Can dads get postpartum anxiety? The answer is yes! Just like moms, dads are at increased risk for anxiety in the postpartum period. Paternal mental health matters too. Today, I’m joined by psychiatrist Dr. Pierre Azzam, founder of Braver Man, to discuss the signs and risk factors for postpartum anxiety in dads, and why caring for the mental health of the whole family matters. Show Notes: http://bit.ly/3ARYBDY Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness Follow Hap...
Nov 30, 2022•52 min•Ep. 149
Do you find yourself carrying the mental load of motherhood? Moms often serve as the default parents. The housekeepers. The caregivers. The go-to for all of the to-do lists. It’s a problem that can leave us overwhelmed, exhausted, and burnt out—and we often don’t even realize it’s happening. But we can make small changes that shift the household mental load and create buy-in from our partners. Today, I’m joined by Gemma Hartley, journalist and author of Fed Up: Emotional Labor, Women and the Way...
Nov 23, 2022•53 min•Ep. 148
As a new mom, one of the most stressful things we can experience is not being able to soothe our babies. So when we face the “baby witching hour,” colic, or a fussy infant, we often feel like failures. It’s hard to cope with crying. It’s even harder to let go of the expectation that we should be able to soothe every cry. Today, I’m joined by pediatrician Dr. Whitney Casares, founder of Modern Mommy Doc, to discuss how to survive the baby witching hour, and how to be kind to ourselves in the proc...
Nov 16, 2022•49 min•Ep. 147
Are you experiencing formula feeding guilt? Moms whose breastfeeding journey doesn’t match their expectations, or moms who choose to formula feed their babies, often face pressure, shame, and a sense of failure. But there are many factors that go into a feeding journey, and staying flexible can protect our mental health. Today, I’m joined by infant feeding technician Mallory Whitmore, founder of The Formula Mom, to discuss how to overcome the expectations, pressures, and guilt about formula feed...
Nov 09, 2022•49 min•Ep. 146
Enjoy every moment. Be grateful you have a healthy baby. Everything happens for a reason. Moms often get bombarded with these messages, being told they should be happy and positive all the time. But how do you deal with this toxic positivity? Today, I’m joined by marriage and family therapist Whitney Goodman, author of Toxic Positivity: Keeping It Real In a World Obsessed With Being Happy. We’re discussing what toxic positivity is, how to deal with toxic positivity as a mom, and better ways to o...
Nov 02, 2022•44 min•Ep. 145
Moms aren’t the only ones with a big adjustment when a baby comes. Becoming a dad brings its own adjustments, changes, and difficulties. Today, I’m joined by marriage and family therapist Travis Goodman, founder of Therapy 4 Dads, to discuss the transition into becoming a dad, ways dads can bond with babies, and signs of paternal postpartum depression. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Tyd53g Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness Follow Happy as a Mother on Instag...
Oct 26, 2022•54 min•Ep. 144
Returning to work after maternity leave, or having your partner return after their leave, can be tough. These situations often come with feelings of anger, guilt, and resentment. But if we can learn to listen to our emotions, guide ourselves through the transition, and work with our partner, we can overcome mom guilt and ease the transition. Today, I’m joined by marriage and family therapist Dr. Cassidy Freitas to talk about coping with our emotions while returning to work after having a baby. S...
Oct 19, 2022•56 min•Ep. 143
Are you confused about how to know if you have postpartum anxiety? For many moms, this is a difficult question. Postpartum anxiety symptoms are often dismissed as normal worries or first-time mom jitters. Many moms also feel a sense of fear about acknowledging their struggles. To top it off, postpartum anxiety is often misunderstood and understudied. But undiagnosed and untreated anxiety during pregnancy and the postpartum period can leave many moms overwhelmed and lost. Today, I’m joined by rep...
Oct 12, 2022•50 min•Ep. 142
Moms often feel like sacrificing sleep is just a part of motherhood. But there is a relationship between sleep deprivation and postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and other mental health concerns. If we want to support moms, protecting maternal sleep is important. Today, I’m joined by reproductive psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dr. Nicole Leistikow to discuss the role of protected sleep in maternal mental health and how families can work together to support moms. Show notes: https://bit...
Oct 05, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 141
Establishing age-appropriate boundaries can be tough. But without boundaries, we often find ourselves in a cycle of misbehaviour and punishment, leading to frustration for us and our children. Today, I’m joined by parenting coach Tia Slightham to discuss the importance of boundaries and how to set limits that are age-appropriate and effective. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3r2xdxL Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness Follow Happy as a Mother on Instagram: inst...
