In this episode of Parenthood Unscripted, I sit down with Melissa, special education teacher, Wilson Reading instructor, and mom of two, for an honest conversation about dyslexia, reading challenges, parent advocacy, and what it means to support children who learn differently.

Melissa shares how her experience as both an educator and a parent has shaped the way she works with families. Together, we discuss the early signs of reading difficulties, why some children need more than traditional classroom instruction, and how parents can confidently advocate for the evaluations and supports their child needs.

Whether you're wondering if your child is struggling with reading, navigating intervention services, or trying to understand what dyslexia really looks like, this episode is filled with practical guidance, encouragement, and reassurance that you're not alone.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why early intervention matters when children are struggling with reading and spelling
• The differences between classroom reading instruction, intervention services, and Wilson Reading
• What makes structured literacy effective for children with dyslexia and other reading challenges
• Early signs of dyslexia and reading difficulties parents should watch for
• How reading, spelling, handwriting, and comprehension are all connected
• Understanding Response to Intervention (RTI) and knowing when it's time to ask, "What's next?"
• Why some children compensate for reading challenges—and why those struggles often become more noticeable in later elementary school
• Melissa's perspective as both a special education teacher and a mom navigating speech delays and medical challenges with her own children
• Why labels don't define a child. They simply help identify the supports they need
• Practical steps parents can take if they suspect their child is struggling with reading
• The importance of trusting your instincts and advocating early for evaluation and intervention
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Connect with Melissa:

🌐 Website: https://pittsfordreading.com/

📩 Contact Melissa through the contact form on her website.

Ready to Walk Into Your Child's Next IEP Meeting with Confidence?

One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that parents know their children best.

If something doesn't feel quite right, trust your instincts. Asking questions, requesting data, and understanding your child's options are all important parts of advocating for the support they need.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the special education process or unsure how to prepare for your child's next IEP meeting, I'd love to invite you to my FREE live workshop:

How to Walk Into Your Child's IEP Meeting Calm, Prepared & Confident

📅 Friday, August 14th
🕑 2:00 pm EST

During this free workshop, you'll learn how to:

• Walk into your child's IEP meeting feeling calm and prepared
• Know which questions to ask (and when to ask them)
• Better understand the special education process
• Advocate confidently while building collaborative relationships with your child's team
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✨ Reserve your free spot here

I can't wait to see you there!

If this episode encouraged you, please follow Parenthood Unscripted, leave a rating or review, and share it with another parent who may be wondering if their child needs additional reading support. Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, and every parent deserves the confidence to advocate for the support their child needs. 🤍

In this episode of Parenthood Unscripted, I sit down with Morgan Tota, speech-language pathologist, owner of Tota Communication Therapy LLC, mom of four, and founder of The Wait With You Foundation, for an honest conversation about high-risk pregnancy, maternal mental health, asking for help, and finding purpose through adversity.

Morgan shares the deeply personal story of her seven-week antepartum hospital stay during a high-risk pregnancy with her youngest son, Danny. She opens up about the emotional toll of living in the hospital, navigating motherhood from a hospital room, and the invisible mental health challenges that so many families experience during complicated pregnancies.

Out of that difficult season came The Wait With You Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting families facing high-risk pregnancies and extended hospital stays through comfort kits, community resources, and compassionate support.

Together, we also discuss the importance of asking for help, the power of community, and why meeting children and parents where they are can make all the difference.

Whether you've experienced a high-risk pregnancy, spent time in the NICU, are navigating a medical journey with your family, or simply need the reminder that you don't have to carry everything alone, this episode is filled with hope, honesty, and encouragement.

• Morgan's experience with a seven-week antepartum hospital stay during a high-risk pregnancy
• The emotional and mental health impact of prolonged hospitalization before birth
• The unique challenges families face during high-risk pregnancies and NICU journeys
• How The Wait With You Foundation was inspired by Morgan's personal experience
• Why asking for specific help allows others to better support you
• The importance of community during difficult seasons of parenthood
• Navigating guilt, self-blame, and uncertainty as a parent
• How healthcare providers can better support families through compassionate communication
• Why developmental expectations should be adjusted for premature infants
• Turning difficult experiences into meaningful change for other families

💙 Website: https://www.waitwithyoufoundation.org/home

📸 Instagram: thewaitwithyoufoundation

🎁 Support through the Amazon Wishlist

🤍 Donate to The Wait With You Foundation

If this episode encouraged you, we'd love for you to subscribe to Parenthood Unscripted, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with someone who may need the reminder that asking for help isn't a sign of weakness. It's often the first step toward healing.

And if you know someone navigating a high-risk pregnancy, prolonged hospital stay, or NICU journey, we hope you'll share Morgan's story with them. Sometimes simply knowing you're not alone can make all the difference. 🤍

In this episode of Parenthood Unscripted, I welcome back Dr. Anne McIntosh for another thoughtful conversation about communication, advocacy, accessibility, and what it truly means to create inclusive environments for everyone.

Anne shares her personal experiences navigating marriage and parenting in a deaf-hearing household, offering practical wisdom about meeting people where they are, focusing on strengths instead of differences, and building relationships rooted in acceptance rather than expectations.

We also dive into one of Anne's greatest passions: improving communication access in healthcare through transparent surgical masks. She explains why communication accommodations benefit far more than just the Deaf and hard of hearing community and how each of us can play a role in advocating for more accessible healthcare.

Finally, we explore one of my favorite topics: parent advocacy. Anne shares practical advice for advocating confidently without becoming adversarial, why collaboration almost always creates better outcomes than confrontation, and how parents can prepare for difficult conversations with schools and medical professionals.

Whether you're raising a child with disabilities, navigating IEP meetings, supporting someone with communication differences, or simply hoping to become a more effective advocate, this episode is full of practical strategies and perspective shifts that will leave you feeling empowered.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Navigating marriage and parenting in a deaf-hearing household
• Why focusing on strengths creates healthier relationships than focusing on differences
• Meeting communication partners where they are instead of expecting one-size-fits-all communication
• The importance of transparent surgical masks and communication accessibility in healthcare
• Why communication accommodations benefit everyone—not just Deaf and hard of hearing individuals
• How to advocate for communication access at medical and dental appointments
• The difference between advocating for your own child and advocating for systemic change
• Why collaboration is often more effective than confrontation in IEP meetings and school conversations
• Practical ways to advocate confidently without being perceived as "difficult"
• The importance of practicing difficult conversations and regulating emotions before advocacy meetings
• How trusted professionals and advocates can help parents communicate more effectively
• Why the ultimate goal isn't winning the argument. It's helping your child succeed

Connect with Dr. Anne McIntosh:

🌐 Safe'N'Clear: https://www.safenclear.com
📧 Email: Anne.McIntosh@SafeNClear.com

One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that effective advocacy isn't about being the loudest voice in the room. It's about being prepared, collaborative, and confident.

If you've ever walked into an IEP meeting feeling overwhelmed, unsure what to say, or worried about advocating "the right way," you're not alone.

That's exactly why I created the Advocacy Accelerator, my signature 8-week parent advocacy program designed to help you understand the special education process, communicate effectively, advocate strategically, and walk into meetings with confidence.

✨ Enrollment is open now
✨ Learn more: www.empoweredparentnetwork.org/advocacyaccelerator

If this episode encouraged you, please follow Parenthood Unscripted, leave a rating or review, and share it with another parent or professional who believes every child deserves to be heard and every family deserves to feel confident advocating for them. 🤍

Ready to Feel More Confident Advocating for Your Child?