Adventures in Parenting

Dive into Water Safety

Water is everywhere, pools, lakes, backyard splash pads and more, and knowing how to stay safe in and around water could make all the difference. In this episode, join Jessi and Erin, with special guest Maria P. Giustizia, Director of the Recreation & Parks Department, from the Patchogue Village as they discuss all things water safety!

Topics covered:

• 🏊 Swimming lessons build more than water skills
• 🌊 Non-negotiable rules for water safety
• 🛟 Realities on the appearance of drowning
• 🤿 The truth about swim suit colors, pool rules, and safety details that often get overlooked
• 🏖️ Simple, actionable strategies for water protection and safety

Episode #26, June 2026

For more resources on this topic, check out our resource guide: Resource Guide Episode #26

Grooming and Vulnerability: What Every Parent Should Know

Join Jessi and Erin in the final installment with Safe Harbour's very own, Stephanie Muller and Jahira Campazano. Learn about protecting your kids from the vulnerabilities of grooming and how to look out for red-flags in relationships and behavior patterns over time. This episode highlights the importance of open communication among parents and their children and educating children about boundaries and safety. 

Topics covered:

🫸🏻Definition and stages of grooming

🚩Identifying Red Flags

📱Online Safety

💕Building Trust and Open Communication with children

🔒Handling Progressed Situations

📝Resources and Additional Information

 

Episode #25, February 2026

For more resources on this topic, check out our resource guide: Resource Guide Episode #25

 

Divorce: A Family Navigation Guide

In this episode, join Jessi and Erin as they sit down with Olivia Howell from Fresh Starts Registry and discuss all things family and divorce. Not only about the emotional weight of legal processes but about navigating and rebuilding of families during challenging and emotionally charged times. Most importantly, supporting and guiding children through familial shifts with love and hope.

*Please note, nothing discussed today constitutes as legal advise. If you would like legal guidance, you can find resources through the Fresh Starts website. 

Topics covered:

• 🛒Features and benefits of Fresh Starts Registry
• 🚫Challenges and Stigma of divorce
• 🗣️How to have difficult conversations with children, relatives, and more
• 🤝Maintaining consistency through parenting plan disagreements
• 💖Importance of self care practices
• 💌Advice for family and friends on how to be supportive

Episode #24, January 2026

For more resources on this topic, check out our resource guide: Resource Guide Episode #24

Decoding the Teenage Brain

Why do teens make impulsive decisions even when they know better? Join Jessi and Erin as they sit down with Stephanie Muller and Jahira Campazano from Safe Harbour to decode adolescent brain development and behavior. 

Learn practical strategies for setting boundaries, navigating emotional outbursts, and maintaining open communication without pushing your teen away. Plus, explore how social media exploits teen vulnerabilities and why real-world connections matter more than ever.

Perfect for parents navigating the journey of raising teenagers. Find out how to be your teen's safe space while still holding them accountable.

Topics covered:

• 🧠Teen brain development
• ❌ Setting healthy boundaries
• 📱Social media's impact
• 📖Teaching accountability
• 🤝Staying connected

Episode #23, December 2025

For more resources on this topic, check out our topic guide: Resource Guide Episode #23

Why Can't Our Kids Read? (And How to Help Them)

We're back just in time for Family Literacy Month this November! In this episode, we're diving into an important discussion relevant to parents everywhere - how kids really learn to read. Join Jessi and Erin with a special guest, Chad Aldeman, creator of Read Not Guess. This free, online resource is helping families and schools shift toward Structured Literacy, which is focused on letter sounds and builds difficulty as a child progresses with the goal of creating fundamental building blocks for comprehension and critical thinking.  

 

In this episode learn all about: 

• 📉Current U.S. literacy statistics 

• 📖Practical, evidence-based ways to support your child’s reading journey at home 

• 🚩How to spot a child struggling to read 

• 💡Benefits of science-based reading instruction 

 

Episode #22, November 2025 

For more resources on this topic, check out our topic guide: Resource Guide Episode 22

A Parent's Guide to Teen Slang

Ever feel lost when teens say something is "mid" or "giving main character energy"? Join Jessi and Erin as their special guest, Emily Moyers, a Teen Librarian at PML and self professed language lover breaks down the wild world of modern slang – from how it spreads faster than ever on social media to why some terms stick while others get left on read.

What's inside:

✨ The psychology behind why teens create new language
📱 Which platforms are slang factories (hint: it's not just TikTok)
⚡ Cultural appropriation vs. natural language evolution
🎯 Parent survival guide to staying current without being cringe
🧠 Slang quiz to test your fluency!

Whether you're a confused parent or just fascinated by how language evolves, this episode will leave you absolutely shook by the creativity of modern communication.

No cap – this one hits different! 💯

Episode Timestamps:

0:01 – Introduction
03:15 – Terms and Patterns
05:15 – Reference points for slang
06:45 – How can parents stay informed
08:55 – How does slang reflect Gen Z cultural shifts/values
10:50 – How does their time online influence slang
13:30 – Life cycle of slang terms
14:20 – Influence of marginalized groups on slang (appropriation vs mainstream)
18:30 – Possible hidden meanings of slang terms
22:05 – Platforms where slang is being created
23:40 – Favorite slang terms
28:10 – Slang quiz
35:00 - Closing

Episode #21, May 2025

For more resources on this topic, check out our topic guide: Resource Guide Episode #21

Family Mental Health

Erin and Jessi are joined by Jasmine Lucas from the Association for Mental Health and Wellness who shares practical strategies for creating mentally healthy family environments. Listen and discover how to recognize warning signs in children, engage reluctant teenagers, and have age-appropriate mental health conversations. Jasmine offers guidance on balancing personal wellbeing with children's needs, handling crises, and navigating the impacts of technology on family dynamics.

Episode Timestamps:

• 0:50 – Association for Mental Health & Wellness overview
• 9:45 – Signs of mental health struggles in children
• 13:50 – Engaging reluctant teenagers
• 20:25 – Age-appropriate mental health conversations
• 26:20 – Balancing personal and family mental health
• 30:11 – Mental health crisis response
• 35:05 – AI and social media impacts
• 41:45 – Communication barriers
• 46:35 – Practical recommendations

Remember: building mentally healthy families isn't about perfection—it's about progress and presence.

Episode #20, April 2025

For more resources on this topic, check out our topic guide: Resource Guide Episode #20

The Sandwich Generation: Parenting Kids While Caring for Aging Parents

🎧 Join librarians Jessi and Erin as they tackle the challenges of the "sandwich generation" - those caring for both young children and aging parents with Alzheimer's or dementia. With special guest Regina Anderson from the Families & Children Association’s (FCA’s) Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiver Support Program, this episode offers practical wisdom and emotional support for caregivers navigating this complex journey. 💜

Learn about:

• 🤝 Free support services and resources you may not know you're eligible for
• 👶 Creative ways to explain grandparents' changing behavior to young children
• ⚠️ How to spot caregiver burnout before it hits
• ✨ Tips for finding moments of joy and connection while caring for multiple generations
• 💪 Practical strategies for handling when both parent and child need urgent attention

Whether you're currently caregiving or want to prepare for the future, this episode provides compassionate guidance and reminds us we're not alone in this journey. Regina shares invaluable insights on maintaining boundaries, practicing self-care without guilt, and fostering positive relationships even as roles evolve. 🌟

Episode #19, February 2025

For more resources on this topic, check out our topic guide: Resource Guide Episode #19