Podcasts about potty training

In the special segment "Loose Ends," Laura and Shanna circle back on topics they've talked about in previous episodes, including updates about periods, pulmonologists, pet rocks and more! Also, Laura reports on taking her new book out into the world at the Celebration of the Young Child event in Pasadena, and Shanna reports on the new and improved reward system that she recently introduced to her kids to encourage their positive behavior. Finally, Shanna and Laura share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6.5 and 9.5 years old, and Laura's kids are 6.5 years old and 4.5 years old.Topics discussed in this episode:-Attending a popular event to talk about potty training and Laura's new book-Ideas for creating a successful reward system for your kids-How to get an accurate bra measurement-Should I let my child wear press-on nails?-What are "shark teeth" in kids?-Ideas for teaching your kids about puberty and periods-Kids' emotional attachment to inanimate objects-Celebrating your kids' creative endeavorsProducts, links, resources mentioned in this episode:-"Good to Go: A Fresh Take on Potty Training for Today's Intentional Parent" by Gia Gambaro Blount and Laura Birek-Celebration of the Young Child festival in Pasadena-A Bra That Fits subreddit-Bird Fancier's LungPast BFP episodes mentioned in this episode:-Ep. 360 (Where Laura talks about bra measurements and Shanna talks about Elle's fake-nail debacle)-Ep. 366 (Where Laura visits the pulmonologist)-Ep. 367 (Where Laura talks about Auggie's "shark teeth")-Ep. 369 (Where Laura reports on Auggie's first lost tooth)-Ep. 375 (Where Shanna discusses making a bespoke puberty slideshow for her kids)-Ep. 379 (Where Shanna reports on Cece's emotional interaction with a neighbor's landscaping rock)This episode's full show notes can be found here.Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcastJoin our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.Visit our website!Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Visit us at shapedbydog.com   If your puppy's potty training isn't going as planned and you're finding puddles where you least expect them, it might be time for a reset. In this episode, I share the 10 most common reasons why puppies have accidents in the house and what you can do to help. You'll discover how to recognize your puppy's “tells,” adjust routines, supervision, and expectations and bring clarity and confidence back to potty training for both you and your puppy.   In this episode, you'll hear:   • Why a “potty trained” puppy might still have accidents in the house. • How the H.O.T. Method helps set every puppy up for success. • How accidents could signal a possible health issue and how to rule them out. • Why some puppies avoid going outside in certain weather or on specific surfaces. • How setting realistic expectations helps both you and your puppy. • The connection between supervision, freedom, and potty training progress. • The difference between managing behavior and actually training it. • How to recognize your puppy's “tells” and teach them to communicate. • Examples of some of my own dog's “tells.”  • Simple routines that make potty training consistent and reliable. • Why proper clean-up prevents repeat accidents. • How emotions or scolding can create confusion. • What might be reinforcing your puppy's indoor accidents. • How to use a positive interrupter to redirect accidents before they happen. • Why celebrating small wins builds lasting success. • How to see every accident as feedback and keep progress moving forward.   Resources:   1. Podcast Episode 48: Potty Train Your Puppy in a Week (Easy 3 Step Process) - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/48/ 2. Podcast Episode 250: Expectations Vs Reality: Navigating The Path To Dog Training Success - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/250/ 3. Podcast Episode 71: Pro Dog Trainer's Secret to Help Your Naughty Dog - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/71/ 4. Podcast Episode 166: Puppy Freedom: How Much Is Too Much? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/166/ 5. Podcast Episode 30: Why Dog Crates Are Not Dog Cages - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/30/ 6. YouTube Playlist: Target Training for Dogs with Susan Garrett - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLphRRSxcMHy3ylCyQ2bJQSCwo_ERiVHj3&si=43hw1UJ7r7fV12Sf 7. Podcast Episode 275: How To Teach A Dog To Speak: From Parlor Trick To Working Dog Skill - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/275/ 8. Podcast Episode 115: Understanding Your Dog's Language - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/115/ 9. Podcast Episode 254: Why Your Older Puppy Or Dog Is Not House Trained And What To Do About It - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/254/ 10. Podcast Episode 140: Stop Your Puppy's Excited Peeing Or Submissive Urination - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/140/ 11. Podcast Episode 2: Reinforcement - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/2/ 12. Podcast Episode 158: Stop Your Dog's Unwanted Behaviors With This Positive Interrupter - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/158/ 13. Podcast Episode 228: Navigating Failure In Dog Training: What's Your Plan B? - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/228/ 14. Podcast Episode 234: How To Stop Puppy Biting: Avoid Mistakes With Susan Garrett's Backup Plan - https://dogsthat.com/podcast/234/ 15. Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube - https://youtu.be/EQpRKDaq9mQ

