Ep. 06 - Dear Apparently Parent: How to Deal with My Worries

2020 was, perhaps, a pivotal year for work-life balance. So many people had to work from home while taking care of their children 24/7, and even now, as things are re-opening, many businesses are still letting their employees work from home.

In this episode of The Apparently Parent Podcast, I'm talking to Shari Medini, who co-authored the book Parenting While Working From Home, a beautiful, simple guide that will help you find the balance between work, parenting, and yourself (never forget yourself).

If you're a parent, you probably experience conflicts between you and your children throughout your day. When to get up, how to dress for school, what to eat, when to do homework, and don't get me started on screen time!

Many parents ask me to help them get rid of all the fights and conflicts they have with their children. But I want to offer a different perspective: conflicts are not the bad guy.

In this episode you're gonna learn why conflicts can help you raise a more confident child who is more caring and ready for the world, and how you can approach those moments from a better place.

When asked, many parents say they want their children to be confident. But what does confidence even mean? And how can you nurture this trait in them?

This is part 1 of this special episode where I share 9 principles for raising confident children. Don't forget to subscribe and get the next part as soon as it comes out.

Again with the mindfulness?? Well, yes. But hear me out. This is not another podcast that will tell you to sit down on the cushion and watch your breath for 30 minutes. Why? Because you don't have time for that, am I right? You're a busy mom, or hustling dad, or whatever you wanna call it. You have kids tugging at your pants, knocking on your bathroom door, and waking you up at hours you never wanted to meet up close.

But all of that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the beautiful gifts that mindfulness practice can bring you. In this episode, I'm sharing with you some ways in which you can practice being more mindful and aware while still doing your daily routine with and without your children. As simple as that.

Would you become an enlightened Buddha out of those practices? Probably not. But that's not the point anyway. But you very well might become a more attuned parent, more sensitive and open with yourself and your children. And doesn't that mean the world?

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Don't forget to download my free mindfulness guide - just click here

Apparently, we have to start another school year with COVID still present in our lives. When this episode was first published, things looked different. Today we have vaccinations for 12 years old and above, but many children still have to go to school in the shadow of a global pandemic.

If you're still worried about sending your children to school (and who can blame you), or you're looking for ways to help your children cope with the anxiety of being back to school these days, this episode is for you.

I have gathered the voices of my fellow parenting experts, and each shared a wonderful tip to think about when it comes to this situation. So grab a cup of coffee, kick back, and help yourself help your child.

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All The Experts Mentioned in The Episode

Tina Payne Bryson

• Tina Payne Bryson's Website
• Tina's new book: Bottom Line Baby

Katherine Endy

• The Family Life Coach

Christopher Hanlon

• A Dad's Presence

Lynn Jimenez

• Connect. Grow. Flow.

Lisa Honold

• Center For Online Safety

Mary Wilde

• Dr. Mary Wilde's Website

Sarah Rosensweet

• Peaceful Parenting

Amy Webb

• The Thoughtful Parent

Sandi Schwartz

• Happy Science Mom

Bree Lee

• Positive Parenting Group

Rachel Duffy

• Sagacity Lab

How do you motivate your children? What are the ways by which you can communicate your message to your children, no matter their age, and make them interested in what you have to say?

This is not about getting them to listen in a disciplinary kind of way. This is about making a true connection with them, sharing your world with them, and finding ways to convey your message in a motivating way, helping them become who they wish to be.

These are the topics I discuss in today's episode with my guest, Dr. Jim Van Allan. Jim is a speaker, trainer, and podcaster with clients across the nation. He runs the successful podcast 'Communicate to Motivate' which discusses developing strong communication skills in all areas of life. Jim is the Vice President of Schools for the Jon Gordon Companies and runs the Positive Schools program. He and his team provide training for all K-12 schools on leadership, communication, and culture. Jim is also a professor of communication studies with Keiser University teaching public speaking, interpersonal communication, and business and professional communication in a fully online setting.

Be honest: how many times during the day do you find yourself yelling, shouting, or just raising your voice at your kids? And when it happens, what do you feel like during, or afterward?

In this episode, I'm tackling an aspect of parenting that everybody knows, but most rarely talks about - should we never raise our voices at our kids?

This is part 2 of my deep-dive into attachment parenting, a popular parenting method developed by William and Marth Sears. Last week we learned what attachment parenting is and discovered the Seven Baby Bs.

In this week I'll show you why I think attachment parenting is not really related to what psychologist say when they talk about attachment. You'll learn what creating a secure attachment relationship with your children really means, how you can foster attachment security without succumbing to the rigidity of the Seven Baby Bs. 

If you want to create a positive, strong bond with your child, this is an episode you don't want to miss!