Become A Calm Mama

Today’s teenager is a complicated being.  That’s why I’m so excited to have Jennifer Delliquadri with me on the podcast for the next 2 episodes! Jennifer is a life coach for teenagers and their parents. With over 14 years working as a classroom teacher, Jennifer is an expert at connecting with teens.  Over the next 2 weeks, Jenn and I are talking about all things teenagers and all things...

Today I’m talking about the evolution of self concept and identity, and specifically, how that develops throughout adolescence.  The onset of puberty and adolescence (usually around the age of 12), is when we really start to see our kids starting to figure out who they are and what they think and feel about themselves. They begin the process of creating a self concept.  In this episode,...

What is self concept? How is it different from self esteem? Is it your responsibility as a parent to help shape your child’s self concept? In this episode, I’m talking all about self concept - what it is, why it matters and how it forms. What Is Self Concept? Self concept is a collection of thoughts you think about yourself. It’s different from self-esteem because esteem is more how you feel about...

With the start of a new school year, your morning routine may be a little rusty. You and your kids may kind of forget how mornings work, or you expect it to go really smoothly and it doesn't, or maybe you’ve never really had a consistent morning routine at all.  If you’re struggling to get your kid out the door on time without a lot of stress and conflict, this is the episode for you! I’m giv...

The transition back to school from summer break is definitely a transition. There are special challenges that come up, and I want you to be prepared for the shenanigans that might happen with your kids in the coming weeks.  In this episode, I’m talking about 5 things you need to know as school starts and how to create the right mindset going into the next couple of weeks so that you can be co...

I bet you’ve been here… Your kid comes to you with a situation – there’s something happening they don’t like, maybe they’re having an issue with their teacher or a friend at school – and you respond with something like, “it’s not that big of a deal,” “you’re overreacting,” or “don’t worry about it, it’s gonna be fine.” You may have the best of intentions and even say these things in a really sweet...

There are times when your kids are going through something hard or they have something on their mind, and the way they process it is by talking to you - aka complaining.   They get stuck in their big feelings.  They’re afraid that the discomfort they’re experiencing is going to last forever.  So they take all those thoughts and feelings and dump them on you. It’s like the big-k...

In this episode you'll learn How to care for your own emotional needs while being there for your kid The tendencies parents have when their kids are suffering The healthy way to support your kids through hard things I’m sharing a story about something that happened with my son just this past week.   It’s still pretty fresh, but it was just so powerful and also a huge learning experience...

One thing moms struggle with is feeling bad about their progress in becoming calm and showing up calm with their kids. Whenever they have an mad mom episode and act in a way they don’t think they should, a lot of criticism, guilt, and doubt pours in.  They think they should know this already. They think they should be getting there faster.   What they don’t understand is that becomi...

Ever find yourself criticizing your kid…and then feel really terrible about it?  You’re not alone.  Parenting is hard and there’s plenty to complain about.  In this episode you’ll learn how to tell the difference between complaints and criticism and how (and why) to stop criticizing your child. Let’s face it.  Kids are really annoying. They don’t really think before they act. T...

When you lose your temper with your kid, it doesn’t feel great.  But it IS totally normal. Perfection is not possible, in parenting especially. All parents lose their temper and speak or act harshly towards their kids from time to time.  In this episode, I’m sharing what’s really going on when you lose your temper and what to do after the dust settles.   Losing Your Temper Firs...

What do your kids want from you?   We put a whole lot of pressure on ourselves as parents sometimes, when the things our kids really need from us are actually pretty simple.  Kids love to look at their parents and see DELIGHT in our eyes.  They want to feel they are the most important thing ever.  And I know you want to give that to them.  But it’s easier said than do...

Let’s face it.  Summer is great.  And it’s a lot. A lot of time with kids. Traveling. Extra meal prep. Day trips with snack bags. Feeling like there’s not enough time to get work done. Long days. Late nights. Sibling fights. Loneliness.  You’re going to need a plan to enjoy the season - and avoid burnout. SUMMER BURNOUT Summer Burnout is a real thing. So many decisions to make. So m...

