Oh Crap I Love My Toddler... But Holy F*ck

Parental self-care is basically nonexistent for the first few years of raising your child. You’re so busy making sure your little one eats on time, has clean clothes to wear and doesn’t run out onto the road that it’s hard to schedule time for yourself to unwind and recharge. Instead, we often end up burning ourselves out to the point that the only self-care we can manage is overly indulgent, unhealthy and ultimately unfulfilling. Self-care shouldn’t be spur of the moment; it requires as much care, consideration and planning as a busy day.   In this episode, Jamie impresses why you should plan for self-care rather than just indulging in it at your wit’s end and lays out a long list of permissions you can take advantage of when stressed. The Finer Details of This Episode:   Why self-care is really just setting yourself up for success. Moving away from unhealthy, expensive “crash pad” self-care to more proactive self-care. The most basic yet radical form of self-care: a good night’s sleep. Drinking might s

You know how kids are like—if you give them an inch, they’ll take a yard. The same can be said for other parents who are your friends most of the time but can innocently expect too much—or something too specific—from you. Having your personal boundaries crossed time and time again can lead to stress and wear down your resolve. Remember that you’re the captain of this parenting ship. If you’re feeling too worn down or compromised that ship is going to run aground, which isn’t good for anyone. So let’s work on making those boundaries reasonable yet firm, eh? In this episode, Jamie breaks down how high expectations from other parents can lead to broken boundaries, discusses ways you can overcome your fear of necessary confrontation, and explains why it’s so important to make boundaries clear to all parties. The Finer Details of This Episode:   Figuring out how too soft or too strict personal boundaries can carry over to your parenting boundaries. If you’re finding yourself spread too thin, that might be a sig

You can be the most patient and understanding parent six out of seven days the week, but there's always the risk of some straw breaking your proverbial camel's back and turning you into Psycho Mom. It sucks for everybody involved, but don't beat yourself up over it; you're human after all. So instead of fretting about that one time you shouted, let's focus on some ways you can keep from shouting in the first place. In this episode, Jamie discusses healthier ways to show frustration, helps you find the ideal middle ground, and reveals the one statement you need to stay away from. The Finer Details of This Episode: Remember: no matter how justified your anger is, Psycho Mom will always be scary to your little ones. Finding healthier ways to let off steam than your Psycho Mom mode. The three major factors that contribute to going over the edge. Finding ways to build up steam rather than letting it all out at once. Jamie’s story of a very conscientious mother who went full Psycho Mom despite her best intenti

Riding Marie Kondo’s coattails, Jamie has a thorough, multi-step strategy to help you whittle down all of your kid’s toys, books and clothes to something more manageable. Don’t feel selfish for wanting to declutter; a cluttered environment with two many options—even fun ones!—can overwhelm your little ones and lead to meltdowns and general dissatisfaction. The only thing worse than having to clean up a big mess is knowing your child didn’t even have fun making it.   In this episode, Jamie outlines her own process for decluttering the home, explains why fewer toy options encourages more engaging play, and offers up a few tips for giving or throwing away stuff you no longer need. The Finer Details of This Episode:   Jamie’s own experience with decluttering when she moved to San Francisco. How having too many choices can be as frustrating as having no choice at all. Fostering more satisfying “deep play” through fewer options. Redefining what toys are and what they can be to encourage open-ended, imaginative

For her upcoming book, Jamie was asked by her editors to define “connection” and why it’s vital to keeping your little one cooperative, satisfied and engaged. A strong parent-child connection isn’t helicoptering around them and monitoring every little move they make, but is in fact a 2-way street with activities, healthy boundaries and, yes, precious solo time.   In this episode, Jamie discusses how to keep your kid’s emotional gas tank on an even keel, why you don’t need to be there 100% to forge a strong connection with them, and developing a healthy flow of activity when you do bond. The Finer Details of This Episode:   Defining what connection means and how forging connections is key to mitigating hassle in parent-child relationships. How to effectively deal with your child’s small “emotional gas tank.” Why being present 100% of the time is only going to lead to burnout and further disconnection. Avoiding the disconnection of “Uh-huh” parenting. Some activities you can use to forge a stronger connec

A podcast for conscious parents who drop the f-bomb. A lot. We are the overthinkers, the dreamers, and the doers. We are parenting in a radically different way than those before us. But our divine vision gets blurry cause...OMG...kids can be such a pain in the ass. Let's work from the inside out, in a whole brain, whole body way to mitigate the crappy behavior. Not just with our kids but with ourselves. So you can be the parent you envision. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices