Voices of Your Village

Welcome back to Voices of Your Village, and I'm so grateful to be sharing this conversation with you. If you’re raising bigger kids, those school-age humans navigating a world full of messages about what they should look like, eat, wear, or do with their bodies—this episode is for you.Today, I’m joined by Dr. Whitney Casares, pediatrician, author, and mom of two, to talk about real body confidence—not the “just love yourself!” kind, but the kind rooted in science, self-awareness, and actual conversations we can have with our kids.We dive into the difference between body literacy and body positivity, how to talk to kids about food without shame, and why it matters to meet every body with understanding.This is a conversation about equipping kids with tools and support,  and helping them feel at home in the bodies they live in—  whether they’re dealing with unexpected body changes, hurtful schoolyard comments, or the rising pressure to fit a mold, that, let's be honest, isn't realistic for most of us.Alright folks, let’s dive in. Connect with Dr. Whitney: Instagram: @modernmommydoc, @raising.body.confident.kids Website:  www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com Order the book: My One-of-a-Kind Body: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Me Podcast: The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew  Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now!  Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and  Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today’s episode is one so many of you have asked for: how to navigate the rocky transition back to school after the holidays. And not just for our kids, but for ourselves, too.I’m joined by my friend Laura Petix, also known as The OT Butterfly. She’s a pediatric occupational therapist, a neurodivergent mom raising a neurodivergent kid, and the author of A Kid’s Book About Neurodiversity. This convo is a mix of validation, strategy, and "yep, me too" moments you’re going to want to come back to.We talk about how to actually support regulation in those first weeks back, whether your kid is a sensory seeker or sensory sensitive, and how to lower demands, build in support, and reset your own expectations. We also get into the emotional side of school refusal, those brutal morning meltdowns, and why some kids just need a longer runway to get going again. Plus, Laura shares her brilliant nervous system budget analogy, which I think you're going to love.This one’s for anyone starting the year already feeling tapped out, and trying to figure out how to make re-entry just a little softer.Alright folks, let’s dive in. Connect with Laura: Instagram: @theotbutterfly Website: www.theotbutterfly.com Order the book: A Kids Book About Neurodiversity Podcast: The Sensory W.I.S.E Solutions Podcast Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew  Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now!  Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and  Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to Voices of Your Village. And honestly, if you're gonna listen to one episode of this podcast ever, I hope it's this one. This is so key to understanding self-care, to understanding self-regulation, to understanding how your child regulates and what's regulating versus dysregulating for them, for you. You get to hear the beginning of one of my workshops and it's really gonna break down the nervous system and how you can understand yours and the humans around you. And then Rach and I have a discussion at the end in the breakdown all about this jazz. Please share this episode with a friend, share it with your child's teacher in school. Let's help everyone understand how the unique nervous system works because it is a game changer for moving through the world with more intention and less reaction, more response, and overall more regulation or access to it. All right, folks, let's dive in. Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew  Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now!  Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and  Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we are rebroadcasting one of my all time favorite episodes. I got to sit down with someone I deeply admire—Dr. Stuart Shanker. His book Self-Reg was a game changer for me when I was teaching infants and toddlers, and honestly, it shaped so much of how I approach emotional development today.In this episode, we talk about what self-regulation really means, how it differs from self-control, and why so many behaviors we label as “bad” are actually stress responses. Stuart shares powerful stories and practical insights—from what’s going on in a newborn’s nervous system to what to do when your teenager melts down over the wrong hoodie.We explore the idea that all behavior is communication, how adults can become “stress detectives,” and why regulating ourselves is the first step in helping kids thrive. This conversation is packed with gems, and I’m so thrilled to share it with you.Alright folks, Let’s dive in. Connect with Dr. Shanker: Instagram: @self_reg Website: https://self-reg.ca/ Order the book: Self-Reg: How to Help Your Child (and You) Break the Stress Cycle and Successfully Engage with Life Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew  Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now!  Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurkland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and  Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re diving into one of the most requested topics: what to do when rage takes over. I’m joined by parent coach Shelly Robinson to talk about what’s really happening when we lose it on our kids, why it feels so hard to stay calm during everyday routines like getting out the door, and how we can show up with more intention—even when our capacity is low. We also unpack what it looks like to raise multiple kids with completely different nervous systems, and how to co-create routines that actually reduce conflict. If you’re someone who feels like you’re snapping more than you’d like—or you’re navigating sibling tension, sensory mismatches, or that gnawing sense that you’re failing—you’re in the right place.  Alright folks, let’s dive in. Connect with Shelly: Instagram: @raising_yourself Website: shellyrobinson.com Connect with us: Instagram and TikTok: @seed.and.sew  Seed and Sew's NEW Regulation Questionnaire: Take the Quiz Order Big Kids, Bigger Feelings now!  Website: seedandsew.org Credits: Host: Alyssa Blask Campbell Co-host: Rachel Lounder Production/Editing: Kristin Mork-McVeigh Graphics: Kayla Kurkland-Davis/ Beki Rohrig Music by: Ruby Adams and  Bensound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices