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June 17, 2025 26 mins

Learning how to say no to your child can feel like walking a tightrope.

We want to hold boundaries in parenting firmly, but we also don’t want to break their spirit—or ours! 

In today’s episode, I’m tackling this essential skill head-on. As a psychologist and mom, I know that how to say no to your child can feel like an emotional minefield. But here’s the thing: setting boundaries in parenting is crucial. 

Together, we’ll explore strategies for parenting without yelling and how to manage temper tantrums without losing your mind and why validating feelings is your secret weapon for those meltdown moments.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

  • How to set boundaries in parenting without feeling like the villain-and why those “no” moments matter more than you think.
  • The difference between a meltdown and a tantrum-so you know exactly when to hold the line and when to comfort.
  • A step-by-step story of how I personally handled a dessert showdown in my own kitchen (spoiler: it was a masterclass in parenting without yelling).
  • The biggest mistake parents make when they’re trying to manage temper tantrums-and what to do instead.
  • Validating feelings in a way that actually calms your child (and maybe even you!).

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in the spiral of second-guessing or people-pleasing when it comes to your kids, you’re not alone-and you’re not failing.

Tune in to this episode and learn how to say no to your child in a way that isn’t harsh-it’s about being honest, loving, and real.

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