You're listening to Burnt Toast! I'm Virginia Sole-Smith. Today, my conversation is with Laura Birek. You probably know Laura as co-host of The Big Fat Positive Podcast, but today she's here to talk about her new book, co authored with Gia Gambaro Blount. It's called Good to Go: A Fresh Take on Potty Training for Today's Intentional Parent.I'm years past potty training (thank God!!), but I honestly remember the pain of it better than childbirth. This is often a very fraught parenting milestone. And as with all things parenting: That means we encounter a ton of societal expectations and pressures around how to get potty training right, which makes it all even harder. If you, too, have been a victim of that viral three day potty training method, you'll want to hear this conversation. Laura has amazing advice about how to recover and do it differently. But even if you're child-free or years out from this experience: What we're really talking about today is how perfectionism and performative parenting can make life harder for parents (especially moms!) and really get in the way of kids' body autonomy. And of course, promoting body autonomy is core to the work we do here on Burnt Toast.Today's episode is free! But don't forget, if you were a Substack subscriber, you have until October 28 to claim your free access to our paid content. Check your email for your special gift link! And drop any questions or concerns in this Google Form. PS. You can take 10 percent off Good to Go or any book we talk about on the podcast, if you order it from the Burnt Toast Bookshop, along with a copy of Fat Talk! (This also applies if you've previously bought Fat Talk from them. Just use the code FATTALK at checkout.)Episode 215 TranscriptLauraI am the co-author of a new potty training book that just came out called Good to Go: A Fresh Take on Potty Training for Today's Intentional Parent. You can find it everywhere. And then I am also the co-host of a long running parenting and pregnancy podcast called The Big Fat Positive Podcast. I've been doing that for over seven years now. Every week for seven years! VirginiaYou are an OG podcaster! I love the podcast. I've been on the podcast. But today we are going to talk about Good to Go. Because you reached out to me and you said, "Potty training culture is such a thing. Can we talk about it?" And I am not going to share my own children's stories. But I'm going to say, yeah, it is such a thing. And it really messes with our heads. And of course, my work is all about investigating cultural messages that mess with our heads, aka diet culture. So yes, let's talk about potty training diet culture today. You kick off the book with the story of how you tried and failed to train your older kiddo, who you call Augie in the book. And the impetus was that you read the super popular three day potty training book that I think most of our listeners who have potty trained a child have encountered. Why did the idea that you could magically change potty train your child in three days go so wrong?LauraSo we kind of fell into that new parent trap of "This kid's a genius!" He was hitting all his milestones early. He was such a talker. And I had been given that very, very popular three day potty training method that shall not be named. And I read it and really took it as gospel. And in the book, there were all these signs of readiness. And I was like, check, check, check, for Augie. It was stuff like, is he interested in the potty? And I thought, oh, this kid is ready, according to this book. And there were extenuating circumstances--namely, the pandemic. We were deep in the pandemic. We were also stuck indoors because there was a wildfire nearby, so we weren't even able to go outside. That's Southern California life for you. And I was in my second trimester with my second pregnancy. So all of these things came together to be like, well, you know, what the hell? Let's give it a try. VirginiaWe're trapped indoors anyways. LauraWe're trapped indoors. Let's spend three days naked and see what happens. And so the very first sentence of our book is: "I'm a failure at potty training." Which is a very weird way to start a potty training book.VirginiaBut so relatable. LauraOh, I hope it's relatable! Because the thing is, we thought we were a success at the very beginning. Right after those three days, he was mostly making it to the potty. We were like, okay, we can take away diapers. But what we didn't realize is that we had just entered into a state of constant vigilance with him. We were constantly reminding him to go, and we were always nervous about going anywhere and doing anything with him, like even just going to the park. We never got over the stress level, right? My mom would say, "He wasn't potty trained. You were potty trained."VirginiaYou were trying to take him to the potty obsessively and monitor all the signs.LauraExactly, exactly. And the other thing was, I had this idea that having two kids in diapers was going to be hard. I don't know where I got this idea! Everyone is like oh, you can't have two kids in diapers.VirginiaIt feels like a really common cultural message. I've heard a lot of friends say that, who have kids close in age. "Oh we have got to get her out of diapers before the next one comes!" LauraActually having two kids in diapers is way more convenient than one who's in a very early stage of potty training and a newborn! That was our first mistake. But we just continued to deal with this stress around going places. And at some point, I ended up having the baby. Augie was still out of diapers, but he was having accidents. In our book, we call them misses, but this author called them accidents, so we'll stick with accidents. It's the more familiar term. And he was having accidents all the time, and I was really stressed out about it. Then I take my new baby, we call him Sebastian, to a local place called the Family Room, which is where I did mommy and me classes, and then toddler and me classes with my now co-author, Gia Gambaro Blount. I brought him for a lactation support group. But Gia happened to be there, and I descended upon Gia. I was like, "Gia, I need your help. Augie is having all these problems with potty training. I don't know what to do." And she looked at me, and said, "Can I ask you something? When you decided to potty train him, did you tell him it was going to happen?" And I was like, "No." Because the book specifically tells you you're not supposed to do that. VirginiaYou just spring it on them.LauraThe book tells you, do not even have the little potties out, because it will confuse their little brains. And I didn't know anything about potty training at the time, so I was like, "Sure, that sounds legit. Whatever." So Gia was like, "You need to go back and ask him how he's feeling about this." So I go back and I look Augie in the eyes. I'm like, "Hey baby. I know we've been having a lot of accidents. Do you think you want to go back to diapers for a little bit?" And he was like, "Yes!" Instantly. "Yes, yes, yes, I want to go back to diapers!" And I was shocked by that, because I thought he was going to be like, "No, I'm a big boy!" VirginiaHe was like, no, I'm really not ready for that. LauraAnd so we went back to diapers, which, by the way, in the 3 day method is a big no no. Like, huge regression. And there was also this strict thing about having to potty train between 18 and 30 months, and if you don't do it between those times, you've ruined them forever. At least, that's that's the takeaway I had.VirginiaAnd if you could do it beforehand, even better.LauraYes! So I was really worried about all that. But the minute we put him back in diapers, the stress went away. And you know, TL/DR, he is not ruined forever. We ended up actually potty training him using Gia's help just after he turned three. VirginiaEverything in your story is so deeply relatable. Because I think those first years of parenting are such chaos. And this is certainly not all moms... but there's a certain kind of mom who is vulnerable to this message of "control as much of it as you can." Have the feeding schedules, track the ins and outs when they're newborns. There is a need to have a lot of information and structure around what is otherwise just this sea of "when will we ever sleep again? When will anything happen?" That makes us really vulnerable to messages like "You want to achieve this milestone by a certain age." Or "You want to achieve this milestone before you have another baby." There is this idea that we somehow get a gold star if we get it done at a certain point. And now that I have kids who are way, way older, and I'm just like, "I don't even remember when it all happened." You don't look at a bunch of seventh graders, and think, "Well, I can tell  you didn't potty train till 3.5." LauraAnd I think that I am one of those moms who is totally susceptible to that. We had a sleep schedule with my first. And I think part of it is that I had my kids later in life, I already had a career. And when you have kids, any control you have over your days, over your schedule, over your life, just flies out the window. So I think I was grasping at anything that would give me a sense of control in my life. And rightfully so! So I'm not saying that those things don't help people —I actually do think some of the sleep schedule stuff helped us. Or we got lucky, and that just happened to align with my kid's personality.VirginiaYou had a baby who was like, "Yes, fine, we'll do a schedule."LauraExactly. I don't know. There's no way to know, but it did give me a sense of control. The trap with that is, say you have a good experience, like I did with sleep training , and then you go to potty training and it's not as successful. Suddenly you think it's some kind of referendum on your own parenting. VirginiaYes! LauraHaving a second kid is really helpful — or third or fourth, I imagine, even more— but having more than one kid has really helped me realize that so much of parenting is luck of the draw with your kid's personality and temperament and all that stuff. But with your first, it can feel like such pressure and such responsibility for you to be the person who figures it all out. When it turns out that a lot of things are just not figure out-able, or need time or a different approach, or you need to be flexible.VirginiaSocial media has not helped in all of this, for sure. I mean, not that everybody documents their kids potty training on social media, but it's of a piece with needing to celebrate milestones in this public way, I think.LauraHopefully one of the gifts that we give with our book is this concept that potty training is not a light switch. It's not a binary. You're not either potty trained or not in some clear crossing the finish line manner. Instead, we describe it as a continuum in terms of how much parental involvement is required. So at the very, very beginning, those first days, weeks, even months, you're in the highly involved phase, where you are doing a lot of reminding and you're doing a lot of cleaning up of pee on floor. You're doing a lot of thinking about it. Then you go into the occasionally involved phase, which is fewer accidents, they know they need to go, but you still have to wipe their butts until kindergarten, at least usually. That's something that the other books don't really tell you. They frame it as, "oh, you're done after three days." But these kids need help! There are just some physiological reasons why little kids have trouble wiping their own butts. Their heads are huge! Their proportions are all off. Some kids physically cannot reach their butts. But no one's telling you that. So our goal in the book is to try to shorten the highly involved phase so that you're in the occasionally involved phase quicker, and then finally you'll get to the point where you're rarely involved. We say that there's some day in the future where you won't know the last time your kid went to the bathroom. But that's years away. I mean, in my house, it's still getting announced! So if you can think of it as the spectrum of where you're in this process, then you can be a little bit less like, oh, okay, so and so just posted "oh, my two year old potty trained in one weekend." You can know in your head: Okay, yeah, that just means they're not wearing diapers on a daily basis, right? But caregivers are still involved.VirginiaYeah, it doesn't mean the two year old is like, "Okay, mom, I'll be back in a minute!"LauraPeople will come out of the woodwork and be like, "My two year old self potty trained, they won't let me be involved. They do everything!" And it's like, I am so happy for you. But that is not the majority of kids and we need to just understand that's not an expectation we should have.VirginiaI also appreciate understanding the stages more, and the fact that you and Gia really emphasized that this means you can decide readiness, not just based on your kid. So: Are they achieving these certain milestones? Are they checking these boxes? But also: Consider yourself. Are you, the parent, ready? Maybe when you're about to have a newborn, you don't want to be in the highly involved potty training phase. If you don't think you can get all the way to "less involved" by the time the baby comes, maybe put this on hold for a while. And that just gives us so much more permission to center our own needs in the process. And to actually have needs, which is another thing the three day discourse really leaves out. The idea that you as the parent would have any other things going on other than potty training.LauraMost of the 3 day experts say you cannot leave the house for three days. Okay, that's great for a stay at home parent who has no other kids. But what happens when you have an older kid that needs to go to soccer practice? What happens if you have a prescription you need to pick up from the pharmacy?VirginiaOr you're a single parent.LauraOr a single parent doing it all. Exactly.We were in a pandemic, in a wildfire, and that's why I was like, okay, we can stay home for three days. There has been no other time in our lives we've been able to stay inside for three days. Those unrealistic expectations really set you up for failure. And then on top of that, the message in all these other methods is, "If your child is still having issues after the three days, you must have done something wrong. You must have not followed my method perfectly."That's with so much of parenting, right? But no, every kid is going to react differently and have a different timeline. And also, sometimes prescriptions need to be picked up at the pharmacy. VirginiaMy listeners frequently get a little annoyed when I say everything is a diet. But: A system that tells you that if it didn't work, it's because you didn't do it right is 100 percent classic diet culture. It's classic like, well, if only you'd followed it, if only you'd have better discipline... as opposed to: This just isn't a match for what you're trying to do right now. This isn't the way for you. Laura And it's trying to police this thing that everyone has to do, too. I think that's just such an interesting analog to diet culture as well. We all have to eat. I know you've written about this, right? Even the most restrictive diet is going to have to provide some food, because you will die. And we all have to eliminate our waste and, save children with medical issues that may prevent them from potty training, almost all of us are going to end up having to learn to use a toilet at some point. It's this thing we all have to do. And yet, we're being told there's this one right way to do it. But there are also at least five different people saying their way is the one right way. What gets more diet-y than that?VirginiaAnother thing I really appreciated is what Gia emphasizes in terms of assessing your child's readiness. Because it's not just the cognitive signs, like, do they have the language? Are they looking at the potty and interested or following you into the bathroom? She also talks about this concept of interoception, which is something that comes up a lot when we talk about helping kids be intuitive eaters. So again, there are these parallels between food and potty stuff. Can you explain how understanding where a child is with their interoception development can help you prepare for a more intuitive approach to potty training?LauraWe talk about the three realms of readiness: There are the cognitive signs, the social-emotional signs and the physical signs. But we further split those up into two categories. Some of these things are teachable signs, and then there are some unteachable things that are just developmental. A really good example of that is in the cognitive signs of readiness. An unteachable sign is whether your child is curious about you going to the potty, right? That is often listed as a sign of readiness, like, oh, your child wants to know what you're doing. Why are you sitting on the potty? Wants to come be with you in the bathroom. You can't teach that level of interest, right? And if you tried it would be weird. And interoception is another unteachable sign. There's nothing we can do to force your child to have more awareness of what's going on in their body. That's a thing we're kind of born with that is on another spectrum. Some people are incredibly sensitive. I'm a person who's been accused of being a hypochondriac, and I think part of that is I have heightened interoception. I feel every ache and pain. I always felt when I ovulated, for example. I also heard once that only some people can tell when their heart's beating. That's just a sign that some people have a more sensitive sense of interoception versus others, right? We can't teach it. It's just the way your kid is. What we can teach is supporting their interpretation of their interoception. An example that's not potty training related is if your child gets goosebumps, you can help them identify: Do you have goosebumps because you're feeling cold, or do you have goosebumps because you're scared? Goosebumps have a feeling associated with them, and you can't teach them how to feel that. But what you can do is try to connect language to the feeling. And that's hard. That is the hard work of potty training, honestly. And so Gia and I identified something we called the universal potty sequence, just to keep it short in our brain, which is, when we are as adults, go to the bathroom. We say we're going to the bathroom. We think of it as one step, but in reality, it's up to nine steps. We identified nine steps. But you know, it's a bunch of different steps that the kids have to learn. It's all new for them, right? So the first step is feeling. The sensation is that interoception, every step after that is kind of mechanical, right? Like you navigate to the potty, then you pull down your pants, then you sit on the potty, then you eliminate, then you flush, blah, blah, right? So we have this thing we call the rehearsal period. That's about two weeks ish--again, everything is flexible--before you actually plan to take away diapers, where you teach everything on the universal potty sequence, all those steps, all those new things, all those new mechanics for them. Except step one: Feel the sensation. That one we are leaving to when you take away diapers. The point is when kids are thrown into "we're taking away diapers. We're taking away this thing that you've worn your entire life!" this way, the only thing they have to learn is how to connect the sensation to the need to go. Everything else isn't brand new, so the other eight steps aren't so overwhelming. All we're focusing on is interoception, and so that's what we're trying to really center in our method to help our kids connect the dots. And that's why we also don't forbid prompting. Some kids are not going to have a strong sensation, and you're going to need to sometimes, in retrospect, be like, "hmm, there's pee on the floor now, you you had a miss." And we say miss, because we don't want there to be shame involved, right? We don't want to say, oh, it's an accident. It's not really an accident. They just didn't get to the potty in time, right? or they didn't even think to try to go. So we say, "Oh, you had a miss. Do you remember what it felt like before it came out? Next time we feel that feeling, let's see if we can catch it before we go." So we're working on that. And some kids need that extra support. Honestly, my six year old still likes to get hyper focused, and so he does need to get prompted to this day. And no one would say, oh, that six year old's not potty trained. He's definitely potty trained at school. He's fine, but sometimes we just need to help him connect. I mean, how many adults do you know who wait till the last second go to the bathroom?VirginiaThat's me, every work day. What I love about this is how you're really centering kids' body autonomy in this process. And in way that is so counter to how I've seen body training explained before. This feels like such a huge shift. I mean, I remember when I was doing it with my own kids, feeling like, "the way I'm doing this doesn't feel aligned with the way I'm thinking about feeding them," for example. When I'm feeding kids, I'm really focused on the power of their ability to say no to a food they don't like, and why that's important. And the importance of not pushing them past their fullness cues and helping them notice hunger cues. Their body autonomy is the center of it. And potty training is this thing where because we're so focused on getting it done, because we've got all this pressure on it, it's like... suddenly they don't have body autonomy in the process at all. And that feels really troubling.LauraIt does. I mean, I came to that same revelation. It was part of what allowed me to feel okay with putting Augie back in diapers, VirginiaYeah, because you gave him his power back. LauraExactly and I realized this exact same thing you said. I am so dedicated to respectful parenting. I'm a Virginia Sole-Smith fan girl! Like I read all your books, and I'm offering foods without judgment, and all of that stuff. And yet, in this one realm, I fell into the trap of not just not centering his body autonomy, I like full on ignored it. I mean, it sounds awful, but I really did violate his own body autonomy. I forced him to do things he wasn't ready for. And I do feel bad about it to this day. And it's not an inconsequential thing, right? Like, people say, No one's going to college still, still using a diaper. Everyone eventually learns to potty. And it's true. But there is a lot of shame around using the bathroom. There was some Vice article that just came out, which said, like, 83 percent of Gen Zers have bathroom anxiety. And a bunch of them want to quit because of it. They don't want to have a job because they're afraid of using the bathroom. VirginiaI'm an old millennial, but I have some women's magazine bathroom trauma. I understand what they're saying. It's a stressful place. LauraAnd I'm not saying I enjoy pooping in a public bathroom either! But there are consequences, and not just about anxiety. There are actual physical consequences to involving shame in the potty training process. There's encopresis, which is a specific type of constipation and a really big problem that is so hard to solve. I've heard from so many parents whose children have it. It's a form of chronic constipation, and what happens is you're so constipated that liquid poop escapes around the sides of the impacted stool, and kids can't tell anymore that they have to poop because their colon is so enlarged. And this is a much more common problem than people realize, and it's really hard to solve once it's started. It's something you really want to get ahead of. And that's the other reason we say if your child is refusing to poop in the potty, give them a diaper. You need to get that poop out one way or another, and it's not a judgment on whether you've been able to potty train them or not. We're looking at the long game here. We're trying to create a child who doesn't have long term problems that require a ton of medical intervention. What's worse, having to go to a GI doctor for the next five years or just giving them a diaper to poop in at the end of the day?VirginiaAnd giving them another month or six months in diapers, and then you try again. LauraIt goes back to the perfectionism, though. Like, when you put it that way, you're like, yeah, of course, I'll give them a diaper. But if you've been told no, they're going to be confused. It's failure. That's harder. It's not failure. These kids are way smarter than most people give them credit for, like, they will know the difference. They're not going to be confused about what's going on.VirginiaI think another piece of this body autonomy conversation is night training. I really love that Gia does not endorse night training. I mean, I have heard of parents setting alarms to wake toddlers up to pee at 11pm so that they could say they were night trained. Just tell us why this is so unnecessary.LauraNight training is absolutely unnecessary. We did a ton of research to make sure we were right. Night training is just not effective. It's really a one hundred percent developmental shift that happens in your child's brain and their body. When they are ready, they will be night trained. And there's nothing you can do to force it. One in 6 kids at age six still wet the bed at night. At age seven, that goes down to one in 10. But that's still a lot of kids! One in 10 kids in your second grade class are still wetting the bed at night. And that's fine and developmentally normal. And so if we know that, if we can normalize that, it may lessen the pressure for night training. There's a scientific term for waking them at night to sit them on the potty. They call it lifting. And the research shows that lifting has no measurable outcomes like lifting. People who practice lifting had no better results than people who just let their kids sleep. And I would imagine—this is just my hypothesis—that those parents are crabby because they have to wake up in the middle of the night to do it. And their kids are also probably crabby for having gotten woken up, even if they're half awake, right? So we are firmly in the belief that you don't have to do night training. That said, we tell you when to start looking for signs that it's time to take away night time diapers and how to do it. And also what to do when your kid is getting up to pee in the middle of the night, and that becomes a problem. So if your child is waking up in the middle of the night every night to go pee — we get into how to address that, what the root causes might be, and how to how to deal with that when the time comes. But we say do not do night training at the same time as daytime training. Your kids will likely just night train themselves during or after the process. One in 10 will take past age seven.VirginiaThe last thing I want to hit on is the stuff piece of potty training. There's a lot marketed to us, a lot of gear, different types of potties, all of that. And I would love to hear your take on what is actually useful and what is just marketing, and you can probably skip. LauraLike anything parenting-related, mom-related specifically, there are going to be people trying to sell you a bunch of stuff. But I mean, basically you need a pot to piss in, right? Like, that is the bare bones of what you need. A lot of people ask us about the floor potties: Do I really need a floor potty? A lot of people find them kind of gross, unsightly. I get it. You don't want to have a little toilet in your living room. Yeah, I didn't either. But if you buy nothing else, we recommend having a floor potty. And you don't have to buy them — there are going to be 20 parents in your neighborhood who are desperate to get these out of their basements! You can get over the fact that it was used by another kid, just get some Clorox. You know, you're fine. You don't have to spend actual money on any of this stuff, because it is a thing that you only need for a narrow window of time. So we recommend, at the bare minimum, having a floor potty for this reason: There are three types of awareness when it comes to your internal body awareness. There's sensation awareness, which is, oh, I have to go. The action awareness is: Is it pee or poop? And then there's urgency awareness, which is like, the real key to all of this. Urgency awareness is how much lead time you have between noticing the feeling and getting to a toilet. And when you are first potty training, in the first days and weeks, that urgency awareness window is seconds. We're talking like five seconds between when a kid recognizes and when they go. Because of that, we want to give them as many opportunities to have a win as possible, right? Like, you don't want to clean up pee off your floor, and you want your kid to feel successful, right? The more chances they have to successfully make it to the potty, the better everyone's going to feel, and the like, quicker the process is going to go. And sometimes the difference between a win and a miss is the time it takes to walk from the living room to the bathroom.In addition, there are a lot of things about the big potty that scare kids or just are really, really challenging for kids. It's high up, so you have to have a step stool or something. Usually you have to have some kind of insert for the seat. So like, if you're like, oh, I don't want to buy a floor potty, you're still having to buy a step stool and a seat insert. So that's two things versus the one floor potty. And kids can be scared of the balancing being high up. They can be scared of the plopping, like the poop falling all the way into the bowl. We have some techniques to help them get over that, but there are just more barriers to entry for most kids to use the adult potty at the get-go. Obviously, you can work towards that. And I always hear from people like, well, my kid wouldn't even go in the small potty. It's like, okay, there you go. Now, you know. All the more reason to get one from some other parent. If you have a really big house, two floor potties could be helpful so you don't have to be carrying them around everywhere you go. I mean the amount of time I've spent in my life carrying around a little floor potty full of pee. It's just so gross. It's such a glamorous life we live as parents. And then the only other thing that I'd say is really a good buy if you're in the car a lot, is a travel potty.VirginiaOne hundred percent. LauraThere are so many great ones now. I have the Oxo one, it like, folds up into this flat little package. And you can either pop the legs vertical, so that you put a little plastic bag in that has a little absorbent pad so that you can sit on the potty in the backseat of the car or the trunk or whatever. But it also folds out, so it can be a little seat to use in public bathrooms. And that's honestly really great. Public bathrooms are a whole other topic that we actually talk a lot about in the book. But one major thing is that their butts are too small. They just so you either have to hold them, and it's a whole thing, or you can have this travel potty with you, which gives them a seat that's their size and makes it more accessible. ButterVirginiaWell, this was fantastic. Speaking of stuff, though, it does not have to be stuff. Laura, do you want to give us some Butter today?LauraI do. Okay, so I went straight from saying you don't need to buy things for potty training, and then I'm going to tell you about this thing that I think you should buy for potty training. But I have to tell you about this because I have been giving these out to my friends left and right. Anytime I tell someone about it, they they're like their mind is blown. They've never heard of it before, and so I feel like I have to share it, because it's something that's been so helpful for us, and that is a disposable travel urinal. Have you ever heard of these? VirginiaI do not have children with penises, so no.LauraWell, guess what? It works for children with vulvas, too. VirginiaWow. Okay!LauraSo it's this universal spout. It's basically this sort of oval shaped spout that, if you have a penis, you point this the top part up, and if you have a vulva, you point it down, just so it catches the pee. And it's just a plastic bag, kind of like an emesis bag, but the difference is there's a little zip lock top, so you can seal it off, and there's like a gel pad at the bottom that's dry when you get it, but it absorbs liquid, kind of like what's inside of a diaper, right? And you can it folds up into this tiny little package that you can have in your purse. It's saved us so many times when you are places where you just can't get to a bathroom quickly, and they really have to pee. Because, I don't know about your kids, but no matter how many times I tell them, like we're leaving the park, let's go to the bathroom. Yeah, no, I don't have to go. And then five minutes into the drive home, I have to pee. I have to pee.And while I do have two children with penises, I don't usually like to have them pee on random people's yards, right? So really helps to be able to have this thing in the car. I will tell you the most clutch moment, which hopefully doesn't get me canceled, which is we were in line. My six year old and I were in line for the Guardians of the Galaxy breakout ride at Disney California Adventure. And it was an hour long line. And I was shocked that he was focused and able to stay in that line the whole time. But we were almost to the boarding area, and he's like, Mommy I have to pee and it was just me and him. I couldn't send him with his dad or anything. And this line is like a maze, you know how Disney does it's like they create this whole experience. But I didn't know how to get out in any quick way, even if they would have led us back in the line, I didn't know how to get out. And it was dark in there, all moody, and so it was scary. And I was like, okay, baby, just turn around. So I got him face away from the crowd, and he peed in the bag, and there was a trash can right there. And it saved us! so I highly recommend it. I have one in my purse at all times, just in case. I have yet to use it for myself, but it is apparently used by adults. Okay, yeah, yeah, absolutely so. And they, I don't have a brand recommendation. There's like 500 different brands, so just look up disposable urinal bags. VirginiaWell, my Butter is not something you can pee in, but It is body adjacent in thinking about this episode, and thinking back to earlier parenting years, because, as I said, I'm like, pretty well out of the stage. Now, I was remembering how much one of our favorite picture books at that time was Bodies Are Cool by Tyler Feder. LauraI love that book. VirginiaIt's incredible. It should be in every parent's library. It's a go-to baby shower gift for me forever, because it's just an amazing celebration of body diversity, which is all of Tyler's work. So that's a Butter I've given before, but just to re-up. But recently, a friend of mine gave me a print of Tyler's of this beautiful, fat mermaid. I'll put a photo of it in the show notes. And I actually hung it up by my bathroom, because our bathroom is near where our pool is. So now we have a lot of middle school girls changing into swimsuits all the time. And I am slowly making this bathroom my body celebration shrine. So I have three Tyler illustrations in that space. And I'm just adding to this little collection of body positive art so that when teenage girls are in there changing into swimsuits and having the feelings they can look around and be like, Oh, right. Bodies are cool. So, another way to think about your bathroom as a place to affirm that body autonomy matters. LauraYeah, it really does. VirginiaWell, this was a delight. Laura, thank you so much for joining us. Tell folks where we can follow you, how we can support your work.LauraYes. So as I said many times, my book Good to Go: A Fresh Take on Potty Training for Today's Intentional Parent is out in the US and Canada, wherever you buy your books. There's also an e-book version you can find. We are hoping to get an audiobook going soon. And we also have a website that you can find us at and then listen to my podcast. We have great conversations all the time. We had Virginia on for two episodes when Fat Talk came out and one of our favorite episodes ever. And we are Big Fat Positive a pregnancy and parenting journey.VirginiaAmazing. Thank you so much for being here. LauraThanks for having me. I love talking to you.The Burnt Toast Podcast is produced and hosted by Virginia Sole-Smith (follow me on Instagram) and Corinne Fay, who runs @SellTradePlus, and Big Undies.The Burnt Toast logo is by Deanna Lowe.Our theme music is by Farideh.Tommy Harron is our audio engineer.Thanks for listening and for supporting anti-diet, body liberation journalism!

In this episode of Autism Mommy's Potty Talk, Michelle sits down with Rebecca—a mom who had tried to potty train her pre-verbal son four different times… with zero success.But everything changed when she joined the program.Rebecca shares how her son went from aggressive and frustrated to potty trained, making sounds, and finally feeling happy. She opens up about the emotional toll, how mindset work with our coach Stella shifted everything, and how using an iPad as a reinforcer (the right way) made all the difference.If you've been stuck in survival mode, feeling like nothing will work for your child… this is the story you need to hear.

This week the team discuss Windows 10's role in the battle against software obsolescence, Clearview's slap down by the Information Commissioner's Office, Equity's fight with AI and a return to pen and ink for British business.Our Hot Hardware of the Week nominee is the Unifi UNAS-2

The podcast kicks off with Lino and Jill starting potty training (for Claire; not Lino). After that, Mark Hart stops by to talk about book writing. Then, a kid asks if Lino is a role model. And the podcast wraps up with a day in the life of a priest!

In the special segment "Why Is My Kid Crying?," Shanna and Laura explore the situations that have brought out the waterworks in their little ones recently, including unexpected morning meltdowns, big feelings about inanimate objects and more! Also in this episode, Laura discusses the trials and tribulations of naming a family pet, and Shanna reports on a weekend road trip with her kids to see a unique sporting event. Finally, Shanna and Laura share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6.5 and 9.5 years old, and Laura's kids are 6.5 years old and 4.5 years old.Topics discussed in this episode:-Laura and family decide on a name for their new kitten-Shanna and family take a road trip to San Diego-The unpredictability of kids' emotions-How to handle major meltdowns right before school starts-Reviews for Laura's book "Good to Go: A Fresh Take on Potty Training for Today's Intentional Parent"-A fun museum to go to with kids in San DiegoProducts, links, resources mentioned in this episode:-Savannah Bananas-Maragritaville Hotel San Diego-NetGalley -"Good to Go: A Fresh Take on Potty Training for Today's Intentional Parent" on NetGalley-Museum of IllusionsPast BFP episodes mentioned in this episode:-Ep. 378 - (For the episode where Laura adopts a new kitten)This episode's full show notes can be found here.Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcastJoin our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.Visit our website!Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.https://bit.ly/bfp-initoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If your child has been kicked out of daycare or preschool, you're not alone, this happens more often for kids with autism, ADHD, or developmental delays. Dr. Mary Barbera shares why expulsions happen, what it means, and how to move forward with confidence. Learn key steps like tracking milestones, getting evaluations, and using positive ABA strategies at home. You'll also get tips on partnering with staff, preventing future expulsions, and finding environments better suited to your child's needs. With the right tools and support, your child can thrive - starting today.

To celebrate the release of Laura's new book "Good to Go: A Fresh Take on Potty Training for Today's Intentional Parent," she and her co-author, Gia Gambaro Blount, answer listener questions all about potty training! They dive into the topics of when to know if your child is ready to start training, how to handle long car rides during the process, how to handle your child's reluctance to poop in the potty and more. Also in this episode, Laura reports on adding a new (and very cute) member to her family, and Shanna discusses getting down and dirty to improve her family's front yard. Finally, Shanna and Laura share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6.5 and 9.5 years old, and Laura's kids are 6.5 years old and 4.5 years old.Topics discussed in this episode:-Shanna's unexpected way of working out stress, feelings and grief after a loss-The newest member of Laura's family-Advice for when your child is having trouble pooping in the potty-What age to start potty training your child-Tips for long car rides when you are potty training your child-Shanna's surprising playdate-Laura's school projectProducts, links, resources mentioned in this episode:-"Good to Go: A Fresh Take on Potty Training for Today's Intentional Parent" by Gia Gambaro Blount and Laura Birek-Good to Go Parenting WebsitePast BFP episodes mentioned in this episode:-Ep. 339 (For the 2024 Year in Review episode, where Shanna hopes to hire a gardener)This episode's full show notes can be found here.Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcastJoin our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.Visit our website!https://bit.ly/bfp-initoBig Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jamie Glowacki, mom, parenting expert, and acclaimed author of "Oh Crap! I Have a Toddler" and "Oh Crap! Potty Training", joins us for an uncensored conversation on what today's parents are getting wrong (and right) about raising kids. With more than 25 years of experience working directly with families, Jamie dives deep into popular parenting styles, discipline, emotional regulation, and why the trend of “gentle parenting” can sometimes miss the mark.We explore hot-button topics like:Why organized sports before age six may do more harm than goodHow modern culture is infantilizing childrenWhy connection, not perfection, is what kids crave mostThe role of play in conflict resolution and building resilienceHow nutrition impacts children's behavior and emotional regulationThe problem with “kindness culture” and how to model real kindnessJamie also shares the essential parenting style framework of govern, garden, guide, helping parents navigate each stage of childhood in the most effective way. From the dangers of over-scheduling to the necessity of “brutal self-care” for moms, this episode is packed with unfiltered and uncensored practical wisdom, cultural critique, and encouragement for parents raising kids in today's world.You can find Jamie: On instagram On YouTubeOn the weband her fantastic books!Support the showJOIN OUR NEW, PRIVATE COMMUNITY! DONATE (Thank you!!

What if you were only one step away from potty training success, but your brain was telling you to quit?In Episode 54 of the Autism Mom's Potty Talk Podcast, Michelle shares a powerful success story of a grandmother who nearly gave up when potty training her grandson with autism felt impossible. Pee training came quickly, but poop training turned into weeks of frustration, daycare accidents, and moments of doubt.Through coaching, mindset shifts, and a customized strategy, everything changed—and now he's fully potty trained.This episode is about more than just potty training. It's about the fight every autism parent faces between quitting when it feels too hard versus pushing through to the win that's waiting on the other side.

How do you know it's the right time to start potty training your toddler? There are many signs to look out for when starting the journey. But if you started too soon and it's not working, don't worry. You CAN take a break! This week on the podcast, Jennifer and Laura explain what to look for and what to do when potty training isn't going your way. Plus, an adorable question from the mom of a future artist! 

There's so much pressure on parents when it comes to potty training. Listen to learn what a “potty personality” is and how it can help you design a potty training approach that will work best for your child. Live from the 14th annual Strong Families AZ Home Visiting Conference, host Jessica Stewart-Gonzalez chats with Dr. Heather Wittenberg, a Psychologist, Author, and Mom of Four.Guest: Dr. Heather WittenbergPsychologistAuthor: Let's Get This Potty Started!Mom of FourResources:Strong Families AZ

Hi friends, welcome back to the Autism Little Learners Podcast. I'm Tara, a speech-language pathologist who has spent over 25 years working with young autistic children and their families. Today, we're going to talk about a topic that brings up a lot of feelings for educators, therapists, and parents: the Picture Exchange Communication System, or PECS. Specifically, why PECS isn't enough for preschoolers. Now, before I dive in, I want to be clear—PECS is not evil. It's not “bad.” For many kids, it has opened the door to communication, and that's something to celebrate. But PECS, on its own, isn't enough. Our preschoolers need more than compliance-based exchanges to build rich, lifelong communication. Takeaways PECS was created in the 1990s to teach kids to request items using pictures. Traditional PECS training often emphasized compliance over authentic communication. Rigid use of PECS protocols sometimes caused frustration and meltdowns in children. PECS has major limitations, including prompt dependency and a narrow focus on requests. Research shows PECS helps with requesting, but not broader communication or social connection. Evidence-based practice must balance research, clinical experience, and client perspectives. Autistic adults report that PECS can restrict autonomy, dignity, and language development. PECS can be a stepping stone, but should not be the final communication system. Robust AAC systems provide greater vocabulary, flexibility, and authentic language use. Communication should always prioritize connection, not compliance. Resources & Links: Jordyn Zimmerman's Article:  https://communicationfirst.org/slps-as-aac-gatekeepers/ Julie Roberts Article: https://therapistndc.org/the-problem-with-pecs/ Research Article: https://pure.psu.edu/en/publications/a-review-and-analysis-of-the-picture-exchange-communication-syste You may also be interested in these supports: Visual Support Starter Set  Visual Supports Facebook Group Autism Little Learners on Instagram Autism Little Learners on Facebook

Ep 204: revisiting potty training tips. Bri joins Eric.

Here are the ways to work with us here at Awoken K9:The Canine Obedience AcceleratorConnect with Awoken K9 on Social media:Instagram.com/awokenk9Youtube.com/Awokenk9

With the expansion of transitional kindergarten to all 4-year-olds, California schools need smaller toilets, smaller sinks and a whole new understanding of the importance of play in the classroom. Think Play-Doh, fingerpaints, make believe and dress-up. Some 4-year-olds also need help going to the bathroom and wiping afterward. But teachers – and principals – are not always educated about these aspects of early education, making the roll-out of TK somewhat bumpy. In this episode, a TK teacher and our reporters discuss some of the challenges to making sure every California school is offering a high quality early education tailored to 4-year-olds' developmental needs. Guests: Elyse Doerflinger, TK Teacher, Woodlake Unified School District Lasherica Thornton, Reporter, EdSource Read more from EdSource: Play, potties, preschool: TK for all Education Beat is a weekly podcast, hosted by EdSource's Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald. Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube

Welcome back to the Autism Little Learners Podcast. I'm Tara, and I'm so glad you're here today. If you've been following along, this is Part 2 of our series on potty training autistic children with compassion. In our last episode, we talked about why potty training can be harder for autistic kids, how to prepare the environment, and how to build comfort and readiness before we ever expect a child to actually use the toilet. We also talked about some of the common pitfalls to avoid—like forcing kids to sit on the toilet every 10 minutes, or relying on outdated “3-day potty training” advice that just doesn't work for many of our kids. If you missed that episode, I highly recommend going back to listen first, because it really sets the foundation for everything we'll talk about today. In this episode, we're moving into the “how.” We'll go over practical strategies for implementation, how to track progress and make adjustments, and we'll spend some time troubleshooting common challenges—things like fear of flushing, withholding, resistance, and nighttime dryness. This episode is going to be full of tips you can use right away, so let's dive in. Takeaways Potty training is not linear—setbacks are normal, and small steps forward are worth celebrating. Visual supports like cue cards, schedules, and step-by-step sequences give structure and predictability. Pairing bathroom trips with natural routines (after meals, before leaving the house, before bed) helps build consistency. Incorporating a child's special interests into social stories, visuals, or play makes potty training more engaging. Tracking data helps you see patterns and know whether strategies are working or need to be adjusted. Fear of flushing can be reduced by covering sensors on automatic toilets or using noise-reducing headphones. Resistance behaviors like excessive flushing or playing in toilet water can be redirected to alternative sensory activities. Withholding urine or bowel movements is often about anxiety or routine preference—focus on relaxation, stability, and medical checks if needed. Nighttime dryness is a separate developmental milestone and often comes much later—don't let it overshadow daytime progress. Resources & Links: Free Potty Training Guide: www.autismlittlelearners.com/toilet Potty Training Course: www.autismlittlelearners.com/pottycourse Potty Training List In Tara's Amazon Shop: https://amzn.to/45TD6lX You may also be interested in these supports: Visual Support Starter Set  Visual Supports Facebook Group Autism Little Learners on Instagram Autism Little Learners on Facebook  

Leo's Potty Training Continues 

In this special two-part series we're tackling one of the biggest challenges many parents and educators face—potty training autistic children. I'll be sharing compassionate, practical strategies that take into account sensory differences, communication needs, and interoception, so you can feel more confident guiding your autistic child or students. Whether you're just getting started or stuck somewhere in the process, this series will give you the tools and encouragement you need. Takeaways Potty training autistic children is not a sprint—it's a marathon (or at least a half-marathon). Progress looks different for every child. Sensory sensitivities, interoception challenges, and communication differences are three of the biggest reasons potty training can be harder for autistic kids. Collecting baseline data (when accidents happen, how often they go) helps you build a roadmap for success. Making the bathroom inviting and sensory-friendly is a first step—soft lighting, calming colors, and incorporating favorite characters can reduce anxiety. Visual supports (bathroom symbols, step-by-step sequences, cue cards) build predictability and reduce uncertainty. Exposure without pressure is key—start with goals like entering the bathroom or sitting on the toilet fully clothed. Modeling helps—siblings, parents, dolls, or stuffed animals can demonstrate potty routines in a playful way. Social stories provide a predictable narrative that prepares children for what happens during potty time. Imitation skills (like copying silly faces or clapping) build the foundation for imitating potty routines later. Avoid common pitfalls: don't put kids on the toilet every 10 minutes, don't force long, stressful sits, and don't expect “3-day training” timelines to work for every child. Resources & Links: Free Potty Training Guide: www.autismlittlelearners.com/toilet Potty Training Course: www.autismlittlelearners.com/pottycourse Potty Training List In Tara's Amazon Shop: https://amzn.to/45TD6lX    

In the special segment "Checkin' the Inbox," Laura and Shanna answer listener questions about knowing when your toddler is officially potty trained, handling your kids' socially unacceptable habits, our worst bosses ever and more! Also, Shanna reports on the unexpected ending to a breakfast date with her 6-year-old, and Laura discusses the range of emotions involved in her 4-year-old's last week at preschool. Finally, the moms share their BFPs and BFNs for the week. Shanna's kids are 6.5 and 9 years old, and Laura's kids are 6.5 years old and 4 years old.Topics discussed in this episode:-Spending one-on-one time with your children-Kids' feelings vs. Mom's feelings about the last week of preschool -How do you know when your toddler is officially potty trained?-How do you handle your young kids' "annoying" habits?-What are BFRBs?-If we (and our kids) were vegetables, what would we be and why?-What does a podcast producer do?-The worst bosses that Laura and Shanna have had-The unexpected activity that had Shanna and Elle laughing hysterically-Mom's night out!Products, links, resources mentioned in this episode:-"Good to Go: A Fresh Take on Potty Training for Today's Intentional Parent" by Gia Gambaro Blount and Laura Birek-Laura and Gia's book on NetGalley - Get an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review-Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRB)-What does an artichoke flower look like?-Potatoes - by Farideh-"Dork Diaries 12: Tales from a Not-So-Secret Crush Catastrophe" by Rachel Renée Russell-Kristen Schaal Is a Horse-RadioLab episode "Loops"-Jo Piazza-Under the Influence Podcast-"Everyone Is Lying to You" by Jo Piazza-Father's OfficePast BFP episodes mentioned in this episode:-Ep. 358 (For Laura's story about her ex-boyfriend)This episode's full show notes can be found here.Want to get in touch with Shanna and Laura? Send us an email and follow us on social! Instagram, Facebook or TikTok at @bfppodcastJoin our Facebook community group for support and camaraderie on your parenting journey.Visit our website!Big Fat Positive: A Pregnancy and Parenting Journey is produced by Laura Birek, Shanna Micko and Steve Yager.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Potty training is the ultimate test of patience… and not just for your toddler.The smell, the bribery, the “I don't have to go” standoffs — and somewhere in the middle of it, I had this realization: This is exactly how God parents us.In this episode, I share how those messy, frustrating moments in the bathroom taught me something huge about God's patience, why He doesn't force our growth, and how He walks with us through the mess until we get it right.If you've ever wondered why God lets you “make a mess” before you figure it out — this one's for you.

I'm joined this week by Adam Kay - the award-winning author and former junior doctor who gave us This Is Going to Hurt, a book that was equal parts hilarious and harrowing. Since then, he's gone on to write brilliant, gross-out educational books for kids like Kay's Anatomy and Kay's Marvellous Medicine, and most recently, his first fiction book for children and picture books for younger readers.He's also dad to two almost-twin toddlers, who were born to two different surrogates, four months apart.We chat about life as a toddler dad, why he gets most of the jobs involving poo while his husband gets involved with more of the play and the extreme pressure of potty training.Check out Adam's website for details of all his latest books: https://www.adamkay.co.ukFollow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amateuradam/channel/If you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don't miss future episodes. Thank you! Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood and confidence on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Twitter: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now. Music: Epidemic SoundArtwork: Eleanor BowmerSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jenny quizzes Vont and Bailey on show knowledge, we talk to Caroline about her recent date, and more!

Jenny quizzes Vont and Bailey on show knowledge, we talk to Caroline about her recent date, and more!

Jenny quizzes Vont and Bailey on show knowledge, we talk to Caroline about her recent date, and more!

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.How do you know your child with prenatal substance exposure is ready to potty train? How do you start potty training a child with impacts from prenatal substance exposure, like developmental delays? This Weekend Wisdom offers practical strategies and encouragement to help you stay motivated and keep up the good work.Resources:Raising a Child with Prenatal Substance ExposureHow Do I Potty Train a Child with Prenatal Substance Exposure?Prenatal Exposure, Part 1: Parenting Babies through Elementary AgesSupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building

Potty Training Is Tough 07/28/25

Dr. Mary Barbera shares a proven 5-step approach to help parents and professionals start or restart potty training for children with autism or developmental delays. Assessing readiness, preparing with small steps, gathering the right tools and creating consistency across environments, it's all covered. This method focuses on positivity, not pressure. Whether your child is 2 or over 5, progress is possible with the right support.

Spencer's potty-training stories + Trump calls for Cleveland to returns to 'Indians' name full 961 Mon, 21 Jul 2025 11:31:59 +0000 CTyXi03przoYWNnf7QX3HBdIIrJqXLWY mlb,cleveland guardians,sports The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima mlb,cleveland guardians,sports Spencer's potty-training stories + Trump calls for Cleveland to returns to 'Indians' name The only place to talk about the Cleveland sports scene is with Ken Carman and Anthony Lima. The two guide listeners through the ups and downs of being a fan of the Browns, Cavaliers, Guardians and Ohio State Buckeyes in Northeast Ohio. They'll help you stay informed with breaking news, game coverage, and interviews with top personalities.Catch The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima live Monday through Friday (6 a.m. - 10 a.m ET) on 92.3 The Fan, the exclusive audio home of the Browns, or on the Audacy app. For more, follow the show on X @KenCarmanShow. 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. Sports False htt

→ Prayer CalendarPotty training is one of the most common parenting milestones and often, one of the most stressful. In this episod, we offer a refreshing grace-filled perspective that rather than chasing quick fixes or rigid timelines, invites parents to slow down, follow their child's cues, and see this developmental stage as an opportunity to walk with their child.Blending research, practical steps, and biblical encouragement, this episode reframes potty training as a joy-filled process of growth (as much as it can be), independence, and discipleship.Episode Highlights[00:00:00] Introduction: Why potty training feels stressful for so many parents[00:04:30] When to begin: Signs of readiness, developmental timing, and early interest[00:08:00] First steps: Preparing your environment and changing your expectations[00:13:30] Nighttime training strategies: Sheets, plastic covers, and grace[00:19:00] Language tips: Avoiding phrases like “Do it for Mommy”3 TakeawaysPotty training is your child's developmental work not a performance to manage or a schedule to control. When you treat it as a learning process rather than a task to complete, you reduce pressure and increase joy.Encouragement beats rewards. Positive reinforcement rooted in celebration, praise, and connection is more effective than material rewards or punishments. Visuals, routines, and sibling examples help build independence.God invites us to walk with our children in every milestone including potty training. With patience, presence, and prayer, we can guide them through this stage as a form of loving discipleship.Please send us your questions if you'd like to have them discussed on the podcast: themindofachildpodcast@gmail.com The Mind of a Child is an early child development podcast that exists to encourage and equip parents to raise their kids to love God and love others. If you're looking for Biblical principles, practical parenting solutions, and science-backed research, our discussions are specifically tailored for you. Our hosts are Leslie Dudley Corbell and Diane Doucet Matthews, who each have a combined 50+ years of experience in the early child parenting space.

Producer Dennys is potty training his toddler- Any tips?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A Utah mother and her boyfriend are charged with attempted aggravated murder and child torture after the woman’s 3-year-old daughter was found unconscious and bruised from head to toe. A Native Hawaiian man convicted of a hate crime for beating a white man with a shovel must be re-sentenced, the ruling of a federal appeals court, opening the door to the possibility that he will face more prison time. Drew Nelson reports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're back with Part 2 of our potty training chat — and just to be clear: we are not experts. We're still very much in the middle of it, figuring things out one accident at a time.In this episode, we're answering your most common questions about potty training, from how to start, to regressions, to whether you really need a little potty (jury's still out). Plus, we're sharing the best tips we got from other moms that made us feel a little more sane.We also recap Father's Day — the good, the chaotic, and the emotional — and talk about the summer sickness spiral that seems to be hitting every household right now.Come for the potty talk, stay for the solidarity. You're not alone, and you're doing great.

Make parenting easier and more enjoyable! Start here: https://drlindsayemmerson.com/workshop In this episode, I'll guide you through potty training even the most stubborn, strong-willed children using my proven 5 C's parenting framework. As a psychologist and mom of four who has successfully potty-trained my own kids and helped countless families through my coaching program, I understand the unique challenges that come with determined toddlers. You'll discover practical strategies to make the process smoother and less stressful, while working with your child's strong personality rather than against it. Perfect for parents facing potty training resistance who want a structured, psychology-based approach that actually works. New to my podcast?  If you want to take the stress, frustration, and overwhelm out of parenting by learning how to promote better behavior in your child, you're in the right place.  I'm a clinical psychologist and Mom of 4, and I share the psychology-based strategies that I use to parent with intention and confidence. I help parents move from feeling exhausted and at wit's end, losing their cool, yelling, and wishing parenting was easier, to feeling calm and confident, effectively managing any challenging parenting situation, and actually enjoying time spent with their kids. The practical positive discipline tools I teach based on my 5 C's parenting framework can get you there. ------------------------------------------- Let's connect! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlindsayemmerson TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drlindsayemmerson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@drlindsayemmerson ------------------------------------------- Disclaimer: The advice provided on my channel is different from therapy and does not substitute for professional psychological treatment or other types of professional advice or intervention.  Never disregard the advice of a medical professional or postpone seeking professional medical advice related to anything you hear on this channel.   If you or your child have concerns or need further parenting or personal support, please contact a physician or other qualified local health professional.

Potty Training Tales by Maine's Coast 93.1

ALL the details you need to know on HOW TO potty train your baby with elimination communication!This week, I sat down with Nicole from Go Diaper Free and asked her all our questions related to potty training!What is Go Diaper FreeWhat is ECWhat is Elimination CommunicationWhere does a baby using elimination communication go to the bathroomHow is elimination communication different from infant potty trainingWhen is it too late to start Elimination CommunicationWhat is an easy catchWhat is cloth diaperingand more!!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------IMPORTANT LINKS:-  Sign up for the Mom Club on Patreon: HERE-  Anabella's Breast Pumps HERE                    Use code LEARNINGTOMOM for 15% off a double dump                   Connect with them on Instagram Here                   Connect with them on Facebook Here-  Chiyo Postpartum Meals HERE                    Use code LEARNINGTOMOM for 10%                   Connect with them on Instagram Here                   Connect with them on Facebook Here- Truly Free Home- Toxin Free Cleaning Supplies HERE                    Use code LEARNINGTOMOM for 30% off their whole websiteConnect with Nicole HERE----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Why do elimination communication, why elimination communication is bad, when do you start elimination communication, when can I start elimination communication, when can you start elimination communication, how to practice elimination communication, potty training, how to start elimination communication, how does elimination communication work at night, elimination communication with twins, elimination communication with newborn, elimination communication with boys, elimination communication how to hold baby, elimination communication when to start, elimination communication to potty training, is elimination communication worth it, why elimination communication is bad, elimination communication sign for potty, elimination communication for newborns, elimination communication for boys, elimination communication for potty training, elimination communication for toddlers, elimination communication vs potty training, elimination communication and daycare, elimination communication age, elimination communication at night, elimination communication andrea olson,  elimination communication constipation, elimination communication cons,  how to potty train, earliest potty training

Potty Training Leo 06/13/25

Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Hershberg, Dr. Emily Upshur, and I talk about...     Why potty training blends both physiological and psychological factors and how parents can wrap their head around both to best support your child. How parents can understand the biological-psychological feedback loop and how this can affect your child's body and mind. How to get on the same page when there are multiple caregivers and providers who spend time with your child. Exactly what to be tracking to help you get to the root of the problem and how to determine if your responses are inadvertently perpetuating the challenges and anxiety your child may be experiencing.  Taking a pause if you notice a regression can be helpful - but only for some kids and in some situations. How to know when a reset is appropriate and when you might not want to use this approach with your child. What parents can do to help a child become less fearful and more relaxed in the bathroom. What is interoceptive sensory input, and how can this be helpful to focus on and build for your child outside of the bathroom?     REFERENCES AND RELATED RESOURCES:  

This week on Mom Group Chat, we're diving into one of our most requested topics ever: potty training. And here's the honest truth—neither of us are experts. We're still very much in it, figuring things out as we go.In Part 1 of this two-part series, we're sharing our very relaxed, real-life approach to potty training—what's worked, what hasn't, and how we're managing to keep our expectations low (and our sanity somewhat intact). From how we knew it was time to start, to the accidents, regressions, and general unpredictability… we're talking about it all.If you've been feeling overwhelmed, behind, or just totally stressed about potty training, this episode is your permission slip to take a deep breath and let your kid lead the way. You are not alone in this!

Send us a textIn this episode of the Think Like a Dog podcast, Millie and Andreia answer listener questions and share thoughtful guidance on common training challenges. They cover crate training, potty routines, communication with other dog owners, and ways to help dogs with fear or anxiety.Throughout the conversation, they focus on what it means to truly understand your dog's perspective, why structure matters, how to build trust, and the power of consistency. You'll also hear tips on managing reactivity, creating safe spaces, and setting boundaries that help both dogs and humans feel more confident.To wrap things up, Millie and Andreia announce an upcoming in-person workshop designed to bring the community together for hands-on learning and support.Support the showFollow Us On Instagram: @thinklikeadogpodcast @Mirrorimagek9 @OzzieAlbiesFoundation Work with Mirror Image K9 here: https://www.mirrorimagek9.com/contactusBe Our Guest: https://www.thinklikeadogpodcast.com Learn More About The Best Chance Program: https://www.ozziealbiesfoundation.org/

VISIT ➡️ https://raisingheights.com Join Zach and Tori on this episode of Raising Heights as they dive into their Peaks & Pits - including tales from their recent camping trips, Tori's chronic teeth pain and her preparations for a 10K run, Josiah's potty training journey, and the challenges of raising young children. Zach and Tori share you comments and MEMBER highlights.  Help us name the new current events segment of our show! 00:00 Introduction 00:26 Allergy Struggles and Sympathy Tactics 01:25 Dental Woes and Weight Loss Tips 02:47 10K Training and Walking Adventures 05:48 Fishing Fun with Jackson 10:44 Camping Concerns and Family Dynamics 16:05 Current Events: The Heights Report? 21:46 Moms and Health Awareness 22:21 COVID Vaccine Controversies 23:30 Vaccine Skepticism and Public Trust 24:37 Current Events: Sesame Street and Lilo & Stitch 25:57 Shoutouts and Membership Perks 31:00 Potty Training Tips and Stories 39:56 Camping Trip Preparations 42:21 Merchandise and Summer Plans BECOME A MEMBER! https://raisingheights.com SPONSORS: https://zocdoc.com/raisingheights Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Two Parents & A Podcast — hi! If you're here from TikTok, we'll get into that in a bit… But first, we're talking about why kids are being potty trained later these days (side note: can we stop calling 3-year-olds “36 months”??) and how our health habits have shifted now that we're out of the newborn fog. In Things We DMed Each Other: a $30 million Bitcoin surprise, the most unhinged lies parents tell their kids, and a middle school teacher allegedly giving students alcohol (?!). Plus, a little brain break: we're watching a lot more TV lately (read: we're still drinking less )and we try not to give any spoilers (but I guess BEWARE).  We get into why the internet needs to chill on shaming moms— we're all for constructive criticism, but enough with tearing women down / pitting women against eachother. And yes, I said vitamin C and meant D… nobody's perfect. …Finally, hi again to the people from TikTok! We unpack the drama we've found ourselves in BUT I think I'm gonna make you watch to find out what we think about it.  Thanks for being here — WE LOVE YOU GUYS! Timestamps: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Two Parents & A Podcast 00:05:57 Do all new parents get an itch for healthiness post-newborn? 00:14:50 Why are kids being potty trained later these days? 00:20:12 Things We DMed Each Other: The $30 million Bitcoin surprise 00:26:50 Things We DMed Each Other: The most unhinged lies parents tell their kids 00:29:25 Things We DMed Each Other: Middle school teacher allegedly gave students alcohol for an end-of-year treat 00:34:45 Please stop mom-shaming the mom who doesn't talk to her baby 00:50:09 Brain Break: Watching more TV (read: we're still drinking less lol) 00:54:24 Bonus (???): Our TikTok drama 01:04:55 LOVE YOU GUYS!  #twoparentsandapod ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors this week: Dipsea – Right now, you can get a 30-day free trial PLUS 25% off your annual subscription when you go to https://www.DipseaStories.com/TWOPARENTS.  Magnetic Me – Make changing time easier for you and your little one… order Magnetic Me today! New customers get 15% off your first order when you go to https://www.MagneticMe.com. Cleveland Kitchen  – Want to make gut health easy and delicious? Find Cleveland Kitchen's fresh, fermented foods in the refrigerated section of your local grocery store, or have them delivered straight to your door via Instacart. AND for our listeners get $4 off - head over to https://clevelandkitchen.com/podcast for $4 off. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to the pod on YouTube/Spotify/Apple: https://www.youtube.com/@twoparentsandapod https://open.spotify.com/show/7BxuZnHmNzOX9MdnzyU4bD?si=5e715ebaf9014fac https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-parents-a-podcast/id1737442386  ---------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Two Parents & A Podcast: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/twoparentsandapod TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@twoparentsandapod Follow Alex: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/justalexbennett TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@justalexbennett Follow Harrison: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/harrisonfugman TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@harrisonfugman ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House – https://www.justmediahouse.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textI'm so happy that my episode with the incredible Erin Lim is finally out!!! Always blown away by how multi-talented and creative Erin is. Every time I'm in her company I learn something new

Episode 91: The Potty Training Journey: Readiness, Regression & Releasing the Pressure with Jess from Nurtured First In this episode, Rachael welcomes back psychotherapist Jess Vanderwier from Nurtured First to talk all things potty training, because no one told us how complex (and emotional) it can really be! From readiness signs to regressions and nighttime dryness, Jess brings her compassionate, shame-free approach to one of the most talked-about parenting transitions. Together, they dive into all of your most-asked questions about potty “training” including how to tune into your child's cues and what to do when things don't go as planned. Whether you're just starting out, hitting a rough patch, or questioning everything you thought you knew, this episode is for you. Inside this episode: Why there's no “right” age to start potty training How to spot signs of readiness (hint: curiosity matters more than compliance) The danger of pressure and how it can lead to power struggles What to do when accidents (or regressions) happen The emotional side of potty training and how to stay curious, not reactive Differences between daytime and nighttime dryness Why three-day methods don't work for every child How shame-free potty learning fosters independence and confidence Ways to create positive associations and model behavior Why taking a break might be the best thing you can do Plus so much more!  Mentioned in this episode: Follow Jess on Instagram: @nurturedfirst Jess's parenting podcast Robot Unicorn If you enjoyed this episode, please rate 5⭐️ and write us a review! ⬇️ ✨For sleep support and resources, visit heysleepybaby.com and follow @heysleepybaby on Instagram!

visit: ➡️ https://raisingheights.com In this episode of Raising Heights, Zach and Tori explore the intricate dynamics of reality TV shows, sharing their thoughts on 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives', and the unexpected announcement of the popular YouTube channel Outdoor Boys stepping away. Alongside, they review current events like, Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis and much more! Plus, check out their new merch line and exclusive member offers! 00:00 Episode Start 00:31 Welcome to Raising Heights 00:40 Coffee Talk: A Decade of Brewing 01:23 Energy and Enjoyment: A Metaphor for Life 04:14 New Merch Announcement 05:57 Peak and Pit: Family Moments 06:59 Air Show Adventures 13:49 Jackson's Fishing Birthday Party 16:56 Dental Dilemmas 21:28 Current Events Discussion 22:57 Reflecting on Political Events 23:38 Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Review 24:43 Reality TV Drama and Its Impact 30:09 Outdoor Boys and YouTube Fame 36:04 Potty Training Success 40:35 Parenting Insights and Advice 48:10 Wrapping Up and Membership Shoutouts BECOME A MEMBER! https://raisingheights.com SPONSORS: https://cozyearth.com/raisingheights Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this snack-sized episode, Denver comic Janae Burris returns to talk to Ophira about parenting logistics, chaos management, and the sticker shock of daycare in Colorado. She opens up about choosing to keep her toddler home with her—despite everyone around her insisting she needs a break—and how that decision slowly unraveled once the “fast and sticky” two-year-old phase kicked in. Janae shares the sticker price of a Montessori tour that nearly sent her packing, the unexpected benefits (and side-eye) of sending her son to visit family in California, and how her toddler came back from Grandma's with new clothes, sign language skills, and potty training in progress. The conversation also touches on career balance, her dream of raising a nomadic child via arts grants and library visits, and the bittersweet reality of watching your kid absorb—and mimic—your every gesture, even your sass. Plus, Janae imagines how her son would roast her on stage, and it's all too real. Thank you to Lumen for sponsoring this episode! Head to http://lumen.me/JOKE for 15% off your purchase.

Lured Up Podcast 346: Potty TrainingLive Streamed on - 5/7/2025Publish Date - 5/9/2025The news that Adam has been dreading was finally announced. Remote Max Battles will soon be a thing, at the seemingly last bastion of IRL group gameplay is under attack. There are emotions and sentiments covering the spectrum of reasoning from hyper excitement, to fears and uncertainty. Time will tell what the real world impact of this week's news will be, but in any case, this is a spicy one.We start off with our weekly recap of gameplay covering the Growing Up event and how egg events can take the wind out of wild encounter sails. It almost seemed that if you weren't laser focused on hatching Mime Jr, that there wasn't too much going on. Luckily, Mega Kangaskhan Raid Day brought the Community Out to chase a regional, giving new Trainers a taste of the Australian Pokémon.This weekend will be a triple threat, with the start of Crown Clash which overlaps with DMAX Suicune Max Battle Weekend AND Pawmi Community Day. There will be plenty of gameplay to be had, and Trainers that stack their items and prioritize their time in-game will surely benefit. Community Day is the perfect environment to play with a group, stack up consumables like Lucky Eggs, Incense, and Star Pieces, and if you're lucky, be on a gameboard that is Lured Up. Best of luck to the Trainers that will be out there looking to maximize the stacked events.May is absolutely stacked as we won't be getting any slowdown before GO Fest. The calender is filled with events throughout the week and weekends for the entire month. We break down the latest event announcements, and start to get hyped for GMAX Machamp, which will be a major draw for most IRL communities. That is however, if they don't decide to stay home to play.With this week's shift to support remote gameplay, major concerns have been voiced by some, while others are celebrating. It is too early to know what impact this decision will really have on the game, as Community Ambassadors and Leaders are feeling the squeeze of a new potential threat. We air out our perspectives and both hope that IRL Communities will rally to keep the spirit of the game alive and outside where it belongs.Growing UpMega Kangaskhan Raid DayMax Battle Weekend: Dynamax SuicunePawmi Community DayCrown ClashMax Battle Day: GMAX MachampFinal Strike: GO Battle WeekCommunity Day Classic: MachopUpdates to Shadow Raids & Max BattlesStay up to date by adding our Google Calendar to your account!LuredUp@PokemonProfessor.com    Voicemail and SMS: 732-835-8639 Use code FULLHEAL at https://tgacards.com/ for 10% off your order!Connect with us on multiple platforms! https://linktr.ee/PokemonProfessorNetwork HostsKen PescatoreAdam TuttleWriter and ProducerKen PescatoreExecutive Producer XanderShow music provided by GameChops and licensed through Creative Commons▾ FOLLOW GAMECHOPS ▾http://instagram.com/GameChopshttp://twitter.com/GameChopshttp://soundcloud.com/GameChopshttp://facebook.com/GameChopshttp://youtube.com/GameChopshttp://www.gamechops.comIntro MusicLake Verity (Drum & Bass Remix) TetracaseGameChops - Ultraballhttp://gamechops.com/ultraball/https://soundcloud.com/tetracase https://soundcloud.com/MegaFlare0Break MusicNational ParkMikel & GameChopsGameChops - Poké & Chillhttp://smarturl.it/pokechillhttps://twitter.com/mikel_beatsOutro MusicVast Poni CanyonCG5 & GlitchxCity (Future Bass Remix)GameChops - Ultraballhttp://gamechops.com/ultraball/ http://soundcloud.com/cg5-beatshttps://soundcloud.com/glitchxcityPokémon And All Respective Names are Trademark and © of Nintendo 1996-2025 Pokémon GO is Trademark and © of Niantic, Inc. Lured Up and the Pokémon Professor Network are not affiliated with Niantic Inc., The Pokémon Company, Game Freak or Nintendo.#pokemon #pokemongo #podcast

VISIT ➡️ https://raisingheights.com Join us in celebrating Josiah's upcoming third birthday! We also get into dealing with stubbornness and the emotional and physical demands of raising kids with special needs, this episode covers it all. We share our thoughts on handling medical anxieties, the joys of seeing our kids grow more independent, and the importance of mental breaks for parents. 00:00 Introduction 00:53 Josiah's Birthday and Growing Up 04:07 Parenting Challenges and Milestones 09:14 Sibling Dynamics and Playtime 12:32 Potty Training and Parenting Strategies 13:42 Dental Work and Health Concerns 19:09 Dwarfism and Health Anxieties 23:50 Uncertainty and Medical Concerns 25:30 Mom Intuition and Child Health 26:29 Children's Behavior and Attention 27:47 Parenting Challenges and Medical Appointments 34:27 Reflecting on Pregnancy and Mental Load 38:10 Haircuts and Family Moments 43:32 Pet Peeves and Grass Troubles 44:13 Birthday Wishes and Closing Remarks VISIT: https://raisingheights.com SPONSOR: https://cozyearth.com/heights May 2-4th Mother's Day Sale! Use: HEIGHTSBOGO for Buy One Get One Free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recorded live from PodJam in Henderson, Nevada, this special episode of Parenting is a Joke features Ophira Eisenberg hosting a lively panel of working moms—Desiree Goble, Rachel Spitz, Kim Nyborg, and Ty Vosslership—who bring real-world parenting tales from all corners of the U.S. They swap stories about managing chaotic departures to attend PodJam, mean girl drama in middle school, sleep training regrets, the challenges of potty training a stubborn toddler, and even the emotional rollercoaster of raising kids with anxiety and OCD. The panelists share how they talk to their children about current events, including one standout conversation about teaching kids to assess politics by asking, "Does it help or hurt?" Plus, Ophira gets surprised by a guest appearance from Dr. Aaron Carroll, who reassures parents about delayed potty training and puts breastfeeding pressure into perspective. From freezer-stashed breastmilk jewelry plans to a hilarious “balance of the fucks” parenting philosophy, this episode is a relatable snapshot of modern parenting's daily victories and absurdities. Special thanks to Pete Dominick for making it all happen!