Parenting Great Kids With Dr. Meg Meeker

Women today typically deal with more stress than in past generations, and often struggle to find work/life balance. What is work/life balance? Is it a 50/50 split? How do mothers today juggle all that is required of them? Christy Wright, author of “Take Back Your Time: The Guilt-Free Guide to Life Balance”, provides tactical steps to create your own version of balance – where you get to decide what’s right for you! Dr. Meg & Guest Christy Wright (Part 1) Guest Christy Wright discusses the underlying narratives that mothers deal with on a regular basis, and provides a new definition of the word, balance. She poses the question, “What if balance isn’t something that you have to do, like a verb; what if it is something you can create in your life – to be able to feel a sense of balance in an out-of-balance world?” Another word for balance can be “peace” – You can be busy, and still be balanced, and at peace. You can be confident in your choices and decisions in how to spend your time. But how is this attai

This episode features the Dad-Daughter duo, Becky Thompson and Dr. Mark Pitts, co-authors of Midnight Dad Devotional: 100 Devotions and Prayers to Connect Dads Just Like You to the Father. Men will be encouraged to learn how God is with them through their parenting journey, in all seasons of life, and will be strengthened in their resolve to become the best father they can be. Dr. Meg & Guests Becky Thompson & Dr. Mark Pitts (Part 1) Dr. Mark Pitts explains how fathering seems to have moved from being rooted in relationship and connection with their kids to becoming more of a utilitarian role – provider and protector, sans any real relationship. A father’s role is often scaled down to tasks – disciplinarian, driver, coach, homework checker, money lender. Yet Dr. Pitts is finding that more and more men desire a return to being in true relationship with their children and they want to know how they can develop a deeper connection and long-lasting bond with their kids. Dr. Meg & Guests Becky Thompson &

Children don’t often know how to voice their worries, and they may even think the things they are worried about are silly or unimportant. Today’s guest, Dr. Josh Straub, along with his wife, Christi, co-wrote the children’s book, “What Do I Do With Worry?” as a way to help parents foster emotional awareness in their kids. Listen in and be equipped to help your kids deal with worry and anxiety in a positive way. Dr. Meg & Guest Dr. Josh Straub (Part 1) If a child doesn't have the language to express what they are worried about, it can manifest in ways that show up as disobedience, anger, fear, or in other ways. Experiencing this firsthand with their own children was a major reason why Dr. Josh felt compelled to write, “What Do I Do With Worry?” While many parents focus on addressing the outward manifestation of negative behaviors, Dr. Josh explains how they can dig deeper into their child’s heart to find out if their child may actually be feeling worried – while manifesting a different, negative behavior. T

Dr. Meg has a heart to heart conversation with Ashley Le Mieux, who shares how she tragically lost three of her children – two to the foster care system, and one to a premature birth. Rising from the ashes of pain and loss, Ashley describes her journey to finding healing and transformation, and shares how you can do the same. DR MEG & GUEST ASHLEY LEMIEUX (PART 1) This episode begins with Ashley explaining how she and her husband were permanent guardians of two children for over four years, and how they were in the process of adopting when the adoption was unexpectedly contested. As quickly as the children had come into their lives, they were taken from them, literally overnight. Three and a half years later, Ashley and her husband also tragically lost a biological son. Ashley describes these heart-wrenching experiences before she and Dr. Meg dive into discussing her book, “I Am Here: The Journey from Fear to Freedom”. Key points include: What if it’s not fear? What if it’s love? Moving forward in the

Grandparenting is different now than it has been in past generations. Many households require two incomes and, with both parents often working outside the home, grandparents tend to fill the gap in taking care of the kids. While this gives grandparents a special window into their grandkids’ lives, it can be tricky in that they must follow the parameters set by their adult children in how they want their children to be raised – often different from generation to generation. Dr. Meg, along with her guest, Dr. Ken Canfield – both involved grandparents themselves – impart wisdom and insight as they share real-life experiences and discuss essential keys to help navigate the joys and difficulties of grandparenting. DR MEG & GUEST DR KEN CANFIELD (PART 1) So much of being a good grandparent is being a good parent all over again to your adult children. A strong relationship with your adult child will have a big impact on your relationship with your grandkids. In part one of this episode, Dr. Canfield, who au

Dr. Marty Makary is a New York Times best-selling author, a Johns Hopkins physician and a public health researcher. With over 250 scientific articles published, Dr. Makary was elected to the National Academy of Medicine as Editor-in-Chief of MedPage Today. Listen in as Dr. Makary and Dr. Meeker discuss the pressing issue of vaccination amongst America’s youth. The two share their professional opinions, backed by years of research, to help parents make an educated opinion that’s best for their children. MEG and DR. MARTY MAKARY (PART 1) Dr. Makary and Dr. Meeker share their doctoral perspectives on the covid vaccine as it pertains to children including: The government mishandling of vaccines Who should receive the covid vaccine The political agenda behind the mass-vaccination push The ethics of requiring an individual to get the vaccine for somebody else’s sake Misconceptions regarding masks The psychological effect of the pandemic on children BREAK MEG and GUEST DR. MARTY MAKARY (PART 2

Dave Ramsey made his first million in his twenties—the wrong way—and then went bankrupt. That’s when he set out to learn the right way of managing money and developed the Ramsey Baby Steps. Following these steps, Dave became a millionaire again—the right way. After three decades of guiding millions of people through the Baby Steps plan, Dave has released his newest book, Baby Steps Millionaires. Join Financial Expert Dave Ramsey and Dr. Meeker in an engaging conversation about finances, not only as it pertains to adults acquiring wealth, but also the importance of teaching children good money habits early on. MEG and GUEST DAVE RAMSEY (PART 1) Dave Ramsey and Dr. Meg discuss practical insights from Dave’s newest book, Baby Steps Millionaires: Discover how anyone can acquire wealth and become a millionaire Review the 7 Baby Steps and how to practically apply them Take a deeper look at Baby Steps 4-6 to set yourself on course to becoming a millionaire Evaluate your spending habits; Understand self-con

We raise our children with the hope of enjoying a unique closeness and intimacy with them all the years of their lives. From the moment they are born, we pour our hearts and souls into them. And as they mature, they have a clear realization that they are fully dependent on us. These two factors draw us together, forming a strong bond. When that bond breaks, the pain burrows deep. The part a parent plays in reconciling with their adult child isn’t for the faint of heart! But parents.. don’t give up! In this episode, Dr. Meeker offers parents a chance to take an honest look at themselves. While providing the difficult keys that parents need to apply to themselves, Dr. Meg also infuses some much-needed “light at the end of the tunnel” hope in the midst of the storm. Keys: 1.) Acquire humility 2.) Take the first step 3.) Assume all responsibility 4.) Be willing to forgive, without requiring forgiveness from your child WELCOME MEG (PART 1) Dr. Meeker jumps right in by answering the question, “Wh

Babies need to be taught human traits early on, and one trait is that humans aren’t created to be nocturnal. Nighttime is for sleeping, and sleep is a learned phenomenon. Most adults don’t wake up and eat in the middle of the night. In the same way, babies don’t (typically) need to eat during the night either. The sooner parents train them not to do so, the sooner everyone will get a better night’s sleep! Join Dr. Meg and sleep expert Dr. Bob Hamilton as he shares multiple proven ways to get your baby to sleep through the night. This will be a win-win for everyone! MEG (PART 1) Dr. Meeker and Dr. Hamilton share different scenarios on training babies at different ages (newborn - 24 mo) to sleep through the night. If babies sleep less during the day, they will sleep more deeply at night. Also, establishing and sticking to a consistent bedtime routine is key to your baby (and you!) getting a healthy amount of sleep each night. It’s best if breast-feeding mothers don’t allow their baby to fall asleep at th

