This episode is all about keeping those toddlers busy... with help from Busy Toddler! Susie Allison is a guest on The Village this week, and she is sharing her best advice to cultivate independent play into your routine. Susie is an early childhood expert, dedicated mother and wife, founder of Busy Toddler and advocate for the most fabulous parenting hack we've ever encountered: sittervising. If you feel like you're in a parenting rut, or are looking to start incorporating structured play into your routine, this conversation is one you need to be a part of! Come learn from Susie what questions to ask (or NOT ASK!) during play, who put the start-up cash in for her idea, and which parent her friends tend to ask about breastfeeding!

Follow Susie on IG @busytoddler and head to www.busytoddler.com to take advantage of her amazing content, books, and homeschool curriculums!

As always, if there is a topic we need to discuss or you have a story that needs to be told, email us [email protected], follow us on IG @villagecommunity, @mrsjennieporter, @smallspacemomma ❤️ Thanks for the support!

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This episode of The Village Podcast with Jennie and Allie was recorded to help the girls center themselves, and remind each other every reason they have to be grateful for life. Jennie was stuck in a rut of anger, while Allie was feeling silly about obligations she has, and gratefulness was far from their minds. The listeners chimed in with everything they are proud of themselves for, or have recently accomplished, and they did not disappoint! From body confidence, to supporting women, to braving a trip out in the public with both of the kids, us women have so much to be grateful for! Sometimes, we just need a small attitude adjustment. Thanks for listening and, as always, email us [email protected], follow and interact with us on IG @villagecommunity, @mrsjennieporter, @smallspacemomma and Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or other platforms! Leave a written review and a 5 star rating. We love you, all! *reminder, no episode next week!*

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This week on The Village Podcast with Jennie and Allie, the girls get to hear a new Mom-to-be's story about her antepartum struggles. *This episode contains conversations around depression, anxiety and OCD. Jennie and Allie would like to remind you that they are not medical professionals, but they are a platform for storytelling. Please refer to our resources if help is needed*.
Colleen, Allie's best friend and older daughters' godmother, is 27 weeks along in her first pregnancy. Before she got the help she needed, she was really struggling with some tough things. Colleen's willingness to be so open with her personal emotions and battles during this pregnancy is imperative to the inclusion of Mothers out there who are experiencing any type of antepartum disorder. Colleen touches on the scary thoughts she had, the intrusive rituals ranging from the preparation of food to a constant fear of harming her unborn child, and the overwhelming sense of hardly being able to get herself up in the morning. No pregnant mother deserves to struggle through these feelings, and if you or someone you know is going through this, please ask for help.

Resources:
SAMHSA's National Helpline: 1-800-622-HELP
Speak with your personal healthcare provider, OB/GYN or otherwise!
If you're local to the Philadelphia Area:
Maternal Wellness Center located on Byberry Rd in Hatboro, Pa
215-649-9916

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Think "Hot Girl Summer"... except we're focusing on self love and acceptance, while encouraging enjoying ourselves regardless of our current size, shape or postpartum tiger stripes!

Jennie and Allie are back for episode 16 of the first season of TVPJA and they are on a mission to love their postpartum bodies! Between social media, gatherings and events starting to happen again, and the societal pressures of perfection, the girls are starting to feel overwhelmed dressing their "Mom Bods". Jennie crumbled under the realization - while sitting in the driveway with a minivan full of groceries - that her current body shape doesn't match her athletic ability, and how people judge that upon a first glance. Allie rehashes some comments and concerns doctors have suggested to her regarding her weight, even without a present medical issue for it to be affecting.

The main goal of MOM BOD SUMMER is to remember to love this vessel that houses our beautiful hearts and grew our wonderful children. TVPJA supports any decision regarding your health that you make (botox, weight loss surgery, certain diets, etc) but make sure they come from a place of making you feel better! Don't let society tell you you have to change... because The Village loves you too much the way you are!

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This week on The Village Podcast with Jennie and Allie, the girls are gathered (via zoom) for a good old fashioned chit-chat! Allie walks us through her struggles with The Black Tux rental company and how she ended up spending almost a grand on her husbands suit situation. Jennie bonded with her youngest... for the first time... on a vacation to the mountains. 

The girls talk about Varsity Mom moves like - how to handle two under two, what products are must haves and what signs of depression looked like for them. Jennie confesses to being a Xanga bully and Allie decided the Gen Zs are just copying original millennial styles.

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Jennie and Allie are talking all things sex! This weeks conversation is cheeky, peachy, serious and touches on each aspect of sex; maturity, marriage, confidence and doing it after children. Jennie describes the sex education she received in a private, all-girls, Catholic school compared to Allies experience in a large, co-ed, public district. The future of education, doctors office conversations and access to information is hopefully brighter for our daughters. The girls explain where they are in their own sexual journeys and how their postpartum experiences were.

Do you think that a sexual and intimate bond in a relationship can be learned? Or does it have to be a natural connection? The girls talk about how to get on the same page as their partners, especially during and after pregnancy. They also discuss the pressures to be performing, or not, from social media and the world.

The biggest thing the girls want Moms and women to take away from the conversation is to remember that sex is a two way street; it absolutely should be for your own pleasure, connection, security and fun! Even after children enter the picture, as long as you are communicating your wants and need, sex is a wonderful and necessarily part of any healthy relationship. Even when you feel like you are head to head, remember that you and your partner are on the same team. So put the kids to bed and get it on!!!

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The girls are reunited! After a brief, but brutal, stint with Covid, Allie is back on the air. She is feeling so much better and blown away by the generosity that all of the listeners showed. Thank you all for being so supportive. 

This weeks episode is a mix of heavy and hilarious. A heads up that this episode touches on sensitive topics. First, Jennie catches us up on her workout schedule, her minivan mishap and the bloody accident that ended a playdate early. To top off her unlucky streak - she gets herself into a tough check-out situation on, what should have been, a quick trip to the grocery store!

Jennie and Allie then dive into the TLC / Josh Duggar child assault scandal. How far can your support as a parent go for your child once they are adults? What type of parents choose to stand by one child over the feeling of others? Is his wife ignorant, brainwashed, abused or choosing to enable this? This calls into question the ethics of "reality tv" in general. We believe TLC needs to do better, hence, renaming them, The Loser Channel.

Thank you so much to our fabulous sponsor, Knotty Noggins. Please shop their headbands here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/KnottyNogginsMO?ref=search_shop_redirect

Thank you to our fabulous producer, Tim Bostwick.

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WELCOME BACK!!!
Jennie is solo for this episode, and starts by listing all of the times she dropped the ball this week. Ordering school lunches, packing snacks, Girl Scout meetings, who cant keep track of it all?!?!?!

Then it's time for this week's interview with Professional Organizer Leigh Genkinger. She runs Orderleigh Home,( https://orderleighhome.com/) a full service professional home organizer company, creating spaces that are a perfect balance of function and design. She helping families find peace and balance in their homes, and making them look beautiful along the way. We had a lot of fun talking about everything from starting a business and quick tips for organization, to commiserating about marriage and motherhood. Then we end the interview with some really fun motherhood questions! 

Thank Yous:

Thank you all SO MUCH for donating to our Covid Care Package for Allie. We were able to surprise her with tons and tons of projects and activities to keep her kiddos busy so she could focus on healing. You guys are the best, and we really appreciate your generosity.

Community Outreach Opportunity:
Help Penny Kick Leukemia's Butt!

Blood Drive for Penny Doyle
Tuesday May 11th + Thursday May 13th

American Legion Post 366
7976 Oxford Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19111
Make your appointments here, Sponsor Code "Penny Doyle" https://www.redcrossblood.org/

Go Fund Me to support Pennys family during this time:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/our-shiny-penny-help-penny-kick-leukemias-butt?utm_campaign=p_cp%20share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer&fbclid=IwAR09iVx5eb0-YTqJDx7nHzJikIuhisHaoDTtX_p2T-94lL42UYLCmL0ZadI

EMAIL: [email protected]

SOCIAL: @villagecommunity @mrsjennieporter @smallspacemomma

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Welcome back to The Village Podcast with Jennie and Allie! Today, it's all about cars. We start with some chit chat, and Jennie shares her new found love for Formula 1 Racing (check out Formula 1: Drive to Survive on Netflix, to find out why! Hint: lots of young European men in tight racing suits...)

Then it's on to the main event! Your Fluffy Aunties sat chatted with Kelly Stumpe, known as The Car Mom on Instagram and Youtube. She's one of the hardest working women in show business, raising two kids and creating an empire with her informative car tours, down to earth instagram content, and delicious broccoli.

This episode had us all in our feels, as we discuss everything from buying a new car in your price range, to breast pumps. Buckle up! It's a wild ride!

Thank you to Tim Bostwick (@timbostwickrealtor) and Madeline (@madelinesdoodles).

EMAIL: [email protected]

SOCIAL: @villagecommunity @mrsjennieporter @smallspacemama

Where to Go to Check Your Child's Safety Seat

Lifesaving Options

• A child safety seat inspection station is the most common place consumers can go to get their child safety seats "checked." This means that trained technicians (who complete a standardized AAA-certified course) are on hand to inspect and correct the installation of child safety seats.
  • These technicians make sure that the seats being used have not been recalled due to a safety defect or been made unsafe because they were involved in a previous car crash.
  • Technicians also check to make sure that the child using the seat is the right age and weight for that seat.
• Inspection stations are frequently located at local automobile dealerships, police stations, fire houses, hospitals, and many more places. To find an inspection station in your area, please visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Web site: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm. Inspection stations also can be found by calling 1-866-SEAT-CHECK or visiting http://www.seatcheck.org/.
• Another option is locating a few certified child passenger safety (CPS) technicians in your area and enlisting their support. There are thousands of certified CPS technicians currently out there who are ready and able to assist. Parents can take their vehicle and child to the technician, and oftentimes they will come to you.
  • Visit:  http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS.

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Episode 10! Double Digits, Babyyyyyy.  Jennie and Allie are back from Spring Break, and have never felt worse.  Thinking we were out of the woods, after over a year, Allie's house was struck with Covid. The Mommies discuss symptoms, and goals for getting back to fighting shape. Who else is in?! We're thinking of starting a movement of strong mommies, with even stronger immune systems.  Follow us on Instagram for yummy recipes, and workout inspo. Or at least commiserate with us in the process!

Fortunately, they are joined by Dr. Heather Orman-Lubell, who answers all kinds of questions, from Covid and Kids, to giving ourselves grace with screen time.  She gives us hope for kids going back to school in the fall, and discusses the importance of getting vaccinated. Below, is the list of resources she shares, for parents...and Jennie realizes she has some catching up to do! 

Thank you to Tim (@timbostwickrealtor) and Dr. Heather! And thank you everyone for listening!

Parenting Resources:

"The AAP Guide to the First Five Years"
"The AAP Guide to Your Child's Symptoms"
"Baby 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice For Your Baby's First Year", Dr. Ari Brown, and Denise Fields
"The Mommy MD Guides"
"The Blessings of a Skinned Knee", Wendy Mogel, Ph.D.
"How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success", Julie Lythcott-Haims

EMAIL: [email protected]
SOCIALS: @villagecommunity @mrsjennieporter @smallspacemommy
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, BuzzSprout

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