This week on The Parents' Solution, delve into an eye-opening conversation with Dr. Mick Smith, an impassioned advocate for alternative education. As the author of "Burning America: In the Best Interest of the Children" and armed with multiple academic degrees, Dr. Smith sheds light on the current landscape of public school education. Together, we explore the surge of parent grassroots organizations across North America, catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which propelled homeschooling rates to double as parents scrutinized educational content.

Dr. Smith exposes how the current public education system fosters indoctrination rather than critical thinking, urging parents to reclaim their role as primary educators. With a shared concern for the academic well-being of students, we dissect the financial disparities between public and private schools and the concerning apathy within public school administration post-COVID.

Tune in to The Parents' Solution and connect with Dr. Smith via his podcast, The Doctor of Digital, and on social media, or reach out via email at [email protected] to join the dialogue on reshaping education for the better.

In this episode of The Parents' Solution, dive into an enlightening conversation with Sara Deacon, an adulting coach dedicated to helping teens and young adults navigate the path to success. Sara's journey from uncertainty to purposeful guidance underscores her commitment to empowering young individuals as they transition into adulthood.

Through her work and personal experiences as a mother, Sara discovered her passion for supporting teens and young adults, challenging stereotypes and embracing the importance of providing space, guidance, and opportunities for exploration. She shares invaluable insights into the three key elements essential for adulting success: space for growth, appropriate guidance, and the freedom to explore one's identity and aspirations. Sara's approach encourages parents and educators to embrace moments of struggle and silence, recognizing them as opportunities for self-discovery and personal growth. 

Tune in to discover more about Sara's transformative coaching methods and her empowering message for young adults seeking to thrive in today's world. Connect with Sara Deacon through her website at https://www.saradeacon.com and on social media as @saradeaconcoach.

In this week's episode of The Parents' Solution, join me for a deeply impactful discussion with Keeper Catran-Whitney, as we delve into the often overlooked trauma experienced by brothers in the wake of their sisters' sexual abuse. As the author of "Helplessness" and a passionate advocate for survivors of sexual violence, Keeper brings personal insights and a commitment to fostering understanding and healing.

Growing up in a large, impoverished family, Keeper shares his own journey of grappling with shame and guilt upon learning of his sisters' abuse, highlighting the wide-ranging effects on brothers, from isolation to substance abuse. Through his poignant reflections, Keeper emphasizes the urgent need for open dialogue within families to support healing and recovery.

Tune in to this essential episode and connect with Keeper Catran-Whitney to explore his advocacy work further.

This week on The Parents' Solution, join me for an enlightening discussion with Maureen Burford, the visionary mind behind Creative Lives, a groundbreaking approach to education and parenting. With 38 years of experience as an educator and the recipient of the prestigious Lynn Von Trapp award for "Excellence in Leading Preventative Programming for Youth," Maureen is a beacon of wisdom in the field. Drawing from her M.Ed. in Creative Education and profound collaboration with clairvoyant counselor Ellen Tadd, Maureen unveils the transformative power of the chakra system in human development.

In our conversation, Maureen introduces the chakra system as a fundamental aspect of the human energy system, comprising seven main centers that profoundly influence our thoughts, emotions, and actions. As we delve into each chakra's role, Maureen emphasizes nurturing intrinsic value in children, fostering enthusiasm and spontaneity in learning, and striking a balance between inspiration and discipline. Crucially, she highlights the distinction between healthy assessment and harmful comparison, empowering parents and educators to support each child's unique journey. 

For further insights into Maureen's innovative approach, visit www.creativelives.org or explore Ellen Tadd's book, "A Framework for Wise Education: Chakras in Child Development." Join us as we unlock the potential of holistic education for every child's growth and fulfillment.

Welcome to The Parents' Solution! This week, I had an enlightening discussion with Riana Milne, a certified love, trauma recovery, and mindset coach with over 23 years of experience in mental health counseling. Riana shared insights from her work as a student assistance counselor in New Jersey, shedding light on the impact of trauma on children's mental health and academic performance.

We delved into the top 10 traumas affecting children, from addiction in the home to community-wide mental health issues. Riana emphasized the importance of recognizing and addressing these traumas while offering practical parenting tips, such as pointing out positive behavior and fostering problem-solving skills. Tune in to discover more solutions and insights! For additional resources, visit www.rianamilne.com.

Welcome to another enlightening episode of The Parents' Solution! This week, I had the sincere pleasure of engaging in a meaningful conversation with Dr. Andrew Blackwood. Dr. Blackwood, a mental health professional, author, and keynote speaker, is dedicated to empowering parents in nurturing growth and healing within their relationships with their children through coaching and workshops.

With a wealth of experience and qualifications, including a Masters of Divinity and Counseling, as well as a Doctorate of Ministry in marriage and family, Dr. Blackwood has graced television screens on shows like 100 Huntley Street and the 700 Club Canada.

Our discussion delved into the timely and vital topic of parenting through anxiety. Dr. Blackwood illuminated the myriad factors contributing to the surge in anxiety levels among parents and children, including parenting styles, multi-generational genetics, societal issues, and intergenerational transmission.

Emphasizing the importance of parental self-awareness and understanding, Dr. Blackwood underscored the significance of modeling healthy emotional regulation for children. He shared essential steps for navigating intense emotions, urging parents to cultivate mindfulness, practice responsiveness over reactivity, and strive for intentional, peace-centered responses.

Dr. Andrew's Peace Framework, which he shares with parents in his weekly coaching sessions, offers invaluable guidance for fostering harmony within parent-child relationships.

This episode is a treasure trove of parenting wisdom you won't want to miss! For more insights from Dr. Andrew Blackwood and access to additional resources, visit www.coachdrew.ca or follow @coachdrewcan on Instagram. Tune in now to elevate your parenting journey!

Welcome back to another episode of The Parents' Solution! This week, I had the pleasure of chatting with Honoria DaSilva-Kilgore, an attorney based in Raynham, Massachusetts, who is revolutionizing the trajectory of students' futures.

Honoria wears many hats: she's an independent education consultant and the founder of Personal College Counseling Inc., which launched in 2019. Her mission? To guide each student towards the perfect university or college fit, along with the ideal financial package to support their educational journey.

Passionate about education as a gateway to future success and social mobility, Honoria shared her insights on the varying necessity of university or college education for individuals. She focuses on students and parents who are preparing for higher education and emphasized the importance of personalized guidance in the process.

During our conversation, we delved into the role of guidance counselors in the school system, highlighting the limitations students often face in receiving comprehensive college planning support. In contrast, Honoria discussed her approach of identifying students' interests, strengths, and natural inclinations to present tailored options that foster excitement and ensure success.

For those eager to connect with Honoria and explore personalized college counseling, you can reach her at [email protected] (yes, "Nod" is her nickname!), or simply give her a call or text at 508-622-5250. Follow her journey on Instagram at @personal_college_counselling, and visit her website at http://www.personalcollegecounseling.com.

Don't miss out on this enlightening discussion on reshaping the path to higher education—tune in now!

Welcome to this episode of The Parents' Solution! This week, join me for an insightful discussion with the remarkable Dr. John DeGarmo as we delve into the vital topics of foster care and internet safety.

Dr. DeGarmo is not your average expert—he's a father to an incredible sixty children and boasts a background in global stage performances, as well as being an acclaimed author and speaker, with appearances on TedX stages. With expertise in foster care, parenting, and child welfare, Dr. John sheds light on critical issues affecting families today.

We'll explore Dr. DeGarmo's book, "Keeping Foster Children Safe Online," and discuss the heightened risks foster children face in the digital age, especially during the COVID-19 lockdowns. As online interactions surged, so did the dangers, with many children falling prey to online predators.

In our conversation, we'll examine the generational gap in navigating the online world and the importance of communication in safeguarding children. Dr. John shares invaluable insights and strategies to protect children from online threats.

Join us as we unravel the complexities of foster care and internet safety with Dr. John DeGarmo, and discover practical solutions to ensure the well-being of our children in today's digital landscape. Don't miss out—tune in now!

This week, on The Parents' Solution, I had the wonderful opportunity to have a life-changing conversation with Bracha Goetz. Bracha is a Harvard-educated author of 41 books that help children's souls shine. In her own words, Goetz says, "my goal has been to write the books that I wish I had as a child."
Goetz's books teach children happiness skills, with the intention of giving children the tools they need to be able to do as well as possible in life. Her book topics range from physical health and abuse prevention, to swimming safety, learning disabilities, and practicing gratitude.

Bracha has a passion for helping children foster self-confidence. She wants children to understand how amazing they are. When a child has a strong sense of self, they are able to overpower the negative thoughts that tend to eat away at positive self-esteem. In this light, Bracha wrote a powerful book entitled Don't Read This Book. It is written in the tone of that nagging, negative voice we all experience regularly, and teaches children to overcome that negativity.

Bracha says, "The challenges are there to make us into better people."

Yeah.

Read that one again and let it go deep.

"The more often we can give children the tools to succeed early in life, the more joyful a life they get to have and the more they get to accomplish."

Speaking about having a joyful life... Bracha dropped a golden nugget for life during our session. She told me what the secret to happiness is. And since you're part of this community, you get to learn about it too.

It's gratitude.

I can go on and on about this. But what you need to know is that gratitude is really an exercise in mindfulness. North American society tends to focus on all the things we don't have instead of all the things we do have. And that is why depression and anxiety are on the rise. If we get out of the comparison and scarcity mindset, and start living in the contentment and abundance mindset, we are going to realize that we have an infinite amount of blessings to be grateful for.

You really need to listen to this podcast.

For more on Bracha Goetz and her books, go to https://goetzbookshop.com/ . You won't regret it!

This week, on The Parents' Solution, I had the opportunity to have a candid conversation with Mark Aylward. Mark is a single parent of three young adult children. He has been the owner of technical staffing firms for over 30 years, and has built and sold two multi-million dollar businesses.
Mark has strong opinions about the education system due to his interaction with it as he raised his children (sole custody) and put them through school. All of Mark's children are creatives and have taken bold steps to become entrepreneurs, pursuing their passion. Aylward advises parents that "the success of your children in school has a lot to do with how involved you are as a parent." When teachers know that you are interested, they become interested.

We talked about how schools are indoctrinating students with topics that should be dinner-table discussions. Aylward made it clear that he is not a fan of the run-of-the-mill post-secondary narrative that says one can only be successful by getting a degree. The same narrative fails when defining "job security." I particularly enjoyed our conversation in this area - we blew those myths right out of the water.

Mark also presented some key pointers about how to attract the job you want through your resume. He said that resumes and interviews are where you get to tell your story. It's important to know how to tell it to get the results that you are looking for.

Want to learn more? Check out Mark Aylward on LinkedIn or go to his website at Career Development Coaching (7pillarsglobal.com).