The time between Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years is meant to be enjoyed, a time of fun and anticipation, of giving and receiving, and looking forward to spending time with family and friends. Yet for many, the holidays bring a tremendous amount of stress. Are there expectations and images in your mind of how the holidays are supposed to look? Maybe you are trying to live up to the expectations of others. There may be family divisions, or perhaps a family member whom you would prefer not to be around. We invite you to slow down, and take a deep breath; maybe take another deep breath. Tune into this helpful (and hope-filled) episode as Dr. Meg shares effective ways to minimize holiday stress. Remove the pressures, allow yourself to relax, and enjoy the holidays! WELCOME MEG (PART 1) Offering listeners practical and effective ways to minimize holiday stress, Dr. Meg discusses how the stress that we feel can often be self-inflicted. She provides a list of 3 things that can be done upfront, to hel

Chances are, if your baby hasn’t been sleeping through the night, your heart may have skipped a beat with hope and anticipation as you read the title of this week’s episode. It may seem like your baby will never sleep through the night, however it is possible to sleep-train your baby to do so. Babies need a good sleep rhythm, and so do parents. Lack of sleep is one of the biggest factors keeping parents from parenting well. If we could parent from a rested state, we would parent so much better than we do from a place of fatigue. When babies sleep through the night, parents too can get proper rest, and as a result can experience more positive moods and have more patience and energy to spend with their children. Join Dr. Meeker as she shares how you can train your baby to sleep through the night in less than a week! The rewards will be amazing! WELCOME Dr. Meeker welcomes listeners to the podcast and introduces the topic of the episode: How to Get Your Baby to Sleep Through the Night in 7 Days or Less.

Is your child a picky eater? Does he or she suffer from childhood obesity or perhaps a chronic disease resulting from unhealthy eating? If so, you are not alone! Health Journalist and “Food Issues” podcast host Julie Revelant joins Dr. Meeker in discussing these important issues. Be armed with proven tips that can help you train your child to become a healthier eater. As you make wiser food choices yourself, and model better eating habits, your children will be encouraged to do the same, resulting in positive improvements in overall health. WELCOME Dr. Meeker welcomes guest Julie Revelant to the Parenting Great Kids podcast. MEG (PART 1) Dr. Meg and Julie Revelant discuss some of the biggest eating issues that parents encounter with their kids. BREAK MEG (PART 2) Dr. Meg and Julie Revelant continue their conversation about kids and healthy eating. FROM THE PRODUCER Thanks for listening to Episode 148, Kids and Healthy Eating, and for helping Dr. Meg’s parenting revolution reach mor

One of the most common questions that Dr. Meg Meeker gets asked in her pediatric office is, “How do I talk to my kids about puberty?” In this episode, Dr. Meg addresses that very question. Don’t be taken by surprise when the subject of puberty comes up with your kids! Listen in as Dr. Meg discusses the 5 stages of puberty, for both girls and boys. You’ll be equipped to anticipate (and answer) some of the questions that your children will have about their changing bodies. In addition, Dr. Meeker doesn’t shy away from some of the harder-to-talk-about subjects that kids need to be informed of, such as menstruation, wet dreams, and body boundaries. Your child needs positive reassurance from you, their parent, that their body is amazing and wonderful, and that the changes they are experiencing are normal, and nothing to be ashamed of. This candid and informative message from “America’s Mom” will help equip and empower you to confidently share with your kids about puberty, and the changes that they can expect to ex

DESCRIPTION Child sex trafficking doesn’t only happen overseas. About 80% of the kids being trafficked are U.S. citizens - born and raised in the United States - kids from all walks of life, all neighborhoods, all backgrounds. And they are not being abducted, they are being lured, manipulated and groomed on social media. Since about 2015, more than half of the kids being trafficked in the United States are recruited off of social media, and the #1 place they are being recruited from is Instagram. Sex trafficking is a difficult topic for parents to talk about, and is probably one of the worst experiences that one could ever have or imagine. It is critically important to be aware of the trafficking dangers all around, especially on social media, and to know the most common methods being used to lure kids in. Parents, you can help guard your kids against online sex trafficking predators and recruiters. Listen closely as Roger Martin, the founder of Humans Against Trafficking, a non-profit whose mission is to us

Just about everyone has witnessed a child having a temper tantrum. For parents, their child’s temper tantrums can be overwhelming, often resulting in frustration or anger, and even embarrassment, especially if a tantrum occurs in public. Temper tantrums are such a common issue with kids, and a problem for parents that Dr. Meg wanted to tackle the issue head-on. Join Dr. Meg as she dives into the topic of her brand-new course, “How to Stop Temper Tantrums in Your Child.” Addressing questions such as, Do kids have temper tantrums on purpose? What is actually happening in the minds and emotions of children leading up to and during a temper tantrum? How do I handle my strong-willed child? and more, Dr. Meg shares expert insight into this very common occurrence in children, offering helpful tips parents can use to teach their kids to identify their feelings and better express their emotions. WELCOME Dr. Meg welcomes listeners by reminding them that the Parenting Great Kids podcast is just for them, a helpful

Imagine not being given a name until you were two years old. Imagine living in constant fear of your father, whom you knew might literally kill you at any moment, for any reason. Imagine becoming a street kid at the tender age of four, after running away from your abusive home life. Imagine having to steal scraps of food, and no one knowing your name. How does one survive such a childhood? This is the extraordinary story of Peter Mutabazi, a surviving street kid who didn’t even think about the future beyond where his next meal would come from, yet eventually became an entrepreneur and the founder of Now I Am Known, a grassroots coalition focused on adoption and foster care. A single dad, Peter has fostered many children in his home through the years. He understands what it’s like to have no father in his life, to be abused, to have no food.. he knows what it means to be neglected. With this personal experience, it’s easy for Peter to relate to foster children, and to help them through their trauma. Listen in

DESCRIPTION Kids are exposed to sex today as never before. Social media, the internet, movies, television and music videos typically portray sex in a crass and shameful manner. Our kids desperately need to understand that sex is amazing, it’s wonderful, and something they will enjoy for decades to come.. when done in the right context and timing. Your child not only needs to hear about sex from you, he/she actually wants to hear about sex from you. They want to know what you think about them and sex. You are the one who can present sexual information to them in a positive way. You can empower them to postpone their sexual debut as long as possible, and in doing so, decrease the number of potential sex partners that they will have. As parents, we must be the ones to give the initial talk, and subsequent talks, about sex with our kids. Today’s sexualization of our kids has taught them that sex is dark and twisted, but as parents we need to teach them just the opposite -- that sex is a wonderful gift that shoul

DESCRIPTION The role of a father is vitally important. There is a place inside of every child that desperately wants and needs their father’s affirmation, acceptance and love. Yet many families have suffered generations of dysfunctional behavior, leaving those core needs (from father to child) unmet. Fathers in general don’t believe they are doing a good job with their kids -- they struggle to love their kids because they weren’t shown love by their own father. They don’t know how to bless their children because they never received a father’s blessing themselves. Research shows that disappointment in children due to a father’s absence, disinterest, mistreatment or abuse will often lead to a rejection of God, our heavenly Father. Alex and Stephen Kendrick share with Dr. Meeker how we typically get our first concept of what God is like from our earthly father. If a dad is loving and present in a child’s life, it’s easy for them to see God that way. If he is distant, absent or abusive, children will often view

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

Isolation, loneliness, and depression are all things that young adults have become more familiar with during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a parent, you have a window into what your kids are dealing with that no one else has. You can see when these things are affecting your kids, and you also have the best opportunity to help them through these tough times. Dr. Meeker talks with Dr. Claire Nicogossian in this episode, and Dr. Nicogossian gives you practical things to do and signs to look for to help your young adults deal with the pandemic stress. Dr. Nicogossian is clinician working in a private practice, and she is passionate about helping adolescents, adults, and seniors. She has received extensive training in cognitive-behavioral, client-centered and solutions-focused theory and therapy. Her main focuses are on mindfulness, self-care, and well-being. This conversation will give you great advise on how to help young adults deal with the impact of pandemic stress. Dr. Nicogossian is the author of the book Mama,