Parents of the Year

Phones aren’t optional anymore—and that’s exactly why families feel stuck. In this Parents of the Year episode, Andrew and Caroline sit down with MJ Murray Vachon, a licensed clinical social worker with 40 years of practice to talk about what screen overuse is doing to stress, sleep, mood, and family connection.  MJ shares a practical way to reset family phone habits that starts with adult leaders...

Stealing from a popular replay of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Caroline discuss goal setting with kids . Rather than assigning goals or correcting what isn’t working, this episode focuses on working with children to help them identify goals that actually feel meaningful to them. When kids have a say, they are far more likely to stay engaged and follow through. The discussion covers how parents...

Should parents “tell the truth” about Santa… or keep the story going?  In this Parents of the Year holiday episode, Andrew and Caroline unpack what kids actually need when they start questioning Santa, how to respond without shame or panic, and how to turn the moment into something that builds kindness, generosity, and family connection.  They talk about following your child’s lead, keeping your t...

The holidays are supposed to be joyful—but for many families, they quietly amplify stress, overwhelm, and emotional reactivity. In this special crossover episode with Parents of the Year podcast, Dr. Caroline and her husband Andrew step away from “perfect holiday” pressure and take a psychologically grounded look at why emotions run hotter during the holidays, for both kids and adults. They explor...

Boredom gets a bad reputation in modern parenting. Kids hate it, adults avoid it, and screens are always within reach to fill the quiet.  In this Parents of the Year episode, Andrew and Caroline pull back the curtain on what boredom really does for kids’ brains—and for ours as adults. They talk honestly about ADHD, distress tolerance, screen overload, and why we don’t need to be our kids’ entertai...

Andrew and Caroline discuss how much our own self-awareness as parents shape the way our kids turn out? From yelling regrets and chore battles this episode blends humour with honest reflection. They explore how everyday reactions, no matter how big or small, shape connection, resilience, and emotional safety. Listeners hear real examples of repair, frustration, boundaries, and the awkward but impo...

Andrew and Caroline jump headfirst into one of the biggest pressures modern families face: the urge to hover, track, micromanage, and constantly correct. They unpack why today’s parents feel pulled into overprotecting, how it chips away at confidence, and why kids need room to stumble if they’re going to grow sturdy roots. With stories about tracking apps, school expectations, Velcro parenting, an...

Oversharing Kids Online: Why “Sharenting” Hurts More Than It Helps Parents are posting more than ever—but at what cost to their children’s privacy, safety, and sense of self?  In this episode, Andrew and Caroline tackle the growing issue of “sharenting:” the habit of sharing too much about kids online.  From cute toddler photos to venting about behaviour problems, they explore how these seemingly...

In this episode of Parents of the Year , Andrew and Caroline sit down with Camille Jaramis, founder of Ask Yawn , the first parenting AI designed to cut through the chaos of parenting advice online. Camille shares how she and a team of parent-engineers built Ask Yawn to give exhausted parents quick, science-backed support—without the judgment or endless Googling at 3 a.m. They talk about how tech...

With Halloween creeping up, Andrew and Caroline revisit one of their most memorable episodes: The night they tried to solve a mystery that still haunts their home: is their ensuite bathroom possessed… or just falling apart? (PS — the light actually did turn on in the middle of the night. You decide. 👀) But ghosts aside, this replay digs into something every parent wrestles with: How to keep kids...

In this episode of Parents of the Year , Andrew and Caroline dive into the often-overlooked topic of dad loneliness and postpartum mental health for fathers.  They get real about the invisible expectations men face, the lack of support for dads compared to moms, and the pressure to “just keep going.” Along the way, they share raw stories of exhaustion, survival mode, and the quiet ways dads can fe...

In this episode of Parents of the Year , Caroline sits down with Peggy, a co-parenting coach and former judge, to talk about one of the toughest challenges families face: raising kids after separation or divorce. From avoiding conflict and keeping kids out of the middle, to creating respectful communication and future-focused parenting agreements, Peggy shares hard-earned lessons from both the cou...

