Council of Moms

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...

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,...

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...

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 emo...

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 c...

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...

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....

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 jo...

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 co...

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 sillin...

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,...

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 “...

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 ki...

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—Bri...

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, Wend...

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?...

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...

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 t...

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 convers...

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...

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," an...

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 commun...

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 profes...

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 sibli...

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...