Today’s episode is the final one in the Mental Health Awareness Month podcast collaboration I organized with a few other parenting and mental health podcast hosts. We each chose one episode from our own show to share on the others’ podcasts throughout the month.

This episode comes from Dawn Friedman’s podcast, Tell Me It Will Be Okay.

Dawn has worked with kids and families for more than 30 years as a preschool teacher, clinical counselor, parent educator, and parent herself. Her work focuses mostly on supporting parents of anxious kids.

In this episode, Dawn talks about something she calls “judicious giving up,” which is about stepping back from the urge to immediately fix a parenting problem and getting curious about what’s actually going on underneath it.

Sometimes the bedtime struggle isn’t really about bedtime.
The school refusal isn’t really about school.
The behavior isn’t always the whole story.

Dawn also talks about how parenting struggles can bring up our own fears, expectations, identities, and beliefs about who we think we’re supposed to be as parents.

At the end of the episode, I share some of my own thoughts about nervous system patterns, emotional reactions, and why insight alone usually isn’t enough to change the way we respond.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/407

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"I don't want to go."
"Can I just stay home?"
"I don't even care about that anyway."

When your anxious child says these things, it can feel kinder (and easier) to let them skip the party, stay home from school, or avoid taking the bus.

But short-term relief often creates bigger anxiety in the long run.

For Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm sharing an episode from Cynthia Coufal's podcast, The Teen Anxiety Maze. Cynthia is a school counselor and teen anxiety coach who has spent more than 25 years helping kids understand and manage anxiety while building confidence and independence.

In this episode, Cynthia breaks down the connection between avoidance and anxiety, why some kids convince themselves they don't care about things they deeply want, and the powerful shift from “I have to” to “I choose to.”

At the end of the episode, I share a few of my own thoughts about what stood out to me and how it connects to the work I do with moms.

This episode is packed with practical examples and an important perspective on discomfort, resilience, and what helps anxious kids (and moms) grow.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/406

The post Helping Anxious Kids Do Hard Things with Cynthia Coufal – 406 appeared first on Less Drama More Mama.

Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, I put together a small podcast collaboration with a few other hosts who talk about parenting, anxiety, and emotional health.

Each week, I’m sharing one of their episodes here on the podcast, followed by a few of my own thoughts on what stood out to me and how it applies to you.

Today’s episode comes from Leah Davidson’s podcast, Building Resilience.

Leah is a speech-language pathologist and nervous system resilience coach who works primarily with women in midlife. In this episode, she talks about parenting older kids without over-functioning.

As kids get older, our relationships with them change. You may go from being very involved in their day-to-day lives to feeling more on the outside, observing instead of guiding. And even though your intention hasn’t changed, the way your efforts are received can start to shift.

If you’ve been feeling unsure about when to step in, when to stay quiet, or how to stay connected without taking things personally, this episode will give you a helpful framework.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/405

The post When Your Kids Don’t Need You the Same Way Anymore with Leah Davidson – 405 appeared first on Less Drama More Mama.

You've probably heard the phrase, "If you don't ask, you don't get."

And yet, asking for what you want can feel surprisingly hard.

You hint. You wait. You hope someone notices. And when they don't, you end up feeling frustrated, unseen, or resentful.

When you don't ask, you don't just miss out on what you want. You limit how much support you allow yourself to have.

This comes up a lot around Mother’s Day, when so many moms hope to feel seen and appreciated but end up feeling let down.

In this episode, I'm breaking down why so many moms struggle to ask for what they want — and what to do about it.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/404

The post Asking For What You Want – 404 appeared first on Less Drama More Mama.

Divorce is often talked about as a legal process or a decision between two adults.

This week’s episode shifts the focus to your child’s emotional health.

My guest, Erica Komisar, is a clinical social worker, psychoanalyst, and parenting expert who has spent decades helping families through divorce.

She says that divorce itself isn't what harms children most.
It’s the instability, conflict, and disruptions to attachment that surround it.

We talk about what supports kids through separation, why certain stages are more vulnerable, and how to focus less on what feels “fair” to the parents and more on what is right for the child.

If you’re going through a divorce, or considering one, this conversation will help you think more clearly about what your child needs from you.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/403

The post How to Protect Your Kids Through Divorce with Erica Komisar – 403 appeared first on Less Drama More Mama.

