Welcome to the home of The Balanced Parent Podcast!

Parenting is often lived in the extremes. It's either Great Joy or chaotic overwhelmed. In one moment you’re nailing it and the next you're losing your cool I want to help you find your way to the messy middle, to a place of balance. You see, balance is a verb not a state of being. it is a thing you do not a thing you are. it is an action a process a series of micro-corrections each and every day to keep ourselves feeling centered. We are never truly balanced. We are engaged in the process of balancing.

Hello, I’m Dr. Laura Froyen and this is the Balanced Parent podcast, where overwhelmed stressed out and disconnected parents go to find tools, mindset shifts and practices to help them stop yelling at the people they love and start connecting on a deeper level, all delivered with heaping doses of grace and compassion. Join me in conversations that will help you get clear on your goals and values and start showing up in your parenting, your relationships, YOUR LIFE, with open-hearted authenticity and balance. Let’s go!

In this episode of The Balanced Parent Podcast, we’ll dive into how to work with the thoughts and stories that arise during overwhelming parenting moments. When emotions run high, our minds race, making it difficult to pause and respond with intention. Joining us for this conversation is family counselor and mom of three, Darcy Harbour.

Here’s a summary of what we discussed:

How parents can stay present and manage overwhelming emotions during their children's big emotional moments
How parents can identify the underlying beliefs and stories driving their reactive emotions
Setting realistic expectations for parents in managing their emotions, both in the moment and through ongoing self-work
How parents can work with their thoughts and beliefs without needing to deeply analyze their past
How to create flexibility in our thinking by recognizing thoughts as interpretations rather than absolute truths
How parents can proactively prepare for emotionally triggering situations rather than only processing them reactively
How parents can model mindful thinking and emotional regulation for their children in the moment
How parents can support their tweens in recognizing and challenging their negative or limiting beliefs
How to navigate the ongoing process of releasing deeply ingrained belief models that no longer serve us

If you found Darcy’s insights valuable, don’t forget to check out her website darcyharbourcounselling.ca and follow her on Instagram @darcyharbourcounselling and Facebook @darcyharbourcounselling

Remember, you don’t have to believe every thought—reshaping inner narratives fosters present, flexible, and self-compassionate parenting.

Laura Froyen, PhD

Laura Froyen, PhD

Balanced Parent Podcast

Laura Froyen, PhD

Welcome to the home of The Balanced Parent Podcast!

Episode 219: Working with Our Negative Thought Patterns for More Ease and Calm with Darcy Harbour