The Parenting 411

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, an estimated 25 to 50 percent of children and 40 percent of adolescents experience sleep problems. The quality of sleep our children get affects attention, cognitive performance, mood, resiliency, vocabulary acquisition, learning and memory. Not only that, a recent study found that getting a solid seven hours of sleep at night could add up to 5 year...

The last few years have amplified the challenges faced by moms trying to feed their babies. There was the recall of a major baby formula brand in February 2021 that ignited panic among mothers of infants. Accommodation of the needs of nursing moms is anything but consistent amongst employers. Then there's the fact that breastfeeding, while 'natural', is not always easy. Whatever approach moms choo...

Life as a parent comes at you fast. Between school, work, and recreation, we're running in a lot of different directions, usually with our kids. It can be hard to keep track of everything they need, especially their STUFF. Today's guest can help you get a handle on that. She is Organizing Expert and Educator, C. Lee Cawley. She shares so many hacks for getting and staying organized. She knows that...

To say I am sitting down with an extraordinary pianist and composer does not do justice to the dynamic Tony Small. Tony is passionate about music and peerless in every way that he expresses his musical gifts. Whether he is creating, performing or transferring his knowledge and love of music on to young people, he is really one to watch and hear. We talk here about how he got started in music as a...

Today, I offer you a message of inspiration as you pursue your BIG dreams. I was honored to speak these words to a global audience of new, emerging and seasoned entrepreneurs on their way to building and growing their businesses. Be encouraged!! If you want to read more insights and revelations from me as well as other successful business owners, grab a copy of You Are Enough, a powerful anthology...

This enlightening episode comes from my trove of conversations collected during my time as a talk radio host. You will hear from Dr. James Jones as he describes his personal journey toward healing of childhood trauma as shared in his book, I'm Alright: Overcoming Physical and Emotional Abuse Through Faith. His colleague, Dr. Lynnette Crews joins the conversation to discuss interventions for adults...

Motherhood is as much a journey of discovery about self as it is about the children you're nurturing and guiding. For those who are immersed in the experience with very young children, it sure can be nice to hear a little wisdom from someone who's been there. Kim Sorrelle does that for us today. She shares lessons learned from life, loss, and crisis that she would love to have known in her early d...

Expectant parents experience a wide range of emotions over the months leading up to their child's birth -- joy, excitement, anxiety, fear, and uncertainty. They plan, prepare their home, and envision what their child will be like. As thrilled as they are when their little one arrives, reality sets in that caring for their newborn is WAY more work than they imagined. Those early months are called t...

Title IX paved the way for girls to participate and compete in sports at school. It's been thrilling to watch the strides they've made. What many may not know is that participation in competitive sports can present some unique challenges for young girls during puberty. Here to talk with me about this is Dr. Cortney Yarbrough, who specializes in Obstetrics & Gynecology and is an advocate for ad...

I am back with my guest, Chris Lake to further demistify toddler behavior and set you on the course to helping your toddlers meet their milestones. As Chris speaks, you can hear his passion and the depth of his commitment to guiding parents to make the most of those early years when toddler brains are ripe to voraciously soak up stimuli from their environment (and YOU) while making critical neural...

If you have a toddler, you've likely asked yourself the question "Why won't she listen to me?" and/or "Why did he just do that?" Lucky for you, today's guest can give you some clues. He's educator and child health advocate, Chris Lake. Also the Executive Director of Community for a Cause, a non-profit child advocacy organization in New York, he's spent a lot of time working to help young children...

Research has shown that emotional intelligence, or the ability to manage one's emotions and to perceive and affect the emotions of others, has at least as strong an influence as academics on a child's future success. That's just one reason why Ashley Finley is so passionate about intervening early to teach young children to manage big emotions. We talk about her ideas as well as her book, Jade's S...

The prospect of attending college should evoke optimism and excitement for teens as they take their next big step toward life exploration and fulfillment, 'on their own'. Yet, the college journey is more often fraught with stress and fear. Teens (and their parents!) can quickly become so overwhelmed with paperwork, testing, visits, financial aid and 'all of the things' that they lose sight of what...

As parents, we willingly sacrifice a lot for the sake of our children's happiness and well-being. In the process, we sometimes neglect our relationship with our spouses and parenting partners. They may not be able to verbalize it, but children find security and stability when our parental relationships are peaceful and collaborative. We have to be intentional and committed to keeping our connectio...

On the day you got married, divorce was far from your mind. You were committed to see it through "until death do you part". Yet, you've found that the marriage and the dreams you attached to it have died even you are very much alive. It can be hard to walk away even under the worst of circumstances. If this sounds like you, I know you'll want to hear from today's guest, Marie Mosley. She recounts...

In Spring 2021, The U.S. Census Bureau reported that there were thirteen hundred new blended families formed every day in the U.S. As many as 75% said they needed resources to ease the transition to their new family dynamic. Where can they turn for help? Today's guest has written a book recounting her experience in the blended family she created and thankfully, she freely shares many lessons that...

Today's episode is a quick take with host Carol Muleta, featuring a recent interview she did with the Black Speakers Network. Hear how she got started, whom she likes to serve and why she is so passionate about serving. Learn more about Carol Muleta and The Parenting 411®️ at www.carolmuleta.com Let's stay connected: Website: carolmuleta.com IG: @the_parenting_411 TikTok: @theparenting411 Facebook...

Increasingly organizations are realizing that their success is riding on their ability to effectively cultivate a diverse workforce and unleash their knowledge and creativity to meet customer needs. They can only tap into this well of innovation when they ensure ALL employees feel included, valued, and empowered in their workspaces. For adults, this can require a major mindset adjustment -- includ...

For some parents, guiding their scholar athletes to the NCAA is like feeling their way through the corn maze at a fall festival. In addition to new rules, parents and athletes must consider other critical factors to ensure that their college experience prepares them for life after their playing days are over -- adulting in the real world. Here to share her expertise is Monique A.J. Smith, a leader...

Obstacles in our life journey as children often allow us to uncover new understanding about ourselves and they shape how we move in the world as adults. Today's guest, author Juan Lee describes his journey and how he came to see love as a unifying force in societal systems. Today, he teaches others how to tape into it for greater understanding, connection, and success. Guest: Juan Lee, Speaker and...

Joining me today is Dr. Laura Froyen, she works with parents and families to bring find connection, joy, and balance as they nurture and guide their children. She's got tips for parents trying to make sense of it all while staying in touch with themselves in the process. Learn more about Dr. Froyen at https://www.laurafroyen.com Guest: Dr. Laura Froyen, Couples & Family Therapist

Sometimes, we adults look at the lives of our children and think it's all giggles and play time, without much to worry about. The fact is children often carry serious, weighty concerns in their minds and hearts. They need space and time with us to unload it, examine it and release it. My guest today understands children's stress all too well. She is Dr. Roxanne Daleo, the Stress Reduction Speciali...

Over the last few years, racial tensions have heightened significantly and reports of police-involved shootings of Black boys and men have sharply increased. It's no wonder that Black mothers are worried for their safety of their sons at every age now. I sat down with Altovise Pelzer and Anissa McCall Wilson to discuss their thoughts, concerns, and coping strategies as they watch their sons naviga...

Thanks to innovation and technology, there are so many directions for teens to explore in education and careers. It's best to start the journey with a plan and that can be tricky without goals and self-awareness. Success Strategist Linnita Hosten is just the person to get your teen or young adult on track. She has the expertise and the enthusiasm to lead young people on the road to their fulfillin...

In today's conversation, we talk about the mental health of our children as they head back to school in the wake of so much trauma. There's the pandemic, but there has also been political and societal unrest as well as mass shootings, in and out of school. How can parents assess how their children are handling it all? My guest, Taharka Sankara, has some ideas. He is a licensed clinical social work...