The Parentologist

Let’s Talk About: DCIS – The Unknown Breast Cancer

About a month before I got married, I noticed a Tic Tac sized ball under my left breast for the first time. Since I was busy planning for the wedding I decided to put off an appointment to the doctor until I returned home from my honeymoon. My primary care doctor examined both of my breasts and indeed also felt… Read More

Let’s Talk About: My Baby Sprinkle and My Baby Registry Gift Guide

Before I became pregnant with this baby boy I always dreamed of having a Paddington Bear themed baby sprinkle. My daughter’s baby shower was a Peter Rabbit theme and I thought staying with a classic book theme was appropriate considering how much I adore children’s books and both of these characters. Once I became pregnant, two of my closest… Read More

Let’s Talk About: My Maternity Photo Shoot

Before we even became pregnant we knew we wanted to get professional maternity photos. It took us a long time to get pregnant and there was a time we thought it might not happen so having a baby bump was something of a miracle to us that we wanted to document. We wanted to appreciate every moment and make the… Read More

Let’s Talk About: Top 10 Tips for New Moms & Baby Booster

Being a new mom is such a euphoric time but it also can be an overwhelming time without the proper tools. I don’t think any woman is ever entirely ready for motherhood. I thought I knew a lot before my daughter was born three years ago yet I still learn something new each and every day! I speak at a… Read More

Let’s Talk About: Top 8 Secret Tips to Going to Disneyland with a Baby/Toddler

Growing up living in Southern California, I have been very fortunate to go to Disneyland dozens and dozens of times. In fact, my high school Grad Night was held at Disneyland and my first job out of high school was at The Disney Store and as a “cast member” employee, we were given two free tickets every year and discounts… Read More

Let’s Talk About: Top 10 Blogger Steps and Strategies

Are you thinking starting your own blog? Have you thought about what it takes to be a blogger? I only started my blog less than a year ago, and I feel so late to the game compared to some veteran bloggers, but in the short amount of time I have had my blog, I have learned many tips from studying… Read More

Let’s Talk About: The Top 10 Things I’m Doing to Get My Family and I Ready For Baby Number Two While I’m Still in the Second Trimester

Reserving Maternity Photos It took us a long time to get pregnant this second time around and based on my age, this might be my final pregnancy, so I want to cherish and record every moment of it. Therefore, we have hired a professional photographer to take maternity family photos next month. I will be about 30 weeks pregnant when… Read More

Let’s Talk About: Positive Parenting Still Requires Consequences

Children thrive on boundaries and limits. Children even thrive on (gasp!) appropriate consequences when needed. If done the right way, children will actually benefit from rules and structure. The easy part is coming up with the limits and consequences for your home. The hard part is executing those limits and consequences consistently and in a positive, calm, respectful yet firm… Read More

Let’s Talk About: Birth Stories and Doulas

Before our daughter was born, I was determined to have a natural childbirth. I was too scared of potential complications, so I opted not to have a home birth, and was willing to go to a birth center with a midwife, but the closest one at the time was over an hour or two away with traffic. So instead, I… Read More

Let’s Talk About: Parenting Styles Mommy Makes Moccs

Psychology has always fascinated me since as far back as I can remember. One reason I received my doctorate in psychology was to not only help other parents, children, and families, but to also understand and make sense out of my own parents and family dynamics. Two years ago I taught my first university course on Parent Child Therapy. I… Read More