ResponseABLE Parenting

This is one of my favorite episodes! In this episode I talk about how our deeply rooted, traditional belief systems about children's behavior affects our ability to repair when we blow up at them. When we lose our cool on our children, these belief systems allow us to justify our reactions. I share how we can start to dismantle these beliefs and I offer a step by step formula to follow when we rupture the relationship. I believe that our kids are worthy of repair. And the more we model how to apologize and correct our misbehavior the more they will model and learn from that. If we want our children to be the kind of people who apologize and do what's right, then we need to be the leaders and the examples of how to do that at home and with them.

In this episode, I share a softer way to explore and explain the similarities and differences our children will notice and experience in the world. I also talk about ways to view our children's behaviors, not as triggering actions that need to be fixed, but rather helpful insights into the areas that still need healing and work within us. When we get too wrapped up in the narrative of "others" we lose the ability to explore and grow and see the human in front of us. I offer insight and advice on how to take those triggers and turn them into meaningful growth for not only you but your connection and relationship with your children.

In this episode, we explore a listener's question about how to manage their 7-year-old son's disrespectful behavior. We explore themes of defiance and control and I offer suggested scripts and techniques to meet their child's developmental needs. When we as parents are experiencing a lot of defiance and push back from our children this is a clear sign we are running low on connection. I give several examples of how to get your children in the driver's seat of choices to give them some control to flex their growing sense of self and also ways you can build connections so collaboration becomes more frequent.

If you relate to this listener and would like to share your stories, please send me a message on social or send me an email. And if you'd like a pressing question answered, don't hesitate to reach out!

In this episode I interview Reece Anderson, founder of We Overcome Anything out of Australia. His 8-week program helps parents get out of their own way in order to support their teens, create more positive connections, lessen conflict, and find more ease in the relationship. Through his own battles of mental health and working in the sector, he realized a large disconnect with teens and parents. The number one thing he's heard from teenagers throughout his work over the past 5 years is that they are not heard by their parents. Reece works with both parents and teenagers to help build connection, curiosity & respect for themselves and each other. In this episode we talk about ways to reconnect with your teenager, how to get curious and engage with them in a way that draws them out vs. sends them away, and some first steps to starting a new relationship with your teen.

Here are the ways to connect with Reece:

Instagram: @overcomeanything_aus

Email: [email protected]

Sometimes this nervous system regulation "stuff" can feel super unattainable and challenging. In this episode, I share with you a silly acronym I created in my house for my family that helps bring some humor into the equation. P.O.O.P. is the funny way to get back into emotional regulation and back into the driver's seat of parenting.

P: Pause

O: Observe

O: Orient

P: Play

This is just one more tool in our ever-growing toolbox as parents to model regulation and help our children understand themselves and the world around them.

Challenges around food can be incredibly stressful for parents. Not only do our children NEED food for body and brain development but meals and snacks happen many times a day EVERY SINGLE DAY. Today I am doing a deep dive on picky eating and how we as parents can pivot and adjust our methods to shift the negative narrative about food. I hope this serves all of the parents out there struggling with food. If you relate to this listener and would like to share your stories, please send me a message on social or send me an email. And if you'd like a pressing question answered, don't hesitate to reach out!

In this episode, I look at how our unmet needs and nervous system dysregulation contributes to how we react to our children. I break down ways to uncover default patterns in your life, how to identify your most important need(s), and how to create a grounding practice to regulate your nervous system. This will help you build your patience reserves in order to have more capacity for your children. You'll hear me discuss the Green, Red, and Blue "Pathways." Here I am referencing the book Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children's Behavioral Challenges by Mona Delahooke, PhD.

Every day we drop our children off at school can be a very triggering experience in today's United States. When I recorded this, the latest school shooting had occurred in Nashville, TN leaving 3 children and 3 adults dead.

As parents, it can feel as though our hands are tied and we have no choice but to roll the dice every day. In this episode, I talk about ways we can shift the dynamics, and model ways AT HOME to safely discharge anger, frustration, and pent up emotion. I talk about making a radical shift as parents and showing up for our children in such a way that they don't feel so alone. It is our JOB to do the work on ourselves to be better and show up better…if not for ourselves, then for our children

We all have so much triggering our nervous system daily. It builds and builds until we snap and react. And often that's at our children who were just making a bid for connection. Today I start the conversation about how we can adjust our dysregulation dumping ground away from our children and find a safer more connective way to release this tension.

I dive into why we act the way we act. Our past experiences define how we show up as parents and its up to us to uncover the roots and do the healing work in order to show up for our children the way they deserve. I share real examples of how to break down your nervous system cues in order to show up with with more emotional intelligence and self awareness, which leads to greater connection.