In this powerful episode of Childcare Challenges, host Tashieanna O'Connor sits down with Paula Yost, a lawyer, child advocate, and author, for a conversation that pierces the heart of the child welfare system.

Tashieanna begins by sharing her own harrowing journey—from raising siblings in Jamaica to the profound loss of her first son due to systemic failure and abuse—revealing how personal trauma forged her mission to protect children. Paula then shares the inspiring story of adopting her 14-year-old daughter from the foster system, a testament to how one adult’s belief can redirect a life shattered by trauma.

Together, they tackle the raw, unspoken challenges within childcare: the exhaustion of providers, the silent shame of single fathers, and the struggle to educate parents without judgment. Paula introduces the critical concept of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and explains how understanding trauma is the key to reaching both children and struggling families.

This episode is a lesson in turning pain into purpose. It’s about the mentors who show up, the routines that heal, and the relentless hope that says no child is beyond saving. Listen for a story of survival, advocacy, and the unwavering conviction that love and stability can rewrite any future.

Find Paula Yost here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-yost-3279741b/

And look out for her book Tumbleweeds

Take “Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire for Adults” test:

https://www.acesaware.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ACE-Questionnaire-for-Adults-Identified-English-rev.7.26.22.pdf

For more Episodes of Childcare Challenges, check our playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmDgbxhWYji1iLljft2A1sK6OB13YtnrQ

Listen and subscribe to Childcare Challenges on your favorite platform. If you're a provider, educator or a parent with a story to share, we invite you to write us at

[email protected]

When a major water outage shut down schools and businesses in Thomaston, Connecticut, one critical service remained: the small, determined family childcare homes. They boiled water, improvised solutions, and stayed open. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, a similar story played out nationwide—as large institutions closed, these micro-centers became the unwavering safety net for essential workers and vulnerable families.

On this powerful episode of Childcare Challenges, host Tashieanna O'Connor spotlights the immense resilience of the family childcare provider. We explore the personal sacrifice, ingenuity, and deep community commitment that drives them to stay open during crises, often at great personal risk and financial cost. Yet, despite being a lifeline, they share stories of being overlooked by emergency planners, burdened by inequitable support, and facing public skepticism about their small-scale operations.

Tashieanna delves into the stark contrast between their indispensable role and the lack of recognition they receive. This is a tribute to their perseverance and a critical call to action: it's time our systems and our communities treat family childcare not as an afterthought, but as the essential, resilient infrastructure it truly is.

For more Episodes of Childcare Challenges, check our playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmDgbxhWYji1iLljft2A1sK6OB13YtnrQ

Listen and subscribe to Childcare Challenges on your favorite platform. If you're a provider, educator or a parent with a story to share, we invite you to write us at

[email protected]

In the crucial work of keeping children safe, inspections are a non-negotiable pillar of the childcare system. But what happens when the rules themselves—or the people enforcing them—become a barrier to quality care?

On this revealing episode of Childcare Challenges, host Tashieanna O'Connor tackles a widespread but often whispered-about frustration in the provider community: the struggle with inconsistent, confusing, and sometimes unreasonable inspectors and regulations. With different organizations often imposing conflicting requirements, dedicated providers can find themselves in an exhausting maze of compliance, where common sense sometimes loses to a clipboard.

Tashieanna speaks about the experiences of veteran providers, from baffling citations to the emotional toll of adversarial inspections. This episode isn't about avoiding oversight, but about advocating for a system that is clear, consistent, and collaborative. How can we ensure inspections truly prioritize child safety and development without burning out the very professionals we rely on?

Join a necessary conversation about fixing the framework that is meant to support our childcare infrastructure. It's time to talk about building a better system, together.

Listen and subscribe to Childcare Challenges on your favorite platform. If you're a provider with an inspection story to share, we invite you to write us at

[email protected]

On this powerful episode of Childcare Challenges, host Tashieanna O'Connor shines a light on a quiet, persistent force in our communities: single fathers. Beyond the stereotypes and statistics, this episode honors the lived reality of dads who are working long hours, juggling impossible schedules, and still showing up—present, devoted, and doing their absolute best for their children.

Tashieanna explores the unique challenges and profound triumphs of single fatherhood. From navigating workplaces not built for primary caregivers to battling societal expectations, these men are rewriting the script on what it means to be a dad. This is all about resilience in the face of exhaustion, creativity in the face of limited resources, and the deep, unwavering love that fuels the daily grind.

Listen in for raw stories, hard-won wisdom, and a renewed appreciation for the single dads who are not just filling a role, but wholeheartedly building a home. Their journey is a testament to the fact that family is not defined by circumstance, but by commitment.

