3: Discussing Bodies, Boundaries and Bedtimes with My Close Mom Friend

This was the very first episode I recorded! In this episode, I sit down with my friend Blake Dembling, a close mom friend, to tackle the topics that many of us find daunting—or even cringe-worthy—when it comes to discussing them with our kids. Blake and I each have two daughters around the same age, and she’s one of the few people I know who can talk openly and honestly about everything. That’s why I invited her to join me for this conversation. We dive into setting boundaries around nudity in the home—when is it time to stop showering or bathing with our kids? How do we approach those conversations in a way that respects their curiosity without shaming them? We also touch on the big, inevitable questions like: What is sex? What is a period? Who is God? Along the way, we reflect on our own childhoods and how those experiences shape the way we parent today. Blake shares her struggles with her daughter’s bedtime challenges, and we unpack the guilt that often comes with not always being able to give our kids the attention we know they need in the moment. We also talk about those parenting spirals—when our kids’ behavior or reactions (think: school photos or performances) don’t match what we had hoped—and how to differentiate between being “slow to warm” and “difficult.” This episode is a candid, heartfelt conversation about navigating the complexities of parenting with grace and honesty, while giving ourselves permission to not have all the answers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices