Tell us about you and your family.
My husband Chris and I met in college and have been married for 18 years. We have 4 children: Brayden (10), Austin (8), Syrus (5), and Beau (1). We have an English bulldog named June. We have been foster parents as well since 2021 and currently have one foster child in our home. We are a sports loving family, mostly baseball and football, and enjoy rooting our teams on. We are very involved in our church home BridgePointe.
How has being a parent shaped the way you care for your patients—and the way you care for your own children?
Being a parent has greatly affected how I care for my patients and their families as a pediatrician. So many times, parents just want to be heard and supported. I can diagnose sickness, treat wounds, give advice on proper nutrition, etc…but being able to relate to a parent’s anxiety and fears or a child’s behavior allows me to approach situations far more effectively. It has helped me develop deeper relationships with my families over time. Being able to say, “I’ve been there, I know how hard this is”…means so much more than a list of dos and don’ts.
What’s one parenting worry you see come up again and again in your practice, and what do you wish parents knew about it?
Parents are always worried whether their child is developing normally. They compare their child to another and worry their child isn’t developing the same. In reality, every child is different! Do we have normal patterns of development, YES! But parents don’t often realize each milestone comes with a range of appropriate timing. As a pediatrician, part of my job is to monitor development and address anything I feel might be outside that normal range.
What’s a health habit you prioritize at home that you also recommend to families in your exam room?
Chris and I have worked very hard to establish healthy boundaries with screens. We limit the amount of screen time our children get on a daily basis and prioritize outside time whenever possible. This does not mean we don’t watch TV or play video games, but we try to control the content and amount. We know that screens are a part of our children’s daily life and will be going forward, but we also know the harm that can come from overuse. This is a topic I am discussing every day in the office with families. I try to share what has worked for our family but also what hasn’t. This isn’t a problem that is going to go away any time soon and as parents we have to find healthy boundaries for our children.
If you could give one piece of reassurance to parents who feel like they’re “doing it wrong,” what would it be?
There is no right or wrong when it comes to parenting. There is only what works for your family and your child. The fact that you might think you are doing it wrong proves you care and most likely aren’t. I have five children in my home currently, and I have had to parent each of them differently at different times…and I haven’t even gotten to teenage years yet! There are days I get it wrong, but I try to learn from those days and parent differently the next time. We’re all on this roller coaster called parenthood together!