Mom Enough: A Parenting Podcast

Childhood should be a time of joy, discovery and positive connection with family and friends. So it’s difficult for most of us to imagine a child experiencing depression. But, as this week’s Mom Enough guest knows, depression can and does affect people of any age. And it’s up to teachers, parents and other caring adults...

Parenting is full of surprises. And, as wonderful as it often is, parenting nearly always is more challenging and complicated than most of us could have imagined before we had children. When medical emergencies threaten both mom and baby, the ensuing emotions can be overwhelming. Such was the case for this week’s Mom Enough guest,...

October is ADHD Awareness Month, a perfect time to move beyond discussions of the prevalence and possible causes of this widespread problem to practical ways to reduce the stress and conflict often experienced in families living with ADHD. This week’s Mom Enough guests are Dr. Michele Borba, author and frequent Today Show contributor, and Elaine...

A wealth of research highlights the importance of fathers to the development of both sons and daughters. Yet many women say they don’t really know their fathers very well and/or they often feel criticized by their fathers. In situations of divorce or separation, these issues often are even more pronounced. But, as Wake Forest professor...

Are you wondering how to bundle your toddlers into their car seats when they are wearing puffy snowsuits? Do you worry that your child’s school bus doesn’t have seat belts? And what about the dangers of bus stops when snow begins to pile up? Heather Darby is a passenger safety expert from the MN Department...

As parents, our days are filled with little challenges — making sure our kids get out the door on time for school, getting siblings to play well together, helping a toddler accept “no” without a tantrum, persuading teens to get off the phone and do their homework. Dr. Alan Kazdin, professor and director of the...

For many of us parents, it probably is hard to even think about our daughters and sons becoming sexually active. WE may avoid the topic, almost believing that if we don’t talk about it, it won’t happen. But what we say and do even very early in our children’s lives will shape the attitudes, feelings...

When a young person has questions about sexual orientation and identity, where can he or she turn for guidance and information? How can that person initiate a conversation with parents and other family members about these questions? And how can the young person stand up against teasing and bullying that are so often a part...

Although estimates vary widely as to the number of children growing up today with gay or Lesbian parents, there is no question the number is substantial. So, are there unique challenges gay and Lesbian parents and their children confront? What are the dynamics for gay and Lesbian couples when they become parents and begin to...

In the early months and years of life a child is learning by leaps and bounds. And much of that learning happens through hearing. So how early – and by what means – can you tell if a child is deaf or hard of hearing? And what are the options for early intervention to improve...

These days most of us know that a good preschool experience can give a child a big boost in being ready to succeed, both socially and academically, in school. But there are so many different types of preschools and sometimes the choices can feel overwhelming. In this week’s Mom Enough show, Barbara Murphy, director of...

When Steve Beseke was born with cerebral palsy in the 1960s, his parents had to fight for him to have the same opportunities typically developing children had in school and in life. And they had to make special efforts to help their son develop the perseverance, persistence and patience (what Steve now calls the three...

Many children today struggle with ADHD – and their parents and teachers along with them. But even if your child doesn’t have a diagnosable attention problem, at times you may find yourself frustrated that your child’s mind seems to wander just when you’re trying to give him or her important instructions. Celebrated children’s author and...

From the earliest years of life, our children are bombarded with societal messages that can undermine their appreciation of their bodies and their understanding of what healthy living really means. Although it’s challenging to try to counter powerful media messages and social forces, we can do it with persistence and the right information to guide...

What researchers call “executive function” and most parents call “self-control” encompasses everything from paying attention in class to resisting the impulse to punch someone who gets in your space to managing frustration with a difficult project. However it shows up in daily life, executive function is key to school success and positive relationships. So how...