What is your experience with – or knowledge of – transgender individuals? What do you know about the mental health challenges transgender youth may face and factors that help them thrive and succeed in life?   This week, mom and blogger Leslie Lagerstrom (creator of Transparenthood) and child and adolescent psychiatrist Elizabeth Reeve join Marti & Erin for a candid and informative discussion on raising a transgender child. Tune in to learn how to help family and friends accept and support the child and develop a deeper understanding of both the risks and protective factors that influence mental health outcomes for transgender youth.     WHAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU LEARNED ABOUT TRANSGENDER YOUTH IN THIS EPISODE?   Do you know a transgender person? What did you hear in this Mom Enough discussion that gave you a new perspective on issues faced by transgender youth and their families? How might you support a transgender friend or family member?     WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PARENTING TRANSGENDER YOUTH?   ❉ TRANSFORMING FAMILIES.  "Transforming Families is a community where transgender, gender non-conforming, and questioning youth and their families come together to support each other in a safe, welcoming space."   ❉ GENDER SPECTRUM. This organization supports families and professionals create gender sensitive and inclusive environments for children and teens.   ❉ PARENTING TRANSGENDER YOUTH OR GENDER NONCONFORMING INDIVIDUALS. Listen to this Mom Enough episode to learn about parental responses that will help or hinder a transgender child's health and well-being, common feelings and concerns for parents navigating raising a transgender child, and appropriate interventions to support families and youth.   ❉ PARK NICOLLET'S GENDER SERVICES. One of several healthcare organizations offering care for people of all gender identities and expressions.

Mom Enough: Parenting tips, research-based advice + a few personal confessions!

Parenting Transgender Youth: Insights from Leslie Lagerstrom & Dr. Elizabeth Reeve

Finding the right college can feel overwhelming. From the time kids enter high school, thoughts of “What’s next?” become increasingly important. As your children (and you) begin the search, many questions may come to mind. How do I find the right college for me? Do I want a large university or small college? Close to home or far away? How can I look beyond big name schools to discover a gem I might not have heard of? What do I need to do now to increase my odds of getting in and getting a scholarship or financial aid? How do I prepare an application that stands out from the crowd?   Finding answers can feel daunting. However, there are so many more resources available today — from online college tours to knowledgeable college counselors. Gone are the days of the inches thick guide to all the colleges! Tune in as Mary Hill, Director of College Counseling and Academic Planning at St. Paul Academy and Summit School, addresses many common questions about finding the right college in this informative and important discussion. With college choices on the horizon for Erin’s kids, she and Grandma Marti were soaking up everything this guest had to offer!     WHERE ARE YOU IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING THE RIGHT COLLEGE?   What do you and your children know or think about college or other higher ed options that might work? What practical tips and resources did you learn about in this Mom Enough discussion that could help you and your kids find the right college match for them?     MORE RESOURCES FOR PARENTS OF KIDS WHO ARE GETTING READY FOR COLLEGE:   ❉ HOW COLLEGE MAKES OR BREAKS US: A CONVERSATION WITH AUTHOR PAUL TOUGH.  Best-selling author, Paul Tough, digs deeply into big ideas, and that certainly is true in his latest book, The Years that Matter Most: How College Makes or Breaks Us. Listen to hear some of what he learned from spending six years exploring colleges in 21 states. He joins Marti & Erin in this podcast to discuss highlights of what he learned and to offer action steps for college admissions, alumni, and public officials who make decisions on higher education funding.   ❉ PARENTING COLLEGE STUDENTS: A FREE ONLINE RESOURCE FOR ALL PARENTS. Parenting college students is a new phase of parenting! Jodi Dworkin and Marjorie Savage, from Family Social Science in the U of M’s College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), developed a rich new website, Parenting College Students, to help parents of college students wherever they are.

