Good Enough Parenting

How did you pick your kid's name? It's my favorite question to ask families as soon as I meet them. It tells me about:Partnership Dynamics “Oh we got in a big fight over that one! But my wife had the final say like she always does…”Family History “My grandmother had died a few weeks before she was born so we named her after her”And MOST importantly it tells me The vision they had for their kid even before they were born“I wanted a strong, masculine son so I went with Alexander… like The Great”So much wrapped up in a few short syllables. Names are like labels – they can give us feelings of comfort and safety but can also be limiting and confining.And labels don't allow for the full spectrum of our beingness.On this month's “Good Enough Parenting” episode, I share where my name came from and explore why we are so drawn to labeling our kids with diagnoses that may or may not suit them. In this episode:How diagnoses like ADHD and anxiety are more of a continuum than a binary

ENCORE EPISODE! The summer season is officially upon us! Which means it's time to wrestle your toddler to the ground so you can apply some ghost-whitening sunblock while your six year old screams “I hear the ice cream truck! Can we get one?” at 10am. Are you already counting the days until Labor Day? Fear not! There are ways we can find more sweetness and less stress this summer with our families. On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast, I'll share with you my favorite tips for not just surviving but actually enjoying this season of seemingly endless time together.  And the good news is …. It involves a lot of BENIGN NEGLECT(my #1 parenting motto!) We don't need to be the end all be all for our kids this summer. Let them make their own snacks. Let them be bored. Let them skip the summer worksheets for more sprinkler time. Everyone benefits when we give our kids some space. So sometimes they'll have a chipwhich for breakfast this summer. You'll make them a veggie filled smoothie in September. And that's good enough.To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

You know that moment when your kid comes home from a full day of school and sports—covered in mystery smudges and smelling like a locker room—and then acts personally offended when you suggest a shower? Yeah, me too. If your kid melts like the Wicked Witch the moment they hear the water running, you're not alone.This week on Good Enough Parenting, I'm joined by Sabrina Yavil, mom of 3 boys, former beauty executive and founder of Gryme, a personal care brand created just for kids. We talk about why bath time can feel like such a battle, how our kids are actually wired for self-care independence (even when they're filthy), and how simplifying your routine with the right products can save your sanity—and your relationship.The goal? Helping our kids build self-sufficient habits using clean products that actually make bath time easier—for them and for us.✨ Bonus: Sabrina shares what she learned from 20 years in the beauty industry—and why so many kids' products are secretly full of junk.If you've ever bribed your kid to use soap, threatened to cancel dessert over conditioner, or wondered if your kids are actually allergic to water. … this episode is for you.And remember, if bathtime battles get overwhelming this summer, sometimes a dip in a pool or a run through the sprinkler is good enough. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

In honor of Mother's Day, we are revisiting one of our most popular episodes "How to Have a Happy Mother's Day" because who couldn't use a littler reminder that the day is actually supposed to feel good for YOU ❤️A few years ago, I got a call around 3:00 on Mother's Day. A dear friend asked me if I would be able to meet her for a drink before dinner. Hell yes. We had both had less than ideal days that were meant to celebrate us but instead were filled with cranky kids and unmet expectations. We needed to commiserate.And at the risk of sounding like a terrible mother I'm going to be honest – our cocktail hour was the best part of my day. We laughed, we cried and we went back to our families restored and reconnected.It reminded me of what my dear friend and mentor Carrie Contey has always said about Mother's Day – ask for what you want.For some women, spending Mother's day with their children or their own mother or mother-in-law is perfect. For others, not so much. It can be a vulnerable day, especially if you have lost your mother, have a tricky relationship with her, or if motherhood is not living up to your expectations at the moment.So now is the time to ask for what you want from this day. Does being with your children and having them make you breakfast in bed sound ideal? Do it. Do you want to binge Netflix shows you never get to watch because you're asleep in your kid's bed at 8pm? See if your partner (or babysitter) can bring your kids to Kung Fu Panda 4 while you order a pizza with your favorite toppings. Do you want to journal and cry about missing your mom? Just as valid.I want a mix – a little time with my family and a little time to myself. So you'll probably find me eating home made pancakes in the morning followed by a matinee viewing of a movie SOLO and maybe even a cocktail with a friend afterward. And I'm going to ask for this now – so my partner knows what is going to fill my cup on a day meant to celebrate me. No surprises, no disappointments.What do you want your Mother's Day to look like? Despite what Hallmark tells us, there's no wrong way to do it. As long as you do it your way, that's good enough. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

I try not to stay too tuned into the daily news cycle (because going into an anxiety spiral every time my phone dings with a news alert is not my favorite way to spend the day) but it's hard to ignore just how bananas things feel right now. This is especially true in our economy -  inflation, tariffs, layoffs, budget cuts—it's enough to make any adult anxious. But guess what? Our kids feel it too. If we're feeling unsettled as adults, imagine how it feels for our kids, who only catch snippets of grown-up conversations and headlines they don't understand.So in this month's episode of “Good Enough Parenting” I wanted to take a deep dive into how to talk to your kids about money in a way that builds emotional resilience, teaches lifelong financial literacy, and helps them feel safe—especially in unpredictable times.I'll walk you through:

