Ep. 147: What Behavior Really Is

Healing comes in all forms, including on farms, with horses, and of course, in relationship. My guest this week, Sara Sherman, is a graduate of the Baffling Behavior Training Institute’s Professional Immersion Program and the founder of Dandelion NeuroRelational Family Services in Minnesota. Sara and I have a delightful chat about what it means to bring relational healing to kids and families and how we can (and must!) think outside the box.Read the full transcript at: RobynGobbel.com/neurorelationalProfessionals who work with parents of kids with big, baffling behaviors!Join us for Reframing Resistance: Supporting Parents and Caregivers thru the Lens of Relational Neuroscience.See the website for all details and to register!RobynGobbel.com/ReframingResistance Check Out All Robyn's Free Resources!You can download all sorts of free resources, including webinars, eBook, and infographics about topics such as lying, boundaries, and co-regulation!RobynGobbel.com/FreeResources :::The All-About-Me workbook will help your child grow their owl brain and develop ways to calm their watchdog and possum brain. 24 page, full-color, instant download at RobynGobbel.com/store :::Grab a copy of my book Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors robyngobbel.com/bookJoin us in The Club for more support! robyngobbel.com/TheClubApply for the Baffling Behavior Training Institute's Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With) robyngobbel.com/ImmersionFollow Me On:FacebookInstagram Over on my website you can find:Webinar and eBook on Focus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior (FREE)eBook on The Brilliance of Attachment (FREE)LOTS & LOTS of FREE ResourcesOngoing support, connection, and co-regulation for struggling parents: The ClubYear-Long Immersive & Holistic Training Program for Parenting Professionals: The Baffling Behavior Training Institute’s (BBTI) Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With)

{Replay of Episode 169 from March 2024} Parenting with co-regulating and seeing below our kids behaviors is actually a privilege we rarely talk about. It’s always a privilege, but especially when we consider different marginalized and oppressed identities that a lot of kids- and those of you listening- intersectionally hold. In this episode, you’ll learnThe definition of privilege (it is NOT a criticism)The privilege of safety for folks with histories of traumaThe privilege of safety for folks with other marginalized and oppressed identitiesHow this relates to parenting Resources mentioned in this podcast:Mr. Chazz https://www.mrchazz.com/https://www.instagram.com/mrchazz/Yolanda Williams & Parenting Decolonizedhttps://www.instagram.com/prntgdcolonized/What Happened to You? By Bruce Perry & Oprah WinfreyRead the full transcript at:RobynGobbel.com/privilegeProfessionals who work with parents of kids with big, baffling behaviors!Join us for Reframing Resistance: Supporting Parents and Caregivers thru the Lens of Relational Neuroscience.See the website for all details and to register!RobynGobbel.com/ReframingResistance Check Out All Robyn's Free Resources!You can download all sorts of free resources, including webinars, eBook, and infographics about topics such as lying, boundaries, and co-regulation!RobynGobbel.com/FreeResources :::Grab a copy of my book Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors robyngobbel.com/bookJoin us in The Club for more support! robyngobbel.com/TheClubApply for the Baffling Behavior Training Institute's Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With) robyngobbel.com/ImmersionFollow Me On:FacebookInstagram Over on my website you can find:Webinar and eBook on Focus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior (FREE)eBook on The Brilliance of Attachment (FREE)LOTS & LOTS of FREE ResourcesOngoing support, connection, and co-regulation for struggling parents: The ClubYear-Long Immersive & Holistic Training Program for Parenting Professionals: The Baffling Behavior Training Institute’s (BBTI) Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With)

What do you do when your child lives part-time in a home where regulation, connection, and felt safety aren't present? In this episode, I talk with Sybil Cummin, a therapist specializing in working with families navigating coercive control. Sybil shares practical guidance for showing up as a steady, safe presence for your child, even when the other parent’s home feels unpredictable or unsafe.In this episode, you’ll learn:What coercive control is and how it impacts both children and the parent trying to co-regulate.How to offer a felt sense of safety and connection, even when transitions are rocky.Why parents need safe spaces and support when navigating systems that require co-parenting with an unsafe partner.Resources mentioned in this podcast:Rising Beyond PC! - Sybil's WebsiteRead the full transcript at: RobynGobbel.com/coercivecontrolProfessionals who work with parents of kids with big, baffling behaviors!Join us for Reframing Resistance: Supporting Parents and Caregivers thru the Lens of Relational Neuroscience.See the website for all details and to register!RobynGobbel.com/ReframingResistance Check Out All Robyn's Free Resources!You can download all sorts of free resources, including webinars, eBook, and infographics about topics such as lying, boundaries, and co-regulation!RobynGobbel.com/FreeResources :::The All-About-Me workbook will help your child grow their owl brain and develop ways to calm their watchdog and possum brain. 24 page, full-color, instant download at RobynGobbel.com/store :::Grab a copy of my book Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors robyngobbel.com/bookJoin us in The Club for more support! robyngobbel.com/TheClubApply for the Baffling Behavior Training Institute's Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With) robyngobbel.com/ImmersionFollow Me On:FacebookInstagram Over on my website you can find:Webinar and eBook on Focus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior (FREE)eBook on The Brilliance of Attachment (FREE)LOTS & LOTS of FREE ResourcesOngoing support, connection, and co-regulation for struggling parents: The ClubYear-Long Immersive & Holistic Training Program for Parenting Professionals: The Baffling Behavior Training Institute’s (BBTI) Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With)

Part of why you keep listening to this podcast is for parenting tools and strategies, right?? So, what do we do when it feels like nothing is working?!What’s really going on when parenting tools feel useless and you want to shout “THIS ISN’T WORKING?!In this episode, you’ll learn:Why parenting tools “work” when they come from connection, not protectionWhat to ask yourself when it seems like nothing helps anymoreHow to know if your child’s needs have outpaced the support you can give on your ownResources mentioned in this podcast:When Your Nervous System is Fried InfographicMini Pep Talk for When You Feel Like You're Failing {EP 220}Read the full transcript at: RobynGobbel.com/toolsProfessionals who work with parents of kids with big, baffling behaviors!Join us for Reframing Resistance: Supporting Parents and Caregivers thru the Lens of Relational Neuroscience.See the website for all details and to register!RobynGobbel.com/ReframingResistance Check Out All Robyn's Free Resources!You can download all sorts of free resources, including webinars, eBook, and infographics about topics such as lying, boundaries, and co-regulation!RobynGobbel.com/FreeResources :::Grab a copy of my book Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors robyngobbel.com/bookJoin us in The Club for more support! robyngobbel.com/TheClubApply for the Baffling Behavior Training Institute's Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With) robyngobbel.com/ImmersionFollow Me On:FacebookInstagram Over on my website you can find:Webinar and eBook on Focus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior (FREE)eBook on The Brilliance of Attachment (FREE)LOTS & LOTS of FREE ResourcesOngoing support, connection, and co-regulation for struggling parents: The ClubYear-Long Immersive & Holistic Training Program for Parenting Professionals: The Baffling Behavior Training Institute’s (BBTI) Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With)

I know- sometimes it feels impossible to feel delight toward your child. I get it! BUT! If you can find even micro-moments of delight, it can be very powerful for both you and your child. In this episode, you'll learn:How is delight related to secure attachmentThe science behind why it’s sometimes very hard to find delight in kids with vulnerable nervous systems How to intentionally look for and pause in moments of delightWhy delight doesn’t just help your child, but your nervous system tooResources mentioned in this podcast:Titrating Connection- Oppositional Series Part 4 {EP 159}Read the full transcript at: RobynGobbel.com/delightProfessionals who work with parents of kids with big, baffling behaviors!Join us for Reframing Resistance: Supporting Parents and Caregivers thru the Lens of Relational Neuroscience.See the website for all details and to register!RobynGobbel.com/ReframingResistance Check Out All Robyn's Free Resources!You can download all sorts of free resources, including webinars, eBook, and infographics about topics such as lying, boundaries, and co-regulation!RobynGobbel.com/FreeResources :::Grab a copy of my book Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors robyngobbel.com/bookJoin us in The Club for more support! robyngobbel.com/TheClubApply for the Baffling Behavior Training Institute's Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With) robyngobbel.com/ImmersionFollow Me On:FacebookInstagram Over on my website you can find:Webinar and eBook on Focus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior (FREE)eBook on The Brilliance of Attachment (FREE)LOTS & LOTS of FREE ResourcesOngoing support, connection, and co-regulation for struggling parents: The ClubYear-Long Immersive & Holistic Training Program for Parenting Professionals: The Baffling Behavior Training Institute’s (BBTI) Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With)

When your child’s behavior leaves you feeling confused, frustrated, or even hopeless, staying curious might be the last thing on your mind. But curiosity is actually SO COOL! It’s both a parenting strategy AND a nervous system state. In this episode, we’ll explore how to access curiosity, even when behavior makes no sense, and how that curiosity helps us find the path forward.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why curiosity is a sign your owl brain is online, and how to use curiosity to invite your owl brain back when it’s notA powerful question to shift your lens from “what’s wrong?” to “what’s needed?”How baffling behavior can reveal clues about what regulation, safety, or connection your child is missing?Resources mentioned in this podcast:Not flipping your lid...when your kid flips theirs {EP 10}Read the full transcript at: RobynGobbel.com/staycuriousProfessionals who work with parents of kids with big, baffling behaviors!Join us for Reframing Resistance: Supporting Parents and Caregivers thru the Lens of Relational Neuroscience.See the website for all details and to register!RobynGobbel.com/ReframingResistance Check Out All Robyn's Free Resources!You can download all sorts of free resources, including webinars, eBook, and infographics about topics such as lying, boundaries, and co-regulation!RobynGobbel.com/FreeResources :::Grab a copy of my book Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors robyngobbel.com/bookJoin us in The Club for more support! robyngobbel.com/TheClubApply for the Baffling Behavior Training Institute's Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With) robyngobbel.com/ImmersionFollow Me On:FacebookInstagram Over on my website you can find:Webinar and eBook on Focus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior (FREE)eBook on The Brilliance of Attachment (FREE)LOTS & LOTS of FREE ResourcesOngoing support, connection, and co-regulation for struggling parents: The ClubYear-Long Immersive & Holistic Training Program for Parenting Professionals: The Baffling Behavior Training Institute’s (BBTI) Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With)

When you're dealing with whining, hitting, defiance, back talk…well, of course you want it to stop. But what if behavior change isn’t actually the place to start? Not for long-term behavior change, at least. In this episode, I explore why behavior change does matter, but why it’s not the first goal, especially for kids with vulnerable nervous systems.HEADS UP! I’m not necessarily asking YOU- the one facing these out of control behaviors- to change your goal of behavior change. But…what if the people who are helping you could stay focused on that truth?!In this episode, you’ll learn:Why all behavior makes sense—even the baffling kindWhat happens when we shift from changing behavior to addressing the nervous systemHow holding two truths at once helps you feel more regulated, even in hard momentsResources mentioned in this podcast:All Behavior Makes Sense {EP 198}Focus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior {Ep 84}Focus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior - Webinar and eBookRead the full transcript at:RobynGobbel.com/BehaviorChangeProfessionals who work with parents of kids with big, baffling behaviors!Join us for Reframing Resistance: Supporting Parents and Caregivers thru the Lens of Relational Neuroscience.See the website for all details and to register!RobynGobbel.com/ReframingResistance Check Out All Robyn's Free Resources!You can download all sorts of free resources, including webinars, eBook, and infographics about topics such as lying, boundaries, and co-regulation!RobynGobbel.com/FreeResources :::Grab a copy of my book Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors robyngobbel.com/bookJoin us in The Club for more support! robyngobbel.com/TheClubApply for the Baffling Behavior Training Institute's Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With) robyngobbel.com/ImmersionFollow Me On:FacebookInstagram Over on my website you can find:Webinar and eBook on Focus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior (FREE)eBook on The Brilliance of Attachment (FREE)LOTS & LOTS of FREE ResourcesOngoing support, connection, and co-regulation for struggling parents: The ClubYear-Long Immersive & Holistic Training Program for Parenting Professionals: The Baffling Behavior Training Institute’s (BBTI) Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With)

Have you ever freaked out at your child and then later thought, “Where did that come from?” Yup, that’s being triggered!In this episode, we’ll unpack the neuroscience behind why we get triggered, what memory processing has to do with it, and how to find your way back to presence and connection.In this episode, you’ll learn:The anatomy of a triggerWhat’s actually happening in your brain when the past takes over the presentWhat to do next- how to help your owl brain come back and parent in the here-and-nowResources mentioned in this podcast:All Behavior Makes Sense {EP 198}Trauma, Memory & Behavior: Part 1 {EP 90}Trauma, Memory, Behavior video series Read the full transcript at: RobynGobbel.com/triggerProfessionals who work with parents of kids with big, baffling behaviors!Join us for Reframing Resistance: Supporting Parents and Caregivers thru the Lens of Relational Neuroscience.See the website for all details and to register!RobynGobbel.com/ReframingResistance Check Out All Robyn's Free Resources!You can download all sorts of free resources, including webinars, eBook, and infographics about topics such as lying, boundaries, and co-regulation!RobynGobbel.com/FreeResources :::Grab a copy of my book Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors robyngobbel.com/bookJoin us in The Club for more support! robyngobbel.com/TheClubApply for the Baffling Behavior Training Institute's Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With) robyngobbel.com/ImmersionFollow Me On:FacebookInstagram Over on my website you can find:Webinar and eBook on Focus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior (FREE)eBook on The Brilliance of Attachment (FREE)LOTS & LOTS of FREE ResourcesOngoing support, connection, and co-regulation for struggling parents: The ClubYear-Long Immersive & Holistic Training Program for Parenting Professionals: The Baffling Behavior Training Institute’s (BBTI) Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With)

