Ever sat in a parent-teacher conference and heard the words "we're seeing some attention issues"? Or found yourself Googling your kid's behavior at 11 p.m., wondering if it's normal or something more? ADHD is one of the most talked-about and most misunderstood diagnoses out there, and this week Angie sits down with two women who live in it every single day.

Sam Straub, LCPC, is a parent coach and licensed therapist. Dr. Melissa Wellner is a child psychiatrist. Together they co-host the Parenting Shrink Wrapped podcast, and they pull back the curtain on what ADHD actually is: why it's so often misnamed, why "lack of focus" misses the point, and the executive-functioning delays that make everyday tasks so hard.

You'll learn why your kid can play Minecraft for twelve hours but can't finish ten math problems, how to tell the difference between a "can't" and a "won't" (and why it changes everything), simple tools like visual cues and eye-contact reminders, and how to support yourself without burning out or drowning in guilt.

If you've ever felt like you're doing something wrong, this episode is the permission slip and the toolbox you've been needing.

Connect with Sam and Melissa:

Parenting Shrink Wrapped podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UCrSp2PWEYmQg8qSSLAizA1Q
Sam's free "You Screwed Up Convo" guide: https://samantha-straub.mykajabi.com/you-screwed-up-convo-sign-up-page
ADDitude Magazine (mentioned in the episode): https://www.additudemag.com

CALM Family Planner: https://www.theparenttoolbox.info/the-calm-family-planner
Essential Minute: https://link.doterra.com/PHOGCI
Listen on all platforms: https://www.theparenttoolbox.info/podcast
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheParentToolbox

It's 2 AM. Your baby has a fever you can't explain, your toddler has a rash out of nowhere, or your tween just asked a question you have no idea how to answer. Where do you turn?

This week on Mom Essentials, Angie sits down with Hans Kullberg, father of five, serial entrepreneur, and co-founder of Avocado Health, a text-based parent decision support platform built from one of the most profound losses a parent can face. Hans opens up about the journey of losing his daughter Aviva after six hospitalizations with no diagnosis, the promise he made to her, and how that promise became a real-time lifeline for parents everywhere.

In this conversation, Angie and Hans cover:
• Why health actually happens between pediatrician visits, and what that means for your family
• How to spot and act on developmental red flags (speech delays, anxiety, early intervention)
• Cutting through social media noise with evidence-based guidance from real pediatricians, child life specialists, and parent coaches
• How Avocado Health uses text messaging to put expert support in your pocket 24/7

If you have ever whispered "is this normal?" into your phone at 3 AM, this one is for you.

Follow Mom Essentials so you never miss an episode, and leave a review to help more parents find the show.

Connect with Hans:

https://avocadohealth.ai/

https://www.instagram.com/avocado_family_health/

Guest Code: AVO25PERCENTOFF1520

Essential Minute: https://link.doterra.com/uTECVp

Check out The CALM Family Planner: https://www.theparenttoolbox.info/the-calm-family-planner

Tech is everywhere- from the moment we wake up until we fall asleep. And as moms, we're not just managing our own relationship with screens, we're shaping our kids' relationship with them too.

So how much is too much? What does screen time actually do to a developing brain? And what are we missing when the iPad becomes the default babysitter?

This week, Angie Weber sits down with Meg Faure- occupational therapist, bestselling co-author of Baby Sense and Weaning Sense, and founder of the Parent Sense app- to unpack what moms really need to know about tech and early childhood. Meg brings over two decades of clinical expertise and the kind of honest, no-shame perspective every mom needs.

You'll walk away knowing:
- The two "brain ingredients" screens can never replace (and how to stock up on them at home)
- Why boredom is magical — and how to let your child sit in it
- What the "still face" experiment reveals about our phone use in front of our kids

This isn't a lecture about perfect parenting. It's a practical, grace-filled conversation for real moms in a real world.

Connect with Meg here:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube

Essential Minute- Balance
Check out The CALM Family Planner