In this heartwarming episode, I welcome special guest Holly Logan, a master’s prepared nurse and family nurse practitioner, to explore the vital topic of nervous system regulation in parenthood. Holly is an advanced practice nurse by education who is currently a stay-at-home mom to three boys. Through her own personal health struggles and transitions into parenting, she grew a passion for family wellness and nervous system health. Our conversation is powerful and insightful as it touches on the importance of managing stress, trauma, and overwhelm as parents, especially when navigating the challenges of parenthood.

Holly dives deep into how personal and generational trauma affects our parenting styles, offering practical tips for regulating the nervous system and balancing mental and physical wellness in daily life.

Key discussion points include

• trauma,
• stress management,
• mother guilt and shame,
• recognizing emotional triggers, and
• how small practices like journaling can help create a more compassionate parenting experience.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode mentions sensitive topics such as substance abuse, addiction, suicide, and loss. It’s best listened to with earbuds if you’re around children or need a gentler space for these discussions. Be sure to check out Holly Logan’s podcast Lead with Empathy and follow her on Instagram @hollylogan_health. --- Journaling Exercise

Sometimes, developing greater self-awareness requires consistent practice and thoughtful reflection. For those of you who may be struggling to recognize patterns in how stress or triggers affect your day-to-day life, I’d like to offer a practical journaling exercise. Take a few days to simply observe yourself. Pay attention to the physical, emotional, and cognitive cues that may lead to feelings of frustration, overwhelm, or emotional withdrawal. You don’t need to immediately associate these moments with deeper triggers—just notice them. What does a typical week look like for you? Write down instances when you may have snapped, felt disconnected, scrolled for longer than you intended, or reacted in a way you weren’t proud of. By observing and documenting these moments, you may begin to uncover patterns that have gone unnoticed due to the routine nature of daily life. This exercise allows you to step back and reflect as an observer, gaining clarity by reviewing your week with fresh eyes. Sometimes, it’s only when we see things on paper that we truly begin to connect the dots.

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Related Resources and Links

> FREE Self-Connect Calendar > FREE Guide: Calm Parent Calm Child > (Re)Discover Your Identity in Motherhood [waitlist] > Get in touch with me (Instagram; website; e-mail: info@markellakaplani.com) > Leave a Podcast Review HERE 😀 > FREE Motherhood Coaching Session: Send an e-mail to info@markellakaplani.com with the subject line “Podcast Guesting” > Join our community on Facebook: Parenthood and Relationship Group

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Find the full transcript HERE. --

🎧 Listen, share, and leave a review! Your support means the world! 📲 Follow me on Instagram @markella.kaplani for more insights and updates. ---

Markella Kaplani, M.A. Clinical-Counseling Psychologist Parenthood & Relationship Coach Matrescence Coach, Facilitator, & Activist www.markellakaplani.com

Join me in this episode as we discuss how we can establish healthy family dynamics based on sturdy and explicit family values. Learn how to create a positive family environment that nurtures emotional wellbeing and strengthens your parent-child connection. Discover how parenting with compassion can impact your family culture and lead to healthier relationships. What we’ll cover:

• The benefits of compassionate parenting
• How to use family rituals to build stronger bonds
• Effective strategies for managing conflict resolution for kids
• Understanding the importance of the mother-father relationship in maintaining a supportive family environment
• Creating the foundations for parenting with compassion

So tune in to Episode 22 id you’d like a guide to raising a happy, emotionally healthy family while overcoming the common struggles of modern parenting. --- Journaling Exercise

1. Consider how it is that you want to foster compassion in your family culture.

• What values it is that you and your partner share and that you want to instill in your children?
• What kind of ritual or tradition you can start setting up so that you foster openness in communication and in the expression of feelings, trust, compassion, and kindness?

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Related Resources and Links

*Love Language Quiz: https://5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/love-language

> FREE Self-Connect Calendar > FREE Guide: Calm Parent Calm Child > (Re)Discover Your Identity in Motherhood [waitlist] > Get in touch with me (Instagram; website; e-mail: info@markellakaplani.com) > Leave a Podcast Review HERE 😀 > FREE Motherhood Coaching Session: Send an e-mail to info@markellakaplani.com with the subject line “Podcast Guesting” > Join our community on Facebook: Parenthood and Relationship Group

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Find the full transcript HERE.

🎧 Listen, share, and leave a review! Your support means the world! 📲 Follow me on Instagram @markella.kaplani for more insights and updates. ---

Markella Kaplani, M.A. Clinical-Counseling Psychologist Parenthood & Relationship Coach Matrescence Coach, Facilitator, & Activist www.markellakaplani.com

Do you ever wonder how to teach your child to be more compassionate and kind?

In this episode, we dive into the heart of raising empathetic children by exploring the powerful role modeling plays in their development. We'll talk about how the simple, everyday actions you take can shape your child’s understanding of empathy, kindness, and compassion — without needing to be perfect.

Using relatable stories, we’ll look at how even small acts of kindness can have a big impact. Plus, I'll share some easy, practical ways to encourage compassionate behavior in your kids, even when life gets hectic.

Here’s a quick peek at what we’ll cover:

🌟 Why modeling compassion is more powerful than simply teaching it 📚 How books about compassion can help your child learn empathy 💬 Simple ways to talk to your child about kindness and feelings 🤝 Tips for handling negative behavior with compassion instead of punishment 🌱 The long-term benefits of raising a compassionate child

Whether you're trying to teach your child good manners or wondering how to encourage kindness and empathy, this episode is packed with insights to help you on your parenting journey. Tune in to Episode 21 to discover how you can foster a home environment where compassion thrives! --- Journaling Exercise

1. Reflect on a Recent Moment:

• Think of a recent time when either you or your child showed kindness or compassion. Write one or two sentences about what happened.

• Jot down a word or two about how that moment made you feel.

• Write one small way you can encourage or model compassion in your family this week.

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Related Resources and Links

> FREE Self-Connect Calendar| > FREE Guide: Calm Parent Calm Child > (Re)Discover Your Identity in Motherhood [waitlist] > Get in touch with me (Instagram; website; e-mail) > Leave a Podcast Review HERE 😀 > FREE Motherhood Coaching Session: Send an e-mail to info@markellakaplani.com with the subject line “Podcast Guesting” > Join our community on Facebook: Parenthood and Relationship Group

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Find the full transcript HERE.

🎧 Listen, share, and leave a review! Your support means the world! 📲 Follow me on Instagram @markella.kaplani for more insights and updates. ---

Markella Kaplani, M.A. Clinical-Counseling Psychologist Parenthood & Relationship Coach Matrescence Coach, Facilitator, & Activist www.markellakaplani.com