In this episode, I open up about the emotional and practical realities of long-distance fatherhood and co-parenting after separation. I share lessons from Halloween traditions and holiday rituals, the challenges of discipline with a sensitive three-year-old, and how those lessons carry over into parenting my twelve-year-old who lives overseas. With insight from a top UK family lawyer on the Hague Convention and advice from psychologists Sean Larsen and Todd Kettner, I explore how to focus on your child’s wellbeing, manage emotions, and nurture connection across borders.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

Understanding the Hague Convention and international parenting rights

How to keep your child at the centre during legal or co-parenting conflict

Simple rituals and creative ways to stay connected through holidays

Balancing firmness and sensitivity in discipline near and far

The value of quiet presence and emotional steadiness with older kids

In this episode, I open up about the emotional and practical realities of long-distance fatherhood and how to nurture a balanced bond between parents after separation. With insights from counsellor Catherine Williams and research on the Kelly & Johnston Continuum, I discuss healthy attachment, the difference between affinity and alienation, and why a child’s best outcome depends on both parents being supported.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

Why self-care and emotional health come first for separated parents

How to stay connected through letters, FaceTime, and shared rituals

The Kelly & Johnston Continuum explained — from balance to alienation

Language that fosters security instead of division

Simple activities that reconnect families across distance

Professional insight and practical tools for parents navigating separation

In this episode, I open up about the emotional and practical work of supporting a young child through high anxiety — and what it means to stay grounded as a parent when your child’s fear takes over. With thanks and insight from psychologist Sean Larsen, hypnotherapist Catherine Williams, and family counsellor Erica Spink, I explore how “bottom-up” fear works in a child’s nervous system, why storytelling can be more powerful than reassurance, and how gentle exposure and family balance helped our son heal.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

Simple family moments that restore connection — nature play, empathy, and advocacy

How a mild infection triggered deep anxiety in a six-year-old

Why logic doesn’t calm body-based fear

How storytelling can re-train a child’s brain

The emotional load of co-regulation and the need for parental balance

The small daily shifts that made a difference: softer mornings, more play, less pressure