Calm Parenting Podcast

You have tried everything to get your kids to care about school—and nothing has worked. These are kids who cannot be externally motivated. How can you internally motivate strong-willed kids to care about school? How can you build their confidence so they have the capacity to push through and do difficult things in school? You will learn 10 actionable strategies and scripts you can implement today!...

I have watched countless families ripped apart, spending 18 years fighting with their kids over something that doesn’t matter. It destroys both your child’s confidence and your relationship…so neither you nor your child enjoy their childhood. With zero upside. It’s an exhausting cycle you will regret and I don’t want you to waste another day trapped in it. Please share this important episode with...

Do you have a child who struggles when plans change, who becomes rigid and digs in, or who completely melts down and can’t recover? I want to show you how to teach kids of all ages to be resilient emotionally, control their own moods, and be responsible for their school work…without you hovering or enabling them. Discover scripts to build a more capable, flexible, resilient child.   P.S....

Want your kids to exhibit self-control and actually be responsible for their own emotions? Then you must learn the power of strategic silence. Whether you’re dealing with a toddler throwing a tantrum or a teenager furious about phone boundaries, this episode is a masterclass in strategic silence. Learn the exact moments to back off so your child can finally learn to control their own emotions and...

Your kids ARE going to misbehave, not listen, refuse to help, scream when you say no, have meltdown at the worst times like bedtime. They may not live up to their potential so you’ll naturally be anxious about their future. So how can you slow your world down in that pivotal moment and lead your child to calm rather than escalating common situations? I show you real life examples in this practical...

You have a strong-willed child who triggers you by talking back, blurting out, dawdling, having a messy room, doing things the hard way. Moms and Dads have different triggers. You will learn three ways to handle your triggers, get on the same page, and help impulsive kids. Plus we debut a BIG IDEA that will change your family quickly! P.S. Instantly download the Calm Parenting Bundle now, get on t...

You want your kids to clean up their rooms. You  also  want them to handle the inevitable frustration and disappointment of life's biggest messes—without throwing tantrums, whining, or fighting with siblings. In this episode, you will learn stress-free strategies to get your kids to clean up their physical spaces  and  navigate internal frustration…while building their confiden...

If getting your kids out the door, into bed, or to school feels like preparing for combat, this episode is your rescue mission. Whether your child is naturally a dawdler, struggles with focus, or uses resistance to cope with anxiety, shouting "Hurry up!" never works. Listen to learn 10 creative, battle-tested strategies to get kids of all ages moving more quickly—completely fear-free.  P.S. D...

Do you ever feel like you are doing something wrong because your strong-willed child doesn’t readily comply? Do you ever feel caught in the middle playing peacekeeper between a spouse or rigid family with unrealistic expectations or religious beliefs and a kid who is just being a kid? Do you sometimes struggle letting go of the “Because I Said So” mentality demanding immediate obedience from kids?...

Deep breathing, punching pillows and “naming the emotion” sound great on paper—until you try them with an intense child. These traditional calming tools can actually backfire—leaving your child angrier and feeling incapable of managing their emotions. Learn why narrating your child’s emotions is one of the worst things you can do…and instead walk away with actionable, word-for-word ...

Do you have a child who would rather argue for 2 hours over homework rather than complete it in 20 minutes?! Those of us with ADHD or neurodivergent brains learn in different ways, but schools usually only teach one way…leaving us feeling inferior and frustrated. That leads to unnecessary stress and fights over homework. I want to share odd, but effective ways to improve focus and executive f...

Casey shares his first memory of feeling strong-willed and getting judged for it in school…and why it sticks with him to this day. He gives in-depth insight into how to repair your relationship and help your child not feel like “the bad kid.” When your child makes a choice that you strongly disagree with, how can you protect the relationship without pretending to approve of their decision? And we...

It would be so much easier if your kids would simply do things your way, but they won’t. They will procrastinate and create unnecessary stress. They will purposefully choose the harder path and get burned. Some may then blame you! This episode is jam packed with real life examples to get your kids to be responsible for their daily chores, school work, and meals…without the draining power struggles...

You and I have impulsive, emotional kids who are prone to sneaking screens or food at night and experimenting with porn, drinking, vaping, and drugs. They may steal your credit card for an online purchase. Just confronting them will cause them to be more sneaky or lie. But you can’t let them get away with it. I give you a script and step-by-step process for having tough talks to prevent this behav...

It’s easy to escalate situations. I want to make it easy to diffuse tense situations with intense kids. Even when they argue like attorneys, try to push your buttons, are struggling with anxiety or feeling overwhelmed, or lie when asked about their behavior. I give you 10 easy-to-use phrases you can use today!  P.S. You can share our proven school programs included in the Back-to-School Sale...

Why does losing a game trigger a massive meltdown? The same reason your kids boss siblings, obsess over fairness and have to prove their point, wear the same clothes and eat the same foods, struggle with changes in plans…and even collect acorns in their pockets. The good news is these behaviors all have the same root cause…and similar solutions! Kirk provides a practical cheat sheet to stop the co...

Your primary responsibility is to the family you  created , not the family you came from. But standing your ground can feel scary with an intimidating, critical, or manipulative parent. If you’ve spent your whole life staying quiet, this episode is for you. You will have exact, word-for-word scripts to help you confidently set healthy boundaries and earn the respect you deserve. Plus, we’ll s...

"Your boots are dumb and I don’t even like them!" "My friend’s Mom buys her better things."  Ouch. Is this really what you envisioned when you decided to have kids? Whether your child is throwing hurtful insults, refusing dinner, smashing toys, or melting down over sensory issues, it's easy to feel unappreciated and exhausted. I give you specific scripts to turn ugly encounters into bonding m...

Our kids often see your boundaries and consequences as a challenge to overcome, not as something to avoid! They won’t give in…and neither should you. But this can lead to never-ending power struggles. I want to show you a much better path to get your kids to actually take responsibility for their actions. Without the drama or exhausting tug-of-war over even easy requests. P.S. We can share the Cal...

Morning grumbling. After-school complaints. Grocery store meltdowns over cookies. Sibling fights while you’re trying to cook dinner, all while your spouse gets increasingly stressed by a picky eater... and you haven’t even gotten to tears over homework, bath, or bedtime yet! If your days feel like a 24/7 non-stop war of attrition, then use these 5 concrete scripts so you know e...

Do you have a child who pushes your buttons, avoids hard tasks, and always asks "Why?" instead of just doing what you ask? It’s exhausting! It's easy to label them as lazy or rude—but there’s a better way to look at it. Listen to this episode if you want to stop losing battles and reframe your child’s irritating traits to motivate, connect and build their confidence.  **Tomorrow CAN be d...

What is it like to grow up as an intense, strong-willed child—and how does that intensity follow you into adulthood and marriage? In this special Q&A episode with my son, Casey reveals what he’d tell his 8-year-old self and what “Don’t assume my intensity means I’m not happy” means. The unscripted moments are gold: when you had bad moments, were you internalizing anger at me for being ove...

What works with most kids backfires with our kids! So how can we discipline without being authoritarian or permissive? How can we go beyond consequences that don't work to actually change behavior while building trust? What are appropriate expectations of your child and yourself? I simplify discipline by giving you three practical action steps and scripts that work with ki...

In this special episode, I address these specific issues from parents of adopted kids:  Our son will attach himself to anyone who gives him positive or negative attention. Our daughter always wants to be attached to only me and won’t separate. Our child has a "love bucket" with a giant hole in the bottom. Our kids never seem full, even with so much constant attention and love. It se...

There is nothing worse than the pit in your stomach when you see the school's number on your phone. If your child struggles with following directions, transitions, impulse control, blurting out, or acting silly in class, it's easy to feel helpless. In this episode, I provide concrete strategies and exact scripts to hand your child's teacher  before  the drama starts. So teachers know how...