How Our Childhoods Influence the Way We Raise Children

Childhood joy, reading about Kaleidoscopes, illustrating cooperative co-parenting and relationships and the question 'Can It Be Done?' and why children are struggling.

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Have you ever considered how your earliest experiences shape not just who you are, but how you connect with others, including your own children?

This week, I joined the Becoming Parents Podcast to share my journey from my own birth experience to parenting my daughter, and how those experiences influenced my work as a psychologist. We explored how early life events, family dynamics, and mindful reflection can guide growth, healing, and deeper connections.

In this episode, we talk about:

  • How my birth and my mother’s reaction shaped my early experiences

  • What happens when we reflect on our upbringing from a new perspective

  • The power of clear communication and valuing others in relationships

  • Lessons from working with preschool boys about emotional expression

  • How fathers can help their children access the full range of feelings

  • The ideas behind my book Read, Reflect, Respond: The 3 R’s of Growth and Change

If you’ve ever wondered how your personal history impacts your parenting, relationships, or professional life, this conversation is packed with insights and reflections to help you grow and connect more deeply.

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Nurturing Emotionally Healthy Boys, A Grandparent’s Role

Aging couple in retirement joined in gratitude having a a heart to heart about being a grandparent and parenting our parents, symbolizing emotional connection and Repair of Relationships in Maryland and DC.

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Are you a grandparent striving to raise emotionally healthy boys in a world that often discourages men from expressing their true feelings?

This week, I joined Laura Brazan on the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity podcast to talk about breaking generational cycles, especially those that keep boys stuck in an “emotional desert.”

In our conversation, we explored:

  • Why emotional intelligence is essential for boys, and how grandparents can help

  • How outdated cultural myths shape how boys express (or suppress) emotions

  • Simple tools to start meaningful emotional conversations at home

  • How feeling vocabulary lists can build stronger emotional awareness

  • What it really takes to create emotionally safe spaces for all grandchildren

We also talked about my New York Times best-selling journal, Read, Reflect, Respond: The 3 R’s of Growth and Change,and how it can support families navigating this journey.

If you’re looking for expert insight, real-life stories, and actionable steps to empower the next generation, this conversation is for you.

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Are You Living Your Life, Or Someone Else’s?

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Have you ever paused to wonder whether you truly want the life you’re living and if you’re living YOUR life, or if you’re just following someone else’s expectations?

This week, I joined Relatable Wisdom to talk with Wisdom Okonkwo about the deeper meaning behind the phrase, “you can be anything you want to be.” We explored how that idea can inspire growth, but also how it can create pressure and confusion, especially when family expectations and self-doubt get in the way.

In this episode, we talk about:

  • Why it’s so important to listen to your life experience

  • How external pressures can cloud what you actually want

  • What happened when an 80-year-old found a new spark through photography

  • How the “read, reflect, respond” process can open hidden doors

  • What it really means to honor your unique path

If you’ve ever felt stuck or unsure about your direction, I hope this conversation helps you feel seen and supported.

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Why Women Carry the Emotional Load

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Have you ever wondered why you seem to carry the emotional weight in your relationship?

It’s a common dynamic I see in my work, and this week on Dr. Zoe’s podcast, we talked about it in depth. So many women feel exhausted from doing the emotional heavy lifting, while their partners stay distant or unavailable.

In our conversation, we explored:

  • How boys are conditioned to shut down emotionally

  • Why that disconnection carries into adult relationships

  • The toll it takes on women and how it shows up

  • What healing looks like for both partners

  • How to protect your peace and still stay connected

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Resilience, Emotion, and the Power to Keep Going

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Have you ever wondered what makes someone keep going, even when the odds are stacked against them?

This week, I joined Jen on her podcast to talk about the unexpected turns my life has taken, and the emotional and internal tools I’ve had to build along the way. Born with spina bifida, I learned early that physical challenges could shape my world, but they wouldn’t define it.

In this conversation, we explored:

  • Why emotional intelligence starts at birth

  • How I became a mother against medical expectations

  • The deep emotional needs of boys and fathers

  • How adversity can sharpen clarity and passion

  • The connection between persistence, healing, and personal growth

  • What led me to write Read, Reflect, Respond

We also talked about what it really means to “keep going,” even when the path changes.

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Understanding the 3 R’s of Growth and Change

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Have you ever noticed how your past still shows up in the present, often without warning?

This week, I joined Khudania Ajay on The Author’s Voice podcast to talk about my new book, Read, Reflect, Respond: The 3 R’s of Growth and Change. We discussed how early experiences shape who we are today, and what it takes to move forward with awareness and healing.

In our conversation, we explored:

  • Why our brains begin storing emotional experiences from birth
  • How unexamined trauma can quietly disrupt our lives
  • The process behind writing Read, Reflect, Respond
  • What personal growth really looks like at any stage of life
  • Who the book is for, and how it can help
  • Why reflection is essential for healing

If you’ve ever felt like old patterns keep showing up, this conversation might offer a new path forward.

🎧 Listen to the Podcast Episode

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