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WORKING MAMA + HOLIDAYS

WORKING MOM'S GUIDE TO THE HOLIDAYS: YOU NEED TO CHILLAX ABOUT BLACK FRIDAY, MAMA

 Modern Mommy Doc


PUBLICATION DATE:

November 22, 2021

WORKING MOM'S GUIDE TO THE HOLIDAYS: YOU NEED TO CHILLAX ABOUT BLACK FRIDAY, MAMA

 Modern Mommy Doc

CATEGORY: WORKING MAMA + HOLIDAYS

Parking lots full of antsy shoppers, desperately searching for any open spot. Lines of people wrapped around the corner of the store hours before the sun comes up. The sounds of middle aged women shouting at each other over the last $10 waffle maker.


Just gets you in the holiday mood, doesn’t it?


I kid. Mostly.


We’re back with our second part of the Working Mom’s Guide to the Holidays and this week we’re chatting about Black Friday. One of the most shopped days of the year, it “officially” kicks off the Christmas shopping season. Even though, I swear, Black Friday somehow gets moved earlier and earlier each year and stores have been having sales in the name of “Black Friday” since the beginning of the month.


I actually like doing some shopping the day after Thanksgiving, but I’ve learned that I cannot let myself give into the hysteria. The entire day is developed around making everyone give into a scarcity mindset and believing that there isn’t enough to go around (well, that might be true this year with the supply chain...but I digress 🤣)

 

Just like last week when we talked about how to navigate when family comes in for the holidays, the very first thing we need to do before we hit the sales for Black Friday is head back to our Centered Vision. We have to name what matters first. Which might be a weirder concept to do around Black Friday, so let me help you out.


Here’s three things about Black Friday that you need to chillax about:


Finding the Best Deal

I know the rush of what it feels like when you’ve saved big. Especially around Christmas when we’re feeling the pull of a tighter budget. But you have to take a look at what you’re REALLY saving. 


Is driving to 3 stores to save $5 on a robe, $12 on a toy, and $7 on a bike reeeeally saving you much? Practically, you might actually be spending that much on gas by the time you’ve driven to all the places. But also think of the time you’re spending! I’d be aaaaaaaay-okay just clicking “add to cart,” spending a bit more than in the store, and never having to put a bra on. 


However, that’s what matters to ME. If what matters to you is something different, and you LOVE heading around town on the hunt for the best deal, then fill that cup, mama!


Finding the Perfect Gift

As working moms, I think it’s preeeeetty easy for us to fall into the same trap with Christmas year after year. If we’ve experienced any mom-guilt throughout the year due to us working, Christmas seems like a pretty simple way for us to assuage that. We’ve felt bad because we couldn’t be a room mom, couldn’t make every practice or game, missed a play at school...so why not buy all the things to make up for it?


First mama, you need to know that you’re doing an amazing job and that your kids are blessed to have you as their mom. Period. The amount of love and joy that you bring to your kids just by being their mom could never be overshadowed by your “I brought store-bought cookies to the bakesale” shame (that your kids don’t care about AT ALL). So stop trying to make up for it with gifts on Christmas.


I’m not saying that gifts aren’t important or that you should just adopt-a-highway mile in their name. But you can’t buy into the idea that things are going to be the thing that bridges any sort of relational gap. Your kids love YOU. Not what your money buys them.


PLUS, putting on my pediatrician hat (coat?) for a second, kids don’t need MORE stuff. They need more experiences. More time outside. More time around a table.


Toys and technology are GREAT and I love the moments of freedom they allow me when my kids are playing with them. But when it comes to Black Friday, remember that it’s not worth your sanity to try to find the perfect gift. Because A) it doesn’t exist and B) if it did, they wouldn’t play with it in 6 months anyway.


Creating a house perfectly decorated for Christmas 24 hours after another major holiday.

Listen, if you LOVE getting your decorations out and doing it all up on Friday--go for it, sister. You have a gift I don’t. But there’s no need to stress yourself out to make your house look like Pinterest went on a bender and threw up all over your house. Especially not overnight.


Take your time to enjoy the process. Let it be easy. It could take the whole weekend. It could take a week. Or the whole rest of the month.


Or.


Spoiler Alert.


You can not hang up a single

Christmas decoration and still be

an effing good mom.


A great one actually.


You get to decide. You get to set the tone. What’s it going to be?


Mama: Stop the Burnout!

Free 5-Day Program

START NOW
By asterbenc August 5, 2025
Between school drop-offs, back-to-back meetings, pediatric appointments, and trying to remember where your toddler hid the remote, figuring out dinner can feel like the final straw. In Doing It All , I talk a lot about how systems—not willpower—help us thrive. And when it comes to getting food on the table with less stress, fewer meltdowns, and more time for connection, systems are everything. That’s why Suvie caught my attention. This isn’t another gadget you’ll shove in the back of a cabinet after three uses. It’s a full-on dinner solution: a smart kitchen robot that refrigerates your food, then cooks it at the exact time you need it, even if you’re nowhere near your kitchen. Let’s break down how it works and why it’s such a game changer for busy families. What Suvie Actually Does Suvie is a multi-zone, Wi-Fi-enabled countertop appliance that does more than just cook. It’s designed to take the guesswork (and time pressure) out of dinner. Here’s how: Load it in the morning with fresh or frozen food. Suvie keeps everything cold until it’s time to cook. At your scheduled time, it automatically switches to the cooking phase. By dinner, everything’s perfectly done with no last-minute scrambling. There’s also an app, so you can adjust the schedule or monitor progress remotely. And because it has multiple compartments for proteins, veggies, and starches, you can cook an entire meal at once. Each component cooked how it’s meant to be. Salmon won’t dry out. Broccoli won’t get soggy. And if you want crispy potatoes or a golden finish, just hit “broil.” How Suvie Supports Real-Life Parents In my clinical work and personal life, I’ve seen what happens when systems fall apart. We end up skipping meals, eating random snacks for dinner, or feeling overwhelmed by another task at the end of the day. Suvie doesn’t just make dinner, it builds margin. That sacred space in your day where you can take a breath and focus on what actually matters. Here’s how it aligns with the systems I recommend to families: 1. It takes dinner off your mental load. You prep in the morning (or even the night before), load Suvie, and then it’s off your plate. You don’t have to remember to preheat anything, flip anything, or start a timer. 2. It works around your schedule. Late work meeting? Soccer practice ran long? No problem. Adjust cooking time from your phone and still walk into a hot meal. 3. It supports real food. You can use their meal kits or cook your own food. Either way, it encourages whole ingredients with less time in the kitchen. 4. It’s not just for parents who love to cook. Whether you’re into DIY meal prep or need serious hand-holding, Suvie adapts to your comfort level. You can load in raw chicken and sweet potatoes, or scan a pre-loaded meal code and be done in seconds. Why Pediatricians (Like Me) Are Into It I’ll be honest: I don’t get excited about every kitchen gadget. But Suvie stands out because it’s actually useful. It meets families where they are and solves for something we all deal with: getting nutritious meals on the table, consistently, without it being a whole thing. Plus, with Suvie: You can make allergy-friendly meals without cross-contamination. Kids can get involved in loading or picking the meal. It encourages balanced nutrition—veggies, protein, starch—in a way that’s fast and low-stress. And it supports routines. Which we all know is key for kids (and adults). Smart Design Details Worth Knowing Let’s talk specs for a second—because Suvie’s design is no joke. Air-cushion back panel: Okay, not literally a backpack (ha!), but the back panel molds to your schedule like one molds to your body. The appliance refrigerates your food, then switches to cook mode—automatically. Multi-zone cooking: Cooks multiple elements of a meal—like chicken and veggies—at the same time, with optimal settings for each. 15+ cooking modes: Roast, slow cook, steam, sous vide, proof bread, and more. (Yes, even air fry!) App integration: Schedule meals or adjust cook times from anywhere. Refrigeration: Keeps ingredients cool until it’s time to cook with no spoilage or food safety stress. And if you use the Starch Cooker add-on, you can make pasta, rice, and grains that are perfectly timed to finish with the rest of the meal. The Bigger Picture: It’s Not Just About Dinner I always say: how your body feels during the day matters. Same for how your brain feels at the end of the day. If dinner feels like the 18th impossible thing on your list, then a tool like Suvie isn’t just helpful, it’s sanity-saving. Because the truth is, most of us aren’t looking for perfect meals or elaborate recipes. We’re just trying to: Feed our families well. Reduce decision fatigue. Stop rushing through the parts of the day that should feel connecting. And preserve a little space to sit down, breathe, and enjoy our people. Suvie makes that possible in a way I haven’t seen other appliances do. It’s not “set it and forget it” slow-cooker meals that turn to mush. It’s not pressure cooking that requires you to be hands-on. It’s actually tailored to a modern parent’s lifestyle. Final Thoughts We all need help sometimes. Whether it’s with childcare, carpools, or yes, dinner. Suvie is a reminder that support can come in many forms. And when it comes to reducing stress and reclaiming your evenings, having dinner handled? That’s a big win. If you’re looking to streamline weeknights, reduce your mental load, and build more systems into your parenting life, this might be one worth checking out. 👉 Learn more at www.suvie.com #ad #suviepartner
By asterbenc July 29, 2025
About the Episode: In this eye-opening episode of the Modern Mommy Doc podcast, Dr. Whitney Casares sits down with child sleep experts Dr. Andrea Roth and Dr. Allison Shale—two clinical psychologists and co-authors of The Essential Guide to Children’s Sleep: A Tired Caregiver’s Workbook for Every Age and Stage (written with Dr. Shelby Harris) . Together, they break down the myths, shame, and unrealistic expectations that surround slee p training and offer compassionate, evidence-based advice that actually meets parents where they are. This episode is your permission slip to stop blaming yourself, throw out the cookie-cutter advice, and start working with your child’s unique temperament, challenges, and developmental stage—whether that means defiant toddlers, anxious middle-schoolers, or non-sleeping newborns. About Our Guests: Dr. Andrea Roth and Dr. Allison Shale are licensed clinical psychologists and moms who specialize in child and adolescent mental health. Together with co-author Dr. Shelby Harris, they created The Essential Guide to Children’s Sleep to give exhausted parents the tools to support their kids’ sleep with confidence, flexibility, and empathy. Their approach is grounded in science—and shaped by real-life parenting. Follow them on Instagram: @essentialkidssleep Key Takeaways: Why this sleep book is different It’s written by clinical psychologists, not influencers—and it combines science, flexibility, and real-world parenting experience. How your child’s daytime behavior impacts nighttime sleep From anxious kids to defiant or ADHD children, the team explains why your child’s personality and emotional regulation during the day matters more than you think at bedtime. The truth about sleep “milestones” You’ll learn why your two-week-old shouldn’t be sleeping through the night, why “wake windows” are often misused, and why transitioning to a toddler bed before age 3 might be setting everyone up to fail. The importance of timing and readiness Parents don’t have to sleep train when they’re already overwhelmed. These experts offer a refreshing take on how to assess if now is the right time—and how to set up for success. What works for toddlers (and what doesn’t) You’ll hear how techniques like the “break method” and “camping out” can be adapted based on your child’s age and developmental stage. How to support anxious or defiant older kids at bedtime The language we use matters. For anxious kids, it's all about reducing pressure and focusing on rest. For defiant or ADHD kids, clear expectations and behavior-based plans are key. The shame-free approach every tired caregiver needs Sleep doesn’t have to be a battleground—or a place for guilt. These authors bring compassion and practicality to every step of the process. 📩 Subscribe to The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast for more episodes on parenting with confidence and clarity. L eave a review using the hashtag #ModernMommyDoc.
By asterbenc July 22, 2025
YOU get to choose.
By Dr. Whitney July 16, 2025
Looking for the perfect backpack? Look no further.
By Your Working Mom Life June 12, 2025
Trust me: you can trust yourself.

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By asterbenc July 29, 2025
About the Episode: In this eye-opening episode of the Modern Mommy Doc podcast, Dr. Whitney Casares sits down with child sleep experts Dr. Andrea Roth and Dr. Allison Shale—two clinical psychologists and co-authors of The Essential Guide to Children’s Sleep: A Tired Caregiver’s Workbook for Every Age and Stage (written with Dr. Shelby Harris) . Together, they break down the myths, shame, and unrealistic expectations that surround slee p training and offer compassionate, evidence-based advice that actually meets parents where they are. This episode is your permission slip to stop blaming yourself, throw out the cookie-cutter advice, and start working with your child’s unique temperament, challenges, and developmental stage—whether that means defiant toddlers, anxious middle-schoolers, or non-sleeping newborns. About Our Guests: Dr. Andrea Roth and Dr. Allison Shale are licensed clinical psychologists and moms who specialize in child and adolescent mental health. Together with co-author Dr. Shelby Harris, they created The Essential Guide to Children’s Sleep to give exhausted parents the tools to support their kids’ sleep with confidence, flexibility, and empathy. Their approach is grounded in science—and shaped by real-life parenting. Follow them on Instagram: @essentialkidssleep Key Takeaways: Why this sleep book is different It’s written by clinical psychologists, not influencers—and it combines science, flexibility, and real-world parenting experience. How your child’s daytime behavior impacts nighttime sleep From anxious kids to defiant or ADHD children, the team explains why your child’s personality and emotional regulation during the day matters more than you think at bedtime. The truth about sleep “milestones” You’ll learn why your two-week-old shouldn’t be sleeping through the night, why “wake windows” are often misused, and why transitioning to a toddler bed before age 3 might be setting everyone up to fail. The importance of timing and readiness Parents don’t have to sleep train when they’re already overwhelmed. These experts offer a refreshing take on how to assess if now is the right time—and how to set up for success. What works for toddlers (and what doesn’t) You’ll hear how techniques like the “break method” and “camping out” can be adapted based on your child’s age and developmental stage. How to support anxious or defiant older kids at bedtime The language we use matters. For anxious kids, it's all about reducing pressure and focusing on rest. For defiant or ADHD kids, clear expectations and behavior-based plans are key. The shame-free approach every tired caregiver needs Sleep doesn’t have to be a battleground—or a place for guilt. These authors bring compassion and practicality to every step of the process. 📩 Subscribe to The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast for more episodes on parenting with confidence and clarity. L eave a review using the hashtag #ModernMommyDoc.
By asterbenc July 22, 2025
YOU get to choose.
By Your Working Mom Life June 12, 2025
Trust me: you can trust yourself.