Why do kids sometimes - or a lot of the time! - suddenly act much younger…or sneakier?! In this episode, we use Dr. Bruce Perry’s concept of state-dependent functioning to reframe some of the baffling behaviors as signs of stress, not signs of defiance.If you want to dive deeper into this topic, join us over in The Club. In June 2025, we’re having a masterclass all about behaviors and state dependent functioning- complete with a brand-new illustrated resource. If you’re hearing this episode in the future, the masterclass is stored in our on-demand video library and can still be accessed!In this episode, you’ll learn:Why regression and baby talk are symptoms of a nervous system in distress How lying and stealing are driven by survival statesWhat it means when your child’s sense of time collapses and they can’t think about future consequencesResources mentioned in this podcast:All Behavior Makes Sense DownloadThe Club!Read the full transcript at:  RobynGobbel.com/babytalkProfessionals who work with parents of kids with big, baffling behaviors!Join us for Reframing Resistance: Supporting Parents and Caregivers thru the Lens of Relational Neuroscience.See the website for all details and to register!RobynGobbel.com/ReframingResistance Check Out All Robyn's Free Resources!You can download all sorts of free resources, including webinars, eBook, and infographics about topics such as lying, boundaries, and co-regulation!RobynGobbel.com/FreeResources :::Grab a copy of my book Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors robyngobbel.com/bookJoin us in The Club for more support! robyngobbel.com/TheClubApply for the Baffling Behavior Training Institute's Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With) robyngobbel.com/ImmersionFollow Me On:FacebookInstagram Over on my website you can find:Webinar and eBook on Focus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior (FREE)eBook on The Brilliance of Attachment (FREE)LOTS & LOTS of FREE ResourcesOngoing support, connection, and co-regulation for struggling parents: The ClubYear-Long Immersive & Holistic Training Program for Parenting Professionals: The Baffling Behavior Training Institute’s (BBTI) Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With)

Could you use a short refresher about what I mean when I say your child’s "owl brain flew away"? Or do yoRu know someone who is willing to listen to a short explanation of how you’re approaching your child’s baffling behaviors?In this episode, I revisit - briefly- what behavior really is and the owl, watchdog, and possum brain metaphor. I explain why it's such a helpful way to understand your child's baffling behaviors. I also talk about what actually helps those protective brains calm down so the owl can return.In this episode, you’ll learn:What the owl, watchdog, and possum brains really represent in your child’s behavior.How to recognize which brain state is in charge.Why our goal isn’t to fix the behavior but to offer regulation, connection, and safety.Resources mentioned in this podcast:Focus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior {EP 84}Webinar and eBook - Focus on the Nervous SystemSTART HERE podcastRaising Kids with Big, Baffling BehaviorsAll Behavior Makes Sense infographicOwl, Watchdog, Possum fridge sheet packetRead the full transcript at: RobynGobbel.com/brainbasedunderstandingProfessionals who work with parents of kids with big, baffling behaviors!Join us for Reframing Resistance: Supporting Parents and Caregivers thru the Lens of Relational Neuroscience.See the website for all details and to register!RobynGobbel.com/ReframingResistance Check Out All Robyn's Free Resources!You can download all sorts of free resources, including webinars, eBook, and infographics about topics such as lying, boundaries, and co-regulation!RobynGobbel.com/FreeResources :::Grab a copy of my book Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors robyngobbel.com/bookJoin us in The Club for more support! robyngobbel.com/TheClubApply for the Baffling Behavior Training Institute's Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With) robyngobbel.com/ImmersionFollow Me On:FacebookInstagram Over on my website you can find:Webinar and eBook on Focus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior (FREE)eBook on The Brilliance of Attachment (FREE)LOTS & LOTS of FREE ResourcesOngoing support, connection, and co-regulation for struggling parents: The ClubYear-Long Immersive & Holistic Training Program for Parenting Professionals: The Baffling Behavior Training Institute’s (BBTI) Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With)