Happy holidays from Middle School Mary Poppins! In this heart-centered episode, Suzanne M. Swain, EdS, LMSW—your friendly neighborhood kid therapist—dives into a powerful holiday homophone: presents vs. presence. One is wrapped. The other is felt.

Suzanne explores why time, attention, and shared experiences often mean more to kids than expensive gifts—and how families can use the holiday season to build gratitude, empathy, and real connection. From low-cost, high-impact traditions (like handmade gifts, wishing stars, love-heart ornaments, and family service projects) to practical ways kids can give back, learn life skills, and feel genuinely valued, this episode is packed with meaningful ideas you can actually use.

You’ll also hear personal updates, including a shout-out from Lieutenant Steve and Suzanne’s very real (and very cool) journey into cyborg territory with a robot-assisted, 3D-printed knee replacement—happening the day this episode drops.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by holiday pressure, this episode is your reminder that kids want presence over presents—and that the simplest moments often become the most lasting memories.

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Produced By: StellaMix Podcast Production

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Sharing a little bit of holiday cheer with you by creating a poem about life in middle school during the holiday season. Hope you enjoy it and happy holidays andMerry Christmas to you all.

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In this uplifting and insight-packed episode, Suzanne M. Swain—educational specialist, licensed master social worker, and longtime kid-therapist—dives into a concept she believes all children and adults desperately need: Ridiculous Joy.

Drawing wisdom from Harry Potter, Inside Out, Mary Poppins, and even a little Stranger Things, Suzanne breaks down how fear, anxiety, anger, and joy actually work inside our brains—and why embracing silliness can help kids (and the grown-ups who love them) lower anxiety, communicate better, and build long-term, joy-filled memories.

Suzanne explains how “ridiculous joy” transforms fear into laughter, turns hard lessons into growth moments, and helps families create emotional safety and connection. From bubble parties and glow-dance classrooms to cooking adventures, creative play, and tiny daily challenges for teachers, she offers real-world strategies anyone can use to bring more joy into their home or classroom.

Whether you're a parent, educator, or just someone trying to understand the young people in your life, this episode brings compassion, humor, neuroscience, and heart into one powerful message: Joy is essential—and sometimes it needs to be absolutely ridiculous.

Stay clever, little foxes, and get ready to bring a bright burst of ridiculous joy into your day.

Contact Suzanne Swain:
Email: suzanneswain@gmail.com
Facebook: Suzanne Swain
Produced By: StellaMix Podcast Production

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Hey y’all & happy Thanksgiving, everyone! As we all know, this can be a stressful time of year for some individuals who may be struggling. I wanted to take a moment today to give you a list of some conversation, starters and questions that you could bring up at the dinner table that would help to encourage conversations to get to know the kids and each a lot better.Hope you enjoy the episode and all the best for a blessed Thanksgiving.- Suz

FYI: If you are in need of mental health services, please immediately contact the following contacts below:

#988

SAMHSA Helpine:1800 662 HELP

Findsupport.gov

Show Website:

www.msmarypoppins.com

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In this thoughtful and essential episode of Middle School Mary Poppins, Suzanne M. Swain, EDS, LMSW—Education Master & Specialist as well as working school-based Child Therapist introduces a new concept she believes every family, teacher, and community needs right now: Elementary Empathy-Based Learning (EEBL).

Suzanne dives into why today’s youngest learners—especially those who experienced early childhood during the pandemic—need intentional support in developing empathy, emotional awareness, and social connection. Through relatable stories, pop-culture references like Inside Out, and decades of school counseling experience, she shares how empathy builds safety, strengthens families, and helps kids understand themselves and others.

She explains how EEBL & empathy shows up in body language, storytelling, imagination, and even anxiety—and offers simple ways adults can nurture it through conversations, routines, respect, and everyday social skills. Suzanne also explores how middle schoolers can channel big emotions through creativity and art, turning anxious energy into meaningful self-expression.

This episode is a must-listen for parents, teachers, counselors, and anyone working with kids today. You’ll gain practical tools, deeper insight into child development, and a renewed appreciation for how empathy creates confident, connected, and capable kids.

Tune in to learn how empathy grows, why it matters, and how you can bring more of it into your home, classroom, or community—one intentional moment at a time!

Check out our website for more content & playlists. Steve pics too! Pass Suzanne a note in her locker - would love to hear from you! http://www.msmarypoppins.com

Contact Suzanne M. Swain, EDS LMSW
Email: suzanneswain@gmail.com

Facebook: Suzanne Swain
Produced By: StellaMix Podcast Production

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In this episode, child therapist and master teacher Suzanne M. Swain, EDS LMSW, dives into a topic that makes many of us squirm—money management for neurodivergent kids. Whether your child has ADHD, autism, or another form of neurodiversity, Suzanne shares practical ways to help them build a healthy relationship with money, understand value, and learn how effort connects to reward. From creating chore charts and setting short- and long-term financial goals to exploring kid-friendly debit cards, Suzanne walks parents and educators through empowering strategies that teach independence, responsibility, and confidence around money. She also touches on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, emotional regulation, and why framing money as a tool—not a stressor—can change a child’s mindset for life.

Tune in to learn how neurodivergent brains view money differently, creative ways to make financial lessons fun and manageable, tools to help kids save, budget, and spend wisely, and how families can talk about money without anxiety. It’s time to make money make sense—for kids and adults alike. Listen now, and don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave us a 5-tar review. Let's help our little foxes thrive.

Contact Suzanne Swain:
Email: suzanneswain@gmail.com
Facebook: Suzanne Swain
Produced By: StellaMix Podcast Production

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In this heartfelt and necessary episode, Suzanne dives into the topic of masculinity and emotional safety, exploring how adolescent boys communicate, why they struggle to open up, and how we can help them feel seen and supported. With warmth and humor, she shares classroom stories, insights on nonverbal communication, and practical ways to nurture emotional intelligence in young men.

If you’ve ever wondered how to help the boys in your life express themselves and feel safe doing it, this episode offers a compassionate, eye-opening perspective.

Contact Suzanne Swain:
Email: suzanneswain@gmail.com
Facebook: Suzanne Swain
Produced By: StellaMix Podcast Production

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