Authentic Parenting

This is the monthly special episode where I am joined by my lovely friend and colleague Sarah MacLaughlin. If you are a regular listener then you know that we have 3 main segments: Examples From Our Home in which we both share parenting fails and triumphs. What's Up With You? in which we answer your parenting questions Favorite Finds in which we talk about what we have read, or found to be helpful, resources, podcasts and such. Anna's story is all about a hair mask disaster. Her 9 year old daughter is into slime making and as she says some kid of chemistry lab is going on in her home. Highlights: -why our kids are so impressionable and guidable -do you filter what your child hears or sees in the media? -why shouldn't be so hang up on the word "hate" and why it's ok for your child to use it In this episode we answer 3 of your questions. The first one is about a mom who thinks she is helicoptering her 1 year old. The second question is from a mom who wants to know how to help her child process big feelings, turn her negativity into positivity. They just moved to a new town and it seems like the stress and the change are impacting her 6 year old. The third question is about a mom who wants to gain some balance. Her husband works 14-16 hours a day and her kids are so used to her that when dad is home, they still prefer her. Favorite Finds Sarah's book recommendations for the month: Gentle Discipline Big Magic, a great book a must read! Anna's book recommendation for the month: Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach Ann also recommends two podcasts: Tara Brach Jonathan Foust We hope you find these suggestions helpful. Please let us know what you think. Connect with Sarah Her web site Get her book, What Not To Say Facebook Other espouse with Sarah 1. How To Parent As A Team Even When You Disagree [Monthly Special Episode] 2. Why Kids Misbehave, How to Handle a Tricky Tech Issue and Ways to Deal with Nosy People [Monthly Special Episode] 3. Why We Need to Stop Rescuing Our Kids [Monthly Special Episode] Do you need an ongoing parenting support for free? I invite you to join my closed Facebook group-Authentic Parenting Community-a supportive and positive space for moms and dads who want to learn and grow. What's so special about this group? There I offer exclusive FREE content- you won't get anywhere else-bi-monthly free support calls, Q+A sessions,webinars and self improvement challenges. I strongly believe that social and emotional support if vital for modern parents. Find yours today! Don't be alone with the challenges of parenting. JOIN NOW. Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe to Authentic Moments Podcast on iTunes, give us a star rating and/or write a quick review. Thank you in advance! itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/authe…d1052399775?mt=2 Authentic Moments is a weekly show. New episode airs every Thursday. Subscribe, share and enjoy!

Should parents sacrifice their own happiness, dreams, life for their children? Highlights: -as a child Katerina wanted her mom to be happy but as a mom she repeated the same mistakes -how she went from being a supermom to a happy mom -she almost lost her marriage to infidelity What does it mean to create your own happiness? Don't focus on one aspect of your life Will the kids be fine? Are you putting someone else's happiness before yours? QUOTE from this episode:"Happiness is seeing everything in life as a gift regardless of the gift wrap" Connect with Katerina Get Her Book, The Happiest Mom On The Block Resources and links: Do you need an ongoing parenting support for free? I invite you to join my closed Facebook group-Authentic Parenting Community-a supportive and positive space for moms and dads who want to learn and grow. What's so special about this group? There I offer exclusive FREE content- you won't get anywhere else-bi-monthly free support calls, Q+A sessions,webinars and self improvement challenges. I strongly believe that social and emotional support if vital for modern parents. Find yours today! Don't be alone with the challenges of parenting. JOIN NOW. Visit my web site www.authenticparenting.com to schedule a 30 min. complimentary session today and get answers to your burning parenting questions. No obligation. Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe to Authentic Moments Podcast on iTunes, give us a star rating and/or write a quick review. Thank you in advance! itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/authe…d1052399775?mt=2 Like Authentic Parenting-parenting from the heart on Facebook. www.facebook.com/Authentic-Parent…447218465563263/ Authentic Moments is a weekly show. New episodes air every Thursday. Subscribe, share and enjoy!

