Mommyhood Unscripted

The Sandwich Generation and Forecasting Long-Term Care Needs

How often do you put your needs on the backburner? It’s easy to do, since so many people depend on you. But what if we told you it’s actually imperative that you put yourself first? Well, get ready…because this is a conversation every mom needs to hear! It’s all about healthy habits you can instill in your life and put into action so you can THRIVE! Nationally certified health and wellness coach and registered nurse, Kristen Reed of “Nursing Your Way to Wellness” is back on “Mommyhood Unscripted” with 5 simple tips to get you ahead of the formidable “mom burnout” we’ve experienced at one time or another. 

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SHOW NOTES:

Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Kristen Reed, RN, BSN, BA, HN-BC

https://www.nursingyourwaytowellness.com/

Instagram: @nursingyourwaytowellness

**If there's a specific topic you'd like to hear about, or you'd like to be featured on "Mommyhood Unscripted ", contact Nicole Nalepa at: Nicole.Nalepa@wfsb.com or on social media: @NicoleNalepaTV

Alcohol. It's one of the most addictive drugs in America, and it's also the most socially acceptable one. How many times have you seen products or memes on social media promoting drinking "...because motherhood is hard"..."Mommy needs wine"....or "I wine because my kids whine". Everyone's relationship with alcohol is different -- but for those who really struggle with it, it can be a matter of life or death. 

Celeste Yvonne is the author of the book, "It's Not About The Wine: The Loaded Truth Behind Mommy Wine Culture" -- which explores why mothers are drinking more than ever, and how to break free; and this all comes from experience. Celeste's children were 1 and 3 years-old when she quit drinking. She described herself as a "gray area drinker" -- some days she could moderate her alcohol intake, but on a random day she didn't have the ability to turn the drinking off. 

This eye-opening conversation is one for the books, whether you're looking to evaluate your relationship to alcohol and motherhood or not. Celeste not only talks candidly about her sobriety and mental health, but she offers up some great advice on how moms everywhere can lighten their mental load in safe and effective way.

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Celeste Yvonne 

Instagram: @theultimatemomchallenge

Website: https://www.celesteyvonne.com/

**If there's a specific topic you'd like to hear about, or you'd like to be featured on "Mommyhood Unscripted ", contact Nicole Nalepa at: Nicole.Nalepa@wfsb.com or on social media: @NicoleNalepaTV

Video games were created as a form of entertainment. But for many parents, the concerns over their children's safety--when playing multi-player games online (and too much screen time) seems to be top of mind. So how can we ensure that our kids are picking the right games? And is there a way we can monitor things? Nicole chats with Aubrey Quinn, the Senior Vice President of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). She has all the answers to our questions — including everything we need to know about parental controls on these gaming devices — so you can make more of an informed decision for your family. Consider this your personal guide to video game safety!

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Aubrey Quinn

Website: www.ESRB.org

Mommyhood Unscripted is starting off a new season and a new year with some motivating words and stories from Peloton coach and fellow mama, Selena Samuela. 

In this episode, Nicole and Selena KEEP IT REAL talking about the highs and lows of motherhood, their postpartum bodies, and the struggle moms experience when it comes to actually getting our bodies moving! If it's one thing moms feel they don't have enough of, it's time. But Selena has some inspiring tips to help us all maximize the minutes for the sake of your health!

Happy listening...and remember mama, you're doing great!

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Selena Samuela

Instagram: @selenasamuela

Consider this your crash course on how to approach the holiday chaos with your children -- both young and old. What can you do to set your family up for success? What things will you be doing that may result in a difficult day of parenting? This season is a time of joy, a time of being cranky and overtired, but it's a time of being together. National parenting expert, Danielle Lindner joins Nicole back on the show for some great tips including: some fun ideas that won't break the bank -- or send you into a panic because you've overpacked your schedule! Also, Danielle shares some great tools on how to prepare your kids for their routine once the holiday break is over! 

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Danielle Lindner

Instagram: @danielle.lindner

Website: https://daniellelindner.com/

The holidays are a time of joy, yet they can also be a time of stress -- especially if you have a picky eater on your hands. The holidays are also notorious for throwing routines off -- which is something our kids thrive on. So if you're already fretting over how the special holiday meal at grandma's is going to go, or how you're going to deal with the relatives saying something about your child or doing something with your child involving food, then this episode is for you! 

With over 2 MILLION followers on her Instagram account, "Kids Eat in Color", Jennifer Anderson has been helping families feed their children from their first bite of solid food, through picky eating and nutritional needs. This pediatric dietician founded her public health company out of the frustration over her own child's picky eating habits; and it has now grown to an authoritative resource with a full team of experts who are committed to providing the support and guidance that parents need to help their kids eat better and thrive at mealtime! 

Nicole and Jennifer go over unrealistic expectations we setup for our children around the table, the 5 strategies to help picky eaters when visiting family, and the negative effects "diet talk" can have on our children. So if you're looking for some permission to let your picky eater be picky during the holidays -- so you can focus on other things -- you're about to get that. (You're welcome!)

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Jennifer Anderson, MSPH, RDN

Instagram: @kids.eat.in.color

Website: https://kidseatincolor.com/

The holiday season is full of fun activities and family time, but it can also be super overwhelming -- especially if you're a parent with ADHD. Not only are you shouldering the weight of the holidays for your children--but you're trying to keep track of and plan out the decorating, the lists, the shopping, the cooking, the gatherings; and then there's the overstimulation brought on my the chaos of this time of year and the sugar! Our brains are consumed with every little detail, yet the thought of executing anything can feel daunting. So how can we better position ourselves to embrace the holiday chaos head-on, without feeling like we've been setup to fail?

Dr. Anna Burns returns to the show to talk to Nicole about specific strategies and tools to get us through. She's an Executive Functioning Coach for Women with ADHD who is committed to helping fellow ADHD women--like herself--create a life that actually supports the ADHD brain. By understanding and tackling the root cause of the struggles neurodivergent parents face, Dr. Burns believes you'll be able to show up in life with more energy, less overwhelm, and more self-compassion. This episode is a gift that will keep on giving...

#1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, Jan Brett has brought to life lovable characters and imaginary backdrops for children for more than 40 years. With over 40 books--and over 44 million books print--her work continues to add to so many childhoods around the world. Jan also just came out with a new book: "Alice in a Winter Wonderland", which is a striking rendition of the classic story of "Alice in Wonderland". 

Nicole had a chance to catch up with the author and illustrator before her special bus tour, in which she'll be visiting 23 cities across the country in just 17 days! This conversation holds a little insight into Jan's thought process when she plans out her next book, what it's like taking a classic story and putting her own unique spin on it, the magic of reading, and what inspires Jan Brett to continue to produce more work for future generations! Happy listening...and happy reading! 

This episode features a real, raw conversation between two moms regarding careers and the struggles and sacrifices women make to become a mom. Dorothy Cascerceri Simone knows about this all too well as she learned to navigate some highs and lows -- both professionally and personally. She worked for the magazines: People, In-Touch Weekly, and Life & Style and appeared on various national T.V. segments, among a slew of other things; but Dorothy ended up trading her red-carpet events for staying-at-home with her son. Then the road to having her daughter was unfortunately paved with hardship: rounds of IVF, pregnancy loss, PTSD, and anxiety. Dorothy not only came out stronger on the other side, but she is living proof that our journey through life is unique; and in the end, you will ALWAYS know what is best for YOU!

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Dorothy Cascerceri Simone

Instagram: @DorothyonTV

Website: https://dorothyontv.com/

Do you remember the chores your parents assigned to you, once upon a time? Is this something you plan to implement in your household, or are you struggling with where to start? In this episode, we're exploring how we--as parents and caregivers--can connect our children to tasks at home that will be meaningful and rewarding to them (in other words, how to make sure they'll get done)! 

