The Modern Mom Society

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This is the audio file from the Facebook live from The Modern Mom Society Facebook group discussing the content from Day 4 of the True You Summit where I give an overview of the day's speakers and a little about my "why" around the experts and topics that I chose for today. True You Mind & Body explores food, exercise, and the mind/body connection to health and wellness and how to connect to your intuition for guidance on taking care of your body the way it was meant to be cared for. Today's theme and summit speakers: Katie Garces, Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner - Intuitive Eating and how to live Spiritual, Sexy & Sane Allison Tenney, Health & Fitness Coach - Building a healthy relationship with your body and finding the right exercise for you and your busy schedule Faith Shevlin, Mind-Body Coach, Holistic Nutritionist and Spiritual/Intuitive Mentor, IMperfectly Healthy - The seven core issues at the root of health, body, and food challenges and mind/body approaches to healing To access today's summit interviews, you can sign up at: https://trueyou.themodernmomsociety.com

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This is the audio file from the Facebook live from The Modern Mom Society Facebook group discussing the content from Day 4 of the True You Summit where I give an overview of the day's speakers and a little about my "why" around the experts and topics that I chose for today. True You Spirit helps remove the obstacles that are in the way of us connecting to our divine self and what God, Jesus, the universe (or whatever you want to call it) and your soul truly wants for you while you're on this planet. Today's theme and summit speakers: Lola Wright, CEO & Spiritual Director, Bodhi Chicago - How discontent can serve our higher good and what to do about it Shannon Jamail, Mind Body Complete - Surrender and how it gets you closer to your true you Josefa Lan, Shaman & Intuitive Coach - Spiritual healing and how to uncover our true selves To access today's summit interviews, you can sign up at: https://trueyou.themodernmomsociety.com

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This is the audio file from the Facebook live from The Modern Mom Society Facebook group discussing the content from Day 3 of the True You Summit where I give an overview of the day's speakers and a little about my "why" around the experts and topics that I chose for today. Today's theme and summit speakers: True You Authenticity is all about living in alignment with your true self. Finding your purpose and pursuing it, setting boundaries to keep you on your true path, and knowing you are perfect exactly as you are. Sarah Talbert, Life Coach - Finding your purpose and why it's important to pursue it Steph Sterner - How to stop the people pleasing and learn to set and hold healthy boundaries Kim Foster Carlson, Broadcast Journalist & Author - How perfectionism keeps you from being your true you To access today's summit interviews, you can sign up at: https://trueyou.themodernmomsociety.com

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This is the audio file from the Facebook live from The Modern Mom Society Facebook group discussing the content from Day 2 of the True You Summit where I give an overview of the day's speakers and a little about my "why" around the experts and topics that I chose for today. Today's theme and summit speakers: True You Mom Life dives into the areas of being your true self that come along with being a mom. The mom guilt, the clutter, the comparisions, and why you should put yourself first to get to your true you. Sunit Suchdev from High Vibe Life - Why putting yourself first is important to being your true you, why it's great for the whole family, and how to actually make it happen! Sarah Hembree from Nest Happy - How clutter affects our true you and tips for getting started decluttering Angie Martin, Certified Life Purpose Coach - How to ditch mom guilt and stop comparing yourself to have a happier, more joy-filled mom life To access today's summit interviews, you can sign up at: https://trueyou.themodernmomsociety.com

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This is the audio file from the Facebook live from The Modern Mom Society Facebook group discussing the content from Day 1 of the True You Summit where I give an overview of the day's speakers and a little about my "why" around the experts and topics that I chose for today. Today's theme and summit speakers: True You Parenting explores all the areas in which we can learn to parent from our true self and be the parent we want to be, as well as learn and grow ourselves through parenting our children. Marcilie Smith Boyle of Working Parenting: Developing your parenting intuition Casey O'Roarty from Joyful Courage: How parenting our children help us grow as people and into our true selves Christina Fletcher from Spiritually Aware Parenting: How to connect to your inner wisdom and parent from a space of calm centeredness To access today's summit interviews, you can sign up at: https://trueyou.themodernmomsociety.com Other links: Calmer Happier Easier Parenting book

