First-time parents tend to white-knuckle everything. The germs. The wobbling. The crying. The feeling that if you look away for two seconds, something catastrophic will happen. And I get it. When everything is brand new and you haven't spent much time around babies before, your nervous system is doing its absolute best to keep this tiny human alive.

In this episode, I share why I wish I could help every first-time parent treat their first baby like they're already on baby number four. After years of newborn care, 24/7 live-in work, and caring for twins, I've seen how dramatically parenting changes once you've built comfort and perspective. Not because you love your baby less, but because you finally understand what actually matters and what really doesn't.

Join me this week as I dive into germs, bumps, babysitters, screen time, feeding pressure, and why second-time parents seem so much more relaxed. You'll learn how to let go of perfectionism earlier, protect your own identity, and parent in a way that's calmer, more sustainable, and honestly more enjoyable.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://happyfamilyafter.com/82

Want to join the fun and never miss an episode? Subscribe to Happy Family After on your favorite podcast app! Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/happyfamilyafter/ or visit https://HappyFamilyAfter.com to ask questions, share your thoughts, or even roast your baby (yes, really!).

Need real-life support? Learn more about our in-home postpartum and newborn care services here: https://happyfamilyafter.com/in-home-care/

Send us a DM on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/happyfamilyafter/ or on my personal Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/delvadean/

The first few months with your baby often feel like a time warp, where the days pass in a blur of bottles, burps, and (unpredictable) naps. But what happens when you realize that feeding, changing, and putting your baby to sleep are just the tip of the iceberg?

In this episode, I share a reality check that many new parents face: the endless time drains that nobody tells you about before you have a baby. Yes, you'll spend hours washing bottles, dealing with spit-ups, and trying to get your baby to sleep. But there are also sneaky time sucks you probably didn't see coming.

Tune in this week to discover the practical solutions I've learned for reclaiming your time, from accepting help (yes, it's okay to let others pitch in!) to embracing the slower pace that comes with parenting. I'll share how you can transform your daily routine with simple changes, whether it's getting help with contact naps or learning how to manage your time with more ease.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://happyfamilyafter.com/81

Want to join the fun and never miss an episode? Subscribe to Happy Family After on your favorite podcast app! Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/happyfamilyafter/ or visit https://HappyFamilyAfter.com to ask questions, share your thoughts, or even roast your baby (yes, really!).

Need real-life support? Learn more about our in-home postpartum and newborn care services here: https://happyfamilyafter.com/in-home-care/

Send us a DM on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/happyfamilyafter/ or on my personal Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/delvadean/

If you've ever set a resolution only to watch it fade by February, it's time to try something that works.

Margaret Mason Tate is back on the show, and she's guest-hosting this time! Setting New Year's intentions is a tradition she's been practicing since she was 17 (yes, she's that person). And today, she's sharing her tried-and-true method for setting intentions that you can actually follow through on.

Listen in this week as Margaret teaches you a structured approach to setting intentions for the new year that tackles all facets of life - from relationships to personal growth. Whether you're flying solo, doing it with your partner, or even your best friend, this process works for anyone.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://happyfamilyafter.com/80

Want to join the fun and never miss an episode? Subscribe to Happy Family After on your favorite podcast app! Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/happyfamilyafter/ or visit https://HappyFamilyAfter.com to ask questions, share your thoughts, or even roast your baby (yes, really!).

Need real-life support? Learn more about our in-home postpartum and newborn care services here: https://happyfamilyafter.com/in-home-care/

Send us a DM on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/happyfamilyafter/ or on my personal Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/delvadean/

Do you ever look at your baby and think, "What do you need right now? Because I truly cannot tell"? If so, welcome. This episode is for you.

Schedules get a bad rap thanks to people who treat them like boot camp: rigid feeding times, no flexibility, crying because "the clock said so." That is not what we're doing here.

Listen in this week as I walk you through how a simple daily schedule can transform your life with a baby - not by controlling every minute, but by creating predictability so you're not constantly playing detective with a fussy infant. Whether you've been scared of "being that parent" who lives by a schedule or you've convinced yourself your baby is too unpredictable for one, this episode will show you how routine can make your days smoother, calmer, and so much easier.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://happyfamilyafter.com/79

Want to join the fun and never miss an episode? Subscribe to Happy Family After on your favorite podcast app! Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/happyfamilyafter/ or visit https://HappyFamilyAfter.com to ask questions, share your thoughts, or even roast your baby (yes, really!).

Need real-life support? Learn more about our in-home postpartum and newborn care services here: https://happyfamilyafter.com/in-home-care/

Send us a DM on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/happyfamilyafter/ or on my personal Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/delvadean/

If you've never been around a newborn and you're picturing a chubby, cooing, bright-eyed baby straight from a diaper commercial… oh honey. That's not what's arriving on birth day. Not even close.

This week, I'm walking you through exactly what to expect in those first minutes, hours, and weeks with your baby - the wrinkly skin, the bug limbs, the "why does this look like a grumpy old man?" phase - and how to make that entire newborn period easier, sweeter, and actually enjoyable.

Tune in today as we talk kangaroo pouches, the surprisingly controversial world of swaddling, why your newborn is supposed to look like a chicken wing with a head, and how to make those early weeks feel less like chaos and more like a cozy blur of bonding (plus sleep… yes, sleep).

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://happyfamilyafter.com/78

Want to join the fun and never miss an episode? Subscribe to Happy Family After on your favorite podcast app! Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/happyfamilyafter/ or visit https://HappyFamilyAfter.com to ask questions, share your thoughts, or even roast your baby (yes, really!).

Need real-life support? Learn more about our in-home postpartum and newborn care services here: https://happyfamilyafter.com/in-home-care/

Send us a DM on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/happyfamilyafter/ or on my personal Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/delvadean/

Have you ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes in the surrogacy world? The truth is, surrogacy can be an incredible gift, but it's also an industry where families often have little protection between a doctor's diagnosis and an agency selling them services. When things go wrong - and they do more often than you might think - it can turn a dream into something deeply painful.

In this episode, I'm joined by Susan Baldomar, CEO and Founder of Chelsea Surrogacy Advisors, who helps families navigate the surrogacy process safely and confidently. Susan built her business after her own difficult experience 15 years ago, when her daughter was born through a gestational carrier. What began as a joyous journey became a terrifying ordeal due to poor vetting and a lack of oversight. Today, she uses that experience to protect other families and make sure no one else has to go through what she did.

Tune in this week as Susan and I talk about everything from understanding clinic success rates and legal contracts to choosing culturally competent doctors and managing relationships with carriers. You'll hear how she advocates for both parents and surrogates, the red flags to watch for, and why even well-meaning agencies sometimes cut corners. If you're curious about surrogacy or just want to know what really happens behind closed doors, this episode is a must-listen.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://happyfamilyafter.com/77

Want to join the fun and never miss an episode? Subscribe to Happy Family After on your favorite podcast app! Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/happyfamilyafter/ or visit https://HappyFamilyAfter.com to ask questions, share your thoughts, or even roast your baby (yes, really!).

Need real-life support? Learn more about our in-home postpartum and newborn care services here: https://happyfamilyafter.com/in-home-care/

Send us a DM on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/happyfamilyafter/ or on my personal Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/delvadean/

Check out Susan Baldomar's work here:

https://www.chelseasurrogacyadvisors.com/

Honestly, the stuff that makes you want to climb the nearest wall: the hitting, the five-star, opera-worthy tantrums, and those delightfully defiant "NO!"s? Yeah, that's your toddler doing exactly what they're programmed to do.

This week, I'm chatting with Devon Kuntzman, the author behind Transforming Toddlerhood. She founded Transforming Toddlerhood with the mission to dispel the myth that toddlerhood is terrible, and after working with countless kids in every family structure imaginable, she learned that there's no magic, one-size-fits-all parenting pill. But there are some developmentally smart strategies that work across the board.

Listen in this week as we explore Devon's 3-step recipe for developmentally smart discipline. Devon explains why toddler tantrums and meltdowns go hand-in-hand, how to respond when your child's playing in the dog's water dish, and why addressing behaviors five minutes later can actually be more effective than reacting in the moment. Most importantly, you'll understand why your child's behavior isn't good or bad, and how shifting this perspective changes everything about how you respond.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://happyfamilyafter.com/76

Want to join the fun and never miss an episode? Subscribe to Happy Family After on your favorite podcast app! Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/happyfamilyafter/ or visit https://HappyFamilyAfter.com to ask questions, share your thoughts, or even roast your baby (yes, really!).

Need real-life support? Learn more about our in-home postpartum and newborn care services here: https://happyfamilyafter.com/in-home-care/

Send us a DM on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/happyfamilyafter/ or on my personal Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/delvadean/

Check out Devon Kuntzman's book, Transforming Toddlerhood, here:

https://bookshop.org/p/books/transforming-toddlerhood-how-to-handle-tantrums-end-power-struggles-and-raise-resilient-kids-without-losing-your-mind-devon-kuntzman/c1f51ddad8a0830f?ean=9781400252954&next=t

The patriarchy isn't just a buzzword thrown around by feminists. It's a system of assumptions that shows up in your daily life, especially once you become a parent.

From the moment a baby arrives, fathers get praised for basic caregiving while mothers face relentless scrutiny and impossible standards. These patterns affect everyone, including the men who feel pressure to be instantly competent or worry that caring for their own children is somehow unmanly.

Tune in this week as I'm joined by my part-time co-host, Margaret Mason Tate, to unpack how these ingrained patterns affect families from day one and how to make parenting fairer for everyone. From pediatricians calling mom even when dad is listed as primary contact, to the myth of "natural maternal instinct" setting unrealistic expectations for women, we explore the ways assumptions and societal pressures show up in caregiving.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://happyfamilyafter.com/75

Want to join the fun and never miss an episode? Subscribe to Happy Family After on your favorite podcast app! Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/happyfamilyafter/ or visit https://HappyFamilyAfter.com to ask questions, share your thoughts, or even roast your baby (yes, really!).

Need real-life support? Learn more about our in-home postpartum and newborn care services here: https://happyfamilyafter.com/in-home-care/

Send us a DM on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/happyfamilyafter/ or on my personal Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/delvadean/

If you're drowning in a sea of baby apps, video monitors, and spreadsheets of diaper logs, this episode is your lifeline.

Join me this week as I break down newborn monitoring in a way that actually makes sense.

From those first few days when keeping an eye on wet diapers matters, to later months when timing every nursing session becomes overkill, you'll learn how to find a balance between useful monitoring and obsessive tracking. I share strategies for using apps and monitors as tools - not sources of stress - so you can stay present, enjoy your baby, and not let the data dictate your sanity.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://happyfamilyafter.com/74

Want to join the fun and never miss an episode? Subscribe to Happy Family After on your favorite podcast app! Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/happyfamilyafter/ or visit https://HappyFamilyAfter.com to ask questions, share your thoughts, or even roast your baby (yes, really!).

Need real-life support? Learn more about our in-home postpartum and newborn care services here: https://happyfamilyafter.com/in-home-care/

Send us a DM on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/happyfamilyafter/ or on my personal Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/delvadean/

Trying to snap back to your pre-baby self while also transforming into a completely different version of you is… exhausting. Society tells you to be exactly who you were before kids, but also to revolve entirely around your children. The result? Many parents feel lost in the push and pull of identity, wondering if "them" even still exists under all the diapers, feedings, and middle-of-the-night chaos.

This week, I'm joined by Jacqueline Gates, coach and stage performer extraordinaire, who spent 25 years in theater while raising two children. She shares how treating parenthood like a theater role can help you consciously design the version of yourself you want to show up as without guilt, without losing your sense of self, and yes, while still being a devoted parent.

Join us today as we dive into practical, real-world strategies for surviving (and thriving) in early parenthood. By the end of this episode, you'll understand why maintaining your identity isn't selfish. It's essential modeling for raising children who know their own boundaries and self-respect.

Get full show notes, transcript, and more information here: https://happyfamilyafter.com/73

Want to join the fun and never miss an episode? Subscribe to Happy Family After on your favorite podcast app! Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/happyfamilyafter/ or visit https://HappyFamilyAfter.com to ask questions, share your thoughts, or even roast your baby (yes, really!).

Need real-life support? Learn more about our in-home postpartum and newborn care services here: https://happyfamilyafter.com/in-home-care/

Send us a DM on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/happyfamilyafter/ or on my personal Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/delvadean/

Check out Jacqueline's work here https://www.jacqueline-gates.com/