The Pressure to Be Perfect, How Parental Anxiety Fuels the Cycle

Robyn explores how a parent’s own anxiety and perfectionism can unintentionally increase anxiety in their child.

In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman takes a closer look at the role parental anxiety plays in children’s struggles. She explains how parents’ pressure to get it right, do it all, or prevent every mistake can unintentionally model fear and reinforce the very cycle they want to break. Instead of creating safety, perfectionism can pass along anxiety and leave children feeling less capable.

Robyn shares her own reflections as both a parent and therapist, offering examples of how this cycle shows up in everyday family life. She gives practical strategies to help parents notice when their own anxiety is leading them to hover or over-correct. She also highlights simple steps parents can take to pause, regulate, and respond differently.

By the end of this episode, you will see how lowering the pressure to be perfect can free both you and your child. You will feel encouraged to shift from control and over-accommodation to connection and support, creating more space for independence and resilience.

Shared Resources: 

• Follow Robyn on Instagram @parentingtheanxiouschild 
• Parenting the Anxious Child Membership
• Sign up for Robyn’s Newsletter and find additional resources

Breaking the Cycle, How to Step Back Without Abandoning Your Child

Robyn shares how parents can reduce accommodations while still staying connected and supportive.

In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman explores what it looks like to step back from over-accommodating without leaving your child feeling alone. She explains how anxiety often leads parents to jump in quickly, fix problems, or smooth the path, but these well-meaning efforts can keep kids from developing resilience.

Robyn walks through practical ways to reduce accommodations while maintaining warmth and connection. She highlights the importance of small, intentional shifts—pausing before rescuing, reflecting feelings instead of removing challenges, and offering encouragement as children face discomfort. With relatable examples from daily life, she shows how to balance stepping back with staying present.

By the end of this episode, you will feel more equipped to support your child’s independence without fear that you are abandoning them. You will see how doing less creates space for growth, while your consistent presence builds trust and safety.

Shared Resources: 

• Follow Robyn on Instagram @parentingtheanxiouschild 
• Parenting the Anxious Child Membership
• Sign up for Robyn’s Newsletter and find additional resources

When Reassurance Backfires, How to Help Your Child Face Uncertainty

Robyn explains why constant reassurance can actually fuel anxiety and offers practical ways to respond with support instead.

In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman talks about a common trap many parents fall into—reassuring their children again and again when worries show up. She explains why reassurance feels good in the moment but often strengthens anxiety over time. Instead of helping kids feel secure, it can keep them stuck and searching for certainty that no parent can truly provide.

Robyn shares how to recognize when reassurance has turned into a pattern, and she gives simple examples of what to say and do instead. She walks through small language shifts that validate feelings, encourage coping, and gently point toward independence. By listening, you will learn how to respond in ways that both comfort your child and build their ability to manage uncertainty

By the end of this episode, you will feel more confident stepping back from endless reassurance and more equipped to support your child’s growth. You will see how choosing support over certainty creates space for resilience and independence to develop.

Shared Resources: 

• Follow Robyn on Instagram @parentingtheanxiouschild 
• Parenting the Anxious Child Membership
• Sign up for Robyn’s Newsletter and find additional resources

Support vs Accommodation, How to Help Your Anxious Child Without Feeding the Anxiety

Robyn breaks down the difference between support and accommodation, showing how small shifts in language and response reduce distress and build skills.

In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman explains why the words we use and the actions we take matter when a child is anxious. She defines accommodation as anything we do or avoid doing that lowers distress in the short term but keeps anxiety in charge over time. She then contrasts this with true support, which helps a child face hard moments, feel safe, and practice coping skills.

Robyn shares everyday examples from home and school. She talks about what we say when a child refuses to do something, how we respond when worries spike before an activity, and the ways we can step back while still staying connected. She offers practical language shifts, such as moving from promising certainty to naming the feeling and pointing to the next brave step.

By the end of this episode, you will understand how intentional “doing less” helps create more independence and less anxiety. You will also leave with a simple way to check your own patterns: ask yourself if you are easing distress right now or helping your child build confidence for the future.

Shared Resources: 

• Follow Robyn on Instagram @parentingtheanxiouschild 
• Parenting the Anxious Child Membership
• Sign up for Robyn’s Newsletter and find additional resources

Parenting While Anxious, What That Looks Like and How to Shift It

Robyn explores how your own anxiety impacts your parenting and what you can do to respond with awareness instead of reactivity.

In Episode 3 of Do Less Parenting, Robyn talks about something that shows up in nearly every parenting challenge, anxiety. Specifically, parenting while anxious.

Robyn walks listeners through what it looks like when anxiety drives parenting decisions, from over-researching and second-guessing to racing to fix every problem. She offers language and examples that help parents recognize their own patterns and understand the ripple effect it can have on their children.

This episode is both validating and eye-opening, especially for high-achieving, Type A parents who are trying their best but often feel stuck in cycles of worry and control. Robyn gently shows how doing less begins with noticing what anxiety is doing behind the scenes, and how small shifts in awareness can lead to more independence and confidence for both you and your child.

Shared Resources: 

• Follow Robyn on Instagram @parentingtheanxiouschild 
• Parenting the Anxious Child Membership
• Sign up for Robyn’s Newsletter and find additional resources

What Are We Actually Supposed to Do Less Of?

Robyn breaks down exactly what she means by “do less,” clearing up misconceptions and guiding parents toward supportive, science-backed shifts.

In Episode 2 of Do Less Parenting, Robyn takes time to clarify something essential, what exactly are we doing that we should do less of? This episode is all about defining the “less” in Do Less Parenting, so that parents aren’t left guessing or, worse, assuming they’re supposed to show up less or love their kids less.

With her signature blend of warmth, clarity, and clinical insight, Robyn outlines the behaviors and patterns that actually increase anxiety in kids and stress in parents. From over-accommodating to stepping in too quickly, she helps listeners recognize what’s getting in the way of their child’s independence and how they can begin to change that.

This is a foundational episode for anyone who wants to support their child’s emotional growth while also honoring their own capacity and wellbeing.

Shared Resources: 

• Follow Robyn on Instagram @parentingtheanxiouschild 
• Parenting the Anxious Child Membership
• Sign up for Robyn’s Newsletter and find additional resources 

The Power of Doing Less, Why Parenting Martyrdom Isn’t Helping Your Kids

Robyn kicks off Do Less Parenting with a powerful message, parenting doesn’t require self-sacrifice, it requires intention.

In this very first episode of Do Less Parenting, therapist and mom Robyn Isman shares why this podcast has been years in the making. She opens up about her long-standing resistance to parenting martyrdom and introduces her philosophy that doing less, not more, is often the most supportive choice we can make for our children.

Robyn reflects on her own parenting journey, the science behind over-accommodation, and the moments that inspired her to speak directly to overwhelmed parents who feel stuck. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of how pulling back in intentional ways actually helps your child build confidence and resilience, and why your own emotional well-being is a critical part of the equation.

Whether you’re new to the concept of doing less or have been trying to find language for what you already feel deep down, this episode offers both validation and a starting point.

Shared Resources:

• Follow Robyn on Instagram @parentingtheanxiouschild 
• Parenting the Anxious Child Membership
• Sign up for Robyn’s Newsletter and find additional resources 

Welcome to Do Less Parenting — the podcast for parents who are tired of trying to do everything right.

Hosted by coach, SPACE practitioner, and mom of three, Robyn Isman, this show offers a refreshing take on modern parenting: one that validates your burnout, challenges over-accommodation, and reminds you that sometimes the best thing you can do for your child… is back off.

With humor, honesty, and over a decade of experience, Robyn helps you untangle anxious dynamics, respond without overreacting, and build trust in your child’s ability to handle life — even when it’s messy.

If you’ve ever googled “Is it okay if I don’t fix this?” — this podcast is for you.