In this episode of The Gentle Year, Kimberly Lechnick joins Knikki Hernandez to talk about one of the hardest lessons in parenting: letting go. From quitting baseball to giving up swimming, Kimberly shares how she learned to stop controlling her sons’ paths and start guiding them with trust, empathy, and space.

This isn’t a sugarcoated conversation about “doing it all.” It’s an honest look at the grief, confusion, and quiet pride that come with raising kids who choose their own way. Together, Knikki and Kimberly unpack the tension between control and connection, discipline and freedom, and how faith and awareness transform the way we love.

The Gentle Year is supported by Turning The Tide Tutoring, and every listener donation helps fund scholarships for students who need extra support on their educational journey.

If this episode resonates with you, consider giving because healing homes create thriving students.

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What happens when the person who gave you life never really wanted you?

In this raw and unflinching conversation, we talk about what it means to grow up unwanted — and how that pain echoes into adulthood, parenting, and love itself. 

My guest opens up about the invisible scars left by her mother’s rejection, and the daily work of unlearning that story.

This episode isn’t about blame. It’s about survival, forgiveness, and the courage to create love where none was modeled.

If you’ve ever felt like you were too much, not enough, or simply unwanted — this one’s for you.

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What does it really mean to stay committed — to your marriage, your kids, your faith, and your purpose — even when life gets hard?

In this powerful episode of The Gentle Year, I sit down with Albert Smith, a husband of 23 years, father, grandfather, and seasoned forex trader who’s as passionate about family as he is about finance. Albert shares how his mother’s faith shaped his path, how discipline and integrity became his compass, and why he believes that quitting is just firing yourself.

We talk about what commitment really looks like, how faith and mindset influence your family’s future, and why raising children to know their worth — and their gifts — matters more than ever.

🎧 Listen now and take your own next step toward calmer, more connected parenting with The Gentle Year Course for Parents:
👉 The Gentle Year Course

#FaithAndFamily #Fatherhood #BlackFathers #MarriageMatters #TheGentleYear #ParentingPodcast #FinancialWisdom #PurposeDrivenLife

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In this moving conversation, host Knikki Hernandez sits down with David Fowler, a teacher, father of three, and husband in a biracial marriage, to talk about the beauty and challenges of raising a child with autism. David opens up about learning to parent the kids he never expected to have, what faith looks like when life doesn’t go as planned, and the realities of navigating the public school system as both an educator and a parent.

They also dive into the complexities of biracial identity, how culture shapes belonging, and what it means to be “not Black enough” or “not White enough” in today’s world. This episode is an honest, heartfelt look at fatherhood, faith, and family in modern America.

🎧 Listen now — and join the free Gentle Year Course for Parents
to learn how to bring more calm, connection, and compassion into your own parenting journey.

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In this thoughtful episode of The Gentle Year, I sit down with Amber Trivedi — a parent, leader, and lifelong learner — to talk about parenting in a world where screens dominate so much of our children’s lives.

Amber shares how the skills she’s honed as an employer and manager — listening deeply, allowing space to process emotions, and seeking to understand before inserting her own perspective — have shaped her approach to raising three boys. From navigating screen addiction and the emotional toll of online communication, to encouraging live interaction and human connection, Amber offers honest reflections on both the challenges and the breakthroughs.

We also discuss generational shifts in parenting, the importance of curiosity and patience, and how fostering open conversations can strengthen trust and resilience in children.

🌱 Want more tools and encouragement for your parenting journey? Join our  Gentle Year course for parents here.

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In this heartfelt episode of The Gentle Year, I sit down with Shara Ruffin — an African American parent, LinkedIn consultant, and entrepreneur — for a candid conversation about parenting, healing, and the power of emotional work.

Shara opens up about the cultural conditioning she experienced and how she’s intentionally breaking those cycles while raising her Gen Alpha son. She shares the realities of homeschooling as an on-the-go entrepreneur mom, navigating her son’s emotional needs, and what it meant to parent through deep personal grief after the loss of her brother. With honesty and courage, Shara reflects on moments of struggle, growth, and the ongoing journey of showing up with presence and love.

🌱 If you’re a parent looking for support, encouragement, and tools for your own journey, join our free Gentle Year course for parents today. 

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In this first episode of Turning The Tide Tutoring Podcast, host Knikki Hernandez sits down with Rebecca L. Norrington — parent, writer, and self-proclaimed “happiness specialist.” Together, they explore some of the most challenging and meaningful aspects of parenting and personal growth.

Rebecca shares her perspective on detachment as a powerful form of love, why spanking and hitting fall short as discipline, and the heavy expectations parents often carry. She opens up about her own surprising journey into motherhood, her deep yet complicated relationship with her father, and how she realized she had been living as a reflection of him rather than her authentic self.

This honest and thought-provoking conversation touches on identity, loss, parenting, and resilience, offering wisdom for anyone seeking to parent with love while also staying true to themselves.

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