I'm back with a quick hello and to introduce you to the project I've been working on since I signed off from season 1 of the podcast back in the fall. I'll tell you a little about the background of how I came to create the True You Summit and I also have the audio from a Facebook live that I did with my friend Heather Carney, the moderator and hostess with the mostess at the Holistically Green Village Facebook group where we talk about #momlife and introduce the topics of the True You Summit. Here are the links I mentioned in this podcast episode: True You Summit Registration The Modern Mom Society Facebook Group Holistically Green Village Facebook Group Join me and 15 experts in the True You Summit where the goal is to give you the tools and resources you need to live a life in alignment with what your body, mind, and soul desires; to help you uncover and achieve what you really want out of life, remove obstacles that keep you stuck in unfulfilling circumstances, and create time to pursue your passions and things that bring you joy above and beyond your role as a mother. We'll explore connecting to your True You as it relates to 5 different areas of your life: Parenting, Mom Life, Authenticity, Spirit, and Mind & Body. Hope to see you there!

In this episode, I discuss my reasons for closing out season one and share the blog post I wrote with you in mind: What I want for you, mama. Thanks for listening to Season 1 of the Modern Mom Society Podcast! Please reach out to me via Facebook, Instagram, or on The Modern Mom Society website. I'd love to hear about what your favorite episodes from season 1 were, what you learned, what you're still struggling with... I'm here to help you on your journey!

In Rebecca Scritchfield's interview we discuss: Rebecca's story of body kindness for herself Her recommendations on how to ditch diets for good and feel good about the food choices you are making The difference between guilt and shame as it relates to your relationship with food and making healthy food choices Rebecca's concept of spiraling up rather than spiraling down Tuning into your body and determining what it really wants versus turning to diet philosophies and others as experts on what you should be eating The importance of having fun in your life and how it relates to body kindness How to fit more fun into your daily life Cultural messages about getting your body back post baby and being at peace with your body at all ages and stages of your mom life For show notes and other episode details visit: themodernmomsociety.com/episode39/

In Sharon Somekh's interview we discuss: Things that we think make our kids happy but actually don't in the long run Giving your kids everything they want (even when you know it's not in their best interest) and how it sets them up for unrealistic expectations and difficulty handling disappointment How to coach your child through handling disappointment What to do with tantrums Being your child's parent versus being their friend Sharon's example of how she handled her sixth grader asking for a laptop as a parent and not a friend to her daughter Implementing the rules in a kind yet firm manner Younger children thriving on the idea that you there to guide them Remembering the reasons you make your parenting decisions as a way of helping you stick to those decisions Changing your mind when you make a parenting decision The importance of not changing your mind while your child is in the midst of a tantrum Building skills of indepence in our children as a key to happiness Celebrating the effort and progress of your child working toward a goal Letting go of some our fears as a parent and giving your children more responsibility and freedom Sharon has a great free gift for the Modern Mom Society listeners! It's her guide, Top 5 Ways to Create A Healthy, Lifelong Relationship with Your Child. Get a link to that as well as the episode show notes at www.themodernmomsociety.com/episode38

In Jessa Zimmerman's interview we discuss: How Jessa came to be a sex therapist Sex therapy as grief and loss work Differences in sexual desire and how it can affect a relationship and what couples can do to work through that discrepancy How the difference in sexual desire should not be taken personally by the person who wants sex more often The importance of determining the reasons the lower desire partner has for not wanting sex, and how to address those issues The work that the higher desire partner has to do Two ways of having sexual desire: proactive and reactive Being open to sexual experiences that don't necessarily lead to sex Bringing the spark back to long term relationships Exploring our own eroticism as a way of bringing sexy back What working with a sex therapist looks like Who should consider going to sex therapy, and who shouldn't Jessa's online course and book For show notes and a link to Jessa's free 'How Healthy is Your Sex Life?" Quiz visit www.themodernmomsociety.com/episode37 Jessa Zimmeman is a licensed sex therapist and couples' counselor. She specializes in helping couples who have a good relationship but who are avoiding sex because it's become stressful, negative, disappointing, or pressured. Jessa educates, coaches, and supports people as they go through her 9-phase experiential process that allows them real world practice in changing their relationship and their sex life. She does this work through in person therapy in her office in Seattle, online therapy for Washington residents, her Better Sex podcast, and soon to be published book, Sex Without Stress.

In Suzanne Tucker's interview we discuss: Suzanne's background in physical therapy and how she came to create Generation Mindful Empowerment Education and how to put yourself in the center as the parent Connecting before correcting How she was inspired to make mindfulness fun The Time In Toolkit and what's all included Positive discipline rests in relationship, not overpower and control Time In versus Time Out Spanking as a discipline method What you sacrifice when you use time outs Giving yourself grace when you make mistakes, and being a good example for your kids when you do so The beauty of being an imperfect parent The best time to use the Time In Toolkit (hint: it's not in the heat of the moment!) Step by step: how to handle your child when they are in meltdown mode The triune brain: green, yellow, red What NOT to do when your child is in their "red brain"/meltdown mode and what to do instead Why you might want to consider celebrating big displays of emotion Trusting yourself and your inherent knowledge and intuition instead of Google for parenting advice The development of the prefrontal cortex and when your children develop the tools to regulate themselves How using these tools help sibling relationships For show notes and links to Suzanne's Time In Toolkit and Generation Mindful, visit: www.themodernmomsociety.com/episode36 I'm excited to now be a part of the Parents on Demand Network! Find the POD app in the Apple App Store and Google Play market to listen to all the best parenting podcasts in one place!

In Ali Parnell's interview we discuss: How Ali came to be a parenting coach What she did to move from being terrified of becoming a mom to loving being a mom The main reasons as to why we get so angry with our kids Identifying why you might get triggered and how to gain control of our emotions when our kids just don't listen A quick tip how to get back into your logical thinking brain when you are angry All about trying to get control as a parent and the difference between "fake control" and what you actually can control How shifting your perspective in challenging parenting moments can make a world of difference Getting behind our emotions and understanding why are we getting triggered as an important self development and parenting tool Why you should put yourself first and not at the bottom of the list of priorities, and why you should never feel selfish or guilty for doing so How to find time to "fill your cup" Ways to lessen your load as a busy mom Ali Parnell is an Emotional Mastery Coach and CEO of Joyful Parenting. She helps heart-centered moms of toddlers to teens transform from being snappy, angry and lashing out at their kids to responding with love in the heat of the moment and being the centered and calm parent they want to be. She has been studying Psychology, Family Relationship and Personal Development for over 9 years and her mission is to help create healthier, happier families starting with mom. For show notes and a link to Ali's free gift, 5 Steps to Reprogram Your Anger Buttons" guide, visit themodernmomsociety.com/episode35

In Naomi Damask's interview we discuss: Naomi's story of diagnosis and treatment Finding support for her journey with Gilda Club and interviewing friends and family who had breast cancer How she decided her course of treatment with all of the options available to her. Choosing to have a mastectomy How she supported herself on the emotional end of things Donating her hair to St. Baldrick's, and honoring her daughter's preschool friend who was diagnosed with cancer The power of using social media for good How her kids and husband managed through the process of her treatment Having her mom as her rock through treatment What the most helpful things friends did for her About The Licorice Project, a non-profit that she is involved in. Things that people would say that was helpful and not helpful Holistic treatments that she intertwined with her chemotherapy and other standard cancer treatments How much easier it is to find alternative treatments online now versus when she went through treatment What she would have done differently Her second surgery for the breast reconstruction How the cancer journey affected her children. Things she does and recommends to prevent cancer About biohacking and nutrigenomics Why being extremely strict with your diet might not be the best choice Self exams & self care as important ways to keep cancer at bay Thermography as an alternative to mammograms Links Silver Pen Blog Block Center - Integrative Cancer Treatment Center in Skokie, IL Lots of Helping Hands St. Baldrick's Foundation - raises money for pediatric cancer patients. Check out the blog post she wrote about the experience: Bald is Beautiful (Especially for St. Baldrick's) The Licorice Project - tips for what to do for a friend who is going through cancer treatment Radical Remission by Kelly Turner (affiliate link) Find show notes and additional words of wisdom from Naomi at: themodernmomsociety.com/episode34/

In Sarah Argenal's interview we discuss: Sarah's story of going from "stressed out, working mom to feeling energetic, excited and productive" in her life What she did to be more intentional with her time, which led to being happier and more productive both at work and at home How much of the changes she made were actions versus changing her attitude The importance of figuring out what you really want out of life Making changes at work to better support a work/life balance - negotiating work from home days, defining emergencies, working with her team to get things done, setting boundaries What moms whose employers are not willing to be flexible or find alternative solutions should do Mompowerment book by Suzanne Brown (affiliate link) - how to create part time schedules or flexible arrangements at work and how to have those conversations with your boss or with your team and how to figure out what will work for you Ideas on how to let go of the mom guilt and not let it consume you What some of the benefits children of working moms enjoy The importance of focused, quality time with your kids and how to fit it in in your day A few additional time management tips for busy working moms What working with Sarah looks like, and how she helps working moms be happier with both their work and mom life Baby steps versus big leaps and what makes the most sense when working towards building a happier life For show notes and additional words of wisdom from Sarah on motherhood, visit themodernmomsociety.com/episode33/

