Special Episode: From the Frontline of Parenthood

Lynn Smith: When the stethoscopes come off and the sneakers go on, many of the people who care for kids in the Children's halls go home to care for their own kids. Behind our Children's team of nurses, doctors and therapists are parents who are also navigating screen time limits, picky eaters, science fairs and preteens who think brushing their hair is an act of war.

That's right, the same men and women who fix broken bones and calm pre-surgery jitters are the same ones who go get slime out of carpet and revisit the quadratic formula in math homework. In this episode, we're pulling back the curtain to share staff parenting tips, tricks and honest moments from the frontlines of medicine and parenthood.

Being parents shape how they care for patients, and caring for patients shapes how they show up at home. Grab your coffee, even if it's reheated for the third time, and get ready for a listen that's equal parts insightful and cathartic.

Kristin Bowman: I'm Kristin, and I have been a nurse at Children's for 14 years. I am also the mom of a teenage son. Based on what I've seen in practice, make sure your kids know to ask permission before petting someone else's dog. Just because your family dog doesn't mind being climbed on or having their ears pulled doesn't mean that someone else's won't. I have seen way too many kiddos from my time in the Emergency room with dog bites to their faces and hands. Unfortunately, many of those instances required stitches, and some even had to have surgery. We absolutely love dogs, but we all need a reminder to not let your guard down around dogs that you don't know.

Dr. Margaux Charbonnet: Hi, my name is Margaux. I've been a doctor at Children's for almost 20 years. I have one child in elementary school and another in middle school. My parenting tip is to remember mental health is health. Your child's feelings deserve the same care as their scrapes, sniffles and stomach bugs. Chat about emotions like you do about school or sports, so stress and sadness become normal things to talk about, not scary secrets. If their mood, sleep or behavior seems off for a while, don't just hope it passes. Treat it like any other health issue and check in with a pro. Supporting your child's mental health today helps to build the resilience they'll need to handle tomorrow's ups and downs.

Dr. Michael White: Hey everyone. This is Michael, and I've been a pediatric hematologist at Children's for almost 10 years. I am a dad to three kids under the age of 10 years old, and I do have a child with special needs. My advice for parents who are coming to see us at Children's is to know that your doctor really cares for you. Make sure to write down your questions before you come to see us. And, don't be shy to tell us exactly what you're hoping for your child.

Linda LeBlanc: I'm Linda, and I've been a nurse at Children's for 17 years. I'm a mom to a middle school girl and a pre-k little boy. As a former pediatric ICU nurse, my advice is that if it has wheels, your kid should have a helmet on. From tricycles to scooters and bikes to ATVs, make sure your kids wear a helmet. Accidents happen every day and protecting your kid's head can also protect their life. My kids know that they can't even roll down the driveway without a helmet on.

Dr. Stephanie Jernigan: Hello, I am Stephanie and a pediatric nephrologist. I'm also the Medical Director at Arthur M. Blank Hospital and have been at Children's for 26 years. My best parenting tip is to hug your children long and often. There will come a day when they may no longer let you.

Katie Sorice: I'm Katie. I have been a pediatric nurse at Children's for a total of 10 years and am also a mom to two boys, ages 4 and 6, with another one on the way. One of the tips that I frequently share with other parents based on my work experience in the [Operating Room] is that although it makes for a cute picture, never allow your kids to pretend to mow the lawn next to you. As you mow the lawn. It is better for them to watch from a distance.

Joanna Niklinska-Schirtz: Hi, I'm Joanna, and I'm a pediatric gastroenterologist here at Children's. I've been here for seven years and during this time I've had three children. I have a 7 year old, a 4 year old and a 5-month-old baby. One of the most practical pieces of advice we received was to always serve fruits and vegetables as appetizers as you prepare a main dinner. This allows our kids to decide what they want to eat and how much of it all prior to the main course. You may be pleasantly surprised with their choice and courage to try new foods. Second, always check pockets prior to doing their laundry for trinkets and treasures they may bring back from school. And thirdly, don't be too quick to correct their pronunciation of words. There will be a day you will miss heropoloons for hot air balloons and gmoats for remotes.

Adrianna Turner: My name is Adriana, and I have been the Executive Assistant in the Chief Medical Office at Children's for nine years. I'm a mother of three, and I just recently had my ninth grandchild. Let go of the pressure to have a perfectly clean house or a perfectly planned day and be as present and emotionally available as you possibly can. Because in the end, they may not remember what you did or the things that you gave them, but they will remember how you made them feel.

Gina Dobrasz: Hi, my name is Gina, and I've been at Children's for 15 amazing years. Bullying doesn't toughen kids up. It can actually seriously hurt their mental and physical health. As a parent of two teen boys, I know how hard it can be to get more than a one-word answer, but it's worth trying. Talk about what bullying looks like in person, online and remind them that it's never tattling to ask for a little bit of help. A quick daily question, “Did anyone make you feel small today?” can open the door to important conversations.

Kristen Cranmer: Hi, my name is Kristen, and I have been a nurse at children's for almost 19 years. I am also a mom to three children. We personally experienced carbon monoxide poisoning in our home a few years ago, and I am now on a mission to make sure it does not happen to other families. My children began to have similar symptoms all at the same time. They had a headache, nausea and overall feeling sick. Every time we left the house, the symptoms would go away. They would come back immediately once we got back into the house. That is when I knew something wasn't right. Luckily, because I'm a nurse, I know the symptoms to look for, and I called for help immediately. Now we have battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors in our home near every sleeping and living area. We also have our gas appliances checked annually. I highly encourage you to do the same. It is a very simple way to keep your family safe.

Dr. Sarah Lazarus: Hi, my name's Sarah, and I've been a pediatric ER doctor at Children's for the past decade. My biggest piece of advice for my 12-year-old twin boys is that no matter how much they beg, they're not getting cell phones until eighth grade.

Dr. Sofia Chaudhary: Hi, I'm Sophia. I'm an Emergency Medicine physician and a mom of a 7-year-old boy and of a 5 and 3-year-old girl. One question that I ask before my kids get dropped off for a playdate is whether or not there are guns in the home and if they are stored and locked. Kids can be curious, and they can find things when you least expect it. Even if that question may seem awkward at first, it's so important to ask to help keep your kids safe. I find that it's easiest to ask when you are checking in about other things like pets in the home or sharing information about food allergens to then also ask about guns in the home.

Caroline Rooke: Hi, my name's Caroline, and I've been a nurse and nurse leader at Children's for 18 years. I'm also a mom to three wonderful boys and one delightful little girl. After our own personal experiences with Nursemaid's Elbow, I'm always reminding my boys not to swing our 4-year-old around by her hands. Nursemaid's Elbow can happen fast when kids drop weight or during playtime when they are swung around or spun around by their hands. It occurs when the radial bone slips out of its normal position at the elbow joint. To prevent this, avoid pulling or swinging your child by the hands and instead scoop under the arms when they drop weight on you. Follow them down to the ground as best as possible. It's painful when it happens, and they can't move their arms, so get help fast because the pain will go away as soon as a professional is able to put their elbow right back in place.

Dr. Shari Barkin: Hi, I'm Shari and honored to be the Pediatrician in Chief at Children's and the Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine. My three kids now are in their 20s. As a parent and a pediatrician, I think one of the most important pro tips for parenting is presence—not the type you buy at holidays, but being truly present with your child and enjoying exactly who they are. I know in today's world, that's tough, and I don't think it's easy for any of us. But if you can create a phone-free, electronic watch-free period of time, it could be as short as 10 minutes, to just fully be present with your child at every stage of their life. It makes a world of difference.

Elissa Ervin: My name is Elisa. I've been with Children's for three years as an environmental services tech. The advice I would give is to share quality time with our families, our children, our grandchildren and show them the love because they will always cherish all of those memories.

Kelly Smith: My name is Kelly, and I have worked at Children's for 16 years, with 10 of those years as a nurse. I'm a mom of one elementary school age child. As a former pediatric ICU nurse, I am passionate about water safety and not just for little kids. Drownings can happen to kids of all ages. Please teach your kids to swim. There are so many wonderful organizations in the area that provide swim lessons along with water safety tips. Make sure that you are within arm's reach of beginning swimmers and within eyes reach of stronger swimmers. The Children's Child Advocacy Team has a lot of great resources available at Strong4Life.com.

Annabelle Freeman: Hi, my name is Annabelle, and I'm a librarian at Scottish Rite. Today, we have a very special guest with us in the library. If you've ever seen a friendly face delivering food or flowers around Scottish Rite, you've probably met Mr. Tom. He's a dad to three, a granddad to two, and he's celebrating his 92nd birthday with us today. Mr. Tom, take it away and help us close this episode with your invaluable wisdom.

Mr. Tom: Parenting is the hardest and most incredible job in the world. It's okay and normal if it feels hard. A lot of days when you get to my age, you look back and realize you have gifted yourself and the world the best possible treasure by way of your child.

Lynn Smith: And with that, season three of this podcast has come to a close. I hope you enjoyed this fun change-up to our usual format as much as I did. I want to give a big thanks to all the staff members who took time to share these great insights with us. I'm Lynn Smith and this has been Hope and Will, a parenting podcast from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers.