Voices of Your Village

This was the most requested topic yet! Angela Garcia and I dove into gun play in early childhood. To be honest, we entered this discussion with different perspectives on whether or not we should let kids play with toy/fake guns, and what the role of the adult is to teach children about the real implications that guns have on society. We had a raw, respectful conversation that changed my opinion on...

When Nao pictured her family, she imagined typically developing children. Down Syndrome wasn’t on her radar, it wasn’t something she was prepared for, but now as the mother of a child with DS, she considers herself the lucky few. Nao dove into her journey of finding out Emalee has Down Syndrome, the fears, the unknown, and the beauty. She shares what the diagnosis means and how they’ve navigated t...

From children finding their penis/clitoris, to masturbation, or how a baby got IN mommy’s belly, it’s hard to know how to navigate these conversations, and let’s get real, this stuff all starts to happen before most of us are ready. So, mama of two, with a graduate degree in early childhood education, Jenna Chew, sat down with me to dive into this often uncomfortable topic. We shared our experienc...

We’re back with part two of the "choosing the childcare that’s right for you" series. This time around Lacey and I discuss what to look for in a home/childcare as well as questions to ask a care provider/nanny. There’s so much to consider and a million takeaways in this episode so we created a free guide for you over on www.voicesofyourvillage.com! Loving this podcast and want to say thanks? Scrol...

When it comes to choosing childcare there are so many factors to consider. From a childcare center, to home daycares and nannies -- knowing what to look for, what to ask, and who to trust can be an overwhelming journey. I hung out with Lacey Mallett, who has over a decade of experience in various early childhood settings, to examine the ins and outs of childcare so you can decide what’s best for y...

From emotions to logistics, being a working mom is something we need to talk about. Bryn Huntpalmer, host of The Birth Hour Podcast joined me to talk about her experience working part time, full time, full time with a side gig, out of the home, working from home, you name it, I feel like she’s done it. She and her husband, Richard, are co-parents on this journey, and she shares what has worked for...

Have you seen someone with a disability in public and weren’t sure how to support your children with respectful, inclusive dialogue? We don’t want to be offensive, but we also want to help our children understand the world. Well, Whitney Kallenbach and I dove into ways to address this topic with your kiddos as well as when it varies, i.e. a child versus an adult. We had an honest conversation abou...

When it comes to elementary school, we often hear about how rigid it is, and academically focused, yet research shows that play based learning has greater outcomes for success. I dove into all things elementary school with my friend Amanda. She is the director of an independent K-6 in Vermont. We talk about things to look for in a school, ways to advocate for your kiddos, and I loooove her number...

There is SO much to learn when it comes to pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. From setting up a nursery, to creating a birth plan, and then oh ya know, keeping a child alive and thriving. This whole parenting thing can be overwhelming. I picked Nina Spears, or as you might know her, The Baby Chick’s brain about what you REALLY need to know as you embark on this journey. Nina, a long time birth and...

Are you tired of sick days? Ready for these colds to go away? Are you done with over-the-counter meds, or those constant ear infections? Ready to get a good night of sleep, or get a little help battling challenging emotions? There’s an oil for that -- a Young Living Essential Oil, that is. I snagged oil expert and mama of five Rachel Eade to talk through what in the world essential oils are all ab...

Our kids are growing up in a different world than we did. A more accepting world, and one with conversation we need to be prepared to have. Gender fluidity and identity is something many of us did not grow up talking about, but thankfully that has changed, and we need the language to evolve, too. Trystan Reese, a trans father of three, and social justice activist joined me on the show to dive into...

One cannot know what it’s like to walk in another’s shoes. We can have sympathy and empathy, but each path is unique. I want to raise children who are comfortable and confident advocating for themselves and others, who fight for equality across race, gender, socioeconomics, mental and physical ability, etc. In order to dive into how to address race in early childhood I brought in racial socializat...

My days with my 3 year old are always so calm and chill, said no one ever. Today is a first for Voices of Your Village as I got to sit down with two parents at the same time. Kelly & Don joined me to talk about boundary setting with their 3 year old, helping her learn how to navigate hearing ‘no’ without an epic meltdown each time. We also dove into what this all means for their toddler who is sta...

From babbling to those first words, how do we support tiny human speech and language development? How many words should kiddos have by certain ages and why does that even matter? What can we do every day to help our littles learn how to communicate with the world around them?! I’m so stinkin’ excited about today’s episode of Voices of Your Village. I learned SO much in this interview with Speech &...

Going from physical therapist to SAHM was never what Tess Townsend imagined for herself. She was comfortable and confident at work, but tiny humans? Brain development? This was all new to her and she didn’t see herself sliding into it full time… until her first babe arrived. Her rocked her world in the best way possible. After a rocky start, they found their groove, and she realized despite this i...

An amazing mama, Rachel Lounder joined me for some raw, honest conversation about parenting through grief, trauma, and intense obstacles. Parenting is a 24 hour job. We don’t get to hit pause and come back when we are ready. Rachel knows this to be so true and so graciously shares her journey as a cancer survivor, through losing loved ones, and battling her own fears and anxiety all while being a...

There are soooo many products to sift through when having a baby. In this episode I dove into my Fab Five products for an optimal sleep environment. Before making any big adjustments to sleep I always look at the environment first. In this episode I walk you through exactly what I am looking for in a space, and these little tweaks can be a game changer in the sleep environment. If you’re driving,...

Are ya ready for another taboo subject?! These days screen time typically comes with a winced, quiet voice as we try to pretend it isn’t happening. It seems to be topic that parents are wary about diving into because of the judgment that comes along with it. In this podcast, I talk with powerful mama-preneur - Sarah Bivens.   I got to talk with this fierce feminist, mom to a little babe, a balance...

Guys, daylight savings time is just around the corner and to help you prepare, I will be highlighting how light plays a vital role in sleep and how we can manipulate that to get the desired sleep patterns for your tiny humans. I will be discussing two different options; the plan ahead or respond after so you to chose whatever feels right for you. I also created a FREE Daylight Savings Time guide j...

Holy moly, this woman is bringing SO much to the table. In this episode I get to dive into the world of occupational therapy, I know, I didn't really know what that was either, with Lori Goodrich. She has such a brilliant mind and does a fantastic job explaining the sensory system. I get to ask her my biggest questions on what is happening in those tiny human brains. I took all of your questions a...

Wanna know the topic I get the most questions about what it comes to these little brains?! So many of you share your anecdotes looking for my advice and it really comes back to one answer: boundaries. Boundary setting is sooooo hard because we have to be consistent, even when we are tired, hungry, and solo parenting. The thing is, if we hold boundaries firm and consistently early on, then it makes...

This taboo subject has long been practiced in secret. It comes with fear, judgement, and a lot of unknown. Well, this mama is here to break the silence. I get to talk with Kelsey McGrath about her experience with co-sleeping. She bought all the things, the crib, the gadgets; she was prepared to sleep in separate spaces, even separate beds, until parenthood came along and the reality looked a lot d...

I am so pumped to share this space with you! As your host I am here to serve you with the best, free content. Let's get real, this whole parenting this is hard and we aren't meant to do it alone. I started Seed & Sew to combine experts in the field with the experience of decades of parenting to support y'all on this journey. Through Seed & Sew I have this amazing opportunity to pop into your ear b...