Mommyhood Unscripted

Once you become a parent, it can be extra hard trying to find that time to organize and declutter your home; think of it: you're now dealing with the stuff your children are accumulating! Whether you're a new parent, or even a grandparent, chances are you have more contents in your home than you know what to do with. That's why we are taking our disarray--from the junk drawer to the...

Loss is something we all will experience in life. However, it is not always something we can predict. So how do we help guide our children through this human experience in a safe and effective way? Best-selling children's author Kellie Kaminskas set out to help families around the world work through this quandary. When she was pregnant with her son, she lost her mother to a long, courageous b...

Maternal health refers to the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period. Even though important progress has been made in the last two decades in this area, we still have a lot of work to do. The World Health Organization says about 287,000 women died during and following pregnancy and childbirth in 2020. To help us understand the things that need to be done in order to...

As virus season kicks into high-gear--between colds, the flu, and Covid-19--there's another virus affecting our most-vulnerable populations that you may not think about--and that is RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). In fact, this particular virus sidelined renowned actress and executive producer, Jennifer Beals. After her experience with RSV, she became a spokesperson for GSK this October --...

Have you heard someone tell a new mother to 'not hold her baby too much' or to 'time out the baby's feeding sessions', or to let the baby 'cry itself to sleep'? Turns out, there's scientific evidence that has found "spoiling" your baby with affection, attention, and protection actually grows their brain development and transforms their mental health for life! Nicole has a very informative and eye-...

This is a first-of-its-kind interview for "Mommyhood Unscripted" and an exciting one at that! "Maggie" the Musical just made its U.S. debut at The Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut -- where it will run through 10/20/24. Here's Playbill's synopsis: "A Scottish mother’s unbreakable love for her three sons is tested in an inspirational new musical about family bo...

There's no question about it: our youth are experiencing a mental health crisis. A February 2024 study by the nonprofit, "Kaiser Family Foundation", found that 1 in 5 adolescents reported symptoms of depression and anxiety. In 2023, researchers at Harvard found that 40% of teens said that they wanted their parents to reach out more and ask how they're really doing. But so many...

Country Music Star mama, Kimberly Perry is known for her role in the Grammy Award-winning group, "The Band Perry" (she wrote their groundbreaking crossover #1 single: "If I Die Young"). Now she is on her first solo headlining tour with CMT -- and she's doing it with a 1-year-old! Kimberly chats with Nicole about what it was like to become a mom for the first time, her birt...

Did you know that adult women are the BIGGEST portion of the population being diagnosed with ADHD? And it's common for a diagnosis to come after having children. Nicole chatted with Dr. Anna Burns who is an Executive Functioning Coach for Women with ADHD about this growing realization. Not only does Dr. Burns breakdown the signs of ADHD in adult women, but she offers up some helpful tips and...

Trauma. It shows itself in a variety of ways and it's something we all experience of at one point in life; after all, it's part of the human experience. But new research is showing how trauma in young kids (specifically boys) can actually impact their adult lives when it comes to mental and even physical health. So, what can we as parents and caregivers do to help them process their emot...

Is there a "right age" to give our kids a smartphone? That's a question parents everywhere are struggling with or have struggled with at one time. The idea of making your child wait to get a smartphone is difficult to grasp because the last thing we want is for them to feel left out or the target of jokes. But a mom in Austin, Texas started a full-blown movement in response to this...

Pet dogs are one of the best sources of unconditional love. But sometimes we forget that our four-legged friend is still an animal, and we all need to know how to keep our pet interactions safe and healthy -- especially when involving children. Do you know the signs of healthy vs. stressful interactions? A lot of people think they do, but in actuality they don't -- and that can lead to precar...

The ups and downs of parenting exist throughout every stage of our child's growth and development. Once you have a toddler on your hands, you almost feel blindsided at times since they're changing so rapidly. Then when it's time for them to head to preschool, there are a whole new set of challenges and dilemmas that you probably thought you wouldn't have to deal with at this yo...

"Child Trafficking" is an unfortunate thing we hear about in the headlines, and the nightmarish thoughts of a child being snatched off the street by foreign nationals come to a lot of minds... But that couldn't be further from the truth! Believe it or not, Child Trafficking is happening right under parents' noses, inside their own HOMES -- and in some cases, inside schools! Bel...

This episode is a VERY sensitive topic, and we want to throw a disclaimer out there that we are talking about miscarriages and infant/child loss. However, as difficult as this topic is, it carries a very important message: you don't have to grieve alone. This kind of loss is something many people don't talk about or don't know how to talk about. But the mission of the organization,...

This episode is all about a dynamic mother-daughter duo who are helping LGBTQ+ youth feel less alone. Robin Colucci has been a huge support for her daughter, Maya Hoffman during her coming out journey. The pair offer guidance on navigating the coming out process from both the perspectives of a parent and a child. Nicole sits down with Robin and Maya to hear about their story and ask those question...

When a couple wants to start a family, it can be anything but easy. Unexpected struggles with infertility and even pushing off the timeline of having children can bring heartbreak. Adoptions can be a great pathway to parenthood. But what does it look like? How does it all work? How do you overcome the mental hurdles associated with the process?  Adoption expert, Nicole Witt, informs and debunks th...

Parents innately worry about their children all the time -- no matter how old they are. So when your child is diagnosed with a food allergy or food intolerance,  it only compounds things. Anxiety and fear can take over--especially when your child is out of your sight--as you wonder whether they could come into contact or accidentally eat something that contains an allergen. How do you quell those...

Remember a time before cell phones -- as in when they were only used to make emergency calls? Now these devices hold the key to our entire lives! Not only are they a main form of communication, but they're our main source for information (from your bank account to your news) and even entertainment. You name it, our phone can do it. But convenience can come at a cost... A 2023 survey by review...

In this episode, Nicole is exploring  the importance of mindfulness for kids. It’s such a great skill for kids to learn – especially if they’re feeling anxious, sad, angry… It can also help our kids face daily challenges. Just that extra minute to re-center ourselves can help them observe their thoughts and feelings rather than reacting immediately. Also, it teaches our children how to stay presen...

Instead of a breaking news flash, we're bringing you all the details on the formidable 'hot flash'! Have you ever wondered why so many women are surprised by perimenopause and menopause? It's because most don't even know what it entails, and how it can affect our bodies; so they're left to just suffer whatever comes their way. But it doesn't have to be that way!...

Do you struggle with exercise, or finding the time to get your body moving? The lack of motivation we hold after having kids tends to take over and things we may have once done for ourselves in the form of self-care are put on the backburner. But there is a way back to prioritizing guilt-free well-being and feeling great in your body through a special mind and body connection. Nicole sat down with...

Autism can be reliably diagnosed by a specialist by age 2, but the average age of an autism diagnosis in the U.S. is 5 years-old. Regardless of how old your child is when diagnosed, the time following that diagnosis can be extremely overwhelming and parents have a lot of questions and concerns.  What happens next? What can you expect? What questions should you be asking your providers and the scho...

Have you ever seen a tick on your child or fur baby and proceeded to freak out? Did you question whether you effectively removed the tick properly? Do you even know the most effective way to check your child for ticks, or the high-risk zones in your backyard? The answers may surprise you!  Tick expert and fellow mom, Dr. Megan Linske is helping all of us parents learn how we can safely live w...

Parents and kids have always had issues with sleep, and for years, plenty of caregivers have been leaning on melatonin as a way to help kids get their rest. But is it safe? We all know melatonin is natural -- after all, our body produces it! But are there any risks in giving it to our children? World-renowned pediatrician, Dr. Harvey Karp returns to 'Mommyhood Unscripted' to offer up his...