The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom

Many parents worry when their child seems shy. But is it actually shyness, or something more?

In this episode, we unpack the difference between a “slow to warm” temperament and an anxiety disorder. We talk about why labeling kids as shy can unintentionally limit them, how social expectations play a role, and what supportive parenting really looks like in those hesitant moments.

We discuss:

• What “slow to warm” actually means
• The key difference between temperament and anxiety
• Why the word shy can become a self-fulfilling label
• How to support kids in new or overwhelming situations
• The importance of preparation and gentle exposure
• When behavior differences across settings may signal anxiety
• Signs of selective mutism and more serious anxiety concerns
• Why evidence-based therapy should include parent involvement

Want more? Listen to the full, original episode.

Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠!

And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Motherhood is often painted as pure joy, endless patience, and unconditional love.

But what about the moments of frustration? The resentment? The overwhelm? The quiet thought of, “I love my child… but this is really hard.”

In this episode, I sit down with psychotherapist Dr. Margo Lowy to talk about maternal ambivalence – the completely normal experience of holding love and difficult emotions at the same time. We unpack the difference between ambivalence and indifference, why so many mothers feel guilt for being human, and how naming these emotions actually strengthens connection rather than weakens it.

If you’ve ever questioned yourself because motherhood didn’t feel magical 100 percent of the time, this conversation will feel like exhaling.

We discuss:

• What maternal ambivalence really means and why it’s misunderstood • Why loving your child and feeling frustrated can coexist • The myth of the “perfect, selfless mother” • How social media fuels unrealistic expectations • Why naming difficult emotions reduces shame • The power of community and choosing supportive voices • How humor and lightness protect us in hard seasons • Why responding instead of reacting changes everything • The importance of modeling emotional honesty for our children

To connect with Dr. Margo Lowy follow her on Instagram @drmargolowy, check out all her resources at https://drmargolowy.com/ and buy her books: https://drmargolowy.com/book/ 

00:00 – Intro: Why Difficult Feelings in Motherhood Matter

01:21 – Introducing Dr. Margo Lowy and Maternal Ambivalence

02:57 – What Maternal Ambivalence Actually Means

06:00 – Ambivalence vs Indifference: A Critical Difference

07:49 – The Myth of the Perfect, Selfless Mother

09:08 – Why Suppressing Difficult Emotions Backfires

11:01 – Letting Go of Perfection in Parenting

13:09 – The Moment You Realize Your Child Is Separate From You

17:08 – Do Fathers Experience Parenting Ambivalence Too?

19:03 – Why Parenting Plans Rarely Go as Expected

22:49 – The Power of Community and Support in Motherhood

29:11 – Social Media and the Pressure to Be the “Perfect Mom”

33:30 – How Accepting Imperfection Strengthens Parenting

43:16 – Naming Ambivalence and Finding Compassion for Yourself

49:22 – Final Takeaway: Why Naming Your Feelings Changes Everything

Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠!

And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A question I get often is: “How do I know if EMDR might be right for me?”

In this episode, we break down what EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) actually is, who it can help, and what a session really looks like.

Originally developed to treat PTSD, EMDR is now used to support people struggling with birth trauma, childhood experiences, anxiety, panic, phobias, depression, parenting triggers, and more. You do not need a formal diagnosis to benefit from it. Many parents come in simply feeling reactive, overwhelmed, or triggered in ways they do not fully understand.

We discuss:

• How trauma and intense experiences are stored in the brain
• Why certain parenting moments can feel disproportionately triggering
• What “reprocessing” actually means
• The science behind bilateral stimulation and REM sleep
• The phases of EMDR therapy
• What safety and preparation look like before starting
• What a session may involve, including eye movements, tapping, or tones
• Why EMDR is about healing, not retraumatizing

Want more? Listen to the full, original episode.

Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠!

And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this solo episode, I reflect on a question that stopped me in my tracks: Why am I not worthy of my own love? Inspired by the passing of James Van Der Beek and a clip that deeply moved me, this conversation opens up a bigger discussion about self-love, self-worth, and how both begin taking shape in childhood.

As a pediatrician and mom, I share why helping our children build a strong sense of worth may be one of the most important things we ever do. We talk about how unconditional love, emotional validation, secure attachment, and the way we speak to our kids, and ourselves, all shape the inner voice they carry for life. I also explore how comparison, shame, performance-based praise, and dismissed emotions can quietly chip away at self-worth over time.

What I discuss:


Why self-love and self-worth begin forming in childhood


How unconditional love helps children feel secure and worthy


The link between secure attachment and lifelong self-worth


Why tying worth to grades, behavior, or achievement can backfire


How dismissed emotions can shape a child’s inner voice


The harm of comparison, and what to say instead


Why kids learn self-love by watching how we treat ourselves


Small ways parents can model self-compassion at home


How the way we speak to our children becomes the way they speak to themselves

00:00 Intro, The Inner Voice Kids Carry for Life
01:16 The James Van Der Beek Question That Sparked This Episode
04:43 Why Self-Love Shapes a Child’s Whole Life
08:06 How Self-Worth Gets Chipped Away in Childhood
09:58 Unconditional Love and Secure Attachment Build Self-Worth
11:54 Why Kids Should Not Tie Their Worth to Achievement
13:17 Emotional Validation, Comparison, and Protecting a Child’s Sense of Self
15:45 How Kids Learn Self-Love by Watching Us

Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠.

Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠!

And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We talk a lot about maternal mental health postpartum. But we do not talk enough about dads.

In this episode, my husband joins me for an honest conversation about paternal mental health, birth trauma, pressure, and what it felt like to become a father while navigating medical complications and the early days of the pandemic.

We discuss the silent expectations placed on fathers to be “the strong one,” to go back to work quickly, to provide, and to hold everything together — often without anyone asking how they are actually doing.

This episode is about normalizing the fact that postpartum mental health affects both parents.

We talk about:

• Why paternal mental health is often overlooked

• The impact of traumatic birth experiences on dads

• The pressure to return to work quickly, especially in medicine

• Sleep deprivation, financial stress, and identity shifts

• How the pandemic intensified anxiety for healthcare workers

• Why therapy is not just for crisis, but for maintenance

• Reparenting yourself while parenting your children

• How prioritizing mental health makes you a more present partner and parent

Want more? Listen to the full, ⁠⁠⁠original episode⁠⁠⁠.

Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and⁠ ⁠⁠⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident.⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

And don’t forget to follow⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support.

We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the⁠ ⁠⁠⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠⁠⁠⁠ page of the website. 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices