The Messiness of Parenting

Join Karen, Emily and Shalyn as we wrap up season one of “The Messiness of Parenting”. We will talk about moments that made us think, laugh and learn!

Episode Highlights:

(00:08) Podcast Reflections and Insights

(13:22) Parenting Realities and Reflections

(20:13) Family Routines and Adaptations

(28:01) Feeding Challenges and Preferences

(33:46) Parenting Communication and Self-Regulation

(48:10) Season One Podcast Reflection and Gratitude

This podcast is brought to you by the City of Brantford Children's Services and Early Learning and Child and Family Services of Grand Erie (CFSGE).

This podcast is hosted by Karen Bulmer. Karen has worked with children and families for over 20 years at Child and Family Services.  She is the Service Manager for the Child Development Unit with CFSGE.  Karen works with her team to provide a wide variety of programming and support for families through EarlyON Child and Family Centre programming.  Karen is an avid podcast listener, enjoyer of music, craft enthusiast and lover of books!  

Links to mentioned resources:

More on Lansdowne Children’s Centre

Connect on social media:

Follow The Messiness of Parenting Pod on Instagram

Follow CFSGE on Facebook or Instagram

Follow Lansdowne on Instagram or Facebook

This podcast is for general information purposes only and is not considered advice from the co-hosts and guests. The information and opinions expressed do not reflect any agency or organization or company associated with the podcast. 

Join Karen and Emily as we talk with Natalie Kettings, Child Development with Child and Family Services of Grand Erie, about what progress and not perfection means as we work at being good enough parents.  We will talk about the “should’s” we experience, the need to care for ourselves as we care for others, and how we can focus on the progress we make each day, and letting good of the “idea” of perfect.  

Episode Highlights:

(00:08) Good Enough Parenting

(11:37) Navigating Parenting Transitions With Support

(22:28) Finding Confidence in Parenting Choices

(30:58) Letting Go of Parenting Expectations

(36:23) Discovering Delight and Strength in Parenting

(42:14) Gratitude for Community Support

This podcast is brought to you by the City of Brantford Children's Services and Early Learning and Child and Family Services of Grand Erie (CFSGE).

This podcast is hosted by Karen Bulmer. Karen has worked with children and families for over 20 years at Child and Family Services.  She is currently the Service Manager for the Child Development Unit with CFSGE.  Karen works with her team to provide a wide variety of programming and support for families through EarlyON Child and Family Centre programming.  Karen is an avid podcast listener, enjoyer of music, craft enthusiast and lover of books!  

Connect on social media:

Follow The Messiness of Parenting Pod on Instagram

Follow CFSGE on Facebook or Instagram

This podcast is for general information purposes only and is not considered advice from the co-hosts and guests. The information and opinions expressed do not reflect any agency or organization or company associated with the podcast.

Join Karen and Shalyn in a conversation with Samantha Hunter, Resource Consultant and Tanya Pacifici, Pediatric Occupational Therapist, both with Lansdowne Children’s Centre, as we talk about eating!  We will talk about the mechanics of eating, food preferences, family meal times, choices and what it means to be a picky eater or problem feeder.  

Episode Highlights:

(00:07) Navigating Picky Eating in Children

(09:16) Exploring Children's Food Preferences

(16:44) Recognizing Feeding Concerns in Children

(28:45) Managing Children's Food Preferences and Snacking

(41:12) Understanding Children's Eating Habits

(45:45) Introducing Solids and Avoiding Allergens

This podcast is brought to you by the City of Brantford Children's Services and Early Learning and Child and Family Services of Grand Erie (CFSGE).

This podcast is hosted by Karen Bulmer. Karen is…. (bio here) Karen has worked with children and families for over 20 years at Child and Family Services.  She is currently the Service Manager for the Child Development Unit with CFSGE.  Karen works with her team to provide a wide variety of programming and support for families through EarlyON Child and Family Centre programming.  Karen is an avid podcast listener, enjoyer of music, craft enthusiast and lover of books!  

Links to mentioned resources:

More on Lansdowne Children’s Centre

Watch a video Lansdowne made with more tips for picky eaters

Connect on social media:

Follow The Messiness of Parenting Pod on Instagram

Follow CFSGE on Facebook or Instagram

Follow Lansdowne on Instagram or Facebook

This podcast is for general information purposes only and is not considered advice from the co-hosts and guests. The information and opinions expressed do not reflect any agency or organization or company associated with the podcast. 

Join Karen in a conversation with Andrea Peras, Early Years Consultation with Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic School Board, Kataisha McQueen, Early Years Consultant with Grand Erie District School Board and Laura MacEachern, DECE with Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic School Board, as we talk about our littlest learners starting school!  We will talk about how families can prepare for their littles to start school, how to build relationships with the school team and how to support our littlest learners in this next stage!

Episode Highlights:

(00:08) Starting School

(09:37) Preparing for Kindergarten Transition

(17:50) Fostering Early Learning Through Play

(27:12) Enhancing Learning Through Play-Based Education

(31:24) Supporting Families Through School Transitions

(36:54) Encouraging Multilingualism for Childhood Development

(48:00) Building Relationships for Lifelong Learning

(51:38) Celebrating Community Support in Education

This podcast is brought to you by the City of Brantford Children's Services and Early Learning and Child and Family Services of Grand Erie (CFSGE).

This podcast is hosted by Karen Bulmer. Karen has worked with children and families for over 20 years at Child and Family Services. She is currently the Service Manager for the Child Development Unit with CFSGE.  Through this position, Karen works with her team to provide a wide variety of programming and support for families through EarlyON Child and Family Centre programming.  Karen is an avid podcast listener, enjoyer of music, craft enthusiast and lover of books!  

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Find more information about the Mind Up! Program

Connect with the Lansdowne Children’s Centre

See more on Dr. Jean Clinton’s work

See more on Dr. Stuart Shanker’s work

Read about the MEHRIT Centre

Here’s more on Woodview and Contact Brant, that were mentioned as resources

Get info on the Grand Erie District School Board’s Welcome Centre that Kataisha mentioned

Register for Kindergarten in the Grand Erie District School Board or at the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic School Board. 

Connect on social media:

Follow The Messiness of Parenting Pod on Instagram

Follow CFSGE on Facebook or Instagram

Follow the Brant Haldimand and Norfolk Catholic District School Board on Facebook 

Follow the Grand Erie District School Board on Facebook

This podcast is for general information purposes only and is not considered advice from the co-hosts and guests. The information and opinions expressed do not reflect any agency or organization or company associated with the podcast. 

Join Karen and Emily in a conversation with Katrina Macri, RECE support worker at EarlyON Community Living Brant, as we talk about routines.  We will talk about what routines can bring for families, including comfort or stress! How routines serve us, how we can balance routines with flexibility and spontaneity, as well as how we might change up routines that aren’t working for our families any longer will all be discussed. 

Episode Highlights:

(00:06) Navigating Parenting Expectations and Routines

(13:44) Creating Meaningful Routines and Connections

(23:21) Adapting Routines to Changing Needs

(27:40) Adapting Parenting to the Individual Child

(32:36) Emotional Regulation in Parenting

(47:16) Parenting Through Unknown Challenges

This podcast is brought to you by the City of Brantford Children's Services and Early Learning and Child and Family Services of Grand Erie (CFSGE).

This podcast is hosted by Karen Bulmer. Karen has worked with children and families for over 20 years at Child and Family Services. She is currently the Service Manager for the Child Development Unit with CFSGE.  Through this position, Karen works with her team to provide a wide variety of programming and support for families through EarlyON Child and Family Centre programming.  Karen is an avid podcast listener, enjoyer of music, craft enthusiast and lover of books!  

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Learn more about Community Living Brant. 

See Brene Brown talking on Ellen about surrounding yourself with people playing the same game as you. 

Connect on social media:

Follow The Messiness of Parenting Pod on Instagram

Follow CFSGE on Facebook or Instagram

Follow Community Living Brant on Facebook

This podcast is for general information purposes only and is not considered advice from the co-hosts and guests. The information and opinions expressed do not reflect any agency or organization or company associated with the podcast. 

Join Karen and Emily in a conversation with Barb Mitchell, Early Years and Child Care Coordinator at the Brant Haldimand and Norfolk Catholic District School Board, as we talk about developmental milestones.  We will talk about child development, typical milestones of development, signs a parent might see if there are some concerns with their little one’s growth and development and where we can go to find resources and support.

Episode Highlights:

(00:08) Child Development and Milestones Discussion

(15:01) Effective Communication in Child Development

(23:37) Navigating Child Development Resources

(30:48) Parent Advocacy and Child Development

(40:58) Supporting Child Development Conversations

This podcast is brought to you by the City of Brantford Children's Services and Early Learning and Child and Family Services of Grand Erie (CFSGE).

This podcast is hosted by Karen Bulmer. Karen has worked with children and families for over 20 years at Child and Family Services. She is the Service Manager for the Child Development Unit with CFSGE.  Through this position, Karen works with her team to provide a wide variety of programming and support for families through EarlyON Child and Family Centre programming.  Karen is an avid podcast listener, enjoyer of music, craft enthusiast and lover of books!  

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Learn more about the LookSee Checklist Barb mentioned.

Connect on social media:

Follow The Messiness of Parenting Pod on Instagram

Follow CFSGE on Facebook or Instagram

Follow the Brant Haldimand and Norfolk Catholic District School Board on Facebook 

This podcast is for general information purposes only and is not considered advice from the co-hosts and guests. The information and opinions expressed do not reflect any agency or organization or company associated with the podcast. 

Join Karen in a conversation with Karlina Belbeck and Holly VanEvery, both Family Gathering’s EarlyON Facilitator, Indigenous led EarlyON, as they talk about Who’s in Your Village.  We will talk about the people we surround ourselves with, how those we call family may not be related biologically to us, and how we learn and grow in our relationships with one another.  

Episode Highlights:

(00:08) Building Your Parenting Village

(09:56) Nurturing Your Personal Village

(18:40) Fostering Relationships in Parenting Villages

(25:08) Building Strong Parenting Village Bonds

This podcast is brought to you by the City of Brantford Children's Services and Early Learning and Child and Family Services of Grand Erie (CFSGE).

This podcast is hosted by Karen Bulmer. Karen has worked with children and families for over 20 years at Child and Family Services. She is the Service Manager for the Child Development Unit with CFSGE.  Through this position, Karen works with her team to provide a wide variety of programming and support for families through EarlyON Child and Family Centre programming.  Karen is an avid podcast listener, enjoyer of music, craft enthusiast and lover of books!  

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Read more about Family Gatherings Child Care and Early Years Service.

Learn about Brantford’s Equal Grounds Community Garden.

Connect on social media:

Follow The Messiness of Parenting Pod on Instagram

Follow CFSGE on Facebook or Instagram

Follow Family Gatherings on Facebook

This podcast is for general information purposes only and is not considered advice from the co-hosts and guests. The information and opinions expressed do not reflect any agency or organization or company associated with the podcast. 

Trigger Warning: In this episode we talk about the postpartum period, perinatal mood disorder and suicide, which can be distressing. Please take care while listening -  and see a list of important resources below.

Join Shalyn and Karen in a conversation with Kelly Gascoigne, Outreach Midwife with Grand River Health Centre, as we talk about the post-partum period, and when it’s not what we thought it would be. We will talk about the first six to eight weeks after childbirth, a period often underestimated but teeming with unexpected hurdles, from sleep deprivation to lifestyle upheavals. Kelly underscores the importance of balancing the focus on labour with realistic expectations of early parenting, stressing the need for communal support and open, honest discussions about the journey ahead.

Episode Highlights:

(00:01) Navigating Postpartum Period and Expectations

(14:06) Identifying Postpartum Depression and Seeking Help

(20:43) Mental Health Support Resources and Partners

(32:45) Parenthood Challenges and Self-Care

(42:27) Balancing Parenting Expectations and Support

(48:20) Embracing Support and Speaking Out

This podcast is brought to you by the City of Brantford Children's Services and Early Learning and Child and Family Services of Grand Erie (CFSGE).

This podcast is hosted by Karen Bulmer. Karen has worked with children and families for over 20 years at Child and Family Services of Grand Erie. She is currently the Service Manager for the Child Development Unit with CFSGE.  Karen works with her team to provide a wide variety of programming and support for families through EarlyON Child and Family Centre programming.  Karen is an avid podcast listener, enjoyer of music, craft enthusiast and lover of books!  

