In this episode, we speak with Dr. Damour about the emotional lives of teenagers. We pay especial attention to the pressures that both genders feel yet how those may be manifested differently across genders, at times. Dr. Damour unpacks parent-child relationships, especially the mother-daughter relationship, and the role of identification in that relationship as girls mature. We also discuss how research methods may not always allow for the identification of areas of concern for boys.

Dr. Lisa Damour is the author of three New York Times best sellers: Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers. She co-hosts the Ask Lisa podcast, works in collaboration with UNICEF, and is recognized as a thought leader by the American Psychological Association. Dr. Damour is also a regular contributor to The New York Times and CBS News.

Dr. Damour serves as a Senior Advisor to the Schubert Center for Child Studies at Case Western Reserve University and has written numerous academic papers, chapters, and books related to education and child development. She maintains a clinical practice and also speaks to schools, professional organizations, and corporate groups around the world on the topics of child and adolescent development, family mental health, and adult well-being.

Dr. Damour graduated with honors from Yale University and worked for the Yale Child Study Center before earning her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Michigan. She has been a fellow at Yale’s Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy and the University of Michigan’s Power Foundation. She and her husband are the proud parents of two daughters.

To learn more about Dr. Damour and her work please visit https://drlisadamour.com/ and follow her on instagram @lisa.damour

In this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Niobe Way about her new book, Rebels with a Cause, which expands on her earlier work about boys and friendships. Niobe explores "boy culture," a term she uses to describe the privileging of stereotypically masculine qualities over feminine ones. As she discusses, this creates a crisis of connection for everyone, not just boys and men. Niobe further emphasizes that "hard" and "soft" skills are equally important for being a full human, and should stop being gendered. She also discusses how this cultural imbalance regarding skills affects parenting, research, and societal issues. She encourages parents to foster emotional sensitivity and perspective-taking in their children and to model self-reflection and curiosity. Additionally, Niobe emphasizes the importance of prioritizing relationships and listening to others.

Please join Dr. Way for her book launch of Rebels with a Cause on July 9th at McNally Jackson, Seaport, 4 Fulton Street, New York, NY at 6:30pm. RSVP

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Ashley Fallon, PhD in Early Childhood and Childhood Education from New York University and Director of Mansfield Children’s Center, regarding how to produce summer activities for our children when we are all out of ideas. Dr. Fallon will demonstrate ways to introduce structured and unstructured learning into the summer days to combat “The Summer Slide.” After this episode, you will have easy, fun ways to add learning into children’s and parent’s daily schedules!

For any questions or more information regarding this episode, you can reach out to Dr. Fallon at ashley.fallon@nyu.edu

On this episode of Parenting Understood, we are joined by Jaime H. Davis, partner in the family law firm Gailor, Hunt, Davis, Taylor & Gibbs, and podcast host of A Year and A Day: Divorce without Destruction. Jaime discusses the complexities of divorce and how to support both oneself and children through the process. Throughout, she emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the best interests of children during a divorce, advising parents to avoid involving children in adult conflicts and to ensure they have a stable and predictable routine. Davis offers several tips for parents, including maintaining emotional health by seeking therapy and avoiding self-medication. She also highlights the importance of self-care and grieving the end of the relationship as part of the healing process. For those beginning the separation process, Davis advises consulting a lawyer, ensuring the decision to separate is firm, and keeping the focus on the child's well-being.

For more information on Jamie and her work, including new book, please consult: Jaime Davis

In this episode of Parents Understood, we discuss the importance of micro moments in parenting, and how they can positively impact children and parent-child relationships. We emphasize noticing the good in children's behavior, using soft and gentle touch paired with praise, practicing active listening and validation, incorporating mindful moments to build self-regulation, and setting clear boundaries to promote distress tolerance. These small but meaningful interactions foster a safe and secure environment for children, leading to stronger connections and better communication within the family. We give examples of how these micro moments can be integrated into everyday activities and routines. We also acknowledge the challenges of implementing these strategies consistently, especially in stressful situations.

In this episode of Parenting Understood, we are joined by Dr. Jessica Gaulton, a neonatologist and founder of Familywell, about perinatal and postpartum health. We discuss the definition of PMADs (Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders), emphasizing that it encompasses any mood disorder experienced during pregnancy or within a year after birth. We also highlight the lack of screening for PMADs and the resulting underestimation of their prevalence, emphasizing the importance of recognizing symptoms in both birthing and non-birthing parents. We touch on the sobering statistic that the leading cause of death in the perinatal period is suicide and overdose, often occurring in the period between six weeks and a year postpartum, when many new parents lack adequate support. Jessica explains how Familywell aims to integrate mental health support into OB care by embedding resources directly into clinics and making them accessible through insurance coverage.

To learn more about Dr. Gaulton and her work please visit www.familywellhealth.com, @familywellhealth and on LinkedIn at Jessica Gaulton or FamilyWell Health.

In this episode of Parenting Understood, we are thrilled to be joined by Dr. Rebecca Dekker founder of Evidence Based Birth. Rebecca is a nurse and researcher who is dedicated to supporting parents in pregnancy and the birthing process. She recounts her traumatic first birth experience, which involved unnecessary interventions and separation from her newborn, and how it led her to research the evidence behind common birthing practices. She found that many practices were not supported by evidence and could even be harmful. This led her to create a platform to share evidence-based birthing information with millions of people. In this episode, she discusses the importance of self-advocacy during pregnancy and birth, provides tips for managing pain during labor with and without medication, and addresses the rise of elective inductions at 39 weeks, highlighting both the benefits and potential risks of this practice.

For more information on Dr. Rebecca Dekker and her work please visit: Evidence Based Birth

In this episode, we discuss boundaries with parent coach Cindy Shuster. We talk about what boundaries are and how to establish them with ourselves and our children. We further discuss the core principle of boundaries and why we have them. Additionally, we speak about how to change boundaries once they have been set. Lastly, we address mutual boundary setting.

Cindy Shuster, founder of Partner in Parenting, LLC, is a PCI® certified parent coach and a Nurtured Heart Approach® Advanced Trainer. Before earning her parent coach certification, Cindy was a classroom teacher for 10 years and has a B.S. and M.S. in education. She has 3 adult sons, so she understands firsthand the many challenges of parenting, especially in today's fast-paced and complicated world! Cindy lives in the Baltimore area with her husband, Dave, and her dog Haley, but she coaches her clients by phone or Zoom, so she can work with parents from most locations.

To learn more about Cindy and her work visit please visit parentcoachcindy.com and @parentcoachcindy.