Ep. 287: Discipline Without Drama

Parenting strong-willed kids can be exhausting—but it doesn’t have to be a constant battle. In this episode, Dr. Meg is joined by Kirk Martin, founder of Celebrate Calm and host of the Calm Parenting Podcast, to talk about how to handle big emotions—starting with your own. From defusing power struggles to managing anxiety and sibling fights, Kirk shares practical, often humorous strategies to help you stay calm, confident, and connected to your kids.You Will Learn:Why your calm is more important than your child’s behaviorHow to avoid power struggles with strong-willed kidsSimple ways to lower anxiety in your homeThe difference between teaching and controllingCreative solutions for homework, sibling fights, and moreHow humor and self-reflection can shift the parenting dynamicJoin the PGK Community!Looking for more support? Join our Parenting Great Kids community  where you'll find exclusive content from Dr. Meg, parenting resources, expert interviews, and a community of parents just like you. 👉 Learn more & sign up hereAbout Our Guest:Kirk Martin is the founder of Celebrate Calm, a behavior training resource that has helped over 500,000 parents and teachers worldwide. He is also the host of the Calm Parenting Podcast. Known for his practical strategies and relatable humor, Kirk teaches families how to stop yelling, defuse defiance, and build stronger connections with their kids. Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction: Parenting strong-willed kids00:27 – Meet Kirk Martin01:37 – Why parental self-control matters most02:50 – Strategies for managing defiance06:42 – Creative homework solutions09:48 – Handling sibling fights without yelling14:16 – Reducing parental stress17:47 – From controlling to teaching18:52 – Dealing with tween attitude21:00 – Understanding and easing anxiety in kids27:35 – How humor builds connection                                                    32:02 – Encouraging honest communication34:32 – Final thoughts and resourcesOur Sponsors:Hungryroot – 40% off plus a free item in every box with code DRMEGFam Gabs – Spark real conversations with your kids. Use code DRMEGPOD for 10% offK12-powered schools – Tuition-free, accredited online public education for K–12Thrive Causemetics – Clean, vegan beauty that gives back. Get 10% off your first orderSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.