The Nurture Network

Send us Fan Mail You and your partner can love your kids, share the same big-picture values, and still have completely different instincts about how to handle a hard parenting moment. In this episode, I’m joined by Jacqueline Laurenzi, a Resident in Counseling specializing in couples counseling and perinatal mental health, working virtually with clients across Virginia , to talk about why parentin...

Send us Fan Mail We spend so much time thinking about what our children need—how to help them regulate, manage big feelings, build resilience, and develop emotional intelligence. But what happens when we're trying to teach skills we were never taught ourselves? In this episode, I’m joined by trauma-informed psychotherapist Arielle Kempler for an honest conversation about the emotional experie...

Send us Fan Mail Did you end today wondering if you're getting this whole parenting thing wrong? In this Goodnight, Mom episode, we're questioning what it actually means to be a “good” mother—and the impossible standards we often use to measure ourselves. Your child having big feelings, struggling with behavior, or needing more support doesn't mean you're failing. And one hard...

Send us Fan Mail Somewhere along the way, many of us started believing that being a "good mom" meant doing it all ourselves. Managing the schedules. Carrying the mental load. Keeping everyone happy. And feeling guilty whenever we need help. But what if support isn't a luxury? What if it's one of the most important things we can give our families? In this episode, I'm joine...

Send us Fan Mail What if one of the biggest sources of stress in parenting isn't your child's behavior—but the expectations you're carrying? Every day, we move through motherhood with an invisible list of "shoulds." Our children should know better. We should be more patient. Bedtime should be easier by now. Respectful parenting should be working. These expectations often c...

Send us Fan Mail What if taking care of yourself wasn't something you earned after everyone else's needs were met? In this Goodnight, Mom episode, Jess offers a gentle end-of-day reminder for the mom who realizes she gave everything to everyone else—and left nothing for herself. Together, we'll explore why self-care isn't selfish, why staying connected to yourself makes you a m...

Send us Fan Mail We've been told that if we could just find better work-life balance, we'd finally feel less overwhelmed, less guilty, and more present. But what if balance isn't the goal at all? In this episode, Jess is joined by Work-Life Harmony Coach & Strategist Amy Pierre-Russo for an honest conversation about why so many working moms feel like they're constantly fall...

Send us Fan Mail We prepare endlessly for the birth of a baby. We rarely prepare for the birth of a mother. In this Season 2 premiere, I introduce the idea at the heart of everything that follows this season: matrescence, the profound identity shift a woman moves through as she becomes a mother. It is as significant as adolescence, and almost no one is guided through it. I walk you through the fra...

Send us Fan Mail For the mom who lost it today and can't stop replaying it. I made Goodnight Mom for the hour no one talks about. After the kids are finally asleep, when the house goes quiet but your mind doesn't, and the guilt starts listing everything you think you got wrong. These aren't lessons. Nothing to take notes on, nothing to fix, no plan to do better tomorrow. They'r...

Send us Fan Mail When support shows up, everything changes. In this powerful conversation, Jess sits down with Stella Falkner , founder of Dowa Health , to explore what happens when maternal depression and anxiety don’t end after the first year of motherhood — and how Dowa is transforming the way moms access care. Stella shares her deeply personal journey through maternal mental health challenges...

Send us Fan Mail Do you love your kids but secretly struggle to enjoy motherhood? You’re not alone. In this honest episode of The Nurture Network , parent coach Jess Baldenhofer dives deep into why motherhood can feel so heavy—even when you love your child fiercely. You’ll learn what’s really happening in your nervous system when parenting feels overwhelming, how childhood conditioning and “perfor...

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever felt stuck in your head, overwhelmed by your child’s big emotions, or unsure how to stay calm in the chaos—this episode is for you. In this conversation, Jess is joined by psychosomatic practitioner Lauraine Mann to explore how your body holds the key to parenting with more calm, connection, and confidence. You’ll learn why unprocessed emotions get stored in the bod...

