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

Leap before you look. Did I say that wrong? Nope! In this week's episode of Confessions of a Parenting Coach, let's explore why looking before you leap is a TERRIBLE strategy! I will walk you through what the Enneagram calls your Centers Of Intelligence (the head, heart, and gut) and help you see why the head center keeps us stuck when we over-utilize it. Getting where you need to go in life and in parenting might depend on you deciding to GO FOR IT and trusting that your incredible brain will make it happen for you after you leap. If you're ready to help your kids maximize all the potential in their beautiful childhood, set up a free Discovery Call! I will learn about your family, help you see the roadmap to the family dynamics of your dreams, and decide if I am the person to help you get there. Click on the link to book it now! https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall

Why discipline a child whose misbehavior isn't their fault? When I get this kind of question, I know that a parent thinks of discipline as punishment, and changing that mindset can be a revelation for most parents. Most of us were raised to think of the world in terms of blame, fault, guilt, crime, punishment, etc. But great parenting transcends this kind of reductive approach. In this week's episode of Confessions of a Parenting Coach, I talk about this default thinking and the reasons why, YES, our kids do still need consequences for their actions, regardless of who is to blame for them. This mindset shift is crucial for us to be able to parent non-punitively and through the lens of strong, healthy relationships. If you're ready to help your kids maximize all the potential in their beautiful childhood, set up a free Discovery Call! I will learn about your family, help you see the roadmap to the family dynamics of your dreams, and decide if I am the person to help you get there. Click on the link to book it now! https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall

How can you tell when you've gone too far with someone? Have you ever felt yourself ramp up with excitement in a conversation with your child, only to realize that they seem to be on a different planet, not plugged into your message at all? Especially if the conversation is about a mistake they made or a lesson you want to teach, your child could be feeling emotionally flooded. In this week's episode of Confessions of a Parenting Coach, I will teach you what flooding is, how it looks in others, and how to notice when it's happening. If you're ready to help your kids maximize all the potential in their beautiful childhood, set up a free Discovery Call! I will learn about your family, help you see the roadmap to the family dynamics of your dreams, and decide if I am the person to help you get there. Click on the link to book it now! https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall

Growth is painful. Is there any other way? We use the expression 'growing pains' all the time, but how much of your energy and attention goes toward avoiding or helping your kids avoid the tough times we need to grow? In this week's episode of Confessions of a Parenting Coach, I explore the Cycle Of Growth and specifically discuss resistance—the experience we all have when facing growth. Listen in to learn how to identify when you or your child might be in a resistance phase and how to embrace those times as the most important and beautiful moments of life! If you're ready to help your kids maximize all the potential in their beautiful childhood, set up a free Discovery Call! I will learn about your family, help you see the roadmap to the family dynamics of your dreams, and decide if I am the person to help you get there. Click on the link to book it now: https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall

Want your kids to be each other's Ride Or Die? Having a sibling is a beautiful gift that our kids seem to squander at every opportunity—fighting, hurting each other, and being cruel. But is that really squandering the gift? In this week's episode of Confessions Of A Parenting Coach, I discuss the reason behind the universal friction between siblings. There is a reason for it, and there are things we can do to help our kids truly take advantage of the magic of having a sibling. If you're ready to help your kids maximize all the potential in their beautiful childhood, set up a free Discovery Call! I will learn about your family, help you see the roadmap to the family dynamics of your dreams, and decide if I am the person to help you get there. Click on the link to book it now! https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall

Want to finish the school year strong? Hoping this semester can redeem last semester? This week's episode of Confessions Of A Parenting Coach will get you on the right track. Listen in to hear my formula for a positive school year and leave your self-sabotaging habits behind! If you're ready to help your kids land on their feet, set up a free Discovery Call! I will learn about your family, help you see the roadmap to the family dynamics of your dreams, and decide if I am the person to help you get there. Click on the link to book it now! https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall

Are you OK with life's ebb and flow? I often hear frustration or defeat from clients when they notice that their energy or consistency in their new parenting work has waned. We can get down on ourselves for not maintaining things at a perfect, even level, but is that really even possible? In this week's episode of Confessions Of A Parenting Coach I explore the rhythmic nature of life and help you settle into that natural rise and fall with ease, instead of extreme overcorrections when we notice ourselves in a valley instead of a peak. If you're ready to get help approaching your goals with attunement to your natural rhythm, set up a free Discovery Call! I will learn about your family, help you see the roadmap to the family dynamics of your dreams, and decide if I am the person to help you get there. https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall

Have you ever resolved to be a better parent? When we want to improve our parenting, or anything else for that matter, we often focus on just DOING better - do this new great thing, stop that old bad thing. But does that really work? A lot of scientific and therapeutic theories say NO! So if you've ever committed to a new way of being (um, hello, New Year's Resolutions!) and quickly fallen back into old habits, you are very normal. In this week's episode of Confessions Of A Parenting Coach, I will show you why that focus on DOING falls short and introduce you to a tool I teach my clients, The Self Coaching Model, that helps us address the thoughts and feelings that actually CAN help us change our behavior. It will help you improve yourself, but more importantly, it will help you understand how to support your child in changing their behavior, too! If you're ready to get my eyes on your parenting challenges and create a clear pathway to the behavior and relationship you hope for with your child, set up a free Discovery Call! I will learn about your family, help you see the roadmap to the family dynamics of your dreams, and decide if I am the person to help you get there. Click on the link to book it now: https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall