MMD BLOG


CATEGORY:

Dr. Whitney

THE INVISIBLE LABOR OF BEING A GOOD DAUGHTER WITH ALLISON ALFORD, PHD

 Modern Mommy Doc


PUBLICATION DATE:

February 12, 2026

THE INVISIBLE LABOR OF BEING A GOOD DAUGHTER WITH ALLISON ALFORD, PHD

 Modern Mommy Doc

CATEGORY: Dr. Whitney

About the Episode:


What does it actually mean to be a good daughter and why does that role feel so heavy for so many women?


In this episode, Dr. Whitney Casares sits down with Dr. Allison Alford, communication scholar and author of Good Daughtering, to unpack the emotional labor, invisible expectations, and generational pressures that daughters—especially women in midlife—carry every day.


They explore how “good daughtering” shows up in real life: managing parents’ emotions, holding family relationships together, navigating aging parents while raising kids, and feeling responsible for everyone else’s happiness. Together, they challenge the idea that being a good daughter means self-sacrifice, silence, or approval—and offer a more humane, sustainable way forward.


This conversation is especially resonant for women in the sandwich generation, caregivers, healthcare providers, and anyone who feels stretched thin by family obligation and guilt.


In this episode, we discuss:


  • What “good daughtering” really is and why it often goes unseen and uncredited
  • How gender roles shape expectations for daughters versus sons
  • The emotional toll of being part of the sandwich generation
  • Why redefining daughtering is essential for women’s mental health
  • Letting go of perfection, approval, and obligation
  • How to decide what being a good daughter means for you
  • Why you’re likely already doing enough even if it doesn’t feel that way


This episode is a validating reminder that healthy relationships don’t require endless self-erasure and that being a good daughter does not mean abandoning yourself. 

About Our Guest:


Dr. Allison Alford is a communication scholar, professor at Baylor University, and the author of Good Daughtering: The Work You’ve Always Done, the Credit You’ve Never Gotten, and How to Finally Feel Like Enough. Her research focuses on the invisible emotional labor women perform within families, particularly the often-unspoken work of being a daughter.


Through years of qualitative research and conversations with hundreds of women, Dr. Alford has helped bring language and clarity to the experience of daughtering, offering a framework that prioritizes agency, self-preservation, and honest relationships over guilt and perfection. Her work invites women to redefine what it means to be a “good daughter” in a way that supports—not sacrifices—their well-being.


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Raising Body-Confident Kids Starts at the Doctor's Office!

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ON THE PODCAST


By Dr. Whitney January 29, 2026
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By Dr. Whitney December 17, 2025
About the Episode: In this episode, Dr. Whitney sits down with Dr. Jay Gargus and Dave Justus from NeuroQure to discuss the power of early clarity when it comes to autism detection and why earlier intervention can fundamentally change outcomes for childre n and families. Dr. Gargus explains the science behind early behavioral therapies and why their impact goes far beyond short-term skill-building. Research shows that early, evidence-based interventions can lead to measurable, lifelong improvements in IQ, so cial skills, independence, and educational placement, often determining whether a child can thrive in mainstream education or requires ongoing specialized support. The conversation also tackles a critical and often overlooked issue: access. Dave Justus shares the personal motivation behind NeuroQure’s work and explains why the test is being launched at cost, with installment plans and employer subsidies, while the team works toward insurance coverage. The goal is to prevent families from losing precious years waiting for answers. Together, they emphasize a hopeful message for parents: families don’t need to wait for a future “silver bullet.” We already have therapies that work and getting kids connected to them earlier can change the course of a lifetime. In this episode, we discuss: Why early autism detection leads to lifelong changes—not just short-term gains What a 17-point IQ difference actually means for education, independence, and quality of life How early intervention can shift developmental trajectories as early as 6 months The science and validation behind current autism therapies Why NeuroQure is pricing testing at cost while pursuing insurance coverage How early clarity can reduce long-term strain on families, schools, and healthcare systems This episode is a powerful reminder that timing matters and that early access to answers can make an extraordinary difference for children and the families who love them. About Our Guest: Dr. Jay Gargus, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist and nationally recognized expert in neurodevelopmental disorders, with decades of experience researching the biological underpinnings of autism. His work has focused on translating well-established science into meaningful, real-world interventions that can improve lifelong outcomes for children. Dr. Gargus emphasizes that early, evidence-based therapies are already available—and that connecting families to them sooner can fundamentally change developmental trajectories. Dave Justus is a parent and the founder of NeuroQure, whose work is driven by personal experience navigating delayed autism diagnosis and intervention. Motivated by the belief that early clarity can spare families years of uncertainty, Dave is focused on expanding access to early testing through cost-based pricing and ongoing efforts to secure insurance coverage. His mission is simple but powerful: ensure families don’t have to wait for answers that could change everything. Want to Start Raising Body-Confident Kids Today? 📘 Order the Book Order your copy of My One-of-a-Kind Body 👉 www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com/books 🎁 Claim Your Free Bonus When you order on our site, you’ll also get access to a FREE video mini-course with five bite-sized lessons for parents. In just 25 minutes, you’ll walk away with: Simple, script-style ways to respond when your kid says, “I hate my thighs” How to talk about health without weight talk What to do when your own inner critic shows up How to interrupt diet culture at home The first step to raising a body-confident kid, even if you didn’t grow up as one 📩 Subscribe to The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast for more episodes on parenting with confidence and clarity. Leave a review using the hashtag #ModernMommyDoc.