Calm Parenting Podcast

Kids Anxious, Smashing Toys, Calling You Stupid, Refusing to Eat, AM Routine? #453 I love this podcast. I recorded this while tired so I'd be more vulnerable and direct without filters. It's packed with practical strategies and insights for tough situations when natural consequences don't work. Get scripts for what to do when kids smash toys and break things, refuse to eat or go to a new activity,...

FAFO Parenting Will NOT Work With Strong-Willed Children #452 "F* Around & Find Out" is the classic idea that you allow your child to learn from the natural consequences of their actions. It makes sense in theory. But it will NOT work with our kids. This approach can backfire badly and cause more damage than you think. It is critical to understand your child's very nature so you don't create m...

Millennial Moms & Dads: Becoming the Parent You Never Had #451 Millennial parents face unique challenges raising their kids. How do you forge that close connection with your kids while still being the trusted leader? How do you become the parent you never had? I was thrilled to discuss this process with very practical tips on Kellie Berst's awesome podcast,  Thrive Where You Are . Kellie is a...

Are You Excusing Behavior...Or Changing It? A Challenge! #450 Your toddler finds scissors and mangles her bangs, your boys ruin your good pillows fighting outside, your tween/teen procrastinates until 2am to complete an assignment. You would be justified and right to lecture and give them consequences. But this week, I am challenging you to do something very different when your child misbehaves......

Pt. 2: How to Shut Up & Stop Lecturing (So Kids Actually Listen To You) #449 Do you lecture because you feel like you’re letting your kids get away with misbehavior if you don’t say anything? How do you handle the teen who doesn’t say anything?! Is talking how you process or let off steam? Do you ever feel offended when it feels like your kids aren’t listening to you…because no one listened to...

Eating, Sleeping & Potty Training Challenges? Get Real Help! #448 Do your kids resist bedtime, get up 15 times, stay up too late? Siblings wind each other up right before bed? Tired of making extra meals for a picky eater? Have kids with gut issues or anxiety that cause them to crave simple carbs? Toddler regressing with potty training? Kirk gives you 10+ creative, practical strategies for the...

Pt. 1: How to Shut Up & Stop Lecturing (So Kids Actually Listen To You) #447 Do you feel compelled to lecture your kids? Do you have a hard time stopping? Do you feel like you’re being permissive if you don’t? Do you go on and on hoping your kids will finally “get it” and change their behavior? Do you lecture because you weren’t heard as a kid? You’re not alone! Kirk gives you practical tools...

ADHD or ND Kids? 8 Ways to Build Resilience, Confidence & Self-Control #446 What are practical ways to foster emotional resilience and confidence, help kids with anxiety, and challenge social stigmas with ADHD or ND kids? How can we calm emotionally dysregulated kids? I absolutely loved this discussion with therapist Holly Moses on her  Autism ADHD Podcast . I think you will find this enlighte...

Your Child’s Next Meltdown Is A Huge Opportunity #445 Your child’s face is red, eyes on fire, mouth spitting venomous words. He or she is no longer rational anymore, screaming at you. Time-outs and talking make it worse. But I don’t want you to dread it. I want you to look forward to this as a huge opportunity to hear your child screaming TO you, desperate for your help to learn how to control the...

Morning Madness & Tough Transitions: 12 Creative Ideas #444 Do you have kids that are tough to get to bed and then get out of bed the next morning?! What about kids who struggle with transitions or who are late? This podcast is packed with ideas to help you get your kids moving--without the battles--even if they struggle with ADHD or anxiety. Our Winter Sale on the Get Everything Package conti...

Why Kids Say 'No' Instantly (You Won’t Like My Response!) #443 So you ask your child to do something, even something simple. Put your shoes on, Take the trash out. Brush your teeth. Put your dishes in the sink. It’s not hard to do. If they just did what you asked them to do, they’d be done in like 20 seconds! Instead, they react with a sigh, a groan, muttering something like “that’s dumb,” or “I d...

Q&A: Social Skills, ADHD, Impulsivity, Physically Explosive, Testing, Refusal, Anxiety Do you have a child who struggles with focus, impulse control, social skills, or anxiety? Does your child ever become physically explosive? Should we get testing done? What should we focus on in the teen years? What about kids who refuse to do things or go places? This Q&A is packed with insights and str...

Scripts For Kids Who Talk Back, Refuse to Go Places or Listen #441 Do your kids talk back to you or use a disrespectful tone? Struggle with anxiety and lash out when asked to go to new activities or school? You’re not alone! Which parenting approach works best in each situation? Kirk gives you specific scripts, different options, and practical action steps that work. This is a must listen! Take ad...

How to Discipline Intense Kids Without Giving In Or Escalating You are going to second-guess yourself when disciplining a strong-willed child with intense emotions. Are we being too soft? If we don’t address this, what message does that send to siblings? If we used the tougher approach like our family insists, would our child be acting out this way? Kirk gives you practical steps to connect AND di...

Want to Podcast, Write A Book, Help People? 10 Important Lessons Want to start your own podcast, write a book, or help others using your unique gifts? I hope I can inspire you and save you time and money with hard-fought lessons I've learned over the past 25 years. Begin 2025 with hundreds of practical strategies that really work with your strong-willed kids. Visit https://celebratecalm.com/calm-2...

Consequences for Defiance, Disrespect & Lying? Your toddler yells, "I hate you, Mommy!" Your child lies right to your face or responds in a disrespectful tone to test boundaries. Teens and tweens roll their eyes at you or begin drinking/vaping against your rules. What are appropriate consequences? What works even better than consequences?! Kirk gives you scripts and actions steps for kids of a...

Why Won’t My Kids Just Do What I Ask?! It's not like you are asking your kids to do anything unreasonable or hard! And yet they resist you. How can we get our kids to actually be responsible for themselves without the power struggles? Kirk shows you exactly how with some powerful scripts that may change your relationship with your strong-willed child…and their behavior. Begin 2025 with hundreds of...

Meltdowns Over Meaningless Things? Kids Won’t Let You Correct Them? You have a child who lashes out and screams disrespectful things at you over something seemingly insignificant…and then later acts LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED. When you try to talk to your kids about their behavior, they laugh or won’t even listen. This is a very powerful podcast with deep insights, scripts and practical action steps. B...

Are Kids Rejecting Your Authority…Or Your Anxiety? We can very quickly stop 80% of power struggles with our kids. And it has nothing to do with controlling their behavior—only our own anxiety. Our anxiety compels us to lecture and micromanage…and that causes kids to resist you even more! Kirk gives you 6 practical action steps to stop this dynamic now!  Begin 2025 with hundreds of practical strate...

Change Behavior ASAP At Home & School: 3 Quick Tips You're out of sync, tired, overwhelmed and secretly can't wait for your kids to go back to school after a long holiday break! So how can we get some positive momentum to begin 2025? Kirk gives you three concrete strategies and scripts that change behavior at home AND in the classroom. Begin 2025 with hundreds of practical strategies that real...

5 Quick Tips To De-Escalate Meltdowns & Sibling Fights During Chaotic Holiday Break You have tired, irritable kids who are bored, out of their routine, and bugging each other. You’ll be tempted to double down on consequences in the moment—which spiral into huge meltdowns (and fights between spouses!). So how can you de-escalate tense standoffs and sibling fights, in the moment, instead of ruin...

What Your Kids Will Remember & What They Will Forget What if there isn’t really anything wrong with your strong-willed child? What if these irritating traits will serve them well in life? What if instead of trying to change their nature, you need to change? Kirk shares the powerful story of what finally compelled him to change and saved his relationship with his son. This is the final week of...

When To Say No & Yes (Bored, Unhappy, Tattling and Fighting Siblings) So how do you respond when your kids are bored or don’t like their gifts? When siblings tattle or fight…or your grown siblings create drama during family get-togethers? When holiday plans go awry, family judges you? Kirk gives you scripts to use in these tough holiday situations. Our Christmas Sale is here! Visit https://cel...

Stop Power Struggles with Toddlers, Teens & In-Between If you have a strong-willed child, you WILL have power struggles (no matter their age!). You’ll likely second-guess yourself, feel frustrated, and disagree with your spouse. So what are appropriate expectations at various stages of kids’ development? What should you focus on and what should you let go, from the toddler through the teenage...

Self-Centered Child? Unfair With Siblings, Does Minimal Work & No Chores Your strong-willed kids are NOT going to do things your way. You are NOT going to change their nature. They will choose the harder path and touch the hot stove. It will make you uncomfortable and siblings will say it’s unfair. Kirk gives you scripts and actions steps to stop the battles and motivate your kids. This is the...