I recently visited Armenia with my family for the first after 12 years. Even though I was born there and know pretty much what the culture is but to my surprise things had changed. This visit was special because I was visiting as a parent and parent educator and I was very intentional to observe how the Armenian people do the parenting business. Also, I met my friends there for the first time as parents with families. For this episode I invited my dear friend Lusine to join me via Skype to discuss parenting differences and similarities between the Armenia and America. Lusine is a mother of an almost 10 years old boy. Lusine has noted that the issues are the same regardless of the geographical location. What surprised me about Lusine and most parents I talked to there, is that they have never even read a single parenting book. And this is why I pose a question: are we over-parenting here in America? Let's dig in. :) Some things we discuss: -dreaded screen time and setting limits, the Armenian way vs The American (my way more specifically, don't laugh at me too much) -reasons why they are more relaxed around technology and media -how does she get her kid to do things without yelling, nagging, punishing -do kids have more freedom there? -why kids are so easy going there and don't give a hard time to their parents at least from my observations -some secrets to setting limits -how to teach kids to be respectful toward elderly -why they have very few power struggles -and so much more She doesn't follow any particular parenting style or philosophy. She says it comes to her naturally. About my guest who also happens to be my dear friend:) Lusine Taslakyan has twenty years of experience in water and environmental sector in Armenia and the Southern Caucasus. She has a Masters Degree in Water Science, Policy and Management from the University of Oxford, UK, MSc in Environmental Science from the University of Idaho, USA and MSc in Biology and Ecology from the Armenian State Pedagogical University. Ms. Taslakyan is specialized in natural resources management, policy development, river basin planning, trans-boundary cooperation, environmental impact assessment, climate change, stakeholder relations and gender mainstreaming issues. She has long term experience in promoting public awareness and participation in environmental decision making. Resources and Links Do you need an ongoing parenting support for free? I invite you to join my closed Facebook group-Authentic Parenting Community-a supportive and positive space for moms and dads who want to learn and grow. What's so special about this group? There I offer exclusive FREE content- you won't get anywhere else-bi-monthly free support calls, Q+A sessions,webinars and self improvement challenges. I strongly believe that social and emotional support if vital for modern parents. Find yours today! Don't be alone with the challenges of parenting. JOIN NOW. Visit my web site www.authenticparenting.com to schedule a 30 min. complimentary session today and get answers to your burning parenting questions. No obligation. Did you enjoy this episode? Who can you share it with? Let's spread the goodness. Subscribe to Authentic Moments Podcast on iTunes, give us a star rating and/or write a quick review. Thank you in advance! itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/authe…d1052399775?mt=2 Like Authentic Parenting-parenting from the heart on Facebook. www.facebook.com/Authentic-Parent…447218465563263/ Authentic Moments is a weekly show. New episodes air every Thursday. Subscribe, share and enjoy!

My 9 year old daughter shares her honest impressions, observations about our recent overseas travel to Armenia. It was her first time. She was going to meet my dad, her grandpa are you ready-for the first time. It was a big, emotional trip for me as well since I was going back after long 13 years. Many mixed feelings. If you listened to my episode with Bridgett Miller The Hardship of Uprooting and Establishing a Home in a New Place then you know what I mean. Curious what she saw and what she has to say? Here are some of the key points: Some things she talks about The long flight, jet lag, 14 hour layover language barrier and how "nobody understood her" Food and more food Armenian kids and their behavior and her message to Armenian parents Armenian kids and screens Bedtime, safety and on kids being unsupervised When I asked her about her expectations she stated that they were exceeded:) She loved meeting my family and friends and she kept mentioning how nice people were. She also stated that she will miss Armenia and will definitely go back very soon! Do you need an ongoing parenting support for free? I invite you to join my closed Facebook group-Authentic Parenting Community-a supportive and positive space for moms and dads who want to learn and grow. What's so special about this group? There I offer exclusive FREE content- you won't get anywhere else-bi-monthly free support calls, Q+A sessions,webinars and self improvement challenges. I strongly believe that social and emotional support if vital for modern parents. Find yours today! Don't be alone with the challenges of parenting. JOIN NOW. Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe to Authentic Moments Podcast on iTunes, give us a star rating and/or write a quick review. Thank you in advance! itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/authe…d1052399775?mt=2 Authentic Moments is a weekly show. New episode airs every Thursday.

