The Peaceful Parenting Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

You can listen wherever you get your podcasts, OR— BRAND NEW: we’ve included a fully edited transcript of our interview at the bottom of this post.

In this episode of The Peaceful Parenting Podcast, I have a conversation with Desireé B. Stephens about her 10 conscious steps to talking to kids about global crisis.

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We talk about:

* 7:30 What inspired Desiree to write about talking to kids about global crisis

* 9:50 1- Start with consent not control

* 12:30 How to rest, reset, resist

* 15:00 2- Ask, don’t assume

* 16:34 3- Name the reality, not the details

* 20:24 4- Honour their hidden hives

* 24:00 5- Let them see your grief with boundaries

* 28:00 6- Link emotions to actionable compassion

* 31:00 7- Revisit, don’t one and done

* 35:00 8- Build their critical consciousness

* 39:00 9- Co-creating boundaries for when it’s too much

* 42:00 10- Root it all in relationship, not rhetoric

Resources mentioned in this episode:

* Screen Free Audio Book Player https://reimaginepeacefulparenting.com/yoto

* The Peaceful Parenting Membership https://reimaginepeacefulparenting.com/membership

* Concious Parenting for Social Justice Collective https://parentingdecolonized.com/join-the-collective/

* IG post: Conscious Steps to Talking with Kids about Global Crisis with Desiree B Stephens

* https://desireebstephens.bio/digitalproducts

Connect with Sarah Rosensweet:

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahrosensweet/

* Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/peacefulparentingfreegroup

* YouTube: Peaceful Parenting with Sarah Rosensweet @peacefulparentingwithsarah4194

* Website: https://reimaginepeacefulparenting.com

* Join us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/peacefulparenting

* Newsletter: https://reimaginepeacefulparenting.com/newsletter

* Book a short consult or coaching session call: https://book-with-sarah-rosensweet.as.me/schedule.php

xx Sarah and Corey

Your peaceful parenting team- click here for a free short consult or a coaching session

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>> Please support us!!! Please consider becoming a supporter to help support our free content, including The Peaceful Parenting Podcast, our free parenting support Facebook group, and our weekly parenting emails, "Weekend Reflections" and "Weekend Support" - plus our Flourish With Your Complex Child Summit (coming back in the spring for a third year). All of this free support for you takes a lot of time and energy from me and my team. If it has been helpful or meaningful for you, your support would help us to continue to provide support for free, for you and for others.

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Interview Transcript: Talking with Kids about Global Crisis with Desireé B. Stephens: Episode 205

Sarah: Today's guest is Desiree B. Stephens, and we are going to be talking about 10 Conscious Steps to Talking with Kids About Global Crisis. With everything that's going on in the world right now, it's so important to know how to effectively talk to our kids about what's happening and to help them become social change-makers, rather than wanting to turn away from everything scary.

I loved this conversation with Desiree. I was inspired by her and the work that she does, and I thought it would be a great overlap to have her come on and talk to us about this topic.

On her Instagram, she asks the question: Ever wonder how decolonization and whole self-healing can transform our world? She and I would both agree that adding conscious parenting—or peaceful parenting—to that is really important. It's one way we are changing the world. Slowly, yes, but still changing the world.

Hey Desiree, welcome to the podcast.

Desiree: Hello. How are you, Sarah?

Sarah: Good. I'm so glad! We’ve crossed paths a couple of times, but we've never really sat down to talk. I’m so glad to have this opportunity.

Desiree: I am as well.

Sarah: So, tell us about who you are and what you do.

Desiree: Okay. Well, my name is Desiree B. Stephens, and I used to open up on TikTok and say, I pathologize whiteness as a system. What I do is believe in dismantling systems through somatic and trauma-informed practices and education. We work on removing shame spirals and touching on the root of the oppression that intersects us all.

Sarah: Awesome. I found you—well, I knew you from Yolanda Williams—but I also came across an article you wrote on Substack that someone forwarded to me. That’s what we’re going to be talking about today.

But I was also looking at your Substack, and you write about everything from parenting to history, decolonization, and politics. You cover a lot of really interesting topics. I encourage everyone to check it out—we’ll link it in the show notes.

The article that really piqued my interest was titled 10 Conscious Steps to Talking with Kids About Global Crisis. This is something I get asked about a lot, and honestly, I’ve never felt like I had great answers. Now you do! So I’m excited to hear about your steps. I think conscious parents are really struggling with this right now. I know I am, both personally and as a professional.

My kids are older, so they have a little more understanding—not that it makes it easier, but at least they can use logic a little bit more. Whereas little kids are like, but why?

You opened your article with the line: The world is burning and our children are absorbing the smoke. How do we talk to them about war, injustice, genocide, climate collapse, and economic fear? Just a few light dinner table topics, right?

So what inspired you to write this? And then let’s get into your ten steps.

Desiree: What inspired me was simply that I am a conscious parent. I think we’ve all traversed different parenting styles over the years. I’ve been parenting since I was 17 years old. My youngest just started first grade, and over the years I’ve always had conversations with my children about what’s happening in the world.

I think where parents struggle is that it’s innate to want to protect our children. Protection often looks like insulation. But in this current climate—having parented through the ‘90s and now parenting kids who have access to the entire world—it doesn’t matter if we talk about it or not. They’re going to find out. They can get on TikTok, and parental controls don’t stop that.

So I asked myself: how can I do this in a trauma-informed way? How can I honor their bodies? Because, like you said, we can’t logic our way through colonization, genocide, starving people, or climate collapse. None of it makes sense.

What we can do is trust what our kids are feeling, what they’re going through, and what they’re hearing from friends. So I began sitting down with them and asking: What did you hear about today? How did that make you feel? Where did that show up in your body?

Our bodies tell us something. If they say, “My tummy hurt,” that’s anxiety. For example, if a child hears about a school shooting, then suddenly doesn’t want to eat and complains of a stomach ache, they’re not sick—they’re anxious. I can’t tell them, You’re safe, there’s a security guard at school. That doesn’t erase their fear.

So the question is: how do we process those feelings and help them engage in social justice within a framework that makes sense to them—usually, the home?

Sarah: That’s such a good point—that none of it makes sense, and that the fear is real. I love that one of your steps is asking them what they already know. But before that, you have a step that I think is so important: start with consent, not control. Can you talk about that?

Desiree: I believe in consent in all things. We often talk about consent in the context of sex—like, don’t touch me here, that’s my no-no square. But consent is much broader. A touch on the shoulder could be the lead-in to inappropriate behavior. Most children who are harmed are hurt by someone they know, who has built trust.

So for me, consent extends to all things—including conversations. That ties into the second step, which is: What have you heard? But it begins with consent: Would you like to talk about this today? How are you feeling? Do you have questions?

It lets them lead and make a choice. Because sometimes, even I don’t want to talk about it. Sometimes I just want to eat dinner or relax, not think about the world burning. And if I feel that way, surely they do too.

Sarah: You know what I love about that? I think of my oldest child, who’s 24 now. From day one, he carried this existential angst. He cares so deeply about everything we’re talking about, but he’s always had a hard time putting it down.

As he was growing up, I kept saying, It’s amazing that you care so deeply and you go to protests, but you don’t have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. That’s such an important lesson—and it’s embedded in your idea of starting with consent.

Desiree: Exactly. Right now, I’m in what I call a season of rest, reset, resist. On my Substack, I’ve been writing lessons on these themes: two on resting, two on resetting, and two on resisting.

There’s no way this work can be sustainable if we live in constant crisis. If we only focus on the terror, we lose the joy. But joy and rest are also acts of resistance. They are resilience.

For example, in my work on decolonization, I remind people that these systems have existed for thousands of years. And yet—we’re still here. That should bring joy. It’s proof of resilience.

White-bodied people who are new to anti-racism work or activism often burn out quickly. They go to every march, every meeting, until they’re exhausted. And I ask: When are you just going to take a walk? When are you going to gather with friends and celebrate?

This doesn’t have to feel like an emergency all the time. That sense of urgency is one of the pillars of supremacy culture. Not everything is urgent. We’re still here.

Sarah: Yeah.

Desiree: And that’s why it’s so important to balance. Otherwise, kids end up feeling crushed under the weight of global crisis, on top of their own developmental changes. Sometimes the best response is: Okay, baby, breathe.

Sarah: Yes. And so, by starting with consent, you give them the choice to say, Tonight I’m just going to play video games, even if there was a school lockdown earlier that day.

Desiree: Exactly. That’s fine. Because later is coming. These conversations are not going away.

Activism has to be sustainable. You have to know your capacity. Not everyone can march. Some people write emails. Some people color with their kids and talk about it during that time. That’s valid too.

Sarah: I love that.

Desiree: Coloring with your kids, reading children around the world books, talking about culture—these are beautiful, simple ways to weave in social justice. It doesn’t have to be violent or traumatizing.

Sarah: Yes—because if you traumatize people, they shut down. And then nothing gets done.

So, your second step is ask, don’t assume. Ask them what they’ve heard, what they know, and how they feel. And your third step is name the reality, not the details. Tell us about that.

Desiree: This changes with age. I have children from adulthood down to six years old. So, for example, when my kids ask about expensive sneakers, I explain: They cost $3 to make, using child labor. That’s why I won’t pay $300 for them.

That’s naming the reality—without overwhelming them with traumatic details. Similarly, with Gaza, I don’t need to show my kids graphic images of starving babies. That’s traumatizing. The reality is enough: This is happening. People are suffering.

Children don’t need trauma dumps. We can speak clearly without overwhelming them. For a younger child, it could be as simple as: Some leaders are hurting people, and some people are standing up to stop it.

Sarah: Right. And you use examples at home too, like play-fighting among siblings. One child steps in and says, That’s too rough. That’s social justice on a small scale.

Desiree: Exactly. Small examples at home translate to global understanding. We can show kids that standing up for others matters. And then we help them find their own capacity—whether it’s writing letters, talking about it, or making a video.

Sarah: Yes. And if you just pour out trauma, kids will shut down.

Desiree: Exactly.

Sarah: So step four is honor their hidden hives. What does that mean?

Desiree: Kids have their own communities, their own secret lives. Online especially, they connect globally—with Palestinian friends, Jewish friends, Congolese friends, kids in red states, kids with MAGA parents. Their reach is global in a way ours never was.

So, honoring their hidden hives means respecting that their conversations matter. Ask: What are you and your friends talking about? What do they think? Don’t dismiss them as “just kids.” They often understand more than we do.

Sarah: Yes! I remember being dismissed by adults as a child, and how frustrating that felt. I had real thoughts and opinions. That’s a kind of adult-centrism, and I know that’s a theme in your work.

Desiree: Exactly. Center kids in their own lives. What matters to them matters—just like what matters to us in our friendships.

Sarah: Okay, now step five: Let them see your grief, with boundaries. This is a hard one for me. I cry easily when talking about these topics, but I don’t want to traumatize my kids.

Desiree: But why do we think crying is traumatizing?

Sarah: I guess I worry that if they see me overwhelmed, they’ll feel overwhelmed too.

Desiree: The opposite can also happen. If you never let them see you grieve, they may feel they have to hold it in as well.

Our parents and grandparents grew up in eras of war, enslavement, displacement. They learned to “button it up” and carry on. They raised us to believe there’s “no crying in baseball.”

But my parenting journey has been about humanizing myself. I don’t want my kids to only realize I’m human after I die. If they see me cry about a world in crisis, that teaches them it’s okay to feel deeply too.

Now, the boundary is important—we don’t completely fall apart in front of them. They still need to feel safe. If a parent collapses emotionally, kids may feel like they have to take care of the parent. That’s the line we don’t want to cross.

Sarah: Yes—that’s exactly what I was worried about.

Desiree: Right. So we want to find that balance of communal care. We take care of each other here, right? Let’s set aside a moment for grief. How are you feeling? What are you grieving today?

What made you feel sad? What made you feel displaced? What made you feel unheard, unseen, unloved? Let’s get into that. Let’s feel that for a moment. And then — what could feel different? What could we all do better as a community?

This made me feel bad when you said that. I share with my kids: “When you don’t do X, Y, and Z, it makes me feel like you don’t care about what I think. And that hurts me.” Right? I don’t want to be a parent who just seems angry. I want to be clear that I’m hurt. That hurt my feelings.

And I love you so much, I care about you so much, that your feelings matter to me — but I also want to matter to you. And that, for me, is communal care.

Sarah: You mentioned a couple of sentences back about “what can we do,” which links nicely into your next step: link emotions to actionable compassion.

There’s that Mr. Rogers quote about whenever anything bad is happening, look for the helpers. And research shows that when you have big emotions without feeling like you can do anything, that’s when kids (and adults) turn cynical.

So maybe you could give us a couple of examples. You already mentioned going to marches and emailing. But what are some other things you’ve done with your kids, or that you’ve seen other people do with their kids, that connect emotions to actionable compassion?

Desiree: Well, again, it all ties together. What’s your capacity? What are you able to do that’s long-term and sustainable?

When the George Floyd protests were happening, my eldest was outside. She said, “Absolutely not. I’m not going to march, I’m not going to take risks.” I said, “Okay, but how do you feel? Do you feel like you’re making a difference?”

She started going out with water and sandwiches. That turned into a nonprofit — Feed the Revolution. Donations poured in. We even had to get a storage unit for all the water and dry goods. That’s linking compassion and passion with actionable steps. It was something she could do safely.

And that’s how you bring in community care. Other people couldn’t march, but they could bring food, bring water, or look for the helper.

With kids, it might look different. If they have a Discord group, maybe they can have a conversation once a week: What are your thoughts on this? How do you feel? That’s activism too. Sharing, course correcting, letting people know, “Hey, that was harmful. Can we do better?”

So: What are you feeling? What do you have the capacity for? What’s sustainable? And what can we do?

Sarah: And you mentioned even some quiet things, like coloring with your kids, learning about kids around the world, lighting a candle at home, making art for peace, or helping someone locally. Even helping actions that aren’t tied to a “cause,” but are just about kindness.

Desiree: But that is the issue, right? Because then you start raising helpers.

The other day, we had some leftover curry. My son Kira said, “I don’t want any more… but can we box it up and give it to somebody?” I said, “I love that. Great. Let’s microwave some rice, put it in a container, and go outside to share it.”

So now he’s learning about not wasting food, about climate collapse, about taking care of community. And people often think it has to be big. “Oh, you need to feed 50 people.” But you fed one. That matters.

Sarah: Even if it’s just your next-door neighbor who doesn’t cook much — bring them some food.

Desiree: Or the burned-out parent who’s doing all the caretaking. How nice would it be to say, “Hey, I got dinner for you. I know you’ve already fed your kids. Let someone take care of you.”

That shows your children you can make a difference without it having to be huge. The fatigue comes from feeling like we need to combat everything at once. That’s overwhelming, and overwhelming leads to burnout.

Sarah: Right.

Desiree: Liberation isn’t one-and-done. It isn’t a single conversation. It’s a practice, a relationship, a rhythm. You’re modeling that the truth takes time, and we don’t have to rush.

Sarah: I love that. It’s like conversations about sex, right? You don’t have one talk and then you’re done. You keep talking as kids grow and change.

Desiree: Exactly. When I talk about liberation work and decolonization, it’s about creating a culture shift. None of us like to feel lectured to. Making it conversational changes everything. It becomes about solution-finding: there’s a problem, what’s the solution, what are the steps?

That teaches kids that even if a problem can’t be completely eradicated, we can do something. Harm reduction matters. How can we create less harm and do more good?

Sarah: And it leaves space for thought and choice. For example, my daughter’s iPhone screen broke. She wondered if she should just buy a new phone. I told her, “I’m not going to judge you, but my value is: fix what’s still good.” It might not be the most practical or cheapest option, but it feels better ethically.

So we talked. And then she made her own decision.

Desiree: Yes, exactly. It’s harm reduction again. And you gave her the choice — you didn’t say, “Absolutely not.”

Sarah: Right.

Desiree: That’s powerful.

Sarah: Okay, so your next step is build their critical consciousness. This means inviting them to go deeper — asking questions like, “Who benefits from this system? What would fairness look like? What do you wish adults would do differently?”

Desiree: Yes. The safest place to practice that questioning is at home. But that’s hard in a hierarchical society.

Sarah: Right, you’re like, “Question other people, not me!” (laughs)

Desiree: Exactly. But raising reflective rebels — kids who can think critically, even with us — is essential.

We even did this around bedtime. My kids didn’t want a set bedtime. I explained why rest matters. Then we co-created a boundary: “Okay, stay up as late as you want, but you have to get up happily, on time, and not be dysregulated at school.”

It lasted less than two weeks! They realized for themselves that lack of sleep doesn’t work. That’s better than me saying “Because I said so.” They learned through experience.

Sarah: That’s such a good example of co-creating boundaries. What does that look like in the context of activism and social justice?

Desiree: It’s about recognizing reality. Not everyone is open to these conversations, especially because they’re kids, and also because they’re Black and neurodiverse. They need to know when to call me in, and when to stand firm with a respectful “no.”

For example, my kids don’t do homework. I don’t want them indoctrinated into an 80-hour work week. They come home to rest, play, and have a balanced life. That’s our boundary.

Sarah: Yes, that’s so good.

Desiree: And finally, root it all in relationship, not rhetoric. If I don’t trust you, I won’t have conversations with you. Punitive parenting “works,” but only out of fear. The opposite of fear is radical love.

Our kids need us to see them as human beings and build real relationships with them. That includes repair when we mess up. Restoration is key.

Sarah: Yes.

Desiree: Parenting is inherently hierarchical, and that creates a power imbalance. It can be abusive if we’re not conscious of that. So our goal is to shift from power over to power with. That’s how we raise kids who believe in communal power — and who grow up ready to change the world.

Sarah: I love that. That’s a hopeful place to stop. Thank you so much.

Desiree: Thank you.

Sarah: One last question I ask all my guests: if you could go back to your younger parent self, what advice would you give?

Desiree: Parent the child in front of you. That’s the best advice I ever got. Don’t parent from your own trauma.

Sarah: Beautiful. And where can people find you?

Desiree: My Substack is desireebstephens.com

— that’s Stephens with a PH. I also co-host Parenting Decolonized with Yolanda, and we run a parenting support group. I’ll share those links.

Sarah: Perfect. We’ll put all of that in the show notes. Thank you again.

Desiree: Thank you.

Sarah: We’re all out here trying to change the world. Slowly, but sustainably.

Desiree: Absolutely.

>> Please support us!!! Please consider becoming a supporter to help support our free content, including The Peaceful Parenting Podcast, our free parenting support Facebook group, and our weekly parenting emails, "Weekend Reflections" and "Weekend Support" - plus our Flourish With Your Complex Child Summit (coming back in November for the 3rd year!) All of this free support for you takes a lot of time and energy from me and my team. If it has been helpful or meaningful for you, your support would help us to continue to provide support for free, for you and for others.

In addition to knowing you are supporting our mission to support parents and children, you get the podcast ad free and access to a monthly ‘ask me anything’ session.

This episode of The Peaceful Parenting Podcast is my fourth interview with anxiety expert Lynn Lyons! We discuss how to handle school avoidance, including: how to figure out the root cause of school avoidance, how anxiety works including physical symptoms, and how to teach parents and children how to handle anxiety when it inevitably shows up.

We talk about:

4:31 Finding the root cause to school avoidance

7:00 Using “home days” when kids need a break

9:00 Normalizing needing breaks, rather than pathologizing 

11:40 Emotionally based school avoidance- includes anxiety and depression

16:00 How anxiety can cause physical symptoms like stomach aches and headaches

23:03 Teaching kids and parents to tolerate uncertainty

30:00 Why techniques to “get rid” of worry don’t work

32:00 How to talk back to worry

48:13 How to handle “The Moment of Goodbye” when dropping kids off

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Three Skills to Protect Our Kids’ Mental Health with Lynn Lyons https://reimaginepeacefulparenting.com/episode35/ 

Membership Q&A – How to Help Anxious Kids in Real Life Scenarios with Lynn Lyons https://reimaginepeacefulparenting.com/episode45/ 

How Anxiety Shows Up in Our Parenting and What to Do About It with Lynn Lyons https://reimaginepeacefulparenting.com/episode-99-how-anxiety-shows-up-in-our-parenting-and-what-to-do-about-it-with-lynn-lyons/ 

Lynn Lyon’s podcast Flusterclux https://www.flusterclux.com/episodes/ 

Lynn’s website https://www.lynnlyons.com/ 

Connect with Sarah Rosensweet  

Support us on Substack: https://sarahrosensweet.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahrosensweet/ 

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/peacefulparentingfreegroup

Website: https://reimaginepeacefulparenting.com  

Book a short consult or coaching session call: https://book-with-sarah-rosensweet.as.me/schedule.php 

In this episode of The Peaceful Parenting Podcast, Corey and I cover eight different times when parents tend to talk too much to their kids! We discuss times when you can make minor tweaks such as when kids are engrossed in play or when we are giving kids directions. As well as major changes we can make such as not talking at all when kids are completely dysregulated or upset. 1, 2, 3, STOP TALKING!

We talk about:

·         2:20 Stop talking when kids are engrossed in play

·         4:17 We don’t have to make it a teachable moment

·         7:52 Giving unnecessary directions to our kids

·         10:33 Problems with praise

·         13:00 The Zone of Regulation as a guide for when and when not to talk

·         24:00 Over explaining ourselves when setting limits

·         28:00 Avoiding safety chatter

·         30:45 Stop talking when kids have a problem

Download the episode transcript HERE

Resources mentioned in this episode:

·         Coaching with Sarah or Corey 

·         Our Peaceful Parenting Membership 

·         Podcast about not making it a teachable moment 

·         https://www.alfiekohn.org/article/five-reasons-stop-saying-good-job/

·         Podcast about cultivating nonchalance 

Connect with Sarah Rosensweet:  

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahrosensweet/ 
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/peacefulparentingfreegroup
• YouTube: Peaceful Parenting with Sarah Rosensweet @peacefulparentingwithsarah4194
• Website: https://reimaginepeacefulparenting.com 
• Join us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/peacefulparenting 
• Newsletter: https://reimaginepeacefulparenting.com/newsletter
• Book a short consult or coaching session call: https://book-with-sarah-rosensweet.as.me/schedule.php 

In this episode, Rachel Harrington and Jessica Hill join me to talk about all things sensory processing disorder.

Rachel, COTA/L, AC and Jessica, COTA/L are two passionate Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants and the hosts of the popular podcast, All Things Sensory. Their podcast, digital courses, YouTube, and blog on Harkla.co covers topics related to sensory processing disorder, special needs, parenting, and topics related to child development and health.

We talk about:

• [4:00] Who Rachel and Jessica are

• [6:15] What is sensory processing disorder?

• [8:15] Our 3 hidden senses

• [11:20] Sensory challenges that come with going to the bathroom

• [13:35] Triggers with taking a bath 

• [16:11] Common triggers you may not know are sensory challenges

• [17:45] Oral seeking

• [19:15] Picky eating

• [26:30] Sensory integration and OT evaluation

• [29:30] Adopting a sensory diet

• [34:20] Noticing what your child needs

• [37:30] Tips for parents who struggle getting kids dressed

• [41:50] Knowing this isn’t a choice your kids are making

• [45:05] Advice to their younger parent selves
  
  

With over 9 years of clinical experience, Rachel and Jessica are on a mission to help parents, educators, and therapists raise strong and confident children, no matter their abilities. They are passionate about taking clinical topics (such as Sensory Processing Disorder, primitive reflexes, sensory diets, and more) and breaking them down in a way that is actionable for anyone to benefit from.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Free ‘How to Stop Yelling’ Course: www.sarahrosensweet.com/yelling 

• Join us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/peacefulparenting 

• Newsletter: www.sarahrosensweet.com/newsletter

• Summit: www.sarahrosensweet.com/summit 

Connect with Rachel and Jessica

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harklaproducts/ 

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/allthingssensorypodcast

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/harkla_family 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melindawennermoyer 

• https://harkla.co/ 

Connect with Sarah Rosensweet  

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahrosensweet/ 

• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/peacefulparentingfreegroup

• Website: https://www.sarahrosensweet.com 

• Book a short consult or coaching session call: https://book-with-sarah-rosensweet.as.me/schedule.php 

In this episode, Melinda Wenner Moyer joins me to talk about her book, and a range of topics around bullying, raising kids that aren’t selfish, and how to help our kids develop self esteem.

We talk about:

• [4:40] How Melinda and I met, and an introduction to her book

• [7:40] The most surprising thing she learned while researching for her book

• [12:45] Bullying and the parents of kids who bully

• [13:50] Increasing our kids’ theory of mind skills

• [17:30] Raising kids that aren’t selfish

• [19:50] Leaning into conversations with your kids that you don't want to have

• [22:10] The message we send when we don’t talk about race and gender

• [33:00] Can your child develop narcissism by bolstering their self-esteem too much?

• [36:20] How kids are affected by pressure applied by parents

• [40:35] Why parents care more about hitting milestones than their child’s happiness

• [44:00] Advice she would give to her younger parent self
  
  

Melinda Wenner Moyer is a science journalist based in Cold Spring, New York. She's a regular contributor to The New York Times, a contributing editor at Scientific American magazine, and a faculty member in the Science, Health & Environmental Reporting program at NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. Her first book, How To Raise Kids Who Aren’t A******s, was published in July 2021 and won a gold medal in the 2022 Living Now Book Awards.

Melinda was the recipient of the 2022 Excellence in Science Journalism award from The Society for Personality and Social Psychology, the 2019 Bricker Award for Science Writing in Medicine, and her work was featured in the 2020 Best American Science and Nature Writing anthology. 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Free ‘How to Stop Yelling’ Course: www.sarahrosensweet.com/yelling 

• Join us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/peacefulparenting 

• Newsletter: www.sarahrosensweet.com/newsletter

Connect with Melinda

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindawennermoyer/ 

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/melindawmoyer 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melindawennermoyer 

• www.melindawmoyer.substack.com 

• www.melindawennermoyer.com   

Connect with Sarah Rosensweet  

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahrosensweet/ 

• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/peacefulparentingfreegroup

• Website: https://www.sarahrosensweet.com 

• Book a short consult or coaching session call: https://book-with-sarah-rosensweet.as.me/schedule.php 

In this episode, we dive into the world of neurodivergent parenting with Jaya and Priya. We explore their backgrounds and the vital work they do in this space, shedding light on the essence of neurodivergence. 

They share their motivations behind writing "Parenting at the Intersection" and discuss challenges they face as neurodivergent parents. We also delve into themes like normalizing emotional overwhelm, the link between parenting, supremacy, and capitalism, and empowering individuals to navigate external influences. 

Plus, discover hidden wisdom within children's behaviors and practical strategies for tough moments, all while receiving heartfelt advice from our guests to their younger parent selves.

We talk about:

• [3:30] Jaya and Priya’s background and work in this space

• [5:55] The definition of what we mean when we say neurodivergent

• [10:25] What made them want to write Parenting at the Intersection 

• [16:50] Challenges they face parenting while neurodivergent

• [23:20] Normalizing emotional overwhelm and big emotions

• [28:10] Big ideas from their book in terms of the correlation between parenting, supremacy and capitalism 

• [31:30] How to help people tune into their own wisdom when influenced by outside factors, especially when influenced by fear 

• [35:30] The wisdom or medicine in your child's behaviors

• [38:25] Specific practices to use when things are particularly challenging

• [43:30] Advice to their younger parent selves

Priya Saaral is a mama, a play therapist, and a parenting coach in the Greater Seattle area. She also identifies as neurodivergent and a first-generation immigrant settler. Her work is centered on helping young people and parents find their voice and their playful spirit amidst personal and structural adversity, seeking to be seen and to belong. Priya herself was in this space too, and her own experiences of strength and hardship motivated her to help all children feel seen and heard as valuable human beings in society, and as agents of change. When she's feeling playful, you may likely find her engrossed in a jigsaw puzzle, on the wrestling mat with her son, or replenishing her cup by exploring South Indian Classical and Jazz music forms.

Jaya Ramesh is a cis, immigrant, neurodivergent woman of color, who holds caste, class, and education privileges. She currently resides on the unceded lands of the Duwamish peoples. Jaya's passions revolve around creating liberatory healing and learning spaces while actively working to disentangle from and dismantle systems of oppression. She identifies herself as a truth-teller and facilitator, driven by a deep passion for unlocking the stories waiting to be shared, both within herself and among others.

In her private practice, Jaya supports BIPOC and neurodivergent individuals in cultivating more authentic and nourishing relationships. She shares her life with her partner of 18 years, and together they are raising two neurodivergent children and a puppy. Jaya's interests encompass reading novels, practicing vipassana meditations, challenging herself with strenuous hikes, indulging in long naps, passionately singing 80's tunes at karaoke, preparing elaborate dinners, and taking leisurely strolls with her family.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Free ‘How to Stop Yelling’ Course: www.sarahrosensweet.com/yelling 

• Join us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/peacefulparenting 

• Newsletter: www.sarahrosensweet.com/newsletter

• Parenting at the Intersections: Raising Neurodivergent Children of Color https://amzn.to/3RgeM77

Connect with Priya and Jaya

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/parent.village 

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/parenting.at.the.intersections  

• www.play-it-out.com

•  www.parentvillage.me 

Connect with Jaya

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jayarameshlmhc 

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/Indigobunting1101 

• www.parentingattheintersections.com 

Connect with Sarah Rosensweet  

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahrosensweet/ 

• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/peacefulparentingfreegroup

• Website: https://www.sarahrosensweet.com 

• Book a short consult or coaching session call: https://book-with-sarah-rosensweet.as.me/schedule.php 

In this episode, I sit down for a coaching episode with Jessica, who is a mom of two. 

We talk about the morning chaos, which many of us can relate to, especially as we get the hang of new routines and back to school. She also shares about her own triggers, internal stress, and letting go of the fear of disappointing our kids.

We talk about:

• [3:20] Finding it hard to ask for support when stressed or overwhelmed

• [6:20] Struggles and tips for getting up earlier 

• [8:45] Strategies to carve out special time

• [11:30] Jessica's internal way of dealing with stressful mornings

• [15:50] The natural consequences of being late

• [18:05] The fear of disappointing our kids

• [20:35] Jessica's transformation in my membership

• [27:20] How can you motivate yourself in a more loving way

• [31:10] Grounding practices to help regulate yourself

• [34:00] One-month check in 

• [35:10] Working on our internal stress triggers on being late and setting new routines

• [42:00] Triggers around being late
  
  

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Free ‘How to Stop Yelling’ Course: www.sarahrosensweet.com/yelling 

• Join us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/peacefulparenting 

• Newsletter: www.sarahrosensweet.com/newsletter

• Membership: www.sarahrosensweet.com/membership 

Connect with Sarah Rosensweet  

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahrosensweet/ 

• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/peacefulparentingfreegroup

• Website: https://www.sarahrosensweet.com 

• Book a short consult or coaching session call: https://book-with-sarah-rosensweet.as.me/schedule.php 

In this episode, Dr. Devorah Heitner joins me to talk about raising kids in the era of technology, and different tools and strategies to implement, all while continuing to respect their privacy. 

Dr. Heitner is the author of Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World and her book on navigating Privacy and Reputation with kids and teens, Growing Up in Public will be out in 2023 with Penguin Random House.

Her work has appeared in the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN Opinion. She has a Ph.D. in Media/Technology & Society from Northwestern University and has taught at DePaul and Northwestern. She is delighted to be raising her own teenager and she lives with her family in Chicagoland.

We talk about:

• [2:55] Screenwise and Growing Up In Public

• [9:50] Are there ways to track your kids without using phones

• [11:50] Tracking kids over the age of 18

• [13:00] When and why kids should get a phone

• [17:25] Her philosophy on mentoring kids vs. monitoring kids 

• [21:20] How to do this without invading on our kids’ privacy

• [24:10] Setting screen-free boundaries for kids without killing their social life

• [28:00] Navigating school devices and wanting to have screen time limits

• [31:15] Tracking your kids’ grades

• [36:15] Advice she would give to her younger parent self
  
  

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Free ‘How to Stop Yelling’ Course: www.sarahrosensweet.com/yelling 

• Join us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/peacefulparenting 

• Newsletter: www.sarahrosensweet.com/newsletter

Devorah’s Books

• US: https://devorahheitner.com/growing-up-in-public/

• Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/Growing-Up-Public-Coming-Digital/dp/0593420969 and: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/growing-up-in-public-coming-of-age-in-a-digital-world/9780593420966.html

• Growing Up in Public: https://amzn.to/3OZNe4o

• Screenwise: https://amzn.to/3OENSTl 

Connect with Devorah

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DevorahHeitner 

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devorahheitnerphd/ 

• Website: www.devorahheitner.com 

Connect with Sarah Rosensweet  

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahrosensweet/ 

• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/peacefulparentingfreegroup

• Website: https://www.sarahrosensweet.com 

• Book a short consult or coaching session call: https://book-with-sarah-rosensweet.as.me/schedule.php 

In this episode, Julie Bogart joins me to talk about homeschooling: the positives, the challenges and advice for parents looking to potentially homeschool their children. We also discuss learning in general. You’ll want to listen to this whether you homeschool or send your kids to school!

Julie Bogart is the creator and proprietor of Brave Writer, an online writing and language arts program.

She holds a deep passion for writing, a genuine affection for children, and a strong appreciation for parents. Julie sees her involvement with these three aspects as a fortuitous and delightful convergence of her affections, which she experiences on a daily basis. 

We talk about:

• [6:20] Parents yearning for cooperation from their kids

• [7:45] Why kids are craving self-loyalty

• [13:35] Factors to consider when you're thinking about homeschooling

• [15:40] My experience as a "failed homeschooler", and why it's ok

• [19:30] Advice for parents who are homeschooling and feel like they can't get their kids to focus on schoolwork

• [23:55] Have Julie’s grandkids been homeschooled?

• [27:20] Why our best work as parents is to ensure happiness and reduce pressure

• [31:35] Misconceptions about homeschooling 

• [33:10] Homeschooling vs. unschooling 

• [35:15] Kids who aren’t meeting the benchmark that the school system has set

• [41:30] Advice for parents on how to support their child who doesn't like school 

• [45:55] Advice to her younger parent self

In her earlier professional journey, she invested time in the realm of professional writing, engaging in activities such as editing, ghostwriting, and freelancing. However, as her children approached the stage of transitioning from pencil control to self-expressive writing, Julie's inclination shifted towards coaching. This transformation was driven by her recognition that she found the most fulfillment in guiding and facilitating the emergence of original thoughts in others.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Free ‘How to Stop Yelling’ Course: www.sarahrosensweet.com/yelling 

• Join us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/peacefulparenting 

• Newsletter: www.sarahrosensweet.com/newsletter

Julie’s Books

• The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life

• Raising Critical Thinkers: A Parent's Guide to Growing Wise Kids in the Digital Age

Connect with Julie

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bravewriter

• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/bravewriter/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliebravewriter/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/bravewriter

• Website: https://bravewriter.com/

Connect with Sarah Rosensweet  

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahrosensweet/ 

• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/peacefulparentingfreegroup

• Website: https://www.sarahrosensweet.com 

• Book a short consult or coaching session call: https://book-with-sarah-rosensweet.as.me/schedule.php 

In this episode, Yael joins me to talk about her new book, as well as how to feel less guilty and overwhelmed in your parenting.

Yael Schonbrun is a clinical psychologist, assistant professor at Brown University, co-host of the Psychologists Off the Clock podcast, and author of Work, Parent, Thrive: 12 Science-Backed Strategies to Ditch Guilt, Manage Overwhelm, and Grow Connection (When Everything Feels Like too Much).

We talk about:

• [3:30] The background of her book

• [8:10] Advantages of working parenthood

• [13:10] Work family conflict vs. work family enrichment & the three different paths

• [16:15] Parenting guilt and shaming

• [19:55] The function of guilt and evolution

• [23:50] Acceptance and commitment therapy

• [25:35] Unhooking from unhelpful labels

• [31:35] Reinforcing that all parenting rolls are important

• [34:45] What is subtracting

• [40:05] A ‘stop doing’ list

• [45:00] Advice to her younger parent self
  
  

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Free ‘How to Stop Yelling’ Course: www.sarahrosensweet.com/yelling 

• Join us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/peacefulparenting 

• Newsletter: www.sarahrosensweet.com/newsletter

• https://www.wsj.com/articles/work-life-conflict-cant-be-solvedand-thats-a-good-thing-11593230460 

• https://www.washingtonpost.com/parenting/2022/11/17/working-parent-conflict-balance-mindset/ 

• https://behavioralscientist.org/doing-less-is-hard-especially-when-were-overwhelmed/ 

• Book: https://amzn.to/45cg2Mv

Connect with Yael

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/offtheclockpsych 

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrYaelSchonbrun 

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yaelschonbrun/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaelschonbrun/ 

• Website: www.workparenthrive.com / www.offtheclockpsych.com 

Connect with Sarah Rosensweet  

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahrosensweet/ 

• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/peacefulparentingfreegroup

• Website: https://www.sarahrosensweet.com 

• Book a short consult or coaching session call: https://book-with-sarah-rosensweet.as.me/schedule.php