Educated Parent: Evidence-Based Parenting Tips to Solve Everyday Parenting Problems

Bringing a new baby home can be joyful, exhausting, isolating, and completely overwhelming.
Suddenly you're responsible for this tiny person while trying to figure out when you're supposed to sleep, shower, eat, or have a moment to yourself. And all that pressure to do everything "right" can create some serious mom guilt. In this episode, pediatric nurse practitioner and lactation counselor Elyse Traverse joins me to share practical advice for new moms that might sound counterintuitive but can make those early months a whole lot easier.
We talk about why taking care of yourself doesn't mean neglecting your baby, how finding the right postpartum support can make new motherhood less isolating, and why you don't need to entertain your baby every second they're awake. From creating simple baby "stations" around your home to leaving a perfectly happy baby alone, these strategies can give overwhelmed parents permission to meet their own needs without feeling like they're doing something wrong.
In this episode, we cover:
Practical advice for new moms who aren't sure how to meet their own needs with a baby at home
Why mom guilt makes parents feel like they should constantly entertain or stimulate their baby
How finding a community of parents in the same stage of life can provide valuable postpartum support
How overwhelmed parents can take care of themselves while still giving their babies what they need
More advice for new moms about doing everyday activities while your baby is awake instead of waiting for naps
How letting go of mom guilt can benefit both you and your baby
Why community and postpartum support can make such a difference during an isolating season

You don't need to spend every waking moment entertaining your baby to be a good parent. For overwhelmed parents, giving yourself permission to shower, get something done, or simply enjoy a few quiet minutes while your baby is happy can be good for everyone. Letting go of some mom guilt and building the right postpartum support around you can help you feel more like yourself while caring for your new baby.
LET'S CONNECT:
Thriving Child Center
PCIT Experts
Calm and Connected Program
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CONNECT WITH ELYSE TRAVERSE:
Email - elissetravers@gmail.com
Mom’s Group Meeting - South Boston Community Health Center - Every Wednesday at 1pm in the Community Room on the 3rd floor

One of the biggest transitions of the year is here: back to school. New teachers, new classrooms, new routines, and plenty of unknowns can create back-to-school anxiety for kids and parents alike. In this episode, I’m sharing what to say when your child starts worrying about the new school year, including how to validate feelings without accidentally reinforcing their fears. We’ll also talk about how confident parenting can help children face uncertainty instead of avoiding it.
You’ll learn why repeatedly promising that "everything will be fine" isn’t always helpful, how to use logic and past experiences to work through worries, and why rescuing kids from uncomfortable situations can actually make anxiety stronger. We’ll also discuss the difference between typical school-year nerves and signs and symptoms of childhood anxiety that may mean your child needs additional support.
In this episode, we cover:
Why back-to-school anxiety is a normal response to change, uncertainty, and new situations
How to validate feelings when your child tells you they’re worried about school
How confident parenting teaches kids that they can handle uncomfortable feelings and difficult situations
The signs and symptoms of childhood anxiety that can help you recognize when worry is interfering with your child’s daily life
How parents can manage their own back-to-school anxiety while helping their kids navigate theirs

The goal isn’t to eliminate anxiety before the first day of school. It’s to help your child recognize that anxiety is a normal feeling, understand that they can handle hard things, and know that you’ll be there to support them if something doesn’t go according to plan. Learning how to validate feelings while resisting the urge to over-reassure is an important part of confident parenting. And recognizing the signs and symptoms of childhood anxiety can help you know when ordinary worries may require additional support.

LET'S CONNECT:
Thriving Child Center
PCIT Experts
Calm and Connected Program
Instagram
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Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!

One of the most frightening moments as a parent is when your young child tells you that something upsetting happened. Your mind immediately jumps to the worst-case scenario, but reacting too quickly can make it harder to understand what actually happened.
In this episode, I'm joined by child psychologist and trauma specialist Jenny Hughes to discuss how to respond in a way that helps your child feel safe, heard, and supported. You'll learn how to validate feelings without making assumptions, why calm communication with children matters so much in these moments, and how positive parenting techniques can help you navigate these difficult conversations with confidence.
Jenny shares a simple three-step framework: validate your child's emotions, gather more information with open-ended questions, and wait until you're calm to make a plan if needed. We also discuss why young children may unintentionally embellish details, how to avoid asking leading questions, and why preserving trust is more important than immediately finding every answer.
In this episode, we cover:
Why how to validate feelings is the first step when your child shares something upsetting
How communication with children can help you gather information without leading them
Why open-ended questions are more effective than yes-or-no questions
How positive parenting techniques strengthen trust during difficult conversations
Practical insights from trauma specialist Jenny Hughes on helping children feel safe and heard

If you've ever wondered how to validate feelings, improve communication with children, and use positive parenting techniques when your child shares something upsetting, this episode with Jenny Hughes will give you a practical framework you can use the next time your child opens up to you.
LET'S CONNECT:
Thriving Child Center
PCIT Experts
Calm and Connected Program
Instagram
Love having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week.
Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!
CONNECT WITH JENNY HUGHES:
Website
YouTube
Instagram
LinkedIn

Back-to-school mornings can quickly become the most stressful part of the day. If you're constantly reminding your child to get dressed, brush their teeth, pack their backpack, or put on their shoes, you're not alone. In this episode, I'm joined by child psychologist Dr. Whitney Fosco to share a simple system that helps kids become more independent while making mornings calmer for the whole family. If you're looking for parenting help before the school year begins, this episode is packed with practical strategies you can start using right away.
We discuss why so many children struggle with morning routines, especially those with executive functioning challenges, and how a personalized visual schedule paired with effective rewards for kids can reduce conflict, increase independence, and make school mornings run more smoothly. You'll also walk away with actionable positive parenting tips that are easy to implement, even if you've tried similar systems before.
In this episode, we cover:
Why a consistent morning routine for kids can reduce stress for the whole family
How to use rewards for kids to motivate without constant reminders
Common reasons visual schedules fail and how to troubleshoot them
Positive parenting tips for encouraging independence instead of power struggles
Practical parenting help to make back-to-school mornings calmer and more successful

If you're preparing for a new school year and want a morning routine for kids that actually works, this episode will give you practical parenting help, effective rewards for kids, and realistic positive parenting tips to help your family start each day with less chaos and more confidence.
LET'S CONNECT:
Thriving Child Center
PCIT Experts
Calm and Connected Program
Instagram
Love having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week.
Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!
CONNECT WITH WHITNEY FOSCO:
Website

One of the hardest moments in parenting is hearing your child say, "I hate you." Those words can feel deeply personal, but they're usually not saying what you think they are. In this episode, I explain what's really happening beneath those painful words and how to respond in a way that protects your relationship while teaching respectful communication. If you've ever wondered how to deal with an emotional child, this conversation will give you a practical framework you can use in the moment.
You'll learn why kids often say hurtful things when they're overwhelmed, how to respond without making the conflict worse, and how to turn one of parenting's most painful moments into an opportunity for connection and growth. Whether you're navigating frequent child emotional outbursts or this has only happened once, these strategies can help you respond with confidence.
In this episode, we cover:
Why a child says I hate you when they're overwhelmed with emotion
What your child is really trying to communicate beneath those hurtful words
Common mistakes parents make that can unintentionally escalate the conflict
How communication with children can strengthen trust, even during conflict
Tips for handling child emotional outbursts without damaging your relationship

If you're looking for practical ways to improve communication with children, understand how to deal with an emotional child , and know exactly what to do the next time your child says I hate you, this episode will give you tools you can start using today.
LET'S CONNECT:
Thriving Child Center
PCIT Experts
Calm and Connected Program
Instagram
Love having expert tips you can actually use? Join our newsletter and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week.
Are you a provider? Subscribe here for professional insights and parenting resources!