Become A Calm Mama

It can feel really hard when your kid is unhappy or uncomfortable. It’s easy to blame yourself and feel like you should have done something differently. But your kid’s happiness isn’t your job.  In this episode, I’ll explain what I mean by that and how you can help your child process their emotions without trying to solve all their problems for them.  You’ll Learn: How much responsibilit...

If you’ve ever thought, “But my kid only listens when I yell,” this is for you. Today, I’m explaining why threats aren’t great when you’re trying to change behavior and what to do instead. You’ll Learn: Why threats might work short-term but aren’t great in the long run The difference between threats and limits  How to set limits that work What to do when your kid doesn’t stay within your boun...

Moms often start the summer feeling energized, encouraged and ready to go! Then around week 6 or 7, the kids are fighting, they never seem happy and everything sucks. This is your late summer pep talk to help you get out of that funk and get through the rest of summer. If you're having a great summer, I love that for you. But if you're struggling, if you're burned out, resentful or overwhelmed, if...

Today, I’m talking about how to do a digital detox, why you should consider trying it and the benefits to your kids. Plus, I’ll give you tips and some ideas of what your kids can do when they aren't on screens. You’ll Learn: What a digital detox is and why you might do one How to know if now is the right time for a detox Ways a digital detox can benefit your kids Tips for doing a digital detox in...

Cultivating a screen free mindset is the first step to helping your kids develop a healthy relationship with technology. Today, you’ll learn what it means to have a screen free mindset (it doesn’t mean no screens ever!) and how to get started setting new limits with your family. You’ll learn: The problems with too much screen time Screen time best practices for kids of all ages How I managed scree...

During the summer, kids have the opportunity for more leisure time, free play and creativity. But as a parent, you might not like the way your kid acts when they’re bored.  In this episode, you’ll learn why encouraging boredom is a good thing and how you can feel more at peace when your kids are bored, dysregulated and frustrated this summer.  You’ll learn: Why kids act out when they’re...

We know that play is fun, but there is so much more to it than that. Today, I’m talking about the importance of play-based childhoods, why our society has moved away from them and some strategies to bring play back into your family and create a play-based childhood for your kid. You’ll Learn: The importance of play for our kids Why play is a challenge in our current society The key elements of pla...

Who better to talk about strategies for grandparents, than one of the best grandparents I know? I’m so excited to have my mother-in-law, Judie Childress, on the podcast with me today talking all about how parenting has changed over the years and what happens when the worlds of parenting and grandparenting collide.  You’ll Learn: How my mother-in-law learned about compassionate parenting as I...

If you’re anything like me, you sometimes find yourself feeling grumpy, discontent or dissatisfied. And you’d rather be feeling joy, hope, trust or safety. Today, I’m sharing my step-by-step process for how to shift any mood.  You’ll Learn: My step-by-step process to shift any mood Why we tend to slip into negative moods How your thoughts help create the feelings you want When to use this moo...

Summer Break can somehow be both easier and more stressful for parents. Create a rhythm and make sure your kid’s (and your) needs are met with these 7 family essentials this summer. You’ll Learn: The 7 essential ingredients every family needs to thrive Why boredom is super important and how to deal with it How to troubleshoot when your kid is complaining, grumpy and over-tired What to do to calm a...

Inspired by the Netflix documentary “Stutz”, these 3 unavoidable aspects of parenting are actually unavoidable aspects of life. They’re universal truths that we all have to deal with as humans.  You’ll Learn: The 3 unavoidable aspects of parenting (and life) The lies we tell ourselves that keep us doing more, more, more How to cope with pain, uncertainty and constant work as a parent Why the...

There are 4 primary parenting styles out there, but they aren’t all completely separate from each other. Like so many other things, they exist on a spectrum. You might fall into different parenting styles in different stages or situations.  You’ll Learn: The 4 main parenting styles, and how to recognize when you are using each one The benefits of authoritarian parenting How to shift away from...

I’m a little fired up on this one, so get ready! Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve read a few different headlines that have gotten me really mad, because these articles want to blame parents for pretty much every societal problem.  I want to let you know that you don't have to pay attention to these kinds of headlines and articles that want to blame parents. There are much larger issues at...

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 create your best Mother’s Day plan for a day you actually enjoy! You’ll Learn: Why Mother’s Day can be so hard Steps for creating your best Mother’s Day plan How to process the “Mother’s Day Hangover”...

Today, we’re focusing on being on the same page as your coparent with limits and consequences.  You’ll Learn: Why learning to regulate your emotions is like learning to read and write 3 coparenting scenarios and how to navigate them What to do when you’re not on board with your coparent’s limits & consequences The good news about your relationship with your kid Our goal with a feelings-fi...

I’m often asked, “How do you handle it when your husband or your coparent isn't on board?” or, “How do you handle it when you're divorced and you don't know what's going on with the other parent?” In this first episode of a two-part series, I’ll start answering these questions and share some essential conversations to have with your coparent. You’ll Learn: Why I know your kid is going to be okay....

We all know that parenting is enough of a challenge on its own, but what about when you’re coparenting with an abusive ex, someone who may be acting more for themselves than the best interest of your kid? My guest, Lisa Johnson, is a certified domestic violence advocate and the cofounder of a divorce coaching program called Been There Got Out. We’re talking all about: The goodness and peace that a...

I often talk about parenting the kid in front of you, not the one you wish you had or the one you’re afraid they’ll become.  Today, I’ll explain three thoughts that you’ve probably experienced when you don’t like your kid’s behavior or parts of their personality, why judgments about your kid aren’t helpful and what to do instead. You’ll Learn: The parenting advice I give the most Why behavior...

When kids lie, it can feel personal or like a moral issue. But just like so many other challenging behaviors, it is a strategy that your child uses to communicate their negative emotion. It’s normal kid behavior (not a character flaw).  In this episode, I’ll share a handful of common reasons kids (or anyone for that matter) lie, why trying to get the truth out of them usually doesn’t work and...

Hearing your kid say, “I hate you” can be one of the hardest things to hear as a parent. Today, I’m giving you tangible, easy to apply strategies for handling “I hate you,” including ways to feel less upset by it and change the pattern.  In this episode: Why kids say, “I hate you,” even though they don’t really mean it How to protect your feelings  Why saying, “I hate you” hurts your chi...

I want you to feel really great as a parent. I want you to get out of mom guilt and instead feel a deep sense of calm. This calm leads to confidence, compassion for your kids, clarity on what you should do, and so many other good things. What I've noticed, though, is that when moms first come to me, they often feel really embarrassed that they are not already calm. This mom feels ashamed that she...

My guest, marriage coach Maggie Reyes, and I are talking about the 4 essential elements of a great relationship, how they apply to marriage, parenting, and all types of relationships. Plus, we dive into how to reconnect with your spouse when you feel like you’ve been drifting apart and why they don’t have to change for your relationship to feel better. You’ll learn: How to shift your thoughts when...

If you’re tired of repeating yourself, yelling, punishing and keeping up with the dreaded sticker chart, I want you to know that there is a new way of parenting - one that actually works.  Listen to learn: Why your kids don’t do what you tell them to (and you end up yelling) The 4 steps of the Calm Mama Process My favorite sentence for validating feelings How to get help and learn a new way t...

When I first became a parent coach, I talked a lot with moms about how feelings matter. Over the past 15 years, I’ve seen a shift. Now there's a lot of awareness about emotions and validation, but I find myself talking more and more about how important it is to have consequences and teach kids that their behavior has an impact. In this episode, you’ll learn:  Why gentle parenting information...

I’m just gonna say it. Parenting is confusing! There are a lot of decisions to make, and you want to be an amazing mom for your kid. In this episode, I’ll explain why parenting is so confusing and offer some words of encouragement that I hope will make you realize that you’re already doing a great job. We’ll talk about: Why parenting is confusing (it’s not just you!) How parenting is like learning...