Mommyhood Unscripted

Have you started saving for your child's college education yet -- or are you overwhelmed with where and how to start? Well, you are NOT alone. You may have heard about '529 plans'... Is it the right path to take? Are there some things you can do to maximize savings for your child? Do taxes come into play? Nicole gets all the information and answers you need on this topic with Mark K...

Have you heard? The SATs have gone digital! This is BIG news -- especially considering how the SAT plays such an instrumental role when it comes to the college admissions process. So, what do you and your kids need to know about this change? What can your student expect? How do they prepare? And why is it important to take the SATs? Nicole helps you answer all those questions with Priscilla Rodrig...

In this month's 'Mommy Profile', Nicole chats with children's book author and illustrator, Stefania Munzi. This Connecticut artist is a mom of two boys--one of whom is special needs. Stefania takes us through her journey of what it's like to receive an unexpected diagnosis about your child, how she was able to utilize her talents to raise awareness about her son's rar...

Did you know that practicing mindfulness can actually help you when it comes to money? It's true! And not only can it help you in the present and future, but it can also help your children by extension. Financial Advisor and author, Sylvia Guinan is back chatting with Nicole about what we can do to tune into ourselves and what we truly want when it comes to finances and how to teach our child...

What does it take to become a 'mom influencer' and a successful one? Nicole chats with four well-known mom influencers who you may recognize: Kallie Branciforte of "But First, Coffee!", Charlotte Smith of "At Charlotte's House", Megan Schinella of "CampbyMama" and Caitlin Houston who's behind the self-titled, "Caitlin Houston Blog". Not o...

Every so often Nicole will be profiling a mom and journey through her unique story in an episode. Our first "Mommy Profile" is: Dr. Emily Thomas of Consumer Reports. This mom of two boys is all about helping other moms keep their babies safe. Dr. Thomas, who manages the Auto Safety at Consumer Report's Auto Test Center, leads the occupant protection and vulnerable road user safety p...

Have you ever heard of a sleep consultant or wondered what it is they do? These days, it's much more than the 'cry it out' method that your pediatrician or your grandmother may recommend... It's a much more tailored approach and focuses on the individual child. Nicole sits down with Heather Cartier -- a pediatric sleep consultant who provides virtual sleep support across the co...

Grief can look different for everyone and take on many different forms. Most people don’t even know how to begin the healing journey – especially after the loss of a child. Nicole sat down with Jenny Hubbard who lost her 6-year-old daughter Catherine at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. Catherine was a kind and compassionate animal lover who dreamt of someday working with and cari...

Having a baby is NO JOKE. Did you know it takes a full year for a woman to recover from childbirth? Also, 85% of women experience baby blues due to immediate postpartum hormone shifts. Sadly, postpartum recovery is one of the most CHALLENGING phases in a woman's life -- yet there is still SO much we don't talk about or even know about when it comes to this stage. That's why Nicole i...

In many 'traditional' households, women have financially relied on men when it comes to their future. But if you go through a major life transition such as: a divorce, a career change, retirement or even widowhood -- your financial confidence can strain. So how prepared are you? How much do you understand when it comes to your financial security and your future? That's where Sylvia...

Parents, this is a MUST-HAVE conversation that involves facing, embracing, and setting limitations on that which we cannot escape: screens. Dr. Jodi Gold comes to the rescue to set the record straight on what we need to know and how we can move forward (guilt-free) -- whether you're a new parent or a grandparent! You'll find out where the negative impacts of excessive childhood screen ti...

The holidays are a time of year when children have LOTS of expectations -- between presents and parties, to what kind of reactions you're going to have at family gatherings. Emotions tend to run high at this time too, and as parents, we carry a lot of STRESS to manage those expectations! In this quick and easy listen, Nicole spoke to clinical psychologist Dr. Laura Saunders of the Institute o...

