Your Calm Parenting Path

So many of us know that quiet drift that creeps in once kids arrive - less conversation, more logistics, less time for each other. Relationship and emotional wellness coach Caterina Smillie joins me to unpack why that disconnection happens, and the small ways couples find their way back to each other.   You'll Learn Why even strong relationships start to drift after having kids The difference...

If turning off the TV feels like bracing for impact, you're not alone. In this episode, Nina unpacks what's actually happening in kids' brains when screens go off, and shares four practical strategies to make those transitions smoother - including what works in her own house, and why handing your child the remote changes everything.   You'll Learn Why kids' brains genuinel...

That feeling when you sit down for five minutes and immediately think "I should be doing something" - therapist Onnie Michalsky from Moms Without Capes calls it supermum syndrome (or Super mom syndrome). In this conversation, she and Nina explore why so many mums carry it, and what it costs them. You'll Learn  - What supermum syndrome is and how to spot it  - How the do-it-all minds...

There's a small thing many of us do without thinking - and once you notice it, you'll see it everywhere.  This episode looks at the gap between what we ask of our kids and what we offer back, and why that gap matters more than we might realise.  Nina shares two practical shifts to try - small changes that can make a real difference to the emotional atmosphere in your home. You’ll Learn W...

If you want your kids to grow up knowing how to calm themselves, this one is for you. Alia Sallam shares why teaching mindfulness for kids works best as a natural part of family life. Alia is the creator of Little Seeds of Mindfulness, a book series for children ages 2-9 that makes mindfulness a shared family experience rather than just a lesson. She also walks us through a simple 5-4-3-2-1 ground...

Have you ever lost your patience and then spent the rest of the night lying awake, replaying the moment on a loop? In this episode, Nina explores the inner voice that shows up after hard parenting moments - the guilt, shame, and private fear that one bad reaction might define your child's entire experience of you.  Through personal reflection and the Buddhist parable of the two arrows, this e...

Parenting can feel incredibly heavy sometimes - especially when we’re carrying guilt, self-doubt, and the pressure to “get it right.” In this episode, Nina is joined by Dr. Jen Ferris to talk about what self-compassion really looks like in everyday parenting and why learning to be a little kinder to ourselves can have such a powerful impact on family life. Dr. Jen shares her own parenting experien...

Why do we react in ways we don’t want to as parents, even when we’re trying so hard to stay calm? In this episode of Your Calm Parenting Path , Nina is joined by writer, speaker and family life advocate Nellie Harden for a thoughtful conversation about parenting stress, emotional regulation, self-worth and the deeper layers underneath parenting reactions. Nellie shares openly about her upbringing,...

Can you believe this is Episode 50 of Your Calm Parenting Path? 🧡 Over the past 50 episodes, this podcast has become a space for honest conversations about the messy, beautiful reality of raising kids while trying to grow alongside them.  In this special milestone episode, Nina reflects on the biggest parenting lessons she’s learned through mindful parenting, coaching, motherhood, and the many co...

When siblings fight, it’s easy to step in quickly and reach for consequences.  Send them to their room. Take something away. Try to stop it before it escalates. But what if punishment is doing more than just stopping the moment? In this episode, we explore how punishment shapes children’s behaviour, thinking, and relationships - especially with their siblings. This isn’t about getting it “right” o...

If you’ve been feeling a little disconnected from yourself lately, this conversation will feel like a gentle exhale. In this episode, Nina sits down with yoga teacher Meg Summers to explore what it really looks like to reconnect with yourself in the middle of busy family life. Together, they reflect on how our needs shift through different seasons of parenting, and how we can begin to come back to...

Sibling fights can feel constant, loud, and completely overwhelming - especially when it seems like they come out of nowhere. In this episode, we take a step back from the moment of conflict and explore what’s often happening before the fight even begins. Because when we start to understand the build-up underneath sibling tension, everything starts to make a little more sense - and we begin to res...

Have you ever looked at your child’s behaviour and thought… I just don’t get it ? With April being Autism Awareness Month , it felt like an important time to have this conversation - not just about behaviour, but about understanding how our children experience the world. In this episode, I’m joined by Steph West, a neurodivergent social coach and founder of Starfish Social Club. Steph not only sha...

