Do Less Parenting

Protecting Kids Through Prevention, What Every Parent Should Know About Child Sexual Abuse with Dr. Bronwen Carroll and Kristen McNeely Robyn talks with Dr. Bronwen Carroll, MD, and Kristen McNeely about childhood sexual abuse prevention, recognizing grooming behaviors, and creating the kind of open communication that helps keep children safe. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Bronwen Carroll, pe...

Dyslexia, Reading Struggles, and Helping Kids Build Confidence with Anne Wahlgren Robyn talks with dyslexia advocate Anne Wahlgren about early signs of dyslexia, common reading misconceptions, and how parents can support struggling readers without damaging their confidence . In this episode, I’m joined by Anne Wahlgren, dyslexia advocate, educator, and parent coach, for a conversation that I think...

The Mental Load Revolution, Raising Kids Who Notice and Contribute with Sam Kelly and Kristen McNeely Robyn talks with Sam Kelly and Kristen McNeely about sharing the mental load at home, teaching kids responsibility, and helping families move from constant reminders to meaningful contribution. In this episode, I’m joined by Sam Kelly, feminist coach for mothers and creator of the Notice and Do me...

Marriage After Kids, Staying Connected Through Parenting Stress with Dr. Lindsay Cavanagh and Kristen McNeely Robyn talks with psychologist and marriage expert Dr. Lindsay Cavanagh and Kristen McNeely about communication, intimacy, parenting stress, and how couples can stay connected after having kids. In this episode, I’m joined by psychologist and marriage expert Dr. Lindsay Cavanagh along with...

Picky Eating, Food Pressure, and Raising Kids with a Healthy Relationship to Food with Nicole Cruz and Kristen McNeely Robyn talks with registered dietitian Nicole Cruz and Kristen McNeely about picky eating, food anxiety, and how parents can reduce pressure and create healthier relationships with food. In this episode, I’m joined by registered dietitian and parent nutrition coach Nicole Cruz, alo...

Screen Time, School, and Parenting in the Digital Age with Emily Cherkin and Kristen McNeely Robyn sits down with Emily Cherkin and Kristen McNeely to talk about parenting, education, and raising kids in a world shaped by technology. In this episode, I’m joined by Emily Cherkin, widely known as the Screen Time Consultant, along with returning guest Kristen McNeely, Licensed Marriage and Family The...

Calm Parenting in Real Life, Supporting Anxious Kids Without Power Struggles with Kirk Martin and Kristen McNeely Robyn talks with Kirk Martin and Kristen McNeely about anxiety, behavior, and how parents can stay calm and steady without getting pulled into power struggles. In this episode, I’m joined by Kristen McNeely and Kirk Martin for a conversation that brings together both the emotional and...

Anxiety and Behavior, How to Understand What Your Child Is Really Showing You with Kristen McNeely Robyn and Kristen talk about the connection between anxiety and behavior, and how parents can respond in ways that support both emotional and behavioral needs. In this episode, I’m joined again by Kristen McNeely, and I’m so glad she’s back because this is a conversation so many parents need. Kristen...

Let Them Be Bored: Why Doing Less Helps Kids Play, Create, and Grow with Lizzie Assa Robyn talks with Lizzie Assa about boredom, play, and how stepping back helps kids build creativity, independence, and confidence. In this episode, I’m joined by Lizzie Assa, founder of The Workspace for Children and author of But I’m Bored , for a conversation that gets right to the heart of doing less parenting....

Do Less Fighting Over Routines: Building Healthy Dental Habits That Stick with Emily Krausz Robyn talks with Emily Krausz of Pediatric Dental Mom about kids’ dental health, parenting habits, and how to balance structure without power struggles. In this episode, I’m joined by Emily Krausz, the voice behind Pediatric Dental Mom on Instagram , for a conversation that every parent can relate to—how do...

Navigating Neurodivergence: Parenting Strategies for Autism and Anxiety with Dr. Hannah Samaha Robyn talks with psychologist Dr. Hannah Samaha about the overlap between anxiety, autism, and ADHD, and how parents can support neurodivergent kids while still encouraging growth and independence. In this episode, I’m joined by psychologist Dr. Hannah Samaha for a conversation that many parents have bee...

Closing Season One, Most Frequently Asked Questions Robyn wraps up season one by reflecting on the top three questions people ask her regularly!  In this final episode of the season, I wanted to take a moment to look back at what we’ve talked about and what so many of you are living every day. Throughout season one, we’ve explored how anxiety shows up in kids in all kinds of ways—hesitation around...

Why Having a Strategy Helps Us When We Have No More Energy to Parent Robyn explains how using these tools helps parents when we are depleted and our battery is drained. In this solo episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman talks about the power of stepping back so children can step forward. She reflects on how easily parents slip into doing too much—rescuing, fixing, smoothing things over—and how th...

Parenting with Understanding, How Self-Awareness and Connection Shape the Way We Respond with Meaghan Hampton Robyn talks with therapist Meaghan Hampton about child development, discipline, and how a parent’s own wounds and anxiety shape their parenting. In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman is joined by Christian therapist Meaghan Hampton for a grounded conversation about what children t...

Understanding Relational Aggression, Helping Kids Navigate Social Dynamics with Dr. Noelle Santorelli Robyn talks with psychologist Dr. Noelle Santorelli about relational aggression, childhood social dynamics, and how parents can support kids through friendship challenges. In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman sits down with psychologist Dr. Noelle Santorelli to explore the complex and of...

Doing Less is the Path to Balance with Dr. Corinne Low Robyn talks with economist and mom Dr. Corinne Low about the pressures modern women face, the myth of doing it all, and the power of doing less. In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman sits down with Dr. Corinne Low, economist and professor , for an eye-opening discussion about what she calls the squeeze —the overwhelming pressure many...

Parenting an Anxious Child when you’re anxious too! Tools and Truths with Courtney Montgomery Robyn sits down with author and mom Courtney Montgomery to talk about parenting an anxious child, managing guilt, and finding balance between support and independence. In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman talks with Courtney Montgomery, author of Lily’s Special Toolbox , about the real and emoti...

Letting Go of Control, How to Foster Trust and Independence Robyn sits down with therapist Bridget KerMorris to talk about parenting through the middle school years with connection, curiosity, and communication. In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman is joined by fellow therapist Bridget KerMorris, a Stanford-trained lawyer and a mom of seven , for a thoughtful conversation about parenting...

Parenting through Bedtime Anxiety, Boundary Setting and the Need for Sleep! Robyn and guest therapist Ellanee Wilson, Certified Pediatric Sleep Coach, Credentialed Educator, and mom of three talk about how parents navigate sleep struggles by focusing on what is really going on! Hint: it’s not only about sleep schedules!  In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman is joined by therapist Ellanee...

Building Resilience Together, Supporting Parents Through Their Own Anxiety Robyn talks with fellow therapist Joanna Hardis, LISW-S about how parents can work through their own anxiety to better support their children’s growth and independence. In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman is joined by fellow therapist Joanna Hardis for an honest conversation about what it really means to support...

When School Becomes Scary, Understanding School Avoidance and What Helps Robyn talks with fellow therapist Kristen McNeely about school avoidance, unpacking what’s really happening beneath the surface and how parents can help kids return to school with confidence. In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman is joined by fellow therapist Kristen McNeely for a meaningful conversation about school...

When Kids Avoid, How to Support Without Rescuing Robyn explains why avoidance keeps anxiety strong and how parents can step in with support that encourages coping instead of escape. In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman focuses on what happens when children avoid situations that make them anxious. She explains why avoidance feels like relief in the moment but actually makes anxiety strong...

Facing the What Ifs, Helping Kids Build Tolerance for Uncertainty Robyn explains how to respond when kids get stuck in “what if” questions and shows parents how to build resilience instead of feeding worry. In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman talks about one of the most common ways anxiety shows up in children—the endless cycle of “what if” questions. She explains why answering every qu...

The Comparison Trap, Why Measuring Against Other Parents Increases Anxiety Robyn unpacks how comparing yourself to other parents fuels anxiety and keeps you from focusing on what your child truly needs. In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman explores the harmful cycle of comparison in parenting. She explains how measuring yourself against other parents can increase anxiety, fuel guilt, and...

The Pressure to Be Perfect, How Parental Anxiety Fuels the Cycle Robyn explores how a parent’s own anxiety and perfectionism can unintentionally increase anxiety in their child. In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman takes a closer look at the role parental anxiety plays in children’s struggles. She explains how parents’ pressure to get it right, do it all, or prevent every mistake can uni...