In Hema Raj Trukenbrod's interview we discuss: Her background as a sensory specialist How a parent would identify a sensory issue versus a personality quirk The point at which a sensory issue becomes a problem that needs to be addressed Ways sensory issues manifest in children What kinds of specialists are available to help with sensory issues, including therapists as well as Early Intervention Pediasource, the platform she developed for parents to have a place to start when they think their child may have an issue that they're not sure if or how to address. An example of a child she treated from diagnosis through treatment The importance of creating a team of specialists to help treat your child with sensory issues What occupational therapy looks like Why you might not want to get your fidgety kid a fidget spinner If children with sensory issues definitely need therapy or if it is a possibility that will they grow out of it For show notes and additional words of wisdom on motherhood from Hema, visit http://themodernmomsociety.com/episode32

In Aimi Palmer's interview we discuss: Her family and the decision to move to America The hardest thing for her to adjust to Finding her group of mom friends in Chicago Navigating immigration laws and other challenging things about living somewhere without family nearby Aimi's top 3 tips for traveling with little ones and dealing with jet lag Other tips on sleep Dealing with sleep crutches Her sleep training process Favorite thing about having made the move to Chicago Words of advice for someone who might have the opportunity to live in another country Access show notes and additional words of wisdom from Aimi on motherhood at www.themodernmomsociety.com/episode31

In Jenn Taylor's interview we discuss: Her struggle with infertility and miracle pregnancy with her first born Subsequent pregnancies and miscarriages How she came to have 18 children in her family What led to her decision to foster and adopt so many children Managing the baggage that comes along with fostering and working to stay connected to their birth parents A day in the life juggling that many kids and how she manages to keep on top of it all The words of advice she has for moms who are struggling with the day to day Prioritizing self care Leaning on your community for support and using other people and their strengths as a resource Giving it your all, and how some days it's going to look like 150% and other days a fraction Links Wear More Cashmere book that changed how she prioritized self care (affiliate link) Jenn's book, Hello, My Name Is.... Warrior Princess (affiliate link) Episode Web Page: themodernmomsociety.com/episode30 BONUS CONTENT: Jenn & Carrie discuss minimalism! Jenn and I continued our conversation after we finished recording the main episode... I was dying to hear how she made minimalism work for her large family - I've been striving to pare down our possessions (and it's been a bit of a struggle), so I was so curious to hear how she did it. If she could do it, certainly I could too, right? You can get access to it by visiting the episode page at themodernmomsociety.com/minimalism... be sure to check it out - it was a really great conversation and I left feeling inspired to purge more from my home!

In Linda Szmulewitz's interview we discuss: The Chicago New Mom's Group and why she created it A brief overview of the 6-week course curriculum: Week 1 - How motherhood is different from anything you've done before Week 2 - Shifts in relationships after you become a mother Week 3 - All about sleep! Week 4 - Developmental skills & starting solids Week 5 - Going back to work or not; our identities as mothers Week 6 - Body image and postpartum issues Linda's really great list of "all of the things that moms never thought about before they have their first child" How being a mother is VERY different from being a babysitter or camp counselor Navigating the overwhelming amount of information about parenting and child rearing Judgement of mothers, and the importance of coming from a stance of curiosity and compassion when talking with other moms about how they do things The notion of "doing it all" ourselves and learning to seek and accept help, especially in the beginning Postpartum depression and anxiety, and where to go for help How critical having a group of moms to lean upon is, and the importance of getting together in person Tips for finding your mom tribe P.A.C.E. - Washington, DC New Moms Group The full list of "everything you never knew about motherhood until you became a mom" Peanut - Mom Dating app! Holistic Moms Network - Carrie's favorite in-person mom group that was helpful as new mom! Linda Szmulewitz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a certified Gentle Sleep Coach. 7 years ago, she developed an educational and supportive program for first time moms of babies 0-6 months old called The Chicago New Moms Group. The group offers 6 week sessions that provide new moms with an opportunity to come together in a non judgmental and nurturing environment to both connect with others in similar circumstances and to find answers to many new parenting questions.

Taking a break from releasing an episode this week to enjoy spring break and my new kitchen! For the associated blog post, visit: http://themodernmomsociety.com/spring-break-and-renewal/

In Jasmine Jafferali's interview we discuss: Her background in exercise physiology and public health, focusing on women and children's health The difference between a food sensitivity and food allergy Typical symptoms of food sensitivities What she recommends parents do if they suspect food sensitivities The food allergy tests that are available: IgG and IgE Food elimination diets and how to use them Foods that people are most commonly sensitive to: dairy, wheat/gluten, peanut, soy, shellfish, eggs, corn Reasons why food sensitivities and allergies might be more common nowadays Leaky gut and it's role in food sensitivities If food intolerance are reversible How avoiding problematic foods may be difficult to do but why it's worth it For show notes, visit www.themodernmomsociety.com/episode28

In Sarah Nicoli's interview we discuss: A little about her family and how she ended up moving from Chicago to London What it was like packing up to leave How the transition affected her kids Life in London Finding new friends If the British are welcoming of people from other countries, particularly Americans What some of the things she misses from the US The biggest challenges with living in London Sarah's favorite thing about having made the move A day in the life with her and her kids Visa challenges Her advice for anyone who might have the opportunity to live in another country for a while For more words of wisdom on motherhood from Sarah visit: www.themodernmomsociety.com/episode27

In Gina Fresquez's interview we discuss: What is a side hustle and what are some of the more common side hustles that moms have Why you might want to consider having a side hustle Gina's side hustle journey How to figure out what your side hustle should be Following your soul's journey and having the courage to do something new and scary Gina's decision to leave the corporate job that she loved Diving into the feelings of fear and figuring out what the fear really means Tips for build a successful side hustle business and not get overwhelmed in the process Why she doesn't have a signature system for business success How to find the time to have a side hustle (be sure to grab Gina's 21 Tips to Time Freedom e-book!) Gina Fresquez, is a speaker, podcast host, Mindset & Success Coach, and the founder of The Women's Side Hustle Society, where she is committed to empowering ambitious, soulful side-hustling women to bring their biggest entrepreneurial dreams to life in a way that's infused with confidence, joy, ease, and freedom—without having to sacrifice their health, sanity, or lifestyle. For show notes and additional words of wisdom on motherhood from Gina, visit themodernmomsociety.com/episode26

In Marcilie's interview we discuss: Marcilie's background as a Positive Discipline trainer and Life and Leadership coach What lead her to start a coaching practice and leave corporate Why it's so hard to get our kids to do what we want them to do Intrinsic motivation versus extrinsic motivation The positive discipline tools that she recommends to foster intrinsic motivation in our children Looking underneath the behavior to try to understand why it's hard for your child to cooperate Belonging and significance as the keys to connection and cooperation and how to cultivate it in your kids The "Eye to Eye" tool as a way to get kids to listen and cooperate the first time you ask them to do something Using age appropriate responsibilities for fostering a sense of capability and competence Edward Deci and his work relating to intrinsic motivation: relatedness, competence, and autonomy Giving children choices and how it creates buy in because the brain likes it's own ideas best! Family meetings as a way to involve your children in the process of making decisions that affect the whole family A few stories about how giving choices led to greater cooperation in Marcilie's family Developmental milestones and play into your child's sense of capability What to do if your child is lacking skills and not feeling very competent How your child mastering tasks and seeing success builds momentum, motivation, and energy (research from Daniel Pink from the book Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us) (affiliate link) For more information and additional words of wisdom on motherhood from Marcilie, visit themodernmomsociety.com/episode25

In Rachel Fiske's interview we discuss: The Moonbeams Circles she leads with mother daughter teams to prepare the girls for puberty, honoring their bodies and being conscious about having sex at sometime in the future What the right age for beginning the conversation about sex How to prepare yourself for having that conversation If you should wait until your child asks the question Addressing all of the aspects of sex when you have the conversation: the scientific nuts and bolts, emotional, spiritual Teaching our children to honor their bodies How different children might need to hear the message in different ways Navigating having this conversation today with technology and teens being more sexual at younger ages Handling your child's natural curiosity about sexuality and pornography What to do if your child wants nothing to do with having this conversation Instilling your values and giving your child the tools they need when they explore their sexuality The topic of consent and that it's ok to say no at any point in the process Discussing sex with a son versus a daughter What to do if your child just won't talk to you For show notes and links to additional content, visit themodernmomsociety.com/episode24

In Angie Gross' interview we discuss: About Angie and her journey with weight loss and becoming a life and weight loss coach Her favorite weight loss tools including The Model by Brooke Castillo, no flour and no sugar, and the hunger scale How to figure out what triggers your emotional desire for food What to do when you realize you have been triggered into emotional eating Food journaling as an effective tool to identify emotional eating episodes More about flour and sugar and how they affect ghrelin and leptin If it was difficult for Angie to give up flour and sugar Counting calories and if it is an effective tool for weight loss Her recommendation around exercise - it may surprise you! Being aware of mom guilt and how it plays into every aspect of our lives How Angie balances it all and keeps mom guilt at bay For the show notes and the link to Angie's free 42 day Jumpstart Program to help you manage anxiety and lose weight and keep it off permanently, visit www.themodernmomsociety.com/episode23

In Jen Vertanen's interview we discuss: Why she considered a hysterectomy at age 18 Getting pregnant at 19 and her decision to have her son How tough it was being a wife and mother while in college Having the support of friends and family How motherhood changed her Her podcast, Going There with Jen Vertanen and talking about the messiness of life What she wanted to do differently with her kids versus what she experienced as a child If motherhood was what she expected it to be Treating herself the way she would want to treat her kids: self mothering Getting out of your head and putting yourself in someone else's shoes For show notes and additional words of wisdom from Jen, visit www.themodernmomsociety.com/episode22

In Jennifer McGrath's interview we discuss: Life before kids, and the tough transition to going back to work after maternity leave The stress of the routine, the long hours, and the long commute as a working mom Her decision to take a break from her corporate job to spend more time with her kids Starting her blog, charminglybold.com The demanding workload at her corporate job, and trying to balance getting the work done and maintaining her family and home Leaving her mark at the company she had worked for: an employee resource group called Parents Working Together; how she got it started and what it grew into Finding your mom tribe in the workplace Working mom guilt and work/life integration How she was able to reconcile letting go of her salary, both financially and emotionally If she's enjoying being a stay at home mom Always leading with kindness and why you shouldn't judge other moms for the decisions they make for their families For show notes and additional words of wisdom from Jennifer on motherhood, visit www.themodernmomsociety.com/episode21

In Dr. Tari Mack's interview we discuss: The common themes around communication she sees when she does couples therapy How to communicate your needs and feelings to your partner Tips for how to handle the same conversations/conflicts in a different way Getting your spouse to respond instead of ract How each person in the relationship is taking a part in the dynamic that is creating the conflict Using I statements as a way to not put your partner on the defensive Imago Therapy and how to feel heard in your relationship The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (by John Gottman) and how using criticism, stonewalling, defensiveness, and contempt when interacting with your spouse is a predictor of divorce Suggestions for how to stay connected to your spouse while dealing with the stress of small children and other household obligations Identifying when you've been emotionally triggered and what to do about it Visit www.themodernmomsociety.com/episode20 to access the show notes and additional words of wisdom on motherhood from Tari. Dr. Tari Mack is a clinical psychologist and relationship expert. She works with individuals and couples in her private practice and is passionate about helping people find purpose and fulfillment. She loves helping couples deepen their connection with each other and figure out how to move past recurring conflicts. She is a mom to 2 daughters, ages 5 and 2.5. Tari has a blog, The Path of Joy, and she is also writing a book for dating singles about how to find your soulmate and remove your roadblocks to finding love. Stay tuned for that!

In Holly Daly's interview we discuss: Growing up in a predominantly white small town in Indiana The different neighborhoods she's lived in around Chicago and her experience with the different levels of diversity Her family's reaction to her dating and marrying black man The experience of being an interracial family in different communities Discussing race with her children Teaching her children how to be a man of color How her friends with adopted children of color teach children about race The importance of conversations with your children about race and what it means and why you shouldn't avoid talking with them about it even if it makes you uncomfortable Navigating discussions with racist family, friends, or neighbors If she's found any language that has worked to open someone's mind and viewpoint Race in Chicago Public Schools

In Jen Hardy's interview we discuss: Her blended family of 7 kids aged 5-27 Jen's health journey and how it affected being a mom What led her to write "The Sick Mom's Guide to Having Fun Again" (affiliate link) Her mission with and message to the millions of women with chronic illnesses A day in the life of Jen & her family How she overcomes the mental hurdle of feeling sick to focus on the positive Tips from her Sick Mom's guide that any mom can use relative to mom guilt, de-stressing, and fun What she and other moms with chronic health issues want you to know about their experience Her number one tip for moms relative to their health Show links: Jen's book: "The Sick Mom's Guide to Having Fun Again" (affiliate link) Brili app - for getting your kids to follow routines and get their chores done! Access additional words of wisdom from Jen at www.themodernmomsociety.com/episode18

In Rebecca Kringer's interview we discuss: How she got started as the Lice Lady What is lice Ways our kids typically get it How you would know if your child has it Telling the difference between lice and dandruff If there are particular parts of the head that lice usually hang out How Rebecca typically treats clients - procedure as well as products used Essential oil recommendations for keeping lice at bay What to do when the letter comes home from the school that there is a case of lice If soaking your child's hair in mayo or olive oil is an effective treatment How long it takes to remove all of the nits and bugs Steps necessary for treating your home What about pets? Do lice prefer clean hair or dirty hair What working with Rebecca looks like

In Sarah MacLaughlin's interview we discuss: The work Sarah does with parents How brain development intertwines with parenting Nature versus nurture - which has more impact on your child's developing brain Putting the knowledge of the science of brain develop into practice - it's a blessing and a curse! The prefrontal cortex, how it affects your child's behavior, and when it actually gets fully developed (the answer might surprise you!) Alternatives to rewards and punishment The best way to handle your child's emotional meltdowns How we as the parent grow our own emotional competence Focusing on progress not perfection as we learn to control our emotions and how we help our child do the same Discipline and setting boundaries and how this does not mean being permissive How to handle your child when they overstep a boundary Focusing on teaching life lessons rather than punishing them into compliance Helping your child alleviate "emotional constipation" Teaching your kids to accept a no gracefully Using humor to diffuse a power struggle with your child That you won't always know how to handle your child's misbehavior Links: The Whole-Brain Child book by Dan Siegel (affiliate link) Playful Parenting book by Larry Cohen (affiliate link) Huffington Post article Sarah wrote: 7 New Ways to Navigate Defiance From Your Child Sarah's book: What Not to Say: Tools for Talking with Young Children (affiliate link) Hand in Hand Parenting Join in the conversation at the Modern Mom Society Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/themodernmomsociety

Dropping in to briefly discuss what I've been up to lately and the upcoming shift from a weekly podcast to an every other week podcast episode. Needing to find some balance and breathing room in my schedule! Thanks for your support and for listening! Another great episode coming your way next week.

In Annmarie's interview we discuss: What conscious parenting is An overview of the four key questions every parent can ask to move from conflict to connection in their lives and how these questions can guide you to being more awake, aware, and conscious in your parenting The first question: "Where am I?" How to use your breath and presence to help answer the first question Being "above the line" and "below the line" and what it means relative to identifying where you are in an any given moment The second question: "Can I accept myself in this moment?" What to do if you don't accept yourself The third question: "Am I willing to shift?" If yes, the fourth question: "How will I shift?" What to do next if the answer to the fourth question is yes Walk through an example from start to finish going through all of the four questions Why you might want to consider doing this work (it's hard!) when it's much easier to punish or take away toys or privileges

In Dani Steinberg's interview we discuss: Her journey to motherhood, which included 8 rounds of IVF The birth of her daughter, McKyla, who was 10.5 pounds and got stuck in the birth canal Her 9th round of IVF which resulted in her pregnancy with triplets Dani ending up in the hospital at 23 weeks 1 day into her pregnancy The premature birth of the triplets, and subsequent 6 month stay in the NICU until the last of the triplets was sent home What it was like for Dani and her husband Jim watching the triplets in the hospital and enduring multiple surgeries (15 between the 3 of them in the first year!) Her job and how she made things work while the triplets were in the hospital How she likes being a stay at home mom A little about a day in the life Tips for surviving 4 under the age of 4

In Karen Davis' interview we discuss: A little about Karen's coaching practice What exactly is self care How to treat yourself like a child Finding time for self care Getting your family on board with you taking the time for yourself Overcoming mom guilt for taking time out for self care Why it's so hard for us to ask for help and why we should be asking for help more often How does mom build a life she loves Self care is the farthest thing from selfish! Links: Karen's blog post about treating yourself like a child Another great blog post about creating a life of your dreams! Listen below or subscribe in iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play!