How are you? I hope everything is going well with you. I know, as we do this Inner Work, we will be uncovering unpleasant feelings and memories from the past. But I do hope that YOU will not give up. I am here for you and we are all in this together. You don't have to go this alone, even within your own heart. You see, we all have multiple sides to ourselves, little sub-personalities that are all vying for attention and for the chance to "run the show". And they are all waiting for YOU, the real...
Apr 20, 2021•1 hr 5 min
I hope you liked the first episode of the Inner Work Series and learned a lot from it. Now, for the second episode, we will be digging into our Inner Critic so that we can heal our past traumas and wounds. I know this work might be uncomfortable for you. And so, some of you wanted to shut down your Inner Critic. But we have to face our fears so that we can finally move forward. For this episode, Xavier Dagba will be helping us in meeting our Inner Critic. He is a transformational life coach co...
Apr 13, 2021•33 min
I'm so excited for the month of April because we will be digging into our inner work of conscious parenting series. So for the next four weeks, I'm going to bring in some experts in the field to help us with important concepts. For the first episode of the series, Dr. Trish Phillips of The Doodle Doc will be joining us. She is a coach who helps people reconnect with their inner child through doodles (check out her Instagram @thedoodledoc !). If you wish to know more about The Doodle Doc and how ...
Apr 06, 2021•37 min
As I'm sure you're aware, kids are SUPER good at noticing differences! They are primed to be noticing them, it's part of normal child development, which can be kinda... uncomfortable for us parents who have been kind of conditioned to downplay differences ("shh! That's not polite!") rather than celebrate them. Differences can refer to race, gender, class, development, disability, and other forms. However our children are natural curious beings and at times, they will point out the differences th...
Mar 30, 2021•35 min
Today we are talking about narcissism. What it is, what it isn't, how to spot it, & how to recover from a relationship with a narcissist. Narcissistic people have traits such as a lack of empathy, extreme sensitivity, and manipulative behavior that could lead to an abusive relationship. So what do we do? Should we leave them and stay away? What if we can't? And if we can't, how can we set healthy boundaries with them? This is a heavy topic, so to help me with it I've brought in an expert on...
Mar 23, 2021•34 min
As a kid, my parents did a LOT right when it came to teaching me about money, including investing small amounts for me for college and encouraging me to always save/invest part of my income (think birthday money) by "matching" it. But most of the time that all happened out of my sight and without my active involvement. So when it came time to go out on my own, I really felt woefully unprepared for managing my own finances. As a parent, I really wanted to do it differently with my own kids And I...
Mar 16, 2021•30 min
Do you ever feel that you are not enough, that you can't get all the things done, or that you can't give enough to your kids and your partner? I sometimes feel and think this way, and I know I am not alone. As Brene Brown puts it, we all have moments of this "never enough" problem, and we becoming overwhelmed by feelings of disconnection, lack, and fear... As you know, I am on a MISSION to help parents overcome these feelings of fear, lack, and separation. In this community, I want us to help e...
Mar 09, 2021•36 min
Are you having trouble getting your kids to clean up their toys? Or are you frustrated because they resist to help you with house chores? Well, I get asked about this A LOT from my community. As a parent, we want to teach our children to be responsible. We want them to take care of their belongings, their home, and their family. But the bigger question is, how can we get them to do this because they WANT to, because they value being a part of the family and contributing the home? That's the big...
Mar 02, 2021•38 min
So often in parenting, we focus so much on the "no's". "No, you can't eat that." "No, you can't have more screens." "No, I don't have time for my old yoga class." If it feels like you are "stuck in no" right now, I'm here to help you, and I've called in the Queen of "Yes" my friend and colleague Bea Marshall of " Yes Parenting " . DISCLAIMER: There's a little bit of explicit words used in this episode (just two!) but rest assured, these words are used with PURPOSE to explain a practical process ...
Feb 23, 2021•47 min
This month I had the privilege to be a guest on The Uprooted Podcast - where a happily married couple John and Christine, navigate their way through life and parenting in between. In the episode, I answered some questions of theirs that I am confident you will relate to as well, so I wanted to share the episode with you here on The Balanced Parent. We covered a lot of ground, but it all really centered around differences in parenting style and getting to the ROOT of why it can be so hard to stay...
