Parenting Like a M*ther

In this deeply personal episode, I share what the last 15 months have been like since my youngest was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. From the initial hospitalization to daily life now, this journey has been filled with grief, growth, resilience, and a constant mental load that few people truly understand.I talk openly about:The relentless mental math – carb counting, insulin dosing, and the constant calculations that run in the background of every meal, snack, outing, and school day.The invisible vigilance – checking glucose numbers overnight, sleeping in shifts, responding to alarms, and managing exhaustion while continuing to parent, work, and function.Mood and behavior changes – how high and low blood sugars directly impact emotional regulation, memory, impulse control, and attitude — and why these shifts are biological, not character flaws.The emotional toll on the whole family – from grief and fear to the resilience of siblings and the delicate balance of avoiding parentification.Social challenges – navigating stares, questions, teasing, and the growing self-awareness that comes with being a 9-year-old managing a visible medical condition.Control, guilt, and advocacy – learning to trust others, setting boundaries around her care, and embracing the role of being “that parent” who checks the numbers — unapologetically.Food and balance – avoiding rigid restriction, protecting against disordered eating, and ensuring she still gets to be a kid who enjoys birthday cake and Christmas treats.I also share the gratitude — for supportive teachers, incredible coaches, educated grandparents, helpful technology like Loop, and a sibling who has stepped up in beautiful ways.This episode isn’t about strategies. It’s about reality. It’s about the grief of a lifelong diagnosis, the resilience of a child, and the complicated, exhausting, love-filled work of parenting a child with type 1 diabetes.If you’re parenting a child with T1D, you’re not alone. And if you’re not, I hope this gives you a window into what families are quietly carrying every single day.

In this episode, Lindsay dives into the world of intrusive thoughts in children and teens, drawing on her extensive experience treating OCD and anxiety. She explains that intrusive thoughts are sudden, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that can be upsetting or shocking, but importantly, do not reflect a child’s desires or character. These thoughts are common in kids with OCD and anxiety and often cause guilt, shame, and fear.Lindsay differentiates intrusive thoughts from regular anxiety, noting that anxiety typically relates to real-life situations and future concerns, whereas intrusive thoughts are ego-dystonic—they conflict with a child’s values and identity. Using relatable analogies like scary movies, pop-up ads, and junk mail, she illustrates how intrusive thoughts are essentially "brain noise" that lose power when approached calmly.The episode offers three practical strategies for parents:Normalize without over-reassuring – acknowledge the thought is scary but avoid giving repeated reassurance, which reinforces it.Separate the child from the thought – help children externalize the thought and recognize it as random brain noise.Allow the thought to exist without panic – teach children to notice the thought, label it, and continue with life, reducing its power over time.Lindsay also highlights when professional support is helpful, emphasizing the importance of therapists trained in OCD and exposure-response prevention (ERP).The key takeaway: intrusive thoughts are normal, manageable, and do not define a child.With calm, compassionate guidance, parents can help their children build resilience and respond to thoughts with understanding rather than fear, just like watching a scary movie multiple times until it’s no longer frightening.

How can parents support their child’s learning and emotional wellbeing during an unexpected school closure — and could this disruption actually be an opportunity for growth?In this timely episode of Parenting Like a Mother, recorded on October 6, 2025, as Alberta’s 51,000 teachers began the province’s first strike since 2002, host Lindsay talks with Julie Diamond, founder of Diamond Teachers Group and a certified teacher with over 15 years of experience.Together, they explore how parents can help children stay grounded, confident, and connected during this period of uncertainty — drawing lessons from Ontario’s previous strikes and the COVID-19 school shutdowns. This conversation focuses on what families can control: emotional support, maintaining structure, and creating meaningful learning moments at home.You’ll learn why emotional validation must come before academics, how to support learning without pressure, and ways to reframe this disruption as a time to build confidence, independence, and curiosity.________________________________________In This Episode, We Discuss:• The 2025 Alberta teachers’ strike and its impact on 730,000 students province-wide• The emotional ripple effects for kids — from confusion to anxiety to empathy for their teachers• Why checking in with your child’s feelings is the best first step• How to keep routines predictable to provide a sense of safety• Creative learning alternatives that make learning fun: Minecraft math, baking chemistry, nature walks, and board games• How to close learning gaps and boost confidence through small wins• Building executive functioning and a sense of accomplishment outside traditional schoolwork• Setting realistic goals for the strike period — whether it lasts a week or a month• Protecting social connection to prevent isolation and loneliness• Talking with kids about advocacy and fairness in age-appropriate ways• Balancing screen time with both educational and creative content• Supporting your own wellbeing as a parent and focusing on what’s within your control• When and how to reach out for extra support through tutors or community resources________________________________________Guest ExpertJulie Diamond is the founder of Diamond Teachers Group (formerly Teachers to Go), an online tutoring company established in 2011. She’s a certified teacher in BC and Ontario and has served on the Toronto District School Board’s Special Education Advisory Committee, representing students on the autism spectrum.________________________________________Resources:🟢 Green Door Clinic🟣 Parenting Like a Mother on Instagram🔵 Diamond Teachers Group________________________________________

Join us as we dive into the fascinating neuroscience behind why every child—regardless of temperament or previous experience—needs extra time and support to adjust to returning to school. We explore why even excited children experience elevated cortisol levels and behavioral changes during school transitions, understanding how children's developing prefrontal cortex affects their ability to manage change and regulate emotions. Lindsay breaks down the phenomenon of "restraint collapse"—why your child might be perfect at school but fall apart at home—and explains how this is actually neurologically normal rather than manipulation. Through evidence-based strategies, we cover everything from sleep regulation (which takes two weeks to fully adjust) to environmental preparation, morning routines, and age-appropriate adjustment timelines. Whether your child is starting kindergarten, transitioning to middle school, or moving to a new district, this episode provides practical tools for supporting them through this universal yet challenging experience. We also address special considerations for children with anxiety, ADHD, autism spectrum needs, and those in after-school care programs.Topics discussed in this episode include:Why children's brains prioritize emotional processing over logical thinking during transitionsHow the underdeveloped prefrontal cortex (until age 25) affects children's ability to manage changeWhy your child's nervous system registers school as a potential threat—and why this is evolutionary protectionUnderstanding "restraint collapse" and why children fall apart at home after being good at schoolAge-specific adjustment timelines: 3-4 weeks for preschoolers, 2-3 weeks for elementary, 2-6 weeks for teensWhy sleep regulation should begin two weeks before school starts for optimal adjustmentHow controlled exposure to school environments can reduce anxiety by familiarizing the brainThe importance of comfort items, which can reduce anxiety by up to 60%Morning routine strategies and why protein-rich breakfasts sustain attention for 3-4 hoursBetter conversation starters than "How was school?" to connect with overstimulated childrenSpecial considerations for children with anxiety, ADHD, and autism spectrum needsWarning signs that indicate professional support may be neededGreen Door Clinic: https://www.greendooryeg.caParenting Like a Mother on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parenting_like_a_mother

Why do girls sometimes use friendship as a weapon — and how can parents help?Join us for episode 6 of Parenting Like a Mother, where we dive into the complex world of social aggression in girls. Drawing on research from the University of Minnesota and real-world clinical experience, we explore how exclusion, gossip, and conditional friendships leave deep emotional scars — even though they’re harder to see than physical bullying. Through the host’s dual lens as a psychologist and parent, we unpack how social aggression unfolds developmentally, why it peaks in tween and teen years, and how cultural norms around “niceness” and popularity shape girls’ behavior.This episode introduces practical, age-appropriate strategies to help your child recognize healthy friendships, respond to relational aggression, and build lasting empathy. You'll learn the "screenshot pause" method for navigating online drama, how to spot early warning signs in both victims and aggressors, and when it’s time to step in. Whether your daughter is feeling left out or caught in the middle of friendship drama, this episode offers validation, guidance, and hope for a more connected, compassionate future.Topics discussed in this episode include:What social aggression is — and how it differs from physical bullyingWhy exclusion, silent treatment, and cyberbullying are so emotionally damagingHow these behaviors emerge around age 6–7 and evolve through adolescenceThe impact of post-COVID changes on girls’ social behaviorWhy girls aren’t inherently “mean,” and how social norms contributeWarning signs that your child is being targeted — or engaging in social aggressionHow to support your child without overreacting or minimizing their experienceThe protective power of maternal support and empathy-buildingTools for developing assertiveness, healthy boundaries, and digital literacyWhen to contact schools or seek professional helpHow parents remain a powerful influence, even in the teen yearsGreen Door Clinic: https://www.greendooryeg.caParenting Like a Mother on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parenting_like_a_mother

Join us for this special personal episode of Parenting Like a Mother, where Lindsay Wolf-Owczarek takes a break from her usual parenting advice to share her own journey—from aspiring professional dancer to child psychologist and founder of Edmonton Green Door Clinic. With remarkable candor, Lindsay reveals her career path through victim services work with the RCMP to discovering her passion for helping children heal, alongside the story behind naming her practice "Green Door." She openly discusses the recent challenges her family has faced, including her 8-year-old daughter's Type 1 diabetes diagnosis and subsequent arm fracture requiring surgery, and how these events have tested her resilience as both a professional and parent. Through personal experience, Lindsay shares her anchoring strategies for staying grounded during challenging times, including regular exercise, therapy, peer consultation, and letting go of the myth of perfect balance. This episode offers a heartfelt glimpse into the reality that growth is rarely graceful, even for parenting professionals, while providing reassurance that we're all just figuring things out as we go.Topics discussed in this episode include:Lindsay's unexpected path from aspiring professional dancer to child psychologistHow working with victims through the RCMP shaped her professional journeyThe moment Lindsay discovered her passion for working with childrenWhy she named her practice "Edmonton Green Door Clinic" and what it symbolizesThe challenges and rewards of building a collaborative psychology practiceHer daughter's sudden Type 1 diabetes diagnosis and the steep learning curve that followedNavigating the additional challenge of her daughter's broken arm requiring surgeryStrategies Lindsay uses to stay grounded through personal and professional challengesThe importance of modeling repair after mistakes in parent-child relationshipsWhy letting go of perfectionism in parenting has been crucial to Lindsay's wellbeingHow consistent self-care practices help maintain resilience during difficult timesGreen Door Clinic: https://www.greendooryeg.caParenting Like a Mother on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parenting_like_a_mother

What role do community and collaboration play in navigating the challenges faced by children with unique learning needs?Carmen Forth, a passionate educator dedicated to empowering children with complex learning needs, is with us for this episode. Her journey, inspired by her love for science and personal family experiences, has equipped her with unique insights into the importance of celebrating each child's individuality. We explore how accommodations are essential tools that enhance learning, not hinder it, and the vital role of self-advocacy in fostering independence. Carmen shares strategies for building collaborative partnerships between parents and teachers, ensuring that each child's unique abilities are nurtured and supported. Whether you're seeking guidance on mental health resources or ways to navigate the accommodation process, this episode offers a compassionate roadmap for elevating your child's educational journey!Topics discussed in this episode include:- Why educational accommodations are crucial for empowering students and nurturing their potential.- Addressing misconceptions about learning accommodations.- Why collaboration between parents and teachers is essential for supporting unique learners.- How everyone uses accommodations—we just usually don’t realize it.- Why teaching children to advocate for themselves can lead to greater independence.- How teachers can benefit from parent-school partnerships for student support.- Why positive advocacy strategies are crucial for parents navigating educational challenges.- How effective communication can set children up for success in school environments.- Why understanding a child's learning differences can build confidence rather than shame.- How honest conversations with children about their learning needs can empower them.- Why seeking diagnosis can offer valuable strategies for supporting children's learning journeys.Green Door Clinic: https://www.greendooryeg.ca Parenting Like a Mother on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parenting_like_amother

Are you ready to join a supportive community that celebrates the diverse ways families learn and love?Welcome to the first episode! Today, I start our journey into the overwhelming world of modern parenting. I'm Lindsay Wolf-Owczarek, a mom, wife, and registered psychologist, here to unravel the endless streams of parenting advice and the anxiety it can create. We explore the concept of "good enough” parenting in this episode, emphasizing that perfection isn't necessary—small failures can actually foster resilience in our kids. I also tackle the discipline debate, advocating for a balanced approach that blends clear boundaries with emotional warmth, aligning with the authoritative parenting style. Together, let's support each other through the ups and downs of parenting with compassion and science-backed insights. I'm thrilled to embark on this journey with you!Topics discussed in this episode include:How modern parenting feels overwhelming due to information overload and decision fatigue.Research that shows parental anxiety is at an all-time high.Why curated social media portrayals increase parental anxiety and guilt.How embracing "good enough” parenting helps build resilience in children.Why small parenting failures are beneficial for children's coping skills.How authoritative parenting blends clear boundaries with emotional warmth.Why consistent, loving parenting is more valuable than striving for perfection.How to create decision-making frameworks based on family values and principles.Why building a strong support network reduces parental stress.How sharing parenting challenges and victories fosters community and learning.How this podcast aims to support parents with science-backed insights and community.Find more resources and work with us at https://www.greendooryeg.ca/