Parenting in the First 3 Years

Exploring how to "be" as a new parent takes time. There are so many people and approaches to glean from as you find what works best for you and your family. One thing I LOVE about the RIE approach to parenting is they way it honors to the dignity of your child by speaking to them with respect, giving them time to respond on their own, which promotes self-awareness and autonomy. 

In this episode, Erica Orosco Cruz, describes characteristics of RIE, which is the acronym for 'Resources for Infant Educarers' and how you can adopt this way of being with your baby at home.

Enjoy! Let me know what you thought.

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I'd love to pray for you and your baby, email me. No strings attached, no follow up. Just a quiet way for me to support you and your sweet little one.

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Erica's recent Parent Workshop, The Potential of Play

Just as our children are going through phases of development throughout their lives, we too are going through stages of parenting as our kid get older. But did you know there are stages of parenting that every mom and dad experience? Each stage brings its own set of lessons and struggles. We, as parents, grow and morph alongside our children.

In this episode, I share the six stages of parenting, along with some personal stories from my time as a mom that exemplify what it's like to live through each stage.

Sometimes you need someone to process your parenting journey with. Learn about parent coaching with Ann.

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When you're a new parent, you're expected to do it all. Homemade food, the best diapers, constant eye contact and playtime, zero chemicals. Meanwhile, the whole world is yelling at you that "parental self-care is so important!" When does a busy parent even find time for self-care between the overwhelming expectations coming from ourselves and others?

In this episode, I chat with licensed occupational therapist Sue Ludwig about how owning your "light" as a parent, and all the ways that we accidentally block that light.

Sue is a sought-after speaker, consultant, educator, and author of Tiny Humans, Big Lessons. She's also president and founder of the National Association of Neonatal Therapists (NANT), where she uses a unique blend of clinical expertise, innovation, and leadership to support the advancement of this specialized field on a global level.

Download Sue's 3 Second Rule of Intention tool

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Have you had the death talk with your child yet? Maybe it hasn't come up. Maybe you think they're too young. Or maybe you were forced to discuss it after a family pet or loved one died. Experts agree that it's never too early to bring up the subject of death with your child. And it's better to bring it up before they have to experience it first-hand. But what's the best way to broach the subject? And what types of words should we use so our child understands and isn't afraid?

In this episode, I talk to Certified Grief Recovery Specialist Michele Benyo about how we can initiate these conversations with our children, along with what to do when they experience death in their lives.

Michele is the founder of Good Grief Parenting. After her 6-year-old son died of cancer, her 3-year-old daughter said, “Mommy, half of me is gone.” This heartbreaking statement focused Michele’s career as an early childhood parenting specialist on the impact of grief on young children, particularly after child loss. Michele equips parents and other caring adults to recognize young children’s grief and to provide the support children need to build resilience and cope well with any loss.

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Parents around the world find comfort and guidance in their spiritual faith, even during the hardest of times of their parenting journey. Prayer, journaling, and reflection are powerful tools that can bring peace during turmoil and a sense of direction on those days you feel lost.

In this episode, I talk to award-winning author Bunmi Laditan about how parents can use their faith to ease the worry that comes with being a parent. Her new book, Help Me God, I'm a Parent is a collection of poetry that gives voice to the vulnerable thoughts that everyone has about parenthood, but may be afraid to say out loud. These lyrical prayers echo the same fears, joys, delights, loneliness, regrets, and love that caretakers hold in their hearts.

Bunmi is a Webby- nominated writer from California who lives in Quebec, Canada, with her family. She has contributed to the New York Times, Parenting, and the Huffington Post and is best known for the satirical Twitter account Honest Toddler.

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Everyone knows that special newborn smell. And if you haven't experienced it yet, you've no doubt heard about it. Mothers young and old can recall the smell their children had during the first few weeks of their life. It's one of those things that sticks with you forever. But do fathers experience it the same way mothers do? And what about the babies - what role does smell play in developing an attachment to their parents?

In this episode, I talk to author Jude Stewart about the importance of smell in raising babies and toddlers. I learned how the smell of our children changes with each developmental stage, and how that affects our role as their caretakers. It's all so fascinating!

Jude has written three books, most recently Revelations in Air: A Guidebook to Smell (Penguin Books, 2021), along with pieces for The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, The Paris Review, Quartz, The Believer, Fast Company and many other publications. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram. If you'd like to read more of Jude's writing on the science of smell, check out her article in the Wall Street Journal, What Your Smell Says About You.

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Fathers play an important and complicated role in their family. Not too long ago, fathers were expected to provide financially, and not much else. Boy how things have changed! Now, a father is considered a good one if he takes an active role in parenting and keeping house, splitting the responsibilities and duties with his partner. How can fathers learn from the way things used to be while embracing the new way of parenting? How can they interact with their babies and toddlers to create lasting bonds?

In this episode, I talk to Dr. Josh Thompson about the crucial role that fathers play in creating diversity in a baby's life, plus how their partners can support and encourage the unique bond between father and child. Dr. Thompson is a Professor of Early Childhood Education at Texas A&M University. His professional mission is to promote and protect child-like wonder and love of learning in everyone he meets.

Check out the full show notes here!

Looking for ways to bond and play with your baby? Grab my free guide: 20 Ways to Play with Your Baby & Toddler, filled with activities for your child using regular household items!

Breastfeeding. It's one of the most controversial topics concerning motherhood. And no wonder - it's both communal and extremely personal, there are so many expectations surrounding it, and when you're first getting started, each session can feel like a make-it-or-break-it moment. So how can new and expectant mothers keep a level head and weed through all the breastfeeding myths flying at them?

In this episode, I talk to board-certified Lactation Consultant Erica Campbell about the biggest breastfeeding myths currently making the rounds, plus how new moms can navigate the world of information available to them while still trusting their instincts.

Erica is a registered nurse and mother of two, currently residing in Houston, Texas. For more than 10 years, she has helped families with their lactation and breastfeeding journey. You can find her on Instagram and YouTube.

If you or someone you know is expecting, check out Birth School! Erica was one of my featured experts and answered all the burning breastfeeding questions.

Check out the full show notes here!

When you have a growth mindset, you believe that your abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work (compared to solely relying on brains and talent). Many expecting parents think if they can just read enough books and do enough Googling leading up to the birth of their child, they'll be prepared for everything to come. Too bad that's not how that works. In order to become better parents, give our children more meaningful experiences, and make deeper connections with them, we must have a growth mindset. But what does this really mean, and what does it look like in day-to-day parenting?

In this episode, I talk to Dr. Estelle Giraud, a PhD Scientist, leader in biotech and frontier medicine, and mother to a toddler. We chat about her transition into parenthood, and how her intuition has served her better than her book smarts. Estelle is a wonderful example of how keeping a growth mindset, and instilling one in our children, can create a more enjoyable, enriching, and developmental parenting experience.

If you or someone you know is expecting, check out Birth School.

Check out the full show notes here!