You ask your child to put their shoes away.

They ignore you.

You ask again.

Still nothing.

By the third time, your voice has that edge to it. And then comes the eye roll. Or the sassy comeback. Or both.

And you think: I would never have spoken to my parents this way.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

Dr. Friendtastic for Parents is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Most of us have had moments of swinging between two extremes when our kids are being disrespectful:

Sometimes we come down too hard—yelling, threatening consequences we may not follow through on, saying things we regret later.

Other times we let things slide—hoping the behavior will pass, unsure what else to do, too exhausted to fight another battle.

The harsh approach escalates the situation and damages our relationship with our child. The lenient approach leaves us resentful and our kids without clear boundaries.

Neither feels good. And neither works consistently.

What if you had a clear game plan for those difficult moments? One that’s backed by research, strengthens your relationship, AND teaches your child to be more cooperative?

That’s exactly what I cover in this month’s featured workshop:

In this 68-minute workshop, I walk you through three common, frustrating situations:

• When your child isn’t listening

• When your child backtalks

• When your child misbehaves

You’ll learn practical strategies you can use immediately, plus the psychological framework to understand what’s really happening in these moments.

We’ll cover:

• The two essential ingredients for raising respectful kids

• Simple tweaks that make it easier for children to listen

• How to reduce backtalk without getting into power struggles

• Ways to respond to misbehavior that actually encourage better choices

• How to help a child who’s gotten stuck in the “bad kid” role

Plus, there’s a Q&A section where I answer specific parent questions.

Bonuses:

• A Parent Reflection Guide: Dig deeper into your own responses and patterns with guided questions that help you understand what triggers your reactions and how to respond more intentionally.

• The “Getting Kids to Help with Chores” guide: Learn what doesn’t work (and why), plus 4 research-based strategies that actually get kids to pitch in without the daily nagging.

GET THE WORKSHOP

This workshop gives you the tools to handle challenging moments without yelling, without guilt, and without power struggles.

You’ll feel less reactive. Your child will feel more understood. And your home will feel more peaceful.

Paid subscribers receive a COUPON CODE for $20 OFF the regular price of this workshop.

The coupon will be sent in a separate email and expires on December 1st.

Don’t wait for the next meltdown to figure this out.

ENROLL NOW

Warm wishes,
Dr. Eileen

P.S. Not yet a paid subscriber? Upgrade now to support the Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic podcast and get monthly workshop coupons and bonus content, including this month’s $20 off code.

Want to purchase the workshop without subscribing? Buy the workshop here.