Failing Motherhood

Happy 5th Anniversary of Failing Motherhood! Welcome to the LAST episode, #200 . If there's one thing I will be known for, let it be this mindset shift. And in this episode, I don't just explain it, but I share a clip from a coaching call where we apply it in real time to a common frustration. IN THIS EPISODE I SHARED: How to recognize when you're having "first thoughts" C...

Not giving up. Not giving in. Not settling. Being all in.  Today's episode recounts the story of Abbey, Jake, and their 7-year-old son finding purpose rather than despair, leaning in, offering mutual respect, and feeling like a united front. From feeling desperate and helpless, having "no good days" to parenting authentically, strategically, enjoying time together again. From their...

We have a returning guest today!   KC Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor, author, speaker, the creator of the mental health platform, Struggle Care, AND the author of the brand new book, out today... Who Deserves your Love (How to Create Boundaries to Start, Strengthen, or End any Relationship). In our conversation, we discuss the problems within the traditional self-help industry and the...

Welcome back! This is the 3rd of 3 episodes breaking down the vast array of parenting resources we have at our fingertips. Today we’re talking: personal therapy, marriage counseling, one-off or 1:1 parenting coaching, and virtual parenting programs / memberships. For each, I break down the family that resource is BEST for, the benefits it provides, the unique Pros and Cons of utilizing that suppor...

Welcome back! This is the 2nd of 3 episodes breaking down the vast array of parenting resources we have at our fingertips. Today we’re talking: Occupational Therapy, Parent Child Interaction Therapy, Child Therapy (play therapy) and seeing a Psychologist. For each, I break down the family that resource is BEST for, the benefits it provides, the unique Pros and Cons of utilizing that support vs. an...

Welcome to my VERSUS series! This is the 1st of 3 episodes breaking down the vast array of parenting resources we have at our fingertips. Today we’re talking: parenting content, parenting courses & books, and in-person parenting classes. For each, I break down the family that resource is BEST for, the benefits it provides, the unique Pros and Cons of utilizing that support vs. another, and ult...

What does it even look like to set + hold good boundaries? Boundaries can feel like an illusive mystery. Our preconceived notions of what we should be doing can create really rigid metrics for succeeding or failing, when in all actuality, there’s often no right or wrong! Today’s discussion includes validating the intention to “find the line”, why boundaries isn’t a binary but rather a spectrum, an...

Well that backfired! When we parent out of fear, our short-sighted reactions can add fuel to the fire. This can create unintended consequences, like MORE helplessness, MORE sibling resentment, and MORE attention-seeking. In this episode, I cover where this starts, two extremely common examples, and what to do instead. IN THIS EPISODE I SHARED: The Boomerang Effect: What you push away, comes back f...

Cooking during daytime hours, running in & out of a store, joining a homeschool group... these may seem like everyday occurrences to some families, but at Lisa's house, they felt impossible. She was tasked with getting her neurodivergent son up to state curriculum standards last year while homeschooling, but his pathological demand avoidance made cooperation so hard to attain. NOW - she s...

Does it ever feel like your strong-willed child SNAPS and turns into someone else entirely? Like an alter ego took over? You’re now walking on eggshells trying to diffuse a bomb before it explodes. There are two wires, which one do you cut? Choose SILLY over SERIOUS.   IN THIS EPISODE I SHARED: A situation in college you’d have handled in a similar way The ramifications of doubling down on serious...

Shame is a universal human experience no one is immune to, especially in motherhood where it feels like there’s a right and a wrong way to do everything, yet no matter what you do, you can’t win! How do you break free from the shame cycle? My guest today, Sharon Johnson, is a mother to six who creates social media content focusing on motherhood, mental health, getting older and finding oneself, an...

What do bad mornings, clingy birthday parties, fighting playdates and candy on the way home from school all have in common? Instead of doubling down to invite the meltdown or giving in to avoid it… there’s a better way! These are all situations where you, as the parent, can intentionally indulge.  Tune in to learn how.   IN THIS EPISODE I SHARED: Ways to shift from being reactive to proactive, get...

