Pause and Connect

Kids with ADHD need two things above almost all else: understanding and connection.

But ADHD can be tricky to understand, and there are a gazillion myths out there that hurt the connections between kids and parents.

Listen in to hear from Rebecca's husband Ryan, who was diagnosed with ADHD later in life. His explanations and advice are eye-opening (and sometimes funny!), and they'll give you a new, and incredibly helpful, perspective on your child's brain. 

This episode is good for any parent, even if your child doesn't have ADHD, because the principles that work for kids with ADHD are amazing for kids without the condition too. 

Please share with anybody who needs to hear this.

There's a unique power we can all access to help our parenting, but because it's kind of commonplace, we may not realize we're using it -- or we may not consider how we can use it better.

This power is not only fun, it actually helps your child grow, can help to improve behavior, and can give you the strength to realize you actually do know what you’re doing!

Mentioned in this episode: Back-and-Forth Journal

How to Stop Yelling

When your child is upset, they aren't using logic. In fact, they can’t, because their brains are flooded with emotions. Trying to logically explain a situation, giving them a consequence, or yelling at them won't help them access logic. Instead, use hugging as your first step in your discipline. The rest can follow.

Learn how to use hugs in an effective way.

Mentioned in this episode: How to Stop Yelling

We’ve all felt like we’re terrible at parenting. We’ve all felt like we’re ruining our children, or we ruined them already and there’s no going back. We’ve all felt overcome and overwhelmed.

Here are 7 things to remember and do when you're feeling weighed down by these emotions.

Mentioned in this episode: Self-directed, life-changing course: How to Stop Yelling at Your Kids

Episode 15: 7 Unique Questions to Find Your Child's Strengths

This is a fun one! Answering these seven unique questions will help you come to understand your child on a much deeper level. And when you're done, you'll have a personal blueprint for your individual child to help you know where to direct your parenting attention, how to help your child overcome struggles, and so much more.

Download this worksheet that goes along with the episode. Have so much fun!

Download the worksheet: 7 Unique Questions to Find Your Child's Strengths

Let’s talk about blowups today. We all have them. It would be nice if we could wave a magic wand and be super calm parents who never get our feathers ruffled, but… you know? That’s just not possible. We’re humans, we’re going to get upset, and we’re going to do things we regret.

But the nice thing is that our kids learn important lessons when we resolve things after a blowup.  And isn’t that what we want? We want our kids to learn they can mess up and resolve and forgive and set things right. 

This episode assumes you and I will mess up, and it discusses seven things we can do to set it right so that our kids can get the resolutions they deserve AND learn the right lessons.

Mentioned in this episode: How to Stop Yelling

Episode 3: Housekeeping Is Not Motherhood

Episode 11: Let's Stop Calling Men's Work at Home "Help"

In our society, we blame whenever something goes wrong. Empathy is often only an afterthought, if it shows up at all.

And this seeps into our parenting.

Parenting with empathy is not something our society conditions us to do, so it’s something we have to actively teach ourselves. Here are some thoughts to help us.

Mentioned in this episode: How to Stop Yelling

We all make mistakes, and we know that. But when it comes to parenting mistakes, we tend to be pretty unforgiving of ourselves. We might even hold ourselves to unreachable standards. 

This episode is a love letter of proof that you're a good mom, and you can forgive yourself for your mistakes. Listen in for 6 reframes that will help you see yourself as good and give you the perspective to enjoy your motherhood with confidence.

In heterosexual relationships, women are still managing the bulk of labor at home. And we're burnt out! What would happen if we changed the way we talked about men's work at home? Could we begin to see more equality in the home?

Listen in, as we explore this concept.

Mentioned in this episode: 

Why You Feel Like a Bad Mom - and How to Not

Housekeeping Is Not Motherhood

Check out the back-and-forth journal for parents and kids.

Let’s talk about lying! Specifically, when your kids are lying -- and you know it. 

This is a huge challenge, isn’t it? Our society places so much value on honesty, which is a good thing. But because of that, we tend to think that lack of honesty automatically indicates a character flaw. And so when our kids tell a lie, we feel scared. Does this mean my child is bad? Does this mean they lie to me all the time? Does this mean I’m doing something wrong?

Nope! Listen in for a reframe and a helpful process for what to do when your child lies.