Feb 16, 2021•36 min
Happy Valentine's Day! So... I kinda don't love Valentine's Day... There, I said it! And I don't think I'm alone in that, right? One of the reasons is that I really don't like the idea that ONE DAY is enough to measure the success of a relationship, or enough to nurture a relationship. If we are partnered with a person, we need regular check ins and nourishment for that relationship, not just one day! So, with that said, here is an episode for how to consistently show up for your relationship (n...
Feb 12, 2021•19 min
This week we are going to geek out on Attachment Theory! Attachment is an emotional bond that forms in early childhood and if this is not met, our child develops attachment disturbances growing up. These disturbances make it difficult for them to have secure relationships. May it be in school with their peers, their families, and in their work as adults. (We will also spend a bit of time discussing how Attachment Theory and Attachment Parenting are different- they aren't related AT ALL!) I know ...
Feb 09, 2021•57 min
This weekend my daughters had the chance to sit down with an actual Astrophysicist and ask her their big questions about the universe. Guess what most of the answers to the burning questions my daughters had (like what was there before the "big bang"? and how could there be NOTHING??") were: We don't know, and we will likely never know. Talk about an invitation to get comfortable in a place of "not knowing" right?? And with the current state of the world, with so many of us serving not just as p...
Feb 02, 2021•31 min
As we enter the last stretch of our month-long focus on play, I wanted to leave you with some super practical, easy to put into action tips for how to take your play with your child to the next level. We just had a tough year because of the pandemic and this is still a stressful time. We've been dealing with a lot of changes and kids CAN have a tough time processing these things too. And if you are noticing changes in their play, I want you to know that you don't have to worry. Play is childre...
Jan 26, 2021•29 min
These days will be completely dedicated for you to take intentional and decisive actions to achieve a fulfilling child-led play. Play is important. If there is one thing you take away from this month we've dedicated to playing, it's that play MATTERS, to children, adults, & relationships. It's one of the powerful ways for our children to express themselves. And so, in this episode, I will be helping you learn what exactly child-led play is, why it's so important & how to let your child ...
Jan 21, 2021•16 min
For the past few weeks, we have been slowing things down, observing our own reactions to play, and reflecting on how we feel about it. Now, we are getting ready to move into the ACTION phase! I know this episode will be packed with helpful mindset shifts and actionable tips to get deeper, more immersive independent play from your children And so, I am happy to have my new friend join me for today's podcast. Haley from Sweet Home Montessori is a beautiful mom of a 2-year-old with a degree in Ear...
Jan 19, 2021•44 min
In the previous episode, you have learned about the importance of independent play. But do you still hear your child say: "Mom, Dad, play with me!" multiple times that it felt like IT IS AN OBLIGATION to do so? And when you do play with them, it drains the life out of you? Well, I want to help you be free from this pressure and teach you how to have more fun and bring playfulness into your homes. So for this episode, we have an awesome guest ( and one of my favorite Instagram accounts 😍), Ange,...
Jan 12, 2021•49 min
Happy New Year! The year 2020 gave us a lot of worries and fear but I hope you were able to welcome 2021 with positivity. And I wish that you and your family will have the peace and healing that you need from all that you have experienced in the past year. As we welcome the new year, I want to help YOU become more balanced, centered, and deeply connected to those you love. And when it comes to kids, the way to their hearts is through play, which is why we will be focusing on PLAY for the month ...
Jan 05, 2021•30 min
Early child developmental theorists used to believe that children are blank slates and it is our job as parents to "fill them in". Luckily the field has moved on from this and modern research has demonstrated repeatedly how untrue this really is. Children are curious beings who love to explore and discover new things . And thus, they are capable of initiating & directing their own learning process . And we can play an active role in this process by giving them the right activities and materi...
Dec 29, 2020•35 min
In my Balancing U Membership Community Facebook Group, members are able to join me on the podcast for free Live Coaching. And so, for this week’s podcast, we will be having a live coaching call with one of the members. This member, who is a beautiful mom, bravely took this opportunity to take action towards bettering herself and her parenting for her good and for her family. There’s going to be a lot of inner child and attachment theory sprinkled throughout this episode but I think it’s going t...
