Got a worrier at home? Grab THE BACK TO SCHOOL WORRY TOOLKIT for 10 days of tools sent straight to your inbox!

Have a tool that helps your anxiety? DM me on Instagram (@sacredgroundcoaching) or email [email protected] —I’d love to feature listener strategies in a future episode.

Anxiety is rising—and it often runs in families. In this episode of Emotions with Ease, I (Jami Glenn, Emotional Wellness Coach for Families) share how anxiety showed up in my childhood, how counseling flipped the lights on in my 20s, and the simple, body-first tools I still use as a mom. If you’re an anxious parent raising an anxious kid, you’ll find validation, language for what you’re feeling, and practical next steps you can try today.

Anxiety is often intergenerational. Many anxious kids have at least one anxious parent. Naming that reduces shame.

Validation is powerful. The right counselor + compassionate language can immediately bring relief and direction.

Anxiety is a body-first experience. Move the energy (walks, runs, classes) to prevent rumination and agitation.

Curate your inputs. Swap TV news for reading; don’t expose kids’ developing brains to scary loops.

Relationships regulate. Coffee with a friend, a phone call, or a walk-and-talk can downshift your nervous system fast.

Build your support team. Counseling, coaching, medical/holistic care—different seasons call for different resources.

Track your “warning lights.” Early cues (like 4 a.m. spirals) mean it’s time to use your tools on purpose.

5-Minute Reset: Go outside and walk to the end of the street and back—notice your breath and feet.

Content Audit: Mute one account, turn off autoplay news, or switch to reading headlines only.

Connection Cue: Text a friend for a 10-minute call or schedule a coffee walk this week.

Name the Spiral: Write the worry once; set a 2-minute timer; then choose one small action (drink water, stretch, step outside).

Team Builder: List 2 pros you might add (counselor, coach, PCP/holistic practitioner) and send one inquiry.

Counseling/therapy (find a good fit; it’s okay to try again)

Body movement you actually enjoy (walks, runs, group classes)

Supportive friends/community (coffee, calls, walk-and-talks)

Holistic/medical support (labs, vitamins, whole-person care)

If this episode was helpful, share it with one parent friend who needs some calm today.

Is your child’s “stomachache” really worry in disguise? Or maybe their irritability is more than just a bad mood? In this episode of Emotions with Ease, I sit down with my friend Kaitlyn Torres, APCC, a child and teen anxiety specialist, to unpack the everyday signs of anxiety—and how parents can respond with calm confidence.

Kaitlyn is a San Diego-based therapist (and mom of two!) who brings warmth, humor, and seriously practical tools. We cover everything from “frequent flyers” to the school nurse, to what to say in the middle of an anxious spiral, to how parents’ own anxiety plays into the mix.

Whether you’re parenting a worrier or just want to strengthen emotional wellness in your family, this conversation is packed with lightbulb moments.

[00:00] Welcome & Introduction
Why I invited Caitlyn on the show and her passion for helping kids with anxiety and ADHD.

[05:04] Surprising Signs of Anxiety

Irritability as a hidden anxiety symptom

Avoidance (sports, school, social events)

Headaches, stomachaches, muscle tension

[08:28] When Parents Are Anxious Too

Why anxious parents often over-accommodate

How your own childhood anxiety shapes your parenting today

Shifting from “fixing” to helping kids build tolerance

[12:28] What an “Anxious Spiral” Looks Like

The difference between externalizing (meltdowns) and internalizing (shut down) behavior

How to respond when your child is spiraling

[19:29] The Power of Co-Regulation

Why your calm is step one

“Be the thermostat, not the thermometer”

Why logic doesn’t work in the heat of the moment

[22:21] Avoiding Over-Dependence

Spotting and praising bravery in everyday life

Using the Support Statement (Empathy + Confidence)

Why parents should “say it, then stop talking”

[28:25] Everyday Routines That Calm Anxiety

Anchor points (like nightly reading)

Modeling your own self-talk around stress

Building silliness and playfulness into the day

[34:19] The Goal Isn’t to Eliminate Anxiety

Helping kids learn to tolerate discomfort

Why tolerating anxiety builds resilience for life

[36:12] Kaitlyn’s Personal Shares

The emotion she gets stuck in as a mom

Her go-to regulation tool right now (hint: sometimes it’s watching a fun show guilt-free!)

Anxiety in kids often shows up as irritability, avoidance, or stomachaches, not just panic attacks.

Parents with their own anxiety may over-accommodate—try shifting toward helping kids tolerate discomfort instead of removing it.

In the middle of an anxious spiral, don’t try to reason—regulate yourself first, then co-regulate with your child.

Use a simple Support Statement: “It makes sense you feel nervous… and I’m confident you can handle this.” Then stop talking and let it land.

Create anchor points in your day—like reading together or dancing in the kitchen—that bring predictability and joy.

Remember: the goal isn’t to erase anxiety, but to help kids grow the confidence to handle it.

📖 Breaking Free from Childhood Anxiety and OCD by Eli Lebowitz

👉 Follow Kaitlyn on Instagram: @kaitlyntorrestherapy 

If you loved this episode, share it with a friend who needs a little extra calm in their parenting toolkit. And don’t forget to subscribe to the Emotions with Ease podcast so you never miss practical tools for raising kids with confidence and connection.

💌 Want more strategies for worry and anxiousness? Grab the BACK TO SCHOOL WORRY TOOLKIT https://sacredgroundcoaching.myflodesk.com/q27kuxqpid

Welcome back to Emotions with Ease for Families! In this episode, we kick off a brand-new series on anxiety, worry, and fear. These three words often get lumped together, but they’re not the same. Understanding the difference can help you guide your kids (and yourself!) through anxious seasons, especially during high-stress times like back-to-school.

You’ll also hear why anxiety spreads “like glitter” in families and how to recognize when worry is running the show. Plus, get a free resource to help parents calm back-to-school stress.

[00:00] Welcome + Why We’re Talking Anxiety
Jami introduces the new series and explains why anxiety is one of the most common emotions families get stuck in.

[02:00] Back-to-School Stress Is Real
How the transition back to school sparks anxiety and what parents are reaching out about most.

[04:00] Free Back-to-School Worry Toolkit
Jami shares her free 10-day email challenge with quick, practical tools for parents and kids.

[06:30] Defining Fear
Fear is a response to an immediate, real threat. Example: a barking dog running toward you. Fear’s purpose is to keep us safe.

[10:00] Defining Worry
Worry is a behavior — spinning “what if” thoughts that imagine a future we don’t want. It’s our brain trying to predict and control outcomes.

[15:00] Defining Anxiety
Anxiety is the body’s physical reaction to perceived danger. Unlike fear (real threat) or worry (thoughts), anxiety shows up in the body as energy in motion.

[18:00] Parental Anxiety
Why parents who experience anxiety often see it reflected in their kids — and how awareness can turn that into a strength.

Fear, worry, and anxiety are different — knowing the distinction helps kids (and parents) respond more effectively.

Fear = real, immediate threat (dog charging, thunder clap).

Worry = imagination at work creating negative “what if” futures.

Anxiety = body’s reaction to perceived danger, even if no threat is present.

Parents who have experienced worry or anxiety are uniquely equipped to guide their children through it.

All emotions serve a purpose — even the hard ones — when we understand their messages.

✨ Ready for quick, practical tools to help your child navigate worry and anxiety?
Grab Jami’s free Back-to-School Worry Toolkit — a 10-day email challenge packed with easy strategies for parents and kids.

👉 Follow Jami on Instagram @sacredgroundcoaching  and click the link in her bio to get your toolkit today!

In this episode of Emotions With Ease, I talk with Cambria Bratcher, a Working Genius Consultant, about how discovering your “zone of genius” can transform parenting.

You’ll learn how the six Working Genius types show up in family life, why parenting feels harder when we work outside our strengths, and how to bring more clarity and calm to your decisions as a parent.

[00:05] What the Working Genius is and why it matters for families

[12:45] How comparison steals joy in parenting

[18:10] Making clearer decisions with your genius zones

[25:00] Strengths of each genius & the reminder: “What we water grows”

Lean into your natural genius zones as a parent.

Stop comparing yourself—your strengths are unique.

Water your strengths and watch them grow.

Clarity in your genius = calmer parenting.

Grab the Back to School Worry Toolkit here!

Contact Cambria Bratcher @ [email protected]

Follow Jami on Instagram @sacredgroundcoaching