Sep 28, 2022•55 min•Ep. 140
What if I told you that you didn’t have to play with your child all day? Moms put a lot of pressure on themselves to entertain their kids. They believe that “good moms” play with their kids as much as possible. But when we learn how to encourage independent play, we not only remove that pressure—we also give our children room to create, grow, and blossom. Today, I’m joined by Susie Allison, founder of Busy Toddler, to discuss what play is, why it matters, and how to encourage your children to pl...
Sep 21, 2022•47 min•Ep. 139
Do you feel like you’re drowning in the mental load of motherhood? Many moms struggle with this. They find themselves falling into gender roles in the home without realizing it, and they don’t know how to break out of the pattern. Today, I’m joined by Dr. Darcy Lockman, psychologist and author of All the Rage: Mothers, Fathers, and the Myth of Equal Partnership, to discuss why the gender imbalance in household labour happens and how to shift the dynamics in the home. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3...
Sep 14, 2022•48 min•Ep. 138
When our children misbehave, it can be very triggering. We feel frustrated, disrespected, and uncertain of how to handle it. As a result, we often end up unsuccessfully trying to control their behaviour, instead of guiding them through their feelings. Today, I’m joined by Dr. Becky Kennedy, founder of Good Inside, to discuss how to help a child regulate their emotions and navigate their big feelings. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3cN87zq Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamoth...
Sep 07, 2022•48 min•Ep. 137
Why does a messy house give me anxiety? Why can’t I motivate myself to clean since I had kids? Am I just a lazy mom? Moms often worry about these things, feeling immense pressure to keep a clean house and experiencing shame when they fall short of those expectations. As moms, we can’t always buy ourselves more time to clean. But we can approach the concept of cleaning differently, learn to overcome our anxiety around cleaning, and develop simple tips for keeping the house functioning without get...
Aug 31, 2022•57 min•Ep. 136
Transitions can be overwhelming for our children and for us. As moms, we want to know how to support a child going through transitions. We might experience our own anxiety, deal with mom guilt, or question whether they are capable of navigating big changes. But with the right strategies in place, we can guide our children, and ourselves, through times of change. Today, I’m joined by Jess VanderWier, founder of Our Mama Village to discuss how to support a child through the transition into school ...
Aug 24, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 135
Starting school can be very exciting for many kids—but it can also be scary. We want to protect our kids, so when we see them worrying or anxious, we want to support them. But how do you help your child with school anxiety? Today, I’m joined by clinical psychologist Dr. Becky Kennedy, founder of Good Inside, to discuss anxiety about starting school, our role in it, and how to support our children if they’re feeling apprehensive. (This is the second episode of our 3-part back-to-school series. Ca...
Aug 17, 2022•46 min•Ep. 134
Is my child ready for kindergarten? What should I do to prepare? What skills do they need? More than ever, parents are scrambling to make sure their children have “kindergarten readiness.” But the skills our children really need for kindergarten are far different than we might think they are. Today, I’m joined by Susie Allison, founder of Busy Toddler, to break down how to really prepare your child for kindergarten. (This is the first episode of our 3-part back-to-school series. Catch Episode 13...
Aug 10, 2022•41 min•Ep. 133
Overcoming postpartum depression and anxiety isn’t easy. When we’re suffering from postpartum mood disorders, the symptoms make us believe that we are the problem—that we are failing as mothers. But with awareness and the right support, we can find resources and overcome mood disorders during the postpartum period. Today, I’m joined by Dr. Wendy Davis, executive director of Postpartum Support International to discuss how to overcome postpartum depression and anxiety. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3...
Aug 03, 2022•58 min•Ep. 132
Overcoming working mom guilt isn’t easy. Intensive mothering ideals, the perfect mother myth, and social expectations tell us that we should put ourselves on the backburner and always put our children first. But moms can embrace fulfillment outside of motherhood, thriving in their careers and showing their children that it’s okay to prioritize themselves. Lara Bazelon, law professor and author of Ambitious Like a Mother, joins us to discuss mom life balance and overcoming working mom guilt. Show...
Jul 27, 2022•56 min•Ep. 131
Research has shown that religion and spirituality can be a fundamental pillar of resilience. But not all religious environments are healthy. Many of us had negative spiritual experiences and are searching for how to heal from religious trauma. Today I’m joined by Dr. Quincee Gideon, clinical psychologist and specialist in religious trauma and cult recovery, to discuss religion, trauma, and the role spirituality plays in our identities. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3PAGSWp Book a Free 15 min Consul...
