Raising OKC Kids – Conversations with MetroFamily

Dr. Noor Jihan Abdul-Haqq joins us for National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Dr. Noor is a board-certified pediatrician with her own practice, Peace of Mind Pediatrics, in Del City and NW OKC. She shares what she’s experienced personally as a mom of three, but also what common issues, questions and expectations she sees with her patient. Dr. Noor believes “Fed is best,” and that the mental and p...

Internationally renowned educator, award-winning author and parenting child expert Dr. Michele Borba shares the biggest mental health concerns for kids around the country as reported by educators and students -- and how parents can respond. She provides tips to ease the transition back to school for kids and parents alike, plus she shares how parents can focus more on teaching and building key cha...

What do family dinners, cowbells and climbing a tree have in common? Nicole Kanelakos, Center of Excellence director of education services, and Amy Chlouber LPC-S, Center of Excellence director for mental health services, both from Sunbeam Family Services, join us to talk about the importance of family togetherness, free play and engaging with our kids at every level. Parenting is challenging, so...

After writing a year-long series in MetroFamily Magazine about Talking to Kids About Sex with advice for every age and stage, the experts at Thrive are answering parent questions on how to talk to kids about sexual health, sex education in schools, pornography, body posivity, gender inclusivity and more. Plus, if you parent a tween or teen who's especially uncomfortable talking with you about sexu...

Ronald McDonald House Charities® strives to provide programs that strengthen families during difficult times with chapters around the world. Here in Oklahoma City, our local chapter provides a home-away-from-home for families whose seriously ill or injured children are receiving medical treatment in the metro, both in the form of overnight accommodations and necessities for local families through...

Leslie Blair, public information officer with the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department, joins us to talk about summer travel and the new parking pass program at several Oklahoma state parks. Find out all you need to know for your next visit plus some great day trips ideas with destinations from around the Sooner state.

Robyn Sunday-Allen, CEO of the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic, community leader and mom, joins us to share a message of encouragement and empowerment for moms, who she says all deserve the title of mother of the year. Plus, Robyn shares her pride in how her team at the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic has navigated the pandemic to care for both their patients and the community at large and her long-term v...

Season 3, episode 21 Dr. Deb Shropsire, director of Child Welfare Services of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, and Sharon Guilbeaux, local therapeutic foster mom, join us to discuss Oklahoma's current need for therapeutic foster families. They share both the challenges and blessings of playing a part in helping children and families heal, plus how everyone in the community can get involv...

Season 3, episode 24 Metro moms and community leaders Sara Cunningham, founder of Free Mom Hugs, and Kylee Holland, program director at SISU Youth Services, join us to talk about resources in the metro for LGBTQ youth and their families and friends and how to normalize same-sex couples and transgender individuals with children.

Local mom and public health professional Cara Gluck joins us to recognize June as Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Awareness Month. This virus affects 1 in 200 babies born in the United States and can have long-term, significant developmental impacts on a baby if a mom contracts the virus while pregnant. Cara joins us to share her family's journey with CMV, simple steps pregnant moms can take to reduce their...

What do family dinners, cowbells and climbing a tree have in common? Nicole Kanelakos, Center of Excellence director of education services, and Amy Chlouber LPC-S, Center of Excellence director for mental health services, both from Sunbeam Family Services, join us to talk about the importance of family togetherness, free play and engaging with our kids at every level. Parenting is challenging, so...

Season 3, episode 18 This Teacher Appreciation Week, Miss Oklahoma & public school teacher Ashleigh Robinson joins us to talk about her platform of inclusion for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. She shares how parents can model and discuss inclusion in our homes, the importance of representation in education and our communities, how the community can support our educat...

Heather Zacarias, head of school for Season 3, episode 20 Western Gateway, and Dean Ketchum, head of school for John Rex, join us to clear up misconceptions about charter schools, share the unique opportunities their schools offer to both students and staff and remind us all of all the good happening in our public schools in Oklahoma City. Learn more about whether a charter school could be a good...

Season 3, episode 17 Spark Creative Lab is a cutting-edge, multidisciplinary concept featuring a diverse ensemble of acclaimed artists. The mission of the nonprofit organization is to rethink public engagement with the arts, expand the creative capacity of Oklahoma City, explore cultural creative expression and value artists and cultural workers. The organization launched in 2021 as a pilot in Okl...

Season 3, episode 19 If you're feeling especially stressed or overwhelmed as a parent, you're not alone. Katrina Leggins, LCSW, attributes the ongoing uncertainties in our world today to higher parent stress, and she joins us to advise parents on how to identify stress and anxiety, improve our self-talk, give ourselves time to rest and prioritize self-care.

Seaon 3, episode 25 Did you know postpartum anxiety is actually more common than depression, and that the two are often experienced in tandem? Postpartum therapist and local mom Thai-An Truong, LPC, shares common signs and symptoms of postpartum depression and anxiety and less-understood ways they can manifest for moms. Truong talks about coping strategies that were helpful for her in her own jour...

On the 26th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995, we talk with Lynne Porter, education director for the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. Lynne shares how the Memorial & Museum have continued to evolve to stay relevant to today's generation, ensure those whose lives were lost are remembered and honored and  teach important lessons on strength, courage and resolve.

"Pretend play is just as important as vitamins in early childhood." Rozz Grigsby, education director for Lyric Theatre, shares how skills learned through the performing arts benefit kids of all ages, from boosting mental wellness and academic performance to increasing empathy and setting them apart for post-high school pursuits. Rozz offers tips on how parents can implement this skill-building at...

We all have a part to play in protecting the kids of our community from child abuse. Kate Bacon, Executive Director of Family Builders, joins me once again to talk about what qualifies child abuse in the eyes of the court and social workers, how the pandemic affected rates of child abuse cases and how we can approach a situation of suspected abuse as a friend, family member or community member to...

A bright and beautiful smile is more than a health benefit, it's a confidence booster for the rest of your life. Join us as we chat with Dental Depot's orthodontist Dr. Mychi Nguyen on what brings her joy every day (and makes her office sing, literally!), as well as the answers to questions you need to know before signing up your child for orthodontic treatment. 

Let's be honest, parenting is hard right now. That's why MetroFamily is bringing you the Modern Art of Parenting Summit. Listen in as MetroFamily's editor, Erin Page, and Senior Project Manager, Kirsten Holder, discuss the upcoming summit and what they've most appreciated after interviewing 20 nationally-known experts to talk about everything from technology usage to sexual health education to rai...

Through her work as the CEO and president of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and the founder of LeadHERBoard, Shannon Rich joins us to celebrate and empower women. Shannon shares how her experiences being the first or only woman in the room have inspired her to create and advocate for more equitable opportunities for women in powerful positions in the workplace and community, plus how other women, inclu...

Season 3, episode 10 Jenna Worthen, founder and CEO of the James Martin Company and founder of @MomWhoWorks online community, joins us to provide an empowering, refreshing take on how women can redefine what it means to be a working mom in a world without working dads. She shares tips for moms to advocate for themselves in the workplace, creative ways business owners can support working moms, why...

Season 3, episode 8 Madison Whitekiller, who holds the title of 2022 Miss Indian Oklahoma, joins us to talk about her platform: guiding Native American youth to discover success through STEM. She discusses her own journey to a STEM field, advice for parents on helping children discover the fun of STEM and the power of representation when kids see people who look like them succeeding in a field the...

Mental health has been a trending topic lately, especially as it relates to our new “work/life balance.” Join us as Michael Dickerson, founder of the  Dickerson Consulting Group  and the podcast  The Spillover Effect , talks to us about stigmas around mental health in the workplace, stigmas around mental health in POC communities, stressors and support available for working moms and above all how...