Failing Motherhood

Strong-willed kids come with a million positive attributes, like a HUGE heart, loving BIG and being super helpful (when they want to be). They can also be really hard to parent sometimes (understatement) . I've compiled a list of 13 common struggles that come up on a daily basis for families parenting strong-willed kids.  I guarantee you thought you were the only family to experience at least...

She was told not to become a mother; that her mental illness would render her insufficient, and she said, "I will do whatever it takes to be a mom.  A GOOD mom."  How inspiring is that?! Amelia Zachry just published her debut memoir, Enough: A Memoir of Mistakes, Mania, and Motherhood. She might be one of the wisest moms I've interviewed. Without getting into her past, Amelia shared...

Mom guilt is a universal experience.  What you do with it is what matters! Let's explore together the purpose of the guilt - why it's there, what it's trying to say, and how to manage it in a way that moves you forward. IN THIS EPISODE, I SHARE... 10 examples of problems to solve at the root of your guilt How to bring curiosity into your internal dialogue Two ways to treat your guil...

Has your relationship with nursing ever led you to feel guilt, shame, confusion, sadness, love, and even grief?    This episode is for you. My guest today, Erin Harris, is a mom of two, founder of Nursing Mamas, and a lactation consultant who specifically equips parents nursing toddlers past one year. Nursing toddlers is a whole new world compared to nursing a newborn, due to the shift from nursin...

I've talked a lot about what DOESN'T work for strong-willed kids, and today we're talking all about what DOES! SKIP this episode if you do not have a strong-willed child.  Not sure?  I break it down at the beginning! IN THIS EPISODE, I SHARE... How you know FOR SURE if you're the parent of a strong-willed child Why you haven't been able to implement the tips you've le...

Donovan + Rosemary are phenomenal parents doing their very best to raise 3 girls in Louisiana.  They're working to parent differently than they were parented, in the South, with a strong-willed child.  They joined me in this episode to share an honest look at the struggles and fears they've experienced over the past few years; some unique, most universal . Rosemary shares vulnerably abou...

Over the last almost 4 years of working with hundreds of families, I've learned a thing or two about parents of strong-willed kids.  (It takes one to know one!) Consider this episode a Buzzfeed quiz of sorts, and report back with your answer of how many of these qualities you exhibit out of 10!  IN THIS EPISODE, I SHARE... Often overlooked insight that applies to both parent AND child The per...

Are you hoping to break the cycle of diet culture in your family? Whether you struggled with your own body image, self-esteem or dieting in the past and don't want to pass that on to your kids, you are noticing your child struggling with their relationship with food or their body and need more insight, or simply want to prevent your child from struggling in that way, know that it's never...

If you are IN IT right now, may this episode be your guiding light.  This is your pep talk, inspiration, and roadmap for the next few years. Take this moment to zoom out, realize the worth of your work, and how much the compound interest of each decision in the short term reaps the rewards of a long-term payoff. IN THIS EPISODE, I SHARE... What's possible for you in just a few years as the pa...

Anyone else feel like they're failing their family in the kitchen? Thankfully, Laney is here to take the weight off our shoulders! Laney Schwartz is an everyday mom, founder, and creator behind the food blog Life Is But A Dish .  She is on a mission to help busy home cooks across the world gain confidence in the kitchen, create simple and delicious meals, and cook without being tied to a reci...

Ever felt judged, misunderstood, let down or alone... even WITH some supportive friends or family? To sum up this mini-series, I'm diving into the most damaging, self-sabotaging misconception Worrying Warriors believe that holds them back from having the relationships + home they truly desire! This week, I share what the belief is, why you might feel like there's no other option, and wha...

Has your child's fits of rage ever sent you late-night Googling everything from therapy, medication, and a sensory swing? What do they need?  How do you help?! Each week in December I'm sharing misconceptions surrounding parenting strong-willed kids that hold you back from having the relationship and home you truly desire! This week, I share what to do if you think your child is neurodiv...

Ever blamed your child's behavior on your own inconsistency? Totally understandable! Each week in December I'm going to be sharing misconceptions surrounding parenting strong-willed kids that hold you back from having the relationship and home you truly desire! This week, I share when consistency is critical, when it's not, and why it's not the cure-all you might think it is! ...

Ever wondered why it seems like no matter what you do, it doesn't change your child's mind in the moment? Each week in December I'm going to be sharing misconceptions surrounding parenting strong-willed kids that sabotage your success and hold you back from having the relationship and home you truly desire! This week, I share critical insight into whether finding the *right* consequ...

Introducing the UNAPOLOGETIC PARENT mini-series! Each week in December I'm going to be sharing misconceptions surrounding parenting strong-willed kids that sabotage your success and hold you back from having the relationship and home you truly desire! For those new to the podcast, in this episode, I re-introduce myself and share lots of tidbits about me you never asked for , including my new...

As we approach the holidays, I have the perfect guest here to share all things intentional living and minimalism! Deanna Yates is the founder and CEO of Wannabe Clutter Free and the host of the popular podcast, the Wannabe Minimalist Show , where she helps busy families learn how to let go of the stuff holding them back so they can enjoy more time together, stop spending their weekends cleaning ho...

Our current reality is impossible, my friends.  Among many things, moms spend as much as 97 hours a week on household and parenting tasks. It's especially hard during the holiday season, and a quarter of moms say they have zero time for themselves. The village we used to be able to rely on is gone. And my guest today has set out to rebuild it! She has been described as a mechanical engineer,...

Amy Lang, MA had been a sex educator for over 16 years when she freaked out about talking to her young son about her favorite topic. Amy went on to combine her expertise in adult education and her love of sexual health and started Birds & Bees & Kids in 2006. Her mission is to help parents feel comfortable and confident when they have these important conversations. She shares such practica...

Kayla Kohl has been BEEN THROUGH IT - from endometriosis + infertility to hyperemesis + pre-eclampsia, from weighted feedings +  PPA, to deployments + a pandemic... This episode is one of those where the guest's journey + experience into motherhood is so unique, yet so incredibly universal. Kayla Kohl is a full-spectrum doula and owner of The Birth Chronicles.  She became a mom through open e...

It feels like kids are getting diagnosed with ADHD at alarming rates lately! Have you ever worried about things you've noticed in your child, wondering if they need to be evaluated? This episode is going to give you worlds of insight! Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart , a pediatric psychologist, is here to share everything we need to know about executive functioning skills - the part of the brain respo...

Iris Chen is a recovering Tiger mother and founder of the Untigering movement. In her book Untigering: Peaceful Parenting for the Deconstructing Tiger Parent, she shares her journey and reflections on shifting away from parenting rooted in power to parenting grounded in partnership. She's an American-Born Chinese who ended up with kids who are Chinese-born Americans.  She's a peaceful pa...

Jennifer Anderson is a registered dietician that has a Master's of Science in Public Health. In 2017 she founded Kids Eat In Color ( @kids.eat.in.color )  a HUGE resource that helps children and families have better nutrition and mental health. You will find her harm reduction lens with a focus on a parent's mental health and heavy dose of reality and humanity REFRESHING. In this episode...

Everyone talks about how you'll never sleep when you have a baby.  But no one was talking about the sleep struggles that happened when the kids get bigger... ...enter Jessica Berk , certified child sleep consultant for kids out of a crib! After Jessica's daughter moved up to a "big kid bed" she felt like she had a newborn all over again!  She knew she couldn't survive, so...

There was so much about motherhood that they did not warn us about in that book What to Expect When You're Expecting. Many of us believed the myth or the expectation that a new baby or kids will fall into our life. On today's episode, I'm interviewing Casey James , who shares her journey with postpartum depletion, her path of discovering her new identity through matrescence and rede...

Today on Failing Motherhood, Ann Kaplan is here to share a truly vulnerable story.  When her teen son dove head first down a path of substance abuse and depression, eventually requiring residential treatment, she felt like she had failed her son as a terrible mother, failed her other kids during that time, and failed professionally as a parenting coach to have a son in this position. Over the past...