Wholehearted Parenting – Bonnie Compton APRN, BC, CPNP

I’m thrilled that you’ve joined our conversation today! Although some Dads may relate to this show, we’re really going to be talking about Moms. Specifically how critical Moms can be of themselves. I’m in the process of writing a book and am devoting a full chapter to this topic. I believe women are more critical of themselves than men are, … Read more about this episode...

Parents…do you have any “worriers” in your house? I’m not talking about an occasional worry about forgetting a homework assignment. I’m talking about daily worries, ones that persist. Some worries become so severe that they stop kids right in their tracks and keep them from enjoying and participating in everyday kid activities. When I work with an anxious child, I … Read more about this episode...

I’m so glad you’ve joined us today, as we explore PANDAS and it’s effects on children.  Have you ever heard of PANDAS, or has your child ever suffered from this?  I’m not talking about the cute furry black and white bear at the zoo.  PANDAS is an acronym for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcus infection.  Not all children, … Read more about this episode...

Parents, are you beginning to feel like your kids are permanently attached to their digital devices?  I know I hear this from so many parents I talk to.  Latest research is now telling us that we are addicted to our screens.  I’ve begun to notice how much time I spend looking at my iPhone, just wanting to check my email … Read more about this episode...

Life can change in a second, especially when you hear your doctor say, “It’s cancer”.  These are words that we all dread to hear.  Not only do those two words affect the person with the disease, but also their family and friends.  Often families are left in shock and aren’t quite sure what to do next.  This is exactly what … Read more about this episode...

Do you find that you get caught up in the daily chatter of your mind? It’s so easy to let our to do lists, frustrations, fears, and anger cycle round and round in our head. We often become consumed by our story…how unfair life is, and we’re often quick to judge ourselves and others. Well, if any of this resonates … Read more about this episode...

Well, the holiday season is upon us and I’m sure you’re busy with holiday preparations.  If you’re still on the hunt for that special gift for your child, you’ll want to stay with us throughout the show!  I’ll be talking to the creative director of Great Pretenders children’s costumes, and the founder of Wonder Works Toy Store.  Not only … Read more about this episode...

Parents, do you feel that your life is out of control?  That your calendar is on overload and your stress level is rising?  Omid Safi, a journalist, has recently coined this the “disease of being busy”.  Stress levels are rising across the country, not only in adults but also in children and teens.  We know that stress has a negative … Read more about this episode...

Parents, do you find yourself frustrated or angry with your children?  Yes, we’ve all had those kind of days!  What about the days when we get frustrated or angry with ourselves?   I think we’ve all experienced our fair share of incessant thoughts and chatter that race through our mind each day, sometimes on overdrive.  You’ve probably heard the saying “your … Read more about this episode...

For many years, parents have asked me to help them with their children’s behavior.  As parents, we’ve all had our own experiences when our children misbehave or act out, and we’re easily reminded how frustrated we become.  As parents, I’m sure we’ve all felt our own emotions take over when our child is melting down.  Yet when our child is … Read more about this episode...

For quite awhile I’ve wanted to have a conversation about child abuse…but something kept stopping me.  I felt that it was an important conversation to have, but one that felt very heavy and dark. I realized that it also hit too close to home for me.   I witnessed physical abuse of my brothers, and as the youngest child in my … Read more about this episode...

Well, school is back in session and hopefully your kids are adjusting to the new year.  As parents, can we do to help ensure that our kids have a positive school year?  One way I believe we can help our kids is to encourage them to create a positive vision for the new year. Recently, I came across this quote … Read more about this episode...

For many years, I have been deeply concerned about the way we treat each other in society. As a parent, I’ve often wondered, what are we teaching our children…what are we modeling for them? In my own work, as a child & adolescent therapist and parent coach, I’ve been very concerned about children and families. I’ve spent many hours listening … Read more about this episode...

Most parents I know work very hard to raise their kids responsibly. As parents, we want the best for our children. I’ve talked with many parents, who share with me, that they suffer when they see their child suffer or struggle. I too remember watching our kids as they became frustrated or perhaps struggled with life’s challenges. I also remember … Read more about this episode...

Most parents I know work very hard to raise their kids responsibly. As parents, we want the best for our children. I’ve talked with many parents, who share with me, that they suffer when they see their child suffer or struggle. I too remember watching our kids as they became frustrated or perhaps struggled with life’s challenges. I also remember … Read more about this episode...

I’m sure if you have more than one child, you’ve already figured out that each of your children are different from one another. Or perhaps you have an only child but have observed how your child differs from your friend’s children. You may be wondering why your child becomes easily upset or overwhelmed while you’re friend’s child seems to go … Read more about this episode...

I can’t believe that summer is almost over! I remember when my children were younger we tried to pack the summer with fun activities while allowing for slow summer days…and none of us were ever truly ready for summer to end. I also remember joking with my Mom friends and asking them if they were ready to go back to … Read more about this episode...

Have you noticed how busy our lives have become and how disconnected we’re feeling with each other and nature. We often yearn for simpler times, perhaps remembering our own childhood, when we’d spend many afternoons outside connecting with nature and allowing our imaginations to entertain us for hours. As a play therapist, I often recommend turning off the digital devices … Read more about this episode...

You definitely won’t want to miss my conversation today with Dr. Shefali Tsabary, the author of a wonderful book entitled“The Conscious Parent: Transforming Ourselves…Empowering Our Children”, and “Out of Control: Why Disciplining Your Child Doesn’t Work and What Will”. Shefali is a clinical psychologist, author and TED talk speaker. Shefali recently appeared on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday. Eckhart … Read more about this episode...

Recently, I’ve noticed more and more parents expressing concern about their children’s lack of appreciation and gratitude for what they have in their lives. Just yesterday, I met with a mother who was frustrated with her children’s lack of respect for money. She shared that her kids really didn’t even appreciate how much things cost and just expected her to … Read more about this episode...

If you’re a parent of a teen girl or soon to be teen, I know you’re not going to want to miss our conversation. Teen girls are special and have their own way of being in the world. Sometimes it’s tough for us, as parents, to know what they’re thinking or how we can help them. Has your teenage daughter … Read more about this episode...

I recently came across a book, entitled “Second Class Professor”. This book was a real eye opener for me. “Second Class Professor” exposes the issue of the use and abuse of adjunct professors in the United States. I was shocked to read that 70-85% of all professors in both community and four year colleges, are adjunct professors. After reading the … Read more about this episode...

Summer is soon approaching and families will be spending lots of time together! Summer has always been a reminder for me to slow down, especially as the temperatures rise. Slowing down seems to be a thing of the past with our fast pace lives that we live. Summers of long ago offered lots of free time for kids to use … Read more about this episode...

Parents do you feel that most of your time is either spent with your kids or with your daily commitments, such as work? I remember those crazy busy days with our four kids! I’m also on the other side of parenting…now I’m the parent of adult kids. The one thing that I do know for sure is that time goes … Read more about this episode...

Remember Simon & Garfunkel’s lyrics…”slow down, you move too fast”? Well, it seems that life has only gotten faster since that song was written. In the busyness of life, we might be unaware of our frenetic pace . However, children are so aware and my work with them has given me a glimpse into their world. What I hear over … Read more about this episode...

We often complain about children and teens don’t have a good work ethic, they feel so entitled, or they want what they want now. We are left to wonder why at times…what has changed over the past 10 years? Is it the fast pace life that we lead? Is is due to the digital age where kids are granted information … Read more about this episode...

Today we’re going to have a conversation about families…about our family we grew up in, the family we create and extended family. The word family, often generates a sense of warmth and closeness for some, but for others not so much, depending upon their family experience. A child’s first place of learning occurs within their own family. Their relationship with … Read more about this episode...

When we begin our parenting journey, we know that we want to be the best parent for our children, right? But often we parent our children as we were parented, or choose to parent 180 degrees opposite the way we were parented. Either way, we bring our own childhood along with us, into our parenting journey, if we’re not aware. … Read more about this episode...

Parents…do you have any “worriers” in your house? I’m not talking about an occasional worry about forgetting a homework assignment. I’m talking about daily worries, ones that persist. Some worries become so severe that they stop kids right in their tracks and keep them from enjoying and participating in everyday kid activities. When I work with an anxious child, I … Read more about this episode...

Recently I saw a Facebook Post…actually more of a rant by a local celebrity chef here in Charleston, SC. This chef also happens to be a Dad. Brett McKee spoke about a particular TV show, he’d watched, about the increasing number of young adults who are returning home to live with Mom and Dad…they’re referred to as the boomerang kids. … Read more about this episode...

Recently, I came across a book, one that both touched my heart and reminded me of our special connection with nature. I began to read my guest’s book, while on a plane to Chicago, a couple of weeks ago. While 35,000 feet high in the air, I was transported by her beautiful story about a hummingbird. The book entitled, “The … Read more about this episode...

Today we’re going to explore an important topic…and have a much needed conversation, but one that might be hard to hear. Our conversation today is going to be about childhood messages. Messages, both the ones that we received as a child, and messages that we are sending to our children…sometimes consciously, often unconsciously. Childhood messages do matter…the messages that we … Read more about this episode...

I know we’re all concerned about substance abuse in this country and its detrimental effects. For myself, it’s even more concerning, both as a parent and child and adolescent therapist, the number of children and teens who are abusing alcohol and drugs. As concerned as we are, we’re often afraid to see the truth…to think that it’ even possible that … Read more about this episode...

Parents are you tired of your kids picking at each other, arguing over the silliest matters, fighting with each other and fighting for your attention?Well you’re not alone. I hear that complaint from many parents that I work with. Today we’re going to talk about sibling rivalry…you’ll learn why kids fight and what you can do as a parent to … Read more about this episode...

I love talking to Moms…hearing their stories… their wishes…their dreams. Motherhood is a beautiful journey. A journey filled with joy, love and precious moments. It’s also a journey filled with ups and downs, and detours along the way. I’m in the process of writing a book, “If I Knew Then…Mothers’ Journey in Discovering What Really Matters”. My inspiration for this … Read more about this episode...

I remember taking many photos of my kids when they were younger. I also remember trying to capture that special moment, but the images were never quite as good as I’d hope. Often the lighting was terrible, the photo was washed out, or it just didn’t represent the special moment I was trying to capture. As much as I love … Read more about this episode...

I’m so glad you’ve joined us today. We’re going to be talking about the importance of self-care for Moms. Moms that I’ve met and worked with seem to share a common problem of not taking care of themselves. I’ve heard Moms say that they feel selfish and guilty if they do something for themselves. Well, I’m sure you’ve heard the … Read more about this episode...

Most of my time spent with parents seems to revolve around their children’s behavior and consequences. As parents, we’re often frustrated by our child’s behavior and even more upset when our consequences aren’t working! You’ve probably experienced your own frustrations around consequences…what works today, might not work tomorrow. What’s a parent to do? Have you ever stopped to think about … Read more about this episode...

Parents, do you wish your children came with instruction manuals? I know there were days when I did! But I quickly realized that you’d need a different set of instructions for each child and the instructions would be constantly changing! If you’re expecting a baby, or perhaps are knee deep in mothering, you might be wondering what is important to … Read more about this episode...

Today we’re going to take a look at something that might seem a bit strange but I believe you’re going to be inspired by our conversation! Do you believe that you have any control over your life, or do you feel that life just happens? Well, I’ve always had the sense that I’ve played a part in my own life…afterall, … Read more about this episode...

As a parent, we know about the importance of feeding our children nutritious food…but knowing it and actually doing it are two different things! What about those picky eaters…the ones who only want to eat mac n cheese and chicken nuggets. We’re also well aware of the increasing rate of childhood obesity, which not only affects children during their childhood, … Read more about this episode...

Today we’re going to take a look at mother-daughter relationships, specifically during the teen years…often referred to as the dreaded teen years!!! Our common belief seems to be that Moms and their teenage daughters just can’t get along. We’re often told that it’s normal for daughters to pull away from their Moms, and we’re left with the hope that eventually … Read more about this episode...

Join us today as we talk about kid’s and their behavior! I know I was frustrated at times by my own children’s behavior…and I was even more frustrated when my disciplinary techniques were not working! Afterall, as a pediatric nurse practitioner and child therapist, I certainly viewed myself as an “expert” and felt very comfortable offering parents behavioral strategies! Currently … Read more about this episode...

Wow, it’s 2014 already? Where did 2013 go? This is the time of year we hear…A New Year…a New You. We’ve probably all made New Year’s Resolutions, only to break them a few weeks later. Today, we’re going to continue our conversation that we began last week…we’ll be talking about how we can create a life filled with peace, ease … Read more about this episode...

If you have a child who struggles with anxiety, ADHD, autism, or learning issues, I know you’ll want to listen to our conversation today. Often, when a child receives a diagnosis of an emotional, behavioral or learning disorder, one of the early treatments offered is medication. Certainly there is a role for medication and I believe when paired with therapy, … Read more about this episode...

Do you find that you get caught up in the daily chatter of your mind? It’s so easy to let our to do lists, frustrations, fears, and anger cycle round and round in our head. We often become consumed by our story…how unfair life is, and we’re often quick to judge ourselves and others. Well, if any of this resonates … Read more about this episode...

With the holiday season upon us, we may easily become stressed and are known to “lose it” on occasion. We often focus on our children’s meltdowns, but what about our own? Our adult meltdowns are often only a “bigger” version. Do you wish you could learn to take a moment and respond to your child in a mature, responsible manner? … Read more about this episode...

Today, I’m excited to be able to introduce you to several creative Moms. Moms who are also entrepreneuers in their own right, who are now being referred to as Mompreneuers! I know you’ll want to stay tuned as I talk with each of them individually about their inspiration to create a business and how they balance their business with the … Read more about this episode...

Today, we’re going to explore a subject that is near and dear to my heart, both as a Mom and a therapist….how to know, when parenting our teen, if we should step in or step aside. We often feel its our responsibility to help our children navigate their way through life. We don’t want to see our children hurt or … Read more about this episode...

Well, it seems like we’ve just wrapped up our Thanksgiving celebrations, and we’re now in the month of December. Chances are, you’re knee deep in preparing for the holidays. This time of year is supposed to be a season filled with joy…right??? The media certainly does it’s part to portray a picture perfect season holiday season. So are you eagerly … Read more about this episode...

Parents, do you consider yourself to be a financially responsible person? Are you good at managing your money? Maybe your parents taught you to manage your money, or maybe you learned it on your own. A recent survey cited that 81% of parents thought that it was their responsibility to teach their children about money. We do know that being … Read more about this episode...