Mama Knows

Questions we address in this episode: Why is this age so hard? Like why are 4-6 year olds so defiant and sassy?  How to handle a blatant “no” even after trying to connect, offer options, even threat and bribe? (It’s time to get out of bath “no” cleaning up toys) How to achieve compliance when you may not be in the position to carry them physically? (leaving playground) Techniques to teach them to...

Two years ago, I hit rock bottom and I can't believe I am here giving my two year update. I am graduating therapy and wanted to share how I feel about graduating, a topic I am currently struggling with, where I am headed next, and one of my biggest takeaways from therapy. Make sure you listen in for all the details! Stay tuned on the mamaknowspodcast IG page for the window of tolerance graphic____...

Let's talk MONEY. Ew. For real though, are you and your kiddos set financially or do you you not know? Mention BALKANINA when you email Matt to get $3,000 off aka a FREE financial life plan. Matthew. Krueger@nm.com Website: https://www.kfwealthmanagement.com/Matt lives in Janesville, WI. He is married to Carrie, who is his rock and he is also blessed to have 3 daughters, Riese -22, Addison, 17, an...

I am re-sharing this episode because I needed it so I thought you might too! We get so caught up in trying to be perfect parents when truly, less is more. Tina Payne Bryson...EXCUSE ME? Pinch me. This woman has paved the parenting way for THOUSANDS of parents through her talks and especially her books you may know her from (linked below).Tina and I have honest conversations about parenting expecta...

This week Michelle and I sit down to have an honest talk about thoughts on early school and education and structured vs instructed play. Michelle tells us how 7 days of play got started and her journey. 7 Days of Play was created by Michelle, mom to four kids! Michelle wanted to create a destination for fun activities, kid-friendly recipes, and product reviews for parents, teachers, and caretakers...

Do you feel lost in motherhood? Ashley and I have been there.  Tune in for tips on how to find yourself in motherhood again and how to balance the load with your partner. Ashley will be your new best friend! Ashley Kix is Country Morning Radio Host who lives in Southern Wisconsin.  When she’s notdoing radio she is raising two little ones; Gunnison and Goldie.  She became fast friends with Nina on...

Tom and Nina air their dirty laundry and talk about how and why their marriage is in a low season and what they can and will do to improve. Also Tom shares his new business and "secret" project. ________________________________________________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support! Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to...

I hear all the time - "How do I get my kids to independent play?" "What can I do to encourage independent play". I have been there! It took a while to get to the point where my kids will independent play. This week Avital Schreiber Levy breaks down why independent play is important and how to successfully integrate independent play in your kids routine. Meet AvitalA designer, parenting coach and m...

Diet culture sucks! Are you sick of feeling like you are always on a diet or restricting your food? This episode is for you and me! Samantha Gollup talks about how to heal our relationship with food and how to have a healthy balanced view of nutrition through Intuitive Eating. Samantha Gollup is a Registered Dietitian from Madison, Wisconsin. She began her career in Surgical Weight Management for...

This episode couldn't have come at a better time. If you are like me and dealing with sibling rivalry between your kids, you are at a loss for what to do. Join today's talk with Michelle of @Peaceandparenting to figure out what causes siblings to be rivals, when to intervene and when to let them figure it out, and tips on how to raise friendly siblings. Find out how to come to parenting through th...

Do you yell at your kids? This week I talked with Mary Van Geffen about being a yeller, how to recover after yelling at my kids, and even how to stay calm in the chaos. If you tend to yell, listen to this episode!  Mary Van Geffen is an international parenting coach and parent educator for overwhelmed moms of strong-willed & Spicy Children™. She teaches monthly workshops to help moms gain confiden...

In honor of Valentine's day: Do you know your love language? What about your spouse? If you and your partner DO NOT KNOW then GET ON IT and find out for FREE here: https://5lovelanguages.com/Dr. Tracy Dalgleish is a psychologist and couples therapist in Ottawa. For over 15 years, Dr. Tracy has provided direct clinical services as well as researching, writing, and speaking about relationships. Dr....