Jul 20, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 130
Moms everywhere are finding themselves exhausted, buckling under the invisible load, and struggling with unrealistic expectations. All of that pressure can lead to motherhood burnout—chronic exhaustion due to the demands of being a mom. Today, I’m joined by maternal mental health therapist Erin Spahr to discuss motherhood burnout—from what causes it to how to recover from it. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3a9YABj Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happyasamother.co/wellness Follow Hap...
Jul 13, 2022•54 min•Ep. 129
Modern moms carry an unfair share of the invisible load—the mental and emotional labour of taking care of the house and raising the kids. The problem is widespread—and breaking out of the pattern can be tough. But with the right approach, we can learn how to share the mental load at home in a fair and intentional way. I sat down with Kate Mangino, gender expert and author of Equal Partners: Improving Gender Equality at Home for a two-part discussion on the way gender norms shape the distribution...
Jul 06, 2022•48 min•Ep. 128
The vast majority of my clients who are in different-sex relationships share a common concern. “My husband doesn’t help around the house.” The invisible load in the home is real—and gender is the number one predictor of who carries it. Kate Mangino, gender expert and author of Equal Partners: Improving Gender Equality at Home, joins me to discuss the role gender plays in the distribution of invisible labour. In part 1, we focus on where gender norms in our relationship come from and how they imp...
Jun 29, 2022•50 min•Ep. 127
The world of gentle, respectful, empowered parenting can be difficult to walk. What does empowered parenting look like? Does gentle parenting always mean giving into your child? What does “respect” mean when it comes to your children? Today, parenting coach and author of the upcoming book Very Intentional Parenting, Destini Ann, joins me to discuss what gentle parenting really does (and doesn’t) look like. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3OuFft6 Book a Free 15 min Consult with a mom therapist: happya...
Jun 22, 2022•56 min•Ep. 126
The topic of surrogacy can come with plenty of stigma and misconceptions. Some of us might only know what we’ve seen on The Kardashians or heard about in movies. But as science becomes more advanced, surrogacy has created a pathway to parenthood for many families. Today, Ariel Taylor—experienced surrogate, fertility therapist, and founder of Carried With Love—joins me to demystify surrogacy and clear up some common questions and misconceptions surrounding it. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3xvWbbs B...
Jun 15, 2022•58 min•Ep. 125
Modern moms often have a difficult time navigating sex and motherhood. Sleep deprivation, body changes, the mental load, and even our own internal beliefs and expectations impact the way we experience sexual desire and arousal. Sarah Forbes, sexual culturalist, author, and former curator of New York’s Museum of Sex, joins us to discuss how sex and motherhood interweave and how we can reignite and embrace sexuality as mothers. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3Q5XR3X Book a Free 15 min Consult with a m...
Jun 08, 2022•52 min•Ep. 124
Sensory overload as a mom is difficult to manage. In a house full of chaos and noise, it’s easy to become overstimulated. But why does this happen? What causes it in our bodies? And what can we do to keep calm and drown out the noise? To answer these questions, I welcomed occupational therapist Larissa Geleris, WarriorOT, back to the podcast. In episode 73 Larissa shared tips for coping with overstimulation in motherhood. Today she’s back to talk specifically about how noise triggers us and what...
Jun 01, 2022•54 min•Ep. 123
How do I tell the difference between a tantrum versus a meltdown? Do neurotypical children have meltdowns? How do I support my neurodivergent child through sensory struggles? Can I prevent meltdowns? Parenting young children—especially neurodivergent littles—brings up these questions and more. Today, Laura Petix—The OT Butterfly—joins me to chat about all things meltdown-related: how to tell the difference between a meltdown and a tantrum, how to help children through the four phases of meltdown...
May 25, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 122
Maternal sleep deprivation is very common for new moms. Night feedings, frequent baby wakeups, stress, and perinatal mental health concerns can all cause sleep disturbances that leave moms feeling frazzled, overwhelmed, and fatigued. I chatted with Dr. Shelby Harris, clinical psychologist and author of The Women’s Guide to Overcoming Insomnia, about maternal sleep. In a recent episode, Dr. Shelby discussed insomnia and why moms struggle to sleep. Today, she’s back to share tips to help break out...
May 18, 2022•41 min•Ep. 121
Maternal sleep deprivation is very common. Even if baby sleeps, moms often find themselves battling insomnia–struggling to fall asleep, stay asleep, or get good quality sleep. When you’re a new mom, it’s easy to become obsessed with sleep. Watching the clock, obsessing over wake windows, and worrying about when your baby will sleep through the night seem to be common mom pastimes. But the baby isn’t the only one who needs to sleep—moms do too. And we often have an uphill battle to face when it c...
May 11, 2022•44 min•Ep. 120
