MMD BLOG


CATEGORY:

CENTERED VISION

HOW TO SAVE YOUR BEST YES

 Modern Mommy Doc


PUBLICATION DATE:

March 28, 2022

HOW TO SAVE YOUR BEST YES

 Modern Mommy Doc

CATEGORY: CENTERED VISION

Every year, I have several different invitations come my way that are for various fundraisers. You get a ton of them as a doctor, but especially as a pediatrician, we are hit with a looooot. Because there are SO many worthy causes out there involving kids. And I wish I could give, participate, and bring awareness to every single one of them.


And for a long time, it bothered me when I couldn’t. Knowing that there were kids going untreated “because of me” made me sick.


But I’ve come to realize that A) it wouldn’t be financially responsible for me to give to each one. That would be detrimental to my family and our financial health and B) it doesn’t reflect negatively on my character or my worth as a doctor if I only give to those organizations that are closest to my heart and I feel like I can really be useful to.


I wanna talk about the last corner of our Centered Vision (which is a circle…but we’re talking about the things that are outside that, in the box of Life. Confused?
Start here.)

We’ve talked about The Non-Negotiables, The Swappables, The Contaminators, and this week we’re talking about The Heartstrings.


Heartstrings are tasks that are actually important to you, whether it’s because you have to do them or even want to do them, but they still are outside that circle containing your ultimate vision for your life. 


These are things like calling your grandparents, making (and then actually going to!) healthcare appointments, and that trip to your in-laws (this might feel more like a Contaminator to you 🤣).


The number one piece of advice I can tell you about how to handle heartstrings is with strong and clear boundaries. Having those in place actually helps protect those relationships and keeps them in a healthy place.

You call your grandma every Sunday at 11am. It’s a time that is usually pretty chill in your house and you know she’s home until 12. You LOVE talking to your grandma. It’s such a sweet hour of your week that really does light you up and you know it’s special to her too.


You’re so grateful that you get that time.


What happens when you find out your cousin actually talks to her a few times a week? Or your mom says that she’d actually love to hear from you more? If you aren’t really careful, it can turn into a competition OR sour the time that normally love.


Having healthy boundaries lets you say, “I really enjoy our Sunday calls so much!” without a hint of guilt. Boundaries allow you to keep looking forward to that time with zero resentment.


What about setting your dentist appointments? How do boundaries affect that? Well you’re actually setting clear boundaries with yourself. When you decide that you can cancel the appointment because you’re too busy at work, you’re speaking into that self-fulfilling prophecy that you aren’t worth taking care of. That all your worth is found in your productivity.


Trips to the in-laws can be/need to be fuuuuuull of healthy boundaries. Going for the amount of days that feel like a blessing and not a burden allows you to really feel like you can be present the entire time. Saying, “We’re so thankful for your hospitality, but we are actually going to stay at a hotel,” allows you to have a space to reset each day so that your entire family gets the best version of you.


Heartstrings are in your life for a reason: they’re important to you. But so is eating cookies. Both things are better when you’ve got really healthy boundaries in place so you can reeeeeally enjoy them.


Raising Body-Confident Kids Starts at the Doctor's Office!

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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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By Dr. Whitney December 17, 2025
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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