Is it an excuse, or is it legit? Both! Families desperately need parents to give to themselves, but so many things get in the way. Why might you miss out on what would be transformative or even life-saving for you? Lack of child care? Finances? Busy-ness? Guilt? Mistrust that others can take care of things? They're all real concerns...and they're all surmountable if we refuse to be stopped. On the podcast this week, I got to talk to two incredible moms, KB and Melissa, about their experience deciding to care for themselves and coming to the Fall Retreat 4 years in a row! What almost stopped them? What was the retreat like, and what did it give them? What can we learn from moms like these, who understand deeply the value of giving to themselves? My favorite quote from BOTH of these rockstars: "It is hard, but it's worth it." Early Bird pricing is in effect until June 1, and I am here to help you make this happen for yourself. Learn about the retreat here: https://www.annkaplanparentcoach.com/fallretreat

It gets worse before it gets better. Have you ever heard this expression? It might sound cynical, but it's really true and I help clients go through this hard truth with their kids all the time. If you've ever implemented a new parenting skill with your kid and watched their behavior go straight into the toilet, this week's episode of Confessions Of A Parent Coach is for you! The truth is that when we only make change after we've fought it tooth and nail. We double down before we level up, every time. Listen in to learn why this happens, how to notice it in your kiddo, and what to do when you see it go down! Ready to get support navigating your own family's 'double down' chapter? Set up a free Discovery Call and share your goals for growth, parenting and self discovery with me. I can't wait to hear it all! https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall

Does your partner seem totally crazy sometimes? This week, you get to hear my hubby Mike describe my behavior as totally insane, not once, but multiple times :) Mike (Type 2) and I recorded an episode to describe what it's like to have the Enneagram in your marriage. How do a 1 and a 2 gel, and where do we clash? How do we use the Enneagram to navigate those rocky moments and reach a new level of understanding and compassion for each other and our growth journeys? Listen in to find out! On April 26, I'm leading an in-person mini-retreat here in Denver: The Living Enneagram - Your Personal Roadmap. If this stuff is as fascinating to you as it is to me, sign up for this morning of exploration, nourishment, and relaxation. https://www.annkaplanparentcoach.com/livingenneagram And of course, you have so many additional ways to work with me and the Enneagram! Set up a free Discovery Call and share your growth, parenting, and self-discovery goals with me. I can't wait to hear it all! https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall

What is it like to parent a child who really GETS themselves? This week, I am sharing something incredibly special with you - my daughter! Gigi sat down with me to talk about her Enneagram Type (4) and what it's like to know her Type, know my Type (1) and experience her childhood with the Enneagram woven into the parenting she receives. People ask me all the time how the Enneagram can help with parenting. This interview gives you a glimpse into how that looks in our family, and why I am such a huge proponent of Enneagram work. On April 26, I'm leading an in-person mini-retreat here in Denver: The Living Enneagram - Your Personal Roadmap. If this stuff is as fascinating to you as it is to me, sign up for this morning of exploration, nourishment and relaxation: annkaplanparentcoach.com/livingenneagram And of course you have so many additional ways to work with me and the Enneagram! Set up a free Discovery Call and share your goals for growth, parenting and self discovery with me: https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall. I can't wait to hear it all!

How do your relationships become what they are? Back in the '30's Karen Horney was a psychologist who saw Freud's penis envy theory as the nonsense it was (barf) and went her own way (badass). She identified 3 main ways people try to get what they need. Later, her theories were overlain on the Enneagram and we can see that each Type's stance plays a HUGE role in how people show up in their relationships the way we do (and why we find ourselves in the same relationship pickles over and over). Listen to this week's episode of Confessions of a Parenting Coach to learn about the stances and how they impact relationships. Plus, you'll get an inside peek at my relationship with my MOTHER (eek!). Learning about these aspects of ourselves makes relationship magic possible, unlike before, when it was laughable. Even the most challenging relationship has potential for improvement and the Enneagram is one tool I use to help my clients create that magic! Try it for yourself! In April, I'm leading an in-person workshop here in Denver: The Living Enneagram - Your Personal Roadmap. If this stuff is as fascinating to you as it is to me, sign up for this morning of exploration. https://www.annkaplanparentcoach.com/livingenneagram

