If you're a mom, most likely you are juggling caring for your child or children, your home, perhaps a spouse and as if this isn’t enough you may also be holding down a job outside of this work. And this is the short list! One question: where in this list is there time for taking care of yourself? Mamas, can you relate? What if I told you you can have it all including the time it takes to put yourself first on this list, allowing for more ease, peace, and joy in all the other areas? Now do I have your attention?  

We kick this season off with, Sara Norris, certified Simplicity Parenting Coach and mother of two as she shares her research into Attachment Theory. Her work centers on how to ease anxiety through healthy attachment.

The moment a new baby enters your life, no matter the circumstances, everything changes and there is a lot that goes into adjusting. This can look different for each of us, but the one thing that is always the same is the need for support.

Join us as Meagan Wilson, parent educator and author of the now-retired seasonal series of Whole Family Rhythms Guide, talks to us about how building supportive home rhythms helps your child feel secure and move more easily through the day.

After years of counseling clients in a variety of areas, it was only when she had her first son that she really started to develop a keen interest in childhood nutrition and recognized the need for innovative and millennial friendly content. With her partner, Jessica, the aim of Happy Healthy Eaters  is to ensure parents feel confident feeding their children and to experience joy in the feeding relationship.

Debbie uniquely interweaves information from mainstream research with the principles of Waldorf Early Childhood Education to create a unique tapestry to support child well-being. She embraces an approach based on anti-bias education and respectful childcare practices grounded in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Ashley is a certified cooperative childbirth educator, birth and postpartum doula, and lactation counselor. She is the founder of Birthsmarter, which provides relevant and inclusive education for expectant parents living in NYC and virtually, across the world. With over a decade of experience supporting new parents, Ashley provides one-on-one support, group classes, lectures, and distance learning for the perinatal population and the professionals who serve them.

Listen as Hannah and Kelty share their experience and wisdom around navigating the changes that take place in the family when a new baby comes. They will share tips and tricks around how to prepare ahead of time… both emotionally and in the home environment. They also share insights on what to expect and how to address what can come up once the baby is home and older children undergo the process of adjusting to life with a new sibling.

Listen as Susan Weber and Nancy Macalaster share the history of the parent support work they began over 20 years ago at Sophia’s Hearth Family Center in Keene, NH. Listen as they share about the inspiration and motivation behind reviving and revitalizing this work into an online community for all those who share their lives with young children, aged pre-birth to three.

Sleep Specialist, Margit Foster talks about the importance of sleep, not just for the infant and young child, but for the parent as well. Margit is passionate about supporting children to healthier sleep habits, and families to happier, simpler and more deeply connected home lives.

In this episode, Lauren Hakala shares with us what she refers to as the 5 Golden Keys to Finding Quality Childcare.. Lauren is a long time educator for the young child who has had the opportunity to do this work in many different settings and brings her many years of Childcare experience.

You’ve chosen the right child care setting for your child and your family… now what? Lauren Hakala returns to share with the listener tips and tools for supporting children and parents alike as they make the transition to being in childcare.

Pediatric physical therapist and core faculty member of the teacher education program at Sophia’s Hearth, Jane Swain share the benefits of free motor exploration for the growing child. Self-Directed movement not only helps the child better get to know their body, it also helps their developing brains.

During this episode Michelle speaks about the importance of respectful Caregiving. How we speak to, touch, and interact with the child can do so much to help form a healthy, bonded relationship between the child and the caregiver. Respectful caregiving is meant to encourage the child’s participation and to empower the child to eventually take an active role in their self and boldly care.

Young children struggle as they learn to navigate this complicated world. Listen as Katherine Scharff, experienced Waldorf Early Childhood Educator and director for the teacher training program at Sophia’s Hearth, discuss how we can facilitate the healthy social development of the young child.

Hear where Joyful Beginnings is headed from Executive Director, Karen Lamoureux and Program Director, Laura Beatty.

Working as a partner in parenting, the Joyful Beginnings online community offers encouragement and support through the challenges, while also helping parents and caregivers gain confidence in their abilities, bond deeply with their children, and find the moments of joy.