When your child is struggling, do you ever feel like you should know exactly what to say—but you don’t? In this episode, we explore the parenting pressure to fix our kids’ problems... and why sometimes, the best thing we can do is just pick up the phone and listen. Plus: the surprising milestone we celebrated this week and why your relationship deserves a party too.

KEY POINTS

• Kids often expect parents to know what to do—but we don’t always have the answers. 
• A powerful reminder: our kids don’t need perfect words—they just need us to show up.
• Building community makes it easier to hold the line with tricky issues like phones.
• Why celebrating your marriage or partnership (even obscure milestones!) is crucial for a strong family.
• Love and presence matter more than parenting “perfection.”

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

 "I didn’t say anything wise. I didn’t make anything better. I didn’t do emotion coaching or problem-solving. I just listened. And that was enough."

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Wednesday’s Episode with Dr Brad Marshall on the impact of phones
• Sunshine Coast Ballooning (hot air balloon anniversary celebration—not sponsored, just loved it)
• HappyFamilies.com.au for more resources

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

1. Let go of needing the perfect words – Just be there. Listen.
2. Build your community – Especially around tricky boundaries like phones and tech.
3. Celebrate your partner – Mark the small and silly milestones. They matter.
4. Reconnect with your kids – Even if you don’t have a fix, your presence is powerful.
5. Remind yourself – You don’t have to have the answers. Just love them. Be there.

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