Parenting Understood Erin O'Connor and Michelle Tangeman

In this episode of Parenting Understood, we are thrilled to be joined by Dr. Rebecca Dekker founder of Evidence Based Birth. Rebecca is a nurse and researcher who is dedicated to supporting parents in pregnancy and the birthing process. She recounts her traumatic first birth experience, which involved unnecessary interventions and separation from her newborn, and how it led her to research the evidence behind common birthing practices. She found that many practices were not supported by evidence and could even be harmful. This led her to create a platform to share evidence-based birthing information with millions of people. In this episode, she discusses the importance of self-advocacy during pregnancy and birth, provides tips for managing pain during labor with and without medication, and addresses the rise of elective inductions at 39 weeks, highlighting both the benefits and potential risks of this practice.
 
For more information on Dr. Rebecca Dekker and her work please visit:  Evidence Based Birth
 

In this episode, we discuss boundaries with parent coach Cindy Shuster. We talk about what boundaries are and how to establish them with ourselves and our children. We further discuss the core principle of boundaries and why we have them. Additionally, we speak about how to change boundaries once they have been set. Lastly, we address mutual boundary setting. 
Cindy Shuster, founder of Partner in Parenting, LLC, is a PCI® certified parent coach and a Nurtured Heart Approach® Advanced Trainer. Before earning her parent coach certification, Cindy was a classroom teacher for 10 years and has a B.S. and M.S. in education. She has 3 adult sons, so she understands firsthand the many challenges of parenting, especially in today's fast-paced and complicated world! Cindy lives in the Baltimore area with her husband, Dave, and her dog Haley, but she coaches her clients by phone or Zoom, so she can work with parents from most locations.
To learn more about Cindy and her work visit please visit parentcoachcindy.com and @parentcoachcindy.
 

In this episode of Parenting Understood we are joined by Chelsey Goodan, author of Underestimated: The Wisdom and Power of Teenage Girls. In this episode we talk about girls’ experiences feeling unheard while also experiencing societal pressures to be perfect and likable. We delve into the role of social media in girls’ views of themselves and others. We further discuss the role of gender in girls and boys identity development. Chelsey also offers advice on how to support girls and to provide strong relationships for them. 
To learn more about Chelsey and her work please visit: 
 
Chelsey Goodan | Author & Speaker
 

This week we discuss how AI language models, specifically ChatGPT and Gemini, can support us in parenting. We delve into how ChatGPT and Gemini may help with things from crafting meals to creating personalized bedtime stories, generating craft ideas and developing educational games. We note, however, that AI models are best used as a starting point for evidence-based information and should not replace the input of a qualified professional.

In this episode of Parenting Understood we speak with Dr. Harriet Tenenbaum about the importance of parent-child talk for a child's development. As we discuss, parents who speak more about emotions with their children help their children understand emotions better. Interestingly, there does not appear to be a large difference between explaining emotions to children and asking them questions about emotions in supporting their learning about emotions. We also address the role of parent talk in both children’s understanding of scientific principles, and in gender stereotyping. 
For more information on Dr. Tenenbaum and her work please visit: Prof Harriet Tenenbaum | University of Surrey

In this episode, we discuss how a reward chart can support young children when traveling. More specifically, we walk through the key steps to using a reward chart, and the role of supporting positive behaviors. Traveling is a time of transition and often stress for children (and parents) but there are evidence based strategies to support children in the experience. 
For more information on Spot It and to get a copy please e-mail Michelle at thrivingtoddler@gmail.com