Mom Enough: Parenting tips, research-based advice + a few personal confessions!

How do you feel when you get a big hug from a friend you haven't seen for a while? Or how about a spontaneous kiss on the cheek from your child? Or your spouse holding your hand when you go for a walk? How do you imagine your child experiences the way you touch them, and what do you remember about your own experience of touch when you were a child?   Dr. Michael Banissy, a psychologist and neuroscientist, has spent his career studying different types of touch and the impact on health, wellbeing and relationship quality in all kinds of relationships at every stage of development. He has pulled together a wealth of information in his engaging new book, Touch Matters: Handshakes, Hugs, and the New Science on How Touch Can Enhance Your Wellbeing. He joins this Mom Enough episode from Bristol, England to share some of his most important and interesting findings with Marti & Erin – and you!   WHY IS TOUCH SO IMPORTANT TO WELLBEING? To what extent do you experience positive touch, and with whom? What would you change about that if you could? How about in your childhood, especially with your parents? How do you think touch helped shape the kind of relationship you had with your parents? What do you want to do the same or differently with your own children? Why?   WANT TO LEARN MORE? ❉ THE BENEFITS OF ROUGH AND TUMBLE PLAY: A CONVERSATION WITH EDUCATOR MIKE HUBER ABOUT ROUGHHOUSING. Early childhood educator Mike Huber from St. David's Center for Child & Family Development (a supporting partner of Mom Enough), understands how valuable rough and tumble play is to children's learning and development. He joins Marti & Erin in this Mom Enough® episode for a lively discussion of this often overlooked aspect of children's experience, prompting funny memories for Marti & Erin and inspiring them to do a little roughhousing themselves.   ❉ TOUCH MATTERS. Check out Dr. Michael Banissy's latest book.

The passing of Title IX paved the way for women and girls to have equitable access to sports. However, there continue to be challenges to girl's and women's participation in sports. For example, many girls drop out of sports during puberty. And, during the pandemic, 1 in 4 girls did not return to sports. Furthermore, coaches' unconscious gender bias and stereotypes are significant factors in girls dropping out of sports. So, what can be done to ensure girls stay in sports and enjoy the many benefits of sports participation?   University of Minnesota researcher Dr. Nicole LaVoi joins Marti & Erin Erickson of Mom Enough® to discuss Coaching HER, a new tool for sport coaches that is addressing gender inequalities and training coaches to ensure girls stay in sports. Tune in to learn more about this innovative and evidence-based tool that is bridging barriers to girls continued participation in sports.   WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT GIRLS SPORTS PARTICIPATION? How do coaches' unconscious bias and gender inequalities affect girls participation in sports? Who might benefit from Coaching HER? What can we do to ensure girls have the same opportunities as boys?   WANT TO LEARN MORE? ❉ THE BENEFITS OF SPORTS FOR CHILDREN: WISDOM ON BEING THE BEST SPORTS PARENT YOU CAN BE FROM COACH AND PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR JOHN TAUER. Listen to this episode to learn more from coach, psychology professor, and author of Why Less Is More for WOSPS: How to Be the Best Sports Parent You Can Be. (Click book image to purchase through our affiliate link.)   ❉ BEING GOOD SPORTS PARENTS: BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN YOUR YOUNG ATHLETES. We've all seen them (and many of us have been them) – the sports parents yelling at the referee, coaching their child from the sidelines or booing the other team. What are kids learning when they see that behavior? And how does that parental behavior affect children's health, well-being and feelings about sports? Tune into this Mom Enough® episode with University of Minnesota researcher Dr. Nicole LaVoi for answers to these questions and more!   ❉ HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR CHILD GET THE MOST OUT OF PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS? AND WHAT ARE THE PITFALLS TO AVOID? Listen to this oldie, but goodie, Mom Enough episode with child development professor and longtime advisor to student-athletes, Dr. Richard Weinberg, who shares the dos and don'ts of nurturing your child's athletic talents and interests.   Amazon Links are from the Associate Program. Mom Enough® may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only share links to products that we have personally reviewed and/or used. Your purchase helps Mom Enough continue to offer evidence-based information at no cost to our listeners.

If we think about the kind of friend, spouse, care provider, boss or public leader we want, we probably would name empathy as an essential quality. Empathy encompasses seeing through another's eyes (cognitive empathy), feeling what that person feels (emotional empathy) and taking action that is attuned to that person's feelings (compassionate empathy). But how does someone become empathic? At what age are children first capable of empathy? And what is the role of parents and other adults in nurturing empathy as children develop?     In this episode of Mom Enough, Dr. Megan Gunnar, professor in the University of Minnesota's Institute of Child Development, joins Marti & Erin to discuss early signs of empathy in infancy, the growing capacity for compassionate empathy in the toddler period, and simple, practical ways parents can encourage and expand children's empathy in everyday interactions at every stage. Nurturing empathy is one of the most important things we can do to help our children grow up to be the kind of people we hope they will be. And it is one powerful way we can be leaders in making the world a better place for all! Thank you to Mom Enough's longtime supporting partner Help Me Grow for bringing this episode to you.   IN WHAT WAYS ARE YOU NURTURING EMPATHY IN YOUR CHILDREN? Thinking of children in your family, when did you first notice signs of empathy in them? What have you done (or could you do) to help them develop and use what Dr. Gunnar calls “compassionate empathy”? And what steps can your whole family take to deepen your empathy toward all, even people who seem different from you in background, experience or beliefs?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EMPATHY? ❉ THE DANISH WAY OF PARENTING: AN INTERVIEW WITH JESSICA JOELLE ALEXANDER. Denmark has frequently been ranked as one of the happiest countries in the world. It is a culture that celebrates togetherness and hygge (cozy conviviality), teaches empathy, and believes children should have a voice and be respected. All of these factors play a part in how Danes parent. Tune into this Mom Enough episode with Jessica Joelle Alexander, best-selling author of The Danish Way of Parenting: What the Happiest People in the World Know About Raising Confident, Capable Kids.   ❉ HELPING CHILDREN BUILD EMPATHY: A DISCUSSION WITH UNSELFIE AUTHOR, MICHELE BORBA. When people ask author and educational psychologist Michele Borba what kids need to be successful and happy, she confidently proclaims, “Empathy!” And yet, our popular culture, with its emphasis on “I” and “me” seems to fly in the face of empathy as a core value. We've all seen kids and adults alike constantly snapping “selfies” to document their every move. What other factors have contributed to these changes? And, most importantly, what can we do now as parents, teachers and other caring adults to make sure children build this important quality of empathy from the earliest years? Dr. Borba joins Marti & Erin for a rich discussion in this Mom Enough episode. Tune in to hear her practical strategies for putting empathy front and center in your child's life and in the life of your whole family.   ❉ RAISING FEMINIST BOYS: DR. BOBBI WEGNER DISCUSSES GENDER, SEX & EMPATHY. Psychologist and author, Dr. Bobbi Wegner joins Marti & Erin for a compelling conversation on the importance of teaching our children — and especially our sons — about sex, consent, identity, gender, and empathy.

Many of us cringe when we think about our early adolescence and the emotional ups and downs of middle school or junior high, as it used to be called. We may recall being teased or bullied or inexplicably dropped by someone we thought was our best friend forever. Or perhaps we recall insensitive or downright cruel things we said or did to others. (Did you ever write nasty comments in a “slam book”? Or get tearful when you saw what someone wrote about you?)   To what extent is the social world of middle school still the same for today's young people? And how might our own memories inadvertently shape our children's experiences, for better or worse? Bestselling author Judith Warner has a fascinating new book on this complex topic, And Then They Stopped Talking to Me: Making Sense of Middle School, and joins Marti & Erin for a rich and personal discussion of those ever-timely issues!   WHAT COMES UP WHEN YOU THINK OF MIDDLE SCHOOL? What are some of your strongest memories of your middle school (or junior high) experience? How did those experiences shape your confidence, determination and emotional well-being, both positively and negatively? What did you learn from those experiences and what do they lead you to say and do to support your children in navigating that time of opportunity and challenge in their own lives?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SUPPORTING YOUR MIDDLE-SCHOOLER? ❉ THE POWER OF THE TEENAGE BRAIN: AN INTERVIEW WITH PSYCHIATRY PROFESSOR AND AUTHOR, DR. DAN SIEGEL In this conversation with Marti & Erin, Dr. Siegel debunks common myths of adolescence, illuminates exciting changes in the teenage brain and offers practical tips for parents and teens.   ❉ CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES: WHAT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT SCIENCE TELLS US ABOUT HELPING ADOLESCENTS THRIVE, Dr. Laurence Steinberg, a well-known author, has spent decades studying adolescents and has arrived at a much more positive view of what he terms The Age of Opportunity (the title of his latest book). He joins Marti & Erin for a rich and hopeful discussion of how recent research on adolescent brain development can inform the ways we guide our teens to a healthy, happy, productive adulthood.   Mom Enough® is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, which means we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your purchase helps Mom Enough continue to offer evidence-based information at no cost to our listeners.

Award-winning Minnesota author, Shannon Gibney, joins Marti and Erin Erickson of Mom Enough® for a captivating discussion on her latest book — a speculative memoir of transracial adoption. The Girl I am, Was, and Never Will Be masterfully weaves together the story of Gibney's life as a transracial adoptee with an imagined tale of her life had she not been placed for adoption. The resulting braided story brings to light the unique and often painful challenges of being a transracial adoptee, and adds to the public discourse on adoption in a beautiful way.   Shannon Gibney gives voice to the complex emotions experienced by adoptees and explores the "cultural losses" associated with being a transracial adoptee. She gives listeners an inside perspective into her writing process and how this book affected her as a mother. Tune in to this moving and fascinating conversation and learn more about Gibney's incredibly creative memoir and personal story.   WHAT WAS MOST IMPACTFUL TO YOU IN GIBNEY'S STORY OF TRANSRACIAL ADOPTION?  How can people make sense of their lives when there are gaps in their knowledge about personal, family, or ancestral history? What might you imagine as an alternate reality to your life now or in the past, or your family history? How might the process of imagining a different story for your life help you better understand your life now?     WANT TO HEAR MORE ON ADOPTION? ❉ MOTHERHOOD SO WHITE: A DISCUSSION ON RACE, ADOPTION, AND PARENTING IN TODAY'S WORLD. As a single Black woman who chose to become a mother through adoption, author Nefertiti Austin took to writing her own experiences in her critically acclaimed memoir, Motherhood So White: A Memoir of Race, Gender and Parenting in America. Tune in to this Mom Enough episode as Austin shares her moving and empowering journey to and through motherhood.   ❉ A BIRTH MOTHER'S STORY OF LOVE, HOPE & RESPECT THROUGH OPEN ADOPTION. When Christine Bauer was an 18-year-old college student just beginning pursuit of her educational goals and life dreams, she didn't expect to confront what she refers to as “those three words” – “You are pregnant!” Now, decades later, Chris has used Those Three Words as the title of an eloquent book that tells the story of her choice to place her baby for open adoption and the remarkable relationships that have developed over the years among everyone involved. You will be touched by this hopeful story of love and choice.

As a Social Work professor, Oliver Williams has devoted his career to helping men find the strength, compassion and self-control to treat their partners and children kindly and respectfully. With a special focus on African American men, Oliver works with local communities and national and international organizations to reduce domestic violence and support positive fathering.   In this warm and thoughtful conversation with Marti & Erin, Oliver draws on his work and, even more, his personal experience with his father (who died when Oliver was 16), the older brother who became a father figure to him, and son Samuel, who, for 26 years, has been the light of Oliver's eye (and mom Sonia's). We thank Oliver for helping us remember and celebrate the fathers in our lives!   WHAT STANDS OUT TO YOU WHEN YOU THINK OF FATHERS? What are some of your strongest childhood memories of your father (or a father figure if you didn't grow up with your father)? How do you think your children will answer that question when they are older?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FATHER'S & FATHERHOOD? ❉ DADS MATTER: THE ROLE OF THE FATHER IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT MOMS CAN DO TO HELP DADS SUCCEED. Andre Dukes of the Northside Achievement Zone in Minneapolis, joins Marti & Erin to discuss the role of the father in child development, the benefits of father involvement throughout a child's life, and what we all can do to help men be the dads their children need.     ❉ BETWEEN FATHERS AND DAUGHTERS: A CONVERSATION WITH AUTHOR AND RESEARCHER DR. LINDA NIELSEN. A wealth of research highlights the importance of fathers to the development of both sons and daughters. Yet many women say they don't really know their fathers very well and/or they often feel criticized by their fathers. In situations of divorce or separation, these issues often are even more pronounced. But, as Linda Nielsen knows from her research on the relationship of fathers and daughters, there are steps adult daughters can take to put their relationship with their fathers on a more positive path. And, dads, whether your daughter is a toddler, teen or adult, you can build a closer more supportive relationship with her. However the father-daughter relationships play out in your family, you will find this Mom Enough discussion insightful and encouraging!

How do you feel when you get a big hug from a friend you haven't seen for a while? Or how about a spontaneous kiss on the cheek from your child? Or your spouse holding your hand when you go for a walk? How do you imagine your child experiences the way you touch them, and what do you remember about your own experience of touch when you were a child?   Dr. Michael Banissy, a psychologist and neuroscientist, has spent his career studying different types of touch and the impact on health, wellbeing and relationship quality in all kinds of relationships at every stage of development. He has pulled together a wealth of information in his engaging new book, Touch Matters: Handshakes, Hugs, and the New Science on How Touch Can Enhance Your Wellbeing. He joins this Mom Enough episode from Bristol, England to share some of his most important and interesting findings with Marti & Erin – and you!   WHY IS TOUCH SO IMPORTANT TO WELLBEING? To what extent do you experience positive touch, and with whom? What would you change about that if you could? How about in your childhood, especially with your parents? How do you think touch helped shape the kind of relationship you had with your parents? What do you want to do the same or differently with your own children? Why?   WANT TO LEARN MORE? ❉ THE BENEFITS OF ROUGH AND TUMBLE PLAY: A CONVERSATION WITH EDUCATOR MIKE HUBER ABOUT ROUGHHOUSING. Early childhood educator Mike Huber from St. David's Center for Child & Family Development (a supporting partner of Mom Enough), understands how valuable rough and tumble play is to children's learning and development. He joins Marti & Erin in this Mom Enough® episode for a lively discussion of this often overlooked aspect of children's experience, prompting funny memories for Marti & Erin and inspiring them to do a little roughhousing themselves.   ❉ TOUCH MATTERS. Check out Dr. Michael Banissy's latest book.

