Episode 119: 'The Parent You Want To Be: Simple Shifts To Change Your Home' with Kirk Martin

Parenting can bring out parts of us we didn’t even know were there.One minute, everything seems fine. The next, the kids are arguing, nobody is listening, you’re running late—and you hear yourself yelling again.Then comes the guilt: “This isn’t the parent I want to be.”In this episode of The Rev Rx Podcast, Chad sits down with Kirk Martin, founder of Celebrate Calm and host of the Calm Parenting Podcast, for a practical and honest conversation about moving from reactive parenting to calm, connected leadership.Kirk’s work grew out of his experience raising a strong-willed son. After trying the fear-and-intimidation approach he had learned growing up, Kirk realized something important: the only person he could truly control was himself.That realization changed his family—and eventually led him to work with 1,500 strong-willed and neurodivergent children in his own home.Kirk explains why a parent’s anxiety is often the greatest source of tension in the home and how changing your posture, tone, and response can completely shift a difficult moment. He also shares a surprisingly simple strategy: instead of marching into the room and taking control, sit down, observe, and become curious about what is really happening.Chad and Kirk also explore the connection between our view of God as Father and the way we parent. They discuss patience and self-control as fruit of the Spirit, the danger of sacrificing long-term relationships for short-term compliance, and why our mistakes can become some of our most powerful teaching moments.In this episode:• Why trying to control your child often backfires• How parental anxiety escalates conflict• The difference between reacting and responding• Why strong-willed and neurodivergent children often respond differently to traditional discipline• How your posture and tone can deescalate a tense situation• Why discipline should teach rather than simply punish• How to address the root of a child’s behavior• Choosing long-term relationship over short-term compliance• What Jesus can teach us about compassion, correction, and connection• How apologizing to your children models humility• A practical strategy parents can begin using todayKirk’s challenge is simple: the next time you enter a tense situation, sit down. Don’t immediately lecture, threaten, or try to fix everything. Observe, become curious, and ask what your child may need to learn in that moment.You don’t have to become a perfect parent overnight. With humility, grace, and the help of the Holy Spirit, you can begin becoming the parent you want to be.Learn more from Kirk Martin:Celebrate Calm: https://celebratecalm.comCalm Parenting Podcast: https://celebratecalm.com/podcasts/