Mending Families Podcast
Mending Families Podcast
Mending Families is hosted by Melissa Pemberton and she brings you weekly content that is a mix of trauma aware interviews, parenting tips for those caring for kids from adversity, and stories from people just like you as they share their beautiful messy moments.
Melissa hopes that when you listen each week, you will feel encouraged, inspired and take a little something away to help you and your family move from broken to mended.
To help keep the podcast going, consider becoming a monthly donor to help cover the costs!
Introducing Mending Families - Trailer
Are you in the trenches of parenting kids from adversity and trauma? Do you find yourself wondering why the "typical parenting strategies" are not working for your family? That those strategies seem to make matters worse? Are you a friend or family member of someone parenting kids from hard and you just don't know how to help? In fact, maybe you don't even fully understand why the struggle is so real for them? Are you a professional, teacher, therapist, social worker, or advocate that wants to better understand how trauma is effecting the kids you are working with? Then this podcast is for you...for all of you!
We all have kids in our lives who have (or are going to) experienced trauma and the reality is, trauma does affect child development, emotional regulation, brain development and so much more. So let's dig in to better understanding trauma. Let's have real talk about how hard it is to parent kids who have experienced trauma, especially if we are still doing our own healing of trauma. Let's not be afraid to talk about trauma, parenting and the healing journey we are all on! Remember, trauma awareness is important for our future generations and it starts with you!
Episode 28 - Robyn Gobbel
On today’s episode, Robyn walks us through the parts of the brain (Owl, Watchdog, Possum) and how we can view our kids’ big, baffling behaviors from a different perspective. She shares her thoughts on consequences and whether they are necessary to change our kids’ behaviors. This conversation with Robyn was so easy because she makes parenting sound easy and doable! If you are struggling with big, baffling behaviors from your kids, this episode will give you some great starting places to make positive changes within your home!
Episode 27 - Mondays with Melissa
On today’s episode, Melissa shares some thoughts about how the educational system can provide safer spaces for our kids. She also will give caregivers a few pointers from her own personal experience of raising 4 kids, some of which are still in the school system. Whether you are an educator, or a caregiver, this episode is for you!
Episode 26 - Destiny Huff
On today’s episode, Destiny talks about some of her favorite places to live and where she hopes to land eventually. She shares how she got into the field of helping others and how her own story led her to becoming an IEP advocate. Destiny provides tips when working with the school systems to provide the best plan for your child. I learned so much from this episode and am excited to share it with you!
Episode 25- Jessica Sinarski
On today’s episode, Jessica talks with us about how she works to help educators learn more about trauma and approach teaching through a trauma informed lens. She also talks about how Riley the Brave came to be and shares about her latest Riley project that was recently released. Whether you are a parent, a teacher, or have a child in your life, you will be sure to get something out of this episode!
Episode 24 - Mondays with Melissa
On today’s episode, Melissa gives you some things to think about when it comes to using breathwork and mindfulness with your kids. She has broken these ideas down and provides you with practical strategies to help support you as you are working through how to help your kiddos heal. Remember that change takes time so don’t get overwhelmed! Come back to this later if you need to! You got this!
Episode 23 - Hannah Talbot
On today’s episode, Hannah shares about how Anam Cara came to be and dives into the healing that you can find through mindfulness, meditation, somatic work, and breathwork. Hannah talks us through the importance of breathwork and how to start using this to heal your nervous system today. She gives us great resources to start the journey of healing through mindfulness, meditation and breathwork and is such a joy to listen to!
Episode 22 - Mondays with Melissa
On today’s episode, Melissa goes through some things for you to consider when searching for community. She also talks about the importance of community but a few red flags to consider to ensure that you are always on the path towards healing and growth. Community is hard to find sometimes so Melissa gives 3 points for you to consider as you “interview” communities and groups in your area.
Episode 21 - Lisa Qualls
On today’s episode, Lisa shares with us how she got started in writing and what led to each book that she authored. She also shares some exciting news about an upcoming project so you won’t want to miss out! Lisa is so raw and real as she talks about her own struggles as a parent which ultimately led to the community that she co-leads with Melissa Corkum, The Adoption Connection.
Episode 19 - Tori Hope Petersen
On today’s episode, we start the conversation by talking about pageantry and how Tori found herself with the title of Mrs. Universe in 2021. Tori shares how she does not see her title as something that defines her but something she has done as her heart is really to love others the way that she has felt loved by Jesus throughout her life. Listen in as Tori gives us insight into her relationship with her biological mom and how she has found healing an important part of her own parenting journey. Whether you are a foster parent, adoptive parent, teacher, coach, social worker or anyone who touches the lives of kids, this episode will have something for you!
Episode 20 - Mondays with Melissa
On today’s episode, Melissa gives you some things to consider when it comes to parenting. She also talks specifically to foster parents, adoptive parents, relative caregivers, social workers, and churches as she believes that our kids are “our” kids and we all play a role in their healthy development.