Keep. Asking. Questions. I'm so lucky to be joined for this episode by my client, friend and hairstylist, Amanda Rausch. She's celebrating a recent diagnosis for her oldest that finally makes so much sense, but it's really a culmination of years and years of advocating for him that started in pregnancy. Her story is a really down-to-earth, inspirational example of trusting your gut, finding answers, and then finding more answers when the first ones just don't fit. Even if a provider is condescending to your concerns, you get unsolicited advice or crickets from friends and family, or you don ..read more

Strong-willed kids come with a million positive attributes, like a HUGE heart, loving BIG and being super helpful (when they want to be). They can also be really hard to parent sometimes (understatement). I've compiled a list of 13 common struggles that come up on a daily basis for families parenting strong-willed kids.  I guarantee you thought you were the only family to experience at least one of these things!   #themoreyouknow IN THIS EPISODE, I SHARE... Trademark indicators of parenting a strong-willed child including "the After School Outburst" and "Alter Ego Anger" Way ..read more

Strong-willed kids come with a million positive attributes, like a HUGE heart, loving BIG and being super helpful (when they want to be). They can also be really hard to parent sometimes (understatement). I've compiled a list of 13 common struggles that come up on a daily basis for families parenting strong-willed kids.  I guarantee you thought you were the only family to experience at least one of these things!   #themoreyouknow IN THIS EPISODE, I SHARE... Trademark indicators of parenting a strong-willed child including "the After School Outburst" and "Alter Ego Anger" Way ..read more

She was told not to become a mother; that her mental illness would render her insufficient, and she said, "I will do whatever it takes to be a mom.  A GOOD mom."  How inspiring is that?! Amelia Zachry just published her debut memoir, Enough: A Memoir of Mistakes, Mania, and Motherhood. She might be one of the wisest moms I've interviewed. Without getting into her past, Amelia shared an up close and personal look at the journey of healing she’s undergone to meet her own needs without shame or guilt or fear so that she can not only meet her kids’ needs but listen to them, learn from ..read more

Mom guilt is a universal experience.  What you do with it is what matters! Let's explore together the purpose of the guilt - why it's there, what it's trying to say, and how to manage it in a way that moves you forward. IN THIS EPISODE, I SHARE... 10 examples of problems to solve at the root of your guilt How to bring curiosity into your internal dialogue Two ways to treat your guilt going forward DON'T MISS: How your inner voice is like your strong-willed child! // CONNECT WITH DANIELLE // Website: parentingwholeheartedly.com IG: @parent_wholeheartedly APPLY: parentingwholehearted ..read more

Has your relationship with nursing ever led you to feel guilt, shame, confusion, sadness, love, and even grief?   This episode is for you. My guest today, Erin Harris, is a mom of two, founder of Nursing Mamas, and a lactation consultant who specifically equips parents nursing toddlers past one year. Nursing toddlers is a whole new world compared to nursing a newborn, due to the shift from nursing on demand, to a toddler demanding to nurse.   Erin shares so much insight into the emotional cycle of an extended breastfeeding parent, from love to burnout to guilt to grief to sadne ..read more

I've talked a lot about what DOESN'T work for strong-willed kids, and today we're talking all about what DOES! SKIP this episode if you do not have a strong-willed child.  Not sure?  I break it down at the beginning! IN THIS EPISODE, I SHARE... How you know FOR SURE if you're the parent of a strong-willed child Why you haven't been able to implement the tips you've learned other places The METHOD to my MADNESS! DON'T MISS: Valuable insight we can learn from hostage negotiators! READ THE BLOG POST // CONNECT WITH DANIELLE // Website: parentingwholeheartedly.com IG: @parent_whol ..read more

Donovan + Rosemary are phenomenal parents doing their very best to raise 3 girls in Louisiana.  They're working to parent differently than they were parented, in the South, with a strong-willed child.  They joined me in this episode to share an honest look at the struggles and fears they've experienced over the past few years; some unique, most universal. Rosemary shares vulnerably about being so hard on herself, especially as an OT working with kids, struggling with her own child.  Donovan uses great analogies to depict how much his understanding of "good parenting" has shift ..read more

Over the last almost 4 years of working with hundreds of families, I've learned a thing or two about parents of strong-willed kids.  (It takes one to know one!) Consider this episode a Buzzfeed quiz of sorts, and report back with your answer of how many of these qualities you exhibit out of 10!  IN THIS EPISODE, I SHARE... Often overlooked insight that applies to both parent AND child The permission and reassurance you might be looking for Why it MAKES SENSE if you're feeling the way you're feeling DON'T MISS: #10! I saved the BEST for last // CONNECT WITH DANIELLE // Website ..read more

Are you hoping to break the cycle of diet culture in your family? Whether you struggled with your own body image, self-esteem or dieting in the past and don't want to pass that on to your kids, you are noticing your child struggling with their relationship with food or their body and need more insight, or simply want to prevent your child from struggling in that way, know that it's never too late for you to make impactful shifts! How do I now raise children who feel empowered in their bodies; who love themselves, just how they are; who don't want to alter their bodies; who know that they can ..read more