Modern Mom Probs

This week, Tara had the pleasure of welcoming Brooke Romney, author of the best-selling books 52 Modern Manners for Today's Teens (Volumes 1 & 2) and 52 Modern Manners for Kids. Their conversation revolved around the importance of teaching manners and social skills to children and how these contribute to a successful and connected life.Brooke, a mother of four boys, shared her insights on how teaching manners is not just about appearances, but about helping kids feel successful on the inside. This, in turn, boosts their self-confidence and relationships. Teaching social skills and manners has long-term benefits, such as building confidence and liking oneself from within. Brooke shared her favorite manners from her books, including the importance of introducing oneself and finding new friends if current friendships are consistently negative.In today's digital age, kids often miss out on observing the world around them. Brooke emphasized the importance of parents stepping in to teach their children manners and social skills. Tara and Brooke discussed the importance of building awareness as a foundational skill for teaching manners. This includes being aware of their surroundings, "reading the room," and knowing when it's appropriate to talk about certain topics.Tara and Brooke emphasized the need for parents to actively teach these skills, as they are not always absorbed naturally. Some adults who were not taught these skills struggle with loneliness and feeling awkward in social settings. Brooke's books provide a starting point for conversations about manners and social skills, and they include roleplay and discussion scenarios to engage younger children.Brooke's book, 52 Modern Manners for Today's Teens, is a fantastic resource that helps parents prepare their teenagers to be successful in social situations. It provides teens with answers to common questions about their interests and hobbies, making them feel less alone in their learning process.Teaching manners and social skills to children and teenagers is not just about making them appear polite. It's about equipping them with the tools they need to be successful, confident, and connected individuals. So grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and get ready to soak up all the social skills knowledge. Let's raise some polite and confident children together!Link:https://brookeromney.com/https://www.amazon.com/52-Modern-Manners-Todays-Teens/dp/1735854433/Support the show Follow & DM me @modernmomprobs Pick up my book Check out modernmomprobs Shout out to Citizens of Sound Leave a review

How do you get what you want professionally?Betting on yourself.This week Tara welcomes on-air personality Bethany Braun-Silva to the pod. Bethany is not just an on-air parenting entertainment and lifestyle expert, but also a fellow podcaster and author of the inspiring new book "Like a Mother: Banish Guilt, Blaze Your Trail, and Break the Rules to Create a Life You Love."Bethany shared her journey from being an editor to becoming an on-air personality. Her story is a testament to the power of taking risks and betting on yourself, even when faced with rejection.In this fun and lively conversation, Tara and Bethany delved into the title of Bethany's book, discussing how treating themselves with the same love and support they give to others can create a better world. Remember, creating a life you love doesn't always mean chasing big dreams; it could be as simple as loving yourself more. They agreed on the significance of speaking to ourselves with the same care and encouragement as they do loved ones. Practices like body positivity and manifesting can make a world of difference. Tara shared her secret tip for building self-confidence. It’s a keeper.If you want to start living a life you love, listen to this episode!Support the show Follow & DM me @modernmomprobs Pick up my book Check out modernmomprobs Shout out to Citizens of Sound Leave a review

This week, Tara welcomes fellow only child Jen Dalton, creator of the Instagram account "One and Done Parenting." Tara and Jen both share their experience as only children with only children. Jen explores her decision to have only one child due to a traumatic birth experience. Tara shares her journey of infertility and miscarriages before finally having her son.They also discuss the benefits of being an only child, such as developing strong social skills in uncomfortable environments, making them naturally social adults. Tara and Jen also explore the benefits of having only one child, such as saying yes more frequently to their child’s requests and having the ability to focus on their child's needs and desires without having to consider the needs of multiple children.Jen and Tara address negative stereotypes and potential loneliness, particularly around the holiday season as well as the importance of building a supportive community outside of blood relatives. For families on the fence about having another child, Jen suggests asking themselves if they truly wish to have another child in their care and considering their long-term goals. She emphasizes that children should be wanted by both parents and that having doubts should be explored before making the decision to introduce another baby into the family.In conclusion, the conversation highlights the joys and challenges of being a 'one and done' parent. It's a decision that comes with its own unique set of challenges, but ultimately, it's about creating a loving and nurturing environment for our children.If you are or if you have ever considered being a “one and done” parent, definitely listen to this episode!Links:https://www.instagram.com/oneanddoneparenting/Support the show Follow & DM me @modernmomprobs Pick up my book Check out modernmomprobs Shout out to Citizens of Sound Leave a review

In this podcast episode, Tara interviews Dayna Abraham, author of "Calm the Chaos: Raising the Most Challenging Children." Dayna shares her personal journey of raising a child who didn't fit the mold and struggled with various challenges. Springing from that experience, she developed a framework that helped her own family and other parents facing different parenting challenges. Her story is a testament to the fact that parenting is not about perfection, but about understanding, acceptance, and resilience.Dayna introduces the concept of "riding the storm," a strategy for handling tough moments in parenting. It's about focusing on safety and waiting out the storm before reaching the empowered family stage, where problem-solving and strong relationships can flourish. Tara and Dayna discuss the five steps to calming the chaos-Getting to Safety, Restoring Energy, Finding Calm in the Moment, Getting Ahead of the Moment, and Building a Family Team. These steps use a consistent framework throughout: You. Connect. Understand. Empower. Then putting all these together into a plan. As part of the plan, Tara and Dayna emphasize the importance of finding educational options that meet a child's needs. Dayna's book offers honest insights and reminds parents that our children are not broken and that understanding and accepting them for who they are is the most important job we have as parents.If you have a child who doesn’t “fit the mold,” definitely listen to this episode. Links:Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/calmthechaosparenting Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/calmthechaosparenting/ YouTube Channel URL: https://www.youtube.com/c/Lemonlimeadventuresblog TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@daynadabraham Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dayna-abraham-550279106/ Support the show Follow & DM me @modernmomprobs Pick up my book Check out modernmomprobs Shout out to Citizens of Sound Leave a review

