Motherhood Radio - Dr Christina Hibbert

Today I'm unveiling "Mastery of Motherhood"--my newest venture--and I want YOU to be part of it! Listen in for details on how to join me, and I just might be coming to visit you! Then, listen as 5 mental health provider friends of mine share their best "mom advice." I'm sharing two of my top bits of wisdom, too. All geared to help you master motherhood, this is only the beginning! Visit http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/mastery-of-motherhood-join-my-book-radio-tv-tour for more info or email [email protected] to invite me to visit your group on the "M.O.M. tour!"

Connection is powerful in motherhood. We need one another--to support, encourage, and be there when the going gets tough. We need to be able to talk about kids—the joys and the stresses—and to find and nurture relationships with those who understand and support us through our parenting journey. Nowadays, there are a variety of options for connecting with others, both online--through social media, blogs, forums, etc--and in real life (IRL). The beauty of online connections is we no longer need feel isolated. But when is it all too much? Can it become a problem to connect online? Does it prevent us from the real life connections that are so crucial to community in motherhood? And when is it best to say "no" to connecting with others? Today my fabulous friend and http://www.30Seconds.com founder/CEO, Elisa All Schmitz, is here to share her wisdom on the power of connection--both online and IRL--on broad vs. deep connections, how to find your “tribe,” when to say “no” to online or real life commitments, and when to say “yes” to the opportunities for connection that come our way. Then, check out The ABC’s of Making & Keeping Friends at http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/women-and-friendship-the-abcs/.

It's easy for emotions to run high in motherhood. Kids are emotional. Parents are emotional. It can be a perfect storm. How can we calm our emotions, teach our kids to do the same, and bring more peace into our families and homes? My guests, Dr. Carolyn Daitch (http://www.anxiety-treatmentlcom) & Lissah Lorberbaum (http://www.therapy-healing-recovery.com), authors of "The Road to Calm Workbook" (http://books.wwnorton.com/books/The-Road-to-Calm-Workbook/) are here to teach us the tools for calming emotional flooding. They're walking us through the STOP solution, sharing their favorite tools for calming anxiety and stress, and even doing a relaxing hypnotherapy exercise with us. Get your "calm" on in this stress-relieving episode of Motherhood! Then, check out "8 Keys to Stress Relief" (http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/8-keys-to-stress-relief-stressawareness-month/) for more ways to travel the 'road to calm!'

If you're a mom, you've experienced it--unwanted advice, criticism, or even shaming about your parenting style, choices, or lifestyle that leaves you feeling devastated. And chances are, you've experienced this mom-shaming from other moms. Why are we so hard on one another? And why are we so hard on ourselves? My guests, Dee Anna McPherson and Charong Chow, creators of the popular Mom.Life app (http://mom.life/i/drchristihibbert), are on a mission to stop mom shaming and help all moms find the safe and uplifting networks of true, un-judging support we all need. Together, we're sharing solutions to overcome mom shame, as part of the Mom.Life app's #StopMomShaming campaign. An important episode that will help us all remember we're not alone, we're doing the best we can, and we can, and must, support one another in this incredible, challenging experience we call Motherhood. Be sure to share with a friend, and then visit my related post, "Overcoming Mom Shame: #StopMomShaming Solutions (Q & A from Mom.Life app)" here: http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/overcoming-mom-shame-stopmomshaming-solutions-mom-life. And don't forget to download the FREE Mom.Life App here http://mom.life/i/drchristihibbert, to follow me and join the #StopMomShaming movement!

Parenting is tough enough, but once children hit the teenage years, it can feel like your world has been flipped upside down! From changes in hormones, to changes in the brain, teenagers are bombarded with physical and emotional shifts that can impact not only their lives, but parents and the whole family as well. How can you help your teen navigate adolescence not only safely, but with mutual compassion, love, and stronger relationships? My guest, Myrna Haskell, writer and author of "Lions and Tigers and Teens!" (www.MyrnaHaskell.com) is here to share the skills for relating, bonding with, and understanding teenagers. We're also sharing our top strategies for how to build strong relationships with your teen before adolescence begins, and how to keep those ties strong and flourishing well into young adulthood. Whether you have a teen or someday will, this is one episode you don't want to miss. For more, visit "Parenting Teens: Am I Doing Good Enough?" at http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/parenting-teens-am-i-doing-a-good-enough-job/.

From the moment a child is born, a dance begins--the dance of bonding, attachment, and building a relationship. One of the most powerful ways to begin this dance is through touch. As we learn to identify, tune in to, and soothe our child, physically and emotionally, we are not only laying a foundation for a strong communication throughout his/her life; we also find comfort, stress relief, and empowerment as mothers. Today, I'm talking with infant massage instructor Marija Eanes (http://www.lovinghandsbabymassage.com), who says the principles of infant massage can not only help us calm and soothe our babies; they are principles we can apply as children grow--to foster connection, strengthen mother-child relationships, and truly empower us in our parenting role. From baby to beyond, tune in and learn how you can "slow down," tune in, and grow with your child. And for more on parenting & relationships, read "4 Ways We Learn to Parent, and the Good News about your Parenting Potential" at http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/parenting-success-more-about-parent-than-child/parenting-skills/.

Are you happy? If not, what's blocking your happiness? As moms, it can be challenging to keep up with responsibilities and schedules, get little to no sleep, and still feel happy all the time. But happiness in motherhood isn't a constant state, but rather is found in the moments. My guest, Becky Squire, writer of the "Make Mine Happy" blog (http://www.makeminehappy.com) and mom of 4 has been working on building happiness, and has some strategies to share. Becky outlines some of the most powerful blocks to happiness in motherhood, and together, we discuss the skills to overcome them. Get ready to increase your "happy" in today's uplifting episode! For more tips on increasing happiness in motherhood, visit http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/mom-mental-health-happiness-the-importance-of-alone-time-video/.

As a busy mom, do you sometimes feel like you don't know what your true potential even is? It's a new year, and that means time think about goals, dreams, personal transformation. From physical goals to emotional, social, or spiritual goals, if we want to live the life of which we dream, we first need to tap into our true potential, and I'm ready to show you how. Guest Susy Kilby (www.susykilby.com) is here to teach us how to rediscover and "lean in" to this potential, which every one of us has. All you have to do is listen, take note, and believe, and you'll be living to your full potential in no time! For more, visit http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/living-a-life-of-purpose-and-meaning-the-key-to-true-happiness/.

When it comes to parenting, it's easy to feel like we don't know what we're doing. Even parenting "experts" or family offer advice that can confuse us even more. But my guest today, Dr. Regina Pally, psychiatrist and author of the new book "The Reflective Parent" (http://books.wwnorton.com/books/The-Reflective-Parent/), is here to show us how to do less and relate more with our children. Regina offers time-tested counsel that will help you realize you're doing enough, and to inspire and guide you in how to develop your relationship with your children. Get ready to view parenting in a whole new light--one that will ease your burdens, provide the skills you need, and enrich your parent-child relationship(s)! For more parenting help, check out "Parenting Success: It's More About the Parent than the Child" (http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/parenting-success-more-about-parent-than-child/).

No time is more stressful for mothers than the holidays. Not only is normal life still happening, but we add on shopping, decorating, parties, sick kids, events, and a million school/extracurricular activities. No wonder we're beat come Christmas or Hanukkah! Today, I'm answering your questions on how to overcome the stress of the season, including how to feel holiday joy when you're going through a rough time, how to deal with family drama, creative ways to preserve your finances, and more. Tune in, know you're not alone, and then put these time-tested strategies to use to reduce stress and increase your holiday peace and joy! Also, Enter to win in my "Motherhood Essentials: 5 Days of Giveaways"! Add yourself to our Facebook group to enter & then visit the daily posts for instructions on how to win! (https://www.facebook.com/groups/motherhoodessentials/)! And for more holiday stress support, check out "5 Gifts of Meaning" (http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/more-meaningful-christmas-5-gifts-of-meaning/), "Light the World" (http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/lighttheworld-25-days-of-christmas-service-25-opportunities-to-heal-love-grow/) & "How to feel more Peace & Joy this Holiday" (http://www.drchristinahibbert.com/holiday-stress-survival-guide-how-to-feel-more-peace-joy-this-season/).