Mending Families

On today’s episode, Melissa gives three things for you to think about when you are faced with the challenges of sibling relationships. We can’t forget that siblings are unique individuals and need help navigating conflict, relationship, repair, and so much more with each other. I hope you enjoy! For FULL SHOW NOTES go to https://www.mendingfamilieswa.com/mending-families-podcast Where to find Mend...

On today’s episode, Eileen gives us more insight into Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, what they are and how we can support those in our lives living with FASD. She talks about Brain First Parenting and explains how she uses this approach in her private practice to help support families affected by FASD.  If you want to learn more about Brain First Parenting and all that Eileen is involved in, yo...

On today’s episode, Melissa explains what Adverse Childhood Experiences are, where they came from, and why we need to be aware of them. Melissa also explores things to think about with ACES and building resilience in the kids in our lives. If you have never heard of ACEs, or even if you have, this is a good episode to better understand adversity in early childhood. For FULL SHOW NOTES, go to www.m...

On today’s episode, Melissa sits down with Breanne LaMoureaux as she shares about her own journey towards healing.  Breanne opens up about some of the hard moments in her life that ultimately led her to where she is today. She is excited about her future and being able to share healing with others in the same way she has been able to move into a place of wholeness. Breanne is a passionate human ac...

On today’s episode, Melissa talks about some of the most commonly asked questions from this past year and gives some good tips and tricks. She also shares the top three Instagram Reels from the past two months and why she thinks they were so popular.  Finally, Melissa talks about the exciting things coming in the New Year with the podcast and her business, Mending Families. You won’t want to miss...

On today’s episode, Melissa chats with her husband Jon about Christmas, the holidays, Santa, and also some other random stuff. It’s always a fun time when both Melissa and Jon are on the show so you will definitely get some good tips, but also will mostly just laugh a lot.  Enjoy! *To find all of the episodes with the full show notes, go to https://www.mendingfamilieswa.com/mending-families-podcas...

On today’s episode, Melissa interviews three of her children about all things Christmas! It’s fun and entertaining….stick around until the end when her son Niah tells a very creative fiction Christmas story that you won’t want to miss! Happy Holidays! *To find all of the episodes with the full show notes, go to https://www.mendingfamilieswa.com/mending-families-podcast Where to find Mending Famili...

On today’s episode, Melissa and her three friends, Hannah, Cassie and Danielle, all share their thoughts on the best and not so best Christmas gifts for kids. Whether you are looking for ideas for your own kids, or you are a relative, teacher, coach or neighbor, these ladies have all the greatest ideas!  See below for links to purchase many  of the items they chat about! For full show notes that i...

On today’s episode, Julee shares about how her family got into foster care and how that has led them down the path of moving towards adoption. Julee opens up about how their decision to foster didn’t happen overnight and through grief and loss in their life, they moved slowly. She talks about the ups and downs of foster care, and gives us some great things to consider when stepping into parenting...

On today’s episode, Hannah shares their journey to adopting their son and all that they learned along the way. We also talk about invisible disabilities and Hannah gives some great things for us to think about whether as a supporter/friend or a parent in the thick of parenting a kid from hard. Stay until the end because she gives us some resources that you are going to want to check out! If you ar...

On today’s episode, Taffee shares how her family changed their mindset around foster parenting, and although they did adopt their four girls through the foster care system, Taffee talks about how they hold birth family relationships in a different light now. Taffee also shares the struggles of parenting kids from trauma, as well as the ways that they have learned to do new and better for their kid...

Meaghan is a mom to 6 kids and is a proud StoryMaker both as a PaperPie associate and a foster/adoptive mom. She is married and lives in the country with her family, fur babies, and neighboring peacocks that visit from time to time. Meaghan is a fierce advocate for the kids in her home, but also has a heart to help others learn and grow as well. On today’s episode, Meaghan starts out by talking ab...

On today’s episode, Melissa interviews three of her children about Halloween. They talk about the likes and dislikes of Halloween, things to think about whether decorating your home or dressing up to trick or treat, and just plain fun! This is an episode that you might want to watch on YouTube because kids can just be extra entertaining! :) Topics Melissa mentions: *The monthly membership “Let’s G...

TW: Today we talk about abusive relationships and domestic violence so please know that if you are in a DV situation or know someone who is, there is help. Go to www.thehotline.org or call 1-800-799-7233 On today’s episode, Melissa shares her story of surviving a domestic violence relationship. DV is so complicated and Melissaa wants you all to hear her own story to get a better idea of how compli...

On today’s episode, Teresa talks about how she got into the field of therapy and where it has taken her. She shares her thoughts on trauma and how we can move towards a place of healing from the trauma we have experienced. Teresa focuses on somatic healing and gives us good things to think about in regards to healing the whole self. We also talk quite a bit about Domestic Violence and how to help...

TW: Today we talk about abusive relationships and domestic violence so please know that if you are in a DV situation or know someone who is, there is help. Go to www.thehotline.org or call 1-800-799-7233 On today’s episode, Melissa provides some insight into domestic violence relationships by going through 13 power/control games that people play in unhealthy relationships. She breaks down each gam...

On today’s episode, Ashlee starts by sharing about homeschooling her two boys before jumping into her story of healing her body from trauma she experienced in an abusive relationship many years ago. She talks about how she discovered that her chronic pain was connected to the abuse she endured and where she sought out healing. Ashlee was so brave to tell her story and I am so thankful that she fou...

On today’s episode, Laura helps us understand what religious trauma is, how to move forward when we’ve experienced harm from religious organizations, the difference between “church hurt” and “church harm” and what exactly are Adverse Religious Experiences. Our discussion leads us back to parenting often and for that reason, this episode truly is for anyone who finds themselves caring for vulnerabl...

On today’s episode, Melissa gives you 4 steps to repairing with your child after a rupture. She also shares why rupture and repair is so important and that we do not need to be “perfect parents” for our children. This episode might challenge how you think about apologies, so come to the conversation ready to stretch your mindset! Topics Melissa mentions: * In last week's episode, Robyn briefly tou...

On today’s episode, Robyn walks us through the parts of the brain (Owl, Watchdog, Possum) and how we can view our kids’ big, baffling behaviors from a different perspective. She shares her thoughts on consequences and whether they are necessary to change our kids’ behaviors. This conversation with Robyn was so easy because she makes parenting sound easy and doable!  If you are struggling with big,...

On today’s episode, Melissa shares some thoughts about how the educational system can provide safer spaces for our kids. She also will give caregivers a few pointers from her own personal experience of raising 4 kids, some of which are still in the school system. Whether you are an educator, or a caregiver, this episode is for you! **Find FULL SHOW NOTES at my website, https://www.mendingfamiliesw...

On today’s episode, Destiny talks about some of her favorite places to live and where she hopes to land eventually. She shares how she got into the field of helping others and how her own story led her to becoming an IEP advocate.  Destiny provides tips when working with the school systems to provide the best plan for your child. I learned so much from this episode and am excited to share it with...

Jessica Sinarski, LPCMH is an author, speaker, and instigator of hope. Weaving user-friendly brain science into everything she does, Jessica offers deeply trauma-informed support and education for home, school, and community audiences. With her decades of experience in the child welfare field, Jessica helps parents and professionals understand what’s really going on, why it’s happening, and how to...

On today’s episode, Melissa gives you some things to think about when it comes to using breathwork and mindfulness with your kids. She has broken these ideas down and provides you with practical strategies to help support you as you are working through how to help your kiddos heal. Remember that change takes time so don’t get overwhelmed! Come back to this later if you need to! You got this! **Fin...

Hannah Talbot is a Reiki Master, Mindfulness+Meditation Guide, Earth Medicine Practitioner, Yoga Teacher, and the founder of Anam Cara.  Knowing that energy is everything, Hannah created Anam Cara in the heart of the city to drop you into the awareness that you deserve to feel whole.  Her one-on-one sessions weave together multiple modalities along with therapeutic dialogue and coaching in order t...