Send us Fan Mail In this week’s episode of The Nurture Network , we explore why parenting scripts —that perfect response you rehearse in your head—rarely work. Instead, what transforms behavior is a process : a thoughtful approach rooted in values, presence, and emotional regulation. We dive into:  • The difference between a scripted reaction and a values‑based process  • Why rehearsed lines fail...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Nurture Network, Jess talks with pediatric sleep coach Ella Hanover about why sleep is one of the first—and hardest—boundaries parents set. Together, they explore how sleep challenges go deeper than bedtime routines, often triggering guilt, self-doubt, and identity shifts in early motherhood. Ella shares her expert insights on how sleep is a turning point in...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Nurture Network , Jess explores why modern parenting looks so different from the way we were raised. From peaceful parenting to conscious and mindful approaches, today’s parents are trying to break generational cycles and raise emotionally attuned kids—often without a clear roadmap. We’ll look at the history of parenting styles, the roots of control-based di...

Send us Fan Mail Do you ever end the day feeling defeated, wondering why parenting feels so hard—especially when you're trying to do it differently than you were raised? In this episode of The Nurture Network , Jess Baldenhofer breaks down the real reason so many moms feel stuck in a parenting spiral of guilt, shame, overcorrection, and self-doubt. We’ll explore how our childhood experiences,...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt episode, mindfulness guide and solo mom Reshma Kearney shares her powerful journey of parenting through unimaginable loss and how mindfulness has helped her—and her children—navigate life’s hardest challenges. From caring for her grieving kids to finding balance in her own healing, Reshma offers practical tools, compassionate insights, and real hope for moms faci...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of The Nurture Network , we're diving deep into the real reason boundaries feel so hard—especially for moms. If you struggle with people-pleasing, burnout, or guilt when trying to hold limits with your kids, this conversation is for you. We explore how our own childhood shaped our sense of boundaries, why motherhood makes it even more complex, and wha...

Send us Fan Mail You’re trying to parent differently — more peacefully, more respectfully — but in the heat of the moment, you still end up yelling, threatening, or shutting down. Then you feel awful, stay up late Googling scripts or strategies, and promise tomorrow will be better. This cycle is exhausting — and you’re not alone. In this episode of The Nurture Network , I’m breaking down what pare...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Nurture Network , we dive deep into the concept of letting your kids experience discomfort and struggle. Many parents feel the urge to protect their children from difficult emotions or situations, but this well-meaning instinct can actually hinder their growth. Discover why stepping back when appropriate, allowing your child to work through their challenges,...

Send us Fan Mail Are you trying to parent differently than the way you were raised—but finding it harder than you expected? In this powerful episode, we explore how generational patterns, childhood triggers, and unconscious responses shape the way we show up as parents. You’ll learn how to recognize and unlearn unhealthy parenting habits, respond to your children without reacting from old wounds,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Nurture Network Podcast , we explore the power of teamwork in parenting. Parenting can feel overwhelming when you're shouldering it alone, but when you and your partner are aligned, it transforms the experience for everyone. I dive into how to build a strong partnership in your parenting journey, focusing on open communication, shared responsibilities,...

Send us Fan Mail As kids grow, staying connected can feel harder. The once-chatty little one now gives one-word answers, prefers friends over family time, and maybe even pushes you away. But here’s the truth—your child wants connection just as much as you do. It just looks different as they get older. In this episode, we’ll dive into why connection is the foundation of a strong lifelong bond and h...

Send us Fan Mail Want to raise confident, capable kids who can navigate life with resilience? In this episode, we dive into why fostering independence is essential for your child’s emotional and mental well-being—backed by research. You’ll learn practical, age-appropriate strategies to help your child take on responsibility, develop problem-solving skills, and gain confidence—without guilt or anxi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Nurture Network , I sit down with my longest-running client, Sarah, to talk about her journey through parent coaching—what led her to seek support, the biggest lessons she’s learned, and how coaching has transformed her daily life as a mom. We dive into the tools and strategies that helped her shift from frustration and exhaustion to confidence and connectio...