Questions we address in this episode: Why is this age so hard? Like why are 4-6 year olds so defiant and sassy?  How to handle a blatant “no” even after trying to connect, offer options, even threat and bribe? (It’s time to get out of bath “no” cleaning up toys) How to achieve compliance when you may not be in the position to carry them physically? (leaving playground) Techniques to teach them to deal with anger? (Take a deep breath doesn’t work at this age) when should we be teaching these techniques & when does it get better?  How to handle when the child looks you in the eyes and does exactly what you said not to do?  How to balance nurturing their assertiveness and correcting their “sass and or talking back?” (How to be respected without dulling their strength) From Chelsea and Caitlin:We are best friends, Registered Psychologists, and, most importantly, moms (to 4 kids aged 5 and under) who struggled significantly in the postpartum period. From months-long NICU stay to birth trauma and postpartum anxiety—we truly have experienced many of the topics we talk about!We recently wrote a book entitled Not your Mother’s Postpartum Book published through PESI Publishing LTD, where we deep dive into all the things no one talks about in the postpartum period. We cover topics from postpartum mental health, birth trauma, infertility and pregnancy loss, relationships, boundaries, social media, and much more.Book: Not Your Mother's Postpartum BookWebsite: https://www.mamapsychologists.ca/Contact: mamapsychologists@gmail.comInstagram: @mamapsychologists________________________________________________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only!______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two years ago, I hit rock bottom and I can't believe I am here giving my two year update. I am graduating therapy and wanted to share how I feel about graduating, a topic I am currently struggling with, where I am headed next, and one of my biggest takeaways from therapy. Make sure you listen in for all the details!Stay tuned on the mamaknowspodcast IG page for the window of tolerance graphic________________________________________________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only!______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let's talk MONEY. Ew. For real though, are you and your kiddos set financially or do you you not know?Mention BALKANINA when you email Matt to get $3,000 off aka a FREE financial life plan. Matthew.Krueger@nm.com Website: https://www.kfwealthmanagement.com/Matt lives in Janesville, WI. He is married to Carrie, who is his rock and he is also blessed to have 3 daughters, Riese -22, Addison, 17, and Gibsen, 16. Matt is PASSIONATE about serving people and his community and currently serves as the President of NAMI Rock County, which helps people with mental illness. He has been in the financial business for 20 years and is the founder and Wealth Management Advisor for kf. Wealth Management, which is part ofNorthwestern Mutual. He has a team of 10 people and works with professionals, people nearing retirement or in retirement and family business owners and works in 13 states across the country.Notables*Their team is in the top 1% of all Financial Advisors in the country.*He is a top 250 Forbes Top Financial Security Professional for 2022 which ranks advisors on wholistic financial planning, not just investments.________________________________________________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only!______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I am re-sharing this episode because I needed it so I thought you might too! We get so caught up in trying to be perfect parents when truly, less is more. Tina Payne Bryson...EXCUSE ME? Pinch me. This woman has paved the parenting way for THOUSANDS of parents through her talks and especially her books you may know her from (linked below).Tina and I have honest conversations about parenting expectations, today's parenting labels and trends like "gentle parenting," getting your partner on the same parenting page as you, and we even chat about some commonly frustrating parenting scenarios and how to work through them.www.TinaBryson.comTina's InstaTina's BooksDIME BEAUTY 20% OFF SITE WIDECODE: MAMAKNOWS20________________________________________________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only!______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Michelle and I sit down to have an honest talk about thoughts on early school and education and structured vs instructed play. Michelle tells us how 7 days of play got started and her journey.7 Days of Play was created by Michelle, mom to four kids! Michelle wanted to create a destination for fun activities, kid-friendly recipes, and product reviews for parents, teachers, and caretakers to make life with kids a little bit easier! Her page is full of #momhacks and has an eager following of moms seeking answers! Prior to creating 7 Days of Play, she produced award-winning animated and live-action documentary series. Nowadays she uses her filmmaking skills to make fun and original content featuring how-to videos, inspiring family moments, and fun lists and tips!InstagramWebsite _______________________________________________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only!______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you feel lost in motherhood? Ashley and I have been there.  Tune in for tips on how to find yourself in motherhood again and how to balance the load with your partner. Ashley will be your new best friend!Ashley Kix is Country Morning Radio Host who lives in Southern Wisconsin.  When she’s notdoing radio she is raising two little ones; Gunnison and Goldie.  She became fast friends with Nina on social media as they are going through the same stages in life.Follow her IG @ashleykix or TikTok @ashleykixfmKix with Ken in the MorningInstagram    TikTok________________________________________________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only!______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom and Nina air their dirty laundry and talk about how and why their marriage is in a low season and what they can and will do to improve. Also Tom shares his new business and "secret" project. ________________________________________________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only!______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I hear all the time - "How do I get my kids to independent play?" "What can I do to encourage independent play". I have been there! It took a while to get to the point where my kids will independent play. This week Avital Schreiber Levy breaks down why independent play is important and how to successfully integrate independent play in your kids routine. Meet AvitalA designer, parenting coach and mother of five. Married for 16 years, parenting for over a decade and designing for 20. Avital is here to offer you the blueprints, checklists, and roadmaps that will allow you to cut corners, skip years of painful trial and error - and design a family life you love. We believe meaning begins at home. Build an unbreakable home, create a passionate marriage, and raise resilient kids. Instagram: @hifamlife ________________________________________________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only!______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Diet culture sucks! Are you sick of feeling like you are always on a diet or restricting your food? This episode is for you and me! Samantha Gollup talks about how to heal our relationship with food and how to have a healthy balanced view of nutrition through Intuitive Eating. Samantha Gollup is a Registered Dietitian from Madison, Wisconsin. She began her career in Surgical Weight Management for several years and through that has found her niche in the intuitive eating world at her private practice, Anti Diet Mama. Sammie is passionate about helping mamas to heal their relationships with food and body by dismantling what we've learned from diet culture and finding space in their busy lives to take care of their own health in a balanced way. Through Intuitive Eating Counseling, she helps mamas to honor their bodies, create healthful habits, and improve overall quality of life, all while simplifying nutrition. Sammie aims to help each mama break the dieting cycle so she can become her authentic self and raise the next generation without the toxic influence of diet culture. When Sammie isn't working, she's spending time with her husband and her busy toddlers. She loves moving her body in many different ways, self care, eating delicious food with her friends and family, and traveling.Instagram: @antidietmamaWebsiteHunger Scale Resource  ________________________________________________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only!______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode couldn't have come at a better time. If you are like me and dealing with sibling rivalry between your kids, you are at a loss for what to do. Join today's talk with Michelle of @Peaceandparenting to figure out what causes siblings to be rivals, when to intervene and when to let them figure it out, and tips on how to raise friendly siblings.Find out how to come to parenting through the lens of connection as a way to navigate and unravel sticky parenting situations. Michelle is a mother of two girls as well as a former teacher and counselor turned Certified Parenting Instructor. After years of consequences, bribes, and star charts, she finally reshaped the relationship she shares with her daughters and credits peaceful parenting for changing her life. Michelle considers herself a recovering yeller, perfectionist, and control freak who has found a more calm and connected way to parent. Using the ideas of Brain Science as her guide and working on childhood hurts as her deeper work, she helps other parents do what she has been able to do for herself over the last decade.email: michelle@peaceandparentingla.comwebsite: peaceandparentingla.comInstagram: peaceandparenting________________________________________________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only!______________________________Did you love this episode? BUY ME A COFFEE for support!Find me on Instagram@balkanina@mamaknowspodcastFind me on TikTokBalkaninaSubscribe to my NewsletterPrivate Facebook Motherhood-Podcast CommunityMama Knows FBDisclaimer: This podcast does not provide any medical advice, it is for informational purposes only! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices