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Are you wondering if you should really be this tired? In this episode of That’s Good Parenting, Dori Durbin talks with trauma informed coach, educator, and author Calvalyn Day about mom burnout and the invisible emotional labor that makes  momming feel so heavy.

This conversation explores why burnout is not just about doing too much, but about carrying the mental load, staying emotionally regulated, and being always available while your own nervous system never gets to rest.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why mom burnout shows up as exhaustion, irritability, and emotional shutdown
• A simple grounding question to guide burnout recovery: “What do you want to feel?”
• Practical ways to build real breaks into your day, including the Quiet Box idea
• How to set limits around activities and expectations without guilt
• Why supporting moms helps kids too, especially kids with anxiety

If you have ever thought, “I love my kids but this feels like too much,” this episode is for you.

About Calvalyn Day
Calvalyn Day is a coach, author, speaker, lifelong lover of pizza and recent lover of a chai tea latte with almond milk. She is the mother of 4 daughters and mimi of 4 grandsons. Known for straight talk, rooted in science and sprinkled with faith, you leave the conversation not just inspired but ready for action. 

Find and Follow Calvalyn
https://www.CalvalynDay.com
https://www.tiktok.com/@calvalynday
https://www.instagram.com/calvalyn

About Dori Durbin

Dori Durbin is a children’s book illustrator, book coach, ghostwriter, and podcast host who helps therapists, educators, and family-focused experts "kid-size" their work into children’s books that truly support kids and parents.

Her work centers on using stories as tools for emotional regulation, shared language, and connection — helping families navigate big feelings with clarity and care.

Connect with Dori

website: https://www.doridurbin.com
email: [email protected]

Want to help shape future children’s books created by experts and educators?

Join the That’s Good Parenting Club to get behind-the-scenes access to upcoming manuscripts, vote on book concepts, share feedback, and be part of the stories we’re putting into children’s hands:

https://club.thatsgoodparenting.com/club

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Have you ever felt stuck and maybe like you might be revising your decisions a lot? Maybe you are second-guessing your choices and wondering if you should make just one more change to get it right?

If decision fatigue, inconsistency, or over-adjusting leaves you feeling unsure or overwhelmed, this episode is for you.

In this solo episode of That’s Good Parenting, host Dori Durbin explores the powerful connection between revision and decision-making and how both parenting and children’s books benefit from clarity, consistency, and emotional containment. Drawing on her work as a children’s book illustrator and coach, Dori explains why endless revising often keeps parents stuck, while thoughtful decisions help kids feel calmer, safer, and more regulated.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

• Revision vs. Decision-Making in Parenting
• Why Overthinking Can Increase Stress for Parents and Kids
• How Consistency Supports Emotional Regulation
• What Children Actually Need to Feel Safe and Calm
• What Children’s Books Teach Us About Focus, Containment, and Clarity

ABOUT DORI DURBIN

Dori Durbin is a children’s book illustrator, book coach, ghostwriter, and podcast host who helps therapists, educators, and family-focused experts "kid-size" their work into children’s books that truly support kids and parents.

Her work centers on using stories as tools for emotional regulation, shared language, and connection — helping families navigate big feelings with clarity and care.

CONNECT WITH DORI

website: https://www.doridurbin.com
email: [email protected]

Want to help shape future children’s books created by experts and educators?

Join the That’s Good Parenting Club to get behind-the-scenes access to upcoming manuscripts, vote on book concepts, share feedback, and be part of the stories we’re putting into children’s hands:

https://club.thatsgoodparenting.com/club

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Have you ever felt like you’re repeating yourself all day long. It's the reminding, prompting, and enforcing that still makes you wonder why your perfectly "capable" child just can’t follow through?

If routines turn into power struggles and you’re exhausted from being the  “bad guy" then this episode is for You!.

In this episode of That’s Good Parenting, licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Anna Levy-Warren helps parents understand executive functioning including: what it really is, how it develops, and why kids who struggle with it aren’t lazy, defiant, or unmotivated. She also shares practical ways parents can support their kids without constant conflict or burnout.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

• Executive Functioning 101
• Power Struggles & the “Broken Record” Feeling
• Stress, Screens & Burnout
• Developmental Expectations Explained
• Practical Tools That Actually Help

ABOUT DR. ANNA LEVY-WARREN

Anna Levy-Warren is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Organizational Tutors, a leading network of executive functioning experts.  With over 20 years of experience in the field of psychology including a PhD in Clinical Psychology, Anna is a leader in the field addressing executive functioning challenges in students of all ages. 

As a mother of three Dr. Anna brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work, helping families move from daily frustration to understanding, regulation, and connection.

CONNECT WITH DR. ANNA

• https://www.organizationaltutors.com/
• https://www.annalevywarrenphd.com
• https://www.facebook.com/OTcoachingservices
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/organizationaltutors/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/organizational-tutors/posts/?feedView=all

CONNECT WITH DORI

https://www.doridurbin.com

Want to help shape future children’s books created by experts like Dr. Anna?
Join the That’s Good Parenting Club to vote on concepts, give feedback, and get early access to new releases:

https://club.thatsgoodparenting.com/club

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You've gotten THAT school email. And now, there's that sinking feeling that things aren't working and that you need more direction. Help is on the way!

In this episode of That’s Good Parenting, Dori Durbin is joined by Scotti Weintraub, a Parent School Navigator who helps families confidently partner with schools when kids are struggling academically, behaviorally, or emotionally.

Together, they talk about how to advocate for your child without feeling pushy, defensive, or overwhelmed—even when the feedback from school feels heavy or confusing.

You’ll learn:

• How to talk to teachers using language that builds collaboration (not conflict)
• Why leading with your child’s strengths changes everything
• The simple phrase that lowers defensiveness fast: “I wonder…”
• How to focus on next best steps instead of trying to fix everything at once
• Why school success is about more than grades—and what really matters long term

This episode is especially helpful if:

• You’re getting frequent emails or calls from school
• You suspect something is “off” with learning or behavior
• Your child has ADHD, learning differences, or school anxiety
• You want to support your child without becoming “that parent”

If school feels stressful right now, this conversation will help you find more clarity, confidence, and calm—one step at a time.

Connect with Scotti Weintraub:

Scotti Weintraub, MA, founder of Reframe Parenting, is a parent coach, school navigator, problem-solver, and podcast host who knows firsthand how hard it is to support a child when school isn’t working. Parenting her own two teens has taught her about anxiety, ADHD, learning differences, and the exhausting process of advocating with schools. Now she helps other parents cut through the noise, understand what their child truly needs, and finally feel confident walking into school conversations that used to feel impossible.

• Visit https://www.reframeparenting.com/
• Contact Scotti: https://www.reframeparenting.com/contact
• Take the FREE quiz: https://www.reframeparenting.com/quiz-golden-girls

Connect with Dori

Website & children’s book coaching: https://www.doridurbin.com

Want to help shape future children’s books created by experts like Becky? Join the That’s Good Parenting Club to vote on concepts, give feedback, and get early access to new releases:
https://club.thatsgoodparenting.com/club

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Parenting today is anything but simple. Most of us end the day wondering, Did I make the right decisions? Am I leading my kids well?

In this episode of That’s Good Parenting, Dori Durbin sits down with author, speaker, and leadership coach, Jonathan Fanning to explore how servant leadership can become one of the most powerful mindsets inside our homes.

Jonathan shares a pivotal moment from his college basketball days that sparked a lifelong question: Why do we give certain people permission to shape us—and how do we become that kind of positive influence for our kids? From there, he breaks servant leadership into practical, parent-friendly ideas that you can actually use when your energy is low, your patience is thin, and your kids are being kids.

In this conversation, we talk about:

• What servant leadership really looks like in parenting
• Why kids translate LOVE as TIME
• A simple weekly “scoreboard” practice 
• How to “win a moment”
• Why we forget what matters most
• The powerful idea of “the last time”

Jonathan also shares two free resources for parents, including a reality-check poem/video and an audio download of his book.

Connect with Jonathan Fanning:

• Visit jonathanfanning.com
• Watch/download “The Last Time”: jonathanfanning.com/lasttime

Connect with Dori

Website & children’s book coaching: https://www.doridurbin.com

Want to help shape future children’s books created by experts like Becky? Join the That’s Good Parenting Club to vote on concepts, give feedback, and get early access to new releases:
https://club.thatsgoodparenting.com/club

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Anxiety, overwhelm, perfectionism, and “Why are you snapping at me? I just asked a question!”  Parenting teens can feel like walking gingerly through an emotional battle. In this episode of That’s Good Parenting, teen anxiety coach and former teacher Becky Funk introduces a whole new way to understand and start to help what’s really going on beneath your teen’s stress.

