Do you have frequent emotional outbursts, often feel triggered by your child's behaviour and struggle to teach your child how to cope with their emotions? Neuroscientst, Dr. Cindy Hovington can help you understand your triggers, recognize and break your emotional patterns and model healthy emotional coping skills for your child. Curious Neuron is an internationally recognized emotional well-being resource for parents with their evidence-based educational content being consumed in over 70 cou ...
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Am I escalating this situation with my child?
32:37
32:37
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32:37Send us a text Understanding how to navigate emotional responses with our children is vital for fostering healthy relationships within families. This episode explores the importance of self-awareness, recognizing triggers, and methods to de-escalate conflicts with children for more effective communication and connection. • Emphasizing the challenge…
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Supporting emotional development through play with Dr. Tina Payne Bryson
1:09:44
1:09:44
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1:09:44Send us a text The episode delves into the critical role of play in both parental and child emotional development. Tina Payne Bryson shares insights from her book, *The Way of Play*, emphasizing how engaging in playful interactions can foster emotional intelligence and resilience in children while helping parents regulate their own stress. • Explor…
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The power of connection in addiction treatment with Travis Goodman
55:34
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55:34Send us a text In this episode of the Curious Neuron podcast, I chat with therapist Travis Goodman about the rising concerns around addiction. We explore the importance of compassionate curiosity when approaching conversations about addiction, the role of the nervous system in addiction, and the necessity of managing personal emotions when dealing …
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How to parent yourself first and break unhealthy cycles with Bryana Kappadakunnel
43:42
43:42
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43:42Send us a text This episode explores the profound impact of childhood experiences on parenting styles, emphasizing the importance of self-reflection and emotional healing. Brianna shares insights on building connections with children through understanding and compassion while setting healthy boundaries. • Understanding how childhood wounds manifest…
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Moving away from positive parenting and towards reflective parenting
24:40
24:40
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24:40Send us a text This episode encourages parents to shift their focus from rigid parenting styles to a more reflective, emotion-centered approach. We discuss the pressures of perfectionism, the importance of self-awareness, and how embracing the idea of "good enough" can transform parenting experiences. • Exploring the pressures of positive and consc…
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How to talk to children about the Los Angeles wildfires with Dr. Tamara Soles
28:46
28:46
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28:46Send us a text Open communication is essential for helping children process their fears and feelings regarding crises like the LA wildfires. Parents should approach conversations with empathy, reinforcing feelings of safety and community support while recognizing their own emotional well-being. Today, I chatted with Dr. Tamara Soles to get some adv…
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Understanding and Managing Emotional Triggers for Mindful Parenting with Dr. Sarah Bren
1:01:56
1:01:56
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1:01:56Send us a text REPLAY EPISODE Ever wondered how your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviours impact your parenting? Prepare to gain a deeper understanding of your own emotional triggers and responses as we delve into the complexities of parenting with clinical psychologist Dr. Sarah Bren. This episode is a masterclass in mindful parenting, giving yo…
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Strengthening Family Connections through Self-Regulation With Dr. Bruce Perry (Replay)
1:25:28
1:25:28
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1:25:28Send us a text The episode highlights the vital role of self-regulation in parenting, especially in navigating holiday gatherings and family dynamics. Dr. Bruce Perry discusses the importance of understanding brain development and the processes involved in engaging with children emotionally. • The significance of regulating oneself before helping c…
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Nurturing A Secure Attachment with Reflective Skills: Insights with Dr. Nicole Letourneau
1:00:28
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1:00:28Send us a text In this special 200th episode of the Curious Neuron podcast, we chat with renowned professor from the University of Calgary Dr. Nicole Letourneau. Her research focuses on enhancing parental reflective functioning (RF), the ability to understand and interpret one's own and a child's mental and emotional states. Through the development…
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A mother's healing journey after losing her husband to suicide
43:22
43:22
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43:22Send us a text Grief is a complex journey, especially when it involves the devastating loss of a loved one by suicide. Join us as we sit down with Reshma, a mother of three, who shares her heartfelt story of healing following her husband's tragic death. Through her lens, we explore how mindfulness has been a beacon of hope for her family, providing…
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Tips to help parents reduce stress and overwhelm during the holidays
29:09
29:09
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29:09Send us a text Discover how to navigate the stress of the holiday season while prioritizing your mental well-being and fostering a joyful atmosphere for yourself and your family. This episode promises to equip parents with actionable strategies and insights, offering three essential tips to manage the challenges of family gatherings, financial pres…
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Screen time vs Play time in kids under 5 with Tammy Schamuhn
50:03
50:03
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50:03Send us a text In this conversation, Cindy Hovington chats with Tammy Schamuhn, Registered Psychologist, Best-Selling Author, Co-Founder of the Institute of Child Psychology and the Executive Director of Family Counselling Centres discuss the importance of parental involvement in child development, the challenges parents face, and the need for sett…
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Ask Dr. Cindy: How can I better manage my mental load?
