Is it normal that my kid can’t focus, loses everything, or falls apart after school? In this episode, Brooklyn child neuropsychologist Dr. Melanie Blair Thies (Dr. Mel) breaks down what a neuropsychologist actually does, what’s developmentally typical from toddler through early elementary, and when it’s time to stop waiting and get answers.We cover:What a pediatric neuropsychologist does vs. a clinical psychologistWhat a neuropsychological evaluation looks like, from intake to testing to the feedback sessionExecutive function explained: why one child keeps track of everything while another loses five hats in a weekAttention span and school readiness: what’s normal for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartenersReading and letter reversals: why it’s okay not to read when entering kindergartenThe signs worth a closer look: skill regression, a widening gap with peers, and trouble across settingsIEPs, 504 plans, and ICT classrooms, and how testing connects to school supportWhy kids behave differently at home vs. school, restraint collapse, and how to set up structure at homeCOVID kids: what the evidence says about development, speech, and socializationWho to talk to first: teachers, your pediatrician, and when to book a consultWhether you’re a parent of a toddler, a preschooler headed to kindergarten, or an elementary schooler who’s struggling, this one is full of calm, practical reassurance. Kids are resilient, and the range of “normal” is much wider than social media makes it seem.Find Dr. Mel at https://www.mbtpsych.com/ Instagram at @drmel.neuropsychEmail her at [email protected] offers neuropsychological assessments for kids and adults in Brooklyn, plus consultations if you’re just not sure where to start.We’ll Sleep When We’re Dead is a motherhood podcast hosted by Sam and Lucy.

Motherhood is chaotic, the family calendar is out of control, and sometimes the only thing you can do is laugh about it.This week on We’ll Sleep When We’re Dead, Sam and Lucy are catching up on the wonderfully unhinged reality of mom life: kids’ extracurricular activities, travel sports, after-school schedules, parenting meltdowns, and the never-ending question of how much is too much when it comes to kids’ activities.Sam shares what happened when she let her daughter quit dance (spoiler: there were tears, screaming, and a whole lot of mom guilt), while Lucy embraces the world of travel sports and wonders how working parents are supposed to make a 4 p.m. practice happen.Then Lucy tells the story of her chaotic work trip to Los Angeles, when she became convinced that mysterious bird noises were following her from an Uber to her hotel room. The culprit? Her own white noise machine. Sleep deprivation really does things to a person.Plus, we get honest about the challenges of balancing motherhood, marriage, work, kids’ schedules, and a podcast when everyone is already stretched thin. We also share why hearing from listeners matters so much and how the right conversation can inspire another mom to do something for herself.If you're a mom navigating parenting guilt, overscheduled kids, working-mom logistics, or the beautiful mess of raising little humans, this episode is for you.In this episode:Mom guilt and deciding when kids should quit an activityKids’ extracurriculars, travel sports, and overscheduled family lifeAfter-school activities and the working-mom juggleParenting meltdowns and the reality of raising little kidsSleep deprivation, travel mishaps, and the hilarity of motherhoodThe hard parts of building a podcast while raising a familySubscribe to We’ll Sleep When We’re Dead for honest conversations about motherhood, parenting, friendship, careers, and figuring it all out one chaotic day at a time.And if this episode made you laugh, send it to a mom friend who gets it!Get in touch! Email us at [email protected]

We’ve been saying it since day one: we need to talk about sleep. And this week, we finally did.Lucy and Sam are joined by Lauren Sweeney, a certified sleep consultant for babies and toddlers, and a mom of four with number five on the way. Lauren shares how her own sleepless first baby turned into a business helping families, and why she believes sleep is for the whole family, not just the kids.In this episode, we talk about:What it actually takes to become a certified sleep consultant (and why it matters when you’re a vulnerable new mom)Why “mistakes” is the wrong word, and why it’s never too late to change a sleep habitThe one skill sleep training really teaches, and why “drowsy but awake” might not be the advice you think it isRegressions: what’s real, what’s a milestone, and how to ride them outThe silent return method for toddlers who keep popping out of bed at 2 a.m.Early risers, and when it’s okay to let a boundary goLauren’s #1 tip: a short, consistent bedtime routineWhether you’re deep in the newborn fog or negotiating your fifth glass-of-water request of the night, this one’s for you. Remember: everything is a phase, even the ones that feel endless.Find Lauren: Lauren Sweeney Sleep Consulting, on her website and Instagram. She offers a free 15-minute discovery call, a 30-minute “ask me anything” call, and a two-week sleep plan.https://www.laurensweeneysleep.com/@LaurenSweeneySleepSubscribe to We’ll Sleep When We’re Dead wherever you listen, and tell a tired mom friend about us.