Many of us, both adults and young people, report feeling worn down and powerless in the face of the conflict, tragedy and heartache that are so prevalent in our communities and the world today. So, what can we do to feel more engaged in creating solutions?   Mom Enough guest, Michael Thatcher, CEO of the nonprofit Charity Navigator, brings a message of hope and empowerment about how giving to others – of time, talent and/or treasure – becomes a lasting gift to ourselves and our children. Drawing on his own experience as a child and a father, and highlighting the extensive resources of Charity Navigator, Michael inspires us to start right now to engage our children of any age in becoming givers, now and throughout their lives.   WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE ON YOUR PATH TO RAISING GENEROUS CHILDREN? What experience have you had as a giver of your time, talent and/or treasure (however small)? What have you done to instill generosity in your children? Listening to this Mom Enough discussion, what new things could you try? What causes or issues are important to you or your children, and what can you learn about credible charities related to that by visiting Charity Navigator?   WANT TO LEARN MORE? ❉ DOING GOOD TOGETHER: SIMPLE WAYS TO EMPHASIZE FAMILY CONTRIBUTION. Dr. Jenny Friedman is devoting her life to helping families like yours find simple but powerful ways to engage children in the "3 Cs" -- connection, competence and contribution -- with a special emphasis on “contribution.” She joins Mom Enough® in this episode with helpful tips for family contribution. You are sure to be inspired by the practical ideas and compelling reasons for getting your family on the path to doing good together!   ❉ ENGAGING KIDS IN FAMILY MONEY DECISIONS. “Who is interested in shaping your child's attitudes around money?” That is the first question posed by this week's Mom Enough children and money guest, Nathan Dungan, financial advisor and founder of Share, Save, Spend. The answer to that question – and examples of how our culture lures our kids to spend, spend, spend – should make us all sit up and take notice! But we do not need to be powerless. From 5-minute family money meetings to teachable moments at the grocery store, restaurant or ATM, this Mom Enough episode is packed with ways to clarify your own values about money, instill those values in your children, and give your kids voice and choice in family money decisions.  

Do differences between men and women, and boys and girls, actually exist? What challenges are at play that make it difficult for women to be "on par" with men in the workplace and financially? How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact women's careers?   Jenna Fisher, the author of To the Top: How Women in Corporate Leadership are Rewriting the Rules for Success, joins Marti & Erin of Mom Enough® to answer these questions and more! She offers compelling insights on disparities between men and women in job titles and pay, women's career timelines, and how much time women want to spend working. Tune in to learn more about how women can bridge gender disparities, be successful, and raise their daughters to do the same.   WHAT STEPS HAVE YOU TAKEN TO ATTAIN SUCCESS AS A WOMAN? How have you experienced what Jenna Fisher discusses as far as disparities in pay and job titles? What would be your ideal work schedule and how would that contribute to your attainment of career goals? In what ways has motherhood affected your career? What factors inhibit or allow you to be more successful as a woman?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SUCCESS FOR WOMEN? ❉ EMPOWERING GIRLS TO BECOME STRONG WOMEN: A DISCUSSION OF WORDS, BODY LANGUAGE AND DARING TO TAKE UP SPACE. Longtime educator and founder of aWe, Inc. (Academy for Women's Empowerment), Kristi Hemmer joins Marti & Erin for an important and provocative discussion of the ways girls and women give away their power through speech, body language and attributions that dismiss their own talent and hard work. Listen with a friend and then consider how you can claim your own power and raise your daughters to do the same.   ❉ RAISING A “GUTSY GIRL”: A CONVERSATION WITH ADVENTURER AND AUTHOR CAROLINE PAUL. Caroline Paul believes we too often undermine girls' competence and self-esteem and deprive them of exhilarating adventures. So she's written a unique guidebook for girls (and women!) called The Gutsy Girl: Escapades for Your Life of Epic Adventure. This book is packed with stories of her own adventures and those of other daring women, practical tips on changing a tire or climbing a mountain, and space for the reader to journal about her own escapades. Caroline brings her ideas to life in this enthusiastic conversation with Marti, who describes a few adventures of her own! You won't want to miss this episode of Mom Enough.

Does anyone in your family have ADHD? If so, do you often feel frustrated by their indecisiveness, disorganization, lack of motivation or difficulty finishing what they start? Dr. Norrine Russell, this week's Mom Enough guest, understands your frustration and exhaustion.   An ADHD coach and mom of two complex kids with ADHD and other challenges, Dr. Russell first wants you to know that ADHD is not a behavior problem, but a neurodevelopmental disorder; your kids are not just intentionally being “lazy” or “sloppy.” Also, all kids with ADHD are not alike. Some struggle most with starting a task, others with sticking with a task. Some feel paralyzed when they have to make choices among too many options – or figure out where to start when their whole room is pure chaos. But Dr. Russell also knows there are evidence-based practices that can help your child learn to live better with ADHD. And there are professionals who can determine the treatment and supportive strategies that will be most appropriate for your child. There are several people in Marti & Erin's family who have ADHD, so they were soaking up Dr. Russell's wisdom and practical tips. They think you will be too!   DID THIS EPISODE CHALLENGE YOUR BELIEFS ABOUT ADHD? Why did Dr. Russell say it's a mistake to think of ADHD as a behavioral problem? Think of people you know who have ADHD, children or adults. What are the different ways their neurodevelopmental disorder shows up in their everyday life? What kind of treatment, coaching or support have they had and how has that helped?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ADHD? ❉ THE PLACE OF MEDICATIONS IN CHILDREN'S TREATMENT. As parents, we often have strong reactions to the idea of medicating children because of emotional or behavioral problems. But, as this Mom Enough guest knows, medicating children sometimes can free them to learn and play and thrive. Dr. Elizabeth Reeve joins Marti & Erin for a thoughtful and informative discussion about the proper place of medication in a child's treatment, how to explain the need for medication to the child, and how to head off inappropriate use of these prescription drugs.   ❉ HOW ART HELPED DAV PILKEY RISE ABOVE ADHD & DYSLEXIA: HOPEFUL INSIGHTS FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS AND DOG MAN SERIES. Dav Pilkey was a self-described trouble-maker in the early years of school, often ending up alone in the hallway when his teacher had had enough. Struggling with both reading and attention, Dav passed his time by drawing cartoons of the colorful characters in his imagination – a superhero named Captain Underpants was created in 2nd grade! Dav describes how he eventually became an avid reader and a highly successful author and artist whose books have engaged countless kids, including many reluctant readers. Dav's story and his wise advice will inspire you whether or not your own children struggle as Dav did.

If you are like many moms, you probably have a story you tell yourself about what a “good mom” does. And trying to live up to that story probably leaves you feeling unfulfilled and unproductive at the end of most days, asking yourself, “How can I be so busy and have so little to show for it?” Perhaps you need to live more by doing less and find the joy of missing out!   Tonya Dalton, author and productivity expert, cuts to the chase on these issues in her book The Joy of Missing Out and in her conversation with Marti and Erin, offering practical tips on how to find your purpose (your North star!), clarify your priorities and simplify your life. Here key take-aways include Erin's favorite, “Every time you say yes, you are saying no to something else,” and Marti's mantra, “To be truly productive, we need to give our brains a little space to play and explore.” Listen to this lively conversation and then reflect on what you can choose to miss out on so you can savor those things that are truly important to you. You will benefit and so will your children.   WHAT JOY MIGHT YOU FIND IN MISSING OUT? Thinking about the past couple of weeks, what things did you do that led you to ask, “Why did I say yes to this? How is this consistent with my values and purpose?” When you said yes to those activities, what were you saying no to? (For example, fun time with your children, maintaining your own health, getting enough sleep, taking steps toward an important goal.) What do you resolve to do differently in the next couple of weeks?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO MISS OUT? ❉ WHY “ME TIME” MATTERS: HOW YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN BENEFIT WHEN YOU TAKE TIME TO CARE FOR YOURSELF.  As a mom, you may feel guilty when you take time for yourself – enjoy some “ME Time”. You may worry that you're neglecting your children's needs if you go out with friends, have a date night with your partner, take time to go to a class, take a nap, exercise or even just relax in a hot bath. But, for many reasons, taking time for yourself can help you be a better mother and help your children be healthier, happier people, now and later. Tune in to learn why this time is so important (and why saying "No" means "Yes" to something else). ❉ The Joy of Missing Out. Check out Tonya Dalton's book and learn more about the joys of missing out.

Meg Zucker was born with one finger on each hand, shortened forearms, and one toe on each foot as a result of a genetic condition called ectrodacyly. When she became pregnant, she learned that she had passed along this condition to her son. She would eventually pass this on to her second son as well. And, she subsequently adopted a daughter, who had her own differences. Through her own experiences growing up "different" and her experiences as a mother, she learned how to best support children with disabilities and differences.   The author of Born Extraordinary: Empowering Children with Differences and Disabilities, Meg Zucker joins Marti & Erin of Mom Enough® to discuss how we can empower our children and raise them to know they are enough, just as they are. She discusses what parents need to first learn for themselves before they can be successful with their kids. And, she shares the importance of finding the balance between self-sufficiency and being willing to accept help. Highlighting the gifts of "being different," Meg shares an inspiring message of hope that you won't want to miss!   HOW CAN WE SUPPORT CHILDREN WITH DIFFERENCES? What can parents do to find self-acceptance for themselves? What steps can we take to empower our children with disabilities and differences? When it comes to bullying, why isn't kindness enough for kids with differences?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND DIFFERENCES? ❉ PARENTS' ROLE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT. Language development in infants and young children is a critical foundation of literacy, school achievement, positive social relations and regulating emotions. Language is the key to thought. This is true for all children, including those who are bilingual and those who are deaf and hard of hearing and learning sign language. Dr. Susan Outlaw offers empowering guidance and practical tips for how to support your child's optimal language development.   ❉ UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD OR TEEN WITH ADHD. An ADHD coach and mom of two complex kids with ADHD and other challenges, Dr. Russell first wants you to know that ADHD is not a behavior problem, but a neurodevelopmental disorder. Your kids are not just intentionally being “lazy” or “sloppy.” Also, all kids with ADHD are not alike. Dr. Russell shares evidence-based practices that can help your child learn to live better with ADHD.   ❉ ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS ABOUT ADHD. Dr. Norrine Russell is the co-author with Heidi Condrey of Asking the Right Questions About ADHD. Dr. Russell joins Marti & Erin of Mom Enough to discuss the important questions parents would want to ask if their child has ADHD. She outlines what questions are essential before, during and after a child is identified as having ADHD.   ❉ BREAKING THE CYCLE OF BULLYING IN KIDS WITH ADHD & LEARNING DIFFERENCES. David Flink, a 2021 CNN Hero and the Chief Empowerment Office of Eye to Eye, joins Marti and Erin of Mom Enough for this important conversation on the link between ADHD, learning differences, and bullying. Having been diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD at a young age, David shares personal insights about growing up with these diagnoses. Tune in to hear his story, learn about Eye to Eye, and gain a better understanding of how to support children with ADHD and learning differences.   ❉ RECOGNIZING LEARNING DIFFERENCES AND HELPING CHILDREN BUILD ON STRENGTHS AND INTERESTS. Does your child struggle with homework, seem fidgety much of the time, or look dazed when directed to do something? Perhaps you (and your child's teachers) need help in figuring out the optimal ways your child learns. Dr. Elaine Fogel Schneider knows there are individual differences among kids who do not meet criteria for a learning disability but who could benefit from extra support and analysis of the ways they learn best. And that kind of support is likely to help them find the confidence and joy they d...

April is Month of the Military Child, but military life presents challenges year-round to both parents and children. Blue Star Families is an organization with a mission to study and address those challenges, supporting military and veteran families in overcoming the risks they and their children often face.   Dr. Jessica Strong, Senior Director of Applied Research at Blue Star Families, joins Marti & Erin to discuss results of this year's survey study of more than nine thousand families. This study highlights challenges related to separation of family members, and frequent relocations. It also shows the impact on spousal employment, childcare, financial security, and instability of social networks for both children and adults -- a risk factor at any age. Jessica speaks not only as a researcher, but also as an army spouse, mother of three children, and a professional who left a tenure track professorship when her husband was relocated. If you are part of a military family or if you know someone who is, this podcast is for you.   HOW CAN WE SUPPORT MILITARY FAMILIES, AND ESPECIALLY MILITARY CHILDREN? What did you learn from this discussion about the challenges of military life, both for children and parents? If you are in the military or if you know people who are, what do you think the military could do to reduce these challenges? And how could you reach out to parents or children you know who are in these challenging situations, maybe even from a distance?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SUPPORTING MILITARY FAMILIES? ❉ MOM ENOUGH LIVE: A STORY OF HOPE, HELPING VETERANS FIGHT PAIN & ADDICTION. More than one in 10 veterans struggle with a substance use disorder. So, what factors contribute to this? And how can we better support our veterans? Watch this Mom Enough Live episode to learn more from Dr. Kerry Brockberg, co-author of End Your Covert Mission: A Veterans Guide to Fighting Pain and Addiction, which is published by Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. Learn about why pain and addiction are such important topics for veterans and how military and veteran culture can be both a risk and protective factor. You want want to miss this episode with psychologist, mother and wife to a veteran, Dr. Brockberg.   ❉ HELPING A MILITARY FAMILY CREATE A PLAN FOR STAYING STRONG THROUGH SEPARATIONS. A Mom Enough listener asked for advice on supporting her grandchildren (ages 3 and 7) during their mom's year-long deployment. Just after their mom gets home, their dad will be deployed for a year, so the children will deal with the absence of one parent while also potentially adjusting to a different parenting style. Read Dr. Marti Erickson's advice!   ❉ WHAT ARE THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES FACED BY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHEN A PARENT IS DEPLOYED TO SERVE IN OUR NATION'S CURRENT CONFLICTS? When a mother or father is called up for active military duty, children, the parent left behind, and other loved ones face a complex range of emotions before, during and after deployment. But resources can help adults and children, whatever their ages, handle these emotional challenges and stay strong through separation and reunion. Psychologist Abigail Gewirtz sheds light on this important topic and suggests ways we all can help.  

Best-selling author Paul Tough digs deeply into big ideas, and that certainly is true in his latest book, The Years that Matter Most: How College Makes or Breaks Us. Paul spent six years exploring colleges in 21 states, including sitting through freshman calculus at the University of Texas and a philosophy class at Princeton. He interviewed faculty, SAT tutors and students from all walks of life, concluding that higher education as an engine of social mobility is breaking down.   Paul brings these issues to life through the chronicles of first-generation students trying to overcome barriers to admission to prestigious schools, community college students hoping to attain jobs that will pay the bills, and well-to-do students seeing their teen years defined by the anxiety that comes with intense parental pressure, high-stakes tests and frenetic schedules of résumé-building activities. He joins Marti & Erin to discuss highlights of what he learned and to offer action steps for college admissions, alumni, and public officials who make decisions on higher education funding.   WHY DO THE COLLEGE YEARS MATTER SO MUCH? What was your own path with regard to higher education and how did that work for you? How is that likely to be the same or different for your children? What ideas do you have for making good higher education attainable for the millions of young people who need it?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COLLEGE YEARS? ❉ COLLEGE HEALTH TIPS: HOW TO MANAGE FOOD, BOOZE, STRESS, AND MORE. Jill and Dave Henry join Erin and her daughter, Clara, for an honest and to-the point discussion on college health. Listen to some true (and perhaps surprising) stories about college students' experiences with the transition to college. Get tips on avoiding college weight gain, preventing the pitfalls of alcohol use, reducing stress, and getting adequate sleep. Walk away with wisdom from the Henrys' accessible book, The Greatest College Health Guide You Never Knew You Needed.    ❉ RAISING KIDS TO BE COMPETENT ADULTS. Check out this tip sheet for more information on raising your children to be competent adults.   ❉ HOW TO RAISE AN ADULT: A CONVERSATION WITH NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR, JULIE LYTHCOTT-HAIMS. While our job as parents is to love, care for, and teach our children, the purpose of our role is to raise a contributing member of society as our children reach adulthood. Lythcott-Haims shares wisdom and insights from her book, How to Raise an Adult, in this compelling episode of Mom Enough.   ❉ YOUR TURN: WISDOM ON ADULTING FROM NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR, JULIE LYTHCOTT-HAIMS. Do you have a young adult child who is struggling with adulting? Are they finding it difficult to take on the many important tasks and responsibilities of adulthood?  Check out this Mom Enough episode with New York Times bestselling author, Julie Lythcott-Haims, who shares insights from her ultimate guide for adulting, Your Turn: How to Be an Adult.   

In many ways, our society has become more accepting of LGBTQ individuals in recent decades. But a current spike in hateful rhetoric and acts of violence against LGBTQ youth has derailed some of that progress and shaken the security of many vulnerable young people. Most of these young people already have faced challenges of bullying and isolation, as well the common fear and anxiety around coming out to their family, friends, teachers and faith community. So, what will help these young people establish security, confidence, and resilience in the face of these challenges? And what will help parents and other family members sustain loving connections with their child through what may be a difficult transition for everyone?   This week's Mom Enough guest, Derrick Jordan, is Director of the Gender and Family Project at the New York-based Ackerman Institute for Family, one of the top mental health providers and trainers of individual and family therapists since 1960. Derrick, both a licensed social worker and a pastor with a Master of Divinity degree, brings unique perspectives and experiences to his work with LGBTQ youth – and to his rich conversation with co-hosts Marti & Erin. Derrick describes his work as “navigating the complexities of faith and spirituality at the intersection of race, ethnicity, culture, gender identity and sexuality." Tune in and appreciate Derrick's warmth and compassion, along with the practical tips and helpful resources he offers.   WHAT CAN WE DO TO BETTER SUPPORT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF LGBTQ YOUTH? What did you find most interesting, helpful, or thought-provoking in this discussion about the mental health needs of LGBTQ youth? Wherever you live, work, worship, or play, what small steps could you take to help LGBTQ youth and their families feel safe, cared for and respected?   WANT TO LEARN MORE? ❉ PARENTING TRANSGENDER YOUTH: INSIGHTS FROM LESLIE LAGERSTROM & DR. ELIZABETH REEVE. Mom and blogger Leslie Lagerstrom (creator of Transparenthood) and child and adolescent psychiatrist Elizabeth Reeve join Marti & Erin for a candid and informative discussion on raising a transgender child. Tune in to learn how to help family and friends accept and support the child and develop a deeper understanding of both the risks and protective factors that influence mental health outcomes for transgender youth.   ❉ PARENTING TRANSGENDER YOUTH OR GENDER NONCONFORMING INDIVIDUALS. When young people question their gender identity or reveal that they are not comfortable with the identity they were assigned at birth, it is a deeply emotional time for the young person, parents and other family members. What parental responses will help or hinder the young person's health and well-being? What interventions, both psychological and medical, are available and appropriate? What are common feelings and concerns for parents as they navigate this major and complex change? And at what age – and to what extent – can young people be certain that gender change is the true path for them? Jenifer McGuire, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota, who joins Marti & Erin for a candid and informative discussion of this important topic.  

Neuroscience research has led to a new understanding of how early childhood experience, especially parent-child attachment, affects neural connections in our brain. These connections in turn shape our mind, changing the way we think, feel and behave in later relationships and situations. But, as UCLA psychiatrist Dan Siegel discusses with Marti & Erin, our “mind” is more than our “brain.” Remembering and reflecting on our own childhood experiences can help us build new neural pathways and new ways of behaving at any age.   Get ready to take notes as you listen to this deep and important discussion of how reflective parenting can help us achieve greater well-being for ourselves and our children. And, consider reading Dr. Dan Siegel's thought-provoking and mind-changing book, Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human, for a deeper dive into this fascinating subject.   HOW HAS REFLECTION ON PAST EXPERIENCES SHAPED YOUR MIND AND PARENTING? In this Mom Enough discussion of the mind, Dr. Dan Siegel and Marti talk about the importance of reflecting on “implicit” memories so that they can become “explicit” and can be integrated into your understanding of how you respond to parenting challenges. When have you experienced an intense emotional reaction to your child's behavior in a way that probably was fueled by some memory from your own childhood? What could you do differently the next time those emotions start to bubble up in a situation with your child?   WANT TO LEARN MORE? ❉ THE POWER OF THE TEENAGE BRAIN: AN INTERVIEW WITH PSYCHIATRY PROFESSOR AND AUTHOR, DR. DAN SIEGEL.  In this conversation with Marti & Erin, Dr. Siegel debunks common myths of adolescence, illuminates exciting changes in the teenage brain and offers practical tips for parents and teens.   ❉ THE WHOLE-BRAIN CHILD: DR. DAN SIEGEL'S INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES FOR NURTURING YOUR CHILD'S DEVELOPING MIND. Listen as Dr. Siegel draws on recent brain research to offer an effective and innovative framework for teaching our children to understand how their brains work and use that knowledge to achieve balance, insight and strategies for coping with frustration, disappointment and conflict. Amazon Links are from the Associate Program. Mom Enough® may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only share links to products that we have personally reviewed and/or used. Your purchase helps Mom Enough continue to offer evidence-based information at no cost to our listeners.

When you hear the word “hypnosis,” what comes to your mind? Maybe you picture party tricks, someone asking a volunteer to agree to be hypnotized, then telling them to quack like a duck or bark like a dog. But what is hypnosis really? And more specifically, what does it look like when it is used in clinical practice to treat physical or psychological challenges in adults or children? With what kinds of issues or conditions is clinical hypnosis most likely to be appropriate and effective? And what kind of special training and credentials are required for professionals who use clinical hypnosis in their medical practice?   In this episode, Mom Enough turns to one of their own in-house experts, co-host Dr. Erin Erickson, a nurse practitioner, National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC), and maternal-child health specialist. Erin talks about how clinical hypnosis is similar to other mind-body approaches and how it helps both children and adults build new skills in managing stress, anxiety or physical pain. Erin draws on both research and her own clinical observations of how hypnosis can help people get unstuck and live life to the fullest. Tune in to learn more about how clinical hypnosis could help you and your children.   WHAT IMAGES COME TO MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF HYPNOSIS? What did you hear in this podcast that gave you a different or more complete and realistic sense of what clinical hypnosis looks like and how it might be helpful to children and adults? If you were going to consider clinical hypnosis for yourself or your child, what would be the “presenting problem” you think it could help?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MIND-BODY APPROACHES, INCLUDING CLINICAL HYPNOSIS, TO OPTIMIZE HEALTH AND WELLBEING? ❉ THE SCIENCE OF MINDFULNESS: USING MIND-BODY SKILLS TO OPTIMIZE WELLBEING. In the daily ups and downs of parenting, mind-body techniques can be simple, effective tools to enhance your own wellbeing while setting a healthy example for your children at the same time. You also can help your children build these same mind-body skills at any age, giving them a head start on living a rich, peaceful, joyful life. Mom Enough co-host Dr. Erin Erickson teaches mind-body strategies and uses them in her clinical practice and in her demanding life as mom of three adolescents. Erin's mom and co-host, Dr. Marti Erickson, interviews Erin on this important and practical topic.   ❉ CLINICAL HYPNOSIS FOR CHILDREN WITH EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES. University of Minnesota pediatrician Dr. Andy Barnes finds hypnosis for children to be an effective, child-friendly way to help his young patients (tots to teens) use play and imagination to strengthen self-regulation skills and manage their behavior in situations that challenge them. In concrete, practical terms, Dr. Barnes discusses how he uses hypnosis and biofeedback in his practice and also mentions books and inexpensive devices that can help parents and children enhance their self-regulation skills beyond the doctor's office.   ❉ SCHEDULE A CLINICAL HYPNOSIS CONSULTATION. Check out Minnesota Mind-Body Medicine where you can schedule an initial consultation to see if clinical hypnosis with Dr. Erin Erickson is right for you.

For Majka Burhardt, author, professional climber, and filmmaker, life is lived on the edge. But, Majka is also a mom to twins, so adventure has taken on a new meaning as she balances her professional life and her life as a mother.   Majka Burhardt joins Erin Erickson of Mom Enough® to discuss her latest book, MORE: Life on the Edge of Adventure and Motherhood. A compilation of journal entries and letters to her kids, Majka's book addresses the age-old challenge of motherhood: how do we hold on to who we are as women while also being the mother our children need. With openness and authenticity, Majka discusses her book, life as a climber and mother, and her insights into how we can reflect on our own childhoods to create the childhood we want for our children. Whether you're a climber, a parent, or simply someone who loves a good story, you won't want to miss this episode. Tune in to hear from one of the most inspiring voices in the outdoor adventure community, Majka Burhardt.   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ADVENTURE AND GETTING OUR CHILDREN OUTDOORS? ❉ A NEW VISION FOR OUTDOOR PLAY: AN ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND CONVERSATION WITH AMY FUSSELMAN, AUTHOR OF “SAVAGE PARK”. When writer Amy Fusselman, her husband and young children had an opportunity for a long visit with a friend in Japan, they discovered a whole new kind of “adventure playground” that opened their eyes to a new of thinking about children's safety, learning, creativity and competence. Listen to this episode with Marti & Erin to learn more!   ❉ PRACTICAL IDEAS TO CONNECT CHILDREN AND NATURE: A CONVERSATION WITH AUTHOR RICHARD LOUV. In this episode of Mom Enough, San Diego journalist Richard Louv discusses his book Vitamin N and shares concrete strategies for families, schools, healthcare organizations and communities to connect children and nature.   Majka Burhardt's Twins Rock Climbing

For those facing infertility treatments, the two-week wait from implantation until you find out if you are pregnant or not can be a time of uncertainty and anxiety. Author Jenni Quilter turned this waiting period into an opportunity to research the sociological and medical history behind reproductive technology.   In this episode of Mom Enough®, hosts Marti and Erin Erickson join Jenni Quilter to discuss her latest book, Hatching: Experiments in Motherhood and Technology. In this thought-provoking conversation, Quilter shares her personal journey to motherhood and why she felt compelled to write this book. She also delves into the costs of reproductive technology and new approaches to make this technology more accessible and affordable. You won't want to miss this fascinating discussion on the history (and future) of reproductive technology and gynecology, and how technology has paved new paths to parenthood.   WHAT SURPRISED YOU THE MOST IN THIS DISCUSSION ON REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY & MOTHERHOOD? In this episode, Jenni Quilter discusses her own experiences with infertility and reproductive technology, and how it inspired her to write her memoir, Hatching. How did her personal experiences and perspective shape your understanding of infertility and reproductive technology? How do you think our cultural expectations around parenthood affect individuals and couples who struggle with infertility?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT INFERTILITY? ❉ THE IMPACT OF INFERTILITY ON COUPLES AND INDIVIDUALS. Countless couples have traveled the road of infertility, with all its uncertainty, difficult interventions, and emotional and financial costs. Alyssa Wright and Monica Landolt White have worked with many individuals and couples at different stages in this process. And, as Monica describes, she has faced the complex challenges of infertility herself. With remarkable insight and compassion, Alyssa and Monica highlight the psychological impact of infertility and offer hope and guidance. Furthermore, they share tips for friends and family who wish to offer sensitive support. Don't miss this important conversation!    

Why is parental involvement in school so important? What does parental involvement really mean? And, how does it positively affect children and their families?   Sheila Williams Ridge, Director of the Shirley G. Moore Laboratory School at the University of Minnesota, joins Marti and Erin of Mom Enough® to discuss parental involvement in their child's school. She highlights the many different ways parents can be involved and the benefits of this for children and families. Parents will be relieved to know that getting involved in their child's school doesn't just mean showing up during the school day -- something that can be a challenge when parents are working or caring for other children during the day. Tune in to learn creative ways to be involved and why this is so important in this episode brought to you by Help Me Grow MN.   WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO GET INVOLVED IN YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL? Have you found creative ways to get involved? What challenges have you encountered when trying to engage in your child's school and learning? What resources might help you bridge those challenges? What did you learn in this episode that will inspire you to show up in new ways at your child's school?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN SCHOOL AND LEARNING? ❉ SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL AND THE ROLE OF PARENTS IN EDUCATION. What is the role of parents in education and what can we do to support our children's school success? How can we tell if our children's school is meeting their educational needs? And what is our part in building effective family-school partnerships to optimize the learning experience for our child and others? Jim Baumann has been a teacher, a member of his local school board and state board of education and the leader of a billion-dollar business. Jim brings that experience, along with lessons he's learned as the father of three children, to his thoughtful conversation with Marti Erickson of Mom Enough.    

From early childhood, our children are bombarded with images of romance and sex, but often those images are far from what we parents wish for our children. Yet we often are so uncomfortable discussing these topics with our children that we leave the teaching to pop culture and peers.   Drawing on their professional and personal experiences, Marti and Erin talk about the most important things parents and other caregivers can do to help children develop healthy attitudes, values and behaviors about love, romance and sex. Whatever the age of your child, it's not a moment too soon to begin! Tune in and learn how to teach your children about love, sex and romance.   HOW WILL YOU APPROACH TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT LOVE, ROMANCE AND SEX? How can parents and caregivers approach the topic of love, romance, and sex education with their children? What are some common misconceptions about teaching children about relationships, sex, and romance? What are some of the most critical values and attitudes that you would want to instill in your children when it comes to love, romance, and sex?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO TEACH CHILDREN ABOUT LOVE, SEX, AND ROMANCE? ❉ TALKING WITH CHILDREN ABOUT SEX: KEYS TO SEXUAL HEALTH AND SAFETY. Author Janet Rosenzweig, Executive Director of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children and a longtime sex educator and author, joins Marti & Erin to talk about what it means to speak comfortably and accurately about sex with children and teens.   ❉ TEACHING OUR CHILDREN ABOUT SEX, LOVE AND EQUALITY: A CONVERSATION ABOUT SEX EDUCATION WITH AUTHOR BONNIE ROUGH. Author Bonnie Rough discovered some surprising lessons about teaching children about sex while living in the Netherlands when her children were very young. That experience led her to several years of research for her book, Beyond Birds and Bees: Bringing Home a New Message to Our Kids about Sex, Love and Equality. Bonnie joins Marti & Erin for a thought-provoking discussion in this episode of Mom Enough.

For both children and adults, stress creates not only an emotional response but a physical response in the body. From everyday effects to longterm health complications, our bodies reflect our state of mind. With young children whose communication skills are still not well-developed, adults often mistake behavioral signs of stress for “bad behavior.” Because of this, parents might miss an opportunity to address the source of the stress, whether it is a traumatic event or a more ordinary challenge in the home or classroom.   This week's guest, Megan Appelwick, an occupational therapist at St. David's Center for Child and Family Development (SDC), helps unpack the way stress can manifest in the body. She also discusses how to identify behaviors that may be tied to stress and outlines strategies for helping children who are struggling. Highlighting how occupational therapy can be an effective complement to mental health services, Megan offers practical – and playful – ways to help both parents and kids learn to navigate difficult transitions and challenging circumstances. Her tips include healthy stress-management skills to last a lifetime. Marti & Erin thank SDC for providing this informative 3-part series on Stress and Resilience, and for being a long-time supporting partner of the Mom Enough®.   WHAT HAVE YOU NOTICED ABOUT THE WAYS STRESS SHOWS UP IN YOUR CHILD'S BEHAVIOR? What useful tips did you hear in the discussion with this week's guest, Megan Applewick? How do those tips differ from the way you have responded to what seemed like intentional “bad behavior” on your child's part?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT STRESS & RESILIENCE? ❉ STRESS AND RESILIENCE: NURTURING HEALTHY EMOTIONAL RESPONSES IN CHILDREN AND PARENTS, PART 2 OF 3. How do you know when your baby or young child is experiencing ongoing stress? And how does the way you manage your own stress affect how your child learns to handle stress and build resilience? This episode of Mom Enough® is the second of a 3-part series on Stress and Resilience, brought to you by St. David's Center for Child and Family Development. Therapist and Senior Program Director Paula Frisk highlights the importance of the early parent-infant relationship as both a buffer against toxic stress and a powerful means by which young children learn to regulate emotions and reflect on their own feelings and actions.   ❉ STRESS & RESILIENCE: NURTURING HEALTHY EMOTIONAL RESPONSES IN CHILDREN AND PARENTS, PART 1 OF 2. Melissa Williams, therapist and program director at St. David's Center for Child and Family Development, joins Marti & Erin for this first podcast of a three-part series that will help you learn how stress affects your child and you. Melissa discusses the stress response in children, toxic stress and its effect on children's development, and how we can respond to the effects of toxic stress.   ❉ FROM CO-REGULATION TO SELF-REGULATION: PARENT-CHILD INTERACTIONS THAT PREPARE OUR CHILDREN FOR LIFE. Tune into the first episode of our previous series on self-regulation with Melissa Williams from St. David's Center. This engaging and practical discussion highlights what is involved in co-regulation, with an emphasis on how to show, tell and practice together with our children. Melissa also highlights the importance of “rupture and repair,” describing how we can admit our mistakes at those times when we get it wrong with our kids (as we all do!), say we are sorry and tell our child what we will try to do differently the next time.   ❉ DISCOVERING WHAT WILL HELP YOUR CHILD DEVELOP SELF-REGULATION SKILLS: DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS. One of the major developmental tasks in early childhood is self-regulation, which includes establishing healthy patterns of eating, sleeping and other routines. Even as older children and adults, we struggle with regulation at times, which can disrupt learning, relationships and other aspects of our lives.

How do you know when your baby or young child is experiencing ongoing stress? In what ways does the way you manage your own stress affect how your child learns to handle stress and build resilience? And, how does the parent-infant relationship buffer stress?   This episode of Mom Enough® is the second of a 3-part series on Stress and Resilience, brought to you by St. David's Center for Child and Family Development. Therapist and Senior Program Director Paula Frisk highlights the importance of the early parent-infant relationship as both a buffer against toxic stress and a powerful means by which young children learn to regulate emotions and reflect on their own feelings and actions. In her conversation with Marti & Erin, Paula addresses causes of infant stress, ways babies and young children show their stress, and how parents' own reflective capacity and mindfulness help children develop the same. Of course, to provide reflective, mindful care, parents need support for themselves -- from family, community and society as a whole, including acknowledgement of how important the often-challenging job of parenting is, not only for our children but for the health and wellbeing of society.   HOW CAN YOU NURTURE HEALTHY EMOTIONAL RESPONSES AND BUFFER STRESS FOR YOUR CHILD AND YOURSELF ? In this episode of Mom Enough®, therapist Paula Frisk encourages us to “get curious about the meaning of” our child's behavior and our own. Reflect for a moment on a recent difficult interaction with your baby or young child. Describe your child's behavior and your own in this situation and note what you think each of your behavior meant. If you encountered a similarly challenging situation tomorrow, what could you do differently that would be more helpful to your child and yourself?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT STRESS & RESILIENCE? ❉ STRESS & RESILIENCE: NURTURING HEALTHY EMOTIONAL RESPONSES IN CHILDREN AND PARENTS, PART 1 OF 2. Melissa Williams, therapist and program director at St. David's Center for Child and Family Development, joins Marti & Erin for this first podcast of a three-part series that will help you learn how stress affects your child and you. Melissa discusses the stress response in children, toxic stress and its effect on children's development, and how we can respond to the effects of toxic stress.   ❉ FROM CO-REGULATION TO SELF-REGULATION: PARENT-CHILD INTERACTIONS THAT PREPARE OUR CHILDREN FOR LIFE. Tune into the first episode of our previous series on self-regulation with Melissa Williams from St. David's Center. This engaging and practical discussion highlights what is involved in co-regulation, with an emphasis on how to show, tell and practice together with our children. Melissa also highlights the importance of “rupture and repair,” describing how we can admit our mistakes at those times when we get it wrong with our kids (as we all do!), say we are sorry and tell our child what we will try to do differently the next time.   ❉ DISCOVERING WHAT WILL HELP YOUR CHILD DEVELOP SELF-REGULATION SKILLS: DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS. One of the major developmental tasks in early childhood is self-regulation, which includes establishing healthy patterns of eating, sleeping and other routines. Even as older children and adults, we struggle with regulation at times, which can disrupt learning, relationships and other aspects of our lives. Robin Campbell and Cheryl Lundsgaard from St. David's Center for Child & Family Development, shed light on what self-regulation means, how we can help our children become self-regulated, and how important it is to discover what works best for each unique member of our family.

It is inevitable that we experience stress at every stage of our life. In fact, we need a certain level of stress or challenge to drive action. But when stress is too intense, frequent or sustained, it becomes toxic. Especially for children, when there is not a caring, comforting adult available to buffer the effects of stress, it inhibits learning and development. Stress without a supportive, responsive adult makes it hard for a child to form positive relationships, gain new skills and enjoy everyday life free of fear.   Melissa Williams, therapist and program director at St. David's Center for Child and Family Development, joins Marti & Erin for this first podcast of a three-part series that will help you learn how stress affects your child and you. Melissa discusses the stress response in children, toxic stress and its effect on children's development, and how we can respond to the effects of toxic stress. This three-part series will help you support your child's self-regulation and coping strategies at times of stress and expand your own healthy coping strategies at the same time. Don't miss this important discussion and those to follow in coming weeks.   WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO MANAGE STRESS AND BUILD RESILIENCE? What are the three levels of stress Mel Williams described? What new insights did you gain about the effects of stress on babies or very young children? And what simple things can you do to buffer a child's stress when it can't be avoided?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT STRESS & RESILIENCE? ❉ FROM CO-REGULATION TO SELF-REGULATION: PARENT-CHILD INTERACTIONS THAT PREPARE OUR CHILDREN FOR LIFE. Tune into the first episode of our previous series on self-regulation with Melissa Williams from St. David's Center. This engaging and practical discussion highlights what is involved in co-regulation, with an emphasis on how to show, tell and practice together with our children. Melissa also highlights the importance of “rupture and repair,” describing how we can admit our mistakes at those times when we get it wrong with our kids (as we all do!), say we are sorry and tell our child what we will try to do differently the next time.   ❉ DISCOVERING WHAT WILL HELP YOUR CHILD DEVELOP SELF-REGULATION SKILLS: DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS. One of the major developmental tasks in early childhood is self-regulation, which includes establishing healthy patterns of eating, sleeping and other routines. Even as older children and adults, we struggle with regulation at times, which can disrupt learning, relationships and other aspects of our lives. Robin Campbell and Cheryl Lundsgaard from St. David's Center for Child & Family Development, shed light on what self-regulation means, how we can help our children become self-regulated, and how important it is to discover what works best for each unique member of our family.

With the many disruptions to learning as a result of the pandemic, parents and teachers observed that children's educational progress slowed. And, there is evidence of increased developmental delays in the "COVID generation." So, what is being done to ensure children get back on track after pandemic learning loss?   LaMonica Williams, Director of Programs for Early Reading at Teaching Matters, joins Marti & Erin to discuss efforts to support teachers and parents in addressing the learning losses brought on by school closures and online learning. She highlights the important work Teaching Matters is doing to help teachers, parents, and children. Tune in to learn more about pandemic learning loss and efforts to help children recover!   WHAT WILL YOU DO TO HELP YOUR CHILDREN MAKE UP FOR LEARNING LOSSES DURING THE PANDEMIC? How will you ensure your children have the literacy skills they need? What ideas do you have for how you can activate the six "levers" with your own children?   WANT TO LEARN MORE? ❉ PARENTS' ROLE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT. Dr. Susan Outlaw shares practical tips for how to support your child's optimal language development in this episode of Mom Enough. She also talks about how to know if your child's language development is on track or if a professional language evaluation, and possibly extra support or early intervention, might be needed to help the child reach necessary milestones.   ❉ EARLY LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT: INTEGRATING LANGUAGE LEARNING INTO EVERYDAY LIFE. Long before children enter formal education, they are constantly learning from parents and other caring adults who interact with them through language stimulation. Before they even begin to speak, babies are making sense of language, building a vocabulary and developing conversational patterns. So, to make sure our children have this important foundation, do we need to be fluent in English, have a house full of books or know formal teaching strategies? Dr. Alisha Wackerle-Hollman shares reassuring answers to these questions and more.   ❉ PROMOTING LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN: INSIGHTS AND GUIDANCE. Language skills are essential to academic learning, positive relationships and clear thinking. Parents have a crucial role in promoting language development in children through simple, everyday interactions from infancy to adulthood, whether or not English is the primary language at home and whether or not a child is bilingual. Dr. Maria Sera shares research-based information to help you provide a solid language foundation for your child's needs.  

When a loved one struggles with addiction, the whole family struggles too. Family members may worry that they caused, or at least contributed to, the addiction. Or they may fear that if they urge treatment, they somehow will be blamed. They almost always grapple with how to show love while still recognizing that limits and consequences are part of love. Although families may be reluctant to name it, their greatest fear is that their loved one will die.   Jessica Garrison, certified drug and alcohol counselor with Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, confronts all of these challenges in her discussion with Marti & Erin. She also highlights ways families can support their own healing and sustain hope, even through the “one step back” that often follows two steps forward. Thank you to Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, a longterm supporting partner of Mom Enough, for providing this guest.   WHAT STEPS CAN YOU TAKE TO COPE WITH A LOVED ONE'S ADDICTION? What did you hear in this podcast that gave you new insight into the challenges families face when a loved one struggles with addiction? Give an example of setting a boundary for yourself versus trying to control your loved one facing addition.   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ADDICTION? ❉ OPIOID ADDICTION: KEYS TO PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION FROM THE HAZELDEN BETTY FORD FOUNDATION. What can parents do to protect the children and adults in our family and community from the dangers of opioids? Ahmed Eid, Addiction Program Manager at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, brings answers that every parent should hear. He addresses safer options for managing pain, how to dispose of leftover opioids, signs of opioid addiction, and effective treatment options.   ❉ PARENTAL ADDICTION: IMPACT ON THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP & HOW TO HEAL TOGETHER. Parental addiction has significant effects on children and the parent-child relationship, but there is hope and healing is possible. Helene Photias, national director of operations for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation's Children's Program, and Paula Frisk, senior director of zero to five home visiting programs at St. David's Center for Child & Family Development, join Marti & Erin to discuss keys to helping parents and children move toward healing, build more positive and secure relationships, and create the fun and joy that every child and parent deserves.   ❉ HOPE FOR FAMILIES FACING ADDICTION: EXPERT ADVICE FROM HAZELDEN BETTY FORD FOUNDATION. Kate Roselle, licensed clinical counselor and national outreach manager for Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation's adolescent and young adult continuum of care, joins Mom Enough for a compelling discussion on families facing addiction. She shares tips for effecting change if a loved one is struggling, discusses clinical resources for families, and explores the factors that are associated with the greatest hope of successful treatment and recovery. Roselle says, “The opposite of addiction is connection,” and that informs the work of Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.   ❉ WOMEN, ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH: INFORMATION AND PRACTICAL GUIDANCE FROM HAZELDEN BETTY FORD FOUNDATION. Dr. Sarah Wicks joins Marti & Erin to discuss unique challenges faced by women dealing with addiction and, more broadly, how to approach a loved one (male or female) you believe has a substance use problem.

The incidence of burnout is increasing. An Indeed survey found that 52% of all respondents reported feeling burnout in 2021, a 43% increase from the same survey pre-pandemic. And parents may be experiencing even more burnout, according to a recent study in which 66% of parents surveyed reported being burned out. And burnout was associated with depression, anxiety, and increased alcohol consumption. So, what is burnout? And how is it different than depression? More importantly, what can moms do to prevent burnout and depression?   Perinatal psychiatrist, Dr. Sarah Pospos, outlines the difference between burnout and depression. She highlights evidence-based approaches busy moms can implement to prevent burnout and depression. And, since the last thing exhausted parents need are complex solutions, you will be pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to implement Dr. Pospos suggestions. Tune in to learn more about burnout, depression, and building a life with a bit more balance.   WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO PREVENT BURNOUT & DEPRESSION?  In what ways did you identify with the symptoms of burnout Dr. Sarah Pospos shared? What factors in your life and vocation could contribute to burnout? What could you do today to minimize the risk of burnout and depression?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BURNOUT? ❉ PARENTAL BURNOUT: WHAT BUSY PARENTS NEED TO KNOW. Dr.  Amy O'Hana,  licensed professional counselor and professor at University of Western States, joins Marti & Erin to discuss burnout. The author of Beyond Burnout: What to Do When Your Work Isn't Working for You, O'Hana brings practical insights and tips that parents can implement today to get relief. Tune in to learn more!   ❉ PARENTAL BURNOUT: HOW PRESSURE TO MEASURE UP IS EXHAUSTING MILLENNIALS (AND EVERYONE ELSE!). Anne Helen Petersen, author of I Can't Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation, explores societal standards of parenting, parental guilt, how the parenting millennials experienced influences how they parent their own children, and how we might alleviate burnout.   ❉ YOUR CHILDREN NEED A HEALTHY MOM, BUT ARE YOU LOOKING OUT FOR YOUR HEALTH THE WAY YOU SHOULD? Dr. Andrea Messina shares tips on how to make sure your health needs — from incontinence to fatigue to breast health — are fully addressed.

Are you part of the “sandwich generation,” caring for children and also anticipating when your aging parents may need your care? Or maybe you're an aging parent trying to remain as independent as possible, despite inevitable changes ahead. Whatever your place in your intergenerational family, it is time to launch an ongoing conversation, if you haven't already. What are your hopes and fears? What will you do when driving becomes uncomfortable or memory is slipping or preparing healthy meals seems difficult? What about end-of-life plans and directives?   Carey Lindeman, owner of Promise Care, has worked on these issues with families for seventeen years and brings wise, practical guidance to her conversation with Marti & Erin. Her most important advice? Start early, before concerns arise. And, for adult children, ask, don't tell your aging parents what should happen.   ARE YOU SEEING CHANGES IN YOUR PARENTS' HEALTH, STRENGTH, MEMORY OR EMOTIONAL WELLBEING? Are your parents simply at an age when you know you should anticipate changes? How could you initiate some open, supportive conversations about how you and your parents can navigate change in a way that maintains healthy intergenerational relationships, safety for aging parents, and as much freedom of choice as possible, given parents' capacities?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TALKING WITH AGING PARENTS?  ❉ TALKING WITH AGING PARENTS. Read Dr. Marti Erickson's helpful tips on talking with your aging parents. ❉ BEING MORTAL: ILLNESS, MEDICINE, AND WHAT MATTERS IN THE END by Atul Gawande. Check out Marti's favorite book on end-of-life issues. ❉ ELDERHOOD: REDEFINING AGING, TRANSFORMING MEDICINE, REIMAGINING LIFE by Louise Aronson. Using stories, history, science, and popular culture, Louise Aronson sheds hopeful new light on aging in this book. ❉ FIVE WISHES. This organization provides resources for advanced care planning. ❉ POSITIVE APPROACH TO CARE (PAC) & WISDOM FROM TEEPA SNOW. Learn more about PAC and Teepa Snow's work to increase awareness, improve care skills, and support those living with dementia in positive and respectful ways.

As our children grow, we may wonder if their growth, development, and learning are on track. Early milestones -- a baby's smile, the first steps, early words -- are often celebrated. Yet, developmental delays are very common, affecting close to 1 in 4 children ages zero to five years. So, why is it so important to track developmental milestones? And, what are the milestones?   Tune in to hear Dr. Jennifer Hall-Lande as she outlines the four domains of development and highlights key developmental delays parents might see, so they can track their child's development and act early if they have concerns. She also discusses how culture and individual difference influence development. If you have or care for a child ages zero to five years, you won't want to miss this important Mom Enough episode brought to you by Help Me Grow Minnesota.   IS YOUR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT ON TRACK? Visit the Help Me Grow Minnesota website and take a look at the information and videos on developmental milestones for a child the age of yours. What does this suggest about how your child is learning and developing in the different domains (communication, cognition, physical/motor, social-emotional) that Dr. Jennifer Hall-Lande discussed?   IS YOUR CHILD MEETING THEIR DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES? ❉ Help Me Grow Minnesota. Check out Help Me Grow MN for information on developmental milestones, encouraging healthy development, and getting help if you have concerns about a child's development. You can also find Help Me Grow on Facebook and Instagram (developmental videos).   ❉ Encouraging Healthy Development. Help Me Grow MN has helpful (and easy) ideas to support your child's development from newborn to five years old. Check out this resource to learn more about fun things you can do to support your child's learning and growth.   ❉ CDC on Developmental Milestones. Check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's resources on child development. Track your child's development and get a downloadable PDF with developmental information by age. You can also learn about the Milestone Tracker app for monitoring your child's development. See the recent revisions to the CDC's developmental milestones as well.   ❉ Minnesota Learn the Signs Act Early. Minnesota Act Early is an outreach campaign that promotes early screening and identification of potential developmental delays. Get information on healthy development, early signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental delays, and early intervention options.

Countless families have a loved one struggling with both mental health and substance use concerns. Many families struggle to find healthy ways to help their loved one without sacrificing their own health and wellbeing in the process. So, how can families use healthy helping patterns to support their loved one and prioritize their own wellbeing?   Sarah Schwalbach, marriage and family therapist with the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, a supporting partner of Mom Enough, brings a wealth of wisdom and practical strategies for families in this situation. She highlights the parallel processes that often occur – for example, a son lying about his substance use and other families in turn lying about why he didn't show up for an important event. Sarah challenges parents to get rid of the idea that “You are only as happy as your least happy child,” urging parents to build community that will help to buffer the effects of your loved one's choices on your own wellbeing. You will welcome the concrete advice Sarah brings about when and how to confront your loved one and how to set clear boundaries for yourself without trying to control that person's behavior. Tune into this important episode of Mom Enough and encourage others you know to do the same.   WHY ARE HEALTHY HELPING PATTERNS SO IMPORTANT WHEN COPING WITH A LOVED ONE'S MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE CONCERNS? Sarah Schwalbach offers great tips for “striking while the iron is cool” rather than hot. What does that mean in the context of communicating with a loved one struggling with substance use, and what specific tips did Sarah provide for being most effective in encouraging your loved one to accept help and begin to make healthy choices?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE? ❉ HOPE FOR FAMILIES FACING ADDICTION: EXPERT ADVICE FROM HAZELDEN BETTY FORD FOUNDATION. Kate Roselle, licensed clinical counselor and national outreach manager for Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation's adolescent and young adult continuum of care, joins Mom Enough for a compelling discussion on families facing addiction. She shares tips for effecting change if a loved one is struggling, discusses clinical resources for families, and explores the factors that are associated with the greatest hope of successful treatment and recovery. Roselle says, “The opposite of addiction is connection,” and that informs the work of Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.   ❉ HOW TO COPE WITH A LOVED ONE'S ADDICTION: ONE WRITER'S STORY AND INSIGHTS. Beverly Conyers, author, mother, and grandmother, discusses her daughter's addiction & gives tips for coping with a loved one's addiction.   ❉ PARENTAL ADDICTION: IMPACT ON THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP & HOW TO HEAL TOGETHER. Parental addiction has significant effects on children and the parent-child relationship, but there is hope and healing is possible. When a parent is addicted to alcohol or other drugs, their relationships with their children suffer, whatever the ages of the children. Given a chance, school-age children often describe working hard to keep their parent's secret, trying to take care of their parent, and worrying that they can't trust their parent to be there when they need them. Helene Photias of Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation's Children's Program and Paula Frisk of St. David's Center for Child & Family Development, join Marti & Erin to discuss keys to helping parents and children move toward healing, build more positive and secure relationships, and create the fun and joy that every child and parent deserves.

Throughout the pandemic, young people connected with pop culture. Artists, songs, and shows are available at the tip of our fingers through streaming. But, what do these songs or shows teach our children about relationships? And, how can we ensure our teens have healthy relationships? What are the signs of an unhealthy relationship? And, most importantly, what can we do about it?   Adriane Grant of the One Love Foundation joins Mom Enough to discuss the role pop culture plays in healthy relationships and how we can use pop culture to recognize healthy and unhealthy relationships. Grant highlights the signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships and tells us more about the important work One Love Foundation is doing to teach teens to recognize these signs as well. Tune in to learn more about how we can use pop culture to help build healthy teen relationships.   HOW MIGHT YOU USE POP CULTURE TO TEACH YOUR TEEN ABOUT HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS? To what extent do you think today's pop culture does a good or bad job of portraying healthy relationships? What steps will you take to ensure your children and teens know the signs of an unhealthy and healthy relationship?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ONE LOVE FOUNDATION? ❉ ONE LOVE FOUNDATION. Learn more about the important work this foundation is doing to teach teens the warning signs of an unhealthy relationship, to prevent abuse, and to empower young people to have healthy relationships.   ❉ TEN SIGNS OF A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP. Check out this link to learn the ten signs of a healthy relationship, and considering sharing this information with your teens and children.   ❉ TEN SIGNS OF AN UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIP. Check out this link to learn the ten signs of an unhealthy relationship, and consider sharing this information with your teens and children.

For both children and adults, success in school -- and in life -- depends to a great extent on social and emotional skills. These skills include self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, social awareness and relationship skills. Unfortunately, new research shows that these skills took a hard hit for many children during the pandemic, with online learning cutting into opportunities for close personal interaction or even chances to see faces and body language enough to read social cues.   This week's Mom Enough guest, Bridget Durkan Laird, CEO of Wings for Kids, is working with schools and youth organizations across the country to turn this around. Wings for Kids has reached more than 4 million kids with free social emotional curricula and resources. They also offers free practical tools for parents to use at home. In this important conversation with Marti & Erin, Bridget highlights specific examples of the five core competencies of social emotional learning. She also describes the exciting ways Wings for Kids is helping communities around the country give social emotional learning the emphasis it deserves, especially in the after-school hours when children typically have more freedom to explore, choose friends, and experience more of real life with all its unpredictable experiences.   WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO HELP YOUR CHILDREN DEVELOP THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING SKILLS THEY NEED? Think about the five core social emotional competencies this week's Mom Enough guest discussed. In what ways do you see your child showing each of these competencies? Which ones seem to be more difficult for your child? Visit Wings for Kids and check out parent resources that might help you support your child in these areas at home.   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL SKILLS? ❉ THE ROLE OF PARENTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: A CONVERSATION WITH PAULA FRISK FROM ST. DAVID'S CENTER FOR CHILD & FAMILY DEVELOPMENT. Paula Frisk of St. David's Center for Child & Family Development joins Marti for an important discussion of what parents can do to protect their children, what parents need for themselves, and what therapeutic resources are available for parents and infants who need help with social-emotional development.   ❉ FINDING THE RIGHT “SENSORY DIET” FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILD: PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR REGULATING EMOTION AND SUSTAINING OPTIMAL ENERGY. Whether we're kids or grown-ups, we all find unique ways to calm ourselves, rouse ourselves or stay focused on a challenging task, and we use all our senses to do so. Kate Biederman, an occupational therapist from St. David's Center for Child & Family Development, joins Marti & Erin to shine light on how we can be more aware and intentional in helping our children find the “sensory diet” that will allow them to be their best at home, school or on a trip to the mall.   ❉ THE WHOLE-BRAIN CHILD: DR. DAN SIEGEL'S INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES FOR NURTURING YOUR CHILD'S DEVELOPING MIND. We all have experienced those moments when our child's ability to reason seems to fly out the window and raw emotion takes over. Maybe we counter our child's intense feelings with words of comfort and calm. Or maybe our own frustration rises and we begin to spin out of control. In this episode, UCLA clinical psychiatry professor and popular author, Dr. Dan Siegel, draws on recent brain research to offer an effective and innovative framework for teaching our children to understand how their brains work and use that knowledge to achieve balance, insight and strategies for coping with frustration, disappointment and conflict.

We've all heard the question, “What kind of world are we leaving for our children?” But Dr. Shilagh Mirgain, a health and sport psychologist at the University of Wisconsin, turns that question on its head and asks, “What kind of children are we leaving for our world?”   Whatever the ages of your children, don't miss this inspiring and practical discussion of how to help your children develop compassion for themselves and others, recognizing the common humanity, vulnerability and imperfection we all share. Learn concrete steps you can take today to help your children be more grateful, kind and mindful in their daily lives.     WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO HELP YOUR CHILDREN DEVELOP SELF-COMPASSION? This week's Mom Enough guest talks about the importance of “showing up for yourself as you would for a dear friend.” Give examples of what that would look like in your life. What concrete steps could you take to help your children treat themselves with such compassion?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SELF-COMPASSION? ❉ WHY SELF-COMPASSION IS ESSENTIAL TO SENSITIVE PARENTING. Emmy Reilly, doctoral candidate at the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota, joins Marti and Erin to discuss research on the important connection between self-compassion and parenting. She shares insights and tips on using self-compassion to support our parenting, and includes a good dose of research to back up her findings. You won't want to miss her wisdom on the value of turning the dial of compassion inward.   ❉ SELF-COMPASSION IN KIDS. Read Dr. Mirgain's article on self-compassion.   ❉ FOSTERING COMPASSIONATE CHILDREN. Check out this tip sheet on fostering compassion in children to learn more.

Mom Enough co-hosts Marti & Erin found this discussion on raising boys with Dr. Michael Reichert to be one of the most thoughtful and important episodes they have done.   Drawing on his personal story of the death of his brother, his extensive research on boys around the world and his years of clinical experience with boys longing to be heard, this psychologist and highly respected author makes the case that, in his words, “Too many boys lose their intimate connections and emotional voices early in their lives.” But it doesn't have to be that way!   Dr. Reichert offers practical guidance whether you are the parent of a lively preschooler, a 5th-grader trying to succeed in school or a teenager trying to navigate the turbulent waters of romance and sexuality or grappling with disturbing pornographic images on the internet. Tune in to learn key insights from Dr. Reichert's book, How to Raise a Boy: The Power of Connection to Build Good Men.   BOYS AND GIRLS ARE NOT AS DIFFERENT AS WE SOMETIMES THINK.   If you listen carefully, you are likely to discover that boys and girls are not as different as we sometimes think. We all long for trust, respect, connection. We all long for our needs and feelings to be heard and acknowledged. And when we provide those things to both our sons and daughters, the world will be better for the men and women they become.   REFLECT ON HOW YOU WILL BEGIN RAISING BOYS DIFFERENTLY.   This week's Mom Enough guest, Dr. Michael Reichert, says in this discussion, “The problem is not boys, but the boyhood we have built.” What examples can you think of that illustrate this point? What concrete steps could you take to begin to build a better boyhood for the boys in your life, whatever their ages? What one thing will you change in how you are raising your son(s), so they will grow up to be compassionate and caring adults?   WANT TO LEARN MORE? ❉  Check out Dr. Reichert's book, How to Raise a Boy: The Power of Connection to Build Good Men, to learn more about raising boys.   ❉ HELPING OUR CHILDREN BUILD SELF-COMPASSION: KEYS TO KINDNESS, GRATITUDE AND COMPASSION FOR OTHERS. We've all heard the question, “What kind of world are we leaving for our children?” But Dr. Shilagh Mirgain, a health and sport psychologist at the University of Wisconsin, turns that question on its head and asks, “What kind of children are we leaving for our world?” Whatever the ages of your children, don't miss this inspiring and practical discussion of how to help your children develop compassion for themselves and others, recognizing the common humanity, vulnerability and imperfection we all share. Learn concrete steps you can take today to help your children be more grateful, kind and mindful in their daily lives.     ❉ PROMOTING HEALTHY MANHOOD: WISDOM FROM THE AUTHORS OF THE BOOK OF DARES. Ted Bunch and Anna Marie Johnson Teague are devoting their lives to building a new kind of strong, healthy manhood where boys and men respect themselves and others, treat women as equals and stand up against violence and injustice. Tune in to hear how they are doing this through A Call to Men and an innovative new book for boys, The Book of Dares: 100 Ways for Boys to Be Kind, Bold and Brave.    ❉ CUT TO THE QUICK: THE CONSEQUENCES OF RELATIONAL AGGRESSION AMONG OUR SONS & DAUGHTERS. We've all heard “mean girl” stories and many of us probably have lived them. But the social rejection and humiliation kids inflict on each other is not unique to girls; in fact, this episode's Mom Enough guest cites evidence that relational aggression is equally common among boys and girls.

Stress is a normal part of life and essential to our survival. But, high levels of stress can make it a challenge for us to be the sensitive, responsive and loving parents our children need. Fortunately, research is deepening our understanding of what it takes to be a sensitive parent in the face of the stress we all experience. One key findings is the importance of self-compassion to parental well-being and sensitive parenting. So, what exactly is self-compassion? And, how can we tap into it?   Emmy Reilly, doctoral candidate at the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota, joins Marti and Erin to discuss research on the important connection between self-compassion and parenting. She shares insights and tips on using self-compassion to support our parenting, and includes a good dose of research to back up her findings. You won't want to miss her findings on the value of turning the dial of compassion inward.   HOW CAN YOU BUILD SELF-COMPASSION AS A PARENT?  What could you do in the next day or week to direct compassion inward? How might you show yourself more kindness when faced with challenging parenting situations? What could you say to yourself next time you feel tempted to judge your parenting or yourself? How can you shift into a space of acknowledgment without judgment?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SELF-COMPASSION? ❉ HELPING OUR CHILDREN BUILD SELF-COMPASSION: KEYS TO KINDNESS, GRATITUDE AND COMPASSION FOR OTHERS. We've all heard the question, “What kind of world are we leaving for our children?” But Dr. Shilagh Mirgain, a health and sport psychologist at the University of Wisconsin, turns that question on its head and asks, “What kind of children are we leaving for our world?” Whatever the ages of your children, don't miss this inspiring and practical Mom Enough episode on how to help your children develop compassion for themselves and others, recognizing the common humanity, vulnerability and imperfection we all share.

From the little lie to prevent hurt feelings, to the denial of wrongdoing to avoid punishment, to the silly whopper that seems to serve no particular purpose, nearly everyone lies at one time or another. And, children are no exception. What does it mean when a child tells a lie? Do children lie on purpose -- or do they just not know any better? At what age can they learn the concept and value of honesty? Is lying ever a sign of serious emotional problems? And, what should parents do when they catch their child spinning a tale?   Dr. Marti Erickson and Dr. Erin Erickson, co-hosts and founders of Mom Enough, join together to answer these questions and more in this episode on kids and lying. Tune in to hear about the issues that underly dishonesty in children and teens -- from developmental considerations to contextual factors. And, walk away with practical strategies to prevent lying and promote honesty. In a world where everyone lies sometimes, you won't want to miss this opportunity to create a more honest household.   WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO PREVENT LYING?  Are there specific times where you notice you are more likely to lie (for example, when breaking plans or when you don't want to do something)? What could you do to model honesty for your children? How will you teach your children the importance of trust? In what ways could you be more consistent about confronting dishonesty?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LYING & HONESTY? ❉ WHEN CHILDREN TELL LIES. Check out this helpful tip sheet that outlines what was discussed in this episode.   ❉ HELPING CHILDREN BUILD CHARACTER, FROM TODDLERS TO TEENS. No doubt you've heard people praise someone for being a “person of character.” But what does that mean to you? And how does someone become a person of character? Todd Otis joins Marti & Erin for a thoughtful conversation about what parents can do to help children of any age become trustworthy, empathic, respectful, honest, self-aware – embracing all the qualities that define character.

For both children and adults, stress creates not only an emotional response but a physical response in the body. From everyday effects to longterm health complications, our bodies reflect our state of mind. With young children whose communication skills are still not well-developed, adults often mistake behavioral signs of stress for “bad behavior.” Because of this, parents might miss an opportunity to address the source of the stress, whether it is a traumatic event or a more ordinary challenge in the home or classroom.   This week's guest, Megan Appelwick, an occupational therapist at St. David's Center for Child and Family Development (SDC), helps unpack the way stress can manifest in the body. She also discusses how to identify behaviors that may be tied to stress and outlines strategies for helping children who are struggling. Highlighting how occupational therapy can be an effective complement to mental health services, Megan offers practical – and playful – ways to help both parents and kids learn to navigate difficult transitions and challenging circumstances. Her tips include healthy stress-management skills to last a lifetime. Marti & Erin thank SDC for providing this informative 3-part series on Stress and Resilience, and for being a long-time supporting partner of the Mom Enough®.   WHAT HAVE YOU NOTICED ABOUT THE WAYS STRESS SHOWS UP IN YOUR CHILD'S BEHAVIOR? What useful tips did you hear in the discussion with this week's guest, Megan Applewick? How do those tips differ from the way you have responded to what seemed like intentional “bad behavior” on your child's part?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT STRESS & RESILIENCE? ❉ STRESS AND RESILIENCE: NURTURING HEALTHY EMOTIONAL RESPONSES IN CHILDREN AND PARENTS, PART 2 OF 3. How do you know when your baby or young child is experiencing ongoing stress? And how does the way you manage your own stress affect how your child learns to handle stress and build resilience? This episode of Mom Enough® is the second of a 3-part series on Stress and Resilience, brought to you by St. David's Center for Child and Family Development. Therapist and Senior Program Director Paula Frisk highlights the importance of the early parent-infant relationship as both a buffer against toxic stress and a powerful means by which young children learn to regulate emotions and reflect on their own feelings and actions.   ❉ STRESS & RESILIENCE: NURTURING HEALTHY EMOTIONAL RESPONSES IN CHILDREN AND PARENTS, PART 1 OF 2. Melissa Williams, therapist and program director at St. David's Center for Child and Family Development, joins Marti & Erin for this first podcast of a three-part series that will help you learn how stress affects your child and you. Melissa discusses the stress response in children, toxic stress and its effect on children's development, and how we can respond to the effects of toxic stress.   ❉ FROM CO-REGULATION TO SELF-REGULATION: PARENT-CHILD INTERACTIONS THAT PREPARE OUR CHILDREN FOR LIFE. Tune into the first episode of our previous series on self-regulation with Melissa Williams from St. David's Center. This engaging and practical discussion highlights what is involved in co-regulation, with an emphasis on how to show, tell and practice together with our children. Melissa also highlights the importance of “rupture and repair,” describing how we can admit our mistakes at those times when we get it wrong with our kids (as we all do!), say we are sorry and tell our child what we will try to do differently the next time.   ❉ DISCOVERING WHAT WILL HELP YOUR CHILD DEVELOP SELF-REGULATION SKILLS: DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS. One of the major developmental tasks in early childhood is self-regulation, which includes establishing healthy patterns of eating, sleeping and other routines. Even as older children and adults, we struggle with regulation at times, which can disrupt learning, relationships and other aspects of our lives.

Have you felt physically or mentally exhausted? Or have you noted that you have less motivation or a more negative attitude about work? You could be suffering from parental burnout! As parents, who are often balancing so many responsibilities and roles in our lives, the potential for burnout may be even greater. So, what exactly is burnout?  What factors contribute to burnout? And, what can we do about it?   Dr.  Amy O'Hana,  licensed professional counselor and professor at University of Western States, joins us to answer these questions and more. The author of Beyond Burnout: What to Do When Your Work Isn't Working for You, O'Hana brings practical insights and tips that parents can implement today to get relief. Tune in to learn more!   WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO PREVENT PARENTAL BURNOUT?  What factors in your life and vocation could contribute to burnout? How might you know if you are experiencing burnout? What could you start today to minimize the risk of burnout?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BURNOUT? ❉ PARENTAL BURNOUT: HOW PRESSURE TO MEASURE UP IS EXHAUSTING MILLENNIALS (AND EVERYONE ELSE!). Anne Helen Petersen, author of I Can't Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation, explores societal standards of parenting, parental guilt, how the parenting millennials experienced influences how they parent their own children, and how we might alleviate burnout.   ❉ YOUR CHILDREN NEED A HEALTHY MOM, BUT ARE YOU LOOKING OUT FOR YOUR HEALTH THE WAY YOU SHOULD? Dr. Andrea Messina shares tips on how to make sure your health needs — from incontinence to fatigue to breast health — are fully addressed.

