I met Nick Moon in Nepal on a recent service / trekking trip in support of the NGO “Empowering Nepali Girls”. Over our time together I learned about Nick’s childhood diagnosis of autism and how the education system failed him, how a special teacher finally understood him, and a mother who was also a counsellor advocated for him. He was a marine, a tradesman and now a counsellor in practice sharing his wisdom with clients. A gem of a person who shared his experience about living life with neurodiversity. An enlightening conversation!

You can get a copy of Nick Moon’s mother’s book “Tough and Cheerful: The Life And Times Of Kancha Sherpa, Last Living Member From The First Ascent Of Mount Everest” by Patricia Moon here.  

Learn more about the organization, Empowering Nepali Girls.

Do you have a parenting question for me? Send it to [email protected] and I’ll answer on an upcoming Q&A podcast.

Sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.alysonschafer.com and receive my “Responsibilities By Age” pdf.

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Q1. 12yr old girl who has become super-quiet. What to do?

Q2. My teen doesn’t want to join any clubs, do I force him? 

Q3. My son says he is trying to find a job, but not really. Do I cut off his allowance?

Q4. My kids leave their stuff laying around and I nag but they never pick it up.

Looking for more Adlerian wisdom? Check out The Daily Adler Newsletter

If you have a question you’d like answered on a future podcast, email it to [email protected] 

Check out more free parenting advice on my blog at www.alysonschafer.com 

Sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.alysonschafer.com and receive a free “Home Responsibilities by Age” checklist.

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In this episode, I talk with James Rilling, psychologist and author of “Father Nature: The Science of Paternal Potential”. Did you know that only five percent of mammals care for their young? Yup, and humans are one of the species that do! James explains the science behind testosterone, oxytocin and changes that occur for fathers. Plus, the importance of father caregiving and provisioning and the hidden benefits of rough play to teach emotional regulation and more! A fascinating conversation.

You can get a copy of James Rilling’s book here. 

Do you have a parenting question for me? Send it to [email protected] and I’ll answer on an upcoming Q&A podcast.

Sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.alysonschafer.com and receive my “Responsibilities By Age” pdf.

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Rocky Garrison is one of our Adlerian greats. In this interview Rocky talks about the Individual Psychology model of human development including the development of a fictional final goal and how we develop beliefs about self, others, and the world to sustain this goal and the movement toward it. In this model of development, Rocky shares that the courage to meet the challenges of life constructively is developed primarily within the family constellation. 

If you have questions for Rocky, he can be reached at [email protected]

Do you have a parenting question for me? Send it to [email protected] and I’ll answer on an upcoming Q&A podcast.

Sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.alysonschafer.com and receive my “Responsibilities By Age” pdf.

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Q1. Teen boy is shutting down outside interests and turning to tech but won’t open up about it.

Q2. 13yr old daughter won’t wear her orthodontic elastics and teeth are shifting now. 

Q3. Ways for 3 and 5 year olds to find their sense of power in pro-social ways (instead of power over others). 

Do you have a parenting question for me? Email them to [email protected] and I’ll answer on an upcoming Q&A podcast.

Sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.alysonschafer.com to receive my “Home Responsibilities By Age” checklist! And, check out the “Events” tab for my upcoming webinars!

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Sarah Allen Benton has been a parent in recovery from alcoholism for more than 20 years. She is a counselling psychologist who specializes in addiction and recognizes how parents and their children can quietly but significantly be impacted by alcoholism. We discuss her “field guide to recovery” for parents that is based on a growth-focused lifestyle change, including emotional sobriety across the life span. 

Check out Sarah Benton’s book: Understanding The High-Functioning Alcoholic 

Have a look at her website too.

You can read Sarah’s column “The High Functioning Alcoholic” for Psychology Today here. 

On social media you can follow Sarah on these platforms: 

Sarah’s FB Page

Sarah’s FB Community: Parents in Recovery Support Group 

LinkedIn

Do you have a parenting question for me? Send it to [email protected] and I’ll answer on an upcoming Q&A podcast.

Sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.alysonschafer.com and receive my “Responsibilities By Age” pdf.

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Q1. Teen boy makes the same unreasonable requests and then storms about, rude and angry. 

Q2. How to establish authority and connection when you are the less dominant parent in a traditional family where the dominant father works, and the less dominant mother stays home and does all the child care. 

Q3. How can I help my 10 and 13 year old boys get along peacefully? 

Q4. How to support a teen daughter who is getting excluded from her friends’ parties and sleepovers?

Do you have a parenting question for me? Email them to [email protected] and I’ll answer on an upcoming Q&A podcast.

Sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.alysonschafer.com to receive my “Home Responsibilities By Age” checklist! And, check out the “Events” tab for my upcoming webinars!

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Dr Funke Afolabi-Brown has dedicated her medical career to helping families function better and achieve more by improving their relationship to sleep. We discuss the importance of sleep and unique approaches to help with typical sleep challenges that parents face. 

Check out more about Dr Funke Afolabi-Brown’s book “Beyond Tired: A Sleep Physicians Guide to Solving Your Child’s Sleep Problems for Good”

Her clinical practice is The Restful Sleep Place and you can follow her on any of these social media platforms: 

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Do you have a parenting question for me? Send it to [email protected] and I’ll answer on an upcoming Q&A podcast.

Sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.alysonschafer.com and receive my “Responsibilities By Age” pdf.

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Yes! That is the title of the new book by Ruth Strunz, a welcome addition to the literature for clinicians, teachers (and parents) working with autistic / neurodiverse people. In this episode I talk to Ruth about the contents of her book and the unique approaches needed for creating a an atmosphere of calm to reduce dysregulation, masking, creating a therapeutic alliance in new ways, the role of belonging, social interest, encouragement and more. 

You can connect to Ruth at her website www.ruthstrunz.com (launching Nov 2024)

Purchase her book here

On LinkedIn here

Do you have a parenting question for me? Send it to [email protected] and I’ll answer on an upcoming Q&A podcast.

Sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.alysonschafer.com and receive my “Responsibilities By Age” pdf.

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Q1. 12yr old doesn’t want to either lie, nor rat on her friends to the substitute teacher re: homework.

Q2. 9yr old wants to drop out of extracurricular activities as soon as they prove challenging.  

Q3. Early reader wants to go back and start from the beginning of the book every time they get a word wrong.

Q4. 12yr daughter doesn’t do basic chores without me yelling. Too involved in her games and videos. 

Do you have a parenting question for me? Email them to [email protected] 

Sign up for my monthly newsletter at www.alysonschafer.com to receive my “Home Responsibilities By Age” checklist! And, check out the “Events” tab for my upcoming webinars!

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