The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast

In this episode of the Modern Mommy Doc podcast, Dr. Whitney sits down with Sam Gardner, CEO and co-founder of Happypillar, and Chloe Picot-Jacobs, Clinical Director of the app, to discuss an innovative approach to parenting that blends technology and evidence-based strategies. Happypillar is designed to help parents tackle common behavioral challenges in children aged 2 to 7, using techniques from Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), enhanced by AI for accessibility and scalability.

Dr. Whitney and her guests dive into the journey of developing this app, which uses AI to give real-time feedback to parents during playtime sessions, helping them improve their interactions with their children. Sam shares her personal struggles as a parent, how PCIT transformed her relationship with her child, and why she was inspired to create Happypillar to help other parents going through similar challenges. Chloe, a licensed clinical social worker, explains the evidence behind PCIT, how the app works, and addresses concerns around privacy and data security.

This week's podcast and newsletter are brought to you by Care.com. Care.com connects families with local caregivers, including nannies, babysitters, tutors, senior care providers, dog walkers, housekeepers, and more.

Go to www.modernmommydoc.com/podcast for the full show notes.

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of the Modern Mommy Doc podcast, Dr. Whitney is joined by Heather Salazar, President and CEO of Pink Ribbon Good (PRG). Heather shares her deeply personal journey, from adopting a baby girl whose mother battled breast cancer to her own cancer diagnosis, and how these experiences led her to start PRG—a nonprofit organization providing essential services to families affected by breast and gynecological cancers.

This week's podcast and newsletter are brought to you by Care.com. Care.com connects families with local caregivers, including nannies, babysitters, tutors, senior care providers, dog walkers, housekeepers, and more.

Go to www.modernmommydoc.com/podcast for the full show notes.

In this episode, Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown, a sleep medicine expert, joins the Modern Mommy Doc podcast to discuss restful sleep for kids AND their parents. She and Dr. Whitney explore the challenges toddlers, kids, and teenagers face in getting enough sleep and the impact it has on their mental health. Dr. Brown emphasizes the importance of consistency, routines, and creating a sleep-friendly environment for better sleep. She also addresses the use of melatonin and sleep aids, recommending that behavioral strategies and healthy sleep habits be prioritized before considering medication. Dr. Brown offers resources and courses on her website, www.therestfulsleepplace.com, to help parents and teens improve their sleep.

This week's podcast and newsletter are brought to you by Care.com. Care.com connects families with local caregivers, including nannies, babysitters, tutors, senior care providers, dog walkers, housekeepers, and more.

Go to www.modernmommydoc.com/podcast for the full show notes.

Summary

In this episode, Dr. Whitney interviews Carla Naumburg about her new book, 'How to Stop Freaking Out: The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Cool When Life Feels Chaotic.'

It's a book for kids all about learning to manage overwhelming emotions. They also talk about the importance of self-compassion and normalizing the experience of losing control. The book provides practical tips and techniques for both kids and parents to regulate their emotions and navigate difficult moments.

Takeaways

• Losing control and freaking out is a normal part of being human, and it's important to have self-compassion and not feel ashamed or embarrassed about it.
• There are different types of freak-outs, including fight, flight, freeze, flip out, and fix. Recognizing your own patterns can help you better understand and manage your emotions.
• Practicing self-care, such as getting enough sleep, exercise, and fresh air, can help reduce the likelihood of losing control.
• Teaching kids strategies for calming down, such as deep breathing, movement, and engaging in activities they enjoy, can help them regulate their emotions.
• It's important to create a safe and non-judgmental space for kids to express their emotions and seek support when needed.
• Social media can be both helpful and harmful when it comes to parenting advice. It's important to be discerning and focus on content that promotes empathy, understanding, and realistic expectations.

May 15, 2024, Momcozy released its annual State of Maternal Support Report shedding light on whether Millennials and Gen Z feel supported in motherhood. The new study surveyed 1,187 pregnant and new moms to reveal that 67% of moms wished for more emotional support and more assistance with childcare or household tasks while 46% craved more social connections.

Listen in as Momcozy's Lalaina Roberts talks more about what the Report found, and why it matters so much for working women.

For more, go to www.modernmommydoc.com/podcast.

In this episode, Dr. Whitney discusses Different Thinkers: ADHD with authors Katia Frederickson and Yael Rothman. The episode focuses on ways parents can support their children if they have ADHD, and on the power of understanding your wiring as a child. They talk about their backgrounds as pediatric neuropsychologists and the importance of understanding brain behavior relationships. They also discuss the accessibility and cost of evaluations and the need for resources to help children understand their strengths and challenges in a kid-friendly way.

For more, go to www.modernmommydoc.com/podcast

In this episode, Dr. Whitney Casares discusses the reasons why we feel cluttered, such as the chaotic pace of life, the feeling of control that clutter gives us, and the outward sign of an inside problem. She also talks about the importance of decluttering and how it can lead to more freedom, time, and space. Dr. Whitney provides practical tips for decluttering both our physical and mental spaces.

For more, go to www.modernmommydoc.com/podcast

In this episode, Dr. Mark Hauser, author of Vulnerable Minds: The Harm of Childhood Trauma and the Hope of Resilience, discusses the impact of childhood trauma and the importance of understanding adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). He introduces the concept of the five T's framework (type, timing, tenure, turbulence, and toxicity) to understand how to respond to them and highlights the need for professionals and parents to be trauma-informed and aware of how childhood trauma can affect parenting. This conversation also touches on the role of screens in children's lives and the importance of being mindful of their impact.

For more, go to www.modernmommydoc.com/podcast

Parenting is a journey filled with countless decisions, especially when it comes to encouraging our kids to try new activities and experiences. For those of us with neurodivergent children, these decisions can be even more complex.

In this episode, I share my personal experiences and challenges in helping my own child to try new activities, and offer detailed insights and actionable advice for parents facing similar challenges.

Dr. Whitney gets personal on this episode talking about body image, weight, and the world’s standards of health. She talks about why it’s so hard for women to have a positive body image even in the movement of body positivity and how we can help break that cycle for our kids.

For more on this episode, go to www.modernmommydoc.com/podcast.