Help! I Have Kids!

Pam Marshall
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Parenting

Help! I Have Kids! is the podcast for moms who are doing their best, asking all the right questions, and still wondering if something’s being missed. Hosted by Pam—a mom of five and pediatric occupational therapist with 35 years of experience—this show helps you trust your gut, advocate for your child, and partner with professionals without the overwhelm. Each week, you’ll get practical tips, real-life stories, and heartfelt encouragement from experts and fellow moms who’ve been in your shoes. Because, as moms, we are the head of our child's medical team! 

  1. 15h ago

    Conquering Picky Eating & Starting Solids: Expert Advice from a Pediatric Feeding Therapist

    Send us Fan Mail If dinner with your kids currently feels like an extreme sport, take a deep breath—you are not doing it wrong, and you are definitely not alone.  In this episode of Help, I Have Kids, host and pediatric OT Nicole Haney sit down for an honest chat about one of the most stressful parts of parenting: feeding our little ones. From the anxiety of starting solids to the toddler stage where suddenly only goldfish and fruit roll-ups are accepted, we’re unpacking what’s actually normal and how to get through it without losing your mind.  What we're diving into: Starting Solids Without the Panic: How to handle purees, table foods, and the difference between normal gagging vs. choking. Winning the Picky Eating Battles: Real-life OT tricks to get your toddler to tolerate new foods (without forcing "just one more bite"). Ending the Power Struggles: Why kids use food for control and how simple boundaries like the "Division of Responsibility" bring peace back to the table. Practical Mealtime Hacks: Fun ways to present food, avoiding the "grazer" trap, and why screen-free meals are worth the effort. Knowing When to Call in Support: Red flags to look for and how feeding therapy can help your family thrive. Put down the third plate of rejected nuggets you just warmed up, hit play, and let’s turn mealtime meltdowns into small wins!  Connect with Us & Get Extra Support: Need hands-on feeding support? If you're in the Lexington area and want individualized help for your child, reach out to Nicole and the expert feeding team at Marshall Pediatric Therapy. Visit them online at marshallpediatrictherapy.com to learn more or schedule an evaluation. Follow the Pod: Stay connected for more practical parenting tips by following us on Instagram @helpihavekidspodcast.Follow Marshall Pediatric Therapy: Get daily pediatric OT, PT, speech, and feeding tips by following @marshallpediatrictherapy on Instagram.Support the show

  2. Aug 19

    Confused About Sleep Training? With Pediatric Sleep Consultant Malama Mama

    Send us Fan Mail If you’re a tired mom sitting with a cold cup of coffee, listening to the baby monitor, and wondering how to finally get some rest—this episode is for you!  Host Pam Marshall sits down with Jenna Clarke, certified pediatric sleep consultant and founder of Mālama Mama Sleep Consulting. Jenna works with families with children ages 0 to 5 to help problem-solve sleep, navigate controversies, and clear up the endless noise on social media. From AAP guidelines to safe bed-sharing alternatives, Jenna breaks down how to tailor a sleep plan that honors your family's unique lifestyle and values.  In this episode, you’ll learn: Sleep Conditioning vs. Sleep Training: Why 0–4 months requires a different approach than 4+ months. Decoding Sleep Regressions: What’s happening at 4, 9, 12, and 18 months—and how to survive them. The Truth About Popular Methods: A realistic look at the Ferber (check-and-console) method and why it’s more responsive than you think. Toddler Bedtime Battles: Practical tools for 3-to-5-year-olds who refuse to stay in bed. Sensory & Environmental Hacks: How lights, TV screens, and even linear vs. vertical motion impact your child's sleep hygiene. Whether you want to follow strict AAP guidelines, explore contact napping, or teach independent self-settling, Jenna reminds us that there’s no single "right" way—only the way that brings peace to your heart and home.  👉 Connect with Jenna Clarke: Visit malamamama.com to learn more about her virtual and in-home sleep consulting services.  Support the show

