The Sleep Sense Show

I've been a mother for a little over 18 years now, and although I wouldn't trade those years for anything, there's no question that raising kids has been a challenge. In fact, in those 18 years, I've never spoken to a single mother who hasn't felt completely overwhelmed at one point or another. My guest today has a unique perspective on chronic overwhelm. She was already raising three boys when she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Her story is a real inspiration and her message is one that all mothers can benefit from in this time of near-constant uncertainty.  She also has an amazing podcast, called Mom is In Control [http://heatherchauvin.com/podcast], "about pursuing the life you crave without sacrificing the parent you want to be." Check it out once you've finished this one!

It's no secret that new mothers can go through some pretty brutal emotional ups and downs after giving birth. But that doesn't necessarily make it easier to talk about, or get rid of the stigma that some of us feel when we experience postpartum depression. My guest today, Courtney Allison, is a wife, mother to two little girls, and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, as well as the creator of The Girl Without a Mom, and her YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiTahe1x_Q4LGZrm1XugXwg/featured] is full of videos to help moms learn everything they need to know about mental health, coping skills and self care. Whether you're a new mom or a parent of any stripe, I can't recommend her content highly enough! Check her out on today's episode of The Sleep Sense Show!

These last couple of months have been trying ones for most people I know, but nobody more so than parents. The sudden demand for us to step into every role for our children, from parent to teacher to playmate and beyond, has proven to be a tall order, to say the least! That's a big reason why I'm so happy to bring you this week's episode, featuring an interview with Alyssa Westring, one of the authors of "Parents Who Lead - The Leadership Approach You Need to Parent with Purpose, Fuel Your Career, and Create a Richer Life" Alyssa has taken the principles of leadership and applied them to the realm of parenting, and I've got to say, this conversation was one "A-ha!" moment after another. Check it out, then check out her book [https://www.amazon.com/Parents-Who-Lead-Leadership-Approach/dp/1633696502/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0]! It's one of the most engaging reads I've experienced in a while.

I've always been a very family-oriented woman. I know I'm hardly alone in this position, but my husband and kids are the center of my universe. And since I started my business 16 years ago, I've also been captivated with the experience of building something from the ground up and seeing the results that it brings, not just to me, but the families that The Sleep Sense Program helps.  I find the "mompreneur" life extremely rewarding and I just love hearing the similar, but unique, stories of other moms who have come up with a solution to a common parenting problem and created a business around it.  That's why I'm so excited to be talking today to Katy Mallory and Lou Childs, the creators of the SlumberPod. They're a mother-daughter team who have come up with an amazing product that can help your baby sleep almost anywhere, anytime!  Their story is a truly inspiring example of what can be accomplished with a couple of creative minds, a drive to succeed, and a focus on family. Check it out!

The last month or two have seen some unprecedented changes in our daily lives, due in large part to the stay-at-home directive imposed on a huge percentage of the world's population. And while we all wish we had more time to spend with our kids, spending all day, every day with them stuck in the house presents a lot of new challenges that can leave us feeling overwhelmed at times. So today I have a few tips to help you navigate these uncharted waters, keep your little ones' schedule on track, and make the most of this time together with our families, even if it is a little more than we might have planned on.