Parenting and Personalities

It’s a universal reality that at some point in our lives, we all assume the role of caregivers. It’s a responsibility that can range from intermittent to intensely demanding.   Kate Washington shares her personal story of caring for her seriously ill husband who was diagnosed with a rate form of lymphoma. Their once normal existence was disrupted and Kate’s role as a mother and freelance writer tr...

They are common struggles. The challenges that come with decluttering and organizing your home effectively. Feeling overwhelmed by the idea of transforming your space? Kirsty Farrugia and her team at Curious Freedom are here to help.   Kirsty’s team are dedicated declutter coaches guiding people through the process of decluttering, organizing, and creating unique systems and habits that align with...

It’s a common concern for parents feeling like their child doesn’t fit in or is just too different. There could be a problem. But when we dig deeper into that idea the disconnect is often more about a clash of personalities between the child and the parents, rather than an inherent issue.   In this episode, Kate, a skilled personality coach, sheds light into understanding and bridging the gap betw...

There are 6,570 days in the first 18 years of our children’s lives. When you think about it, this is how many days we have with our kids when we can call them “kids.”   In this episode we explore the significance of these days to ponder how best to utilize them to lay a strong foundation for your child’s future and beyond the next. We discuss essential elements that will empower them for life afte...

Have you ever struggled to communicate effectively with your coworkers, partner, or children, particularly on sensitive topics? Achieving group agreement and harmony can be challenging when dealing with diverse personalities.   In this episode Kate and her guest Robin Parsons explore the crucial aspects of open and respectful communication, encouraging individuals to express their ideas and concer...

This episode explores the universal struggle of never feeling like you have enough time as a parent. In a world where time seems to slip through our fingers, we delve into the profound impact of parenting our perception of time. We use the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to look at how the feeling dimension plays a significant role in the parental time dilemma.   Grab a cup of tea, take a deep...

On the one hand teaching our kids right from wrong is a key element of parenting. But if you accept there is another tier of behavioural decision-making that can be classified as Good and Bad, making that distinction for our kids is potentially harmful. In many cases what is good and what is bad is subjective. Is a quiet baby a “Good baby” with a “Good Parent”? Is speaking up in a socially awkward...

Perfectionism is a personality trait characterized by setting extremely high standards for oneself. Sometimes there’s nothing wrong with that, it can encourage us to go further, work harder, do more. But it can also cause us to be critical of our own performance, trigger fear and anxiety, and be a hinderance to our true potential.   Overcoming your own damaging perfectionist mindset is one thing,...

Recognizing introverted and extroverted tendencies in children is crucial for understanding their needs and adapting our parenting styles accordingly. Extroverted children derive their energy and relaxation from social interaction, finding solace in the company of others. Introverted children are more likely to cherish time alone… time away from people including parents.   As outgoing parents, it’...

Personality types affect your family dynamics. The ISTJ is typically the dutiful parent offering their kids consistency, routine, and organization. But the ESTP parent is usually more adaptable and able to go with the flow.   Understanding not just your own personality type but your partner’s and those of your children is important to keeping the home harmonious.   Guest: Sandra Etherington On Ins...

Hey that mine. I saw it first. Too bad. Finders keepers. Losers weepers.   No need to even ask if this sounds familiar. It does. But there are ways to manage sibling rivalries. Actually understanding your children’s personality types and preferences can go a long way to keeping the peace.     Guest: Sandra Etherington On Instagram Website https://familypersonalities.com/ Read Sandra’s article &quo...

When traveling do you prefer to be highly organized and structured? Loose and available for what catches your whim? Or somewhere in between.   It’s all good when it’s just you traveling. It gets complicated when you have traveling companions, particularly if they don’t share your preferences.   Guest Co Host: Tracy Noon   Contact: thepersonalitycoach@gmail.com   Kate’s website Kate’s book on Amazo...

The most important tenet of Attachment theory is that young children need to develop a relationship with at least one primary caregiver for normal social and emotional development.   But in a world where parents, not just teenagers, are constantly distracted by mobile apps, social media, email and text messages, how do we ensure our kids are ok? Guest: Megan Gallagher (PG Dip Teaching, M.Ed.) Igni...

More than 40 counties and territories around the world have banned the physical punishment of children. New Zealand is on the list, but not Australia. Less than 10% of children under the age of five are living in countries where corporal punishment at home is fully prohibited. For years, different studies have indicated smacking or spanking is linked with an increased risk of negative outcomes for...

In many ways the role of “Mother” has changed in the last couple decades. Since Mother’s Day was first conceived in the 1800’s, the role of mother can now be filled stepmothers, same sex couples, transgender mothers, gender neutral mothers, and fathers.   But in other ways “Mother” hasn’t changed at all. It is the person who, typically, bears the ultimate responsibility for the health and wellbein...

Think about the haircut from a young child’s perspective. They’re brought to a new place, sat in a tall chair and told to sit still. There’s a strange adult standing above them, holding a pair of scissors. They’ve probably already learned at home scissors are dangerous. They hurt if they get cut. How does the child know getting their haircut is actually painless? On top of this some kids genuinely...

You don’t need to be opposites to attract. Sometimes two very like-minded people with like-personalities people find mutual attraction. But it does seem odd that it’s often two people are not the same in many, many ways who find attraction. For example, why does the introvert find attraction in the extravert? Do they help them learn to speak up more and join the party? And why does the extravert f...

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ME/CFS as it’s known.   The World Health Organisation classified ME/CFS as a disease, not a psychological issue, back in the 1960’s but we still know so little about it. It’s a complex disabling disease affecting the brain, the muscles, and digestive, immune and cardiac systems. About 60,000 people in Australia are housebound or bed bound from ME/...

Grandparents teach young children. They bring a special enthusiasm that helps a child grow. They teach them by sharing stories, traditions, conversation, reading… and time together. Many families rely on grandparents for trusted childcare, but many surveys also show many grandparents feel some level of disagreement or tension about approaches to childcare. And many also say the job of caregiving i...

Cindy and Brian in their 30’s when they became parents so they thought they were ready to handle pretty much anything it brought them. They weren’t. In High School their son was honest with them, he was having suicidal feelings… constantly. Local professionals didn’t seem able to help. Frantic, Cindy took to sleeping at the foot of her son’s bed in case he got up in the night “and wanted to make a...

What does Easter mean to you? For some it’s a devout and important part of the Christian faith. For others it’s a tradition that developed in the northern hemisphere to mark the coming of Spring. And for others, it’s about chocolate! In this episode Kate roams the neighbourhood talking with friends about how they grew up marking Easter, and what they do now. Note - maybe not the best episode for l...

Growing up and understanding your place and your voice in this world isn’t easy. A personality trait tool that can help people understand and codify themselves is the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). For example, Tracy Noon was an introverted child in a family mixed with introverts and extroverts. She always found it was tough to get her voice heard. By the time she’d though through what she wa...

Children need boundaries. Well we all need boundaries.  Boundaries, essentially, are a form of self care. They create clear guidelines/rules/limits of how people should be treated. Boundaries honour our needs and wants so we feel respected and safe. They build self-esteem, help bring focus, enhance mental health, and develop independence. In this episode – the benefits of boundaries with our child...

No one likes to fail and no one wants to see their kids fail. But failure plays an important role in life. It helps us learn, grow, and develop resilience. It allows us to develop a growth mindset and build confidence. In this episode Kate talks with Kari Sutton who has worked with thousands of parents and educators to plant the seeds of resilience and emotional wellbeing in kids. Guest: Kari Sutt...

Tuning in to Kids® (TIK) is a suite of parenting programs that focus on the emotional connection between parents/carers and their children, from pre-schoolers to teens. The evidence-based programs have proven success in improving parenting, parent-child relationships and children’s emotional competence and behaviour.  They began in 1999 as group sessions but with the pandemic have successfully mad...