In this podcast episode, Tara welcomes Sehreen Noor Ali, co-founder of the Sleuth, a startup that gives parents better directions on early childhood health. They had an enlightening conversation about the challenges of modern motherhood and how technology can be a game-changer when determining if something is “up.”Sehreen shared her personal experience of struggling to find information and support for her daughter's medical journey, which led her to co-found Sleuth. Tara and Sehreen emphasize the importance of trusting one's instincts as a parent and the need for accurate information and emotional support. They also discuss the role of technology, such as AI, in providing helpful information to parents. Sehreen emphasizes the importance of managing anxiety, both for the child and the parent. She introduces us to tools like Sleuth's tracker that can help capture and understand what's happening in the moment, reducing anxiety by providing a clearer picture of what is normal and what may require attention. Tara and Sehreen acknowledge the overwhelming responsibilities that come with parenting a child with special needs. Serene also suggests finding ways to alleviate some of the stress, such as using telehealth services and resources like the Coping Cat books and online courses, like GoZen.The episode concludes with a discussion about respecting children's privacy online while simultaneously finding solace in social media communities. It's a tightrope walk, but with careful steps, it's achievable. Links:https://www.sehreen.com/https://hellosleuth.com/https://www.copingcatparents.com/https://gozen.com/Support the show Follow & DM me @modernmomprobs Pick up my book Check out modernmomprobs Shout out to Citizens of Sound Leave a review

In this episode, Tara interviews Andee Martineau, mother of six, parenting coach, and creator of the Connect Method Parenting framework. They discuss parenting hacks and ways to improve kids' listening skills and strengthen the parent-child relationship. Andee shares her personal journey of struggling with parenting and how she developed her method. Tara shares a personal story on how and why she became a conscious parent.The Connect Method is applicable to children of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers. It focuses on building trust, respect, and a strong parent-child relationship as the foundation for effective parenting. It's never too late to start using this method, even if you have teenagers. Andee reassures that we can always change ourselves and the way we show up as parents. She even role-plays what to do when your child doesn’t want to hand over their device. You don’t want to miss this. At the end of the conversation, Tara and Andee emphasize the importance of connecting with children before correcting them and highlight the significance of curiosity, compassion, and self-forgiveness in parenting. If you are ready to level up your parenting and have your children listen the first time you ask, listen to this episode!Links:https://connectmethodparenting.com/ https://www.facebook.com/connectmethodhttps://www.instagram.com/andeemartineau/Support the show Follow & DM me @modernmomprobs Pick up my book Check out modernmomprobs Shout out to Citizens of Sound Leave a review

This week, Tara welcomes Heather Chauvin, leadership coach, author of Dying To Be A Good Mother, and host of the popular podcast “Emotionally Uncomfortable.”  Heather shares her personal story of beating cancer and how it led her to develop the concept of energetic time management. She emphasizes the importance of understanding our emotions and aligning our desires with our physical body. Heather also talks about the importance of valuing oneself and implementing boundaries to break free from living in survival mode.If you feel like you’re caught in survival mode, you should listen to this episode! Links:https://podcasts.apple.com/uy/podcast/emotionally-uncomfortable/id982980293https://www.amazon.com/Dying-Be-Good-Mother-Parenting/dp/1774580225Support the show Follow & DM me @modernmomprobs Pick up my book Check out modernmomprobs Shout out to Citizens of Sound Leave a review

In this episode, Liz Dunn and Jane Black, co-hosts of the Pressure Cooker podcast, join Tara to discuss the pressure on parents, especially mothers, to cook everything from scratch and how it's not a practical expectation. They talk about the broken food system and the need for easier and healthier options for busy families. They discuss the need for collective solutions to make better quality convenience foods more accessible.They end the show by sharing personal anecdotes and go-to recipes for quick and easy meals that don't require an actual recipe. If you’ve ever had mom guilt about your family’s meals, you should listen to this episode. Links:https://www.pressurecooker.fm/Support the show Follow & DM me @modernmomprobs Pick up my book Check out modernmomprobs Shout out to Citizens of Sound Leave a review

In this episode, Tara chats with Kanika Chadda Gupta, a former CNN journalist and host of the popular podcast That's Total Mom Sense. They discuss life lessons Kanika has learned from her podcast guests, including Rebecca Minkoff, Chelsea Clinton, Eve Rodsky, and Zibby Owens. Tara and Kanika dive into the concept of "mom sense" and the importance of trusting one's intuition in parenting. Kanika shares insider tips on conducting successful interviews and emphasizes the value of storytelling in learning life lessons. This episode is a testament to the power of supportive mom friendships and the importance of learning from others.If you’re looking for meaningful life lessons, this episode is for you!Support the show Follow & DM me @modernmomprobs Pick up my book Check out modernmomprobs Shout out to Citizens of Sound Leave a review

On this week's episode, Tara is joined by Ryan Viktorin, Fidelity Investments Financial Consultant, on the topic of retirement planning for busy parents. Ryan shares her takeaways for retirement planning, including what is the best age to start, how to decide how much to set aside and how we can learn financial literacy. Ryan explains how we can save for retirement while also saving for everyday life needs, such as an emergency fund.If you've ever thought "I don't know where to begin planning for retirement," then this episode is for you! This episode is sponsored by Fidelity.Support the show Follow & DM me @modernmomprobs Pick up my book Check out modernmomprobs Shout out to Citizens of Sound Leave a review