Your Parenting Mojo - Respectful, research-based parenting ideas to help kids thrive

The podcast discusses the concept of shame in parenting, highlighting the importance of self-awareness and self-love. A parent shares their journey of parenthood and sailing, emphasizing unconditional love and breaking generational patterns. Strategies for healing shame, building community support, and balancing personal needs in parenting are explored. The benefits of communication, community support, and empowering parenting are emphasized throughout the episode.

  Do you have a core group of parent friends who are always there for you? Friends who might not be 100% aligned with your parenting philosophy, but they're close enough that you know that when they do offer suggestions you would at least consider doing them?   And on the days when you just want to just vent and not hear any advice at all, you know that it'll be totally fine for you to vent. They won't take offense and they'll just empathize and reassure you that you aren't a terrible parent; you're a great parent having a difficult day - because they've seen you on your good days as well.   In this episode I'll introduce you to SIX parents who have just this kind of relationship. Katherine, Rachel, Beth, Peju, and Kati live in the eastern United States and Jody is Australia, and they meet once a week on Zoom for 40 minutes, and each of them talks for just five minutes...and in that time, they've become incredibly close friends. The relationships they have with each other are among the deepest and most profound ones in their lives.   If you need a supportive community like this in your life then I'd love to see you in the Parenting Membership, which is where Katherine, Rachel, Beth, Peju, Kati, and Jody met.   Join the waitlist and we'll let you know when enrollment reopens in May 2026. Click the image below to learn more.     Jump to highlights 01:43 Introducing today’s episode 03:19 The Parenting Membership features ACTion groups that meet weekly, offering valuable support and insights into effective parenting strategies. 04:50 The ACTion Group is about parents coming together weekly to share their parenting progress, challenges, and goals in a supportive and accountable environment. 19:21 The ACTion Group's collaborative problem-solving and support for parent Rachel's challenge with her son were showcased, emphasizing a collective effort in addressing parenting difficulties. 26:54 The ACTion Group supports Beth in addressing her holiday break challenge and need for rest, fostering solutions and self-awareness. 33:13 The ACTion Group helps Peju integrate changes by realizing the importance of apologizing to her son and holding herself accountable to her family values. 39:40 The Action Group explored Jody's challenges with his parents, highlighting the shift towards acceptance instead of forgiveness, leading to a sense of relief and reduced emotional reactivity for him. 47:11 The group shared how the ACTion group has positively impacted their parenting journey through accountability, celebration, and community support. They emphasized the non-judgmental environment, learning from each other's experiences, and the value of consistent participation in personal growth. 01:06:59 Invitation to join the Parenting Membership

The podcast discusses common arguments between parenting partners, exploring communication challenges and ways to align parenting strategies. Insights from the Gottman method are shared, addressing destructive behaviors like criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling. It provides tips on effective communication, building a culture of appreciation, and navigating responsibilities and emotional validation within relationships.

Discover why setting limits is challenging for parents and how it can be detrimental to children's emotional well-being. Explore alternative approaches to setting boundaries that prioritize understanding and meeting children's needs over control and consequences.

The podcast explores a listener's struggles with permissive parenting and unruly children. The host delves into the delicate balance between meeting children's needs and setting boundaries. Practical tips are shared to help parents navigate challenging family dynamics and promote respectful interactions.

Struggling with parenting challenges? Tune in to hear real parents share their experiences and get valuable insights from a coaching call. Explore topics like setting limits, balancing needs, handling judgment, fostering connections, and understanding children's emotions. Find support, empathy, and practical advice in this engaging episode.

I have to admit, I’m a bit scared to say it… The P-word… “Patriarchy.”(Phew!  I did it!)I know some listeners find it hard to hear. I’ve spoken with more than one woman who has told me: “I sent your podcast to my husband but then he heard the word “Patriarchy” and it was all over. There’s some sadness there for me, for sure. Every time I talk about patriarchy I talk about how much it hurts me and those of us who identify as women – but I also talk about how much it hurts men as well.  And that’s not just lip service: I truly believe that patriarchy has robbed men of a full emotional life. I was talking with a parent in the Parenting Membership recently who asked her husband if he ever felt truly seen and understood.  He said ‘no,’ and ended the conversation.  She cried as she told me: “I feel so sad for him that he doesn’t know that he could be seen and understood, so he doesn’t even realize he’s missing it.” We can know these things conceptually, and we can think that patriarchy kind of sucks, but maybe we think there’s not a lot we can do about it.  After all, isn’t the man the one who really needs to change? Member Iris and I had had a conversation in the membership a couple of months before I was in Vancouver for the Parenting Beyond Power book tour, where she mentioned that she’d been thinking a lot about how patriarchy shows up in her life.  We made plans to get together to record an episode while I was in town – and here it is! Iris and I discuss: The power and control that men held over women and girls as she grew up in the Philippines, including casting out female family members with out-of-wedlock pregnancies, while nothing happened to the men who got them pregnant (and lest we think this couldn't possibly happen where we live, men have very real power over women's pregnancies in the United States as well right now too...) How she sees herself catering to her husband’s needs - adjusting her daily schedule to his; eating what he wanted for dinner even if she preferred something different; perceiving that he expects her to do more than half of the household, even though neither of them works for income; Patriarchal messages that are being passed on to her daughter about the value of marriage, children, and meeting men’s needs. Even though she’s no longer in the Philippines, Iris still sees patriarchy in her relationship with her husband and daughter. She even sees how it hurts her husband, who is looked down upon in our culture because he doesn't present in a typically 'masculine' way. She shares the practices she’s using to pass on different messages to her daughter about a woman’s role in a family and in the world. But I don’t think we should only have these kinds of conversations with our daughters.  We should also talk with our boys about their feelings, and encourage them to fully experience their pain, hurt, and joy, and teach them that it’s OK to care about other people and not be an island that feels no pain and never cries. Enjoy this beautiful conversation with Iris.   Parenting Beyond Power Parenting is tough, but when we shift away from traditional power dynamics to collaboration, family life becomes smoother today. Conventional discipline methods may temporarily stop challenging behaviors, but they reinforce harmful lessons about power and control. Parenting Beyond Power offers a groundbreaking framework to understand and meet our children's needs, fostering respect and empathy. With sample scripts and practical resources, Parenting Beyond Power empowers you to transform your parenting journey. Get your copy now! Click the banner to learn more:   Jump to highlights 00:49 Introducing today’s guest and topic 06:30 Iris discusses the impact of patriarchy on her family, revealing how gender roles and expectations affected her parents' dynamics and sense of self-worth. 12:52 Iris discusses her family's emotional dynamics and the lasting impact of patriarchal double standards on her parenting approach. 17:51 Iris reflects on her teenage years, grappling with societal norms and confronting patriarchal expectations in her relationships. 22:35 Iris cuts her hair short in defiance of patriarchal norms, challenging traditional notions of feminine beauty and reclaiming her autonomy. 24:21 Iris reflects on societal pressures and gender roles within her marriage, highlighting the challenges of conforming to traditional expectations. 33:31 Iris encourages daughter Malaya's autonomy, challenges traditional gender roles, and fosters open communication within the family. 41:07 Women play a part in perpetuating patriarchal norms in families and should strive to empower daughters through shared decision-making and open dialogue. 44:29 Iris stresses the value of rest for herself, challenging the idea that productivity determines worth, especially under capitalism. 46:16 Iris reflects on the dynamics of waiting for male approval and envisions a future where her daughter confidently asserts herself. 49:19 Jen introduces three actionable steps for listeners to implement the ideas discussed in the episode.

Explore the journey of a parent striving for perfection despite a challenging upbringing. Learn about the impact of family dynamics on parenting styles and the struggles of navigating motherhood in isolation. Delve into managing triggers, self-improvement, relationships, and the transformative power of self-reflection in conscious parenting.

Guest: Kerry Cavers, Founder of Moms Against Racism Candada. Topics: Moving toward anti-racism, understanding racism in Canada, unlearning racism, roles of white and racialized people, addressing a child's back-to-school anxiety, creating a safe environment, participating in speaking engagements.

The podcast discusses what decisions in parenting really matter using research-based ideas. It explores the impact of socio-economic status on children, parenting practices, the input and output of parenting decisions, parenting challenges and burnout, and aligning parenting with values.