86. Listening the first time. Is that even possible?

This episode answers a question I got over on Instagram. If you don’t follow me there please connect at @ ResponseABLEparenting  This parent was really struggling with their toddler falling on the ground and using their weight against them in the middle of a tantrum. We’ve all been there, when we say no to something and our toddler all the sudden goes completely dead weight and falls to the ground in a full meltdown.  This can be very triggering, embarassing and frustrating. I share how we can soften in these moments by understanding our children’s developmental abilities and the steps I would take to move through this moment and maintain connection as well as teach them the behavior I would like to see going forward.   I hope this episode is supportive and gives you some insights into managing these really annoying tantrums we experience throughout our kid’s development. I would really love to connect with you and see how coaching or my programs could be a support for this recurring pattern. Please reach out and we can connect on a free call. [email protected] FREE GUIDES! Make sure you grab my Free Guide to Managing Meltdowns: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/meltdown 4 steps to get you through your kid’s meltdown without snapping!  Do you find yourself yelling more often than you want? Does it feel like yelling is the ONLY way to get through to your kids? But it makes you feel awful? You absolutely need my Free Guide To Stop Yelling: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/yelling  This guide will walk you through the process of staying regulated and give you tools to use during high stress moments. Does it feel impossible to access playful, connected strategies when you’re not getting the cooperation you need in the moment? Grab this free guide where I share 70 play based starter phrases! https://responseableparenting.kit.com/play  COMMUNITY! The community is now OPEN!!! Inside the Community you’ll have access to me DAILY through DM’s and the Discussion board. Share your questions, ask me the tricky stuff and get the support YOU need. You’ll have WEEKLY Q&A opportunities to get personalized support where I can help you connect the dots and have a clear path forward in your parenting. You also have access to my entire workshop library, dozens of bite sized lessons, OH! And you have immediate access to my signature course “The Strong-Willed Language Series!” Here you get my BEST and most effective tips on how to stay regulated when triggered, how to understand your child more and speak their language so you can gain more cooperation, drastically reduce power struggles, feel more connected and more! Don’t forget to use code PODCAST for $10 off your first month!  https://responseableparenting.kit.com/community  VIRTUAL MEETUP! Is there a challenge in your family that has NOT gotten any better? Are you stuck in constant power struggles, experiencing defiant behavior every day, just feeling so defeated that nothing has worked and you fear you’re losing the connection to your kids every day? Then this is for you. Join my monthly virtual meetup where you can share what's happening and get real, actionable and personalized solutions. This is the most affordable way to get 1:1 coaching so the plaguing problems go away and you can finally enjoy parenting again! Meetings are held the last Tuesday of every month (subject to holiday adjustments). Join here: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/meetup    BE A GUEST! If you would like to be a guest on the podcast and troubleshoot what's going on for you in real time, please fill out the podcast submission form. I look forward to connecting with you! Submit here: https://bit.ly/4c57Tx5  

In this episode I share the 3D’s to ensure your best possible outcome for your child to listen to you! Listening (or lack there of) can be one of the most triggering scenarios for us as parents. This episode will help you see the big picture and give you some tools to help develop the skill of listening. Also don’t miss out on my FREE Webinar where I teach you how to use PLAY to solve recurring battles with your children! Sign up here for the webinar.  https://responseableparenting.kit.com/play-webinar  The live webinar will take place Monday March 24  - Wednesday March 26. If you can’t make it live you will have access to the recording! So make sure you enroll! FREE GUIDES! Make sure you grab my Free Guide to Managing Meltdowns: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/meltdown 4 steps to get you through your kid’s meltdown without snapping!  