What can Japanese parenting teach us about raising calm, capable kids?

This week, I’m talking with Lisa Katayama, author of The Japanese Way of Parenting: What It Taught Me About Raising Mostly Calm, Caring, Capable Kids.

Lisa was born and raised in Tokyo and now lives in Northern California. In our conversation, we talk about what stood out to her as she raised kids in the U.S. while drawing from the values she grew up with in Japan.

We discuss differences between American and Japanese parenting when it comes to independence, routines, choices, meals, cleanliness, self-care, and being on time. Lisa shares how Japanese culture often emphasizes structure, respect, and guiding kids in a way that helps family life feel calmer.

One of my favorite parts of this conversation is that it’s not about finding one right way to parent. It’s about noticing what resonates and taking what works for you and your family.

Lisa also shares practical ideas from her book, including the concept of douzo, a gentler way to offer and share, and why making parenting more playful can shift the tone at home.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/402

The post The Japanese Way of Parenting with Lisa Katayama – 402 appeared first on Less Drama More Mama.

Have you ever been in a situation with your child where you can feel it escalating while it’s happening?

They’re getting more upset, you’re talking more, explaining more, trying to get things back on track, and at the same time, you can tell it’s not helping.

In this episode, I’m breaking down five common things moms do that feel right in the moment, but make things worse.

These are the patterns that escalate conflict, create power struggles, and leave you feeling frustrated, even when you’re trying your best to handle things well.

I’ll walk you through what’s happening and what to do instead, so you can respond in ways that help things settle rather than making them bigger.

If you’ve ever walked away from a situation thinking, “Well, that didn't work,” this episode will give you a different way to approach it.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/401

The post How to Handle Your Child’s Behavior Without Making It Worse – 401 appeared first on Less Drama More Mama.

Four hundred episodes.

For this one, I did something I've never done before. I asked you to send in your parenting questions by voice message, and I answered them on the show.

This episode covers six real questions from moms in my community. We talk about things like a five-year-old’s defiance and name-calling, feeling overwhelmed when everything feels urgent, high-conflict co-parenting exchanges, reacting to a teenager’s phone calls, sibling rivalry, and disagreeing with a husband about consequences.

There’s a good chance something in this episode will speak directly to what you’re navigating.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/400

The post Ask Me Anything: Tantrums, Sibling Conflict, Co-Parenting, and Staying Calm – 400 appeared first on Less Drama More Mama.

In today’s episode, I’m sharing seven things loving moms do.

These are the same things I teach inside Damn Good Mama, and they’re what help moms start showing up differently at home.

Of course, you love your kids deeply. But how do you show that love when your child is upset, pushing back, or not listening, and you can feel yourself getting pulled into a reaction you don’t want?

I walk through each of the seven things with personal stories and real examples from clients, so you can see what this looks like in real life, not just in theory.

If you’ve ever struggled to show your love in those moments, this episode will help.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/399

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Your child is perfectly fine at home. Relaxed. Talkative. Maybe even sweet.

Then you show up at school, wave a little too enthusiastically, and suddenly you're getting an eye roll, a sharp "Mom, stop," or something worse, right in front of their friends.

When your child is rude to you in front of other people, it can leave you feeling embarrassed, hurt, and confused.

Learn why this happens (especially in the tween and teen years) and how to respond in a way that keeps you feeling calm, connected, and confident.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/398

The post When Your Child Is Rude to You in Front of Others – 398 appeared first on Less Drama More Mama.

Boys and girls move through the tween years very differently.

They handle friendships, express emotions, and start testing their independence each in their own ways. And if you don't know what to expect, it's easy to misread what's going on.

In this episode, the third in our tween series, I share what the research says about how tween boys and girls differ and what I saw firsthand as a therapist and school counselor. You'll hear about friendship patterns, emotional expression, academics, and what it looks like when your tween starts wanting more space.

Take what fits your child and leave what doesn't. When you understand what's underneath their behavior, you can respond in a way that supports what they need.

For full show notes and information, visit https://lessdramamoremama.com/397

The post Parenting Tween Boys vs Girls: What’s Different and Why It Matters – 397 appeared first on Less Drama More Mama.