The Mom Room

Renee revisits one of her favorite conversations, with psychologist Dr. Tanya Cotler, on everything you need to know about gentle parenting: where it came from, what it was intended to be, and what it turned into online. Dr. Cotler takes apart the biggest myths, including the idea that gentle means no boundaries, no consequences, and never losing your temper. Renee shares some of the harder moments she has had with Milo that sparked this conversation, from toddler tantrums to the guilt that shows up after you yell.
Together they get into the nuance the internet skips: gentle parenting versus permissive parenting, how to set a boundary without shame, how to regulate your own emotions before you respond, and what a kid actually needs from you on a bad day.

FOLLOW DR. COTLER:
On Instagram: @drcotler
drtanyacotler.com

SPONSORS:
AquaOmega: For your daily dose of Omega-3’s, go to myaquaomega.com/MOMROOM and use code MOMROOM for
20% off.
Fatty15: Get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/MOMROOM and using code MOMROOM at checkout.
HIYA: Receive 50% off your first order at hiyahealth.com/MOMROOM.
Quince: Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com/MOMROOM. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too.
Skims: Shop SKIMS Cotton, and all of my favorite pieces, at https://skims.com/momroom.
Wayfair: Head to Wayfair.com or shop the Wayfair app for all things home.

RENEE REINA
Instagram: @themomroom | @thereneereina
TikTok: @thereneereina
Facebook Community - The Mom Room Community
Youtube: Renee Reina - The Mom Room Podcast
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thursday, August 27th: Apparently I’ve entered my “try new things” era.
I’ve been thinking about why so many of us stop learning, experimenting, and picking up new hobbies once we become adults. I recently started getting into art, painting, drawing with markers, learning about different techniques, and I am OBSESSED. My entire algorithm is basically art now, I’m taking art classes this fall, and I genuinely can’t remember the last time I was this excited to be a complete beginner at something.
I’m also taking tennis lessons, attempting to actually get better at a new sport.
We’re talking about why hobbies and learning new skills are so important as adults, especially when they have absolutely nothing to do with being productive, making money, or being “good” at them.
I’m also sharing why September is my personal New Year. With back-to-school season approaching, I’m thinking about how I want my fall routine to look: creating a better work schedule, intentionally leaving white space in my calendar, and getting back into a supplement routine that I can actually stick with. I’m sharing the five supplements I’m planning to take and why I’m keeping the routine simple.
Plus, we’re chatting about Apple’s Education Store and pricing, some new Apple features that are absolutely blowing my mind and making me wish I could be a student again. The new MacBook Neo has been loaned to us and it's adorable, super approachable, and is the perfect starter laptop for Milo to begin learning the basics and getting comfortable using a computer before he eventually needs one for school.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
AquaOmega - For your daily dose of Omega-3's, go to myaquaomega.com/MOMROOM and use code MOMROOM for 20% off.
Bellesa - Today's episode is sponsored by Bellesa Boutique! Sign up to win a free WhisperVibe™ or free Rose toy with any Whisper™ order! https://www.bboutique.co/vibe/themomroom-pod #bbpartner
Fatty15 - Fatty15 is on a mission to support Healthy Aging for All, including all ages and stages of life. You can get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/MOMROOM and using code MOMROOM at checkout.
Nine to Kind - Use promo code MOMROOM at ninetokind.com to get 20% of your order.
Quince - Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com/MOMROOM. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
SENOKOT - Trust your gut and try the new SENOKOT Laxative Gummies. Learn more at senokot.ca.
Skims - Shop Everyday Cotton, and all of my favorite bras and underwear at http://www.skims.com/momroom
Wayfair - Join Wayfair Rewards today to get 5% back on every purchase and start saving on your next home upgrade. Head to Wayfair.com to shop all things home.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Revisiting an important episode this week with Dr. Alison Yeung, family physician and creator of @thesmartphoneeffectmd, where she talks all things smartphones, social media, and (of course) kids. Why are so many parents struggling to set screen time boundaries? How is technology impacting our kids’ mental health, attention spans, and motivation? And how do we navigate platforms like Roblox, YouTube Kids, and even school-issued iPads?
Renee and Dr. Yeung get real about balancing technology use, setting routines, and why it’s not just about “parenting harder”—it’s about pushing back against industries designed to hook our kids. If you’ve ever wondered when to give your child a phone (or if they really need one), how to protect their downtime, or how your phone habits shape theirs, this is a must-listen.

FOLLOW ALISON:
Instagram: @thesmartphoneeffectmd

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
AquaOmega - For your daily dose of Omega-3's, go to myaquaomega.com/MOMROOM and use code MOMROOM for 20% off.
Bellesa - Today's episode is sponsored by Bellesa Boutique! Sign up to win a free WhisperVibe™ or free Rose toy with any Whisper™ order! https://www.bboutique.co/vibe/themomroom-pod #bbpartner
Fatty15 - Fatty15 is on a mission to support Healthy Aging for All, including all ages and stages of life. You can get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/MOMROOM and using code MOMROOM at checkout.
Nine to Kind - Use promo code MOMROOM at ninetokind.com to get 20% of your order.
Quince - Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com/MOMROOM. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
SENOKOT - Trust your gut and try the new SENOKOT Laxative Gummies. Learn more at senokot.ca.
Skims - Shop Everyday Cotton, and all of my favorite bras and underwear at http://www.skims.com/momroom
Wayfair - Join Wayfair Rewards today to get 5% back on every purchase and start saving on your next home upgrade. Head to Wayfair.com to shop all things home.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thursday, August 20th: Is seven the new two?! Lately, it feels like everything I say is met with “NO,” an argument, or a negotiation, even when I’m suggesting something my 7-year-old actually wants to do. I mentioned this on Instagram and was flooded with messages from parents of 7- and 8-year-olds saying: SAME.
So, what is going on at this age?
In this solo episode of The Mom Room, I’m talking about why kids around 7-8 can suddenly seem more argumentative, oppositional, and determined to challenge everything we say. I get into what’s happening developmentally as kids become more independent, develop stronger reasoning skills, form their own opinions about rules and fairness, and start wanting more control over their lives.
I also share what I’m learning about navigating this stage without turning every interaction into a power struggle: giving kids autonomy where we can, distinguishing between choices and non-negotiables, not over-explaining every boundary, looking underneath the behaviour, and perhaps most importantly, remembering that we don’t have to attend every argument we’re invited to.
Because raising an independent kid is exactly what we want… but apparently the road to independence involves debating why they need to put their shoes on every single morning. 😂
If you’re parenting a 7- or 8-year-old and wondering why EVERYTHING has suddenly become an argument, this episode is for you.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After months of living in fight-or-flight that no doctor could explain, Beth, aka The Garbage Mom, figured out the cause herself... She was on the wrong dose of progesterone!
She joins The Mom Room this week to talk perimenopause, hormones, and how much of women's health women are still left to research on their own. Beth also shares how she was diagnosed with celiac disease a year ago, after five years of iron infusions and a hematologist who told her that as long as she was getting her period, she'd keep needing them.
Renee and Beth get into the symptoms nobody warns you about: the sudden food aversions, the phase where everything smells like onions, cereal for dinner three times a week, and the 3AM wake-ups where one small worry suddenly feels like life or death. Both started making content in 2020, so they also compare notes on what six years of it has done to their lives — the pull to turn every moment into a post, the boundaries Beth set after hitting a rock bottom a few months ago, and her decision to keep her 10-year-old daughter offline entirely.
Beth is an actor and sketch comedian, and she's currently building something special... A music and comedy festival for women over 40 that started out under the name Perimenopausal Palooza. Follow along with her below!

FOLLOW BETH:
Instagram: @thegarbagemom
https://linktr.ee/garbagemom

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
AquaOmega - For your daily dose of Omega-3's, go to myaquaomega.com/MOMROOM and use code MOMROOM for 20% off.
Bellesa - Today's episode is sponsored by Bellesa Boutique! Sign up to win a free WhisperVibe™ or free Rose toy with any Whisper™ order! https://www.bboutique.co/vibe/themomroom-pod #bbpartner
Fatty15 - Fatty15 is on a mission to support Healthy Aging for All, including all ages and stages of life. You can get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/MOMROOM and using code MOMROOM at checkout.
Nine to Kind - Use promo code MOMROOM at ninetokind.com to get 20% of your order.
Quince - Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com/MOMROOM. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
SENOKOT - Trust your gut and try the new SENOKOT Laxative Gummies. Learn more at senokot.ca.
Skims - Shop Everyday Cotton, and all of my favorite bras and underwear at http://www.skims.com/momroom
Wayfair - Join Wayfair Rewards today to get 5% back on every purchase and start saving on your next home upgrade. Head to Wayfair.com to shop all things home.

FOLLOW RENEE REINA:
Instagram: @themomroom | @thereneereina
TikTok: @thereneereina
Facebook Community - The Mom Room Community
YouTube: Renee Reina - The Mom Room Podcast
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.