Securely Attached

It can be difficult and scary to talk about death as adults, so having to do so with our kids can cause us to freeze up and shut down. But by being open and honest about death, an inevitable part of life, we lay the groundwork our children need to develop the tools to process loss and work through feelings of grief and pain.

Here to help us unpack our own anxiety, so we may break cycles of avoidance and fear, is death doula Heather Hogan.

If you've never heard of a death doula, don't worry, we'll kick off our conversation talking about what exactly that is. Then we'll get into the importance of introducing the concept of death to our children early in life, strategies to avoid projecting your own feelings and fears onto them, developmentally appropriate resources and books you can use to introduce these concepts, and more.

I want to hear from you! Send me a topic you want me to cover or a question you want answered on the show!

✨ DM me on Instagram at @securelyattachedpodcast or @drsarahbren

✨ Send an email to [email protected]

✨ And check out drsarahbren.com for more parenting resources

There can be many reasons why children may experience prolonged separations from a parent. From planned separations like for military families or when one parent must take a job far away, to unplanned situations in the case of mental illness, substance abuse or abandonment.

I've received several listener questions asking for guidance on how to best help their child process and work through their parental abandonment issues, so here to offer insight on this subject is Dr. Emily Upshur.

What we know from attachment science and psychological research allows us, as a consistent presence in our child's life, to use strategies and establish action plans that best support children who are struggling with an unstable parent in ways that can foster resilience, empathy and lifelong emotional wellbeing, in spite of this challenge.

I want to hear from you! Send me a topic you want me to cover or a question you want answered on the show!

✨ DM me on Instagram at @securelyattachedpodcast or @drsarahbren

✨ Send an email to [email protected]

✨ And check out drsarahbren.com for more parenting resources

When we become parents for the second or third time, one of the most common experiences (that people often don't talk about) is the grief parents feel for their big kiddo and the changes that are about to rock their world. That is just one of the many emotions, challenges and joys that come with expanding our families.

Here to talk about what it was like for her to transition from one child to two, is model, mom and co-founder of Wander Beauty, Lindsay Ellingson.

From growing her family, navigating sibling dynamics, finding a work-life balance, learning strategies for the inevitable toddler tantrums and making time for self-care, this conversation is a relatable look at motherhood today.

Want to get more from Dr. Sarah Bren?

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During the pandemic, "burnout" became a trendy buzzword getting thrown around social media, blogs, and moms groups. But what is the actual medical definition of burnout and how can learning about what it is help us to move out of the never ending state of exhaustion many parents are faced with today?

Joining me to clear the confusion and offer strategies for finding balance is Board Certified Physician Assistant and the founder of Run Tell Mom, Shelley Kemmerer.

The cure to burnout is not about quick fixes or a day at the spa; we'll talk about the personal and systemic changes that need to be implemented and prioritized in order to support an entire generation of parents faced with unreasonably high expectations and battling constant parenting guilt.

Want to get more from Dr. Sarah Bren?

✨ Follow Dr. Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsarahbren/

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✨ And check out her website for more free parenting resources: https://drsarahbren.com/resources

The stereotypes surrounding fatherhood often revolve around a disengaged father figure described as "baby-sitting" their own child, lacking deep emotions, and blindly following their wife's advice.

But that is far from the reality for most modern-day fathers. Here to give us that often elusive real dad perspective is father of two and therapist, Eli Weinstein.

Eli will give us a peek into the mind of a dad, discuss the importance of men finding their own community of support, and share the strategies he and his wife have implemented to help them create a true partnership in parenthood.

Want to get more from Dr. Sarah Bren?

✨ Follow Dr. Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsarahbren/

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✨ And check out her website for more free parenting resources: https://drsarahbren.com/resources

In preschool, learning is far less about the ABC's and 1,2,3's and far more about developing an awareness of yourself and the world around you. Knowing how to best support your child and help them feel more comfortable transitioning to a school environment can be instrumental in setting them up for success.

Joining me this week to help parents learn how to guide their children through this transition is the co-director of the Downtown Little School, Meredith Gary.

From strategies for dealing with separation anxiety, to helpful tips to get your child out the door in the morning, to ways to foster your child's connection to their teacher, this episode will help you feel prepared for the start of preschool!

Want to get more from Dr. Sarah Bren?

✨ Follow Dr. Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsarahbren/

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✨ And check out her website for more free parenting resources: https://drsarahbren.com/resources

Science has shown that the best way to help our kids become independent, confident, kind, empathetic, and happy is by talking with them. But while we may know that what we say to our children matters, we may not know exactly how to get started or what to do to encourage honest, open and thoughtful communication.

Here to help parents learn the secrets of effective communication is speech pathologist, Rebecca Rolland.

This episode will help you to understand just how powerful language can be and teach you to actionable techniques for fostering authentic and natural conversations with your children, no matter their age, that can lead to the development of a strong and secure attachment bond.

Want to get more from Dr. Sarah Bren?

✨ Follow Dr. Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsarahbren/

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✨ And check out her website for more free parenting resources: https://drsarahbren.com/resources

Whether potty training isn't going as planned, or you're just nervous about gearing up to undertake your child's' transition out of diapers, that added pressure, frustration and anxiety can create a vicious cycle, making potty learning more difficult— for you and your child.

Here to offer a podcast style "potty class" for parents so they can identify potential problem areas (physically and emotionally), and avoid potty training pitfalls, is the owner of Aloha Integrative Therapy, Occupational Therapist Quiara Smith.

Quiara shares incredible insights about when it's time (or more importantly when it's too early) to start potty training, the importance of coregulation, and she breaks down the basics of our child's anatomy and physiology so we can effectively support them through everything from bedwetting to constipation or whatever toileting or pelvic health challenges may lay ahead.

Want to get more from Dr. Sarah Bren?

✨ Follow Dr. Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsarahbren/

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✨ And check out her website for more free parenting resources: https://drsarahbren.com/resources

Moms are overwhelmed, exhausted and burnt out. There is a major lacking in systems to support new, working and stay-at-home moms… so basically, that's every mother.

It is important for us to fight for change, but the weight of that constant battle and stream of seemingly never-ending bad news can feel too heavy to carry at times.

Joining me to discuss the advocacy work The Chamber of Mothers is doing, ways you can get involved, and how to find joy in an often turbulent world is the founder of Working Momtras, Raena Boston. If you've been feeling helpless or hopeless in light of recent events, I hope this episode makes you feel empowered and renewed in its collective call to action and message of togetherness.

Want to get more from Dr. Sarah Bren?

✨ Follow Dr. Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsarahbren/

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✨ And check out her website for more free parenting resources: https://drsarahbren.com/resources

Being intentional about the way we parent our young children now can help lay critical groundwork that will allow them to flourish in adulthood. Lessons like independence, self-confidence, and resilience can all be fostered through helping to build emotional intelligence in our kids.

Joining me to discuss how you can help prepare your own children to tackle life in the real world is mother of 4 and Family Life & Leadership Coach, Nellie Harden.

We'll talk about why and how you can use your parent-child relationship as an incredibly effective motivator for kids, how to help children understand the difference between fair and equal by breaking it down into terms they can understand, how trusting in your children teaches them to trust in themselves, and many other valuable lessons every parent will want to learn!

Want to get more from Dr. Sarah Bren?

✨ Follow Dr. Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsarahbren/

✨ Subscribe to the weekly newsletter: https://drsarahbren.com/join-newsletter

✨ And check out her website for more free parenting resources: https://drsarahbren.com/resources