The Art of Parenting Jeanne-Marie Paynel, M. Ed.

Are you burnt out working as a childcare provider? Listen in as my guest, Caroline Allen shares her insights on how to keep the joy and wonder alive.
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I can relate to Caroline’s words. When I started in a Montessori environment as a second career, some days were hard, yet that sense of wonder kept me going.
What We Talked About: How Caroline transformed her daycare settings into the first not-for-profit Montessori children's center in the UK
Observing children's behaviors and interests to foster their natural curiosity and learning
The importance of staying passionate and fresh in childcare and education.
Practical tips for caregivers and educators to avoid burnout and stay motivated.
The concept of leaving a lasting legacy for children
Things to Remember “We don't know our children inside out and never will. They're unique little beings that will always do things that fascinate us.”
“Try to retain that sense of wonder by looking at our children with fresh eyes and seeing them differently.”
“Adults are very quick to put an interpretation on what their children are doing.”
“Allow the wonders of the world to connect with your children.”
“Taking care of your child’s emotional, social, and physical development is the key to raising young adults.”
“We don't need to know everything about our little ones; we just need to work with whatever they're presenting to us in their journey into childhood and young adulthood.”
“We need to have parts of every single day where we are present to our children and give them the focus they deserve.”
-Caroline Allen
 
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Is your child's picky eating a sign of something more? Listen in to discover support and insights with my guest, Jaclyn Pederson.
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Feeding matters; parents often complain about their child's picky eating habits. We start to wonder if we’re doing something wrong, if our child is a picky eater, or if there’s more to this ordeal. Today, my guest sheds light on a little-known eating disorder that is way more prevalent than we imagine.
What We Talked About: Understanding Pediatric Feeding Disorder (PFD) and how it differs from picky eating.
The Four Domains in Pediatric Feeding Disorder 
How should you proceed if you suspect our child has PFD? 
Early awareness of PFD and its impact on long-term health outcomes
Why is almost no one talking about PFD, even though it is more common than autism or cerebral palsy?
The challenges and complexities of treating PFD and how you can help your child.
Can lip and tongue ties be the culprits in the feeding journey?
The significance of establishing a supportive team including healthcare professionals
Things to Remember “Parenting is finding beauty in the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.”
“Feeding skills is something that a parent can help a child with. It is a learned task.”
“Children are picky, and it’s a very common thing that happens in toddler development.”
“It's definitely important for parents to always offer nutritious foods.”
“Take it slow and let your child lead the way. They control what goes in their body.”
“At the end of the day, you and your child are trying to establish a successful feeding.”
-Jaclyn Pederson
 
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Do you strongly feel that staying home would be best for your child? Listen in to find out why your hunch is correct and critical.
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We know in our mama's heart that staying home with our children is important because they need us to. Today, my guest confirmed this instinct we have as mothers and why it is critical to do so.
What We Talked About: Understanding why the first three years are critical for our child's long-term mental health
Why are daycare centers not equipped to support our children’s attachment needs
What is “consistency of care,” and why is it essential in the early years?
What are other critical stages for our children’s mental health?
The important revolution that needs to happen for the health of families
Things to Remember “There is no parenting without presence.”
“Without guilt, our conscience isn’t working.”
“The foundation of resilience is that feeling of security in the first three years.”
“Mothers are very attuned to babies' distress.”
“If you are present for your children in the first three years, you’re encouraging a tremendous amount of neural connections to be formed.”
“Your babies are not resilient; your babies are incredibly vulnerable, and they need you.”
-Erica Komisar
“There are many who hold, as I do, that the most important period of life is not the age of university studies, but the first one, the period from birth to the age of six. For that is the time when man's intelligence itself, his greatest implement, is being formed. But not only his intelligence; the full totality of his psychic powers.” - Dr. Maria Montessori
 
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Are you curious about the magic of daily rituals? Listen in and learn from my guest, Britta Bushnell, how they can transform your life.
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I’ve always been fascinated by the transformative process of birth, and why I became a birth doula. Today, I’m excited to be speaking with Britta, a seasoned childbirth educator to explore how birth is truly the first and most crucial initiation into parenthood.
What We Talked About: The importance of childbirth as an initiation into parenthood.
Mythology and storytelling as meaning-making practices for adults and kids. 
Incorporating rituals into family life to help you live and share your values.
How perfectionism can both hinder and help in our parenting
Practical tips for crafting seamless transitions between work and parenting
Things to Remember “Parenting is a messy, creative, unknowable magical thing that creates a being on the other side.”
“Parenthood is like a yoga practice, that idea of coming to the mat every day and knowing that some days are better and some days are worse, yet you still show up and do your best.”
“What causes us the most suffering is the resistance to what is happening.”
“Parenthood teaches us an openness to the unbidden.”
“Perfectionism is a strategy, and as a strategy, it most often gets in our way.”
“Infants respond well to rhythm and predictability in their lives.”
“To find ways to be tender with ourselves and to forgive ourselves. That is the true antidote to perfectionism's toxins.”
“Children help to create the fabric of the values of the family.”
-Britta Bushnell
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Do you want to foster confidence in your teen better? Listen in and discover how you can start today at home.
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Helping our teenagers feel confident is critical to their well-being and future success, starting at home. Karleen shares her personal and professional experience as a conflict resolution expert. Listen in to acquire the tools to nurture the confidence your teens need to thrive in life. 
We Talked About: What five universal skills do experts use to resolve conflicts, and how can you use them at home?
What unwanted baggage gets in the way of building your teen’s self-confidence and resiliency?
How conflict resolution skills can enhance parenting, especially with teens.
Curiosity, attitude, and masterful listening are significant tools in resolving family conflicts.
Real-life examples and practical strategies for applying conflict resolution techniques in parenting situations.
Things to Remember “Even when you get it right, even when you have it right, you can still get it wrong.”
“Curiosity is not just asking questions.” 
“Master listening in a conflict situation means you're filling in the gaps.”
“Anytime you're in a conflict, the most important part is connecting with that person.”
“When you want to build confidence in your children, allow them into the solution to bring them back in and give them a space for it.”
“Sometimes situations are for our children to sort through.”
“You’re absolutely meant to be the parent for your child.”
-Karleen Savage
 
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Is your child's screen time stealing precious moments? Listen in as my guest, Katherine Martinko, shares how to unplug and reclaim childhood.

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What We Talked About: Katherine’s desire to write her book “Childhood Unplugged.”’
The effects of excessive screen time have on our children's development and mental health
Navigating digital media use and fostering offline activities
Setting boundaries around screen time and social media use.
Modeling appropriate use of our digital devices to shape healthy screen habits for our children.
Alternative communication methods and developing human communication skills
Things to Remember “Parenting is about conveying the principles that you believe to be the most important in life to your children and setting them off in the world on the right foot and watching them succeed.”
“The benefits of having a smartphone simply do not outweigh the cons.”
“Handling a smartphone is on par with handling a car. Kids need that level of responsibility and emotional maturity to do it.”
“When you give kids responsibilities around the house, they have less time to hang out in their bedrooms, scroll on their phones, or play video games.”
“We're too caught up with the idea that just because this technology is new and exciting, it is, therefore, good, but we're losing a lot in the process.”
“It is up to us as parents to protect our children from the negative effects of this highly addictive substance the same way that we would limit our children's access to drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes.”
“We promote better independence in children if you're not surveilling them.”
-Katherine Martinko
“Technology is taking us to a place where children are forgetting to play. We need to rescue childhood.” - Mariana Carazo
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