Raising Me

Do you ever feel anxiety and stress creep up and not know what to do for relief, or how to help your children who are struggling with it? You’re not alone. Have you tried meditation? Today we’re talking about beginner strategies to get us and keep us all in a better place mentally and emotionally. Dr. Allyson Coffin shares the benefits like stress and anxiety reduction, enhanced creativity, emotional regulation, and clarity. She also talks about the simple things you can do, that you may never have thought of as meditation before. The best part, it can be done in as little as 2-3 minutes a day. About Dr. Allyson Coffin Dr. Coffin graduated Cum Laude from New York Chiropractic College obtaining her doctorate in chiropractic through the study of anatomy, physiology, and neuroscience. She worked in a multidisciplinary practice in New York with internists, orthopedists, physical therapists, and chiropractors, then moved to Maine—and opened Align with Wellness thirteen years ago. Dr. Coffin lives in Cumberland with her husband, two children and dog. She is a competitive swimmer and her whole family loves all of the outdoor activities Maine has to offer—season after season. Dr. Coffin is a member of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (I.C.P.A) and Maine Chiropractic Association (M.C.A).

P.A.C.E. stands for playfulness, acceptance, curiosity, and empathy. It was developed by Dan Hughes, PhD and we are lucky enough to have him join us for this conversation. Dr. Hughes developed P.A.C.E. specifically for children who’ve experienced trauma, however as you’ll see, the key pieces can help us with nearly any important relationship in our lives. In this episode, Adrienne speaks with Dr. Hughes about P.A.C.E., a strategy that can not only dramatically improve your relationship with your child, but also the one you have with yourself.

If the idea of teaching your kids about money stresses you out, you’re not alone. To help take the anxiety out of how to set your children up for financial success, even when you’re still trying to figure it out yourself, Adrienne has another chat with Mary Dyer, the Financial Education Program Manager at the Finance Authority of Maine. As part of our ongoing Money Mindset series and Financial Literacy Month, Mary Dyer gives parents simple strategies and conversation starters, whether you’re just beginning or feel like you should have started these lessons years ago. About the guest: Mary is the Financial Education Program Manager at the Finance Authority of Maine, also known as FAME. Mary has served as President of the Maine Jumpstart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy. She’s also navigated these same challenges with her two boys. Additional Resources: Resources to Grow Your Student’s or Child’s Financial Wellness: https://www.famemaine.com/financial-wellness/grow-your-students-or-childs-financial-wellness/ Claim Your Future®: https://www.claimyourfuture.org/ Invest in ME Reads: https://www.famemaine.com/financial-wellness/grow-your-students-or-childs-financial-wellness/elementary/ Online Financial Wellness from FAME: https://fame.igrad.com/

This week on the Raising Me podcast, Adrienne speaks with financial expert Mary Dyer about figuring out allowance for your kids. From how much should it be to what chores they should earn allowance for, plus, what our guest says is the *most important thing* when it comes to allowance. They discuss how much should kids earn, what should they earn money for and what should just be considered household chores, and what about those little purchases that seem like no big deal at the store, when should you float them some cash. These are all questions we can face every day as parents as we try to set our kids up for financial success. You may remember Mary Dyer from our previous "Money Mindset" episode. Mary is the Financial Education Program Manager at the Finance Authority of Maine, also known as FAME. She’s also navigated these same challenges with her own kids, too.

Have you seen the viral video with Catherine Knibbs talking about how we need to work harder to help kids navigate their online experiences? Her passionate rant shared on social media called “Modern Children Are Not Okay” struck a chord with parents and educators alike, and now has more than 5 million views. She’s on Raising Me to share the reason behind her plea for help and ways for parents to help create healthier, more supportive online experiences for children. Check out this week's episode dissecting her rant, how we can better help our kids online, and the five strengths everyone needs (research based!) to be better humans overall. About the guest: Catherine Knibbs is a clinician, author, researcher, and writer around the digital world and the impact they all have on young people. More about our guest: https://www.childrenandtech.co.uk/about Cath Knibbs TedX Talk: The Real Social Dilemma Books available from Amazon Website: www.childrenandtech.co.uk Instagram Tiktok

On this week's episode of Raising Me, we delve deeper into a topic of one of our most downloaded episodes - kids and anxiety. Adrienne and guest Rebecca Hoffman talk about that beast of branch of anxiety known as Social Anxiety. They discuss the pandemics influence on our children's developing social experience, the importance of stress tolerance, and how we can help. About the guest: Rebecca Hoffmann is the Director of the MaineHealth Center for Trauma, Resilience, and Innovation and is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine. By training, Rebecca is a family therapist and has worked clinically for 25 years with children, families and communities. Rebecca’s primary work is in the fields of trauma, violence, resilience, and wellbeing. She has overseen large federally-funded behavioral health research and service grants that focus on providing care and treatment for children and families that have been exposed to trauma. These programs focus on prevention of childhood exposure to violence, implementation of evidence-based trauma treatment, and fostering professional resiliency. In addition, Rebecca has overseen programs in disaster mental health, and in helping communities heal after trauma. Rebecca has extensive training and practice in the fields of childhood trauma, wellbeing and resilience, community coalition building, and collective healing. She has published numerous articles, book chapters, and other resources in this field.

Sleep. It can feel so elusive at nearly all stages of parenting. In this episode of Raising Me, Adrienne explores the importance of sleep and how to get better quality of sleep for your whole family with guest Dr. Kristy Perkowski, DO. From the middle of the night little visitor who wants to cuddle into your bed, to teens who have trouble putting away their phones to catch enough z’s, pediatrician Dr. Perkowski provides practical and simple solutions for your family. Additional links: Introduction to importance of sleep in children and how to help them sleep better: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/children-and-sleep Kids and Sleep: https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/sleep.html Do your children get enough sleep: https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/infographic/children-sleep.htm Raising Me listed in 100 Best Parenting Podcasts of 2024: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/parenting_podcasts/ About the guest: Dr Kristy Perkowski, DO, is a pediatrician with the Dr. Harry E Davis Pediatric Center in Portland, Maine. It is her goal to be an approachable, empathetic pediatrician who uses current recommendations and science to care for the children in the community.

Increased academic pressure, mental health issues, and societal expectations are three challenges facing students today and the fallout is showing up in many ways. Adrienne has an insightful conversation with the author of the book “The Disintegrating Student: Super Smart & Falling Apart”, Jeannine Jannot, Ph.D, whose decades of experience working with children and families led her to a concerning discovery in today’s achievement culture. The usually “bright” children, who until recently school was fine, if not easy for them, suddenly begin struggling academically and emotionally. This is a conversation not only about what’s happening with our children, but it is also full of self-reflection about the things we do as parents that have unintentional consequences. Whether you have a so-called ‘Disintegrating Student’ or not, this is an eye-opening conversation about parenting today and how we can support our children. About Jeannine Jannot: Dr. Jeannine Jannot has over 25 years of experience working with children, teenagers, and young adults in both public and private school settings spanning preschool through college. Dr. Jannot has a master's degree in school psychology from The Ohio State University and a doctorate in child and developmental psychology from the University of Connecticut. Since 2010, Dr. Jannot has been a college instructor teaching psychology courses and freshman seminars.

Are you a “caring but confused” parent when it comes to screen time? That’s the phrase our expert today uses to describe most parents trying to figure out what screen time for their children, whether it’s on video games, phones, or social media - and you're not alone. This week on Raising Me, Adrienne speaks with Dr. Michael Rich. He is the creator and director of the Digital Wellness Lab at Harvard Medical School and is going to help us answer some tough questions about kids and their use of screens - social media, video games, TV - all of it. In this discussion Dr. Rich gives us examples of how we can better help navigate our screen-saturated world alongside our children and why he says it’s time to ditch parental controls. About Dr. Rich: Michael Rich, MD, MPH practices adolescent medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital and is an associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Rich is the founder and director of the Digital Wellness Lab and the Clinic for Interactive Media and Internet Disorders (CIMAID), the first evidence-based medical program addressing physical, mental, and social health issues associated with digital technology use. Dr. Rich is also the author of the book called The Mediatrician’s Guide: A Joyful Approach to Raising Healthy, Smart, Kind Kids in a Screen-Saturated World.

Depression in children is a topic that requires careful attention and understanding. While it can sometimes be challenging to differentiate between situational sadness and clinical depression, being able to recognize the signs is crucial for providing support and intervention. In this episode of Raising Me, Adrienne speaks with Rebecca Hoffmann, the Director of the Center for Trauma, Resilience, and Innovation at MaineHealth (you may remember the name from the episode "Anxiety Epidemic.") They'll explore how to identify signs of depression in children, distinguish between situational depression and more serious cases, and get expert guidance on what to do if you suspect your child may be struggling with depression. About the guest: Rebecca Hoffmann is the Director of the MaineHealth Center for Trauma, Resilience, and Innovation and is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine. By training, Rebecca is a family therapist and has worked clinically for 25 years with children, families and communities. Rebecca’s primary work is in the fields of trauma, violence, resilience, and wellbeing. She has overseen large federally-funded behavioral health research and service grants that focus on providing care and treatment for children and families that have been exposed to trauma. These programs focus on prevention of childhood exposure to violence, implementation of evidence-based trauma treatment, and fostering professional resiliency. In addition, Rebecca has overseen programs in disaster mental health, and in helping communities heal after trauma. Rebecca has extensive training and practice in the fields of childhood trauma, wellbeing and resilience, community coalition building, and collective healing. She has published numerous articles, book chapters, and other resources in this field.

With Valentine's Day this week, Raising Me is exploring the relationships we have with our children. Adrienne interviews psychologist Dr. John Stewart, who shares five strategies we can use to improve relationships. Any kind of relationship! It doesn't matter how old your children are or how strong your relationships may be. Plus, Dr. Stewart helps us to self-reflect and shares how worrying can affect our kids. About the guest: Dr. John Stewart has thirty-five years of clinical practice centered around issues related to child, adolescence, school and family psychology. He is also an Assistant Clinical Professor at Tufts School of Medicine in Boston. Dr. Stewart also focuses in the areas of family and couples therapy working from a neurobiological informed attachment model.

If you struggle to get your kids moving – especially in the winter – you’re not alone. In this week’s episode of Raising Me, Adrienne speaks with pediatrician Dr. Kristy Perkowski, DO about the importance of encouraging regular activity in your children. It can be difficult to motivate your kids to exercise. Dr. Perkowski has tips on how to get kids moving, the recommended amount of time for different age groups, and how to handle any resistance your kids might have. About the guest - Dr. Kristy Perkowski, DO Dr Kristy Perkowski, DO, is a pediatrician with the Dr. Harry E Davis Pediatric Center in Portland, Maine. It is her goal to be an approachable, empathetic pediatrician who uses current recommendations and science to care for the children in the community. She started at the pediatrics center in 2015 after receiving her American Board of Pediatrics certification in 2013.

In this week’s episode, Adrienne speaks with Dr. Allyson Coffin, a Chiropractor and Owner of Align with Wellness in Yarmouth. Dr. Coffin and Adrienne discuss self-regulation; how to help our children when their big emotions get TOO big and how we can keep ourselves calm in those difficult situations. Hear about how cross-pattern brain exercises help kids stay regulated while watching TV - because sometimes screen time for the kids can help caregivers take some time for their own self-care. Dr. Coffin also offers strategies for all ages when feelings and/or pressures start to become overwhelming.   About Dr. Allyson Coffin Dr. Coffin graduated Cum Laude from New York Chiropractic College obtaining her doctorate in chiropractic through the study of anatomy, physiology, and neuroscience. She worked in a multidisciplinary practice in New York with internists, orthopedists, physical therapists, and chiropractors, then moved to Maine—and opened Align with Wellness thirteen years ago. Dr. Coffin lives in Cumberland with her husband, two children and dog. Dr. Coffin is a member of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (I.C.P.A) and Maine Chiropractic Association (M.C.A).

In this week's episode, Adrienne interviews Titania Jordan, the CMO and Chief Parenting Officer at Bark Technologies, a content monitoring/parental control app and device aimed at keeping our kids safe online. They start off talking about some of the results from Bark's 2023 Annual Report, and then continue the conversation about online safety and the surprising things our kids are experiencing on social media. There's some good news too! Not everything online is dangerous - but Titania has some ways to make sure your child's experience stays on the good side of the internet. About the expert: Titania Jordan is the Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Parent Officer of Bark Technologies, an online safety company that helps keep kids safe online and in real life. Titania has contributed to pieces in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Huffington Post, Fox Business, Daily Mail, USA Today, Vogue, and more. Her first book, Parenting in a Tech World, was published in 2020 and quickly became a bestseller on Amazon. In 2017, Titania founded a Facebook group where parents could come together and get advice on raising kids in the digital age, share stories, and learn the latest news about social media.

