Explore every episode of the podcast Momwell

This is the final part of our back-to-school series that revisits some of our old favorites from the vault!  Whether you have heard the phrase “after school restraint collapse” or not, if you’ve experienced it, you know exactly what it is—when your child starts melting down as soon as you pick them up from school. If your child behaves wonderfully at school but falls apart when they see you, it can be frustrating for everyone.  So what causes those after school meltdowns? Dr. Kristyn Sommer leverages her Ph.D. in Early Cognitive Development and shares her insights on why after school restraint collapse happens, and what you can do to minimize it. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4dZbj56 Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: momwell.com  Follow Momwell on Instagram: instagram.com/momwell  Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: momwell.com/newsletter  Register for one of our popular guides and courses: momwell.com/shop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is part 3 of a 4-part back-to-school series that revisits some of our old favorites from the vault!  Transitions can be overwhelming for our children and for us. As moms, we want to know how to support a child going through transitions. We might experience our own anxiety, deal with mom guilt, or question whether they are capable of navigating big changes.  But with the right strategies in place, we can guide our children, and ourselves, through times of change. Today, I’m joined by Jess VanderWier, founder of Nurtured First, to discuss how to support a child through the transition into school and separation anxiety. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Xa9FYC Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: momwell.com  Follow Momwell on Instagram: instagram.com/momwell  Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: momwell.com/newsletter  Register for one of our popular guides and courses: momwell.com/shop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our individual upbringing and the culture we were raised in impact the way we show up as parents and the way we approach our own mental health. It’s important to listen to voices in this area who understand firsthand the nuances of culture and mental health, breaking cycles, and carving out individual paths as moms.  One of those voices is Sahaj Kaur Kohli, founder of Brown Girl Therapy—the first and largest mental health and wellness community organization for adult children of immigrants. This week on The Momwell Podcast, Sahaj joins us to unpack the relationship between culture and mental health and its impact on parenting. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4clFL8z Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: momwell.com  Follow Momwell on Instagram: instagram.com/momwell  Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: momwell.com/newsletter  Register for one of our popular workshops and courses: momwell.com/shop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Moms often feel like sacrificing sleep is just a part of motherhood. But there is a relationship between sleep deprivation and postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and other mental health concerns. If we want to support moms, protecting maternal sleep is important.  Today, I’m joined by reproductive psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dr. Nicole Leistikow to discuss the role of protected sleep in maternal mental health and how families can work together to support moms.   Show notes: https://bit.ly/3EdRt7q  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness  Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother  Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter  Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Establishing age-appropriate boundaries can be tough. But without boundaries, we often find ourselves in a cycle of misbehaviour and punishment, leading to frustration for us and our children.  Today, I’m joined by parenting coach Tia Slightham to discuss the importance of boundaries and how to set limits that are age-appropriate and effective.   Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3r2xdxL  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness  Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother  Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter  Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if I told you that you didn’t have to play with your child all day? Moms put a lot of pressure on themselves to entertain their kids. They believe that “good moms” play with their kids as much as possible. But when we learn how to encourage independent play, we not only remove that pressure—we also give our children room to create, grow, and blossom.  Today, I’m joined by Susie Allison, founder of Busy Toddler, to discuss what play is, why it matters, and how to encourage your children to play independently.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3BS5ar9  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness  Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother  Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter  Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you feel like you’re drowning in the mental load of motherhood? Many moms struggle with this. They find themselves falling into gender roles in the home without realizing it, and they don’t know how to break out of the pattern. Today, I’m joined by Dr. Darcy Lockman, psychologist and author of All the Rage: Mothers, Fathers, and the Myth of Equal Partnership, to discuss why the gender imbalance in household labour happens and how to shift the dynamics in the home.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3qsnkcx  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness  Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother  Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter  Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When our children misbehave, it can be very triggering. We feel frustrated, disrespected, and uncertain of how to handle it. As a result, we often end up unsuccessfully trying to control their behaviour, instead of guiding them through their feelings.  Today, I’m joined by Dr. Becky Kennedy, founder of Good Inside, to discuss how to help a child regulate their emotions and navigate their big feelings.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3cN87zq  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness  Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother  Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter  Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why does a messy house give me anxiety? Why can’t I motivate myself to clean since I had kids? Am I just a lazy mom? Moms often worry about these things, feeling immense pressure to keep a clean house and experiencing shame when they fall short of those expectations.  As moms, we can’t always buy ourselves more time to clean. But we can approach the concept of cleaning differently, learn to overcome our anxiety around cleaning, and develop simple tips for keeping the house functioning without getting overwhelmed.  Today, I’m joined by KC Davis, author of How to Keep House While Drowning, known as Domestic Blisters on TikTok and founder of Struggle Care, to discuss reframing our thinking about “the mess” and tips for cleaning with kids.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Ku93VC  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness  Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother  Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter  Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transitions can be overwhelming for our children and for us. As moms, we want to know how to support a child going through transitions. We might experience our own anxiety, deal with mom guilt, or question whether they are capable of navigating big changes.  But with the right strategies in place, we can guide our children, and ourselves, through times of change. Today, I’m joined by Jess VanderWier, founder of Our Mama Village to discuss how to support a child through the transition into school and separation anxiety.  (This is the final episode of our 3-part back-to-school series. Don’t miss Episode 133 on kindergarten readiness with Susie Allison of Busy Toddler and Episode 134 on helping children cope with school anxiety with Dr. Becky Kennedy of Good Inside.)   Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3PFO7vS  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness  Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother  Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter  Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Starting school can be very exciting for many kids—but it can also be scary. We want to protect our kids, so when we see them worrying or anxious, we want to support them. But how do you help your child with school anxiety?  Today, I’m joined by clinical psychologist Dr. Becky Kennedy, founder of Good Inside, to discuss anxiety about starting school, our role in it, and how to support our children if they’re feeling apprehensive.  (This is the second episode of our 3-part back-to-school series. Catch Episode 133 on kindergarten readiness with Susie Allison of Busy Toddler and Episode 135 on supporting your child through transitions with Jess VanderWier of Our Mama Village.)  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3JTeTQ7  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is my child ready for kindergarten? What should I do to prepare? What skills do they need? More than ever, parents are scrambling to make sure their children have “kindergarten readiness.”  But the skills our children really need for kindergarten are far different than we might think they are. Today, I’m joined by Susie Allison, founder of Busy Toddler, to break down how to really prepare your child for kindergarten.  (This is the first episode of our 3-part back-to-school series. Catch Episode 134 on managing anxiety about school with Dr. Becky Kennedy and Episode 135 on supporting your child through transitions with Our Mama Village.)  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Q90MbZ  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Overcoming postpartum depression and anxiety isn’t easy. When we’re suffering from postpartum mood disorders, the symptoms make us believe that we are the problem—that we are failing as mothers.  But with awareness and the right support, we can find resources and overcome mood disorders during the postpartum period. Today, I’m joined by Dr. Wendy Davis, executive director of Postpartum Support International to discuss how to overcome postpartum depression and anxiety.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Qf7xZt  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meltdowns, defiance, and other behaviors are signals of needs—and if we can meet those needs proactively instead of punitively, we can support our children while still teaching and guiding them.  This week on The Momwell Podcast, I’m joined by psychologist Tammy Schamuhn, co-founder of the Institute of Child Psychology to discuss how to approach our children’s behavior from a brain development perspective. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3KDY2lI  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: momwell.com  Follow Momwell on Instagram: instagram.com/momwell  Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: momwell.com/newsletter  Register for one of our popular workshops and courses: momwell.com/shop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Overcoming working mom guilt isn’t easy. Intensive mothering ideals, the perfect mother myth, and social expectations tell us that we should put ourselves on the backburner and always put our children first.  But moms can embrace fulfillment outside of motherhood, thriving in their careers and showing their children that it’s okay to prioritize themselves.   Lara Bazelon, law professor and author of Ambitious Like a Mother, joins us to discuss mom life balance and overcoming working mom guilt.   Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3ITp9aN  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Research has shown that religion and spirituality can be a fundamental pillar of resilience. But not all religious environments are healthy. Many of us had negative spiritual experiences and are searching for how to heal from religious trauma.  Today I’m joined by Dr. Quincee Gideon, clinical psychologist and specialist in religious trauma and cult recovery, to discuss religion, trauma, and the role spirituality plays in our identities.   Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3PAGSWp  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Moms everywhere are finding themselves exhausted, buckling under the invisible load, and struggling with unrealistic expectations. All of that pressure can lead to motherhood burnout—chronic exhaustion due to the demands of being a mom.  Today, I’m joined by maternal mental health therapist Erin Spahr to discuss motherhood burnout—from what causes it to how to recover from it.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3a9YABj  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Modern moms carry an unfair share of the invisible load—the mental and emotional labour of taking care of the house and raising the kids. The problem is widespread—and breaking out of the pattern can be tough. But with the right approach, we can learn how to share the mental load at home in a fair and intentional way.  I sat down with Kate Mangino, gender expert and author of Equal Partners: Improving Gender Equality at Home for a two-part discussion on the way gender norms shape the distribution of labour in the home. In part 1, we discussed the impact of that imbalance. Today, we dive into ways we unintentionally reinforce gender norms and how to break away from them.   Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3ArFukU  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The vast majority of my clients who are in different-sex relationships share a common concern. “My husband doesn’t help around the house.” The invisible load in the home is real—and gender is the number one predictor of who carries it.   Kate Mangino, gender expert and author of Equal Partners: Improving Gender Equality at Home, joins me to discuss the role gender plays in the distribution of invisible labour. In part 1, we focus on where gender norms in our relationship come from and how they impact all partners.  (For the second part of our conversation, how to break out of gender norms and improve equality, catch Episode 128!)  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3bydAJo  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The world of gentle, respectful, empowered parenting can be difficult to walk. What does empowered parenting look like? Does gentle parenting always mean giving into your child? What does “respect” mean when it comes to your children?  Today, parenting coach and author of the upcoming book Very Intentional Parenting, Destini Ann, joins me to discuss what gentle parenting really does (and doesn’t) look like.   Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3OuFft6  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The topic of surrogacy can come with plenty of stigma and misconceptions. Some of us might only know what we’ve seen on The Kardashians or heard about in movies. But as science becomes more advanced, surrogacy has created a pathway to parenthood for many families. Today, Ariel Taylor—experienced surrogate, fertility therapist, and founder of Carried With Love—joins me to demystify surrogacy and clear up some common questions and misconceptions surrounding it.   Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3xvWbbs  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Modern moms often have a difficult time navigating sex and motherhood. Sleep deprivation, body changes, the mental load, and even our own internal beliefs and expectations impact the way we experience sexual desire and arousal.  Sarah Forbes, sexual culturalist, author, and former curator of New York’s Museum of Sex, joins us to discuss how sex and motherhood interweave and how we can reignite and embrace sexuality as mothers.   Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Q5XR3X  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sensory overload as a mom is difficult to manage. In a house full of chaos and noise, it’s easy to become overstimulated. But why does this happen? What causes it in our bodies? And what can we do to keep calm and drown out the noise?   To answer these questions, I welcomed occupational therapist Larissa Geleris, WarriorOT, back to the podcast. In episode 73 Larissa shared tips for coping with overstimulation in motherhood. Today she’s back to talk specifically about how noise triggers us and what we can do about it.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3LV3e2F  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do I tell the difference between a tantrum versus a meltdown? Do neurotypical children have meltdowns? How do I support my neurodivergent child through sensory struggles? Can I prevent meltdowns? Parenting young children—especially neurodivergent littles—brings up these questions and more.  Today, Laura Petix—The OT Butterfly—joins me to chat about all things meltdown-related: how to tell the difference between a meltdown and a tantrum, how to help children through the four phases of meltdowns, and how to manage expectations when parenting neurodivergent children.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3wJuJIg  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Concerns like PMDD, PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), endometriosis, or even universal experiences like menopause are still underresearched and underdiagnosed. The more we can understand these concerns—and advocate for doctors to take them seriously—the more we can help support women and moms everywhere.  Today, I’m joined by gynecologist and reproductive health specialist Dr. Karen Tang, MD, author of It’s Not Hysteria, to discuss how we can collectively and individually overcome gender bias in healthcare and advocate for women’s health. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/4bGLy8U Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: momwell.com  Follow Momwell on Instagram: instagram.com/momwell  Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: momwell.com/newsletter  Register for one of our popular workshops and courses: momwell.com/shop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maternal sleep deprivation is very common for new moms. Night feedings, frequent baby wakeups, stress, and perinatal mental health concerns can all cause sleep disturbances that leave moms feeling frazzled, overwhelmed, and fatigued.  I chatted with Dr. Shelby Harris, clinical psychologist and author of The Women’s Guide to Overcoming Insomnia, about maternal sleep. In a recent episode, Dr. Shelby discussed insomnia and why moms struggle to sleep. Today, she’s back to share tips to help break out of maternal sleep deprivation.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3sEWLSF  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maternal sleep deprivation is very common. Even if baby sleeps, moms often find themselves battling insomnia–struggling to fall asleep, stay asleep, or get good quality sleep. When you’re a new mom, it’s easy to become obsessed with sleep. Watching the clock, obsessing over wake windows, and worrying about when your baby will sleep through the night seem to be common mom pastimes.  But the baby isn’t the only one who needs to sleep—moms do too. And we often have an uphill battle to face when it comes to sleep issues. Dr. Shelby Harris, clinical psychologist and author of The Women’s Guide to Overcoming Insomnia, joins me to discuss sleep difficulties for moms. (For the second part of our conversation, on tips to manage maternal sleep deprivation, catch Episode 121!)  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/39T4beH  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Being a mom is hard—harder than anybody bothers to tell you. We believe in an image of the perfect mother: nurturing, patient, and joyful. So why are so many modern moms battling inner rage?  Minna Dubin, author of New York Times pieces “The Rage Mothers Don’t Talk About” and “‘I Am Going to Physically Explode’: Mom Rage in a Pandemic,” joins me to discuss the cultural and societal context of mom rage.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3KoKdFe  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you ever feel like you’re losing your identity in motherhood? If so, you aren’t alone. Motherhood can feel all-consuming—especially when you’re carrying beliefs around it that have been prescribed to you.  Life coach Dr. Gertrude Lyons calls those beliefs The Mother Code—the wiring given to us from family, culture, and society. She joins me to share how to see the myths of the mother code, write our own code, define motherhood for ourselves, and use it as a vehicle for transformation.   Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3vcQmjk  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk a lot about the invisible load of motherhood—the way that so much of the labour in the home falls to moms, even before a baby is born. But that load has an impact on our partners too—leaving them without a role, unsure how to bond with the new baby.  It’s easy to think that nursing moms have to take on the role of feeding. In reality, non-nursing partners can help with breastfeeding too (beyond just bringing snacks and water)! “The Breastfeeding Father,” psychologist Eric Taylor, explains why all partners need to be empowered in the nursing process.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3uSkwZd  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In honor of Black Maternal Health Week, I am happy to welcome women's mental health and reproductive psychiatry specialist Dr. Jennifer Adaeze Okwerekwu.  Black moms face health struggles and discrimination in the medical system, and they also carry an additional invisible load specific to women of color. Dr. Jennifer shares valuable insight into the world of Black maternal health.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3rjGfH4  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whining is potentially one of the worst sounds we hear as parents. For most of us, it almost feels painful—like fingernails on a chalkboard. In those moments, we don’t always navigate the situation the best way. So, how do we get kids to stop whining?  To find the answer, I chatted with Joanna Faber and Julie King, authors of the bestselling book, How to Talk So Little Kids Will Listen. In a recent episode, Joanna and Julie discussed navigating defiance. Today, they’re back to discuss how to talk when children start whining.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3LN766u  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is co-sleeping right for your family? Is bedsharing the same as co-sleeping? What are the risk factors? Can you bedshare safely? Many families have questions about co-sleeping but aren’t sure where to find answers. In our previous episode with holistic sleep expert Lyndsey Hookway, we learned that infant sleep is nuanced. Today, Lyndsey is back for part 2, to talk about co-sleeping, bedsharing, and making an informed decision for your family.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3NusWgx  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Little kids can be masters of defiance. We ask them to put on their shoes or brush their teeth and chaos erupts. The more we try to force them to listen, the more they defy and rebel. So how do we get our kids to listen, especially in moments of defiance? I sat down with Julie King and Joanna Faber, authors of How to Talk So Little Kids Will Listen, to find out more about their simple, but effective strategies for getting kids to comply. (For the second part of our conversation, how to navigate whining, catch Episode 115!)  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3qrYl9C  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If there’s one hot topic in motherhood that can get everyone riled up in an instant, it’s sleep. We often try to measure our worth as moms in terms of baby sleep, feeling like failures when we simply can’t get it to work. Unfortunately, conversations about a holistic approach to baby sleep can easily devolve into extreme feelings on both sides.   Paediatric Nurse and Holistic Sleep Coach Lyndsey Hookway brings a balanced viewpoint to this hot topic, offering a judgment-free look at infant sleep.   (For the second part of my conversation with Lyndsey on sleep, be sure to catch Episode 114 on co-sleeping!)  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3tgykM0  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we’re reaching back into the vault to revisit one of our most popular episodes!  What if I told you that you didn’t have to play with your child all day? Moms put a lot of pressure on themselves to entertain their kids. They believe that “good moms” play with their kids as much as possible. But when we learn how to encourage independent play, we not only remove that pressure—we also give our children room to create, grow, and blossom.  Today, I’m joined by Susie Allison, founder of Busy Toddler, to discuss what play is, why it matters, and how to encourage your children to play independently. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3X00MBq  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: momwell.com  Follow Momwell on Instagram: instagram.com/momwell  Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: momwell.com/newsletter  Register for one of our popular workshops and courses: momwell.com/shop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In last week’s episode, we took a look at how to recognize overfunctioning—when one partner tries to control situations and do everything themselves because of their own anxiety. Today, Dr. Kathleen Smith returns for part 2—how to stop overfunctioning in relationships.  With the right strategies, you can understand where overfunctioning comes from and how to evaluate when to stop. You can also develop the tools you need to step back and manage it, breaking the cycle and letting your partner and children become more capable.  Show Note: https://bit.ly/3pLEMJ6  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you find yourself being the overfunctioner in your relationship? Overfunctioning happens when you take on more than your fair share of the parenting tasks in an attempt to control or fix a situation that triggers your anxiety. It often leads to unhealthy relationship and parenting patterns, and ends up increasing the invisible load moms are carrying.  I sat down with Dr. Kathleen Smith, therapist and author of Everything Isn't Terrible, to talk about the relationship between anxiety and overfunctioning, and how to overcome it. In part 1, we focus on how to recognize over and underfunctioning and why breaking the pattern is important.  (For the second part of our conversation, how to manage your overfunctioning, catch Episode 111!)  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3hrMfbH  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you have heard the phrase “after school restraint collapse” or not, if you’ve experienced it, you know exactly what it is—when your child starts melting down as soon as you pick them up from school. If your child behaves wonderfully at school but falls apart when they see you, it can be frustrating for everyone. So what causes those after school meltdowns? Dr. Kristyn Sommer leverages her PhD in Early Cognitive Development and shares her insights on why after school restraint collapse happens, and what you can do to minimize it.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3haTOU2  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Becoming a first-time mom is a huge change. Most of us have romanticized expectations of what being a mom will be like. We think that it will be a time of love, cuddles, and joy. The reality of sleep deprivation, struggle, and difficulty stepping into the role can leave us sinking deep into mom guilt mode. This transition into motherhood has a name—matrescence. Perinatal Psychologist Dr. Katayune Kaeni (Dr. Kat) walks us through what matrescence is and how we can help ourselves through the process.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/34CRdQ5  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Preparing your dog for a baby is important and intimidating. What steps can you take to get your dog ready? How do you handle the introduction? Will your baby be safe? Will your dog become stressed? Certified Dog Trainer Dominika Knossalla provides safety tips for how to prepare your dog for a baby—creating a plan, introducing your dog to the baby, and minimizing the stress (for you and your pet)!  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3ox50Oz  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your personal core values are an important part of who you are—as a person, as a parent, and as a partner. But discovering, prioritizing, and applying your personal core values is easier said than done—especially when we don’t even know how to define “values!” I sat down with Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Dr. Cassidy Freitas to talk about defining your personal core values, why they’re important, and how to live in alignment with them.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3gfKpKq  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Managing mommy rage can be tough. We expect motherhood to look nurturing, peaceful, and loving. So when we end up feeling rage or losing our cool, we start to wonder if there’s something wrong with us. Guilt, shame, and regret weigh on our shoulders. But without the right coping tools and skills, we end up falling right back into the mommy rage pattern. Dr. Ashurina Ream of Psyched Mommy and I answer all your questions and discuss where the rage comes from, why we aren’t prepared for it, and how we can build the right skills for managing mommy rage before it happens (and when we inevitably slip up)!  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3o1Z93F  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The invisible load of motherhood is a common vicious cycle for families. One parent (often the mom) becomes the default parent. That default parent takes on a disproportionate amount of labor in the home. They find themselves drowning in unpaid and unappreciated labor.  The resentment and overwhelming load lead to mom rage, resentment, and even marital problems. New York Times Bestselling Author Eve Rodsky sheds light on why this happens and the system she’s created to put an end to the cycle and redistribute the invisible work of moms.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3A9pPo9  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Postpartum blues are a common part of having a baby. Between sleep deprivation, hormone changes, and the overwhelming responsibility of caring for a newborn, “normal” life can seem impossible. Many moms experience weepiness, irritability, and mood changes as they adjust to life as a new parent.  But these symptoms aren’t always typical baby blues—they’re also signs of postpartum depression. So how can new moms tell the difference? When should they seek care? And can they ever expect to feel “normal” again? Reproductive Psychiatrist Dr. Kristina Deligiannidis explains the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression and shares tips for knowing when to seek care.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3HWeRF7  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can you remember the last time you slept for five hours in a row? If an infant lives with you, there’s a good chance you can’t. Sleep is essential for us to function and makes us better parents, but sometimes when we talk about sleep training our kiddos, moms can be consumed with guilt. Are we putting our own needs above the babies? And does sleep training automatically mean allowing babies to cry it out? Dr. Aubrie is a psychologist who specializes in sleep, and she’s going to help us unpack what sleep training is and isn’t.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3mYY6kt  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It isn’t easy to feel confident in a world full of mom shaming. When moms are already feeling lonely and unsupported, disconnected from their friends, and unsure about their abilities, this pressure and criticism can take a real toll on their self-esteem and their mental health.  Today, I’m joined by Renee Reina, Ph.D, host of The Mom Room Podcast, to discuss mom shaming, toxic mom culture, and how we can break away from the pressure and carve our own path in motherhood. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3WVmC9b  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: momwell.com  Follow Momwell on Instagram: instagram.com/momwell  Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: momwell.com/newsletter  Register for one of our popular workshops and courses: momwell.com/shop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you find yourself being the “stuff manager” in your home? Do you struggle with keeping up with all things toys? Or have you fallen into the myth that “once I find the perfect bins, the right shelves, color code and label everything - it will solve this constant mess?!”  The thing is, mess is not an organization issue, it’s a clutter issue. Declutter expert Katy Wells is here with practical advice and sustainable tips to FINALLY put clutter in its place and regain control of your home.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/32KAXv2  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Happy as a Mother Podcast has been live for 100 episodes now, can you believe it?!?! I polled my stories for ideas on how we should celebrate the occasion and y’all said you’d like to hear from my husband and get his perspective. Well, you asked and we delivered! Frenel Djossa aka Mr. Happy as a Mother is here to answer YOUR questions about his transition to Fatherhood, what it's like being married to a therapist, and his experience as we navigated my journey through postpartum depression.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/30Oseax  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever felt like a simple parenting decision was going to have a lifelong impact? Have you been paralyzed with indecision because you don’t know what is best and don’t want to make the wrong choice? Parenting this way is suffocating and erodes your trust in your own intuition. Psychologist and Stanford clinical assistant professor Dr. Jen Douglas is back to help us break free from this pressure of perfectionism and learn to trust ourselves more.  Show Notes: https://bit.ly/321GzRg  Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness   Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: instagram.com/happyasamother   Sign up for our weekly VIP Newsletter: happyasamother.co/newsletter   Register for one of our popular workshops: happyasamother.co/shop  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices