Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

She loves her parents. She wants to be a good daughter. So why does it feel so heavy?
In this powerful conversation, Dr Allison Alford names the invisible emotional labour millions of women are carrying — and why being a “good daughter” shouldn’t cost you your wellbeing. From eldest daughter syndrome to guilt, boundaries, and burnout, this episode will leave you feeling seen, validated, and lighter.
If you’ve ever felt stretched thin by family expectations, this one is for you.
KEY POINTS
What “daughtering” really is — and why naming it changes everything
Why guilt is a terrible guide for family caregiving
The hidden emotional and mental load daughters carry every day
Why boundaries don’t make you selfish — they make you sustainable
The freedom of being a “B-plus daughter” instead of burning out
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
“Being good enough isn’t about doing it all. It’s about doing what is sustainable.”
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Good Daughtering by Dr Allison Alford
Follow Dr Allison Alford: daughtering101.com
Socials: @daughtering101
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Write down the invisible work you do for your family — and count it
Replace “What should I be doing?” with “What’s sustainable right now?”
Aim to be a B-plus daughter, not an exhausted A-plus one
Talk openly about daughtering with friends and family — language brings relief
Let go of guilt as a decision-maker and choose balance instead
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thinking about homeschooling… but secretly terrified you’ll get it wrong?
If you’re standing at the edge of homeschooling wondering What am I actually supposed to do all day?—this episode is for you. Justin and Kylie unpack what homeschooling really looks like once you ditch the school-at-home mindset and start building something that actually works for your child (and your sanity).
This isn’t about rigid schedules or perfect plans. It’s about slowing down, tuning in, and creating learning that fits real kids and real families.
KEY POINTS
Why copying school at home almost always backfires
The freedom (and relief) that comes from flexible structure
The four principles that made homeschooling sustainable for their family
Why community matters more than curriculum
How knowing your why gets you through the hard days
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
“Homeschooling isn’t about doing school at home. It’s about creating learning that actually fits your child.”
RESOURCES MENTIONED
HappyFamilies.com.au
Submitting a Tricky Question: [email protected]
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Start slower than you think you need to
Focus on connection before curriculum
Find (or build) a homeschooling community early
Let go of the idea that it has to look like school
Revisit your why on the hard days—it matters more than your plan
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve been teaching kids resilience all wrong.
If you’ve ever watched your child fall apart over homework, friendships, or an impossibly messy bedroom - this episode reframes everything you think you know about “being strong.”
Resilience isn’t grit.
It isn’t white-knuckling.
And it definitely isn’t doing it alone.
Justin and Kylie unpack the powerful truth backed by decades of research: resilience is relational — and what our kids need most when they’re struggling is us, closer than ever.
KEY POINTS
Why “tough it out” parenting quietly backfires
The research that proves one relationship can change a child’s life
How support builds competence (not dependence)
What to do in the moment when your child feels overwhelmed
Why moving closer is the most powerful parenting move you can make
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
“Resilience isn’t doing it alone. It’s knowing you’re not alone while you do it.”
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Nine Ways to a Resilient Child — Justin Coulson
Emmy Werner’s Kauai Longitudinal Study
Harvard Study of Adult Development
happyfamilies.com.au
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
When your child is struggling, move closer — not further away
Sit with them instead of fixing it for them
Break big tasks into tiny, doable steps
Let your voice become the calm they borrow
Model asking for help — it teaches strength, not weakness
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One honest conversation. One brave decision. One life changed.
In this I’ll Do Better Tomorrow episode, Kylie shares a moment she almost dismissed — until a handwritten letter revealed the unimaginable impact it had. We also unpack why goals often fail kids, how habits quietly heal, and what happens when parents choose courage over convention. This is about noticing what’s not working… and acting before it’s too late.
KEY POINTS
Why focusing on who your child is becoming matters more than hitting a goal
How movement reduces anxiety and low mood (even when it doesn’t “make you happy”)
The quiet warning signs parents often miss
Why “the best school” isn’t always the right school
How one conversation gave a mum the courage to act — and likely saved a life
A powerful reminder: resilience doesn’t grow alone, it grows in relationships
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
“So often we keep doing the same thing, hoping it will get better — but nothing changes until we act.”
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Happy Families — parenting courses and support
Parenting ADHD [The Course] (happyfamilies.com.au)
The Industry School (alternative education option discussed)
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Get curious, not furious: ask why before fixing
Shift goals into habits — focus on daily ways of being
Watch energy, mood, and behaviour for quiet signals
If something isn’t working, give yourself permission to choose again
Have the brave conversation — it might matter more than you realise
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some books entertain.
Some books inform.
And then there are books that unsettle you—and quietly change how you see the world, your kids, and the systems shaping their lives.
In this episode, Kylie and I step away from parenting advice (just briefly) to share the books that mattered most to us in 2025. These aren’t light beach reads. They’re confronting, provocative, and deeply relevant for parents raising children in a digital, diagnosed, distracted world.
If you love books—and you care about the future your kids are growing up in—this one stays with you.
Books & Resources Mentioned
Boys — Dr Justin Coulson (join the waitlist to learn more!)
Careless People — Sarah Wynn-Williams
Searching for Normal — Sami Timimi
Essentialism — Greg McKeown
The Let Them Theory — Mel Robbins
A Thousand Wasted Sundays — Victoria Vanstone
Mumming — Victoria Vanstone
1984 — George Orwell
Lonesome Dove — Larry McMurtry
A Gentleman in Moscow — Amor Towles
Greenlights — Matthew McConaughey
Parenting ADHD [The Course]
My 8 Favourite Books in 2025 [Article]
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Choose one book this year that challenges your assumptions—not just your habits
Notice what makes you uncomfortable while reading—and sit with it
Talk with your partner or teen about what you’re noticing in tech, mental health, and culture
Remember: protecting kids starts with seeing the systems shaping them
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.