How to Trust Yourself as a Parent

How to Trust Yourself as a Parent

Somewhere between the parenting books, the expert opinions, the evaluations, and the 2 a.m. Google searches, a lot of parents stop trusting their own instincts. In this solo episode of The Growth Lab, Luba explores how that quiet loss of confidence happens and why a parent's gut feeling deserves more weight than it usually gets. Through the story of a mom who sensed something was off with her son years before anyone listened, Luba shows why intuition matters, how confidence is built through small everyday actions rather than certainty, and what it looks like to reconnect with the most important parenting tool you already have. She also opens the doors to The Parent Pathway, her community where parents find honest conversations, real support, and resources without judgment or shame. Connect with Luba on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lubapatlakh/ [https://www.instagram.com/lubapatlakh/] Get a copy of Bobo Wears a Bowtie: bobowearsabowtie.com [http://bobowearsabowtie.com] Luba's website: lubapatlakh.com [http://lubapatlakh.com] The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com [http://theconfidentiepparent.com] Join the Parent Pathway: https://www.skool.com/the-parent-pathway/ [https://www.skool.com/the-parent-pathway/] 00:56 Welcome to the episode 01:25 Why so many parents lose trust in themselves 03:36 The mom who knew something was off at age two 07:53 Parenting has become impossibly loud 10:32 Why Luba created The Parent Pathway 17:08 Your intuition is not magic, it's data 18:35 How comparison destroys your confidence 21:25 Losing her mom and what children actually remember 24:52 How to start trusting yourself again 27:18 An invitation to join The Parent Pathway

Why Movement Is Medicine with Alex Lopiccolo

In this episode of The Growth Lab, Luba Patlakh sits down with Alex Lopiccolo, known as the King of Swings, a certified occupational therapy assistant and sensory integration specialist who has spent the last decade designing sensory gyms and teaching hands on workshops around the world. Alex shares how his own childhood experience with sensory sensitivities shaped his approach to movement based therapy, and the two dig into why regulation has to come before behavior and learning can improve. They talk through practical bedtime strategies, how to balance screen time with movement, and what parents can do at home to help kids get the input their bodies are craving. Alex also opens up about building a mission driven career, avoiding burnout, and what he hopes kids carry with them long after therapy ends. Check out Alex's website: sensorydigest.com [http://sensorydigest.com] Alex's Instagram: instagram.com/sensorydigest [https://www.instagram.com/sensorydigest] Alex's Facebook: facebook.com/SensoryDigest/ [https://www.facebook.com/SensoryDigest/] Connect with Luba on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lubapatlakh/ [https://www.instagram.com/lubapatlakh/] Get a copy of Bobo Wears a Bowtie: bobowearsabowtie.com [http://bobowearsabowtie.com] Luba's website: lubapatlakh.com [http://lubapatlakh.com] The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com [http://theconfidentiepparent.com] Join the Parental Pathway: https://www.skool.com/the-parent-pathway/ [https://www.skool.com/the-parent-pathway/] 00:00 – Meet Alex Lopiccolo, the King of Swings 04:00 – Growing up with sensory sensitivities and using sports as therapy 05:10 – Finding purpose as an inventor and occupational therapist 09:54 – The role of movement in regulation, learning, and behavior 14:02 – Leading by example as a parent 22:49 – Bedtime routines and calming techniques that actually work 25:12 – Avoiding burnout and building a mission driven career 33:58 – Balancing screen time, video games, and movement 42:15 – Rapid fire questions with Alex 43:30 – Where to find Alex and Sensory Digest

Katia Conte on Loss, Resilience, and Helping Families Survive Childhood Cancer

This episode is one of the most personal conversations on the podcast, as host Luba Patlakh opens up about losing her own mom to cancer and how that loss shaped her view of advocacy and leadership. Luba sits down with Katia Conte, founder of the Daniela Conte Foundation, who shares the story of her daughter Daniela's four year battle with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer. Katia walks through the moment everything changed, the years of treatment, relapse, and resilience, and the heartbreaking decision to keep fighting even when answers ran out. The conversation covers what real support looks like for a family in crisis, how the Daniela Conte Foundation helps cover rent, bills, and medical costs for families in active treatment, and how Katia turned unimaginable grief into a mission that has already helped hundreds of families. For anyone who has wondered what genuine support looks like for a family facing a child's serious illness, or who is looking for a way to help, this conversation will stay with them. Learn more about the Daniela Conte Foundation here: https://www.danielacontefoundation.org [https://www.danielacontefoundation.org] Connect with Luba on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lubapatlakh/ [https://www.instagram.com/lubapatlakh/] Get a copy of Bobo Wears a Bowtie: bobowearsabowtie.com [http://bobowearsabowtie.com] Luba's website: lubapatlakh.com [http://lubapatlakh.com] The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com [http://theconfidentiepparent.com] Join the Parental Pathway: https://www.skool.com/the-parent-pathway/ [https://www.skool.com/the-parent-pathway/] 00:00 - Introduction to the episode and why this conversation is personal for Luba 01:55 - The day everything changed, pumpkin picking and the first signs something was wrong 04:00 - Rushing to the hospital and the diagnosis no parent is prepared for 07:44 - What it feels like to hear the words "your child has cancer" 10:52 - Starting chemo immediately and the realities of treatment 17:21 - The cancer relapses and the family faces a harder road 20:56 - Daniela's final battle and the days leading up to her passing 22:33 - How grief became the spark for the Daniela Conte Foundation 30:36 - How the foundation supports families financially and emotionally during treatment 44:18 - Advice for anyone who feels called to start something meaningful after loss

The Truth About Late Talkers and What Every Parent Needs to Know

Is your child a late talker, and are you wondering whether to wait it out or pay closer attention? In this solo episode, Luba breaks down the real truth about late talkers, the version you won't find on social media. She explains what a late talker actually is, why understanding language is not the same as being able to communicate, and how speech delays ripple out into behavior, confidence, learning, and relationships. You'll hear the surprising connection between language and executive functioning, the red flags worth watching for at 12, 18, 24, and 36 months, and how to tell the difference between a child who needs a small nudge and one who needs real support. Most importantly, Luba reminds you that trusting your instincts is enough. You don't have to earn the right to ask questions about your own child. Connect with Luba on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lubapatlakh/ [https://www.instagram.com/lubapatlakh/] Get a copy of Bobo Wears a Bowtie: bobowearsabowtie.com [http://bobowearsabowtie.com] Luba's website: lubapatlakh.com [http://lubapatlakh.com] The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com [http://theconfidentiepparent.com] Join the Parental Pathway: https://www.skool.com/the-parent-pathway/ [https://www.skool.com/the-parent-pathway/] 00:00 Welcome to The Growth Lab 01:13 The truth about late talkers, the real version 01:50 What a late talker actually is 02:24 The biggest myth, "as long as they understand, they're fine" 03:43 Why speech delays turn into behavior challenges 05:48 The hidden connection to executive functioning 07:41 What gets missed most, your child's confidence 11:13 Red flags to watch at 12, 18, 24, and 36 months 13:06 A true delay versus needing a little nudge 14:13 Why early support prevents problems, it doesn't create them

How to Raise Kids With a Healthy Relationship to Food With Lea Rifkin

Most of us were raised on "clean your plate," "that's a bad choice," and "you're so lucky you can eat that." Then we grow up and wonder why food feels so loaded. In this episode I sit down with Lea Rifkin, a non-diet registered dietitian and founder of Kindred Nutrition Co., to talk about how early food messaging shapes our kids, and how we can rewrite that story while we heal our own relationship with food. We get honest about the comments that slip out without us realizing it, why labeling food good or bad tends to backfire, and what it actually looks like to guide your child around food without controlling it. Lea shares the difference between always foods and sometimes foods, why sitting down together matters more than any perfect plate, and the signs that it's time to reach out for support instead of waiting it out. If you have a picky eater, a snack grabber, or a little one already picking up messages about their body, this conversation will help you feel steadier at your own table. Want to work with Lea? Check her out here: https://kindrednutritionco.com [https://kindrednutritionco.com] Connect with Luba on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lubapatlakh/ [https://www.instagram.com/lubapatlakh/] Pre-order Bobo Wears a Bowtie: bobowearsabowtie.com [http://bobowearsabowtie.com] Luba's website: lubapatlakh.com [http://lubapatlakh.com] The Confident IEP Parent ebook: theconfidentiepparent.com [http://theconfidentiepparent.com] 00:00 Welcome and meeting Lea Rifkin 02:52 Why our food stories start in childhood 06:09 What non-diet really means 13:09 How the words we use shape the way kids eat 18:14 The phrases parents don't realize are harmful 27:50 Bodies are like trees, and guidance versus control 37:41 Family meals and modeling around the table 42:36 When to seek help and why not to wait