Parenting Great Kids With Dr. Meg Meeker

Being a stepparent is a wonderful blessing, but it comes with its fair share of challenges. Blending families, with or without children involved, is hard because you have to get to know a new normal, but you also don’t want to overstep appropriate boundaries that involves loving and discipling any children involved. Often you’re left wondering how you can ever become the step-parent you wanted to be when you said “I do!” These hurdles aren’t impossible to jump, but they do take a good bit of wisdom and discernment. That’s where bestselling author, licensed marriage & family therapist, podcaster, and popular conference speaker, Ron Deal, can bring a good bit of help to a seemingly unwinnable situation. Dr. Meg shares the first of a 2-part conversation with Ron, and they have a great talk about being a smarter stepparent in a blended family. Ron has a new book called Building Love Together in Blended Families: The Five Love Languages and Becoming Stepfamily Smart. This book will give you incredible insight into

Talking to your kids about sex seems to be one of the most difficult conversations you will have as a parent. You may be wondering when is the right time, what should you say, and how do you bring up the conversation without making things awkward? These questions are normal, but they don’t have to be something that keeps you from teaching your kids about sex the way they should learn: from someone that loves them and someone they know and trust. If you don’t teach them, someone else will. This is why Dr. Meg wanted to have her friend Dr. Joe McIlhaney on the show to talk about all the concerns you may have going into this discussion. Dr. McIlhaney is a board certified obstetrician and gynecologist and founded the Medical Institute of Sexual Health in 1992, and with a resume like that he’s sure to give some great information to help you in your parenting journey. Do you have a question for Dr. Meg? If you have a question you want Dr. Meeker to answer, email them to askmeg@megmeekermd.com and listen to future e

Relationships are hard, but they are also a great source of personal happiness. Things get complicated dealing with differing expectations of the people involved in the relationships regardless of whether it’s a simple friendship or as close as marriage. The number one question people ask relationship experts is what is the single most important thing you can do for your relationships? That’s the topic of today’s episode as Dr. Meg talks with Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott. They tackle this subject in their new book Healthy Me, Healthy Us: Your Relationships Are Only as Strong as You Are. The three doctors have a great conversation about trying to build intimacy with another person before you have gotten whole on your own causes all your relationships to become an attempt to complete yourself. Do you have a question for Dr. Meg? If you have a question you want Dr. Meeker to answer, email them to askmeg@megmeekermd.com and listen to future episodes to see if your question is featured! WELCOME Dr. Meg starts

With Father’s Day right around the corner, Dr. Meg thought it would be great to devote this entire episode to her conversation with gifted comedian, actor, The Tonight Show guest, children’s book author, and best of all a wonderful dad to five children: Michael Jr! Dr. Meg and Michael Jr. have been friends for many years, and their conversation reflects the depth of their respect for each other. After listening to their conversation about the importance of dads in the lives of kids, hopefully you’ll be inspired to encourage the dads in your life to be a bigger part in their children’s lives. When a dad is involved in the lives of his children, it gives them a greater sense of self-esteem and belief that they can take on what the world throws at them. Dr. Meeker and Michael Jr. also talk about his upcoming movie Selfie Dad and how he and the film crew worked to ensure that the dad in the movie wasn’t the typical buffoon in the script, but that he was a strong figure in his children’s day-to-day life while also

One of Dr. Meg’s favorite things is to answer questions from you, the listener. This is a special episode of the “Parenting Great Kids” podcast as Dr. Meg devotes the entire episode to doing just that, helping you make sense of roadblocks we all encounter as parents. Listen in as “America’s Mom” helps you navigate many situations with your kids that can often be tricky. Do you have a question for Dr. Meg? If you have a question you want Dr. Meeker to answer, email them to askmeg@megmeekermd.com and listen to future episodes to see if your question is featured! WELCOME Dr. Meg talks about how much she enjoys answering listener questions and that she decided to devote an entire episode to doing just that! This is another installment of the “Ask Dr. Meg” episodes, and she covers lots of topics. ASK DR. MEG (PART 1) Dr. Meg answers listener questions for the entire episode today to give you advice for dealing with many issues parents face when raising great kids! Have a question not addressed in this ep

When life just seems like it can’t get any worse, it’s almost instinct to just give up and let life happen to you. There’s a feeling of depression that can creep in, and a sense of helplessness can paralyze you if you let it. It takes a lot to press-on and take back your life, but you can do it! After spending years in a home where her father was abusive to her and her mother, and then losing her leg in the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, Rebekah Gregory could have given up and decided to be satisfied with her life that seemed like it would always be going from one tragedy to the next. Instead, she stood in the face of adversity and decided to take her life back! Because of all that she’s overcome and how she’s developed into an amazing wife and mother, Dr. Meg knew this was a story that Parenting Great Kids listeners just had to hear. Rebekah tells Dr. Meeker the story of her childhood and how she overcame the odds to become the woman she is today, even though she lost her leg in a terrorist bombing. There’

With struggles coming at them from every angle, young boys need all the help from their parents that they can get to avoid temptations. One temptation that all boys face, but that can be extremely destructive, is pornography. That’s why this episode will be so important for parents of young boys since Dr. Meg continues her conversation with Stephen Arterburn. Stephen is the author of the book Every Man’s Battle, and a nationally and internationally known speaker, and he has great advice and warnings about the temptation surrounding young boys, pornography, and how demeaning and objectifying it is toward women. This is an episode that parents of boys cannot afford to miss! Also in this episode, Dr. Meg will give you her points to ponder that you can start using right away and answers questions from a mom about her 6 year old daughter who does a “happy dance” that mom is concerned will turn into OCD and from a mom about her 8 year old son who always wants to sleep with mommy and daddy. If you have a question yo

With struggles coming at them from every angle, young boys need all the help from their parents that they can get to avoid temptations. One temptation that all boys face, but that can be extremely destructive, is pornography. That’s why this episode will be so important for parents of young boys since Dr. Meg interviews Stephen Arterburn. Stephen is the author of the book Every Man’s Battle, and a nationally and internationally known speaker, and he has great advice and warnings about the temptation surrounding young boys, pornography, and how demeaning and objectifying it is toward women. This is an episode that parents of boys cannot afford to miss! Also in this episode, Dr. Meg will give you her points to ponder that you can start using right away and answers questions from a mom about her 14 year old daughter who is in therapy for anger issues and from a mom about the importance of her husband spending one-on-one time with their twin boys. If you have a question you want Dr. Meeker to answer in a future e

Waking up in the middle of the night to take care of your kids is always stressful. Is it a dirty diaper? Is it a bad dream? Is it that baby is hungry? All these questions run through your head as you make your way over to take care of the baby. And then, while you’re taking care of baby, feeding or comforting, you can make the most of your unexpected awake time by praying or reading a devotional. In this episode, Dr. Meg asked her associate, Lisbeth Keen, to interview Becky Thompson and Susan Pitts. They are a mother and daughter duo responsible for the Midnight Momblog as well as the new book Midnight Mom Devotional: 365 Prayers to Put Your Momma Heart to Rest. The book is a great resource for mothers who find themselves awake for various reasons in the middle of the night taking care of the kiddos. Every prayer can either be directed toward yourself or toward a friend or family member that you know is working through the stresses of raising children. Also in this episode, Dr. Meg will give you her points t

As our country faces a crisis unlike anything we have faced, Dr. Meeker felt it was important to talk to you about Coronavirus. All of us are working diligently to keep our families protected and naturally there are concerns about whether we are doing the right things or doing enough to stay well. In today’s episode, Dr. Meg gives you practical advice on taking care of your family, teaching your kids about avoiding infection, and what to do if you think you have been exposed to Coronavirus. Your kids need to be able to look to their parents for great information, instructions on what to do, and know that their family is going to be ok, and you are just the great parent to do that! Also in this episode, Dr. Meg will give you her points to ponder that you can start using right away and answers a question from two different moms about the impact of Coronavirus on their families. If you have a question you want Dr. Meeker to answer in a future episode or on the Meeker Parenting Community page, email them to askme

When you get to the “storybook” wedding day, often you can’t imagine how your marriage could possibly end in divorce. The reality is, it happens, but that doesn’t make you a terrible person or a bad parent. Sometimes a redemption story comes out of the rubble as was the case with Dr. Meg’s guest this episode, Tracey Lynn Russell. Tracey felt like she was living a dream marrying what she thought was the man of her dreams. It turns out, that day became a nightmare as her husband felt they made a mistake. Thankfully, the story doesn’t end there, and Tracey’s story is helpful to those going through similar things. You’re going to enjoy this conversation! Also in this episode, Dr. Meg will give you her points to ponder that you can start using right away and answers a question from a mom about her shy 6 year old and from another mom about appropriate screen time for her 4 year old. If you have a question you want Dr. Meeker to answer in a future episode or on the Meeker Parenting Community page, email them to askm

With the month of March being National Birth Defect Prevention Month, what better interview to conduct than one from a mom that gave birth to a baby with a birth defect. Dr. Meg talks with Stacey Mandel about her daughter who was born at 27 weeks and how she handled having a premature baby and also her feelings about her newborn daughter’s birth defect. Because of an incredible, life-saving injection of pulmonary surfactants (developed with funding provided by the March of Dimes), Stacey’s daughter Maxi was able to survive being born very early and without any lung defects. This conversation is an incredible testament to modern medicine helping provide life in an otherwise hopeless situation. Also in this episode, Dr. Meg will give you her points to ponder that you can start using right away. If you have a question you want Dr. Meeker to answer in a future episode or on the Meeker Parenting Community page, email them to askmeg@megmeekermd.com and listen to see if your question is featured next!   0:00 – AD –

Young boys are growing up every day and will learn what it is to be a man and father from somewhere. More often than it should, the teacher is television programming, music, or a bad example of a man in the young boy’s life. It’s ever more obvious that young boys need someone to look up to and show them what manhood and fatherhood should look like. This is where Dr. Meg’s conversation with John Smithbaker is so important if you have boys in your family or you are a man that feels the call to pour into someone else’s life. Dr. Meeker and John talk about the importance of a “father figure” and how you can be one to a young boy in need. Also in this episode, Dr. Meg will give you her points to ponder that you can start using right away. If you have a question you want Dr. Meeker to answer in a future episode or on the Meeker Parenting Community page, email them to askmeg@megmeekermd.com and listen to see if your question is featured next!   1:39 – WELCOME Dr. Meg introduces the topic “Fathers In The Field” along

Whether you are a new parent, about to be a parent “again”, or you have been a parent for more than a decade, there are fears that each of you face as you raise your kids. There’s always a voice in your head that says, “you were too harsh this morning,” or “you were way too lenient this afternoon.” With the increase of social media posts, these days are bombarded with comparisons and perfect photos of perfect families. All of those things add extra stress and play into fears that come up in everyone’s parenting journeys. Dr. Meg knows these fears first-hand, and she wants to help you avoid them or overcome them as much as possible. This episode of the Parenting Great Kids podcast deals with your fears surrounding parenting. She gives you practical advice and tips to not let those fears stop you in your tracks, but to make you a stronger more confident mom or dad. This entire episode is dedicated to Dr. Meeker talking about what it means to engage in fearless parenting. You don’t want to miss this one! If you

With societal pressures about body image, sexual activity, and inclusion in the “it crowds”, daughters have an increasingly difficult time staying strong these days. Even something as simple as an off-handed comment about you needing to lose weight can shift your daughter’s mindset toward an unhealthy body image. All these pressures can make it difficult for your daughters to stay safe, happy, and healthy. That’s why Dr. Meg wrote the book Raising A Strong Daughter: 11 Steps to Keep Her Safe, Happy and Healthy and is the “guest” in the interview in this episode. Our own Lisbeth Keen asks Dr. Meeker questions about her book that focuses in on the challenges, pressures, and dilemmas facing adolescent and teenage girls today. She also helps you answer the questions about how parents can help shepherd their daughters into womanhood while guarding against today's overwhelming social dangers. Also in this episode, Dr. Meg will give you her points to ponder that you can start using right away. If you have a question

When you are presented with a situation, big or small, where you can make a difference, immediately self-doubt and excuses as to why you shouldn’t even try come to the front of your mind. In this episode, Dr. Meg has a conversation with Rabbi Jen Krause and Dr. Jordan Kassalow about their book Dare To Matter. This is a book about how you can harness the desire to make a difference in the world by doing things in the here and now, in your own way. They explain how these small acts of kindness make a huge difference that you often don’t see the end results of. The main thing is, just do something! Dr. Jordan Kassalow is the founder of VisionSpring, the global phenomenon that has helped millions stay focused on a positive future, and he shares his own story of connecting his real life financial responsibilities with his true sense of calling, while also offering readers the tools to map out their own path. Dubbed “one of NYC’s Hippest Rabbis” and “the Jewish Katie Couric” by WNET’s MetroFocus, Rabbi Jennifer Kra

On the doorstep of New Years Day, resolutions, change, and fitness are always top of mind. As a parent, these things can easily go by the wayside as you just try and keep your head above water raising your kids. Lots of questions come to the forefront when learning how to balance fitness and family. That’s why in this episode Dr. Meg talks to fitness guru and television personality Heidi Powell. She has trained hundreds of people on how to get in shape and set attainable and sustainable goals all while being married and raising four children. Her and Dr. Meeker also talk about her and her husband’s hit television show Extreme Weight Loss and what it took from both of them to create such a successful show. Also in this episode, Dr. Meg will give you her points to ponder and answers a question from a father about his son that he suspects may be dealing with OCD issues. As always, if you have a question you want Dr. Meeker to answer in a future episode, email them to askmeg@megmeekermd.com and listen to see if y

It’s the Christmas season, and in light of that, Dr. Meg wanted to do a special Christmas edition of the Parenting Great Kids podcast! If you can learn how to deal with the struggles, joys, and different aspects of Christmas that families deal with every holiday season, you really can make the best of the time with family and friends as Dr. Meg hopes for each of you. Because it’s such a special time of year, Dr. Meeker takes the entire episode to talk about Christmas and didn’t have time for a guest interview or listener questions. As always, if you have a question you want Dr. Meeker to answer in a future episode, email them to askmeg@megmeekermd.com and listen to see if your question is featured next!   0:00 – AD – PINNA STREAMING SERVICE If you’ve been struggling to find a gift that balances fun with education – and something that will keep kids engaged WITHOUT screens – check out Pinna! Pinna combines the best podcasts, audiobooks, and music all in one place, specifically for kids 3-12 years old. Kids

Adopting children can be one of the greatest blessings that you experience. Some families choose to adopt to complete their family and some adopt to start theirs. In either case, adopting a child of a different race brings some baggage with it that you don’t necessarily know about until you’re in the thick of it. Sometimes people give you strange looks when you have an adopted child of a different race, or they may even call the police and report a kidnapping like in the case of Autumn Mile’s husband, Eddie. She tells this story as she talks with Dr. Meeker about what it has been like raising her African American adopted children Moses and Haven. As a dynamic speaker who produces regular inspirational content for her Facebook followers and for speaking engagements, she’s perfect for giving our listeners advice on how to handle a bi-racial family that you may encounter or how to better be a bi-racial family if you are in one already. Also in this episode, Dr. Meg will give you her points to ponder that you can

When you first have kids, it seems like they will never grow to the next stage, and you continually ask when will my child learn how to do certain things. It feels like parents are always trying to quickly move through their kids’ childhoods so quickly, but when you do that you miss out on some of the greatest joys in life. There are strong bonds and relationships that take work to form, and if you just look to speed past where you are and move on to the next thing, you really miss out on the opportunity to raise great kids! That’s why Dr. Meg sits down to talk with Dr. Carrie Quinn about different strategies and tips on being a positive parent and also building strong parent-child relationships. Dr. Quinn is Dr. Carrie Quinn is the Executive Director of the Mount Sinai Parenting Center, and she is a board-certified pediatrician and worked in private practice for six years prior to joining the Department of Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in 2012. This gives her the perfect backgroun