Parenting the Intensity – Details, episodes & analysis

This roundtable is part of the Parenting the Intensity Retreat 2025 - Conflict Edition. You can register to the retreat at www.parentingtheintensity.ca/register

Panelists are:

• Afsaneh Moradian from https://www.mlccoaching.com
• Allison Livingston from https://www.5stepstoconnect.com
• Shaqueena Murreld M.S., CCC- SLP from www.immersedtherapies.com

Moderator is retreat host Anouk Briere-Godbout, owner of Family Moments www.familymoments.ca

In this roundtable we discussed shifting perspectives on children's behavior, emphasizing understanding unmet needs, emotional regulation, modeling, and reducing conflict.

We highlighted strategies like connecting through empathy, validating feelings, and maintaining a flexible approach for effective parenting.

Key themes are:

• Understanding children's behavior
• Conflict resolution in parenting
• Emotional regulation techniques
• Communication strategies with children
• Homeschooling challenges and solutions
• Parental expectations and pressures
• Importance of apologies and repairs
• Supporting children's unmet needs

This is a special episode sharing all the details about the "Parenting the Intensity Retreat - Conflict Edition" coming up February 25th-27th!

You can get on the waitlist over here at www.parentingtheintensity.ca/register before February 10th or register if it's after that date!

You want to be on the waitlist for the reminders of the pre-retreat live roundtables!

Welcome to "Parenting the Intensity!"

We all know that parenting isn't easy, especially when our kids have intense emotions. So, let's break down how we can take care of ourselves and stay calm as a parent to support our exceptional but challenging kids.

And to do that with is, we're joined by Michele Riechman, a mom of 4 and a military wife. Michele's journey towards prioritizing health and well-being started after her 3rd child. She shares how she found simple ways to integrate self-care into her busy life, leading her to become a personal trainer and health coach. Her mission is to help women simplify self-care, so they can be the best versions of themselves for their families.

​"So really becoming aware of those thoughts and telling yourself the truth. Because our brain has lots of thoughts and ideas, and a lot of them aren't even true. But we keep living and thinking as if they are true, so really paying attention to those thoughts."

Connect with Lacie

www.micheleriechman.com/

www.instagram.com/micheleriechman/

Resources mentioned

Insight Timer, meditation App

Michele's Podcast Healthy Beyond 40

Make sure to subscribe to our podcast for future episodes and leave a rating and review, that helps us get in front of more parents. Don't forget to check out the resources mentioned on our website at www.parentingtheintensity.ca

Join the "Parenting the Intensity Community" to find the right things that works for YOUR child and adapt them to YOUR reality.

To be able to enjoy your life and kids, not always being afraid of the next outburst

Take a deep breath, keep going, we’re all in this together!

Music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay

Welcome to "Parenting the Intensity!"

In this episode, our host Anouk explore the concept of the Comfort Plan and its crucial role in helping parents navigate big emotions in their children with guest Lacie Newton. Lacie, a specialist in emotional regulation, shares her personal journey of developing the Comfort Plan and how it has transformed her approach to parenting. From mindfulness practices to understanding the intensity of emotions, this episode offers valuable insights and practical strategies for parents. Join us as we navigate the challenges and triumphs of parenting with compassion and intentionality.

"And regardless of the messages you are getting from your culture, from your family, the media, Instagram, there is this path that's also available where things do feel like you are the right person for this child. This child is the right one for you, and everything is okay the way it is."

Connect with Lacie

www.MamaSimpatico.com

https://www.instagram.com/mamasimpatico/ 

https://www.facebook.com/mamasimpatico

Resources mentioned

Unruffled, podcast from Janet Lansbury 

Make sure to subscribe to our podcast for future episodes and leave a rating and review, that helps us get in front of more parents. Don't forget to check out the resources mentioned on our website at www.parentingtheintensity.ca

Join the "Parenting the Intensity Community" to find the right things that works for YOUR child and adapt them to YOUR reality.

To be able to enjoy your life and kids, not always being afraid of the next outburst

Take a deep breath, keep going, we’re all in this together!

Music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay

Welcome to "Parenting the Intensity!"

In this episode, we will explore the concepts of co-regulation and co-dysregulation and how they can help us navigate the unique needs of our exceptional but challenging kids.

And to do so we are welcoming Penny Williams, founder of parenting ADHD and autism, to discuss this complicated but oh so essential subject!

"We need to have radical acceptance of what is for our kids and what might be different in their lives. Because when we get okay with those things, we're not freaking out about them. We're not freaking out about their future. There's so much more room for joy."

Resources mentioned

Ross Green Book : The Explosive Child

Kelly Mahler interoception curriculum

Connect with Penny

https://ParentingADHDandAutism.com 

Beautifully Complex Podcast

https://www.instagram.com/pennywilliams/ https://www.facebook.com/PennyWilliamsAuthor/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/ParentingADHDandAutism https://www.pinterest.com/pennywauthor/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/penny-williams-8b601543/

Make sure to subscribe to our podcast for future episodes and leave a rating and review, that helps us get in front of more parents. Don't forget to check out the resources mentioned on our website at www.parentingtheintensity.ca

Join the "Parenting the Intensity Community" to find the right things that works for YOUR child and adapt them to YOUR reality.

To be able to enjoy your life and kids, not always being afraid of the next outburst

Take a deep breath, keep going, we’re all in this together!

Music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay

Welcome to "Parenting the Intensity!"

In this episode we delve into the essential keys to staying calm when parenting emotionally intense children.

Anouk introduces the key points and topics that will be explored in future episodes, offering a roadmap tailored to the unique needs of both parents and their intense kids.

Through coregulation, understanding and supporting children's needs, avoiding escalation, practicing mindfulness, fostering confidence, dealing with judgment, and seeking support, Anouk provides a glimpse into the strategies that will be discussed in depth in upcoming episodes.

"We can teach them lots of techniques and tips and tricks to calm down, but the most important one is to first stay calm ourselves."

Make sure to subscribe to our podcast for future episodes and leave a rating and review, that helps us get in front of more parents. Don't forget to check out the resources mentioned on our website at www.parentingtheintensity.ca

Join the "Parenting the Intensity Community" to find the right things that works for YOUR child and adapt them to YOUR reality.

To be able to enjoy your life and kids, not always being afraid of the next outburst

Take a deep breath, keep going, we’re all in this together!

Music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay

Welcome to "Parenting the Intensity!"

In this episode of "Parenting the Intensity," we delve into the challenges and rewards of raising emotionally intense children with our special guest, Scotti Weintraub, founder of Reframe Parenting and a mother of two teens.

The insightful conversation with Scotti centers around reframing the way we view children's struggles and changing our perspectives to be more effective in supporting them. We explore the importance of understanding and guiding children as individuals, navigating societal pressures, and fostering healthy, critical thinking.

Join us as we discover valuable strategies for parents and caregivers, touching on self-awareness, communication, collaboration, and the powerful impact of positive feedback.

"Leading with curiosity: Rather than jumping first to judgment, why can't he turn his homework in? I wonder why he's not turning in his homework. "

Connect with Scotti

www.reframeparenting.com

https://www.instagram.com/reframeparenting/

Resources mentioned

Ross Green website: Lives in the Balance

Loss at School, book by Ross Green

Make sure to subscribe to our podcast for future episodes and leave a rating and review, that helps us get in front of more parents. Don't forget to check out the resources mentioned on our website at www.parentingtheintensity.ca

Join the "Parenting the Intensity Community" to find the right things that works for YOUR child and adapt them to YOUR reality.

To be able to enjoy your life and kids, not always being afraid of the next outburst

Take a deep breath, keep going, we’re all in this together!

Music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay

Welcome to "Parenting the Intensity!"

In this episode of Parenting the Intensity, we delve into the reasons why we want our kids to calm down. Anouk discusses the unrealistic expectations society places on children to behave in a certain way, particularly challenging for emotionally intense kids. Anouk emphasizes the importance of adapting the environment and changing expectations, rather than trying to change the child.

By focusing on the child's current needs and providing necessary accommodations, parents can support their children in developing resilience and adapting to the world as they grow older.

Anouk encourages listeners to consider whether their expectations are realistic in the moment and provides valuable insights on parenting emotionally intense kids.

"Most of the time, we need to make changes around the child for them to then be able to collaborate, learn, behave, act in a way that we are that is expected of them."

Make sure to subscribe to our podcast for future episodes and leave a rating and review, that helps us get in front of more parents. Don't forget to check out the resources mentioned on our website at www.parentingtheintensity.ca

Join the "Parenting the Intensity Community" to find the right things that works for YOUR child and adapt them to YOUR reality.

To be able to enjoy your life and kids, not always being afraid of the next outburst

Take a deep breath, keep going, we’re all in this together!

Music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay

Welcome to "Parenting the Intensity!"

Today we are looking at the parent side of things, what we are experiencing as parents of emotionally intense kids.

In one word: challenging

In another words it can be isolating, frustrating, discouraging, stretching, feeling like we are failing...but it's also impressive, stimulating and endearing. Because they are not just their struggle and we are becoming better parents every day by being their parents. 

We also addresses the judgment and self-doubt that parents in this situation commonly experience, offering hope and practical solutions for creating a better relationship and finding peace in parenting. Join us as we explore the unique journey of parenting emotionally intense children and discover the support and resources available to navigate this challenging yet rewarding experience.

"You have the power to make changes, and I'm guessing that's why you're here.

So I want you to know that there's other possibilities, and your life don't have to look that way."

Make sure to subscribe to our podcast for future episodes and leave a rating and review, that helps us get in front of more parents. Don't forget to check out the resources mentioned on our website at www.parentingtheintensity.ca

Join the "Parenting the Intensity Community" to find the right things that works for YOUR child and adapt them to YOUR reality.

To be able to enjoy your life and kids, not always being afraid of the next outburst

Take a deep breath, keep going, we’re all in this together!

Music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay

Welcome to "Parenting the Intensity!"

In this episode I'm breaking down the basic principles of parenting an emotionally intense child which are:

1. Reframe: They are not doing it on purpose
2. Helping them be calmer
3. Being calm ourselves (regulation and coregulation)

There is also some other essentials to keep in mind that make parenting emotionally intense kids different and easier:

• Expecting the intensity and not seeing that as bad but at the way they express themselves
• Not escalating (hard hard hard)
• Detective work: getting to know them like the palm of our hand
• Being their voice
• Building them up (they will be put down so often)

"It's okay that they express themselves. It's okay that they let the stress out."

Resources mentioned on the podcast 

• Parenting the Intensity Community
• Episode 40 about self care
• Parenting the Intensity Retreat
• Who's That Kid?
• Child Advocacy
• Episodes on Advocacy: Episode 6 and Episode 36 (more are coming soon)

Make sure to subscribe to our podcast for future episodes and leave a rating and review, that helps us get in front of more parents. Don't forget to check out the resources mentioned on our website at www.parentingtheintensity.ca

Join the "Parenting the Intensity Community" to find the right things that works for YOUR child and adapt them to YOUR reality.

To be able to enjoy your life and kids, not always being afraid of the next outburst

Take a deep breath, keep going, we’re all in this together!

Music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay