The Dr. Amber Show

“More of us are like me.”

This line from Tamika Coleman absolutely hit home.

Growing up, most of us probably looked up to marriages that lasted years without fully understanding what was happening behind closed doors. And even if some of us didn’t have marriages to model theirs after, women in our homes were often taught to just tough it out and wait for things to get better.

But truth is, some things never really get better.

This is exactly what happened with Tamika—until she took action and turned around the married single mom narrative.

Tune in to this episode and hear how Tamika found the strength to finally ask for help, reclaim her life, and and make the changes she needed.

Want to send Dr. Amber a question or comment to feature on the podcast? Send her an audio message here.

Want to UNDO DEFAULT PARENTING with Balanced Working Mama? Grab a free resource at www.balancedworkingmama.com

The Balanced Working Mama Podcast Hosted by Dr. Amber Thornton, Clinical Psychologist and Millennial Motherhood Wellness Expert.

New episode every Monday.

Follow us on Instagram!

@dramberthornton

@balancedworkingmama

It’s not enough that you simply let others know how you feel. You have to do way more than that.

Over the years, I have come to realize that many moms are not having their needs met because they do not assert their needs effectively. I get it—women, in the first place, weren’t exactly thought to be assertive, and the long line of women in our families certainly endured a lot of the hard parts.

But times have changed, and we are now turning heads in the room by learning to voice our needs more directly. This episode is YOUR starter 😉

Want to send Dr. Amber a question or comment to feature on the podcast? Send her an audio message here.

Want to UNDO DEFAULT PARENTING with Balanced Working Mama? Grab a free resource at www.balancedworkingmama.com

The Balanced Working Mama Podcast Hosted by Dr. Amber Thornton, Clinical Psychologist and Millennial Motherhood Wellness Expert.

New episodes every Monday and Thursday.

Follow us on Instagram!

@dramberthornton

@balancedworkingmama

What’s the hardest part of breaking the cycle for you?

I learned that for most moms, it’s the lack of support from their partner—the very person who is supposed to take care of them. In one of our previous episodes, Tamika Coleman’s story of breaking out of the “married single mom” narrative was a huge eye-opener for a lot of moms who have been living up to unrealistic and biased expectations from their partners.

This episode, I want to wrap up those key points so we can identify these areas that hold us back from undoing default parenting and changing the narrative for ourselves.

Want to send Dr. Amber a question or comment to feature on the podcast? Send her an audio message here.

Want to UNDO DEFAULT PARENTING with Balanced Working Mama? Grab a free resource at www.balancedworkingmama.com

The Balanced Working Mama Podcast Hosted by Dr. Amber Thornton, Clinical Psychologist and Millennial Motherhood Wellness Expert.

New episodes every Monday and Thursday.

Follow us on Instagram!

@dramberthornton

@balancedworkingmama

For most of us, if not all, motherhood has re-shifted the entire course of our lives.

One way these changes have manifested is in how many moms have lost their unique identities outside of motherhood. I want you to know right here, right now, that what you are experiencing is valid, but this is not the end of the road for you. 

You are a whole person, and your sense of purpose isn't limited to becoming a mom.

In this mini episode, we are reflecting on how motherhood has changed many aspects of ourselves including our goals and passions, how we can address our struggles in reconnecting with our lost identities, and ultimately, creating a healthier & more authentic version of motherhood. 

Get your Notes app or pen and paper ready - and let's get to it!

Want to send Dr. Amber a question or comment to feature on the podcast? Send her an audio message here.

Want to UNDO DEFAULT PARENTING with Balanced Working Mama? Grab a free resource at www.balancedworkingmama.com

The Balanced Working Mama Podcast Hosted by Dr. Amber Thornton, Clinical Psychologist and Millennial Motherhood Wellness Expert.

New episodes every Monday and Thursday.

Follow us on Instagram!

@dramberthornton 

@balancedworkingmama

This conversation is a wake-up call.

Society has made so many women believe that maternal instincts are simply supposed to kick in magically and that we don't need any more help because we are supposed to know everything about motherhood since day 1. 

For Tamika Coleman, these unfair expectations were what forced her to take on the default parent role.

In this episode, Tamika speaks about her experience of being a married, single mom and how it made every aspect of motherhood feel like she was doing it all alone. She also shares her story of denying her painful truths, and how she was able to get back on her feet by finally getting the help she deserved all along.

If this episode resonated with you, then definitely stay tuned for Part 2!

Want to send Dr. Amber a question or comment to feature on the podcast? Send her an audio message here.

Want to UNDO DEFAULT PARENTING with Balanced Working Mama? Grab a free resource at www.balancedworkingmama.com

The Balanced Working Mama Podcast Hosted by Dr. Amber Thornton, Clinical Psychologist and Millennial Motherhood Wellness Expert.

New episodes every Monday and Thursday.

Follow us on Instagram!

@dramberthornton 

@balancedworkingmama

Tell me honestly, when was the last time you took a nice, long bath--without rushing to see what your kids are up to? 

But then, why do I ask that? Isn't that what moms just do?

This and many more myths are what we are going to be debunking in this mini episode, along with their alternatives so we can gradually ease into undoing society's expectations and learning to put our wellness first. I hope this gives you a jumpstart 🖤

Want to send Dr. Amber a question or comment to feature on the podcast? Send her an audio message here.

Want to UNDO DEFAULT PARENTING with Balanced Working Mama? Grab a free resource at www.balancedworkingmama.com

The Balanced Working Mama Podcast Hosted by Dr. Amber Thornton, Clinical Psychologist and Millennial Motherhood Wellness Expert.

New episodes every Monday and Thursday.

Follow us on Instagram!

@dramberthornton 

@balancedworkingmama

You're exhausted.

You're right - in a nutshell, that sums up every negative consequence of Default Parenting. But in this episode, I want to dig deep into each one of these consequences so we can be more intentional about the work that needs to be done to undo this cycle.

And since we are talking about Default Parenting as a SYNDROME, we will also be talking about the things at the other end of the spectrum: the consequences of being the non-default parent and how kids are impacted by default parenting. 

Want to send Dr. Amber a question or comment to feature on the podcast? Send her an audio message here.

Want to UNDO DEFAULT PARENTING with Balanced Working Mama? Grab a free resource at www.balancedworkingmama.com

The Balanced Working Mama Podcast Hosted by Dr. Amber Thornton, Clinical Psychologist and Millennial Motherhood Wellness Expert.

New episodes every Monday and Thursday.

Follow us on Instagram!

@dramberthornton 

@balancedworkingmama

The thing about boundaries is that they are often overlooked in motherhood.

This is exactly how the “super mom” narrative was normalized. Because of this, many moms, to this day, continue to struggle to separate their identities from this narrative that they SHOULD do it all. As a consequence, this disconnect from their needs and desires has taken away many opportunities for them to ESTABLISH their boundaries. 

So…how do we actually get started on boundaries? Where do we begin? 

Want to send Dr. Amber a question or comment to feature on the podcast? Send her an audio message here.

Want to UNDO DEFAULT PARENTING with Balanced Working Mama? Grab a free resource at www.balancedworkingmama.com

The Balanced Working Mama Podcast Hosted by Dr. Amber Thornton, Clinical Psychologist and Millennial Motherhood Wellness Expert.

New episodes every Monday and Thursday.

Follow us on Instagram!

@dramberthornton 

@balancedworkingmama

So…there’s a name for the parent who does every single thing in the house? The go-to person? The one who’s responsible for most of their kid’s needs?

Yes—and even without having to put a name to it, you just know you’re IT. 

Let’s talk about the Default Parent Syndrome. 

Want to send Dr. Amber a question or comment to feature on the podcast? Send her an audio message here.

Want to UNDO DEFAULT PARENTING with Balanced Working Mama? Grab a free resource at www.balancedworkingmama.com

The Balanced Working Mama Podcast Hosted by Dr. Amber Thornton, Clinical Psychologist and Millennial Motherhood Wellness Expert.

New episodes every Monday and Thursday.

Follow us on Instagram!

@dramberthornton 

@balancedworkingmama

Balance is controversial.

Off the top of your head, you might ask, “How is it possible to meet every single demand in motherhood and still take care of myself?”

The common denominator among the moms I’ve worked with is that they used to believe that balance is simply NOT possible because you barely have time for anything or anyone else but your kids. But the truth about balance is that it’s not a state of checking everything off your list - it’s an experience filled with satisfaction and joy that YOU get to create for yourself.

You don’t need to MEET every single demand; you need to BALANCE these demands.

Tune in to this episode to learn why and how balance is possible for you 🖤

Want to send Dr. Amber a question or comment to feature on the podcast? Send her an audio message here.

Want to UNDO DEFAULT PARENTING with Balanced Working Mama? Grab a free resource at www.balancedworkingmama.com

The Balanced Working Mama Podcast Hosted by Dr. Amber Thornton, Clinical Psychologist and Millennial Motherhood Wellness Expert.

New episodes every Monday and Thursday.

Follow us on Instagram!

@dramberthornton 

@balancedworkingmama