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By Cindy Hovington, Ph.D.
You don’t snap at your kids because you’re a bad parent. You snap because your stress builds faster than your awareness, and no one ever taught you how to handle that.
I’m Dr. Cind
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215215 ratings
The podcast currently has 272 episodes available.
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Send us Fan Mail I'm back with part two of the conversation sparked by my episode with Georgiana but this time digging into one of the most misunderstood words in parenting: discipline. Pulling from Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson's No-Drama Discipline, I challenge how most of us were taught to think about the word — punishment, stopping a behavior that's annoying us — versus what actually works: discipline as teaching. I share a moment from my son's soccer practice that stopped me in my tracks: a dad switching to Italian mid-practice to threaten his seven-year-old with "wait until we get home." It's the kind of moment most of us have been in, on one side or the other and I use it to ask a harder question: is that discipline, or something else? I also walk through a study most parents haven't heard of, showing that verbal abuse — yelling, threats, name-calling, belittling — can impact a child's development as significantly as physical discipline. Lastly, I introduce a simple framework — the aggressive tiger, the passive mouse, and the assertive owl — to help you recognize your own voice in the heat of the moment. This episode isn't about guilt. It's an invitation to notice, reflect, and start showing your kids what accountability looks like... starting with yourself. The 3 Reflections I ShareDoes my child still feel loved when I'm disciplining them (or when I'm angry)?Do I hold myself accountable for my own behavior in moments of discipline?What could my child have said or done differently? — the accountability question, turned outward, once everyone's calm.Support the showJoin the Reflective Parent Book Club for only $9.99 for the year: https://reflectiveparentclub.circle.so/checkout/reflective-parenting-book-clubWatch my Tedx Talk on YouTube called The Over-Educated, Emotionally Underprepared Parent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDYJFY_9K9E&t=19sGrab my course for $99, The Emotionally Aware Parent: https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/Doors open to join the next 8-week training (Starts Oct 12th) here https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/

Send us Fan Mail Hi Reflective Parents! As we jump into a new school year, I wanted to take some time to pause with you and reflect on how we can make this year feel a little less stressful and a lot more connected. This episode was inspired by a question from a mom that emailed me and I'm bringing in some unexpected inspiration — including a quote from a romance novel (Yours Truly) that changed the way I think about how we relate to our kids. I'm sharing three things I believe can make a real difference this year:Watch the expectations we place on our kids. It's okay to want your child to grow and push themselves but there's a difference between healthy goals and making them feel like they're constantly disappointing you. We'll talk about how to hold both.Slow down. Between homework, activities, and weekend plans, it's easy to feel like we're always reacting instead of connecting. I'll share small, doable ways to carve out real time with your family this year.Bring curiosity and learning into your home. Learning doesn't stop at the school doors. I'll walk you through how we use a "curiosity box" at home to keep that spark alive no matter how you school your kids.If you're feeling the back-to-school hustle already, I hope this episode gives you a moment to breathe, reflect, and reconnect with what really matters this year. Happy reflections, my friends! See you inside our new book club! Interested in joining our 8-week cohort? Apply below! Classes start October 12th. https://form.typeform.com/to/F9qIbzPT?typeform-source=curiousneuron.com Support the showJoin the Reflective Parent Book Club for only $9.99 for the year: https://reflectiveparentclub.circle.so/checkout/reflective-parenting-book-clubWatch my Tedx Talk on YouTube called The Over-Educated, Emotionally Underprepared Parent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDYJFY_9K9E&t=19sGrab my course for $99, The Emotionally Aware Parent: https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/Doors open to join the next 8-week training (Starts Oct 12th) here https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/

Send us Fan Mail Hi Reflective Parents, In today's episode, I share my honest thoughts about mental health care and honestly, they are not that positive. It's been feeling a little heavy these days with the Lindsay Clancy trial, a father that reached out who is struggle with depression and my own mental health from not having been in our home since January. I share my thought and as always, I share what I am doing to work through this hard season. Come reflect with me and if you want more of this, don't forget to join our Reflective Parenting Book Club below to join the conversation and reflections with other parents. Support the showJoin the Reflective Parent Book Club for only $9.99 for the year: https://reflectiveparentclub.circle.so/checkout/reflective-parenting-book-clubWatch my Tedx Talk on YouTube called The Over-Educated, Emotionally Underprepared Parent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDYJFY_9K9E&t=19sGrab my course for $99, The Emotionally Aware Parent: https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/Doors open to join the next 8-week training (Starts Oct 12th) here https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Reflective Parenting Podcast, I chat with Albiona Rakipi who is a parent coach. I love her work and it is well-aligned with the research I read around co-regulation and teaching kids how to regulate emotions. If you are a parent that often questions what to do DURING a tantrum, then this episode is for you. You will learn her simple method that makes it easy to know what to do and what to say to your toddler. You will also learn about the importance of co-regulation! Learn more from Albiona: The Parenting Reframe: https://www.theparentingreframe.com https://www.instagram.com/theparentingreframe/ https://albiona.substack.com/podcast Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ioh03sCbQ88 Read a research study on tantrums: Read a short blog post on our website about tantrums: https://curiousneuron.com/2025/05/04/how-warmth-not-harsh-discipline-helps-toddlers-behave-better/ Do maternal power assertive discipline and warmth interact to influence toddlers' emotional reactivity and noncompliance? Support the showJoin the Reflective Parent Book Club for only $9.99 for the year: https://reflectiveparentclub.circle.so/checkout/reflective-parenting-book-clubWatch my Tedx Talk on YouTube called The Over-Educated, Emotionally Underprepared Parent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDYJFY_9K9E&t=19sGrab my course for $99, The Emotionally Aware Parent: https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/Doors open to join the next 8-week training (Starts Oct 12th) here https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever found yourself scrubbing baseboards and questioned why you place so much pressure on yourself? As I prepare for my trip to California at the end of the month, that exact introspection led to a profound realization about the 'shoulds' in my life, a topic I eagerly explore with Erica Djossa, therapist and author of "Releasing the Motherload," on our latest Curious Neuron podcast episode. Together, we scrutinize the mental load that mothers bear, addressing the invisible tasks and the ever-elusive balance between self-care and parenting. We offer you strategies for dealing with the intense emotional landscape that comes with parenting, ensuring that you feel seen, understood, and empowered to align your actions with your personal values. Wrapping up our conversation, we touch upon the cultural myth of the perfect mother, the critical importance of articulating boundaries, and how to advocate for yourself in an often overwhelming parenting journey. It's an episode for mothers and parents at any stage, tune in for a guiding light through the complexities of maternal mental health and well-being. Buy Erica's new book: Amazon in Canada Amazon in the US Visit her websites: https://www.ericadjossa.com/ https://www.momwell.com/ Follow her on IG: https://www.instagram.com/momwell/ Come to my talk in Palo Alto California on April 25th! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HTkrj7MDep1vmoGhmTQj0jTMSFLPEgl6/view?usp=sharing Leave a review (email me the screenshot at [email protected]) and get $10 OFF my Reflective Parenting Journal (100 pages!) https://curiousneuronacademy.mykajabi.com/offers/FE2tgqG2/checkout Support the showJoin the Reflective Parent Book Club for only $9.99 for the year: https://reflectiveparentclub.circle.so/checkout/reflective-parenting-book-clubWatch my Tedx Talk on YouTube called The Over-Educated, Emotionally Underprepared Parent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDYJFY_9K9E&t=19sGrab my course for $99, The Emotionally Aware Parent: https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/Doors open to join the next 8-week training (Starts Oct 12th) here https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/
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