The Mental Load, Modern Parenting, and Making Homes Equitable

In this empowering episode of The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast, Dr. Whitney Casares sits down with Brian Page, founder of Modern Husbands, to unpack the challenges of creating equity at home. They explore how societal norms, mental loads, and parenting dynamics shape modern families. Brian shares his personal journey of stepping back from his career to support his wife’s ambitions and how that decision changed their family dynamic. Together, they discuss practical strategies for dividing household responsibilities, fostering equitable partnerships, and reframing traditional gender roles.-----This week's podcast and newsletter are brought to you by Care.com. Care.com connects families with local caregivers, including nannies, babysitters, tutors, senior care providers, dog walkers, housekeepers, and more.Go to www.modernmommydoc.com/podcast for the full show notes.

In this episode of The Modern Mommy Doc, Dr. Whitney Casares dives into a deeply personal and important topic: advocating for neurodivergent children. As a pediatrician and mom to two neurodivergent daughters, Dr. Whitney shares practical strategies for navigating the complexities of raising kids with ADHD, OCD, autism, and anxiety. Whether your child is struggling in school or dealing with miscommunication with educators, you'll learn how to advocate effectively, build strong relationships with teachers, and find the right resources. Dr. Whitney's compassionate, knowledgeable approach will leave you empowered and ready to champion your child's needs.This week's podcast and newsletter are brought to you by Care.com. Care.com connects families with local caregivers, including nannies, babysitters, tutors, senior care providers, dog walkers, housekeepers, and more.Go to www.modernmommydoc.com/podcast for the full show notes.

In this episode of the Modern Mommy Doc podcast, Dr. Whitney Casares dives deep into the systemic issues that working moms face—from the gender pay gap and unpaid labor to the childcare crisis. Join her as she provides practical solutions to help mothers reclaim their power and advocate for systemic change. Whether it's pushing for paid parental leave, advocating for employer-sponsored childcare, or finding support in your community, this episode is packed with actionable advice to ease the mental load that moms carry. Tune in for insights, research-backed strategies, and inspiration for working moms trying to balance it all.This week's podcast and newsletter are brought to you by Care.com. Care.com connects families with local caregivers, including nannies, babysitters, tutors, senior care providers, dog walkers, housekeepers, and more.Go to www.modernmommydoc.com/podcast for the full show notes.

In this episode of the Modern Mommy Doc Podcast, Dr. Whitney is joined by two powerhouse OB-GYNs and co-founders of Fem.ed, Dr. Sara Twogood and Dr. Alyssa Quimby from Cedars-Sinai. Together, they tackle the often-taboo topics of sexual health, perimenopause, and the mental load women carry as they navigate motherhood and their careers. This episode breaks down important discussions around:The impact of perimenopause and postpartum changes on sexual health.How to improve communication with your partner about sex and intimacy.Common physical changes women experience, from vaginal dryness to irregular bleeding.Misconceptions around HRT (hormone replacement therapy) and who might benefit from it.Tips on vaginal health, including what to avoid and how to care for your body.The importance of having conversations about mental load, self-care, and sexual well-being with your sexual partner(s).This week's podcast and newsletter are brought to you by Care.com. Care.com connects families with local caregivers, including nannies, babysitters, tutors, senior care providers, dog walkers, housekeepers, and more.Go to www.modernmommydoc.com/podcast for the full show notes.

In this episode of the Modern Mommy Doc podcast, Dr. Whitney sits down with Sam Gardner, CEO and co-founder of Happypillar, and Chloe Picot-Jacobs, Clinical Director of the app, to discuss an innovative approach to parenting that blends technology and evidence-based strategies. Happypillar is designed to help parents tackle common behavioral challenges in children aged 2 to 7, using techniques from Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), enhanced by AI for accessibility and scalability.Dr. Whitney and her guests dive into the journey of developing this app, which uses AI to give real-time feedback to parents during playtime sessions, helping them improve their interactions with their children. Sam shares her personal struggles as a parent, how PCIT transformed her relationship with her child, and why she was inspired to create Happypillar to help other parents going through similar challenges. Chloe, a licensed clinical social worker, explains the evidence behind PCIT, how the app works, and addresses concerns around privacy and data security.This week's podcast and newsletter are brought to you by Care.com. Care.com connects families with local caregivers, including nannies, babysitters, tutors, senior care providers, dog walkers, housekeepers, and more.Go to www.modernmommydoc.com/podcast for the full show notes.

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of the Modern Mommy Doc podcast, Dr. Whitney is joined by Heather Salazar, President and CEO of Pink Ribbon Good (PRG). Heather shares her deeply personal journey, from adopting a baby girl whose mother battled breast cancer to her own cancer diagnosis, and how these experiences led her to start PRG—a nonprofit organization providing essential services to families affected by breast and gynecological cancers.This week's podcast and newsletter are brought to you by Care.com. Care.com connects families with local caregivers, including nannies, babysitters, tutors, senior care providers, dog walkers, housekeepers, and more.Go to www.modernmommydoc.com/podcast for the full show notes.

In this episode, Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown, a sleep medicine expert, joins the Modern Mommy Doc podcast to discuss restful sleep for kids AND their parents. She and Dr. Whitney explore the challenges toddlers, kids, and teenagers face in getting enough sleep and the impact it has on their mental health. Dr. Brown emphasizes the importance of consistency, routines, and creating a sleep-friendly environment for better sleep. She also addresses the use of melatonin and sleep aids, recommending that behavioral strategies and healthy sleep habits be prioritized before considering medication. Dr. Brown offers resources and courses on her website, www.therestfulsleepplace.com, to help parents and teens improve their sleep.This week's podcast and newsletter are brought to you by Care.com. Care.com connects families with local caregivers, including nannies, babysitters, tutors, senior care providers, dog walkers, housekeepers, and more.Go to www.modernmommydoc.com/podcast for the full show notes.

SummaryIn this episode, Dr. Whitney interviews Carla Naumburg about her new book, 'How to Stop Freaking Out: The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Cool When Life Feels Chaotic.' It's a book for kids all about learning to manage overwhelming emotions. They also talk about the importance of self-compassion and normalizing the experience of losing control. The book provides practical tips and techniques for both kids and parents to regulate their emotions and navigate difficult moments.TakeawaysLosing control and freaking out is a normal part of being human, and it's important to have self-compassion and not feel ashamed or embarrassed about it.There are different types of freak-outs, including fight, flight, freeze, flip out, and fix. Recognizing your own patterns can help you better understand and manage your emotions.Practicing self-care, such as getting enough sleep, exercise, and fresh air, can help reduce the likelihood of losing control.Teaching kids strategies for calming down, such as deep breathing, movement, and engaging in activities they enjoy, can help them regulate their emotions.It's important to create a safe and non-judgmental space for kids to express their emotions and seek support when needed.Social media can be both helpful and harmful when it comes to parenting advice. It's important to be discerning and focus on content that promotes empathy, understanding, and realistic expectations.

May 15, 2024, Momcozy released its annual State of Maternal Support Report shedding light on whether Millennials and Gen Z feel supported in motherhood. The new study surveyed 1,187 pregnant and new moms to reveal that 67% of moms wished for more emotional support and more assistance with childcare or household tasks while 46% craved more social connections. Listen in as Momcozy's Lalaina Roberts talks more about what the Report found, and why it matters so much for working women. For more, go to www.modernmommydoc.com/podcast.

In this episode, Dr. Whitney discusses Different Thinkers: ADHD with authors Katia Frederickson and Yael Rothman. The episode focuses on ways parents can support their children if they have ADHD, and on the power of understanding your wiring as a child. They talk about their backgrounds as pediatric neuropsychologists and the importance of understanding brain behavior relationships. They also discuss the accessibility and cost of evaluations and the need for resources to help children understand their strengths and challenges in a kid-friendly way.For more, go to www.modernmommydoc.com/podcast