Libsyn Directory

163. Parenting with Purpose: Trusting Your Inner Wisdom in Difficult Moments

Release Date: 04/09/2025

You Always Have a Choice: Reclaiming Agency as a Co-Parenting Mom (Encore)

Co-Parenting with Confidence

In this encore episode, I’m talking about something that quietly shapes how we show up as moms every single day: choice. So often, I hear women say, “I had no choice,” or “I had to,” especially in co-parenting and high-conflict situations. But the truth is, we always have a choice — even when none of the options feel easy. I break down how our brains work under stress, why we default to reaction mode, and how learning to pause gives us access to real agency. I walk you through the three choices that are always available to us: accept, change, or leave — and what each of those...

Creating Calm and Stability During Co-Parenting Holidays (Encore)

Co-Parenting with Confidence

The holidays after divorce can feel heavy, emotional, and overwhelming — and I know that personally. In this encore episode, I talk about how we can create more calm, stability, and intention during the holiday season, even when co-parenting feels challenging. I share why waiting until conflict shows up is often too late, and how choosing growth, compassion, and preparation before the holidays arrive can completely change how we experience them. I open up about my own grief around holiday expectations, how I’ve learned to hold sadness and gratitude at the same time, and why being...

Stop People-Pleasing and Start Setting Loving Boundaries (Encore)

Co-Parenting with Confidence

In this encore episode, I’m diving into one of the most essential skills I’ve had to develop in my own co-parenting journey: setting boundaries. So many of us were raised to prioritize keeping the peace and making others comfortable, even at the expense of our own emotional wellbeing. Over time, that leads to resentment, burnout, and feeling like a doormat. Today, I talk about how I learned to recognize those patterns in myself and how boundaries became a loving, empowering tool rather than something harsh or defensive. I walk through the difference between internal and external...

Moving Past Toxic Positivity and Into Real Confidence (Encore)

Co-Parenting with Confidence

In this encore episode, I’m diving into the real differences between positive thinking and toxic positivity, and why learning to embrace the full spectrum of emotions is essential for co-parenting with clarity, compassion, and confidence. So many of us have been told to “look on the bright side,” “stay positive,” or “just get over it,” especially after divorce. But none of that helps us heal. In fact, it often makes the hard moments feel even heavier. I share how I approach positive alignment in my own life and with my clients—rooted not in denial or forced optimism, but in...

What Five Years of Meditation Have Taught Me About the Power of Stillness

Co-Parenting with Confidence

Five years ago, I started meditating simply to quiet my mind. What I didn’t realize was that I was building something much deeper — a daily conversation with the divine, a foundation of self-trust, and a regulated nervous system grounded in the present moment. In this episode, I share what five years of consistent practice have taught me: how stillness strengthens us to meet life as it comes, how repetition heals our systems from the inside out, and how the simple act of showing up — every single day — transforms who we are. The biggest lesson? Whatever we focus on is what we...

From Reaction to Regulation: Choosing How You Show Up

Co-Parenting with Confidence

In this episode, Mikki Gardner explores what it really means to change from the inside out. So often, we think transformation happens when something outside of us shifts — a partner, a job, a child’s behavior — but lasting change always begins with self-regulation. Mikki breaks down the connection between our mind, body, and emotions, showing how awareness becomes the bridge to choice. You’ll learn how to strengthen your self-regulation “muscle,” recognize when you’re operating from reactivity, and return to calm so you can lead yourself — and your relationships — with more...

From Stuck to Still: Reimagining Your Relationships from the Inside Out

Co-Parenting with Confidence

After a season of change and messy transitions, Mikki returns to the mic with a powerful new direction for the podcast. In this solo episode, she opens up about navigating her own life shifts and why thinking our way out of relationship struggles doesn’t work. Mikki explores the three key paths we face when relationships feel stuck — repair, release, and re-imagine — and why true clarity comes from nervous system regulation, self-trust, and inner stillness. Whether you’re questioning a marriage, navigating co-parenting dynamics, or simply ready to stop looping through the same...

Breaking Free from Conflict with a Difficult Ex (Encore)

Co-Parenting with Confidence

Conflict after divorce is one of the hardest challenges to navigate—especially when you’re co-parenting with a difficult ex. I know firsthand how overwhelming it can feel to avoid conflict on the outside, only to create even more of it inside yourself. That’s why in this episode of Co-Parenting with Confidence, I’m breaking down what conflict really is, the hidden patterns that keep us stuck, and the third option we often miss when we feel trapped between speaking up or staying silent. I share insights from Jason Gattis’ book Getting to Zero along with my own journey of learning to...

Take Back Your Power: How Thoughts Shape Co-Parenting (Encore)

Co-Parenting with Confidence

Today we continue our look back at some of the most popular episodes of Co-Parenting with Confidence. In this encore episode, I share one of my favorite truths: your feelings don’t come from your ex, your circumstances, or the outside world—they come from your thoughts. When I discovered this, it completely shifted how I showed up as a mom and co-parent. Understanding that I’m not at the mercy of anyone else has been both liberating and empowering, and I want the same freedom for you. I’ll walk you through how our thoughts create our feelings, how those feelings drive our actions,...

169. Empower Yourself in Co-Parenting: The Connection Between Thoughts and Feelings (Encore)

Co-Parenting with Confidence

In this encore of episode #2, Mikki explores the emotional challenges faced by co-parents and emphasizes the importance of understanding the origins of our feelings. She discusses how our thoughts shape our emotions and actions, empowering listeners to take control of their emotional responses. Mikki introduces tools such as Byron Katie's four questions to help individuals reframe their thoughts and create positive change in their co-parenting relationships. What You’ll Learn: Understanding that feelings stem from our thoughts, not external circumstances. We have the power to change our...

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In this episode, we explore how tuning into your inner wisdom and core values can be your greatest guide in parenting and co-parenting — especially during times of conflict or stress. When emotions run high, it’s easy to react rather than respond. But by reconnecting with your deeper sense of self and what truly matters, you can parent from a place of clarity, confidence, and calm.

We’ll discuss practical ways to cultivate self-trust, regulate your nervous system, and make decisions that align with your values, even in challenging situations. Whether you’re co-parenting after divorce or navigating everyday parenting struggles, this episode will help you stay grounded and lead with intention.

Key takeaways to help you stay grounded and intentional:

Your Inner Wisdom is Your Greatest Guide – The answers are already within you. Pause and ask, What kind of parent do I want to be in this moment?
Regulation Before Reaction – A dysregulated nervous system leads to reactive parenting. Breathe, ground yourself, and respond from clarity instead of stress.
Values Over Ego – Parenting challenges can trigger fear or the need to "win." Shift your focus to love, patience, and wisdom rather than control.
Detach from Drama, Focus on What You Can Control – You can’t change your co-parent’s behavior, but you can control your own energy and responses.
Emotional Independence is Key – Your child thrives when you model emotional stability. Their well-being is shaped by your regulation, not external circumstances.
Decision-Making from Integrity – When making parenting choices, ask:
* Does this align with my core values?
* Will this serve my child’s emotional well-being in the long run?
Repair Over Perfection – You won’t always get it right, and that’s okay. Model repair by taking responsibility, apologizing if needed, and reconnecting with love.

Parenting is not about getting it perfect — it’s about showing up with intention, emotional steadiness, and trust in yourself.

Which of these resonates with you the most?

I am always here to help you get clarity on the next step in your life, whether that is making a big relationship change, shifting your parenting, or determining what support you need. Use this link to book a Breakthrough Call with me to create your roadmap to your next steps.
https://calendly.com/coachwithmikki/co-parent-breakthrough-call

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with anyone who might need a fresh perspective on co-parenting!

For more information go to my website here: https://mikkigardner.com/podcast/

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