Curious Neuron | Science of Parental Well-Being Cindy Hovington, Ph.D.

Navigating the tender complexities of mental health as a parent can often feel like a solitary journey, but it doesn't have to be. Nathalie shares candidly from the heart about her postpartum experiences, while Dr. Tina Montreuil of McGill University blends these personal narratives with academic insights. Together, we unravel the challenges and celebrate the resilience of birthing parents, marking World Maternal Mental Health Day as a beacon of support and solidarity.

In the warm embrace of this episode, we create a safe space where the intricate dance of psychological and physiological changes in parenthood is not just acknowledged, but deeply understood. We delve into the critical role of self-care for mothers, often overshadowed by the baby's needs, and how midwifery and culturally sensitive care can lighten the load. The transformative power of empathy, the necessity of accessible mental health tools, and the importance of self-compassion stitch together a narrative that advocates for a holistic approach to parental well-being.

We round out our conversation with a contemplation of the barriers that many new parents face when seeking mental health support, emphasizing the urgency of action before reaching a crisis point. Our dialogue calls for an empowered community, where parents feel seen, heard, and cared for, and where reaching out for help is seen not as a weakness but as an act of profound love and caring. Thank you again to Nathalie and Dr. Montreuil for their vulnerability and expertise, and to you, our listeners, for joining us on this journey to foster kinder, more compassionate parenting experiences.

Livre Blanc
Quebec Alliance for Perinatal Mental Health
Réseau des Centres de ressources périnatales du Québec

Episode with Kristen Neff: Apple Podcast or Spotify
Please leave a rating for our podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Email me at info@curiousneuron.com

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https://www.facebook.com/groups/theemotionallyawareparent/


THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! Get some discounts using the links below
Thank you to our main supporters the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute at The Neuro and the McConnell Foundation.
Discounts for our community!
Pok Pok app. Click on the link below to get 50% off an entire year of this amazing open-ended play app for kids! https://playpokpok.com/redeem/?code=50CURIOUSNEURON BetterHelp is the world’s largest therapy service, and it’s 100% online. Click the link below to get 15% off the first month of therapy http://www.betterhelp.com/curiousneuron Holstee Inspiration and tools to help you live a more meaningful life. Membership, reflection cards for kids and adults:. Enjoy 20% off your purchase using the link below:
https://www.holstee.com/?ref=curiousneuron

Hello my dear friend,

I get it, I have said this over and over myself. However, today, I would like you to take a step back and really reflect on this thought "I don't have time for myself".

I walk you through some reflection prompts and how you can view this problem a little differently and work through it.

Making time for yourself doesn't need to be 2 hours every day.  It is a little moment of connection, a little moment that reminds you that you are important.

Don't skip this activity this week, take a moment to reflect on what your needs are and how you can start making space for them. You matter, lease don't forget that my dear friend.

I hope you have a beautiful and lovely week,

Cindy


Join me in Palo Alto, California on April 25th:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HTkrj7MDep1vmoGhmTQj0jTMSFLPEgl6/view?usp=sharing

Purchase my Reflective Parent Journal:
https://curiousneuronacademy.mykajabi.com/offers/FE2tgqG2/checkout

Ask a question for an upcoming podcast episode:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1p6fgHV-jLaPd1xS0uDECv2BPlcfvfizq51EGyOumUnY/edit
Please leave a rating for our podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Email me at info@curiousneuron.com

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/curious_neuron/

Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/theemotionallyawareparent/


THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! Get some discounts using the links below
Thank you to our main supporters the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute at The Neuro and the McConnell Foundation.
Discounts for our community!
Pok Pok app. Click on the link below to get 50% off an entire year of this amazing open-ended play app for kids! https://playpokpok.com/redeem/?code=50CURIOUSNEURON BetterHelp is the world’s largest therapy service, and it’s 100% online. Click the link below to get 15% off the first month of therapy http://www.betterhelp.com/curiousneuron Holstee Inspiration and tools to help you live a more meaningful life. Membership, reflection cards for kids and adults:. Enjoy 20% off your purchase using the link below:
https://www.holstee.com/?ref=curiousneuron

Let's chat about self-compassion with the scientist that created the self-compassion scale herself!

Today, I am joined by Dr. Kristen Neff, Tedx speaker and author of Self-Compassion: The proven power of being kind to yourself. Leading expert in self-compassion, Dr. Neff walks us through what it means to be self-compassion and how we can start with baby steps to be kinder to ourselves.

I remember being a first time mom and how I had so much guilt around everything I did with my daughter. Our inner dialogue can be so tough on us, while on the other hand, we offer a nurturing hand to our friends. I know I am not alone in this because many moms and dads have shared these struggles with me.

If you are ready to be kinder to yourself and to see this impact on your mental health and physical health, then take 47 min to listen to this powerful conversation! '

Watch this in YouTube:
https://youtu.be/jFbij-CMgA4

https://www.curiousneuron.com/

Resources:

Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself
Canada
US

Visit her website or join her NEW Self-Compassion Community:
https://self-compassion.org/

Instagram

Her Tedx Talk
Please leave a rating for our podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Email me at info@curiousneuron.com

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/curious_neuron/

Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/theemotionallyawareparent/


THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! Get some discounts using the links below
Thank you to our main supporters the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute at The Neuro and the McConnell Foundation.
Discounts for our community!
Pok Pok app. Click on the link below to get 50% off an entire year of this amazing open-ended play app for kids! https://playpokpok.com/redeem/?code=50CURIOUSNEURON BetterHelp is the world’s largest therapy service, and it’s 100% online. Click the link below to get 15% off the first month of therapy http://www.betterhelp.com/curiousneuron Holstee Inspiration and tools to help you live a more meaningful life. Membership, reflection cards for kids and adults:. Enjoy 20% off your purchase using the link below:
https://www.holstee.com/?ref=curiousneuron

Have you ever found yourself scrubbing baseboards and questioned why you place so much pressure on yourself? As I prepare for my trip to California at the end of the month, that exact introspection led to a profound realization about the 'shoulds' in my life, a topic I eagerly explore with Erica Djossa, therapist and author of "Releasing the Motherload," on our latest Curious Neuron podcast episode. Together, we scrutinize the mental load that mothers bear, addressing the invisible tasks and the ever-elusive balance between self-care and parenting.

We offer you strategies for dealing with the intense emotional landscape that comes with parenting, ensuring that you feel seen, understood, and empowered to align your actions with your personal values. Wrapping up our conversation, we touch upon the cultural myth of the perfect mother, the critical importance of articulating boundaries, and how to advocate for yourself in an often overwhelming parenting journey. It's an episode for mothers and parents at any stage, tune in for a guiding light through the complexities of maternal mental health and well-being.

Buy Erica's new book:
Amazon in Canada

Amazon in the US

Visit her websites:
https://www.ericadjossa.com/

https://www.momwell.com/

Follow her on IG:
https://www.instagram.com/momwell/

Come to my talk in Palo Alto California on April 25th!

Please leave a rating for our podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Email me at info@curiousneuron.com

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/curious_neuron/

Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/theemotionallyawareparent/


THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! Get some discounts using the links below
Thank you to our main supporters the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute at The Neuro and the McConnell Foundation.
Discounts for our community!
Pok Pok app. Click on the link below to get 50% off an entire year of this amazing open-ended play app for kids! https://playpokpok.com/redeem/?code=50CURIOUSNEURON BetterHelp is the world’s largest therapy service, and it’s 100% online. Click the link below to get 15% off the first month of therapy http://www.betterhelp.com/curiousneuron Holstee Inspiration and tools to help you live a more meaningful life. Membership, reflection cards for kids and adults:. Enjoy 20% off your purchase using the link below:
https://www.holstee.com/?ref=curiousneuron

I  really messed up last night and I want to share this with you so that you can learn from my mistake.

When we are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, it can trickle down to our kids. If we don't notice this, then all we see if a child that is "misbehaving" when in reality it is a child that is dysregulated, doesn't feel connected, doesn't feel validated or seen.

When we NOTICE this, it makes it easier for us to switch our own behaviour or thoughts with the goal of changing how it is impacting our child.

In this episode, I share the bedtime story that would might be able to relate to and I share some reflection prompts to help you work through it the next time this happens to you.

If you connect with this episode, please take a moment to rate it or review or. You can also email me to say hello!

Join our Reflective Parenting Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/theemotionallyawareparent/
Please leave a rating for our podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Email me at info@curiousneuron.com

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/curious_neuron/

Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/theemotionallyawareparent/


THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! Get some discounts using the links below
Thank you to our main supporters the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute at The Neuro and the McConnell Foundation.
Discounts for our community!
Pok Pok app. Click on the link below to get 50% off an entire year of this amazing open-ended play app for kids! https://playpokpok.com/redeem/?code=50CURIOUSNEURON BetterHelp is the world’s largest therapy service, and it’s 100% online. Click the link below to get 15% off the first month of therapy http://www.betterhelp.com/curiousneuron Holstee Inspiration and tools to help you live a more meaningful life. Membership, reflection cards for kids and adults:. Enjoy 20% off your purchase using the link below:
https://www.holstee.com/?ref=curiousneuron

Let's talk about executive functions and how these skills support your child's academic performance!

In today's episode, I chat with Dr. Stephanie Carlson, Tedx speaker and Distinguished McKnight University Professor in the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota. She investigates basic developmental processes in executive function in children.

If your child often gets stuck in their emotions, struggle with staying focused or struggles with getting organized or planning, this is a must-listen episode for you!

We chat about emotions, sleep (I learned that total hours of sleep isn't as important as I thought!) and how you can support your child in their early years to help them build these important skills that create the foundation of their future emotional and physical health.

Are you ready to become a reflective parent? Purchase my 100-page workbook! (send me a screenshot of your podcast review to get $10 off!)
https://curiousneuronacademy.mykajabi.com/offers/FE2tgqG2/checkout

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvyTiC_byOo

https://reflectionsciences.com/

https://reflectiveperformanceinc.com/

Study: Metacognitive processes and associations to executive function and motivation during a problem-solving task in 3–5 year olds
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11409-020-09244-6

Join her study!
Dr. Carlson is currently conducting a fully online research study examining the predictors of career interests in children, as EF skills might be one overlooked predictor of the topics and jobs students are drawn to in high school and beyond. To be eligible for this study, you must live in the United States, and your child must be in 4th or 8th grade in the 2023-24 school year. Families will be contacted each year for 4 years. Compensation (wide selection of gift cards) depends on level of participation and ranges from $10-$50 per year.
https://innovation.umn.edu/child-lab/research/current-projects/career-study/
Please leave a rating for our podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Email me at info@curiousneuron.com

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/curious_neuron/

Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/theemotionallyawareparent/


THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! Get some discounts using the links below
Thank you to our main supporters the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute at The Neuro and the McConnell Foundation.
Discounts for our community!
Pok Pok app. Click on the link below to get 50% off an entire year of this amazing open-ended play app for kids! https://playpokpok.com/redeem/?code=50CURIOUSNEURON BetterHelp is the world’s largest therapy service, and it’s 100% online. Click the link below to get 15% off the first month of therapy http://www.betterhelp.com/curiousneuron Holstee Inspiration and tools to help you live a more meaningful life. Membership, reflection cards for kids and adults:. Enjoy 20% off your purchase using the link below:
https://www.holstee.com/?ref=curiousneuron