May 31: Why a two-minute toy time-out actually works
Good morning.Escalating punishments often backfire when a tiny, two-minute boundary would do the job.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Leah Klionsky argues that parents of young children frequently over-punish out of fear. Instead of swinging between zero boundaries and harsh discipline, she advocates for micro-consequences. Simply placing a stuffed animal in a two-minute time-out is often enough to correct behavior without triggering emotional distress.
Little kids pick
An evidence-based discipline strategy that enforces boundaries effectively without relying on overly harsh or emotionally distressing punishments.
Discipline
Micro-consequences for young children
Use the mildest possible consequence that still registers, such as placing a toy in a two-minute time-out, rather than escalating to severe punishments.
Why it matters: Parents frequently swing between setting zero boundaries and imposing overly harsh punishments; micro-consequences offer a safe, effective middle ground.
Big kids pick
A clinical script that bypasses teenage defensiveness by aligning with their goals and stating the undeniable reality of their academic results.
Communication
Academic intervention conversation script
When a teen insists they know how to study despite failing grades, align with their goals by saying, 'what you're doing isn't working.'
Why it matters: Teens often care about their grades but lack the tools to improve, masking their frustration with defensiveness.
Today's Parenting Tips
Actionable advice distilled from this week's parenting podcasts.
Discipline
Micro-consequences for young children
Use the mildest possible consequence that still registers, such as placing a toy in a two-minute time-out, rather than escalating to severe punishments.
Why it matters: Parents frequently swing between setting zero boundaries and imposing overly harsh punishments; micro-consequences offer a safe, effective middle ground.
Communication
Academic intervention conversation script
When a teen insists they know how to study despite failing grades, align with their goals by saying, 'what you're doing isn't working.'
Why it matters: Teens often care about their grades but lack the tools to improve, masking their frustration with defensiveness.
Education
Four-step independence framework
When teaching a child a new skill, follow psychoanalyst Erna Furman's four steps: do it for them, do it with them, admire, and step back.
Why it matters: Fostering independence requires a structured transition rather than an abrupt handover.
Discipline
The problem with discipline countdowns
Counting to three when a toddler misbehaves teaches them that they have three free seconds to continue the bad behavior without consequence.
Why it matters: Parents often use countdowns to avoid immediate conflict, which delays accountability.
Discipline
Visual bedtime routine charts
Use a picture-based schedule for the bedtime routine to eliminate choices and put toddlers on autopilot, reducing nightly negotiations.
Why it matters: Toddlers thrive on predictability; visual cues bypass the need for verbal processing when they are already tired.
Emotional Regulation
The lilted tone tantrum response
Completely ignore a toddler's tantrum, and the moment they finish, use a lilted, friendly tone to ask if they want to read a book.
Why it matters: Parents often match their child's frustration, which escalates the situation and gives the toddler emotional control.
Education
Five-Environment Audit for School Fit
Evaluate your child's school fit by auditing five distinct environments: intellectual, social, physical, emotional, and creative—if they aren't aligned, the child won't thrive.
Why it matters: Provides a concrete checklist for parents considering a school change or transitioning to homeschooling.
Emotional Regulation
Parent Rush Support Squad
Build a support system of friends whose children are not currently rushing so you can vent your recruitment anxieties without projecting them onto your daughter.
Why it matters: Parents often absorb their child's stress during rush, leading to unintentional pressure if they lack an independent outlet.
Emotional Regulation
Delayed parental rescue
When your child faces a difficult situation, resist the urge to fix it immediately and instead say, "I'm here, let's figure it out together."
Why it matters: Modern parenting often equates love with preventing struggle, which inadvertently stunts emotional resilience.
Health & Wellness
Five-minute daily parent mindfulness
Commit to five minutes of daily mental practice while commuting or brushing teeth to produce measurable biological changes in your brain within four weeks.
Why it matters: Flourishing is contagious, meaning a parent's improved emotional baseline directly benefits their children's development through social learning mechanisms.
Discipline
Limits of extreme punitive discipline
Avoid extreme lockdown measures like removing a teen's bedroom door, as these tactics often escalate defiance rather than correcting the underlying behavior.
Why it matters: When parents feel out of control, they often resort to extreme control measures, missing the underlying trauma driving the behavior.
Communication
Low-Stakes Conversation Starters
To get a shut-down teen talking, ask low-pressure, silly questions like "what is the worst movie you have ever seen?" instead of probing about feelings.
