Episodes

  • The Pre-Flight Brief: 3 Lines to Calm Mornings, Bedtime and Big Transitions

    The Pre-Flight Brief: 3 Lines to Calm Mornings, Bedtime and Big Transitions
    Jan 8 2026
    This episode is for parents bracing for the next predictable storm — mornings that blow up when you’re late, bedtime that turns into a battle, or the meltdown that follows a tricky transition. I normalise the fatigue and the guilt, then offer one core idea: a tiny pre‑flight ritual performed before a known trigger reduces friction and preserves safety and relationship. You’ll learn three simple lines (short, age-adaptable phrases), how to set the timing and tone so they land, and two environmental nudges that make the words work without extra willpower. I walk through quick scripts for toddlers, school‑agers and teens, plus troubleshooting when a line feels hollow (sensory issues, testing, or extreme dysregulation). Finish with two experiments to try tomorrow, clear signs to pause, and a grounding close so you can practise without pressure.
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    8 mins
  • Breathable Boundaries: 3 Lines That Stop Power Struggles

    Breathable Boundaries: 3 Lines That Stop Power Struggles
    Jan 9 2026
    This episode gives parents one clear definition of 'breathable': firm, predictable limits delivered with dignity, choice, and consistent follow-through—not permissive softness. You'll learn three core scripts (Hold, Invite, Consequence) with verbatim examples you can copy: toddler Hold: 'Shoes on now; you can pick red or blue.' Teen Consequence: 'If you're not home by 10, you won't get the ride tomorrow.' I coach exact tone, pacing, and body language so words land when voices rise, and include a 20–30s neurodiversity/sensory adaptation example (visual timer, shorter sentences, space to move). Two micro-practices let you rehearse scripts in low-stress moments and two low-effort experiments to try this week measure progress. Practical co-parent alignment steps and a one-page downloadable script sheet make follow-through easier. Close with a simple grounding cue and a clear CTA: 'For more quick tools, subscribe and download the one-page script sheet at [link].'
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    7 mins
  • When Sibling Storms Collide: Keeping Calm When One Child’s Upset Sparks Another

    When Sibling Storms Collide: Keeping Calm When One Child’s Upset Sparks Another
    Jan 14 2026
    This episode is for parents who watch one child’s meltdown pull the rest of the house into chaos. I name the moment—when an outburst becomes a family-wide storm—and normalise the helplessness parents feel. The core idea: sibling escalation is a predictable ripple that you can interrupt by shifting attention, sequencing your responses, and using tiny, dignified interventions that protect relationship and limits. I teach three accessible steps parents can use in the first two minutes: (1) a fast safety sweep and single-sentence limit, (2) a split-attention strategy that models calm for the triggered sibling, and (3) a short repair script for after the heat. Each step includes toddler, school-age and teen adaptations, plus a simple nightly micro-reflection parents can use to track what helps. The episode closes with compassionate reassurance and a short subscribe CTA so listeners can build these tools without pressure.
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    7 mins
  • The Curious Pause: Three Questions to Turn Defiance into Cooperation

    The Curious Pause: Three Questions to Turn Defiance into Cooperation
    Jan 16 2026
    This episode is for the parent who notices arguments spiral after the first sharp word. I name the moment — when a boundary is tested and both voices rise — then normalise how quickly shame or blame can fuel more resistance. The core idea: a tiny, intentional pause followed by curiosity-based questions changes the conversation's purpose from punishment to joint problem-solving. I teach three simple, age‑adaptable questions (the Safety Check, the Choice Clarifier, and the 'Help Me Understand' probe) with verbatim lines for toddlers, school-age children and teens, plus pacing, tone and body language that keep dignity intact. You’ll get quick examples of when curiosity helps and when it risks sounding like interrogation, two brief rehearsal practices to try tonight, and clear red flags for when a situation needs safety-first steps or specialist support. Close includes a grounding cue, the show signature line and a subscribe CTA so listeners can practise the pause this week.
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    7 mins
  • Small Stories, Big Calm: A Two‑Minute Micro‑Story Ritual to Teach Feelings