My guest today, Marli Klaus, is a mom of three, a pediatric sleep consultant, and a trainer and mentor for other sleep consultants as the owner of The Cradle Coach and The Cradle Coach Academy.  I’ve known Marli for several years and had the chance to work with her family last winter! In our conversation, Marli shares very openly and honestly about her fears for her son, the way she dreaded pickup...

Most strong-willed kids struggle with sleep, so if bedtime feels like neverending pulling teeth at your house, join the club! While I'm always going to advocate for nuance and individualization, confidence comes from having a diverse set of tools in your backpocket, so this episode is here to help you have a few more "tricks" up your sleeve. Here's to a shorter bedtime routine...

Heather and David, parents from the Midwest, take us along in their journey of parenting their strong-willed five-year-old daughter.  Just a few months ago, they were drowning; overwhelmed by her tantrums, feeling like parenting was heartbreaking, stressful, and defeating more days than not. NOW, they are parenting with hope, optimism and confidence, let alone 90% less tantrums overall! Tune in to...

Can you imagine setting a New Years resolution, watching healthy living content and going to a class where they teach you why you should exercise and expecting to lose weight without ever working out? NO! We know getting stronger requires taking action. In the same way, working on your parenting requires implementation, not just intentions. IN THIS EPISODE I SHARED: Ways immersive learning experie...

Today's episode is a rare treat. I had a fantastic coaching conversation with a parent of a 4 year-old around an ongoing problem at their house around not listening and not telling the truth when asked about it, and I have her permission to share it with you here! Listen as she shares more of the background into this particular moment as well as her concerns around the behavior, then tune in...

From “I can’t change the world. I’m just a mom” to “I can change the world because I’m a mom!' Cynthia Levin is the author of “From Changing Diapers to Changing the World: Why Moms Make Great Advocates and How to Get Started.” A non-partisan activist working across a variety of issues, she coaches volunteers of all ages to build productive relationships with members of Congress. In our conver...

If all your weekend plans seem held hostage by your strong-willed child’s mood, you’re not alone. In this episode, I name the extra challenges you face on the weekend and specific strategies to tackle them for good, unlocking actual freedom and possibilities to be spontaneous or just enjoy each other and relax!   IN THIS EPISODE I SHARED: Why what we think we want isn’t what we actually want Two g...

How can we create a more equitable world that supports motherhood? My guest today, Erin Spahr, is a licensed therapist, mother, feminist, podcast host, and maternal mental health advocate. She uses a feminist lens in her work with mothers in her private practice and strives to help mothers free themselves from oppressive societal expectations and find more self-confidence and self-compassion.  Our...

We all dread it - the inevitable meltdown of EPIC proportions. It’s survival mode, and no one is immune. In this episode, I share why I disagree with typical advice (and even Dr. Becky) on how to manage these meltdowns/outbursts, why it’s OK to walk away, and what to do when you can’t.   IN THIS EPISODE I SHARED: An analogy to help illustrate your responsibility Why staying WITH your child might a...

The holiday season is upon us filled with changes, anticipation, late nights, unfamiliar meals, sweets, high emotions, extra tasks and stress. Your strong-willed child will understandably have an even harder time navigating all of this unpredictability, triggers, and lack of routine. Tune in to hear my 7 steps to a more successful holiday season for the whole family!   IN THIS EPISODE I SHARED: Wh...

… seems timely, right? My guest today, Dr. Tovah P. Klein, Ph. D . is the author of Raising Resilience: How to Help Our Children Thrive in Times of Uncertainty . In her role as a researcher and professor and in direct care with parents and children for over thirty years, Klein has helped to define what every child needs to thrive, regardless of their life situations. In our episode today, Dr. Tova...

No couple goes into parenting as a perfectly united front. Every parent runs out of steam, hits a wall, and loses it from time to time. Good parents ask good questions like “How can I help my partner when things are going off the rails without stepping on their toes?” Before you hop in the car and start parenting extra challenging behaviors in front of extended family this holiday season, have thi...

There is something ALL parenting books are missing. You cannot fake it. There is no substitute. It is transformational. …and it’s the critical antidote to guilt + shame. If you’ve tried EVERYTHING under the sun- this might be the reason why you’ve stayed stuck. And it’s more needed than ever before.   IN THIS EPISODE I SHARED: What my daughter’s violin teacher did that changed the game for me as a...