Why it matters: Teens often feel interrogated by parents; shifting to low-stakes topics builds the safety required for deeper conversations later.
Communication
Side-by-side walking conversations
To get an adolescent to open up, practice breeziness by taking a walk together, as talking side-by-side feels less interrogational than face-to-face.
Why it matters: Teens often pull away from direct conversations, requiring lower-pressure communication methods.
Relationships
Parental Transition Apologies
When a necessary family decision causes your child distress, explicitly apologize for the pain it caused them rather than defending the choice.
Why it matters: Parents often fear that showing vulnerability or apologizing will make a child resist a transition more, but it actually reduces friction.
Emotional Regulation
Processing grief without forced positivity
Allow teens to openly express sadness at home rather than enforcing a culture of forced perfection where crying is not allowed.
Why it matters: Toxic positivity prevents emotional processing, often leading teens to self-medicate with substances to numb unexpressed pain.
Communication
Trending Toy Refusal Script
When your child begs for a trending toy, validate their desire first, then state a clear family boundary without lecturing them about gratitude.
Why it matters: One-click delivery has removed the natural waiting period that used to help kids process delayed gratification.
Health & Wellness
Responsive newborn feeding cues
If your newborn shows feeding cues just 30 minutes after their last session, feed them again rather than waiting for a specific time interval.
Why it matters: New parents often rely heavily on tracking apps, which can cause anxiety when a baby wants to eat sooner than the app suggests.
Health & Wellness
Skin-to-skin milk production
Keep your newborn skin-to-skin between diaper changes to trigger a surge of oxytocin, which naturally boosts your milk supply.
Why it matters: Parents often view skin-to-skin as a nice-to-have bonding activity rather than a functional feeding strategy.
Health & Wellness
Pre-bedtime evening nature walk
Take infants outside just before bedtime to observe the darkening sky, using natural light transitions to signal that the day is ending.
Why it matters: Getting outside provides a sensory shift that naturally lowers energy levels before the formal bedtime routine begins.
Relationships
Mental Load Category Takeover
If you want more physical intimacy, proactively ask your partner to assign you entire categories of mental load to manage.
Why it matters: Many couples experience a mismatch in desire that is actually rooted in an imbalance of cognitive labor.
By Stage
What each age group needs this week — patterns across multiple shows.
Toddlers
Eliminating Power Struggles
Experts are shifting away from countdowns and verbal negotiations, instead recommending visual charts and lilted-tone resets to bypass a toddler's resistance without escalating the conflict.
Teens
Lowering the Stakes for Adolescent Connection
Therapists emphasize that intense interrogations and extreme punishments backfire with teenagers. Professionals advocate for low-pressure conversation starters and silent proximity to rebuild emotional safety.
Infants
Biological Anchoring for Newborns
Pediatricians and lactation consultants are steering caregivers away from rigid tracking apps, focusing instead on biological cues like skin-to-skin contact and natural light transitions to regulate infant nervous systems.
Expert Corner
When the psychologists and pediatricians weigh in with specifics.
The Five-Environment Audit
Dr. Susan Baum suggests evaluating a child's school fit across intellectual, social, physical, emotional, and creative environments. Missing alignment in any of these areas can drive chronic school refusal for neurodivergent learners.
Micro-Mindfulness Rewires the Brain
Professor Richard Davidson's randomized controlled trials demonstrate that just five minutes of daily mental practice produces measurable biological changes. Piggybacking this routine onto brushing your teeth is enough to improve your emotional baseline.
Real Talk
Honest moments from the mic — the stuff that made us nod along.
Vent to Your Peers, Not Your Kids
Sorority rush coach Trisha Addicks warns parents against projecting their own recruitment anxieties onto their daughters. Building an independent support squad of friends whose children aren't currently rushing provides a safe outlet for your stress.
Apologizing for Necessary Pain
When a family decision like moving causes your child distress, explicitly apologize for their pain rather than defending the choice. Validating their experience does not undermine your authority; it fosters deeper connection during a difficult transition.
From the Conversations
The problem with discipline countdowns
Discipline Errors Toddler Parents Make
May 19, 2026 · 23m · 2quotes pulled
▶ Listen“They'll keep kicking for those three counts and then they break... there's no consequence for it. All they've learned is I can be rotten and mean for three counts.”
Raising Boys & Girls
Delayed parental rescue
Episode 379: Capable Connections: Mothers and Daughters with David and Sissy
May 28, 2026 · 30m · 2quotes pulled
“when we step in too quickly, kids don't learn to ask for help because we're helping first... Capability doesn't grow from being rescued from hard things. It grows from moving through hard things with support.”
Limits of extreme punitive discipline
Teen Stories: When Life Feels Too Heavy
May 26, 2026 · 23m · 2quotes pulled
▶ Listen“She really liked the whole total lockdown thing. The no door, no TV... But honestly, I feel like because she did that, I wanted to rebel or be more defiant.”
Sources
Educated Parent: Evidence-Based Parenting Tips to Solve Everyday Parenting Problems
Natural Consequences Are Overrated: How to Set Fair Consequences for Kids
<p>If you’ve ever felt guilty for giving your child a consequence that was not perfectly “natural” or “logical,” you are not alone. Parents are constantly told that natural consequences are the best way for kids to learn, but as a parenting expert, I want to challenge that idea. Sometimes the real-world outcome is far too harsh, and sometimes kids are simply not developmentally ready for it. That is where safe, consistent, age-appropriate consequences come in.</p><p>In this episode, I break down why natural consequences are often overrated and how to think about safer, more effective types of discipline that actually help children learn. We’ll talk about why parent-created consequences are not harmful when used appropriately, how to choose age-appropriate consequences, and what a parenting expert really wants parents to understand about discipline. If you have ever felt confused about consequences or worried that you are doing it wrong, this episode will help you feel more confident.</p><p><strong>In this episode, we cover:</strong></p><ul><li>Why natural consequences are not always safe or appropriate for children</li><li>How to create age-appropriate consequences that actually teach skills</li><li>Different types of discipline and why they do not need to be perfectly “logical”</li><li>What a parenting expert wants parents to understand about consistent consequences</li><li>Why some natural consequences are far harsher than parent-created consequences</li><li>How age-appropriate consequences protect children while helping them learn</li><li>Why effective types of discipline should be predictable, calm, and non-violent</li><li>How a parenting expert approaches consequences without shame or fear</li></ul><br/><p>If you have ever struggled to figure out the “right” consequence, this episode will help you rethink natural consequences, feel more confident using age-appropriate consequences, understand healthier types of discipline, and approach discipline with the clarity of a parenting expert.</p><p><strong>LET'S CONNECT:</strong></p><p><u><a href="https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/thrivingchildcenter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thriving Child Center</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/pcit-experts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PCIT Experts</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://thrivingchildcenter.com/calm-and-connected-program-for-parents" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Calm and Connected Program</a></u></p><p><u><a href="https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/instagram" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a></u></p><p><strong>Love having expert tips you can actually use?<a href="https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/newsletter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> </a></strong><u><a href="https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/newsletter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Join our newsletter</a></u> and get a beautifully designed PDF of each episode’s top 3 takeaways—delivered straight to your inbox every week.</p><p></p><p>Are you a provider?<a href="https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/provider-newsletter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> </a><u><a href="https://educated-parent.captivate.fm/provider-newsletter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Subscribe here</a></u> for professional insights and parenting resources!</p>
Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens
272: Why Is My Teen Bombing Tests?
Your teen does everything right. Homework done. Pays attention. Stays organized. Has study skills. And still struggles with tests. Sound familiar? You're not alone, and this is not your kid's fault. In this episode of “Ask Lisa,” clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and Reena Ninan dig into one of the most frustrating and confusing problems parents face: the capable, motivated teen who just can't seem to perform on assessments. Drawing on the science of learning and memory, Lisa explains exactly why this happens, what's actually going on in your teen's brain, and how you can help without turning study time into a battleground. 💡 YOU'LL LEARN: - Why being great at class has almost nothing to do with being great at tests - Why the transition to high school catches so many teens (especially boys) off guard - The study habits that feel productive but actually don't work (and what to do instead) - A step-by-step approach to starting the study skills conversation with your teen - Why your teen probably won't take your advice, and who they will actually listen to - How to broker the right kind of help so your kid feels supported, not managed Whether your teen is heading into finals, is making the jump to high school, or has been struggling for a while, this episode gives you real, research-backed tools to help them turn things around. BOOK: Outsmart Your Brain by Daniel T. Willingham, PhD ________________ Today's Sponsors: Task Rabbit: Get fifteen dollars off your first task using promo code ASKLISA with the Taskrabbit app or at https://www.taskrabbit.com. Donors Choose: Have your gift matched today at https://www.donorschoose.org/asklisa. iRestore: Receive discounts on their red light therapy devices at https://www.irestore.com/ Children&Screens: Check out Screen Deep wherever you listen to podcasts. ________________ GET DR. DAMOUR'S FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Guidance, strategies, and tips delivered straight to your inbox → https://drlisadamour.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/ DR. DAMOUR'S BESTSELLING BOOKS - Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood – https://bit.ly/UntangledBook - Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls – https://bit.ly/UnderPressuretheBook - The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents – https://a.co/d/cbOmTKp UNTANGLING 10TO20 MEMBERSHIP Premium courses & resources for teens and the adults who care for them → https://lnkd.in/gr52MB-F VISIT DR. LISA'S WEBSITE → https://drlisadamour.com/ ________________ Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges. Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you covered! Together they address listener questions about stress, anxiety, social media concerns, school pressures, and challenges in peer relationships. Each episode provides practical advice and science-backed solutions to help parents raise resilient, confident, and emotionally healthy kids. Tune in every week for the latest topics in parenting, child psychology, and family wellness. Get answers to your most pressing parenting questions. New episodes drop every Tuesday. ________________ Episode keywords: teen failing tests, why does my teen bomb tests, high school test anxiety, how to study for tests teen, teen study skills, freshman year grades dropping, teaching teens how to study, teen not studying right, middle school to high school transition, test prep tips teens, retrieval practice teens, teen homework vs test grades, boys falling behind school Podcast keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, parenting, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence
Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens
273: Best of Ask Lisa: Confidence, Self-Esteem & Self-Compassion
Does your tween or teen struggle with low confidence and self-esteem? Do you want to cultivate healthy self-compassion and self-worth in them — and in yourself? In this special "Best of Ask Lisa" compilation, clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and co-host Reena Ninan pull together some of their most powerful conversations on self-esteem, confidence, and self-compassion, covering the full arc of the tween and teen years. Whether your child is drowning in negative self-talk, paralyzed by perfectionism, or just seems to have lost the spark they once had, this episode will help you understand what's normal, what's not, and what actually works. 💡 YOU'LL LEARN: - Why confidence naturally dips around ages 5-9 (and why that doesn't mean you've failed as a parent) - Why girls often experience a sharp confidence drop around age 12, and what's really going on for boys during puberty - The "tributaries and the lake" framework for building self-esteem that lasts across a lifetime - How to respond when your kid spirals into harsh negative self-talk, including the exact phrases Dr. Lisa recommends - Whether it's okay to tell your daughter she's beautiful - How modeling self-compassion is one of the most powerful confidence tools you have This episode draws on insights from guests Dr. Tovah Klein, Dr. Sue Varma, and Dr. Traci Baxley, alongside Dr. Lisa's own research and clinical expertise. Your child's confidence struggles are workable; making small, consistent shifts in how you respond can make a real difference over time. ________________ Today's sponsors: Momentous: Get 5% off your first order with promo code ASKLISA at https://www.livemomentous.com Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://www.shopify.com/asklisa Mill: $75 off with your membership code ASKLISA at https://www.mill.com/asklisa. Caraway: 10% off your next order with promo code ASKLISA at https://www.carawayhome.com/discount/asklisa ________________ GET DR. DAMOUR'S FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Guidance, strategies, and tips delivered straight to your inbox → https://drlisadamour.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/ DR. DAMOUR'S BESTSELLING BOOKS - Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood – https://bit.ly/UntangledBook - Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls – https://bit.ly/UnderPressuretheBook - The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents – https://a.co/d/cbOmTKp UNTANGLING 10TO20 MEMBERSHIP Premium courses & resources for teens and the adults who care for them → https://lnkd.in/gr52MB-F VISIT DR. LISA'S WEBSITE → https://drlisadamour.com/ ________________ Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges. Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you covered! Together they address listener questions about stress, anxiety, social media concerns, school pressures, and challenges in peer relationships. Each episode provides practical advice and science-backed solutions to help parents raise resilient, confident, and emotionally healthy kids. Tune in every week for the latest topics in parenting, child psychology, and family wellness. Get answers to your most pressing parenting questions. New episodes drop every Tuesday. ________________ Episode keywords: teen self-esteem, tween confidence, building confidence in kids, negative self-talk kids, how to raise confident kids, self-esteem middle school, girl confidence drop age 12, boys puberty self-esteem, perfectionism in teens, self-compassion kids, parenting teen girls appearance, how to help insecure teen Podcast keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, parenting, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence
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BratBusters Parenting Podcast
Discipline Errors Toddler Parents Make#169 In this episode, Lisa discusses her thoughts on toddler discipline. She covers four things toddlers may do, three common discipline methods she doesn’t recommend for toddlers, consistent corrective actions, the importance of patience, and navigating the unknown of parenting. Lastly, Lisa addresses four listener questions, strategies for managing a 17-month-old whining, approaching teeth brushing for a 20-month-old, the challenges of balancing a toddler and a baby and how to respon...