Becky shares why so many teens are overcharged by everyday habits like caffeine, late-night texting, and skipped meals.  She shares how 6 simple lifestyle areas (what she calls The Big 6) can completely transform how your teen feels, copes, and responds to everyone at home.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why “attitude” is often anxiety in disguise
• The Big 6 daily habits that make anxiety worse
• How caffeine, dehydration, and skipped meals spark emotional overload
• Why teen sleep patterns are nothing like adults and what helps
• How notifications, Snapchat streaks, and comparison trigger FOMO pressure
• Why movement and sunlight help regulate your teen’s nervous system
• How perfectionism and all-or-nothing thinking keep anxious teens stuck
• What teens actually want from parents when they’re overwhelmed
• Simple first steps families can start today

About Becky Funk

Becky Funk is a Certified Master Life Coach, Confidence Coach, and former educator who helps anxious teens stop overthinking and start speaking up. Using her Stand Strong Coaching method, she helps high-achieving teens who feel like they have to be perfect, do it all, and never let anyone down to build resilience, self-awareness, and the confidence to stand up for themselves—without the fear of disappointing others.

Connect with Becky

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beckyfunkcoaching

Website: https://thebeckyfunk.com

Connect with Dori

Website & children’s book coaching: https://www.doridurbin.com

Want to help shape future children’s books created by experts like Becky? Join the That’s Good Parenting Club to vote on concepts, give feedback, and get early access to new releases:
https://club.thatsgoodparenting.com/club

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Picky eating, food battles, and “just eat one more bite” can turn meals into a stress storm for both parents and kids. In this episode of That’s Good Parenting, pediatrician and new children’s book author, Dr. Lum Frundi shares a completely new way to look at food anxiety and how it feels through your child's eyes.

Dr. Lum shares why so many kids shut down at the sight of new foods, how our well-meaning language about “picky eaters” can actually reinforce fear, and how her new book, The Worry Garden: Planting Seeds of Calm, helps families name their “worry worms” and grow to try new foods and beyond.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why picky eating and food anxiety are rarely about kids being “difficult” or “defiant”
• How unfamiliar foods, textures, and past gagging experiences lead to scared feelings at mealtimes
• The problem with labels like “picky eaters” can shape their identity
• Practical ways to reframe mealtimes 
• How parents can use Lum's book The Worry Garden
• Simple first steps parents can take at the very next meal

About Dr. Lum Frundi
Dr. Lum Frundi, MD is a pediatrician and the author of her first children’s book, The Worry Garden: Planting Seeds of Calm. In her practice, she supports families through some of the most stressful parts of childhood—especially picky eating and food anxiety. Dr. Lum is passionate about helping parents move from power struggles to curiosity, connection, and compassion at the table and in everyday life.

Connect with Dr. Lum

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlummd/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/generationalwellbeing/
• Her book: The Worry Garden: Planting Seeds of Calm – available on Amazon and wherever you buy books: https://a.co/d/aRWvDfR

Connect with Dori

• Website & children’s book coaching: https://www.doridurbin.com
• Want to help shape future kids’ books written by experts like Dr. Lum? Join the That’s Good Parenting Club to vote on story ideas, give feedback, and get early access to new releases.
  https://club.thatsgoodparenting.com/club

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What do shoe-tying struggles and emotional resilience have in common? In this episode of That’s Good Parenting, I’m talking with certified parent coach, author, parent, and grandparent Mindy Green about her NEW children’s picture book, Sammy’s Super Stretchy Shoelaces—a story born from her grandson’s real-life frustration with shoelaces that just… wouldn’t… cooperate.

We explore how Sammy’s “stretchy” shoelaces become a powerful analogy for patience, problem-solving, and emotional flexibility -- for both kids and  the grown-ups who love them.

You’ll hear:

• How a real moment turned into a published children’s book 
• Why  “small” tasks can trigger big feelings for kids
• Simple ways parents and grandparents can respond 
• How to use picture books for meaningful conversations
• Mindy’s journey from lifelong dream to a published book

We also chat about what it’s like to kid-size your expertise by creating her character first, her story, and seeing it all in print! Find out what's next for Sammy and Winston, too!

About MIndy

Mindy Green is a certified parent coach, speaker, parent, and grandparent who helps families navigate everyday challenges with more calm, connection, and confidence. Through her coaching, resources, and newsletter, Mindy gives parents practical tools for handling big emotions, building problem-solving skills, and strengthening relationships at home.

Her debut children’s picture book, Sammy’s Super Stretchy Shoelaces, weaves a real-life story from her grandson’s experience into a playful, relatable tale that helps kids—and their grown-ups—stretch through frustration and learn simple calming strategies together.

Connect with Mindy Green

👉 Book: Sammy’s Super Stretchy Shoelaces (hardcover & paperback on Amazon)

https://a.co/d/ifpqRgp

 👉 Parent Coaching & Free Newsletter: www.mindygreencoaching.com

Connect with Dori / Work Together on a Children’s Book

I’m Dori Durbin—children’s book author, illustrator, and book coach. I help experts, educators, and coaches “kid-size” their big ideas into meaningful stories that families can grow with.

👉 Learn more about working with me: doridurbin.com

👉 Join That’s Good Parenting Club to help shape future expert-created kids’ books: https://club.thatsgoodparenting.com/club

If You Enjoyed This Episode

• Follow/subscribe to That’s Good Parenting
• Share this episode with a parent, grandparent, or teacher who supports kids with big feelings
• Leave a rating or review so more families can find us 💛

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Ever wonder if that “cute puppy” impulse might turn into chaos at home?

Rescue founder and Pet Parent Hotline host Amy Castro joins Dori Durbin to unpack what families should know before bringing home a pet—so you pick the right fit (not just the cutest face) and protect connection in your home from day one. You’ll walk away with a calm, practical plan to prepare your space, your kids, and your routines.

In this Episode You’ll discover:

 • The real difference between shelters and rescues
• How to build a pet criteria list
• The first-week setup:
• Why enrichment creates calmer, happier pets
• The surprising case for adopting older pets
• How a trainer can help before you adopt

About Amy:
Amy Castro is a communication expert, professional speaker, and lifelong animal advocate who’s helped thousands of families make smart, informed decisions about pet ownership. As host of The Pet Parent Hotline podcast and founder of Starlight Outreach and Rescue, she’s on a mission to keep pets out of shelters by helping people understand what it really takes to be ready for a pet, BEFORE they bring one home.

Find Amy:
www.petparenthotline.com
Email: [email protected]

About Dori:
Dori Durbin is a children's book illustrator, coach, Christian wife, and mom, who helps nonfiction experts “kid-size” their content into impactful children’s books.

Follow Dori:
https://www.doridurbin.com
https://www.instagram.com/dori_durbin
email: [email protected]

Join the That’s Good Parenting Club (FREE):
👉 Help shape the children’s books families will read for years—and get member-only perks!
https://club.thatsgoodparenting.com/club

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Ever wonder if your teen’s eye-rolling, silence, or outburst might be something deeper than "just being a teen"?

Teen confidence & anxiety coach Becky Funk joins host Dori Durbin to unpack what anxiety really looks like in teens—and how parents can protect connection while helping their kids self-advocate with calm and confidence. You’ll walk away feeling less alone and more equipped to respond, not react.

You’ll discover:

 • How to tell the difference between explosive and shutdown anxiety

 • Why high-achieving perfectionists often fly under the radar

 • The 4-step process Becky teaches teens: awareness → calm → resiliency → self-advocacy

 • What warm parenting styles do for teen resilience (and why it’s never too late to change)

 • How small-talk practice can ease college transitions

About Becky: 
Becky Funk is a Certified Master Life Coach, Confidence Coach, and former educator who helps anxious teens stop overthinking and start speaking up. Using her Stand Strong Coaching method, she helps high-achieving teens who feel like they have to be perfect, do it all, and never let anyone down to build resilience, self-awareness, and the confidence to stand up for themselves—without the fear of disappointing others.thebeckyfunk.com | @beckyfunkcoaching

Follow Becky:
https://www.thebeckyfunk.com
https://www.instagram.com/beckyfunkcoaching/

Free resources:
https://www.thebeckyfunk.com/free

About Dori:
Dori Durbin is a Christian wife, mom, author, illustrator, and children’s book coach who, after a life-changing illness, followed her dream of deepening parent-child connection through books. She helps nonfiction authors and experts “kid-size” their content into impactful children’s books.

Follow Dori:

• https://www.instagram.com/dori_durbin
• https://www.facebook.com/doridurbin7.com
• https://www.doridurbin.com

 Join the That’s Good Parenting Club:
👉 You can be part of the brand-new FREE That’s Good Parenting Club—where parents help shape the stories their kids will read for years to come . . . and get extra members only perks for joining!

https://club.thatsgoodparenting.com/club

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