Equal Parts

Who is “The New Dad?” Is he any different from the “old” one? Brad Harrington has been researching this question for over a decade. He’s the Executive Director of the Boston College Center for Work & Family – which partners with nation’s most progressive employers to improve employees’ lives – and an award-winning professor at the Boston College Carroll School of Management. During our conversation, Harrington breaks down modern working dads, explaining the conflicts and complexities so many of them grapple with (no matter their generation) when it comes to caring for their families while advancing their careers. He also reveals intriguing findings from a new landmark study: https://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/centers/cwf/research/publications/researchreports/Expanded%20Paid%20Parental%20Leave-%20Study%20Findings%20FINAL%2010-31-19.pdf measuring the impact of expanding corporate paid leave benefits for new working parents.

Listen to this episode to learn:

-Reasons why working dads struggle just as much as (and perhaps more than) working moms to balance the demands of work and family

-The employer’s role in supporting and celebrating the role men play as caregivers (and how this supports gender equality)

-Are Millennial dads really the most “egalitarian” fathers?

-Why senior executives need to lead by example and encourage more men to take the full amount of paternity leave offered to them

-The progress society has made in getting more men to take paternity leave

-Ideas for re-entry to the workplace after leave, including “phased returns” and flexible work schedules

-The similarities between women and men who take parental leave when it comes to company loyalty and concerns about career advancement and company

For more information, visit: https://www.bc.edu/content/bc-web/schools/carroll-school/sites/center-for-work-family.html

Getting your kids to eat the healthy stuff on their plate is one of the most difficult yet important jobs for any parent. But when everyone’s busy, tired, and hangry, getting a balanced, nutritious meal on the table – or out the door – can feel impossible. Making sure kids eat the right foods is just as important as how they eat, says Jill Castle. She’s a Registered Dietitian and Pediatric Nutritionist with 30 years of clinical and practical experience. She’s also a mom of four, an author, and host of “The Nourished Child” podcast. Jill joins us to share advice for how parents can establish healthy eating habits for their kids and develop a positive relationship with food. She also gives advice on how handling picky eaters, dealing with dinnertime, planning healthy snacks and lunches, and the importance of connecting and bonding around food.

Listen to this episode to learn:

- Why feeding styles are like parenting styles – and the best approach to take when it comes to feeding our kids

- Practical advice and techniques for parents to get their kids to try and enjoy new foods

- Why forcing kids to eat or bribing them with food can (and will!) backfire

- Foods and nutrients kids need to stay full, focused, and productive all day long (and those they don’t)

- How to involve kids in preparing and selecting a healthy school lunch

- Tips and tricks for how to take the stress out of dinnertime and meal planning

- The link between childhood obesity and our national need for a “food education”

For more information on Jill Castle, visit https://jillcastle.com/.

Dual-career couples are on the rise. In the U.S., more than 60% of married couples both work full time and have children. Navigating your relationship, career, and family is complicated. How can you be sure you’re making the best choices for everyone involved? Jennifer Petriglieri, an Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour at INSEAD, has spent more than 5 years interviewing 100+ dual-career couples around the world. She joins the podcast to talk about her new book, Couples That Work: How Dual-Career Couples Can Thrive in Love and Work. Petriglieri explains the different stages working couples move through together – the stresses, the joys, the decisions we make about the family we want to be. She shares advice for how dual-career couples can decide what’s really important when it comes to prioritizing career and family, then stay true to the priorities they set despite all the pressures they encounter.

Listen to this episode to learn:

-The three stages in a working couple’s relationship, and the big questions that couples face together as they move through them

-The challenges and opportunities of moving from independence to interdependence – like having kids or relocating for a job

-Different parenting models (lead parent, turn-taking lead parent, co-parenting) and how working parents can decide which model works best for them

-Advice for how to divide and conquer household chores and family logistics...on top of raising kids and advancing in your career

-The employer’s role in making it easier for working couples to succeed professionally (and personally)

-Why focusing on “microclimates” at work can be a productive way to advocate for the flexibility that working parents need

For more information on Jennifer Petriglieri, visit https://www.jpetriglieri.com/.

Nearly half of all middle-aged Americans are responsible for raising children and caring for aging or ailing parents – millions of whom live with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Jody Gastfriend knows the stress of being “sandwiched” like this first-hand. A licensed clinical social worker with over 30 years of experience in senior care, she helped manage the care of her own father living with dementia for more than a decade. Her resulting book, My Parent’s Keeper: The Guilt, Grief, Guesswork, and Unexpected Gifts of Caregiving, is considered an essential guide to caring for aging and ailing family members. Jody joins the podcast to talk about the emotional, physical, and financial struggles adult children experience when they care for a parent living with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia…and how to overcome them.

Listen to this episode to learn:

-How to spot some of the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia

-Tips for self-care and managing the stress of working and caring for both children and aging parents

-Options and resources available to families who might not know where to turn

-Why long-term planning is key to easing the financial burden of Alzheimer’s and dementia care

-How and when to deal with difficult issues, like driving and resistance to care

-Why it’s important that employees talk to their managers and HR departments about senior care issues

A child’s transition into toddlerhood is both magical and mystifying. They’re mobile, on-the-go, and constantly absorbing new information from the environment and people around them. Jennifer Gillette is a child development and family specialist who is also the founder and owner of The Loved Child Family Center, an organization that offers education, community, and support to parents-to-be and parents of kids of all ages. Jennifer joins the podcast to talk about all aspects of a toddler’s development. She walks us through some of the physical, intellectual, emotional, and social changes that happen at this pivotal time for a child and a parent. And, she answers some of our listeners’ most pressing questions – everything from bedtime routines to picky eating to dealing with the dreaded tantrum.

Listen to this episode to learn:

-What’s going on inside a toddler’s brain and how to react accordingly

-Techniques on how to handle a tantrum like a pro (really!)

-How to regulate your own emotions and behaviors when a toddler exhibits challenging behaviors, like biting, hitting, and not sharing

-Ideas for how parents can prepare their toddlers for the arrival of a new brother or sister

-Picky eating – what’s normal, when to worry, and how to set healthy mealtime routines

-The right time to start potty training, and how to set a toddler up for success

-The importance of routine and choice for toddlers

As parents, our goal is to raise happy, well-adjusted adults. But when everyone’s tired and stressed out after a long day at school and work, sometimes we forget that how we act and what we say can influence our child’s development. Positive parenting techniques are key, and Gigi Schweikert is here to explain why. She’s an early childhood expert and author of the popular book series, Winning Ways for Early Childhood Professionals. As President and Chief Operating Officer of Lightbridge Academy, she’s also a busy working mom of four children. Gigi shares advice and positive parenting tips you can start using today, whether your child is an infant, a toddler, in elementary school, and beyond.

Listen to this podcast to learn:

● What exactly is positive parenting?

● How to practice mutual respect and validate your child’s feelings — the good, the bad, and the ugly

● Positive parenting techniques when managing more than one child

● Useful strategies like “first this, then this” and setting routines to give your kids guardrails and accountability

● Ideas for handling those crazy moments when it can all feel overwhelming