Mastermind Parenting Podcast

I’ve been saying for a long, long time that raising kids in the digital age is like the Wild Wild West! We are all just trying to make the best decisions for our kids with the info we currently have at any given time. 

And it’s really hard to know what the right decision is when you’re a pioneer parent (as all of us are here - raising kids at a time in human history where tech is causing us to move at a more rapid pace than eve...

Gentle Parenting has become a sort of parenting movement over the last decade or so. 

I’ve been here for more than a hot minute and it’s interesting what I’ve noticed. You see, before Gentle there was Conscious Parenting and before that there was Love and Logic and and and. 

I think the original founders of these methods were probably drinking the same koolaid I like…we secretly want to raise our kids even better than our p...

We want to raise “good kids.” Kids who are kind. Kids who share. Kids who can handle themselves in a respectable manner when they go over to a friend’s house for dinner. 

We don’t want our kids to be high maintenance or frankly, bratty.

We want to raise kids who can get along in the world, but we also want to raise kids whose behavior shows the world that we did a good job as parents.

You know what? That’s okay!

Listen in as Avery...

A common anxiety I often uncover with my moms is: Now that I know what I know about the dangers of tech… it just feels too late to change things with my kids.  

Maybe you read the NYT best seller, Anxious Generation,  and… let’s just say, you’re feeling VERY. FLIPPIN’. ANXIOUS. 

• You’re beginning to understand why your kids act like raccoons on meth when it comes to screens - (ipad, phone, tv, video games).&nbs...

Spoiler alert! Ya’ll probably know that I LOVE a good TV show. A comfy blanket and a cozy watch is a reliable happy place for me. So when my family recommended the Netflix thriller, “Adolescence,” I have to say I was a little resistant. But eventually they convinced me, and I am SO GLAD they did!

“Adolescence” is a short 4-episode drama series about a teenage boy accused of murdering a girl in his class. But unlike most murder myste...

Raising a strong-willed kid is harder. Even draining sometimes.  

Sitting on the floor and playing with toys felt like the worst to me. I now realize that I found other playful ways to be with my kids… but I still sometimes feel a little guilty about not being a Barbie or Legos kind of mom.

So when Dr. Shawn Hondorp invited me on her podcast, The Innovative Therapist, to talk about play and pack leadership, I have to admit,...

You want to help your kids succeed in school - that’s a given. 

School success is a big area of anxiety and worry I often see with parents I coach. Many well-intentioned parents get more and more involved in their kids’ homework - but more involvement often leads to more long term struggles.

Becoming the homework helpline might help get your kids’ grades up temporarily. But it also teaches them to rely on you instead of learning...

You’ve probably heard me talk about pack leadership, and how I believe it’s the holy grail in creating a more peaceful family. 

Humans learn through stories, and I have SO MANY stories about empowered parents, stronger family connections, and sensitive kiddos who finally feel understood.

But sometimes you have to go back to basics, like I did this week with therapist, podcaster, and long-time Masterminder, Dr. Shawn Hondorp. On ...

Apologizing can feel hard. Maybe even harder than we care to admit to ourselves. 

It’s vulnerable to look at a situation where you may have hurt someone you love…especially when that someone is your own kid.  

Owning your mistake in a heartfelt way can potentially repair a fractured relationship.

Which is why Avery and I had to talk about a very public apology we listened in on, from a recent episode of The Mel Robbins ...

It might feel like terrible news that building our pack leadership involves going back into our own childhoods. It can feel scary to go back to the “belly of the beast”… after all, you survived your childhood. 

Who on this God’s green earth would actually choose to look back when you’re so focused on changing cycles and moving forward? 

When the patterns we’re trying to break involve the often invisible trauma of emotional ...

Did you know that the parenting tools you learn on this podcast also work with other strong-willed creatures? I’m chatting with Avery “favorite daughter” Rubenstein this time about pack leadership and what she has learned from “Ben, the strong-willed horse”.  

I think it’s incredibly helpful to practice the tools you are learning here by applying them to other areas of your life…your work, your adult relationships and even...

Y’all probably know I’m not the biggest fan of the way learning happens in most classrooms…and oh, there are so many reasons. 

I have believed for a long time that traditional education is outdated and needs a ginormous revamp. However, I wasn’t willing to homeschool my own kids.

I liked the break and having my days as my own. So year after year, I made a “self-ish” decision when it came to my own kids’ education. I always felt ...

Is it even possible to continue building your relationship after your birdies leave the nest? 

Come be a fly on the wall for one of my catch-up calls with my daughter, Avery. We share a hilarious Modern Fam video and recap our winter break family vacation, including an old pattern that made Avery upset and embarrassed. I think you’re going to love our honest conversation about the “un-pretty” parts of our dynamic. 

Avery al...

How exciting is it when you have a conversation that sparks a ton of ideas you want to share?

That’s how my daughter Avery and I felt after our chat with Michael DiMartino. Talking about how kids learn through stories got us thinking about how much stories have taught us, both as kids (mostly in her case) and in adulthood (mostly in mine). 

Our follow-up conversation takes the focus from the epic right down to the personal. Aver...

Humans have always learned through stories. It can be easy to forget this fun fact when there are toys and backbacks and shoes covering the floor. AND we still want them to learn morals and values and life lessons. 

This is where brilliant storytellers like Mike come in.

Michael DiMartino’s stories have had a huge impact on my kids, and children around the world. Mike is the co-creator of Avatar: The Last Airbender, and the auth...

Oh the pressure of December…SMMS

So. Much. Mom. Stuff. 

My gift to you this season is two time-tested treats that will help you plan a holiday that’s memorable. (The good kind of memorable of course:)

First reminder involves:  How to deal with and even shut it down, when judgey relatives are questioning your parenting choices. 

Next, I’ll remind you of some of my favorite tips for pack leading your 2024 holiday, (with a ...

Recently, I was a guest on “The Art of Parenting” podcast. The host, Jeanne-Marie, asked some great questions and you might even be surprised by some of my answers.

• We discussed what it means to have a strong-willed child and why I like to use that phrase. 
• She asked me about my approach to helping these sw kids. 
• And of course, we talked about one of my favorite topics to spotlight: Performative Parenting.

We e...

My daughter, Avery, is first-gen Mastermind Parenting, (once removed:) . 

The “once removed” was her description -  “the MMP recipe was still being perfected:)”. 

She’s grown and flown now, but it’s been fascinating to watch her put Mastermind principles into practice. These days she probably teaches me more than vice versa.

Avery is on the pod this week to share some wisdom that I think you’re gonna eat right up. 

...

Divorce is a reality for lots of families, and it’s a gigantic emotional challenge. As you’re struggling to realign your life, you’re also managing a lot of big feelings. You want to make things as easy as possible for your kiddos, but how can you do that when things get messy?

How do you help your kids understand what’s happening? How do you support them as they process the fear, sadness, and uncertainty they’re sure to feel?

My gue...