E19: "The Gap" - Parenting the Child in Front of You (Not the One in Your Head)

Have you ever found yourself thinking…“why can't they just....?!" Maybe it's sharing, getting out the door for school, going to a party, losing a game without it completely derailing everything.It’s such a small sentence… but it carries a huge amount of weight.Because underneath it is an expectation.An image of who our child is meant to be in that moment.And when reality doesn’t match that image?That’s where the frustration kicks in.Because we’re reacting to the version of them we expected.This episodes shares a family story from a holiday that didn’t go to plan. We look at how quickly pressure, frustration, and overwhelm build when we assume capability instead of recognising development. And how this can lead to repeating ourselves, pleading, losing patience, and feeling increasingly out of control.If you’ve ever felt stuck in repeating arguments, guilt after losing your temper, or the sense that your child only listens when things escalate, this conversation will help you see what’s really happening - and what actually begins to shift it.A grounding, honest episode about leadership, connection, and learning to meet your child where they are, not where you expected them to be.To work with Fiona, visit www.thewildchildparentcoach.com Follow Fiona on Instagram @the_wild_childparentcoach