On today’s episode, Melissa brings you a Mindful Monday with a guided meditation to help guide you through a body scan as you notice the sensations in your body, both as individual parts, and as a whole. Enjoy!

A big THANK YOU to our new sponsor, ⁠West Plains Roasters⁠! If you have not stopped by to see them, pop in 7 days a week and get yourself some toast, coffee, or even cake on Fridays!

Music credit: Leigh Robinson from Pixabay

**As an Amazon affiliate, I do receive a small commission when you purchase any of the products I have linked in this post**

Where to find Mending Families:

Instagram - @mendingfamilieswa

TikTok - @mendingfamilieswa

Facebook - @mendingfamilieswa

YouTube - @mendingfamilies1594

https://www.mendingfamilieswa.com

In this conversation, Lauren discusses her professional background, focusing on her work with trauma-informed practices. She explores various aspects of trauma, including compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, and the challenges of parenting children who have experienced trauma. The discussion concluded with strategies for managing stress and trauma, emphasizing the importance of self-care, understanding the nervous system, and finding small, intentional ways to prioritize personal well-being.

Lauren Auer is a trauma therapist and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who helps people understand their nervous system and find their way back to themselves. Through her writing and clinical work, she creates spaces for authentic healing while sharing honest conversations about mental health, trauma recovery, and the messy beauty of being human.

You can find Lauren on Instagram, Facebook, or at her website www.steadfastcounseling.com

A big THANK YOU to our new sponsor, ⁠West Plains Roasters⁠! If you have not stopped by to see them, pop in 7 days a week and get yourself some toast, coffee, or even cake on Fridays!

Where to find Mending Families:

Instagram - @mendingfamilieswa

TikTok - @mendingfamilieswa

Facebook - @mendingfamilieswa

YouTube - @mendingfamilies1594

https://www.mendingfamilieswa.com

Mending Families is hosted by Melissa Pemberton and she brings you weekly content that is a mix of trauma aware interviews, parenting tips for those caring for kids from adversity, and stories from people just like you as they share their beautiful messy moments. Melissa hopes that when you listen each week, you will feel encouraged, inspired and take a little something away to help you and your family move from broken to mended.

On today’s episode, Melissa brings you a Mindful Monday with a guided meditation to help you let go of the stress in your body. Give yourself just five minutes and breathe your way through this stress relief meditation, which will be sure to help you start your day off right! Enjoy!

A big THANK YOU to our new sponsor, ⁠West Plains Roasters⁠! If you have not stopped by to see them, pop in 7 days a week and get yourself some toast, coffee, or even cake on Fridays!

Music credit: Leigh Robinson from Pixabay

**As an Amazon affiliate, I do receive a small commission when you purchase any of the products I have linked in this post**

Where to find Mending Families:

Instagram - @mendingfamilieswa

TikTok - @mendingfamilieswa

Facebook - @mendingfamilieswa

YouTube - @mendingfamilies1594

https://www.mendingfamilieswa.com

On today’s episode, Michael discusses his experience as a parent of a child with autism, sharing insights on diagnosis, therapy, education, and daily challenges. He explored various strategies for supporting children with autism, including diet modifications, behavioral therapies, and educational accommodations. The conversation also touched on the importance of financial planning, self-care, and resources for families navigating the autism journey.

Michael Pereira, founder of The Autism Voyage, helps parents of special needs children navigate financial and life-planning challenges. As a financial professional and autism dad, he knows firsthand the importance of proactive planning. His mission is to bridge the gap between insurance strategies and real-life challenges, empowering families to secure their future with confidence. Today, he’s here to share his journey and practical steps every family should consider.

A big THANK YOU to our new sponsor, ⁠West Plains Roasters⁠! If you have not stopped by to see them, pop in 7 days a week and get yourself some toast, coffee, or even cake on Fridays!

