Currently, our world is facing an international pandemic, which is bringing up feelings of fear, anxiety, and grief (just to name a few!) for many people. Have you felt alone and overwhelmed in your parenting walk as you navigate these uncertain times?
Yep, we ALL have felt like this at times, you’re not alone!
Today’s episode was recorded with parents who are quarantined in mind, although it is applicable to any parent who wants more joy & connection in their home … and we’re so happy to welcome back a friend of Fresh Start Family, Debbie Zeichner, to chat with Wendy.
Debbie is a momma of two & also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Parent Coach, as well as a Mindfulness Instructor … yes, she is a wealth of knowledge!
She was first on the podcast in episode 20 to discuss positive discipline. That episode is one of the most downloaded episodes of The Fresh Start Family Show, so you all clearly loved Debbie’s encouragement & support!
Inspired by her own parenting challenges, Debbie developed a passion for all things parent-related and began a quest to educate herself and others on positive, mindful approaches to enhance and foster healthy and harmonious family relationships.
Today, Wendy & Debbie dig into five ways to stay sane during a quarantine:
- Look at where you can let go:
- Practice mindfulness, especially when you start to feel anxious
- There is no place for perfection in parenthood
- Embrace messiness:
- “Connect, Tear, Repair”
- When our kids see us mess up & then apologize to them, they are set free to make their own mistakes and learn from them too
- Focus on grace over guilt:
- Remember that we are not alone in the challenging areas of parenthood &
- We must have self compassion
- Come up with a few mantras to refocus our thoughts – “Everything will work out”, etc.
- Stay connected
- Sprinkle connection breaks throughout the day so that our kids (& spouse!) feel seen & heard
- Make agreements with your kids in advanced to problem solve conflicts together
- Stick to limits to kindness & firmness
- Choose your battles & remember that it’s okay to model flexibility
- Honor & acknowledge what your child is engaged in before making a request (their agenda vs. our agenda)
Mentioned in this Episode:
- Fresh Start Family Online
- FSF’s Membership Program – The Bonfire
- FSF’s Positive Parenting Course – The Foundations Course
- FSF Show Episode 20
- Connect with Debbie Zeichner
- Facebook: Debbie Morrison Zeichner
- Debbie’s FB Group: Becoming an Empowered Parent
- Instagram: @debbiezeichnerlcsw
- Debbie’s FREE *limited-time* online parenting interview series “Becoming an Empowered Parent: Expert Tools For Embracing Imperfection, Building Connection and Creating More Peace and Joy Within Your Family” – Click HERE to sign up!
- Facebook: Debbie Morrison Zeichner
Raising A Strong Willed, Intense or Sensitive Child? If yes, I have a FREE gift for you!
This free bundle comes with an extensive learning guide & FREE workshop with me, where I’ll teach you ways to build connection & methods to work WITH your strong willed kids instead of trying to MAKE THEM change.
Inside this FREE learning bundle I’ll teach you:
*Firm & kind strategies to navigate challenging behavior with firm kindness & connection (vs. fear, force, yelling, threats & bribery)
*Ways to build connection instead of pushing your child away w/ heavy handed “hand me down parenting tactics”
*How to work WITH your kids instead of forcing them to comply or trying to MAKE them change
Click here to grab your free bundle now & start learning today!
