MMD BLOG


CATEGORY:

MOTHERHOOD + HAPPINESS

HOW TO ACTUALLY BE A GOOD MOM (DESPITE WHAT THE WORLD SAYS)

 Modern Mommy Doc


PUBLICATION DATE:

January 4, 2020

HOW TO ACTUALLY BE A GOOD MOM (DESPITE WHAT THE WORLD SAYS)

 Modern Mommy Doc

CATEGORY: MOTHERHOOD + HAPPINESS

A few weeks ago, I published a blog that sums up the way most moms I know feel about the pressures they face and the overwhelming mandate that is Modern Motherhood. It specifically addressed working mom stressors, but it applies to stay-at-home moms, working moms, and “somewhere-in-between moms” alike. 


You can read the whole thing here, but here's how it ended:


If having it all means missing out on what matters, I’m out. If leaning in means sacrificing joy and contentment, I quit. If working so hard to achieve perfect balance means I never make it to my top priorities, I just can’t abide. I’m tired of performing. 


Here’s the deal, Mama. I’m not willing to lose myself, my authentic relationships with my children, my love for my partner, or my sanity for some version of happiness someone else defines …and neither should you. It’s time to learn how to truly win at parenting without losing ourselves.



How Do We Win at Parenting Without Losing Ourselves?


The comments came rolling in and the most common one was, "Well then how do we do it?" It’s one thing to say “no” to the world’s ridiculous mandates, but it’s quite another thing to say “yes” to something better. Saying “yes” starts with deciding what kind of mothers and people we want to be. It starts by asking ourselves the big questions – questions like, where am I headed? What do I want my life to look like in five to ten years? How about thirty? 


What kind of adults do I hope my kids will become – strong, confident contributors who give, heal, and inspire or individuals who look successful on the outside but are stressed out and fragile on the inside? How do I want my relationship to be like with my kids once they’re grown? How about my partner? 


Most importantly, how do I want my relationship with myself to look? Will I be tied to the pressures the world would love to put on me? OR, will I be living according to what matters to me? 


When you look to the future, I bet you hope you’ll be living in a way that makes you joyful and fulfilled, but guess what? How your life (and your kids’ lives) look in five, ten, twenty years depends on what you do right now, Mama. It depends on what you do today.


No pressure, right? 


In truth, when you choose the way you live and the way you parent, instead of just letting it happen haphazardly, there will be way less pressure. In fact, the opposite will be true. You’ll have the freedom you crave. 


So, you decide.


Will you parent in a way that makes your kids resilient? Are you going to be joyful and content, able to weather the storms of life yourself? Life is marching on day after day – we can’t stop it – but we can DECIDE to live and parent with intention.



Successful moms don’t let

external pressures pile on. Instead,

they’re highly intentional about

these six core areas:

Their Own Dreams

Spending Time on Things That Matter

Making Space for Themselves

Investing in Their Mental and Physical Health

Parenting in Partnership

The Way They Parent Their Kids




Breaking It Down 


Over the next six weeks, we're going to walk through each and every one of these. It doesn't matter if you have a newborn, a toddler, or an elementary-aged kid -- the same principles apply.



Winning at Parenting Without Losing Yourself


Every day, you get to choose the kind of mother you’ll be and the kind of life you’ll live. It’s your turn to set your intentions. I’m with you, Mama. I know freedom and joy are just waiting to be uncovered as you learn to win at parenting without losing yourself. 

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About the Episode: In this episode, Dr. Whitney sits down with Dr. Jay Gargus and Dave Justus from NeuroQure to discuss the power of early clarity when it comes to autism detection and why earlier intervention can fundamentally change outcomes for childre n and families. Dr. Gargus explains the science behind early behavioral therapies and why their impact goes far beyond short-term skill-building. Research shows that early, evidence-based interventions can lead to measurable, lifelong improvements in IQ, so cial skills, independence, and educational placement, often determining whether a child can thrive in mainstream education or requires ongoing specialized support. The conversation also tackles a critical and often overlooked issue: access. Dave Justus shares the personal motivation behind NeuroQure’s work and explains why the test is being launched at cost, with installment plans and employer subsidies, while the team works toward insurance coverage. The goal is to prevent families from losing precious years waiting for answers. Together, they emphasize a hopeful message for parents: families don’t need to wait for a future “silver bullet.” We already have therapies that work and getting kids connected to them earlier can change the course of a lifetime. In this episode, we discuss: Why early autism detection leads to lifelong changes—not just short-term gains What a 17-point IQ difference actually means for education, independence, and quality of life How early intervention can shift developmental trajectories as early as 6 months The science and validation behind current autism therapies Why NeuroQure is pricing testing at cost while pursuing insurance coverage How early clarity can reduce long-term strain on families, schools, and healthcare systems This episode is a powerful reminder that timing matters and that early access to answers can make an extraordinary difference for children and the families who love them. About Our Guest: Dr. Jay Gargus, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist and nationally recognized expert in neurodevelopmental disorders, with decades of experience researching the biological underpinnings of autism. His work has focused on translating well-established science into meaningful, real-world interventions that can improve lifelong outcomes for children. Dr. Gargus emphasizes that early, evidence-based therapies are already available—and that connecting families to them sooner can fundamentally change developmental trajectories. Dave Justus is a parent and the founder of NeuroQure, whose work is driven by personal experience navigating delayed autism diagnosis and intervention. Motivated by the belief that early clarity can spare families years of uncertainty, Dave is focused on expanding access to early testing through cost-based pricing and ongoing efforts to secure insurance coverage. His mission is simple but powerful: ensure families don’t have to wait for answers that could change everything. Want to Start Raising Body-Confident Kids Today? 📘 Order the Book Order your copy of My One-of-a-Kind Body 👉 www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com/books 🎁 Claim Your Free Bonus When you order on our site, you’ll also get access to a FREE video mini-course with five bite-sized lessons for parents. In just 25 minutes, you’ll walk away with: Simple, script-style ways to respond when your kid says, “I hate my thighs” How to talk about health without weight talk What to do when your own inner critic shows up How to interrupt diet culture at home The first step to raising a body-confident kid, even if you didn’t grow up as one 📩 Subscribe to The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast for more episodes on parenting with confidence and clarity. Leave a review using the hashtag #ModernMommyDoc.
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About the Episode: In this episode, Dr. Whitney sits down with Dr. Jay Gargus and Dave Justus from NeuroQure to discuss the power of early clarity when it comes to autism detection and why earlier intervention can fundamentally change outcomes for childre n and families. Dr. Gargus explains the science behind early behavioral therapies and why their impact goes far beyond short-term skill-building. Research shows that early, evidence-based interventions can lead to measurable, lifelong improvements in IQ, so cial skills, independence, and educational placement, often determining whether a child can thrive in mainstream education or requires ongoing specialized support. The conversation also tackles a critical and often overlooked issue: access. Dave Justus shares the personal motivation behind NeuroQure’s work and explains why the test is being launched at cost, with installment plans and employer subsidies, while the team works toward insurance coverage. The goal is to prevent families from losing precious years waiting for answers. Together, they emphasize a hopeful message for parents: families don’t need to wait for a future “silver bullet.” We already have therapies that work and getting kids connected to them earlier can change the course of a lifetime. In this episode, we discuss: Why early autism detection leads to lifelong changes—not just short-term gains What a 17-point IQ difference actually means for education, independence, and quality of life How early intervention can shift developmental trajectories as early as 6 months The science and validation behind current autism therapies Why NeuroQure is pricing testing at cost while pursuing insurance coverage How early clarity can reduce long-term strain on families, schools, and healthcare systems This episode is a powerful reminder that timing matters and that early access to answers can make an extraordinary difference for children and the families who love them. About Our Guest: Dr. Jay Gargus, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist and nationally recognized expert in neurodevelopmental disorders, with decades of experience researching the biological underpinnings of autism. His work has focused on translating well-established science into meaningful, real-world interventions that can improve lifelong outcomes for children. Dr. Gargus emphasizes that early, evidence-based therapies are already available—and that connecting families to them sooner can fundamentally change developmental trajectories. Dave Justus is a parent and the founder of NeuroQure, whose work is driven by personal experience navigating delayed autism diagnosis and intervention. Motivated by the belief that early clarity can spare families years of uncertainty, Dave is focused on expanding access to early testing through cost-based pricing and ongoing efforts to secure insurance coverage. His mission is simple but powerful: ensure families don’t have to wait for answers that could change everything. Want to Start Raising Body-Confident Kids Today? 📘 Order the Book Order your copy of My One-of-a-Kind Body 👉 www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com/books 🎁 Claim Your Free Bonus When you order on our site, you’ll also get access to a FREE video mini-course with five bite-sized lessons for parents. In just 25 minutes, you’ll walk away with: Simple, script-style ways to respond when your kid says, “I hate my thighs” How to talk about health without weight talk What to do when your own inner critic shows up How to interrupt diet culture at home The first step to raising a body-confident kid, even if you didn’t grow up as one 📩 Subscribe to The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast for more episodes on parenting with confidence and clarity. Leave a review using the hashtag #ModernMommyDoc.
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