Episode 266: Understanding Your Child’s Brain: How Brain Development Shapes Behavior and Learning with Dr. Robert Melillo

What if understanding your child’s developing brain could help you better understand their strengths, struggles, and the ways they experience the world?

In this fascinating and thought-provoking episode of The Balanced Parent Podcast, I am joined by Dr. Robert Melillo, a clinician, researcher, and developmental cognitive neuroscientist, to talk about brain development, developmental milestones, movement, primitive reflexes, and the developing nervous system.

Here are the topics we covered:

• Why the brain continues developing so much after birth

• How developmental milestones can provide insight into brain development

• The role of movement and sensory experiences in childhood

• What primitive reflexes are and what it means when they are retained

• How brain development can influence learning, communication, and regulation

• Why children can have significant strengths and challenges at the same time

• Understanding neurodivergent children through their individual strengths and needs

• Supporting children without making them feel like they need to be “fixed”

• How parents can better understand their child’s unique development

• When families might consider seeking additional support

Resources:

• Disconnected Kids: The Groundbreaking Brain Balance Program for Children with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Other Neurological Disorders

You can learn more about Dr. Robert Melillo, his work, and his resources through his website www.drrobertmelillo.com, including his “Report of Findings” video. 

Remember, understanding your child’s brain can help you better support their needs while honoring who they are.

Tune in to learn more about child development, neurodiversity, and the ways we can better understand and support our children as their brains and nervous systems grow.

Episode 265: How to Help Kids Build a Healthy Relationship With Food and Their Bodies with Dr. Joey Skelton

How can we help our kids build a healthy relationship with food and their bodies without making weight the focus?

In a world filled with diet culture, weightloss drugs, body comparisons, and confusing messages about what kids “should” and “shouldn’t” eat, it can be hard to know what to say—or what to do—as a parent.

On this episode of The Balanced Parent Podcast, I am joined by pediatrician and family-based weight management expert Dr. Joey Skelton, author of Your Child Is Not Their Weight. Together, we explore how parents can support their children’s health without creating shame, food anxiety, or an unhealthy focus on weight.

You’ll hear about:

• Why a child’s weight should NOT be the sole measure of their health

• How to avoid labeling foods as “good” or “bad”

• Why food can—and should—be about more than nutrition

• How parents can model a healthy relationship with food and their own bodies

• What to do when kids hear diet-culture messages from friends, school, media, or other adults

• Why restricting foods or pressuring kids to eat can backfire

• How exposure and familiarity can help children become more flexible eaters

• The importance of regular family meals and predictable routines

• How to make small, sustainable changes without turning your home into a “diet” environment

• What parents can do if they feel they’ve already made mistakes around food or weight

• Why giving yourself—and your kids—grace is such an important part of the process

Resources:

• Your Child Is Not Their Weight: Parenting in a Size-Obsessed World

Remember, your child’s weight does not define their health, their worth, or who they are. Creating a healthy relationship with food and their body starts with the environment we build at home—one rooted in structure, flexibility, connection, and compassion.

Tune in to this thoughtful conversation for a balanced, practical look at how we can support our kids’ health without letting weight, diet culture, or food rules take over.

Episode 264: How to Navigate Parental Stress, Trauma, and Burnout with Dr. Theresa Lyons

What happens when you deeply love your child and believe they are exactly who they are meant to be—but the realities of raising a child on the spectrum can still leave you overwhelmed, exhausted, or carrying experiences that are hard to talk about?

In this vulnerable and important episode of The Balanced Parent Podcast, I am joined by Dr. Theresa Lyons, a scientist, autism researcher, and mother of an autistic daughter, to talk honestly about the realities of parenting a child on the spectrum—including the stress, trauma, uncertainty, and emotional toll that parents may experience along the way.