The Mind of a Child
A Christian Mom's Guide to Slowing Down: How a Peaceful Heart Creates a Peaceful Home
<p>→ <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd3mH5KhUcBxYJzUg4Rky7OvnEm2wecGW75owj-eN1IL6GjcQ/viewform?usp=sharing">Prayer Calendar</a></p><p><br></p><p>Motherhood is full of noise, rushing, and never-ending to-do lists, but what if slowing down was the most important thing you could do for your child today? In this episode of The Mind of a Child, we offer warm, gospel-centered wisdom for young mothers navigating the sacred, sometimes exhausting rhythms of nap times and bedtimes.</p><p>From practical tips like writing things down, using a crockpot, and setting consistent routines, to deeper spiritual practices like prayer, scripture memorization, and worship music, this conversation reminds us that a peaceful mama makes a peaceful home. Stay consistent, extend yourself grace, and remember: raising children is some of the best work you will ever do.</p><p><strong>Episode Highlights</strong></p><p>00:00 — Why young parents should prioritize slowing down<br>09:30 — Respecting rhythms and routines<br>17:00 — Perspective shift on "menial" tasks</p><p>Please send us your questions if you'd like to have them discussed on the podcast: themindofachildpodcast@gmail.com</p> <br><p>The Mind of a Child is an early child development podcast that exists to encourage and equip parents to raise their kids to love God and love others. If you're looking for Biblical principles, practical parenting solutions, and science-backed research, our discussions are specifically tailored for you. Our hosts are Leslie Dudley Corbell and Diane Doucet Matthews, who each have a combined 50+ years of experience in the early child parenting space.</p>
Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children
Dr. Susan Baum on 2e Learners & Elmbridge University’s Program on Cognitive Diversity
This is a short, special mini-episode I’m sharing because my friends at Elmbridge University (formerly Bridges Academy) let me know that enrollment is now open for the next cohort of their truly unique graduate program in cognitive diversity in education, and application deadlines are coming up in June. When Dr. Susan Baum—one of the leading voices in twice-exceptionality and Chancellor of the program—said she could join me for a quick conversation about her work and what makes this program so impactful, I said absolutely. In this brief chat, Susan shares insights into supporting twice-exceptional learners, why environment matters so much, and how this program is helping educators better understand and serve complex, neurodivergent students. If you want to learn more, you can head to https://elmbridge.edu/. About Dr. Susan Baum Susan Baum, Ph.D., is Chancellor of Elmbridge University’s Graduate School for Cognitive Diversity in Education (formerly Bridges) and Co-director of the 2e Center for Research and Professional Development at Bridges Academy, a school for twice exceptional students. The author of many publications concerning the needs of special populations of gifted students including the award-winning 3rd edition of her seminal work To Be Gifted and Learning Disabled, Susan is a popular international speaker whose message is celebrating neurodiversity. She served on the Board of Directors of the National Association for Gifted Children and is past president and co-founder of the Association for the Education of Gifted Underachieving students. She is recipient of the Weinfeld Group’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her work in educating the twice-exceptional child. Things You'll Learn in this Episode The rise in awareness and identification of twice exceptional individuals, including advocacy and policy changes in schools Common misconceptions in education about giftedness and disabilities, and Baum’s theory of green — the paradoxical profile of these students The importance of tailored environmental components — intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and creative — for thriving twice exceptional students The evolution and impact of the Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity (now Elmbridge University) Resources Mentioned Elmbridge University Bridges Academy Twice-Exceptional and Special Populations of Gifted Students (Essential Readings in Gifted Education Series) by Dr. Susan Baum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
No Guilt Mom | Overcoming Mom Guilt, Parenting Tips, & Self Care for Moms
What Every Mom Needs to Know Before Her Daughter Goes Through Sorority Rush with Trisha Addicks
If your daughter is heading to college and talking about rushing a sorority, this episode is required listening — for you, not her. Between the mom guilt, the mental load of managing her college transition, and the overwhelm of a process you don't fully understand, rush season can send even the most grounded mom into a tailspin. Trisha Addicks is a 30-year Rush consultant, author of The Rush Bible: Secrets to Crush Sorority Recruitment and Find Your Forever Greek Home, and was featured in the viral Bama Rush documentary. She has helped hundreds of families navigate one of the most emotionally charged processes in a young woman's college experience. And her number one piece of advice for moms? Back off — but in the most loving, supportive way possible. In this episode, JoAnn and Trisha break down everything you actually need to know about sorority rush, from how the matching process works (it's more like a two-way algorithm than you think) to how to support your daughter without accidentally making it worse. What you'll learn: How the rush process actually works, step by step — from the virtual first round all the way to bid day Why your daughter can be cut before she even sets foot in a house (and what that means) The single most important thing moms can do during rush week — and it's not what you think The biggest mistake moms make when their daughter calls crying (and what to say instead) Why sorority rush at NYU or an Ivy League is just as high stakes as Bama Rush — even if it looks different The #1 misconception about sororities that the TikTok OOTDs are getting completely wrong How to build your own support squad so you don't put your anxiety on your daughter What sorority life actually looks like day-to-day (hint: it's a lot more than parties) Why listening — not prepared questions — is the skill your daughter needs to practice before rush Trisha's biggest reminder for moms: "This is not your journey. It's hers. All you want is for her to find her people — and it doesn't matter what letters are on the door." Resources mentioned: The Rush Bible by Trisha Addicks Remember: the best mom is a happy mom. Take care of you. Thank you to our sponsors! Rula Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/NGM #rulapod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Raising Boys & Girls
Episode 379: Capable Connections: Mothers and Daughters with David and Sissy
This Episode explores the powerful and often complicated relationship between mothers and daughters, highlighting how deeply girls are shaped by their moms’ words, reactions, and emotional health. Sissy Goff and David Thomas discuss the importance of modeling grace, resisting the urge to rescue or overcorrect, and helping daughters grow through hard things with support instead of protection. They also share practical ways moms can stay connected to their girls through simple everyday moments like walks, shared journals, music, dance parties, and intentional one-on-one time, all with the goal of helping girls feel safe, seen, and capable. Resources mentioned Dance Party Button . . . . . . Sign up to receive the bi-monthly newsletter to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share! Pre-order our new book, Capable and grab tickets for Capable - The Book Tour here! See our speaking dates, purchase books and check out our courses here.. . . . . . If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise With Us form. QUINCE: Go to Quince.com/rbg for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns. BOLL & BRANCH: Get 15% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at Bollandbranch.com/rbg. Exclusions apply. SHOPIFY: Go to https://tinyurl.com/RBGShopify to learn more about Shopify! LEGACY BOX: Legacybox is running their Mother’s Day sale and they’re also offering an additional $10 off your order. Visit Legacybox.com and use discount code: RBGGO MINNO: Visit GoMinno.com to get a one month FREE TRIAL using code: RBG Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Raising Good Humans
Your Kids Are Wired to Flourish — Here's How to Get Out of Their Way
What if the most powerful thing you could do for your child's brain development has nothing to do with them at all? This episode is for any parent who has worried about screen time, big emotions, or whether they're doing enough — and hasn't realized that the most direct path to a flourishing child runs straight through their own mind. I'm joined by Dr. Richard Davidson, neuroscientist, founder of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and author of Born to Flourish. What you'll learn: Why neuroplasticity is happening to your brain right now whether you want it to or not The four pillars of flourishing (awareness, connection, insight, and purpose) and the research-backed reason five minutes a day is enough to change your brain. Why flourishing is contagious — and what that means for the hardest kids, the most overwhelmed parents, and everyone in between. Sponsors: Great Wolf Lodge: Bring your pack together at a Lodge near you. Learn more at GreatWolf.com The RealReal: The most trusted name in authenticated luxury resale. Get 25$ off your first purchase when you go to The RealReal.com/humans OneSkin: Unlock your healthiest skin now and as you age. For a limited time, try OneSkin with 15% off using code RGH at oneskin.co/RGH KiwiCo: Build the best summer ever with KiwiCo. Get $10 off on your Summer Adventure Series at kiwico.com/SUMMER, promo code HUMANS.
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Parenting Today's Teens
Teen Stories: When Life Feels Too Heavy<p>Sometimes, the pain teens carry becomes so overwhelming that they feel there’s no way out. In today’s show, we share Mark's interviews with two young women at Heartlight who both faced those darkest moments and attempted to take their own lives. One shares about the weight of bullying, rocky family relationships and feeling invisible, while the other opens up about grief, rejection and years of feeling misunderstood at home. Both of them reflect with honesty on what brought them to that crossroads — and how they're beginning to move forward. </p><p>Could Heartlight be the answer for your struggling teen? Go to heartlightministries.org to learn more.</p><p>Parenting Today's Teens is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit parentingtodayteens.org.</p>
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Parenting Today's Teens
Why Teens Stop Talking to Parents<p>Why do some teens shut down? And what can parents do to help them open up again? In this episode, Mark, Wayne and Heartlight Counselor Courtney LaFleur explore why many teens stay silent out of fear, shame, anxiety or feeling misunderstood. You’ll learn practical ways to build trust, create emotional safety and connect without turning every conversation into correction or interrogation. Plus, Alex shares her story of anxiety, isolation and how she’s learning to open up to her parents. Listen today!</p><p>Giving your teen a safe place to share their heart is one way you can combat your child’s loneliness. Find out about that and more here: parentingtodaysteens.org/articles/teen-loneliness</p><p>Parenting Today's Teens is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit parentingtodayteens.org.</p>
Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children
TPP 301a: Navigating Big Life Transitions with Differently Wired Children (a Solocast)
Our family has gone through our fair share of big changes, which you’ll hear all about in this episode, so this is something that I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about. Especially as a parent of a differently wired kid, I know that there are some extra challenges that might come up when their routines, environment, life circumstances, or supports change, and our kids are also more likely to be resistant to changes (even if they are beneficial). So today I’ll be sharing the strategies I’ve personally found helpful while going through big transitions with Asher. In this episode, I talk about key things such as why being honest when communicating with your kid is so important to help them understand and process change, how being vulnerable can be a way to show support, how to validate our kids’ feelings about the changes or transitions, and how to identify their concerns so you can make plans to address them in advance. I also share about what adjustment disorder is and the kind of extra support you might need during transitions. What You'll Learn in this Episode The benefits and growth that can come from navigating big changes as a family Why honesty is so important when communicating with your child about big changes What to share versus what not to share with your child about the transitions you go through How to validate the big emotions and thoughts that big transitions can bring up in your child The importance of doing your own work as a parent to be able to support our kids during transitions What adjustment disorder is and the extra support you might need to help your child through one How being vulnerable with your kids can be really supportive for them Identifying the concerns that our kids have and coming up with plans to address them in advance Creating new routines to create security for our kids during big transitions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom
The Follow-Up: Early Days of Breastfeeding
The early days of breastfeeding can feel overwhelming when you are recovering, tired, and trying to sort out what is normal. In this Follow-Up episode, I revisit my conversation with Melissa Mancini, RN, IBCLC, to talk through what helps in those first days and weeks, from prenatal prep to milk production, skin to skin, feeding cues, and cluster feeding. In this episode, we cover: How to prepare for breastfeeding before baby arrives Why prenatal breastfeeding education matters What is normal in the first few days of milk production How prolactin and oxytocin support breastfeeding Why skin to skin can help with feeding and supply What supply and demand really means for milk production When feeding on demand makes sense When more structured feeding may be recommended Why cluster feeding is common in the early weeks What kind of support can make breastfeeding feel more manageable Want more? Listen to the original, full episode. Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and subscribe to PedsDocTalk. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. Join the newsletter! And don’t forget to follow @pedsdoctalkpodcast on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships page of the website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Good Inside with Dr. Becky
Why Some Couples Have Better Sex After KidsDr. Becky talks with board-certified OB/GYN, sexual wellness expert, and Chief Medical Officer at Hers, Dr. Jessica Shepherd, about new survey data exploring what actually happens to intimacy in long-term relationships and parenthood.