logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2022
32m 30s

How To Stop Being an Emotional ATM

Slate Podcasts
About this episode

Last week, our expert Arthur Brooks gave us some surefire advice for resetting the parent-child relationship so your kids don’t treat you like an emotional ATM. On this episode of How To!, he’s going to teach our listener, Karen, how to balance the books, so to speak, by taking some withdrawals of her own. He has some surprising tips for how to restrain yourself from swooping in to save the day when it would be better to let them figure it out. Starting with a hilarious story of the time Arthur’s adult son called him—pantsless—from Las Vegas. 

If you liked this episode, check out part one: “How To Parent Less.”

Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show.

Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now at slate.com/howtoplus.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Jun 2024
How To Move Past Your Toxic Ex
After Lin met Dave, their lives quickly became entangled. Lin joined Dave’s small business, made much-needed improvements, and charmed Dave’s family. The two also began a romantic relationship that lasted years. When it fizzled, Lin continued working at the company—and eventually ... Show More
44m 59s
Jun 2024
How To Be Lonely
Paula has a big family, lots of friends, and a girlfriend she adores. For most of her life, however, she has experienced an underlying and unshakeable sense of loneliness. On this episode of How To!, Courtney Martin brings on Kristen Radtke, the writer and illustrator behind Seek ... Show More
42m 30s
May 2024
How To Take a Gap Year
Leo is a high-achieving high school senior on the cusp of graduation. Growing up in a rigorous school environment he faced endless pressure to follow the expected track of attending an elite university and eventually securing a good job. Yet, Leo feels slightly unfulfilled and is ... Show More
44m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2021
How to Help our Kids Make Decisions Without Giving Advice with Blimie from Unconditional Parenting
There are going to be many times while raising our kids that they come to us with their problems, and we as parents might feel the need to immediately jump in as Mama Bear and tell them exactly what they need to do. But what if that isn’t what they really need? In this episode, I ... Show More
37m 44s
Sep 2021
How to Be Empathetic When Our Kids Are Being Defiant with Guest Liz
Defiant and strong-willed children are something I’m sure we’ve all experienced. Whether it’s as toddlers or teenagers, it’s a tale as old as time in the book of parenting. Sometimes when this defiance is targeted towards you or their siblings, it can lead to further conflict so ... Show More
28m 22s
Jul 2021
How to Stop Yelling
When we believe our children are being difficult, we tend to use yelling to make them listen to us. But yelling can only go so far before it starts to form cracks in the relationship with our kids and leave them with emotional scars that might never go away. At some point, we nee ... Show More
14m 38s
Apr 2021
Listening to Big Feelings Creates More Safety with Guest Cara
Aggression is the product of a child who isn’t doing so well. Be it from frustration they can’t communicate well, or other factors that we as parents cannot always understand. I always recommend daily time with our kids-- but for our guest Cara, daily time has turned into frustra ... Show More
31m 21s
Aug 2021
Overcoming Emotional Wounds From Childhood
In this episode, we learn about Overcoming Emotional Wounds From Childhood. Go to https://7goodminutes.com/podcast/emotional-wounds for full show notes. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share it with a friend or two! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi ... Show More
9m 13s
Feb 2021
How to Use Connection to Help Move Through Thumb Sucking
Kids have different ways to cope with stressful situations. Some resort to more vocal ways-- while others tend to go inward as a way to cope with what’s hard in life. It’s hard for us to know exactly how to approach them with love and kindness while still helping them move throug ... Show More
31m 32s
Jan 2024
Ep. 155 | Breaking Bad Habits in Children with Sonya Shafer
Has your little one started whining, biting, picking his nose, hitting–the list could go on and on–and you just can’t figure out how to break the pattern? What do you do if your child has picked up on one of your bad habits and you really want it to stop before it becomes a bigge ... Show More
41m 40s
May 2021
How to Teach Kids to Take Responsibility for their Own Actions
When kids are disrespectful, it can feel like a very personal attack leaving us wondering if our child will grow up to be an unkind and immoral adult disrespecting everyone they know.   In this episode, I’ll be walking you through all the ways we can alleviate their behaviour wit ... Show More
15m 21s
Sep 2017
When Kids Are Defiant: Teaching Without Escalating
When Kids Are Defiant: Teaching Without Escalating So what do you do when your child just flat out refuses to do what you ask? How can you teach your kids without lecturing, yelling, or escalating situations? Learn very practical steps through Kirk's infamous "Rake Leaves" exampl ... Show More
26m 37s
May 2024
How to Teach with Babies with Miss Pam
In this episode, we discuss how to teach, talk, read and sing to babies. We even show you a few examples in the podcast. Here is her podcast for babies if you're interested https://open.spotify.com/show/18JVSlByKE0tVPRkYumWgJ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a ... Show More
47m 26s