In this episode, we discuss the significant impact of the Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision on individuals' mental health, particularly concerning perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Shana DeVlieger, a developmental psychologist, elaborates on how this landmark ruling, which overturned Roe v. Wade, has not only reshaped abortion laws but has also created a pervasive climate of uncertainty affecting caregivers across the United States. The conversation highlights the necessity of understanding perinatal mental health within a broader socio-political and ecological systems context. The episode underscores the importance of acknowledging systemic factors and advocates for structural changes to better support caregivers and their families, urging a shift in policy to address mental health as a public good.

To reach Shana please email her at: sed485@nyu.edu

In this episode we speak with author Sarah Gallucci about her book, "Laid: A Memoir of Love, Intimacy, and Marriage." Sarah opens up about her personal motherhood journey, revealing the stark contrast between societal expectations and her own struggles with anxiety, anger, and the overwhelming mental load of raising two young children. She discusses hitting rock bottom, seeking therapy, and the controversial decision to explore an open marriage as a means of self-preservation. This raw and honest conversation delves into the importance of trusting your intuition, the power of journaling, and the critical role of emotional regulation in navigating the complexities of modern motherhood.

To read more about Sarah and her work please visit her on instagram (@_sarah_gallucci_), TikTok (sarah gallucci) and view her recent Tedx Talk .

In this episode of Parenting Understood we are joined by Joan Nguyen, founder of Bumo, to discuss the evolving landscape of childcare. Joan highlights how the pandemic exposed critical childcare gaps, transitioning it from a personal issue to an economic one. She explains how Bumo addresses these challenges by offering an online platform for instantly bookable childcare, including unique options like summer camps and school holiday programs. She emphasizes Bumo's commitment to equitable access, providing affordable options alongside premium services. The conversation also covers technology's role in improving parent-provider communication and the future vision of Bumo as a global solution for flexible, accessible childcare.

In this episode, we are thrilled to be joined by Dr. Lauren Girouard-Hallam, an expert in children's development and technology, to discuss the impact of AI on children aged three to twelve. Lauren discusses her current research focusing on how children trust technology over human sources. Her studies reveal an "inverse U" pattern: young children are skeptical, trust peaks around seven to ten years, and declines as they grow older and become more discerning. The conversation highlights the importance of co-viewing technology with children and fostering open discussions about online interactions. Lauren advises parents to engage their children with curiosity and positivity, emphasizing the value of maintaining healthy digital habits and privacy awareness.

In this episode of "Parenty Understood," we welcome Dr. Jessica Zucker, a Los Angeles-based psychologist specializing in women's reproductive and maternal mental health. We discuss Dr. Zucker's forthcoming book, "Normalize It: Upending the Silence, Stigma, and Shame that Shape Women's Lives," which aims to challenge societal taboos surrounding women's health issues from menstruation to menopause. Dr. Zucker shares her personal journey, including her own experience with miscarriage, and her efforts to start the "I Had a Miscarriage" campaign. The conversation underscores the importance of open dialogue to break the cycle of silence, stigma, and shame.

To learn more about Dr. Zucker and her work please visit: her instagram @ihadamisscarriage and her website. Her latest book is available everywhere books are sold including amazon book shop.

Understanding temperament can transform parenting approaches, bringing harmony to the often turbulent journey of raising children. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Sandee McClowry about recognizing that each child's temperament is unique, and how this allows parents to cater their strategies to individual children’s needs. Whether your child is industrious, friendly, cautious, or high maintenance, acknowledging these traits helps in crafting supportive environments. We also discuss how parents must also be aware of their own temperaments to foster better interactions. Using tools like secret signals and timers can ease repetitive conflicts, while puppets and role-play enhance empathy and perspective-taking. Ultimately, the key is respecting each other's temperamental differences for a more peaceful family dynamic.

Dr. Ronald Mah and Michelle discuss how a parent with narcissistic tendencies can impact a child and their development of self. He discusses entitlement, grandiosity, and righteousness, which create a mindset where rules don’t apply. Parenting styles are examined, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries with sensitivity for healthy child development. Problematic parenting styles include permissiveness (too sensitive, no boundaries) and neglect (no sensitivity, no boundaries). The discussion ties into attachment theory, highlighting secure attachment as fostering availability, attunement, and sensitivity.

This week we are re-airing a previous episode with Dr Clancy Blair on self-regulation in honor of his life and legacy. Sadly Clancy passed away on Dec. 19th. Clancy was a groundbreaking professor of child development at New York University, died December 19, 2024 in Nashville, TN. He was 63. The author of over 200 scientific articles, Blair was one of the most influential developmental psychologists of his generation. His research fundamentally changed how scientists understand the ways that children are shaped by family, neighborhood, and schools; Professor Blair has had a lasting effect on both scientific research and public policy.

Clancy was born December 27, 1960, in Birmingham, Alabama. He earned a BA from McGill University in 1983, and returned home to Birmingham to earn MA, MPH, and PhD degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

From 1998 to 2022, Clancy was a professor of developmental psychology, first at Penn State University, and then at New York University. He was known as a brilliant, generous scholar and loving husband and father. With friends, colleagues and family, Blair shared his brilliant wit, his seemingly limitless embrace of life and his confidence in the world's goodness. He wore Converse high-tops and an irrepressible smile. His students remember him as kind and supportive, a mentor as excited by their ideas as his own.

Shortly after moving to Nashville in 2021 with his wife, Cybele, Clancy was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and primary progressive aphasia. He retired from NYU in 2022. Clancy continued to give back to his community in vibrant, creative ways including through advocacy for people living with dementia, songwriting, ceramics, and volunteering at Nashville's Room in the Inn until a few weeks before he died.