Episode 357: Can Kids CHOOSE To Act Differently When They're in Yuck?
Release Date: 08/28/2025
Episode 365: Stop Micronagging
Your Parenting Long Game
https://rachel-bailey.com/365It's incredibly exhausting to feel like a broken record, constantly reminding your kids to get ready, start homework, or get off of their device. And these constant reminders, or "micronags," can reduce your influence and impact your relationship. Fortunately, there is another way to motivate more responsible behavior. In this episode, you'll learn: Why micronagging becomes the default, even when we don’t want to do it The real reason kids don’t follow through the first time, and why it isn’t defiance Three practical steps to replace reminders...
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Episode 364: When Your Child Is Disrespectful... Say Less
Your Parenting Long Game
When your child rolls their eyes, snaps “You’re so annoying,” or yells “Whatever!”, it’s natural to jump in with, “Don’t talk to me that way!” or “That’s unacceptable.” You want to teach them to be respectful... but those reactions usually only make situations worse. In fact, the best thing to do when your child is disrespectful is to do less. In this episode, you'll learn: Why doing less is not "letting them get away with it" and not the same as being weak, passive or permissive How to stay grounded and model regulation instead of reacting to your...
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Episode 363: How We Often Prevent Children's Growth (And How to Fix It)
Your Parenting Long Game
As parents, so many of our decisions in the moment are focused on keeping the peace, calming the meltdown, protecting our nerves. But while that might reduce drama in the short term, it often prevents our children from developing the confidence and resilience they need for long-term success. In this episode, you'll learn why discomfort is essential for growth and how to respond in those hard moments without rescuing, over-explaining, or giving in. In this episode, you'll learn: The hidden ways we unintentionally block our child’s resilience by avoiding discomfort Why discomfort is not...
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Episode 362: Your Child Can Focus on Things They Enjoy... Why Can't They Unload the Dishwasher?
Your Parenting Long Game
Have you ever wondered how your child can spend hours building a virtual world… yet when you ask them to do any daily task, they act like it's torture? In this episode, I explain the REAL reason your child resists everyday tasks and why it has nothing to do with laziness, disrespect, or lack of motivation. Once you understand how the brain responds to stimulation and Yuck, you’ll be able to shift from fighting your child’s resistance… to understanding it and leading them through it. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why your child’s brain sees boring tasks as “dangerous” and...
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Episode 361: A Quick Tip to Stop Responding in a Way You Regret
Your Parenting Long Game
http://rachel-bailey.com/361When our kids resist, melt down, or push back, our instinct is to get them to calm down or cooperate...fast. We talk more, repeat rules, and try to convince them to “get it together.” But the more urgent we become, the more our kids resist and the harder everything feels. Fortunately, there a quick shift can help you respond more effectively, and in a way that you don't regret. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why urgency fuels kids' resistance (and why it’s so hard to stop being urgent in the moment) How to recognize when your own fight-or-flight...
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Episode 360: When Your Child Says That Coping Strategies "Don't Work"
Your Parenting Long Game
When our kids are upset, we often suggest strategies to help them calm down or manage tough situations—like taking deep breaths, counting to ten, or breaking down assignments into smaller steps. But when those strategies don’t instantly erase the discomfort, both kids (and parents!) often conclude that “nothing works.” In this episode, you’ll learn: How to assess whether a strategy really “works” or not (so kids stop insisting that nothing works!) A powerful exercise you can try with your child to help them build tolerance for discomfort Simple ways to introduce the idea of...
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Episode 359: Supporting SIBLINGS of Kids With Big Emotions
Your Parenting Long Game
When you're raising a child with big emotions, it’s natural for an "easier" sibling to get less of your time and attention. But a more flexible child may pay a quiet price -- giving in to avoid conflict, hiding their feelings, or believing they matter less. Chances are, you've noticed that but aren't sure what to do. Fortunately, a few small shifts can make a big difference in how they view themselves (and will can make you feel less guilty). In this episode, you’ll learn how to: Spot the signs that an "easier" child is struggling Show them that they matter (even if you've...
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Episode 358: If You Want Negative Behaviors and Attitudes to Stop, You Must Know This
Your Parenting Long Game
If you’re raising a child with big emotions, you know how draining it can be when they melt down, argue, refuse to cooperate, or fall apart after the smallest setback. It’s easy to assume these behaviors are defiance, disrespect, or laziness… but most of the time, they’re actually signs that your child is missing something that you can provide! In this episode, you’ll learn: The two main sets of skills kids with big emotions often lack How to recognize behaviors that signal a missing skill rather than misbehavior Why addressing missing skills reduces drama now and builds your...
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Episode 357: Can Kids CHOOSE To Act Differently When They're in Yuck?
Your Parenting Long Game
Many kids with big emotions have big reactions when things don’t go their way. They may yell, slam doors, roll their eyes, or even say disrespectful things when they are upset. And while it’s natural for parents to think that our children are choosing to be rude or defiant, something else is actually happening instead. In this episode, you’ll learn: What's going on in the brain that explains why Yuck behaviors are not a conscious choice Why this is NOT an excuse for negative behavior How kids can learn to handle their “Yuck Urge”… and how this builds their confidence...
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Episode 356: How To Make Sure Connection Works (Especially With Sensitive Or Anxious Children)
Your Parenting Long Game
You’ve heard how important it is to have a strong connection with your children. But when we are raising kids who are anxious or sensitive, sometimes our attempts to connect with them are more about fixing a problem than about making a genuine connection… and they feel that! The good news is, one little change can improve your influence and help your child handle their uncomfortable moments with less stress (for them) and less exhaustion (for you). In this episode, you’ll learn: What genuine connection looks like and sounds like How this strong parent-child connection SAVES you...
info_outlineMany kids with big emotions have big reactions when things don’t go their way. They may yell, slam doors, roll their eyes, or even say disrespectful things when they are upset. And while it’s natural for parents to think that our children are choosing to be rude or defiant, something else is actually happening instead.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
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What's going on in the brain that explains why Yuck behaviors are not a conscious choice
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Why this is NOT an excuse for negative behavior
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How kids can learn to handle their “Yuck Urge”… and how this builds their confidence rather than eroding it
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FREE RESOURCE: Understanding the Yuck Curve
Other free resources