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Middle school—the years of awkwardness, growth spurts, eye rolls, and endless energy. In this Nature of the Beast series episode, Sam and Melissa sit down with Mary Foard, a veteran middle school counselor and mom of twins, to unpack what parents really need to know about sixth, seventh, and eighth graders.

From the emotional rollercoasters of seventh grade to the reclusive “indoor cat” phase of eighth grade, Mary shares candid stories and practical strategies for navigating these wild years with connection, humor, and grace.

You’ll learn:

• Why middle schoolers don’t have to agree with your rules for them to follow them
• How to support abstract thinking and independence without over-rescuing
• The importance of touch points—like family dinners and car conversations—even when kids roll their eyes
• How to stay grounded when social drama and sarcasm start swirling
• Why it’s okay (and healthy) to let kids struggle a little

If you’re raising a middle schooler—or about to—this episode is full of wisdom, reassurance, and a reminder that, as Mary puts it, “It will work out.”

👉 Listen in and find your footing for these unforgettable years.

About Mary

Mary Foard is entering her 14th year as a middle school counselor at an independent school outside of Annapolis, MD and has worked in private practice with adolescents and their families. Prior to that, she was a middle school teacher for 10 years. Mary holds a Masters in Clinical Psychology and a Masters in Teaching. She’s an expert in all things middle school. 

Contact: [email protected]

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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 episode of Parenting Shrink Wrap, Melissa and Sam dive into the unique challenges, milestones, and surprises that come with each year of high school. From wide-eyed freshmen still running to class, to confident (and sometimes cocky) seniors navigating “lasts” and life after graduation, Sam walks us through the highs, lows, and everything in between.

We explore:

• Seniors – riding the wave of early-year leadership before “senioritis” hits, juggling college applications, and facing the bittersweet reality of final seasons, dances, and games.
• Juniors – under intense academic and extracurricular pressure, balancing standardized tests, varsity sports, jobs, and the social changes that come with driving and more independence.
• Sophomores – the “present” grade, enjoying newfound confidence, trying new activities, and avoiding the frantic energy of freshmen and the stress of upperclassmen.
• Freshmen – anxious, awkward, and figuring out high school’s unspoken rules while still depending on parents for rides (and maybe still sprinting to lunch).

This conversation is part of our Nature of the Beast back-to-school series. Be sure to check out: College Edition with Kelly Wilcox and stay tuned for the upcoming episodes with the Middle School & Elementary editions for insights tailored to those transitions.

Contact: [email protected]

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

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Sam – Teen Savvy Coaching
Melissa – Annapolis Psychiatry

Save your spot in the next FREE Teen Savvy Parenting Masterclass.

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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College drop-off isn’t the end of parenting—it’s just the beginning of a new phase. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Kelly Wilcox, Dean of Student Success at Haverford College, to talk about what parents can expect as their teen transitions to college. From the emotional rollercoaster of move-in day to mid-semester meltdowns, we explore how to support your student without overstepping.

We cover:

• What the “invisible fifth class” really is
• How to foster independence and resilience
• What to do when they want to transfer two weeks in
• How parenting evolves sophomore year and beyond

Whether your teen is heading off for the first time or still finding their way, this episode is full of real talk and reassuring perspective.

🎧 Listen now and share with a fellow college parent!

Resources

• Learn more about Dr. Wilcox
• Read this related blog post: Parenting with College Kids

About Kelly 

In her role as the Dean of Student Success at Haverford College, Kelly strives to foster advising relationships that feel accessible, welcoming, personalized, and meaningful. As an undergraduate she studied Political Science and International Relations at Swarthmore College, with a focus on East Asian Studies. She completed her Master's in Psychological Services at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as her Doctorate in Higher Education Administration.  She is also a certified Life Coach, ADHD Coach and Health Coach.

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

Save your spot in the next FREE Teen Savvy Parenting Masterclass.

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 powerful conversation, Sam and Melissa welcome Dr. Katie Lawliss—a licensed psychologist specializing in chronic illness and ADHD, who also lives with cystic fibrosis. Katie shares her personal journey from childhood diagnosis to becoming a health psychologist, revealing how chronic illness shaped her identity and sparked her passion for normalizing mental health care in this community. Together, they explore the unique challenges parents face when their bodies don’t cooperate: navigating fatigue and “brain fog,” coping with the unpredictability of flare-ups, and maintaining presence and connection with their children.

About Katie
Dr. Katie Lawliss is a clinical psychologist specializing in chronic illness, trauma, and ADHD. As both a therapist and a person living with a chronic illness, she brings personal insight and professional expertise to the challenges of navigating caregiving while managing health. Katie is passionate about helping others feel seen, supported, and empowered to create meaningful lives even when things feel uncertain or hard.

Resources

• Episode 25 – Shots, Swabs & Stress: Helping Kids Cope with Medical Anxiety with Dr. Missy Hendricks
   Listen on Parenting Shrink Wrapped
• Connect with Dr. Katie Lawliss
  Website: www.drkatielawliss.com

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

Save your spot in the next FREE Teen Savvy Parenting Masterclass.

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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We’ve all had moments where a messy room or a missed assignment feels like the end of the world—and we explode. But is it really about that sock on the floor... or something deeper?

In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa explore the moments when we, as parents, “flip our lids” over something small—only to realize it was connected to big fears, old baggage, or past patterns. Sam shares her powerful Sky Mind metaphor as a way to get grounded and stay present, even in the chaos.

🎙 What you’ll hear:

• Why we lose it over the little things—and what’s really going on beneath the surface
• How past regret and future fear hijack our nervous system
• A simple but powerful metaphor: Sky Mind vs. Storm Mind
• Eckhart Tolle’s three states of intentional action: acceptance, enjoyment, and enthusiasm
• How to pause and reconnect before reacting
• Why asking “What does this moment need from me?” can change everything

💡 Resources:

• 🎧 Episode 14: The Power of Mindful Parenting
• 🎧 Episode 29: Trauma Doesn't Have to Define Your Parenting
• 🎧 Episode 30: Trauma Is Real, Healing Is Possible: Understanding ACEs and Resilience with Laura Reagan
• 📘 A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle → Buy on Amazon

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

Save your spot in the next FREE Teen Savvy Parenting Masterclass.

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

Is your kid constantly in motion? Refuses to wear socks? Melts down over tags in their shirts? You’re not alone—and you’re not imagining it.

In this eye-opening episode, Sam and Melissa sit down with occupational therapist and mom of three, Samantha Hyali, owner of Children at Play in Annapolis, to pull back the curtain on what occupational therapy actually is—and why more parents should know about it.

Whether you’ve heard the term OT tossed around but never understood it, or you’re deep in the parenting trenches trying to help your sensory-sensitive child thrive, this conversation is packed with aha moments, real-world examples, and strategies for supporting your child’s nervous system from the inside out.

What You’ll Learn:

• What “occupational therapy” really means (spoiler: it’s not about jobs)
• Signs your child might benefit from OT—and how to tell the difference between “can’t” vs “won’t”
• Why core strength matters more than you think for focus and behavior
• How OT helps kids with sensory sensitivities (like clothing textures or noise)
• The magic of “just-right” challenges—and how play becomes the pathway to regulation
• What therapy looks like for toddlers vs preteens and teens (yes, even your 14-year-old can benefit!)
• How OT supports both kids and parents—because parent coaching is part of the process too

Resources:

• Episode 19 – Raising Kids on the Autism Spectrum with Dr. Taylor Day
• Children at Play, Annapolis on Facebook
• Follow Samantha Hyali on Instagram @childrenatplayannapolis
• Learn more about free consultations and services at Children at Play

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

Save your spot in the next FREE Teen Savvy Parenting Masterclass.

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 Part 2 of our ADHD series, Sam Straub, LCPC, and Dr. Melissa Wellner, MD, dive deeper into the lived experience of parenting—and being—a kid with ADHD. This episode moves beyond the textbook and into real family dynamics: the misunderstandings, the emotional toll, the parenting pitfalls, and the opportunities for growth (yes, even when there’s an ice cream bowl in the sink. Again.).

If you’ve ever been tempted to call your kid “lazy,” wonder why reward charts don’t work, or question whether you’re failing as a parent because things feel so hard—this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why “lazy” is the most damaging (and inaccurate) label we give ADHD kids
• The connection between ADHD, anxiety, and depression—and what often gets missed
• How to use structure without relying on complicated reward systems
• Why weekends off ADHD meds may not be working for your family
• Executive function delays—and how to support them without nagging
• What ADHD kids really want their adults to understand
• The importance of celebrating effort, not just achievement
• And how raising a child with ADHD might just be sculpting you, too

Resources & Mentions:

• ADHD Part 1: Superpowers, Symptoms, and the Stuff Nobody Talks About

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

Save your spot in the next FREE Teen Savvy Parenting Masterclass.

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 insightful episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, hosts Sam Straub and Melissa Wellner dig into the many dimensions of ADHD—busting myths, exploring emotional highs and lows, and celebrating the often-overlooked strengths that come with it.

They unpack what ADHD really looks like (spoiler alert: it’s not just about being “distracted”), highlight the emotional rollercoaster that many families experience, and share practical ways parents can better support their children—and themselves—through it all.

Whether you're parenting a child with ADHD, navigating your own symptoms, or just trying to understand the condition more deeply, this episode is full of honest, heart-centered insight.

Takeaways:

• ADHD is a spectrum that involves more than just inattention—emotional dysregulation and time blindness are often at play.
• The term “ADHD” can be misleading; many kids can focus—but only on what grabs their interest.
• ADHD brains are wired for creativity, humor, and out-of-the-box problem solving—these are real strengths, not just quirks.
• Empathy and tailored strategies are essential for parents to support children (and themselves) living with ADHD.

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

Save your spot in the next FREE Teen Savvy Parenting Masterclass.

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 powerful episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa sit down with Laura Reagan—somatically oriented trauma therapist, founder of the Trauma Therapist Network, and host of the widely acclaimed podcast Therapy Chat (over 8 million downloads!).

Together, they explore how trauma shows up in childhood and parenthood, how it hides in plain sight in the form of chronic stress responses, and why healing is not only possible—but essential.

Whether you’re a parent, a professional, or a human who’s ever had a hard thing happen (so… all of us), this conversation offers compassion, education, and hope.

About Laura
Laura Reagan, LCSW-C is an integrative and somatically oriented trauma therapist based in the greater Baltimore area. She is the owner of a trauma-focused group psychotherapy practice called The Baltimore Annapolis Center for Integrative Healing which serves teens and adults. Laura is also the host of a top-rated podcast, Therapy Chat, which has more than 8 million downloads, and its sister show, Trauma Chat. She founded Trauma Therapist Network, a website platform for learning about trauma and finding a trauma therapist, in 2021. As a trauma survivor, Laura is passionate about spreading the message that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available. 

Resources
Laura's podcasts and all the resources of Trauma Therapist Network are found at: http://www.traumatherapistnetwork.com/.

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

Save your spot in the next FREE Teen Savvy Parenting Masterclass.

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 Wrap, Sam Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner engage with Kristen Keuleman, a licensed professional counselor specializing in trauma therapy, particularly EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). They explore the nature of trauma, its impact on parenting, and how EMDR can help individuals process traumatic memories. Kristen shares her journey into counseling, the mechanisms of EMDR, and its effectiveness in treating both adults and children. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding trauma beyond just significant life events and highlights the therapeutic process of EMDR in fostering healing and resilience.

About Kristen

Kristen Keuleman is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor working in private practice in Annapolis.  Kristen has experience working with adolescents and adults struggling with a variety of challenges including anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, low self-esteem, adjustment to life transitions, parenting issues and other family-related concerns. Kristen approaches working with clients from a Strengths-Based perspective, fostering client’s natural ability to heal themselves. In this effort, she integrates a variety of evidence-based practices including Cognitive Behavioral therapy & Acceptance and Commitment therapy. Kristen is also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) to help clients process and heal from trauma in order to thrive.  As a midlife career changer and lifelong learner, Kristen believes it’s never too late to grow and transform.  

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

Save your spot in the next FREE Teen Savvy Parenting Masterclass.

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.