Dec 22, 2020•34 min
I have been receiving a lot of questions from parents lately telling me that no matter what they do, they just can’t get their child to stop wetting their bed and/or having accidents, and the pandemic seems to only have made things worse. Have you been there too? Well, I just got the answers for you... are you ready for what we are affectionately calling "The Poop Episode" ?? (I swear, I haven't talked this much about poop since my kids were newborns and poop was an integral part of the daily co...
Dec 15, 2020•34 min
You know that moment where you realize you haven't heard your kids for a few minutes; where your house is suddenly suspiciously quiet?? And then you go and look for them and find them happily engaged in... redecorating your walls with markers, squeezing all the toothpaste out on the counter, climbing a bookcase (😱) or, (as happened once in my house) spreading shea butter all over themselves and the floor of their room. Yup. It happens here too! And in those moments it can be pretty hard to stay...
Dec 08, 2020•33 min
Tell me, does this sound familiar? You are getting your little one ready for bed but suddenly they burst into tears or explode into a tantrum. You are already tired from a long day and really just need bedtime to happen so that you can finally get a chance to relax, to turn off. But no matter what you do to try soothing your child and get them to sleep, it just won't work and you feel stuck. They are resisting sleep and you are resisting their resistance, yes? I know from experience how hard th...
Dec 01, 2020•34 min
Do you ever experience having your child sit on your face? Or your child keeps on chewing that toy? Or who likes to spin in circles and to move constantly? I do and I know parenting with sensitive, strong-willed, or spirited children can be tough. This can be a cause of stress and anxiety for us. For this episode, we are going to discuss a topic that you may find a little bit technical. But, I know for sure can help you understand your child's behavior. And so, I am super excited to be joined ...
Nov 24, 2020•39 min
The holiday season is a time for gift-giving, parties, and fun-filled activities that are meant to bring us feelings of happiness and love. But it can also be a stressful time for us (especially parents!) and a time when we often feel a lot of pressure to BE a certain way and to have it GO a certain way, and this can lead us to unconsciously slip away from our true intentions and goals for our family. In this little mini-episode, I would like to share with you some really practical tips for how ...
Nov 20, 2020•14 min
Tell me if this has happened to you: You're with your family and the kids start squabbling or acting out and you can see your partner's blood start to boil. You can tell they are getting triggered and that their thoughts are going down a path that will lead them to start parenting outside of your goals and values... Have you been there? Me too! And it can be so hard to know what to do in the moment when you aren't the one who is triggered! On the one hand, you feel pulled to step in, to help out...
Nov 17, 2020•22 min
As you pack away your Halloween decorations and begin looking toward the start of the holiday season if you're anything like me you're already feeling the worry and overwhelm starting to bubble up. The holiday season during ANY year can be stressful for families, especially moms who carry so much of that load. But this year is a whole other story. This year we have a pandemic to worry about... In this episode, I am honored to have two of the "nerdy girls" behind Dear Pandemic join me in discussi...
Nov 10, 2020•35 min
As we evaluate our parenting, we realize that what we do is reminiscent of how our parents raised us. And this traditional way of raising our kids, lead us to control, yell, isolate, and punish our kids when they resist or when they feel big emotions. If we continue this path, our kids will eventually pick up what we teach them and bring this with them into adulthood. In this episode, we are going to further learn how releasing control can help you fully step into your power as parents and how t...
Nov 03, 2020•37 min
If you're parenting children of different ages, I could imagine how difficult it must have been for you to balance each of their needs. Each age brings its own challenges, so how do we support everyone in a way that is developmentally appropriate for each individual kid? How do you balance your children's emotional needs at various stages of life? How do you help each of your children with their big feelings, without leaving anyone feeling left out or left behind? In this week's podcast episod...
Oct 27, 2020•43 min
Even though Halloween in the time of Coronavirus is looking like it will be a little different, one thing that will be the same is the increased access to candy and sweet treats our kids have this time of year. If you've ever wondered how to take a balanced, healthy, and evidence- based approach to halloween candy (and treats year round!) then this episode is for you! So, how can our kids have a healthy and safe (but fun!) Halloween? While I know how important it is to you that your kids have a ...
Oct 26, 2020•32 min
