Gentle Catholic Parenting Podcast

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Kathryn Rombs about the vocation of motherhood, the ambivalence some women feel about motherhood, and how motherhood can be a path to great fulfillment.

In this podcast episode, I share three ways parents can encourage and support strong siblings bonds between their kids. Sibling relationships can be a source of great blessing and a sign of holy unity!

Sibling conflict is probably inevitable, but it doesn't have to be destructive. In fact, our kids can learn conflict management skills that help them protect their own dignity and their relationships. Important questions I address: What is a parent's role in their kids' conflict, and how can our faith help our kids see their siblings and their conflicts more clearly?

Substitute or transferred attachment happen when kids look to peers or even objects to meet their emotional needs. Why is this a problem, and do you really need to worry about it?

All kids are fearful sometimes, but how do we tell when normal childhood fears cross over into something that should concern us? In this show, Kim breaks down common childhood fears by age group, then she explains the signs of maladaptive anxiety.

How can you raise emotionally healthy children when you didn't have an ideal childhood? What if that childhood was filled with abuse or neglect? In today's podcast episode, I'm joined by author Erin McCole Cupp as we explore these important questions.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, this is a good time to review the art of making conversation at the dinner table. Real conversation involves not only talking but listening attentively to the other person, something many adults seem to have forgotten how to do! Here I’ll focus on parents making conversation with children or teenagers, but these tips apply equally to conversations with just about anybody.

Parents get plenty of advice about how they should handle sleep issues with babies and toddlers, but what should we do when our school-age children (and even teenagers) can’t seem to settle down at night? In this show, I clarify the possible problems and provide a few ideas for helping older kids let go of the day so they can go to sleep.

In this podcast, I explain why structure is one of the most effective discipline tools for any parent to keep in their parenting toolbox. When you have a strong structure in your home that includes many routines, rituals, and a familiar rhythm that your child can depend on, your child is less likely to resist you when you need him to do something. Routines also allow you to mentor your child in what maturity looks like even before he arrives at maturity.

We're continuing our routines and routines series by focusing on PLAY today! Play is the engine of emotional, social, and spiritual growth in our kids. We can use routines and rituals to ensure we set aside time for play in our homes. In this podcast: What is play? Why do kids need play? Tips for playing with your kids and tips for creating invitations for your child’s solitary play.

Practicing regular routines and rituals at bedtime is one of the best things we can do to reduce bedtime battles with our kids. In this podcast: Why kids do better with regular bedtime routines, tips for different types of bedtime rituals, and an introduction to bridging separation at bedtime.

In this first installment of my family rituals podcast series, I'm talking about dusting off the family table! The family dinner is a wonderful everyday ritual for anchoring our day. It provides a natural opportunity for fostering conversation and connection after being apart during the day.

Philosophers and theologians tell us that worldy pleasures and honor can't make us happy for very long; the secret to enduring happiness is self-transcendence. What does this mean, for parents in particular?

It's true: pleasure and success won't make you happy; at least not for very long. Many people spend most of their time pursuing pleasure and success, but, In this show, I explain why they occupy the lowest rungs on the ladder of authentic happiness.

We're called to be grateful in all circumstances, not just in the good times. But, man, is it hard when life throws us a curve ball. In this episode we take a look at how we can recognize the graces God is sending our way even amidst the chaos, inconveniences and frustrations of family life.

We know that grateful parents are happier parents, but it's hard in the often wild ride of parenting to notice the blessings that God is gifting to us! In this episode, I share four simple ways to make gratitude a habit that sharpens your awareness and attunement to your blessings.

Cultivating gratitude benefits parents in many ways, including better physical and emotional health. Most important of all, gratitude is the gateway to a holiness.

When life doesn't go our way, it's okay to feel badly initially, but as Catholic Christians we don't want to become stuck in self-pity. How can we break the self-pity habit?

Why are some kids bossy and demanding? Or bullies? Or why do some kids try to tell us how to take care of them? These kids may have an alpha complex.

Big kids (and teens . . . and grown-ups) have tantrums just like toddlers! Big kids are beginning to develop emotional control, so what causes their tantrums and how can we respond to them in a developmentally safe way?

This podcast is a follow-up to my last episode, which was about helicopter parenting and why it might be harmful to kids. In this show I consider a new book that argues that helicopter parents are rational in the choices they make. Did I get it wrong in the last show?

In this podcast episode, Kim explores helicopter parenting and how we can be an engaged, loving parent without becoming a helicopter parent.

How attachment gives parents the power to lead, protect, and guide their children. Parents possess a natural authority to lead their child, provided the child sees the parent as his best bet for getting his needs met.

Going to Confession can be intimidating for children. In this podcast, I offer some commonsense lifestyle tips that can help our kids grow naturally more comfortable approaching Confession.

In this podcast episode, Kim Cameron-Smith explains the 6 phases of secure attachment , how they impact human flourishing, and how we can nourish them in our children.

Happily married couples have conflict, but they know to how to manage their conflicts in a way that actually strengthens their marriage. They also avoid John Gottman's 4 deadly horsemen: the 4 most destructive communication habits that destroy trust and love.

Insights about why some kids are bullied more than others, and how we can best protect our children from bullying.

Should we really teach our kids to respect everyone? I mean, EVERYONE? What about people who are morally bad or just obnoxious? In this podcast episode, I share Fr. Mike Schmitz's perspective on respect, and what sort of respect Catholics owe to different people.

In my last episode I covered the causes of tantrums. In this episode, I cover effective and developmentally safe ways to respond to tantrums.

Why do toddlers and preschoolers have tantrums? When we understand a problem, we're better able to find a solution to the problem. So in this podcast episode, I explain common triggers for toddler and preschool tantrums, and which triggers are avoidable. I also explains why you can't avoid all tantrums, and why you don't even want to avoid all of them.

In this episode, I offer practical tips for getting kids to cooperate. It's possible to engage your child's cooperation without ordering or threatening!

What are the benefits of requiring kids to do chores? How do we encourage our kids to follow through on their chores?

Welcome to the Gentle Catholic Parenting Podcast! This is my introductory episode. What I'll cover: *Why I started this podcast. *A little about me and what you can expect when you listen. *What is gentle Catholic parenting anyway? Why should you care?