Respectful Parenting: Janet Lansbury Unruffled

Crying at Separation

Mar 25, 2025

Separation anxiety can be tough for both kids and parents. One mom feels overwhelmed by her four-year-old's extreme demands for closeness, while another worries about her two-year-old's tears when she leaves. The discussion revolves around finding the balance between comforting kids and fostering their independence. Janet offers insights on compassionate communication and setting healthy boundaries, aiming to help parents nurture their children's emotional growth and resilience during transitions.

25:51

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Understanding children's emotional reactions to separation is crucial for fostering resilience and a secure environment for their emotional growth.

Parents must balance offering support with setting boundaries to help children navigate their feelings during challenging transitions.

Deep dives

Navigating the Challenge of Independence

Establishing independence in children can be a challenging experience for parents, particularly when children express anxiety about separation. The discussion highlights a parent's struggle with their four-year-old, who becomes upset when the parent performs tasks independently. This behavior is often a bid for connection and reassurance, indicating the child's emotional needs. Parents are encouraged to address these demands firmly but lovingly, reinforcing healthy boundaries while allowing the child to express their feelings.

Intro

4min

Navigating Requests for Reassurance and Closeness

2min

Navigating Child Behavior During Family Transitions

13min

Compassionate Communication and Healthy Living

3min

Navigating Separation Anxiety in Young Children

8min

Is it ever okay to say no to our child's requests for closeness or attention, to separate when that makes them upset? What if these requests are frequent, or even seem to evolve into a habit of unreasonable, seemingly over-the-top demands? In this episode Janet responds to two notes from parents who feel they may be in this predicament. One shares that her four-year-old "starts crying hysterically and won't calm down" if the parent doesn't acquiesce to her demands immediately. This parent understandably feels stressed. "It's getting to a ridiculous point, and the demands seem to be growing," she says. "It feels like I'm being held hostage."

The second mom shares that her two-year-old often cries when she leaves her side, even when her dad is there for her. She wonders if this is a sign her daughter is anxious and if there's something more or different the parents should be doing.

In both cases, these parents are hoping to help their kids feel more confident and secure, and Janet shares a perspective she believes will help them achieve these goals.

Learn more about Janet's "No Bad Kids Master Course" at: NoBadKidsCourse.com.

Please support our sponsors and take advantage of their special offers.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export