Mastermind Parenting Podcast
Host Randi Rubenstein offers practical parenting advice for raising strong-willed children, from toddlers to teens. The podcast aims to help parents move away from lecturing and toward collaborative, connected conversations. Each episode provides real, actionable tools to improve communication at home. The core belief is that changing your thinking can transform family dialogue and make interactions more productive.
Episodes
Is Big Tech the New Big Tobacco?
If you’re a human with a phone in 2026, you know how addicting social media can be. Most of us struggle to keep from scrolling too much. I mean…all those doggy reels are just hilarious! Now imagine how hard it is for vulnerable young brains to keep from getting hooked?New lawsuits against the social media giants are confirming what so many of us parents have been saying for years. Big Tech compani
Better Talking Leads to Better “Other Things” with Jeff Hittner
Pack leadership definitely involves reading the room and using your spidey senses when it comes to giving feedback. When your kid or frankly, anyone, acts out of line - how do you talk to them and let ‘em know what’s what?Timing, tone and intention are key!If you try to “teach lessons in the moment, it’s a lecture and the other person absorbs nothing. Plus, when things are heated, it’s really hard
Getting Real About Kids and Screens (with Ash Brandin)
Parents have questions about phones, tablets, video games…essentially all the screen time things.You might ask yourself: What age is too young to give them their own device? How do I get them to turn it off without fighting? How much time is too much?Am I a bad mom if I not only allow, but sometimes even encourage, rotting on a screen when I just need some time to get shit done or be “on break”?It
When Your Kid Is Heading Down A Dark Path (with Lisa Katona Smith)
Finding out your child is heading down the path of drugs or alcohol are some of the darkest days imaginable. What do you do when the person you love the most is self-destructing?My guest this time is Lisa Katona Smith. She’s a teacher, author, and mom who knows all about the fear of seeing a child in the grip of addiction. Fortunately for all of us, when she found the usual advice failing her, Lis
How a Dedicated Dad Helped His Son Transcend A Diagnosis (with Leland Vittert)
We’ve come a long way in understanding how neurodivergence expresses itself in kids, compared to when I became a new mom. But even now, an Autism diagnosis can feel like some of the most dreaded words imaginable to a parent.Can you fathom what it was like for parents in the 1980s?Leland Vittert can. And even though his parents chose not to share his diagnosis with him until his early 20’s, he now
Thanksgiving and Having an Attitude of Gratitude
In this episode I discuss what gratitude really means to me as a mom and a person. I believe the ultimate gratitude practice is believing your strong willed child happened “for” rather than “to” you and I walk you through an exercise about how to do that.Topics: Hedonic Adaptation Gratitude is a practice that can be cultivated and directly links to happiness Gratit
Being a Better Dad is Sexy! (with Jeff Hittner)
Let’s be real. Lots of dads aren’t ready (or willing) to take on their share of responsibility in their families. And for the dads who do want to step up, where are the role models of dads doing their part and showing up as strong and loving pack leaders?Enter Jeff Hittner, leadership and fatherhood coach, and host of the Ambitious Dads podcast.Jeff spent years teaching executives how to lead and
Why Sex Might Feel Like a Chore (with Dr. Rebecca Eudy)
It’s no secret that kids can put a real damper on your sex life. Kids just have so many needs - the feeding, bathing, playdate coordinating…and let’s not forget all the freaking paperwork. Those school forms nearly about killed me with three kids. It seems like a small miracle if there is still desire for your partner after a long thankless day involving all that. My guest, Dr. Rebe
Why Play And Joy Can Feel So Hard For Adults (a convo with Dr. Shawn Hondorp)
Don’t you just love how little kids play so completely? They experience fun and joy without any self-consciousness or worrying about what others might think.But for many of us, this concept can feel elusive and far away as adults. If you grew up in a house where you walked on eggshells, you may not be conditioned for joy and play. I know this has been perplexing for me to think about in my ow
Want Confident Kids? Growing Resilient Kids with Dr. Kate Lund
Disappointment. Rejection. Failing to meet their goals. It’s so tough to watch our kids struggle when they’re feeling the discomfort of disappointment. I often call myself “a fixer in recovery that QUITE often relapses”. I have a joy agenda for the people I love. Sometimes my own discomfort over their discomfort leads to a relapse. I jump into full on fixer mode and forget that the
Do Your Kids Feel Safe Enough to Build Secure Attachments? (with Kirby Fling)
Every time I learn more about Attachment Theory, it feels so eye-opening. It explains so much about me and my Mastermind moms. I hear it when we talk about how we were raised, how we relate to our parents, and how we’ve tried to fill the spaces we feel in our hearts. Building a secure attachment style is so important for who our kids will become in the future. But many of us are out here tryi
What If Your Mom Just Isn’t “Your Person” Anymore?
I’ve got a bite-sized treat of an episode for you this week. I was recently coaching a Mastermind mama who’s struggling with the changing relationship with her own mother. As she changes, her relationship with her mom is changing too. And change is hard and can even feel scary. Especially when it feels like the people closest aren’t necessarily thrilled about the changes we are making in
The Hidden Mind Calling The Shots (with Kirby Fling)
You think you’re parenting with one mind.You’re not.There’s the mind that reads the books and makes the plans. And there’s the other mind—the one running the show when your kid does that thing that makes your jaw clench and chest tighten.Kirby Fling sees this clearly. His Two-Mind Method helps you understand the two versions of yourself that show up every day. The one that wants to be patient. And
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, with Randi and Avery… a must listen for every parent!
I’ve been saying for a long, long time that raising kids in the digital age is like the Wild Wild West! We are all just trying to make the best decisions for our kids with the info we currently have at any given time. And it’s really hard to know what the right decision is when you’re a pioneer parent (as all of us are here - raising kids at a time in human history where tech is causing us to
Where Gentle Parenting has Lost the Plot (a convo with Avital Schreiber Levy)
Gentle Parenting has become a sort of parenting movement over the last decade or so. I’ve been here for more than a hot minute and it’s interesting what I’ve noticed. You see, before Gentle there was Conscious Parenting and before that there was Love and Logic and and and. I think the original founders of these methods were probably drinking the same koolaid I like…we secretly want to ra
You Want Your Kids To Be Seen As “Good Kids”… So What?
We want to raise “good kids.” Kids who are kind. Kids who share. Kids who can handle themselves in a respectable manner when they go over to a friend’s house for dinner. We don’t want our kids to be high maintenance or frankly, bratty.We want to raise kids who can get along in the world, but we also want to raise kids whose behavior shows the world that we did a good job as parents.You know w
Time’s Up Silicon Valley! We, The Parents, Are Taking Back The Power Of Protecting Our Kids Online (With Titania Jordan Of Bark Technologies)
A common anxiety I often uncover with my moms is: Now that I know what I know about the dangers of tech… it just feels too late to change things with my kids. Maybe you read the NYT best seller, Anxious Generation, and… let’s just say, you’re feeling VERY. FLIPPIN’. ANXIOUS. You’re beginning to understand why your kids act like raccoons on meth when it comes to screens - (ipa
Our Review of the Netflix Show Adolescence: Teens, Screens, and Toxic Masculinity
Spoiler alert! Ya’ll probably know that I LOVE a good TV show. A comfy blanket and a cozy watch is a reliable happy place for me. So when my family recommended the Netflix thriller, “Adolescence,” I have to say I was a little resistant. But eventually they convinced me, and I am SO GLAD they did!“Adolescence” is a short 4-episode drama series about a teenage boy accused of murdering a girl in his
Do You Have To Play With Your Kids To Be A “Good Mom”? (with Dr. Shawn Hondorp)
Raising a strong-willed kid is harder. Even draining sometimes. Sitting on the floor and playing with toys felt like the worst to me. I now realize that I found other playful ways to be with my kids… but I still sometimes feel a little guilty about not being a Barbie or Legos kind of mom.So when Dr. Shawn Hondorp invited me on her podcast, The Innovative Therapist, to talk about play an
The Biggest Mistake We Make Around Homework (And what to do instead!)
You want to help your kids succeed in school - that’s a given. School success is a big area of anxiety and worry I often see with parents I coach. Many well-intentioned parents get more and more involved in their kids’ homework - but more involvement often leads to more long term struggles.Becoming the homework helpline might help get your kids’ grades up temporarily. But it also teaches them
What Even Is Pack Leadership? (with Dr. Shawn Hondorp)
You’ve probably heard me talk about pack leadership, and how I believe it’s the holy grail in creating a more peaceful family. Humans learn through stories, and I have SO MANY stories about empowered parents, stronger family connections, and sensitive kiddos who finally feel understood.But sometimes you have to go back to basics, like I did this week with therapist, podcaster, and long-time M
How and (How Not To) Apologize… Better
Apologizing can feel hard. Maybe even harder than we care to admit to ourselves. It’s vulnerable to look at a situation where you may have hurt someone you love…especially when that someone is your own kid. Owning your mistake in a heartfelt way can potentially repair a fractured relationship.Which is why Avery and I had to talk about a very public apology we listened in on, from a
The Invisible Trauma of Why You Might be a Lone Wolf with Ruth Cohn
It might feel like terrible news that building our pack leadership involves going back into our own childhoods. It can feel scary to go back to the “belly of the beast”… after all, you survived your childhood. Who on this God’s green earth would actually choose to look back when you’re so focused on changing cycles and moving forward? When the patterns we’re trying to break involve the o
Similarities Between Strong-Willed Kids and Strong-Willed Horses!
Did you know that the parenting tools you learn on this podcast also work with other strong-willed creatures? I’m chatting with Avery “favorite daughter” Rubenstein this time about pack leadership and what she has learned from “Ben, the strong-willed horse”. I think it’s incredibly helpful to practice the tools you are learning here by applying them to other areas of your life…your work
The Modern Classroom with Rob Barnett (sounds dreamy:)
Y’all probably know I’m not the biggest fan of the way learning happens in most classrooms…and oh, there are so many reasons. I have believed for a long time that traditional education is outdated and needs a ginormous revamp. However, I wasn’t willing to homeschool my own kids.I liked the break and having my days as my own. So year after year, I made a “self-ish” decision when it came to my
Is It Ever Too Late To Change Destructive Patterns?
Is it even possible to continue building your relationship after your birdies leave the nest? Come be a fly on the wall for one of my catch-up calls with my daughter, Avery. We share a hilarious Modern Fam video and recap our winter break family vacation, including an old pattern that made Avery upset and embarrassed. I think you’re going to love our honest conversation about the “un-pretty”
Parents Learn Through Stories, Too!
How exciting is it when you have a conversation that sparks a ton of ideas you want to share?That’s how my daughter Avery and I felt after our chat with Michael DiMartino. Talking about how kids learn through stories got us thinking about how much stories have taught us, both as kids (mostly in her case) and in adulthood (mostly in mine). Our follow-up conversation takes the focus from the ep
Kids Learn Through Stories, With Michael Dimartino, Co-Creator Of Avatar: The Last Airbender
Humans have always learned through stories. It can be easy to forget this fun fact when there are toys and backbacks and shoes covering the floor. AND we still want them to learn morals and values and life lessons. This is where brilliant storytellers like Mike come in.Michael DiMartino’s stories have had a huge impact on my kids, and children around the world. Mike is the co-creator of Avata
Masterminding The Holidays
Oh the pressure of December…SMMSSo. Much. Mom. Stuff. My gift to you this season is two time-tested treats that will help you plan a holiday that’s memorable. (The good kind of memorable of course:)First reminder involves: How to deal with and even shut it down, when judgey relatives are questioning your parenting choices. Next, I’ll remind you of some of my favorite tips for pack
My Take On The Art of Parenting
Recently, I was a guest on “The Art of Parenting” podcast. The host, Jeanne-Marie, asked some great questions and you might even be surprised by some of my answers.We discussed what it means to have a strong-willed child and why I like to use that phrase. She asked me about my approach to helping these sw kids. And of course, we talked about one of my favorite topics to spotlight: Perfor
A Mastermind Parenting Masterclass (with Avery Rubenstein)
My daughter, Avery, is first-gen Mastermind Parenting, (once removed:) . The “once removed” was her description - “the MMP recipe was still being perfected:)”. She’s grown and flown now, but it’s been fascinating to watch her put Mastermind principles into practice. These days she probably teaches me more than vice versa.Avery is on the pod this week to share some wisdom that I thi
Helping Kids Through A Messy Divorce
Divorce is a reality for lots of families, and it’s a gigantic emotional challenge. As you’re struggling to realign your life, you’re also managing a lot of big feelings. You want to make things as easy as possible for your kiddos, but how can you do that when things get messy?How do you help your kids understand what’s happening? How do you support them as they process the fear, sadness, and unce
Conscious Bedtime Stories (with Andrew Newman)
Humans learn through story. It’s been this way for thousands of years. For realz:).And when you’re raising strong-willed kids, no script or tip has ever had the same impact as saying “Hey, remember in that story when...”I think we need to take a step back from memorizing the words of the latest social media parenting professional and get back to simpler times. Dare I say, indigenous time
Helpful Kids Without Power Struggles (a conversation with Michaeleen Doucleff)
Kids are naturally motivated to feel purposeful. In other words, kids want to feel like they bring value to the pack. It’s primal actually. You see, bringing value/ helping out/ feeling as if “these people might be lost without the amazing me and my mad sweeping skillz:)”, are all ways kids feel when they are given purpose. Purpose can be a tiny thing (clearing their plate fr
What Your Kid Might Need More Than a Therapist (a conversation with Michaeleen Doucleff)
I’m a fan of good therapy. But I also see so many moms, who are trying to help their strong-willed ones, in the wrong order imo…they look for a therapist first, before changing anything at home. Well this is what I’m talking about today with our fave author, Michaeleen Doucleff. In part one of this conversation, we discuss why pack leadership seems so natural for some folks, and so elusi
Parenting Through Big Changes and Big Feelings (with Eli Harwood)
Big changes mean big feelings, and as my youngest heads off to college, I’ve been deep in them.I’m so glad I got to talk to psychologist and attachment expert Eli Harwood about this. Eli literally calls herself The Attachment Nerd, and she totally gets it.This one was vulnerable and raw and felt like a therapy session for me. As always, thanks for listening. Head over to Facebook, where you c
Bratty Little Baby Moments and Sneaky Perfectionism
You know those moments, when a little deal feels like a much bigger deal? And even though you tell yourself Don’t sweat the small stuff or Settle down, Sister…You just can’t help it. I call these Bratty Little Baby moments, and guess what? We all have them.Big people. Little people. All the people have Bratty Little Baby moments. Why you may ask? Cuz…Human-ing
What Your Kid Wants You To Understand
Have you ever met someone who is doing the thing you wish “younger you” had known? Recently, I met Esther and wow…Just. Wow. In many ways she reminded me of “younger me” but better. Way. Better. (And with a cool accent to boot:)She’s been a mom on a mission to turn her household around. And she has implemented so much in such a short amount of time - literal lightning speed.&nb
Masterminding Mornings
Getting the kids out the door in the morning…I don’t think most parents would describe this simple daily process as simple.But what if it could be? When I was thinking about what to share with you on the podcast this week, I remembered this resource, and had to share it with you to help simplify the mornings and set your family up for a super successful school year. If you need hel
Does Your Partner Acknowledge All That You Do As A Mom?
You listen to parenting podcasts. You read books. You are a student of how to be the best mom for your kids. You work your tushie off for your kids…maybe even to be the parent you would’ve wanted. I see you. And I know you beat yourself up about the hard moments when you just can’t hold it together anymore. And wouldn’t it be amazing to have a partner that sees all of you? All
Your Kid Received a Diagnosis… Now What?
If you’re looking for support in figuring out the “now what” after diagnosis, you’ve gotta know Yetta Myrick. Yetta has been in the trenches, supporting her son for 21 years, who was diagnosed early with Autism, ADHD, and intellectual disability.When it came to finding stellar support for her child with cognitive and developmental challenges, Yetta had no quit!This often felt like an uphill battle
Outdated Parenting Just Doesn’t Work With 2024 Teens (with Coach Kevin Baker)
Teenage-hood. It’s a loaded topic. It’s a loaded time. Just you wait til this one’s a teenager.Payback’s a bitch - you were a nightmare as a teenager!We turned out fine but the risks are too risky for kids today. Ya’ll have been asking me for teenager resources for forever. The teen years have always been tough. Changing schools, changing bodies, racing hormones. But today’s te
When Your Kid Seems Like An Emotional Rollercoaster (with Michelle Grosser)
Do some days seem like a never-ending emotional rollercoaster living with your strong-willed and/or highly sensitive one? Like no matter what you say or do, they just can’t seem to get it together? On days like these, you might be fighting like hell to stay calm on the outside, but inside your heart is racing and your stomach is tied up in knots. And these days seem way longer than a mer
My Mistakes About Giving My Kids Phones
As a mom, figuring out when to give my kids a phone has been one of the hardest topics to tackle.While there have been conveniences once they got a phone, like being able to know where they are at all times and reach them if I need to, the cons have far outweighed the pros in my family. A phone is the default way lots of kids stay in touch, organize activities, and learn about the world. But
This Game-Changing Sentence That Works Like Magic
My conversations with Michaeleen Doucleff are so much fun that sometimes I forget to hit record!Usually it doesn’t even matter what we talk about, but this time it’s extra good. You know those times when your kid is acting like a little contrarian. You say up, they say down. You say yes, they say no. And around and around and around.Michaeleen has come up with an amazingly simple sentence tha
It’s Never A “Good” Time To Have A Baby Or Start A Business
When you’re in the trenches raising kids, it can feel like the busiest, hardest season of life. Now, imagine trying to start and run a business at the same time? I think my son, Cory, would say that’s low key insane. He’d also hate me claiming to know what he’d say and attempting to use his lingo…whatevs:). And just like it rarely feels like a perfect time to get pregnant but y
Retrain Your Brain, Rewire Your Family
When people join the Mastermind Parenting community, they come seeking answers about the way their children behave. What they usually don’t realize is that they’re not just struggling with “bad” behaviors. They need a space where they can unlearn generations of bad advice, and retrain their thinking around the rewards and challenges of parenting sensitive kids. This week we’re talking about a mom
The Kid Who Was His Worst Self Around Mom
Can we just be real for a minute, and admit that parenting is hard? Kids are wild and wonderful, but their behavior can sometimes be really confusing. That’s never more true than when a kiddo is a delight around one parent, but mean and antagonistic around the other. That’s the situation one of my Mastermind moms faced when she joined us. It’s been a process, for sure, but this week she shared wit
Another Great Conversation with Michaeleen Doucleff, author of Hunt, Gather, Parent
Y’all know that Michaeleen Doucleff is my favorite. Her book, Hunt, Gather, Parent, has become a must-read for my Mastermind parents. Since we first connected we’ve spent hours, on and off the mic, vibing and swapping parenting stories. One story I’ve been dying to get more detail about is the decision Michaeleen made to start a whole school out of her house! It’s a remarkable tale of agency, conf
Spinach in the Spaghetti Sauce (Maybe You Don't Really Need a Parenting Class)
When people find out I’m a parenting coach, they’ll often say they should probably take a parenting class. Now, you know I believe in the value of coaching. But there are lots of everyday opportunities to connect with our kids and teach them how to navigate the world. Stories you read together for fun can be a great source of wisdom if you just know what to look for and reinforce. I call this the
Post Mother’s Day: Some of My Mothering Mistakes
Mother’s Day is so loaded for so many reasons. Now that it’s in the rearview for another year, this is a great time to share some more of my most embarrassing/inspiring mothering mistakes. Embarrassing because they seem painfully obvious in hindsight. Inspiring because they’re a loving reminder from me to you that no parent is perfect. We all want to do better for our kiddos than our parents did f
Spoiler Alert: Your Kid Won't Fail To Launch
When kids don't do simple things for themselves, it's easy to future trip and freak out. But what if you knew that they'd be okay and it will all turn out just fine? What if you could have that reassurance? Would it change how you show up now when you're feeling fed up about them not knowing how to make a hair appointment, make a sandwich, or do their own laundry? If you could drop the panic, what
That's So Gay: Talking To Kids About Hurtful Language
Raising our kids to understand and share our values is a central part of being a parent. But so often when we send them out into the world, they come back using words or acting in ways that conflict with the things we’ve tried to teach them. Recently, a Mastermind mom shared that her six-year-old came home from playing at a neighbor’s house and called something “gay” like it meant “bad.” This reso
I'm So Ugly! How Can You Handle Kids' Insecurities?
When our kids are talking down about themselves, of course our first instinct is to push back. But even though we say “you’re so beautiful,” or “you’re so smart,” or “you’ll get better if you practice,” the message we send is “I’m not listening and understanding your experience.” If you want to know the secret to tackling your kiddo’s insecurities without undermining their agency and self-determin
What If My Kid Seems Oppositional And Defiant?
If you’re a parent with a kiddo who’s constantly angry and acting out, a diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) can seem like an explanation for a lot of disruptive behavior. But what if that defiance and opposition are actually caused by other sensitivity? I’ve worked with so many parents who struggle to understand why their strong-willed kid is lashing out. An ODD diagnosis can seem li
Empowering Children to Participate in Essential Matters at Home (with coach and author Lori Sugarman-Li)
Housework. Homemaking. Chores. Whatever you call it, it’s hard work to maintain a safe, clean house, and it’s made so much harder by the expectations around that work. So many moms, whether they’re employed outside the home or not, find themselves in charge of a lot more of those household tasks than their kids or their partners. If we’re going to change those expectations we have to change the wa
Portrait of Randi As a Young Mom (with Author & Podcaster Kimberly Samson)
Kimberly Samson is the author of F*Ck This, a candid and hilarious collection of essays about the journey through midlife. She’s also one of my oldest friends, who has witnessed a ton of my formative moments as a person and a parent. In this conversation, Kimby shares what motivated her to write a book about the midlife experience and what she’s learned by living through it. She also lifts the cur
Why Following Through on Boundaries is So Hard
Every parent has some version of this story. Your kid crosses a line that’s important to you. You exchange angry words, but eventually you talk it out and repair your rapport. Now you’re stuck with conflicting feelings. You don’t want to cause further disruption to your relationship with your child, but you also know their behavior isn’t likely to change without some consequence. This time, I’m sh
What Your Therapist Really Thinks…
Therapy can be a big help for some people. But for stressed-out parents, healing our old wounds and stepping up for our kiddos often requires a different approach. One of my Masterminders, Dr. Shawn Hondorp, has experienced this disconnect from the inside. Shawn is an experienced clinical psychologist who isn’t satisfied with the tools and techniques of the traditional diagnostic therapy methods.
Getting Your Kid A Label Isn’t Enough
Last week’s conversation about ADHD got my brain firing about what a diagnosis can and can’t do for the parents of a highly sensitive child. Getting that label can be a starting point, but our mental health system doesn’t train medical professionals - or support struggling parents - to understand what those kiddos need to adapt and thrive. Membership Coordinator (and Mastermind Co-parent) Lindsey
Talking With Pediatric Neuropsychologists About ADHD
An ADHD diagnosis can be a welcome answer for parents who are struggling to understand their child’s behavior. But a diagnosis doesn’t come with a user’s manual, and kids especially can have a hard time understanding what all the clinical terms mean for them and their needs. This time I’m in conversation with pediatric neuropsychologists Dr. Katia Fredriksen and Dr. Yael E. Rothman. They’ve writte
The "Do Less" Approach To Raising Confident Kids with Michaeleen Doucleff
We all want our kids to grow up confident and self-sufficient. But by doing too much and protecting our kids from failure, so many well-meaning moms and dads end up discouraging the autonomy they want their kids to achieve. Welcome to the first episode of an ongoing conversation with my friend and fave, Michaeleen Doucleff, author of the phenomenal book Hunt, Gather, Parent. We use real stories fr
Tap Into The Power of Informed Annoyance
No parent loves to admit feeling annoyed by their kids. It’s tempting to dismiss little problems, and try to ignore the frustration they cause inside us. This is extra hard if we’ve experienced gaslighting in the past. If we’ve gotten the message from partners or parents that our emotions aren’t trustworthy, it can be so easy to repeat that pattern and not trust our reactions. But if we pay attent
Pack Leadership: Real Families, Real Change
Emotionally immature parents set us up for lots of challenges in our own role as family pack leaders. One of the most difficult ways that shows up is when our actual kiddos act in ways that echo behavior we endured from emotionally immature grown-ups. This week I invite you to listen in on some coaching I did with two of my amazing Masterminders. They’re making huge strides recognizing the behavio
Breaking The Cycle of Emotionally Immature Parenting
Look out, listener, I have another new book crush, and I can’t wait to discuss her work with you! I’ve recently been captivated by Lindsay C. Gibson and her book Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents. It spoke to so much of my experience with my own parents and their resistance to reflecting on how they raised me, and it also explains the conditioning that so many of my Mastermind parents
Pretending. Performing. Parenting.
If you’ve listened to the podcast, you’ve probably heard me mention how much I love television. Since I was a kid, TV has been a place where I could escape from reality for a little while. But it’s also helped me to understand what kind of family relationships I want, and modeled the kind of parent I want to show up as. I recently rediscovered The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which was a favorite when I
Invisible Mom Jobs are the Real Bottleneck
My mind is on fire with all the things we’re discovering in my new Pack Leadership group. One of our newest Masterminders is experiencing a very familiar kid scenario: pulled in too many directions, never enough time, her energetic daughter is seeking attention by acting out. Usually, I’d send her to our NICE Framework, to help her better understand her daughter’s behavior. But this time, I took a
Parenting in 2024: What’s In and What’s SO Out
We’re coming into 2024 with a whole new perspective on the pack leadership our families need. We’re done performing robotic perfection. We’re rejecting the script, tips, and how-tos that reinforce our feelings of inadequacy. We’re giving ourselves the grace to feel our feelings, and granting ourselves permission to fuck up sometimes. We’re embracing self-awareness, and celebrating our messiness. W
How To Make Parenting Resolutions That Last
It’s a brand new year, and a new opportunity to set goals for ourselves. It’s a chance to work toward being the kind of parent you want to be, and to step up as the pack leader your family really needs. But traditional New Year’s resolutions usually don’t cut it when you’re talking about a lifetime project like parenting. This time we’re resharing an episode that will help you give yourself the to
From Surviving to Thriving in The New Year
We all know that holiday festivities can be stressful. When you’re navigating a sensitive, strong-willed child through extended family get-togethers and seemingly endless days with no schedule or structure, it can be especially nerve-wracking. What your family needs is leadership. The episode we’re resharing this week will give you the tools to step into that pack leader role, set up the structure
Prevent Judgey Relatives from Hijacking Your Holiday
The holiday season is a time for making lovely, warm memories, and nothing pours cold water on holiday cheer faster than other adults judging you for the way your kids behave. This week’s episode is a throwback to one of my most powerful tools to build up your confidence, keep judgment in perspective, and short-circuit the defensiveness before you take it out on your kids. Listen to help you make
How to Survive and Thrive During the Holidays
Even the most joyous holiday events disrupt routines. Getting together with family and friends, sitting down for extra-long meals, and observing rituals and traditions are all out of the ordinary. Of course your kiddos might have a hard time knowing how they’re supposed to behave. They need you to step up as pack leader even more than usual, to set expectations, communicate expectations, and make
A Game Plan for a Happy Holiday Season
The Winter holidays can be a struggle for parents. We want to provide plenty of space for our kids to relax and de-stress. But too little structure can quickly turn into restlessness and boredom and tension. This week we’re listening back to a classic episode that features the timeless wisdom of the sage Lorelai Gilmore. Her example will help you find the courage you need to set better boundaries
Parenting Kids That Don't Always Seem Grateful
Our Mastermind Monthly calls are always eye-opening, but this one was so on point I had to share it with you. In this season that’s so focused on gratitude, it can be especially frustrating when our kiddos don’t understand how fortunate they are. There are all sorts of popular ways to practice gratitude, but what good are they if your child takes their home and family for granted?But acting entitl
But Really... Growing Doesn't Happen Alone
It’s no secret that I love my Mastermind community. The ways we support and challenge each other are just magical. Masterminder Aryn is a perfect example of that. She came to us in total overwhelm, so focused on being available for her family that she couldn’t even let herself close the bathroom door to take a shower. Through honest, vulnerable conversations and lots and lots of empathy, she’s gro
But Really… Breaking Up With Perfectionism
I didn’t know exactly what I was going to talk about with Masterminder Liz, but I just knew it would turn out to be a real and revealing conversation. Like so many of us modern moms, Liz is a recovering perfectionist. We run ourselves ragged trying to get everything right all the time. That’s not sustainable anywhere in life, and it’s especially impossible when it comes to parenting. Liz and I dig
Leading Your Family Beyond “Fairness”
Treating our kids fairly makes a lot of instinctive sense. It’s natural to want everybody to get equal everything. But different kids have different needs. When they all get the same attention and resources, they’ll often wind up with very different outcomes. Effective pack leadership requires an equity approach. We need to see our children as the whole, unique, special humans they are, and t
But Really… Turning Judgment Into Compassion
Judging other parents is so natural, so human, and so not helpful. I can tell you from experience. When you learn a better way to do things, it’s really challenging to not give side-eye to those who haven’t gotten on your level. Which is why I had to have Masterminder Samantha on to tell this story she shared in a recent call.Sam was caught up in a situation where someone else’s kiddo took a tumbl
Hunt, Gather, Parent Your Family: Resolving Sibling Rivalry (Part 2)
Sibling rivalry is such a big topic, you just know my conversation with Michaeleen Doucleff had to be a two-parter. In this second episode, we’re talking about what motivates siblings to fight in the first place: strong societal expectations of tension between siblings, and parental praise that kids can’t help but take as a comparison. We’ll show you a whole different way to imagine the sibling re
Hunt, Gather, Parent Your Family: Resolving Sibling Rivalry (Part 1)
So many folks sign up for coaching or come to my free calls desperate to get their kids to stop fighting with their siblings. When our beloved kiddos are at each others throats, it sends our stress levels through the roof. What if told you that sibling rivalry isn’t inevitable? In fact, the way siblings antagonize each other in our families is almost unheard of in many other cultures.When Michaele
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