Reflective Parenting Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered how emotional intelligence impacts our lives? Can understanding your own emotions positively influence your relationships and success? This episode invites you on a journey of self-exploration, examining emotional intelligence and its profound effects on our well-being. With the guidance of two remarkable books - Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goldman and Emotional...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready to discover how media shapes our children's perception of the world in our insightful conversation with Kim and Adriana, leading voices in children's media. We delve deeper into how children's media, while entertaining, can also be a powerful tool to support their learning and social skills. With these experts, we unpack the importance of diversity and inc...

Send us Fan Mail What if the arguments you have in front of your children are shaping their future emotional well-being? That's what we're tackling in today's episode with the help of some intriguing science and my background in neuroscience and parenting. We go beyond the surface-level understanding, exploring how even a young child's heart rate can increase and their fight or...

Send us Fan Mail A parent asked me "Is screen time messing up my child?" and I thought it would be important to address this in a podcast episode.  We've all had those moments of guilt, especially around screen time. Well, it's time to say goodbye to that guilt! This episode encourages you to establish clear screen time boundaries and involve your kids in the process, whether i...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered why your child's emotional outbursts seem to trigger your own? It's time to break free from this exhaustive cycle! We're unravelling the wisdom behind Dr. Susan David's 'Emotional Agility'. This episode shifts the focus from managing our children's emotions to assisting them in emotional regulation - it's all about creating a c...

Send us Fan Mail Drawing from my grandmother's experiences wrangling with dementia, I share five crucial life lessons on being present, practicing self-care, speaking your truth, forgiveness, and generosity with time.  These teachings provide a pathway towards a fulfilling life and a positive influence on our children. Through a thoughtful exploration of family dynamics, we delve into the oft...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to a deeply personal journey, where I open the doors to my home and share a heartfelt practice that has transformed our lives.  This episode is an open book, revealing how urging positive reflection in children can heighten their emotional articulation and deepen their connections.  Listen to the steps I took to help my child shift his perspective from the "bad moment...

Send us Fan Mail Ready to embark on a journey of personal growth and self-discovery? Brace yourselves for a deep and insightful conversation with the esteemed Andrea Navedo, famed for her role as Jane's mother in the hit show Jane the Virgin and author of The Otherness Is Our Strength. Andrea and I delve into her values of connection and growth, and discuss how these principles have shaped he...

Send us Fan Mail Join me on an eye-opening journey as we confront an issue that's often left in the shadows - parental child maltreatment, and the risks surrounding it. Promise me you won't shy away from this uncomfortable conversation, as we aim to shed light on the importance of emotional regulation. We're not pointing fingers here, but acknowledging the powerful role of our own e...

Send us Fan Mail Do you ever feel like your relationship takes a backseat once kids come into the picture? I'm Cindy Hovington, and I promise you, by the end of this episode, you'll be equipped with the tools to ensure your relationship doesn't falter while you're navigating parenthood. With the insights shared by our esteemed guests,Rachel and Stacey, two licensed marriage and...

Send us Fan Mail Can parenting advice be found in a book about negotiation? Surprisingly, the answer is yes! As I recently explored the book Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss, I discovered that the lessons I gained from this read not only improved my business negotiation skills but also offered valuable insights into parenting. Join me in this enlightening episode that will change your pers...

Send us Fan Mail How can we better support dads in their crucial roles during prenatal and postpartum stages, and why is it so vital to address their mental health? Join us as we explore this essential topic with Dr. Deborah Da Costa, a researcher at McGill University, and my guest co-host, Travis Goodman, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and returning guest and father. Together, we...

Send us Fan Mail Are you unknowingly fostering unhealthy food relationships in your household? Join us as we chat with Evelyn Tribole, co-author of Intuitive Eating, to discover how to nurture a healthy relationship with food for ourselves and our kids, and break free from the detrimental diet culture that can creep into our homes. Unintentionally, parents may contribute to the restriction of thei...

Send us Fan Mail Ever find yourself stuck in a spiral of what-if thoughts, unable to shake off the anxiety that accompanies them? I've been there, and so have my kids. Let me share with you a powerful conversation I had with them that helped us all better understand and manage our emotions. Listen in as we explore techniques for letting go of these thoughts, such as talking to someone or writ...

Send us Fan Mail Can you predict your child's attachment style before they're even born? Join us as we unravel the fascinating world of pregnancy, attachment, and mental health with our special guests Drs. Shalaka and Allison. As Shalaka shares her research on predicting attachment through biological predictors and exposure to prenatal and postnatal stress, Allison offers her expertise a...

Send us Fan Mail Let's talk about both euphoric moments in parenting and rage moments. I did something very "out of the box" with my kids this weekend and I wanted to share it with you so that you can give it a try too. Also, I have been talking a lot about "mom rage" online these past 2 weeks but let's get into the science and create a game plan to help you out if th...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode we are joined for a second time by Susie Allison, M. Ed., a former teacher and creator of Busy Toddler. What did Susie post that instigated this conversation? Why did Susie make the reel? What is the real definition of “social skills” How exactly can a parent teach a child social skills? How can parents intentionally model emotion regulation skills? How and when...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode we are joined by Tarah Schwartz, Canadian journalist and author of Can’t Help Falling - A Long Road to Motherhood. Why did Tarah write this book? Should you mention anything when you know someone had a pregnancy loss? When should you go back to work after a pregnancy loss? Are there any local support groups that were helpful? What can you do to support the non-p...

Send us Fan Mail In today's solo episode, I chat about a 3 day weekend I had my family and extended family. By the time it was over,  I had some body discomfort and I couldn't figure out why. The weekend had gone fairly well but I did hold back from saying a few things to my mom. Whenever I do express frustration or anger,  it almost ALWAYS becomes about her. The weekend I attended was a...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode we are joined by Karl Mercuri a Social-Emotional Learning Consultant and Coach based in Montreal, Canada 3:56 - Who is Karl Mercuri? 6:06 - The increase of complaints from school about child behavior changes since the pandemic, isn’t about behavior… it’s about missing social skills. 8:53 - Do all schools implement social emotional learning programs? 11:00 - What...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, we are joined by Bethan O’Riordan, psychotherapist and mom of 3. 5:57 - What does Bethan do? 7:50 - What is the number one thing I need to know before becoming a parent? 9:31 - How do you deal with a partner who isn’t interested in doing the work themselves? 11:57 - How can we make the shift from negative self-talk to having more self-compassion? 17:01 - Is it...

Send us Fan Mail Today, I want you to change your guilt around yelling to compassion for yourself for being dysregulated. Sometimes, we power through our days, weeks, months, and years without addressing our needs. Our brain and nervous system have needs too. If we don't address them, we can't nurture them. What needs does your nervous system have? What causes you to feel "off"...

Send us Fan Mail Hello friend! In today's solo episode, I discuss what it means to be an emotionally aware parent. We are having the Emotionally Aware Parent Challenge over at Wondergrade (I am the co-founder of this company). You can sign up with the link below: https://forms.gle/cmASL48RhMsWKW1L6 Many parents tell me they easily snap at their kids or often feel their emotions go from 0-100....

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, we are joined by Kishanda Vyboh, MSc and seasoned breastfeeding support parent. We discuss ALL things beautiful and challenging about breastfeeding. We speak about the pressure parents are put under to feed their babies whether it should be by breast milk or formula. This is a judgment-free zone! 5:16 - What is a breastfeeding support parent? 7:27 - Is there ot...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, we are joined by Tracie, a speech-language pathologist. What a study found with regard to screen time and a child's cognitive abilities (link below)  What is Tracie’s take on Cocomelon and how the characters speak? Why is screen time not recommended before the age of 18 months? What can parents do if their child is already getting screen time under 2? How...