Parenting Great Kids With Dr. Meg Meeker

When you first find out that you are going to become a parent, the dreams about who your child will become innately begin! Will he play sports? Will she be a softball player? Will she become a pianist like me? Will he love basketball like his daddy does? These are all questions that parents ask themselves, whether they try to or not, when they find out a child is on the way. The difficulties set in when a parent finds out that their child will have or does have a disability. The next set of questions follows the first. Will he be able to play with the other kids at recess? Will she be able to keep up with the other girls on the playground? Will he be able to throw a ball? What will she miss out on because of her disability? Again, these are questions that are natural when that kind of diagnosis is given. That’s why in this episode Dr. Meg talks with Dr. Ty Sexton. Ty was born with cerebral palsy and his parents didn’t expect him to have a long life and successful career, especially as a doctor. Dr. Ty defies

Learning how to relate to your kids and understand how they are wired often seems like a lofty goal. One kid needs to be at soccer practice, the other kid has gymnastics, both of them are arguing, and you’re stuck in the middle. As a parent, it can be hard to understand what your kids are thinking, feeling, and wanting from a relationship with you, but you can do this!It all hinges on being a smart parent!In today’s episode, Dr. Meg talks with Anthony ONeal. Since 2003, Anthony ONeal has helped thousands of students make good decisions with their money, relationships and education to live a well-balanced life. He’s the National Best-Selling Author of Graduate Survival Guide: 5 Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make in College, and travels the country spreading his encouraging message to help teens and young adults transition into the real world. He also knows how youth are wired, and gives some great advice to parents on how to build meaningful bonds with teenagers. Also in this episode, Dr. Meg gives you her poin

If you have young children, you know that roller coasters of emotion are just a part of the deal. There’s ups and downs, sometimes all within a five minute window. Knowing how to teach your kids what each emotion feels like and how to express that emotion in a healthy way can seem like an impossible task That’s why Dr. Meg has enlisted experts Dr. Joshua Straub and his wife Christi to talk about helping kids identify and express their feelings. They have a new kids book out called What Am I Feeling? that is about Sam and his friends understanding what they are feeling and what to do when those feelings take control. Also in this episode, Dr. Meg gives you her points to ponder that you can start using right away! If you have a question you want Dr. Meeker to answer in an upcoming episode, email them to askmeg@megmeekermd.comand listen to future episodes to see if your question is featured! 0:00 – WELCOME Dr. Meg introduces the topic “Helping Kids Identify and Express Their Feelings.” She also teases her conv

Faith is an integral part of most of your lives, but a lot of times it’s the last thing on your mind as you raise your great kids! Are you pushing too hard? Are you pushing hard enough? These are questions that roll through your head as you think about how to pass your faith to the next generation. That’s why Dr. Meg talks with Father John Riccardo. Father John was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1996, and since 2007, Fr. John has served as pastor at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth, Michigan. He also hosts a radio program called Christ Is The Answerthat focuses on catechetical teachings, that is teachings about the Word of God to inform the faith community about the teachings of Christ as one prepares for baptism. So who better to speak with Dr. Meeker about instilling faith in your kids! Also in this episode, Dr. Meg gives you her points to ponder that you can start using right away! This episode's interview was too good to cut short, so we will have to get back to listener questions

Setting boundaries is a difficult thing, especially when you have to do so with the ones you love. Setting boundaries with kids is even harder because when they are crossed, you are the one responsible for holding the kids accountable. In this episode Dr. Meg talks with Dr. Henry Cloud, author of Boundariesand Necessary Endings, about how to set boundaries and enforce them with your kids. Dr. Cloud is an acclaimed leadership expert, psychologist, and best selling author, so Dr. Meg’s conversation with him is filled with great advice to help you know what to do when your teen comes in late for curfew. Also in this episode, Dr. Meg gives you her points to ponder that you can start using right away! You also hear Dr. Meg’s answer to a mom asking about how to motivate her strong willed daughters without fear or threats. If you have a question you want Dr. Meeker to answer, email them to askmeg@megmeekermd.comand listen to future episodes to see if your question is featured!   0:00 – AD – POD SURVEY QUESTIONAIRE

