logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2021
23m 5s

Do Our Children Have the Right to Say “N...

MICHELLE KENNEY, M. ED
About this episode
When our child says “no” it can send us into emotional turmoil both because of how we were raised and how society views a child who stands up for themselves. But no doesn’t need to be a dirty word, and our children need to have the space to explore standing up for themselves. If they aren’t allowed to do it at home how can they ever set boundaries as they gr ... Show More
Up next
Jul 28
Play Instead of Punishment
When your child is being hard, what is the first tool you reach for? A countdown. A consequence. A lecture. A raised voice. Almost every one of those is a version of the same instinct: when my child gets hard, I get harder. It makes complete sense, because that is exactly what we ... Show More
18m 38s
Jul 21
Your Neurodivergent Child Doesn’t Need a Different Parent
When Cammie's son began struggling with school, anxiety, and sensory challenges, she heard the same message so many parents hear: maybe he needed a different approach. But instead of abandoning connection, she leaned into it, and watched something remarkable happen.In this episod ... Show More
20m 34s
Jul 14
Your Child is Not Disrespectful, They Are Dysregulated.
For years, I believed that when my daughters pushed back, they were being defiant. Then one afternoon at the American Girl store, my youngest daughter had a public meltdown that completely changed the way I understood children's behavior and my role as a parent.In this episode, I ... Show More
24m 37s
Recommended Episodes
May 2023
The Power of No
Hearing the word "No" can be difficult to hear as an adult.  Now, imagine a child hearing the word "No." It can send even the most calm toddler into a fit of rage. Today, Charisse chats about how hearing the word "no" doesn't have to be a negative thing for your child. She discus ... Show More
26m 24s
Sep 2025
How do we build resilience in our kids without being harsh or overprotective
Send us Fan MailDo you ever hear your child say things like, “I’m such a bad kid” or “I’ll never be good at this” and your heart sinks because you don’t know what to say?You’re not alone. And this episode is about to change the way you respond.Today, I’m sitting down with award-w ... Show More
50m 41s
May 2022
155: How to get your child to listen to you
Recently someone posted a question in one of my communities: “Is it really so wrong to want my child to just LISTEN to me sometimes? It seems like such a no-no in gentle parenting circles, and I’m worried that my child is growing up to be entitled and won’t know how to respect au ... Show More
48m 45s
Jul 2025
Building Your Kids' Tolerance for Frustration
<p>In today’s solo episode, I’m answering your questions about how to ensure we don’t raise entitled kids. This is an important question that many of you have asked me on all my platforms. Being entitled can be a very triggering thing for a lot of parents, especially those that g ... Show More
16m 58s
Apr 2019
Chores, Fortnite, Authority, Respect. Kids Who Give Up When It’s Difficult
Do you agree or disagree with Kirk’s shocking advice for handling a child who yells at his Mom and defies her authority? Learn why some kids shut down and aren’t motivated. What do you do when one child takes all of your energy and attention? How do you help kids who give up when ... Show More
23m 39s
Jun 2022
Dealing with Disrespectful Teens
<p>In this episode, I answer the following parent question: Nothing we do makes our daughter happy. Why can’t she just accept a comment, advice, suggestion without complaining and pushing back? How can I make her listen and accept what she is being told without an argument? </p> ... Show More
12m 3s
May 2024
Parent Q & A: 3 Year-Old Refusing to Greet & Dealing with LOTS of Hitting
Kids will refuse to do all kinds of things we ask of them, greeting others is only one of many! How do we first get to the reason and then guide based on both their feelings and level of comfort and our expectations for politeness or independence (depending on the situation?) Hav ... Show More
22m 22s
Mar 2020
Anger, Sadness, Fear: Showing Our Emotions to Our Kids
Is it okay to show emotion to our kids? Is it helpful? Too unsettling? A parent has questions for Janet about modeling self-regulation and healthy emotional expression to children. She writes: “These feel like life skills that are harder to explain to your child but can be shown ... Show More
16m 26s
Jun 2024
How To Validate Your Kids' Feelings
Do you struggle with how to valiate feelings and hold boundaries for your kids? If so, you're not alone! It can be challenging to know the difference between saying "no" and still validating how your kids feel. In this podcast, you'll learn how to validate feelings, scripts for v ... Show More
24m 33s