Episode 24: The Avenue of Motherhood During This Quarantine
Listen Here
As I sit writing this post after being in quarantine for 5 weeks now, I think back on getting the news that we would be in quarantine for 2 weeks….and how “scary” and uncertain that felt and here we are in Los Angeles where we have another 4 weeks ahead of us. And I will be honest with you, I interviewed her on MARCH 26th and just now getting it published. Why did it take so long? Because like you my friend, I’m taking it one day at a time. I knew I needed to edit the show, add an intro etc but man-oh-man, didn’t realize post production would take 3 weeks #thestruggleisrealwithhomeschooling !!! I couldn’t get a clean intro or outtro recorded after multiple attempts so I surrendered with leaving the audio when my kids barged in my studio (to be fair, I record inside my 4 year old’s tent).
I want to share first that tt was 2013 when I met my guest today. I was a first-time mama living in a new city, Santa Monica, as a newlywed and let’s be honest, a HOT MESS. Two different friends who were already mamas recommended to me that I had to join a “Mommy and Me Group” at this place called The Pump Station. I was hesitant because I didn’t think I needed help…I had friends and sisters who had kids…I can do this…gulp…right?
Right around 3 weeks post partum, you bet I called in dire need of support and signed up to join a group. It turns out, being part of this group from day one— I made lifelong friends (we text maybe 50x a day) that was unexpected. And in addition, I learned nearly all of my tools when it comes to child development and mindful parenting hands down over anyone in my life.
But this episode isn’t about being in a Mommy & Me group as I’ve covered that, however, it does have to be with my zen and calm therapist aka Mommy leader for over 6 years. Her name is Jennifer Waldburger, and she is kind of a big deal :)
Jen was already leading our monthly group meetings to this day- and I knew the would be the perfect person to bring on the show and she obliged to share with you ladies, how this is like a MASTER class that we are living through. My favorite part was when she talked about how we need to cut ourselves so much slack and that we have already laid the foundation in what we’ve done in our parenting—- and there is no harm in excessive screen time right now. Let’s say that again, we are all doing our best and that is ENOUGH. You heard it !
We talked about all the struggles moms are going through during this time, marriage, sibling rivalry and she gave numerous tools on how to work with heightened emotions with everyone in your household. Please do share the episode with those you are really having a hard time with this.
Jennifer Waldburger, MSW, is co-founder of Sleepy Planet Parenting and coauthor of the award-winning book The Sleepeasy Solution as well as Calm Mama, Happy Baby. Jennifer has been working with children and families for 23 years, offering private sessions, parenting groups, and professional presentations on a wide variety of topics related to sleep, child development and family living. Jennifer, who is co-director of Mindfulness at several schools in Los Angeles, is passionate about helping schools and families integrate mindfulness, neuroscience, self-regulation, resiliency, and holistic practices into daily life to cultivate authentic, heart-centered connection. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Good Morning America, and the Today show.
I know that you will learn so much from Jen. And as always, take what you like and leave the rest. My goal for these interviews is to give you more tools in parenting and mindfulness that has helped me because we all are going to be students of life eternity.
For more information, you can check out Jennifer here: