The Raising Kids with Purpose Podcast

Your kid isn't trying to make your life harder. In this episode, I'm breaking down what "disobedience" actually is (hint: it's rarely defiance), why play works faster than timeouts to turn it around, and sharing some of my own play-in-action stories from our house: the wins, the messy middle, and everything in between. In this episode, you'll hear: What's really going on when your kid "won't liste...

These 7 tools are about being intentional with the time you already have, not adding more to your plate. #1: Play Kids learn, process, and connect through play — and you don't have to love everything they love. The key is finding the overlap. What works for both of you? Lean into that. Even 10 minutes of genuine, engaged play sends a message that no lecture ever could. #2: FOCUS Time — Quality One...

You know the moment. Your kid does the thing, and before you even think about it you're correcting, lecturing, repeating yourself, and nothing lands. They do the same exact thing the next day! Here's what most parenting advice gets wrong: it's not about what you say! In this episode, certified parent coach Adriane Thompson breaks down the science of why correction without connection falls flat, an...

Have you felt like you keep giving in and can't follow through on a rule or boundary you've given your kids? This is super common as parents find themselves withs struggling to set boundaries and instead make a bunch of rules that can backfire. In this episode, Adriane unpacks how to set boundaries that actually get kids to listen and make better choices, and also learn how to give your kids auton...

You may have been told to praise your kids when they're "being good." So you tell them, "Good job" any time they make a good choice; you may use sticker charts and other forms of praise. What if that well-meaning praise is quietly working against the very confidence and motivation you're trying to build? In this episode, we're digging into what the research actually says about generic praise and w...

A lot of parents grew up without getting their emotional needs met. They may have grown up emotionally unsupported and left to work through hard feelings on their own, mostly because their parents, even if well-intentioned, had to work and were busy. Or they grew up in homes where feeling disappointed, sad, or mad simply wasn't allowed. And out of love, many parents are now overcorrecting. They're...

This episode is about the 8th sensory system — interoception, and it’s the sense no one talks about. It's the one that connects your child's meltdowns, their anxiety, their inability to notice they're hungry until they're already falling apart, their emotional dysregulation, and so much more. And it's the one that, when I researched it, explained a lot about who I was as a child. This episode clos...

Why Your Kid Covers Their Ears, is Super Loud but Hates Loud Places & Won't Eat Certain Foods Has your child ever covered their ears at their own birthday party — the very one they begged for? Or do you have a kid who will only eat plain pasta and you've spent years calling it picky eating? Or maybe you've walked into a store and your child immediately starts shutting down, and you can't figur...

Part 1/3: The 8 Sensory Systems Every Parent Needs to Understand If you've ever googled "why is my child so difficult," this one's for you! Because here's what I know: your child isn't difficult. Their brains are wired differently than you think. And once you understand how, everything changes the way you see their meltdowns, the way you respond to their big behaviors, and the way you show up as t...

5 Steps to Become Your Child's Emotion Coach The moment your child is at their most emotional is not a problem to solve. It is actually the most important opportunity you have with them. In this episode, Adriane walks through the five steps to becoming your child's emotion coach, explains why validating feelings is not the same as condoning behavior, and shares a story about a client who had never...

How Screen Time Isn't the Break You Think It Is   Have you ever handed your child an iPad to get five minutes of peace, eat out at a restaurant, shop without distraction, or get anything done? Separately, you wonder why it's so hard to parent your kid because of the emotional reactivity, lack of sleep, big behaviors, and more. You're not imagining it. In this episode, I'm breaking down what the re...

Does your child tune you out, ignore your requests, not do their chores, or make good choices? Then they will sometimes respond when you raise your voice or threaten to take something away? And you're in constant power struggles?  In Episode 10, we're talking about the one parenting tool that actually breaks the cycle: Collaborative & Proactive Solutions, developed by Dr. Ross Greene. This is...

This may challenge everything you believe about parenting: consequences do not teach. The research (and so many people's personal experiences) have been this super clear. By the end of this episode, you'll understand why what you were taught isn't working and what to actually do instead. We've been handed a lie: that kids need to feel bad to do better and that without punishment, there's no discip...

"I'm a terrible mom or dad." "I'm failing my kids." "I keep losing it, and I don't know how to stop. I'm a failure." If you've ever said any of those things, out loud or just in your head, this episode is for you. You are not alone. And feeling like you're failing doesn't mean you ARE failing. In this episode, we're getting honest about the shame spiral so many parents are stuck in and talking abo...

A family’s culture is the invisible thread that holds a home together. If you are looking for practical ways to build your family culture intentionally, this episode is a must-listen! Before listening to this episode, be sure to tune into Episode 1, 2, and 3 of the Building Your Family Foundation series, which are linked below. In the fourth and final episode of this series, we are diving into wha...

If you are looking for real, practical ways to get your kids to listen while improving your overall family communication, this episode is for you! Before listening to this episode, be sure to tune into Episode 1 and 2 of the Building Your Family Foundation series. In this third episode of the series, we’re talking about one simple tool that will connect your family, so that your kids are feeling h...

Now that your family has a compass, let’s make those values something your kids can actually see, feel, and live out.  Before listening to this episode, be sure to tune into Episode 1 of the Building Your Family Foundation series. In this second episode of the series, we’re talking about how to get your family values to stick, so they are not just on a poster on the wall but instead guide your fam...

If you want to parent with more clarity, confidence, and calm — your family needs a compass. In Episode 1 of the Building Your Family Foundation series, we’re talking about how to define your family values so they guide your decision-making, create a sense of belonging in your family, and build a strong family culture. We’re chatting about the 4 steps to defining your family's values:  Choose the...

If you’ve ever promised yourself you wouldn’t yell — and then yelled anyway — this episode is for you. You know what to do. But in the moment, something takes over. In this episode of Raising Kids With Purpose, Adriane explains what’s actually happening in your brain and body when you react and the neuroscience behind it. When your child won’t put on their shoes and you’re already late, your nervo...

If your child is having tantrums, talking back, refusing to listen, or acting “defiant”… what do you actually believe about them in that moment? Do you believe they’re being manipulative? Strong-willed? Disrespectful? Or do you believe they’re struggling? In this episode of Raising Kids With Purpose, Adriane unpacks the hidden parenting beliefs that shape how you respond to toddler tantrums, power...

If you’ve ever thought, “Why can’t I stay calm with my child when I know what to do?” — this episode is for you. You’re not broken. Your child isn’t broken. But your nervous system may be stuck in survival mode. In this first episode of Raising Kids With Purpose, Adriane shares how her early childhood experiences shaped her parenting — and the turning point that changed everything. After strugglin...