Explore every episode of the podcast Council of Moms

Birthdays and holidays are hard enough to pull off as a parent. But doing them with a blended family? That adds a whole new level of stress. Lisa Valentine Clark and her Council of Moms—Brittney Phillips, Liz Palmer, and Tammy Hall—tackle how to navigate special occasions with stepfamily. #BlendedFamilyLife #FamilyHarmony #ParentingJourney #MomCommunity #SpecialOccasions

Is your child getting bullied by schoolmates? Neighbors? Coworkers? Family? How can we respond to bullying so that we can both protect and empower our kids? Join Lisa Valentine Clark and her Council of Moms—Cree Taylor, Allison Dayton, and Julie Taylor—as they take on bullying and helping our kids to navigate conflict with others. #StopBullying #ParentingSupport #MomWisdom #AntiBullying #ProtectOurKids

Worried that your kids don't appreciate what they have? Or concerned that your kids' manners need some polishing? Or just hoping to help your children become kind and gracious individuals? Join Lisa Valentine Clark and her Council of Moms—Whitney Call, Ruth Aguirre, and Lindsay Clark—as they discuss how to engage our kids in positive thinking and gratitude practices. #ParentingTips #GratefulKids #MomAdvice #TeachingGratitude #PositiveParenting

Your kids are growing up in a world full of different perspectives, values, and beliefs so how do you teach them strong values while also preparing them to engage with others who see things differently? Lisa and the Council of Moms—Cree Taylor, Julie Taylor, and Allison Dayton—share their experiences and insights on raising kids who are both confident in their values and open to meaningful conversations.

Time out? Grounded? Goodness knows that the gentle reminder which works for one child may be totally ineffective for their sibling--who isn't motivated by the same consequences either. How do you tailor discipline to fit each child’s unique personality without playing favorites? Lisa Valentine Clark and her Council of Moms—Whitney Call, Ruth Aguirre, and Lindsay Clark—talk about how to discipline different kids differently. They discuss the “why” behind children breaking the rules, how understanding their motivations can lead to more effective discipline, and why removing emotion from consequences helps parents stay consistent and fair. #ParentingTips #MomCommunity #Discipline #ParentingStyles

What do you do when another parent starts asking too much of you? Maybe it started small—an extra carpool here, a favor there—but now it’s feeling like a one-sided arrangement. How do you set some much needed boundaries? Lisa and the Council of Moms—Dr. LaShawn Williams, Erika Price, and Julie Suazo—talk about navigating tricky social dynamics between parents, how to kindly but firmly say "no," and when it’s okay to walk away from an unfair expectation.

Kids lie. And sure, it's developmentally appropriate, but you still have to figure out how to deal with it. And then they get older (and smarter) and the stakes get higher. What do you do when you catch your teenager in a lie? Lisa and Council of Moms (Geraldine "G", Emilie, and Amy) talk strategies for reinforcing honesty, responding to lying, and creating space at home for open, authentic communication.

What do you do if your partner's approach to parenting is completely different from yours? Lisa and this special edition "Council of Stepmoms" (Brittney Phillips, Liz Palmer, and Tammy Hall) open up about the challenges and successes of blending families and parenting methods. What communication tools you need as a new stepparent, how to create a united front, and when it's worth it to seek professional help to aid the transition.

Why is someone crying? The siblings who, just a moment ago, were happily co-existing in the other room, are now full-scale wrestling, happiness forgotten, and someone has been hit with an iPad. What is the feral instinct that turns kids from friends to enemies so quickly? And can you do anything about it? Lisa and the Council of Moms— Cree Taylor, Julie Taylor, and Allison Dayton— reflect on sibling relationships and how to lay the framework for strong friendships and cooperation.

Feeling burned out from the never-ending demands of motherhood? Struggling to take even the smallest break without guilt creeping in? Mom exhaustion is real, and so is the pressure to always be "on." But what if giving yourself a little time to recharge actually made you a better parent? Lisa Valentine Clark and her Council of Moms—Whitney Call, Ruth Aguirre, and Lindsay Clark—talk about why rest isn’t selfish, how to quiet the guilt, and small ways to reclaim moments of peace in the chaos of parenting. #ParentingJourney #MomCommunity #Energy #Exhaustion

Concerned about how anxious your child is? Worried by how much they worry? From clinical anxiety, to phobias, to everyday worries, the experience of anxiety can vary so much from family to family, and kid to kid. What coping skills help kids tame their fears and negative thought cycles? How do you know when to look for professional help? Lisa Valentine Clark and the Council of Moms —Dr. LaShawn Williams, Erika Price, and Julie Suazo— discuss frontline tactics for helping kids cope with anxiety (and our own anxiety, while we're at it). #Anxiety #MentalHealth #AnxietyManagement #ParentingJourney #MomCommunity

Worried that you're holding your adult kids back by going too easy on them? Or concerned you're being too hard on them by making them pay rent? Navigating the bridge between teenagehood and adulthood can be a delicate, stepping-on-one-another's-toes dance. Lisa Valentine Clark and her Council of Moms—Amy Hackworth, Emilie Campbell, and Geraldine "G" Fitisemanu—are here to help you navigate this tricky period of life. #BabyAdults #AdultChildren #MomCommunity #ParentingJourney #HelpingKidsLaunch

What happens when you don’t feel the same connection to your partner’s kids as you do to your own? Is that normal? Is it wrong? In this episode, Lisa sits down with her Council of Moms—Brittney Phillips, Liz Palmer, and Tammy Hall—to talk about the realities of loving both your biological and bonus kids. They dive into the guilt that can come with blending families, why love doesn’t have to look the same for every child, and how to build meaningful relationships with stepkids in a way that feels right for everyone. #BlendedFamilies #Stepparenting #MomLife #ParentingCommunity

Some kids motivate themselves. Others need a little nudge. Either way, your hope is that your kids will make goals and stretch themselves to achieve them. So how do you teach that? Lisa and the Council of Moms — Geraldine "G" Fitisemanu, Emilie Campbell, and Amy Hackworth break down ways to build kids' confidence and autonomy, as well as what "doing their best" means, and what expectations we can adjust so that everyone succeeds.

Presents, vacations, toys, clothes—it can get awkward when kids want everything they see at a friend’s house. Or when their parents suggest group activities and playdates that are way out of budget. How do you have healthy conversations about money when your kids notice the contrast between your lifestyle and what they see in the community around them? Lisa and the Council of Moms: Josephine, Wendy Mar, and Hilary Craner, discuss the challenges of parenting in a world of socioeconomic comparisons. They share personal experiences about family finance conversations, shifting perspectives on materialism, and creating meaningful family experiences without overspending.

Clean, previously folded laundry is strewn across your child's bedroom floor, amid forgotten school papers and cups which you specifically asked be returned to the sink. What do you do? And beyond just this messy room, how do you help kids successfully manage their personal spaces so that they have the skills to live independently? And is it too late for cleaning-impaired kids to learn the skills? Lisa and the Council of Moms— Ruth Aguirre, Whitney Call, and Lindsay Clark, dive into the challenges of teaching kids cleanliness, as well as identifying what's most important—finding the right balance of restoring order and allowing a healthy amount of chaos, and separating the societal pressure of appearances from healthy personal habits.

When it comes to parenting stepkids, it can feel like every decision is a test. Say no, and you risk seeming cold or unloving. Say yes, and you might feel like you're being a pushover. How do you stay consistent without becoming the ‘mean parent’? And what about the ‘fair police’, those kids who keep score and expect everything to be exactly equal? In this episode, Lisa and the Council of Moms—Brittney Phillips, Liz Palmer, and Tammy Hall—tackle the tricky balance of parenting in blended families. They open up about the pressure to prove loyalty, how to handle different expectations, and why real love includes setting boundaries and saying no when needed. #StepParenting #BlendedFamilies #ParentingTips #CouncilOfMoms #MomLife

College isn’t the only path after high school, but it’s still the one a lot of kids (and their parents) expect to take. So how do you prepare them for that step, or for any step into adulthood? What really matters before they leave the house? Lisa and the Council of Moms—Shima Baughman, Cimony Mahoney, and La Beene—talk through the big picture of post-high school readiness. They discuss helping kids explore all their options from trade school to military service to entrepreneurship. They share how to guide kids toward careers that can actually support them, teach essential life skills like laundry and budgeting, and, most importantly, communicate that your love isn’t tied to what they choose next. #CollegePrep #LifeSkills #ParentingTeens #CouncilOfMoms #MomWisdom #AfterHighSchool

You catch a whiff during the car ride home. Apparently your tween’s refusal to shower has reached new heights. What’s a parent to do? From the early days of bathtime battles to the awkward puberty talks and buying that first stick of deodorant, teaching kids to care for their bodies can be surprisingly complicated. This week, Lisa and the Council of Moms—Erika Price, Amy Hackworth, and Geraldine “G” Fitisemanu—tackle the question: How do you teach proper hygiene to your kids? They open up about how they started hygiene routines young, why they normalize conversations about body changes, and how the lessons they’ve learned balance consistency with compassion.

Arguments in front of kids: Should you shield them from discord or let them see real life? This week on the Council of Moms, Ruth Aguirre, Whitney Call, and Lindsay Clark share what’s worked for them. They talk about letting kids see healthy disagreements and honest feelings while making sure the setting and the age of the child are taken into account. They share how to model respectful conflict, how answer tough questions, and how to keep the focus on love, respect, and growing together as families.

How do you stay connected and playful with your older kids, especially when you’re worried about their behavior? Lisa Valentine Clark and her Council of Moms—Josephine, Wendy Mar, and Hilary Craner—talk about balancing discipline and delight. They share ideas for connecting through your kids’ hobbies, being intentional about when to bring things up (and when to let them go), making room for silliness, sharing laughter, and rolling with the occasional embarrassing moment.

Watching your partner parent can be one of the most unexpectedly tricky parts of blending a family, especially when their discipline style doesn’t seem to stick. This weeks Council of Moms, Lisa, Brittney Phillips, Liz Palmer-Bastian, and Tammy Hall talk about how to keep your relationship strong even when parenting differences threaten to wear you down. They share how to move from criticism to collaboration, why it helps to focus on shared values rather than identical rules, and how conversations are what really shape a blended family. From letting go of perfection to choosing your battles, this episode is all about the art of parenting as partners.

Not every kid has a clear passion and that’s okay. But how do you help them discover what lights them up? This week on The Council of Moms, Lisa is joined by Shima Baughman, Cimony Mahoney, and La Beene to talk about helping kids find their “thing.” They share how they’ve explored new hobbies alongside their children, why being bored is actually a gift, and how to reframe hobbies as a source of joy and not pressure. From team sports to quiet crafts, they discuss trying lots of new things, embracing the journey, and finding connection along the way.

How do you teach kids to sincerely apologize when it's appropriate— and mean it? Lisa and the Council of Moms-- Erika Price, Amy Hackworth, and Geraldine “G” Fitisemanu break down teaching kids real manners, starting with sincere apologies. They share how to model respectful behavior, practice with role play, and help kids connect to feelings so they can lay the groundwork for genuine connection. Plus a few tips for raising kids not just to be polite, but truly sensitive to the needs and feelings of others.

Do you dread bedtime? The Council of Moms--Ruth Aguirre, Whitney Call, and Lindsay Clark--tackle one of parenting’s most exhausting challenges: getting everyone to sleep. From toddlers who won’t stay in bed to teens who won’t go to bed, they share what’s helped them shift from dread to (occasional) peace. The moms talk about setting clear ground rules, being honest about their own needs, adjusting routines around the trickiest sleepers, and offering choices without giving up boundaries. If bedtime feels like a nightly battle in your home, this episode is for you.

What do you do when the people helping raise your kids don’t share your vision for what matters most? Lisa Valentine Clark and the Council of Moms—Josephine, Wendy Mar, and Hilary Craner—tackle the challenge of parenting with different priorities. They share tips on how to stay unified without losing what matters most to you, the importance of pausing before responding, and how to build a family culture rooted in love even when you disagree. If you’ve ever felt torn between standing your ground and keeping the peace, this conversation offers wisdom and real life perspective.

When your teen starts driving, everything shifts--from curfews, to responsibilities, to even your daily connection. Lisa and the Council of Moms--Erika Price, Amy Hackworth, and Geraldine “G” Fitisemanu--talk about what it’s like to support your teenager’s growing independence while still keeping them safe. From listening to their opinions to setting clear boundaries, the moms explore how to stay close even as your child pulls out of the driveway and into the next phase of growing up.

When it comes to blended families, everyone seems to have an opinion--and not all of them are helpful. Lisa Valentine Clark and the Council of Moms--Brittney Phillips, Liz Palmer-Bastian, and Tammy Hall--open up about the stigmas and doubts they faced while blending their families. From receiving unsolicited comments to dealing with internalized shame, the moms share how they’ve learned to set emotional boundaries, redefine what family means, and protect their joy. Whether you're in a blended family or love someone who is, this conversation offers honesty, hope, and a reminder that every family is worthy and whole.

What happens when your child’s behavior changes the moment you’re not around? Lisa Valentine Clark and the Council of Moms—Julie Suazo, Erika Price, and Dr. LaShawn Williams—take on the challenge of raising kids who sometimes act one way at home and another in the world. From teaching your child that they carry your family’s name, to helping them see childhood as practice for making good choices, the moms share insights on guiding behavior you can’t always correct in the moment. They also talk about the power of sitting down with your child and asking, “What do you think someone should always be?” to help them define their own values. This conversation is full of perspective, honesty, and ideas for shaping kids into thoughtful, responsible decision-makers—whether you’re there to watch or not.

Back-to-school season feels like a fresh start, but how do you keep that blank-slate energy alive once the chaos sets in? Lisa and her Council of Moms--Cree Taylor, Amy Hackworth, and Michelle Love-Day--share their tried-and-true strategies for attempting to stay organized and grounded through the school year. From the power of a Sunday reset, to forming habits that really stick, to knowing what’s worth sacrificing (and what’s not), these moms get real about what works and why school routines don’t look the same for every child.

It’s easy to scroll through social media and feel like every other parent is doing it better—handling emotions, avoiding mistakes, and saying all the “right” things. So what do we do when we get it wrong? Lisa Valentine Clark and the Council of Moms—Geraldine “G” Fitisemanu, Erika Price, and Wendy Mar—open up about their own parenting missteps and what recovery really looked like. From overreacting in the moment, to kids getting access to things sooner than expected, to learning how to take ownership and keep the door open for honest conversations, the moms remind us that mistakes don’t define us as parents---repair, connection, and love do.

Asking for help can feel tricky—especially when you worry about burdening others. Lisa and her Council of Moms—Emilie Campbell, Sunny Mahe, and Julie Taylor—open up about how to move past people-pleasing habits and embrace honesty with the people around you. From building a support system you can lean on, to offering service in return when you’re able, to learning that true friendship makes space for give and take, the moms share how they’ve learned to both ask for and accept help with grace.

With endless streaming options and constant new content, it can feel nearly impossible to keep up with what your kids are watching. Ruth Aguirre, Hilary Craner, and Liz Palmer-Bastian join Lisa on The Council of Moms to talk about teaching media literacy at home—how to help kids build their own filter for what’s appropriate, even when you can’t preview everything first.

Screens can be a lifesaver in some moments—but what happens when the habit has gotten bigger than you’d like? Lisa Valentine Clark and the Council of Moms—Whitney Call, Julie Suazo, and Juhi Raizada—take on the guilt so many parents feel about screen time. It’s easy to wonder if it’s already “too late” to change course once the precedent has been set, but the moms remind us that there are always ways to reset. From recognizing that not all screen use is created equal (some can actually build skills), to setting tech-free zones or times (like no screens after 8pm or during meals), to inviting kids into the process through open conversations and family plans, the moms share their honest experiences and practical strategies. This episode is about moving past guilt and taking small, realistic steps to reset screen boundaries with confidence and connection.

When chores turn into daily battles, how do you get kids to actually help without the endless reminders or frustration? Lisa and the Council of Moms—Julie Taylor, Emilie Campbell, and Sunny Mahe—share how they’ve learned to make chores a family effort instead of a fight. From dividing jobs by principle (not just convenience) to teaching accountability in everyday routines, they explore what it really means to work with your kids rather than against them.

What happens when your child seems unfazed by consequences? Lisa Valentine Clark and the Council of Moms—Cree Taylor, Amy Hackworth, and Michelle Love-Day—talk about how to reset your approach. They share how to shift from punishment to purpose while finding ways for kids to connect their choices to meaningful learning.

Halloween is supposed to be fun, but for many parents, it can feel more like a haunted house of sugar highs, late nights, and expensive costumes. Lisa Valentine Clark and the Council of Moms—Geraldine “G” Fitisemanu, Erika Price, and Wendy Mar—share how they handle the chaos with humor and heart. From navigating candy with a child who has Type 1 diabetes, to deciding how old is too old to trick-or-treat, to creative costumes, the moms remind us that Halloween doesn’t have to be perfect to be memorable.

Lisa and the Council of Moms--Dr. Juhi Raizada, Julie Suazo, and Whitney Call--talk about setting boundaries, delegating, and choosing appropriate milestones for kids to help boost their independence and save mom's sanity. They'll also talk strategies for couples to keep the load evenly divided so that everyone's needs are met.

Feeling overwhelmed by holiday chaos and expectations? You're not alone! Christmas magic, as it turns out, is a lot of work—especially for moms. Lisa Valentine Clark and the Council of Moms—Hilary Craner, Ruth Aguirre, and Liz Palmer-Bastian—get real about the challenges of project-managing family Christmases and memories, and how to prioritize your mental health and well-being without sacrificing meaning during the Christmas season. They share what they've tried: traditions that stuck, and some that weren't worth the work. Give yourself the gift of peace this Christmas by making a few tweaks that everyone will remember and cherish for years to come—and not at the expense of your sanity.