    Small Stories, Big Calm: A Two‑Minute Micro‑Story Ritual to Teach Feelings
    Jan 19 2026
    This episode is for the parent who keeps seeing the same explosive moments and realises the child simply can’t find the words or steps to stop. I name the moment — the panic that comes when a child has no language for their rising feeling — and normalise how common and solvable this is. The core idea: a two‑minute 'micro‑story' ritual you do together that names one feeling, names one body clue, and scripts one tiny calming action or next-step. I offer ready-to-use templates and verbatim starters for toddlers, school‑aged children and teens; a three‑step practice loop (create, rehearse, anchor); a 60‑second bedside rehearsal parents can try tonight; and low‑effort and sensory-friendly alternatives for exhausted or neurodivergent families. I flag when stories aren’t enough and provide clear signposts for professional support. Close includes the show signature cue and a gentle subscribe CTA so listeners can build this habit without pressure.
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    6 mins
  • The Co‑Regulation Playlist: 3 Songs and a Move to Shift Any Storm

    The Co‑Regulation Playlist: 3 Songs and a Move to Shift Any Storm
    Jan 20 2026
    This episode is for the parent who feels stuck when heat rises and wishes there was something small that genuinely changes the room. I name the moment—your child is spiralling and your words feel useless—and normalise how biology, rhythm and shared movement can change arousal more reliably than logic. The core idea: create a short, co‑authored 'co‑regulation playlist' of three songs (anchor, steadying, reset) plus a single, portable movement or gesture you use together. I walk listeners through tempo, lyric and volume rules; give three ready‑made playlists and one movement for toddlers, school‑agers and teens; and offer sensory‑friendly swaps for neurodivergent children. You’ll get a two‑minute bedside/demo practice to try tonight, coaching on how to introduce the kit without dramatizing it, and clear red flags for when music is NOT the right tool. Close includes a grounding cue, brief rehearsal challenge and a subscribe CTA so families can try a tiny experiment this week.
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    8 mins
  • The Quiet Exit: How to Leave the Room Without Leaving the Relationship

    The Quiet Exit: How to Leave the Room Without Leaving the Relationship
    Jan 21 2026
    This episode is for the parent who realises that sometimes their presence makes things worse, but walking away feels like failure or abandonment. I name the moment — heat rising, words piling up, both of you louder and less safe — and normalise the tug-of-war between protecting limits and protecting attachment. The core idea: teach and practise a predictable, dignity-preserving Quiet Exit you use intentionally when your presence escalates the situation. I give exact, age-adapted micro-scripts to say before you step out, a one-minute safety checklist and silent reset routine to use while you’re gone, and a three-step re-entry and repair script to reconnect afterwards. Toddler, school-age and teen adaptations and co-parent handover language make the plan usable across family setups and neurodiversity. I flag clear red lines for when you must stay or seek help, offer two brief practice prompts to try tonight, and close with the show’s signature cue and a subscribe CTA so families can step away without guilt.
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    9 mins
  • The Help Signal: Teaching a Quiet Way to Ask for Support

    The Help Signal: Teaching a Quiet Way to Ask for Support
    Jan 22 2026
    This episode is for the parent who watches their child spiral and wishes there had been a quieter, kinder way to say 'I need help' earlier. I name the moment—frustration tightening, words racing, the window for repair closing—and normalise how shame and fear stop kids asking for support. The core idea: co-design a predictable, low-drama Help Signal your child can use across settings, and commit to a consistent, dignity-preserving adult response script. I give three age- and sensory-adapted signal options (gesture, code word, visual card), a short parent reply formula that restores safety and agency, and two brief practice rituals to teach and rehearse the system at home. Practical tips cover school or public use, sibling dynamics, and when a signal hides deeper needs. Close with a short grounding cue and a subscribe CTA so families can try a tiny change tonight.
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    7 mins