Suicide is the second leading cause of death for 10- to 24-year-olds in the United States and a global public health issue. Supporting the mental health of young people is a big topic of conversation on this podcast, so we wanted to make sure we tackled this difficult, yet critical piece of mental health struggles for adolescents. This episode touches on statistics, risk factors, protective factors and resources for help. 

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. Talking about tough topics with teens is hard enough without the added factor of “all my friends are doing it.” How do we toe the line in these conversations when we think our adolescent’s friends might be leading them in the wrong direction?

Today, we are going deep on tough topics like drugs and other substances with your teens and tweens: what you need to know, how to approach the conversation, how to make sure you keep talking about it and more. 

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. As parents, we want to encourage our kids to try new things, but we also don't want to force them to do things they don't want to do. How do we find the balance? 

Kids are about to go back to school and for some, it’s awesome. But for others, school comes with anxiety, and the transition to school and a schedule after a summertime of carefree time can feel really overwhelming. In this episode, we dive into school avoidance and how parents can help manage their children’s school refusal. 

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. Summer often means vacations. But we all know vacations with kids are not vacations; they are relocations. What can we do to make these trips more enjoyable and relaxing for the whole family?

Discussion around social media, its prevalence in our lives, and its effect on our mental health are pervasive right now, which is why we wanted to revisit this conversation following our June 2023 episode. Let's dive into what an unhealthy relationship with social media looks like, the 5 C's of social media use, and one of the big things we can do to support our kids with social media use. 

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. Summer brings a lot more free time, which can be fun and allow the whole family to relax and recharge. But should we maintain some structure in the summer? And if so, how do we do it?

Summertime is fun time. There is less structure without school and a chance for all of us to rest, relax, and recharge. But there are also a lot of new things to keep in mind. In this episode, we tackle swim safety, signs of dehydration, and exposure to bugs and animals when outdoors.

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. In celebration of our one-year anniversary, we are tackling listener questions, and we have one today about in-laws. How do parents respond when someone isn't caring for our child in a way that’s aligned with our values?

This month celebrates one year of the podcast and we are diving into your questions! Listeners sent in scenarios about weaning pacifiers, getting kids to sleep in their own beds and summer tips on activities, hats and drinks for the heat. Enjoy and thanks for listening!

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. This time: Krystina’s 6-year-old got a makeup kit as a gift, which brought up a lot of feelings for her that she didn’t want to bring into how she handled it. How did Dr. Terry Nguyen thinks she did?

One in 20 pediatric doctor's visits are about poop! Shocking. Dr. Terry Nguyen gives us all the information we never wanted about poop—what it should look like, what foods encourage or reduce constipation and if we need prebiotics. 

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. Anxiety over big life transitions can be difficult to manage, especially when they are non-negotiable. How can we help our kids navigate their fears in a connected way?

For many parents, worries about our children meeting developmental milestones can be stressful and cause over-worry about how our kids “measure up.” Dr. Nguyen is here to break down what to look out for and how to intervene at home.  

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. Getting into college, especially a top choice, can be a major stressor for teens. How can you support your senior if this happens?

About 1 in 8 women experiences postpartum depression after having a baby, yet it is something that remains heavily underdiagnosed and not talked about as much as it should. It’s important we address this topic and find our coping mechanisms or get needed interventions early because parenthood does not get easier.

Resources mentioned: 

Action Plan for Depression and Anxiety During Pregnancy and After Birth: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/ncmhep/initiatives/moms-mental-health-matters/moms/action-plan

National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: 1-833-TLC-MAMA, https://mchb.hrsa.gov/national-maternal-mental-health-hotline

Postpartum Support International: 1-800-944-4773, www.postpartum.net/

At GBMC: https://www.gbmc.org/services/postpartum-care-unit/after-you-deliver

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. Intense moments can feel ... well, intense. Krystina gives 7 fun ways she has diffused intense moments in her household. Let us know yours! 

All parents have heard the phrase “I hate you” or some version of it at some point in our parenting journey. If you haven’t, don’t worry, it’s coming! Oftentimes, there is more beyond the words, and we help you dig deep into finding out what that is and how to tackle the response.

The U.S. is experiencing the highest vaccine exemption rate for children in its history, including a 0.4% increase in Maryland. Doubts about the Covid vaccine prompted parents across the country to rethink other vaccines. The debate is getting deep and dangerous. Vaccines are safe and imperative to preventing the spread of disease. Learn more here on the importance and truth about vaccines.

Our kids are talking at school, they are overhearing the news, they are on social media. They are not escaping what is going on in the world. Tragedy, violence, war and death are hard topics. How can parents be the container that holds these important and complex conversations with our kids?

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. Nutrition can be tricky. How do we know when our child is just being picky with their foods and when we have entered into something more serious that requires intervention?

Small doses of practical parenting advice based on real-life experiences. We all know movement is important, but where do we as busy parents find the time! We give you some simple, quick things to try no matter how much time you have. 

In our new three-part series, Krystina Wales and pediatrician Dr. Terry Nguyen tackle the three foundational pillars we all need to focus on to practice better health. Dr. Nguyen is allergic to the word exercise, but movement is important to for our physical, mental and emotional health. Hosts discuss how to create consistent, routine habits around these practices for the whole family.