Parents of the Year

Andrew and Caroline start this episode the same way many parents start a “normal” day: northern lights, a bank visit that ate two hours, and a reminder that adulting is its own full-time job. Then they try something parents are doing more and more—asking AI for parenting advice.

They put a “nice British voice” to the test on real-life sticking points: kids refusing chores, screen-time blowups, bedtime anxiety, and the constant tug-o...

AI isn’t going away, and kids are already using it. So how do we protect their curiosity, critical thinking, and safety without panicking or burying our heads in the sand?

In this episode of Parents of the Year, Caroline and Andrew sit down with English professor, game developer, and AI builder Jerry White to talk about kids, teens, AI, and critical thinking. Jerry has spent years teaching college students, building AI tools for his...

Working from home with kids in the mix can feel like you’re failing at two jobs at once. 

Andrew and Caroline get real about why “balance” is a trap, and why clear boundaries work better—at home and at work. They share what actually helped in their house (the red/green door system, kid-friendly “emergency rules,” and setting kids up with non-screen activities—yes, including the legendary cardboard pirate ship that took over an entir...

Phones aren’t optional anymore—and that’s exactly why families feel stuck. In this Parents of the Year episode, Andrew and Caroline sit down with MJ Murray Vachon, a licensed clinical social worker with 40 years of practice to talk about what screen overuse is doing to stress, sleep, mood, and family connection. 

MJ shares a practical way to reset family phone habits that starts with adult leadership, not kid willpower. 

You’ll hear ...

Stealing from a popular replay of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Caroline discuss goal setting with kids. Rather than assigning goals or correcting what isn’t working, this episode focuses on working with children to help them identify goals that actually feel meaningful to them. When kids have a say, they are far more likely to stay engaged and follow through.

The discussion covers how parents can use what they already know about ...

Should parents “tell the truth” about Santa… or keep the story going? 

In this Parents of the Year holiday episode, Andrew and Caroline unpack what kids actually need when they start questioning Santa, how to respond without shame or panic, and how to turn the moment into something that builds kindness, generosity, and family connection. 

They talk about following your child’s lead, keeping your tone warm and honest, and shifting the...

The holidays are supposed to be joyful—but for many families, they quietly amplify stress, overwhelm, and emotional reactivity.

In this special crossover episode with Parents of the Year podcast, Dr. Caroline and her husband Andrew step away from “perfect holiday” pressure and take a psychologically grounded look at why emotions run hotter during the holidays, for both kids and adults.

They explore how disrupted routines, sensory ove...

Boredom gets a bad reputation in modern parenting. Kids hate it, adults avoid it, and screens are always within reach to fill the quiet. 

In this Parents of the Year episode, Andrew and Caroline pull back the curtain on what boredom really does for kids’ brains—and for ours as adults. They talk honestly about ADHD, distress tolerance, screen overload, and why we don’t need to be our kids’ entertainment directors. 

You’ll hear: 

• Ho...

Andrew and Caroline discuss how much our own self-awareness as parents shape the way our kids turn out?

From yelling regrets and chore battles this episode blends humour with honest reflection. They explore how everyday reactions, no matter how big or small, shape connection, resilience, and emotional safety.

Listeners hear real examples of repair, frustration, boundaries, and the awkward but important skill of owning our mistakes. T...

Andrew and Caroline jump headfirst into one of the biggest pressures modern families face: the urge to hover, track, micromanage, and constantly correct. They unpack why today’s parents feel pulled into overprotecting, how it chips away at confidence, and why kids need room to stumble if they’re going to grow sturdy roots.

With stories about tracking apps, school expectations, Velcro parenting, and the snowball effect of fear-driven...

Oversharing Kids Online: Why “Sharenting” Hurts More Than It Helps

Parents are posting more than ever—but at what cost to their children’s privacy, safety, and sense of self? 

In this episode, Andrew and Caroline tackle the growing issue of “sharenting:” the habit of sharing too much about kids online. 

From cute toddler photos to venting about behaviour problems, they explore how these seemingly harmless posts can lead to embarrassme...

In this episode of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Caroline sit down with Camille Jaramis, founder of Ask Yawn, the first parenting AI designed to cut through the chaos of parenting advice online.

Camille shares how she and a team of parent-engineers built Ask Yawn to give exhausted parents quick, science-backed support—without the judgment or endless Googling at 3 a.m. They talk about how tech can help families, where it can cross ...

With Halloween creeping up, Andrew and Caroline revisit one of their most memorable episodes: The night they tried to solve a mystery that still haunts their home: is their ensuite bathroom possessed… or just falling apart?

(PS — the light actually did turn on in the middle of the night. You decide. 👀)

But ghosts aside, this replay digs into something every parent wrestles with: How to keep kids safe without smothering their indepen...

In this episode of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Caroline dive into the often-overlooked topic of dad loneliness and postpartum mental health for fathers. 

They get real about the invisible expectations men face, the lack of support for dads compared to moms, and the pressure to “just keep going.” Along the way, they share raw stories of exhaustion, survival mode, and the quiet ways dads can feel left out—even in loving families.

F...

In this episode of Parents of the Year, Caroline sits down with Peggy, a co-parenting coach and former judge, to talk about one of the toughest challenges families face: raising kids after separation or divorce.

From avoiding conflict and keeping kids out of the middle, to creating respectful communication and future-focused parenting agreements, Peggy shares hard-earned lessons from both the courtroom and coaching practice.

If you’v...

In this episode of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Caroline dig into the rise of AI and how it’s reshaping our daily lives, relationships, and even parenting. 

From the clickbait story of a marriage ending “because of ChatGPT,” to the quiet ways technology chips away at memory, empathy, and connection, this conversation is equal parts cautionary and practical. They explore how AI can be a helpful tool—but also why it should never re...

Parenting expert and therapist Todd Sarner joins Andrew and Caroline to unpack what it really means to guide children without shame or punishment. 

From his 20+ years of experience, Todd outlines the three pillars of proactive parenting: strengthening attachment and connection, creating a rhythm and environment that supports kids, and teaching natural consequences without shame. 

Together, they explore how separation anxiety shows up...

When should parents step in and request a teacher change for their child?

In this episode of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Caroline break down one of the most difficult decisions many families face: advocating for a classroom change. 

They share their own recent personal experience navigating a challenging teacher-student dynamic that left their child anxious, tearful, and resistant to school.

Together, they explore:

• The di...

College debt can haunt young adults and their parents for decades—but it doesn’t have to. 

Today on Parents of the Year, Shellee Howard, founder of University Ready and author of How to Send Your Student to College Without Losing Your Mind or Your Money, joins Andrew and Caroline to share her practical, proven strategies for helping kids graduate debt-free. 

From strategic college tours and early family conversations about money to l...