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

Does your child struggle with transitions? Maybe not every one Maybe only for a season. Maybe every one.   No matter which you relate to, there are simple things we can do as the parent to help ease the tension of transition. Today I share 3 of those with you in hopes to increase fun and connection all while decreasing the frustration and getting the job done!   Special Time ebook & Tame Your Trig...

I like to post a question box occasionally on my IG account asking what behavior parents are struggling with most at the time. One person wrote in: "meltdowns as soon as something doesn't go his way...it can be the littlest thing."   I have heard this SO many times that I thought it would be a great opportunity to address it here on the podcast!   Tune in to hear 2 reasons why this happens and 3 t...

Today, I thought it would be fitting to share Myles' birth story since his birthday was this week.    It was definitely tougher than I thought it would be this far from the experience, it's been six years, but I think it's something I learned the very hard way and I hope if you're in a similar place, maybe not necessarily giving birth, but somewhere in your motherhood journey that it can be helpfu...

Do you ever find yourself getting triggered by the same situation over and over again and despite recognizing it you just can't seem to change it?   Join me today as I share with you one strategy I use in the moment to combat the rising frustration and inevitable automatic reactions that tend to follow in order to pause, take a minute to reflect, shift perspective, and react in a calmer, more pati...

As a parent who is regularly dealing with a child's behaviors, especially if it is one child in particular, it can become really easy to get stuck in certain patterning or habits around our responses to said child. Often it becomes just an automatic response and without recognizing it we can be actually adding more stress and disconnection to our relationship with our child. Tune in today to find...

It can be really hard to see the good in behavior, especially when society conditions us otherwise.    We are taught to ignore and punish the behavior we want to go away and reward the behavior we desire. But this often gets us stuck in a trap of always having to manage and manipulate the behaviors.   As I look back on our journey and the intensity of the behaviors plus the immense weariness, exha...

Truthfully, I LOVE to use play to get cooperation from my kids, particularly when it is a task they don’t want to do or are struggling to accomplish (like brushing teeth, changing clothes, etc.) and/or when I have less energy, patience and capacity for a large meltdown.   However, there is one strategy I haven’t shared a lot on yet that I think is vital in the growing obedience of our children.  ...

Have you seen the opinions shared around social media on gentle parenting? If you have, then you know it's not pleasant.   I've heard things like, gentle parenting is unbiblical or kids who have been raised this way grow up to be disrespectful or have more difficulty obeying authority.   Today, I address this question because I think people often mistake gentle for passive and they are 2 completel...

Since the New Year is upon us, most of us tend to think of resolutions or goals that we would like to accomplish in the new year.   This simple activity can often become overwhelming because it tends to snowball into several goals across multiple areas resulting in a lot to remember and try to cram in.   Today, I'm sharing some encouragement and advice so you can head into the new year feeling emp...

As the holidays are wrapping up, kids are still home from school and the weather isn't the best (at least here in MN), it can create the perfect environment for kids to get on your last nerve...to push those exact buttons that trigger you into frustration and impatience.   Today, I chat about 3 simple things you can incorporate immediately to help save your sanity and give your kids what they are...

Today, I'm answering your most recent questions!   Topics include: *jealousy *picky eating *potty training *poor personal space/body awareness *getting rid of the nuk   Special Time ebook & Tame Your Triggers Audio have both been upgraded to MELTDOWN MANAGEMENT Mini Training! Get it here → https://view.flodesk.com/pages/64406aa91df9ae473e5a55e3     Episode on Stay Listening: https://podcasts.apple...

Do you ever feel stressed during holidays? Birthdays? Random gatherings throughout the year?   Now imagine your child, who has less life experience, less understanding of what's going on and why, and less prefrontal cortex (judgement, problem solving, reasoning) development trying to navigate the hustle and bustle of the season.   Of course it is fun and exciting, but overwhelm and over-stimulatio...

Does your child struggle with his/her quick response to anger which often quickly transitions to hitting, kicking, biting, or throwing? Or do you have a child with poor safety awareness who tends to run away when let free?   Then your child is likely struggling with impulse (or self) control.   Today, I give you 3 strategies to help your child grow in this area!   Special Time ebook & Tame Your Tr...

Does your child tend to cry or have more meltdowns with you than your spouse? Are you getting to the end of the day wondering what you're doing wrong?   The truth...   You aren't doing anything wrong! In fact, you are doing a lot of things right! Tune in today to hear why this should actually be viewed as a positive thing + one simple routine you can get into the habit of to help!   Special Time e...

What would you do if you couldn't use consequences to change your child's behavior?   90% of our decisions are made subconsciously, like whether or not you have a strong reaction/are triggered by your child's behavior and how you respond to your child's behavior. That's staggering.    It's no wonder people often say they react just like their mom (dad, grandma, grandpa, caregiver, etc) did but yet...

"You better not pout, you better not cry"...   "He's making a list, checking it twice. He's gonna find out who's naughty or nice"...   "He sees you when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He knows when you've been bad or good so be good for goodness sake."   Today, I dive into all of the issues with these lyrics, including how it can create specific negative inner dialogue about our chil...

Have you ever planned a really special day or outing for your child and gotten to the end of the day and your child suddenly has a meltdown or starts saying things like "you don't even like me" or "this was the worst day ever"?   This is a NORMAL reaction to a burst of connection and safety.  Join me today as I talk about what is actually happening and what you can do about it as you prepare for a...

Does it ever bother you how your spouse handles your child's behavior? Do you wish he/she would just stay calm instead of yell or lose their temper?  Today I chat through 5 ways we can help our spouse to begin to understand that they are being triggered and ways we, as their partner, can support them through the process of resolution. Plus a few bonus points for you to consider if you are the spou...

Have you ever felt burnt out as a mom? Or overwhelmed by the behaviors and big feelings? Or exhausted from the repetitive nature of training a child and the day to day tasks that need to be done?   Then today is for you, mama! Join me as I chat why self-care is actually not the answer and 2 steps to refueling and replenishing your soul to get out of that stuck cycle.   I hope this blesses and enco...

Do you ever notice it is more difficult to connect with one of your children as compared to the other? Do you struggle with more challenging behaviors with one of your children while the other one seems to listen or naturally have a more calm personality?   Maybe you've never thought about the differences in connection between you and each child.   Either way, today is for you! I share how to star...

As your child grows older, it is natural to give more choices. Allowing them to pick out their outfit or what fruit will be in their school lunch gives them more independence and it can be really fun to get a peak into their thought processes and preferences.   However, I think sometimes we inject more choices when there is increasing behavior and likelihood for a meltdown. In these situations, I...

Have you ever been triggered by your kid's behavior?   If you said no, then you must not be a parent.   Today, I want to share with you 2 things I think about when I'm triggered/reflect on after I've been triggered that have helped me immensely to effectively stay calm during a meltdown.   Fair warning, it's a little tough love but I think it will bless you!   Special Time ebook & Tame Your Trigge...

Do you ever notice your child getting frustrated easily? Maybe even during a simple task or something that they've regularly done that doesn't usually result in frustration?   Today, I share why this is occurring and 3 ways to help your child get regulated. Our natural response is usually one of attempting to problem solve and reason with/for them and that can actually perpetuate the cycle of frus...

Have you ever heard the phrase "choose your battles"?   Today, I dive into why I think this is the wrong phrase to consider when deciding whether or not you are going to hold the limit with your child AND what you should really be choosing...   Special Time ebook & Tame Your Triggers Audio have both been upgraded to MELTDOWN MANAGEMENT Mini Training! Get it here → https://view.flodesk.com/pages/64...

Does your child find it difficult to share? Do you notice your child trying to hoard his/her toys whenever another child comes over? Do you brace yourself for meltdowns when all of the kids are together because of the challenge that is sharing?   Then you're going to want to listen to this! I share more about how our natural responses could actually be increasing our child's unwillingness to share...