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The Only Adult In The Room

The Only Adult In The Room

Written by: The Only Adult in The Room
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Ever feel like everyone else got the "How to be a Parent" manual except you? Don’t worry, neither did we!

This sometimes hilarious, 360-degree parenting podcast covers many of the fun adventures you and your child can experience (and some things you didn’t know were possible), at any age. We dive deep into the messy, unspoken corners of raising humans, serving up common sense and expert insights with a side of "wait, I’m supposed to know how to do that?"

Join us as we navigate the chaos together, proving that even if you’re winging it, you can still be The Only Adult in the Room.Copyright The Only Adult in The Room Parenting Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Episode 8 - A Roadmap for Every Child: The Heart of Parenting and Advocacy

    Episode 8 - A Roadmap for Every Child: The Heart of Parenting and Advocacy
    May 18 2026
    In this episode of The Only Adult in the Room, hosts Lindsay and Suzan sit down with Debra and Makayla from The Children’s Movement of Florida to discuss the critical landscape of developmental screenings and early intervention. As they travel across the state, the team shares sobering insights into why "screening is abundant, but diagnosis is not"


    The conversation dives deep into the barriers families face, including long waitlists for Medicaid providers, the stigma surrounding labels, and the daunting complexity of navigating healthcare systems. You’ll hear about the "sobering" reality that 75% of children who enter kindergarten behind their peers may never catch up, highlighting the urgent need for intervention within the first five years.

    From innovative "impact networks" to the role of local municipalities in solving childcare deserts, this episode is a call to action for parents, educators, and policy-makers to prioritize kindergarten readiness for all children.
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    36 mins
  • Episode 7 - Empowering Florida’s Families: Policy, Advocacy, and the First 1000 Days

    Episode 7 - Empowering Florida’s Families: Policy, Advocacy, and the First 1000 Days
    May 4 2026
    In this episode of The Only Adult in the Room, hosts Lindsay and Suzan sit down with Makayla Buchanan (Chief of Staff) and Debra Dhaity (Maternal and Child Health Associate) from The Children’s Movement of Florida. This insightful discussion explores how the organization advocates for policies and investments that help every child in Florida thrive during their first five years.


    The conversation dives into the "three buckets" of the Movement’s work: business engagement, community listening, and legislative advocacy. Makayla and Debra share their expertise on bridging the gap between maternal health and early childhood education, emphasizing that the foundation for success begins long before a child enters a classroom.

    Key topics discussed in this episode include:
    • The Power of Parent Advocacy: How the Parent Leadership Network trains families to find their voice and navigate the legislative process.
    • Florida’s Early Learning Roadmap: A breakdown of the 41 recommendations informed by over 1,000 Floridians to improve the state's early childhood system.
    • The First 1,000 Days: Why the period from prenatal to age three is the most critical window for rapid brain development and future employability skills.
    • Continuity of Care: New initiatives like postpartum support groups hosted directly within early learning centers.
    • Supporting Home-Based Learning: Validating the role of parents as a child's first teacher and the importance of "teachable moments" in everyday life.
    Whether you are a parent, educator, or community leader, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the people working to ensure Florida leads the nation in early childhood success
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    41 mins
  • Episode 6 - From VPK to Kindergarten: Navigating Literacy, Emotions, and Parent Guilt

    Episode 6 - From VPK to Kindergarten: Navigating Literacy, Emotions, and Parent Guilt
    Apr 20 2026
    Starting Kindergarten is one of the biggest milestones in a parent's life, but it often comes with a mix of pride, anxiety, and "parent guilt." In this episode, Lindsay and Suzan share their personal stories of dropping off their little ones and offer a deep dive into what Kindergarten Readiness actually looks like in today’s world.

    We break down the academic requirements in Florida—including the FAST (Florida Assessment of Student Thinking)—and why social-emotional skills might be even more important for your child's success than knowing their ABCs.

    In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
    • The Emotional Side of "Big School": Dealing with the transition and why it’s okay if you’re more of a mess than your kid.
    • Academic Benchmarks: Understanding the Star Early Literacy Assessment and the "707" score goal for Florida students.
    • The Power of Connection: Why face-to-face interaction and "eye contact and touch" are vital for language development following the impacts of Covid.
    • Screen Time vs. Real Life: Why technology can't replace the "human" element of learning.
    • A "Village" of Resources: Exploring local support like the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida, Help Me Grow, and the New Worlds Reading Initiative
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    29 mins
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