In this episode of Parents of the Year , Andrew and Caroline dig into the rise of AI and how it’s reshaping our daily lives, relationships, and even parenting.  From the clickbait story of a marriage ending “because of ChatGPT,” to the quiet ways technology chips away at memory, empathy, and connection, this conversation is equal parts cautionary and practical. They explore how AI can be a helpful...

Parenting expert and therapist Todd Sarner joins Andrew and Caroline to unpack what it really means to guide children without shame or punishment.  From his 20+ years of experience, Todd outlines the three pillars of proactive parenting: strengthening attachment and connection, creating a rhythm and environment that supports kids, and teaching natural consequences without shame.  Together, they ex...

When should parents step in and request a teacher change for their child? In this episode of Parents of the Year , Andrew and Caroline break down one of the most difficult decisions many families face: advocating for a classroom change.  They share their own recent personal experience navigating a challenging teacher-student dynamic that left their child anxious, tearful, and resistant to school....

College debt can haunt young adults and their parents for decades—but it doesn’t have to.  Today on Parents of the Year, Shellee Howard, founder of University Ready and author of How to Send Your Student to College Without Losing Your Mind or Your Money , joins Andrew and Caroline to share her practical, proven strategies for helping kids graduate debt-free.  From strategic college tours and early...

In this episode of Parents of the Year , Andrew and Caroline unpack the trending term "FAFO parenting" (F*@$% around and find out). They break down the difference between logical and natural consequences and why using threats or shame in the name of "teaching lessons" misses the mark. This conversation dives into the importance of empathy, how to raise kids who think for themse...

Are you ready to kickstart the new school year with ease and confidence? Today we recast an episode of Caroline's Overpowering Emotions podcast episodes where she presents valuable tips and strategies to ensure a smooth back-to-school transition.  If you haven't already, check out these additional resources: Comprehensive guide to conquering back-to-school anxiety: https://korulearningin...

Parenting is full of worries—before kids, during the thick of it, and as they grow up and leave home. In this candid episode of Parents of the Year , Andrew and Caroline share their biggest fears, regrets, and surprises from each stage of parenting. From anxieties about dropping the baby or coyotes sneaking off with them, to raw reflections on anger, mistakes, and letting go as teens gain independ...

In this special recast episode of Parents of the Year, Caroline explains how boredom is actually a biological signal, not something to avoid or fix. Learn how boredom supports emotional regulation, executive functioning, creativity, and mental well-being—for both kids and adults. Learn: * What boredom really means in the brain and body * Why screens increase boredom (and emotional dysregulation) *...

Are therapists’ kids really more "messed up"? In this episode of Parents of the Year , Andrew and Caroline explore the myths and realities surrounding parenting as a mental health professional. From bringing work home, to pathologizing kids, to the fine line between validation and over-parenting, they explore what’s myth, what’s truth, and where parenting is just parenting. With humour,...

In this episode of Parents of the Year , we ask a question many are too afraid to say out loud:  If you knew then what you know now… would you still choose to have kids? With honesty, humour, and zero sugarcoating, Andrew and Caroline share stories of being ignored mid-sentence, kids crashing vehicles into trees, and the daily grind of parenting teens who “know everything and nothing at once.”  Bu...

Vacations, late nights, screen time sprees—summer throws structure out the window. But what happens when back-to-school hits like a brick? In this episode, Andrew and Caroline talk how to hold onto a little routine without turning your home into a boot camp.  They unpack simple ways families can keep anchor habits going—even at the cabin or with teenagers rolling out of bed at noon. You’ll hear ti...

Kids don’t come with instruction manuals—but if they did, this episode would be page one.  Today on Parents of the Year, Dr. Anna Levy-Warren returns to share what actually works when kids are overwhelmed, impulsive, or emotionally explosive. From managing sibling fights to handling suicidal expressions without panic, we talk about emotional regulation, safety, collaboration, executive functioning...

More and more adult children are stepping away from their parents—and not always for the reasons you think.  In this honest episode, Andrew and Caroline unpack what drives parental estrangement, and what we can actually do to reduce the risk. From overbearing affection to controlling dynamics, political tension, and emotional repair gone wrong, we explore the subtle and not-so-subtle ways connecti...