  3. Aug 12

    The True Cost of Medicaid Cuts: Brittany’s Story of Advocating for Her Son

    Send us Fan Mail As parents, we know that every single milestone our kids hit is a victory—and no one understands the fight to protect those milestones quite like another mom. In this episode, we sit down mom-to-mom with Brittany True to talk about her son, Weston, and what Kentucky’s Medicaid funding decisions really mean at home. While lawmakers recently put a temporary, one-year pause on proposed Medicaid cuts, Brittany breaks down why a pause isn't enough to give parents peace of mind. To keep our pediatric therapy clinics open and our favorite therapists funded, we need real rate increases—not just a pause. Grab a cup of coffee and join us for an honest, encouraging conversation on navigating healthcare, protecting our kids' routines, and how everyday moms can raise their voices to create real change. Support the show

  4. Aug 5

    IEP vs. 504 Plan: Which One Does Your Child Actually Need?

    Send us Fan Mail Is your child struggling in school, but you aren’t sure what kind of support to ask for? Hearing terms like 504 Plan, IEP, RTI, and educational evaluations can feel overwhelming—especially when you just want your child to succeed. In this episode of Help I Have Kids, host Pam Marshall (pediatric OT with 35+ years of experience) sits down with special education teacher, BCBA, and mom Jill to break down everything parents need to know about navigating 504 plans and IEPs. Whether you’re just starting the evaluation process or wondering why a medical diagnosis wasn't enough to get school services, this episode gives you the exact tools and legal timelines you need to advocate with confidence. 💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The Core Difference: Accommodations (504 Plan) vs. Specialized Instruction (IEP) and how to know which one your child qualifies for. The 10-Day Rule: How to make a formal parent request for special education testing (and the strict timeline schools must follow). Medical vs. Educational Diagnosis: Why a doctor’s diagnosis doesn’t automatically guarantee an IEP at school—and how to bridge the gap. Re-evaluations & Timelines: What happens during 3-year IEP re-assessments and what checklist items parents can request. How to build a strong partnership with your child's homeroom teacher to get data collected faster. Support the show

  5. Jul 29

    7 Back to School Tips as a Mom of 5 and Pediatric OT

    Send us Fan Mail Are you dreading the first day back to school because of the hard transition between summer and school schedules?  Believe me, I understand! As a mom of 5 and pediatric OT I have had many years to perfect the process of getting out of the door on the first day of school. Each year brings new challenges as my kids change and we just learn to adapt!  You know your child best, I'm just hear to give you my personal experience and clinical expertise to help you make the best decisions for your household!  In this episode, we talk about routines, visual schedules, skills your child can master before the start of school, appropriate shoes and backpacks, and tips to make the first day of school easier for everyone in the house!  Check out our other episodes to prepare you for back to school! - Backpacks, Routines & School Prep Tips from an OT Mom: https://youtu.be/IKRpDXSF0PY - Mentally Preparing for Back-to-School With an Anxious Child: https://youtu.be/91YCg8ZMyrg - Navigating 504 Plans, IEPs, and classroom accommodations: https://youtu.be/OWSLr1kBsN8 Support the show

  6. Jul 15

    Neuroanimation: Therapy That Grows the Brain

    Send us Fan Mail Have you hit an invisible wall with your child’s therapy? If you are a mom navigating the beautiful, exhausting, and sometimes overwhelming world of raising a child with ADHD, autism, a traumatic brain injury (TBI), or stroke recovery, you know what it feels like to plateau. You’ve done the speech therapy, the occupational therapy, the physical therapy—yet you’re left asking, "What now?" In this deeply personal, solo episode, Pam Marshall speaks directly from her heart to yours. Sharing the hard-won truths she wishes someone had told her years ago, Pam delivers a message of profound hope and a massive breakthrough that quite literally fell into her lap. Pam is introducing Neuroanimation—a revolutionary, science-backed therapy born out of groundbreaking research by neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins University. By using immersive, high-dose stimulation to spark the brain's natural ability to rewire itself (neuroplasticity), Neuroanimation is helping children and adults break through growth plateaus when traditional methods have stalled. Even better? Pam is bringing this world-class technology right here to Lexington, Kentucky. If you are ready to stop feeling stuck and want to explore a new path forward for your child, this episode is your invitation. Tune in to hear the science, feel the hope, and find out how you can book a free tour of the new Lexington facility to see the technology in action and get all your questions answered. Your child's next chapter of growth starts here. Check out the research and schedule a consult!  https://www.neuroanimation.com/landing-page-ads-pediatrics-v2/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23970382074&gbraid=0AAAABDlzrDEUtLtr3oOZ550ei4NuDueju&gclid=Cj0KCQjw39zSBhDhARIsANammDs6dGxcqruU_XB-xIZaYmKCSU_D5Jp5Ysfk17iH3kvUkMyCerq3qecaAhrpEALw_wcB Support the show

  7. Jul 8

    What Is AutPlay Therapy? A Mom's Guide to Autism-Affirming Play Therapy

    Send us Fan Mail Play therapy gets thrown around a lot — but most moms have no idea what it actually looks like, or whether it's even an option for their neurodivergent child. In this episode, Pam sits down with Allison, a marriage and family therapist working toward her Registered Play Therapist credential, who's also certified in AutPlay Therapy — a neurodiversity-affirming approach designed specifically for autistic and neurodivergent kids. Allison breaks down what a real play therapy session looks like, how it's different from talk therapy, how she reads a playroom, and why "meeting the child where they are" — not changing them — is the whole point. In this episode: - What play therapy actually is (and isn't) - Why play is how kids process their world, long before they can talk about it - What AutPlay Therapy is and how it supports autistic and neurodivergent kids specifically - What a typical session looks like, and how long treatment usually takes - How to know therapy is working - Pam's honest question every mom asks: "Is it really worth it?" - How to find the right play therapist for your child — and what to ask them Support the show

  8. Jul 1

    Will a Therapy Break Cause Regression? Caregiver Burnout & Therapeutic Breaks

    Send us Fan Mail Don't skip this episode because you hear "break in therapy" and think… "not for us." Stay with us for a minute. We see you. You're the nurse, the therapist, the caregiver, and the mom — all before lunchtime, most days. You've been white-knuckling it through every session for months, maybe years, and quietly wondering if you have anything left to give. But the second the word "break" comes up, something in you panics. What if my kid loses everything we've worked for? What if we lose our spot? What if I'm the reason they don't progress? So you keep going. Even when you're running on empty. Even when your kid is tired of it too. Even when some small, quiet part of you just wants permission to stop for a minute. This week, Pam sits down with Heather Anderson, PTA, who works with some of the most medically complex kids in the field — and she gently dismantles every fear you've been carrying about stepping back. In this episode: Why a therapeutic break almost never means starting from scratch — and what the research actually showsWhat to do (and who to call) if you do see regression, so you're never stuck waitingHow to ask for a break without losing your therapy spot or your therapistThe burnout that's just as real for you as it is for your child — and why it mattersSimple ways to keep the progress going at home, even without a weekly sessionYou are the nurse, the therapist, the caregiver, and the mom — and you are allowed to rest. Your child is allowed to just be a kid for a season. This episode is the permission slip you didn't know you needed. Support the show

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Help! I Have Kids! is the podcast for moms who are doing their best, asking all the right questions, and still wondering if something’s being missed. Hosted by Pam—a mom of five and pediatric occupational therapist with 35 years of experience—this show helps you trust your gut, advocate for your child, and partner with professionals without the overwhelm. Each week, you’ll get practical tips, real-life stories, and heartfelt encouragement from experts and fellow moms who’ve been in your shoes. Because, as moms, we are the head of our child's medical team! 

Information

  • Creator
    Pam Marshall
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Help! I Have Kids!
  • Show Website
    Help! I Have Kids!

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