Who should be in the delivery room? In today’s episode, you will learn why having that conversation with yourself and other family members is critical, especially if you are an expectant mother. Whitney covers why each generations has a different perception and expectation about being in the delivery rooms. Older women, for example, believe they should be allowed in the room while their grandchild is being born while Gen Z mothers feel that they are 100% responsible for choosing who should be let in. What do you think? Let me know after listening to this episode of Calling Home. Tune in! What You Will Learn: [00:01] Intro and what in for you in today’s show [00:31] Who should be in the delivery room? [00:59] What do women of older generations feel about it vs Gen Z mothers? [02:32] Stories from several women [03:41] The different family dynamics and preferences [04:26] Factors to consider when making this decision [04:50] #Understand that birth is not a spectator sport [06:14] #Embrace open communication and set clear boundaries [07:27] # Consider cultural norms and personal beliefs [10:12] Questions to ask yourself before you get anyone to the delivery room [13:12] Wrap up and end of the show Standout Quotes: “Millenials and young Gen Z mothers believe that the person giving birth should 100% decide who gets in the delivery room.” [01:38] “The debate of who can be allowed in the delivery room should be a personal decision that should depend on a person’s preferences and family dynamics.” [04:08] “Birth is not a spectator sport. It is a medical procedure that is vulnerable, and you need someone close to you to offer support, care and guidance.” [04:50] Let’s Connect Have a question for Whitney? Call Home at 866-225-5466. Join Whitney’s Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram. Click here to get “Toxic Positivity” on paperback. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok. The Calling Home podcast is not engaged in providing therapy services, mental health advice, or other medical advice or services, is not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare provider, and does not create any therapist-patient or other treatment relationship between you and Calling Home or Whitney Goodman. For more information on this, please see Calling Home’s Terms of Service. Mixing, editing, and show notes provided by Next Day Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Accepting what Is and managing your relationship with parents who may never apologize or change their behavior is not an easy path. It requires a deep level of acceptance, acknowledging that your parents might not become the people you wish they were, and understanding that healing begins with accepting the situation as it is, not as you hope it would be. The path also involves setting boundaries that protect your emotional well-being while allowing space for the relationship to evolve. Whether you choose to continue contact or distance yourself, the focus should be on what serves your growth and peace. Accepting what is doesn't mean giving up; it means recognizing the limits of what your parents can offer and deciding how to move forward in a way that honors your own needs. In this Q&A episode, Whitney answers real questions from callers about how to respond to parents who initiate contact, particularly when past behaviors have caused emotional pain with self-compassion, acceptance, and choosing a path that aligns with personal healing. Tune in! What You Will Learn: [00:01] Intro and what in for you in today’s show [00:29] How to respond when a parent initiates contact without apologizing [05:41] Accepting your parents: What they did, who they are, and what they can offer [09:06] Accepting your parent resources [09:23] Walking the path of what was and is with acceptance [11:57] Wrap up and end of the show Standout Quotes: “You are allowed to feel the way you are feeling about it; you are allowed to give yourself time to process those feelings and decide what change you need to make from there.” [05:19] “There is no right path, but the path to healing starts with accepting what is, what your parent did, and what they can do.” [08:39] “There is no guarantee that maintaining a relationship with a parent is going to fulfill you or going no contact with a parent is going to make your life better or easier; just walk the path that makes sense for you.” [13:22] “It's so important to expect people to be who they have been and be pleasantly surprised when they are not, don't expect them to be different than they always have been, because that's where you're going to get hurt and disappointed.” [10:59] Let’s Connect Have a question for Whitney? Call Home at 866-225-5466. Join Whitney’s Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram. Click here to get “Toxic Positivity” on paperback. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok. The Calling Home podcast is not engaged in providing therapy services, mental health advice, or other medical advice or services, is not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare provider, and does not create any therapist-patient or other treatment relationship between you and Calling Home or Whitney Goodman. For more information on this, please see Calling Home’s Terms of Service. Mixing, editing, and show notes provided by Next Day Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Join Whitney Goodman and Vienna Pharaon, LMFT, as they discuss the role of the Golden Child in a dysfunctional family system. You will learn: how someone becomes the golden child why golden children struggle how sibling dynamics play into this role how to step out of the golden child role Let’s Connect Have a question for Whitney? Call Home at 866-225-5466. Join Whitney’s Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram. Click here to get “Toxic Positivity” on paperback. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok. The Calling Home podcast is not engaged in providing therapy services, mental health advice, or other medical advice or services, is not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare provider, and does not create any therapist-patient or other treatment relationship between you and Calling Home or Whitney Goodman. For more information on this, please see Calling Home’s Terms of Service. Mixing, editing and show notes provided by Next Day Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Supporting a partner who has issues with their parents requires empathy, patience, and understanding. It's not just understanding their feelings but also actively putting yourself in their shoes and acknowledging their emotional experience. That is listening attentively, validating their feelings, and reassuring them that their emotions are legitimate. It's not about offering solutions or fixing the problem but showing that you care and are there to support them through their struggles. By creating a safe and non-judgmental space and encouraging them to express their needs and boundaries, you are helping them feel less alone on their journey, prepare to uphold their boundaries, and build a stronger connection between you both. In this episode, we discuss strategies and insights for supporting a partner facing challenges with their parents. Listen and learn how to be a supportive partner, maintain healthy boundaries, and build a fulfilling and joyous relationship. Tune in! What You Will Learn: [00:01] Intro and what in for you in today’s show [00:59] How to support a partner who has a difficult relationship with parents [01:37] Be supportive, not judgemental [02:57] Seek understanding and clarity of the situation [03:39] Support your partner in a way that is helpful to them [04:28] Set boundaries with your in-laws [05:11] Keep your wounds in check [06:34] Listen and validate your partner's experience [08:23] Respect your partner's boundaries [09:28] Practice patience and understanding [10:21] Celebrate your partner's progress [10:59] Create a safe space for continuous sharing [11:20] Wrap up and end of the show Standout Quotes: “It is way easier for an outsider to recognize what is happening and label the problem; try to put yourself in your partner's shoes and understand their perspective.” [01:44] “Sometimes we get so caught up in supporting people how we think they should be supported rather than listening to them.” [03:44] “Ask your partner how they would like to be supported, listen to their suggestions, and allow them to be experts on their experience.” [04:01] “Sometimes we respond in a certain way to our partner's issues because we're being triggered; make sure you're working through your own stuff so you don't over or under react.”[29:59] Let’s Connect Have a question for Whitney? Call Home at 866-225-5466. Join Whitney’s Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram. Click here to get “Toxic Positivity” on paperback. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok. The Calling Home podcast is not engaged in providing therapy services, mental health advice, or other medical advice or services, is not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare provider, and does not create any therapist-patient or other treatment relationship between you and Calling Home or Whitney Goodman. For more information on this, please see Calling Home’s Terms of Service. Mixing, editing and show notes provided by Next Day Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Feeling tired of being the parent to your parents is a common struggle, especially when they rely on you for emotional or even physical suapport. It can be overwhelming to manage their needs while trying to prioritize your own life and the family you're building. Setting boundaries is essential, not just for your well-being but also to maintain a healthy relationship with them. Healing from past hurts and learning how to rebuild relationships with parents who may have caused pain is crucial. It's important to protect yourself emotionally while still offering compassion and understanding, but also recognize when you need to step back to preserve your mental health. In this Q&A episode, Whitney answers real questions from callers about relationship struggles with their parents. Listen and learn how to set boundaries and protect your emotional well-being and the family you are building while maintaining respect for your parents. Tune in! What You Will Learn: [00:01] Intro and what in for you in today’s show [00:26] How to set boundaries with parents in a compassionate way [06:08] Healing from physical and emotional abuse from parents [10:43] How to build a relationship with parents who have hurt you [15:54] When your parent wants to apologize resources [16:23] Wrap up and end of the show Standout Quotes: “If you are a parent, set boundaries and make sure parenting your parents doesn't take away from your ability to parent your own child because there will be consequences.” [05:38] “You can’t have a real relationship without safety.” [10:34] “Healthy relationships are healthy and important for children; Unhealthy, abusive, or dangerous relationships are unhealthy for children.” [13:22] Let’s Connect Have a question for Whitney? Call Home at 866-225-5466. Join Whitney’s Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram. Click here to get “Toxic Positivity” on paperback. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok. The Calling Home podcast is not engaged in providing therapy services, mental health advice or other medical advice or services, is not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare provider, and does not create any therapist-patient or other treatment relationship between you and Calling Home or Whitney Goodman. For more information on this, please see Calling Home’s Terms of Service. Mixing, editing and show notes provided by Next Day Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week on Calling Home, Whitney speaks with therapist and author Todd Baratz on how childhood and family dynamics impact romantic relationships. He discusses why the environment we are raised in shapes who we are and how we communicate, which in turn influences the partners we choose. They also chat about "good enough" relationships and why relationships don't have to be perfect to be fulfilling. For more information on Todd Baratz’s book “How To Love Someone Without Losing Your Mind” visit toddsbaratz.com. Follow Todd on Instagram @yourdiagnonsense. Have a question for Whitney? Call Home at 866-225-5466. Click here to get “Toxic Positivity” on paperback. Join Whitney’s Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram or TikTok. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok. The Calling Home podcast is not engaged in providing therapy services, mental health advice or other medical advice or services, is not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare provider, and does not create any therapist-patient or other treatment relationship between you and Calling Home or Whitney Goodman. For more information on this, please see Calling Home’s Terms of Service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week, Whitney answers questions from listeners who are dealing with narcissists in their family and discusses how to set proper boundaries. The first caller’s question deals with a narcissist brother-in-law changing the family dynamic. The second caller recently discovered that her father was a narcissist and her mother the enabler and is questioning a situation she feels was unsafe for her son. When is the right time to set boundaries with your parents and how do you approach it? Have a question for Whitney? Call Home at 866-225-5466. Click here to get “Toxic Positivity” on paperback. Join Whitney’s Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram or TikTok. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok. The Calling Home podcast is not engaged in providing therapy services, mental health advice or other medical advice or services, is not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare provider, and does not create any therapist-patient or other treatment relationship between you and Calling Home or Whitney Goodman. For more information on this, please see Calling Home’s Terms of Service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode of Calling Home, Whitney Goodman discusses the trend of mothers being overly attached to their sons, often referred to as "boy moms". This dynamic can be harmful to both the mother and son and lead to emotional incest, where the son is put into a husband-like role. Whitney talks about the reasons behind this phenomenon, including societal norms, lack of community support, and unfulfilled dreams of the mother. She also discusses ways to address this issue, such as practicing small separations, developing more support, setting boundaries, and encouraging independence. Have a question for Whitney? Call Home at 866-225-5466. Click here to get “Toxic Positivity” on paperback. Join Whitney’s Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram or TikTok. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok. The Calling Home podcast is not engaged in providing therapy services, mental health advice or other medical advice or services, is not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare provider, and does not create any therapist-patient or other treatment relationship between you and Calling Home or Whitney Goodman. For more information on this, please see Calling Home’s Terms of Service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week our listener questions deal with navigating difficult family dynamics during holidays and events. The first caller struggles with an estranged family and feels isolated during celebrations. The second caller cut off their alcoholic mother for safety reasons, but struggles with her presence at family gatherings. Have a question for Whitney? Call Home at 866-225-5466. Click here to get “Toxic Positivity” on paperback. Join Whitney’s Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram or TikTok. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok. The Calling Home podcast is not engaged in providing therapy services, mental health advice or other medical advice or services, is not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare provider, and does not create any therapist-patient or other treatment relationship between you and Calling Home or Whitney Goodman. For more information on this, please see Calling Home’s Terms of Service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week on Calling Home, Whitney speaks with therapist and author Nedra Tawwab on the concept of enmeshment in family relationships. They talk about what enmeshment is and what makes it different from a close family relationship. Nedra emphasizes the importance of setting healthy boundaries and respecting the autonomy of others, especially as children grow and become independent. She suggests that enmeshment can be addressed by gradually reducing contact to a comfortable level, asserting one's own needs and desires, and not expecting others to agree with or validate personal decisions. Follow Nedra Tawwab on Instagram at @nedratawwab. For more information on Nedra’s books visit nedratawwab.com. Have a question for Whitney? Call Home at 866-225-5466. Click here to get “Toxic Positivity” on paperback. Join Whitney’s Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram or TikTok. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok. The Calling Home podcast is not engaged in providing therapy services, mental health advice or other medical advice or services, is not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare provider, and does not create any therapist-patient or other treatment relationship between you and Calling Home or Whitney Goodman. For more information on this, please see Calling Home’s Terms of Service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode of The Calling Home podcast, host Whitney Goodman speaks with Darshita Raval, founder of Mindhappy, a wellness platform dedicated to bringing fulfillment back into everyday life. Darshita shares her journey of moving from India to America, climbing the corporate ladder, and then quitting to move back in with her parents and pursue her dream of building Mindhappy. She discusses the challenges she faced in navigating cultural expectations and maintaining a respectful relationship with her parents despite differing views on her career. Darshita also talks about the importance of self-belief and trust in oneself when making significant life decisions. Visit Mindhappy.com and use HOME15 for 15% off first monthly subscription! Have a question for Whitney? Call Home at 866-225-5466. Join Whitney’s Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram or TikTok. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok. The Calling Home podcast is not engaged in providing therapy services, mental health advice or other medical advice or services, is not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare provider, and does not create any therapist-patient or other treatment relationship between you and Calling Home or Whitney Goodman. For more information on this, please see Calling Home’s Terms of Service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode of The Calling Home podcast, host Whitney Goodman discusses the challenges of blending families, particularly when the children are adults. Common issues in these situations include changes in family dynamics, financial disputes, and the addition of new family members. She’ll talk about the importance of patience, understanding, and clear communication during the blending process. Plus, why it is important to avoid putting adult children in the middle of disagreements or forcing them to choose sides. Have a question for Whitney? Call Home at 866-225-5466. Join Whitney’s Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram or TikTok. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok. The Calling Home podcast is not engaged in providing therapy services, mental health advice or other medical advice or services, is not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare provider, and does not create any therapist-patient or other treatment relationship between you and Calling Home or Whitney Goodman. For more information on this, please see Calling Home’s Terms of Service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Whitney Goodman is answering more calls from the Calling Home voicemail. Today’s first call involves a listener who is struggling with undiagnosed ADHD and her mother's refusal to acknowledge it. The second caller is looking for advice on how to tell her estranged parents about her pregnancy. Have a question for Whitney? Call Home at 866-225-5466. Join Whitney’s Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram or TikTok. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok. The Calling Home podcast is not engaged in providing therapy services, mental health advice or other medical advice or services, is not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare provider, and does not create any therapist-patient or other treatment relationship between you and Calling Home or Whitney Goodman. For more information on this, please see Calling Home’s Terms of Service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week on the Calling Home podcast, Whitney interviews therapist Morgan Pommells about emotionally immature parents. They’ll discuss how these parents can have good intentions but become defensive when their adult children bring up past issues, leading to feelings of being unheard and causing relationship problems. Repair is possible at any age and they’ll talk about how parents can acknowledge and validate their child's experiences, even if they differ from their own memories. Follow Morgan on Instagram at @morganpommells Have a question for Whitney? Call Home at 866-225-5466. Join Whitney’s Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram or TikTok. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok. The Calling Home podcast is not engaged in providing therapy services, mental health advice or other medical advice or services, is not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare provider, and does not create any therapist-patient or other treatment relationship between you and Calling Home or Whitney Goodman. For more information on this, please see Calling Home’s Terms of Service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode, Whitney Goodman will discuss the topic of going "no contact" with family members, a decision often made due to abusive or toxic relationships. Prior to this episode, Whitney took some polls on Instagram and found the majority of those that have gone no contact with a family member did so primarily due to feeling unsafe in communication with them. This week on the podcast, she’ll talk about why going no contact is often a last resort after attempts to set boundaries and communicate have failed. Whitney will also discuss the process of going no contact, including setting internal boundaries, deciding on the level of access the person will have, and dealing with mutual contacts. Have a question for Whitney? Call Home at 866-225-5466. Join Whitney’s Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram or TikTok. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Today on the podcast, Whitney Goodman dives into your questions left on the Calling Home voicemail. The first caller discusses her strained relationship with her brother after their parents' divorce and their mother's subsequent struggles with addiction and mental health. Then, the second caller asks about the responsibility of caring for aging parents, particularly when the relationship has been difficult or abusive. Finally, our final voicemail comes from a listener asking how to support a friend whose sister has cut off contact with the family. Have a question for Whitney? Call Home at 866-225-5466. Join Whitney’s Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram or TikTok. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week is a very special solo podcast to introduce new episodes that will be on the feed every Thursday. Whitney receives so many great questions from listeners, that each week she will be dedicating an entire episode to answering those voicemails. This introductory episode starts with a listener that shares her struggle with her mother's abusive behavior towards her daughter, leading her to cut off contact. The second caller discusses a strained relationship with their brother-in-law and sister-in-law, seeking advice on how to reconcile. Our final caller shares a successful reconciliation story with her mother, highlighting the importance of open communication and the potential for change over time. Have a question for Whitney? Call Home at 866-225-5466. Join Whitney’s Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram or TikTok. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode of The Calling Home podcast, host Whitney Goodman discusses the topic of managing family chaos and walking on eggshells. Many people grow up in families where they are taught to manage the emotions of others, often to avoid conflict or keep the peace. This can lead to a pattern of behavior where individuals constantly monitor the moods and reactions of others, often at the expense of their own emotional well-being. This week, Whitney will talk about why this behavior can be harmful in healthy relationships and give you tips on how to break this cycle. Join Whitney’s Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram or TikTok. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week on Calling Home, Whitney Goodman will speak with author, speaker, therapist, and mental health educator Minaa B. They’ll discuss the complexities of parent-child relationships, particularly when the child becomes an adult. They highlight the importance of parents seeing their children as autonomous individuals, and the need for both parties to understand and respect each other's perspectives. Plus, Whitney and Minaa touch on the societal and systemic influences that can shape these relationships, and the importance of empathy, compassion, and acceptance in navigating these dynamics. Learn more about Minaa B. and get her book “Owning Our Struggles: A Path to Healing and Finding Community in a Broken World” at MinnaB.com Join Whitney’s Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram or TikTok. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode of The Calling Home podcast, host Whitney Goodman discusses the topic of "missing, missing reasons" in estranged parent-child relationships. She explains that these are the reasons for estrangement that parents claim they don't know, despite their children having communicated them. Whitney will talk about how this could be due to parents not wanting their children's words to reflect poorly on them, parents genuinely not remembering the reasons due to emotional amnesia, or parents recounting stories with minimal detail. Plus, advice on why adult children should try to safely share their reasons for estrangement when possible, and parents should listen and understand without being defensive. Join Whitney’s Family Cycle Breakers Club for further support and discussion on family dynamics at CallingHome.co. Follow the Calling Home community on Instagram or TikTok. Follow Whitney Goodman on Instagram or TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices