I decided to re-release this episode on Trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic because likely many children and adults will experience this event as a trauma. I think it is important not to diminish that impact and have the proper tools for coping with it. I hope this episode will give some guidance to what many families are currently experiencing or will experience in the time after.

In our first re-release from last season, I am sharing a podcast interview I did with Allison Hare for the Little Left of Center podcast (now called Bright This Way!). Allison did a phenomenal job of asking me the right questions and I think it's a great way to get to know this project a little better!

Rakhi was an attorney in New York City when her son was born. He was 6 months old when he was diagnosed with developmental and physical delays. She describes her journey as a mother with a child with special needs as isolating, shame-filled, and overwhelming. After moving to Georgia recently, and having to learn an entirely new state system, she decided she didn’t want another parent to have to go through this alone ever again. She started the organization Empowered Parents of Georgia. She assists parents with the process of developing IEP, 504, and IFSP Plans for their child and knowing their rights in the process. 

Today’s topic is Divorce and I am talking with Jennifer Hurvitz, host of the Doing Divorce Right podcast and author of One Happy Divorce and Woulda Shoulda Coulda: A Divorced Coach’s Guide to Staying Married. I knew I wanted to do a podcast on divorce, given that half of all marriages end in divorce and it must play a significant role in the mental health of children. But I wasn’t sure where to begin. When I heard Jennifer was a divorce coach I just had to talk to her! I fully expected her to be pro-divorce… I was surprised to find that she wasn’t at all. Have a listen because this podcast is just as much for the married parents as it is for the divorced.

Katja Lauterbach is the owner of Duett Design, an Atlanta-based interior design firm that specializes in modern and practical design. She incorporates energy and mood  modalities like hygge and feng shui into her concepts and that is why I thought she would be a great person to talk with about this topic. In this conversation she shares a new perspective on how we should look at our living spaces and their impact on our lives. It is a nice reminder to keep our priorities in order whether we are talking about our home or our lives.

Roeline du Plessis is the lead Occupational Therapist at Wardlaw School at The Atlanta Speech School. She helps explain what an occupational therapist is, and what they can help with. As well as helps break down Sensory Processing Disorder - a disorder that is rapidly growing with children. It is a condition in which the brain has trouble receiving and responding to information that comes in through the senses. This can show up as either being very sensitive to sensory stimulation or present as seeking out lots of sensory input and is often partnered with diagnoses such as anxiety or ADHD.

This is a special segment of my conversation with Dr. Plomin about transgenerational trauma and epigenetics. This will be fascinating to anyone who is already interested in the world of genetics and the implications recent breakthroughs have for our children’s futures. Dr. Plomin does a wonderful job of breaking this topic down and even helps put things into perspective for me.

Dr. Megan McSwain Mann has a PhD in art therapy, and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She is the owner of her own practice, Peachtree Art Therapy & Counseling. In this conversation she shares insight on how to know when anxiety is getting the best of our child, and what to do about it if it is. She also discusses attunement, and how we can use that tool to best support our children and get anxiety’s superpowers on our side.

Caroline Ryan is the founder and creator of Because Mom - a networking group designed specifically to be supportive and non-judgemental of women and mothers. She is probably the most compassionate and caring person I know. She’s also a fellow anxious introvert and didn’t really ask for this group to become as big as it has. In this episode we talk about the intention behind Because Mom, and she gives a lot of great insight in finding a support system of moms if you’re feeling isolated in your own motherhood.