Literacy is essential to navigating today's world. Without the ability to read, people struggle with basic tasks, such as finding a place to live, applying for a job, or seeking healthcare. With so much of our daily lives depending on reading, it may be surprising that there are such huge disparities in literacy rates. So, how can parents bridge these disparities and ensure their children have the literacy skills they need?   Writer, parent educator, and literacy advocate, Maya Payne Smart, joins Marti and Erin to discuss six "levers" parents can activate to prepare their children for reading success. She also shares examples of simple things parents can do to help their children develop foundational literacy skills. Tune in to hear her tips for helping your kids build literacy skills from birth to kindergarten.   WHAT WILL YOU DO TO HELP YOUR CHILDREN LEARN TO READ? How will you ensure your children have the literacy skills they need? What ideas do you have for how you can activate the six "levers" with your own children?   WANT TO LEARN MORE? ❉ PARENTS' ROLE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT. Dr. Susan Outlaw shares practical tips for how to support your child's optimal language development in this episode of Mom Enough. She also talks about how to know if your child's language development is on track or if a professional language evaluation, and possibly extra support or early intervention, might be needed to help the child reach necessary milestones.   ❉ EARLY LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT: INTEGRATING LANGUAGE LEARNING INTO EVERYDAY LIFE. Long before children enter formal education, they are constantly learning from parents and other caring adults who interact with them through language stimulation. Before they even begin to speak, babies are making sense of language, building a vocabulary and developing conversational patterns. So, to make sure our children have this important foundation, do we need to be fluent in English, have a house full of books or know formal teaching strategies? Dr. Alisha Wackerle-Hollman shares reassuring answers to these questions and more.   ❉ PROMOTING LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN: INSIGHTS AND GUIDANCE. Language skills are essential to academic learning, positive relationships and clear thinking. Parents have a crucial role in promoting language development in children through simple, everyday interactions from infancy to adulthood, whether or not English is the primary language at home and whether or not a child is bilingual. Dr. Maria Sera shares research-based information to help you provide a solid language foundation for your child's needs.  

How do you know when your baby or young child is experiencing ongoing stress? And how does the way you manage your own stress affect how your child learns to handle stress and build resilience?   This episode of Mom Enough® is the second of a 3-part series on Stress and Resilience, brought to you by St. David's Center for Child and Family Development. Therapist and Senior Program Director Paula Frisk highlights the importance of the early parent-infant relationship as both a buffer against toxic stress and a powerful means by which young children learn to regulate emotions and reflect on their own feelings and actions. In her conversation with Marti & Erin, Paula addresses causes of infant stress, ways babies and young children show their stress, and how parents' own reflective capacity and mindfulness help children develop the same. Of course, to provide reflective, mindful care, parents need support for themselves -- from family, community and society as a whole, including acknowledgement of how important the often-challenging job of parenting is, not only for our children but for the health and wellbeing of society.   HOW CAN YOU NURTURE HEALTHY EMOTIONAL RESPONSES IN YOUR CHILD AND YOURSELF ? In this episode of Mom Enough®, therapist Paula Frisk encourages us to “get curious about the meaning of” our child's behavior and our own. Reflect for a moment on a recent difficult interaction with your baby or young child. Describe your child's behavior and your own in this situation and note what you think each of your behavior meant. If you encountered a similarly challenging situation tomorrow, what could you do differently that would be more helpful to your child and yourself?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT STRESS & RESILIENCE? ❉ STRESS & RESILIENCE: NURTURING HEALTHY EMOTIONAL RESPONSES IN CHILDREN AND PARENTS, PART 1 OF 2. Melissa Williams, therapist and program director at St. David's Center for Child and Family Development, joins Marti & Erin for this first podcast of a three-part series that will help you learn how stress affects your child and you. Melissa discusses the stress response in children, toxic stress and its effect on children's development, and how we can respond to the effects of toxic stress.   ❉ FROM CO-REGULATION TO SELF-REGULATION: PARENT-CHILD INTERACTIONS THAT PREPARE OUR CHILDREN FOR LIFE. Tune into the first episode of our previous series on self-regulation with Melissa Williams from St. David's Center. This engaging and practical discussion highlights what is involved in co-regulation, with an emphasis on how to show, tell and practice together with our children. Melissa also highlights the importance of “rupture and repair,” describing how we can admit our mistakes at those times when we get it wrong with our kids (as we all do!), say we are sorry and tell our child what we will try to do differently the next time.   ❉ DISCOVERING WHAT WILL HELP YOUR CHILD DEVELOP SELF-REGULATION SKILLS: DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS. One of the major developmental tasks in early childhood is self-regulation, which includes establishing healthy patterns of eating, sleeping and other routines. Even as older children and adults, we struggle with regulation at times, which can disrupt learning, relationships and other aspects of our lives. Robin Campbell and Cheryl Lundsgaard from St. David's Center for Child & Family Development, shed light on what self-regulation means, how we can help our children become self-regulated, and how important it is to discover what works best for each unique member of our family.

How can you tell if your baby or young child's development is on track? And where do you turn if you are unsure? What can you do if you have concerns about your child's development? And where can you access free early childhood screening and intervention as needed?   Thanks to supporting partner Help Me Grow Minnesota, Dr. Heather Mueller, Commissioner of Education, joins Marti & Erin for a discussion every parent should hear. Early identification and intervention are key to successful learning for many of our children, including some in Marti & Erin's family. Just as public education is free to all children in Minnesota, so too is early childhood screening, assessment, and intervention, regardless of a family's income, zip code, ethnicity, or immigration status. If intervention is needed, it is provided at home, in childcare, or wherever the child spends the day. Families are central to each step of planning and service delivery, with their needs, wishes and priorities informing the goals of intervention. As Commissioner Mueller emphasizes, this is not only in the interest of the child and family being served, but it is in all our interest to have every child be educated in a way that allows them to fulfill their potential. When children succeed, our communities succeed.   IS YOUR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT ON TRACK? Visit Help Me Grow's website and look closely at developmental milestones for your child's age. What can you learn here about the extent to which your child's development is on track? Do you see differences among the various domains of development? Now look at information on the site about how to arrange for your child to have a developmental screening. Even if you don't have concerns, screening is a free and helpful way to learn more about your child's development and how you can support your child's growth and learning across all domains.   IS YOUR CHILD MEETING THEIR DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES? ❉ Help Me Grow. Check out Help Me Grow MN for information on developmental milestones, encouraging healthy development, and getting help if you have concerns about a child's development. You can also find Help Me Grow on Facebook and Instagram (developmental videos).   ❉ CDC on Developmental Milestones. Check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's resources on child development. Track your child's development and get a downloadable PDF with developmental information by age. You can also learn about the Milestone Tracker app for monitoring your child's development.

With the wide availability of cell phones and other mobile devices, many children (and adults) have near continuous access to gaming and social media. As a parent, you may wonder if your child's gaming or social media use is becoming more of a problem. Could your child's use of technology be an addiction? What are some things you can do to help prevent gaming and social media addiction?   Dr. Zachary Hansen, assistant professor at the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies, joins Marti and Erin to answer these questions. He highlights the difference between video game addiction and other addictions, outlines treatment options, and discusses factors that contribute to video game addiction. You won't want to miss this compelling episode.   WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO PREVENT GAMING & SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION? What is one difference between video game addiction and other addictions? What steps will you take to prevent problems with gaming and social media?   WANT TO LEARN MORE? ❉ THE IMPACT OF MEDIA ON CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR & DEVELOPMENT. Douglas Gentile, psychology professor at Iowa State University and a leading researcher on children and the impact of media, joins Marti & Erin for an information-packed discussion every parent should hear. Take special note of the power of parents to prevent the negative effects of media!   ❉ MONITORING AND MANAGING YOUR CHILD'S USE OF SCREENS. Mom Enough partnered with Comcast to let you know about new resources for monitoring and managing your children's screen use. Learn more in this video.   ❉ SCREEN TIME IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: CONCERNS, OPPORTUNITIES AND REALISTIC GUIDELINES. What is a good age to introduce screens? How much time is too much? To what extent are very young children learning useful things from screen time? Dr. Megan Gunnar, a world-renown expert from the University of Minnesota's Institute of Child Development, joins Marti & Erin for an information-packed, thought-provoking discussion of this timely topic. Listen to this episode and learn what you can do to help make sure you and your child take advantage of digital technology, but don't let it take control of your life!

Do you have a teen about to start college? Or, is there a college-aged young adult you know who might benefit from some helpful tips on how to stay healthy or get healthier? Or, are you looking for a one-stop, comprehensive resource on college health? Whether you have a child just starting college who is looking to prevent the "freshman 15" or a young adult upperclassmen seeking to avoid the risks of alcohol use, you won't want to miss next week's Mom Enough show!   Tune in as authors Jill and Dave Henry join Erin and her daughter, Clara (a high school senior amid her college search) for an honest and to-the point discussion on college health. Listen to some true (and perhaps surprising) stories about college students' experiences with the transition to college. Get tips on avoiding college weight gain, preventing the pitfalls of alcohol use, reducing stress, and getting adequate sleep. Walk away with wisdom from the Henrys' accessible book, The Greatest College Health Guide You Never Knew You Needed.    WHAT WILL YOU DO TO ENSURE YOUR CHILD'S HEALTH IN COLLEGE? What were you most surprised about when it came to the insights from college students' about their transition to college? What tips from this episode are you most likely to share with your college-age child? How will you support your child in managing stress?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT COLLEGE HEALTH & PARENTING A COLLEGE STUDENT? ❉ HOW COLLEGE MAKES OR BREAKS US. Best-selling author Paul Tough spent six years exploring colleges in 21 states. He interviewed faculty, SAT tutors and students from all walks of life, concluding that higher education as an engine of social mobility is breaking down. He joins Marti & Erin in this episode to discuss highlights of what he learned and to offer action steps for college admissions, alumni, and public officials who make decisions on higher education funding.   ❉ PARENTING COLLEGE STUDENTS: A FREE ONLINE RESOURCE FOR ALL PARENTS. It's a big change for parents when children begin college. Parenting college students is a new phase of parenting!  If our kids go away to school, we may wonder what is really going on in their lives. Jodi Dworkin and Marjorie Savage from the University of Minnesota's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) put their knowledge and experience to work in developing a rich new website, Parenting College Students, to help parents of college students wherever they are. Marti & Erin are glad to know this website will be here for them when the next generation in their family head to college!

It is inevitable that we experience stress at every stage of our life. In fact, we need a certain level of stress or challenge to drive action. But when stress is too intense, frequent or sustained, it becomes toxic. Especially for children, when there is not a caring, comforting adult available to buffer the effects of stress, it inhibits learning and development. Stress without a supportive, responsive adult makes it hard for a child to form positive relationships, gain new skills and enjoy everyday life free of fear.   Melissa Williams, therapist and program director at St. David's Center for Child and Family Development, joins Marti & Erin for this first podcast of a three-part series that will help you learn how stress affects your child and you. Melissa discusses the stress response in children, toxic stress and its effect on children's development, and how we can respond to the effects of toxic stress. This three-part series will help you support your child's self-regulation and coping strategies at times of stress and expand your own healthy coping strategies at the same time. Don't miss this important discussion and those to follow in coming weeks.   WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO MANAGE STRESS AND BUILD RESILIENCE? What are the three levels of stress Mel Williams described? What new insights did you gain about the effects of stress on babies or very young children? And what simple things can you do to buffer a child's stress when it can't be avoided?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT STRESS & RESILIENCE? ❉ FROM CO-REGULATION TO SELF-REGULATION: PARENT-CHILD INTERACTIONS THAT PREPARE OUR CHILDREN FOR LIFE. Tune into the first episode of our previous series on self-regulation with Melissa Williams from St. David's Center. This engaging and practical discussion highlights what is involved in co-regulation, with an emphasis on how to show, tell and practice together with our children. Melissa also highlights the importance of “rupture and repair,” describing how we can admit our mistakes at those times when we get it wrong with our kids (as we all do!), say we are sorry and tell our child what we will try to do differently the next time.   ❉ DISCOVERING WHAT WILL HELP YOUR CHILD DEVELOP SELF-REGULATION SKILLS: DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS. One of the major developmental tasks in early childhood is self-regulation, which includes establishing healthy patterns of eating, sleeping and other routines. Even as older children and adults, we struggle with regulation at times, which can disrupt learning, relationships and other aspects of our lives. Robin Campbell and Cheryl Lundsgaard from St. David's Center for Child & Family Development, shed light on what self-regulation means, how we can help our children become self-regulated, and how important it is to discover what works best for each unique member of our family.

Do you wonder if your child might have ADHD? Has your child been recently diagnosed with ADHD? Or, have you been navigating ADHD in your family for a long time? If you have, you likely have lots of questions about ADHD. And, there are likely more questions you would benefit from asking. This episode highlights the important questions parents should ask about ADHD to ensure their child has the best possible team and support for success with ADHD.   Dr. Norrine Russell is the co-author with Heidi Condrey of Asking the Right Questions About ADHD. Dr. Russell joins Mom Enough to discuss the important questions parents would want to ask if their child has ADHD. She outlines what questions are essential before, during and after a child is identified as having ADHD. Tune in to learn more about this helpful book.   WHAT QUESTIONS WILL YOU ASK ABOUT ADHD?  How might Dr. Russells insights change the way you discuss ADHD with your child's providers? What steps might you take to put together a team of people to support your child with ADHD?   WANT TO LEARN MORE? ❉ UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD OR TEEN WITH ADHD. An ADHD coach and mom of two complex kids with ADHD and other challenges, Dr. Norrine Russell wants you to know that ADHD is not a behavior problem, but a neurodevelopmental disorder; your kids are not just intentionally being “lazy” or “sloppy.” Also, all kids with ADHD are not alike. Some struggle most with starting a task, others with sticking with a task. Some feel paralyzed when they have to make choices among too many options – or figure out where to start when their whole room is pure chaos. But Dr. Russell also knows there are evidence-based practices that can help your child learn to live better with ADHD. And there are professionals who can determine the treatment and supportive strategies that will be most appropriate for your child. Check out our previous episode with Dr. Norrine Russell.   ❉ BREAKING THE CYCLE OF BULLYING IN KIDS WITH ADHD & LEARNING DIFFERENCES.David Flink, a 2021 CNN Hero and the Chief Empowerment Office of Eye to Eye, joins Marti and Erin of Mom Enough for this important conversation on the link between ADHD, learning differences, and bullying. Having been diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD at a young age, David shares personal insights about growing up with these diagnoses. Tune in to hear his story, learn about Eye to Eye, and gain a better understanding of how to support children with ADHD and learning differences. By breaking the stigma of learning differences and helping children build self-confidence, we can end of the cycle of bullying.   ❉  EYE TO EYE. This organization is working to improve outcomes for students who learn differently. They offer peer mentorship, trainings for educators, educational programs for students with learning differences, speakers, and leadership opportunities. Check them out to learn more or get support for your child with learning differences.

