Family in Focus®

Parenting is no joke! It's hard to juggle and figure out all the rules (which none of the kids want to follow). But there are ways to make it easier. Today we're going to do a reflective exercise to understand how becoming aware of and defining your values creates a foundation for making parenting easier. Full show notes available here . YouTube version of Episode #113 here. Join Family in Focus c...

Let's weave this together: celebrating certifications, expertise, and defining how you are an expert in your life, health and family. In today's show, Wendy celebrates achieving the Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential through the International Coaching Federation (ICF). She discusses the significance of credentials in her coaching journey and emphasizes the importance of authenticity and...

I've been destroying the chocolate lately. Specifically, peanut butter M&Ms. In today's episode, I'm going to walk you through the process that I'm using to get really clear on the problem and the steps I'm taking to make change. You're welcome to take the simple steps with me to make any change you want to see in your life. Full show notes available here . YouTube version of Episode #111. Joi...

Welcome to my very special listeners, teens! Today I want to share some videos I recently created to answer the question, " What does a supportive relationship look like between an adult and a teen?"   Well there are two folks to consider in this question and I answered with what can be considered by teens trying to figure out WHY they would ever want to connect with adults, and how adults can be...

You're zapped, trying to focus on getting that report done. Or from the kids running on your nerves all day long. And the kids are having a meltdown and just arguing with each other, raiding the cabinets and doing anything but homework. What do you do? In today's episode I explore the concept of the "Shake Off," and I swear I'm not singing Taylor Swift the whole time (I.do.not.sing!). What is shak...

As a parent, are you playing ping pong or chess with your kids? It's not all about the games, it's about the approach to being with them. In this episode we talk about taking some lessons from Improv Comedy and apply them to working with our kids. No one approach is better than another, but is it possible that your go-to (like my strength of being a Maximizer) is keeping you from fully having the...

Are you ready to be a member of the secret parent society, "Snack Sneakers... S-nonymous?" Parents are frustrated with snack sneaking and want to know how to fix it. Today we talk about 3 steps that you haven't heard before to get to the root of the question, "What do I do about snack sneaking?" Full show notes available here . YouTube version of Episode #107 here . Calling all Healthcare Professi...

Ever notice how you tend to have a soundtrack playing for your life? The same emotions, same story, same day to day.... and don't get me started on the "I'm bored!" soundtrack. Today we dive into an amazing tool - a game from the world of Improv Comedy - and apply it to our day to day lives. You see, in improv comedy, we are constantly flexing, changing, trying on new possibilities, and we don't h...

We have to admit it: we all (yes, I) have used shame tactics when it comes to health. It's a part of our culture and once we admit it, we can start being on the look for where we are using the tool of shame against us. Because shame doesn't make anyone healthier. Period. It backfires time and again. In this episode, I discuss how shame is being used, often covertly, as well as other ways to addres...

What does ending the year mean to you? I used to say that it meant getting ready for new beginnings.... but that was the part of me that was constantly on the move. Now I'm settling. I'm practicing hygge - and talking about what that looks like now with a few months since my introduction. (see Episode #97 , Unlocking Your Inner Rebel for the intro to hygge). Now the end of the year means a softeni...

"Holidays = Stress" has become a part of our language. But why are you stressed around the holidays? Today we unpack 6 very common stressors for parents during the holidays: 1) There's so much to do 2) It's so hard to stay healthy during the holidays  3) I have to "make it magical" 4) My .... is so hard to please. (aka meeting other people's expectations) 5) Sensory overload (aka holiday/pumpkin s...

We are all struggling with weight, each and every one of us. The focus of our struggle may be our own weight, our loved ones, and professionally the struggle may be for our patients, students and colleagues. Today's episode is an abbreviated version of a chat I did for the local Children's Hospital - yes, these conversations are happening in professional settings as well! The full version is comin...

In a world filled with conflicts and crises, how can we navigate the unique challenges of parenting children with big emotions? Join us in this episode as we dive into the crucial topic of recognizing the importance of your child's feelings without comparing them to the chaos of the world. Hear how I have done this very, very wrong (as always), discover practical strategies, expert insights, and h...

Eeek! Today we are celebrating 100 episodes of the podcast and how we got here, amidst overwhelm, insanity and a crazy to-do list. Let's talk about the best way to address overwhelm: little steps. In this episode, I talk about how overwhelm develops, how it is so freaking natural and understandable in today's modern life AND the practice that I'm using every day and sharing with my patients, clien...

I love experiments. Anyone who has worked with me in the office or the Family in Focus coaching community has heard me talk about little experiments. Well I want to share with you how I f'd it up. I f'd it up - and now I have learned so much in the process, as did the family. We are constantly learning and growing - as long as we are trying to put ourselves out there to try things and risk failure...

Are you a parent feeling lost in the chaos of modern life, struggling to understand and manage overstimulation and overwhelm in your children? Are you feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated yourself? Let's dive into the world of parenting in the modern age, understanding more about stimulation and overstimulation and the resultant overwhelm. This episode offers insights, expert advice, and real-li...

Hon, can we talk? I know... the word rebel doesn't feel like it fits. Yet, what is possible if it is the way to lead the life you actually want? Today we're gonna catch up, because I look a 2 month break from y'all, and I have gained so much more along the way. Because I gave myself permission. Permission to STOP. To CHANGE. To CHOOSE. Join me as we explore permission and how we think it is for an...

What's the link? Yes, I do believe there is one, one that is particularly seen through the eyes of a pediatrician who has struggled with stress, burnout and personal and professional struggles to create whole family health. What could it be? Seriously, it's time to take a listen. Learn about the missing link and how to use it for health, decreasing stress and addressing burnout. Full show notes av...

This is the real-deal of parenting. Our kids have big feelings. And we haven't learned how to deal with our own, let alone help them. Until today. Let's do this, together. Ten minutes to review the prior episodes on emotions (check out Episodes #93 & 94), AND go through the foundations of how to help your child feel their feelings, today. If this is completely new to you, take a few minutes to...

Emotions are the fuel for our lives: they drive everything that we do (and what we don't do). Let's explore more, along with a particular example with a feeling I know very well: frustration. As mentioned in the episode, here is the feelings wheel . Full show notes available here . Calling all Healthcare Professionals: I'm so glad you're here, to benefit yourself, your family, and your patients. T...

Let's talk emotions: Why are they important, where do they come from, how are they made? It's the first in our series on emotions. Getting vulnerable here with the real deal about my struggles with sadness and depression in medical school, as well as the way to NOT deal with it. Full show notes  available here . Calling all Healthcare Professionals: I'm so glad you're here, to benefit yourself, yo...

Sleep. Comes. First. Let's talk about all the ways that getting better ZZZZ's can help you and your kids with better health AND What's getting in the way of the sleep you need. Learn about how much sleep our kids need The impact of sleep-deprivation upon many aspects of health AND  Why we can address sleep before we see external signs of sleep-deprivation. Complete with the stories of how this is...

Hold on, we were just talking about relationships with food, and now we're talking about efficiency? Yup. This is real-deal life as a parent. It's all the things. The mental burden. The many-tabs open at once. In today's episode, we're going to talk about where that mental burden comes from, how our socialization contributes to it, and how it is intertwined with struggles around efficiency. You'll...

"I just want my kid to have a healthy relationship with food." What does that even mean? It's a new approach, better than the whole let's-just-focus-on-changing-body-size, and yet I sure didn't learn about cultivating healthy relationships with food growing up. In fact, I share stories about how I messed it up with my own kids and what we can do right now as parents to start helping our kids. Unde...

Brains, Pandemics, Weight, and Trauma... Ooph - yeah, it sounds like a hard topic, but we're going to explore today a few concepts that have been spinning through my head and readings, of course with laughter, stories, analogies and (once again) Allen Iverson references. Let's talk about the very important function of 2 different parts of our brain: amygdala and prefrontal cortex (aka downstairs a...