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Parenting Shrink Wrapped
Samantha Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner
56 episodes
4 days ago
Send us a text The holidays come with a lot of pressure…especially when you’re parenting teens. In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa talk about the idea of the “good enough” holiday and why letting go of perfection can actually lead to more connection, less stress, and better outcomes for your family. From navigating changing traditions and teen pushback to setting boundaries with extended family and releasing unrealistic expectations, this conversation offers practica...
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Parenting
Kids & Family
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All content for Parenting Shrink Wrapped is the property of Samantha Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Send us a text The holidays come with a lot of pressure…especially when you’re parenting teens. In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa talk about the idea of the “good enough” holiday and why letting go of perfection can actually lead to more connection, less stress, and better outcomes for your family. From navigating changing traditions and teen pushback to setting boundaries with extended family and releasing unrealistic expectations, this conversation offers practica...
Show more...
Parenting
Kids & Family
Episodes (20/56)
Parenting Shrink Wrapped
#58 - Mindful Parenting with Kristin Whiting-Davis
Send us a text Parenting comes with an invisible mental load that many caregivers carry without even realizing it. In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa are joined by therapist and mindfulness facilitator Kristin Whiting-Davis to explore the emotional weight of caregiving, unconscious “shoulds,” and the tendency for parents to over-function. They discuss why parenting can feel so exhausting, how constant vigilance impacts stress and well-being, and how small moments of ...
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5 days ago
42 minutes

Parenting Shrink Wrapped
#57 Navigating Teen Parties: A Parent's Perspective
Send us a text Teen parties can bring up a lot of anxiety for parents—especially around safety, substances, and peer pressure. In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa talk about how to navigate teenage parties with clarity instead of fear. They explore how to set clear expectations, understand your teen’s risk profile, manage parental anxiety, and balance safety with autonomy. This conversation offers practical frameworks and real-world guidance to help parents say ...
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1 week ago
38 minutes

Parenting Shrink Wrapped
The “Good Enough” Holiday: Letting Go of Perfection
Send us a text The holidays come with a lot of pressure…especially when you’re parenting teens. In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa talk about the idea of the “good enough” holiday and why letting go of perfection can actually lead to more connection, less stress, and better outcomes for your family. From navigating changing traditions and teen pushback to setting boundaries with extended family and releasing unrealistic expectations, this conversation offers practica...
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2 weeks ago
38 minutes

Parenting Shrink Wrapped
#55 Thanks, But No: Holding Boundaries With Other Parents Without Burning Bridges
Send us a text In this episode, Sam and Melissa unpack one of the most common parenting challenges: setting boundaries with other parents. From playdates and birthday parties to sleepovers, tech rules, and teen hangouts, every stage brings new situations that test your comfort level and your values. Sam shares personal stories and practical strategies for saying “no” kindly, navigating awkward moments, and using the word “and” to hold firm boundaries while still supporting your child’s social...
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3 weeks ago
36 minutes

Parenting Shrink Wrapped
#54 What Parent Coaching Really Is — And How It Transforms Your Relationship With Your Teen
Send us a text In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Melissa flips the script and interviews Sam about what parent coaching actually is, how it differs from therapy, and why it can be such a game-changer for families. Sam shares her journey from teacher to clinician to parent coach, the most common challenges parents bring her, and why understanding the teen brain is the key to calmer, more effective parenting. She also breaks down her signature tools—like rolling with resistance...
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1 month ago
37 minutes

Parenting Shrink Wrapped
#53 Parenting Shrink Wrapped Turns One: Lessons, Laughs, and What We’ve Learned Helping Parents This Year
Send us a text In this one-year anniversary episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Melissa and Sam look back on the wild, wonderful journey of launching a parenting podcast with zero experience and a whole lot of heart. From favorite guest moments to personal growth, ADHD insights, holiday stress tips, and navigating parenting through chronic illness, this episode is equal parts honest, funny, and deeply relatable. If you're a parent craving practical tools, real-life stories, and expert guidan...
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1 month ago
39 minutes