Often times, as parents give everything they have to careers, shuttling kids around, and maintaining a social life. This usually leaves nothing in the tank to give your spouse. This is why Dr. Meg thought it was so important to talk to Dr. Les Parrott to help communicate how important a strong, stable marriage is to your great kids! Dr. Parrott is a clinical psychologist and is married to Dr. Leslie Parrott who is a marriage and family therapist. Part of Les and Leslie’s vision for building stronger, life-long marriages is to equip a band of more than a million marriage mentors who walk alongside less experienced couples. Research reveals that marriage mentoring is one of the best things we can do to cut the divorce rate and improve marriages – whether couples are engaged, newly married or married for decades. Also in this episode, Dr. Meg gives you her points to ponder that you can start using right away! You also hear Dr. Meg’s answer to a mom asking about her high school daughter’s stress level concerning

Everywhere you turn, screens are in the faces of you and your children. What effects do these screens have on you and your kids? How do you ensure your child is limited to a healthy amount of screen time each day? What can you do to set the example for your children when it comes to using technology with a screen? These are all questions that parents have in a world where technology is constantly increasing. That’s why in this episode Dr. Meg sits down with family therapist Dr. Tom Kersting. Dr. Kersting is an expert in the field of mental health, families, parenting in the digital age, and over-device use. He also wrote a book called Disconnected: How to Reconnect Our Digitally Distracted Kids. He and Dr. Meg talk about strategies to employ to raise your greatkids in this digital age. Also in this episode, Dr. Meg gives you her points to ponder that you can start using right away! And because we didn’t want to cut the interview with Dr. Kersting short, we chose to wait until next episode to answer listener q

One of Dr. Meg’s favorite things is to answer questions from you, the listener. This is a special episode of the “Parenting Great Kids” podcast as Dr. Meg devotes the entire episode to doing just that, helping you make sense of roadblocks we all encounter as parents. With questions ranging from siblings having trouble getting along to how to parent a special needs child alongside other children, “America’s Mom” helps you navigate many situations with your kids that can often be tricky. Do you have a question for Dr. Meg? If you have a question you want Dr. Meeker to answer, email them to askmeg@megmeekermd.comand listen to future episodes to see if your question is featured!   0:00 – WELCOME Dr. Meg talks about how much she enjoys answering listener questions and that she decided to devote an entire episode to doing just that! This is another installment of the “Ask Dr. Meg” episodes, and she covers lots of topics.   1:24 – ASK DR. MEG (PART 1) Dr. Meg answers listener questions for the entire episode t

When you’re a working mom, it always seems like there’s something you feel like you need to be doing. Whether it’s for your career, your kids, or for your social life, it’s easy to commit to too many things and not have enough left over at the end of the day to take care of yourself. In today’s episode, Dr. Meg sits down with Jessica Turner, author of the book Stretched Too Thin: How Working Moms Can Lose The Guilt, Work Smarter, And Thrive. They talk about different strategies for self-care so that there’s enough mom to go around! Also in this episode, Dr. Meg gives you her points to ponder that you can start using right away and answers listener questions from a mom about her 13-year-old son’s dislike of his 11-year-old sister and a mom that is struggling with her relationship with her 13-year-old daughter. If you have a question you want Dr. Meeker to answer, email them to askmeg@megmeekermd.comand listen to future episodes to see if your question is featured!   0:00 – AD – PHIL IN THE BLANKS Dr. Phil h

Helping your kids learn about how to deal with hurt and pain in their lives is difficult as a parent because we so often want to insulate kids from difficult things. In this episode, Dr. Meg talks with Dr. Kevin Leman, an internationally known psychologist, award-winning author, humorist, New York Times bestselling author of Have A New Kid by Friday, radio and television personality, and speaker. Dr. Kevin Leman has taught and entertained audiences worldwide with his wit and common-sense psychology, and in this episode he uses this approach in his conversation with Dr. Meeker. Also in this episode, Dr. Meg gives you her points to ponder that you can start using right away and answers listener questions from a dad about his 5-year-old’s defiant behavior and a mother dealing with her daughter’s gender identity issues. If you have a question you want Dr. Meeker to answer, email them to askmeg@megmeekermd.comand listen to future episodes to see if your question is featured!   0:00 – AD – MILK LIFE Do you ever

Sometimes when parenting great kids, the stresses of everyday life can get to you. That’s where we tend to forget about all the promises God has given us that would help us in the crazy times. In this episode, Dr. Meg talks with author and pastor Max Lucado about his new book Unshakeable Hope: Building Our Lives On The Promises Of God. This new title explores twelve of God’s promises upon which Max has depended for his entire adult life. “The promises of God work,” Max writes. “They can walk you through horrific tragedies. They can buoy you in the day-to-day difficulties. They are, indeed, the great and precious promises of God.” Also in this episode, Dr. Meg gives you her points to ponder that you can start using right away and answers a listener question about a six-year-old that constantly asks to watch television. If you have a question you want Dr. Meeker to answer, email them to askmeg@megmeekermd.comand listen to future episodes to see if your question is featured!   0:00 – AD – KIWI CO Are you stum

You probably know her as D.J. Tanner from Full Housein the 1980s and 1990s, or D.J. Tanner-Fuller from her newest show Fuller House. Candace Cameron Bure is talking with Dr. Meg in this episode and has a lot to say about teaching your kids to persevere, which is the topic of her children’s book Candace Center Stage. Also, Candace was fortunate enough to be able to be a stay-at-home mom when her children were young, and she gives some great advice to moms making the transition from work to home and then back again after her kids grew up. Also in this episode, Dr. Meg gives you her points to ponder that you can start using right away. If you have a question you want Dr. Meeker to answer, email them to askmeg@megmeekermd.comand listen to future episodes to see if your question is featured!   0:00 – AD – MILK LIFE Do you ever wonder if your kids are getting all the nutrition they need? One simple way to help – 3 servings of dairy milk per day. out of 2 kids don’t get enough Calcium, Vitamin D, or Potassium. Mi

To say that being a single parent is difficult is an understatement. Balancing the challenges of raising children, driving your career, and being involved in social events, going solo can seem impossible. In this episode, Dr. Meg talks with Robert Beeson (author of the new book Going Solo) who has devoted his life to helping single parents overcome the challenges of parenting alone. Beeson is the founder of a Christian record label and found himself a single father in the midst of launching his venture. After a very successful music industry career, working with artists like Jars of Clay, Third Day, Casting Crowns, and Michael W. Smith, Robert was led to start the Solo Parent Societyto give single parents the tools they need to not just survive, but to thrive. Also in this episode, Dr. Meg gives you her points to ponder that you can start using right away and asks for questions for a future episode entirely listener questions. If you have a question you want Dr. Meeker to answer, email them to askmeg@megmeeke

With all the stresses of raising great kids, oftentimes the marriage suffers as a result of giving your spouse the “leftovers”. In this episode, Dr. Meg talks with Becky Thompson, author of Hope Unfolding: Grace-Filled Truth for the Momma’s Heartand Love Unending: Rediscovering Your Marriage in the Midst of Motherhood, about balancing being a great mother and also being a great wife. Both of these things can exist in the same household, and they discuss how to make that happen in your marriage, too!Also in this episode, Dr. Meg gives you her points to ponder that you can start using right away and answers a question from grandparents about their grandchildren and managing screen time when they visit. If you have a question you want Dr. Meeker to answer, email them to askmeg@megmeekermd.comand listen to future episodes to see if your question is featured!   0:00 – AD – EVELYN AND BOBBIE Evelyn and Bobbie’s women-led intimates company creates beautiful, purposeful products to make women’s lives better. They

There’s not much more controversial topic than gender identity in America today. Although it’s an extremely polarizing topic, there are some really great studies on the effects of handling this situation the right way andthe wrong way. In this episode, Dr. Meg talks with Dr. Leonard Sax again, and he gives his advice for handling this issue as a parent these days. Dr. Sax graduated Phi Beta Kappa from MIT as a 19 year old, and then went on to the University of Pennsylvania to earn his PhD in psychology and an MD. He has written many books on raising kids including: Boys Adrift, Girls on the Edge, The Collapse of Parenting, and Why Gender Matters.This is part two of a two part series with Dr. Sax talks with Dr. Meg about gender identity issues in children and teenagers. Also in this episode, Dr. Meg gives you her points to ponder that you can start using right away and answers a question from a mom about teaching her teenager how to make friends at school. If you have a question you want Dr. Meeker to answer,

There’s not much more controversial topic than gender identity in America today. Although it’s an extremely polarizing topic, there are some really great studies on the effects of handling this situation the wrong way. In this episode, Dr. Meg talks with Dr. Leonard Sax and he gives his advice for handling this issue as a parent these days. Dr. Sax graduated Phi Beta Kappa from MIT as a 19 year old, and then went on to the University of Pennsylvania to earn his PhD in psychology and an MD. He has written many books on raising kids including: Boys Adrift, Girls on the Edge, The Collapse of Parenting, and Why Gender Matters.This is part one of a two part series with Dr. Sax talks with Dr. Meg about gender identity issues in children and teenagers. Also in this episode, Dr. Meg gives you her points to ponder that you can start using right away and asks you to send in your questions for a future “Ask Dr. Meg” episode. If you have a question you want Dr. Meeker to answer, email them to askmeg@megmeekermd.comand li

With so many different forms of media coming at your kids, the issue of screen time is bound to come up frequently in your home. In this episode, Dr. Meg talks to an expert on screen time and how it affects your children, Tim Winter. Tim is the president of the Parents Television Council, and is frequently asked to speak on the television news circuit, cited in newspapers across the country, and is regularly used as a source for many television and movie industry publications. This is the second of a two part series with Mr. Winter about screen time and media effects on children in America today. Also in this episode, Dr. Meg gives you her points to ponder that you can start using right away, answers a question from a mom concerned about her 8 year old daughter and her struggles with one of her classmates, and another question from an aunt asking about her niece’s possible issues with anxiety shutdown. Do you have a question for Dr. Meg? If so, email them to askmeg@megmeekermd.comand she could answer your que

With so many different forms of media coming at your kids, the issue of screen time is bound to come up frequently in your home. In this episode, Dr. Meg talks to an expert on screen time and how it affects your children, Tim Winter. Tim is the president of the Parents Television Council, and is frequently asked to speak on the television news circuit, cited in newspapers across the country, and is regularly used as a source for many television and movie industry publications. This is part one of a two part series with Mr. Winter about screen time and media effects on children in America today. Also in this episode, Dr. Meg gives you her points to ponder that you can start using right away, answers a question from a mom about her young daughter that has frequent tantrums, and answers another question from a grandmother about her grandson’s awkward facial expressions. Do you have a question for Dr. Meg? If so, email them to askmeg@megmeekermd.comand she could answer your question in an upcoming episode!   0:

This is a special episode where Dr. Meeker is interviewed by Roger Marsh about her new curriculum Discipline With Courage and Kindness. This is a great curriculum that talks about how different parenting styles can be used to successfully raise your great kids! There are different kinds of parents and different kinds of kids, and knowing what method works for your kids will help you be a better parent in the long run. You don’t want to miss this great interview where Dr. Meg takes the intervieweeseat! Also in this episode, Dr. Meg answers a question from a mom that’s a new listener about how to be a mom to her step-children. Do you have a question for Dr. Meg? If so, email them to askmeg@megmeekermd.comand she could answer your question in an upcoming episode!   0:00 – AD – MATTRESS FIRM How much sleep did you get last night? Getting enough sleep and waking up on time aren’t easy, but with the right mattress it can be! The sleep experts at Mattress Firm can help. They have the widest selection of America’s

Autism touches just about everyone, even if your child isn’t diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Knowing what to look for in your own children and knowing how to help a friend or family member with a child that has been diagnosed is key to promoting solutions for a better tomorrow. In light of these things, Dr. Meeker talked with Tammy Morris, Chief Program Officer for Autism Alliance of Michigan, about autism spectrum disorder and the signs someone you know may be dealing with a diagnosis. Tammy oversees all of AAOM’s programming and operational activities, and because she’s a known expert in this field, she is ideal to speak on autism spectrum disorder. Also in this episode, Dr. Meg gives you her points to ponder to begin using right away and answers a question from a mom about raising an only-child and another mom about her daughter constantly putting non-food items in her mouth. Do you have a question for Dr. Meg? If so, email them to askmeg@megmeekermd.comand she could answer your question in an upc