Your Parenting Long Game

Episode 391: Using the "Consequence Sandwich" to Help Kids Do Better

When your child does something they shouldn't, you want them to learn from it. But you may also wonder: Do they need a consequence to learn the lesson… or will that just

Episode 390: Could Your "Easier" Child Be Taking On Too Much?

When your child is quick to give in, apologize, or go along with what everyone else wants, you may wonder: Are they genuinely kind and flexible… or are they learning to p

Episode 389: Should You Respond to or Ignore Your Child's Big Reactions?

When your child has a big reaction, you may wonder: Should I respond to what they're feeling, or is it better to ignore it? Respond too much, and suddenly you're exp

Episode 388: 4 Tips to Improve Your Influence When Asking Kids (or Anyone) to Change

Have you ever started a conversation with the goal of guiding your child, only to have them argue, shut down, or become defensive? It's easy to assume you need bette

Episode 387: When You Know You Should Calm Down... But You Don't Want To

Sometimes you know you could look at your child's behavior differently... but you don't want to. You're angry. You're resentful. And part of you feels like letting go of

Episode 386: Stop Validating Your Child's Feelings

For many of us, validating your child's feelings can lead to a child getting even more upset. Validation isn't necessarily wrong... but for many sensitive children, it is

Episode 385: How to Help Your Child Take Back Control of Their Big Reactions

What if your child's biggest struggle isn't that they have big emotions...but that those emotions keep taking over? When children feel powerless against frustration, disa

Episode 384: When Your Child Is Upset and Other Children (or Tasks) Also Need You

Parenting can feel like one long tug-of-war between the child who needs you right now, the child who's waiting for you, and the growing list of things that still need to

Episode 383: How to Address Kids' Complaints of "I'm Bored"

Summer is around the corner, which means there's a good chance you're about to hear a lot more complaints about being bored. And maybe you've heard that boredom is good f

Episode 382: How to "Win" Any Argument With Your Child (or Anyone!)

When your child argues, pushes back, or keeps insisting that something is "not fair," it's easy to believe the goal is to stop the behavior, explain better, or finally ge

Episode 381: When You Are Exhausted... and Your Child Wants to Connect

When you're exhausted and your child suddenly wants to connect, it can create a painful internal tug-of-war: part of you desperately needs rest, while another part worrie

Episode 380: When You Walk on Eggshells Because You Dread Your Child's Reaction

When you've gone through the same hard moments with your child over and over — bedtime battles, pushback around limits, meltdowns when it's time to leave something fun —

Episode 379: When Your Child Complains About the Same Things Over & Over

When your child pushes back on something they've already done many times (like a simple routine or going to the same place every week), it can be confusing... and drainin

Episode 378: When You Say No and Your Child Keeps Pushing

When your child keeps arguing after you've already said no, it can feel exhausting and personal. You've explained your reasoning, you've made a thoughtful decision… and y

Episode 377: Should There Be a Consequence for Big Reactions?

When kids say or do things that feel rude or disrespectful in the middle of a big reaction, it can leave you feeling stuck: Part of you knows they're overwhelmed, but ano

Episode 376: When Your Child Says "Stop Yelling at Me!" When You're Not Even Yelling

Sometimes our kids react as if we're being harsh, saying things like "stop yelling at me"... even when you're not yelling at all! When that happens, it can feel confusing

Episode 375: When You Try to Do Something Fun With Your Child... and It Goes Downhill

When a fun moment unexpectedly turns into a child's unhappiness or even rude behavior, it can leave us feeling confused, frustrated, and even a little defeated. But what

Episode 374: When Multiple Family Members Get Triggered Easily

When a household feels like it's constantly one reaction setting off another, it can seem like everyone is triggering everyone else. But what looks like chaos on the surf

Episode 373: When a Child Blames Others (Even When They Were Wrong)

Many of our kids, when they do something wrong, will immediately point the finger: "He started it" or "It wasn't my fault." In those moments, it can easily look like they

Episode 372: What Morning Battles Might Be Teaching Your Child About Themselves

When a child won't get dressed in the morning and moves slowly, ignores you, or seems resistant, of course you'll feel frustrated and pressured, especially when you're al