The number one question I get from parents is... How do I get my kid to just… DO the things I need them to do ??And if you've been with me for a long time, you know my usual answer: Don't start a sticker chart! It's a short term solution that usually leads to more stress than success. BUT (get ready for it)… today I'm going to tell you that when done right sometimes sticker charts can workYep. Messy Mixed Messages.On this month's Good Enough Parenting episode I'm sharing  the key ingredients for sticker chart success:✅ Your relationship is the real motivator. Kids don't listen to charts—they listen to people they feel seen and valued by.✅ The goal has to be clear. No vague “be good” nonsense. Try “Put Your Shoes on When Asked”✅ Short time frames = success. No “be kind all week.” More like “use gentle hands in the car on the way to school”✅ Earn, don't punish. Losing stickers for every slip-up just makes kids quit. Focus on building success.✅ Motivators matter. Yes, some experts say “no sweets or screens” as rewards but I once bribed my kid with cans of soda to get them hooked on reading. No regrets. Most importantly—reward charts are a jumpstart, not a forever plan. The goal isn't stickers, it's habits. If it's working, great. If it's stressing everyone out? Ditch it.Because at the end of the day, connecting with your kid is the best way to get cooperative behavior—not some piece of paper covered in Paw Patrol stickers.And even if your junk drawer is basically a graveyard for half-finished “stay in bed” and “clear your plate” charts, don't worry. That's still good enough. With love,Carley

February is rough. The winter blues are real, the kids are bouncing off the walls, and if your family has managed to dodge the flu, norovirus, and pink eye this season—tell me your secret!This past weekend, my husband and I got a much-needed break while the grandparents took over. And while I love that my kids get this time with them, it also meant one thing: a weekend filled with sugar and screens.So today, we're diving into the ever-evolving world of screens. What's too much? What actually matters more than time limits? And how do we, as parents, set tech boundaries that actually work?In this episode, I share:

Happy New Year! We made it to 2025. And if the first few weeks are any indication, it looks like we might be in for a bit of a bumpy ride.Which is why I open this month's “Good Enough Parenting” episode with the reminder that tapping into things that bring us joy is not a luxury as parents – it's a necessity for your family's well-being. Whether it's catching a movie, meeting up with a friend or simply savoring a quiet coffee, prioritizing things that fill your cup isn't selfish; it's essential.To start my year, I indulged in a favorite tradition: seeing a Broadway show solo. This time, it was Our Town—front row and close enough to get spit on by Jim Parsons (yes, it was worth it).Watching those turn-of-the-century moms yell for their kids to come to breakfast reminded me of something important:Some parenting struggles are timeless (like kids not listening the first, second, or third time).And parents losing their cool? Yeah, that hasn't changed in 125 years either.In this month's episode, we're diving into: ✨ How to stop “shoulding” all over yourself and your kids. 

This month, we're diving into the sacredness of multi-generational family time. After returning from a vacation with 20 relatives—ranging from babies to grandparents—I'm reflecting on why these connections matter so much for our kids and for us as parents.We'll talk about how spending time with multiple generations helps kids develop empathy, responsibility, and self-worth (yes, even when they complain). Plus, I share why parenting wasn't meant to be a solo act and how leaning on a larger community—whether it's relatives or chosen family—can help us stay calm and grounded.Whether you're heading into a big ol' family gathering this holiday season or leaning on a community you've recently built, know this: those multi-generational connections aren't just a “nice-to-have.” They're a lifeline for our sanity and our kids' growth.So before you spend your year-end bonus on enough wine to block out the unsolicited parenting advice from Aunt Sally, take a deep breath and remind yourself to embrace the messiness and magic of extended family. Your village may not be perfect, but they're good enough.To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

In this episode, we're taking a classic fire safety rule—Stop, Drop, and Roll—and turning it into your new secret weapon for navigating those fiery parenting moments. Remember how often the fire department visited your elementary school to drill this into our heads? Turns out, that advice is just as helpful for when your kid is melting down over the color of their cup as it is for actual flames.I share a recent moment where I found myself at the edge of a parenting meltdown (yes, even therapists have those!) and how Stop, Drop, and Roll helped me regain control—well, at least of myself, if not the chaos.

Fear Isn't the Enemy

Oh dreaded transitions. Anytime we're asking our kids to move from one activity to another (“stop playing and come to dinner” or “head upstairs to brush your teeth”) a whole host of things need to happen in their brain and body to turn their boat in a new direction. Transition struggles are the biggest complaint I hear from families I support. It is incredibly frustrating when you have to yell “Get your shoes on!!” 600 times before your kid hops to it. But there are some ways to make transitions easier (or at least slightly less painful). On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast, I share tips and tricks for getting your kid moving BEFORE you start throwing things at them. The key is to honor the transition itself, not just focus on the before/after activities. I also share how to honor the bigger life transitions – like moving or heading to a new school – to help ease the passage from one phase to the next.  Might be advice we all could use when we're stuck in a youtube rabbit hole even though  we should be heading to bed. Turns out transitions aren't just tricky for kids.... To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

