Chaos to Connected - Helping Parents Navigate Challenging Behavior with Connection; Christian moms, behavior management, positive parenting, discipline, tantrums, aggression, biblical parenting

I've been reading a lot about communication and how to increase its effectiveness with our kids. In reading more, I recognized that some of the ways I was saying things, while I meant it to be helpful, could be perceived as lacking confidence in my child. Tune in today as I share more about how you can make slight shifts in how you phrase things to instill more empowerment, confidence, and indepen...

***REMINDER*** If listening in real time, you have until 8/14 to start the 30 day Behavior Blueprint before I close spots until sometime in late October (after baby is born)   Some days of parenting are just challenging.   Not because your child is behaving in a certain way or having more meltdowns but just because you feel off. Maybe you can't pin point it, maybe you can.   But either way, it's a...

Do you ever find yourself stuck in a parenting rut?    Or like a majority of your interactions with your child feel like fights, yelling, managing meltdowns...basically negative?   Then it's time to assess whether you are seeing your child and his/her behaviors through a connection or consequence focused lens.   Tune in today as I help talk you through how to assess where you're at + how to adjust...

I have recently been reading the book "How to talk so your child will listen & how to listen so your child will talk" and one of the concepts I discovered was the thought that punishment is a distraction.   As I was reflecting on it, I realized I couldn't agree more.   So often we are using punishment because we don't know what else to do, it's how we were raised, or we just don't want our kid...

I think it's safe to say we all want to support our child's feelings and help them to actually work through them productively, but instead we are often denying them.   Denying your child’s feelings will lead your child to struggle to actually know what his/her feelings are or to have a lack of trust in them.   Want to know if you are subconsciously accepting or denying your child's feelings? Tune...

Society is constantly pushing us as parents, caregivers, and professionals to see a child's behavior as disobedience, disrespect, and defiance and something we should be using punishments, shame, and bribes to resolve when in reality...   Behavior is a main way your child is communicating with you, especially before your child is old enough to clearly articulate his/her feelings and has had more t...

Do you ever find yourself struggling in your motherhood role?   Do you ever find yourself feeling burnt out or extremely frustrated with your child or the behaviors you are experiencing on the regular?   Do you feel like you are aware of your triggers but you just feel like you are being triggered more and more and can't seem to get a grasp on it?   Obviously, reflect on your health and wellness h...

Have you been taught or told that when your child has behavior (really any type of behavior) to implement calming strategies?   Today, I share why this actually isn't the most effective and efficient route AND what is.   While calming strategies are important...hello, we obviously all need to learn to use them so we aren't just having adult temper tantrums everywhere...there is a way you can teach...

Today, I want to share some insights into this listener question:    "When my son has a massive tantrum right before we HAVE to go somewhere and we don't have the option to just let him have the tantrum as long as he wants, what do we do about it?"   Before diving into what to do in this situation, one question to really ask and reflect on if you find yourself in this situation is...is this someth...

After last week's episode, I got a few questions about co-sleeping, sleep training, and what to do about specific sleep routines.   Today, I wanted to share with you how to transition from where you are to where you want to go; maybe you co sleep and you want your child to sleep in his/her own bed; maybe your child falls asleep well and then wakes in the middle of the night and you bring the child...

Does your child tend to do well during the day and then suddenly bedtime hits and all hell breaks loose?   Does your child struggle with more aggressive behaviors during the bedtime routine or find it really challenging to transition from one task to the next?   Does your child take an hour or more to fall asleep or wake frequently during the night?   It's likely that your child needs more connect...

*4.5 million children in the US are diagnosed and living with anxiety *in the last 3 years, the likelihood of young people having a mental health problem has increased by 50% *5 children in a classroom of 30 are likely to have a mental health problem   Sounds overwhelming, doesn't it??   But what I want to encourage you with is that you, as the parent/caregiver, play a crucial role in the developm...

The question of "should I require my child to apologize or allow them to choose when they do it" has been one I've pondered for awhile.   The style of parenting I follow and teach would say that a child should choose when he/she apologizes because it is showing when they actually have empathy for what they did.   Today, I dive into a few thoughts I have that may help you when considering how you w...

Join me today as I chat with Lenora from Better Speech!   She shares strategies and tips including: *how to help your child if he/she isn't communicating much verbally, whether it is due to age or developmental stage/if your child has another diagnosis that causes more of a speech delay *when to reach out for help from a Speech Therapist *tips for parents when frustrations rise due to difficulty c...

Last week, I woke up feeling like I was just in "a mood". Like I woke up on the wrong side of the bed and I didn't really know why or what caused it. But I had a really difficult time moving out of it.    I could feel my frustrations and impatience rising at different times throughout the day. I managed to keep self controlled enough that I didn't yell or explode but I definitely was still missing...

Do you struggle to know what steps to take when your child is having a big tantrum or meltdown?   Do you find yourself flustered when your child starts throwing a fit in the aisles of Target?   Today, I dive into 3 steps to handling an outburst effectively without the mom guilt or disconnection.    Do you want your child to learn to regulate on their own AND decrease the tantrums you're experienci...

Your child is a mirror of your reflection.   And no, I don't mean physically, although that may be true too! What I mean, more specifically, is your child is a mirror to your ability to maintain your regulation, to manage your triggers when you become frustrated or upset. Is what you're seeing something you are pleased with?   Now, of course, our kids will need time to learn regardless of how well...

I've been a little inconsistent here over the last 4-6 weeks and that is simply because there has been SO much going on and the episodes I share tend to also be relevant to what's happening in our world in real time or that prompts something I think would be helpful, meaning I'm not really much ahead of when you're listening. That's probably bad business but it's also just the season of motherhood...

Have you ever sat through a long day of tantrums and behaviors and thought I wish he/she could just be "good?" "I wish this wasn't our story." "I wish it didn't have to be this hard!"   Or do you have a child that follows directions, never pushes back, and always does the "right" thing?   It can be really appealing to have a child who follows most of your directions as you give them and society de...

I heard a few weeks ago on another podcast that screen time can cause your child to go into fight or flight! What?!    I'd always heard that it can be overstimulating for some children, but fight or flight?! That feels more intense to me.   Today, I break down how and why we did a digital detox and the reason it may feel really difficult for you. Plus, I share an amazing testimonial with my younge...

Do you envision this peaceful bedtime routine that is quick and easy but you end up with 3 trips to the bathroom, 5 drinks of water, 10 more hugs and kisses, begging for more stories and the repeated tucking and re-tucking in??   Today we dive into why this is and the 2 key strategies you can be implementing today to prevent the battle of the bedtime routine.   The constant requests and attempts t...

I think there are a lot of misconceptions we have as parents, many of them just because it is what society continuously tells us. Today, I dive into one of those...   Did you know you don't actually have to know what your little one is melting down about to help him/her resolve it?   Tune in as I share why you don't need to know and how you can help!   Special Time ebook & Tame Your Triggers Audio...

Timeouts! Love them or hate them they are a frequent recommendation to modify a child's behavior.   Last week, as I was driving my son home from school, he said something so profound I had to share it. His statement confirms what I've always known but haven't heard a child specifically articulate.   Plus, bonus tips on how to transition away from timeouts while still creating opportunity for calmi...

In honor of Huxton turning 3 and my recent sharing of my older son, Myles' birth story I thought it was only fitting to share his.   I generally look back at Myles' birth and remember it as more traumatic for me while Huxton's birth was a beautiful story of redemption.   I am, of course, grateful for both as it brought me 2 of the most precious gifts, but knowledge is always more powerful, even if...

Has your child ever hit his/her head on the floor/bed/wall or hit him/herself?   Then today's episode is for you!   It's easy to assume your child has a big problem if this is occurring but there may be several reasons for it that aren't too difficult to correct. However, it will take effort.   Tune in as I chat how to recognize when it is a more significant problem and several ways to address the...