In this episode I answer a question off Instagram: “How to manage my emotions when establishing time boundaries?”  I talk about the difference between a boundary and an expectation. And how to clearly set both. I share 5 different steps to take in order to set both you and your child up for success. You’ll hear mindset shifts and you’ll get practical strategies on how to engage your child once the boundary has been crossed and the power struggle has begun (as the clock ticks away). If you...

In this episode I talk about the difference between control and trust. And how we have been so conditioned to control the process, control the outcome, control our children’s behavior. Because left to their own devices things haven’t gone well in the past. But the more we control, the less time they have to practice, to fill up their own control bucket, to show us through their actions how capable they truly are.  I offer a new way of thinking about control and some guidance on how to slowly...

Hear from the Founder of Good For You Girls (a toxic-free skincare line that supports kids through puberty and beyond). Our discussion ranges from the challenging food and product options for our tweens/teens as well as how to have empowered conversations about the hormonal changes they are experiencing. Kimberly shares wonderful ways to stay connected, alert, curious, and how to move through this delicate time without shame and feeling empowered. Tune into this very important...

*Trigger warning at minute marker 7:30 I share a story of my stillbirth.* In this episode I share a very vulnerable and tender moment I had with my strong willed kid. He did something impulsively that pushed on all my buttons. And instead of having a corrective conversation we ended up having one of the most honest and connective moments. I was able to recognize that my desire to control his behavior is rooted in a deep fear that I will lose him just like I lost his brother.  My control and...

The phrase “feel your feelings” has become this negative trope used to make parents, who are really trying to do things differently, feel weak and shameful about their choices.  I hear all the time “Oh you’re one of THOSE parents who allow feelings…” As if thats a BAD THING!?  In this week’s episode I talk about how allowing both yourself and your child to feel your feelings (yes even the “bad” ones) is a radical act. And why it should be the focus of all interpersonal relationships, not...

In this episode we explore a phrase my therapist told me back in 2020. “You need to change in order for ME to feel better.”  I feel like this phrase helped me see every situation differently. I began to understand my responsibility in each relationship. What I brought to the dynamic that was either healthy or not.  And I was able to really start a journey of self-discovery and accountability to show up the way I wanted to in each interaction. If this resonates with you and you’re looking...

In this episode I share 3 major reasons why yelling is so effective. I share why it works so well with our kids and why it’s likely a tool you’ve been using in your parenting. I also dive into the effects and why this habit of ours deserves to be reevaluated and overhauled.  I share 3 effective strategies to implement INSTEAD of yelling and how you can take baby steps in the direction of getting rid of yelling. Just remember, you are a good parent EVEN IF YOU YELL! This is a well worn...

In this episode I share why I dislike the umbrella term “connection over correction” and why I think it’s doing parents who are really trying a disservice.  I share what it looks like to use connection as a tool and how to connect to yourself so that you can connect to your children. I hope you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that you are trying and not failing after listening to this episode.  FREE GUIDES! Make sure you grab my Free Guide to Managing Meltdowns:...

“When I’m in a relationship with his behaviors there is less for me to see and love and adore and protect. But when I put that down, it opens my eyes to all the things that make him special, unique that I love and want to protect in him!” - Amanda Doyle, We Can Do Hard Things This quote hit me hard. It reminded me of the years I had invested into removing unwanted behavior and how I was exclusively focused on the behavior, not the child in front of me. In this episode I talk about how we can...

I made a post a few weeks ago about my son negotiating with me in the pool for more pool time. I walked through the scenario and shared THE WIN of how he held his end of the agreement EVEN THOUGH he had an impulse to jump back in.  Since that post I’ve received 100s of messages from mostly men talking about how I should have solved that problem with physical violence against my son. They got dark. Very dark. And in this episode I address that.  The comments show a society of adult men who...

Teaching our kids the ways of the world from value based boundaries vs. consequences and yelling is NOT easy. In fact, it’s way harder. But it is worth every bit of effort.  In this episode I share a personal story of watching my son understand the boundaries and how he put it into practice while playing a game with his brother.  My hope in sharing this is to give you a beacon of hope. This is a moment I will hold onto forever as I remember that this part of him is alive and well inside, I...

Hey mama, do you have a strong willed kid? Are you curious if they’re defiant, have a behavioral disorder, or are just here on this planet to make your life miserable?! I get it, I’ve been parenting a strong willed child for 7+ years now and I know the roller coaster that it is.  In this episode I break down the 5 key markers I’ve noticed with strong-willed kids. I have a feeling you’ll recognize several of these with your own kiddo.  I also invite you to take a look at The Strong-Willed...

I am so excited to share this interview with you. Rachel Marie Martin is an author, entrepreneur, speaker and mom to SEVEN yes you heard me SEVEN children!! She shares her story of how she felt lost in motherhood, a pivotal moment in her life where she chose to prioritize herself and how she’s been able to move through life even when people questioned her because she trusted that spark.  I invite you to listen and see yourself in her story. You can find Rachel at FindingJoy.net  On...

Back to school is upon us! If you have a stage 5 clinger like I do, this can be a hard moment for both them and you. This morning I had to fight back some tears as well and put on a sturdy face so I could support my son on his first day in a new school and new grade.  In this episode I share how to help your children feel more safety inside during this transition. I also share a few rituals that have helped me in the past and ways to stay grounded as the parent.  I wish you all the best of...

In this episode I piggyback off of Episode 47 which talks about our low self worth loops as parents. This episode talks about that inner feeling, that inner knowing that you have to shed an old belief system in order to truly step into the parent that you want to be.  FREE GUIDES! Make sure you grab my Free Guide to Managing Meltdowns: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/meltdown 4 steps to get you through your kid’s meltdown without snapping!  Do you find yourself yelling more often...

I am so excited to share this episode with you! I do a deep dive into what my community looks like! I share the 5 stages inside the community and what you could expect from each stage. I share that no matter where you start, there is no shame, no expectations of how fast you grow or how you “perform” inside this community. The community group is my baby :) I have designed this space to give you endless opportunities for growth and support. A place where you can feel seen, feel heard and...

I have said many times that threats, bribes, consequences and punishments don’t work very well. And I get A LOT of feedback (nice way to say nasty comments 😉) in my feed about how these are necessary to teach our kids how to be “real world ready.” And how else are they going to learn how to act appropriately if they don’t have punishments when they act out of turn? This episode addresses just that!  I share in this episode how I’ve been able to remove threats, bribes, punishments and...

I share a vulnerable moment in time for me in this episode. My oldest son and I are not jiving and the frustration is level 10 what seems like most of the day…and most days. I can do all the work in the world and sometimes it’s a simple visual that helps me in moments of conflict, chaos and challenge.  We often find ourselves facing two paths in parenting. One is so incredibly easy to take because we’ve been there so so so many times. It’s easy because our neural pathways are strong and deep...

I love this episode not just for the really simple visual to help calm us down in a moment of mom rage but because the visual was brought to me by my late son Jackson. In this episode I walk you through a grounding visual that will help settle you in the heat of the moment and remind you of what your goal is on this responsive parenting journey.  FREE GUIDES! Make sure you grab my Free Guide to Managing Meltdowns: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/meltdown 4 steps to get you through...

In this episode you get to hear from Play Therapist Kimberly Bartlett. We talk about effective play strategies to really engage your kids in a different way. She shares simple and actionable tips that will help you in the most challenging moments with your kids.  Kimberly Bartlett is a dedicated professional in the field of play therapy, holding the titles of Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™ and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. As the owner of Evergreen Play Therapy in...

I am so excited for you to hear from Katelynn. Katelynn is a mom to a very strong-willed 3.5 year old. When she and I first started coaching her daughter was having several meltdowns a day that lasted for a minimum of an hour and sometimes stretched closer to 2. Katelynn felt like she was failing, she was overwhelmed with all the advice she was seeing on her feed and just needed relief.  She looked at coaching with me as a one stop shop to get all of the support, tools and resources she...

In this episode, I break down my progression of low self-worth loops that began in childhood and share how that has affected my parenting. This is not a bashing session on my parents, rather it’s a deeper understanding of how we, as kids, can start to internally code these really repetitive interactions with our parents. When there is shame, constant correction, lectures, etc. it’s very easy to internalize these moments as “bad” or “wrong” and therefore we begin to view ourselves as “bad” or...

In this episode, I give you a framework to follow when you find yourself stuck in a power struggle with your kids. This isn’t a rigid script to follow, rather a framework to assist you in some of the most frustrating moments in parenting.  When our wants collide with our child’s wants - we end up feeling resistance. WE understand that feeling and we might have some coping strategies, but more often than not we feel like we have to justify, explain or force our way to end it.  I think what...

I’m the assistant coach on my son’s little league team this season. And I’m noticing the proclivity of parents (myself included at times) to demand excellence. I link this back to when I was young and noticed that my brother’s naturally high achieving abilities never got lectured. But I was lectured ALLLL the time. So I started achieving more, and more, and more and yet the lectures never stopped. I was chronically stressed out about my performance. I linked achievement to connection and...