Real World Peaceful Parenting

In this episode of Real World Peaceful Parenting, Lisa Smith dives into the transformative power of parental energy and how the thoughts we allow to "rent space" in our minds directly shape our interactions with our children. Discover how your thoughts create feelings, which in turn lead to actions, and learn practical strategies to shift your energy to create a more peaceful and cooperative house...

In this episode of Real World Peaceful Parenting, we're exploring the common but challenging experience of after-school meltdowns. My goal is to offer a fresh perspective on these emotional outbursts, and encourage parents to see them as a compliment to their safe and supportive parenting. I'll share practical tips to help you navigate these tough moments with calm and compassion, turning the chao...

In this episode of Real World Peaceful Parenting, we're exploring the transformative concept of co-regulation and its vital role in creating a peaceful, connected family environment. I'm diving into the science and practical applications of co-regulation by sharing personal stories and client examples to illustrate how parents can use their calm presence to help their children navigate big emotion...

In this episode of Real World Peaceful Parenting, I'm getting into a hot topic that affects many of us as parents: conflict management. Joined by special guest and mother of two, Kris, we explore strategies for managing conflicts between ourselves and our children, as well as tools to help teach our kids how to handle conflicts on their own. I introduce a powerful framework called Empowered Conver...

In this episode of Real World Peaceful Parenting, I dive into a topic that affects many parents: catastrophizing. I'll explain what catastrophizing is, how it impacts your parenting, and most importantly, how to overcome it. By learning to manage our thoughts and emotions, we can respond to our children with calmness and clarity instead of fear and anxiety.  Join me as I share personal storie...

In this episode of Real World Peaceful Parenting, I introduce a game-changing tool for parents: the simple phrase, "Tell me more." As a 16-year master certified parenting coach, I've seen firsthand how this powerful phrase can transform your interactions with your children, encouraging them to share their thoughts and feelings more openly. By using these three magic words, you can foster deeper co...

Summer is here, and for many of you, that means travel planning. I know firsthand that vacationing with kids can feel like navigating a stormy sea. Last summer, my son Malcolm and I embarked on a London adventure before he left for college, and while this trip was by no means perfect, it highlighted how powerful trusting in the peaceful parenting process can be.    Join me on this e...

How often do you find yourself trying to reason with your kids when they're upset? Why does it never work, and in fact, usually seems to make the storming worse? That's because only after you've made an emotional connection with your kids that you can guide them with logic and reasoning.    Join me this week to learn why the Connect THEN Redirect tool is a complete game-changer for your...

Have you ever thought or said to your kids, "You're so disrespectful?" I'll admit that this was my go-to script before I found peaceful parenting.   The reality is that it's dysregulating to believe that your children are being disrespectful intentionally. Listen in this week to hear how our understanding of respect has evolved over the years, and how to cultivate true respect: the kind...

If you're locked into the thought that your child is being manipulative, disrespectful, or deliberately uncooperative when they're storming, you're not alone. As parents, we want to make our children's big feelings go away, but the truth is, all emotions must be experienced. This week, I'm showing you how to be a safe space for them during this turbulent process.    Join me as I sha...

What do you do when you recognize behavioral patterns in your family that you don't want to pass down to your children? You must become a cycle-breaker. Listen in this week to learn how cycle breaking disrupts your genetic imprint and starts the healing process within your family.   I'm showing you what happens when you begin to change dysfunctional behaviors, four new tools that will support...

We show up best for our kids when we have support ourselves. Do you have a support system that helps you thrive as a parent? If you're still searching for your village, I'm sending you a personal invitation to join mine: The Hive.   Tune in this week to learn how The Hive can become a space where you can celebrate your successes, feel seen and heard, and experience love and support from...

The words we speak to our children play a critical role in shaping their internal voice: their self-esteem, their self-confidence, and their self-perception as a whole. Have you ever stopped to consider the impact your words are having?   Tune in this week to discover the power of your words, and how to start speaking positively to your children in a way that fosters confidence and resilience...

As parents, we become experts in our child's triggers, but what about our own? The reality is that our triggers can often ignite our children's, which can lead to the both of us storming alongside each other.   If you're often left wondering what to do when you sense a storm brewing, join me this week to discover how to turn down the parental pressure cooker and build a more peaceful, connect...

Offering your child connection, empathy, compassion, and understanding while they're upset isn't an innate trait we're born with. It's a learned skill. That's why, on this episode, you'll learn one of the most essential tools in self-regulation: I call it "connect then redirect."   Tune in to learn the importance of emotionally connecting with your child before redirecting them with logic and...

Practicing self-regulation is challenging, even for the most self-aware adults, but it's what will ultimately enable you to offer co-regulation to your children. Co-regulation is the underbelly of peaceful parenting and the greatest gift you can offer your kids, and in this episode,   you'll learn why.   Discover the importance of co-regulation in your journey toward peaceful parenting....

Resentment is a complex mix of emotions and it can poison our minds and relationships when left unchecked. As a parent, it can be difficult to know what to do with it when you see it show up. This week, I'm exploring how to let go of resentment, and how we can model the power of releasing grudges and embracing inner peace for our kids.   Listen in to learn my four-step process for releas...

Trust is the cornerstone of a strong parent-child bond, but it doesn't just naturally happen. One amazing way you can lay the groundwork for lifelong trust is by cultivating compassion, but how do you go about doing it?   If you want your kids to turn to you during times of mistakes, stress, crisis, and disappointment, this episode is for you. You'll learn how to build a foundation of trust n...

In a world filled with hectic schedules and constant demands, you're not alone if you experience the temptation to yell at your kids. You don't want to, but yelling, threatening, and increasing punishments feels like the only way to get them to comply. The good news is I have three simple steps that will help you break the cycle of yelling, and I'm sharing them with you today.   If you're rea...

I was recently reminded of one of the most profoundly powerful parenting tools available to us: compassionate listening. Deep, compassionate listening is what allows your children to communicate their feelings, talk about their pain, and explore ideas. What would it be like to know you are the person who helps them do this? Join me this week to learn why practicing compassionate listening leads to...

As parents, we're attached to the expectation that our kids will have the same convictions and beliefs that we have. But as they grow up, they might choose a lifestyle, religion, or ideology that differs from the one we've modeled for them. Many of us struggle to hold space for this possibility, and it can leave us dysregulated or tempted to withdraw.   Join me this week as I show you how to...

A few weeks ago on the podcast, I shared an amazing coaching conversation with my client Valeria, where we talked about navigating fear and anger in parenting , setting limits, and connecting before correcting. Since that conversation, Valeria has told me she's experienced a massive transformation in her parenting, so I wanted to have her back to discuss it.    This week, Valeria is shar...

Like so many parents, you might believe being reactionary in response to a power struggle or disagreement is hardwired into you. Maybe it's how you've always operated, or it was modeled in your home growing up. But what if it didn't have to be that way? What if, even in the midst of a storm, you could learn to pause and respond thoughtfully rather than react out of dysregulation?   Join me an...

One of the most common challenges that coparents face is figuring out what to do when you and your coparent aren't on the same page. I recently had a coaching call with a couple with very different parenting styles and I'm sharing the breakthroughs that came out of our conversation on this episode.   Listen in to hear how your childhood wounds might be colliding with your coparent, why those...

I'm always reminding parents of how rules and limits help our children to thrive and feel empowered, but what do you do when it comes to actually enforcing the rules you've set? If you have strong-willed kids, find yourself losing confidence, or struggle to enforce consequences consistently with firmness, this episode is for you.   You'll learn my top seven strategies for enforcing limit...