Parenthood Prep

If you're listening to this episode when it airs, I will be at Burning Man. What does that have to do with your new baby? Well, you'll be truly shocked to learn that there are many similarities between what it's like to have a baby and going to a giant communal event in the middle of the desert.

Listen in this week to discover what you can learn about the surprises of parenting from the porta-potties at Burning Man. I share what you can prepare for as a new parent, along with some insights into the lessons you can only learn by actually experiencing something like parenthood... or a carnival on the moon... for the first time.

For full transcript and show notes, please visit: https://www.happyfamilyafter.com/21

Do you have a toddler who wakes up at an ungodly hour every morning, no matter what you do? It's a common problem that leaves parents feeling exhausted and frustrated, but reality check: we are not starting the day at 4:30 in the morning. We can go back to sleep and they can go back to sleep, and in this episode I show you how.

Tune in to discover the secrets to banishing early wake-ups for good and reclaiming your mornings. I dive into the reasons behind early wake-ups, and a step-by-step plan to get your toddler's sleep back on track and make 5am wake-up calls a thing of the past.

For full transcript and show notes, please visit: https://www.happyfamilyafter.com/20

The four-month sleep regression is a common source of pain for my new parent clients, causing sleepless nights, stress, and confusion. While there's plenty of information out there about it, most of it is either inaccurate or doesn't offer any solutions. So, now is the time to clear up the confusion and give you some practical tips for getting your freaking baby to sleep through the night, with the help of Ryan Gosling's brownies… what?

Tune in this week to discover what's really going on during the four-month sleep regression, and learn how you can help your baby (and yourself) get through it. I explain the developmental changes happening in your baby's brain, the role of sleep associations, and give you simple steps you can take starting tonight to get sleep back on track.

For full transcript and show notes, please visit: https://www.happyfamilyafter.com/19

What is it actually like to have a newborn baby, and how can you make the first few weeks of your baby's life a delight for both you and your baby? Whether you're an expecting parent, think you'll be expecting at some point, or are just curious about what it's like to take care of something that doesn't even look like a human yet, this episode is for you.

Tune in this week for a step-by-step guide for your first months, weeks, days, and even minutes with your tiny, little, wrinkly, alien-looking, beautiful newborn baby. I share exactly what your newborn baby wants and needs from you in these early days, and discuss what they definitely don't need from you, all while you learn how to ease your baby's transition from the womb to your home.

For full transcript and show notes, please visit: https://www.happyfamilyafter.com/18

Want to learn a simple tool that can help you understand yourself, your children, and even your partner or co-parent better? The obvious answer to this is… YES! That's why I've invited the amazing Liz Orr onto the podcast to discuss the Enneagram and how the Enneagram personality test can help make you a happier, calmer, more confident parent.

Also known as Rude Ass Enneagram, Liz Orr is Instagram's snarkiest Enneagram expert. She's a teacher, coach, and author whose recent book The Unfiltered Enneagram: A Witty and Wise Guide to Self-Compassion is something that literally every parent out there can learn from. Liz explains the Enneagram personality test like we're a bunch of preschoolers, runs through the nine basic Enneagram personality types, and you'll learn how understanding your Enneagram type will help you hold some compassion for yourself, instead of losing your freaking mind as a parent.

For full transcript and show notes, please visit: https://www.happyfamilyafter.com/17

Once you're out of the newborn stage when all you do is hold and feed your baby, you might find yourself asking something like, "What should I do with my baby all day? How do I keep them busy? What TV shows should they watch? What does a baby need to be learning at this age?"

Your baby doesn't need to learn the ABC song. Your four-month-old doesn't need to watch a TV show or listen to some kind of special music designed for them. This might be the last chance you get to watch your own TV shows and listen to your own music, so tune in this week to discover what your baby really needs right now.

For full transcript and show notes, please visit: https://www.happyfamilyafter.com/16

This week, I have a special guest on the show. Margaret Mason Tate is a relationship coach, consultant, and writer who specializes in helping people live a life that's aligned with what they really want. After one party in a relationship has pushed a whole human being out of their body, things change in a relationship. So, now you've got this new person in your life demanding all your attention, how do you find the time and space to get back down to business?

Sex changes significantly after the arrival of a baby. What you might have thought was super PG before is now as erotic as you and your partner can get, so if you want some help setting the scene and getting in the mood, this episode is for you.

For full transcript and show notes, please visit: https://www.happyfamilyafter.com/15

Even if you have a partner who you split chores with, we still have to deal with a ton of mental and emotional labor because, let's be honest, there are some things our partners just can't do. So, how do you handle the mental and emotional labor of household tasks, instead of getting lost in stress and resentment?

Tune in this week for a powerful strategy to revolutionize the way you run things in your home. I discuss why you're not being unreasonable if it feels like your partner can't do anything right, and you'll learn why all you need to create household harmony is a strategic approach to splitting chores and taking care of your home.

For full transcript and show notes, please visit: https://www.happyfamilyafter.com/14

I recently hired organizers to help me with my apartment, because I have a ton of stuff and I'm really not good at organizing my own things. I wouldn't quite use the term hoarder, but I'm definitely a little bit of a clutter collector. If I'm at your house working with you, I will have your baby clothes organized within an inch of their life, but when it comes to my own, it's a different story. So I hired organizers to help, and I've had some valuable realizations that have helped me relate to new parents on an even deeper level, especially around getting help.

Whether you're asking for help from loved ones, or you're hiring help from a professional, uncomfortable thoughts and hesitations are never far behind. Tune in this week to start wrapping your brain around the benefits of getting help from people who know what they're doing. I discuss how to look after yourself while you're doing something new and challenging, and you'll learn how to make the decisions that will help you get what you want.

For full transcript and show notes, please visit: https://www.happyfamilyafter.com/13

Sleep training is one of my favorite topics to educate parents on because, most of the time, there's a real lack of clarity around what it actually is. This isn't about rocking your child until they fall asleep. It also isn't shutting your newborn baby in a dark room for 12 hours and ignoring their cries. Sleep training is giving your kids what they need to fall asleep and get back to sleep if they do stir in the night, and getting started is easier than you might think.

Tune in this week to discover everything you need to know about sleep training. I share what sleep training is and how to get started, you'll learn how to decide what your child needs in order to get themselves off to sleep, and I show you how to practice this new skill with your baby, toddler, or even older kiddo.

For full transcript and show notes, please visit: https://www.happyfamilyafter.com/12