Can the transformative journey into parenthood ignite an identity crisis, redefining one’s sense of self and purpose?

Welcome back to a brand-new season of Help Them Bloom with Evelyn Mendal! This season dives even deeper into the challenges, joys, and nuances of modern parenting. From navigating children’s mental health and managing co-parenting dynamics to tackling tough conversations like talking to your kids about sex, Evelyn shares science-based strategies that prioritize connection and empathy. Whether you’re dealing with sibling rivalry, supporting a child labeled as “defiant,” or exploring the mental health impacts of your parenting choices, this podcast is your safe space to embrace the realness of raising kids.

Join Evelyn for a season full of compassionate advice and actionable tools to help both you and your child thrive in today’s world.

In this episode, we dive into the complex world of perfectionism in parenting and its impact on children. Join us as we explore with psychologist Eva Benmeleh on how the pressure to be the "perfect" parent can shape our behaviors, expectations, and, ultimately, our kids’ development. We learn how to deal with kids who have a hard time making mistakes. Eva shares insights, personal stories, and discusses practical strategies for fostering a healthier mindset.

This episode is for US parents, as people. Most of us, especially mothers, are functioning at less than optimal levels of wellness and energy,..and most of us don’t even know this about ourselves. We’ve almost succumbed to the fact that health and wellness is a luxury, or that we should come last. As a result, Chloe Harrouche,  health strategist and the Founder and CEO of The Lanby, has created a space and system that makes sure we understand and respond to our individual health needs. In this episode we talk about why we neglect our health needs, and where to even start when taking charge of our own health and wellness. 

As a special treat, Chloe has offered our listeners a discount on Just The Labs—a comprehensive one-time assessment with 98 biomarkers, paired with a 45-minute consultation to provide tailored health insights. 

For $50 off, use code HATCHBLOOM.

For the final episode of the season, I am honored to chat with Lina Acosta Sandaal, MA, LMFT, a respected development expert, author, and founder of Stop Parenting Alone. She has just transitioned to interim Head of School at KLA Academy. We discuss everything from “how to choose the right school for your kid” to what we think about gentle parenting and other trends out there. We get into some of the most important life skills we strive for our kids to develop, and how to preserve our relationships in the process. Let’s dive in!

https://www.klaacademy.org/

Sometimes it almost feels like we can describe our lives and identities as the pre-kids version of us versus the post-kids version of us. One of the areas, of many, that tend to become impacted by having kids is intimacy with our partners and security within our own bodies/identities. All of this can feel hopeless at times, or even like a big loss for women. Additionally, a mother’s everlasting mental load can be a blocker of intimacy and connection. Dr. Lisa Paz, marriage and family therapist, talks us through the challenges that women face both immediately postpartum and even years after having kids. She also provides us with practical suggestions for feeling more secure in our bodies, reconnecting with our partners, and finding intimacy once again—even if it is in a new way.

Let's dive in!

Disclaimer: Sexual Content--appropriate for adults only.

I have found one of my favorite motivational speakers ever—in my morning workout classes! Casey Gilbert, Fitness Instructor and Online Coach, works with individuals to get them “Un-stuck” and back on track with their fitness, nutrition, and mindset. Casey has literally made me a more mentally strong person, leading me to be a better mom, wife, friend, and person. I am so inspired by the way he can motivate people that I asked him to come on the podcast and give us some insight into how he does this and how we can take some of it for ourselves and share it with our kids. As someone who has battled with anxiety and depression, Casey also uses his social media platforms to de-stigmatize mental health (especially in boys/men) and makes sure to show people that what you see on the outside is not the full story. We also talk about childhood core beliefs, and what kids really need to hear from their parents. There are so many great nuggets in the episode and I'm certain you will leave more inspired and ready to face challenges.

Let’s dive in! 

IG: @CaseyfGilbert 

http://Caseygilbertfitness.com

On this episode, Fia Aliotta , certified mindfulness coach, explains why mindfulness can be such a beneficial tool and approach in life—and how we can start introducing this to our kids at a young age. We also talk about the importance of self-compassion, especially for those kids who have a hard time making mistakes. Self-compassion is a part of developing a growth mindset. We also cover what co-regulation and co-dysregulation looks like, as well as what we can do to help shift the emotional energy of our child (and within ourselves). Lots of good stuff in this one so let’s dive in!Fia Aliotta 

www.kindfullywithfia.com

IG  @kindfullywithfia

Mom rage. What is it? How do we get there? How to cope in these really tough moments!? We are so lucky to have Dr. Tanya Cotler, Clinical Psychologist, author and speaker who specializes in reproductive mental health, infant mental health and parent-child attachment on this episode. We also cover tough parenting topics like shame, separation anxiety, parent triggers, boundary-setting, and more. We talk, in depth, about Dr. Cotler’s repair map, a guide she uses with parents to access both self-compassion and compassion for your children on your path to reconnect and preserve your relationship. There is so much wisdom in this episode—Let’s dive in!

Okay parents- TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT SEX can surely give some us the heeby jeebies! Let’s take all the advice we can get on the matter- and the first being that these anatomy/consent/touch conversations should happen much sooner than most people think. In this episode I chat with Dr. Lisa Paz, who holds a Doctorate in Clinical Sexology and is a Board Certified Sex Therapist and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She is also a mom of 3 boys. She guides us so nicely on the how-to’s in what can feel like such a tricky area for many. We also touch on intimacy after kids, but will have an entire other episode dedicated to this in the near future!

Dr. Paz has an online course on talking to kids about sex. Lisa Abbie Paz, LMFT, PhD

www.DrLisaPaz.com

Let’s dive in.