Sometimes parenting confidence looks less like calmly knowing exactly what to do and more like sitting in a library parking lot for 15 minutes wondering why putting on two shoes has become a full negotiation.

In this episode, I’m talking about what I do when Trey is resisting and my brain is going, “Okay... now what?”

Instead of using his reaction as proof that I’m doing something wrong, I’m learning to slow myself down enough to figure out how I actually want to lead. Sometimes that means talking it through. Sometimes humor works. Sometimes I eventually reach, “Dude. We are going inside now.”

Because our kids are learning skills like transitioning, cooperating, and handling disappointment, and apparently we get our own curriculum too: patience, regulation, flexibility, and figuring out what to try when Plan A is getting us absolutely nowhere.

The impact isn’t that my child suddenly cooperates with everything I ask. I wish. 😂

It’s that I trust myself more when he doesn’t.

I can get frustrated without making the whole day a disaster. I can lead, reconnect, and let five minutes ago stay five minutes ago.

Talk soon!

Betsy

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Recently, I signed our family up for Spanish lessons because I wanted us to learn something new together.

What I didn’t expect was how much more would be taught in that room besides Spanish.

Listening. Following directions. Taking turns. Sitting with a little frustration. Practicing something you don’t know yet. Being part of a group. Trying again when you get it wrong.

And for me, there have been lessons too.

I’ve had to notice my expectations, manage my own thoughts, and decide how I want to lead when things don’t go exactly how I pictured.

In this episode, I’m sharing some of the unexpected skills our Spanish lessons are teaching our family and how coaching has helped me lead through those moments with more purpose and compassion.

Turns out, we’re learning a whole lot more than Spanish.

With Love, Betsy

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In this episode, I’m sharing why this question has shaped so much of how I parent.

With my son turning seven, I’ve been thinking about the memories we’ve made, how much he has grown, and how a scary ER visit in 2021 pushed me to become a parent by design and not by default.

I talk about repair, routines, power naps, shame, life coaching, and what I want my son to learn by watching how I handle real life.

This episode is not about perfect parenting.

It is about leading ourselves first, creating a home our children feel safe inside, and building a legacy they can carry with them.

Powerful intro to something I’m building!

Talk soon!

Betsy

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The lesson itself was light, interactive, and fun, and the friends teaching us were so patient and kind! But Trey was getting goofy and eventually got himself hurt by messing around.

And I had this moment of realizing, “I didn’t actually tell him what I expected here.”

I had assumed he would know.

But when we want our kids to build a skill, we have to give them the information they need to practice that skill.

This episode is about the power of knowing what to do next as a parent, especially when we feel the pressure of other people watching, when we start second-guessing ourselves, or when our child’s behavior catches us off guard.

I also talk about Dr. Haim Ginott’s quote:

“Treat a child as though he already is the person he is capable of becoming.”

That quote always brings me back to patience, compassion, and leadership.

And honestly, I’m human in this too. I forget things. I make mistakes. I’ve been through some stuff. I have support, coaching, mentors, books, and a lot of practice behind the way I parent and teach now.

My hope is that you can learn from my moments too, so the next time a skill gap shows up in your child, you feel a little more steady in knowing what to do next.

From one parent to another with love,

Betsy

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In this episode, I’m sharing my take on the “houseguest theory” and how it can help us teach our kids skills without turning every accident into a problem.

Whether it’s spilling a drink, learning to use a cup, brushing teeth, or practicing a new responsibility, our kids are still in the learning phase. And sometimes the way we respond says more about our expectations than their ability.

I’ll walk through two questions to ask yourself:

Who is this child, and is this fair for their age?

Why do I want them to learn this skill, and what energy am I bringing to it?

The goal is not a perfect child.

The goal is to respect the person in the learning curve, both you and your child, while still teaching the skill and setting the expectation.

Thanks for being here!

With Love, Betsy

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I walk you through my Boundary Without Battle Process: set the limit once, name the disappointment, hold without convincing, and let your child have the last word.

This episode is for the parent who wants to hold limits with more confidence, without over-explaining, proving a point, or getting pulled into the fight.

Because your child’s protest is not always a problem to solve. Sometimes it is the skill being built. You got this!

Love, Betsy

“Are you guys going to have more kids?”

My answer is simple: no, I think we’re One & Done.

But I’ve been thinking about why that answer can feel loaded, especially for moms. I talk about liking the life we have, trusting my reasons, and not parenting like I’m making up for something.

I also share why I got curious about only-child research and how I’m learning to trust that kids can build connection, confidence, waiting, contribution, and community inside the family life they already have.

Love, Betsy

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It’s the end of the school year, and praise is everywhere.

In this episode, I’m talking about Chapter 5 of How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk and the idea of descriptive praise.

Instead of only saying “good job,” we can help kids notice what they did well, what they worked through, and what they’re capable of.

We’ll talk about praise, self-esteem, Trey’s letter E, the power of “yet,” and how to help kids hear what is right about them.

Let’s dive into it!

Betsy

Not the parent looking for a quick trick to make their kid behave. Not the parent who wants to blame everything on the child. I’m talking to the parent who wants to understand what’s happening underneath the behavior, in the child and in themselves.

We’re talking about why parenting results don’t come from controlling our kids, they come from learning how to lead ourselves. We’ll look at how our thoughts, feelings, expectations, and old patterns shape the way we respond in hard moments, and why this work is not about perfect parenting. It’s about becoming the kind of parent your child can grow from.

With Love, Betsy

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In this episode, we’re breaking down how “just a heads up” can slowly turn into pressure—and why that often leads to more resistance, not better choices.

Using a simple real-life moment (choosing a walk vs. screen time), we’ll look at:

• Why repeating warnings can create stress and indecision for kids

• How over-explaining can turn good experiences into something “heavy”

• The difference between a helpful heads-up and subtle pressure

• What a natural consequence actually looks like in real life

• How to say it once… and trust your child to learn from the outcome

This is a small shift that makes a big difference.

Less explaining.
More trusting.
And a lot less power struggle.

Lots of love,

Betsy

The Potential Within Parent Membership

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