When my kids were little, I’d get them to bed earlier about a week before school started. We’d get their clothes ready, school supplies purchased and they were ready to start a new school year. Even if they weren’t excited, they knew it was time and we adjusted without too much difficulty.  Now that my kids are older, and you may have noticed this too, things can get a little more stressful and you may find it hard to keep your cool. We want to not be triggered, we want to stay patient and...

Liz is the creator, editor and owner of Liz on Call, a creative lifestyle blog sharing easy do-able crafts and recipes. At Liz on Call, she incorporates her love of all things Disney. As an extension of her blog, in 2015 she created Disney Food N Fun as a home base to share all things Disney so families could get the most out of their trips to the Happiest Place on Earth. Liz will be the best friend you never knew you needed when planning a trip to Disneyland.  Liz on Call Blog Disney Food...

Join me as Kristen Arnett and I discuss how to help our kids become more confident. Kristen has a clear way of understanding and teaching a concept she calls, The Confidence Spectrum. Her business, Meant to be Me, teaches young girls how to be confident in themselves just as they are. If you're local, you must check her out. If you're not, she'll be expanding to virtual courses soon. You won't want to miss out. Find Kristen on IG @meanttobe.me For information about her class offerings...

Finding your parenting blindspots can be challenging, as they are often unconscious patterns of behavior or ways of thinking that can be difficult to identify.  In this episode, I talk about how to uncover the blindspots that are keeping you stuck. Observe your own behavior: Pay attention to your behavior and reactions when interacting with your kids. Are there patterns that you notice? Do you respond in certain ways to certain situations? Reflecting on your own behavior can help you...

Are you unsure about how to parent your teen? Are you worried you are pushing too hard, or not pushing enough? Do you want to feel more confident in your parenting decisions? If so, listen to this podcast episode on how to set rules and limits with your teenager. Remember, this is a process that takes practice. Notice what works. Notice what doesn't work. One of my favorite thoughts is that nothing is urgent. So take a breath, don't freak out and focus on connecting with your teenager....

What's an emotional bid and why are they important? An emotional bid is a way for one person to get the attention of another person. We often focus so much on getting our teenager's attention, that we can fail to notice when they are trying to get our attention.  We can sometimes feel frustrated when our teens complain or act disrespectful. But instead of it being a cause of frustration, we can start noticing this behavior as an emotional bid they are giving us to get our attention. What...

In this episode, I talk about why we get angry, where it comes from, and how we can control it. Controlling our anger doesn't mean we will never be angry again, but it will help us to respond instead of react. We will feel better and our relationships will improve. Anger can often snowball into us saying and doing things that we regret. Listen to this episode and start taking control of your anger today.  Join my SETTING RULES & LIMITS WITH YOUR TEEN Workshop!!  March 7th @ 10:30am...

It's not about never making a parenting mistake, but about learning from them and being willing to try a different approach. In this episode, I share four common parenting pitfalls that are easy to make and how to avoid them.  You will learn how to manage your emotions first, respond and not react, get curious and validate your teenager's emotions. Doing this will create more connection and influence as you help your child navigate these teen years. The Now Habit by Neil Fiore, Phd 5...

Naturally, as moms, we want to help our kids be respectful, productive, hard working...etc. etc. Sometimes this can lead to nagging, yelling or thinking our teens are just lazy and rude. If our kid spends too much time on their phone, plays too many video games, or ___________fill in the blank, it's easy to go right to worry and guilt thinking you (and they!) are doing it all wrong. But what if you didn’t have to be stressed out or frustrated about their behavior anymore? Listen to this...

What can we learn about parenting from Blockbuster and Netflix?  Link To Article About Blockbuster and Netflix I’m sure that based on the title of this episode, you may be a little confused about a thing or two. Blockbuster isn’t the first thing one would think of when trying to navigate the struggles of parenting. Come along with me while I explain an analogy that ties together fear based parenting, and good old Blockbuster! Think about it this way. What used to happen if you returned a...

It’s the New Year!  And with the New Year, comes all of the resolutions and goals right? But sometimes (most times) it’s hard to get going! Routines get messy during the holidays, and once the New Year rolls around, you’re tired. You feel a loss of momentum and just want things to get back to normal. That’s why, in this episode, I talk about 4 simple things you can do to regain your focus in 2023. It all starts with picking ONE thing that you want to do this year - just one - and determine...

Want to understand your teenager better? Do you feel like you are always walking on eggshells around your teen, not wanting to fight with them, but also needing them to listen to you? Parenting teens can be exhausting. There are so many myths that make parenting teens harder than it needs to be. We often go into parenting dreading the teen years. But it doesn't have to be this way. Parenting teens can be fun again. Darby Fox, LCSW, is a child and adolescent family therapist with over...

