The Optimizing Mother's podcast

In this episode, we have the privilege of hearing from Mrs. Rivky Katz, a dedicated mother and teacher. In this conversation, Mrs. Katz flips the focus of our lives, and by extension, our children's chinuch, on its head.

Who needs who?

And for what purpose?

Join us as she shares her profound insights on understanding the "Why?" that can make a practical difference in חסידישע חינוך. She also explores the authentic role and innate desire of a mother according to חסידות.

Take advantage of this enlightening conversation!

How pivotal is our upbringing in dealing with life's challenges?

Can we pass resilience onto our children?

In this episode, host Sara Blau is joined by Mrs. Ester Zirkind, a teacher and two-time author, to discuss how she copes with life's challenges. She draws on the upbringing instilled in her by her mother and endeavors to pass those same values on to her students and children.

Gain strength and insight from this powerful conversation on how the Chinuch messages we received as children help us endure challenges throughout life.

What does emotional health mean, how do we achieve this goal in our children, and what role do fathers play in the process?

Early childhood consultant, parenting coach, and certified temperament specialist, Estee Lieblich sits down with host Sara Blau to discuss the trials of raising emotionally healthy and aware children. How does one get there? The answer may surprise you. Listen in for tips and insights from an experienced parenting consultant.

Author, nurse practitioner, and BR alumnus, Chaya Shuchat is passionate about supporting mothers and empowering them in their significant role. But where did it all start for her? What was her mothering journey like to lead her to this passion?

Listen in as Chaya sits down with host Sara Blau to tell her story and share her number one's in parenting. What does ideal mean in home-making? What role does a mashpia play in motherhood? And what chinuch lessons can be gleaned from the Pesach seder?

With best wishes for a kosher and freilechen Pesach!

If you had to choose one parenting tip that was as vital as air, what would it be and why? Listen as host Sara Blau sits down with principal, lecturer and mother, Mrs. Dena Gorkin to discuss just that. Connection, she says, is the foundation of all chinuch. By developing a strong bond with your children, you can accomplish so much more. Gain tips and inspiration from this meaningful conversation and hopefully you can integrate these lessons in your own homes.

Dena Gorkin is the founder and prinicpal of Bnos Chomesh Acadamey Junior High School & High School. She is the director of community education for Operation Survival and a teacher at Bais Rivkah Seminary. She can be reached via her website at Denagorkin.com

Who decides whats normal? How do we impart resilience during challenging times to our children? How do we instill confidence in the next generation? Join host Sara Blau for a conversation with Mrs. Henya Laine, as they discuss all these topics and more. Mrs. Laine, a mother of eight children ka"h, shares insight and nuggets of wisdom on important subjects relevant to all those in chinuch. Get inspired as she speaks about her experiences and gain lessons for your own home and classroom.

In this episode, Mrs. Chanie Wolf joins host Sara Blau to discuss what true Chinuch means. An experienced teacher and educator, Mrs. Chanie Wolf offers a refreshing perspective on the Chinuch of our children. Get inspired as Mrs. Wolf shares how to reveal our children's unlimited potential and how parenting is not control. Listen as she tackles this intriguing topic, Meet the True Inner Child.

"Where ahava flows, chinuch flows." In this episode, Mrs. Dinie Greenberg joins host Sara Blau to discuss the integral concept of Chinuch with love, what it means, and how to implement it. Listen as she brings sources from the Torah and the Rebbe and shares stories about the power of using chessed and love to embody Chinuch. Get inspired as she shares the message of love and positive affection and what it means for this generation of parenting.

Meet Mrs. Goldie Plotkin. A Shlucha to Markham, Ontario, lecturer, preschool director and co-director of Tamim Academy Toronto, and mother of eight children, ka"h, Mrs. Plotkin shares her experience of mothering her son with special needs, Zalmy OBM. From the moment she heard the words, "your son has Down Syndrome", until she unfortunately had her last moments with him just a few hours before his fifteenth birthday, Mrs. Plotkin worked to remain positive and connected throughout it all. Whether it was dealing with unforeseen instances just as she was about to head out the door to school with her children, or Zalmy's delays and unique challenges, Mrs. Plotkin saw the silver linings in the, sometimes, grey clouds. Get inspired as Mrs. Plotkin shares what got her through some tough times and what she still lives with today.

In the fast paced world of technology, parents around the world struggle with the dilemma of how and when to introduce the many forms of screens to their children. Enter MUST, Mothers Unite to Stall Technology, an organization run by a group of mothers passionate about keepsaking their childrens' childhoods and avoiding screens as much as possible. Mrs. Simcha Minkowitz, wife, mother, business owner, and a founder of the Crown Heights branch of MUST, sits down with host Sara Blau to discuss how parents can best prepare for the new school year regarding smart devices. Gain tips and wisdom from Simcha as she shares stories and insight about this world wide dilemma and how we can work together to collectively delay the onslaught of technology for our children.