Parenting Shrink Wrapped
#52 Psychoeducational Testing Explained: How to Understand Your Child's Behavior, Learning, and Mental Health with Dr. Eryn Kruger
Send us a text In this episode, Sam and Melissa sit down with clinical psychologist Dr. Eryn Kruger to demystify psychoeducational testing—what it is, why it matters, and how it can reveal the real reasons behind a child’s struggles at home or school. Dr. Kruger explains how testing goes far beyond “taking a test,” offering insight into a child’s learning style, processing speed, executive functioning, attention, and emotional health. Together, they unpack why bright kids can still fall...
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1 month ago
41 minutes

Parenting Shrink Wrapped
Parenting Teens Through Substance Curiosity: How to Stay Their Safe Person
Send us a text Teen substance use looks very different today. Sam and Dr. Melissa talk with clinician Allison Scarinzi about vaping, cannabis, synthetics, early conversations, red flags, and how to stay your teen’s safe person. This episode blends practical tools with compassionate guidance for parents navigating curiosity, peer pressure, and risk. About Allison Allison Scarinzi, LCSW-C, is the founder of Lotus Psychotherapy in Annapolis. She specializes in trauma-informed care, mental healt...
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1 month ago
44 minutes

Parenting Shrink Wrapped
How Oral Habits Shape Speech, Breathing & Development with Ana Curtin, SLP
Send us a text Speech pathologist Ana Curtin joins Sam and Dr. Melissa to uncover how early oral habits—like thumb-sucking, pacifiers, and tongue ties—can impact airway development, sleep, focus, and emotional health well into the teen years. About Ana Ana Curtin is a speech-language pathologist and founder of S.P.E.A.K., LLC, a highly specialized practice serving children with mild to complex speech and feeding needs since 2002. She’s known for her collaborative, team-based...
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2 months ago
33 minutes

Parenting Shrink Wrapped
#49 Functional Medicine for Kids: A Pediatrician’s Holistic Approach to Root Causes with Dr. Rebecca Vickers
Send us a text Pediatrician Dr. Rebecca Vickers joins Sam Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner to discuss how functional medicine is transforming pediatric care. From gut health and food sensitivities to chronic inflammation, anxiety, and attention issues, Dr. Vickers explains why so many kids are getting sicker — and how parents can help uncover the root causes behind their child’s symptoms. Learn practical tips on improving kids’ health through nutrition, supplements, and lifestyle changes ...
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2 months ago
36 minutes

Parenting Shrink Wrapped
When Traditional School Doesn’t Fit: How Fusion Academy Helps Teens Thrive
Send us a text If your teen dreads school, struggles to keep up, or feels unseen in a traditional classroom, this episode will open your eyes to what’s possible. Sam and Melissa sit down with Rebecca Luhm and Tonya Gardner from Fusion Academy in Columbia, Maryland—a one-to-one learning environment that helps students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. They discuss how Fusion supports neurodiverse learners, students managing anxiety or chronic illness, and high-achievers who need...
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2 months ago
38 minutes

Parenting Shrink Wrapped
#47 Halloween with Kids: How the Holiday Changes from Toddlers to Teens
Send us a text From pumpkin costumes and family trick-or-treating to teen parties and candy negotiations, Halloween looks different at every stage of parenting. In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Dr. Melissa Wellner and Sam Straub share funny memories, honest confessions (including Sam’s strong feelings about chocolate), and practical advice for navigating Halloween as your kids grow up. They talk about the chaos of toddler meltdowns, the bittersweet shift when tweens want ind...
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2 months ago
35 minutes

Parenting Shrink Wrapped
Believing, Supporting, Protecting: Helping Kids Heal from Trauma with Courtney Glickman
Send us a text In this powerful episode, Sam and Melissa talk with Dr. Courtney Glickman, founder of The Collective Healing Center in Annapolis, MD, about how parents can recognize, respond to, and support children who have experienced sexual trauma—or any deeply distressing event. Dr. Glickman explains how trauma shows up differently in kids, why disclosure can be so difficult, and how parents can help their children heal through connection, consistency, and compassion. She also breaks down ...
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2 months ago
43 minutes

Parenting Shrink Wrapped
#45 Raising Bicultural Kids: Parenting Insights with Maria Winters
Send us a text Parenting coach Sam Straub and Dr. Melissa Wellner talk with counselor and life coach Maria Winters about raising bicultural kids. Maria shares her journey from Venezuela to the U.S., the cultural mix in her family, and what it’s like to raise children with two languages and traditions. They explore the joys and challenges of bicultural parenting, from building empathy and flexibility to helping kids navigate identity, language, and family expectations. About Maria ...
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3 months ago
41 minutes

Parenting Shrink Wrapped
#44 Helping Kids and Families Navigate Grief with Marna Brickman
Send us a text Grief touches every family, yet many of us feel unsure how to guide ourselves—or our kids—through it. In this heartfelt conversation, Sam and Melissa talk with grief specialist Marna Brickman, LCSW-C, about the many forms grief can take, how it shows up in children and adults, and ways to honor loss while staying connected as a family. Marna shares how parents can: Normalize grief in kids of all agesModel healthy emotional expressionCreate rituals of remembranceFind meaning and...
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3 months ago
35 minutes

Parenting Shrink Wrapped
#43 Parenting Judgement: Why It Hurts and How to Stop It
Send us a text In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa unpack the sting of parenting judgment—both giving it and receiving it. Melissa shares a real-life Dunkin’ Donuts story involving a five-year-old, a pair of scissors, and an impromptu 80s rocker haircut that sparked an unhelpful comment from a stranger. Together, Sam and Melissa explore why parents judge each other, how comparison is hardwired into our brains, and the damage it can do to our sense of community. They o...
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3 months ago
36 minutes

Parenting Shrink Wrapped
#42 College Admissions Tips for Parents: What You Need to Know About the Application Process
Send us a text In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa welcome Sam’s sister, Kate Peltz—an experienced college admissions counselor and former director of college counseling at Concord Academy. Kate shares what parents often don’t realize about the college application process, from the emotional rollercoaster seniors face to the hidden pressures parents bring to the table. Resources from the Episode Backyard College Counseling Fiske Guide to CollegesGuide to Colleges...
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3 months ago
42 minutes

Parenting Shrink Wrapped
#41 Who’s Watching the Kids? Finding, Trusting, and Letting Go of Childcare
Send us a text Childcare is one of the biggest challenges modern parents face—whether it’s during a crisis like COVID, while juggling work schedules, or simply trying to carve out time for your own sanity. In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa dive into the real-life stories, lessons, and tough decisions that come with hiring, trusting, and sometimes saying goodbye to babysitters, nannies, and other caregivers. From Melissa’s experience of holding on tight to a full-tim...
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4 months ago
41 minutes

Parenting Shrink Wrapped
#40 Parenting with Purpose: Checking Your Motivation and Building Resilient Kids with Christa Welch
Send us a text In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Melissa and Sam welcome Christa Welch, LCSW-C, founder of The Betty Center in Annapolis, MD. Krista shares the inspiring story behind naming the center after her mother, “OG Betty,” and how it has grown into a supportive hub for women, families, and the community. Together, they dive into practical parenting wisdom—including how to check your motivation as a parent, shift your language around chores and responsibilities, and help kid...
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4 months ago
43 minutes

Parenting Shrink Wrapped
#39 Nature of the Beast | Back to School Tips for Elementary with Jennifer Ruef
Send us a text Back-to-school tips for elementary kids go beyond pencils and backpacks. Sam and Melissa talk with child therapist Jennifer Ruef about what kids—and parents—really face from kindergarten to 5th grade, academically, socially, and emotionally. In this episode: The emotional rollercoaster of sending a child to kindergartenWhy 3rd grade marks such a big academic and social leapHow perfectionism and homework battles show up in 1st–4th gradeThe unique mix of confidence an...
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4 months ago
47 minutes

Parenting Shrink Wrapped
Send us a text The holidays come with a lot of pressure…especially when you’re parenting teens. In this episode of Parenting Shrink Wrapped, Sam and Melissa talk about the idea of the “good enough” holiday and why letting go of perfection can actually lead to more connection, less stress, and better outcomes for your family. From navigating changing traditions and teen pushback to setting boundaries with extended family and releasing unrealistic expectations, this conversation offers practica...