Do some days seem like a never-ending emotional rollercoaster living with your strong-willed and/or highly sensitive one? Like no matter what you say or do, they just can’t seem to get it together? 

On days like these, you might be fighting like hell to stay calm on the outside, but inside your heart is racing and your stomach is tied up in knots. 

And these days seem way longer than a mere 24 hours. By bedtime, no wonder you finally blow a gasket…you’re like a human tea kettle and that steam must be released, right?

My guest this week can help. Michelle Grosser is a coach, mom, and neuroscience expert. She knows a ton about what stress does to our brains and bodies. She’s helped so many moms address their triggers, calm their nervous systems and find the peace they so desperately want in their families and lives.

We hit it off instantly. You’re going to learn so much about how to manage overwhelm and avoid burnout.

Listen as we discuss tangible real-life methods for emotional rollercoaster days with your highly sensitive humans.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How we make meaning out of our kiddos’ behavior (and how to make that meaning into something positive).
• Why it’s so crucial to recognize, honor, and contain our reactive feelings so we don’t pass our stress on to our sensitive kids.
• To start with your own healing and mental health in order to build safety and stability for your family.

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-296

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/

 About Michelle Grosser

Michelle is an attorney, pastor, Nervous System Expert, Certified Master Life Coach, and host of The Calm Mom Podcast. Through somatic and neuroscience-based modalities, she coaches women through discovering what’s beneath their triggers and emotions, so they can begin their healing journey and find peace in the present. She deeply believes that the most profound thing we can offer our children is our own healing. She and her husband Jeff have two daughters and live in Miami, FL.

https://michellegrosser.com/

Social: @michellegrosser.coach

Resources Discussed/Links

Peter Levine’s Somatic Experiencing https://traumahealing.org/

“All The Rage,” a documentary about the life and work of late back pain specialist Dr. John Sarno https://alltheragedoc.com/

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/

As a mom, figuring out when to give my kids a phone has been one of the hardest topics to tackle.

While there have been conveniences once they got a phone, like being able to know where they are at all times and reach them if I need to, the cons have far outweighed the pros in my family. 

A phone is the default way lots of kids stay in touch, organize activities, and learn about the world. But it can also suck them into the online world, and make it harder for them to engage in reality.

So this week, I sat down with my youngest kid, Cory, and talked about this hot topic: 

• What age to give a kid a phone
• What type of phone
• Social Media access
• How a parent should handle all the common arguments kids often give

At 18, Cory is old enough to see both the pros and cons and can vividly remember how his first smartphone changed his life. 

I had so much fun getting his perspective on this question and even putting him in the hot seat - weighing in on how he’d handle it with a badgering teen, claiming that EVERYONE has a phone and blah blah blah.

When it comes to technology, it’s like the wild wild west for parents. I think I’d do things differently if I had to do it all over again…especially based on my own kid’s advice!

Cory and I discuss what kinds of changes happen in the life - and mind - of a kid when they get their first smartphone, how to decide when they’re ready to handle those changes, and how to (and how not to) talk to your kids about the limits around smartphones.

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-295

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

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/

My conversations with Michaeleen Doucleff are so much fun that sometimes I forget to hit record!

Usually it doesn’t even matter what we talk about, but this time it’s extra good. 

You know those times when your kid is acting like a little contrarian. You say up, they say down. You say yes, they say no. And around and around and around.

Michaeleen has come up with an amazingly simple sentence that shifts this dynamic like magic.

It will turn them not just into collaborators but actual co-creators.

Listen as Michaeleen and I discuss oh so many things. I love my time with her so much and I think you will too!

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to encourage your child to contribute ideas and collaborate in planning activities.
• The messages about our values that we send when we choose recreation for our kids.
• Why things that keep kids engaged aren’t always as fun as they might seem.

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-294

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/

About Michaleen Doucleff:

Michaleen Doucleff is an award-winning global health correspondent and the author of 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/ 

 Resources Discussed/Links

The New York Times profile of Virginia Sole-Smith https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/21/well/eat/fat-activist-virginia-sole-smith.html

Her book Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture https://virginiasolesmith.com/books/fat-talk-parenting-in-the-age-of-diet-culture/

All Joy, No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood, by Jennifer Senior https://jennifersenior.net/all-joy-and-no-fun

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/

When you’re in the trenches raising kids, it can feel like the busiest, hardest season of life. 

Now, imagine trying to start and run a business at the same time? 

I think my son, Cory, would say that’s low key insane. 

He’d also hate me claiming to know what he’d say and attempting to use his lingo…whatevs:). 

And just like it rarely feels like a perfect time to get pregnant but you go for it anyway, same same when it comes to starting a business. 

Turns out the pack leadership skills that work so well for raising a family are also really good for helping you nurture an entrepreneurial business! 

In this week’s podcast episode, listen to my conversation with fellow mom of three, podcaster and author, Melissa Llarena, as we dive into all things parenting and business ownering. 

If you’ve been putting your dreams on hold, listen now.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why it’s so important for busy moms to own and celebrate their own accomplishments.
• How to identify what lights you up, and give yourself permission to go for it.
• The powerful lessons we teach our kids when we allow ourselves to follow our dreams.
• Why the vision you have for your home, family, business, and life is worth fighting for.

