Reflective Parenting Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever asked yourself this question?  In today's episode, I give you a different perspective on your child's behaviour....understanding how they respond to conflict. This is important because it impacts their behaviour in conflict (which is what we see when they "misbehave").  I hope you enjoy this solo episode! SOURCES: I look back at my conversation wi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Reflective Parenting Podcast, host Cindy Hovington delves into the transformative power of playfulness in parenting. Drawing from personal experiences and expert insights, Cindy explores how embracing play can enhance parent-child connections and support emotional development.  Discover practical tips to integrate play into daily routines, even when it feels...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast episode, I delve into invalidation and its significant impact on romantic relationships. I highlight common invalidating statements such as "Why are you upset?", "You're overreacting," or "Calm down," explaining that these make a partner feel their emotions are wrong, unjustified, or excessive. This can lead to increased frustrati...

Send us Fan Mail Do you ever wonder why your child’s big emotions feel so overwhelming—or why small conflicts with your partner can spiral? In this episode, I sit down with psychologist Dr. Caroline Fleck to unpack the skill of validation —what it is, why it matters, and how it can radically change the way you connect with yourself, your kids, and everyone you love. We explore what invalidation re...

Send us Fan Mail with Amy Chiu In today’s fast-paced world, it can be tough to slow down and truly let kids be kids. We often get caught up in schedules, expectations, and the pressure to “make learning happen.” But what if the most powerful learning happens when we pause, play, and simply show up with presence? In this episode, Dr. Cindy Hovington speaks with early childhood expert Amy Chiu about...

Send us Fan Mail In today's solo episode, I share a little more of my personal story with the hopes of helping you feel validated, less alone or even empowered.  Father's Day (or even Mother's Day) can be difficult when you have a parent that is alive yet you have no idea where they are because they left your family decades ago.  They knew you existed and they chose to leave you.  I...

Send us Fan Mail with Daisy Dowling Balancing work and parenting feels impossible sometimes, doesn’t it? Between deadlines, meetings, and the constant demands at home, many working parents feel overwhelmed, guilty, and stretched too thin. In this episode, Dr. Cindy Hovington talks with Daisy Dowling, author of Work Parent , about redefining what work-life balance really means — and why aiming for...

Send us Fan Mail Hi dear friends,  From the number of you that downloaded our last grounding meditation, it seems like you enjoyed it! I decided to created another one for you, this time it is to help you on a day when you feel like you are failing.  https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/reflective-parenting-by-curious-neuron/id1440533170?i=1000709341181 If there is a specific moment you struggle...

Send us Fan Mail with Erica Diamond Those early days of parenthood can feel like survival mode—your routines are gone, your identity feels blurry, and the overwhelm is constant. Between sleepless nights, mental overload, and trying to “do it all,” it’s easy to lose yourself. In this episode, Dr. Cindy Hovington is joined by Erica Diamond—certified life & career coach and creator of the List Yo...

Send us Fan Mail We often focus on limiting and banning our kids’ screen time—but what if the most effective digital parenting conversations require a completely different approach, one that starts with curiousity, not control? In this episode, Dr. Cindy Hovington is joined by bestselling author Jessica Joelle Alexander to explore how we can reframe and shift from control to curiosity & learni...

Send us Fan Mail The next time you experience a chaotic moment and need to pause, listen to this 5 min audio to help you regulate.  Let me know if you want more of these and please share it with a friend who needs this! Support the show More ways to become a Reflective Parent with Curious Neuron: Join our NEW book club for only $9.99! https://reflectiveparentclub.circle.so/checkout/reflective-pare...

Send us Fan Mail Hi friends! I have been hearing so many parents tell me that they feel overwhelmed trying to figure out how to balance work and family life. I know this can be stressful so I thought of a different way for us to approach this problem.  What if we asked ourselves "How do I want to design my life?". What do I need more of in my life? What do I need less of? Let's try...

Send us Fan Mail Happy Mother's Day! I wanted to post today on Mother's Day because of the conversations I have been having with moms all week.  It helped me realize that so many of us are powering through motherhood not addressing our needs or communicating them to those around us.  Take 20 min out of your day today to listen to this quick solo episode and remind yourself how important...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Reflective Parenting Podcast, I chat with Albiona Rakipi who is a parent coach. I love her work and it is well-aligned with the research I read around co-regulation and teaching kids how to regulate emotions.  If you are a parent that often questions what to do DURING a tantrum, then this episode is for you. You will learn her simple method that makes it eas...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, we dive into the science of overparenting and explore what research says about its impact on children’s mental health. I break down a recent meta-analysis that shows how overparenting is linked to higher levels of depression, anxiety, and emotional struggles in kids and young adults. We also explore Self-Determination Theory —the idea that kids need autonomy, c...

Send us Fan Mail Boredom is not a problem to solve but an essential skill children must develop for emotional regulation and creative thinking. When parents constantly entertain their children or rescue them from boredom, they unintentionally prevent crucial developmental growth. In today's replay episode (this is the second most downloaded episode of our podcast!) I chat with Susie Allison,...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Miriam Kirmayer, clinical psychologist and friendship expert, joins Cindy to discuss the profound impact of friendships on our psychological well-being and how we can cultivate meaningful connections despite the challenges of parenthood. Here is what we discussed: • Social connections are one of the most powerful predictors of health, happiness, and longevity • The "over-...

Send us Fan Mail The one mistake many parents make when disciplining their children is forgetting to teach the underlying skills needed for emotional regulation. Focusing only on consequences without addressing skill development leaves children unable to manage emotions like disappointment and frustration. • The purpose of discipline should be education, not just punishment • Children need to lear...

Send us Fan Mail Dr's Cindy Hovington and Kristina Calder explore perimenopause, the hormonal transition that begins in women's 40s and significantly impacts mental health, energy, and body composition. • Perimenopause often starts in your 40s but can begin as early as late 30s • Symptoms include irregular periods, insomnia, anxiety, joint pain, mood swings, and diminished stress resilie...

Send us Fan Mail Ever caught yourself rattling off an endless list of reminders to your partner before they take the kids somewhere? "Don't forget snacks, water bottles, jackets..." Sound familiar? In this illuminating episode, I share a personal revelation that transformed my understanding of parenting partnerships. The awakening came when my mother called with a simple request—tak...

Send us Fan Mail What can the dying teach us about living? In this transformative conversation, Dr. Kathy Zhang, a palliative care physician, shares profound insights from her work with patients at the end of life that can revolutionize our approach to parenting and emotional wellbeing. Dr. Zhang reveals how witnessing death daily has paradoxically enhanced her appreciation for life's simple...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever felt crushed by the pressure to follow a specific parenting style perfectly? The weight of trying to fit into boxes labeled "positive parenting" or "conscious parenting" leaves many of us feeling inadequate and constantly seeking more information. What if there's a more sustainable approach? The newly renamed Reflective Parenting Podcast laun...

Send us Fan Mail Discover the importance of forging meaningful connections and the healing power of friendships, especially after periods of isolation. In today's episode, I chatted with author of The Connection Recession, Rich Woo.  We discuss the following key points:  • Emphasizing connection as essential for mental well-being  • Personal anecdotes highlighting the necessity of nurturing r...

Send us Fan Mail We discuss the essential balance of parenting, focusing on how allowing children to fail fosters resilience and independence. Jessica Leahy shares insights from her book, The Gift of Failure, highlighting the dangers of over-parenting and the need to embrace failure as a part of learning. • The significance of letting children experience failure  • Over-parenting and its effects o...

Send us Fan Mail Understanding how to navigate emotional responses with our children is vital for fostering healthy relationships within families. This episode explores the importance of self-awareness, recognizing triggers, and methods to de-escalate conflicts with children for more effective communication and connection. • Emphasizing the challenge of escalating vs. de-escalating situations  • I...