I highly recommend Dr. Heather Hagen
https://www.heatherhagendds.com/
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Mouth breather recs in austin tx -
anyone else had to cancel a party? feeling so sad about this@elmer5678 - first of all, I think it’s amazing that you are being so intentional in your parenting. It takes a lot of work just to do the basics and you are really striving for they “big win” (long term character), instead of just a quick win here.
It sounds like you are on the right track to seek professional support and since you have to wait for a therapist that meets with her - in the meantime you can have someone supporting your decisions!
I’m a licensed counselor who specializes in working with kids. I used to see kids directly but found there was a gap where parents weren’t getting support for moments exactly like this. And there is a lot that can change with her, through some shifts in how you are responding to her behavior. I hear your value of gentle parenting and that is awesome. You clearly do so much to support your kids emotionally and to show how much they mean to you. Also - there are often small tweaks you can make from what may be a bit of overly gentle parenting- to be sure you are parenting with kindness and firmness at the SAME time, to build more emotion-regulation, respect and responsibility (that many parents are missing).
If you’d like a free consult- let’s talk!
Https://calendly.com/sustainableparenting/30-min-free-clarity-call
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Why does summer give me so much anxiety, especially with work??Absolutely!! It’s too many things moving and changing - and I always mess things up at this time. Just yesterday I missed a time for tutoring that we had changed
I felt so bad. 
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Progesterone while newly pregnant?Progesterone supplementation can help prevent miscarriage in the first trimester for women who struggle to produce this hormone. Typically, it isn’t needed after the first trimester once the placenta takes over, but always best to talk to your provider.
Factors such as stress and diet can play a role in your body’s ability to produce progesterone naturally.
I personally used bio-identical vaginal suppositories that I got at a local compounding pharmacy with my first pregnancy. They can make you feel a little more crummy overall.
Hang in there mama!
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MammogramsYou're right that most insurance plans won’t cover a screening mammogram before age 40 unless there are significant risk factors (like a strong family history or genetic concerns).
However, if you're experiencing symptoms like breast pain, a lump, or changes, your provider can order a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound, which are more detailed and typically do get covered — because they’re considered medically necessary.
Always worth checking with your provider to advocate for the right imaging based on what’s going on with your body.
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Help falling asleep or staying asleep!!Hey there! Sleep can be a tough one and there can be many underlying contributing factors. Hormones play a big role, especially when a woman has entered perimenopause. Progesterone is calming to the brain and increases GABA (a neurotransmitter) activity which promotes relaxation and helps with sleep. During perimenopause progesterone often begins to decline and this can result in sleep disturbances. Cortisol can also play a role, as this is our stress hormone. Blood sugar imbalances can contribute as well so sometimes a high protein snack before bed can help stabilize blood sugar levels. If glucose drops too low in the middle of the night this causes a cortisol spike which can contribute to waking in the middle of the night and restless sleep. Melatonin and magnesium can both, help but it’s best to get to the underlying cause of why you’re not sleeping well. Hormone testing would be a great place to start!
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Smartphones & Technology@WalmartGreeter I’m so glad you brought up this topic. Yes- I read it and yes, we are gonna wait till 16 for smart phones. Our son is 11 and only has a fit bit smart watch for calling and texting adults. So far so good.
here is an interview I did with one of the experts pushing for phone-free schools in our city (and she shares lots of stats and facts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sustainable-parenting/id1682538739?i=1000698883819 -
Leaving fun activity meltdownsHi @pinkpurse [To help transitions I think of these 4 steps:
A) connection first (come alongside and noticing what they have been playing with, or name it: "Boy! You have been having so much fun playing in this sand and building that castle. Look at it!",
B) Direct them to their "Last thing" when you have 2-5 min. left- like they say in Daniel Tiger's episode. This gives more empowerment and makes the child feel like they ended on the note THEY choose.: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6ve0cp,
C) Use tools that give choice/playfulness to encourage cooperation (from the "Empowering statements" handout: https://drive.google.com/file/d/114xMIG_i5SZv-OzZct_XclD11u9LUM4J/view?usp=sharing). This is CRITICAL. Instead of just saying "we have to go", put their brain on choices like, "should we skip or hop to the car?" "Do you want a squeezy or granola bar when we get to the car?" "Do you wanna go right side up or upside down?"
D) "2 roads" if needed. If they continue to not be motivated by all that - give a happy choice that has a happy result, vs. sad choice and sad result. Like: "well, you can go hopping or skipping, or I will hold your hand and help your body move to the car. You choose." (and if they don't start moving, then they have chosen for you to help them. The "sad road" could also be a privilege lost, or not being able to come to the park the next day, etc. I love the "What should Danny do" books to reinforce this idea in a way kids really like. https://www.amazon.com/dp/069284838X/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_undefined?linkCode=ml1&tag=sustainablepa-20![alt text]](link url)
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Masturbation in poolHi! Therapist here- I love that you are asking this question because I bet there are other moms out there with similar questions. This topic can be uncomfortable to talk about but here are some tips:
- developmentally, this is VERY normal
- at this age, kids are just doing these behaviors because it feels “good” or “weird” (they aren’t sexualizing it- it’s just pleasure and curiosity)
- maybe next time she is doing it in the privacy of your hot tub at home, you can have a casual non-shaming conversation with her
- Ex: “Our bodies are really cool and they feel lots of different sensations! It can be fun to explore and be curious about the different parts of our bodies and what they do. Sometimes when we touch our private parts (or you can use the actual private part name) it feels good and that’s totally normal! But it’s something we do in private and not in front of other people. Just like when we go to the bathroom, change clothes, shower, bathe, etc...
- and make sure to let her know she can always come to you and ask anything on this topic in the future
You got this!
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Your go to evening healthy-ish sweet treatFruit smoothies with less water/milk can whip up and feel like ice cream. It’s one of my favorites.
