Should Have Listened to My Mother Podcast

By the time Gail Mitchell was a young teenager, she was already taking drawing classes at a level way beyond her years.  She pursued art through college and today she's still creating beautiful pieces which have many layers and beg you to ask questions.  She's most grateful to both her parents for their loving relationship which was proof of their commitment to each other and the family. Ellen Mit...

Did your mother ever suggest you take a 'SeaMester'-a semester off from college to sail to the caribbean and keep a journal? Or maybe your mom convinced your dad to quit his job and jump in the car for a once in a lifetime family vacation to Alaska? Or how about, forgo Christmas in order to participate in an anti Vietnam war protest in DC? Most likely not, but Tim Wacker's mother did . Ronnie Wack...

If you seek physical healing, emotional healing, relationship coaching, nutrition/lifestyle advice, Dr. Jennifer Lamonica specializes in Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Nutrition, Face Reading and more.  Dr. Lamonica is a graduate of New York Chiropractic College and has been a licensed chiropractor since 1984.  She is based out of Mineola, New York. This episode of SHLTMM, Jennifer shares her stories...

This episode of Should Have Listened To My Mother, contains sensitive information and may not be appropriate for all ages. "A Girl Raised By Wolves" is Lockey Maisonneuve's memoir of her journey through sex trafficking,  cancer, murder and more. What does a little girl do when both parents are raging alcoholics and extremely neglectful? She kept hoping that  it was all a big mistake and her real f...

Her dream was to become and archeologist, but instead she became a bacteriologist. As a scientist in the 1930's, one of Alice Attride's most memorable experiences  was when antibiotics became available and cured so many. She loved science, her children and she  loved helping neighbors and people of her community. Alice went out of her way regularly to help anyone in need. Bill loved his childhood....

Louise Moon Miller didn't go to college till she was 60 years old. When she was young there was a war going on and she felt obligated to help. She volunteered for the Red Cross and trained at Walter Reed Hospital and served as a surgical nurse, more or less in a M.A.S.H. Unit, -the 59th Evacuation Hospital. Hear her daughter, Jody Miller Olcott of Hopewell NJ,  tells stories of how her mother put...

Myung Hee Kim is South Korean. She is the mother of 3 girls, a college graduate, former pre-school teacher and  theologian. She's responsible for starting the Grace Daycare Center in Queens, NY,  which is affiliated with the Korean Church of Queens. My guest, Jung Yoon-Leah Kim, is the eldest of the 3 daughters and an Acupuncturist, Cranial Sacral Practitioner, Doula and healer practicing in NY an...

When Terry Viscount's parents met, his mother, Joan, was a cashier.  She never worked again till after all seven kids were out of the house. Due to necessity, she took a job helping the elderly.  That's what Joan was truly all about-she always put everyone else first before taking care of herself.  Terry credits his mom for her calm demeanor and compassion for others.  She saved her pennies wisely...

After one year of college, Mark decided it wasn't for him and with his mother, 'Pats', blessing he went on to becoming a lifeguard at some of the toughest beaches on the Atlantic Ocean and eventually a New York City Fire fighter, Fire House Ladder #25, 11th Battalion.  Though Mark didn't necessarily take the normal career path, his mother always supported him.  She could see that Mark had a strong...

His personality was likened to an onion-"way too many layers". That's what someone said to Jim Lackey about his personality.  Sometimes we build up these defense mechanisms in order to protect ourselves from the outside world and to not let anyone in. Jim's mother, Geraldine Louise Good,  was a teen mom who went on to complete her undergraduate and graduate degrees while raising 2 children. Her ad...

Are there regrets for a first generation American whose parents emigrated to the United States from Haiti?   Absolutely,  especially when your parents had to work tirelessly so they could pay bills,  put food on the table and send you  to college.  Life was not easy, yet it never stopped Mike's parents from working hard. Having an ambitious mother, demonstrated that you do whatever you need to do...

After the sudden death of her husband, left with 3 daughters, Kim Miller's mother, Anne, had to manage the reality of being a single parent in 1960.   Anne Miller was a survivor. She always taught her children  about fighting against injustices and to do whatever it took to make the world a better place. My guest, Kim Miller, retells the stories of life under the roof with an abusive step father a...

Attorney, Tami Steckler, formerly of the Legal Aid Society in New York, finds it very comforting to have many children under her roof. That's because she and her husband are foster parents and have helped many families get back on their feet. Tami was raised in a similar environment as a child on Long Island where her mother, also an attorney, welcomed anyone in need into their home. She's very gr...

Swapping dates at her High School Prom was the beginning of  wonderful love affair. Down the road however, life had a different plan. Learning from her past and relying on her life experiences has enabled Maggie to become who she is today as a therapist, helping children and  adults build from their points of strength. What helped Maggie put one foot in front of the other in a time of crisis, were...

From a family of academics, Anne just didn't quite fit in as a teen.  But sometimes life's winding path brings you unexpectedly to the head of the pack.  Mary Elizabeth, Anne's mom, earned two Masters degrees, raised 5 children and was a major influence in her life. What most would consider a devastating event in ones life, turns out to be a Godsend and the beginning of a fairytale.  Anne says "I...

Spirituality was a constant in Josephine's life. She relied on it daily to get through each day.  The shock, devastation and sadness of suddenly loosing her husband with 8 children to care for was overwhelming. It seems that her youngest child,  had some of the answers, or so it seemed.  "She let me be me" says Maryellen Cole.   Maryellen considers herself very fortunate to have had such a strong...

She calls herself a 'professional southerner. Though tradition notwithstanding, Nancy often felt more like a tomboy than a young lady. She often felt that she didn't fit in and it wasn't just because she loved to wear blue jeans. "You can't do that because you're a girl" is something that Nancy heard on a regular basis. After more than 2 decades of working in the construction industry, Nancy final...

From braving a grueling transatlantic trip from Poland, to sleeping on the docks in Port Chester, NY, Shirley's mother and her family never gave up their hopes of becoming American citizens.  Shirley's parents worked hard and provided for the family by running a General Store. Luck would have it that a good book in a cozy nook brought pleasure to both women.  At 91, Shirley Gordon reflects back on...

Raised in the small rural town of Enfield, North Carolina, Roger Evans grew up on a farm with lots of mouth watering meals, lots of crazy antics with his siblings and a mother and father who expected respect. School was at the top of the list.  All the kids had to do well and they all knew what was expected of them. It's wonderful taking a step back and listening to Roger's stories of his upbringi...

I always think it's a good idea to stop what we're doing and take a look back from time to time and see if maybe we missed something.   You never know,  you may walk away with a whole new perspective.    My first guest has a bit of a puzzle to try and solve regarding her mom.  Feature film Production Supervisor, Peggy Robinson's mom was a New York City foundling but Peg didn't find out till much l...

One of the many wonderful aspects of this podcast is  that the conversations are timeless and the content is always relevant.  We will always  have lessons learned and memories and regrets  to share with one another.  Since this episode of SHLTMM was originally released, Lisa Stamm has left Project Sunshine and is now  heading Lisa  Stamm Consulting.  Project Sunshine' is a children's organization...

 My Latina guest, Zeahlot Lopez,  LMFT LPCC,  is first generation American, business owner and college graduate.    She's  CEO of 2 different companies.  She coaches professionals to develop their own practice and she helps individuals heal from Mama Drama -"Difficult Mamas."  Zeahlot is a licensed Cosmetologist (at a very young age) and a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California.   Bl...

Being the local Doctor and the Doctor's wife was a saving grace for         Hanni's family. Shortly after the German Army entered Vienna in 1938, the family started the paperwork in trying to immigrate to Massachusetts. It took quite a long time for them to secure all the paperwork and a job in Boston for her father, but shortly there after they were on their journey to America. The children's boo...

“My parents are supportive of me and I’ve always considered the presence of my parents a great, great, great fortune”. Stephane feels especially fortunate having had his parents support throughout his budding career. Corinne, Stephane's mother, was a  first grade teacher in France and she was meticulous and dedicated to her  young students.  She fully supports her son's career choice and even help...

"There's a lot of waking up going on with woman", says Rosjke.  "Women, were expected to be  emotionally mute and not have any needs of their own."  It's sad but true, too many generations of the women caring for the family and home did not have a voice of their own.  This is one of the main causes for the miscommunication between  mother and  daughter. Ms. Hasseldine goes on to say "to understand...