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Learn more about the 9-8-8 Suicide Hotline. 

Download the Brantford Brant Norfolk Ontario Health Team (BBNOHT) App, which offers immediate crisis support and mental health resources. 

See more on the "Healthy Babies, Healthy Children" Program.

Here’s more information on Prenatal classes offered by the Brant County Health Unit, and more on the Prenatal and Postpartum drop in groups Emily mentioned.

Read more about newborns on the Health Unit’s website.

Connect on social media:

Follow The Messiness of Parenting Pod on Instagram

Follow CFSGE on Facebook or Instagram

Follow the Grand River Health Centre on Facebook

This podcast is for general information purposes only and is not considered advice from the co-hosts and guests. The information and opinions expressed do not reflect any agency or organization or company associated with the podcast. 

Join Emily and Karen in a conversation with Emily Dunn, Public Health Nurse with Brant County Health Unit, as we talk all things sleep!  We will talk about typical sleep patterns for children from newborn stage and on. The impact of sleep deprivation, sleep regression, sleep training and conversations we can have to help us prepare for those first stages of parenting.

Episode Highlights:

(00:08) Navigating the Unpredictability of Child Sleep

(08:35) Navigating Baby Sleep Challenges

(22:07) Understanding Baby Sleep Habits and Temperament

(28:38) Navigating Parenting and Sleep Training

(35:18) Recognizing and Addressing Postpartum Mood Disorders

(44:55) Building Your Support Network for Parenthood

(55:58) Parenting Success in the Long Run

(01:00:21) Parenting Grace and Self-Compassion

This podcast is brought to you by the City of Brantford Children's Services and Early Learning and Child and Family Services of Grand Erie (CFSGE).

This podcast is hosted by Karen Bulmer. Karen has worked with children and families for over 20 years at Child and Family Services. She is currently the Service Manager for the Child Development Unit with CFSGE.  Karen works with her team to provide a wide variety of programming and support for families through EarlyON Child and Family Centre programming.  Karen is an avid podcast listener, enjoyer of music, craft enthusiast and lover of books!  

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Safe Sleep for Your Baby video (youtube.com)

Baby Sleep Advice for Parents & Kids | Pediatric Sleep Council

Here’s more information on Prenatal classes offered by the Brant County Health Unit, and more on the Prenatal and Postpartum drop in groups Emily mentioned.

Read more about newborns on the Health Unit’s website.

Connect on social media:

Follow The Messiness of Parenting Pod on Instagram

Follow CFSGE on Facebook or Instagram

Follow the Brant County Health Unit on Facebook or Instagram

This podcast is for general information purposes only and is not considered advice from the co-hosts and guests. The information and opinions expressed do not reflect any agency or organization or company associated with the podcast. 

Join Shalyn and Karen in a conversation with Deanna Thomas, Child Development Worker with Child and Family Services EarlyON team, as we talk all about good enough parenting and what that means.  We will talk about how we as parents and caregivers show up for our children, how we connect with them and how we think about ourselves as parents and caregivers. 

Episode Highlights:

(00:07) Good Enough Parenting and Self-Regulation

(11:38) Teaching Children Resilience and Self-Regulation

(22:38) Parenting With Boundaries and Growth

(28:27) Building a Supportive Parenting Community

(40:20) Social Media, Reflection and Mistakes

This podcast is brought to you by the City of Brantford Children's Services and Early Learning and Child and Family Services of Grand Erie (CFSGE).

This podcast is hosted by Karen Bulmer. Karen has worked with children and families for over 20 years at Child and Family Services of Grand Erie.  She is currently the Service Manager for the Child Development Unit with CFSGE.  Karen works with her team to provide a wide variety of programming and support for families through EarlyON Child and Family Centre programming.  Karen is an avid podcast listener, enjoyer of music, craft enthusiast and lover of books!  

Links to resources mentioned:

Here’s more information on the Circle of Security Parenting Program

Read some of Brene Brown’s work on Parenting

Lansdowne Children's Centre

Brantford Public Library

Connect on social media:

Follow The Messiness of Parenting Pod on Instagram

Follow CFSGE on Facebook or Instagram

This podcast is for general information purposes only and is not considered advice from the co-hosts and guests. The information and opinions expressed do not reflect any agency or organization or company associated with the podcast.