Join Karen and Emily in a conversation with Barb Mitchell, Early Years and Child Care Coordinator at the Brant Haldimand and Norfolk Catholic District School Board, as we talk about developmental milestones. We will talk about child development, typical milestones of development, signs a parent might see if there are some concerns with their little one’s growth and development and where we can go to find resources and support.

Episode Highlights:

(00:08) Child Development and Milestones Discussion

(15:01) Effective Communication in Child Development

(23:37) Navigating Child Development Resources

(30:48) Parent Advocacy and Child Development

(40:58) Supporting Child Development Conversations

This podcast is brought to you by the City of Brantford Children's Services and Early Learning and Child and Family Services of Grand Erie (CFSGE).

This podcast is hosted by Karen Bulmer. Karen has worked with children and families for over 20 years at Child and Family Services. She is the Service Manager for the Child Development Unit with CFSGE. Through this position, Karen works with her team to provide a wide variety of programming and support for families through EarlyON Child and Family Centre programming. Karen is an avid podcast listener, enjoyer of music, craft enthusiast and lover of books!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Learn more about the LookSee Checklist Barb mentioned.

Connect on social media:

Follow The Messiness of Parenting Pod on Instagram

Follow CFSGE on Facebook or Instagram

Follow the Brant Haldimand and Norfolk Catholic District School Board on Facebook

This podcast is for general information purposes only and is not considered advice from the co-hosts and guests. The information and opinions expressed do not reflect any agency or organization or company associated with the podcast.

Join Karen in a conversation with Karlina Belbeck and Holly VanEvery, both Family Gathering’s EarlyON Facilitator, Indigenous led EarlyON, as they talk about Who’s in Your Village. We will talk about the people we surround ourselves with, how those we call family may not be related biologically to us, and how we learn and grow in our relationships with one another.

Episode Highlights:

(00:08) Building Your Parenting Village

(09:56) Nurturing Your Personal Village

(18:40) Fostering Relationships in Parenting Villages

(25:08) Building Strong Parenting Village Bonds

This podcast is brought to you by the City of Brantford Children's Services and Early Learning and Child and Family Services of Grand Erie (CFSGE).

This podcast is hosted by Karen Bulmer. Karen has worked with children and families for over 20 years at Child and Family Services. She is the Service Manager for the Child Development Unit with CFSGE. Through this position, Karen works with her team to provide a wide variety of programming and support for families through EarlyON Child and Family Centre programming. Karen is an avid podcast listener, enjoyer of music, craft enthusiast and lover of books!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Read more about Family Gatherings Child Care and Early Years Service.

Learn about Brantford’s Equal Grounds Community Garden.

Connect on social media:

Follow The Messiness of Parenting Pod on Instagram

Follow CFSGE on Facebook or Instagram

Follow Family Gatherings on Facebook

This podcast is for general information purposes only and is not considered advice from the co-hosts and guests. The information and opinions expressed do not reflect any agency or organization or company associated with the podcast.

Trigger Warning: In this episode we talk about the postpartum period, perinatal mood disorder and suicide, which can be distressing. Please take care while listening - and see a list of important resources below.

Join Shalyn and Karen in a conversation with Kelly Gascoigne, Outreach Midwife with Grand River Health Centre, as we talk about the post-partum period, and when it’s not what we thought it would be. We will talk about the first six to eight weeks after childbirth, a period often underestimated but teeming with unexpected hurdles, from sleep deprivation to lifestyle upheavals. Kelly underscores the importance of balancing the focus on labour with realistic expectations of early parenting, stressing the need for communal support and open, honest discussions about the journey ahead.

Episode Highlights:

(00:01) Navigating Postpartum Period and Expectations

(14:06) Identifying Postpartum Depression and Seeking Help

(20:43) Mental Health Support Resources and Partners

(32:45) Parenthood Challenges and Self-Care

(42:27) Balancing Parenting Expectations and Support

(48:20) Embracing Support and Speaking Out

This podcast is brought to you by the City of Brantford Children's Services and Early Learning and Child and Family Services of Grand Erie (CFSGE).

This podcast is hosted by Karen Bulmer. Karen has worked with children and families for over 20 years at Child and Family Services of Grand Erie. She is currently the Service Manager for the Child Development Unit with CFSGE. Karen works with her team to provide a wide variety of programming and support for families through EarlyON Child and Family Centre programming. Karen is an avid podcast listener, enjoyer of music, craft enthusiast and lover of books!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Learn more about the 9-8-8 Suicide Hotline.

Download the Brantford Brant Norfolk Ontario Health Team (BBNOHT) App, which offers immediate crisis support and mental health resources.

See more on the "Healthy Babies, Healthy Children" Program.

Here’s more information on Prenatal classes offered by the Brant County Health Unit, and more on the Prenatal and Postpartum drop in groups Emily mentioned.

Read more about newborns on the Health Unit’s website.

Connect on social media:

Follow The Messiness of Parenting Pod on Instagram

Follow CFSGE on Facebook or Instagram

Follow the Grand River Health Centre on Facebook

This podcast is for general information...

Join Emily and Karen in a conversation with Emily Dunn, Public Health Nurse with Brant County Health Unit, as we talk all things sleep! We will talk about typical sleep patterns for children from newborn stage and on. The impact of sleep deprivation, sleep regression, sleep training and conversations we can have to help us prepare for those first stages of parenting.

Episode Highlights:

(00:08) Navigating the Unpredictability of Child Sleep

(08:35) Navigating Baby Sleep Challenges

(22:07) Understanding Baby Sleep Habits and Temperament

(28:38) Navigating Parenting and Sleep Training

(35:18) Recognizing and Addressing Postpartum Mood Disorders

(44:55) Building Your Support Network for Parenthood

(55:58) Parenting Success in the Long Run

(01:00:21) Parenting Grace and Self-Compassion

This podcast is brought to you by the City of Brantford Children's Services and Early Learning and Child and Family Services of Grand Erie (CFSGE).

This podcast is hosted by Karen Bulmer. Karen has worked with children and families for over 20 years at Child and Family Services. She is currently the Service Manager for the Child Development Unit with CFSGE. Karen works with her team to provide a wide variety of programming and support for families through EarlyON Child and Family Centre programming. Karen is an avid podcast listener, enjoyer of music, craft enthusiast and lover of books!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Safe Sleep for Your Baby video (youtube.com)

Baby Sleep Advice for Parents & Kids | Pediatric Sleep Council

Here’s more information on Prenatal classes offered by the Brant County Health Unit, and more on the Prenatal and Postpartum drop in groups Emily mentioned.

Read more about newborns on the Health Unit’s website.

Connect on social media:

Follow The Messiness of Parenting Pod on Instagram

Follow CFSGE on Facebook or Instagram

Follow the Brant County Health Unit on Facebook or Instagram

This podcast is for general information purposes only and is not considered advice from the co-hosts and guests. The information and opinions expressed do not...

Join Shalyn and Karen in a conversation with Deanna Thomas, Child Development Worker with Child and Family Services EarlyON team, as we talk all about good enough parenting and what that means. We will talk about how we as parents and caregivers show up for our children, how we connect with them and how we think about ourselves as parents and caregivers.

Episode Highlights:

(00:07) Good Enough Parenting and Self-Regulation

(11:38) Teaching Children Resilience and Self-Regulation

(22:38) Parenting With Boundaries and Growth

(28:27) Building a Supportive Parenting Community

(40:20) Social Media, Reflection and Mistakes

This podcast is brought to you by the City of Brantford Children's Services and Early Learning and Child and Family Services of Grand Erie (CFSGE).

This podcast is hosted by Karen Bulmer. Karen has worked with children and families for over 20 years at Child and Family Services of Grand Erie. She is currently the Service Manager for the Child Development Unit with CFSGE. Karen works with her team to provide a wide variety of programming and support for families through EarlyON Child and Family Centre programming. Karen is an avid podcast listener, enjoyer of music, craft enthusiast and lover of books!

Links to resources mentioned:

Here’s more information on the Circle of Security Parenting Program

Read some of Brene Brown’s work on Parenting

Lansdowne Children's Centre

Brantford Public Library

Connect on social media:

Follow The Messiness of Parenting Pod on Instagram

Follow CFSGE on Facebook or Instagram

This podcast is for general information purposes only and is not considered advice from the co-hosts and guests. The information and opinions expressed do not reflect any agency or organization or company associated with the podcast.

Join Shalyn and Karen in a conversation with Theresa Vidal Child and Youth Worker and EDI Coordinator with Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services as we talk all about all things Regulation. We will talk about what regulation is, how we as the adults need to self-regulate and then how we can co-regulate with our children, and teaching them how to self-regulate.

Episode Highlights:

(00:06) Understanding Emotions and Regulation in Parenting

(15:45) Parenting and Self-Regulation Amid Challenges

(24:45) Parenting and Co-Regulation Techniques

(31:35) Emotional Regulation and Co-Parenting Repair

(45:21) Teaching Repair and Growth Through Mistakes

This podcast is brought to you by the City of Brantford Children's Services and Early Learning and Child and Family Services of Grand Erie (CFSGE).

This podcast is hosted by Karen Bulmer. Karen has worked with children and families for over 20 years at Child and Family Services of Grand Erie. She is currently the Service Manager for the Child Development Unit with CFSGE. Karen works with her team to provide a wide variety of programming and support for families through EarlyON Child and Family Centre programming. Karen is an avid podcast listener, enjoyer of music, craft enthusiast and lover of books!

Links to mentioned resources:

• Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services
• Best Start Network
• Community Equity Council
• Brantford Immigration Partnership
• Brantford-Brant Norfolk Ontario Health Team
• Child and Family Services of Grand Erie Board of Directors

Connect on social media:

Follow The Messiness of Parenting Pod on Instagram

Follow CFSGE on Facebook or Instagram

Follow Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services on Facebook or Instagram

This podcast is for general information purposes only and is not considered advice from the co-hosts and guests. The information and opinions expressed do not reflect any agency or organization or company associated with the podcast.

Join Emily and Karen in a conversation with Kelly Bryant, a Child and Youth Worker with Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services as we talk all about the power of connection and being in relationship with your children. We will talk about how the power of that connection and relationship can be built and sustained through the challenges and joys of parenting.

Episode Highlights:

(05:09 - 07:01) Understanding Children's Feelings and Reactions

(08:57 - 09:59) Building Trust in Parent-Child Relationship

(15:28 - 17:09) Supporting Children Through Big Feelings

(22:38 - 23:43) Reframing Attention as Connection

(33:05 - 34:05) Powerful Use of Timers for Accountability

(37:03 - 37:46) Parenting Consequences and Communication

(49:20 - 51:04) Letting Go of Parenting Expectations

This podcast is brought to you by the City of Brantford Children's Services and Early Learning and Child and Family Services of Grand Erie (CFSGE).

This podcast is hosted by Karen Bulmer. Karen has worked with children and families for over 20 years at Child and Family Services of Grand Erie. She is currently the Service Manager for the Child Development Unit with CFSGE. Karen works with her team to provide a wide variety of programming and support for families through EarlyON Child and Family Centre programming. Karen is an avid podcast listener, enjoyer of music, craft enthusiast and lover of books!

Connect on social media:

Follow The Messiness of Parenting Pod on Instagram

Follow CFSGE on Facebook or Instagram

Follow Woodview Mental Health and Autism Services on Facebook or Instagram

This podcast is for general information purposes only and is not considered advice from the co-hosts and guests. The information and opinions expressed do not reflect any agency or organization or company associated with the podcast.

As parents, we often find ourselves questioning if we're doing enough or if we're doing it right. On The Messiness of Parenting, we're opening up the conversation about the real, unfiltered world of parenting, brought to you by the City of Brantford Children's Services and Early Learning and Child and Family Services of Grand Erie.

Join us as we dive into the heartfelt discussions that may resonate with every parent out there. We've lined up 11 episodes where we're not just sharing advice but creating a community of support through honest reflections and practical tips. From innovative parenting ideas to comforting stories, we touch on the universal challenges that unite us all.

Don't forget to hit subscribe and follow so you can join us every week. Let's navigate the beautiful mess of parenting together—you are the best parent for your child, and we can't wait to share this journey with you.

This podcast is for general information purposes only and is not considered advice from the co-hosts and guests. The information and opinions expressed do not reflect any agency or organization or company associated with the podcast.