**Trigger Warning** On today's episode, we are talking about infertility, endometriosis, hemorrhaging and traumatic birth experiences. My friend Melissa Randazzo opens up about her several year journey with all of the things I just listed. She is inviting us into her personal life and making us feel less alone. I'm so grateful for her. Melissa founded True Warrior Jewelry after teaching herself ho...

Ash Brandin, EdS, is a middle school teacher living in Colorado. Since 2016, Ash has spoken across the country about how classrooms and academic spaces can mimic game structures to make learning compelling, motivating, and engaging. Ash believes video games, specifically entertainment games, can help us create better teaching, more engaging learning, and motivated life-long learners. In 2021, Ash...

We all go through it - relationship ruts. Are you in one now? Listen to this if you are trying to get past your rut or trying to prevent one from happening! John Ryan De Oca is a relationship expert and board-certified Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Coach residing in Hudson County, NJ. He offers more than 10 years of experience in the healthcare industry with his ultimate passion being in relationsh...

Abby and I are talking the moment when she found out that she was carrying a baby with Down's syndrome. I cried a lot, and I guarantee you'll cry, too. Not only does Abby share her very personal journey with us, she also teaches us a lot. In this interview, she teaches us about how to teach our children to learn and talk about kids and humans with special needs. Abby Rose Green is a mindset and bu...

Do you argue in front of your kids? As much as we want to have calm discussions with our partner, fighting in front of your kids is eventually inevitable. Is arguing in front of your kids always bad? How do you recover? In today's episode Ruth Han helps navigate through this tough topic. Ruth is a retired homeschooling stay-at-home mom and psychotherapist in the state of Pennsylvania.  After launc...

The most listened episode of 2022! Lavinia Brown (MA Oxon) is a one-to-one psychodynamic coach, company gender-equality and inclusion consultant, author and speaker. As a multi-passionate, life-long learner, she has enjoyed a portfolio career since graduating from Oxford University, that includes over 20 years as an employee of and service provider to the fine wine, corporate events, boutique hote...

If you are anything like me, you and your baby are NOT getting any sleep right now. This episode is for us tired mamas! Brittni gives us the main pointers on baby & toddler sleep and how to solve common sleep challenges.  Brittni is a Holistic Infant Sleep Specialist who is passionate about educating families on biologically normal infant sleep as well as helping them make changes to things that a...

Do you feel like you are doing all the work in your relationship? Are you tired of feeling like your partner doesn't care as much as you? How do you get through this? You NEED this episode. From Tracy:I'm a Clinical Psychologist, Mom of 2, Wife and Creator of Be Connected. I knew that I wanted to take what I learned in my clinical practice and bring it to you. I know how hard it is to get help whe...

Tom & Nina talk about the rollercoaster and the hurdles in marriage/relationships but then decide it's okay to save that for another time. Instead they share each other's ICKS (aka pet peeves about each other) based on the current Tik Tok trend. ________________________________________________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support! Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mam...

This week I am so excited to have one of my besties and your new bestie, Taryn on the podcast! We talk about her experiences in influencing, mental health, body image, and motherhood.  Taryn Truly is a midsize mama, who loves sharing everyday, attainable style for women. Taryn knows how tricky shopping can be for a midsize women (size 14). She’s taken her struggles and turned it into a passion for...

86% of my mamas over on IG do not take care of their own basic needs before they take care of their kiddos. THIS IS NOT OK. But then there is MOM GUILT. Diving into a major mom guilt discussion with Rena Beyer (coach, mom and psychotherapist) of @RemediesWithRena. Freebie 'Time Audit': https://tinyurl.com/RWR-TimeAuditA time audit which helps you see where your time is going and what your energy i...

100% should be listening to this with your partner. Most couples that seek counseling typically seek it 6 years too late. Today we chat with Mac a licensed Black Male therapist with a specialization in couples therapy. As a therapist he specialize in improving communication skills, conflict management, friendship, intimacy, admiration and fondness within my couples. In this episode:Mind blowing re...

Being a step-parent is hard and there aren't a lot of resources out there. Jamie Scrimgeour has been in your shoes and wanted to change that. Jamie wanted to redefine stepmotherhood. If you are asking yourself "how do I manage being a stepmom?" or "how can I be a good stepmom?" this episode is for you. WebsitePodcastInstagram @jamiescrimgeour________________________________________________________...