SYPM 003: Responding Mindfully with Seanna Mallon

Today we talk with listener Seanna Mallon about her struggles to be mindful when responding to her two spirited young sons (and I can confirm from direct experience that they are indeed spirited – we actually had to re-record the episode after we simply couldn’t continue the first interview due to her children’s continual interruptions!).   I share some basic tools for staying calm in difficult moments; for a deeper dive on this topic, do join the Tame Your Triggers workshop! Enrollment is now open.   We’ll help you to: Understand the real causes of your triggered feelings, and begin to heal the hurts that cause themUse new tools like the ones Katie describes to find ways to meet both her and her children’s needsEffectively repair with your children on the fewer instances when you are still triggered   It’s a 10-week workshop with one module delivered every week, an amazing community of like-minded parents, a match with an AccountaBuddy to help you complete the workshop, and mini-mindfulness practices to re-ground yourself repeatedly during your days, so you’re less reactive and more able to collaborate with your children.   Click the image below to learn more.     Parenting Membership  If parenting feels really hard, and it seems like you’ve read all the books and you’ve asked for advice in free communities and you’re tired of having to weed through all the stuff that isn’t aligned with your values to get to the few good nuggets, then the Parenting Membership will help you out.   The Parenting Membership is now open for immediate enrollment. Sign up now!   Jump to highlights 02:00 Introduction to the episode and guest Seanna 02:23 About Seanna's family and busy life 04:39 What Seanna learned from Raising Your Spirited Child 07:29 A slow-to-adapt son and difficult morning transitions 10:34 Connecting Seanna's own childhood to her triggered reactions 12:58 How the morning cycle spirals once frustration takes over 13:25 Finding the underlying need behind a reaction 16:11 Introducing needs and Nonviolent Communication as a tool 16:54 The "toe monster" game: turning mornings into connection 19:02 Why obedience isn't the goal 21:14 What the Parenting Membership helped with most 23:16 The power of apology and repair