect. We talk about what it takes to embark on a more conscious journey when it comes to raising our children–a practice that we must commit to, and one which requires our own self-work. You don’t want to miss this one! You can find Dr. Shefali’s powerful new book here–and I highly recommend it! Dr. Shefali received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Columbia University. Specializing in the integration of Western psychology and Eastern philosophy, she brings together the best of both worlds for her clients. She is an expert in family dynamics and personal development, teaching courses around the globe. She has written four books, three of which are New York Times best-sellers, including her two landmark books The Conscious Parent and The Awakened Family.

Hard truths in the world are hard enough to navigate for yourselves—but how should we navigate them with our kids? Parents come to me often wondering how much we should tell our kids about the hard stuff. Is it better to expose them to tough subjects, or is our job to shield them from the pain? Join me in this short episode for my philosophy around this and to learn handle this dilemma with my own daughter.

For some reason, having only one child feels like some sort of an anomaly these days, especially in the American culture. Some of us are at peace with having an only child while some of us struggle with the guilt of whether or not our child will be okay enough without siblings. For this episode, I invited Tara Clark, author, content creator, and founder of Modern Mom Probs— who not only has an only child, but happens to be one herself, to share her personal experiences and insights with us. I also share parts of my own motherhood story, and how I learned to make peace with just my daughter before getting pregnant many years later. Tara Clark, author and content creator can be found on IG @modernmomprobs or on her website. Her book, Modern Mom Probs, can be found here!  Tara also has a great podcast, which you can find and subscribe to, right here!