107 Finding Strength in the Everyday with Rose Couse

Website: 🌐 www.andiclark.comSelf Assessment form: https://subscribepage.io/big-emotions-self-assessmentBook a 30-Minute Call with Andi – Get your questions answered and explore next steps: Book here: https://tidycal.com/andi1/bookacall In this heart-opening conversation, I’m joined by an early childhood expert, parent coach, and grandma Rose Couse. With over 40 years of experience supporting kids, educators, and families, Rose shares powerful insights on parenting through grief, the true meaning of self-care, and how to shift from judgment to compassion in your parenting journey.We talk about the invisible load parents carry, the guilt that often surrounds taking time for ourselves, and how small, daily moments of awareness can help us better connect with our kids—and ourselves.Key TakeawaysSelf-care isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity for parenting with presence and compassion.Awareness of your internal experience is key to helping your child regulate theirs.Regulation is contagious—your nervous system affects your child’s.Grief, stress, and trauma show up in parenting in subtle and powerful ways.You’re doing better than you think. Shifting your inner dialogue can change how you show up.Episode Highlights00:00 – Welcome and guest intro02:00 – Rose’s journey from early childhood educator to parent coach04:00 – The biggest surprise of parenting: It’s not just about the kids06:30 – Why parents need self-awareness to parent well08:15 – Parenting through grief and the invisible fear of not doing “enough”10:45 – Breaking generational patterns of putting yourself last12:30 – Why we admire others’ strength but struggle to see our own14:45 – The healing power of community and connection17:30 – What real self-care looks like (hint: it’s not bubble baths)20:15 – Understanding the “body budget” and parenting under stress23:30 – Why breathing for 12 minutes a day changes your brain27:15 – Simple grounding tools in the middle of chaos30:00 – Modeling emotional awareness for your kids32:30 – Joy as a parenting practice36:00 – The importance of celebrating small wins39:00 – Helping kids notice their own body signals and emotions42:00 – Three questions to ground yourself in hard parenting moments44:00 – Final thoughts and how to connect with RoseResources MentionedRose’s blog + parent coaching: http://www.rmcouse.ca/ Robin Gobbel – trauma-informed parenting educator: robingobbel.comAmishi Jha’s work on attention and focus – including her breathing practice researchLisa Feldman Barrett’s “body budget” concept – from How Emotions Are MadeRick Hanson’s “Velcro vs. Teflon” idea – from Hardwiring HappinessIf this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend! And don’t forget to connect with Rose, follow her on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/r.m.couse/) or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/r.m.couse)