More and more states have legalized marijuana for recreational use. With increased legalization comes changing social norms about marijuana. And, these changing beliefs are affecting young people's perceptions about cannabis as well. So, what does this mean for teens? And, what can we as parents do about this?   Dr. Sara Polley, medical director at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation's national substance use and mental health treatment center for adolescents and young adults, joins Marti and Erin to discuss teens and marijuana use. She discusses the impact of legalization on teens, the effects of marijuana on mental health, and what families need to know. She also debunks some common myths about marijuana use. Dr. Polley highlights warning signs that your child may be using marijuana or other substances, and shares tips for talking to kids about cannabis and substance use.   HOW HAS LEGALIZATION CHANGED TEEN USE AND PERCEPTIONS OF MARIJUANA? What was the most surprising insight you had from this episode? How might you debunk some common myths about marijuana for your teen child? In what ways will your change the way you talk to your kids about cannabis or other substances after hearing Dr. Polley's information on teens and marijuana?   WANT TO LEARN MORE MARIJUANA, ADDICTION, AND TEENS? ❉ HOPE FOR FAMILIES FACING ADDICTION: EXPERT ADVICE FROM HAZELDEN BETTY FORD FOUNDATION. Did you know that 1 in 10 people over the age of 12 years struggles with a substance use disorder? With such a high incidence, it is likely that most people have a friend or family member who is struggling with substance use or abuse. So, how does addiction affect families? And is there hope for families facing addiction? Kate Roselle of Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation's adolescent and young adult continuum of care joins Mom Enough for a compelling discussion on families facing addiction.   ❉ RECOGNIZING AND RESPONDING TO SIGNS OF POSSIBLE SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN YOUR ADOLESCENT OR YOUNG ADULT: GUIDANCE FROM THE HAZELDEN BETTY FORD FOUNDATION. As parents, most of us would rather not even think about the possibility that our son or daughter could develop an addiction to alcohol or other substances. But putting our head in the sand and ignoring signs of possible substance abuse only increases the risks. Tune into this episode for the information you need to recognize signs of substance abuse, seek an evaluation by an experienced professional, and, if needed, get appropriate treatment and family support.   ❉ PROMOTING WELLNESS, PREVENTING SUBSTANCE MISUSE: WISDOM FROM FCD PREVENTION WORKS. Are your kids pleading to go to parties because “everyone else goes”? And how accurate are your kids' perceptions that “everyone else” is doing this? Are you looking to support your child in making healthy choices around alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs? Deirdre Flynn from FCD Prevention Works™, part of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, joins Marti & Erin to share critical information to help you support your children in making healthy choices.

Do you have a young adult child who is heading off to college? Or even a high-schooler who is planning for college? Are you wondering what to do about money management as they prepare to go off on their own? It's never too early to start teaching money management techniques to support your child in getting a healthy start to their financial life.   Founder & President of Share Save Spend®, Nathan Dungan joins Marti & Erin for this essential conversation on money management for college students. Nathan discusses top priorities for helping college-bound young adults proactively and successfully management their finances. He also highlights important information about loans and credit cards, and has suggestion that parents can implement now to ensure their future (or current) college student has the knowledge they need to be smart with money.   WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO HELP YOUR YOUNG ADULT DEVELOP A HEALTHY FINANCIAL LIFE? What steps will you take to support your college-bound child in learning to budget? How can you ensure your child gets clear on needs versus wants? What will you do to model a healthy financial life for your children? When it comes to credit cards and loans, what will you be mindful of as you engage your young adult child in learning about this important aspect of financial life?   WANT TO LEARN MORE? ❉ MATERIALISTIC CHILDREN & TEENS: A WIN-WIN APPROACH TO REDUCE MATERIALISM. Did you know that being less materialistic is associated with greater happiness? Nathan Dungan builds on previous research in a new study that shows how a 3-part learning intervention reduced materialism and increased self-esteem for adolescents who participated. He joins Marti & Erin for a lively discussion about how to promote good values around money, how to give your kids choices and a voice in spending decisions even at a very young age, and how your children will benefit longterm from these practices. Marti & Erin are eager to try Nathan's tips, and you will be too!   ❉ ENGAGING KIDS IN FAMILY MONEY DECISIONS: AN INTERVIEW WITH NATHAN DUNGAN. Who is interested in shaping your child's attitudes around money?” That is the first question posed by this Mom Enough children and money guest, Nathan Dungan. The answer to that question – and examples of how our culture lures our kids to spend, spend, spend – should make us all sit up and take notice! But we do not need to be powerless; from 5-minute family money meetings to teachable moments at the grocery store, restaurant or ATM, this Mom Enough episode is packed with ways to clarify your own values about money, instill those values in your children, and give your kids voice and choice in family money decisions.  

The adolescent years are when kids begin to figure out who they are -- their strengths and challenges, beliefs and values, goals and dreams. They are deciding what they want to study or explore and what kind of people they want to be part of their life. But many young people, tweens and teens, are undermined by a lack of confidence. They may be reluctant to meet new people or try new things. Or perhaps they are afraid to try something again after doing poorly the first time around. They may be caught up in constantly comparing themselves to others, feeling that they never measure up in terms of appearance, achievements or an exciting social life. So, what can we do to help them build the confidence they need?   School psychologist and founder of Life Success for Teens, Natalie Borrell, joins Marti and Erin of Mom Enough to share tips for helping teens feel more confident. She knows that parents can support their teens in building confidence by being the constant (or secure base) in their teen's life, believing in them, and helping them break down dreams or big goals into manageable short-term steps toward success. Of course, parents can't do this alone; teens need to have another caring adult pulling for them, whether that's a grandparent, teacher, coach or some other advocate who cares about them and believes in them. Tune into this thoughtful and encouraging conversation about the small steps you can take to help your teen build the confidence they will need as they navigate the challenging and exciting road toward adulthood.   WHAT WILL YOU DO TO HELP YOUR TEENS GAIN GREATER CONFIDENCE? One helpful way to understand the worries and doubts and lack of confidence that so often undermine your teenager's lack of confidence is to reflect on your own adolescence. To what extent did you feel confident trying a new activity or meeting a new group of your peers or getting back on your feet after a major mistake or failure? Think of specific situations and try to remember what helped you or hindered you from becoming more confident. What do you wish adults around you had done to support you? How can you use that information to help your tween or teen gain greater confidence? What insights did you get from this Mom Enough conversation with Natalie Borrell?   WANT TO LEARN MORE? ❉ RECOGNIZING LEARNING DIFFERENCES AND HELPING CHILDREN BUILD ON STRENGTHS AND INTERESTS. Does your child struggle with homework, seem fidgety much of the time, or look dazed when directed to do something? Perhaps you (and your child's teachers) need help in figuring out the optimal ways your child learns. Granted, some children struggling with schoolwork have a learning disability and need (and have the right to) special intervention. But this Mom Enough guest, Dr. Elaine Fogel Schneider, knows there are individual differences among kids who do not meet criteria for a learning disability but who could benefit from extra support and analysis of the ways they learn best. And that kind of support is likely to help them find the confidence and joy they deserve.   ❉ PROMOTING YOUR CHILD'S MATH SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE: PUTTING MATH IN A POSITIVE LIGHT. Many children develop the idea that math is hard, just too much work and drudgery. And yet, even toddlers are attracted to numbers and have an intuitive sense of the meaning of basic math skills. So how can we sustain that interest in our young children or help our older kids recapture it? Michele Mazzocco has spent her career studying just that and she joins Marti & Erin for an encouraging and interesting discussion of how to help your children discover that math is fun, doable and relevant to everyday life. Tune in and you may find your own attitude toward math skills improving too!  

Most parenting advice is focused on how to raise our children. But should we perhaps be focusing on how to raise an adult?   While our job as parents is to love, care for, and teach our children, the purpose of our role is to raise a contributing member of society as our children reach adulthood. Well-intentioned parents have taken the reins in attempts to ensure positive outcomes for their children, but they've forgotten that if they are the driver, how will their children learn to find their way on their own? How did we get to this place? Why do we need to stop overparenting? Is there another way?   New York Times bestselling author, Julie Lythcott-Haims, answers these questions and shares wisdom and insights from her book, How to Raise an Adult, in this compelling episode of Mom Enough.   HOW WILL YOU RAISE AN ADULT? In what ways have you overparented your children? What hopes and fears play into your overparenting? After listening to this interview, what three steps will you take to shift away from parental overinvolvement? How have you shifted your perspective on what it means to be the parent you want to be?   WANT TO LEARN MORE? ❉ YOUR TURN: WISDOM ON ADULTING FROM JULIE LYTHCOTT-HAIMS. New York Times bestselling author, Julie Lythcott-Haims, returns to Mom Enough with a new book on supporting our children in becoming adults. She shares wisdom, personal reflections, and the stories of other young adults in her ultimate guide for adulting, Your Turn: How to Be an Adult. With vulnerability and compassion, Lythcott-Haims offers insights and helpful tips to guide young adults to discover their unique selves and define their singular path to adulthood.   ❉ JULIE LYTHCOTT-HAIMS' WEBSITE. Learn more about Lythcott-Haims' work, including her critically-acclaimed and award-winning prose poetry memoir, Real American. You can also sign up for her newsletter.   ❉ THE POWER OF AGENCY: KEYS TO LIVING LIFE ON YOUR OWN TERMS.  Listen as psychologist Dr. Anthony Rao (Tony) highlights key principles from his book, The Power of Agency.   ❉ UNLEASHING THE INSTINCT TO PLAY: PATHWAYS TO JOY, COMPETENCE AND CREATIVITY IN PRETEND PLAY. Psychologist Peter Gray shares his conclusions about what is missing from children's lives in terms of pretend play and exploration without adult direction in this Mom Enough episode.   ❉ FREE RANGE KIDS: A CONVERSATION WITH AUTHOR AND ACTIVIST LENORE SKENAZY. When Lenore Skenazy wrote about letting her then nine-year-old son ride the subway alone in New York City, she never imagined the uproar it would cause. In this lively discussion with Marti & Erin, she reflects on how you can let the children in your life be free range kids.  

Approximately 1 in 5 children report being bullied, but for children with ADHD and learning differences that number is much higher. And, children with ADHD are more likely to bully others. So, what can we do to better support children with learning differences? How can we prevent bullying?   David Flink, a 2021 CNN Hero and the Chief Empowerment Office of Eye to Eye, joins Marti and Erin of Mom Enough for this important conversation on the link between ADHD, learning differences, and bullying. Having been diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD at a young age, David shares personal insights about growing up with these diagnoses. Tune in to hear his story, learn about Eye to Eye, and gain a better understanding of how to support children with ADHD and learning differences. By breaking the stigma of learning differences and helping children build self-confidence, we can end of the cycle of bullying.     WHAT CAN WE DO TO PREVENT BULLYING?    What factors contribute to the increased risk of bullying among children with ADHD? What signs could indicate your child is internalizing? How can you address this?     WANT TO LEARN MORE?   ❉  EYE TO EYE. This organization is working to improve outcomes for students who learn differently. They offer peer mentorship, trainings for educators, educational programs for students with learning differences, speakers, and leadership opportunities. Check them out to learn more or get support for your child with learning differences.   ❉ DAVID FLINK. Check out David Flink's website to learn about him and his recent book, Thinking Differently.   ❉ HELPING CHILDREN BUILD EMPATHY: A DISCUSSION WITH UNSELFIE AUTHOR, MICHELE BORBA. When people ask author and educational psychologist Michele Borba what kids need to be successful and happy, she confidently proclaims, “Empathy!” And yet, our popular culture, with its emphasis on “I” and “me” seems to fly in the face of empathy as a core value. How did we come to this? To what extent has addiction to devices contributed to the decrease in empathy observed by researchers? Most importantly, what can we do now as parents, teachers and other caring adults to make sure children build this important quality of empathy from the earliest years? Dr. Borba joins Marti & Erin for a rich discussion in this Mom Enough episode.  

The pandemic has affected us all! But, in what ways has it affected children and teens? What trends do parents and educators see as a result of the pandemic? Are these trends expected? And, perhaps more importantly, what can we do about it?   Michele Borba, EdD, author of Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine answers these questions and more. Through interviews with hundreds of children and parents, Michele learned what factors help children thrive, even in the face of stress. Tune in as she highlights the mental health challenges young people are facing and why the pandemic is not the only cause. And, you won't want to miss her insights on simple steps you can take now to help your children thrive!   WHAT WILL YOU DO TO HELP YOUR CHILDREN THRIVE?   What factors that contribute to the current mental health challenges of children and teens, beyond the pandemic, surprised you most? How might you manage your own fears and stressors, so that you can continue to be a protective buffer for your children? What other steps will you take to help your children thrive beyond the pandemic?   WANT TO LEARN MORE?   ❉ THRIVERS: HELPING YOUR KIDS BUILD THE QUALITIES TO SHINE AND THRIVE. If you missed our first interview on Thrivers with Michele Borba, tune in now to hear more about how you can help your children build the qualities that will allow them to shine, even in the face of adversity. Her findings through interviews with children, parents, and experts, challenge the relentless emphasis on perfect grades and test scores (a “pretty package” as one teen said), noting that such high pressure often undermines focus, learning and emotional health. Most importantly, Michele's findings highlight instead character traits that can be taught from an early age: self-confidence, empathy, self-control, integrity, curiosity, perseverance (or grit) and optimism. Don't miss this powerful, practical message for parents and anyone who works with or cares about children.   ❉ HELPING CHILDREN BUILD EMPATHY: A DISCUSSION WITH UNSELFIE AUTHOR, MICHELE BORBA. When people ask author and educational psychologist Michele Borba what kids need to be successful and happy, she confidently proclaims, “Empathy!” And yet, our popular culture, with its emphasis on “I” and “me” seems to fly in the face of empathy as a core value. How did we come to this? To what extent has addiction to devices contributed to the decrease in empathy observed by researchers? Most importantly, what can we do now as parents, teachers and other caring adults to make sure children build this important quality of empathy from the earliest years? Dr. Borba joins Marti & Erin for a rich discussion in this Mom Enough episode.