#28 The Questions That Keep Parents Up At Night
Hi, Fam!
She's standing at the kitchen counter, eyes welling up: "I'm the only kid in my whole grade without a phone." And just like that, you're the villain in your kid's story. If you've ever felt your resolve crack in real time over something like this, this one's for you. I break down exactly what's happening when your kid pulls out the big emotional artillery — and why agreeing with their feelings doesn't mean you have to cave on the rule. You'll hear the exact words to say when your child pushes back, why phone at "middle school" (or whatever your line is) isn't cruel, it's a gift, and the...
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#27 Parenting Advice When You Need It The Most
Hi, Fam!
What happens when you combine over a decade of parenting coaching, thousands of coaching calls, and modern AI? You get Ask Avital — an AI trained on my parenting philosophy, methods, programs, and real-world coaching experience. In this episode, I show you exactly how it works by testing it on a real parenting question: A mother discovers her 14-year-old secretly scrolling on his phone at 2AM after breaking a family agreement. How should she respond? You'll hear the answer Ask Avital gave, how closely it matches what I would personally say, and why personalized parenting guidance matters...
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#26 Parenting With Boundaries AND Warmth (You don't have to choose)
Hi, Fam!
You don’t need to choose between being a loving parent and a firm one. So many parents leave gentle parenting behind… only to swing too far into coldness, constant correction, exhaustion, and guilt. You start holding boundaries, but suddenly you feel harsh, disconnected, or emotionally distant from your child. In this episode, I break down how to bring warmth back into your parenting — without becoming permissive, anxious, or emotionally overinvolved. We’ll talk about: • Why warmth is a skill (not just a personality trait) • The simple behaviors that instantly make children...
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#25 You Are More Than Your Hormones!
Hi, Fam!
What if one of the most “empowering” trends for women… is actually making us feel more powerless? A recent conversation with one of my students completely stopped me in my tracks. She said: “I feel like a walking bag of hormones.” And it opened up a much bigger conversation about modern hormone culture, cycle syncing, female identity, emotional resilience, and what young women are being taught about themselves. Now to be clear: Hormones are real. PMS is real. Postpartum is real. Perimenopause is real. But somewhere along the way, many women started absorbing the message...
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#24 The Shift Most Parents Never Make
Hi, Fam!
Parenting a 5-year-old and parenting a 15-year-old are completely different jobs. But most of us never consciously make that shift. We keep using the same approach… and slowly, the relationship starts to suffer. In this episode, I’m walking you through the 5 roles every parent needs to move through—from early childhood all the way to raising an independent adult. Because... It’s not just about what you do as a parent. It’s about who you are in each stage. And when you get this right, everything changes— your connection, your influence, and your teen’s future. If you're...
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#23 3 Parenting Mistakes That Pushed My Teens Away
Hi, Fam!
Your teen pulls away… gets rude… wants more freedom… And suddenly parenting feels high stakes in a way it never did before. In this episode, I’m breaking down the 3 biggest mistakes parents make with tweens and teens (ages 10+)—the ones that quietly damage connection, create entitlement, and leave your child more influenced by the world than by you. Because the truth is... Your teenager doesn’t need less from you. They need a different kind of leadership. Inside, you’ll learn: – Why pulling back at the wrong moment can cost you connection – What’s really behind teen...
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#17 If You Don’t Lead Your Kids… Someone Else Will
Hi, Fam!
Ready to step into your role as a confident, inspiring parent? 👉 Join my FREE 5-Day Family Reset Challenge and get clear on the rules, values, and leadership your family needs: There’s a quiet crisis happening in modern parenting… We’ve been told to step back. To not impose. To “just let them be happy.” But when parents step out of leadership, something else steps in. In this episode, I’m breaking down: - Why “happy and healthy” isn’t actually a clear parenting goal - How a lack of vision creates confusion (not freedom) for your kids - The leadership vacuum that...
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#16 5 Phone Rules Every Parent Needs
Hi, Fam!
Ready to feel calmer, clearer, and more confident as a parent? Join the Family Reset—it’s free and will change how you show up at home: If you’ve ever felt like you’re losing control of your child’s phone… you’re not alone. We all know screens, social media, and smartphones are affecting our kids’ mental health — anxiety, sleep, attention, and even their relationships. And yet… most of us still give in. In this episode, I’m sharing: * Why parents *know* screens are a problem… but still struggle to set boundaries * The real reason it feels so hard to say no * And the...
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#15 You're Overthinking Motherhood (Here's Why)
Hi, Fam!
Ready to feel calmer, clearer, and more confident as a parent? Join the Family Reset—it’s free and will change how you show up at home: Parenting today feels heavier than it used to. Not because we care more… but because we’re carrying more. More information. More pressure. More comparison. And somewhere in all of that, many parents lose their confidence. In this episode, I’m sharing what changed for me after raising five children: - What I stopped worrying about - What actually matters - What I would do completely differently if I were starting again. Some of these shifts...
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#14 This Parenting Mistake Is Reniforcing Bad Behavior
Hi, Fam!
Tired of tantrums, power struggles, and repeating yourself? Join my free "Family Reset Workshop" and learn how to create clear rules, calm authority, and real consistency in your home 💛 👉 What if your empathy is actually making things worse? That sounds wrong… especially if you’re trying to be a calm, connected, conscious parent. But there’s a subtle pattern many of us fall into— and once you see it, you can’t unsee it. It’s the reason some behaviors keep repeating… even when you’re doing “all the right things.” In this episode, I’m breaking down: • The...
info_outlineIn this episode you’ll get to listen in on a conversation I had with Rachel Rainbolt from Sage Parenting. Rachel is a coach, writer, podcaster, and advocate of all things gentle parenting, natural homeschooling, and simple living.
We know you’ll get a lot out of this conversation with two mommas who don’t always get it right, who sometimes lose their cools or get overwhelmed, but always try to do what’s best for their ever-changing children and families.
[4:13] Find the overlap between your child’s needs and your concerns and collaborate with them to find a solution that addresses both.
[5:02] Example of overlap.
[6:30] “It feels really great to treat children like actual human beings, deserving of respect, and honoring our own needs and feelings in the process.”
[6:59] Some mistakenly believe this only works for older kids.
[8:18] Sometimes we have unrealistic expectations or have this “template” we try to use. We need to keep our expectations aligned with each unique, individual child.
[10:48] Have grace for yourself...we're not all born as great parents. It takes effort and work.
[11:23] Narrate out loud what's going through your head.
[11:36] We all lose it sometimes. Model what it looks like to ask forgiveness and make repairs.
[13:55] Get yourself out of that fight, flight, or freeze response so you can think and respond instead of reacting.
[14:48] Rachel’s approach to homeschooling.
[16:17] Started out in public school, but it didn't feel right.
[18:27] This is how children naturally learn and develop.
[22:16] When you hold space for your child's preferences & desires, they'll do the same for you.
[25:09] Some parents need a little more structure around their child's education, and that's ok. Find a balance.
[26:52] Relax on the timelines of what they're supposed to learn. don't need to push things so early.
[31:30] Rachel’s approach with screens at home.
[32:52] Don't fear technology. Screens are like a tool or part of the environment.
[37:38] We're all unique, and you have to do what works best for your family.
[40:59] What is the bucket system?
[45:02] Rachel’s approach to minimalism and simple living.
[45:32] We all need to simplify our lives to give us space to work on the things that are most meaningful.
[47:28] Involve your children in conversations about finances.
[50:13] You can bring your kids into money conversations without adding the burdensome or stressful elements of your financial situation.
[53:39] Many necessary life skills aren't learned in school.
[58:17] Keep a list of things that each child wants. As holidays or birthdays approach, revisit the list and ask if there’s anything they no longer want.
[58:43] Give things away to other families/children and allow your children to see the positive effect it has on that family.
If you make it a priority to discover and honor your child's preferences & desires, you’ll find that they'll do the same for you and it will completely change the dynamics of your family!
If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I’d love to hear about your biggest takeaway. Take a selfie of you listening or a screenshot of the show, post it to instagram stories, and tag me @parentingjunkie or feel free to DM me on instagram, I try to reply to as many as I can!
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Links & resources mentioned:
- Rachel’s website, Sage Parenting
- @SageParenting on IG
- Free to Learn by Peter Gray
- The Opposite Of Spoiled by Ron Lieber
Show Notes: https://www.theparentingjunkie.com/47