I'm doing a bunch of research right now because I have just started writing my second book! And this one's going to be a collaboration with my friend and fellow Mastermind Mom, Sarah Miller.

She is a doctor who is a pediatrician about half the time, and half the time internal medicine. We're having a lot of fun, and we're just in the outlining, planning it out phase right now. And we're testing a hypothesis. So, the hypothesis is basically that when you have a child who, from a very young age, is a challenging kid. One where your gut instincts tell you, “Hmm. I think there's something to figure out with this kiddo.” You know, let's say you're going to that baby class that all your friends signed up for and you've got the one child, I'm sure it's probably half the class, but in your mind, it's the one child who just is crying the whole time. And all the other babies are like clapping and doing all the baby things. And you've got the kid and you're sitting there working your ass off to try and have your little tiny baby enjoy this music class.

And by the time that baby's two, you're starting to go to the birthday parties and all the other kids seem to be participating, but you've got the child who's like clinging to your leg and they don't want to play. All the other parents are talking and sharing a beverage and you're having to deal with your kid who is refusing to leave your side. And then it's time to start preschool and the teachers are telling you, “Oh, it's just separation anxiety.”

So, there's just like there's scenario after scenario, after scenario where you're thinking there's something going on with your kid, but you don't even know where to start. And our hypothesis is that most people reach out or start asking questions during their doctor's visits with the pediatrician. Your pediatrician is a child development authority in your life. And someone you have that relationship where you feel like you can ask your “mom questions” and there's not going to be any judgment.

Do you think? And so listen to this episode and if you want, let me know if this is you. If you reach out to your doctor, your pediatrician, to find out about all the typical milestones and they're the ones that you go to every time your kid has a birthday or when in their first year of life, every month. Because they're looking at all the markers, and they're the ones who are kind of following your kid’s developmental progress.

As always, thanks for listening, and be sure and head over to Facebook and you can join my free group Mastermind Parenting Community, where we post tips and tools and do pop up Live conversations where I do extra teaching and coaching to support you in helping your strong-willed children so that they can FEEL better and DO better. If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it!

About Randi Rubenstein

Randi Rubenstein helps parents with a strong-willed kiddo become a happier family and enjoy the simple things again like bike rides and beach vacays.

She’s the founder of Mastermind Parenting, host of the Mastermind Parenting podcast, and author of The Parent Gap. Randi works with parents across the U.S.

At Mastermind Parenting, we believe every human deserves to have a family that gets along.

Randi’s Web/Social Links

• Website: https://mastermindparenting.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermindparenting
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mastermind_parenting/

Resources Discussed/Links

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• Book your live assessment: https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/
• Join our Free Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/mastermindparenting