Parenting Great Kids with Dr. Meg Meeker

After losing his son, a grieving father goes on a mission to understand teen suicide. Jason Reid uncovers painful truths about the lives of teens, the impact of unfettered access to the internet and social media, and the shocking rise of depression among America’s youth. In examining his son’s technology use, he discovered what no parent wants to find. Seeking to uncover the warning signs that wer...

Women today typically deal with more stress than in past generations, and often struggle to find work/life balance. What is work/life balance? Is it a 50/50 split? How do mothers today juggle all that is required of them? Christy Wright, author of “Take Back Your Time: The Guilt-Free Guide to Life Balance”, provides tactical steps to create your own version of balance – where you get to decide wha...

This episode features the Dad-Daughter duo, Becky Thompson and Dr. Mark Pitts, co-authors of Midnight Dad Devotional: 100 Devotions and Prayers to Connect Dads Just Like You to the Father. Men will be encouraged to learn how God is with them through their parenting journey, in all seasons of life, and will be strengthened in their resolve to become the best father they can be. Dr. Meg & Guests...

Children don’t often know how to voice their worries, and they may even think the things they are worried about are silly or unimportant. Today’s guest, Dr. Josh Straub, along with his wife, Christi, co-wrote the children’s book, “What Do I Do With Worry?” as a way to help parents foster emotional awareness in their kids. Listen in and be equipped to help your kids deal with worry and anxiety in a...

Dr. Meg has a heart to heart conversation with Ashley Le Mieux, who shares how she tragically lost three of her children – two to the foster care system, and one to a premature birth. Rising from the ashes of pain and loss, Ashley describes her journey to finding healing and transformation, and shares how you can do the same. DR MEG & GUEST ASHLEY LEMIEUX (PART 1) This episode begins with Ashl...

Grandparenting is different now than it has been in past generations. Many households require two incomes and, with both parents often working outside the home, grandparents tend to fill the gap in taking care of the kids. While this gives grandparents a special window into their grandkids’ lives, it can be tricky in that they must follow the parameters set by their adult children in how they want...

Dr. Marty Makary is a New York Times best-selling author, a Johns Hopkins physician and a public health researcher. With over 250 scientific articles published, Dr. Makary was elected to the National Academy of Medicine as Editor-in-Chief of MedPage Today . Listen in as Dr. Makary and Dr. Meeker discuss the pressing issue of vaccination amongst America’s youth. The two share their professional opi...

Dave Ramsey made his first million in his twenties—the wrong way—and then went bankrupt. That’s when he set out to learn the right way of managing money and developed the Ramsey Baby Steps. Following these steps, Dave became a millionaire again—the right way. After three decades of guiding millions of people through the Baby Steps plan, Dave has released his newest book, Baby Steps Millionaires. J...

We raise our children with the hope of enjoying a unique closeness and intimacy with them all the years of their lives. From the moment they are born, we pour our hearts and souls into them. And as they mature, they have a clear realization that they are fully dependent on us. These two factors draw us together, forming a strong bond. When that bond breaks, the pain burrows deep. The part a parent...

Babies need to be taught human traits early on, and one trait is that humans aren’t created to be nocturnal. Nighttime is for sleeping, and sleep is a learned phenomenon. Most adults don’t wake up and eat in the middle of the night. In the same way, babies don’t (typically) need to eat during the night either. The sooner parents train them not to do so, the sooner everyone will get a better night’...

The time between Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years is meant to be enjoyed, a time of fun and anticipation, of giving and receiving, and looking forward to spending time with family and friends. Yet for many, the holidays bring a tremendous amount of stress. Are there expectations and images in your mind of how the holidays are supposed to look? Maybe you are trying to live up to the expectatio...

Chances are, if your baby hasn’t been sleeping through the night, your heart may have skipped a beat with hope and anticipation as you read the title of this week’s episode. It may seem like your baby will never sleep through the night, however it is possible to sleep-train your baby to do so. Babies need a good sleep rhythm, and so do parents. Lack of sleep is one of the biggest factors keeping p...

Is your child a picky eater? Does he or she suffer from childhood obesity or perhaps a chronic disease resulting from unhealthy eating? If so, you are not alone! Health Journalist and “Food Issues” podcast host Julie Revelant joins Dr. Meeker in discussing these important issues. Be armed with proven tips that can help you train your child to become a healthier eater. As you make wiser food choice...

One of the most common questions that Dr. Meg Meeker gets asked in her pediatric office is, “How do I talk to my kids about puberty?” In this episode, Dr. Meg addresses that very question. Don’t be taken by surprise when the subject of puberty comes up with your kids! Listen in as Dr. Meg discusses the 5 stages of puberty, for both girls and boys. You’ll be equipped to anticipate (and answer) some...

DESCRIPTION Child sex trafficking doesn’t only happen overseas. About 80% of the kids being trafficked are U.S. citizens - born and raised in the United States - kids from all walks of life, all neighborhoods, all backgrounds. And they are not being abducted, they are being lured, manipulated and groomed on social media. Since about 2015, more than half of the kids being trafficked in the United S...

Just about everyone has witnessed a child having a temper tantrum. For parents, their child’s temper tantrums can be overwhelming, often resulting in frustration or anger, and even embarrassment, especially if a tantrum occurs in public. Temper tantrums are such a common issue with kids, and a problem for parents that Dr. Meg wanted to tackle the issue head-on. Join Dr. Meg as she dives into the t...

Imagine not being given a name until you were two years old. Imagine living in constant fear of your father, whom you knew might literally kill you at any moment, for any reason. Imagine becoming a street kid at the tender age of four, after running away from your abusive home life. Imagine having to steal scraps of food, and no one knowing your name. How does one survive such a childhood? This is...

DESCRIPTION Kids are exposed to sex today as never before. Social media, the internet, movies, television and music videos typically portray sex in a crass and shameful manner. Our kids desperately need to understand that sex is amazing, it’s wonderful, and something they will enjoy for decades to come.. when done in the right context and timing. Your child not only needs to hear about sex from yo...

DESCRIPTION The role of a father is vitally important. There is a place inside of every child that desperately wants and needs their father’s affirmation, acceptance and love. Yet many families have suffered generations of dysfunctional behavior, leaving those core needs (from father to child) unmet. Fathers in general don’t believe they are doing a good job with their kids -- they struggle to lov...

One of Dr. Meg’s favorite things is to answer questions from you, the listener. This is a special episode of the “Parenting Great Kids” podcast as Dr. Meg devotes the entire episode to doing just that, helping you make sense of roadblocks we all encounter as parents. Listen in as “America’s Mom” helps you navigate many situations with your kids that can often be tricky. Do you have a question for...

Isolation, loneliness, and depression are all things that young adults have become more familiar with during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a parent, you have a window into what your kids are dealing with that no one else has. You can see when these things are affecting your kids, and you also have the best opportunity to help them through these tough times. Dr. Meeker talks with Dr. Claire Nicogossian...

It’s really difficult for kids dealing with the isolation and limits of the COVID-19 pandemic, and these things can cause issues with the head and the heart connecting like they should in even the strongest of kids. It takes a deep understanding of how the brain and the heart work together and experience with difficult mental health issues to help you and your kids explore your own stories and dea...

With all the messages from the media thrown at girls these days, it’s no wonder that worry and anxiety in adolescent girls is on the rise. When you combine social media running the next teen’s “highlight reel” with pressure to achieve more in school due to standardized testing or parental pressure, it’s a recipe for increased feelings of being overwhelmed and thoughts of suicide. All these things...

Today’s media loves to try and make men out to be generally irrelevant and idiotic. What they overlook is the importance of a father figure, whether biological or just a friend. That’s why Father’s Day is so special to Dr. Meg, and on this day she wants you fathers to feel how important you actually are to the people in your lives. Television shows, social media memes, and perceptions in general w...

The stress and pressure of raising kids can make you question whether you are messing your kids up or setting them up for success when they “leave the nest”. Do you constantly ask yourself if your kids future is going to be everything it should be for them? If you can relate to either of these things, this episode is for you. Dr. Meg talks with the Money Saving Mom, Crystal Paine. Crystal is best-...