The Art of Parenting

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.

• 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

“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

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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. 

• 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

“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

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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. 

• 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

“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.

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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.

• 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?

“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

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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 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

“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

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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 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.

“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

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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. 

• 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.

“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

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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.

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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.

• 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

“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.

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

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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. 

• 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.

“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

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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.

• 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

“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

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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. 

• 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

“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 

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

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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.

• 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

“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

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

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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.

• 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

“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

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

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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 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

“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

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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.

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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. 

• 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

“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

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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.

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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.

• 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

“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

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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.

• 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

“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

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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.

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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 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

“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

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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. 

• 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

“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

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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.

• 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

“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

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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.

• 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

“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

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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. 

• 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

“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

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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. 

• 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

“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

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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

“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.

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.

• 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 

“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.

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.

• 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

“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.

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’

“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.

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.

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.

• 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 

“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.

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

“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.

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

“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.

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 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

“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

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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. 

• 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. 

“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

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.

• 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

“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

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.

• 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

“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.

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 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 

“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

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. 

• 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

“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

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

• 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

“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

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

• 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

“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

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 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 

“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

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.  

• 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

“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

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.

• 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

“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

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.

• 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

“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

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 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

“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

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. 

• 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

“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

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

• 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

“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

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

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’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

“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

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 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?

“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

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

• 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

“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

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.

• 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

“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

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!

• 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

“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

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

• 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

“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

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. 

• 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

“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

Do you have distraction-free time? Listen in to find out why they are important and how to create them for yourself.

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

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.

• 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

“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

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.

• 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

“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

Do you wonder what the true benefits of having a mindfulness practice are? Listen in to find your answers.

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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.

• 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

“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

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How are you creating or finding community to support your parenting efforts? Listen in to find what my guest suggests and is doing herself.

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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

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.

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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. 

• 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

“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

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. 

• 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

“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!

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

• 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

“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

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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 is observation
• How to be a scientific observer
• What to Observe
• Observing ourselves, the environment, and our children

“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

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. 

• 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

“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

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How have you evolved as a parent or educator in comparison to how you were raised? 

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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.

• 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

“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

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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.

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• 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

“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

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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 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

“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

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!

• 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

“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

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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.

• 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

“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

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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.

• 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

“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

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.

• 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

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.

• 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’ 

“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

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.

• 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.

“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

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.

• 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

“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

Are you craving a better understanding of your child’s uniqueness? Listen in to find your answers.

Speaking with Debbie about neurodivergent children is always a delight. She is a wealth of information thanks to her own experience and must listen to anyone living or working with young children. 

• What to do if you suspect your child is wired differently?
• How to parent using a strength-based lens
• Moving away from trying to ‘fix’ challenging behaviors and instead support ‘lagging skills’
• What is a twice-exceptional child?
• What are some red flags to be aware of with our children
• The importance of honoring our child's individual timeline.

“Behavior is always an indication of a lagging skill, a nervous system that’s not being supported, and an unsolved problem.”

“We want to focus on strengths, where our children will spend most of their time as they grow up.”

“My entire parenting life has been one long journey of letting go.”

“Their brain is wired in a way that comes with unique experiences and how they navigate the world is just as valid as anybody else's.”

“Take a deep breath, take a pause. Remember that there’s nothing broken here that needs to be fixed.”

-Debbie Reber

“All kids are gifted; some just open their packages earlier than others.” - Michael Carr

“Why would we segregate those who are differently wired? What message does that give those children?” - Dr. Mona Delahooke

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

Are you worried you'll pass on your anxiety to your child? Listen in to find out how you can be a good model.

Letting our children fail and at the same time always being there to catch them at the bottom of the slide. A balance of modeling, working through tough times, and encouraging courageous actions. Dr. Mary Wrilde helps navigate these fine lines in today’s episode.

• Defining resilience and why it’s important to nurture it for our children
• Modeling how we deal with our own anxieties
• The importance of having our own alone time as parents
• How can we help our anxious children navigate their feelings?
• Do anxious parents create anxious children?

“As mothers, it’s important to give ourselves permission to have our own creative time.”

“Our children need to develop their own frustration tolerance.” 

“Anxiety is part of our existence, learn to ride its waves.”

“How we frame things as a parent shapes our children's inner dialogue.”

“It is absolutely possible to fall in love with parenting.”

-Dr. Mary Wilde

“Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.” - Angela Duckworth

“Talk about your failures without apologizing.” - Brené Brown

“Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” - Nelson Mandela

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

What you music do you share with your child? Listen in as the CEO of Music Together shares the benefits of sharing music early on.

Music has always been an important part of my life as a child parent and educator. Today’s conversation centers on how we can best introduce music to our children as well as all the benefits it provides to their developing brains.

• The natural flow of the Montessori music curriculum
• The positive impact music has on early childhood development & parenting
• Why it is important to share the music you love with your children
• How to incorporate music into your daily family life
• How to use music to get through some parenting challenges

“Parenting trends change, child development doesn’t.”

“The most important music to play for your child is the music you love as a parent.”

“Music has superpowers for babies' brains.”

“No matter how badly you think you sing, you have the most beautiful singing voice in the world to your child.”

“Being a musician doesn’t mean playing an instrument. Being a musician means playing your primary instrument which is your voice.”

-Susan Darrow

“There should be music in the child's environment, just as there does exist in the child's environment spoken speech. In the social environment the child should be considered and music should be provided.” - Dr. Maria Montessori

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

Do you ever wonder why you can get so triggered by your child's behavior? Listen in and find out why some of your own childhood wounds might be getting in the way of your parenting.

• Being aware of how your own traumas can impact your parenting
• The importance of healing trauma to live an authentic life
• How Emotional Regulation is necessary for both parents and children
• Helping our children process their emotions
• Anna’s 3 R’s: Regulate, Relate, Reason
• It all starts with healthy parental self-regulation
• Radical self-care is a lifestyle

“We’re here to support and nurture our children to become their authentic selves.” 

“We are so focused on their behavior, academics, and performance. We forget that there is a whole child behind the behavior.”

“The hardest part about parenting is not parenting. It’s the self-regulation of the parent.” 

“Your child is growing and so are you.”

- Anna Seewald

“Knowing oneself comes from attending with compassionate curiosity to what is happening within.” - Gabor Maté

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

If you or your child suspect something is not right, trust the instincts and take action. Listen in to learn how to spot a sneaky spider.

Trigger warning: As the episode unraveled it became a very emotional interview for me, as it might for you. I was triggered with some of the things she shared, realizing that I had been a victim of covert emotional abuse.

Dr. Amy took a moment to help me and all listening to be mindful and loving towards ourselves.

Please take good care of yourself and as Dr. Amy shared, have loving curiosity as to why some of these conversations may trigger you.

• How do we protect our children from abuse before the fact
• How to help children recognize the signs and be confident to report them
• What is covert emotional abuse and how to identify it
• How parents can help their children when they are feeling that something is not right
• The importance of Mindfulness
• Teaching our children to have physical and emotional autonomy

“Mindfulness is paying attention here and now with kindness and curiosity so that we can choose our behavior.”

“It’s very hard for children to understand that the person that’s being overly nice is a potential risk.”

“As uncomfortable as having these conversations with your children may be, it’s way more comfortable than having a conversation after the fact.”

- Dr. Amy Saltzman

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

Have you considered using a floor bed instead of a crib? 

Listen in as my guest explains why this is beneficial for the entire family. 

• Her personal discovery of Montessori education 
• Why using a floor bed rather than a crib makes a lot of sense
• Understanding that we are often at odds with the child
• Helping children do tasks by themselves
• Conventional Education vs. Traditional Education

“The conflict is not with the child. The conflict is in the development that I’m misunderstanding.”

“What makes it most challenging is when we are out of sync with what the child is trying to do.” 

“Resistance is a form of Independence.”

“Find a community to connect that you can rely on as you navigate parenting.” 

- Mariana Bissonnette

“These words reveal the child’s inner needs; ‘Help me to do it alone.” 

“Adults move because their will directs them, but not so with the small child. The small child is urged by nature.”

– Dr. Maria Montessori

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

Did you know there actually is a fourth trimester to birthing a child? An important period of transition after giving birth. My guest shares her difficult period during this time she had imagined would be very different. 

• Defining postpartum anxiety and depression
• How a postpartum doula can help you navigate early parenthood
• Loneliness and the need to have company as a new parent
• The reality of the Fourth trimester and learning what you need as a new parents
• The importance of holding to your instinctual power 
• Breastfeeding and formula and the importance of hiring a lactation specialist

“If there’s any way to put even half as much attention on yourself as you do on your baby, it would be so beneficial.”

“Whatever the mother needs is OK. Baby will be fine.”

“Hold onto your power. Your instinct is the one that is right.”

-Katie Grant

“You do not have to suffer in silence or feel ashamed. Our babies need us to be healthy during a time when we are overwhelmed the most.” - Brittany Willow Mayer

Truth: You are not alone.

You are not to blame.

With help, you will be well.

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

Are you craving a better understanding of your triggers and how to manage them? Listen in to find your answers.

Isn’t fascinating that to parent others we must first re-parent ourselves. Today’s episode is all about learning to not burden our children with our unhealed wounds but instead guide them to be their most authentic selves.

• The importance of having the willingness to identify our own patterns
• Understanding and healing our own wounds and triggers
• How to have children truly listen to your guidance
• What is an enrollment exercise
• Being mindful not to burden our children with our wounds or inflict new ones

“A wound is anywhere in your life when a need wasn't met or when you wanted something that didn’t happen for you.”

“Children listen to who you are energetically, more than what you say.”

“To be a parent and to live your life as aware as possible, is going to hurt your head.”

“We learn much more from our heartbreaks and disconnections if we are willing to go back and do the work.”

“Learn how to calm your nervous system, so you can meet your authentic needs.”

“‘Sorry’ is a cultural word that has been used as a shortcut.”

-Rhea Lalla

“Children don’t get traumatized because they are hurt. They get traumatized because they’re alone with the hurt.” - Dr. Gabor Mate

“Knowing that we can be loved exactly as we are, gives us all the best opportunity for growing into the healthiest of people.” -Fred Rogers

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” - Lao Tzu

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