Raised Resilient: Help Your Highly Sensitive Child

If you're grappling with your child's anxiety and feeling lost in how to support them, this podcast episode is a must-listen. It's tough knowing how to handle our children's worries, especially when we feel like we're supposed to fix everything, right?! Wrong. Most of us feel as if we need to immediately fix feelings of anxiety, but in actuality, we are perpetuating and invalidating those emotions...

Sometimes our kids say or do things that seem downright MEAN, and it’s really tough to know how to respond. In these moments, it’s easy to lose sight of the good kid underneath the challenging behavior, and it’s easy to react in big and unhelpful ways. In this week's episode, I share a story from my own parenting where I had to get curious and really look for the need underneath challenging behavi...

When your child is constantly getting upset over the smallest things, it can be hard to truly welcome their feelings. And so often, we *think* we’re welcoming and validating – but we’re actually making things worse and creating even more meltdowns.  In this week's episode, I share 3 not-so-obvious ways we inadvertently make meltdowns worse with our highly sensitive kids. I dive into each of these...

If your kids are constantly arguing (like mine are), this is an episode you won’t want to miss. It can be so hard to know how to help our kids work things out when they’re screaming at each other across the room and getting more upset by the second, right?!  In this week's episode, I share a tool that we’ve been using in my family for awhile now – and it’s so simple it’s impossible to do it wrong....

Has your child ever told you to “go away!” … but then gotten super upset when you actually tried to give them space? Yep, mine has too. It’s so hard to know what you’re supposed to do in those moments! In this week's episode, I unpack why highly sensitive kids tend to push us away when they need us most – and what we can do to respond effectively in these moments. I also show you how to know the d...

Natasha and her family were really struggling; their 4-year-old highly sensitive daughter was having daily meltdowns, showing aggressive behaviors toward her baby sister, and resorting to destruction (like slamming a door and breaking a spice rack full of glass) in really tough moments.  In this week's episode, I interview Natasha about her family’s experience in my Chaos to Connection program. Sh...

As parents – especially in the gentle, respectful, conscious parenting space – we’re constantly told that we have to “stay calm” in order to be effective with our kids. But sometimes staying calm feels unreachable, and it’s easy to feel like you’re failing in those moments.   In this week's episode, I unpack why it’s so hard to stay calm in the face of your child’s dysregulation and why focusing o...

“I hate you!” “You’re the worst!” “I don’t love you!” These words are SO hard to hear … especially when they’re coming from your child!   In this week's episode, I walk you through how I handled it when my daughter recently told me to “go away and die.” I share my knee-jerk reaction and also how I shifted my mindset to show up more effectively for her.   Here’s the thing: Our kids will say mean th...

What do strong-willed, hesitant / anxious, and perfectionistic kids have in common? It might seem like nothing at face value … but actually, all three of these behavioral patterns have the same roots.   In this week's episode, I share how being a strong-willed child, a child who tends to hesitate or be slow to warm up, and a child who tends toward perfectionism are all connected. I give examples o...

Have you ever said something to your highly sensitive child, but your child heard something completely different than what you meant? These miscommunications are tough no matter what, but they can lead to huge emotions for highly sensitive kids. In this week's episode, I bring you behind the scenes of my own parenting life and share a miscommunication I had with my son and things unfolded for us t...

If you’re stuck in a cycle of meltdown after meltdown, it’s probably tough to see that your child’s sensitivity can have an upside. But I promise you it does! In this week's episode, I uncover the many positives of being highly sensitive, and I help you think about how to nurture these wonderful qualities in your child – while also working to help lessen the meltdowns. Here’s the thing: Being high...

Have you ever had a wonderful, special day planned for your highly sensitive child – maybe for their birthday or a holiday – but they end up having meltdowns all day long?  In this parenting reflections episode, I share how I navigated my daughter’s big feelings on her birthday. I also reflect on the grief inherent in parenting and watching our kids grow into new versions of themselves each year. ...

If you’re parenting a highly sensitive child who’s struggling, you know how hard it can be. But have you ever wondered WHY your child might be struggling?  In this week's episode, I share the one common key idea underneath most struggles highly sensitive children face. So even if your child has a meltdown over something different every day, this common idea is always at the root of it. Here’s the...

Have you ever had one of those parenting days where you just keep messing up and making parenting mistakes? You yell at your child, you lose your cool, and you feel guilt and shame and like you don’t know how to get back on track?   In this week's episode, I bring you behind the scenes of my own parenting life and walk you through a day where I yelled, called my son “mean” and “a terrible brother,...

We’ve all been there: You’re desperate for a date-night with your partner or some time to yourself … but your highly sensitive child won’t leave your side without a massive meltdown – complete with hitting, kicking, and screaming – at the mere mention of you going out.    In this week's episode, I share 3 game-changing strategies to help your highly sensitive child tolerate the distress of separat...

What do you do when your highly sensitive child insists that they’re “a bad kid” or that they’re “stupid?” How do you handle it without making things worse?    In this week's episode, I share a story from my own real-life parenting where my child insisted that he was a bad kid, and I initially handled the situation in a way that made things worse. I also share what I did to repair my mistake and h...

After a much longer break than I planned, Raised Resilient with Dr. Hilary is back! Moving forward, my focus is going to be on helping you parent your highly sensitive / deeply feeling / emotionally intense child effectively.   In this week's episode, I share five not-so-obvious signs that may indicate your child is highly sensitive and help you understand why highly sensitive children often prese...

I can’t believe it’s been almost *exactly* a year and a half since I started this podcast. It’s been an absolute honor & a super fun adventure so far. And honestly, I’m really proud of the fact that I’ve delivered a new episode every Wednesday morning without fail for 18 straight months while raising 3 kids and running a therapy practice!   In this week’s episode, I share why I’m taking a shor...

As busy parents, we’re all trying to fit in self-care around the 24/7 job of caring for our kids. It’s not easy, and sometimes it can even feel impossible to make time for things like exercise when you’re raising little kids.    In this week’s episode, I talk with Lauren Chante – wellness strategist, former celebrity personal trainer, and mom of 3 – about how you can ensure that you move your body...

Kindergarten readiness has become a whole thing. There are flash cards, online programs, and books all designed to ensure that your child is ready for kindergarten (and the messaging is that you should get started pretty much as soon as your kid can walk). It’s enough to make your head spin!   In this week’s episode, I tell you why you actually don’t need books, programs, or flash cards – and I sh...

Most parents dread the inevitable “I’m bored” from our kids. Those words can conjure up feelings of guilt for us as parents, and we might feel compelled to jump in and suggest a list of activities or organize a craft or put on a movie.   In this week’s episode, I share four reasons why you should resist the urge to jump in and instead just let your child be bored. I also talk about how to hold spa...

As parents, we all want our kids to be comfortable with independent play – but how do we actually get there, especially if your child is resistant to the idea of playing alone?   In this week’s episode, I share four tips to help you encourage your child to play independently more often and for longer. This is a wonderful thing, not only because it’s exactly what your child needs for healthy develo...

Traveling with kids can be amazing … but it can also be stressful. Long car rides, plane trips with strangers, schedule changes, busy days, and later bedtimes can spell challenges, especially with toddlers and preschoolers.    In this week’s episode, I share five tips to make your next family trip feel less stressful and flow more smoothly. I talk about how to prepare yourself and your child – and...

Getting kids outside is truly magical. Fresh air can calm a fussy baby, support emotion regulation, and provide the context change you need on a long day of parenting. And letting kids explore the outdoors *without* structured activities has SO many benefits!   In this week’s episode, I talk with Allana Robinson – registered Early Childhood Educator and Developmental Specialist – about the many be...

Summer is here (in the northern hemisphere at least!), and for a lot of families, summer means swimming! But we can’t talk about water play without also talking about water safety. It’s not fun to think about, but drowning is the leading cause of death for children 4 and under – so it’s really important that parents know how to keep kids safe in & around water.   In this week’s episode, I share my...