On today’s episode, Melissa explains what Adverse Childhood Experiences are, where they came from, and why we need to be aware of them. Melissa also explores things to think about with ACES and building resilience in the kids in our lives. If you have never heard of ACEs, or even if you have, this is a good episode to better understand adversity in early childhood.

On today’s episode, Melissa sits down with Breanne LaMoureaux as she shares about her own journey towards healing. Breanne opens up about some of the hard moments in her life that ultimately led her to where she is today. She is excited about her future and being able to share healing with others in the same way she has been able to move into a place of wholeness.

On today’s episode, Melissa talks about some of the most commonly asked questions from this past year and gives some good tips and tricks. She also shares the top three Instagram Reels from the past two months and why she thinks they were so popular. Finally, Melissa talks about the exciting things coming in the New Year with the podcast and her business, Mending Families. You won’t want to miss this one!

On today’s episode, Melissa chats with her husband Jon about Christmas, the holidays, Santa, and also some other random stuff. It’s always a fun time when both Melissa and Jon are on the show so you will definitely get some good tips, but also will mostly just laugh a lot. Enjoy!

On today’s episode, Melissa interviews three of her children about all things Christmas! It’s fun and entertaining….stick around until the end when her son Niah tells a very creative fiction Christmas story that you won’t want to miss! Happy Holidays!

On today’s episode, Melissa and her three friends, Hannah, Cassie and Danielle, all share their thoughts on the best and not so best Christmas gifts for kids. Whether you are looking for ideas for your own kids, or you are a relative, teacher, coach or neighbor, these ladies have all the greatest ideas! See below for links to purchase many of the items they chat about!

On today’s episode, Julee shares about how her family got into foster care and how that has led them down the path of moving towards adoption. Julee opens up about how their decision to foster didn’t happen overnight and through grief and loss in their life, they moved slowly. She talks about the ups and downs of foster care, and gives us some great things to consider when stepping into parenting kids from hard places.

On today’s episode, Hannah shares their journey to adopting their son and all that they learned along the way. We also talk about invisible disabilities and Hannah gives some great things for us to think about whether as a supporter/friend or a parent in the thick of parenting a kid from hard. Stay until the end because she gives us some resources that you are going to want to check out!

On today’s episode, Taffee shares how her family changed their mindset around foster parenting, and although they did adopt their four girls through the foster care system, Taffee talks about how they hold birth family relationships in a different light now. Taffee also shares the struggles of parenting kids from trauma, as well as the ways that they have learned to do new and better for their kids. She also gives us some good things to think about with how best to help our kids.

On today’s episode, Meaghan starts out by talking about how she became the “book lady”, or more commonly known as a Story Maker. We talk about books that can help with social/emotional development and mindfulness. Meaghan then shares about what led her and her husband into becoming foster parents, which ultimately led to adoption. We discuss adopting out of birth order, adopting from the foster care system, open adoptions and continued contact with birth families, including sibling connections. What an amazing start to National Adoption Month!