The Parenting 411

Today, I’m talking about a question many parents, especially busy working moms, wrestle with: How involved should you be in your child’s education without becoming a helicopter parent? It’s easy to feel caught between two extremes. You can monitor every assignment, grade, teacher message, and deadline or step back to encourage independence and then worry that you’re not involved enough. But being...

Today, we're talking about a growing trend in schools across the United States and around the world: phone-free school policies. But while schools can restrict access to smartphones during the day, there's a bigger question parents need to consider: Are we teaching our children how to manage technology when no one is there to enforce the rules? In this episode of The Parenting 411, Carol Muleta ex...

Today, I sit down with Dr. Arlayn Castle, a divorce and life rebuild strategist and founder of A Castle of Knowledge, about how working moms can function outwardly after separation or divorce while feeling disconnected inside. We discuss how suppressed anger, resentment, betrayal, and self-blame can linger through emotional triggers and influence daily decisions, including dating “out of pain.” Dr...

Artificial intelligence can write the essay, solve the math problem, summarize the chapter, and brainstorm the science project. But if AI helps our children produce better work, does that necessarily mean they’re learning more? In this episode of The Parenting 411 Podcast, I explore one of the newest challenges showing up around the homework table: helping children use AI without allowing it to do...

Our children are consuming more information than ever—but are they spending enough time slowing down, thinking deeply, and making sense of what they encounter? In this episode, I look beyond declining reading scores to explore a bigger concern: what happens when scanning, swiping, and constant stimulation begin to crowd out the kind of sustained attention that reading helps develop? And if your ch...

This is an intriguing conversation with Dr. Tamara Nall, founder of the Junia Movement.  We talk about legacy, identity, and a formal naming tradition that gives daughters their mother’s full name.  It is the feminine equivalent of “Junior,” using the suffix Junia and abbreviation “JN.” Dr. Nall shares how her challenging journey to motherhood led her to reflect on legacy and create a structured o...

Today, I talk with stay-at-home mom and social media creator Chloe Brewster about her “crunchy,” non-toxic approach to motherhood and the judgment moms face for their choices. Chloe shares how her journey started, especially, the moment which led to her deep dive into researching ingredients in food and cleaning products. What she learned intensified her efforts to find safe, healthy products once...

In this episode of The Parenting 411 Podcast, I discuss renewed concerns about screen time for babies and toddlers.  A new UK review recommends no intentional screen use for children under two due to risks to development, health, sleep, language, bonding, emotional regulation, and long-term quality of life. I invite listeners to consider what screens may replace during a period of rapid brain deve...

In this episode, I sit down with Ben Kamal Ali, co-owner and operator of Ben’s Chili Bowl to talk about his new book, Ascend:  The Black Man’s Guide to Success, Elevation, and Purpose. We also explore his philosophy about how to equip young Black men to lead fulfilling lives that incorporate key elements such as healing, mindset, purpose, leadership, financial freedom, and spiritual growth.  Inspi...

Today's conversation was recorded LIVE at Podcast Summit 2026.  The environment was a buzz with creative energy you can likely hear in the background.  My apologies.  I just had to seize the opportunity to discuss growing parent and educator concerns about excessive screen time during in-person school, highlighted by Los Angeles Unified School District’s strict new limits (no screens before second...

Today, I invite you to consider that parent stress is an often-overlooked factor in childhood obesity alongside food, exercise, screen time, and sleep.  Rather than blaming parents, I propose that supporting parents with compassion and practical tools can make a difference. I discuss a randomized study conducted by Yale University researchers who worked with114 parent-child pairs (ages 2–5) while...

This conversation addresses new fathers’ mental health, emphasizing that struggling after a baby’s arrival is common and not a sign of weakness. It cites research, including a large Swedish study of over one million fathers, showing increased risk of depression and stress-related problems by the end of the first year, and notes estimates that 8–13% of fathers experience postpartum depression. The...

Today, I talk with Dana Kay about viewing ADHD symptoms as signals of underlying biological stress rather than only behavior problems. A Board- Certified Health and Nutrition Practitioner and two-time international best selling author Dana shares her journey, starting with her son’s early ADHD diagnosis, escalating medications, and her pivot into holistic science and functional lab testing.  In ou...

In this episode, I sit down with leadership mentor and values-based coach, Adalena Oliver, about core values, those beliefs that guide decisions when no one is watching and how they shape parenting through what children observe in everyday moments.  Adelena shares how recognizing misalignment with her values, especially freedom, influenced her leadership and personal choices.  She recounts a child...

Today, I’m joined by Samira Jones, founder of Smarter Resilience and the nonprofit Survivors Advocates Voices Emerging (SAVE), for a heartfelt conversation about helping families navigate fear, anxiety, trauma, and life’s hardest seasons. Samira unpacks her SMART framework for resilience: Self-Awareness, Mindset Mastery, Action with Intention, Reinforcing Actions, and Transformation. She explains...

Julie Cole calls herself a “recovered lawyer”.  She’s the mom of six, and co-founder of Mabel’s Labels, the now award-winning, multimillion-dollar label company that started in a basement. Julie tells the real story behind growing a business while raising a big family, navigating an autism diagnosis, and learning that self-care sometimes looks less like spa days…and more like boundaries, help, and...

Feeling overwhelmed by the invisible mental load of parenting?   Appointments. Email.   School updates.  Birthday parties. And the pressure to “do it all”? In this episode of The Parenting 411 Podcast, I talk with Amy Briggs, a pediatric speech-language pathologist, mom, and creator of Aviva, an AI-powered scheduling assistant built to help families reclaim time, reduce stress, and stay present. A...

For this conversation, I just had to bring Donna Cates back. You'll recall she's a financial expert and certified divorce financial analyst who knows her stuff. Our conversation is short but loaded with nuggets divorcing moms need to know. We talk about the emotional and practical impacts of divorce on children, focusing on how parents can manage financial disparities and communicate effectively t...

Divorce can feel like the ground shifts under your feet—emotionally and financially. In this episode of The Parenting 411 Podcast, I talk with Donna Cates, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), about the money decisions that can shape your next chapter—and your child’s future. Donna breaks down the most common financial blind spots women face during divorce, what to gather before negotiati...

In this episode, I discuss navigating the complexities of modern motherhood and maintaining wellness in a technology-driven world. I share my personal experiences and offer valuable tips for parents on how to embrace technology without letting it overwhelm your lives. My key points include the importance of setting boundaries, leveraging technology as a tool for convenience, protecting family priv...

For this conversation, I sit down with licensed professional counselor and intuitive healer Marsha Evans to discuss the complexities of parenting and the importance of breaking unhealthy generational cycles. We dive into the pressures parents face, particularly in highly competitive environments, and offers practical advice on how to let children evolve into their true selves. We also talk about t...

In this episode, I welcome Dr. Kailey Buller, a double board-certified physician in Emergency and Family Medicine and a mom of two, to discuss common childhood illnesses and injuries. Dr. Buller provides invaluable insights on when to seek emergency care versus managing at home, shares the ABCs of emergency situations, and explains common scenarios parents face, such as handling fevers, injuries,...

In this episode, I welcome award-winning actress, career coach, and motivational speaker, Lydia Nicole, to delve into the journey of parenting young adults. Lydia shares her personal experiences of balancing a demanding career in the entertainment industry while raising her daughter. She discusses the critical lessons she learned about maintaining identity beyond achievements, the importance of me...

Ever worried your child isn't a reader or is quietly falling behind? This conversation will speak right to your heart. Join me as I sit down with Dr. Andrew Vassall (Dr. V), an educator, children's author, literacy consultant, and 2023 Teacher of the Year semi-finalist. With over 20 years in the classroom and his own experience navigating a learning disability, Dr. V shares what really helps under...

What happens to your relationship with your teen when screens start replacing real connection? In this episode, I sit down with youth development expert Kirsten McCormick for a timely and deeply practical conversation about helping teens reconnect beyond their devices. We dig into what’s really going on beneath the surface of constant screen use—and how parents can intentionally guide teens toward...