Finding the Right College: Tips for Success and Satisfaction in Higher Ed

Between work and children's activities, time in nature can be hard to come by. For urban and suburban parents, nature can feel inaccessible. For parents and families that aren't "outdoorsy," getting in nature can feel daunting. However, there are many benefits of nature that might motivate us all to squeeze in some time in the great outdoors!   Research demonstrates that time in nature increases positive emotions; reduces stress, anger, and fear; decreases blood pressure, heart rate, and muscle tension; and improves attention and enjoyment in learning. Whether you are the most outdoorsy or a complete novice when it comes to getting outdoors tune in to this week's episode for tips for incorporating nature into your home, passions, travel, and even volunteering experiences. Listen as writer, nature psychology enthusiast and Happy Science Mom Blogger, Sandi Schwartz, discusses what she has learned as a mom and scientist about simple ways to enjoy the many benefits of nature.     WHAT WILL YOU DO TO ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF NATURE (MORE)?   What are you currently doing to integrate nature into your family's life? What have you noticed when you are in nature? Are there things that get in the way of spending time in nature? What might you do to bridge those barriers? What idea(s) from this show will you try with your children?     WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NATURE BENEFITS AND SOME OF THE THINGS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE?   ❉ FINDING NATURE. Check out this website from Children & Nature Network for resources, events, and stories & insights to help you connect with nature.   ❉ 10 NATURE ACTIVITIES TO HELP GET YOUR FAMILY THROUGH THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. Read this guest blog post by Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, The Nature Principle, and Vitamin N.   ❉ GIVING YOUR CHILDREN THE BENEFITS OF NATURE EXPERIENCE: A CONVERSATION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA’S LAB SCHOOL. Listen as University of Minnesota Lab school director Sheila Williams Ridge joins Marti & Erin to talk about why nature experience is so important, both at school and at home. She offers simple ways we can connect our children with nature, wherever we live and whatever our resources.

Simple Ways to Enjoy the Benefits of Nature

Childhood obesity is a significant public health issue affecting more than 13 million children in the United States. The rising trend of obesity poses a challenge for parents who want to help their children attain and maintain a healthy weight. With many myths and misconceptions about healthy eating and weight, it is difficult to know the best approach to help our children (and ourselves!).   Tune in to this Mom Enough episode to learn what the latest research is showing about best methods to help prevent and treat childhood obesity. University of Minnesota clinical psychologist and obesity researcher, Dr. Carol Peterson, shares evidence-based approaches to help children and teens attain a healthy weight. She also discusses common myths and misconceptions about healthy eating and weight, highlights the connection between emotions and eating habits, and shares how technology (yes, even cell phones) can be a key tool to researching and treating obesity in teens. Listen to this fascinating discussion and learn how your teen can participate in a research-based weight-loss treatment program.     WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST TAKEAWAY ABOUT CHILDHOOD OBESITY IN THIS EPISODE?   What myths and misconceptions have you held about healthy eating and weight loss? After hearing this episode, what will you do differently as you support your child or teen in maintaining or attaining a healthy weight? What have you noticed about your relationship with food? How have your emotions played a role in your eating habits? How might you use your own awareness about these things to help your children?     WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENT OBESITY?   ❉ FRESH TEEN WEIGHT LOSS RESEARCH STUDY. Check out this link for more information on participating in the research study discussed in this Mom Enough episode.   ❉ PREVENTING OBESITY IN CHILDREN AND TEENS: A FAMILY AFFAIR. Want to learn more about preventing obesity in children and teens using a family-focused approach? Tune in to this episode with Dr. Daheia Barr-Anderson, who has spent her career trying to untangle the individual, family and community factors that contribute to overweight and obesity in children and adolescents.

Childhood Obesity: Evidence-Based Solutions for Parents & Kids

“Who is interested in shaping your child’s attitudes around money?” That is the first question posed by this week’s Mom Enough children and money guest, Nathan Dungan, financial advisor and founder of Share, Save, Spend.   The answer to that question – and examples of how our culture lures our kids to spend, spend, spend – should make us all sit up and take notice! But we do not need to be powerless; from 5-minute family money meetings to teachable moments at the grocery store, restaurant or ATM, this Mom Enough episode is packed with ways to clarify your own values about money, instill those values in your children, and give your kids voice and choice in family money decisions.   HOW DO YOU INVOLVE YOUR CHILDREN IN FAMILY DECISIONS ABOUT MONEY?   What practical ideas did you get from this Mom Enough discussion about children and money? How are these tips different from what you currently do and what next steps could you take to build your children’s money wisdom?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CHILDREN AND FAMILY MONEY DECISIONS?   ❉ TEACHABLE MONEY MOMENTS WITH YOUR CHILD. Check out this document for tips to ignite money conversations.   ❉ SHARE SAVE SPEND MONEY & MEANING BLOG. For insights and wisdom from Nathan Dungan, check out this blog. Consider reading the helpful article, "Talking About Financial Uncertainty with Your School-Age Children."   ❉ CAMPAIGN FOR A COMMERCIAL-FREE CHILDHOOD. Click here to learn more about the important work this organization is doing.  

Engaging Kids in Family Money Decisions: An Interview with Nathan Dungan

Do you ever wonder if there is a radically different way to parent? Or if perhaps a cultural shift in the way we parent is warranted? The Danish way of parenting may just be the way to go.   Denmark has frequently been ranked as one of the happiest countries in the world. It is a culture that celebrates togetherness and hygge (cozy conviviality), teaches empathy, and believes children should have a voice and be respected. All of these factors play a part in how Danes parent.   So, what can we learn from the Danish way? Tune into this Mom Enough episode with Jessica Joelle Alexander, best-selling author of The Danish Way of Parenting: What the Happiest People in the World Know About Raising Confident, Capable Kids. Listen and learn why ultimatums aren't helpful and why empathy, "equal dignity" and happy times together are key to raising self-assured and joyful children.     WHAT WERE YOUR BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FROM THE DANISH WAY OF PARENTING?   What two things will you do differently as a parent after listening to this episode? What do you notice as the most striking difference in the Danish Way compared to the American way? How do you think the Danish Way of Parenting would benefit your children?     WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EUROPEAN APPROACHES TO CHILD-REARING AND EDUCATION?   ❉ TEACHING OUR CHILDREN ABOUT SEX, LOVE AND EQUALITY. Tune into this conversation with Bonnie Rough to hear what she learned while living in the Netherlands with her young children.   ❉ WHY ARE FINLAND'S SCHOOLS SUCCESSFUL? Read this article to learn more about Finland's unique approach to education.

The Danish Way of Parenting: An Interview with Jessica Joelle Alexander

Countless children (and adults, for that matter!) are in the habit of nail-biting, hair-twisting, thumb-sucking or nose-picking. When might those behaviors be cause for concern? Even if they are apparently harmless habits, are there reasons to try to put an end to them?   University of Minnesota pediatrician Dr. Andy Barnes brings reassurance and practical advice to this week’s lively chat with Marti & Erin!     Note: You will want to stay tuned through the end of the show for a Relationships that Nurture brief from St. David’s Center. This segment addresses what you can do to ease your child’s separation anxiety.   WHAT HABITS DO YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN NOTICE? Does your child have a habit, like nail-biting, hair-twisting, thumb-sucking or nose-picking, you’d like to bring to a stop? What purpose do you think that behavior serves for your child? Is there a more acceptable behavior that might serve the same purpose? What ideas did you get from this week’s Mom Enough show about how to understand and respond to your child’s habit?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SELF-REGULATION & SOOTHING BEHAVIORS, BEYOND THE HABITS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE? ❉ PARENTING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC: SENSORY NEEDS & EMOTIONAL REGULATION. Tune is as occupational therapist, Kate Biederman, shares practical tips to meet our sensory needs and to regulate our emotions during the pandemic.   ❉ FINDING THE RIGHT “SENSORY DIET” FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILD: PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR REGULATING EMOTION AND SUSTAINING OPTIMAL ENERGY. Listen to this episode to become more aware of “sensory diets” and how we can identify the sensory tools and techniques that will help our children be their best at home and in the community.

Nail-Biting, Nose-Picking and Thumb-Sucking: Harmless Habits or Cause for Concern

The stress and uncertainty of the COVID19 pandemic can make it hard for people in addiction recovery to maintain their sobriety. The losses associated with layoffs, school closings and stay-at-home orders also may reveal previously unidentified problems with substance use. At the same time, the need for social distancing can increase people’s reluctance to seek or accept in-person treatment or support. With all of those things in mind, the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation (HBFF) has seized this opportunity to accelerate and expand their offerings of virtual addiction treatment and recovery services through RecoveryGo. Including both a Virtual Intensive Outpatient program and Day Treatment, virtual addiction treatment offers the same professional staff, curricula, amount of care, fellowship, accountability and safety checks as in-person treatment. Preliminary evaluations show virtual treatment to be as effective and to have higher patient satisfaction and lower drop-out rates than in-person treatment.   In addition to treatment programs, there are many options for ongoing virtual support and free online resources to help people sustain recovery. And for families who have a loved one struggling with addiction, HBFF offers a Virtual Family Program, Children’s Program, and Virtual Mental Health Services.   Janelle Wesloh, Vice President of Clinical Excellence, Innovation and Recovery Management at HBFF, brings more than 25 years of experience in the addiction treatment field to this energetic discussion with Mom Enough co-hosts Marti & Erin. Recognizing how the current public health crisis has highlighted the need for virtual services in the field of addiction, Janelle also sees how valuable these services will be beyond the pandemic. As Marti & Erin note, their own respective work with mothers dealing with substance abuse has made them acutely aware of how valuable it could be for a parent with an infant or young child to be able to get virtual treatment and/or recovery support, as long as measures are in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the child. Tune in to learn about the innovative options available at Hazelden Betty Ford.   WHAT DO YOU SEE AS ADVANTAGES OF VIRTUAL ADDICTION TREATMENT? Which of the virtual services or online resources that Janelle Wesloh discussed caught your attention? Who in your own family or among your friends and colleagues would benefit from knowing about some of these services? And how could you initiate a sensitive and respectful conversation about the availability of these online options?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ADDICTION? ❉ WOMEN, ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH. Dr. Sarah Wicks, a clinical psychologist at Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, joins Marti & Erin in this Mom Enough episode to discuss unique challenges faced by women dealing with addiction and, more broadly, how to approach a loved on (male or female) you believe has a substance use problem.   ❉ PARENTAL ADDICTION: IMPACT ON THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP & HOW TO HEAL TOGETHER. Helene Photias, national director of operations for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation's Children's Program, and Paula Frisk, senior director of zero to five home visiting programs at St. David's Center for Child & Family Development, join Marti & Erin to discuss keys to helping parents and children move toward healing, build more positive and secure relationships, and create the fun and joy that every child and parent deserves.     

Virtual Addiction Treatment and Recovery Support Through Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

Did you know that a hug, a soft and fuzzy robe, or rough-and-tumble play might all be a part of how we cope during challenging times? We each have different emotional regulation and sensory needs. Tending to these unique needs is important during difficult times, like the current pandemic. How are you and your children doing with emotional and sensory regulation during the stress of the pandemic?   Families around the globe are facing unprecedented health and economic threats, with great uncertainty about how long-lasting and severe both will be. On top of those overarching challenges, most of us are many weeks into school closings, layoffs from work (or trying to work from home while our kids do online school), isolation from friends and family outside of our households, and cancellation of our favorite sports, arts and other recreational activities. We may feel overwhelmed, bored, lonely, frustrated, anxious or depressed. Or we may feel relieved to have a break from the usual hectic schedules of our ordinary lives and relish home-cooked meals and cozy evenings watching movies or playing family games. (If you’re like Mom Enough co-hosts Marti & Erin, you may feel all of those things from one day to the next – or even within one day!)   This week’s guest, Kate Biederman, brings a fresh perspective to these challenges and opportunities, drawing on more than 30 years of work as a pediatric occupational therapist, 23 of those years at St. David’s Center for Child and Family Development (a longtime supporting partner of Mom Enough). As Clinical Supervisor of Occupational Therapy, Kate knows that children’s “occupations” include play, learning, social interactions and, as she says, “getting through the day without falling apart” – all of which are likely to be challenged by this current situation. But Kate brings an important brain-body perspective to guide us in how to enhance the ways our children – and we! – navigate these challenging times. From establishing new routines and a predictable schedule, to using movement, touch, sounds and foods to maintain regulation, Kate provides reassurance and practical tips. She introduces the concept of “heavy work” and the ways it can both calm and energize us and our children. And she provides wise guidance about how to communicate our own needs and personal boundaries to our children, as well as how to get down on the floor and follow our children’s interests, letting them lead and teach us as we tap into our own inner child. Tune in to learn more and to tap into the wealth of sensory and emotional regulations tools available to us right at home!   WHAT SENSORY AND EMOTIONAL REGULATION TECHNIQUES WILL YOU USE? What have you experienced during the pandemic and the resulting shutdowns? What have been the most challenging things for you about this time? And what, if anything, has been a relief or a pleasant surprise about the restrictions we are facing? How have your children handled things like school closures, online learning, not being able to play with friends and fears aroused by what they hear about the virus? What practical tips in this Mom Enough discussion struck a chord with you, and what steps could you take to help you and your children navigate these uncertain times and even build some habits you can continue when we move into easier times?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SENSORY NEEDS AND EMOTIONAL REGULATION?   ❉ FINDING THE RIGHT “SENSORY DIET” FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILD: PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR REGULATING EMOTION AND SUSTAINING OPTIMAL ENERGY. Listen to this episode to become more aware of "sensory diets" and how we can identify the sensory tools and techniques that will help our children be their best at home and in the community.   ❉ SENSORY AND MOTOR DEVELOPMENT IN YOUNG CHILDREN: MILESTONES, RED FLAGS AND HELPFUL TIPS. Tune in to this episode to learn how to identify developmental milestones and support your infant's sensory and motor development.

Parenting Through the Pandemic: Sensory Needs & Emotional Regulation

Busy parents often need a way to “contain” their babies. Whether it’s to prepare dinner, or get a much-needed shower, bouncy seats and other “containers” are a helpful way to keep your baby safe while your hands are busy. We all know parents need a break from time to time! So, while parents are trying to do what is best for their babies, might they be putting their infants at risk if they overuse containers?   “Container babies,” as they have come to be called, are infants who spend too much time in containers that limit free movement. In the early 2000s, there was a steep rise in “container baby syndrome” – movement, cognitive, behavioral and physical problems related to spending too much time contained in car seats, strollers, bouncy seats, swings, jumpers, rockers, Exersaucers®, and seats. While it is completely normal, and sometimes a necessity (i.e., in the case of car seats), to contain babies, there are some risks associated with extended time in containers. Movement is essential to infant development, especially brain development, so long periods in a container that limit movement can interfere with normal infant development. Tune in to this informative episode, brought to you by Help Me Grow, as infant movement expert Dr. Carol Leitschuh enlightens us on “container babies,” tummy time success tips, alternatives to baby seats and jumpers, and the importance of free movement for infant development.   WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST TAKEAWAY ABOUT "CONTAINER BABIES"? What changes will you make to your use of “baby containers” after hearing this Mom Enough episode? How will you integrate the suggestions for tummy time? What creative ideas do you have to limit your infant’s time in a container?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT INFANT DEVELOPMENT? ❉ HELP ME GROW MINNESOTA. Help Me Grow offers helpful resources on tracking developmental milestones, encouraging healthy development, and getting help for a child. They are currently accepting and responding to referrals for anyone who has a concern about their child’s development.   ❉ PATHWAYS. Free tools to maximize children's motor, sensory, and communication development.   ❉ SAFE INFANT SLEEP RECOMMENDATIONS: A DISCUSSION OF NEW AAP GUIDELINES AND RELATED CONCERNS OF SOME FAMILIES AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. Therapist Crystal Clancy discusses the AAP guidelines related to infant sleep in this Mom Enough® episode.

“Container Babies” and the Importance of Infant Free Movement

Are you cautious and protective with your daughter? Or are you encouraging her to be a gutsy girl? Studies have shown that parents are likely either to warn their daughters away from challenging physical activities or to help them so much that they don’t accomplish the task on their own. With sons, however, parents are more likely to “be brave” and to guide them in how to complete the task on their own.   Caroline Paul believes we too often undermine girls’ competence and self-esteem and deprive them of exhilarating adventures. So she’s written a unique guidebook for girls (and women!) called The Gutsy Girl: Escapades for Your Life of Epic Adventure. This book is packed with stories of her own adventures and those of other daring women, practical tips on changing a tire or climbing a mountain, entertaining illustrations by Wendy McNaughton, and space for the reader to journal about her own escapades. She brings her ideas to life in this enthusiastic conversation with Marti, who describes a few adventures of her own!   ARE YOU RAISING YOUR DAUGHTER TO BE A GUTSY GIRL? What messages did you get as a girl about taking on challenging or somewhat risky activities? To what extent are your messages to your daughter the same or different? Would you like to encourage your daughter to be more adventurous? And would you like to have some lively adventures yourself? How could you begin?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RAISING A GUTSY GIRL? ❉ WHY DO WE TEACH GIRLS THAT IT'S CUTE TO BE SCARED? Check out Caroline's New York Times article.   ❉ THE GUTSY GIRL CLUB ON INSTAGRAM. The Gutsy Girl website is now on social media. Check out this instagram link, or find the Gutsy Girl Club on Facebook.   ❉ EMPOWER GIRLS TO BECOME STRONG WOMEN. Longtime educator and founder of aWe, Inc. (Academy for Women’s Empowerment), Kristi Hemmer joins Marti & Erin for an important and provocative discussion of the ways girls and women give away their power through speech, body language and attributions that dismiss their own talent and hard work. Mom Enough® only shares recommendations for products or books we have independently reviewed. As an Amazon Associate, Mom Enough may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your purchase helps Mom Enough continue to offer evidence-based information at no cost to our listeners.

Raising a “Gutsy Girl”: A Conversation with Adventurer and Author Caroline Paul

As mothers, we often feel pressure to live up to what we think someone else expects of us. And, however we define “success” as a mother, we often seem to question whether we are measuring up. That certainly was true for the Minnesota moms who participated in an anthropological study conducted by Dr. Solveig Brown. She explores the results of this study in her book, All On One Plate: Cultural Expectations on American Mothers.    In this episode of Mom Enough, Solveig joins Marti & Erin for a heartfelt discussion of the doubt and guilt so many moms experience, the ways moms have found to cope with the multiple pressures they feel, and the powerful role of support and shared stories in easing moms’ struggles. Tune in to learn more about cultural expectations on American mothers!   WHAT CULTURAL EXPECTATIONS HAVE YOU NOTICED AS A MOTHER? What do you see as most important to being a “good mom” in today’s world? What comes most easily to you as a mom and what are the biggest challenges you face in measuring up to your own expectations? What could you do to ease the pressure you feel and how could you strengthen your support network (if you think you need to)?   TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CULTURAL EXPECTATIONS ON AMERICAN MOTHERS, CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING: ❉ ALL ON ONE PLATE: CULTURAL EXPECTATIONS ON AMERICAN MOTHER'S. Click this link to learn more about Solveig's book. ❉ A READER'S GUIDE FOR ALL ON ONE PLATE. For Solveig's All On One Plate discussion guide, click here. Mom Enough® only shares recommendations for products or books we have independently reviewed. As an Amazon Associate, Mom Enough may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your purchase helps Mom Enough continue to offer evidence-based information at no cost to our listeners.

Cultural Expectations on American Mothers: Insights from an Anthropologist’s Study

  What does it mean to be a parent who leads? And can leadership skills really make a difference as a parent? Absolutely, according to this week’s guest.   Listen as Dr. Alyssa F. Westring, Associate Professor of Management at the Driehaus College of Business, DePaul University, and Director of Research for Total Leadership, shares insights into the many ways leadership skills benefit parents at work and at home. Westring highlights what it means to be a parent who leads and how parents and families can use leadership skills to home in on their values and create a “collective family vision.” She encourages us to ask ourselves where we want to be in 5 to 10 years and to consider that vision as we make choices as parents and as a family.   Co-author of Parents Who Lead: The Leadership Approach You Need to Parent with Purpose, Fuel Your Career, and Create a Richer Life, Westring discusses the “Four-Way Wins” method to help overwhelmed parents refocus their attention, so that their lives are in closer alignment with their priorities. This method encompasses integrating career (not necessarily current paid work, but what you are trained to do), family, community, and self, including body, mind, and spirit. She advises us to ask ourselves how these domains of life interact, how much energy and time we are dedicating to each domain, how happy we are in each domain, and how important each domain is to us. This allows us to use the “Four-Way View” to evaluate our lives and then make changes to create win-win-win-wins -- where we do not have to sacrifice one domain to achieve happiness or success in another. Tune in to learn more from this inspiring and thought-provoking episode!   IN WHAT WAYS ARE YOU A LEADER AS A PARENT? What core values drive your life as an individual and in your family? What do you want the next 10-15 years to look like? What two or three things will be important for you to include in your vision for your family? Are there choices you are making now that no longer fit with that vision? What steps can you take to live in greater alignment with your vision?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PARENTS WHO LEAD AND THIS WEEK'S AUTHOR? ❉ WORKING MOMS: FRESH PERSPECTIVES FROM GROWN CHILDREN OF WORKING MOTHERS. Although a majority of moms are employed during their childrearing years, many working moms still experience a nagging concern that their children some day will look back on their childhood and feel short-changed. Listen as business leader and mother Pam Lenehan shines light on the overwhelmingly positive views of adult children reflecting on their moms’ work and the impact it had on their development.   ❉ THE SECRET LIFE OF A WORK-LIFE INSIDER. Watch Alyssa Westring's TEDx Talk below. ﻿﻿   ❉ PARENTS WHO LEAD: THE LEADERSHIP APPROACH YOU NEED TO PARENT WITH PURPOSE, FUEL YOUR CAREER, AND CREATE A RICHER LIFE. Purchase the book to learn more about using leadership skills to create the life you want to lead. Mom Enough® only shares recommendations for products or books we have independently reviewed. As an Amazon Associate, Mom Enough may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your purchase helps Mom Enough continue to offer evidence-based information at no cost to our listeners.

Parents Who Lead: A Conversation with Author Alyssa Westring

Identifying autism spectrum disorder at an earlier age is becoming easier. Although parents may fear having their child identified as having special needs, early identification and intervention greatly improve a child’s chances for lifelong success and wellbeing.   Dr. Jennifer Hall-Lande, autism researcher at the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Community Integration, joins Marti & Erin to help parents understand the process of developmental screening, assessment and intervention. This show highlights the value of Help Me Grow as a source of information and support for parents of all young children. (A special thanks to Help Me Grow for supporting this important show and for being an ongoing partner of Mom Enough.)   WHY IS EARLY SCREENING FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER IMPORTANT? Why is a “wait and see” approach not a good idea for a child who is presenting signs of a possible autism spectrum disorder? What did you learn in this Mom Enough show about assessment and early intervention with children with ASD?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES? ❉ HELP ME GROW MINNESOTA. Explore resources on developmental milestones, encouraging healthy development, and how to get help for a child from Help Me Grow. ❉ LEARN THE SIGNS. ACT EARLY. Check out these helpful developmental milestone tracking tools from the CDC. ❉ MINNESOTA ACT EARLY. Minnesota Act Early reaches out to families, communities, and organizations to promote early screening and early identification of potential developmental delays. ❉ UNDERSTANDING THE EARLY SIGNS OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER: A CONVERSATION WITH DR. JED ELISON FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA. Tune in to this important episode to learn more about early signs of autism spectrum disorder.

Autism Spectrum Disorder: Early Identification and Intervention

Do you ever miss your old day planner? Or are you an avid journal keeper, who is struggling to compose a paragraph at the end of a long day in your life as a parent? In the digital age, is there really a reason to go analog? New York Times bestselling author and inventor of the Bullet Journal Method, Ryder Carroll, believes there is.   Carroll has found creative and quick ways we can use analog (pen and paper) to be more intentional about the lives we want to create. In this conversation with Mom Enough’s Dr. Erin Erickson, he shares the benefits of going analog and his method to mindfully organize, keep track of activities, set goals, and make our visions a reality. Listen to insights from his international bestselling book, The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future, and get motivated to grab a pen and a journal and take charge of your life.   WILL YOU CONSIDER TRYING THE BULLET JOURNAL METHOD? What did you resonate with the most in the interview with Ryder Carroll? How might you respond differently to writing something down by hand compared to typing or using your computer? In what ways would going analog help you be more intentional and mindful?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BULLET JOURNALING? ❉ Want to start a Bullet Journal? Click here to learn how to Bullet Journal. Or watch this video: ﻿     ❉ Watch Ryder Carroll's TEDx talk, "How to Declutter Your Mind":

The Bullet Journal® Method: A Conversation with Author Ryder Carroll

Dr. Marti Erickson, developmental psychologist and her daughter Dr. Erin Erickson, women’s health nurse practitioner and specialist in maternal-child health, use research-based information and a few personal confessions as they and their guests discuss what it means to be “mom enough.”

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Mom Enough: Parenting tips, research-based advice + a few pe...

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