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Family Matters is a conversation sparked by parents, for parents, where we explore the issues that matter to you and navigate the challenges we all face. We are not experts but rather every day moms learning by trial and error. Our biggest hope for is that you walk away feeling a little more informed and above all – understood…like we get you because we’re in it too.
Host Laurel Gregory is an award-winning journalist who has worked in Canadian media for 16 years. The mother of two co-created Family Matters in 2016 in order to create a reliable source of information to both educate and entertain parents. She secretly envies parents who raised children prior to the information age and is confident that – big or small - a walk in the woods and a good night’s sleep cures all.
Producer Christine Meadows has been with Global Edmonton for a decade, minus the 2 years spent on maternity leave with her boys. She is constantly navigating balance in her life as a working mom who loves her boys but also loves her “me time”. She fears screen time is going to be her biggest life regret and is still trying to ditch social media after-hours to be more present
Host Laurel Gregory is an award-winning journalist who has worked in Canadian media for 16 years. The mother of two co-created Family Matters in 2016 in order to create a reliable source of information to both educate and entertain parents. She secretly envies parents who raised children prior to the information age and is confident that – big or small - a walk in the woods and a good night’s sleep cures all.
Producer Christine Meadows has been with Global Edmonton for a decade, minus the 2 years spent on maternity leave with her boys. She is constantly navigating balance in her life as a working mom who loves her boys but also loves her “me time”. She fears screen time is going to be her biggest life regret and is still trying to ditch social media after-hours to be more present
164 Episodes
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New research out of the University of Alberta is helping shed light on the telltale symptoms of COVID-19 in children. Dr. Joan Robinson specializes in pediatric infectious diseases and joins us to share the findings and offer up her big takeaways for parents and school administrators.
Also on this episode, time-strapped moms and dads are turning to Tiktok for advice. A rise in therapists, psychologists and counsellors are now sharing their tips on social media. The list includes Jax Anderson. She is a mental health therapist and a Tiktok celebrity with more than 10 million likes. She shares her journey to TikTok, and we also have some advice for parents before scrolling.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Parents can feel helpless during youth sport tryouts but there are ways to support our children from the sidelines. We take a look at research out of the University of Alberta that suggests a cooling-off period before families discuss a team cut. Dr. Kacey Neely is behind the project and shares her advice for parents.
Also on this episode, why many hockey organizations are bringing in hired help to handle tryouts. Companies like HockeyEvaluations.com. Owner Justin Reynolds offers insight into how the process of professional evaluating works and why his staff will never know the names or history of the players on the ice. We also hear from John O’Sullivan. He is a longtime coach and founder of the Changing the Game Project. He argues there are some benefits to having some inside information on players before team selection.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Did the pandemic overhaul the over-scheduled kid? For blogger and father-of-two Casey Palmer the answer is yes. He calls it a “weird, tarnished, silver-lining” for his family. He joins us to share his biggest takeaways. Plus, we hear from child psychologist Jody Carrington on how to spot an over-scheduled child. And later, Joanne Lalonde Hayes from More Time Moms has some advice before refilling the calendar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
New research suggests the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the so-called 'motherhood penalty.' Many Canadian mothers are clocking the equivalent of two full-time jobs caring for their children. McMaster University’s Clifton van der Linden calls the results “shocking”. He walks us through the findings plus takes a look at the impact the pandemic has had on fathers. Also on this episode, Kinia Romanowska shares her tips for working mothers trying to find balance. She is the founder of Pros&Babes, a mentorship service.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
With families spending more time together than ever, you may think it could cause problems. But an ongoing University of Calgary study has found the pandemic is having a mostly positive impact on the family unit. We take a look at the study and find out if the same could be said for relationships with friends and extended family. Bloggers Frankie Nelson and BJ Barone join us to talk about the impact the COVID-19 outbreak is having on their household. You can find out more about them, by checking out their website, Family is About Love. What if you’re on the other side of this study, and you and your family are struggling to keep the peace? Registered psychologist Tammy Auten Dye shares her advice for couples who at a make or break point in their relationship. Auten Dye is one of the speakers at The Institute of Child Psychology’s Children’s Mental Health Conference in November 2020.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
For most parents, the after-school meltdown needs no explanation. But knowing what it is and knowing how to handle the emotional eruption are two very different things. Registered psychologist Dr. Vanessa Lapointe joins us with some advice on how to handle the tears, tantrums and silent treatment the end of the school-day can bring. You can connect with her through her website, just click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The stress of COVID-19 on pregnant women and new mothers is showing. Researchers at the University of Calgary have found rates of postpartum anxiety and depression are rising, from 15% pre-pandemic to more than 20% now. Researcher Gerald Giesbrecht joins us to talk about the study and how we can help new mothers. Also on this week's episode - Sarah Wallace describes her struggle with postpartum depression and the long and dark journey to finally finding help. You can connect with Sarah through Instagram, just click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As a parent, you’ve likely had a moment where you caught yourself sounding like your own mom or dad, but that doesn’t mean you parent exactly like them. In fact, new data out of the University of Michigan suggests nearly half of parents and grandparents butt heads over everything from treats to screen time. One of the polls co-directors Sarah Clark walks us through the results and shares the biggest triggers for disagreements. And later, registered psychologist Tammy Schamuhn offers up some communication strategies to keep the peace and resolve conflict.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
School is back in session across the country. For many parents this marks the first time in six months that they have been away from their children for an extended period of time. A new school routine amid a pandemic can cause separation anxiety for both kids and adults according to Janine Halloran, a mental health counsellor and the founder of Coping Skills for Kids. She shares her advice for spotting anxiety in your child and offers up some strategies for helping the entire family cope with this new normal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
They say only focus on what you can control. But in a pandemic that’s easier said than done, especially when it comes to back to school. After months of staying close to home and social distancing, the majority of Canadian students are returning to the classroom. We bring in the experts for advice on what you can do at home to hopefully make this school year a healthier one. From diet, to sleep and emotional wellbeing. Our guests are family therapist Alyson Schafer, behavioural sleep specialist Dr Lisa Medalie, researcher Dr Jim Kellner, and Canadian paediatrician Dr Raphael Sharon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Edmonton mother, Deb Richardson says it took her years to realize the ‘harder you work the more you earn’ wasn’t necessarily true. It’s one of the life lessons she’s hoping to help her children avoid by openly and regularly talking about mone. Richardson shares her wake-up call on this episode. We also hear from financial empowerment coach Selina Gray who helped Richardson find her net-worth and self-worth. You can connect with Gray through her website SelinaGray.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Not all students will be heading back to class this September. Many parents will be keeping their kids and the learning at home. So what should you consider before making the leap? We turn to Dr Robert Kunzman for advice. The University of Indiana professor and director of the International Center for Home Education Research has spent the last 16 years studying homeschooling and says the common denominator in successful schooling is support. Also on this episode, we chat with Sarah Renner. She’s a professional organizer and mother of two young girls. She and her husband have decided to homeschool this year. We find out what led her to make this decision and how she’s re-organized her home to make the transition work. You can connect with Sarah through her website Organized with Kids.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As health professionals prepare for a second wave of COVID-19, psychologists are preparing for a wave of mental health issues – especially in teens. Clinics are full of youth with anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. Psychologist and author Vanessa Lapointe joins for her advice on supporting kids who, developmentally, are extra challenged to wade through this pandemic. For more information on Vanessa, click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In the age of social distancing, meet the virtual babysitter. Instead of showing up at your house, the sitter engages with your child through Skype, Zoom, FaceTime and other video platforms. The concept exploded this spring as parents attempted to work remotely and look after children learning from home. Elize Shirdel launched HELM Life following five years of connecting parents with babysitters through Datenight Babysitting. She joins us to explain what both parents and children can expect. So what does the mediatrician think? Dr Michael Rich weighs-in on the trend and offers a few alternatives for families. For more information about Dr Rich, click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Willa Sowell won over the internet with one little lie. She told her dad that the lipstick-stained on her face was purchased from Home Depot. But her dad knew better. She stole it from her mom’s purse. It was cute, innocent and eventually became a viral video. But not all lies are created equal and discovering deception can be frustrating for parents. Dr Kang Lee has been studying lying and children for the past two decades. He assures parents it’s a developmental milestone and shares his insight into why it may be happening. You can find out more about his research by checking out his website, just click here. We also hear from psychologist Dr Jody Carrington. She offers up a script for parents on what to say and how to say it, when you catch you child in a lie.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After a spring spent close to home, Canadian children have the energy to burn. As they channel it into outdoor activities, Canadian paediatricians are seeing the fallout. Dr Dominic Allain joins us to talk about the spike in injuries he is seeing in his emergency department. He shares why he’s not surprised to see an increase. Dr Dominic Allain is a member of the Canadian Paediatric Society’s Injury Prevention Committee. And, we are getting a D+ for physical activity. Before the pandemic, Canadian children were barely getting a passing grade for overall physical activity and sedentary behaviours. Restrictions from the COVID-19 crisis have made things even worse, according to numbers released by ParticipACTION. We talk to exercise scientist Leigh Vanderloo about the new report card and the role parents play in getting children active.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After years of loss, an Alberta couple is celebrating a double dose of joy. In the span of a week, Ian and Margo Sheldon welcomed a baby boy and girl they’re calling their “moon twins.” The babies are siblings born to siblings. Ian and Margo join us to share their long and unique journey to parenthood. Also on this episode, we take you inside the Baby Spa in Sherwood Park where it’s all about pampering infants. Owner Tara Machuik walks us through the services offered. To find out more about the Baby Spa click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
No pool, no problem. Some Canadian families are continuing on with swim lessons by holding class in the tub. Kaylee Kennedy with K&K Swim School has pivoted from in-person lessons to virtual ones. She has now taught students across the globe and joins us to explain how bathtub swim lessons work. You can find out more about K&K Swim school by checking out their website, just click here. We also explore some of the other alternatives for swim lessons and dive into one water safety advocates concerns with summer holidays bringing more time in lakes, rivers and inflatable pools. Our guest is Karim Zayed with the Canadian Swim School Association.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
COVID-19 has cancelled a lot since it arrived in Canada, but it doesn’t have to ruin your summer vacation. Heather Greenwood Davis has travelled all over the world as the blogger behind globetrottingmama.com. She joins us to talk about her family’s “plan b” for the summer and shares some ideas for finding adventure closer to home. We also hear from travel expert Claire Newell about what to expect if you are flying or staying in a hotel. You can find out about Claire and her travel tips by checking out her website, just click here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When it comes to COVID-19, why do some infected children become severely ill while others have no symptoms at all? Why does the virus tend to hit adults harder than kids? And what role do little ones play in spreading the virus? Those are the mysteries Alberta researchers hope to help solve with a new study out of the University of Calgary. Researcher and professor Dr. Jim Kellner joins us to talk about the project. We also look at the science and art of building your bubble. As restrictions continue to ease across the country, what does that mean for cohort or bubble families? Nova Scotia’s Heather Laura Clarke is sticking to just one bubble family. She joins us to talk about how it’s working for her family and if and when they will expand. Heather Laura Clarke is A parenting columnist and editor with the SaltWire Network. You can find out more about her by checking out her website. Just click here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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