Raising Me takes on the delicate, yet crucial topic of navigating conversations about divorce with your children and how to build healthy co-parenting relationships. Host Adrienne Stein speaks with Kids First Board of Directors member and recently retired child and family therapist Steve Young. Steve has worked with families for more than three decades, helping them through this challenging time in a healthy and productive way with the kids’ best interest at heart. They talk about how to tell your kids about a separation, how to communicate effectively with your co-parent, and resources you can reach out for if you need help in this difficult stage.

Anxiety among kids is on the rise since the pandemic, which can heartbreaking - especially when parents don’t know how to best help their children. Raising Me host Adrienne Stein has an impactful conversation with Rebecca Hoffman, Director of MaineHealth’s Center for Trauma, Resilience, and Innovation. Rebecca shares early signs to watch out for, sheds light on why anxiety rates are skyrocketing, and explains why this topic matters for all of us, even those who don’t have kids dealing with anxiety. Plus, a look back at how we were raised when anxiety may not have been talked about as a disorder.  About the guest: Rebecca Hoffmann is the Director of the MaineHealth Center for Trauma, Resilience, and Innovation and is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine. By training, Rebecca is a family therapist and has worked clinically for 25 years with children, families and communities. Rebecca’s primary work is in the fields of trauma, violence, resilience, and wellbeing. She has overseen large federally-funded behavioral health research and service grants that focus on providing care and treatment for children and families that have been exposed to trauma. These programs focus on prevention of childhood exposure to violence, implementation of evidence-based trauma treatment, and fostering professional resiliency. In addition, Rebecca has overseen programs in disaster mental health, and in helping communities heal after trauma. Rebecca has extensive training and practice in the fields of childhood trauma, wellbeing and resilience, community coalition building, and collective healing. She has published numerous articles, book chapters, and other resources in this field.

This week's episode is a little different... As we move into a New Year, we're going to go over some of the lessons we learned in 2023. From helping our kids deal with bullying in 'Rise in Meanness' to navigating the stress and pressure of caring for multiple generations in 'Sandwiched Generation.' Of course, we always have questions around disciplining our children - are we doing it right, are we traumatizing our kids - get some reassurance with our clip from "Discipline Dynamics." Plus we've learned how to translate slang in 'Vibes to Cap' and how to give ourselves grace during the most overwhelming times in “Seasonal Stress."

Have you checked the price of college lately? It can be serious sticker shock. According to educationdata.org, it costs more than $100,000 for an in-state school, and more than $220,000 for a private university. Whether you have a toddler or a teenager, it’s never too late to start planning. Raising Me host Adrienne Stein and the Manager of College Access and Outreach at FAME talk about where to start, even if you already have a high schooler, and why even small amounts can make a big difference. About the guest: Mila Tappan is the Manager of College Access and Outreach at the Finance Authority of Maine. Our team at FAME helps people figure out how to plan and pay for higher education. Prior to coming to FAME in 2008, Mila worked as an Associate Director of Financial Aid at the University of Maine for 16 years. Mila is also the mother of two young men, Alex and Noah, who are 28 and 23. They navigated this college-saving journey firsthand, which she said was very different than doing it for work.

If you’re the parent or caregiver of a "picky eater" you know the stress it can cause at mealtimes; along with the worry about nutrition. It’s not something all kids just grow out of either. In this episode, Raising Me host Adrienne Stein talks with Registered Dietitian Kate Gosselin about some of the reasons behind picky eating, what we can do to stop the cycle of making multiple meals, and when professional help might be needed. About the guest: With more than 10 years of experience as a diabetes educator and more than 15 years of experience as a registered dietitian, Kathryn Gosselin is passionate about helping people understand and overcome nutritional challenges. Kathryn works as a Diabetes Educator at Northern Light Mercy Endocrinology and Diabetes Center and recently taught cooking classes for children at risk for obesity through a grant. She also teaches cooking and nutrition classes for people with Multiple Sclerosis.

The unpaid work by family caregivers across the country amounts to $600 billion, according to the AARP. The same survey found 52% of caregivers experienced income loss due to missed work. Those numbers paint an eye-opening reality for adults in the so-called "sandwich generation." That’s the term for those caught between caring for aging parents while raising their own children. Raising Me host Adrienne Stein dives into the stresses, both financially and emotionally, as well as resources available to help with LCSW Becky Hadiaris. Becky is the Manager of the Family Caregiver Support Program at Southern Maine Agency on Aging. They discuss the challenges faced by those in the sandwich generation, the resources available to help and the proactive ways to potentially mitigate the effects of caregiving responsibilities for our own children. About the guest: Becky Hadiaris is an LCSW with 20 years of experience working in the aging and disability field. She is the Manager of the Family Caregiver Support Program at Southern Maine Agency on Aging. She has a passion for helping caregivers navigate the complex healthcare system, as well as provide emotional support, education and programming to caregivers in York & Cumberland counties.

If you’ve struggled with when, or if, you should allow your kids to get social media, you are in good company. Many, if not most, parents do. Raising Me host Adrienne Stein asks Dr. Jeffery Barkin about how to know when our kids are ready, how we should monitor it, along with both the positive and negative sides of social media.

There is no shortage of opinions when it comes to how, when, and why to discipline children, and many parents struggle with self-doubt through it all. When should we set boundaries? When should they be lifted? What if our methods aren't effective? And let's be real – what about those moments when we overreact? The guilt can be overwhelming. Raising Me host Adrienne Stein has an insightful conversation with therapist Monika Eichler about these parenting challenges. Monika shares strategies for handling discipline, understanding when to adjust your approach, and how to cope with those inevitable "terrible mom" or "terrible dad" moments that we've all experienced.

Ah, the holiday season, touted as "the most wonderful time of the year" by the classic song. However, the idea is often different than the reality for many of us. The pressure during the holidays can feel overwhelming—juggling family dynamics and expectations, financial strains, travel logistics, children's needs, work deadlines, and the weight of grief for some. Raising Me host Adrienne Stein sits down with Theresa Petrosky, LCPC with Maine Behavioral Healthcare to talk about holiday stressors and ways to cope, while managing the expectations of the holidays in healthy ways.

In this episode of Raising Me, financial education expert Mary Dyer gets candid about teaching kids about money and why we should start by looking inward at our insecurities and emotions around money. If you’re worried that you don’t have a lot of insight to offer because you’re not an expert, Mary says don’t worry about that. You have a lot more to offer than you think. She takes some anxiety out of talking about money and gives parents and caregivers three simple places to start.

Have you ever had a conversation with a teen or preteen and left scratching your head wondering, ‘what the heck did they just say?’ Raising Me host Adrienne Stein checks in with Shannan King, who is part of the GEAR Parent Network. Shannan helps translate some of the words you may be hearing around your house, particularly if your kids are just starting to test vernacular boundaries. She’ll also go through the texting terms you should know to make sure your teens are communicating safely online. If something is "fire" you don't need to get the hose, "stan" isn't a new friend, and just what is cap/no cap?? It's important to know the slang not to talk like your kid - but to understand them.

In light of the mass shooting in Maine recently, host Adrienne Stein talks with psychiatrist Dr. Jeffery Barkin about age-appropriate ways to speak with our children about tragedy. This is more than how to talk to our children after what happened in Lewiston - this is about how to connect with children anywhere when faced with having difficult conversations about experiences we as parents wish we could protect them from forever.  Dr. Barkin explains the most important thing we can do during these difficult conversations, how we can ease anxiety for both us as parents and our kids, plus what we can do for our own mental health.

Raising Me host Adrienne Stein has an engaging conversation about the effects of bullying behavior with Tänne Gabler, Child Therapist, LCSW, RPT. Find out how to talk to your kids about bullying - if they've been bullied or even if they've been accused of bullying behavior. Discover how to approach difficult conversations about bullying with your kids. Figure out when is the right time to step in and how to appropriately step in when there is a situation. And stay until the end to hear the research-backed strategy that can help to raise the most successful adults. Welcome to Raising Me.