Parents of the Year – Détails, épisodes et analyse

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 overload, social comparison, family dynamics, and unrealistic expectations tax the nervous system—and why emotional meltdowns, irritability, withdrawal, or disappointment are not signs of failure, but signals of dysregulation.This episode bridges emotion regulation science with real-life parenting moments.

Rather than trying to make emotions disappear, this conversation focuses on helping families anticipate emotional needs, regulate proactively, and respond with intention instead of reactivity.

Want to learn more about boosting resilience during the holidays? Check out these episodes:

Holiday Stress? Here's How to Build Real Resilience (https://youtu.be/jXgq7dn-hR4)

How can we nurture kids' emotional resilience during the holidays? (https://youtu.be/jXgq7dn-hR4)

Homework Ideas

Choose 2 Non-Negotiables + 2 Flexibles

Do:

• Non-negotiables (examples): “We don’t do three houses in one day,” “We eat before we go,” “We leave by 7:30.”
• Flexibles: “Which movie?” “Which dessert?” “When we open gifts (within a window).”
• Share it with your child/teen (and any other adults involved) before the big day.

Build a Regulation Plan: Before / During / After

Do: Create a 3-part plan:

• Before: sleep, food, hydration, quiet time, predict the tough moments
• During: micro-breaks, movement, sensory supports, time limits
• After: decompression time, low-demand evening, early bedtime when possible

Replacement Behaviours for Screen/Scroll Traps

Do: Choose a replacement behaviour you’ll do instead of scrolling when stressed:

• 5-minute walk
• short stretch
• text one friend directly (real connection)

 Set a phone boundary: “No social media before noon” or “10 minutes max, with a timer.”

Set Expectations Explicitly 

Do: Ask:

• “What are you most excited about—specifically?”
• “What would make the day feel like a win?”
• Then set realistic anchors:
  • one meaningful moment
  • one active thing
  • one connection point

Use “Let It Go vs. Address It” Sorting 

Do: Before gatherings, decide:

• 2 things you’ll let go (minor irritations)
• 1 thing you’ll address if needed (a true boundary)
• Use a short phrase to hold it:
  • “Not today.”
  • “That’s not up for discussion.”
  • “We’re keeping it simple this year.”

End-of-Day Debrief: 3–2–1 Reset

Do (at bedtime or next morning): 3 things that went okay, 1 tweak for next time

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Enjoying the show? Help us out by rating us on Apple! https://apple.co/3du8mPK

Follow us on Facebook and join our Facebook Community! 

Access resources, get support from other parents, and ask Caroline and Andrew your questions! 

Follow FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566206651235and 
FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/674563503855526

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 university, and helping his own son learn to use AI well. He brings that real-world classroom and parenting experience to this conversation.

You’ll hear them unpack:

• Why using AI as a ghostwriter can quietly erode learning and memory
• How freewriting and “thinking on paper” before asking AI can protect kids’ brains
• Practical ways to use tools like ChatGPT and mind-mapping apps without letting them become a crutch
• How attention spans and learning styles have shifted with social media and constant tech
• What educators can change right now: assignments, discussion boards, and assessment
• Deepfakes, Character.ai, Roblox, and other risks parents and schools need to know about
• Why parents must start using AI themselves to guide their kids safely

This episode is especially useful for anyone who want to help children and teens:

·       Build real critical thinking skills

·       Keep their own voice in their writing and ideas

·       Stay safer online in an AI-driven world

·       Use AI as a tool, not a replacement for their brain

About Gerry White

Gerry White is the Dean of Academic Technology at ECPI University and founder of MyTutorPlus, an AI-powered tutoring platform. With two decades at the intersection of education and technology, he creates innovative digital learning experiences, including apps and immersive AR/VR. Gerry writes and speaks about how AI reshapes education and culture, exploring its ethical and societal impacts with a balanced, thoughtful approach. His work equips educators, parents, and professionals with practical insights to navigate the evolving AI landscape while preserving critical thinking and humanity.

Resource: https://gerrywhitebooks.com/

Get in touch

https://www.instagram.com/the_gerry_white/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerrywhitetech/

https://gerrywhite.tech/ 

https://www.youtube.com/@gerrywhite6197 

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Enjoying the show? Help us out by rating us on Apple! https://apple.co/3du8mPK

Follow us on Facebook and join our Facebook Community! 

Access resources, get support from other parents, and ask Caroline and Andrew your questions! 

Follow FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566206651235and 
FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/674563503855526

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 replace genuine human interaction. 

Most importantly, they share how families can protect their relationships, model authentic communication, and return to the simple, everyday gestures that build trust and love.

Homework Activities for Adults

Tech-Free Check-In: Schedule a weekly family or partner debrief—share the good, the hard, and what support you need. Phones off.

Face-to-Face First: Swap texting with short calls when possible, and encourage kids to practice real conversations.

Connection Rituals: Create small rituals (morning walks, after-school tea, family dinners) that strengthen bonds.

Memory Workout: Use paper maps, cook without recipes, or play memory games to keep cognitive skills sharp.

Relationship Roots: Bring back “early courtship” habits—small notes, thoughtful gestures, shared jokes—that keep love alive.

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Enjoying the show? Help us out by rating us on Apple! https://apple.co/3du8mPK

Follow us on Facebook and join our Facebook Community! 

Access resources, get support from other parents, and ask Caroline and Andrew your questions! 

Follow FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566206651235and 
FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/674563503855526

Are you worried your child might be entitled? Getting a bit too spoiled? You're not alone! It's a common concern for many parents, and the good news is, it's never too late to make a positive change.

Nobody sets out to raise entitled children, but it can happen over time without us realizing it. In the first part of a two-part episode, we talk about the steps parents can take to "unspoil" their kids. 

 We understand that nobody intentionally sets out to spoil their children, but sometimes, in our pursuit of trying to be good parents, it just happens. It's all about the small steps and everyday actions.

As with most things, behavioural change starts with us. A big part of changing behaviours requires parents to model and reinforce what they want to see. But how do you start to figure things out and get back on track?

In this episode, we walk through the practical steps we can start to take to shift the dynamic and transform entitlement into responsibility, independence, and empowerment. 

Join us for part 1 as we navigate this journey together, fostering a healthy, balanced environment for our children to thrive.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this discussion next week!

Send us Fan Mail

Enjoying the show? Help us out by rating us on Apple! https://apple.co/3du8mPK

Follow us on Facebook and join our Facebook Community! 

Access resources, get support from other parents, and ask Caroline and Andrew your questions! 

Follow FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566206651235and 
FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/674563503855526

For parents of boys, how do you raise them to be men who are caring and compassionate? This week's episode discusses the unique situation that faces boys and men alike. 

Where can parents start in order to improve the emotional inner world of their boys? Is there a way to recognize and deal with gender bias, differences between boys and girls, and dealing with the "Boy Code"? 

We're extremely lucky to be joined by Kathryne Imabayashi, a former educator and mother who dealt with these very questions while raising her own son. 

Be sure to check out these FREE RESOURCES:
https://sonhood.thinkific.com/courses/5-pivotal-tips-on-parenting-boys
https://sonhood.thinkific.com/courses/the-3-day-challenge-for-parents-of-boys
https://sonhood.thinkific.com/courses/the-3-pillar-guide-to-raising-boys

About Kathryne Imabayashi

Guiding children and their parents as they are making sense of their world has been Kathryn's lifetime mission, with an intense focus and passion to help raise our boys better. She spent almost three decades researching the dichotomy between what our boys are and what society often tells them they are. She works with busy parents raising their sons to become remarkable men, and educators to recognize the challenges boys face in our current educational system.

Achievements

• Guiding a sweet little boy into becoming a kind, caring and compassionate man.
• Completed her first book: What's It All About, Mom? and is working on a memoir, Shogun, Assassinations & Sea-hawks as well as a parenting book, Raising Boys to Become Remarkable Men - Birth to 7.
• Founder of Sonhood Coaching

 Where to find Kathryne

 Email: sonhoodcoaching@gmail.com

Website:: sonhoodcoaching.com

 IG: https://www.instagram.com/sonhoodcoaching/
 

Send us Fan Mail

Enjoying the show? Help us out by rating us on Apple! https://apple.co/3du8mPK

Follow us on Facebook and join our Facebook Community! 

Access resources, get support from other parents, and ask Caroline and Andrew your questions! 

Follow FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566206651235and 
FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/674563503855526

This week's episode looks at what we as parents should do to help our kids deal with conflict. The need for some parents to jump in to fix a situation is at times contrary to what kids actually need. To help our kids learn how to handle different situations, it's important for parents to know when to step in and when to step aside. 

There's no formula, and no perfect answer as every situation is different, so it comes down to helping our kids know what they can do to help themselves, and when they can come ask for help. 

Send us Fan Mail

Enjoying the show? Help us out by rating us on Apple! https://apple.co/3du8mPK

Follow us on Facebook and join our Facebook Community! 

Access resources, get support from other parents, and ask Caroline and Andrew your questions! 

Follow FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566206651235and 
FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/674563503855526

In this week's episode, we dive into how to prepare our kids for a future that we ourselves don't understand. 

