In this essential holiday episode, Jennifer tackles one of the most stressful aspects of gift-giving season: how to respond when your children ask for expensive things you can't afford. Through practical strategies and compassionate insight, she reveals how these moments aren't really about the toys at all—they're about emotional regulation, parenting triggers, and teaching children resilience through discomfort.

This episode is for every mama who's felt the weight of comparison when other families buy expensive gifts, who's struggled with guilt around saying no to her children, or who's wondered how to teach kids the value of money without crushing their spirits. You'll discover why young children don't understand affordability, how to sit with your child's disappointment without fixing it, and why delaying gratification builds stronger, more resilient humans.

Timestamps

00:00 - Welcome to Episode 109: When Your Kids Want Things You Can't Afford

01:38 - Understanding Children's Emotional Responses to Disappointment

05:30 - The Importance of Emotional Regulation (Not the Toy)

09:18 - Managing Parental Triggers and Expectations Around Gift-Giving

12:06 - Teaching Children the Value of Money (Age-Appropriate Approaches)

18:08 - Creative Alternatives to Expensive Gifts

24:01 - Marketing and Consumer Awareness for Kids

26:15 - Building Resilience Through Discomfort

26:15 - Courage, Confidence, and Calling: The Enough Mom Framework

28:02 - Dream Reconnection Journal & Closing

About the Host

Jennifer Bryant is an educational leader with 25+ years of experience, speech and debate coach, former journalist, and recovering perfectionist who understands the weight of motherhood firsthand. As a homeschooling mother of two teenagers, she's walked through the struggles of comparison, anxiety, and the pressure to be perfect—and she's learned that being "enough" isn't about doing everything right; it's about embracing who you are and the unique calling you have as a mother.

Through the Enough Mom Podcast and her work with Practical Family, Jennifer helps mothers break free from comparison culture and step into confident, authentic parenting. Her three-pillar framework—courage, confidence, and calling—equips moms to trust themselves, embrace their worth, and raise children who know they're enough too.

Connect with Jennifer:

• Instagram: @jenniferbryant__
• Website: Jennifer-Bryant.com
• Email: Join her list for weekly encouragement

Coaching & Support

• Personal Coaching Services - Work with Jennifer for personal coaching and digital consulting

Jennifer's Resources

🎯 Dream Reconnection Journal - A contemplative journal that walks you through seven environments of your inner world. Reconnect with what you actually want and ground yourself so you can face motherhood's challenges with clarity and confidence. Because wanting things isn't selfish—it's getting back to knowing who you are.

📖 OVER Framework - FREE download to help you overcome mental struggles that keep you trapped in anxiety, comparison, and fear. Learn to:

• Observe your thoughts without judgment
• Validate your feelings without being controlled by them
• Examine the truth versus the distortions you're believing
• Redirect your mind toward what is true and life-giving

Don't wait—equip yourself with these tools today! These resources were created from Jennifer's own struggles as a mom, and they can help you navigate the challenges you're facing right now.

Subscribe & Support

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Disclaimer: Jennifer Bryant is not a licensed professional counselor. The content shared on this podcast is based on personal experience and educational research. All medical and scientific information is credited to appropriate sources. For professional mental health support, please consult a licensed therapist or counselor in your area: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us