Tired of repeating yourself over and over…and over?  Can’t figure out why your child doesn’t listen?  This is the episode for you! I’m talking about why it's not effective to repeat yourself, why you do it anyway and how you’re using it as a way to rescue your kids (and yourself) from negative consequences.  Because repeating yourself and reminding your kids over and over again isn’...

To have a stress-free summer (or at least something close to it), you’ve got to create the right mindset.  And that’s exactly what I’m teaching you to do in this episode of the Become A Calm Mama podcast.  Zero stress obviously isn’t possible because in life there are so many little stressors happening all the time.  I’m walking you through how to reset stressful moments when they p...

It’s easy to look at a sweet little baby and completely forget that that they’re going to grow up one day. That you are actually figuring out how to raise an adult. Stages of parenting When your kid is really little, there are so many things you can’t imagine them doing. Like walking, sleeping through the night, feeding themselves, being out of diapers, starting kindergarten. Then when they are in...

Ever wonder why siblings fight (like all the time)? And more importantly, what to do about it? Sibling fighting can be arguing, physically fighting, saying mean things to each other, shouting or bickering - any of that.  We’re getting into it in this episode, and you might be surprised to learn that a lot of the “problem” isn’t even about the fight. It’s about how your kids’ fightin...

10 years ago this May, I taught my first parenting class. TEN YEARS AGO! In this episode I’m sharing reflections and 10 observations to make parenting easier.   Celebrating 10 Years   Over the last decade, I’ve privately coached over 200 moms, taught over 500 hours of group classes to more than 1000 parents. I’ve written 4 parenting handbooks, at least 700 emails, thousands of socia...

Hearing kids say " Mom, I'm bored " might be the most annoying phrase of all time. In this episode of the Become a Calm Mama podcast, I’m sharing what to do (and what not to do) when kids are bored. What do you usually say after your kid says “I’m bored”?  I’m guessing you offer a bunch of suggestions and say "Why don't you do [blank]?" Of course, your kid rejects them...and the cycle of them...

Mother’s Day is coming. And if you've had a few Mother's Days that end with you getting into bed feeling totally wiped out and resentful, this podcast episode is for you. I’m talking all about how to enjoy Mother’s Day. Mother's Day has a way of ending up the OPPOSITE of ideal for most moms. A lot of times moms spend Mother's Day cleaning up the kitchen after a messy breakfast in bed, followed by...

A grumpy mood is totally normal - for you, your kid, and sometimes everyone at once!  In this episode of Become a Calm Mama, I’m giving you a few strategies for handling moments when you’re dealing with a grumpy kid, grumpy parents or when the whole family is in a grumpy mood. When You Have a Grumpy Kid Your kid is entitled to their moods.  It’s actually their job to learn how to manage...

When your child is being aggressive, it can be hard to know what to do.   In this episode of the Become A Calm Mama podcast, I’m teaching you how to keep your family safe when your kid is hitting, breaking things or calling names. A foundational principle I teach is this: EVERYONE STAYS SAFE in your house.  That means the bodies and hearts of the people in your house don’t get hurt....

Whether we’re technically post pandemic or not at this point, we can all agree that parenting has some additional challenges now - especially when you’re not sure if your kid is OK. Our kids are out and about in the world, quarantine is over, schools are open, mask requirements are ending, and sports and other activities are a thing again. But getting “back to normal” isn’t that simple. In this ep...

Today we are talking about how to pause & reset your MIND and what I like to call “mama mind drama”. When I talk about resetting your mind, what I mean is that you’ll move from default negative thoughts to intentional positive thoughts. And this shift will change the way you show up and respond to your child. It's not your kid's behavior that is driving you crazy. It's your thoughts about your...

Today we are talking about something that might not seem related to parenting. Your feelings. Specifically, how to pause & reset your emotions. One of the goals of Calm Mama Parenting is practicing compassion with your kids and teaching them what to do with their feelings. But first, of course, you have to know what to do with yours! I define Emotional Literacy as: You know what you’re feeling...