How comfortable are you with your uncomfortable feelings? Do you feel your emotions? Emotions Are Not Bad Behavior Do you remember yourself at age 10? Do you think children are born authentic? How do you cultivate authenticity in your children? How has your sense of self change over time? Also... -how much freedom should we give to our kids -why it's hard to listen to kids big emotions -how to encourage self expression -what is acceptance and how can we fully accept our children fully -our children are not bad for having feelings -tips for listening to children's emotions About My Guest Hunter Clarke-Fields, MSAE, RYT, is a mindfulness mama mentor. She coaches over-stressed moms on how to cultivate mindfulness in their daily lives. Hunter is a certified Parent Effectiveness Training teacher and has over 20 years of experience in yoga & mindfulness practices. She has taught thousands worldwide. Hunter is the creator of the Mindful Parenting course. She thrives on serving others through mindfulness & yoga, practicing creative expression as an artist, and nurturing joy with her husband and two daughters. Her web site: http://hunteryoga.com/index.php Resources and links: Do you need an ongoing parenting support for free? I invite you to join my closed Facebook group-Authentic Parenting Community-a supportive and positive space for moms and dads who want to learn and grow. What's so special about this group? There I offer exclusive FREE content- you won't get anywhere else-bi-monthly free support calls, Q+A sessions,webinars and self improvement challenges. I strongly believe that social and emotional support if vital for modern parents. Find yours today! Don't be alone with the challenges of parenting. JOIN NOW. Visit my web site www.authenticparenting.com to schedule a 30 min. complimentary session today and get answers to your burning parenting questions. No obligation. Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe to Authentic Moments Podcast on iTunes, give us a star rating and/or write a quick review. Thank you in advance! itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/authe…d1052399775?mt=2 Like Authentic Parenting-parenting from the heart on Facebook. www.facebook.com/Authentic-Parent…447218465563263/ Authentic Moments is a weekly show. New episodes air every Thursday. Subscribe, share and enjoy!

What is authenticity? What does it mean to live an authentic life? How do traumatic childhood experiences impact the trajectory of our life? Imagine being a 10 year old and silently suffering a bullying... In this episode: -what is trauma -early childhood experiences and their impact on our life and parenting in particular -why it's imperative to take time off from your kids -can authenticity be cultivated? My guest for this episode is Guy Macpherson, PhD, is a husband, a father of two, and holds a doctorate in clinical psychology. His focus is on the study of trauma and early psychosis. In 2014, Guy founded The Trauma Therapist Project with the goals of raising the awareness of trauma and creating an educational, supportive and inspiring community for new trauma workers. The Trauma Therapist Project has now grown to include The Trauma Therapist | Podcast, now being listened to in more than 160 countries around the world, as well as Trauma Therapist | 2.0, an online membership community dedicated to educating and inspiring new trauma workers of all kinds. Resources and links: Guy's web site: https://www.thetraumatherapistproject.com/ Guy's Podcast: Trauma Therapist Do you need an ongoing parenting support for free? I invite you to join my closed Facebook group-Authentic Parenting Community-a supportive and positive space for moms and dads who want to learn and grow. What's so special about this group? There I offer exclusive FREE content- you won't get anywhere else-bi-monthly free support calls, Q+A sessions,webinars and self improvement challenges. I strongly believe that social and emotional support if vital for modern parents. Find yours today! Don't be alone with the challenges of parenting. JOIN NOW. Visit my web site www.authenticparenting.com to schedule a 30 min. complimentary session today and get answers to your burning parenting questions. No obligation. Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe to Authentic Moments Podcast on iTunes, give us a star rating and/or write a quick review. Thank you in advance! itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/authe…d1052399775?mt=2 Like Authentic Parenting-parenting from the heart on Facebook. www.facebook.com/Authentic-Parent…447218465563263/ Authentic Moments is a weekly show. New episodes air every Thursday. Subscribe, share and enjoy!

How to get kids to listen without yelling and nagging? We all want our children to cooperate easily. Many parents do struggle with challenge. That was the case for Carla who later ended up writing books on mindfulness. Why? Because it was helpful in combating the bad habit of yelling. Yelling doesn't have to be part of your parenting repertoire. Carla shares with us her own definition of mindfulness which I love. -how she integrated mindfulness into her family – how it has changed her life from being less reactive to yelling less…and much more -we talk about mindful listening -an exercise you can do with your kids when they go from zero to crying -how to create a calming down corner for your child. -how to handle meltdowns public places… She is witty, funny, smart and a great storyteller.. About my guest Carla Naumburg, PhD is a clinical social worker, writer, and most importantly, mother. She is the author of Ready, Set, Breathe: Practicing Mindfulness With Your Children for Fewer Meltdowns and a More Peaceful Family (New Harbinger, 2015) and Parenting in the Present Moment: How to Stay Focused on What Really Matters (Parallax, 2014). Carla's writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, among other places. She is a contributing editor for Kveller.com, a website for those who want to add a Jewish twist to their parenting. Carla holds an MSW and a PhD in clinical social work and she has an advanced certificate in mindfulness and psychotherapy. She grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the Bay Area of California, and she currently lives outside of Boston with her husband and two young daughters. Resources and links: Carla's books: Parenting in the Present Moment: How to Stay Focused on What Really Matters Ready, Set, Breathe: Practicing Mindfulness with Your Children for Fewer Meltdowns and a More Peaceful Family You can follow all of Carla's writing and sign up for her newsletter at www.carlanaumburg.com. Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe to Authentic Moments Podcast on iTunes and give us a start rating. Ratings are very important. They help other people to find the show. itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/authe…d1052399775?mt=2 Thank you for listening!