28:17
28:17
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28:17Send us a text A parent from our membership asked me "How can I manage the mental load" and in today's episode, I break down the advice I gave this parent. We all have a mental load and sometimes it seems like nothing can make it disappear. However, there are ways that we can manage this better and feel less of this burden on our minds. I share tip…
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The Hidden Struggles of New Fathers with Dr. Pierre Azzam
53:38
53:38
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53:38Send us a text In this conversation, Dr. Pierre Azzam discusses the intersection of mental health and professional coaching, particularly focusing on the experiences of fathers. He highlights the stigma surrounding mental health for men and the importance of understanding postpartum depression in fathers. The conversation emphasizes the need for co…
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The Role of Community and Support in Fertility with Lauren Enright
42:36
42:36
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42:36Send us a text In this conversation, Cindy and Lauren discuss the multifaceted role of a fertility coach, emphasizing a holistic approach that integrates emotional and physical well-being. They explore the significant stress associated with fertility journeys, the impact of societal expectations, and the importance of community support. Lauren shar…
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Embracing Goodbyes: What to do when a child struggles with getting rid of a toy
14:14
14:14
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14:14Send us a text Does your child struggle with letting go of toys they love? Saying goodbye and having closure is something we need to support our kids with. I hope this week's episode helps not only your child with closure, but helps you the next time you need to say goodbye to a loved one or something major. Want to join Curious Neuron's Reflective…
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Navigating Burnout: Strategies for Emotional Well-Being with Dr. Jessi Gold
50:58
50:58
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50:58Send us a text In this conversation, Dr. Jessi Gold, Author of "How do you Feel?" discusses her book on mental health and burnout, particularly in the healthcare sector. She shares her personal experiences and insights on the subtlety of burnout, the cultural perceptions surrounding mental health, and the importance of self-care and compassion. The…
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Attachment, Emotions & Separation Anxiety with Erin O'Connor, Ph.D.
47:00
47:00
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47:00Send us a text In this episode of the Curious Neuron Podcast, Cindy Hovington speaks with Dr. Erin O'Connor, Ph.D., about the complexities of the mother-child relationship, the importance of attachment theory, and the impact of parental stress on parenting styles. We discuss the significance of sensitivity and responsiveness in parenting, the chall…
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Send us a text What if you could turn fleeting happiness into lasting joy and protect yourself from worry and self-doubt? In the latest Curious Neuron podcast, join me, Cindy, as we explore the connection between joy and emotional regulation. We’ll dive into neuroscience and the insights of Brené Brown to tackle the fears and anxieties that often b…
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Were you ever told "You need to discipline your child right now!"?
30:51
30:51
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30:51Send us a text In this episode of the Curious Neuron podcast, host Cindy Hovington engages in a heartfelt conversation with Miranda, a mom of 3, about the complexities of parenting. They explore the evolution of parenting styles, particularly the shift towards more conscious and respectful approaches. Miranda shares her personal journey of navigati…
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Creating Lasting Memories with Your Children
21:10
21:10
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21:10Send us a text What if your automatic "no" responses are stealing precious moments of joy with your children? This week, I share an eye-opening personal story about how a spontaneous water gun fight with my kids became a treasured memory and a lesson in the power of saying "yes." We dive into the roots of our instinctual refusals and explore practi…
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Preparing your child for preschool using play
57:47
57:47
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57:47Send us a text In this conversation, I chat with Connie about the critical aspects of preschool education, emphasizing the importance of play in child development. We explore the challenges children face in adapting to open-ended play, the significance of emotional regulation, and the need for realistic expectations from parents. The discussion hig…
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Setting Boundaries and Holding Space for Teenagers' Emotions with Kirsten Cobabe
1:00:06
1:00:06
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1:00:06Send us a text In this episode, Kirsten Cobabe, a teen coach, discusses how parents can navigate the challenges of raising teenagers. She emphasizes the importance of building a strong connection with teens and understanding their perspective. Kirsten suggests that parents should shift their mindset and approach the teenage years with openness and …
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Parental stress has become a public health concern: here are my thoughts
20:58
20:58
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20:58Send us a text In this episode, I discuss the importance of parental stress and its impact on parenting. I introduce the Reflective Parent Club (IT'S FINALLY OPEN!!), a membership program aimed at helping parents pause, reflect, and regulate their emotions. I emphasize the need for parents to respect their time and create meaningful connections wit…
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The science of happiness with Stephanie Harrison, author of the New Happy
48:13
48:13
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48:13Send us a text Curious about finding real happiness even in life's chaos? In this episode of the Curious Neuron podcast, we explore what happiness truly means, with insights from Stephanie Harrison, author of New Happy. She shares simple ways to bring joy into your life through small, meaningful actions. We also challenge the idea that you have to …
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My life as a neuroscientist turned entrepreneur and homeschooling mom of 3
38:26
38:26
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38:26Send us a text Have you ever wondered why children's natural curiosity seems to fade as they grow older? This episode takes you on a reflective journey from the inception of Curious Neuron, inspired by a transformative comment from a Harvard professor. I share the pivotal moments from my academic path, including my PhD in neuroscience and postdocto…
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What are your 2 core values and how do they help you make hard decisions?
