Pause and Connect

"Your child isn't giving you a hard time. Your child is having a hard time." Learn why this phrase is lifechanging for parents and families, and get 6 doable ideas for applying this principle in your parenting.

Mentioned in this episode:

Back-and-Forth Journal

How to Stop Yelling

Brili app

13 EasyISH Ways to Connect with Your Child

I wonder: Do my kids know that I like them just the way they are? Or do they think they need to change in order to receive my approval or my love?

I don’t know for sure. I can’t know what’s really going on in my children’s minds.

But as I thought this through, I came up with 11 things I would personally like to make sure I’m doing to show my children I like them just the way they are. What would you add? 

Mentioned in this episode:

How to Stop Yelling

You Should Use Hugs in Your Discipline. Here's How

Episode 20: What Advice Would You Give to New Parents?

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This episode is kind of a reminder and a how-to. It's a reminder that you really know your child better than anyone, and you have the right to let that guide your decisions and interactions. And it's a how-to on HOW to become more of a personal expert on your child. Learn how to trust yourself more completely.

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Article from The Chimerical Capuchin: I Read All the Baby Sleep Books

Back-and-forth journal

Stepping back to let our kids learn their own lessons is a terribly difficult thing to do. But it's a critical parenting skill to practice. Listen to my dinosaur/kitchen towel example, and come away with a four-step process for how to let step back, let go, and watch your child flourish by learning lessons from their own experiences.

Mentioned in this episode: Back-and-Forth Journal for Parents and Kids

We tend to value our own parenting and human worth based on how our children behave. It's normal because it's what our society expects of us, but it's also harmful. We can learn to reject this idea, and this podcast will show you how. This is an important topic. I hope you enjoy.

Mentioned in this episode:

Back-and-Forth Journal

How to Stop Yelling at Your Kids

How to Find Your Strengths

Episode 20: What Advice Would You Give New Parents?

Episode 22: How to Turn Ordinary Moments into Magical Memories

Episode 9: 13 Easyish Ways to Connect with Your Kids

Episode 5: Don't Dread the Teen Years: Fun Ways to Connect and Enjoy This Time

All children need parents who see their strengths and parent accordingly. In this episode, my husband Ryan and I take the traits of ADHD that are considered negative, and we flip them. We show you how to view your child from a strengths-based perspective so that you can create your own powerful blueprint on what your child and family needs.

This episode is helpful for everyone, whether ADHD is a part of your family or not, because strengths-based parenting brings families together.

Related episode: Episode 19: What's Going on in the Brain of Your Child with ADHD 

Use my back-and-forth journal to understand your child's strengths more deeply. Learn about it here.

Our children deserve to be loved as they are, and they deserve to have the emotions and feelings they have. It’s a simple enough concept, but it’s not so simple to put into practice, it turns out. As parents, we come with our own set of preconceived ideas, and it's challenging to meet our kids where they are.

This episode offers two ways to handle the parts of our children that challenge us. And it starts with my ridiculous quest to get my child to like speed bumps. (Face palm. You just have to listen.)

Mentioned in this episode: Episode 9: 13 Easy-ish Ways to Connect with Your Kids

Back-and-Forth Journal for Parents and Kids

How to Stop Yelling

With six kids, the "fun" budget was small for the family of special guest Linda Brown (my mom!). But by tweaking normal situations just a little, she brought fun, magic, and unique experiences to our childhoods. Like the time we went through the day backwards to ward off bad luck, the time the family ate KFC under the kitchen table, or the time the Ding Dong Bandit came to town.

Listen in for inspiration on how to turn ordinary family moments and routines into special memories.

You also might like this related episode: 13 Easyish Ways to Connect with Your Kids

Your kids are going to mess up. That's a given. So how do you know how to hold the right expectations for each kid? Unfortunately, there's no magic formula, but the mindset discussed in this episode will help you make the best decisions for your child, your family, and your circumstances. Learn 7 positive results and forward movements you can gain when you adopt this helpful mindset.

Mentioned in this Episode: How to Stop Yelling

When my niece asked me this question for her child development class, "What advice would you give to new parents?", I was stumped for a minute.

What would you go back and tell yourself? Parenthood is SO VAST, so there’s so much to say. But also, how can you say anything at all? It’s not sum-up-able. Where do you begin? 

I thought back over what has served me the most in my parenthood, and this episode details what I think is the most valuable parenting advice. I'm curious how you would answer the question. After listening, send me an email at [email protected], or reach out on social media. 

Mentioned in this episode: Get 25% off my course, How to Know Yourself as a thank-you for being a podcast listener. Use the code: PODCAST