Healthy Parenting Handbook with Katie Kimball

If you’ve ever looked at your child’s behavior and thought, “What is going on right now?”—you’re not alone.

In this episode, we go beyond surface-level parenting advice and get into something deeper: what your child’s behavior is actually trying to communicate. 

Wendy Snyder introduces a powerful framework that helps you “translate” your child’s actions in real time. Instead of reacting with frustration, you’ll start to see patterns, unmet needs, and opportunities to teach life skills. It’s a shift that can completely change how you experience everyday parenting moments.

Along the way, you may find yourself rethinking what it really means to be a “strict” parent, and whether the strategies you’ve been using are actually helping in the long run.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The four hidden reasons behind most misbehavior
• How to tell if your child is seeking attention, power, revenge, or support
• Why punishment often makes behavior worse instead of better
• What to do when your child says hurtful or dramatic things
• How to stay calm when your child is upset with your rules
• The difference between firm boundaries and “strict” parenting
• How to stop power struggles before they escalate
• Why your mindset matters just as much as your parenting strategy

If you’ve been feeling stuck in cycles of frustration or wondering why nothing seems to “work,” this conversation will give you a new lens to look through ... and a few moments that might just change how you respond the next time your child pushes back.

Did you miss part 1 of this episode? Watch or listen here.

Resources We Mention for Understanding Your Child's Behavior

• Pre-order Wendy's new book at Amazon, Bookshop.org, or wherever you find your books, and then grab the preorder bonuses here.
• My mini-episode about boundaries especially for teens
• Scripts for calm connection with Bryanna Kappadakunnel
• Listen to Wendy's episode on parenting "cactus kids"
• More on power struggles, positive parenting, and forgoing traditional discipline in this episode with Amy McCready
• My episode on the Fresh Start Family podcast about building connection through cooking

Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!

Get my favorite organic clothes and home goods at Pact here! Get 15% off your first order with code KITCHENSTEWARDSHIP15.

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Raising Healthy Families 
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

There’s a moment in this conversation I can’t quite shake.

A mom drops her child’s favorite stuffed animal into the trash while her four-year-old begs her not to. If that makes your stomach tighten, you’re not alone.

Because even if you’ve never had a “trash can moment,” you’ve probably had that moment. The one where you hear yourself and think, “Wait…is this how I want to parent?”

That’s exactly where this conversation with Wendy Snyder begins. Not from perfection, but from honesty, growth, and a deep desire to do better than what we were handed.

And the surprising part? She doesn’t just share what went wrong. She shows us what to do instead in a way that feels doable and hopeful.

If you’ve ever wondered why punishment doesn’t work, why strong-willed kids push every button, or why you keep reacting in ways you swore you wouldn’t, this episode will meet you right there.

Inside, we talk about:

• The story behind that “trash can moment” and why it changed everything
• What’s really happening during power struggles
• The discipline belief most of us inherited and why it backfires
• A simple 4-step process to set limits without yelling or shame
• Why connection changes everything
• How to support strong-willed kids without breaking their spirit
• What breaking generational cycles actually looks like
• The long game of parenting and what success really means

Underneath it all is a quiet shift. Maybe parenting isn’t about controlling our kids better, but understanding them and ourselves more deeply.

If that’s the kind of change you’ve been craving, you’re in the right place.

Resources We Mention for Respectful Discipline

• Pre-order Wendy’s new book at Amazon, Bookshop.org, or wherever you find your books, and then grab the preorder bonuses here.
• Listen to Michele Borba’s interview about helping our kids build empathy.
• Scripts for calm connection with Bryanna Kappadakunnel
• Listen to Wendy’s episode on parenting “cactus kids”
• My episode on the Fresh Start Family podcast about building connection through cooking

Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!

Get my favorite organic clothes and home goods at Pact here! Get 15% off your first order with code KITCHENSTEWARDSHIP15.

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Raising Healthy Families 
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

If you’ve ever thought, “Why can I not get my life together when it comes to time?”—you are absolutely not alone.

This conversation felt like such a breath of fresh air because we’re not talking about rigid schedules, perfect planners, or waking up at 5am (thank goodness). Instead, we’re digging into what actually works for real moms with real lives… you know, the kind where kids interrupt everything and plans fall apart before lunch.

I had so much fun hearing about Anna’s real-life experiences in the professional world, SO different than my life, and wait until you hear what we both have in common when it comes to being POOR at time management! I couldn’t believe her confession about getting in trouble at work for a time-related issue…

What I love most is that Anna brings so much grace and practicality to this topic. She doesn’t expect perfection; and honestly, that might be the most freeing part of all.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why time management isn’t really about your planner (and what actually matters instead)
• A simple “mind sweep” method to instantly reduce overwhelm and clear your mental clutter
• How to figure out what actually deserves your time (and what you can let go of)
• Practical ways to involve your kids so you’re not doing everything yourself
• What to do when your plans fall apart (because… they will)
• A simple framework to handle those chaotic, stressful moments without spiraling

If you’ve been feeling scattered, behind, or just plain overwhelmed, this episode is going to meet you right where you are, and give you a few doable steps to move forward.

Resources We Mention for Time Management for Moms

• Get Anna’s Blueprint to Balance here
• Buy Anna’s book, Time Management Essentials: The Tools You Need to Maximize Your Attention, Energy, and Productivity on Amazon or Bookshop.org
• When we talk about being an “upholder” or a “rebel,” that’s from Gretchen Rubin’s book The Four Tendencies.
• Learn more from my interview with Megan Sumrell about managing your time, and check out her TOP program for a free training on getting your life together!

Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!

Get my favorite organic clothes and home goods at Pact here! Get 15% off your first order with code KITCHENSTEWARDSHIP15.

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Raising Healthy Families 
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

If you’ve ever stood in the middle of your house and thought, “Where do I even start?”… you are absolutely not alone.

But what if the problem isn’t your lack of discipline… it’s your approach?

In this conversation, I sat down with Ingrid Jansen from The Declutter Hub, and she completely reframed how I think about clutter. We didn’t just talk about getting rid of stuff. We talked about why it feels so hard in the first place—and how to make it feel doable (even in the middle of real life).

Because here’s the truth: clutter isn’t just about things. It’s about emotions, habits, identity, and sometimes even guilt. And once you understand that piece, everything starts to shift.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why “decluttering your whole house” is actually the fastest way to get stuck
• The simple mindset shift that makes decluttering feel lighter and more positive
• Why starting with what you want to keep (not what to throw away) changes everything
• How to break any space into small, manageable chunks you can tackle in minutes
• The surprising advice Ingrid gives about what to do when you feel unsure about an item
• What the “messy middle” is and why so many people quit right there
• How clutter and emotions like guilt, stress, and overwhelm are deeply connected
• The hidden ways new clutter keeps sneaking into your home (and how to stop it)

Resources We Mention for Easy Decluttering

• Ingrid and Lesley’s book: Reset Your Home: Unpack your emotions and your clutter, step by step (Amazon/Bookshop.org)
• Get started in the Declutter Hub!
• Take the clutter quiz
• Dig more into the mental load of clutter with Katy Wells
• Organizing styles for families with Cas from Clutterbug

Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!

Get my favorite organic clothes and home goods at Pact here! Get 15% off your first order with code KITCHENSTEWARDSHIP15.

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Raising Healthy Families 
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Money fights are rarely about the money.

They usually start somewhere small. A decision. An assumption. A moment that feels harmless at the time.

And then suddenly you are on a honeymoon, of all places, realizing you are not actually on the same financial page at all. That is exactly where this conversation begins.

Amanda shares a story that many couples will recognize: a beautiful life moment that quietly turned stressful because expectations were never spoken out loud.

Because money is not just math! It is emotion, trust, and more.

In this interview, we dig into what happens when financial communication falls through the cracks and why those cracks often appear during big life events when we least expect them.

You will see how:

• silence around money can create conflict even in strong relationships
• credit cards can blur the reality of spending in stressful moments
• surprise expenses often show up when emotions are already high
• assumptions about “who is paying for what” can quietly derail connection
•  financial stress spills into relationship dynamics faster than we think
• talking about goals early can prevent hurt later
• planning together creates more peace than planning alone
• mistakes around money can become powerful growth points

Resources We Mentioned for Financial Literacy for Families

• Check out Wallet Win, the Teixeiras’ courses for kids and teens about finance (and get $10 off with my link), or the Catholic Money Academy for grown-ups
• Teaching Kids the Value of Money and Joy in Spending and Saving
• Teaching Kids about Debt Early
• My reel about Gabe’s blankets for the homeless population
• Teach teens how to budget with Crystal Paine’s One-Hour Budget for Teens (use code LIFESKILLS for a discount!)
• Reducing your food budget while eating real food
• How to make homemade yogurt
• Amanda’s workshop on Allowance vs. Wages is in Season Four of #LifeSkillsNow

Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!

Get my favorite organic clothes and home goods at Pact here! Get 15% off your first order with code KITCHENSTEWARDSHIP15.

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Raising Healthy Families 
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

What if I told you you might have to throw away half of the healthy food you worked so hard to put on the dinner table?

What if I told you that can basically happen AFTER your kids eat everything on their plate?!?!

Healthy food is only the first part of being nourished—we need to make sure the entire system of digestion is working correctly for all the hard work to count! mind blown

Today I get to talk to Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner Tara Hunkin about getting your child’s digestion on “tract” (pun! ha!) for optimal health. Whether your child feels anxious or exhibits signs of ADHD, whether you know they’re constipated, they have some diarrhea or even are very regular, it’s so important to be educated as parents so we know what to look for…in our child’s poop!

Resources We Mention for Healthy Digestion

• Tara's website My Child Will Thrive
• Food journal printable
• Bristol stool chart
• My interview with Dr. Elisa Song on poop
• Why Miralax isn't the answer for chronic constipation
• HCL tablets I use
• Urban Moonshine bitters
• These Earthley bitters are more economical when you buy the large bottle
• How to make sauerkraut
• One of the digestive enzymes my kids use
• My kids prefer the taste of this enzyme
• Vibrant Blue Oils parasympathetic blend
• Megan Stevens' soups book for special diets

Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!

Get my favorite organic clothes and home goods at Pact here! Get 15% off your first order with code KITCHENSTEWARDSHIP15.

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Raising Healthy Families 
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Ever wonder how to handle picky eating at parties without creating food battles? Or how to set healthy screen time boundaries when screens feel like the only babysitter?

In this Ask Me Anything episode of the Healthy Parenting Handbook podcast, I’m answering your real-life parenting questions about dessert rules for kids, the Division of Responsibility in feeding, raising independent children, and building healthy family habits that actually stick.

We’re talking about practical strategies for limiting screen time for toddlers and young kids, alternatives to screen time that encourage creativity, and how involving kids in chores builds responsibility and executive functioning. I’m also sharing how to create a real food family culture without labeling foods as “bad,” how to monitor sugar and food dyes without being extreme, and how to gradually pass ownership of health to your kids so they can make wise choices when no one is watching.

If you want less pressure around food, more confidence in your parenting decisions, and a clear path toward raising healthy, independent future adults, this episode is for you!

Resources We Mention in This Parenting Q&A

• Get the one-page “cheat sheets” at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/handbook.
• Register for the No More Picky Eating Challenge
• Check out my chores system here
• For my lemon water: collagen and vitamin C powder
• The blue light glasses I have
• Starting to eat real food is easier with the Monday Missions!
• The risks of synthetic food dyes
• Some ways we deal with sugar and desserts at the Kimball house
• Tap over and see the YouTube shorts channel

Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!

Get my favorite organic clothes and home goods at Pact here! Get 15% off your first order with code KITCHENSTEWARDSHIP15.

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Raising Healthy Families 
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Did you know that picky eating can sometimes be caused by the messages the bacteria in your gut are sending to your brain?

So the CHILD isn’t being a sugar monster…or making stubborn choices just to drive you crazy…their gut bugs are the sugar monsters and their brain has pruned too much!

I learned so much from Elissa Arnheim in this interview, both the philosophical to feed MY brain and the practical—some of which I implemented that very day!

Here are my favorite quotes:

• “Let’s start with this: Our bodies are designed perfectly.”
• “If a child cuts out an entire category of healthy foods, it’s a sign that something is wrong – and it’s all figure-out-able and fixable.”
• “Step 1 for sugar monster kids: serve sauerkraut!” 😮 (Don’t worry, Elissa shares multiple ways to make that a reality in your family…because I thought the same as you! My kids would never…!)
• “Resilience comes from diversity – both inside and outside our bodies.”
• “Risk to probiotic use = monoculture in our guts.”

And so, so much more! Pretty much if there are human beings in your family, you need this info too. 😉

Resources We Mention for Picky Eating and Gut Health

• Join our FREE Picky Eating Challenge
• The link between sugar and chronic inflammation
• Fermented kimchi recipe
• Fermented veggies in small batches
• My review of all the probiotics we’ve tried
• Connect with Elissa on Substack
• Connect with Elissa on Instagram

Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!

Get my favorite organic clothes and home goods at Pact here! Get 15% off your first order with code KITCHENSTEWARDSHIP15.

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Raising Healthy Families 
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Have you ever looked at a box in your house and felt like it was… talking to you?

Not literally. But emotionally.

Because in this second half of my conversation with decluttering expert Katy Wells, we go deeper than surface clutter. We talk about the hidden reasons we hold onto things. And friends, it is not about storage bins or label makers.

It’s about stories.

Stories about who we used to be. Who we hoped we would become. Stories about guilt, failure, scarcity, and expectations we didn’t even realize we were carrying.

And once you see that, you cannot unsee it.

In this episode, Katy unpacks the three hidden forces that keep people stuck in clutter cycles. These are not the things most organizing shows talk about. But they are the exact things that determine whether decluttering actually works long term.

Here’s what we cover:

• Why decluttering is emotional work disguised as a logistics problem
• The hidden stories your belongings might be telling you
• How guilt and fear silently control what you keep
• The three pillars that shape your personal “stuff story”
• How childhood beliefs influence adult clutter habits
• The connection between procrastination and clutter
• Why some habits are not problems but personality clues
• The simple 5-second trick that can break overwhelm instantly

You’ll also hear one client story that might stop you in your tracks. Because once you recognize your own version of that box in the garage, you may never look at clutter the same way again.

And the best part?

You do not have to fix everything today. You just have to start.

Resources We Mention for Decluttering and Emotions

• Order Katy’s new book, Making Home Your Happy Place, on Amazon or Bookshop.org
• Check out her courses if you need help at home: Toy Clutter Cure System, Home Management Mastery, Clutter Challenge
• Get the one-page handbook episode guides at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/handbook
• Here is Katy’s earlier episode of the podcast: Expected Mess Vs. True Clutter
• More on decluttering and working together as a family in my interview with Tidy Dad

Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Raising Healthy Families 
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

What if the stress you feel at home is not just about your schedule… but about your stuff?

I know. That sounds almost too simple.

But when Katy Wells came back on the Healthy Parenting Handbook podcast, we did not just talk about decluttering. We talked about cortisol. About magnets for your attention. About why walking into your own kitchen can change your mood in seconds.

And friends, this one hit close to home.

Because if you are trying to raise independent kids, teach life skills, keep up with meals, laundry, school, sports, and somehow protect your own nervous system… your environment matters more than you think.

Here is what we dig into in this episode:

• The surprising research linking clutter and elevated cortisol levels
• Why the average American home may be holding over 300,000 “magnets for your attention”
• How clutter quietly fuels anxiety (even if you think it does not bother you)
• What a “nightly reset” looks like in real life with kids
• How to pass ownership of the home to your children without nagging
• The difference between modeling and inviting kids into responsibility
• Why action creates motivation (and not the other way around)
• The simple starting point that breaks the clutter and anxiety cycle

We also talk about something that might sting a little: why systems alone will not save you.

If you have ever walked into a messy kitchen and felt your shoulders tense… or walked into a clear counter and felt yourself exhale… this episode is for you.

Let’s talk about how simplifying your home can actually strengthen your parenting.

Resources We Mention for Making Home Your Happy Place

• Order Katy's new book, Making Home Your Happy Place, on Amazon or Bookshop.org
• Check out her courses if you need help at home: Toy Clutter Cure System, Home Management Mastery, Clutter Challenge
• Get the one-page handbook episode guides at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/handbook
• Here is Katy's earlier episode of the podcast: Expected Mess Vs. True Clutter – What’s the Difference and How to Solve Them
• Visit Katy at her website Katy Joy Wells or on Instagram

Check out my new book at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/pickybook!

• Kitchen Stewardship
• Raising Healthy Families 
• follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
• Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
• YouTube shorts channel for HPH
• Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast

Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!