Help! I Have Kids!

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In this episode of Help! I Have Kids, host Pam Marshall sits down with Dr. Erin Cooper and Dr. Geoff Cooper, primary care physicians and co-owners of Olive Health Direct Primary Care, for an honest, behind-the-exam-room conversation about what parents really need to know.

As both doctors and parents, Dr. Erin and Dr. Geoff share what they see every day in primary care—and what often goes unsaid. From pregnancy and newborn life to toddlerhood, mental health, screen time, and parental overwhelm, this episode offers clarity, reassurance, and practical wisdom grounded in medical experience.

In this conversation, we cover:

• What primary care doctors want parents to stop worrying about
• How to navigate pregnancy and early parenthood with reliable medical guidance
• Supporting maternal and paternal mental health, including postpartum mood changes
• Why partnership with your primary care doctor matters more than internet advice
• Screen time, routines, and building healthy habits in young children
• How overwhelmed parents can find support, community, and hope

If you’re feeling unsure, exhausted, or buried under conflicting advice, this episode is a reminder that you’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.

🎧 Listen now and share this episode with a parent who could use encouragement today.
💬 Join the Help! I Have Kids Facebook community to connect with other moms navigating parenthood together.

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In this episode, Pam sits down with Morgan Minter, Program Director for Erin’s Hope for Friends (E’s Club)—a nonprofit creating safe, judgment-free spaces where autistic teens and young adults can build real friendships and experience true belonging. 

Morgan shares how her own brother’s journey with autism led her into occupational therapy and eventually to E’s Club. She explains the heartbreaking story that sparked the nonprofit’s creation, why social isolation is so common for autistic teens, and how E’s Club intentionally meets that need through weekend events, sensory-friendly environments, and peer-to-peer connection. 

You’ll hear stories of young people finding lifelong friends, gaining confidence, even securing jobs through relationships built inside the club. Morgan also discusses how parents can discern whether E’s Club is a fit for their child, how volunteers support regulation and safety, and why diagnosis isn’t required—just a desire for social connection. 

Whether your child is autistic, socially anxious, or simply needs a place to belong, this conversation will give you hope, practical understanding, and a new resource to explore.

Learn more about E’s Club: Visit https://www.erinshopeforfriends.org/ and search Erin’s Hope for Friends – Kentucky on Facebook to see upcoming events and details. 

If you’re looking for additional support: Pediatric occupational therapy or mental health services can help your child build emotional regulation, social confidence, and everyday life skills. Visit marshallpediatrictherapy.com to learn more about how our team can help your family thrive.

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In today’s episode, Pam sits down with Tyler Dorsey, Founder & Executive Director of Focus Forward ADHD, to talk about one of the most common struggles families face—ADHD in kids, teens, and even in parents themselves. Tyler brings her personal story, clinical insight, and mom-of-four perspective to one of the most hope-filled and practical conversations we’ve ever recorded. 

You’ll hear Tyler’s honest journey from being an overwhelmed child with ADHD to becoming a nationally recognized ADHD coach leading a team that supports families across the country. Together, Pam and Tyler unpack:

• What ADHD actually looks like inside your child’s brain
• Why interest-driven behavior is not defiance—and how to respond
• How to build executive function skills at home
• The power of nonverbal communication with your ADHD child
• Bedtime and morning routines that truly work
• When to choose OT, coaching, or both
• How to handle mom guilt and reactive moments with compassion
• Why struggle is not failure but formation
• Tyler’s story of raising her own ADHD child with curiosity and confidence

This episode is full of practical tools, real encouragement, and so many “that is literally my kid” moments. Whether you’re raising a child with ADHD or you’re an adult still navigating your own, you’ll walk away feeling understood, supported, and equipped.

Resources Mentioned:
• Focus Forward ADHD Coaching — parent coaching, child/teen coaching, executive function support
• Pediatric Occupational Therapy at Marshall Pediatric Therapy — helping kids regulate, understand their bodies, and build essential sensory and emotional skills
• Nonverbal communication strategies, picture schedules, “landing the plane” techniques, and more

You’re doing better than you think, mom. And you don’t have to walk this road alone.

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In today’s episode, Meredith Proctor, MSOT, OTR/L, CIMC and Chloe Isaacs, PT, DPT, CIMI-2 break down one of the most exciting services we offer at Marshall Pediatric Therapy — Intensive Therapy. If you’ve ever wondered what intensives are, who they’re for, and why they lead to such fast, meaningful progress, this conversation is full of hope, science, and so many heartwarming stories.

We talk about:
✨ What intensive therapy actually is and how it’s different from weekly sessions
✨ Why repetition, neuroplasticity, and motor learning help kids progress quickly
✨ How OT + PT teaming up gives children a fuller, more holistic approach
✨ The kinds of diagnoses and situations that benefit most
✨ Real breakthrough moments from families who’ve gone through intensives
✨ Encouragement for moms who feel stuck or discouraged in their child’s progress
✨ How to keep momentum going once the three weeks are over

Meredith and Chloe share their honest experiences — the joy, the challenges, the science, and the sweet stories that remind them why they do this work. If you’re a parent hoping to better understand your child’s potential, you’ll leave this episode feeling empowered and encouraged. 💜

✨ Want to learn more about Intensive Therapy?
Visit marshallpediatrictherapy.com to get started.

If this episode encouraged you, don’t forget to subscribe, share with another parent, and leave us a review so more families can find hope and support. 💜

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If your child has ever felt scared at the doctor’s office, nervous before a procedure, or overwhelmed by medical experiences — this episode is a breath of fresh air. 💜

Today, Meredith sits down with Mary Jenner, nurse, mom, and founder of The Butterfly Pig, an organization transforming how kids experience healthcare through play and emotional safety.

Mary has trained over 100 hospitals worldwide and is on a mission to ensure that healing never causes harm. In this conversation, she shares:

✨ How play rewires the brain for safety
✨ Simple ways to prepare kids for doctor visits
✨ What medically-induced trauma is (and how to prevent it)
✨ How parents, nurses, and therapists can work as a team
✨ Why emotional safety is essential for long-term healing
✨ Practical tools families can start using today

Whether your child has frequent medical appointments or you just want to help them feel more confident and calm, this episode will give you hope, language, and strategies you can use right away.

🎧 Listen to Episode 18: Helping Your Child Overcome Medical Anxiety — Through Play! with Mary Jenner of The Butterfly Pig

👉 Explore Mary’s resources & products: thebutterflypig.com
👉 Download Mary’s Playful Prescriptions App: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6747300259

👉 Need extra support? Therapy (OT + MH) can help your child build confidence and emotional safety. Visit marshallpediatrictherapy.com to learn more.

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🎒 When your child holds it together all day at school… and then falls apart at home — you’re not alone.
In this Snack Break, Occupational Therapist and mom Caitlin Brown shares practical ways to help your child decompress after school, build calming routines, and set up a smoother morning rhythm.

From sensory-friendly transitions to visual schedules, these simple tools can make a big difference in your home.

💡 Catch the full conversation in Episode 3: “Backpacks, Routines & School Prep Tips from an OT Mom” — streaming now on Help! I Have Kids.

🎧 Listen on any platform! 
📺 Watch the full episode → https://youtu.be/IKRpDXSF0PY

💬 Want extra support?
Therapy can make a world of difference. Learn more about occupational and mental health therapy for kids at 👉 marshallpediatrictherapy.com

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In this Snack Break replay, we revisit one of our most talked-about conversations on tongue and lip ties, featuring real insight from a lactation consultant and provider who’s walked both sides of the journey—as a mom and as a professional.

You’ll hear:
💬 The emotional and practical realities of navigating a tongue-tie diagnosis
👶 Why function matters more than how a tie “looks”
🩺 The importance of seeing the right specialists—from lactation to OT and speech
💡 How teamwork between providers can often help a baby thrive without surgery
💜 A compassionate reminder that you don’t have to struggle through feeding challenges alone

This 10-minute highlight captures a moment of hope and education for every parent learning to advocate for their baby’s needs.

Listen to Episode 9: https://youtu.be/HBpNqgbJ40I?si=HAvmcOXg6cSJLiyY

Subscribe for more Snack Breaks: short, powerful clips from the Help! I Have Kids Podcast 💜

#TongueTie #LactationConsultant #BabyFeeding #ParentPodcast #NewMomSupport #SpeechTherapy #OccupationalTherapy #FeedingJourney

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You’ve tried everything — different sides, new positions, more hydration — and it still feels hard.
You’re not alone.
In this short episode, our team breaks down what might really be going on — from tongue ties to body tension — and how OTs and SLPs can help make feeding easier for both you and your baby.
Because sometimes, a little knowledge (and a lot of grace) changes everything 💜
🎧 Listen to the full episode “Let’s Talk About Breastfeeding” for even more mom-to-mom wisdom.
#SnackBreakClip #HelpIHaveKidsPodcast #FedIsBest #BreastfeedingSupport #NewMomLife #MomPodcast
Natalie Marshall:Title? 

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Ever left your kid at home by accident? 😅
Pam and Jim Marshall get real about 30 years of parenting—the funny, humbling, and faith-filled moments that shaped their marriage and family of five. From Fazoli’s “kids-eat-free” nights to community dinners that kept everyone sane, they share stories of grace, laughter, and learning to let go of perfection.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re doing this parenting thing “right,” this episode will remind you that you’re not alone—and that community makes all the difference. 💛

👉 Join the “Help! I Have Kids” Facebook group to connect with other moms, swap stories, and find encouragement for every stage of the journey.
We’re saving you a seat at the table. 💬

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Meredith’s pregnancy didn’t go the way she imagined. At her 20-week scan, she received unexpected news that led to countless doctor visits, a stay at Cincinnati Children’s, and weeks at the Ronald McDonald House far from home. In this episode, she opens up about the fear of hearing “something’s wrong,” the emotional toll of endless monitoring, and the surprising ways her story took a hopeful turn.

We talk about:

• The importance of listening to your intuition as a mom (and why kick counts matter).
• What life is really like in the NICU—from daily doctor rounds to advocating for your baby.
• How faith, community, and her husband’s medical training helped her navigate uncertainty.
• The unexpected miracle that shifted everything the moment baby Eleanor was born.

This conversation is for every mom who’s faced the unknown, wondered “did I do something wrong?”, or needed the reminder that you’re not alone in the hardest seasons of motherhood. Meredith’s story is raw, real, and full of encouragement—because even when things feel out of our control, hope is never lost.

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