The Whole Parent Podcast

In this conversation with Dr. Ross Greene, we unpack why so many kids struggle with frustration, big emotions, and power struggles… and why the usual parenting advice often makes things worse.
If you’ve ever wondered why your child explodes over small things, refuses to cooperate, or seems overwhelmed by everyday expectations, this episode will completely shift how you see challenging behavior. We talk about toddler tantrums, emotional regulation, frustration tolerance, ADHD, anxiety, school stress, collaborative problem solving, and why kids do well if they can—not when we punish them hard enough. This is a practical, research-backed conversation for exhausted parents who want fewer meltdowns, less yelling, and a calmer way to parent through hard moments.
What You’ll Learn:
Why emotional regulation is not the first skill kids need
What toddler meltdowns and explosive behavior are actually communicating
How to reduce power struggles without becoming permissive
Why punishment and consequences often fail with “challenging” kids
A simple mindset shift that helps parents stay calmer during difficult behavior
This conversation is grounded in developmental psychology, neuroscience, and decades of real clinical experience working with kids who struggle with frustration, flexibility, and emotional overwhelm. The goal isn’t to control behavior—it’s to understand what’s beneath it so parents can respond more effectively and raise emotionally healthy, resilient kids.
If you’re tired of second-guessing yourself every time your child melts down, refuses to listen, or spirals emotionally, this channel is here to help parenting feel clearer, calmer, and more doable in real life.

Check out Dr. Ross Greene's Book: The Kids Who Aren't OK
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Support the show
If parenting has felt hard lately… you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Inside The Parent Lab, I’ll help you understand what’s actually going on underneath your child’s behavior — and give you simple, in-the-moment tools that actually work in real life.
You’ll get access to my full course library, live coaching calls with me, practical workshops, and our 21-Day Sibling Challenge designed to help reduce the fighting and build better relationships between your kids.
If you want support, tools, and a clear plan instead of just guessing your way through parenting… come join us inside The Parent Lab.
CLICK HERE to Try the Parent Lab Today

Other Links to help you and me:
Get Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting 
Preorder Jon’s Children’s Book Set My Feelings Free
Follow Whole Parent on Instagram, 
Tiktok, 
Facebook,...

In this conversation with Dr. Peter Gray, we unpack what may actually be driving the mental health crisis in kids—and why so many parents still feel overwhelmed trying to help.
If you’ve ever wondered whether technology is really the problem, why your child seems more stressed than you remember being as a kid, or how modern parenting and schooling may be affecting emotional regulation, independence, and resilience… this episode will challenge a lot of assumptions in the best way. We talk about toddler and preschool behavior, autonomy, anxiety, school stress, emotional health, and what kids actually need to thrive.
What You’ll Learn:

• Why many researchers don’t believe screens are the main cause of rising anxiety in kids

• The hidden ways stress, pressure, and over-structured childhoods affect behavior

• Why autonomy, free play, and independence matter for emotional regulation

• What overwhelmed parents can do to reduce power struggles and raise more resilient kids

• How to think critically about parenting trends without fear or guilt
This channel is built around practical, evidence-based parenting that helps you understand what’s happening underneath your child’s behavior—not just react to it in the moment. Every episode is designed to help you stay calmer, feel more confident, and make parenting feel a little less overwhelming.
If you’re tired of second-guessing yourself during tantrums, meltdowns, bedtime battles, or emotional outbursts, subscribe and follow along. The goal here isn’t perfect parenting—it’s helping you understand your child well enough that hard moments start feeling easier to navigate.

📚 Check out Peter Gray's book “Restoring Childhood”: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/784213/restoring-childhood-by-peter-gray/
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
If parenting has felt hard lately… you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Inside The Parent Lab, I’ll help you understand what’s actually going on underneath your child’s behavior — and give you simple, in-the-moment tools that actually work in real life.
You’ll get access to my full course library, live coaching calls with me, practical workshops, and our 21-Day Sibling Challenge designed to help reduce the fighting and build better relationships between your kids.
If you want support, tools, and a clear plan instead of just guessing your way through parenting… come join us inside The Parent Lab.
CLICK HERE to Try the Parent Lab Today

Other Links to help you and me:
Get Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting 
Preorder Jon’s Children’s Book Set My Feelings Free
Follow Whole Parent on Instagram, 
Tiktok, 
Facebook,...

A viral clip says that telling your older child to “help your sister” damages both kids. I get why that message spreads fast, especially if you grew up as the oldest and felt like too much landed on your shoulders. But developmental psychology is more nuanced than a scroll-stopping soundbite, and mixing up parentification with age-appropriate help can leave parents stuck and anxious about every request they make.

I break down what the research actually supports: yes, it can be unhealthy when an older child feels like the parent, carries ongoing responsibility, or becomes the default caregiver. That’s real, and it matters. But it’s also true that families thrive on cooperation, and small, bounded responsibilities can build autonomy, confidence, and trust. We talk about the difference between equality and equity, why “everyone gets the same” often fails in real homes with real ages and stages, and how to give kids what they need without trying to force a perfectly balanced scoreboard.

You’ll hear practical ways to frame sibling teamwork, assign roles that fit each child’s capacity, and avoid resentment by keeping parents in charge while still letting kids contribute. If you want less sibling conflict and more cooperation, this conversation gives you a clear line between healthy helping and too much.
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
If parenting has felt hard lately… you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Inside The Parent Lab, I’ll help you understand what’s actually going on underneath your child’s behavior — and give you simple, in-the-moment tools that actually work in real life.
You’ll get access to my full course library, live coaching calls with me, practical workshops, and our 21-Day Sibling Challenge designed to help reduce the fighting and build better relationships between your kids.
If you want support, tools, and a clear plan instead of just guessing your way through parenting… come join us inside The Parent Lab.
CLICK HERE to Try the Parent Lab Today

Other Links to help you and me:
Get Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting 
Preorder Jon’s Children’s Book Set My Feelings Free
Follow Whole Parent on Instagram, 
Tiktok, 
Facebook,...

Toddler parenting feels hardest when your child won’t listen, melts down over everything, or you’re running on empty trying to stay calm through the chaos. In this Mother’s Day conversation with Emily Vondy, we talk honestly about what parenting little kids actually feels like—and why so many overwhelmed parents feel both exhausted and deeply grateful at the same time.
From toddler tantrums and emotional overwhelm to screen time, mom guilt, nap traps, and the hilarious reality of raising little kids, this episode is full of relatable moments and grounded parenting wisdom. If you’ve ever hidden snacks from your kids, questioned every parenting decision at 2 a.m., or wondered if you’re “doing enough,” this conversation will make you feel a little less alone—and a little more confident in the season you’re in.
What You’ll Learn:
• Why connection matters more than perfect parenting
• How to stay grounded when parenting feels nonstop and overstimulating
• The hidden pressure modern parents feel from social media and comparison
• Why “enjoying your kids” can feel harder than it sounds—and how to reconnect
• Practical mindset shifts that reduce guilt, power struggles, and overwhelm
This channel is built around evidence-based parenting, emotional regulation, child development, and the real-life challenges of raising toddlers and preschoolers. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s helping parents understand behavior, stay calmer during hard moments, and build stronger relationships with their kids in ways that actually work in everyday life.
If parenting has been feeling loud, exhausting, or like you’re constantly second-guessing yourself, subscribe here so you have practical, research-backed support that helps daily life feel lighter, calmer, and more manageable—especially in the moments nobody prepares you for.

Check out Emily Vondy's Book: Nap Trapped!
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
If parenting has felt hard lately… you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Inside The Parent Lab, I’ll help you understand what’s actually going on underneath your child’s behavior — and give you simple, in-the-moment tools that actually work in real life.
You’ll get access to my full course library, live coaching calls with me, practical workshops, and our 21-Day Sibling Challenge designed to help reduce the fighting and build better relationships between your kids.
If you want support, tools, and a clear plan instead of just guessing your way through parenting… come join us inside The Parent Lab.
CLICK HERE to Try the Parent Lab Today

Other Links to help you and me:
Get Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting 
Preorder Jon’s Children’s Book Set My Feelings Free
Follow Whole Parent on Instagram, 
Tiktok, 
Facebook,...

If your toddler refuses to listen, has big meltdowns after screens, or seems obsessed with “just one more,” this video will help you understand what’s really going on beneath the behavior. We break down how dopamine drives your child’s need for more—not because they love it, but because their brain is being pulled into a loop. You’ll learn how this affects emotional regulation, why transitions feel so explosive, and what to do instead of constant limiting, negotiating, or power struggles.
What You’ll Learn:
 Why your child’s brain treats screens and snacks like a “need,” not just a want 
 What’s actually happening during tantrums when you turn something off 
 The difference between real enjoyment vs. dopamine-driven “wanting” 
 Why limiting alone often backfires—and what works better 
 Simple, realistic ways to reduce meltdowns and shift habits quickly 
This approach is grounded in modern neuroscience and behavioral psychology—but translated into real-life parenting. The goal isn’t perfection or eliminating screens entirely. It’s helping you stay calm, reduce daily friction, and guide your child toward things that actually leave them feeling good (not just wanting more).
If you’re tired of second-guessing your decisions or dreading the next meltdown, this channel is here to make those hard moments feel more manageable—and a lot less confusing.

Michaeleen Doucleff's book: Dopamine Kids

Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
If parenting has felt hard lately… you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Inside The Parent Lab, I’ll help you understand what’s actually going on underneath your child’s behavior — and give you simple, in-the-moment tools that actually work in real life.
You’ll get access to my full course library, live coaching calls with me, practical workshops, and our 21-Day Sibling Challenge designed to help reduce the fighting and build better relationships between your kids.
If you want support, tools, and a clear plan instead of just guessing your way through parenting… come join us inside The Parent Lab.
CLICK HERE to Try the Parent Lab Today

Other Links to help you and me:
Get Jon’s Book Punishment-Free Parenting 
Preorder Jon’s Children’s Book Set My Feelings Free
Follow Whole Parent on Instagram, 
Tiktok, 
Facebook,...