Want to hack your brain? I've been talking a lot about the Enneagram lately, but do you have a clear idea of how to really USE it? Listen to this week's episode of Confessions of a Parenting Coach to see how each Type relates to ambition and goal-setting, and how to use that knowledge in your favor. It's a great example of using the Enneagram to hack your brain! Understanding the way you work lets you give yourself what you need to succeed. This is how I help my clients get unstuck and move mountains! Try it for yourself! In April, I'm leading an in-person workshop here in Denver: The Living Enneagram - Your Personal Roadmap. If this stuff is as fascinating to you as it is to me, sign up for this morning of exploration. https://www.annkaplanparentcoach.com/livingenneagram

Are you a head, heard or gut type? It's another Enneagram episode this week in the Confessions of a Parenting Coach podcast! You know, the Enneagram loves the number 3 (it's the magic number, after all) and this week I'm talking about the three triads. They explain so much about why we do what we do! Why do some people struggle to take action while others go for things without a second thought? Why can some of us stay above relationship struggles while it feels like a knife in the heart to others? Listen in to learn: ♦ Which triad you fall into (head, heart or gut) ♦ What emotions and energy characterize each triad ♦ How to access the triads you don't live in It's an Ennea-Extravaganza, all leading into my April workshop in Denver: The Living Enneagram - Your Personal Roadmap. If this stuff is as fascinating to you as it is to me, sign up for this workshop now! https://www.annkaplanparentcoach.com/livingenneagram And of course you have so many additional ways to work with me and the Enneagram! Set up a free Discovery Call and share your goals for growth, parenting and self discovery with me. I can't wait to hear it all! https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall

Have you ever heard of spiritual bypassing? It was a new term to me when I began my Enneagram training and it helped me see on a whole new level the Enneagram's ability to impact people in meaningful ways. Listen to this week's episode of Confessions of a Parenting Coach to learn: ♦ What spiritual bypassing actually is ♦ Our need for both psychology and spirituality to really, truly grow ♦ How both of these elements are woven throughout the Enneagram This episode continues my Enneagram series, leading into my April workshop here in Denver: The Living Enneagram - Your Personal Roadmap. If this stuff is as fascinating to you as it is to me, sign up for this workshop now! https://www.annkaplanparentcoach.com/livingenneagram And of course you have so many additional ways to work with me and the Enneagram! Set up a free Discovery Call and share your goals for growth, parenting and self discovery with me. I can't wait to hear it all! https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall

So much more than a personality test: A personal roadmap This week's Confessions of a Parenting Coach episode continues my Enneagram series, leading into my April workshop here in Denver: The Living Enneagram - Your Personal Roadmap. Feeling lost in life is normal—whether it's lost about what direction to take on a particular decision or lost in a more existential way, we've all been there. It may surprise you to know that the Enneagram is often called a map of humanity. Listen in to hear me explain that concept deeply, discuss the Enneagram as a personality test, and share my own journey with those lost feelings. If this stuff is as fascinating to you as it is to me, sign up for this workshop now: https://annkaplanparentcoach.com/livingenneagram And of course you have so many additional ways to work with me and the Enneagram! Set up a free Discovery Call and share your goals for growth, parenting and self discovery with me. I can't wait to hear it all: https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall

What your kid wants you to know: Decoding your child with the Enneagram How many times do we ask ourselves unanswerable questions as parents? What does this kid need from me? What's going on inside them? What do I need to know that I'm missing? Why are they doing what they're doing? Wouldn't it be awesome if we could answer some of those questions? In this week's episode of Confessions Of A Parenting Coach I show you how The Enneagram can offer answers and how I parent my kids using the Enneagram and invite you to explore the possibility for yourself. In April, I'm leading an in-person workshop here in Denver: The Living Enneagram - Your Personal Roadmap. If this stuff is as fascinating to you as it is to me, sign up for this morning of exploration (and snacks!) Learn more about the workshop here: https://www.annkaplanparentcoach.com/livingenneagram And of course you have so many additional ways to work with me and the Enneagram! Set up a free Discovery Call and share your goals for growth, parenting and self discovery with me. I can't wait to hear it all! https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall