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Do you ever hear your child say things like, “I’m such a bad kid” or “I’ll never be good at this” and your heart sinks because you don’t know what to say?

You’re not alone. And this episode is about to change the way you respond.

Today, I’m sitting down with award-winning science journalist and author Melinda Wenner Moyer to talk about her latest book Hello, Cruel World, a toolkit for raising confident, resilient kids in today’s messy, complicated world.

Here’s the truth:

➡️ Your kids will struggle with self-doubt, negative self-talk, and tough emotions.

➡️ How you respond in those moments can either shut them down or help them build lifelong confidence.

➡️ And the secret isn’t telling them “Don’t say that”  it’s something much more powerful (and doable).

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The 3-step “recipe” for self-compassion (and how practicing it yourself teaches your kids to do the same).
• How to validate your child’s feelings without agreeing with their negative self-talk.
• The surprising research on resilience: why letting your kids sit with discomfort (instead of rescuing them every time) builds the skills they’ll need for life.
• Why helicopter parenting backfires — and how giving kids independence actually boosts confidence and self-esteem.
• The truth about alcohol and teens (and why letting them drink at home doesn’t protect them — it puts them at greater risk).

This conversation will give you the practical, science-backed strategies you need to:

✔️ Stop feeling helpless when your child is hard on themselves

✔️ Build their confidence in everyday moments

✔️ Feel more equipped to parent in a world that often feels overwhelming

This is one of those episodes you’ll want to save, re-listen to, and share with every parent you know.

Join Melinda's Newsletter, Now What:

https://www.melindawennermoyer.com/

Follow Melinda on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/melindawmoyer/

Parenting Self-compassion: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12671-020-01401-x

Support the show

Do you find yourself reacting in ways you wish you could change when your child is upset? Learn how to stay calm, manage your emotions, and respond in a way that actually helps your child.

Get your FREE emotional awareness training for parents and kids below (comes with a poster, workbook and video):

https://tremendous-hustler-7333.kit.com/84371dc0b2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4iEbFRZ5QQ&t=12s

Or purchase our course, join the next 8 week group cohort in April 2026 below:

https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/