It can be so hard to know when your child's behavior is normal and when it's time to reach out for help. Some signs that something is going on can include: Trouble sleeping More irritable than usual Stomachaches or headaches These symptoms are also pretty normal to see in most children and teens.  So what do we do? My two favorite questions to ask myself are: Does my child feel safe to share emotions? Am I asking good questions? Doing this mental check-in will often help me know the...

Imagine being 16 again. Feeling like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. Academics, sports, family, friends, learning to drive, new to dating...it feels like a lot doesn’t it? And for some reason, on top of it all, it seems you can never do anything right in your parents' eyes.  If there is one thing I have learned as a parent, it's how important it is to let your children know that your love is unconditional. So how do we do this?  Set your expectations for your children based...

In this episode, I talk to Cassidy Lundgren about her struggle with scrupulosity (religious OCD) and depression. She's a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a wife and mother to four children. Cassidy talks about her battle with mental illness and how it impacted her ability to feel God's love for her. I'm so grateful to Cassidy for being so willing to share her story with us. Whether you suffer from mental helath challenges yourself, or know someone who does -...

All your teen wants is to be seen.  Think about it. When someone acknowledges you and says your name, doesn't it feel good?  Our kids are the same way. They may not act like they notice or appreciate it, but I promise it will make a huge difference in your relationship if you put this into practice.  Active Recognition - noticing something your child is doing and let them know you see them. Try it!  Follow me @kristengoodmancoaching on Instagram for more helpful tips for parenting your...

Did you miss the workshop on Monday? No worries, listen to it here! And if you're like me, it will be at 1.25 speed 😊 I'll give you 3 tips to help you stop getting so frustrated with your teen. You'll know where to start and learn how to be patient with yourself in the process.  Click Here for information on joining me and parents just like you in my Parenting in the Middle Group Coaching Course.  We start on October 24th and right now, if you use the code CONNECTION you will get 10% off....

Every day, we tell ourselves a story.  We create stories because it gives meaning to our lives. When things are going well, our stories make us feel good. However, when problems come up, the stories we create make us feel like we have failed. Listen to this episode as I explain a time when the story I had about my teenager didn't serve me. It didn't serve them either. It only increased my anxiety and created a power struggle with my teen. You can change your story. No matter how you're...

In this episode, I share my origin story and how I discovered coaching. I jump back several years to my old mindset when I felt stuck, unfulfilled, and empty inside. Even though I loved being a mom, I wasn’t doing “enough” in my mind. I thought that I should have a clean house, be organized, and have my kids act a certain way…but that wasn’t happening.     I finally got to the point where I thought, “I’ve got to do something because what I’m doing isn’t working.”  This is when I was...

Imagine that you are speaking in front of a big group of people. Your palms are sweaty; your knees are shaking; your heart is pounding. Public speaking is something that is scary for a lot of us.  Your fear may tempt you to run away from the situation, but fear doesn’t have to be a signal to stop. In fact, it’s just an emotion you’re feeling and it’s only as powerful as you let it be.   Whether it’s public speaking, pitching your course, or having a complicated discussion with your teenager,...

You want to be the perfect parent – we all do. But the reality is, you are human and you make mistakes. Even with the best of intentions, you're going to mess up at some point.  Take a breath, it's okay.  In this episode, I'm going to share what you can do when you make a parenting mistake. What do you do when you get angry or put too much pressure on your kids? Simply put, you can own your shortcomings, recognize your mistakes, and mend your relationship when necessary.  Are you ready...

Monica was the ideal teen…until she wasn’t. Her shield of perfectionism had made her unknowable, unreachable, and unseeable. She couldn’t let people see her weaknesses and had created an image for herself that she could no longer uphold.  That is when everything came crashing down.     Monica Packer from the About Progress podcast joins me on this episode to talk about how life is about progress, not perfection. She shares her story of how she recovered from being a burnt-out...

What if I told you that the best way to get your teen to change is to accept them just the way they are. Crazy right? But it's true. So let's unravel the thoughts that make it hard for us to accept our teens just as they are.  You will have less contention in your home, more connection with your teen and more fun while parenting when you do this.  Want to learn more? Download my Guide Here 3 Ways to Avoid a Power Struggle Link to Article Accept Your Teenager Just As They Are

What do you think? Should parents have a say in the way their teenagers dress?  Modesty and clothing battles isn't anything new. We went through it and our parents went through it. But your teen is more than what they wear or what they look like.  In this episode, I share my thoughts about why I shifted from being the mom who required undershirts to the mom who wants her girls comfortable in their own skin. Want to join me in September for my Parenting in the Middle group coaching...