Parents of the Year

Join Andrew and Caroline this week as they explore the beautiful journey of creating and cherishing lifelong memories with your family. In a world where life's small and big moments often pass by unnoticed, they shed light on the importance of capturing and celebrating every one of them. Andrew and Caroline share creative ideas on establishing traditions that not only become the highlights of...

In the second part of our discussion around how to unspoil your kids, this week's episode sees us diving into how not to rescue your kids, the importance of sitting with big emotions, and how you need to get comfortable with being unpopular with your kids sometimes.  Also, for those who are interested, you can check out the original article that prompted our discussion using the link below. ...

Are you worried your child might be entitled? Getting a bit too spoiled? You're not alone! It's a common concern for many parents, and the good news is, it's never too late to make a positive change. Nobody sets out to raise entitled children, but it can happen over time without us realizing it. In the first part of a two-part episode, we talk about the steps parents can take to &qu...

For parents of boys, how do you raise them to be men who are caring and compassionate? This week's episode discusses the unique situation that faces boys and men alike.  Where can parents start in order to improve the emotional inner world of their boys? Is there a way to recognize and deal with gender bias, differences between boys and girls, and dealing with the "Boy Code"?  We&ap...

This week's episode looks at what we as parents should do to help our kids deal with conflict. The need for some parents to jump in to fix a situation is at times contrary to what kids actually need. To help our kids learn how to handle different situations, it's important for parents to know when to step in and when to step aside.  There's no formula, and no perfect answer as every...

In this week's episode, we dive into how to prepare our kids for a future that we ourselves don't understand.  When we were growing up we were taught to go to school, get a good job, buy a house, raise a family, etc and recently it feels more like that future is waiting for our kids.  So what do we do?  How do we set our kids up for success no matter what the future holds, or what they w...

This week's episode has us welcoming another guest to talk about burnout and the effect it can have on parents and families. Dr. Christina Fontana is a pharmacist, business transformation coach, and speaker who brings her unique perspective on handling burnout and the effects it can have on families. Everyone struggles with having to deal with too much at one point or another, and it's i...

With Halloween just around the corner, we try to get to the bottom of one of the greatest mysteries of our time.....is our ensuite bathroom haunted or is it just that our house is falling apart? The verdict is still out. (PS - the night of this recording, the light went back on in the middle of the night....) From there we dive into the intricate balance of keeping your children safe during this s...

In this critically important episode, Andrew and Caroline delve deep into the crucial phase of 'Birth to Three,' a pivotal time for brain development in children. Together, with guest expert Michelle Mintz, we explore how early experiences—from parent-child bonding to environmental stimuli—shape the brain's architecture and lay the foundation for our children’s future well-being. We...

Welcome to another episode of Parents of the Year , “where Andrew and Caroline bring insightful discussions about the challenges and joys of parenthood. Today we have a critical and increasingly relevant topic to discuss: the teen mental health crisis and the correlation with parents’ mental health. According to the World Health Organization , globally, anxiety and depression are the leading cause...

When we're who we want to be as a couple it totally shows in our parenting. Raising happy, resilient kids starts with the kind of relationships we have as parents. Having a strong partnership is the cornerstone of being a good parent, but how do you ensure you're on the same page as your spouse when it comes to your kids? In this week's episode, we're very pleased to welcome Sh...

This week's episode has us diving into what it takes to be a successful parent at a pivotal point in our parenting journey.  After a tough week, our topic really hits home in working through how we can use commitment devices to be the parent we want to be.  A key tool that we dive into is the use of specific commitment devices that can help us outline the things we want to do better and one t...

It seems like everywhere you turn the "hustle culture" is telling you to do more and to be more, but at what cost? Just being a parent isn't enough sometimes, and we're left to feel like we need to sacrifice our time, relationships, and mental health to achieve all our dreams. But what do you do when you're too focused on things that take you away from your family? That&ap...

This week's topic is one that most parents don't like to admit and that's which one of their kids is their favourite. According to an article published by the BBC , Parental Differential Treatment (PDT) occurs in over 65% of families with long-standing effects for all siblings.  In this episode, we talk about favouritism, and how to connect with your kids in a meaningful way to help...

After a debrief about dog ownership and the joys of raising a puppy, we dive into a discussion about how to handle a situation involving kids, a horror movie, and being outside in the dark. It's a perfect example of why we're the reigning champs of parenting. From there, we have the opportunity to speak with a very special guest, Donna Fields, Ph. D., about homework, teaching, and how to...

Welcome to our latest episode of Parents of the Year. We are in our Back to School Success series and decided to recast one of Caroline's previous episodes on separation anxiety since it is particularly relevant after a long break away from school. While it's natural for young children to experience some level of separation anxiety, it becomes a concern when it persists into the elementa...

Unfiltered and unapologetic, Caroline and Andrew  kick off with a reality check - because let's face it, adulting comes with its own set of "joys." 😂  Yes, getting old sucks, and they're not as young as they'd like to believe they are. After that, Caroline has a pop quiz for Andrew, where she wants to know how much he knows about Executive Functions. (SPOILER ALERT! Not M...

After a solid discussion around the merits and challenges of having a new dog in the house, Andrew and Caroline come to the conclusion that adult supervision is key to a happy marriage. From there, they move on to the real topic in our next Back to School episode: Goal Setting. As with most things, it's important that goals are not something you dictate to your kids, but rather something you...

Are you ready to kickstart the new school year with ease and confidence?  Once again,  today's episode is another recast of Caroline's Overpowering Emotions where she presents a treasure trove of valuable tips and strategies to ensure a smooth back-to-school transition for your children and teens. Today she focuses on general routines to focus on to make this year’s transition as smooth...

On this week’s episode of Parents of the Year, we discuss essential routines children should learn during the summer to help their seamless transition from summer break to the upcoming school year. We understand the challenges parents face when shifting from the relaxed summer schedule to the structured school routine. While it is still important to give our children the time to relax and explore,...

Since Andrew and Caroline are talking all about building kids’ success, they decided to recast a couple of Caroline’s episodes from Overpowering Emotions since they are applicable here as well.  In today's episode, we recast her discussion about managing back-to-school worries and equipping our children for a smooth and confident transition.   As the new school year approaches, it's natu...

Overcoming fears and embracing new challenges can be intimidating for children and teens. Nonetheless, stepping outside their comfort zones is a vital skill that will benefit them when they transition back to school and into the future. On this week’s episode of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Caroline discuss this important topic. They share practical ideas and strategies to gently encourage your...

Boredom is a common challenge that children and teens often face. While it feels uncomfortable in the moment, we need to help our kids embrace boredom as a catalyst for growth and development. Boredom is an opportunity to foster creativity, resilience, and problem-solving skills. It enhances independence, self-reflection,  and patience. Boredom also gives our kids space to explore their own intere...

As the temperature rises, summertime brings with it a unique set of challenges for parents. How can we maintain a healthy balance between structure and freedom during these sunny months? In this week’s episode of Parents of the Year, we explore navigating the summer break while keeping both parents and children happy. Join us as we discuss the importance of structure in a child's life and how...

In this week’s episode of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Caroline discuss the vital topic of social skills. Join us as we explore the essential abilities our kids need to thrive in their relationships and communication.  In this engaging discussion, we'll uncover the building blocks of healthy connections. From active listening and empathy to conflict resolution, we'll explore how paren...