Coffee and Cosleeping

Trigger Warning: Gun Violence, Pregnancy Loss 

In our current reality, gun violence, social injustice and tragedy are occurring at an alarming frequency. As parents, we’re faced with both navigating our own emotions and supporting our children through these difficult times. Amanda and Adriana sit down with Erin Spahr, therapist and mother of two, to learn about ways to create a safe space for our children to process or grieve. She discusses age appropriate communication concerning death and loss, how we can model healthy emotional responses, and ways this generation of parents is breaking the mold. Amanda also opens up about recently handling a painful loss within her own family, and how she’s creating space for her daughter to process it. Tune in for a cathartic and helpful episode, that’ll leave you feeling less overwhelmed when broaching these conversations with your children.

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Links mentioned in today's episode:

https://www.instagram.com/feminist.mom.therapist/

https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/donate-to-texas-elementary-school-shooting-relief

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Today's episode is sponsored by:

OhHeyMama Hair https://ohheymamahair.com/

Planning a trip or considering a vacation with baby or toddler? Traveling becomes a whole new experience once little ones are involved, and the thought of it alone can cause stress for most parents. This week's episode gives plenty of tips, "must-haves", and insight into both travel by car and plane. Amanda shares her favorite ways to make even the longest of drives manageable, and Adriana lets listeners in on how to best prepare for a flight(s) and what to expect. They also discuss the importance of releasing expectations, how a child's temperament informs planning, and why making core memories will always outweigh the anxiety of reaching a destination. If you're thinking about taking a trip as a new parent, this episode is the encouragement you need to take that leap!

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Today's episode is sponsored by:

Thrive Training Institute

https://courses.thrivetraininginstitute.com/courses/cpr-aed?ref=12f931

Have a wakeful toddler or still trying to find a night-time routine that works for your family? Valerie Groysman, family therapist, infant sleep specialist, and mother of two, shares about how toddlerhood is the perfect time to empower our little ones to accept appropriate challenges to build confidence, and how we as parents can be trustworthy and supportive leaders in helping them do so. She models for listeners what working with her could look like by walking Amanda and Adriana through their current sleep challenges with their toddlers and offering tailored advice specific to each of them. Valerie values the importance of acknowledging that every family works differently, and therefore requires a unique approach in finding a healthy routine for both parent and child. She also explains how understanding sleep norms, totals, and emotional development, greatly help us set realistic expectations surrounding sleep during the toddler years. Tune in for an episode packed with actionable tips and resources to help you and your little one find harmony during this stage!

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Links mentioned in today's episode:

https://www.instagram.com/talkin.sleep/?hl=en

https://talkinsleep.com/social/

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Today's episode is sponsored by: 

OhHeyMama Hair

https://ohheymamahair.com/

Understanding our personal and collective histories gives us so much insight into identifying the parts of us that may need healing the most. Selma Bacevac, psychotherapist, author, mother of two, and founder of @balkanmamatherapy, shares her considerable knowledge of intergenerational trauma, her first-hand experience in cycle-breaking, and her passion to empower Balkan parents to lead with compassion while raising their children. In an episode that deeply resonates with Adriana and Amanda, Selma discusses the importance of self-reflection while establishing boundaries with those closest to us, remaining as gentle with ourselves as we strive to be with our children, and processing our feelings through our bodies versus our minds - (and reassures us that "good enough" parenting truly IS good enough!) Amongst many other pieces of wisdom Selma leaves Coffee and Cosleeping listeners with, she also offers so many parents the opportunity to heal within a safe and brave community. This is an episode that’s worth listening to every minute of.

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Links mentioned in today's episode:

https://www.balkanmamatherapy.com/

https://www.instagram.com/balkanmamatherapy/ 

https://www.instagram.com/mightybalkankids/ 

https://msha.ke/mightybalkankids/

The moms give listeners a raw and personal understanding of their roots and upbringings, and how important of a role they play in their approach to raising their own children. Amanda explains why setting boundaries and cycle-breaking is the hardest but most rewarding work she's done as a parent so far, and Adriana describes how challenges surrounding her own identity have shaped what she hopes to empower her son to feel securely about. They ask each other some of the tougher questions in life, that both strengthen their friendship and highlight that despite their differences, they're equally passionate about raising children that won't have to recover from their childhoods.

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Today's episode is sponsored by:

Thrive Training Institute

https://courses.thrivetraininginstitute.com/courses/cpr-aed?ref=12f931

Intimacy postpartum can take so many meaningful forms, but moms can often feel “stuck” navigating this when juggling many other, equally important things while adjusting to life with baby. In an important episode, couples therapist, Ashley Mariani, comes on to share her expertise on reconnecting postpartum, the science behind partner resentment, and why understanding what vulnerability means for each of us individually opens the door to both sexual and non-sexual intimacy. Ashley also explains the dualistic nature of human energy, and how this shifts in a major way in early motherhood. Tune in to also hear about ways to approach sex as a cosleeping parent!

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Links mentioned in today's episode:

https://www.instagram.com/mindonlinetherapy.ca

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Today’s episode is sponsored by:

BrightBox: Receive $3 off an add on with code: COSLEEPING3 at https://www.brightboxes.com/pages/build-your-own-box

In the words of today’s guest, “education is so powerful”. Kate Borsato, therapist, educator, and mom of two joins for an incredibly important episode about perinatal anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and seeking help to alleviate them. Kate spends time explaining the basic science behind how anxiety affects our systems, and why understanding this is one of the keys to moving towards managing it. She leaves listeners with actual tips, resources, and accessible options to reduce those difficult symptoms that can so often create obstacles in feeling fulfilled in our role as “mom”. Kate’s experience and wealth of knowledge are an impactful testament to what education surrounding maternal mental health can do to unite and assist moms globally in overcoming postpartum challenges - that are so often isolating and misunderstood.

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Links mentioned in today's episode:

https://kateborsato.com/

https://kateborsato.com/online-programs/

https://www.instagram.com/kateborsato/

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Today’s episode is sponsored by:

BrightBox: Receive $3 off an add on with code: COSLEEPING3 at https://www.brightboxes.com/pages/build-your-own-box