25:23
25:23
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25:23Send us a text Last week inside the Reflective Parent Club, we assessed our core values with our special guest expert Christina. Today, I walk you through this and help you identify your 2 core values. We chat about what this means in your life, what to do if you partner's values don't align with yours, and reflect on if your core values are simila…
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Why is parenting hard for me but it seems so easy for my partner? It's frustrating!
18:36
18:36
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18:36Send us a text I had an interesting conversation with a parent that felt frustrated because parenting felt like a struggle for her while it seemed so easy for her partner. Can you relate? I thought it would be interesting to break this down and think of a way we could reflect on this. If you can relate to this, don't miss this quick episode! Want t…
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How your well-being of today could impact your relationship with your future teen
26:12
26:12
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26:12Send us a text I read this fascinating article that looked at parental well-being of parent with teens. This article reminded me of a few things that I think you should know as well. There are lots of things we should be working on today that can have an influence on our well-being when our kids become teens. Life's purpose, our relationship and co…
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How would you score on a well-being test?
22:41
22:41
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22:41Send us a text In this episode, Cindy discusses the topic of psychological well-being and the importance of nurturing different domains of well-being. She introduces the six domains of psychological well-being according to Dr. Carol Ryff: self-acceptance, positive relationships, autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, and personal growth.…
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It's easier to be angry than sad: Tips to support your child (and yourself)
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26:27
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26:27Send us a text Regardless of being a child or an adult, it is much easier to express anger than sadness. Something happened the other day with one of my kids that helped me realize I had missed this in my own child. There "easily upset" behaviour was actually them feeling sad about something. This episode outlines the conversation I had with my chi…
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Send us a text In this episode, Cindy reflects on her conversations with parents and the importance of feeling connected and supported. She introduces the concept of parental self-efficacy and encourages listeners to reflect on their own confidence as parents. Cindy provides a brief self-efficacy scale for parents to assess their level of confidenc…
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When you feel like a shitty parent for giving your child a consequence...
15:11
15:11
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15:11Send us a text In this episode, Cindy discusses the challenges parents face when setting boundaries with their children. She shares a personal experience of setting a strong boundary with one of her kids and feeling conflicted about it. Cindy emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries and provides reflection prompts for parents to work through…
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Understanding and Addressing Child Deception with Dr. Victoria Talwar
48:59
48:59
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48:59Send us a text In this conversation, Cindy Hovington interviews Victoria Talwar about the topic of lying in children. They discuss the development of lying in children, the different types of lies, and the role of parents in teaching honesty. They also touch on the importance of modeling honesty and the impact of lies on trust. The conversation pro…
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You don't have to re-create a "new you": focus on getting to know yourself instead
18:55
18:55
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18:55Send us a text Constantly striving for an idealized version of yourself might not be as beneficial as it seems. Do you ever wonder if the endless pursuit of self-improvement is actually doing more harm than good? Join me, as I challenge the pervasive self-help culture that pressures us into relentless self-improvement. Inspired by an enlightening a…
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The Power of Connection and Community for Dads with Chris Rodack
37:15
37:15
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37:15Send us a text In this conversation, Chris discusses his personal journey of transformation and how he helps dads improve their lives. He shares his experience of going through phases of discipline and inconsistency, and how he reached a point of dissatisfaction that motivated him to make a change. Chris emphasizes the importance of connection and …
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Have you been feeling disconnected lately? Here are 3 tips to reconnect.
