Advertise on podcast: Real Parents, Real Conversations with L.A. Parent Magazine

Hello families and welcome back to the L.A. Parent podcast, where we're celebrating summer and making travel memories. What's your summer adventure plan? Beach? mountains? camping? maybe a road trip? Our host and Digital Editor Nina Harada was back on the 5 this week with her family heading to the Bay Area. This is a road she has travelled often, first with her dad, then as a student at Berkeley and now with her family visiting her in-laws.  There is something magical about long stretches of horizon, us, the road and something new and fun just ahead. Let us know where the summer takes you! For the latest travel inspiration and tips on how to travel safely, visit laparent.com. You can also read our latest issue focused on family travel: LA Parent/Current Issue. Share your travel ideas and best places to visit with us. Tag us with #LAParentTravels and let us know about your latest adventure close by or far away. You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Happy Travels!

Hello families and welcome back to the L.A. Parent podcast, where we chat about all things parenting with our Digital Editor and first-time mom, Nina Harada. Today, we're wondering why we put so much pressure on ourselves to get everything "perfect," especially when it comes important moments like a much-anticipated weekend away.  The last few weeks were filled with fun times and adventures for Nina and family, but also with emergency room visits while visiting a local hot spring and a beloved dog passing away. And despite the things that will inevitably go wrong even though we spent weeks meticulously planning every detail, nothing is "ruined" and the memories will still be special. Take the weekend trip, go to that place you've been reading about. And most of all, stop worrying that it has to be "prefect." Bringing your family together, taking the time to explore somewhere new, talking, laughing and just being -- this is already perfect. The meltdown in the car, the cancelled flight, forgetting to pack the right snacks -- that's just life.  For the latest travel inspiration and tips on how to travel safely, visit laparent.com. You can also read our latest issue focused on family travel: LA Parent/Current Issue. Share your travel ideas and best places to visit with us. Tag us with #LAParentTravels and let us know about your latest adventure close by or far away. You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Happy Travels!

Hello and welcome back to the L.A. Parent podcast. Today our host, Digital Editor and first-time mom, Nina Harada, is sharing her summer vacation memories from her childhood and how she wants to create different traditions for her daughter and family. Nina's summers growing up were spent in Japan with her maternal grandparents. Once she finished school in L.A., she flew to Japan with her mom and started school there 6 days a week. The idea of summer camp, family road trips or visiting national parks sounded so exotic when her classmates talked about their summer vacations.  As a mom Nina is dreaming and planning for all the places she wants to take her daughter. She wants Naomi to have memories of family summer vacations and new experiences. She also wants to make sure she takes some time away with just her husband too. Whether it's a night  at a local beach-side hotel or a few days exploring a new city, travel has a way of invigorating us. We hope you start your own family travel traditions.  For the latest travel inspiration and tips on how to travel safely, visit laparent.com.  You can also read our latest issue focused on family travel: LA Parent/Current Issue. Share your travel ideas and best places to visit with us. Tag us with #LAParentTravels and let us know about your latest adventure close by or far away.  You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Happy Travels!

Welcome back families. Today we're chatting about Mother's Day. Hmmm, what do you think? There is a lot of messaging that comes with this day. Do you brush if off as a "cheesy" holiday filled with marketing gimmicks or do you lean into it and celebrate your way? So much goes into the daily life of a mom. Raising a tiny human is not always celebrated or appreciated.  This year our digital editor and first-time mom, Nina Harada, is giving herself permission to enjoy this day. And she is urging all of us moms to also lean into this day and ask for what we really want. We also know that Mother's Day can be a hard one for many of us. Treat yourself with kindness and self-care.  Thanks for joining us. We love connecting with you in this space -- a place to be seen, to be heard and to be cheered on. Happy Mother's Day! For more parenting inspiration and resources visit laparent.com Connect with us on Instagram.

Welcome back to the L.A. Parent podcast. Our host, Digital Editor and first-time mom Nina Harada just got back from a family weekend getaway to Ojai. Tune in as she shares the not-so-perfect moments traveling with a wonderful, spirited 3-year-old. As parents we've learned that traveling with young kids is not always a "vacation." But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy it for what it is -- an opportunity to make family memories. Yes, there will be spilled food, tantrums and pure exhaustion. And there will be laughter, fun and the joy of knowing that you're sharing this new experience together as a family.  In parenting and in life, there is so much that's out of our control. So why not lean into the adventure of it all.  Thanks for joining us. We love connecting with you in this space -- a place to be seen, to be heard and to be cheered on. For more parenting inspiration and resources visit laparent.com Connect with us on Instagram.

Welcome back, families. Today our Digital Editor and first time mom Nina Harada shares about feeling "in between" being someone's mom and being someone's daughter. After a recent family trip to Joshua Tree with her sister's family and her dad, Nina is wondering how to best navigate shifting family dynamics. Do you openly discuss roles before a holiday gathering or family trip? Does that help diminish some of the bickering and hurt feelings? Exactly what do you say? We would love to learn from you, our L.A. Parent community.  Thanks for joining us. We love connecting with you in this space -- a place to be seen, to be heard and to be cheered on. For more parenting inspiration and resources visit laparent.com Connect with us on Instagram.

Happy Spring Families! We're so happy to have you back to our L.A. Parent. podcast. Today our Digital Editor and first-time mom, Nina Harada, is sharing her intimate thoughts on who she is besides Naomi's mom. Before she became a mom three years ago, Nina had a career, hobbies, interests and curiosities. But as a mom to a toddler, her life pretty much now revolves around her daughter. Her situation is completely normal and so are her feelings that something is missing, but what is that something? Sometimes, us moms are just too much "in it" and simply too tired to try to even figure out what's missing. For now, let's try to engage in whatever "extra" activity we're drawn to during our rare few spare moments in the day between work, child care and just trying to keep our household afloat. And let's try to remember that wanting more and seeking new energy will definitely lead us to becoming calmer and more present parents.  As we celebrate spring and new energy, we also put together some great roundups on where to find wildflowers in and around L.A. county, part one and part two, and the best spring fairs and festivals.  Thanks for joining us. We love connecting with you in this space -- a place to be seen, to be heard and to be cheered on. For more parenting tips and resources visit laparent.com Connect with us on Instagram.

Welcome back to the L.A. Parent Podcast, where we chat about the joys and the challenges of parenting. Today, our Digital Editor and first-time mom Nina Harada takes us through her not-so-fun weekend that started off with a much-needed night out with friends and then took her back home to a sick daughter, an emergency room visit and more unwelcome surprises. As Nina kept wishing her parents lived closer to her, that familiar feeling of aloneness took over. But a friend's check-in text can change all that for the better, reminding us that we're never as alone as we imagine. One of the best things we can do for our fellow parents is to simply be there. Parenthood can be lonely and the challenges overwhelming at times. A simple text from a friend can mean so much.  Thanks for joining us. We love connecting with you in this space -- a place to be seen, to be heard and to be cheered on. For more parenting tips and resources visit laparent.com Connect with us on Instagram.

Hello families and welcome to the L.A. Parent podcast. Today our Digital Editor and first-time mom, Nina Harada, shares her surprise and delight when her preschooler tells her how much she "appreciates" the way Nina helps her clean up her toys and books in the kitchen. Did her baby really use the word "appreciate?" It's one of those moments that us parents will have over and over again -- the moment we realize our kids are growing up.  Thanks for joining us. We love connecting with you in this space -- a place to be seen, to be heard and to be cheered on. For more parenting tips and resources visit laparent.com Connect with us on Instagram.

Welcome back families. In today's episode our Digital Editor and first-time mom, Nina Harada, shares her ongoing efforts to quiet the chatter around her so she can tune into her own inner voice and allow her instincts to lead her. It's not always easy to find that quiet voice within when we're constantly surrounded by information from social media, family and friends. Tune in and let us know your thoughts and how you tap into your inner voice.  Thanks for joining us. We love connecting with you in this space -- a place to be seen, to be heard and to be cheered on. For more parenting tips and resources visit laparent.com Connect with us on Instagram. 

Hi families! What a ride 2022 has been so far. How are you guys doing? As our Digital Editor and first-time mom Nina Harada shares on this episode, we're all feeling a bit (actually maybe a lot) drained lately. With the threat of COVID still very much with us, family and friends getting sick despite vaccines and boosters, we are starting to run out of steam. A simple trip to the grocery with a toddler quickly turns into arguments over proper masking wearing and not touching everything. Nina is wondering how much of this is just normal toddler behavior and how much of it is pandemic-living. Tune in as Nina shares her frustrations, sadness and not being able to shake the feeling of overwhelm.  Thanks for joining us. We love connecting with you in this space -- a place to be seen, to be heard and to be cheered on. For more parenting tips and resources visit laparent.com

Happy New Year families and welcome back to our L.A. Parent Podcast. Today's our Digital Editor and first-time mom, Nina Harada, chats about why she no longer does New Year's Resolutions and is focusing more on her "intentions" for the year. Her focus for this year is "something is brewing." Tune in to hear about how this intention helped her get through the day filled with a screaming toddler who locked herself in the bathroom, a power outage and other everyday life challenges that can feel extra exhausting as we continue to parent during a pandemic.  Thanks for joining us. We love connecting with you in this space -- a place to be seen, to be heard and to be cheered on. For more parenting tips and resources visit laparent.com