If your child’s behaviour sometimes feels confusing, frustrating, or even personal, this episode will help you see it in a different way. We explore how behaviour is often a form of communication, and how understanding what’s happening for your child can gently shift how you respond. You’ll Learn Why your child’s behaviour isn’t about pushing your buttons  How to start seeing behaviour as communic...

If you’ve ever felt like your reaction in a parenting moment was bigger than the situation, this episode will help you understand why. We explore what’s happening underneath those moments- noticing stressors, triggers, and the unmet needs underneath your reactions - and how awareness can gently shift the way you respond. You’ll Learn Why awareness is the first step in changing how you respond The...

Can the way your home looks and feels actually affect your child’s behaviour, mood, and ability to stay calm? In this episode, Nina is joined by designer and Happy Healthy Homes founder Etienny Trindade to explore how your home environment can affect your child’s mood, behaviour, and ability to stay calm You’ll learn simple, practical ways to create a home that supports your child’s wellbeing with...

You lost your temper… again. And now the guilt is sitting heavy in your chest. If you’ve ever walked away after yelling at your child and thought, that’s not how I wanted to handle that , this episode is for you. Today we’re talking about what really matters after yelling, why perfect parenting isn’t the goal, and how learning to repair after yelling can actually build stronger connection with you...

Conflict is an inevitable part of family life. Whether it’s a bedtime battle, a sibling fight, or a disagreement with your child, these moments can leave everyone feeling frustrated and disconnected. But what if one simple question could shift the entire energy of those moments? In this episode, Nina is joined by conscious relationship coach, speaker and bestselling author Annmarie Chereso to expl...

Ever had a reaction to your child that felt bigger than the moment? In this episode, we explore what’s really happening underneath your parenting triggers - and why it’s often not about the shoes, the whining, or the sibling fight at all. You’ll Learn What a parenting trigger actually is (and what’s happening in your brain) The three common roots of parenting triggers  Why awareness - not perfecti...

Ever find yourself comparing your motherhood journey to someone else’s? In this episode, I’m joined by Pam and Zana from the Careers and Cartwheels podcast - and honestly, this conversation felt like a breath of fresh air.  Their honesty, humour and deep respect for each other’s different parenting paths made this such a lovely, grounding chat. Pam navigates a busy career and a blended family of f...

In this episode, Nina shares something vulnerable and real : she’s noticed she hasn’t been as calm as she was mid last year. Over the school holidays, her mindfulness practice slowly slipped, and she felt the impact - more frustration, more reactivity, and less patience. Nina shares what’s been happening behind the scenes, and what she’s gently putting back in place to help her come back to calm....

Co-parenting after separation is often presented as the ideal – but what if it feels impossible? In this episode, Nina is joined by Emma Cannon , mum of three and founder of Higher Swing , to explore an alternative approach: parallel parenting .  Together, they unpack why co-parenting doesn’t always work, how parallel parenting after separation can reduce conflict, and how parents can create calme...

Six weeks of school holidays can feel like a lot - especially when the routines and structures that usually hold everyone steady disappear. In this reflection episode of Your Calm Parenting Path , Nina shares honestly from the middle of the long school holidays - not from the other side of them.  This isn’t about getting it all right or creating perfect holiday memories.  It’s about what genuinely...

Christmas can feel like a pressure cooker of expectations, logistics and emotions. In this episode, Nina gently invites you to let go of perfect Christmas ideals and let go of perfect Christmas checklists, so you can focus on presence, connection and a calmer nervous system instead.   You'll Learn Why the invisible load of Christmas feels so intense. How different families “do” Christmas and...

In this special episode, Nina chats with Tess, a mum-of-two and long-time listener, who shares how she used the calm boundary script from Episode 8 in a moment when her daughter was yelling at her.  It’s a real story about emotional boundaries, staying steady under pressure, and what happens when you choose connection over control - even when it’s hard.   You’ll Learn: How to use calm boundaries w...