22:17
22:17
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22:17Send us a text I just came back from a trip to Italy and there was a moment at a park where I realized something....we need to connect more with ourselves and those we love. I polled our Instagram audience and 50% of parents feel disconnected and of these, 43% feel disconnected from their partners. If you can relate to this, have a listen to this s…
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Generational Adversity and its Effects on the Gut Microbiome
45:07
45:07
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45:07Send us a text In this conversation, Bridget Callaghan PhD, discusses her research on the gut-brain-microbiome connection and the impact of generational adversity. The study they conducted found that different forms of adversity were associated with unique signatures in the child's microbiome, and some of these microbes were associated with the emo…
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Understanding the Challenges of Military Families
1:00:55
1:00:55
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1:00:55Send us a text In this conversation, Cindy Hovington speaks with Matt Brown and Leah Blain about the experiences of military families and their children. The conversation highlights the need for awareness and understanding of the unique lifestyle of military families and the support they require. The goal of the conversation is to shed light on the…
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Exploring the Challenges and Solutions of Modern Parenting: Insights from Research
44:35
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44:35Send us a text In this episode, Cindy Hovington interviews Kei Nomaguchi and Melissa Milkie about their research on parenthood and well-being. They discuss the concept of intensive parenting and the societal expectations placed on parents, particularly mothers. The conversation explores the pros and cons of intensive parenting and the challenges fa…
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The Science of Well-being: Insights on Happiness and Workplace Wellness
43:02
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43:02Send us a text In this conversation, Jacqueline discusses the application of the science of wellbeing in daily life. She shares her personal journey of implementing wellbeing practices and emphasizes the importance of vulnerability and self-reflection. The conversation explores misconceptions about happiness and the role of circumstances in our ove…
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Everything you need to know before, during and after a divorce to support your child with Dr. Tamara Soles
59:38
59:38
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59:38Send us a text As a child of divorce, I know that it can be very difficult to go through. I have been getting lots of emails around this and so I asked my dear friend Dr. Tamara Soles to join me today. We break down divorce into before, during and after so that you have all the tips and advice you need to navigate this in a way that is best for you…
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Why we need to stop normalizing postpartum mental health issues with Dr. Tina Montreuil
56:07
56:07
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56:07Send us a text Navigating the tender complexities of mental health as a parent can often feel like a solitary journey, but it doesn't have to be. Nathalie shares candidly from the heart about her postpartum experiences, while Dr. Tina Montreuil of McGill University blends these personal narratives with academic insights. Together, we unravel the ch…
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What to do when you keep saying "I don't have time for myself"
20:21
20:21
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20:21Send us a text Hello my dear friend, I get it, I have said this over and over myself. However, today, I would like you to take a step back and really reflect on this thought "I don't have time for myself". I walk you through some reflection prompts and how you can view this problem a little differently and work through it. Making time for yourself …
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Embracing Self-Kindness: Dr. Kristen Neff on the Life-Changing Power of Self-Compassion
47:14
47:14
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47:14Send us a text Let's chat about self-compassion with the scientist that created the self-compassion scale herself! Today, I am joined by Dr. Kristen Neff, Tedx speaker and author of Self-Compassion: The proven power of being kind to yourself. Leading expert in self-compassion, Dr. Neff walks us through what it means to be self-compassion and how we…
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Unpacking the Mental Load of Motherhood with Erica Djossa CEO of Momwell
52:48
52:48
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52:48Send us a text Have you ever found yourself scrubbing baseboards and questioned why you place so much pressure on yourself? As I prepare for my trip to California at the end of the month, that exact introspection led to a profound realization about the 'shoulds' in my life, a topic I eagerly explore with Erica Djossa, therapist and author of "Relea…
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Was my child's misbehaviour due to my lack of emotional coping skills? Here is how I messed up last night.
19:11
19:11
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19:11Send us a text I really messed up last night and I want to share this with you so that you can learn from my mistake. When we are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, it can trickle down to our kids. If we don't notice this, then all we see if a child that is "misbehaving" when in reality it is a child that is dysregulated, doesn't feel connected, does…
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How building executive functions can support your child's motivation in school with Dr. Stephanie Carlson
1:01:50
1:01:50
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1:01:50Send us a text Let's talk about executive functions and how these skills support your child's academic performance! In today's episode, I chat with Dr. Stephanie Carlson, Tedx speaker and Distinguished McKnight University Professor in the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota. She investigates basic developmental processes i…
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How parental stress trickles down to our kids: The Spillover Theory explained
27:34
27:34
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27:34Send us a text Ever wondered how your stress levels could be painting the world for your little ones? I unpack the spillover theory and zero in on pivotal insights from current studies that reveal the depth of our influence on our kids’ behavior. It’s a journey of reflection—a look in the mirror at our own stress and parenting styles—and a step tow…
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Is the state of my relationship damaging my attachment with my child?
42:07
42:07
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42:07Send us a text Ever wonder how your earliest experiences of love and connection with caregivers are playing out in your adult relationships? Join me, along with couples therapist Vanessa Morgan, as we uncover how attachment styles developed in infancy can have a far-reaching influence on our interaction patterns with romantic partners and even our …
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