Once you become a parent, it seems that you're already thinking about college -- and wondering how you're going to pay for it! Let's be real...the last thing we want is for our kids to shoulder a massive amount of debt just so they can continue their education. Sadly, it's a reality that most students in this country face. But did you know that there are so many resources out t...

Balance. It's a word parents use lightly because most days it seems nearly impossible to achieve. But is it possible? Is there a way we can create a work/life balance that ACTUALLY works? In this episode, Nicole talks to Natasha Bowman -- a workplace culture expert, Ted-X speaker, and author. Their conversation focuses on how you can go from being burned out, unmotivated and unhappy to reclai...

Have you ever thought about how the day, time, and location of your birth could actually play into your personality? These are known as 'birth charts'. It sounds like a 'new-age' concept, but in actuality it's an ancient resource our ancestors used to help guide them through life. On this episode, Nicole chats with Jessica Holcomb who is a broker, an entrepreneur -- and sh...

One of the main drivers of things like depression, suicide, oppression and violence is: hopelessness. But it's not something we're born with; believe it or not, we are taught how to be hopeless. Perhaps the scariest part of this all is the fact that our children are learning this every day -- whether it be through social media or societal influence. A recent report by the CDC found that...

Have you ever though about what life will look like as an empty nester when your kids fly the coup? Are there any dreams you had before you became a mom, but you placed them on the back burner? Well, I have news for you: your life does not END when your kids grow up. In fact, your life actually BEGINS! This episode is going to help moms of ALL AGES learn how to reclaim their lives and ignite their...

As you may know, there are a LOT of emotions tied to the transition of heading back-to-school -- especially after coming off of summer break. Families can also feel emotionally overwhelmed as children head to school for the first time. Dr. Harvey Karp is back on 'Mommyhood Unscripted' offering up some extremely helpful tips for parents of ALL ages as they work on easing into a new routin...

Do you have friends or loved ones who are of the child-bearing years, but do not have any children? Have you ever had a conversation with them about that in an informed and balanced way? Have you felt a bit disconnected from your childless friends once you started having kids?  Or have you ever considered the feelings of those who do not want children? I’m this episode, Nicole has a very candid co...

How often do you scroll through your phone and come across those posts that just speak to you -- especially the ones that hold so much comic relief and truth at the same time? Chances are you have seen Caitlin Murray in one of those favorite reels you've shared with your mom friends... This mom of 3's Instagram account--@bigtimeadulting--went viral one day and has only continued to gain...

More and more females are being diagnosed with endometriosis, a disease which affects roughly 10% of reproductive age women and girls globally. It's often known as the "missed disease" due to its unknown cause and inconsistent diagnosis and management. Endometriosis can be extremely painful -- even leading to infertility -- which is why it's more important than ever that women...

Did you know that since 2000, autism prevalence has gone up by over 400%? Today, 1 out of every 36 U.S. kids is diagnosed with autism.  Autism is found four times MORE often in boys than in girls -- with 1 out of every 23 boys diagnosed with it. But Nicole chats with one of the leading pioneers in the world of autism diagnosis and treatment -- Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh. She sheds some light on this a...

Do you struggle with calming your crying baby down? Or what about those dreaded toddler tantrums? This episode is a quick and easy listen with all the answers you need to diffuse an otherwise emotional situation with your little one. Nicole chats with Dr. Harvey Karp who's known as the "baby whisperer"! He's an American Pediatrician, an author, a child development specialist, a...

Are your children exceptionally sensitive to the feelings of individuals nearby? Do they seem to read others' emotions well -- to the point of becoming overwhelmed? It's possible they could be an empath. Nicole chats with medium, intuitive healer and empath, Heather Sprigg. She explains what an empath is, the signs that your child could be an empath, how to parent an empath, and ways you...

Nothing can prepare parents for the lack of sleep they will experience -- from the time their children are born until they are out on their own (and even then a lot of parents say they still don't sleep well). Sleep deprivation is unavoidable at times, but there are some things you can do to improve your quality of shuteye. Sleep expert Dr. Pedram Navab chats with Nicole about some sleep tips...