Spanking or corporal punishments break the bond between parent and child. They erode the trust. It is NNOT by inflciting pain we need to teach our children. There is a different way. You'd be surprised to learn that using physical punishments to "discipline" children is still legal in the world. In the United States 19 states still use corporal punishments in their schools and homes. In today's episode I am talking to my lovely friend, gentle parenting advocate Lelia Wes Schott. She is from South African and mom of 6 children. Lelia raised all her children with attachment parenting-a common practice in South Africa. But attachment parenting doesn't mean gentle discipline. Lelia also shares her story of transformation moving from corporal punishments to gentle parenting. She also talks about the feelings that rise from transitioning from having one child to baby number two -The ups and downs, the joy and challenges of raising a big family -How she finds time for herself and for each of her children -Finding support -The reasons behind her decision to homeschool two of her kids -What's happening in schools -and more Curious how they spend a typical day in their household? About My Guest Lelia is a South African, grateful mother of six children; four sons and two daughters; aged 19, 17, 15, 12, 5 and 2. She is also an independent child development researcher, founder, creator and writer at the international advocacy and consulting group Synergy Gentle Parenting Resources, administrator at Gentle Parents Unite and contributor at Thought Leaders In Parenting. Lelia calls herself a messenger or friend, not an expert. Some say she is a conscious parenting coach. A quote from the show "Love multiplies, it doesn't divide." Connect with Lelia You can follow her on facebook.com/Synergy.gentle.parenting instagram.com/synergy.gentle.parenting Do you need parenting support? For our monthly special episode where we answer some listener questions, we accept your questions NOW. If you have parenting questions and want us to answer them during one of our upcoming episodes, please submit your questions wither by email or by phone. We can play your voicemail question on air. How cool is that? Be a part of Authentic Moments! The number to call to leave a voicemail question is: 732-763-2576 To send by email: info@authenticparenting.com Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe to Authentic Moments Podcast on iTunes and give us a star rating. Ratings are very important. They help other people to find the show. itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/authe…d1052399775?mt=2 New episode airs every Thursday. Thank you for listening and supporting the show.

How much time do you spend on Facebook? How often do you check your emails? Do you know that the more you check your email the less happy you feel? Do you have FOMO? The surprising findings from behavioral research may have some shocking answers for you. yes, we are talking about rats. This is a true story. I battled with it. But I have come to face the reality and take some responsible action to defeat my obsessions. I came up with 7 rules for myself and they literally saved my sanity, and I became a lot more happy. My anxiety went away and I started sleeping better. Do you know what happens in your brain when you engage with social media?

In this episode of Authentic Moments host Anna Seewald and guest Christina Fletcher talk about Christina's journey of becoming a spiritually aware parent. Christina Fletcher is a spiritually aware parent coach who helps parents tap into their own inner resources and be their authentic selves, as well as to see their children as the true spiritual beings we all are through tools, meditations and exercises. Christina is also an author and has released 4 books, as well as freelanced for numerous international publications and her own blog, Parenting From Source. For more information please visit her website www.spirituallyawareparenting.com How she has moved from being a controlling parent with her two daughters and changed her ways with her third child. She also shares a very simple yet powerful practice the power of setting an intention word for the week. Quotes from this episode: "There is a freedom in vulnerability" "The more authentic I was to me...the more I was showing up for them." Also... -We all have the "should" voice. -Her homeschooling experience -Mistakes she has made along the way -In the off moments doubts can creep in... She also shares her 4 steps to pushing the reset button for overwhelmed and frustrated parents. Download her free guide on her web site. We laugh and share some authentic moments. Visit www.authenticparenting.com to schedule a 30 min. complimentary session with me and get answers to your burning parenting questions. Do you need an ongoing parenting support for free? Join my private Facebook group-a supportive and positive space for moms and dads who want to learn and grow. www.facebook.com/groups/1657717101107047/ Did you enjoy this episode? Subscribe to Authentic Moments Podcast on iTunes and give us a start rating. Ratings are very important. They help other people to find the show. itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/authe…d1052399775?mt=2 Like Authentic Parenting-parenting from the heart on Facebook. www.facebook.com/Authentic-Parent…447218465563263/