A Little Easier

More parents than ever are burning out, and more kids are struggling too. After host Kendra Wilde burned out herself, she sought stories of resilience from other parents and science from experts in neuroscience and mindfulness on how to make things a little easier. Here they are.   Episodes drop November 1. Visit ALittleEasier.org for more.

Nobody can do this alone. Welcome to Episode 1 of this 12-part series created to bolster parents and caregivers. Whether it’s anxiety, ADHD, autism, or allergies, if your child struggles, so will you. We need more help. Navigating life as a family can be overwhelming, and the complex medical maze and school systems make it even harder.   This episode we’ll grab your elbow and ask – how are you holding up? Kendra talks to Dr Nicole Beurkens about why diagnostic labels sometimes aren’t helpful, and we’ll meet Devon, a single mom stretched to the brink trying to support her son.  Your Micro Action Moment this week Click here to listen to Lara Wilson, mom and founder of Be Well Here, share a most simple mindfulness practice to help you ground yourself.   For more, visit alittleeasier.org Resources Mentioned in this Episode Not What I Expected: Help and Hope for Parents of Atypical Children by Rita Eichenstein, PhD Life Will Get Better: Simple Solutions for Parents of Children with Attention, Anxiety, Mood, and Behavior Challenges by Nicole Buerkens, PhD No Letting Go – A dramatic, independent feature film based on the real-life story of producer and co-writer Randi Silverman and her family. The Youth Mental Health Project – A grassroots nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate, empower, and support families and communities to better understand and care for the mental health of our youth

Episode 2: Secret Feelings: Opening ourselves to the tough emotions of parenthood We can harness our feelings to transform our lives. Welcome to Episode 2 of this 12-part series created to bolster parents and caregivers. As parents, we all have feelings we don’t like to admit to ourselves – let alone share. In this episode, we’re bringing those feelings into the daylight and figuring out what to do with them. Disappointment, annoyance, guilt, exhaustion… sometimes you just want to run away. Yale University expert Dr. Marc Brackett shows us how to become “emotion scientists,” and give ourselves permission to feel. Author and therapist Merriam Saunders shares the feelings she had to process as she learned about her kids’ anxiety, ADHD, autism and learning differences; and mom Jackie opens up about her childrens’ struggles with mental health and how she held it together. Your Micro Action Moment this week Click here to listen to learn about a breathing exercise originally from ‘the father of mindfulness,' Thich Nhat Hanh.    For more, visit alittleeasier.org Resources Mentioned in this Episode  Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett, PhD Not What I Expected: Help and Hope for Parents of Atypical Children by Rita Eichenstein, PhD Mindfulness Meditations for ADHD by Merriam Sarcia Saunders My Whirling Twirling Motor by Merriam Sarcia Saunders Get our emails For more mindful parenting tips and episode alerts! Sign up here

Episode 3: Burnout: Tips for solving the stress cycle Wellness is within reach. Welcome to Episode 3 of this 12-part series created to bolster parents and caregivers. If you're stuck in a loop of relentless and overwhelming stress, you might be on the road to burnout. Kendra shares what happened when she burned out, and author Amelia Nagoski joins us for a spin around the stress cycle. She’ll explain all the ways you can get rid of those toxic stress hormones to support your wellbeing – some of them are actually fun! Hear how Joanna found creative expression as a painter to reduce her stress, and why Lisdaly relied on having a good cry. For more, visit alittleeasier.org Resources Mentioned in this Episode Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski & Amelia Nagoski Parenting Through the Storm by Ann Douglas Parental Burnout self-assessment test  Get our emails For more mindful parenting tips and episode alerts! Sign up here

Episode 4: The Nerve: How your nervous system works and why that matters Behaviors are just the tip of the iceberg. Welcome to Episode 4 of this 12-part series created to bolster parents and caregivers. Sometimes it’s tough to understand why we (and our kids) behave and react the way we do. It all becomes a little clearer when you know more about how your brain and body interact. We’ll step into Dr. Chris Willard’s kitchen to get a masterclass in co-regulation, and Dr. Mona Delahooke will explain ‘brain-body parenting’. Mom Michelle gives us a peek into how she copes with an outburst from her son. For more, visit alittleeasier.org Resources Mentioned in this Episode Brain Body Parenting by Dr. Mona Delahooke Brain First Parenting course with Eileen Devine Get our emails For more mindful parenting tips and episode alerts! Sign up here

Happy Thanksgiving! We're taking this week off to do a little resting, digesting, and catching up on the first 4 episodes (since they're all connected). But we still have some guidance for getting through a hectic week in this episode. We'd like to send you all some thanks too! Thank you for listening, sending your feedback, and sharing! The show seems to be striking a deep chord with parents & caregivers. So many parents struggle, it's just not discussed enough. If you enjoy A Little Easier, please share it with your friends. We're trying to lift as many parents, caregivers, and people who care for parents and kids.⁠ We’re an independent podcast so we need your support getting the word out. The more parents and caregivers we can reach, the better! ⁠ ⁠ Thank you and see you next week!

Episode 6: Making Space: Why self-care isn’t a dirty word Hint: It’s not about doing more. Welcome to Episode 6 of this 12-part series created to bolster parents and caregivers. We hear all the time that we have to put on our own oxygen mask first… but we’re really bad at taking that advice! When burnout isn't an option, you need to find ways to care for yourself in the midst of the swirl. Incorporating life-giving options for self-care into your day will help you show up for your kids. We’ll take a deep dive into mindfulness and learn the technique of ‘stapling’ from Caroline Welch. We’ll also poll some of our parents on their favorite self-care moments—it can be as simple as a glass of sweet tea!   For more, visit alittleeasier.org Resources Mentioned in this Episode The Gift of Presence by Caroline Welch Raising Resilience by Christopher Willard, PsyD Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett Get our emails For more mindful parenting tips and episode alerts! Sign up here

Episode 7: Good Enough: How to accept your perfectly imperfect parenting You are not failing, it’s just that hard. Welcome to Episode 7 of this 12-part series created to bolster parents and caregivers. Are you the worst parent in the world? Of course not! But sometimes it’s hard to ignore your inner critic and outside pressures to realize actually, you’re doing ok. We’re here to remind you why you’re not a failure. Mindfulness expert and psychologist Dr. Susan Pollak joins us to talk about the power of self-compassion, and mom Amy tells us how she managed to let go of other people’s judgment. For more, visit alittleeasier.org Resources Mentioned in this Episode Self Compassion for Parents by Dr. Susan Pollak Get our emails For more mindful parenting tips and episode alerts! Sign up here

'Tis the season! We all know the holidays can pivot from merry and bright to muddled and messy when your child loses their temper, or has a panic attack, or struggles somehow. The troubles can quickly spread to you, then your partner or whoever else happens to be around.    Let’s get ahead of end-of-year stress with some support. A Little Easier is taking some time off our regularly scheduled programming to share support when you need it: now! In this episode, Kendra Wilde shares five simple self-management tips to find your center when you need it most.   We’ll be back in the New Year with new episodes! For now, we hope you find moments to rest and be gentle with yourself. If you’ve loved the podcast, please share and tell your friends to start at Episode 1. This podcast is meant to be listened to in order, the episodes build on each other to make your life A Little Easier.   Wishing you peace and joy this holiday season! Thank you for all your support in 2022 and we’re looking forward to building resilience with you in 2023!

Episode 8: Be a Penguin: Mantu Joshi and the Resilient Parent Resilience is not just about bouncing back. Welcome to Episode 8 of this 12-part series created to bolster parents and caregivers. Join pastor, author, and dad Rev. Mantu Joshi and hear how he learned to find his best self while raising kids with exceptional challenges. Joshi explains what penguins have to teach us about resilience, and how to navigate the traffic circle of parenting, especially when kids are neurodivergent or highly sensitive. Plus we’ll explore the “parent mindset” and how it can shift our own experience, with Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart.   For more, visit alittleeasier.org Resources Mentioned in this Episode The Resilient Parent by Mantu Joshi Get our emails For more mindful parenting tips and episode alerts! Sign up here

Episode 9: Family Matters: What siblings and partners want us to know What others in the family wish we knew. Welcome to Episode 9 of this 12-part series created to bolster parents and caregivers. Kids with challenges often come with siblings, and those brothers and sisters need some TLC too. Not to mention your marriage or parenting partnership. We’ll give advice for nourishing family relationships as you all navigate difficult terrain. Mom Jeniece shares how she makes time for all of her children, and Emily Holl explains how her identity as a sibling led her to a career.   For more, visit alittleeasier.org Resources Mentioned in this Episode Sibling Support Project / SibShops by Emily Holl Special Needs Siblings by Jeniece Dortch Get our emails For more mindful parenting tips and episode alerts! Sign up here

Episode 10: The Village: Creating a community of support for ourselves You’re really not alone. Welcome to Episode 10 of this 12-part series created to bolster parents and caregivers. If it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes a village to support that child’s parents – but who has a village any more? Explore some ways to connect with other parents who really get it. We have a laugh with the refreshingly frank Shut Up Sisters who offer advice on how to deal with people who say or do insensitive things, follow Erin on her journey to build her own support network, and talk about the joys and perils of social media.   For more, visit alittleeasier.org Resources Mentioned in this Episode Shut Up About Your Perfect Kid! Get our emails For more mindful parenting tips and episode alerts! Sign up here

Episode 11: Find Your Voice: Advocating for your kids Speaking up can make all the difference. Welcome to Episode 11 of this 12-part series created to bolster parents and caregivers. Navigating the medical maze or the special education system often means speaking out. To become an effective advocate for your kids and yourself, you have to master the elevator pitch; setting aside visceral emotions and building a powerful case for what you need. Hear from parents who’ve found meaning and purpose in advocacy, and one who even made a movie about her life!   For more, visit alittleeasier.org Resources Mentioned in this Episode No Letting Go  Get our emails For more mindful parenting tips and episode alerts! Sign up here

Episode 12: Grow Forward: Transforming stress and trauma into resilience How challenges can shape us for good. Welcome to Episode 12 of this 12-part series created to bolster parents and caregivers. What kind of future can we imagine when it’s all we can do to get through today? Psychologist Dr. Chris Willard tells us about the phenomenon of post-traumatic growth, and we’ll catch up with some of the parents we’ve visited throughout this season, to find out how they’re doing now. It’s inspiring to see the ways we can all grow through what we go through.   For more, visit alittleeasier.org Resources Mentioned in this Episode From Denial to Hope: My Son’s ADHD Diagnosis Journey by Devon Pickens  How We Grow Through What We Go Through by Dr Christopher Willard Get our emails  For more mindful parenting tips and episode alerts! Sign up here

Episode 5: Emotional Wifi: How feelings and family wellbeing are connected “A dysregulated adult can never regulate a dysregulated child.” - Dr. Bruce Perry Welcome to Episode 5 of this 12-part series created to bolster parents and caregivers. World-renowned trauma expert Dr. Bruce Perry joins us to explain how our emotions flow within families. When we understand how we’re connected by these invisible bonds, we can start to help each other regulate and feel just a bit better. We meet single dad Lovey, who’s been taking classes on emotional regulation as he raises his son. Lara Wilson explains how we can all be aware of small moments of emotional connection within our families every day. For more, visit alittleeasier.org Resources Mentioned in this Episode What Happened To You? by Dr. Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey Brain First Parenting course with Eileen Devine Get our emails For more mindful parenting tips and episode alerts! Sign up here