When we were growing up we were taught to go to school, get a good job, buy a house, raise a family, etc and recently it feels more like that future is waiting for our kids. 

So what do we do? 

How do we set our kids up for success no matter what the future holds, or what they want to do with their lives?

So join us as we look into our crystal ball to talk this out. 

Enjoy!

Send us Fan Mail

Enjoying the show? Help us out by rating us on Apple! https://apple.co/3du8mPK

Follow us on Facebook and join our Facebook Community! 

Access resources, get support from other parents, and ask Caroline and Andrew your questions! 

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This week's episode has us welcoming another guest to talk about burnout and the effect it can have on parents and families.

Dr. Christina Fontana is a pharmacist, business transformation coach, and speaker who brings her unique perspective on handling burnout and the effects it can have on families.

Everyone struggles with having to deal with too much at one point or another, and it's important to recognize the signs and have a plan on how to help get things back on track.

About Dr. Christina Fontana

Dr. Christina Fontana, AKA The Pharmacist Coach®️, is a pharmacist, holistic healer, rapid transformation business coach, speaker, and 5-time author. She helps spiritually-driven women to ‘Reignite Your Light’ and shine in their brilliance, confidence, and true essence.

She started her entrepreneurial journey 11 years ago being disempowered, homeless, broke, with eating disorders, PTSD, and anxiety, and has since transformed, turning her pain into purpose, empowering women all over the world to step into more purpose, power, and prosperity.

Over the last 11 years, Dr. Christina has been providing uplifting, transformational content through her YouTube videos, books, courses, programs, and retreats. Her mission is to help more healers and business owners unlock their innate gifts to create a domino effect of healing on the world.

Check out this free resource from Christina! 

Where to find her:
IG - @thepharmacistcoach
Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/244625093553163
YouTube - www.youtube.com/christinatarantola1
Website - www.pharmacistcoach.com

Send us Fan Mail

Enjoying the show? Help us out by rating us on Apple! https://apple.co/3du8mPK

Follow us on Facebook and join our Facebook Community! 

Access resources, get support from other parents, and ask Caroline and Andrew your questions! 

Follow FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566206651235and 
FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/674563503855526

With Halloween just around the corner, we try to get to the bottom of one of the greatest mysteries of our time.....is our ensuite bathroom haunted or is it just that our house is falling apart? The verdict is still out. (PS - the night of this recording, the light went back on in the middle of the night....)

From there we dive into the intricate balance of keeping your children safe during this season of haunts while also empowering them to build autonomy and resilience. We examine how, as parents, our fears and concerns can unintentionally overshadow what's truly beneficial for our children. As with most things parenting-related, it's important to ensure you're looking at the situation from what is best for your kid and not to service your own fears and concerns. 
 
Enjoy!

Send us Fan Mail

Enjoying the show? Help us out by rating us on Apple! https://apple.co/3du8mPK

Follow us on Facebook and join our Facebook Community! 

Access resources, get support from other parents, and ask Caroline and Andrew your questions! 

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FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/674563503855526

In this critically important episode, Andrew and Caroline delve deep into the crucial phase of 'Birth to Three,' a pivotal time for brain development in children.

Together, with guest expert Michelle Mintz, we explore how early experiences—from parent-child bonding to environmental stimuli—shape the brain's architecture and lay the foundation for our children’s future well-being.

We answer the question, “What can I do to make the most out of the time I spend with my baby?” by sharing practical strategies for fostering emotional intelligence, cognitive skills, and resilience in your child during these formative years. Don't miss this must-listen episode.


About Michelle
Michelle Mintz, M.S., CCC-SLP, The Early Development Expert's background is as a Speech-Language Pathologist for over 25 years, specializing in working with children from birth to 5 years old. Her therapy experiences inspired her to create her unique company, Baby Blooming Moments®, which empowers mom, dads, grandparents, siblings, and nannies with babies birth to three, to enrich the way they interact with their babies and toddlers.

Through Baby Blooming Moments, available in the US and Internationally, families get one-on-one coaching experiences, virtually or in-person, to learn essential strategies that can be integrated throughout the day.

Get in touch with Michelle:
babybloomingmoments.com
Instagram, Facebook @babybloomingmoments
youtube.com/@babybloomingmoments
https://tiktok.com/@babybloomingmoments

Send us Fan Mail

Enjoying the show? Help us out by rating us on Apple! https://apple.co/3du8mPK

Follow us on Facebook and join our Facebook Community! 

Access resources, get support from other parents, and ask Caroline and Andrew your questions! 

Follow FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566206651235and 
FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/674563503855526