Where to find Mending Families:

Instagram - @mendingfamilieswa

TikTok - @mendingfamilieswa

Facebook - @mendingfamilieswa

YouTube - @mendingfamilies1594

https://www.mendingfamilieswa.com

On today’s episode, Melissa brings you a Mindful Monday all about connection with nature through breathwork, mindfulness, and being outside. With Earth day just around the corner on April 22 (I was wrong in the episode…whoops!), now is the perfect time to reconnect with nature. Take a quick 5 minute break, step outside or open a window, and breath in this relaxing nature connection meditation.

A big THANK YOU to our new sponsor, ⁠West Plains Roasters⁠! If you have not stopped by to see them, pop in 7 days a week and get yourself some toast, coffee, or even cake on Fridays!

Music credit: Leigh Robinson from Pixabay

**As an Amazon affiliate, I do receive a small commission when you purchase any of the products I have linked in this post**

Where to find Mending Families:

Instagram - @mendingfamilieswa

TikTok - @mendingfamilieswa

Facebook - @mendingfamilieswa

YouTube - @mendingfamilies1594

https://www.mendingfamilieswa.com

In this episode, Nicole shares about her journey into foster care and adoption, and her experiences as a foster parent and foster parent trainer. She also discussed the importance of self-care and trauma-informed practices for foster and adoptive parents, with Nicole emphasizing the need for parents to prioritize their well-being to better support their children.

Nicole Barlow is a mom to six kids—five of whom she adopted as a sibling group through foster care. She is a parent trainer who encourages and equips foster and adoptive parents and a certified wellness coach who helps parents be at their best so they can parent well. Her foundation for all her work is her faith and love for Jesus, which she believes is essential for navigating the challenges of foster care and adoption.

You can find Nicole on Instagram or check out her website nicolebarlow.com

A big THANK YOU to our new sponsor, ⁠West Plains Roasters⁠! If you have not stopped by to see them, pop in 7 days a week and get yourself some toast, coffee, or even cake on Fridays!

Where to find Mending Families:

Instagram - @mendingfamilieswa

TikTok - @mendingfamilieswa

Facebook - @mendingfamilieswa

YouTube - @mendingfamilies1594

https://www.mendingfamilieswa.com

On today’s episode, Melissa brings you a Mindful Monday all about grounding ourselves for just a few moments. In the spirit of grounding ourselves, today’s guided meditation is called “Grounding Breath”. Find a comfy, quiet place and 7 minutes while Melissa guides you through a grounding breath exercise.

A big THANK YOU to our new sponsor, ⁠West Plains Roasters⁠! If you have not stopped by to see them, pop in 7 days a week and get yourself some toast, coffee, or even cake on Fridays!

Music credit: Leigh Robinson from Pixabay

For FULL SHOW NOTES go to www.mendingfamilieswa.com/mending-families-podcast

Where to find Mending Families:

Instagram - @mendingfamilieswa

TikTok - @mendingfamilieswa

Facebook - @mendingfamilieswa

YouTube - @mendingfamilies1594

https://www.mendingfamilieswa.com

In today’s episode, Kelly, a life coach for teens with ADHD, talks about ways to help teenagers boost their confidence and deals with common challenges they face, such as managing emotions, time, and schoolwork. She discusses how ADHD can be managed through diagnosis, medication, and other methods, highlighting the need for a supportive lifestyle that includes good sleep, nutrition, exercise, and community support. Kelly gives parents strategies to assist their teens and stresses the importance of understanding neurodivergence, along with sharing resources for additional help.

Kelly Biltz helps teens reduce stress and increase confidence by learning Executive Function Life Skills for managing their ADHD. You can find Kelly onInstagram or on her website,www.teenswithadhd.com

A big THANK YOU to our new sponsor, ⁠West Plains Roasters⁠! If you have not stopped by to see them, pop in 7 days a week and get yourself some toast, coffee, or even cake on Fridays!

Where to find Mending Families:

Instagram -@mendingfamilieswa

TikTok -@mendingfamilieswa

Facebook -@mendingfamilieswa

YouTube -@mendingfamilies1594

https://www.mendingfamilieswa.com