For more Episodes of Childcare Challenges, check our playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmDgbxhWYji1iLljft2A1sK6OB13YtnrQ

Reach out:

If you would like to share your experiences or join Tasheianna for an episode, send a mail to:

[email protected]

A viral video from Chicago, showing a mother and child assaulted by a group of middle schoolers, has left a community reeling and a nation asking why. On this urgent episode of Childcare Challenges, host Tashieanna O'Connor confronts the painful reality behind such acts of youth violence. Moving beyond shock and blame, this episode delves into the essential role of parental responsibility in guiding children away from harm and toward empathy.

Tashieanna reflects on how children learn to dehumanize others and where that behavior is fostered—often in the spaces between what is taught and what is tolerated at home. She challenges parents to step into courageous leadership by actively engaging with their children, setting clear boundaries, and instilling core values of respect and compassion long before crisis strikes. This is a call to reclaim the vital work of parenting not as a passive role, but as the most powerful form of community intervention we have.

Join a conversation that insists on accountability not as punishment, but as prevention. For the sake of every child’s safety—both the harmed and those causing harm—we must examine what we are modeling, what we are permitting, and how we can break the cycle together.

Reach out:

If you would like to share your experiences or join Tasheianna for an episode, send a mail to:

[email protected]

On this episode of Childcare Challenges, host Tashieanna O'Connor delves into the recent and devastating decision by the American government to pull critical funding from childcare services across multiple states. This broad action, sparked by fraud allegations at a single daycare, is creating a crisis that stretches far beyond one bad actor.

Tashieanna unpacks the real-world consequences of this sweeping defunding. For countless families, affordable childcare is not a luxury—it’s the linchpin that allows parents to work, pursue education, and provide for their households. When funding disappears, slots vanish, costs skyrocket, and stable, quality care becomes an impossible dream for those who need it most. This episode highlights the essential role of public investment in maintaining an accessible childcare system and examines the dangerous precedent of punishing entire communities for the failings of a few.

Join a crucial conversation about protecting the infrastructure that working people depend on every single day. It’s a fight for economic stability, family well-being, and a future where care is not a privilege, but a priority.

For more Episodes of Childcare Challenges, check our playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmDgbxhWYji1iLljft2A1sK6OB13YtnrQ

Reach out:

If you would like to share your experiences or join Tasheianna for an episode, send a mail to:

[email protected]

On this urgent episode of Childcare Challenges, host Tashieanna O'Connor issues a direct call to action to every child care worker, educator, and provider. For too long, the systemic challenges of low wages, burnout, and underfunding have been whispered about. It's time to shout them from the rooftops.

This episode is about turning frustration into force. Tashieanna breaks down why your individual story is the most powerful tool for change and how to channel it into collective action

Your work is the backbone of communities and the economy. Now, it’s time to make sure your voice is heard where it matters most. This is more than an episode—it’s a rallying cry.

Tune in, get fired up, and learn how to turn your experience into the engine for change.

Reach out:

If you would like to share your experiences or join Tasheianna for an episode, send a mail to:

[email protected]

What is the true cost of inaction?

In this powerful episode, Tasheianna O'Connor shares the tragic story of a childcare provider who, afraid of the system and without health insurance, avoided the doctor and died—leaving her own children behind. Using this loss as a rallying cry, Tasheianna exposes the gaps in Bill 5003, the struggle of providers being "criminalized" for covered outlets, and the skyrocketing insurance that threatens to shut them down.

This is more than a policy discussion; it's a plea for dignity, support, and immediate change for the educators who shape our youngest generation.

For more Episodes of Childcare Challenges, check our playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmDgbxhWYji1iLljft2A1sK6OB13YtnrQ

Reach out:

If you would like to share your experiences or join Tasheianna for an episode, send a mail to:

[email protected]

New Mexico is making waves with new childcare legislation, but what does it actually mean for providers and parents? And what faces providers and parents in other states?

Host Tasheianna O'Connor breaks down the new laws, compares them to her own state of Connecticut, and explores the financial realities of running a daycare. If you've ever considered starting your own childcare business, this episode is a must-listen, offering a clear-eyed look at the challenges and opportunities in this landscape.

For more Episodes of Childcare Challenges, check our playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmDgbxhWYji1iLljft2A1sK6OB13YtnrQ

Reach out:

If you would like to share your experiences or join Tasheianna for an episode, send a mail to:

[email protected]

When disaster strikes, it hits closest to home. In a deeply personal episode, Tasheianna O'Conner talks about the impact of Hurricane Melissa not as a distant news story, but as a reality for her own friends and family in Jamaica. She breaks down the immediate consequences for childcare and community, and offers clear, actionable ways for listeners to provide meaningful help to the relief efforts.

To help out with the needs of the people of Jamaica reach out to [email protected]

For more Episodes of Childcare Challenges, check our playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmDgbxhWYji1iLljft2A1sK6OB13YtnrQ

Reach out:

If you would like to share your experiences or join Tasheianna for an episode, send a mail to:

[email protected]