Become A Calm Mama

Your teenager pulling away from you is normal, and it’s a sign their brain is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do. In the teen years, your child’s job is to build an identity outside your family, and their brain is wired to care far more about social safety than physical safety or future success. Your job is to stay calm, be available but not needy, listen without fixing, and hold clear rules w...

The simplest way to calm down your day is to decide in advance when each everyday task happens, cut down the number of choices your family has to make, and give your kids your full attention at the hardest transitions: wake-up, drop-off, pickup, and bedtime. In my house, that looked like easy ready-made breakfasts, no screens on school mornings, a small drawer of favorite clothes, lunchboxes on th...

There are two simple concepts that solve almost every dinnertime struggle. The first is the Division of Responsibility in Feeding - giving the right responsibilities to the right people (hint: it’s not your job to make sure your kid cleans their plate). The second is using the Limit Setting Formula to set clear limits that turn mealtime chaos into a routine your kid can actually learn from. Dinner...

The fastest way to get kids to actually do chores is to stop reminding and start using a limit: "You're welcome to [the next thing] as long as [the chore is done]." Pick one or two age-appropriate chores at a time, connect each one to something that already happens next in your child's day (e.g. a snack, screen time, homework, going outside) and follow through calmly and consistently. In this epis...

Homework fights almost never come down to laziness or defiance. They come down to five specific causes - exhaustion, procrastination, perfectionism, low motivation, and disorganization - and each one has its own reason behind it and its own fix. The two tools that solve nearly all of them are the Connection Tool (for the in-the-moment big feeling) and the Limit Setting Formula for building a routi...

Screen time battles usually come down to one thing: you don't have a plan, so you're making the same exhausting decision over and over, in the moment, while your kid is asking (again). The fix is to decide your rules in advance - which devices, what content, when, and for how long - based on what your kid actually needs rather than an arbitrary time limit. Then, use the Limit Setting Formula to co...

Bedtime routines usually fall apart for one of two reasons: There's no real structure, or there is a routine but it collapses the moment your kid pushes back. Commands and threats might get short-term compliance, but they don't actually teach anything. The fix is the Limit Setting Formula: tell your kid what they can have or do, and under what condition. Then hold it (even through the meltdown tha...

The three most important things you can do when you want easier mornings with kids are to create a to-do list, be honest about how much time you need to get it all done, and build out a simple timeline for your family to follow each day. Today on the podcast, I’m talking about the part of the day that trips up almost every family - the morning. I’ll walk you through my morning routine roadmap, a s...

Before you jump into back-to-school schedules, rules, and to-do lists, I want you to set your goals and intentions for this school year. Because focusing on your mindset is what actually determines how this year will feel and how it all will go. In this episode, you'll learn: The back-to-school step you might be missing that makes a huge difference in how your year goes Why mindset needs to come b...

The truth is, meltdowns, mood swings, sibling squabbles, and up-and-down social feelings are all completely normal during the first week of school. Back to school is a transition, and it isn’t always a smooth one. The week starts out pretty great. Your kid is excited, they have a good first day, and then within a few days they start falling apart over a granola bar or refusing to get in the car or...

The way to make the end of summer joyful instead of stressful is simple: stop trying to force your back-to-school routines into place early. Let go of the pressure to fix bedtimes, screens, and wake-ups this week, and spend these last days actually enjoying your kids instead. School itself will rebuild the routine for you within the first few days. You don't have to do it in advance. You'll Learn:...

Is connected parenting accidentally leading moms to burnout? I think a lot of us have been doing something exhausting in the name of good parenting, including myself. Today, I'm showing you the big shift that stops connection from turning into exhausting, all-day emotional labor. You’ll Learn: What intensive parenting is (and why it’s not required for connection) My thoughts on the “Beta Mom” move...

Summer doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to be good enough. If your kid is melting down, bored, complaining, or grumpy this summer, that doesn't mean you're doing something wrong. Today I'm talking about mom guilt - specifically the kind that shows up in the summer - and challenging the idea that you need to fix it all. I'll show you how to take the pressure off yourself and embrace the "goo...

In hard and stressful seasons, it can feel difficult to find the time to take care of yourself. But that's actually the best thing that you can do. Today, I’ve invited therapist and author Cyndi Horwitz on the podcast to talk about something I’m very passionate about: Healing and supporting women when they’re going through difficult times. We’re talking about how to get out of the trap of self-aba...

Mom guilt is real. And it's stopping you from being the calm parent you want to be. In this episode, guest Mary Skinner helps you understand why you feel guilty, where it comes from, and how to stop blaming yourself. We’re also getting into our own journeys of learning how to drop guilt, set better boundaries, and become the leaders of our families. There are so many little nuggets of wisdom in th...

When mom guilt takes over, it's hard to feel like the calm mama you want to be. In this episode, guest Jessica Tomich Sorci shares why moms feel bad about themselves, along with mindful parenting tools to break the cycle. Learn how self-compassion isn't selfish; it's the foundation for confident parenting and real emotional connection with your kids. You’ll Learn: How to have a better relationship...

Today I'm getting into a topic that I hear about constantly from parents - lying. Is lying normal? What does it mean? And most importantly, what do we actually do about it? There are a bunch of reasons that kids lie. When you understand why it's happening, it becomes much easier for you to respond in a calm way - without getting really angry, blowing up, shutting them down, or criticizing. You'll...

I think we can all relate to wanting our kids to be more responsible, have more self control, and make good decisions. Today, I'm talking about teaching kids how to make good choices (and it’s not as complicated as you might think). You’ll Learn: The link between connection and coaching Why lectures don't work (and what to do instead) The 3 steps of a coaching conversation How to use help kids mak...

Today, I've invited The Parentologist , Dr. Kim Van Dusen, to teach us about how to make parenting easier using play. Dr. Kim Van Dusen is a licensed marriage and family therapist, registered play therapist, and parenting expert specializing in early childhood through adolescence. With more than two decades of experience as a clinician, educator, and public speaker, she works with families to supp...

Summer planning doesn't have to mean overwhelm. Learn how to stay calm with kids while building a summer that feels good (not just looks good on your calendar). In this episode, we go beyond schedules and camps to explore the mindset shifts, emotional regulation strategies, and practical tools that help you actually enjoy summer while handling the chaos that comes up. Because the way you think abo...

When kids spiral into "I'm stupid" or "No one likes me," it's usually a sign they're dysregulated, not that something's actually wrong with them. In this episode, I'll walk you through the exact coaching approach to help your child build emotional regulation and inner confidence, plus how to interrupt your own negative self-talk patterns in the process. You’ll Learn: What to do when your kid is ha...

Stop reacting to meltdowns and start preventing them. Learn the one skill kids often lack - and how coaching conversations teach emotional regulation, connection, and self control. In this episode, discover the 3-step coaching framework that transforms big feelings into teachable moments and breaks the meltdown cycle long-term. You’ll Learn: The skill your kid might be lacking if they’re having a...

Teaching emotional regulation means giving kids better strategies than hitting, yelling, or shutting down. In this episode, discover why movement is the most powerful tool to help kids (and you) process big feelings, how to keep everyone safe when emotions escalate, and the 3 categories of movement that rewire your child's nervous system. Perfect for the car or your morning walk. You’ll Learn: Why...

When your child hits, yells, or acts out, your first response matters more than anything else. In this episode, discover the crucial pause-point most parents miss and the exact emotional regulation and child behavior management steps to take before you react. We're breaking down the confessional truth about those triggered moments and giving you practical words to say that actually teach your kid...

Nonviolent Communication is the framework behind better parenting connection - and you may already be using it. In this episode, Margot Magowan reveals how NVC principles transform challenging moments into opportunities for emotional connection and effective limit-setting. Learn the exact steps to stop yelling and show up as the calm mom you want to be, with real-world examples you can use today....