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-293

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/

About Melissa Llarena

Melissa is an author, imagination coach, consultant, speaker, and contributor to ForbesWomen. She also hosts the podcast Unimaginable Wellness, for entrepreneurs, founders, and creators who are also moms. Her book is Fertile Imagination: A Guide for Stretching Every Mom’s Superpower for Maximum Impact. 

https://fertileideas.com

https://www.melissallarena.com/podcast/ 

 Resources Discussed/Links

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/

When people join the Mastermind Parenting community, they come seeking answers about the way their children behave. What they usually don’t realize is that they’re not just struggling with “bad” behaviors. They need a space where they can unlearn generations of bad advice, and retrain their thinking around the rewards and challenges of parenting sensitive kids. This week we’re talking about a mom who is just starting that process. I’ll share the experiences that are resonating with her, and how her family dynamic is being rewritten through the honesty and empathy she’s receiving in community with other moms.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What the label “strong-willed” means for a kiddo, for what they need in a parent, and how it will serve them as they grow into the world.
• That we have to start with ourselves as we cultivate empathy and patience.
• How easy it is to get stuck in outdated, counterproductive thinking about what it means to parent a sensitive child.
• The huge impact on a family when mom gives herself permission to feel overwhelmed.

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-292

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

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/

Can we just be real for a minute, and admit that parenting is hard? Kids are wild and wonderful, but their behavior can sometimes be really confusing. That’s never more true than when a kiddo is a delight around one parent, but mean and antagonistic around the other. That’s the situation one of my Mastermind moms faced when she joined us. It’s been a process, for sure, but this week she shared with us how much things have improved. And it started with joining a safe, supportive community where she had permission to get to know herself better.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How much “quick fix” thinking can interfere with making positive change in your family dynamic.
• Why we so often need to look inward to figure out what’s motivating challenging behavior in our children.
• How important it is as a parent to know, embrace, and honor your own needs.

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-291

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

Holistic Psychologist Nicole LePera: https://theholisticpsychologist.com/

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/

Y’all know that Michaeleen Doucleff is my favorite. Her book, Hunt, Gather, Parent, has become a must-read for my Mastermind parents. Since we first connected we’ve spent hours, on and off the mic, vibing and swapping parenting stories. One story I’ve been dying to get more detail about is the decision Michaeleen made to start a whole school out of her house! It’s a remarkable tale of agency, confidence, and a mama knowing what’s best for her kiddo. I guarantee you’ll find it fascinating.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What makes a mom and journalist with no teaching experience decide to build a learning experience for her daughter.
• Why the way schools teach is so much more important than what they teach.
• How a school that doesn’t match your kids' needs can be so bad for their interest in learning.
• The mindset that makes it possible to trust ourselves with something as important as providing the education our kids need.

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-290

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/

About Michaleen Doucleff:

Michaleen Doucleff is an award-winning global health correspondent and the author of 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/  

Resources Discussed/Links

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/

When people find out I’m a parenting coach, they’ll often say they should probably take a parenting class. Now, you know I believe in the value of coaching. But there are lots of everyday opportunities to connect with our kids and teach them how to navigate the world. Stories you read together for fun can be a great source of wisdom if you just know what to look for and reinforce. I call this the “spinach in the spaghetti sauce” method of teaching kids life lessons, and I’ve got a fun example to show you just how effective it can be. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How books and stories can help us guide our kids, even when they’re not intentionally teaching lessons.
• Why we parents put so much pressure on ourselves to teach kids all the lessons, when they’re learning so much from the behavior we model.
• How to appreciate and activate the educational tools we already have at our disposal.

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-289

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

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/

Mother’s Day is so loaded for so many reasons. Now that it’s in the rearview for another year, this is a great time to share some more of my most embarrassing/inspiring mothering mistakes. Embarrassing because they seem painfully obvious in hindsight. Inspiring because they’re a loving reminder from me to you that no parent is perfect. We all want to do better for our kiddos than our parents did for us. The way to do that isn’t to obsess over never messing up, or keep our mistakes secret. It’s to own our falibility and let our kids see us as whole, complicated, loving human beings.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Some of the oops moments that have shaped my kiddos and our relationship over the years.
• Why I’m happy to let them roast me a little when we’re reminiscing about times I’ve made a mess of things.
• How love and humor can grow out of being honest with yourself, your family, and the world about your parenting screw ups. 

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-288

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

My chat with my son Alec about his needle phobia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0BXoDVVo_A

Mindset: The New Psychology Of Success, by Carol S. Dweck

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/44330/mindset-by-carol-s-dweck-phd/

Mother Hunger: How Adult Daughters Can Understand and Heal from Lost Nurturance, Protection, and Guidance, by Kelly McDaniel https://kellymcdanieltherapy.com/books/#motherhunger

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/

When kids don't do simple things for themselves, it's easy to future trip and freak out. But what if you knew that they'd be okay and it will all turn out just fine? What if you could have that reassurance? Would it change how you show up now when you're feeling fed up about them not knowing how to make a hair appointment, make a sandwich, or do their own laundry? If you could drop the panic, what would you do instead? How could you course correct when you want your kids to learn basic "life-ing" skills?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to take a breath and get perspective instead of panicking when your kid needs help to complete a basic “grownup” task.
• To keep a sense of humor around the things your kids have (and haven’t) learned to do for themselves.
• Why blaming ourselves for doing too much can drive a wedge between us and the kid whose independence we want to support.

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-287

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

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/