pedsdoctalk, P. O. Box 7026, Fort Lauderdale, FL (2026)

06/10/2026

Failure isn't the problem. Avoiding it is.

This week on The PedsDocTalk Podcast I sat down with Shawn Johnson East and Andrew East to talk about their new book "The Courage to Commit" and Shawn said something I’ve been turning over in my head ever since.

Shawn's gymnastics coach celebrated failure. Not tolerated it. Celebrated it. Because if you're not falling, you're not trying hard enough to actually get somewhere.

We all accept that in sports. We watch athletes train for years, fall thousands of times, and we cheer for them anyway. But somehow when it comes to our relationships, our careers, our marriages, we expect it to feel easy. We expect butterflies every day. And the moment things feel hard, we wonder if we chose wrong.
What if we applied that same athlete mindset to everything else?

As a parent, it's hard not to swoop in when our kids struggle. And it's not always clear when to step in versus when to let them keep working through it. We want to protect them from failure, but what if the greatest gift we can give them is showing them that trying and falling and trying again is exactly how success gets built. That it's okay to fall. That we repair. That we show up tomorrow anyway.

If you want more on how Shawn and Andrew have applied this to marriage, parenting, and business, check out their new book "The Courage to Commit." From a gold medal Olympic gymnast and a former NFL pro, this is a real case for why sticking with something is one of the most countercultural things you can do right now.

Comment PODCAST below to get the link to the full podcast episode titled “The Courage to Commit, Why Choosing Less Can Give Us More in Life and in Parenting with Andrew East and Shawn Johnson East” sent to your DMs. We also talk about swipe culture and what it's doing to our relationships, how values-based goal setting changed their marriage, and what Homer's Odyssey has to do with staying focused on what matters most.

MAKE SURE TO LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW if this one resonated with you so it can reach more parents who need it.

What's one thing you want your kids to believe about failure that you wish someone had taught you?

06/10/2026

Before I had my second child, I used to wonder why my friends weren't texting me back.
Now I see a text and it takes me a full week to even remember I need to respond.
I owe so many people an apology.
Motherhood doesn't make you a bad friend. It makes you a maxed out human being doing the best with what's left at the end of the day. And the grace you needed back then? Someone else needs it from you now.
It's not personal. It's just the season.

06/10/2026

Shawn Johnson East built her entire life around commitment - Olympics, marriage, parenting, and now a brand new book with her husband Andrew East called "The Courage to Commit."

And let me tell you, this conversation went places I did not expect.

We talked about why your kids quitting their sport might actually be a parenting win. How Shawn's coach used reverse psychology that every parent needs to steal immediately. Why readiness does not come before commitment - it comes because of it. And what commitment really looks like on the days that aren't pretty, the tired days, the repeat-yourself-for-the-100th-time days.

This one is for every parent wondering if they are doing enough, sticking with the right things, and raising kids who know how to keep going when it gets hard.

Spoiler: you probably are. But listen anyway.

Link to the full episode is in the comments.

06/09/2026

*This video is not sponsored in any way by Disney or Disney Cruises*
I said I would never go on a cruise. Loudly. Frequently. And with full confidence. 😅

Then we booked the Disney Dream and I am currently planning my return trip. 🤩
I went in expecting a floating petri dish with 3,000 strangers in matching shirts. What I got was four nights of genuine magic, a ship that handled every logistical decision I didn't want to make, free soft serve on the pool deck all day, and a 5-year-old who still sings songs from the onboard shows in the shower weeks later.

Was it perfect? No. Our embarkation wait was almost three hours with two small kids and I will not be romanticizing that.

But a rough start did not set the tone for what became one of our favorite family trips.

The pixie dusting culture alone changed me. I had no idea this was a thing and now I'm a full convert. Our fish extender came back full of candy and a card game we are still playing. My kids checked that door like it was Christmas morning every single day.

Comment DREAM below and I'll send you my full newsletter on the Disney Dream - it covers everything. The germ question as a pediatrician mom (yes I went there), the booking timeline that actually matters and what happens if you miss it, honest food reviews, what surprised me about the safety protocols, tips for sensory sensitive kids, pixie dusting, packing must-haves, and whether it's actually worth the money. The real unfiltered version.

Would you ever try a cruise with your kids, or are you where I was before this trip? 👇

06/09/2026

We can’t eliminate social media.

And honestly? Most parents don’t want to.

So maybe the goal isn’t raising kids who never use social media,
maybe it’s raising kids who know how to question it.

Because social media doesn’t just influence what kids buy.
It influences how they see themselves.

That’s why media literacy matters.

Teaching kids to ask:
📱 Is this filtered?
📱 What is this person selling?
📱 Is this realistic?
📱 How does this content make me feel?

And maybe even more importantly… helping kids notice when something online leaves them feeling worse about themselves.

Because this isn’t only about social media.

It’s about building skills that help kids handle:
• Comparison
• Criticism
• Peer pressure
• Feeling “not enough”

We can’t control every message they’ll see online.
But we can help them build the tools to question those messages. 💛

👉 What age did you first notice social media affecting your self-esteem or confidence?

06/09/2026

I said I would never go on a cruise.

I said it loudly. I said it often. I had a whole list of reasons. Floating petri dish. Beige buffet. 3,000 strangers in matching shirts.

Then I took my kids on the Disney Dream and came home immediately texting my best friend about the 2028 trip.

This week I wrote the newsletter I did not expect to write - a completely honest, no-fluff breakdown of what it is actually like to do a Disney cruise with young kids. The germs, the cost, the sensory load, the chaos of embarkation day, the things that surprised me, and the one cruise tradition nobody warns you about that became the highlight of my kids' entire trip.

If you have ever said "I'm not a cruise person" - this one is for you.

Link in the comments.

06/09/2026

Sibling conflict and peer conflict can make parents feel like they need to step in fast, fix it fast, and make it fair fast.

But not every conflict needs a referee. And most parenting guidance you read will say exactly what I feel: Broadcast or narrate vs referee a situation.

A lot of everyday kid conflict is where important social skills get practiced, like handling frustration, using words, noticing another person’s response, and learning that not every uncomfortable moment is a threat.
And the truth is, we will not always be there to sort out every disagreement for them. That is why it helps to give kids space to practice these skills at home, while we are still close enough to guide, coach, or step in if needed.
It's also helpful to look at the pattern around conflict, not just the conflict itself.

Things I pay attention to:
✔️ Does the same child always back down?
✔️ Does one child seem confused, intimidated, or shut down?
✔️ Do they recover and reconnect after conflict, or stay stuck?
✔️ Are they becoming more flexible over time, or repeating the same unhealthy pattern?

That often tells you much more than one argument over a toy. And when you notice patterns, you get a better sense of what skills need more support and what to work on later when everyone is calm.

Some parents were raised to think good parenting means stopping conflict quickly or having a conflict-free house. But sometimes the better skill is tolerating the discomfort of watching your child struggle a little without rushing to rescue, while still staying close enough to protect.
That middle ground can feel hard, but it is where a lot of growth lives.

Comment NEWSLETTER to join my newsletter for more parenting insight rooted in development, emotional health, and long-term connection. Follow pedsdoctalk for more real-talk parenting support.

Do you tend to step in fast when kids clash, or is your challenge waiting a little before getting involved?

Stitch with:

06/09/2026

ISR is a swimming method for children from six months+ to help your child learn to self-rescue in water.

ISR is more of a time commitment (5 days a week for 6 weeks minimum) with maintenance instruction sessions after that and is pricier up front. But from friends and patients who have done ISR, they say it was actually financially more affordable because their children learned survival skills quicker than traditional swim classes.

We currently don’t have evidence-based studies comparing ISR to traditional swim classes, so this guidance is based on clinical and personal experience.
We tried ISR for Ryaan, but couldn’t keep up with the schedule and the weather wasn’t cooperating. He has been in traditional swim classes since he was 13 months.

🏊🏼Some feel that ISR methods are traumatizing because babies or toddlers may cry initially as they get accustomed to it, but I can tell you that even children in traditional swim classes cry. The most important thing is that there is repetition, exposure to the process, a caring instructor, and a loving caregiver present after the session.

🏊🏼Swim lessons add a huge layer of risk reduction in drowning. Your decision for the type of swim lesson you choose and when you start may depend on your time, resources, and what’s available in your city. Remember to check for scholarships or free resources in your city if cost is an issue.

🏊🏼Look for classes and instructors that focus on water survival skills, not just swim strokes. Children should learn how to get back to the surface from under water, propel themselves when needed, and get feedback on progress.

Swim lessons alone are not “drown proof.” It’s a layer of protection. Visit my website and search drowning or swim for informational blogs.

06/08/2026

The fear that a nanny or caregiver is "replacing" you is one of the most common things I hear from moms... and almost never from dads. That asymmetry is worth sitting with.

We've built a cultural narrative that a mother's bond is proven by exclusivity. But attachment doesn't work like a pie with fixed slices. A child's capacity to feel safe actually expands with more secure relationships, not shrinks.
Children are wired to form multiple attachment relationships. Secondary attachments with consistent, nurturing caregivers don't compete with yours. They reinforce it. A child who feels safe with a nanny has often learned what safety feels like partly because of you.

What actually builds secure attachment isn't hours logged. It's repairs after hard moments. The times you came back. Bedtime routines done a thousand times. The way you respond when they're hurt. Quality of attunement matters more than quantity of time.

You'll hear lists of what secure attachment "looks like"- they come to you when hurt, settle with your comfort, check in during play. Those are signals, not proof. Kids with insecure attachment can show some of those too. Don't evaluate your bond by one moment. Look at the pattern. Does your child generally expect comfort from you? Can you repair after hard moments? Is there a steady sense of safety over time? That's what you're building toward.

So if your child loves you and also loves their nanny, that is not a loss. That is a child with enough love in their life that missing someone means something. A lot of kids don't get that. And a big part of why they have it? You.

Comment SECURE and I'll send you the episode with Eli Harwood: "The Truth About Raising Securely Attached Kids: What Most Parents Get Wrong." One of my favorite conversations.

Follow pedsdoctalk and share with a mom who needs this today.
Has this fear ever shown up for you, even when you knew logically it wasn't true?

Stitch with:

06/08/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions about eczema?
That every child with eczema automatically needs allergy testing.

In this week’s Follow-Up, we talk about how eczema is actually approached medically because severity, history, and response to treatment matter.

When I think about eczema management, I think about a few key questions first:
How severe is it?
Is there infection?
Are we optimizing skincare?
Is there a pattern suggesting a trigger?

Because for many kids, getting eczema under control starts with consistent skincare and appropriate treatment first — not jumping straight to testing.

🧾 In this Follow-Up episode, we talk about:
✅ Why eczema severity changes management
✅ Building a skincare routine that supports the skin barrier
✅ When prescription medications may be needed
✅ How infection can worsen eczema
✅ When allergy testing actually makes sense
✅ Why environmental or food triggers aren’t always the cause
✅ Situations where testing sooner may be appropriate
✅ How controlling inflammation can reduce future flares

The goal isn’t to chase every possible trigger.
It’s to calm the skin, understand the pattern, and make a plan.

👉 Did you assume eczema automatically meant allergy testing or were you told to test right away?

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