Have you ever had to peel your 4 year old off your leg at daycare drop off? Or tried to convince your 7 year old that they'll have fun at school when they're begging you to stay home because the idea of leaving you makes them want to puke? Separation anxiety is tough. And unfortunately many of the strategies that parents try, like being logical (“You love your teacher – you're going to have a great day!”) or bribing (“If you don't cry on the way to school you'll get a cupcake!”) actually make things worse. On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast, I explain why separation anxiety develops (thanks ancestors!), how to help your child understand what they're feeling, and what to do when the dreaded moment of separation occurs. Sneak peak: Be clear. Be calm. Be consistent. Anxiety doesn't stand a chance when a parent speaks clearly about expectations, maintains their own calm, and holds consistent boundaries. Tune in to hear my top tools for taming this common childhood struggle so that you can become the steady guide your anxious kid needs rather than getting stuck in their storm of stress. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

Your kid doesn't need to sit cross legged, chanting OM while praying for world peace in order to get introduced to the benefits and power of quieting the constant chatter in our brains and connecting to something bigger than ourselves. On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast, I share the SIMPLE and EASY loving kindness meditation practice I use in my house to calm bodies & minds, reduce stress, and foster empathy and compassion for ourselves and our communities. No mala beads or sanskirt words required. You may not reach nirvana with your nine year old, but you'll feel more peace, connection and compassion with your kids which is definitely good enough. (If your kids are all in for a meditation practice, I LOVE the apps CALM, COSMIC KIDS YOGA, HEADSPACE and MOSHI KIDS!)To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

If only there was a way we could connect with our kids, foster their social/emotional skills, develop their executive functioning while also having fun as a family. Oh wait! The answer has been hiding inside our cluttered closet the whole time…. Games! Structured games are an incredible way to help kids learn to manage their emotions (who hasn't wanted to punch the candy land board when you get pulled back to gingerbread land mere steps away from the candy castle!), practice calming themselves when anxious (thanks Perfection!) and understand the importance of being a good sport if we want to have people to play with. Plus games help families connect on a multi-generational level (watching my 75 year old mom play Headbanz with my 9 year old daughter gives me hours of heart swelling entertainment). AND they give kids much needed tactile ways of connecting in person rather than being sucked into screens. On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast, I not only share my favorite games for increasing our kids emotional IQ, but also invite Gian Paolo Aroldi (a teacher, brilliant game designer, and oh yeah, my husband) to talk about how to help kids learn to design and develop THEIR OWN games – which has endless benefits in terms of boosting creativity, imagination, logical thinking, and artistic ability.  So dust off that old Monopoly Board and get your game face on. You'll be amazed at how an hour of game play can fill up the whole family. Even if your kid destroys you, you'll have had a good time playing. And that's more than good enough.To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

Have you heard of the new book “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” by Jonathan Haidt?  From PBS to TikTok – everyone's talking about it.  And when something strikes a chord this deeply across our culture, it means something big is resonating. And here's the headline – our young adults are showing more signs of anxiety and depression than ever before. And Haidt draws a very convincing connection between how modern parents have overprotected our children in the real world and underprotected them online. BIG food for thought. Many of the solutions to help “rewire” the next generations will take collective action.  But there is also A LOT we can do as parents to change course as well.  On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast, I share how one way we can reduce anxiety in our kids is to foster their AUTONOMY. Which means teaching them how to open their own cans. Kids who feel a sense of self-efficacy (the belief that I can achieve a certain outcome) are less anxious (anxiety comes from feeling out of control). And self-efficacy comes from experiencing autonomy. Whether it's picking out their own clothes, ordering for themselves at restaurants or making their own mac & cheese – when we loosen the reins and expect our kids to step up, everybody wins. Kids feel more in control and confident and parents get to do less and enjoy more. And that's a good enough start to creating a less anxious generation. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

If every problem in your kid's life feels like a level 10 catastrophe, this episode is for you. Tune in to learn a game-changing parenting tool called "Pebble, Rock, Boulder."  In essence, you share with your child that some problems are pebbles (a pencil breaking, running out of milk), some are rocks (having a hard time with math, fighting with friends) and some are boulders (natural disasters significant illnesses). When we are overtired, hungry, or cranky (or 4 years old) pebbles can feel like boulders. The goal (for kids and grown ups!) is to pause, figure out the size of the problem and then give it the reaction it warrants.Having this strategy in your parenting toolbox can feel like magic – it makes a very abstract concept concrete, which is what a young brain needs. Instead of yelling in frustration “Don't get so upset!” we can ask “What size is this problem?”) Often kids are able to right-size their response on their own, with a little guidance, empathy and support from us. And even if they still boulder size a pebble problem, you're still planting the seeds of reflection and problem solving, and that's good enough. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

If you've got a kid who would rather eat boogers than broccoli, this episode is for you. Today I share a conversation with Caitlin Kiare, registered dietician nutritionist and founder of "Mom 'N Tot" Nutrition. We talk about how all foods fit, what parents do to actually fuel unhealthy eating habits and how to shift your meal time energy so your kid will be open to trying new things. If you want to work with Caitlin, you can find her athttps://momntotnutrition.com/To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

There are some things the 80s got wrong (Halloween candy wasn't dangerous and turns out greed is not so good) but there are many things 80s parents got right. Today, I share four parenting trends we should bring back from the decade of slinkys and should pads to give kids and parents more freedom to make mistakes and missteps - in fashion and in family life.To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

The number one question families ask - how do we set limits with our kids without screaming, yelling and threatening! In this episode, I share how to set boundaries in your home with calm, clarity, consistency and compassion and explain why limit setting is so crucial in fostering feelings of safety and security with your kids. Because even if they claim otherwise, your kid does not want to be the boss of the house!To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

Play is a child's first language. It's how they communicate what they're feeling, thinking and where they're struggling. If we can access the playful side of ourselves and speak to our children in a language they understand in their bodies and brains, parenting gets so much easier (and fun!) Today I share a story of how I handled my child's fears by harnessing the power of play. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

It's the end of June, my kids are out of school and the lazy days of summer are laid out before us. I used to pack our summers with outings and activities because it was hard being home all together. But as my kids have gotten older and more independent and I've learned the value of doing less as a parent, I now look forward to quiet days where the biggest question on our mind is what's for lunch. So in summer I pause. I move slow. I play. I appreciate. I enJOY.  Which is why after this week's episode of the “Good Enough Parenting” podcast I'll be on summer break. I have LOVED sharing my thoughts, guidance and parenting mistakes with you this past year. I'm honored that you've read my words, listened to my voice and told me how the ideas I've imparted have resonated with you and sometimes inspired change.But I practice what I preach. Slowing things down, pausing, and taking care o myself. I might pop in with a message here or there to tell you any insights I'm gathering, but for the most part I'll be savoring summer. I'm ending season 1 with a personal story of how my own journey led me to become a good enough parent. And how what my family went through planted the seeds of the podcast. It's a bit vulnerable and scary to share my story so candidly. But I know the good enough parents out there will take it in with open minds and open hearts. Which is exactly what our kids need from us. Grace, compassion, love, wonder, curiosity and patience. If we could all show these gifts to our children and ourselves, that would be good enough. Have the sweetest summer. See you in September!To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

Our culture has a bit of an obsession with “having.” We're always looking for the next new thing (app, supplement, couch cover!) we can “have” that might make a change for us. There is a fun assessment I play with kids in my practice. I tell them they have a key to a magic room and when they open the door they will find something that makes them happier than they could imagine – but the trick is you can't buy it with money. Then I ask them to draw it on a special piece of paper. It's amazing what they create. A brother who doesn't come in my room. A teacher who doesn't yell. More time to play in the backyard. And I can't tell you how many pictures I get of families playing and laughing together. And when I ask kids if they want to keep what they have created or trade it for something material, they almost always say keep (occasionally someone wants to trade for a dog… but I get it. Dogs are awesome).We think when we have some “thing” (the bigger house, the extra vacation time, perfect meal planning system) the peaceful home will come. But it's actually the opposite. We have to be the person who creates a peaceful home first. There is no magical gift coming our way to transform our family life. It starts with us. On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast, I explore who we need to “be” and what we need to “do” in order to have what we want. Want a kid that has fewer meltdowns? You may need to “be” someone who values your child's downtime and sleep and therefore says no to late night sports/school events. Want a partner who is truly supportive? You may need to “be” someone who advocates for themselves and asks your partner to get up with the kids so you can sleep in this weekend. Want a child who knows how to handle their big feelings? You may need to “be” a parent that knows how to regulate their own first. Like it or not, it's an inside job. As Glinda the Good Witch reminds us, “You've always had the power my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself.” Today, consider who you need to become to have the family life you want. Even if all you do is begin to imagine her, that's a good enough start. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

You know those fun timelines of your child's development that you get at the pediatrician's office or see in books like “What to Expect in the First Year?”They paint such a succinct, rosy picture of what your baby will be doing at 6 months (eating solids!), 12 months (first steps!), 2 years (welcome to the world of tantrums!) They're not a bad way of preparing for the years ahead, but unfortunately they give the impression that growth is this straightforward process where you move from a-z with no bumps in between. What a lie. The truth is –GROWTH ISN'T LINEARThis is true for developmental milestones (ask any family currently experiencing a sleep regression) and it's true for social/emotional development. Big leaps in growth typically come after big regressions. So if your kid is all of a sudden having a lot of tantrums, it might mean there is a breakthrough in coping skills on the horizon. And growth in one domain often has a big impact on other domains. So if your six year old is learning to read, they might have a harder time dealing with small frustrations (like their little sister taking their toy) because their tolerance for stress is low. Our brains only have so much energy! On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast, I share a different way of viewing growth – both our kids' and our own.Instead of seeing it as a straightforward timeline with a clear path, let's imagine a spiral. Every time we swing around the center, we get a little closer to where we're headed and who we want to be – resilient, empathic, evolved humans. Sometimes we take two steps forward and one step back – but we're always making progress. And that's good enough. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

My favorite movies and tv shows are female buddy comedies. Give me some Boys on the Side, Baby Mama, Bad Moms and especially Broad City and I'm happy for days. I just recently went to see “Babes” with my best girlfriends and almost had to leave the theater I was laughing so hard. Female friendships have always been essential for me. But once kids entered the picture, it was a lot harder to maintain these relationships. It's like your whole life gets turned upside down and shaken up and the first thing to fall away are what feel like frivolous nights out with the girls.But being together with other women, especially other moms, is anything but frivolous. Time spent together is not only regulating for our own nervous systems, but it serves our families. We learn from one another (I can't tell you how many life hacks I've picked up just by watching other moms in action), we commiserate with one another over the out of control demands on modern day moms, and we return to our families rejuvenated and restored. As I like to tell my husband, mom's night out is sacred space. On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast, I share why I value these relationships so deeply and also the 3 types of “mom friends” I hope everyone mom has in her tribe.For all the moms, no matter what stage of parenthood you're in, I hope this summer you can find some time to connect or re-connect with the women in your life who light you up. Maybe you can plan a weekend escape a la “Wine Country” with the Tina Fey to your Amy Poehler or maybe you can just squeeze in a 15 minute walk around the block. Any time together is good enough.   To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

Traveling with kids can suck. Traffic, airport delays, an endless chorus of “are we there yet” can make any parent question whether spending a small fortune on a family trip is really worth it.  But getting our families out of their at home comfort zone has endless benefits.  Not only do we see what life is like outside of our little bubbles, but we also create lasting memories and return from trips with a fresh perspective on our OWN family life.  Traveling adventures can make for an amazing catalyst for change if we're stuck in a family rut.  If you're headed out of town this summer and want some ways to make the experience less painful and more pleasurable, tune in to today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast.  I share my favorite travel tips for keeping everyone (including parents!) calm even when waiting in a 2 hour car rental line. (hint – bring snacks) My favorite part of any vacation is coming back to the hotel at the end of the night with a pizza and having a “bed picnic” as we reflect on the day. Sometimes we share our favorite sight, sometimes we share our favorite meal, and sometimes we laugh about how one of us had a meltdown in the middle of a museum because everyone was walking too slow.  Travel days are filled with ups and downs, but we're having these experiences together and that's good enough. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

The summer season is officially upon us! Which means it's time to wrestle your toddler to the ground so you can apply some ghost-whitening sunblock while your six year old screams “I hear the ice cream truck! Can we get one?” at 10am.  Are you already counting the days until Labor Day?  Fear not! There are ways we can find more sweetness and less stress this summer with our families.  On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast, I'll share with you my favorite tips for not just surviving but actually enjoying this season of seemingly endless time together.  And the good news is …. It involves a lot of  BENIGN NEGLECT (my #1 parenting motto!)  We don't need to be the end all be all for our kids this summer.  Let them make their own snacks. Let them be bored. Let them skip the summer worksheets for more sprinkler time.  Everyone benefits when we give our kids some space. So sometimes they'll have a chipwhich for breakfast this summer. You'll make them a veggie filled smoothie in September.  And that's good enough.To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

Have you heard of the new book “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” by Jonathan Haidt?  From PBS to TikTok – everyone's talking about it.  And when something strikes a chord this deeply across our culture, it means something big is resonating. And here's the headline – our young adults are showing more signs of anxiety and depression than ever before. And Haidt draws a very convincing connection between how modern parents have overprotected our children in the real world and underprotected them online.  BIG food for thought.  Many of the solutions to help “rewire” the next generations will take collective action.   But there is also A LOT we can do as parents to change course as well.  On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast, I share how one way we can reduce anxiety in our kids is to foster their AUTONOMY.  Which means teaching them how to open their own cans.  Kids who feel a sense of self-efficacy (the belief that I can achieve a certain outcome) are less anxious (anxiety comes from feeling out of control). And self-efficacy comes from experiencing autonomy.  Whether it's picking out their own clothes, ordering for themselves at restaurants or making their own mac & cheese – when we loosen the reins and expect our kids to step up, everybody wins.  Kids feel more in control and confident and parents get to do less and enjoy more. And that's a good enough start to creating a less anxious generation. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

If only there was a way we could connect with our kids, foster their social/emotional skills, develop their executive functioning while also having fun as a family.  Oh wait! The answer has been hiding inside our cluttered closet the whole time….  Games!  Structured games are an incredible way to help kids learn to manage their emotions (who hasn't wanted to punch the candy land board when you get pulled back to gingerbread land mere steps away from the candy castle!), practice calming themselves when anxious (thanks Perfection!) and understand the importance of being a good sport if we want to have people to play with.  Plus games help families connect on a multi-generational level (watching my 75 year old mom play Headbanz with my 9 year old daughter gives me hours of heart swelling entertainment).  AND they give kids much needed tactile ways of connecting in person rather than being sucked into screens.  On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast, I not only share my favorite games for increasing our kids emotional IQ, but also invite Gian Paolo Aroldi (a teacher, brilliant game designer, and oh yeah, my husband) to talk about how to help kids learn to design and develop THEIR OWN games – which has endless benefits in terms of boosting creativity, imagination, logical thinking, and artistic ability.   So dust off that old Monopoly Board and get your game face on. You'll be amazed at how an hour of game play can fill up the whole family. Even if your kid destroys you, you'll have had a good time playing. And that's more than good enough.To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

A few years ago, I got a call around 3:00 on Mother's Day. A dear friend asked me if I would be able to meet her for a drink before dinner. Hell yes. We had both had less than ideal days that were meant to celebrate us but instead were filled with cranky kids and unmet expectations. We needed to commiserate.And at the risk of sounding like a terrible mother I'm going to be honest – our cocktail hour was the best part of my day. We laughed, we cried and we went back to our families restored and reconnected.It reminded me of what my dear friend and mentor Carrie Contey has always said about Mother's Day – ask for what you want.For some women, spending Mother's day with their children or their own mother or mother-in-law is perfect. For others, not so much. It can be a vulnerable day, especially if you have lost your mother, have a tricky relationship with her, or if motherhood is not living up to your expectations at the moment.So now is the time to ask for what you want from this day. Does being with your children and having them make you breakfast in bed sound ideal? Do it. Do you want to binge Netflix shows you never get to watch because you're asleep in your kid's bed at 8pm? See if your partner (or babysitter) can bring your kids to Kung Fu Panda 4 while you order a pizza with your favorite toppings. Do you want to journal and cry about missing your mom? Just as valid.I want a mix – a little time with my family and a little time to myself. So you'll probably find me eating home made pancakes in the morning followed by a matinee viewing of a movie SOLO and maybe even a cocktail with a friend afterward. And I'm going to ask for this now – so my partner knows what is going to fill my cup on a day meant to celebrate me. No surprises, no disappointments.What do you want your Mother's Day to look like? Despite what Hallmark tells us, there's no wrong way to do it. As long as you do it your way, that's good enough. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

If your family is having a year like ours, you might be stuck in an endless cycle of SICK. And just when the illnesses are fading away…. here come the spring allergies! I'm thankful every day for medical treatments that help my family stay healthy and heal quickly – my kids are not so appreciative. Especially when they have a huge needle headed their way.  But we've found ways to make scary things a little less frightening and help give our kids a sense of control when it comes to what happens to their bodies.   It all begins with the energy you are bringing to the moment.  If you're dismissive (“it's just an eye drop – stop complaining!”) or anxious yourself (shouting “you're fine!” at them with wide eyes and trembling hands) it ain't gonna go well.  On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast, I'm sharing how you can make healing less hair-raising by *Using play *Helping your kid feel more in control *Validating their fears*Giving options *Planning Rewards Nothing feels worse than having a sick kid. Getting them better shouldn't lead to more stress. So grab a lollipop and check in with yourself. And remember, your kid isn't going to be traumatized just because you had to hold them down for a shot. Use the tips and tricks to ease the fear, but if the tears still come, as long as you can keep yourself calm, that's good enough. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

Have you read “Bittersweet” by Susan Cain? If you consider yourself (or your child) a big feeling person I can't recommend it highly enough.  As she says, if you like listening to sad music, enjoy a rainy day or feel overwhelmed by beauty sometimes, you can identify with a bittersweet state of mind.  We used to think these deeper, more complex emotions were only felt by adults.  But now we understand that children feel the full rainbow of feelings too.  And here's a big thought KIDS TRY TO MAKE US FEEL HOW THEY'RE FEELING So if your kid is making you feel angry, frustrated, annoyed, scared….  Most likely they're feeling that way too.  And it's important that we help our kids understand that ALL feelings are ok and none are good or bad.  Some might be a bit more comfortable to feel, but being a human means we have to (get to?) have them all.  And we can't have the sweet without the bitter. On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast I share ways you can increase your child's emotional literacy, model how feelings shift throughout the day (heck even sometimes the hour!), and teach them how to ride the waves of a feeling without needing to deny or distract from our emotions.  This is deep work. And here's a spoiler – if you weren't allowed to experience certain feelings when you were a kid, chances are it's really difficult for you when you kid shows that emotion now.   You don't have to channel your Dr. Feelgood 100% of the time (cue my sister playing Mötley Crüe on repeat in my formative years….) Just opening the door to feelings talk is good enough. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

When we are having big struggles with our kids, we often want to make big changes right away.  “Let's start a whole new morning routine!”“Let's ban screens!”“Let's do a ‘yes' day to reconnect as a family!” (Ever since watching that movie my daughter has been demanding her very own ‘yes' day. Curse you Jennifer Garner and your family-oriented movie magic!) But what helps the most is not when we make big proclamations and attempt big transformation.  Real change comes from little and often practices.  Feeling disconnected from your kid? Add five minutes of one on one play time each day this week rather than planning to take them away for an expensive, extravagant weekend.  Worried they're getting too screen addicted? Think about what boundaries you can hold consistently every day rather than declaring them banned from the ipads (which we know won't last….) Morning routine a mess? What is one small change (getting the kids dressed before breakfast or have them brush their teeth at the kitchen sink after eating) you can hold to for a few weeks before turning everything upside down.  On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast, I share why little and often is so effective and necessary for steering our family ship in the direction we want to go.  Hoping you can find one little and often practice you can start for your family or yourself (drink one extra glass of water!) that gets you sailing on the right course. You don't need to change everything all at once – little and often is good enough. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

Oh dreaded transitions. Anytime we're asking our kids to move from one activity to another (“stop playing and come to dinner” or “head upstairs to brush your teeth”) a whole host of things need to happen in their brain and body to turn their boat in a new direction. Transition struggles are the biggest complaint I hear from families I support. It is incredibly frustrating when you have to yell “Get your shoes on!!” 600 times before your kid hops to it. But there are some ways to make transitions easier (or at least slightly less painful). On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast, I share tips and tricks for getting your kid moving BEFORE you start throwing things at them. The key is to honor the transition itself, not just focus on the before/after activities. I also share how to honor the bigger life transitions – like moving or heading to a new school – to help ease the passage from one phase to the next.  Might be advice we all could use when we're stuck in a youtube rabbit hole even though  we should be heading to bed. Turns out transitions aren't just tricky for kids.... To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

Setting boundaries with our kids is a tricky, tricky dance. We're always trying to find the balance between overly authoritarian (i.e. setting boundaries just to show we are the ones “in control”) and overly permissive (i.e. not setting limits because we're afraid of how our kid might respond). I wish there was a formula I could share that gets it right all the time. But the truth is your boundaries are going shift depending on what you and your kid are experiencing in the moment.  And that's ok.  Family life gets messy and we need to be flexible.  But here's the number one thing to remember when you're wondering if you should set a limit with your kid: “How will I feel if I say yes?” If saying yes (yes you can have the cookie, yes you can have 10 more minutes of ipad time, yes you can play for 10 more minutes before bed) means that you will feel frustrated, annoyed or worst case scenario – resentful of your kid – then the answer is clear. Set the limit. If you can say yes joyfully and freely, then go for it. But if you're only saying yes to prevent a meltdown, remember – it's better for your kid to have a meltdown because you said no, then it is for you to have a meltdown because you said yes.  We set boundaries to protect our relationship with our kid. We set boundaries to prevent ourselves from burning out and screaming later. We set boundaries because if we say yes when we want to say no, we end up an angry and resentful parent, which is much more damaging to a kid than losing 10 minutes on the playground.  On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast, I share a story of saying yes when I should have said no, and how it led to a flipped board game and an out of control mom.  I don't always get it right but at least I'm learning when I get it wrong. And that's good enough. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

How many chore charts have you startedand abandoned in you parenting journey? “You get a sticker for cleaning up your toys!” “Here's a stamp for sweeping the kitchen!” Parents are always full of hope that these nicely structured (and sometimes beautifully decorated!) systems will turn entitled children into responsible, helpful and courteous kids.Spoiler alert: You probably have a junk drawer full of half-completed charts, half-used sheets of stickers and kids who would rather lay on the couch than empty the trash. Enter Michaeleen Doucleff's brilliant book “Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans.”If you only read one parenting book in your life, make it this one. Michaeleen introduces parents to the concept of acomedido, which she learned while staying with Mayan families in Mexico. The goal of acomedido is for children to pay attention to the world around them and learn what needs to be done on their own. If a child only pays attention to their “assigned chore” they never learn to skill of looking around, seeing who needs help or what needs doing, and taking that initiative to pitch in. If you've ever heard your kid say, “That's not my chore” when you asked them to help unload the dishwasher even though it wasn't on their chart, you get what she's saying.On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast, Carley shares ways to help your kid become a helpful household citizen, rather than just chore chart checker. Tune in to learn how to foster acomedido in your own house. Your kid's future roommates will thank you. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

Your kid doesn't need to sit cross legged, chanting OM while praying for world peace in order to get introduced to the benefits and power of quieting the constant chatter in our brains and connecting to something bigger than ourselves. On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast, Carley shares the SIMPLE and EASY loving kindness meditation practice she uses in her house to calm bodies & minds, reduce stress, and foster empathy and compassion for ourselves and our communities. No mala beads or sanskirt words required. You may not reach nirvana with your nine year old, but you'll feel more peace, connection and compassion with your kids which is definitely good enough. (If your kids are all in for a meditation practice, I LOVE the apps CALM, COSMIC KIDS YOGA, HEADSPACE and MOSHI KIDS!)To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

When was the last time you asked yourself, "What do I need right now?" My guess is it's been a while. As parents (especially moms) we are conditioned to put our kid's needs before our own.  And that makes sense - babies come into this world completely dependent on the big people around them for survival. But as our kids grow and become more self-sufficient, our brains don't often get the message and we continue to suppress our own bodies' needs in order to meet their constant demands. It is hard work to re-prioritize ourselves but it is crucial if we want to enjoy our family life. On today's episode, Carley shares a personal story about how hard tending to yourself can be and also how to break the self-sacrificing cycle. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

Have you ever had to peel your 4 year old off your leg at daycare drop off? Or tried to convince your 7 year old that they'll have fun at school when they're begging you to stay home because the idea of leaving you makes them want to puke? Separation anxiety is tough. And unfortunately many of the strategies that parents try, like being logical (“You love your teacher – you're going to have a great day!”) or bribing (“If you don't cry on the way to school you'll get a cupcake!”) actually make things worse. On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast, Carley explains why separation anxiety develops (thanks ancestors!), how to help your child understand what they're feeling, and what to do when the dreaded moment of separation occurs. Sneak peak: Be clear. Be calm. Be consistent. Anxiety doesn't stand a chance when a parent speaks clearly about expectations, maintains their own calm, and holds consistent boundaries. Tune in for her top tools for taming this common childhood struggle so that you can become the steady guide your anxious kid needs rather than getting stuck in their storm of stress. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

What sound sets you off? Nails on a chalk board? Your co-worker loudly noshing on pretzels? Neighborhood leaf blowers?  If you're like most parents, hearing your kid scream (at their sibling, at you, at their friend) triggers you more than any landscaping equipment or loud breather. And so often we respond by screaming back “Stop yelling!” and then we're caught in a fun little dance with our kid called “who can get louder.” Good times. But there is a way we can use play and imagination to change the volume level in our homes. It's called “animal talk.” On today's episode, Carley shares how to use this game to help our kids use a tone of voice that is strong but calm. This role-play game is simple yet powerful. It lets everyone get playful in stressful moments and gives you a tool for turning down your kid's volume and finding a little more peace and quiet at home. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

If every problem in your kid's life feels like a level 10 catastrophe, this episode is for you. Tune in to learn a game-changing parenting tool called "Pebble, Rock, Boulder."  In essence, you share with your child that some problems are pebbles (a pencil breaking, running out of milk), some are rocks (having a hard time with math, fighting with friends) and some are boulders (natural disasters significant illnesses). When we are overtired, hungry, or cranky (or 4 years old) pebbles can feel like boulders. The goal (for kids and grown ups!) is to pause, figure out the size of the problem and then give it the reaction it warrants.Having this strategy in your parenting toolbox can feel like magic – it makes a very abstract concept concrete, which is what a young brain needs. Instead of yelling in frustration “Don't get so upset!” we can ask “What size is this problem?”) Often kids are able to right-size their response on their own, with a little guidance, empathy and support from us. And even if they still boulder size a pebble problem, you're still planting the seeds of reflection and problem solving, and that's good enough. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

Kids are pretty annoying. They are unruly, demanding, and leave a trail of mess wherever they go.And often as parents, we get caught up in seeing the annoying traits of our kids, especially if they are in the middle of challenging phase or just happen to have come into the world with big feelings and deep sensitivities. But when we only see the negative “story” about our kid, we miss the good. And what we appreciate (aka pay attention to and focus on), appreciates. So the more bad we see, the more bad we get. And vice versa. On today's episode, in the spirit of Valentine's Day, Carley shares how to look at your kid through a lens of love. because, as child development expert, Dr. Stuart Shanker reminds us:“When you see a child differently, you see a different child.” To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

Want a better behaved kid? Begin by teaching them about their brain. This helps your kid externalize their struggles – they go from feeling shame (I'm a bad kid for acting this way) to self-compassion (sometimes I have a hard time and my downstairs brain takes over). Reducing shame, reduces challenging behavior. As childhood expert Pam Leo reminds us,“You can't teach children to behave better by making them feel worse. When children feel better, they behave better.” When we teach kids about their brains and help them understand what triggers them, it normalizes their feelings. We still set limits on behavior, but it comes from a place of compassion rather than control. These are big concepts for little brains. And it can feel a little intimidating to talk to your five year old about neurobiology. But just remember – you don't have to get these talks perfect. You just need to make them good enough. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

Think of this season more about what is essential for your family's “survival” rather than “best living.” Do I need to make sure everybody gets outside for 5 minutes? Do I need to renew my subscription to Disney+ so that my kids have endless hours of content to watch because I can't stand cleaning up another pillow fort? Do I need to phone a friend and ask for a kid swap so I can have 2 hours to myself? On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast, Carley shares insights on how to ride the waves of winter by focusing on your family's most important “port of entry” – listen now to find out what that means! To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

The root of the word discipline means to teach, not to punish. And when our kids are flooded with big, emotional energy they are not available to learn. They need you to “save” them, to help them return to their calmer selves where you can then teach the lessons. And they can actually hear them. On today's episode, Carley shares her #1 discipline rule (quoted from Gary Landreth, the father of play therapy!): WHEN YOUR KID IS DROWNING, DON'T TEACH THEM TO SWIMTune in today to find out what that means and how to throw your kid an emotional life preserver.... To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

How do school mornings go in your house? Are you and your kids waking up, invigorated, ready to great the day? Do they jump out of bed, have a quick breakfast, brush their teeth and declare “I'm ready for school mom!”Yeah, didn't think so.School mornings are tough. School mornings in January are THE WORST.They're dark, it's cold, you're just coming off a break and the march to spring feels like forever.But there's hope! On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast Carley shares “7 Tips for Successful School Mornings.”From getting playful to using physical touch to blasting Pharrell, these are simple ways you can bring more calm and cooperation to your morning routine.And spoiler alert – it all starts with the energy YOU bring.So if you'd like to start your day with more smiles than screams and not pull away from drop off feeling guilty about the threats you hurled at your sleepy six year old, tune in now! To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

Choosing a childcare can be an overwhelming experience. