#29 When Gentle Parenting Backfires: 5 Mistakes to Avoid

Ever wonder what would happen if your family just unplugged completely? No phones, tablets, TV, or devices - even for just a few hours? While this might sound challenging in today's digital world, my family takes a complete technology break for 25 hours every weekend. What started as a religious practice has become the cornerstone of our family connection, creating space for what truly matters. In this glimpse into our screen-free time, I share: - What actually fills those hours when Netflix isn't an option - How kids naturally return to imaginative play without prompting - The simple activities that create deeper family bonds - Why meaningful conversations happen more easily without digital distractions This isn't about suggesting everyone needs a full day unplugged or imposing strict rules. It's about sharing practical ideas you might adapt for your own family - even if it's just a screen-free dinner or Sunday morning. The surprising truth is that when screens go away, something beautiful happens. Children play differently. Parents connect more deeply. And time somehow feels both slower and more valuable. Whether you're looking to implement a brief weekly tech break or simply curious about building stronger family bonds, these practical insights might inspire your own version of sacred family time. Want to reclaim your family time from screens? Join parents worldwide in the Studio at https://hifam.com/studio and discover simple ways to create tech boundaries that strengthen connection without daily battles. 

Everyone’s talking about Adolescence on Netflix — toxic masculinity, Andrew Tate, and the crisis in teen boys. But what if we’re all looking in the wrong direction? In this episode, I react to Adolescence and the public conversation around it — and I share a different perspective on what’s really going on with boys today.  You’ll hear: - Why I believe the current narrative is missing the mark - What Adolescence got right — and what it left out - The uncomfortable truth we don’t want to face as parents - And the one question we should be asking, but aren’t If you’re a parent, educator, or just someone worried about where things are heading — this one’s for you. 🔗 Ready to build the kind of family culture that protects kids from cultural chaos? Join us in The Studio → https://www.hifam.com/studio 

Our culture teaches kids to be fragile. I'm here to show you how to do the opposite. If you want strong, confident, emotionally stable kids who don't crumble at every slight, you need to raise them differently — and it starts with you. In this episode, I break down: ⚡ How to move past endless pity parties and teach real accountability. ⚡ Why endless empathy backfires — and what your child actually needs. ⚡ The 2 questions every child must ask when insulted (game changer). ⚡ How to teach your kids to laugh, let go, and stay cool under fire. Fragile kids grow into fragile adults. Let's not let that happen. Let’s raise humans who are unshakable, unvictimized, and unstoppable. 💥 Want to go deeper?  Doors to the Studio are open until May 1st, you still have time to join and raise strong, capable, resilient kids together! https://hifam.com/studio Ready to become mentally tough yourself? Join the waitlist for Alchemize - https://hifam.com/alchemize  

🔥 Join the Studio while the doors are open: https://hifam.com/studio "I just feel like my kids don't take me seriously anymore." If you've found yourself whispering this to a friend, you're not alone. The gap between gentle parenting ideals and your daily reality might be wider than you think. In this episode, I'm breaking the silence on what happens when well-intentioned approaches slide into permissiveness - and why your children might be the ones paying the price. Discover the five hidden traps catching even the most conscious parents, undermining your authority without you realizing it. These subtle shifts aren't just frustrating for you; they're creating patterns that could follow your children into adulthood. But! The path back to confident leadership doesn't mean abandoning warmth or connection. Parents who've implemented these changes report something surprising: their children seem not just better behaved, but actually happier and more secure. 

🔥 Join the Studio while doors are open: https://hifam.com/studio Is your child shocked when they don't get exactly what they want? The entitlement epidemic is spreading, and it's not about what you can afford—it's about the mindset you're cultivating. I'll share 8 practical strategies to raise grateful children in a world designed to make them want more, including: - The unexpected reason saying "no" actually helps your child - Why too many choices overwhelms their developing brain - The dangerous "hedonic treadmill" that's breaking their happiness meter Whether your child melts down over the wrong flavor ice cream or expects instant gratification for every desire, this video provides the confidence to parent against the cultural current. The good news is that you can raise a child who appreciates what they have without depriving them of life's joys.

🔥 Join the Studio: https://hifam.com/studio while doors are open (and get EARLY BIRD pricing while it lasts) "Who are you to judge?" - the phrase paralyzing parents everywhere. I used to tiptoe around my own values, terrified of being labeled "judgmental." But here's the uncomfortable truth: if YOU don't guide your child's moral compass, TikTok and their peers will. This isn't about control. It's about inheritance.  In this episode, I expose the dangerous myth of "neutral parenting" and give you 5 powerful ways to confidently guide your children without becoming the dictator you fear. Your child doesn't need a chauffeur who stays silent on life's biggest questions. They need a coach who's cracked the code on building a meaningful life. The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt - https://amzn.to/4cELyYc 

🔥 Join the Studio: https://hifam.com/studio while doors are open (and get EARLY BIRD pricing while it lasts) 🔥 Get the accompanying PDF for this video: https://hifam.com/rebel-pdf Is teenage rebellion really inevitable? What if everything we've been told about modern parenting is actually CAUSING the problem? Controversial truth: children aren't rebelling against boundaries—they're rebelling against the LACK of them. As a mother of five, I've discovered why today's "hands-off" parenting approach is backfiring spectacularly. Yet… What's the alternative? Why do some teenagers naturally resist peer pressure while others fall for every trend? In this video I share a powerful 3-step approach that transforms how your children view your guidance. The secret isn't controlling your kids—it's building something they genuinely want to be part of. Curious how to become the trusted guide your family needs? Listen now to discover what modern parenting experts won't tell you. 

🔥 Get the Reclaim Play Course here: https://reclaimplay.com/course (so you're kids are busy playing independently instead of on screens)! 🔥 Join the Studio: https://hifam.com/studio while doors are open (and get EARLY BIRD pricing while it lasts) Is it even possible to avoid materialism in today's world? Or are we trapped in a cycle that's turning our children into entitled consumers? "Why can't I have it? You never buy me anything!" "This is boring already." "Is that all I'm getting?" Sound familiar? These phrases haunt parents everywhere, leaving us wondering: Where did we go wrong? Why does nothing ever seem enough? I analyzed dozens of viral "what I got my child" TikTok hauls and saw why even loving, well-intentioned parents are creating a generation that struggles with gratitude. "Maybe if I get them this ONE more thing, they'll finally be happy..." "Am I a bad parent if I don't buy what their friends have?" "Why does Christmas joy fade so quickly now?" These thoughts aren't your failure - they're symptoms of a larger problem affecting families across all income levels. Whether you're drowning in toy clutter, exhausted by constant "I wants," or just trying to raise kids with healthy values in a materialistic world, this episode offers practical wisdom without judgment. 

🔥 Join the Studio: https://hifam.com/studio while doors are open (and get EARLY BIRD pricing while it lasts) Get the FREE Accompanying Worksheet - https://hifam.com/commonsense-values-pdf Ever notice how some of today's most popular parenting advice leaves you feeling more uncertain and your kids more entitled? What if there's a more effective way to raise resilient children who actually listen? As a mom of five, I've been there—trying all the "right" techniques but still struggling. This episode is for every parent who's tired of walking on eggshells in their own home. This will challenge everything you thought you knew about modern parenting. Don't miss it—this could be the parenting breakthrough you've been searching for. 

"I don't restrict screen time so my kids aren't obsessed with it." "I don't like limiting my kids from anything." "It helps them self-regulate." These popular claims are spreading rapidly across social media. But does removing limits actually create more balanced children, or is it simply a convenient way to avoid difficult boundaries? In this episode, I examine the flawed logic behind the "no limits" approach and what screen use actually does to developing brains. I explore: - Why the "forbidden fruit" theory about restrictions doesn't hold up to scrutiny - The false equivalence between screen time and food restrictions - The uncomfortable truth about why many parents avoid setting boundaries - What research actually tells us about screen time's impact on development - The alternative solution most parents aren't aware of (that doesn't involve screens OR constant parent attention) Beyond trends and convenient solutions lies the truth about what children truly need to thrive. I offer practical alternatives that benefit both overwhelmed parents AND developing children - no guilt, just better options.  ____________________ 📌 Ready to help your child play independently for HOURS without screens? Get my play course: https://reclaimplay.com/course 📌 Transform your family culture with like-minded parents in The Studio - where we tackle real challenges with evidence-based solutions: https://hifam.com/studio