The toddler years are a source of joy and anxiety for a lot of first-time parents. We want to encourage our newly-mobile little ones as they explore their surroundings, but we also want to keep them safe. And, we’re in charge of connecting them to a world that has schedules and time limits, which just aren’t intuitive to a tiny, curious mind. Who wouldn’t be stressed out by all that?

Empathy is the key to managing those competing priorities, for our little ones AND ourselves. Trying to see the world from their perspective can help us stay patient when they’re testing boundaries. Giving ourselves kindness when we make mistakes will help the whole thing feel less overwhelming. Here are my most important tips for building that connections, and some resources to help you put it into practice.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How you can start cultivating empathy for your toddler’s experience when they’re still an infant. 
2. The big shift in thinking at the heart of every progressive parenting method.
3. Why humility is so much more beneficial for your kiddos than perfection.
4. My most recommended resources for parents at any stage of their journey.

And much more! 

As always, thanks for listening. Head over to Facebook, where you can join my free group Mastermind Parenting Community. We post tips and tools and do pop-up Live conversations where I do extra teaching and coaching to support you in helping your strong-willed children so that they can FEEL better and DO better. If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it!

Get all the links, resources, and transcripts here: https://mastermindparenting.com/podcast-252

About Randi Rubenstein

Randi Rubenstein helps parents with a strong-willed kiddo become a happier family and enjoy the simple things again like bike rides and beach vacays.

She’s the founder of Mastermind Parenting, host of the Mastermind Parenting podcast, and author of The Parent Gap. Randi works with parents across the U.S.

At Mastermind Parenting, we believe every human deserves to have a family that gets along.

Randi’s Web and Social Links

• Website: https://mastermindparenting.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermindparenting
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mastermind_parenting/

Resources Discussed/Links

The best parenting book I’ve ever read is Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans. https://michaeleendoucleff.com/hunt-gather-parent/  

My favorite podcast episode to share features the author of Hunt Gather Parent, Michaeleen Doucleff. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mastermind-parenting-podcast/id1362773053?i=1000614983893 

The must-watch documentary Becoming You is on Apple TV https://tv.apple.com/us/show/becoming-you/umc.cmc.2eln6544k8wo99s3vrdl5amwf 

Check out my website and scroll to the bottom to sign up for weekly resources sent by email straight to you! https://mastermindparenting.com/ 

Milk Connections Lactation Consulting is at https://milkconnections.com/  

Save your seat for our monthly FREE 60-minute coaching session: https://mastermindparenting.com/monthly

Our 12-week Basics Bootcamp program is now available as a 100% online self-study course! https://mastermindparenting.com/minimasters/

Live assessment: https://mastermindparenting.com/live-assessment/