Nicole consults with parenting expert, Lori Sugarman-Li about this topic. She explains why dishing out chores are beneficial for our children's development and their future. Lori is the author of the children's book, "Our Home: The Love Work and Heart of Family". She has dedicated her work to fostering meaningful conversations families and encouraging them to contemplate -- not only how they care for one another -- but how they care for their shared space. Wait until you hear some of the ideas Lori offers up that you can incorporate at your home with your kiddos. Talk about an empowering conversation for all! 

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Lori Sugarman-Li

Instagram: @ourhomeourpride

Website: https://ourhomeourpride.com/

Once you become a parent, it can be extra hard trying to find that time to organize and declutter your home; think of it: you're now dealing with the stuff your children are accumulating! Whether you're a new parent, or even a grandparent, chances are you have more contents in your home than you know what to do with. That's why we are taking our disarray--from the junk drawer to the attic-- straight to organizational expert, Chelsea Wade. She is the owner/founder of "A Good Home" which is a full-service home organization and interior design studio based in Lyme, CT. Through her techniques and her careful steps, Chelsea can organize every space in the home -- from kitchens to closets, to attics and basements; and she is very graciously letting us in on her method to achieving beautifully balanced spaces that are functional for you and your family. This is definitely an episode you're going to want to bookmark and keep coming back to, as you accept the challenge to find order and organization in your home! (But here's a here's a pro-tip: start small.)

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Chelsea Wade

Instagram: @agoodhome

Website: https://www.agoodhomect.com

Loss is something we all will experience in life. However, it is not always something we can predict. So how do we help guide our children through this human experience in a safe and effective way? Best-selling children's author Kellie Kaminskas set out to help families around the world work through this quandary. When she was pregnant with her son, she lost her mother to a long, courageous battle of cancer. But another tragedy would rock this new mom's world 14 months later: the sudden death of her son's father. Kellie--who always had a passion for writing--was motivated to help her son and other children navigate grief. That is how the award-winning children's book, "Here With You" was born. Kellie's book is an amazing resource for any families who may be going through a difficult time and are looking to begin the healing process. 

This conversation between Nicole and Kellie chronicles the emotions tied to losing a loved one, the stages of grief, the support that's always there for you, and the strength that lies within us all. 

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Kellie Kaminskas

Instagram: @kellie.kaminskas

Website: https://www.kelliekaminskas.com/

Maternal health refers to the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period. Even though important progress has been made in the last two decades in this area, we still have a lot of work to do. The World Health Organization says about 287,000 women died during and following pregnancy and childbirth in 2020.

To help us understand the things that need to be done in order to bring these numbers down, Nicole sought out Daileann Hemmings. She is a doctoral prepared perinatal nurse with a focus in the Community/Public Health sector, with over 20 years of nursing experience specializing in perinatal health at some of the country's top hospitals, such as Yale New Haven Hospital and Johns Hopkins. Right now, Daileann serves as the Program Director of Maternal Health Equity at Hartford Hospital in which she works to address health disparities that impact mortality & morbidity.

Nicole and Daileann share in a very candid and open conversation about how we can better support mothers (especially those of color), some of the inequities that individuals of color experience, the initiatives she has helped implement to address the issues, and the preventability of maternal deaths. You will walk away from this episode with not only more knowledge on this topic, but a greater understanding of what you can do to help other support other moms experiencing such inequality when it comes to their maternal health.

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Daileann Hemmings, DNP, RN, CLC, CCM

As virus season kicks into high-gear--between colds, the flu, and Covid-19--there's another virus affecting our most-vulnerable populations that you may not think about--and that is RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). In fact, this particular virus sidelined renowned actress and executive producer, Jennifer Beals. After her experience with RSV, she became a spokesperson for GSK this October -- which is RSV Awareness Month. Beals -- known for her iconic role in the film "Flashdance" and the T.V. series, "The L Word" -- shares her story with Nicole. Also joining this conversation is Dr. Leonard Friedland, the Vice President and Director of Scientific Affairs and Public Health for GSK in North America. He details what preventative measures are available, and what we need to be on the look out for to keep our families and loved ones safe. It's a quick listen packed with a lot of great health information! 

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guests: Jennifer Beals & Dr. Leonard Friedland

Instagram: @thejenniferbeals

Website: www.sidelineRSV.com 

Have you heard someone tell a new mother to 'not hold her baby too much' or to 'time out the baby's feeding sessions', or to let the baby 'cry itself to sleep'? Turns out, there's scientific evidence that has found "spoiling" your baby with affection, attention, and protection actually grows their brain development and transforms their mental health for life! Nicole has a very informative and eye-opening conversation with Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum who is a Neuroscientist, Family Sleep Specialist, Doula and Author. Her book, "The Nurture Revolution" guides parents on how to set their children up for success starting in infancy. Dr. Kirshenbaum challenges the idea on how we cultivate independence in our children, explains how past generations can affect your nervous system, and discusses just how *much nurturing our children need to succeed. Thanks to her steadfast research and experience, she is helping "speak for the babies" -- and moms all over the world are ready to listen.

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Dr. Greer Kirshenbaum

Instagram: @drgreerkirshenbaum

Website: https://www.nurture-neuroscience.com/about-me

This is a first-of-its-kind interview for "Mommyhood Unscripted" and an exciting one at that! "Maggie" the Musical just made its U.S. debut at The Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut -- where it will run through 10/20/24. Here's Playbill's synopsis: "A Scottish mother’s unbreakable love for her three sons is tested in an inspirational new musical about family bonds and changing times. After suffering the unthinkable loss of her husband, Maggie must rely on her strength, sense of humor and fiercely loyal friends to protect her family from a harsh world. Spanning over 20 years, a hardscrabble working class life blossoms with a soul-stirring pop-folk score. A generation of courageous mothers is celebrated in this rousing American premiere!" 

The story line is steeped in a mother's journey through raising children, the unbreakable bond with her kids, and how important it is for women to find their tribe. It's based on the true story of Scottish-born singer-songwriter, Johnny Reid's grandmother. Nicole caught up with Johnny and Matt Murray who both created "Maggie" in this episode. The inspiration behind what drove these two men to bring Johnny's grandmother to life is not only moving, but it stirs up a lot of familial emotions when we consider the matriarchs that came and went before us. Nicole, Johnny and Matt discuss the ways we can honor the women in our lives, and the common themes that bind mothers and children of all generations together. 

Don't miss this conversation, and keep your eyes peeled because "Maggie" is surely Broadway-bound, according to Nicole!

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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guests: Johnny Reid and Matt Murray

Instagram: @johnnyreidofficial & @mattmurray123 

Website: https://maggiethemusical.com/

There's no question about it: our youth are experiencing a mental health crisis. A February 2024 study by the nonprofit, "Kaiser Family Foundation", found that 1 in 5 adolescents reported symptoms of depression and anxiety. In 2023, researchers at Harvard found that 40% of teens said that they wanted their parents to reach out more and ask how they're really doing. But so many parents and caregivers struggle with how to go about doing that! That's why Nicole is talking with mental health expert, Dr. Charmain F. Jackman. She is a licensed psychologist, author, and TedX speaker, and a regular contributor to the PBS "Teachers' Lounge" column. In this episode you'll learn how to: help our kids identify and articulate how they're feeling, how to approach hard conversations with your child (of all ages), learn about the concerning signs to be on the lookout that'd indicate that your child is struggling in the mental health realm, and much more! 
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SHOW NOTES:


Host: Nicole Nalepa | @NicoleNalepaTV

Guest: Dr. Charmain F. Jackman

Instagram: @askdrcharmain

Website: https://www.drcharmainjackman.com/