In this episode, my guest Alyse Tuccio and I reflect on our childhood experiences around nudity, modesty, food, self-control, and body image.

What started as a casual chit chat during a Brazilian wax, turned into a deep dive into the ways modesty standards were enforced differently for us versus our brothers. In this unfiltered conversation, we unpack the messages we received growing up about our bodies, the fear of being objectified, and how these lessons still shape our behaviors today. 

As I navigate these topics with my children, I confront my own struggles I’ve carried into adulthood—my tortured relationship with food, my battle for self-confidence, and the impact of these ingrained beliefs.

Alyse Tuccio is an experienced esthetician of 18 years. She lives locally, and is a devoted and loving dog mom to Guinness. 

In this episode, we cover:

• Is there a “right” age when parents should stop changing or using the bathroom in front of their kids?

• Bathing children together is an opportunity to teach them about body awareness, boundaries, and consent. 

• Fostering a healthy relationship with food starts with parents’ behavior. 

• The connection between enforced modesty and body shaming. 

• While pop stars shaped our perception of the ideal body type, parents used them as blueprints for what is “inappropriate” dress. 

• Does clothing choice have anything to do with sexual assault? (Spoiler: It doesn’t—but society acts like it does.)

Resources & Links:

• If you’re wondering if it’s OK to be naked around your kids, or when you should start covering up, this article provides some great pros and cons to help you decide.

• Bathing children together—what you need to know.

• 5 Tips for Helping Kids Develop a Healthy Relationship with Food.

• Here’s the study I reference in my final thought conducted by the City University of New York that covers dress and sex.

• 25 compliments you can use to build a child’s self-esteem and self worth.

• Here’s the article I found with tips on how to raise confident kids that I didn’t get to.

Connect with Alyse:

• Follow on Instagram

Connect with Christine:

• Follow on Instagram

• Follow on TikTok

• Check out my website

More about Momming as a Millennial podcast: 

Welcome to Momming as a Millennial, the podcast where we dive into the challenges and triumphs of being a millennial mom in today’s dynamic world. Join your host, Christine Giarrizzo, on this candid journey as we navigate the complexities of motherhood, from tackling outdated stereotypes, to embracing our individual parenting styles.

In each episode, we explore the intersection of tradition and modern parenting. We’ll look at unsolicited advice and internet noise, as well as gender roles and expectations handed down by our parents and grandparents, in order to find what resonates with our true, authentic selves.

Tune in for honest conversations, genuine stories, expert insights, and a supportive community that understands the unique circumstance of navigating parenthood as a millennial. Together we’ll rewrite the narrative, challenge societal norms, and celebrate the diverse voices that make up our generation.

Let’s redefine what it means to be a mama in the millennial era.

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