MegAnne is NOT a parent, but...

In today's episode, we're talking about letting go of the dream of perfection for both you and your child. This topic comes with a trigger warning as we'll be discussing perfectionism and white supremacy culture. I find it interesting that I created this outline a year ago without fully knowing where this episode would go. But now, it feels perfectly aligned with this week's theme—white supremacy culture and perfectionism.  As you listen, I invite you to take care of yourself. Get cozy, grab a notebook, and let's dive in. I'll start with a bold statement: Perfection is a myth. It's a fantasy that can keep us going, but it can also become a major demotivator. Perfection is an illusion sold to us, making companies millions—if not billions—of dollars. It highlights our insecurities, creates gaps, puts pressure on us, and triggers our nervous system into a threat response. It can be deeply destabilizing, making us vulnerable to exploitation.  Today, we'll explore the conversation around perfectionism, letting go of the "dream child" and "dream parent," and grieving the loss of that dream. 🐝 Welcome to Be Kind Coaching! 🐝 Transform Challenges into Opportunities with a Parent Coach Effective parenting doesn't just happen. It's intentional. 🌐 https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

In today's episode, we'll be talking about how you can ensure you're doing your P.A.R.T. This is an acronym by Seigel that I love, and I'm excited to dive into it today. We'll explore how doing your P.A.R.T. helps build trust and safety within your family. So, I invite you to get cozy, grab your notebook, and let's dig in! I'm thrilled to share this episode with you because it ties together everything we've been building throughout the season. It's like a pretty little bow wrapping up all the momentum we've created. Let's start by grounding ourselves. Positive parenting is a philosophy that helps you as a parent become more insightful and critical of the methods you're using. That's what today's episode is all about—connecting all the dots we've been laying down all season. Positive parenting values the parent-child relationship, and today, we'll explore how doing your P.A.R.T. plays a crucial role in that. 🐝 Welcome to Be Kind Coaching! 🐝 Transform Challenges into Opportunities with a Parent Coach Effective parenting doesn't just happen. It's intentional.   🌐 https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

In today's episode, we'll be talking about what our nervous system does, and let me tell you, when it comes to behavior management and positive parenting, it plays a huge role. So, get cozy, grab your notebook, and let's dig in! Alright, friends, we're going to start by revisiting the concept of temperament, which we've discussed in the past few episodes. Temperament is a crucial factor that influences our attachment and how we interact with the world. As a reminder, temperament affects how we take in information, process our environment, regulate ourselves, and ultimately, how we behave. In the last episode, we explored the nine traits of temperament and learned that they generally fall into three categories: easy temperament, slow-to-warm temperament, and difficult temperament. It's easy to get caught up in labeling a child as "difficult" simply because we find them challenging. However, when we talk about temperament, it's important to focus on the child's experience, not ours. For example, a child with an easy temperament finds it easier to regulate themselves—they're flexible, calm quickly, and are generally happy and easygoing. On the other hand, a child who is moody, explosive, or has big outbursts is struggling to regulate themselves. Their behavior is a reflection of how difficult it is for them to feel safe and calm in their environment. Remember, a child who is having a difficult time isn't giving you a difficult time—they are experiencing difficulty themselves. This perspective is a major paradigm shift when we think about behavior management. It helps us see that difficult behaviors are often signs that a child is struggling to regulate their nervous system, and temperament plays a huge role in this. It's important to recognize that temperament is an innate part of who they are—something they didn't choose but were born with.  🐝 Welcome to Be Kind Coaching! 🐝 Transform Challenges into Opportunities with a Parent Coach Effective parenting doesn't just happen. It's intentional. 🌐 https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

Today's Episode: The Nine Traits of Temperament Why This Episode Matters: If there's one episode you shouldn't miss, this is it! We'll explore the nine traits of temperament through an assessment from the book Raising Your Spirited Child. Get cozy, grab your notebook, and let's dig in. Key Question: What Is a Good Kid? We'll start by examining this question, as posed in Raising Respectful Kids. It's common to hear about the "fantasy" good kid—great listeners who follow instructions perfectly, enjoy the activities parents choose, do homework on time, and are always pleasant. Common Images of a Good Kid: -Total control of emotions  -Always happy  -Uses words to communicate -Makes good choices -Well-behaved in public -Shares and is nice (for younger kids) Reality Check: If this has been your vision, you're not alone. But remember, there's no such thing as a bad kid or a bad parent. In positive parenting, behavior is communication, and we focus on relationships rather than compliance. Tune in to get a more realistic and compassionate view of what it means to raise a "good kid." 🐝 Welcome to Be Kind Coaching! 🐝 Transform Challenges into Opportunities with a Parent Coach Effective parenting doesn't just happen. It's intentional. 🌐 https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

We're going to start today is by grounding back into the three factors that influence our attachment. As a reminder, attachment means the quality of the bond between parent and child, and those early attachment styles and bonds will influence all of their future relationships. Wow, that's a lot, but it's also such an opportunity because we can always learn, grow, and take intentional moves to do better. The three factors that influence attachment are: The quality of caregiving: As a parent coach, I help parents like you improve the quality of caregiving, including the tools, methods, and approaches you take while interacting with your child. The emotional climate of the home: This means the tone and emotional temperature. Have you ever walked into a room and thought, "Wow, this is tense and cold," or into another and thought, "Oh my gosh, I love coming here because it's always so warm and inviting"? You're tuning into the emotional climate of that space. Temperament: This is a big piece of the puzzle that often goes overlooked. Today, I hope that by the end of this episode, you have a clear understanding of what temperament is, its impact, and how you can support your child's temperament. They say, the powers that be, say that a child is just difficult. Perhaps you've heard this about your child or someone else's, or maybe you've even said it yourself. What I say to that is: Are they being difficult, or are you having a difficult time with them? As a teacher, I encountered children who gave me a harder time than others. Initially, I thought I needed to change them until I realized they were showing me opportunities for growth and expansion. The biggest "aha" moment for me in this work is understanding that behavior is communication. When a child exhibits difficult behavior, it signals they are having a hard time. As soon as I stopped labeling them as difficult and instead identified that their difficult behavior was a signal of their struggle, many things shifted for me. Difficult behavior indicates difficulty in regulating emotions and energy. 🐝 Welcome to Be Kind Coaching! 🐝 Transform Challenges into Opportunities with a Parent Coach Effective parenting doesn't just happen. It's intentional. 🌐 https://www.bekindcoaching.com/

This episode dives into 3 factors impacting the attachment bond. Grab your notebook and get comfortable, because we're getting deep! Picking up where we left off, let's explore what affects attachment. We discussed attachment qualities and how they build trust (or not) through repeated cycles of the child expressing needs, the caregiver interpreting them, and responding appropriately. We saw how a caregiver's actions can build or break trust, all within the framework of Attachment Theory (different from attachment parenting, as discussed in Season 5, Episode 27). The core of Attachment Theory is the child feeling safe to explore and return. Does the child feel safe landing with and launching from their caregiver during stressful times? Can they bring their distress to the caregiver, find comfort, and feel secure to venture out again? Sometimes, we might think there's a "right" way to practice attachment. It doesn't have to be perfect! Mistakes are part of the process. What matters is the quality of the "repair work" – how both caregiver and child address the mistake and rebuild the connection. This repair process strengthens the attachment and allows everyone to feel safe making mistakes.   🐝 Welcome to Be Kind Coaching! 🐝 Transform Challenges into Opportunities with a Parent Coach. Effective parenting doesn't just happen. It's intentional. 🌐 https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

Welcome to the final episode of our 8-part series on Attachment Theory, where we learn that a good relationship is a secure relationship.  This episode is a recap of everything we've learned so far. Grab your notebook and get cozy – we're about to dive in! A big thank you to the listeners who followed along! If you've been listening to the entire series, I want to acknowledge the great work you've been doing. You've explored important concepts, made big shifts, and accepted some challenging invitations. Today's episode is all about why Attachment Theory matters. We'll discuss why understanding attachment and how we contribute to its quality is so important. As a reminder, Attachment Theory focuses on the parent-child bond. Throughout this series, we've specifically looked at things from the child's perspective. This helps us understand the impact of our actions rather than just focusing on our intentions.   🐝 Welcome to Be Kind Coaching! 🐝 Transform Challenges into Opportunities with a Parent Coach. Effective parenting doesn't just happen. It's intentional. 🌐 https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

We are on the final episode of this eight-episode stretch, examining the difference between showing up in trusting ways and showing up in non-trusting ways through the aspects of feeling safe, feeling seen, feeling secure, and feeling soothed. We've been exploring these foundational steps to building a healthy relationship. When discussing attachment and attachment qualities, we're talking about the dance between rupture and repair in a strong relationship—making a mistake and working to repair it, messing up and fixing it, experiencing stress, and then finding soothing. It's this constant ebb and flow of life that influences the quality of attachment. Attachment theory focuses on the quality of that attachment bond, which affects your child's development mentally, physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially. The strength of that relationship is the main predictor of how well your child will do both in school and in life. How they learn to find security within themselves and their primary caregiver, often you, will extend to how they handle stresses in other areas of their lives—friendships, school, and future romantic relationships. This primary connection to you, their caregiver, is crucial. The child looks to you as a safe base, and their sense of safety is determined by the quality of attachment to their primary caregiver. This means how safe they feel to leave you and come back to you, repeatedly. The bonding perspective of the child is different from your perspective as a parent. You see things through the adult, caretaker's perspective, while your child sees things from their own viewpoint. In this eight-episode series and in my work, I invite caregivers to see things from the child's perspective. We look at what safety, being seen, feeling soothed, and having a sense of security means from the child's point of view.  I always emphasize that a good foundation of this understanding is worth the investment. 🐝 Welcome to Be Kind Coaching! 🐝 Transform Challenges into Opportunities with a Parent Coach Effective parenting doesn't just happen. It's intentional. 5-days to learn a repeatable parenting strategy ⭐ https://www.bekindcoaching.com/getclear 🌐 https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

In today's episode, we will be chatting about the qualities and characteristics of a secure parent. Whether this is your first time listening or you've been on this entire journey with me, we are nearing the end of our eight-episode stretch exploring the four qualities of secure attachment. So, I invite you to get cozy, grab your notebook, and let's dig in. Starting at the top, it's important to remember that strong relationships, especially between parent and child, involve a dance between rupture and repair, mistakes and reconnection, mess, and clean-up. The quality of this dance influences our attachment bond. Attachment, rooted in attachment theory, affects your child's mental, physical, intellectual, emotional, and social development. The strength of your relationship with your child predicts how well both of you will do in school and in life. It's foundational work, the unglamorous process of building a secure base. When I mention a secure base, I mean a safe place for the child to land and launch from. It's crucial to note that your perception of bonding with your child differs from how your child perceives it. In this eight-episode breakdown, we're shifting from the parent's perspective to the child's. We're focusing on how the child feels safe, seen, soothed, and ultimately secure with you. Building these foundations is a worthwhile investment. 🐝 Welcome to Be Kind Coaching! 🐝 Transform Challenges into Opportunities with a Parent Coach Effective parenting doesn't just happen. It's intentional. 🌐 https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

We have made it to episode six of this episode stretch, talking through attachment theories and the quality of attachments, and how parents can show up to create a sense of trust or distrust. We've been going through, just talking about the foundations of what creates that connection in a relationship, and we are coming off of the foundation of attachment theory, where it states that strong relationships are that dance of rupture and repair. There are benign ruptures, meaning like little blips in the relationships, and then there are big ruptures that require major repair. The quality of that dance, how well we are sensitive to the ruptures and quick to repair, and the quality of the repair made is what signals the quality of the attachment bond. So we're talking about attachment theory. Attachment theory is the quality of that attachment bond that affects the way that your child develops mentally, physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially. The strength of this relationship is the main predictor of how well your child will do both in school and in life, meaning how well you are becoming aware of the ruptures and doing the repair work with them is empowering their toolbox so that they take those skills into their future relationships. In all of this, the child is looking for a safe base, somewhere to land and somewhere to launch from that creates a sense of safety in them. It's important to know that your sense of bonding, your sense of safety with your child, is different than their sense of safety with you. For example, I work with parents, and sometimes they come to me and say, "No, no, no, I'm not punishing them," but they act this way. And when we flip it and I say, "Well, do you think that they are feeling punished?" then they start to say, "Oh yes, they are." It's when we shift out of our own perspective and shift into a child's perspective, we can start to see like, "Oh, the ways that I'm showing up is creating this threat response in them." And as soon as we can become aware of that, then we can start to step into our own empowerment of growth and change. 🐝 Welcome to Be Kind Coaching! 🐝 Transform Challenges into Opportunities with a Parent Coach. Effective parenting doesn't just happen. It's intentional. 🌐 https://www.bekindcoaching.com/

We will look at unsafe parenting. The topic of this series is delving into attachment theory and breaking down this complex theory. Strong relationships are likened to a dance between rupture and repair. In my positive parenting class, I discuss this concept using the visual of a pothole. Living in a downtown area, I often encounter potholes that can disrupt entire streets. Despite our efforts to avoid them, potholes persist, much like ruptures in relationships. Some ruptures are benign, such as momentarily checking a text message during a conversation. However, if left unaddressed, these small ruptures can escalate into larger issues that linger for months or even years. It's crucial to address and repair these ruptures to build and maintain strong relationships. 🐝 Welcome to Be Kind Coaching! 🐝 Parent with support, with parent coach MegAnne Ford. Discover practical parenting strategies and insights. Ready to start your journey? 🌐 https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

Inside this series exploring the four qualities of a secure attachment bond, we're discussing the dance between rupture and repair. Ruptures are mistakes, moments of dysregulation, outbursts, frustration, or anger. These moments are natural and human. In a secure relationship, we come back together and do the repair work, recovering from those ruptures. Therefore, when navigating attachment and building secure attachment, we become curious about the quality of our comfortability with rupture and repair. To remind everyone, attachment theory focuses on the quality of the attachment bond that affects your child's development – mentally, physically, intellectually, emotionally, and socially. Importantly, a caregiver's attachment to the child actually starts long before the child forms an attachment to the caregiver. These attachments develop differently for each person. In my work, platform, classes, and this podcast, we shift your perspective as the parent or caregiver. We elevate the child's perspective because in a secure relationship, we're looking at whether the child has a safe haven (or "safe face to land") to return to after a rupture. Please Listen, Subscribe, Rate, and Comment wherever you listen to podcasts the most 🐝 Welcome to Be Kind Coaching! 🐝 Parent with support, with parent coach MegAnne Ford. Discover practical parenting strategies and insights. 🌐 https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

What is insecure parenting? Let's explore the underlying factors contributing to insecurity in parenting and gain valuable insights into overcoming challenges and fostering a more confident and nurturing approach. Learn from me, a certified parent coach who teaches Positive Parenting Methods and coaches you to create a home environment that you can be proud of! Tune in to uncover practical tips, expert advice, and real-life stories aimed at empowering parents to break free from insecurity and cultivate a more secure and fulfilling relationship with their children. Learn the difference between a punishment and a Consequence.  🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching Website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/      

In this series of videos, we delve into various parenting styles, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of what secure parenting entails. One fundamental aspect highlighted is the establishment of boundaries and limits within the parent-child relationship. These boundaries serve as essential tools in the toolkit of a secure parent, contributing to the development of a healthy and balanced dynamic. By setting clear boundaries and limits, parents create a sense of structure and safety for their children, fostering an environment conducive to emotional security and growth. Through exploration and discussion, we aim to empower parents with the knowledge and skills necessary to cultivate a secure and nurturing parenting approach. IN TRUST Episode 5.28 The secure parent  Episode 5.30 The safe parent Episode 5.32 The soothing parent Episode 5.34 The seeing parent NOT IN TRUST Episode 5.29 The insecure parent Episode 5.31 The unsafe parent Episode 5.33 The unsoothing parent Episode 5.35 The unseeing parent 🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/    

🧠 Let's unveil the truth, uncover the nuances, and debunk common misconceptions between attachment theory and an attachment parenting style. Whether you're a seasoned parent or just beginning your journey, this insightful content empowers you to navigate parenthood with confidence. #AttachmentTheory #AttachmentParenting #BeKindCoaching 🌟   🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

Ponder the realities of the struggles that naturally come with parenting. Through insightful discussions, we shed light on the importance of acknowledging and embracing the challenges, fostering resilience, and nurturing authentic connections within our families. With a special segment where parents engage in transformative exercises from the Clear & Kind Parent Program. It's time to redefine the narrative, let go of unrealistic expectations, and find joy in the beautiful messiness of real, imperfect relationships. Join us on this journey of self-discovery and growth.   Supporting you on your Positive Parenting Journey, empowering you to build lasting, healthy relationships with your kids with classes and group coaching. As a former misunderstood child turned parenting coach. I created the C.L.E.A.R. Method to foster connection for any parent.    🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/    

Today's episode will focus on separating who we are from what we do and discussing how being a parent shapes your identity and the methods you use. I invite you to get comfortable, grab your journal, and let's begin. Welcome to "MegAnne is Not a Parent, But..." the podcast where I, your host MegAnne Ford, a former Early Childhood educator turned positive parenting coach, help parents like you navigate the challenges of dealing with your strong-willed child's difficult behavior. Clients have described me as a blend between Brené Brown and Miss Frizzle from the Magic School Bus, known for bringing awareness and holding space for challenging conversations, making concepts like behavior, relationships, and temperaments easy to understand and implement. If you struggle with your child's loud, dramatic, disruptive, over-the-top behavior and doubt whether a parenting coach can help, especially if you think such coaches are only for "bad parents," then this episode is especially for you. Grab a journal, a cozy blanket, a warm beverage, and enjoy the exploration ahead. Let's start by reading a message from one of my favorite cards, a tool for self-reflection and inspiration, from my friend Jennifer's Oracle deck. The card's message is "Change how you measure," urging us not to solely measure success by our current circumstances or how we got there but to consider who we are becoming.    Start taking action today:  🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/    

Addressing the challenges parents face, acknowledging that feelings of inadequacy often stem from a lack of skills rather than inherent shortcomings. Emphasizing the learning and practice involved in parenting, offering understanding and support to parents navigating the complexities of raising children. I am a former misunderstood child turned parenting coach. I created the C.L.E.A.R. Method to foster connection. Be Kind Coaching https://Bekindcoaching.com

Maternal emotions are real and valuable. What are the nuances of mom guilt? Let's uncover the reality behind it—revealing, relatable, and reshaping our perspectives. Join us for a shame-free journey to empowered motherhood!     🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/    

How can we use our emotions to our benefit? Do you think there are bad and good emotions?  What if we could shift our thoughts about emotions to just allowing them to be messages!   🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

Are there 'Bad' emotions? What would life be like without emotions, and the impacts of emotions on our experiences? Get ready to reframe your perspective, embrace every feeling, and dive into a world without 'bad' emotions!     🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/

Let's challenge the notion of anger as the "bad guy" and advocate for listening to anger cues, just as we heed the signals of hunger, thirst, and sleep as a path to self-discovery and transformation.     🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

Explore the transformative role of self-awareness in personal growth. We reflect on the satisfaction derived from our best efforts and the distinction between change and growth. With a focus on awareness, we uncover blind spots and consider the impact of our upbringing. We'll address the fear often associated with awareness and introduce the concept of the "three interlocking rings." Discover the signs that indicate a need for heightened awareness in your own life and embark on a journey to unlock your true potential.     🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

Dive into the profound world of trauma healing with our podcast as we explore essential books like 'The Deepest Well' by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris,  'Healing Developmental Trauma' by Heller and LaPierre, 'What Happened to You?' by Oprah and Dr. Bruce Perry, 'It Didn't Start With You' by Mark Wolynn, and 'When the Body Says No' by Dr. Gabor Maté "Healing Developmental Trauma" Heller and LaPierre Join us on a journey of understanding, compassion, and transformation. Check out my list of recourses that include the books above Trigger warning: We are working through, from a birds-eye view, what trauma is and its effect on the body.  Listen to your body. You could get triggered, which is normal. You are safe here to take a break and come back. Learning about these things can only propel you forward in life.  The information below serves as a conversation opener and public awareness, NOT a substitution for professional mental health support.   🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

Explore what happens to our bodies when we come in contact with a threat and how this information will help us understand our own reactions to the children in our lives.  Our bodies are actively trying to protect us, but what happens if there really is no threat?  Do you over apologize, have difficulty saying no, are you a people pleaser? Have you ever thought to yourself that your body is keeping you safe? You might be in a state of stress.  How can we grow our awareness of the impact that we have had on our kids? I share a big win from one of my clients inside of C.L.E.A.R. and Kind Parents. Trigger warning: We are working through, from a birds-eye view, what trauma is and its effect on the body.  Listen to your body. You could get triggered, which is normal. You are safe here to take a break and come back. Learning about these things can only propel you forward in life.  The information below serves as a conversation opener and public awareness, NOT a substitution for professional mental health support.   🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

Do you know when you are in freeze mode?  Explore what happens to our bodies when we come in contact with a threat and how this information will help us understand our reactions to the children in our lives.  Our bodies are actively trying to protect us, but what happens if there really is no threat? Trigger warning: We are working through, from a birds-eye view, what trauma is and its effect on the body.  Listen to your body. You could get triggered, which is normal. You are safe here to take a break and come back. Learning about these things can only propel you forward in life.  The information below serves as a conversation opener and public awareness, NOT a substitution for professional mental health support.   🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

Do you know when you are in flight mode? Can you escape the lion? Or is it just a cat? Are you aware when you pick up children in love or anger? Explore what happens to our bodies when we come in contact with a threat and how this information will help us understand our own reactions to the children in our lives.  Our bodies are actively trying to protect us, but what happens if there really is no threat?   Trigger warning: We are working through, from a birds-eye view, what trauma is and its effect on the body.  Listen to your body. You could get triggered, which is normal. You are safe here to take a break and come back. Learning about these things can only propel you forward in life.  The information below serves as a conversation opener and public awareness, NOT a substitution for professional mental health support.   🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/    

Is your child quick to fight you? Are you quick to anger? It might interest you why that is happening.   Trigger warning: We are working through, from a birds-eye view, what trauma is and its effect on the body.  Listen to your body. You could get triggered, which is normal. You are safe here to take a break and come back. Learning about these things can only propel you forward in life.  The information below serves as a conversation opener and public awareness, NOT a substitution for professional mental health support.   🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

Our brain's main focus is to adjunct our bodies to navigate circumstances. If the circumstance becomes dangerous, we become protective so we can survive.  That is when our brain can make assumptions about our environment. Is the animal that is in front of us a tiger or a cat? Trigger warning: We are working through, from a birds-eye view, what trauma is and its effect on the body.  Listen to your body. You could get triggered, which is normal. You are safe here to take a break and come back. Learning about these things can only propel you forward in life.  The information below serves as a conversation opener and public awareness, NOT a substitution for professional mental health support.   🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/    

Do you know what your ACE score is? I will share what ACEs is and share with you my ACE score.   Trigger warning: We are working through, from a birds-eye view, what trauma is and its effect on the body.  Listen to your body. You could get triggered, which is normal. You are safe here to take a break and come back. Learning about these things can only propel you forward in life.  The information below serves as a conversation opener and public awareness, NOT a substitution for professional mental health support. 🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

Listen to MegAnne and Jennine Jacob discuss together what is empathy and how it relates to her work, and her parenting. In her book's introduction, she writes: "I have always felt like an outsider but it wasn't until later in life that I learned I have ADHD. Both my father and my step-father were in the Navy so we moved around a lot adding to the feeling of not fitting in and not belonging. Perpetually being the "new kid" from a young age I had trouble with social situations and always seemed to get it wrong. I never knew what to say, much less how to have conversations and keep friends." This sparked her founding Empathary and began to share the communication skills and methods she's learned that helped her stay successful. I have read and loved Jennine's easy-to-implement book as she really breaks down topics into bite-sized steps. "We're going to start out with mindset tools to help you communicate authentically, even when you run into rough patches, when you get triggered, and when you're dealing with a difficult person. Then we'll go over the communication tools, learn how to ask questions, make people feel seen and heard, collaborate, and find common ground that you can resolve conflict with, and you're going to learn how to express your needs. By the end of this ebook, you will have a good idea of how to communicate with emotional intelligence." Jennine's book "Get What You Need": https://stan.store/empathary/Empathary_store/page/69096 Find Jennine on TikTok at: https://www.tiktok.com/@empathary

VALUE CONNECTION OVER GRADES!   The Podcast interview I had was with Dr. Kimberly Douglass whom I met on TikTok and it was a message I want to deliver right into this community- as it relates DIRECTLY to the message I have shared before. Become empowered in a system that creates a division between you and your child. Crowdfund Book Development by Dr Kimberly Douglass and receive a download of the book Decolonizing Neurodivergence (pdf) Textbook Dr. Kimberly Douglass is the full-time owner of Kimberly Douglass, PhD, LLC. Dr. Douglass and her team are designing a world in which neurodivergent people feel they belong. The team fuses disability advocacy with design thinking. Douglass' team designs digital and paper content, such as courses, ebooks, journals, workbooks and the Neurodivergently Thinking cards. Also, the team offers premium 1-to-1 coaching services. Dr. Douglass and her team design tools that validate the neurodivergent experience. The team's content and services challenge everyday processes that marginalize and shame neurodivergent people. Dr. Douglass became a full-time business owner after working as  staff, peer-reviewed researcher, faculty, and administrator in higher education for over 17 years. She began the advocacy work over 12 years ago, when she became the chief advocate for her Son who is neurodivergent. She has since gotten more in touch with her own neurodivergence. Dr. Douglass is married to Dean Tate and lives outside of Nashville, TN.

Healing is not linear; understanding trauma's impact empowers parents to create a safe and supportive environment for their children. Trigger warning: We are working through, from a birds-eye view, what trauma is and its effect on the body.  Listen to your body. You could get triggered, which is normal. You are safe here to take a break and come back. Learning about these things can only propel you forward in life.  The information below serves as a conversation opener and public awareness, NOT a substitution for professional mental health support.   🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

How does the brain work? And why does it matter in parenting?   🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/    

Co-regulation is a vital aspect of fostering emotional well-being and resilience. The concept of co-regulation is important in maintaining healthy relationships and supporting individuals in managing their emotional states effectively.  But, what does that mean?   🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

  Communication is not always about talking...   Your body is giving you away.     🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

What if your child's behavior was communication instead of your annoyance?   What if your behavior was only communication?   🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

There are four different listening styles (informational, bias, defensive, and active). I'm sure either you've been told this, or you've heard this "you're not listening to me." My inner raging teenager comes out when I think about this phrase.     Can you hear the difference between these two phrases? "You are not listening to me!" Vs "I am not being heard!"   🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

There are four different listening styles (informational, bias, defensive, and active). I'm sure either you've been told this, or you've heard this   "you're not listening to me."   My inner raging teenager comes out when I think about this phrase.   🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

When did your parent-child relationship start? I would like you to think about the moment you discovered that you would be a parent. Be it a pregnancy test, the moment you decided to adopt a child or any other way, you began the process of bringing a child into your life. That was the beginning of your side of the parent-child relationship. What about the child's?   🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

Why do we make assumptions?   Three assumptions I make about every parent.   🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

  Strive for Positive Impact, not Positive Intentions   Feeling Like a Bad Mother?   In those moments, your response can either deepen disconnection or foster repair and connection with your children.   As you navigate these emotions, remember that your choices influence how your children navigate their own challenges and relationships.   Embracing connection over blame and judgment can transform challenging moments into opportunities for growth and understanding.   How can you attune your lens to make a positive impact?   Not just positive intention. "Well, I am doing it because I love them."   This work is deep and sometimes triggering. I am a parent coach who works with parents who want to do better with their children. My mission in life is to help parents feel supported and empowered to break harmful cycles. My programs work through the three stages of awareness, education, and practice through passive classes and active group coaching calls.   🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/      

You are already co-creating your Parenting Manual. Are you happy with it, or would you like to revise it? You can steer clear of power struggles and foster a thriving connection with your child. Explore Carpenter vs. Gardener parenting styles, addressing fears and solving common issues through trust and respect.   🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

How do you connect with your loved ones? Listen actively? To create deeper, more meaningful bonds. Strengthen your relationships by learning how to be engaged and attentive in your interactions with others.     🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

A great talk about the difference between practicing the tools and using the tools.    🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/    

Stop fueling the power struggle with your strong-willed child and regain control, connection, and cooperation this summer. Replace the tools that are fueling the struggle with your strong-willed child. Learn the five most effective love-based steps to bring peace and harmony into your home.   🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

"Does it ever get less intense/easier?" Sometimes, picking your battles is the answer in the moment.    🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

I was asked, "How do I stop yelling?"   🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/  

"Have I ruined my children, 8 and 10, due to so much yelling? Is our relationship fixable?"   Is giving up an option?   Visit the Be Kind Coaching website    

Have you noticed that your child uses the same tools on you as you use with them? Do you like what is being reflected?   🌐 Visit the Be Kind Coaching website https://www.bekindcoaching.com/