Do you find yourself yelling more often than you want? Does it feel like yelling is the ONLY way to get through to your kids? But it makes you feel awful? You absolutely need my Free Guide To Stop Yelling: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/yelling  This guide will walk you through the process of staying regulated and give you tools to use during high stress moments. Does it feel impossible to access playful, connected strategies when you’re not getting the cooperation you need in the moment? Grab this free guide where I share 70 play based starter phrases! https://responseableparenting.kit.com/play  COMMUNITY! The community is now OPEN!!! Inside the Community you’ll have access to me DAILY through DM’s and the Discussion board. Share your questions, ask me the tricky stuff and get the support YOU need. You’ll have WEEKLY Q&A opportunities to get personalized support where I can help you connect the dots and have a clear path forward in your parenting. You also have access to my entire workshop library, dozens of bite sized lessons, OH! And you have immediate access to my signature course “The Strong-Willed Language Series!” Here you get my BEST and most effective tips on how to stay regulated when triggered, how to understand your child more and speak their language so you can gain more cooperation, drastically reduce power struggles, feel more connected and more! Don’t forget to use code PODCAST for $10 off your first month!  https://responseableparenting.kit.com/community  VIRTUAL MEETUP! Is there a challenge in your family that has NOT gotten any better? Are you stuck in constant power struggles, experiencing defiant behavior every day, just feeling so defeated that nothing has worked and you fear you’re losing the connection to your kids every day? Then this is for you. Join my monthly virtual meetup where you can share what's happening and get real, actionable and personalized solutions. This is the most affordable way to get 1:1 coaching so the plaguing problems go away and you can finally enjoy parenting again! Meetings are held the last Tuesday of every month (subject to holiday adjustments). Join here: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/meetup    BE A GUEST! If you would like to be a guest on the podcast and troubleshoot what's going on for you in real time, please fill out the podcast submission form. I look forward to connecting with you! Submit here: https://bit.ly/4c57Tx5  

This is a very special episode! I am taking part in the Podcasthon Non-Profit Initiative where over 1500 podcasters are bringing awareness to a charity and organization that means something to them.  I am honoring the Madd Ox Foundation. It’s a foundation to bring awareness to stillbirths as well as provide resources to families (especially mothers) who have recently experienced a stillbirth.  https://www.maddox-foundation.org/ In this episode I share my story of losing my son Jackson in 2019. I share about how I moved through grief, what I’ve learned from this experience and the many ways I began to understand what happened and how to live with grief as opposed to fighting it at all costs.  No matter if you’ve lost a child or a loved one or something very special to you, grief can impact our parenting in very negative ways. I share more on that and how to begin the process of recognizing and moving through that to support both you and your children. Podcasthon https://podcasthon.org/  FREE GUIDES! Make sure you grab my Free Guide to Managing Meltdowns: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/meltdown 4 steps to get you through your kid’s meltdown without snapping!  Do you find yourself yelling more often than you want? Does it feel like yelling is the ONLY way to get through to your kids? But it makes you feel awful? You absolutely need my Free Guide To Stop Yelling: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/yelling  This guide will walk you through the process of staying regulated and give you tools to use during high stress moments. Does it feel impossible to access playful, connected strategies when you’re not getting the cooperation you need in the moment? Grab this free guide where I share 70 play based starter phrases! https://responseableparenting.kit.com/play  COMMUNITY! The community is now OPEN!!! Inside the Community you’ll have access to me DAILY through DM’s and the Discussion board. Share your questions, ask me the tricky stuff and get the support YOU need. You’ll have WEEKLY Q&A opportunities to get personalized support where I can help you connect the dots and have a clear path forward in your parenting. You also have access to my entire workshop library, dozens of bite sized lessons, OH! And you have immediate access to my signature course “The Strong-Willed Language Series!” Here you get my BEST and most effective tips on how to stay regulated when triggered, how to understand your child more and speak their language so you can gain more cooperation, drastically reduce power struggles, feel more connected and more! Don’t forget to use code PODCAST for $10 off your first month!  https://responseableparenting.kit.com/community  VIRTUAL MEETUP! Is there a challenge in your family that has NOT gotten any better? Are you stuck in constant power struggles, experiencing defiant behavior every day, just feeling so defeated that nothing has worked and you fear you’re losing the connection to your kids every day? Then this is for you. Join my monthly virtual meetup where you can share what's happening and get real, actionable and personalized solutions. This is the most affordable way to get 1:1 coaching so the plaguing problems go away and you can finally enjoy parenting again! Meetings are held the last Tuesday of every month (subject to holiday adjustments). Join here: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/meetup    BE A GUEST! If you would like to be a guest on the podcast and troubleshoot what's going on for you in real time, please fill out the podcast submission form. I look forward to connecting with you! Submit here: https://bit.ly/4c57Tx5  

Ever been there when things are going pretty smoothly and then one thing derails you and all the sudden you find yourself reacting as if all hell broke loose? Do you beat yourself up over your reaction? Spend the rest of the day ruminating on how you failed and why you can’t seem to just stay calm?  I’ve been there. I really have. So so many times. In this episode I share some tools to really support you when things don’t go according to plan. And I give you the next action step that you need to take to nip this reaction in the bud for good.  I would really love to connect with you and see how coaching or my programs could be a support for this recurring pattern. Please reach out and we can connect on a free call. [email protected] Podcast episodes referenced:  Episode 39: 4 Buckets We Need to Fill in Ourselves https://www.responseableparenting.com/podcast/ep-39-4-buckets-to-fill-in-ourselves  FREE GUIDES! Make sure you grab my Free Guide to Managing Meltdowns: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/meltdown 4 steps to get you through your kid’s meltdown without snapping!  Do you find yourself yelling more often than you want? Does it feel like yelling is the ONLY way to get through to your kids? But it makes you feel awful? You absolutely need my Free Guide To Stop Yelling: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/yelling  This guide will walk you through the process of staying regulated and give you tools to use during high stress moments. Does it feel impossible to access playful, connected strategies when you’re not getting the cooperation you need in the moment? Grab this free guide where I share 70 play based starter phrases! https://responseableparenting.kit.com/play  COMMUNITY! The community is now OPEN!!! Inside the Community you’ll have access to me DAILY through DM’s and the Discussion board. Share your questions, ask me the tricky stuff and get the support YOU need. You’ll have WEEKLY Q&A opportunities to get personalized support where I can help you connect the dots and have a clear path forward in your parenting. You also have access to my entire workshop library, dozens of bite sized lessons, OH! And you have immediate access to my signature course “The Strong-Willed Language Series!” Here you get my BEST and most effective tips on how to stay regulated when triggered, how to understand your child more and speak their language so you can gain more cooperation, drastically reduce power struggles, feel more connected and more! Don’t forget to use code PODCAST for $10 off your first month!  https://responseableparenting.kit.com/community  VIRTUAL MEETUP! Is there a challenge in your family that has NOT gotten any better? Are you stuck in constant power struggles, experiencing defiant behavior every day, just feeling so defeated that nothing has worked and you fear you’re losing the connection to your kids every day? Then this is for you. Join my monthly virtual meetup where you can share what's happening and get real, actionable and personalized solutions. This is the most affordable way to get 1:1 coaching so the plaguing problems go away and you can finally enjoy parenting again! Meetings are held the last Tuesday of every month (subject to holiday adjustments). Join here: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/meetup    BE A GUEST! If you would like to be a guest on the podcast and troubleshoot what's going on for you in real time, please fill out the podcast submission form. I look forward to connecting with you! Submit here: https://bit.ly/4c57Tx5

It’s easy to think that everyone else has it figured out as a parent. That you are the only one failing and have totally messed up your kid. That every time you yell or threaten you have to go back to the drawing board and start completely over.  In this episode I share a rough moment with my son. I share how I fell back into old patterns and how I totally forgot to use every skill at my fingertips.  But then I share how this work took this moment from what would have been hours down to under ½ an hour from start to finish. And how we ended up learning so much from this fight that we now know exactly what we both need to work on.  I share exactly what I did to turn the sinking ship around and the outcome of that. How this work has truly changed the trajectory of our relationship.\ Podcast episodes referenced:  Episode 74: The Stories We Tell Ourselves https://www.responseableparenting.com/podcast/ep-74-the-stories-we-tell-ourselves  FREE GUIDES! Make sure you grab my Free Guide to Managing Meltdowns: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/meltdown 4 steps to get you through your kid’s meltdown without snapping!  Do you find yourself yelling more often than you want? Does it feel like yelling is the ONLY way to get through to your kids? But it makes you feel awful? You absolutely need my Free Guide To Stop Yelling: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/yelling  This guide will walk you through the process of staying regulated and give you tools to use during high stress moments. Does it feel impossible to access playful, connected strategies when you’re not getting the cooperation you need in the moment? Grab this free guide where I share 70 play based starter phrases! https://responseableparenting.kit.com/play  COMMUNITY! The community is now OPEN!!! Inside the Community you’ll have access to me DAILY through DM’s and the Discussion board. Share your questions, ask me the tricky stuff and get the support YOU need. You’ll have WEEKLY Q&A opportunities to get personalized support where I can help you connect the dots and have a clear path forward in your parenting. You also have access to my entire workshop library, dozens of bite sized lessons, OH! And you have immediate access to my signature course “The Strong-Willed Language Series!” Here you get my BEST and most effective tips on how to stay regulated when triggered, how to understand your child more and speak their language so you can gain more cooperation, drastically reduce power struggles, feel more connected and more! Don’t forget to use code PODCAST for $10 off your first month!  https://responseableparenting.kit.com/community  VIRTUAL MEETUP! Is there a challenge in your family that has NOT gotten any better? Are you stuck in constant power struggles, experiencing defiant behavior every day, just feeling so defeated that nothing has worked and you fear you’re losing the connection to your kids every day? Then this is for you. Join my monthly virtual meetup where you can share what's happening and get real, actionable and personalized solutions. This is the most affordable way to get 1:1 coaching so the plaguing problems go away and you can finally enjoy parenting again! Meetings are held the last Tuesday of every month (subject to holiday adjustments). Join here: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/meetup    BE A GUEST! If you would like to be a guest on the podcast and troubleshoot what's going on for you in real time, please fill out the podcast submission form. I look forward to connecting with you! Submit here: https://bit.ly/4c57Tx5  

In this week’s episode I share a subtle thing I’ve noticed across all the parents I work with. A little hiccup that keeps us stuck, that keeps us in a frustrated power loop and draws us back into conflict with our kids.  It’s this longing and almost expectation that our kids are going to validate our hard work as parents. We’ve done so much work, we’re putting in a tremendous amount of effort and we still get yelled at, we still get pushback, we still get their aggression. It can feel so defeating and frustrating. It can make us question whether what we are doing as parents is the right thing for our kids.  And it makes it 10x easier to revert back to the old patterns that we grew up with: yelling, shaming, threatening etc.  I’m excited for you to listen and please reach out if you had an “ah ha” in this episode!  FREE GUIDES! Make sure you grab my Free Guide to Managing Meltdowns: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/meltdown 4 steps to get you through your kid’s meltdown without snapping!  Do you find yourself yelling more often than you want? Does it feel like yelling is the ONLY way to get through to your kids? But it makes you feel awful? You absolutely need my Free Guide To Stop Yelling: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/yelling  This guide will walk you through the process of staying regulated and give you tools to use during high stress moments. Does it feel impossible to access playful, connected strategies when you’re not getting the cooperation you need in the moment? Grab this free guide where I share 70 play based starter phrases! https://responseableparenting.kit.com/play  COMMUNITY! The community is now OPEN!!! Inside the Community you’ll have access to me DAILY through DM’s and the Discussion board. Share your questions, ask me the tricky stuff and get the support YOU need. You’ll have WEEKLY Q&A opportunities to get personalized support where I can help you connect the dots and have a clear path forward in your parenting. You also have access to my entire workshop library, dozens of bite sized lessons, OH! And you have immediate access to my signature course “The Strong-Willed Language Series!” Here you get my BEST and most effective tips on how to stay regulated when triggered, how to understand your child more and speak their language so you can gain more cooperation, drastically reduce power struggles, feel more connected and more! Don’t forget to use code PODCAST for $10 off your first month!  https://responseableparenting.kit.com/community  VIRTUAL MEETUP! Is there a challenge in your family that has NOT gotten any better? Are you stuck in constant power struggles, experiencing defiant behavior every day, just feeling so defeated that nothing has worked and you fear you’re losing the connection to your kids every day? Then this is for you. Join my monthly virtual meetup where you can share what's happening and get real, actionable and personalized solutions. This is the most affordable way to get 1:1 coaching so the plaguing problems go away and you can finally enjoy parenting again! Meetings are held the last Tuesday of every month (subject to holiday adjustments). Join here: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/meetup    BE A GUEST! If you would like to be a guest on the podcast and troubleshoot what's going on for you in real time, please fill out the podcast submission form. I look forward to connecting with you! Submit here: https://bit.ly/4c57Tx5  

I get a lot of haters in my comments. And while that comes with the territory and seems to be the cultural norm these days, I have to believe we can speak to each other differently. And while I’m not a saint, and clap back at times, I do try to practice what I preach. And that is to get curious as to why the person is saying what they’re saying. You’ll see me write “I’m curious…” to start many of my responses.  In this episode I share how curiosity is such an overlooked yet potent tool for fostering respect. I break down how this models respect, teaches conflict management, emotional intelligence, regulates the nervous system and creates a deep level of trust, safety and … you guessed it, respect.  Also please relisten to episode 40 - Understanding Drives Respect  https://www.responseableparenting.com/podcast/ep-40-understanding-drives-respect  FREE GUIDES! Make sure you grab my Free Guide to Managing Meltdowns: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/meltdown 4 steps to get you through your kid’s meltdown without snapping!  Do you find yourself yelling more often than you want? Does it feel like yelling is the ONLY way to get through to your kids? But it makes you feel awful? You absolutely need my Free Guide To Stop Yelling: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/yelling  This guide will walk you through the process of staying regulated and give you tools to use during high stress moments. Does it feel impossible to access playful, connected strategies when you’re not getting the cooperation you need in the moment? Grab this free guide where I share 70 play based starter phrases! https://responseableparenting.kit.com/play  COMMUNITY! The community is now OPEN!!! Inside the Community you’ll have access to me DAILY through DM’s and the Discussion board. Share your questions, ask me the tricky stuff and get the support YOU need. You’ll have WEEKLY Q&A opportunities to get personalized support where I can help you connect the dots and have a clear path forward in your parenting. You also have access to my entire workshop library, dozens of bite sized lessons, OH! And you have immediate access to my signature course “The Strong-Willed Language Series!” Here you get my BEST and most effective tips on how to stay regulated when triggered, how to understand your child more and speak their language so you can gain more cooperation, drastically reduce power struggles, feel more connected and more! Don’t forget to use code PODCAST for $10 off your first month!  https://responseableparenting.kit.com/community  VIRTUAL MEETUP! Is there a challenge in your family that has NOT gotten any better? Are you stuck in constant power struggles, experiencing defiant behavior every day, just feeling so defeated that nothing has worked and you fear you’re losing the connection to your kids every day? Then this is for you. Join my monthly virtual meetup where you can share what's happening and get real, actionable and personalized solutions. This is the most affordable way to get 1:1 coaching so the plaguing problems go away and you can finally enjoy parenting again! Meetings are held the last Tuesday of every month (subject to holiday adjustments). Join here: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/meetup    BE A GUEST!If you would like to be a guest on the podcast and troubleshoot what's going on for you in real time, please fill out the podcast submission form. I look forward to connecting with you! Submit here: https://bit.ly/4c57Tx5  

First off, shout out to you mama for tackling cycle breaking and doing the work. This is NOT easy stuff and I am here to cheer you on.  I think it’s very easy to point the finger to our parents (especially our moms) and say “because of the way she modeled things I am ‘x’” or “the way she did this messed me up.” YES all of that is your experience and 100% valid. I am not taking that away from you. AND, we have choice.  We have a choice in how we choose to move forward with what we’ve experienced in our past. I share in this episode my thoughts on “mama drama” and how we can move forward together and continue to break cycles.  FREE GUIDES! Make sure you grab my Free Guide to Managing Meltdowns: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/meltdown 4 steps to get you through your kid’s meltdown without snapping!  Do you find yourself yelling more often than you want? Does it feel like yelling is the ONLY way to get through to your kids? But it makes you feel awful? You absolutely need my Free Guide To Stop Yelling: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/yelling  This guide will walk you through the process of staying regulated and give you tools to use during high stress moments. COMMUNITY! The community is now OPEN!!! Inside the Community you’ll have access to me DAILY through DM’s and the Discussion board. Share your questions, ask me the tricky stuff and get the support YOU need. You’ll have WEEKLY Q&A opportunities to get personalized support where I can help you connect the dots and have a clear path forward in your parenting. You also have access to my entire workshop library, dozens of bite sized lessons, OH! And you have immediate access to my signature course “The Strong-Willed Language Series!” Here you get my BEST and most effective tips on how to stay regulated when triggered, how to understand your child more and speak their language so you can gain more cooperation, drastically reduce power struggles, feel more connected and more! Don’t forget to use code PODCAST for $10 off your first month!  https://responseableparenting.kit.com/community  VIRTUAL MEETUP! Is there a challenge in your family that has NOT gotten any better? Are you stuck in constant power struggles, experiencing defiant behavior every day, just feeling so defeated that nothing has worked and you fear you’re losing the connection to your kids every day? Then this is for you. Join my monthly virtual meetup where you can share what's happening and get real, actionable and personalized solutions. This is the most affordable way to get 1:1 coaching so the plaguing problems go away and you can finally enjoy parenting again! Meetings are held the last Tuesday of every month (subject to holiday adjustments). Join here: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/meetup    BE A GUEST! If you would like to be a guest on the podcast and troubleshoot what's going on for you in real time, please fill out the podcast submission form. I look forward to connecting with you! Submit here: https://bit.ly/4c57Tx5  

You are right to notice that there are a million scary things flying at you at all times right now. And you are right to want to fix these immediately in order to not feel so uncomfortable and in order to keep you and your family safe.  But we cannot be effective if we are reacting every minute to fear.  In this episode I share how we can create a safe place internally so we can be effective externally. If you are called to work with me please reach out: [email protected] I would love to coach you through this and be a safe place during an unsafe time.  And please, share this with a friend who is feeling the weight of the external chaos. Podcast episodes referenced:  Episode 74: The Stories We Tell Ourselves https://www.responseableparenting.com/podcast/ep-74-the-stories-we-tell-ourselves  Episode 39: 4 Buckets to Fill in Ourselves https://www.responseableparenting.com/podcast/ep-39-4-buckets-to-fill-in-ourselves  FREE GUIDES! Make sure you grab my Free Guide to Managing Meltdowns: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/meltdown 4 steps to get you through your kid’s meltdown without snapping!  Do you find yourself yelling more often than you want? Does it feel like yelling is the ONLY way to get through to your kids? But it makes you feel awful? You absolutely need my Free Guide To Stop Yelling: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/yelling  This guide will walk you through the process of staying regulated and give you tools to use during high stress moments. COMMUNITY! The community is now OPEN!!! Inside the Community you’ll have access to me DAILY through DM’s and the Discussion board. Share your questions, ask me the tricky stuff and get the support YOU need. You’ll have WEEKLY Q&A opportunities to get personalized support where I can help you connect the dots and have a clear path forward in your parenting. You also have access to my entire workshop library, dozens of bite sized lessons, OH! And you have immediate access to my signature course “The Strong-Willed Language Series!” Here you get my BEST and most effective tips on how to stay regulated when triggered, how to understand your child more and speak their language so you can gain more cooperation, drastically reduce power struggles, feel more connected and more! Don’t forget to use code PODCAST for $10 off your first month!  https://responseableparenting.kit.com/community  VIRTUAL MEETUP! Is there a challenge in your family that has NOT gotten any better? Are you stuck in constant power struggles, experiencing defiant behavior every day, just feeling so defeated that nothing has worked and you fear you’re losing the connection to your kids every day? Then this is for you. Join my monthly virtual meetup where you can share what's happening and get real, actionable and personalized solutions. This is the most affordable way to get 1:1 coaching so the plaguing problems go away and you can finally enjoy parenting again! Meetings are held the last Tuesday of every month (subject to holiday adjustments). Join here: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/meetup    BE A GUEST! If you would like to be a guest on the podcast and troubleshoot what's going on for you in real time, please fill out the podcast submission form. I look forward to connecting with you! Submit here: https://bit.ly/4c57Tx5  

This episode explores friendships. My son had a run in with his “best friend” and he was essentially told “you’re not my friend.” So wounded and so confused he felt blindsided by this. He admires this kid so much and truthfully this kid is awesome. I totally get why my son wants to be his bestie. But this kid already has a bestie who loves all the same things he loves, is lock step with this kid and it shows. My son shares a few similar interests but not a lot.  When I was able to share the “Capital F” and “Lowercase f” framework with him it allowed him to see that his worth wasn’t dependent on the approval of this one kid. And that true friendship doesn’t require constantly proving yourself, fear that they’re going to ditch you any second, or any type of coercion to be friends. Real “Capital F” friends like you for you. They accept you, they enjoy being with you and they are willing to work on the challenging things.  I hope this supports you when you run into the inevitable friendship challenges.  (note: this was not my concept. I cannot remember where I heard this so if you know, please send me a message and I’ll source them for credit). FREE GUIDES! Make sure you grab my Free Guide to Managing Meltdowns: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/meltdown 4 steps to get you through your kid’s meltdown without snapping!  Do you find yourself yelling more often than you want? Does it feel like yelling is the ONLY way to get through to your kids? But it makes you feel awful? You absolutely need my Free Guide To Stop Yelling: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/yelling  This guide will walk you through the process of staying regulated and give you tools to use during high stress moments. COMMUNITY! The community is now OPEN!!! Inside the Community you’ll have access to me DAILY through DM’s and the Discussion board. Share your questions, ask me the tricky stuff and get the support YOU need. You’ll have WEEKLY Q&A opportunities to get personalized support where I can help you connect the dots and have a clear path forward in your parenting. You also have access to my entire workshop library, dozens of bite sized lessons, OH! And you have immediate access to my signature course “The Strong-Willed Language Series!” Here you get my BEST and most effective tips on how to stay regulated when triggered, how to understand your child more and speak their language so you can gain more cooperation, drastically reduce power struggles, feel more connected and more! Don’t forget to use code PODCAST for $10 off your first month!  https://responseableparenting.kit.com/community  VIRTUAL MEETUP! Is there a challenge in your family that has NOT gotten any better? Are you stuck in constant power struggles, experiencing defiant behavior every day, just feeling so defeated that nothing has worked and you fear you’re losing the connection to your kids every day? Then this is for you. Join my monthly virtual meetup where you can share what's happening and get real, actionable and personalized solutions. This is the most affordable way to get 1:1 coaching so the plaguing problems go away and you can finally enjoy parenting again! Meetings are held the last Tuesday of every month (subject to holiday adjustments). Join here: https://responseableparenting.ck.page/meetup    BE A GUEST! If you would like to be a guest on the podcast and troubleshoot what's going on for you in real time, please fill out the podcast submission form. I look forward to connecting with you! Submit here: https://bit.ly/4c57Tx5