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Moving can be exciting, but it’s also a major transition that impacts the whole family—especially kids. In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa share their personal experiences with recent moves—one planned, one unexpected—and dive into the emotional and logistical challenges families face during relocation. They discuss how children process big changes, common behavioral responses (like regression or resistance), and practical ways parents can support their kids before, during, and after a move. Whether your move is planned or sudden, this episode will help you create stability, manage stress, and guide your family through change with confidence.

Get expert support, fresh strategies, and a judgment-free parent community—so you can stop feeling stuck and start parenting your teen with more clarity, confidence, and connection.

Contact: [email protected]

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Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching
Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry

Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos.

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This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care. 

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In this special pre-Valentine's Day episode, Melissa and Sam dive into the world of teen relationships, first love, and heartbreak. From deciphering modern dating lingo like “talking” to fostering open communication about healthy connections, this conversation is packed with insights for navigating these formative experiences. Melissa and Sam share personal stories, practical advice, and tips for creating a safe space where your teen feels comfortable discussing their relationships. Join us as we explore how to guide teens toward meaningful, safe, and fulfilling connections—just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Get expert support, fresh strategies, and a judgment-free parent community—so you can stop feeling stuck and start parenting your teen with more clarity, confidence, and connection.

Contact: [email protected]

Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes.

Follow:
Sam – Instagram & Facebook
Melissa – Facebook

Work with Us:
Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching
Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry

Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos.

Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care. 

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In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Dr. Melissa Wellner and Samantha Straub, parenting coach and therapist, tackle one of the most challenging aspects of parenting—effective discipline. They explore the key differences between discipline and punishment, emphasizing how discipline is about teaching and growth, while punishment often falls short in helping kids learn from their mistakes.

Melissa and Sam share practical frameworks for setting boundaries, including the importance of safety, values, skill-building, and maintaining a strong parent-child relationship. They also discuss how to let natural consequences play out and why this approach fosters resilience and responsibility in children. Whether you’re dealing with toddlers or teens, this episode offers compassionate, realistic strategies for managing discipline in a way that helps your child grow and thrive.

Tune in for tips on reinforcing positive behavior and setting rules that work for the unique needs of your family!

Get expert support, fresh strategies, and a judgment-free parent community—so you can stop feeling stuck and start parenting your teen with more clarity, confidence, and connection.

Contact: [email protected]

Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes.

Follow:
Sam – Instagram & Facebook
Melissa – Facebook

Work with Us:
Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching
Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry

Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos.

Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care. 

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In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Dr. Melissa Wellner and Samantha Straub dive into an essential and often overwhelming topic for many parents: how to access mental health care for your child. Building on their previous discussion about anxiety, they explore the different layers of the mental health care system and explain the key differences between various professionals, including pediatricians, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, counselors, social workers, and psychologists.

Melissa and Sam offer practical advice on how to navigate finding the right therapist or prescriber, discussing factors such as insurance networks, cost differences, and whether to consider in-person or telehealth options. They also share insights into the importance of finding the right "fit" with a mental health professional and why it’s crucial for effective treatment.

Whether you’re searching for the right help for your child or simply want to understand the mental health landscape better, this episode provides compassionate, real-world strategies for getting the care your family needs.

Questions or Topic Requests? Comment on one of our posts or email [email protected]

Follow along with us:

Sam's Instagram
Melissa's FaceBook

Work with Us:

Teen Savvy Coaching, Sam's coaching business for parents of teens and tweens.
Website
Facebook
Instagram

Download Sam's free e-book: Beyond Nagging: Empowering Parents to Transform Teen Homework Headaches  https://mailchi.mp/teensavvycoaching/beyondnagginghomeworkhelp

Annapolis Psychiatry, Dr. Melissa's private practice:

Website
Facebook

Get expert support, fresh strategies, and a judgment-free parent community—so you can stop feeling stuck and start parenting your teen with more clarity, confidence, and connection.

Contact: [email protected]

Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes.

Follow:
Sam – Instagram & Facebook
Melissa – Facebook

Work with Us:
Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching
Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry

Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos.

Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care. 

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, hosts Dr. Melissa Wellner, a double board-certified psychiatrist, and Samantha Straub, a licensed clinical counselor and parenting coach, tackle the increasingly relevant topic of child and adolescent anxiety. With both professional insights and real-world experience, Melissa and Sam break down the nuances of anxiety, from understanding normal reactions to recognizing when it crosses into clinical territory.

They explore the rise in anxiety disorders, highlighting how societal changes, such as the introduction of smartphones and social media, have impacted today’s youth. The episode offers practical strategies for parents, discussing how to distinguish between common worries and signs that indicate a need for professional intervention. They also touch on how anxiety can manifest differently across age groups, along with tips on fostering resilience and managing anxious reactions within the family.

Listeners will walk away with valuable tools for supporting their children, from managing panic attacks to reducing parental accommodation of anxious behaviors. Join Melissa and Sam as they demystify anxiety in kids and provide compassionate guidance for navigating this common challenge in modern parenting.

Get expert support, fresh strategies, and a judgment-free parent community—so you can stop feeling stuck and start parenting your teen with more clarity, confidence, and connection.

Contact: [email protected]

Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes.

Follow:
Sam – Instagram & Facebook
Melissa – Facebook

Work with Us:
Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching
Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry

Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos.

Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care. 

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa dive into the essential yet often overlooked topic of self-care for parents. Juggling work, family, and daily life can make it feel impossible to prioritize yourself, but Sam and Melissa break down why taking care of your own needs is crucial—not just for you, but for your kids too. They share their own self-care routines, from figure skating and swimming to simply taking a few quiet minutes outdoors, and explore how making small changes can lead to big impacts in overall well-being.

Whether you’re struggling to find time for yourself or looking for simple self-care ideas that fit into a busy schedule, this episode offers practical tips and mindset shifts to help you carve out moments for yourself without the guilt. Join the conversation on how self-care is not just a luxury, but a foundation for resilient and healthy parenting.

Get expert support, fresh strategies, and a judgment-free parent community—so you can stop feeling stuck and start parenting your teen with more clarity, confidence, and connection.

Contact: [email protected]

Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes.

Follow:
Sam – Instagram & Facebook
Melissa – Facebook

Work with Us:
Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching
Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry

Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos.

Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care. 

Send us Fan Mail

Nothing tries your patience or pulls on your heartstrings like being a parent!  In this episode, Dr. Melissa Wellner and Samantha Straub focus on the critical topic of distress management for both parents and children! They explore practical strategies to help parents navigate their own discomfort and support their children through challenging emotions. By sharing personal anecdotes and professional insights, they highlight the importance of teaching kids how to cope with stress, manage anxiety, and develop resilience in the face of life's inevitable difficulties!

The episode emphasizes the value of modeling healthy distress tolerance and providing children with the tools they need to handle tough situations. Whether it's through practicing public speaking, physical exercise, or simply sitting with uncomfortable feelings, Melissa and Sam offer actionable advice that can make a significant difference in a child's emotional development. Tune in to learn how to better equip your family for the ups and downs of life, and discover why managing distress is a key component of successful parenting!

Contact: [email protected]

Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes.

Follow:
Sam – Instagram & Facebook
Melissa – Facebook

Work with Us:
Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching
Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry

Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos.

Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care. 

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa dive into one of the most common questions they hear: “How do I know if my child is ready for a phone?” They tackle this complex decision from multiple angles, covering everything from emotional maturity and social dynamics to practical concerns like device responsibility and parental controls.

With relatable stories and expert insights, Sam and Melissa explore how technology, social media, and peer pressure impact young adolescents today. They share practical advice for assessing your child’s readiness, setting healthy boundaries, and fostering open communication around technology use. Whether your child is begging for their first smartphone or you’re trying to manage their existing access, this episode is full of tips and considerations to help you make informed decisions for your family.

Get expert support, fresh strategies, and a judgment-free parent community—so you can stop feeling stuck and start parenting your teen with more clarity, confidence, and connection.

Contact: [email protected]

Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes.

Follow:
Sam – Instagram & Facebook
Melissa – Facebook

Work with Us:
Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching
Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry

Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos.

Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care. 

Send us Fan Mail

Today, Melissa and Sam explore the challenges and rewards of being a working parent. From managing career demands to fostering strong attachments with your children, they share relatable stories, practical advice, and thoughtful reflections on finding balance.

Sam also highlights lessons from her recent book chapter  on how parenting skills can enhance success in the workplace. Whether you work in or out of the home, this episode offers support and encouragement for navigating the complexities of modern parenting.

Resources mentioned:

"Nurturing Kids and Career: The Motherhood Advantage in Business Leadership", chapter 5 of We Lead: Building Connection, Community and Collaboration for Women in Business, Volume 2

Get expert support, fresh strategies, and a judgment-free parent community—so you can stop feeling stuck and start parenting your teen with more clarity, confidence, and connection.

Contact: [email protected]

Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes.

Follow:
Sam – Instagram & Facebook
Melissa – Facebook

Work with Us:
Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching
Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry

Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos.

Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care. 

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when the magic of childhood shifts and your kids stop believing in Santa, the Tooth Fairy, or the Easter Bunny? In this heartwarming and practical episode, Sam Straub and Melissa Wellner tackle the bittersweet moment when logic replaces wonder. They share personal stories, expert advice, and creative strategies for handling the transition with honesty, grace, and fun.

Discover how to bring older kids into the "magic-making club," keep holiday traditions alive, and navigate tricky conversations about belief—without spoiling the joy for younger siblings. Whether you're dreading this moment or already facing it, this episode offers tools to make the transition meaningful and keep the holidays magical for everyone.

Enjoyed the conversation? Subscribe and share Parenting Shrinkwrapped with a friend who could use some parenting wisdom and a dose of holiday spirit!

Contact: [email protected]

Watch on YouTube: Subscribe to Parenting Shrink Wrapped for the latest episodes.

Follow:
Sam – Instagram & Facebook
Melissa – Facebook

Work with Us:
Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching
Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry

Free Parenting Resource: Learn the L.O.V.E.D. framework for handling tricky convos.

Listen & Review: Follow on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.