Here are the topics we covered:

• Why autism can look so different from one child to another

• How parents can evaluate research and determine what information is actually relevant to their child

• The emotional realities and challenges of raising an autistic child

• Why parents may feel shame, guilt, or hesitation about talking honestly about difficult experiences

• Understanding the difference between an autistic meltdown and a tantrum

• How repeated meltdowns and stressful experiences can affect a parent's nervous system

• Recognizing signs that you may be living in a state of chronic stress or hyperarousal

• How parental regulation influences a child's sense of safety and ability to regulate

• Using journaling and self-awareness to notice patterns in your reactions

• Building a support system that meets different emotional and practical needs

• Why parents don't need to rely on one person to fulfill every kind of support role

• Finding ways to maintain your identity outside of being an “autism parent”

• The importance of processing and releasing stored trauma

• Exploring EMDR and other body-based approaches for trauma recovery

• Trauma-releasing exercises (TRE), yoga, movement, and other body-based ways to support nervous system regulation

• How caring for yourself can become a powerful form of modeling for your child

• Creating a safe and trustworthy relationship where your child can express themselves and learn to trust their own body and instincts

You can connect with Dr. Theresa Lyons and learn more at navigatingawetism.com and awetism.net, and follow Navigating AWEtism on YouTube, Instagram @theresalyons, Facebook @navigatingawetism, and TikTok for evidence-based information, research, and resources for families.

Remember, acknowledging how hard parenting an autistic child can be doesn’t mean you love and accept them any less—it means recognizing that you need support, too.

Tune in to learn how caring for your own nervous system can help you feel more supported, regulated, and connected with your child.

Episode 263: How to Stop People-Pleasing and Start Setting Healthy Boundaries with Tonya Lester

What happens when you know you need to speak up, set a boundary, or ask for what you need—but you’re afraid of disappointing someone, creating conflict, or feeling guilty?

In this honest and empowering episode of The Balanced Parent Podcast, I sit down with psychotherapist and author Tonya Lester to explore what it really means to push back, set boundaries, and advocate for yourself without losing your kindness or your connection with others.

Here are the key topics:

• Why people-pleasing and conflict avoidance can make boundary-setting so difficult

• How to be direct, concise, and kind when communicating your needs

• Why setting boundaries can sometimes “rock the boat” in relationships

• Learning to let go of responsibility for how other people respond to your boundaries

• Using resentment, guilt, envy, and other emotions as clues about what may be out of alignment

• How to get curious about difficult emotions instead of suppressing them

• The difference between healthy guilt and guilt that comes from letting someone else have their own feelings

• Breaking the “say nothing, say nothing, say nothing, freak out” cycle

• What it means to stop being the “shock absorber” for everyone else’s emotions

• Helping children develop healthy boundaries and learn to advocate for themselves

• Modeling assertiveness, self-respect, and healthy communication for your kids

• Allowing children to experience disappointment and rejection without immediately rescuing them

Resources:

• Push Back: Live, Love, and Work with Others Without Losing Yourself 

Stay connected with Tonya Lester by visiting her website tonyalester.com and following her on Instagram at @tonyalesterpsychotherapy.

Remember, setting boundaries doesn’t mean losing your kindness—it means learning to communicate clearly, stay true to your values, and allow others to have their own feelings.

Tune in to this powerful conversation for an honest and practical look at how to push back, set healthy boundaries, and advocate for yourself without losing yourself in the process.

Episode 262: How to Stay Connected as a Couple While Raising Kids with Eli Weinstein

Do you ever feel like you and your partner have become more like roommates than a team since having kids?

Becoming parents can bring new stress and disconnection to a relationship. In this episode, I sit down with therapist, dad, and host of The Dude Therapist podcast, Eli Weinstein, to talk about navigating marriage and parenting.

We explore how to move from blame and criticism toward curiosity and connection, why your partnership matters for the whole family, and simple ways to reconnect through every stage of parenting.

Here are the main takeaways:

• Why your couple relationship matters for the whole family

• How becoming parents can change your expectations of your relationship

• Why resentment and disconnection can build—and what you can do about it

• How to replace criticism and blame with curiosity

• Simple ways to turn toward your partner during stressful moments

• How a simple “code word” can help create safer conversations

• Why conflict isn't necessarily a bad thing

• How to know when it's time to seek couples therapy or outside support

• Why your relationship needs intentional care as your children get older

• How to protect time for your partnership while still being emotionally available to your kids

Resources: 

• I Do to We Do: Navigating Marriage in the Parenting Years

You can connect with Eli Weinstein at eliweinsteinlcsw.com and on Instagram @eliweinstein_lcsw and @thedudetherapist for parenting tools, guidance, and resources.

Remember, your relationship doesn’t have to go back to how it was before kids—you can create something new together, starting today.

Tune in to this episode for an honest conversation about how to reconnect with your partner, move from blame to curiosity, and strengthen your relationship while navigating the demands of parenting.

Episode 261: Beyond Behavior: How Stress, Sleep, Nutrition, and Sensory Needs Affect Neurodivergent Children with Patricia Lemer

What if your child's challenging behaviors aren't something to fix—but instead are signals that they're carrying too much?

In this week's episode of The Balanced Parent Podcast, I sit down with Patricia "Patty" Lemer to explore Total Load Theory and how biological, environmental, and emotional factors can shape behavior in children with systems that are easily overloaded. Together, we discuss why understanding the root causes of behavior can help parents respond with greater compassion, reduce overwhelm, and create happier, more connected families.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Understanding Total Load Theory and how stress affects behavior

• Looking beyond behavior to identify root causes

• How nutrition, sleep, and movement influence a child's nervous system

• Supporting picky eaters with curiosity

• Reducing sensory overload and environmental stressors

• The connection between vision challenges and learning or behavior

• Why behavioral vision evaluations may uncover overlooked issues

• Taking small, manageable steps instead of trying to change everything at once

• Replacing parent guilt with compassion, awareness, and advocacy

Resources:

• Total Load Theory: Transforming Lives in Autism, ADHD, LD, SPD, and Mental Health

You can learn more about Patricia Lemer and her work by visiting PatriciaLemer.com and OutsmartingAutism.com, following her on Facebook at @patriciaspearlemer and on Instagram @patriciaspearlemer and listening to The Autism Detective podcast on Spotify.

Remember, behavior is often a sign that a child is carrying more than they can manage, and responding with curiosity and compassion can make all the difference.

Tune in to learn how understanding your child's total load can help you uncover the root causes of behavior and create a more connected, supportive family.

Replay: After School Meltdowns

The transition back to school can bring big emotions for kids and parents alike. After a full day of navigating routines, expectations, learning, and social interactions, children may come home overwhelmed and ready to let it all out.

In this replay, I explain why after-school meltdowns happen and what you can do to support your child through them. You’ll learn how to reframe these moments, help your child recharge their regulation stores, and provide the connection and safety they need after a demanding day.

Here are the key takeaways:

• Why school can be so taxing on children’s brains and bodies

• Why kids often save their biggest emotions for home

• How to respond to meltdowns without taking them personally

• Simple ways to help your child regulate after school

• How to hold space for big feelings with compassion and connection

• Why co-regulation is so important during stressful transitions

Remember, after-school meltdowns aren’t about “bad behavior”—they’re often a sign that kids have been holding it together all day and need a safe place to release their big feelings. And that safe place is YOU!

Tune in to learn why after-school meltdowns happen, how to respond without taking them personally, and how to help your child regulate through connection, compassion, and co-regulation.

260: Hitting, Kicking, & Biting: How to Stay Calm and Grounded During Aggressive or Overwhelming Behavior with Dr. Bethany Bilodeau

In this week’s episode, I am joined by Dr. Bethany Bilodeau (“Dr. B”), behavior specialist and clinician, to talk about what’s really happening when kids hit, bite, or completely lose control—and how parents can stay grounded, connected, and steady in those really hard moments.

Here are the topics we covered: 

• Understanding aggression in young children through a sensory and regulation lens

• Supporting kids during meltdowns with connection and proactive strategies

• How sensory input and environment shape behavior

• Shame and emotional regulation after impulsive behavior

• Supporting kids who shut down after conflict

• Accountability without shame when kids make mistakes

You can connect with Dr. Bethany Bilodeau and learn more at www.thebehaviorbootcamp.com and www.core-methods.com, as well as follow her on social media for additional tools and resources.

Remember, when kids get aggressive, it’s rarely about “bad behavior”—it’s about overwhelmed nervous systems, unmet needs, and moments where they don’t yet have the skills to cope.

Tune in to learn how to stay grounded during high-intensity parenting moments, understand what might be underneath aggressive behavior, and build more connection and calm even in the hardest situations.

Episode 259: Overfunctioning and Perfectionism in Parenting: Why So Many Parents Feel Exhausted with Tracy Torelli

What happens when you finally have the life you worked so hard for… but still feel overwhelmed, anxious, or strangely unhappy inside it?

In this week’s episode of The Balanced Parent Podcast, I sit down with therapist Tracy Torrelli to explore overfunctioning, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and the emotional exhaustion so many parents quietly carry.

Here are the main points:

• Why do parents feel unhappy despite having their desired life

• Reframing self-criticism and separating identity from struggles

• How overfunctioning and unrealistic expectations create exhaustion

• Prioritizing connection over perfection in parenting

• Structured planning and future-self thinking to reduce overfunctioning

• Flexible problem-solving and resilience-building skills

• ADHD-related cycles of overfunctioning and paralysis

• Parenting overwhelm, scrolling, and avoidance coping

• Self-regulation, rest, and sustainable habit change strategies

You can learn more about Tracy Torrelli and her work at her website tracytorelliLCSW.com, follow her on Instagram at @tracytorelli, and connect with her on Facebook @tracytorelli

Remember, even when life looks the way you hoped, it’s still possible to feel overwhelmed—and noticing your patterns of overfunctioning, perfectionism, or avoidance is the first step toward change.

Tune in to understand why so many parents feel emotionally exhausted despite doing so much, and learn practical ways to shift into more balance, self-compassion, and sustainable ways of showing up for your family and yourself.

Episode 258: What It’s Like to Be a Neurodivergent Parent Raising Neurodivergent Kids With Calm and Connection with Sara Hartley

What does it look like to parent when you’re neurodivergent… and your kids are too?

In this week’s episode, I am joined by Sarah Hartley—author, coach, and neurodivergent mom of two—to explore the beautifully complex (and often misunderstood) experience of raising neurodivergent children as a neurodivergent parent.

Here are the main takeaways: 

• Neurodivergent parenting challenges and learning emotional regulation strategies while raising neurodivergent children 

• How late-diagnosed ADHD and motherhood disrupt coping systems

• How parenting reshapes identity, challenges perfection, and requires new strategies and self-compassion

• How to stay calm during parenting stress using a step-by-step emotional regulation method (ALIGN) to manage overwhelm and respond effectively.

• Repairing and regulating after parenting meltdowns through co-regulation and reflection

• Timing emotional conversations when children are calm and receptive

• Using grounding techniques and routines to support children’s emotional regulation

You can connect with Sara Lewis Hartley at https://saralewishartley.com and on Instagram @saralewishhartley and Facebook @saralewishartley for parenting tools, guides, books, and resources.

Remember, parenting when you and your child are neurodivergent isn’t about getting it perfect—it’s about learning regulation, repair, and connection in the middle of real-life overwhelm.

Tune in to explore practical emotional regulation tools like the ALIGN method, understand ADHD and late-diagnosis in motherhood, and feel more confident navigating big feelings with calm, connection, and compassion.

Episode 257: Becoming the Parent You Want to Be: Re-Parenting Yourself and Breaking Old Patterns with Glen Henry

If you’ve ever had a moment where your child’s behavior leaves you thinking, “Whoa… this is about more than just them—I’ve got some work to do too,” this episode is for you.

In this heartfelt and honest episode of The Balanced Parent Podcast, Laura sits down with Glen Henry—creator of Belief in Fatherhood and author of Father Yourself First—to explore what it really means to show up as a dad in today’s world.

Here are the key topics:

• How childhood experiences shape your parenting

• The realization that inner work is necessary

• Learning to re-parent yourself

• How parents’ inner emotional work directly shapes trust, connection, and long-term relationships with their children

• How fatherhood becomes an ongoing journey of personal growth

• Men’s emotional expression and communication barriers

• Creating a safe and authentic family environment

Resources:

• Father Yourself First: Everything You Need to Become the Father Your Family Deserves

Stay connected with Glen Henry by following Belief in Fatherhood on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, and explore a meaningful community through the Daddy Stroller Social Club, where dads can find support, connection, and real conversation.

Remember, the way you show up for your kids is deeply shaped by how you show up for yourself first.

Tune in to this powerful conversation for an honest, eye-opening look at what it really takes to grow as a parent and build stronger, more connected relationships with your kids.

Episode 256: Navigating the IEP Process: Expert Tips to Help Parents Advocate with Confidence with Karen Mayer Cunningham

If you’ve ever sat in an IEP meeting feeling confused, overwhelmed, or unsure what just happened—then you should know that A.) you’re not alone and B.) this episode is for you!

I am joined by special education expert Karen Mayer Cunningham, also known as the “Special Education Boss,” to break down the IEP process in a way that actually makes sense for parents and caregivers.

Here are the main points:

• Understanding the IEP process and improving parent-school collaboration for children

• The difference between IEP and 504 plans and the importance of evaluation

• How school special education testing works and why early evaluation matters

• Why academically successful students may still need IEP supports

• Understanding the differences between accommodations, modifications, and special education services 

• Differences in special education support across homeschool, private, and public schools

Resources:

• The Epic IEP: A Powerful Playbook for Parents, Educators, and Advocates Navigating the Special Education Process

You can connect with Karen Mayer Cunningham at www.SpecialEducationAcademy.com and on YouTube (Special Education Academy), TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram (@SpecialEducationBoss).

Remember, you don’t need to understand everything at once—what matters is learning how the IEP process works and showing up as an informed advocate for your child.

Episode 255: Protecting Kids: Body Safety, Boundaries, and Abuse Prevention Tips for Parents with Dr. Bronwen Carroll

This week on The Balanced Parent Podcast, Laura is joined by pediatric emergency medicine physician and advocate Dr. Bronwen Carroll for an important conversation about childhood sexual abuse prevention and how parents can better support their children’s safety.

Content Note: This episode includes discussion of childhood sexual abuse. You may want to listen with earbuds if children are nearby.  And, as always, give yourself grace if these topics are too hard for the space and time you’re currently in. You can always come back to it when you are ready. 

Here are the topics we covered:

• Teaching kids body safety, boundaries, and age-appropriate abuse prevention conversations

• How predators groom children and how parents can prevent harm

• How abuse prevention talks can be safe & empowering, not anxiety-inducing

• Helping older kids navigate secrets, privacy, and reporting concerns safely

• Helping kids understand safety without developing self-blame after harm

• Recognizing warning signs and supporting child safety disclosure conversations

• Teaching kids exit strategies and safety communication for situations

• Responding to child disclosure of abuse with belief and support

• Guiding kids through pornography exposure, curiosity, and healthy sexuality as they age

For more resources from Dr. Bronwen Carroll you can find her on Instagram @bronwencarrollmd and on her website bronwencarrollmd.com, where she shares helpful reels, scripts, and upcoming work including a book coming in 2027.

Remember, you don’t have to get it perfect—what matters most is that you’re willing to start the conversation and keep it going.

Tune in to feel more confident, grounded, and supported in having these important conversations with your child.

Episode 254: Parenting Strategies to Calm and Strengthen Kids' Nervous Systems with David Allen

What’s really going on beneath your child’s behavior? And how might their nervous system be shaped long before you ever respond to a meltdown?

In this episode, I’m joined by pediatric acupuncturist and herbalist David Allen to explore how kids’ nervous systems develop, how stress shows up in the body, and why some children seem more sensitive, reactive, or “spicy” than others.

Here are the key takeaways:

• How pregnancy stress shapes your child’s nervous system

• Why some kids and parents react faster than others

• Moving from reacting to regulating in moments of anger

• Helping parents stay calm to support their child’s emotional regulation and break the cycle of reactive discipline

• Parenting strategies that help build the pause before reacting

• Teaching parents self-regulation to support kids’ emotions and reduce reactions.

• Raising children’s stress threshold

• Healthy routines and activities (reducing screens, encouraging outside play)

Learn more from David at davidallenlac.com and follow on Instagram @healthykidsacupuncture.

Remember, that regulation isn’t about perfection. It’s about practice. And when we support our own nervous systems, we naturally begin to support our children’s, too.

Tune in to discover how their nervous system shapes reactions—and how you can help them (and yourself) stay regulated.

Episode 253: Somatic Practices for Parents to Heal, Regulate, and Connect with Charlotte Mindel

What if the key to feeling calmer, more connected, and more like yourself as a parent wasn’t about doing more—but about learning to listen to your body?

In this episode, I sit down with somatic therapist Charlotte Mindel to explore what somatic therapy really is—and why it can be so powerful for parents. Together, we unpack how our bodies hold onto experiences, emotions, and coping patterns, and how learning to listen to our “felt sense” can help us heal, regulate, and show up more authentically in our lives and relationships.

Here are the topics we covered:

• How parents can reconnect with their body signals

• How overthinking disconnects us from our body, and how slowing down helps us reconnect and respond to our needs

• The benefit of practicing small daily self-care to nurture mind, body, and spirit.

• Practical ways to slow down despite habits and daily discomforts

• How slowing down is a countercultural act that nurtures the nervous system and expands capacity by unwinding stored stress

• How to determine if somatic therapy or body-focused work is right for you

• Repeated anger, people-pleasing, dissociation: signs of blocked emotions in parents

• Learning to set and maintain healthy boundaries through somatic awareness 

To learn more about Charlotte, visit her website charlottemindel.com and her Instagram @theembodiedmother.

Remember, parenting from calm, connected awareness starts with listening to your body.

Tune in if you want to discover how somatic awareness can transform your parenting.

Episode 252: Understanding Spirited Children and How to Support Them with Dr. Mary Kurcinka

If you’ve ever felt like your child experiences everything more deeply, reacts more intensely, or just doesn’t respond to typical parenting strategies—you are not alone.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Mary Kurcinka, author of Raising Your Spirited Child, a book that has been a game-changer for so many parents (myself included!).

We talk about what it really means to have a “spirited” child—kids who are more sensitive, persistent, perceptive, and slower to adapt to change—and why these traits can make traditional parenting advice fall flat… or even backfire.

Here are the main points:

• How Dr. Mary was motivated to write Raising Your Spirited Child in response to negative, outdated views of “difficult” children

• Reframing spirited children through positive, strengths-based language

• Understanding the traits of spirited children and supporting their emotional needs while honoring individual differences

• Parenting spirited children with calm, connection, and coaching instead of one-size-fits-all advice

• Honoring a spirited child’s pace and learning style while supporting their growth and autonomy

• Advantages of spirited traits in later life

• Guiding children to express and manage feelings appropriately

• Using routines to reduce power struggles and support calm

Resources:

• Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child Is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, and Energetic

If you want to explore tools and guidance for raising spirited kids with calm, connection, and coaching, visit Dr. Mary Kurcinka’s website parentchildhelp.com, and follow her on Facebook @marysheedykurcinka.

Remember spirited kids thrive with calm, connection, and coaching—focus on balance and progress, not perfection.

Episode 251: Executive Functioning Strategies For Parents Supporting Neurodiverse Children with Maria DelCorso

What exactly is executive functioning—and what can parents do when their child seems to be struggling with it?

In this episode of The Balanced Parent Podcast, Laura sits down with speech-language pathologist Maria Del Corso to unpack what executive functioning really means in everyday life. From planning and organization to flexibility and follow-through, these skills play a big role in how kids navigate school, relationships, and daily routines.

Here are the topics we covered:

• Executive functioning and its core skills

• Play and executive functioning development

• Supporting kids through frustration and emotions

• Balancing empathy and accountability

• Teaching kids to apologize well

• Executive functioning in neurodiverse kids

• Coaching executive functioning for routines and academics

• Parent involvement in executive functioning learning

If you want to connect with Maria, visit her website newagendacoaching.com and her Instagram @newagendacoaching.

If you’ve ever wondered why your child has a hard time getting started, staying organized, or managing big feelings around tasks, this episode will give you a helpful place to start.

Remember the heart of supporting executive functioning isn’t fixing our kids—it’s guiding them with patience, play, and understanding.

Episode 250: How to Teach Kids Body Safety, Consent, and Boundaries with Juls Bindi

How can we talk with our kids about body safety, consent, and boundaries in ways that feel empowering rather than scary?

In this episode of The Balanced Parent Podcast, Dr. Laura Froyen speaks with emotional intelligence expert, mom, and author of the book My Body, My Rules, Juls Bindi, about helping children understand bodily autonomy and use their voice. Juls shares the inspiration behind her children’s book My Body, My Rules and why teaching emotional intelligence and self-trust is so important for kids today.

Here are the key takeaways:

• Using simple, age-appropriate language to talk about intuition and “gut feelings.”

• Helping kids distinguish their comfort signals and assert boundaries.

• Emphasizing that ignoring or freezing in a situation is not their fault

• Balancing respect for a child’s “no” while maintaining family expectations

• Modeling personal boundaries to teach kids respect and self-awareness.

Resources:

• My Body, My Rules

To learn more about Juls, visit her website eqkidbooks.com, follow her on Instagram @julsbindi and @eqkidbooks.

Remember that teaching body safety starts with listening, honoring feelings, and giving kids the words to speak up.

Episode 249: Navigating the Transition from Teen to Independent Adult with Kathy Wu

As our kids grow up, leave home, and stretch into independence, our parenting has to shift too. How do we stay connected without being controlling? Supportive without overstepping? Conscious and respectful as our role changes?

On this week’s The Balanced Parent Podcast, I’m joined by Kathy Wu, a licensed psychologist and author of The Self-Regulation Handbook for Teens and Young Adults, to discuss navigating the tender transition from late adolescence into young adulthood with clarity, compassion, and trust.

Here are the main points:

• Understanding late teens and young adults’ development

• Key developmental milestones in older teens

• Guiding young adults to foster independence

• Building trust while supporting young adults

• Promoting autonomy and emotional security for independence

Resources: 

• The Self-Regulation Handbook for Teens and Young Adults: A Trauma-Informed Guide to Fostering Personal Resilience and Enhancing Interpersonal Skills

If you’d like to connect with Kathy Wu, visit her website wupsychology.com.

If you’re parenting a teen who’s getting ready to launch—or already has—this episode will help you feel less alone and more grounded in what conscious parenting can look like in this next chapter.

Remember, this stage is all about balance—staying connected, building trust, and fostering independence—while giving your kids the space to grow into confident, capable adults.

Episode 248: Parenting Yourself First: Breaking Generational Cycles and Healing Your Inner Child with Shelly Robinson

What if the hardest part of parenting… is actually parenting ourselves? In this powerful and honest conversation, I sit down with Shelly Robinson, founder of Raising Yourself, to talk about the long, layered journey of breaking generational cycles, healing our inner child, and becoming more compassionate, conscious parents.

Here are the topics we covered:

• Parenting through triggers and healing our inner child

• Recognizing parenting triggers linked to childhood wounds

• Understanding why our children’s behavior triggers our inner child and how to respond

• Raising ourselves in the moment while parenting our child

• Why building new parenting habits and modeling respectful boundaries takes time

• How parents can stay motivated and compassionate during long-term behavior change despite setbacks

• Using play, joy, and childhood-inspired activities to regulate ourselves and model emotional balance for our kids

If you want to explore tools and guidance for raising yourself alongside your kids, visit Shelly Robinson’s website shellyrobinson.com and follow her on Facebook @raisingyourself and Instagram @raising_yourself.

Remember that the hardest part of parenting isn’t just guiding our kids—it’s learning to parent ourselves with patience, play, and compassion