"I Should WANT to do This": The Challenges of Playing with our Kids with Sara Olsher

Have you ever wondered what life after a divorce would even look like?

Today's guest, Paige Dempsey, is an anti-anxiety Dating and Relationship Coach for women. 

In Paige’s words, she got married late and divorced early. She’s been a step mom, mom of a child with her ex, and a solo mother by choice.  At the same time as her and her husband were separating, her best friend was diagnosed with cancer. She felt like she was just getting by.

In this episode, Paige holds nothing back as she narrates her thoughts and feelings both inside and outside of her marriage. She shares how she believes divorce can strengthen the kids’ experience of and relationship with their fathers, the mindset she used to move forward without fear, and the patterns she sees in her dating clients. 

This episode is for you if you’ve wondered what’s on the other side of a divorce, been intimidated by leaving or dating again, or just hope to glean wisdom for your current relationships!

IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVERED...

• How Paige decided getting a divorce was the right decision
• Why Paige and her Ex get along now better than ever
• The difference between therapy and coaching

DON'T MISS-

• Paige's timeless dating advice, especially if you're on the apps

// MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE//
UnF*ck your Brain podcast - Kara Loewentheil 

Ep. 121 of Failing Motherhood - Solo Motherhood by Choice - 9/12/23

// CONNECT WITH PAIGE DEMPSEY //
Website: www.paigedempseycoaching.com
Instagram: @datingcoachpaige
TikTok: @datingcoachpaige

I believe in you + I'm cheering you on.
Come say hi!  I'm @parent_wholeheartedly on Insta.
Apply to work together: parentingwholeheartedly.com/Apply

*FREE* MASTERCLASS: Learn how to CONFIDENTLY parent your strong-willed child WITHOUT threats, bribes or giving in altogether so you can BREAK FREE of power struggles + guilt
www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/unapologetic

www.parentingwholeheartedly.com

Say you're sorry. "I'M SORRY! GAAHHH!!" they ROAR from the other room. 
Lessons were learned, right?

Often when parenting strong-willed kids, the messages we're trying to send, the skills we're trying to model and the lessons we're trying to teach get lost at sea in a battle of control and BIG emotions.

Instead of checking the box to make ourselves feel better, I'm breaking down why I don't insist my kids apologize and what we do instead.

IN THIS EPISODE, I SHARED...

• Why especially strong-willed kids struggle so much with the vulnerability of apologizing
• What choices you have in how you react that doesn't let them "get away with it"
• The way my kids ask each other for forgiveness and forgive the other.

DON'T MISS:

• What to say when they shut down the choices you offer

// CONNECT WITH DANIELLE //
Website: parentingwholeheartedly.com
IG: @parent_wholeheartedly
APPLY: parentingwholeheartedly.com/apply

*FREE* MASTERCLASS: Learn how to CONFIDENTLY parent your strong-willed child WITHOUT threats, bribes or giving in altogether so you can BREAK FREE of power struggles + guilt
www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/unapologetic

www.parentingwholeheartedly.com

Have you ever thought these things while attempting to play with your kid(s)?

• I’d rather be doing something else. 
• I should want to do this. 
• This is boring. OR This is too much. 
• I feel guilty bc of how much I hate this. 
• This is not fun. This is not easy.  How do I get this to stop?

You’re not alone, and my guest today, Sara Olsher is going to share a brutally honest take at the real life challenges and guilt associated with play and quality time as a parent.

Cancer survivor, divorced single mom of one, author-illustrator and founder of Mighty and Bright, Sara has a credible and honest take on these challenges as well as a unique, creative solution.

We know we’re supposed to spend quality time with our kids. We also know it’s quite often much easier said than done.

In our conversation we take the time to name the obvious realities of being bored, overstimulated or doing it wrong as well as the real dynamics that make it even more challenging like being a single parent, having multiple kids, having a chronic illness, and being neurodivergent or just being under so much stress.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVERED...

• Why we believe it’s a crime that your mental health as a parent is not a consideration with most expert advice of what’s best for kids
• How 1:1 time prevents negative behaviors
• The critical components to make sure play together ACTUALLY fills their cup

DON'T MISS-

• Our beef with playing "The Floor Is Lava" :)

// MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE//
Sara's previous episodes:
Ep. 37- Talking about Hard Things - April 13th, 2021
Ep. 51 - Kids’ Mental Health at Home - October 26th, 2021

Time Timer Apps


// CONNECT WITH SARA OLSHER //
Website: MightyandBright.com
Instagram:  @mightyandbrightco
SPECIAL TIME CARDS: https://mightyandbright.com/products/special-time-cards
Enter code: failingmotherhood for 10% off


I believe in you + I'm cheering you on.
Come say hi!  I'm @parent_wholeheartedly on Insta.
Apply to work together: parentingwholeheartedly.com/Apply

*FREE* MASTERCLASS: Learn how to CONFIDENTLY parent your strong-willed child WITHOUT threats, bribes or giving in altogether so you can BREAK FREE of power struggles + guilt
www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/unapologetic

www.parentingwholeheartedly.com

Have you found using timers at your house to be HIT or MISS?

Either it helps tremendously or meltdowns ensue?  What gives?

I'm breaking it all down on today's episode- both the DO's and DON'T's so you understand exactly what's needed to make your use of timers as effective as possible.

Not only do I share key insight into reducing whining, clinging, and complaining, but visual timers are your friend, and it's all about semantics so your child sees the "what's in it for me" factor!

IN THIS EPISODE, I SHARED...

• My go-to recommendation for keeping kids at the dinner table longer
• Ways to make transitions to bedtime or leaving the park so much easier
• How to leverage a timer during play / quality time

DON'T MISS:

• Whether or not you should be making "deals" with your child

//MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE//
7.5 inch Timer
3 inch Timer
Time Timer Apps

// CONNECT WITH DANIELLE //
Website: parentingwholeheartedly.com
IG: @parent_wholeheartedly
APPLY: parentingwholeheartedly.com/apply

*FREE* MASTERCLASS: Learn how to CONFIDENTLY parent your strong-willed child WITHOUT threats, bribes or giving in altogether so you can BREAK FREE of power struggles + guilt
www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/unapologetic

www.parentingwholeheartedly.com

Happy Valentine's Day!   This episode is guaranteed to help you tap into more self-love.

I'm talking to Dr. Tracy Dalgleish, psychologist, couples therapist, and relationship expert. She's the host of the podcast, "I'm not your Shrink", and author of "I Didn't Sign Up For This".

Tracy starts by sharing her frustration with a family ski event not going according to plan.  As we dove into our conversation, a theme quickly emerged around feeling not enough, and how our core beliefs about self-worth influence how we parent and interact with partners.

Tracy breaks down tangible ways we can level up our communication style in our partnerships, as well as how to become more of a friend to ourselves.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVERED...

• The 4 negative communication styles + how to ask for feedback
• 3 Questions to ask yourself to become more self-aware
• How meeting our own needs models healthy behavior for our kids

DON'T MISS-

• The 2 C's required to access self-compassion
• How Tracy has reframed how she sees her strong-willed child

// CONNECT WITH DR. TRACY DALGLEISH //
Instagram:  @drtracyd
Book:  I Didn't Sign Up for This
Podcast: I’m not your Shrink
Website, Be Connected Course: DrTracyD.com

I believe in you + I'm cheering you on.
Come say hi!  I'm @parent_wholeheartedly on Insta.
Apply to work together: parentingwholeheartedly.com/Apply

*FREE* MASTERCLASS: Learn how to CONFIDENTLY parent your strong-willed child WITHOUT threats, bribes or giving in altogether so you can BREAK FREE of power struggles + guilt
www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/unapologetic

www.parentingwholeheartedly.com

Whether you’re trying to decide whether to have another child, hoping to salvage your marriage, on your way to creating or owning your own business, or are just desperate to not feel so alone without family support - this is your episode.

Steph Pellish is a wife, a mom of 4, owns 2 businesses, and  has always been a dreamer with big ideas. After feeling lost and lonely, Steph has built a community of entrepreneurial women who come together regularly to grow, learn, support and collaborate with each other. 

In this episode, Steph chronicles her reckoning with wanting to have a 4th child, having that child 6 weeks before lockdown, and her husband telling her 6 weeks later that things weren’t working. 

In the most relatable of ways, she shares the journey into healing she went through personally and in their marriage to come back stronger, while finding the support she deserved.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVERED...

• The clarity Steph needed when deciding whether or not to have a 4th child when she and her husband didn't see eye-to-eye
• What it takes to be successful as an entrepreneur
• The importance of finding like-minded women, not just the other moms who happen to be in the play groups

DON'T MISS-

• What people kept telling her when she was struggling that made her feel crazy!

// CONNECT WITH STEPH PELLISH //
Instagram:  @thriving_through_motherhood
FB Group:  Motherhood, Life, & Business Coaching - with Stephanie Pellish

I believe in you + I'm cheering you on.
Come say hi!  I'm @parent_wholeheartedly on Insta.
Apply to work together: parentingwholeheartedly.com/Apply

*FREE* MASTERCLASS: Learn how to CONFIDENTLY parent your strong-willed child WITHOUT threats, bribes or giving in altogether so you can BREAK FREE of power struggles + guilt
www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/unapologetic

www.parentingwholeheartedly.com

What if it's not what you think it is?

Two weeks ago I listed the 11 most common fears/challenges experienced by parents of strong-willed kids.  In this episode I address each one.

The work is in NOT letting these fears take hold of the way you parent, but rather gain awareness and understanding while you get to the bottom of what's really going on.

Listen to that episode first, then circle back here for the freedom to zoom out and let some fears go entirely.

IN THIS EPISODE, I SHARED...

• Why conflict should be embraced, not feared
• A reason to relax if you're the *least* preferred parent currently
• Insight that will help let new perspective in

DON'T MISS:

• An illustration to help you imagine how your child might feel at the end of everyday

// MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE//
Part 1 - Ep. 138 - The 11 Most Common Challenges of Parenting a Strong-Willed Child
Ep. 108 - Break the Cycle

// CONNECT WITH DANIELLE //
Website: parentingwholeheartedly.com
IG: @parent_wholeheartedly
APPLY: parentingwholeheartedly.com/apply

*FREE* MASTERCLASS: Learn how to CONFIDENTLY parent your strong-willed child WITHOUT threats, bribes or giving in altogether so you can BREAK FREE of power struggles + guilt
www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/unapologetic

www.parentingwholeheartedly.com

Do you wish you had more mom friends?  You're not alone.

Unfortunately villages don't just happen. They're created!

Today’s guest, Emily Siegel, is a friendship mentor, podcast host, working mom of two adorable little boys, and the leader of The Connected Mom Life Community.  She helps busy moms create the circle of friends they crave because she firmly believes we weren’t made to mom alone, and she’s on a mission to see that we stop trying.

In our conversation she highlights the three most common misconceptions moms believe that hold them back from the relationships they'd love, how to make friendships *stickier* and whether or not it's okay if our spouse is our main source of connection in this season.


IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVERED...

• Why making mom friends feels harder than dating
• The comment to make to test the waters and see if a potential friend is a "safe" person
• How to fit friendship into your life as a busy mom by making the most of the time you have

DON'T MISS-

• Emily's fail proof pick-up line to get a mom's number

// MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE//
Laura Tremaine

// CONNECT WITH EMILY SIEGEL //
Website: TheConnectedMomLife.com
Instagram:  @theconnectedmomlife


I believe in you + I'm cheering you on.
Come say hi!  I'm @parent_wholeheartedly on Insta.
Apply to work together: parentingwholeheartedly.com/Apply

*FREE* MASTERCLASS: Learn how to CONFIDENTLY parent your strong-willed child WITHOUT threats, bribes or giving in altogether so you can BREAK FREE of power struggles + guilt
www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/unapologetic

www.parentingwholeheartedly.com

Hard, frustrating, exhausting - is an understatement. Your lived experience as a parent of a strong-willed child is one many can't understand, including yourself sometimes!

There are very real dynamics, fears, and perceptions that make showing up moment to moment extremely difficult, and it's impossible to solve for them without being able to name them first.   

This episode is going to give words for what you haven't yet had words to describe.

IN THIS EPISODE, I SHARED...

• Proof you're not the only one late night Googling and stressing about these things...
• The valid + understandable reasons why you feel the way you do
• What you have control over and what you don't

DON'T MISS:

• Why you might feel defeated as a "Can do" Parent with a "Do it For Me" Kid

// CONNECT WITH DANIELLE //
Website: parentingwholeheartedly.com
IG: @parent_wholeheartedly
APPLY: parentingwholeheartedly.com/apply

*FREE* MASTERCLASS: Learn how to CONFIDENTLY parent your strong-willed child WITHOUT threats, bribes or giving in altogether so you can BREAK FREE of power struggles + guilt
www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/unapologetic

www.parentingwholeheartedly.com

Today's guest, Stefanie Wilder-Taylor, is an author, TV personality, and cohost of the popular podcast For Crying Out Loud. She co-created and hosted the late-night comedy parenting show Parental Discretion with Stefanie Wilder-Taylor for NickMom on Nickelodeon. She’s the author of Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay; Naptime Is the New Happy Hour; It’s Not Me, It’s You; I’m Kind of a Big Deal; and Gummi Bears Should Not Be Organic.

In this episode (and her new book DRUNK-ISH: Loving and Leaving Alcohol (On sale January 16, 2024)), she recounts the rise and fall of her relationship with alcohol, from her online fame as a wine-loving mommy blogger, to her denial, to the disastrous evening when she drove drunk with her kids in the car that marked the end.

The moral of the story we hope you hear from this episode is that it’s less important to figure out whether or not you’re an alcoholic, and more important to decide whether you could benefit from stopping drinking.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVERED...

• Her compulsion to keep secrets or stay silent when feeling like she was failing motherhood early on
• "Mommy wine culture" and all the reasons we happen to drink
• Hesitations, pre-conceived notions, and fears about life as a sober mom

DON'T MISS-

• Indicators of a problem to watch out for in your (or a loved one's) relationship with alcohol

// MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE//
Ep. 79: Really Wanted and Really Hard
Book: Pregnancy Sucks: What to do when your Miracle Makes you Miserable
Book: Toddlers are A**holes: It's Not Your Fault

// CONNECT WITH STEFANIE WILDER-TAYLOR //
Website/Books: stefaniewildertaylor.com/books
Instagram:  @SWilderTaylor
Apple Podcasts: For Crying Out Loud
Pre-Order: Drunk-Ish: A Memoir of Loving and Leaving Alcohol (out January 16th, 2024)

I believe in you + I'm cheering you on.
Come say hi!  I'm @parent_wholeheartedly on Insta.
Apply to work together: parentingwholeheartedly.com/Apply

*FREE* MASTERCLASS: Learn how to CONFIDENTLY parent your strong-willed child WITHOUT threats, bribes or giving in altogether so you can BREAK FREE of power struggles + guilt
www.parentingwholeheartedly.com/unapologetic

www.parentingwholeheartedly.com