Tiffany Walla, the registered dietitian and mom of two (almost three) behind Toddler Dietitian Tiff, joins us to talk about feeding the little people in our homes without the stress.Lucy met Tiffany at Expo West over a year ago, chased her down the aisle to ask her on the show, and spent months getting her scheduled. It was worth the wait.In this episode, we cover:Tiffany’s journey from growing up in the low-fat, diet-culture era to becoming a dietitianHow much protein toddlers and kids actually need (spoiler: way less than you think)Handling picky eaters, especially the four-year-old who makes a face at the tableWhy including kids in the kitchen and grocery store makes a differenceTaming the 4:30 snack spiral and making snack time work for youTiffany’s pantry and fridge staplesEasy dinner strategies where everyone eats the same ingredients, just served differentlyWhether or not you’re in the toddler trenches, there are good reframes here, and some solid advice on how you feed yourself too.Follow Tiffany on Instagram at @toddlerdietitiantiffFind her at https://toddlerdietitiantiff.com/Email us at [email protected] @wswwdpodTiktok @wswwd.podcast

A silly episode with one small, serious moment, because that's motherhood.Lucy gets stuck in her biggest fear, a Panera drive-thru with a broken card reader, a screaming four-year-old, and no way out but reverse. Sam shares a proud mom moment when her daughter Isla firmly said no at her pediatrician well visit, and what it taught her about raising girls who trust their voice, set boundaries, and speak up for themselves. Plus: why Target's drive-up app can't figure out substitutions, a craniosacral therapy tangent, and the big parenting question: when do you let your kid quit, and when do you make them push through?In this episode:Lucy's drive-thru claustrophobia and the Panera storyWhy Target Drive Up is a suburban mom revelation (and why the app needs work)Teaching kids body autonomy and consent at the pediatricianRaising "good girls" who can still stand up for themselvesQuitting vs. committing: rainy track club, sports, and pushing through discomfortKids who love every sport vs. kids who hate the rainRunning with a group of moms for the first time in yearsMom finds: Old Navy flare leggings for girls and a $10 Amazon scarfSolo parenting day six of nine and a very loud IU weekendNote: this episode touches briefly on a mature topic (body safety and consent), so it may be worth a pre-listen if you're playing it with little ears in the car.email us at [email protected] @ wswwdpodWatch on youtube at We'll Sleep When We're Dead

Some guests make you giddy before they even sit down, and Kirsten Ferguson is one of them. Kirsten is a Peloton instructor, a mom of two girls, a marathoner (Chicago is coming up fast, and she's got a bib for New York too), and now an author. Her story is the perfect blend of the two sides of this podcast.In this episode, Kirsten takes us back to the beginning: from working in the NFL, to a fertility journey that led her to fall in love with fitness during the hardest season of her life, to walking into a SoulCycle audition as the oldest person in the room. Then came the pandemic, a divorce, a dusty Peloton bike, and a post-it note on her "war room" wall that said she wanted to be a Peloton instructor. (Manifesting tip: be specific. She got the job, just not on the bike she was picturing. And she had hated running her whole life.)We talk about:Feeling like something was missing after finally becoming a mom, and why that doesn't make you ungratefulGoing from "I hate running" to hip surgery to the NYC Marathon, and mile 20 (Sam relates far too well)How she makes it all work: weekly family planning sessions, asking for help, letting go of doing it perfectly, and protecting her training time as a non-negotiableHer new children's book, From A to Z, This is Me, which she wrote with her daughters to help girls feel seen and celebrate what makes them different (out November 10, pre-order now!)Why perfection is boring, the Ratchet Moms Club, and her "feel it, drop the story, and keep going" mantraRapid fire: her Saturday morning workout, her holy vs. hood playlist, and breakfast for dinnerIf you've ever felt a pull toward more and didn't know how you'd get there, this one's for you.Pre-order From A to Z, This is Me https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H5Y31X3Q?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallbackFollow Kirsten on Instagram @iamkirstenfergusonEmail us at [email protected] Instagram @wswwdpod

This week Sam and Lucy are doing what they do best — catching up on everything, in no particular order. From Sam's viral handstand video and the reality behind "effortless" mom hair, to the real cost of kids' birthday parties (and whether skipping them robs your kids of joy), this episode covers the small, weird, funny moments of motherhood that actually make up most of the day.They also dig into a Dr. Becky post that reframed how they think about saying no to their kids — and why teaching toddlers to hear no now might matter more than any screen time rule later. Plus: eldest daughter energy, executive function in kids, and why "it doesn't get better, but the sleep deprivation does" is somehow the most comforting thing you'll hear all week.Topics covered: stay-at-home mom life, working mom vs SAHM, toddler tantrums, parenting no's and boundaries, birthday party burnout, Dr. Becky Kennedy parenting advice, eldest daughter syndrome, mom guilt, postpartum life, executive function in kids, Brooklyn mom life, motherhood friendship, real talk parenting podcastEmail us at [email protected] Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week, we sit down with Tara Nesser and Lauren Zaleski, founder and partner of Level Up Talent, for their podcast debut. From Tara’s leap into solopreneurship to Lauren’s decision to leave corporate recruiting for more motherhood-friendly flexibility, they get real about what it takes to reinvent your career and navigate a career change.We talk about the identity, mindset, and confidence shifts behind a career pivot, the trade-offs that come with making a big change, the “week without should” exercise, why women often wait until they meet 100% of a job’s qualifications before applying, and how to know whether a career pause is actually the right move.Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom considering returning to work, navigating a career change, thinking about a career pivot, or feeling burned out and unsure what’s next, this episode is packed with practical, real-talk career advice for figuring out what comes next.Contact Tara and Lauren at [email protected] them at their website https://www.leveluptalent.co/ and on instagram @Levelup.talentBe sure to check out their Career Clarity Workbook. Link Below https://www.leveluptalent.co/product-page/career-clarity-workbookEmail us at [email protected] @wswwdpodYoutube We'll Sleep When We're DeadTiktok wswwd.podcat

We are hanging on by a thread this end of summer — Sam takes a Coney Island trip that turns into a full meltdown about how stay-at-home moms are supposed to get anything done with zero uninterrupted minutes, and Lucy relates hard from the working-mom side. We dig into "code switching" between mom mode and work mode, why side hustles feel nearly impossible without a full-time partner in it, and the invisible mental load of teacher assignments, group texts, and dinner fails nobody warned us about. Then Lucy drops her big news: she's officially the new Chief Marketing Officer at Hormbles Chormbles. We talk about the leap, the nerves, and why "hard doesn't mean bad." Plus: Hoosier football szn, Sam's US Open plans, and the great Coney Island vs. state fair debate.Email us at [email protected]

Dr. Sarah Bren, clinical psychologist and host of Securely Attached, joins us to break down what secure attachment actually means (and debunk some of the myths floating around Instagram). We get into why kids act out more with their parents than anyone else, what's really happening in the brain during separation anxiety and back-to-school transitions, and the science behind "restraint collapse" — the after-school meltdown so many of us deal with. Plus: how to tell the difference between normal developmental stress and something deeper, and how to refill your kid's emotional tank (and your own) when everyone's running on empty.Find Dr. Sarah Brenhttps://drsarahbren.com/Instagram @drsarahbrenEmail us at [email protected]