More than Milestones

Perimenopause isn’t a sudden switch, it’s a gradual shift that can begin years before most women realize what’s happening. I sit down with Dr. Amy Shah, double board certified MD and nutrition expert, to unpack what perimenopause actually is, why women’s symptoms have historically been misunderstood in medicine, and how to feel empowered instead of blindsided during this transition. Together, we reframe this season of life as an opportunity to build strength, resilience, and long term health from the inside out.

Key Topics Covered:
The 7 to 10 year hormonal transition and how it unfolds over time.
Why women have been underrepresented in medical research.
Cortisol, estrogen, and progesterone explained in simple terms.
Early signs that signal shifting hormones.
The gut hormone brain connection and why the gut acts as a control center.
How nutritional needs evolve in your late 30s and 40s.
Intermittent fasting for women and what to consider.
Why prioritizing protein, fiber, and probiotics matters.
Using food to build strength rather than shrink your body.
Questions to ask when searching for a supportive healthcare provider.

Dr. Amy Shah’s Book, Hormone Havoc: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/hormone-havoc-amy-shah-md?variant=43869469081634 

Follow Dr. Amy Shah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dramyshah/

Dr. Amy’s Website: https://amymdwellness.com/

Links & Resources

💻 Website & Blog:
 https://www.milestonesandmotherhood.com/

📱Follow KC for daily motor milestone tips & parenting support:
 https://www.instagram.com/milesto nes.and.motherhood/

🎧 Follow podcast updates & new episode drops:
 https://www.instagram.com/more.than.milestones/

🆓 Get my free tummy time training: Mastering Milestones with Confidence
https://www.milestonesandmotherhood.com/freetraining

📬 Join the email list for milestone tips + podcast updates
https://idyllic-hat-942.myflodesk.com/fwefz61097

🛒 Shop KC’s favorite mom & baby finds:
 https://links.milestonesandmotherhood.com/amazon/amazonstorefrontmm

🤝 Sponsor or guest inquiries?
Contact us at [email protected]

 Go deeper with KC on Substack
More Than Milestones: Unfiltered is my subscription channel where I release 2 exclusive bonus episodes every month. Even more raw, unfiltered motherhood chats you won’t hear anywhere else.
https://substack.com/@morethanmilestones

Love what you’re hearing? Follow, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow mom or caregiver who needs a litt

Attachment isn’t just a parenting buzzword. It’s the invisible thread that shapes how we connect, love, and feel safe for the rest of our lives. In this powerful conversation, therapist, author, and the face behind @attachmentnerd, Eli Harwood brings nearly two decades of clinical experience to unpack what attachment really means, why secure relationships matter far beyond childhood, and how parents can intentionally build safety and trust with their children. From understanding the different attachment styles to exploring whether healing your own wounds can truly impact your parenting, this episode offers clarity, hope, and practical tools. Eli also shares four realistic ways to foster secure relationships at home and a simple but transformative activity that helps children feel safe bringing any topic to their parents.

Key Topics Covered:
What attachment is and why humans are wired for connection.
The different attachment categories and how caregiver reliability shapes them.
Why attachment styles are flexible and can evolve over time.
How to identify your own attachment style and recognize patterns in your child.
The pressure to “break cycles” and how that mindset impacts today’s parents.
Whether healing your past can influence your child’s sense of security.
What reflective function is and why it matters.
A nuanced conversation around sleep training and attachment.
Four attainable strategies to strengthen connection at home.
A practical communication exercise to help kids feel safe opening up.

Follow Eli on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/attachmentnerd/

Follow Eli on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/attachmentnerd

Visit Eli’s Website: https://www.attachmentnerd.com/

Eli’s Adult Journal: https://links.milestonesandmotherhood.com/amzn/securely-attached-workbook

Raising Securely Attached Kids: https://links.milestonesandmotherhood.com/amzn/raising-securely-attached-kids

The Mother/Daughter Journal - Uniquely Us: https://links.milestonesandmotherhood.com/amzn/uniquely-us-mother-daughter-journal

How to Deal with Your BEEP! So Your Kids Don’t Have To: https://links.milestonesandmotherhood.com/amzn/how-to-deal

Links & Resources

💻 Website & Blog:
 https://www.milestonesandmotherhood.com/

📱Follow KC for daily motor milestone tips & parenting support:
 https://www.instagram.com/milesto nes.and.motherhood/

🎧 Follow podcast updates & new episode drops:
 https://www.instagram.com/more.than.milestones/

🆓 Get my free tummy time training: Mastering Milestones with Confidence

This episode is a fun, rapid fire hot takes roundup straight from my Instagram community, where nothing was off limits and everything from jorts to uninviting kids from weddings made the list. Pineapple on pizza? Pickle potato chips? Taking three kids anywhere in public? We’re covering it all.
I share how my perspective has shifted from first time mom to third time mom and how experience has softened some of my rigid thinking. We talk shared bank accounts, who gets up in the middle of the night, in law dynamics, co-sleeping, mommy wine culture, intimacy after kids, and whether no gift birthday parties are actually a gift to parents. I also weigh in on helmets and torticollis, and one of those is absolutely not something to ignore. This conversation is lighthearted and honest, but also a reminder that most things in motherhood are nuanced and confidence often comes with time, growth, and doing what truly works for your family.

Links & Resources

💻 Website & Blog:
 https://www.milestonesandmotherhood.com/

📱Follow KC for daily motor milestone tips & parenting support:
 https://www.instagram.com/milesto nes.and.motherhood/

🎧 Follow podcast updates & new episode drops:
 https://www.instagram.com/more.than.milestones/

🆓 Get my free tummy time training: Mastering Milestones with Confidence
https://www.milestonesandmotherhood.com/freetraining

📬 Join the email list for milestone tips + podcast updates
https://idyllic-hat-942.myflodesk.com/fwefz61097

🛒 Shop KC’s favorite mom & baby finds:
 https://links.milestonesandmotherhood.com/amazon/amazonstorefrontmm

🤝 Sponsor or guest inquiries?
Contact us at [email protected]

 Go deeper with KC on Substack
More Than Milestones: Unfiltered is my subscription channel where I release 2 exclusive bonus episodes every month. Even more raw, unfiltered motherhood chats you won’t hear anywhere else.
https://substack.com/@morethanmilestones

Love what you’re hearing? Follow, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow mom or caregiver who needs a little less pressure and a little more support. 🤍

This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.

Alyssa Campbell joins More than Milestones to dive into one of the most overlooked yet critical stages of child development: ages 5 to 12. With a master’s degree in early childhood education, research experience in emotional development, and as the founder of Seed and Sew and a two-time bestselling author, Alyssa helps parents understand why big emotions in big kids are not something to fix, but information to listen to. We explore how emotional and social development shows up differently in school-aged kids compared to toddlers, why connection is the foundation for everything, and how parents can stay close even as peer influence grows. This conversation offers practical insight for navigating big feelings, conflict, honesty, and tough topics with confidence and compassion.

Key Topics Covered

Why ages 5 to 12 are a critical and often overlooked stage of emotional development
How big emotions show up differently in school-aged kids versus toddlers
Why big emotions are not a phase, but important information
The nine senses and how they influence emotional regulation in kids
How to identify what triggers your individual child and what they truly need
Staying connected as kids start prioritizing peer relationships
How to repair after missteps in connection with your child
Talking to kids about puberty, sex, drugs, and peer pressure earlier than expected
Why lying can be developmentally appropriate at this age and how to respond
Navigating conflict between kids and knowing when to step in versus step back

Follow Alyssa on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/seed.and.sew/

Alyssa’s Website: https://www.seedandsew.org/about

Free Questionnaire: https://regulationroadmap.softr.app/

Get Your Copy of Alyssa’s Book Tiny Humans, Big Emotions: https://links.milestonesandmotherhood.com/amzn/Tiny-Humans-Big-Emotions-book

Get Your Copy of Alyssa’s Book Big Kids, Bigger Feelings: https://links.milestonesandmotherhood.com/amzn/big-kids-bigger-feelings-book

Links & Resources

💻 Website & Blog:
 https://www.milestonesandmotherhood.com/

🎧 Follow podcast updates & new episode drops:
 https://www.instagram.com/more.than.milestones/

📬 Join the email list for milestone tips + podcast updates
https://idyllic-hat-942.myflodesk.com/fwefz61097

 Go deeper with KC on Substack
More Than Milestones: Unfiltered is my subscription channel where I release 2 exclusive bonus episodes every month. Even more raw, unfiltered motherhood chats you won’t hear anywhere else.
https://substack.com/@morethanmilestones

If you’ve ever felt like your partner turned into a roommate after kids, this conversation is for you. I'm joined by the one and only Vanessa and Xander Marin. Vanessa is a licensed psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience in sex therapy, and Xander left his career at Google to focus on helping couples talk openly about sex. In this episode, we dive into the “roommate phase,” the bristle reaction, and what it really looks like to reconnect sexually after kids. Vanessa and Xander normalize the fact that every couple struggles with intimacy, from mismatched sex drives to communication breakdowns and share practical, realistic tools to help partners feel less alone and more connected. 

Key Topics Covered

Why intimacy shifts for every couple

The “roommate phase” and how couples drift

Preparing for how parenthood impacts your sex life

Mom mode → me mode → we mode, and why transition time matters after birth

Mental desire vs. physical arousal, including responsive desire

How to communicate needs and invite reconnection without rejection

Why sex shouldn’t feel like a chore—and how to rebuild real connection

Follow Vanessa + Xander on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessaandxander/

Visit Vanessa + Xander’s Website: vmtherapy.com

Their Book; Sex Talks: https://sextalksbook.com/

Links & Resources

💻 Website & Blog:
 https://www.milestonesandmotherhood.com/

📱Follow KC for daily motor milestone tips & parenting support:
 https://www.instagram.com/milesto nes.and.motherhood/

🎧 Follow podcast updates & new episode drops:
 https://www.instagram.com/more.than.milestones/

🆓 Get my free tummy time training: Mastering Milestones with Confidence
https://www.milestonesandmotherhood.com/freetraining

📬 Join the email list for milestone tips + podcast updates
https://idyllic-hat-942.myflodesk.com/fwefz61097

🛒 Shop KC’s favorite mom & baby finds:
 https://links.milestonesandmotherhood.com/amazon/amazonstorefrontmm

🤝 Sponsor or guest inquiries?
Contact us at [email protected]

 Go deeper with KC on Substack
More Than Milestones: Unfiltered is my subscription channel where I release 2 exclusive bonus episodes every month. Even more raw, unfiltered motherhood chats you won’t hear anywhere else.
https://substack.com/@morethanmilestones

Love what you’re hearing? Follow, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow mom or caregiver who needs a little less pressure and a little more support. 🤍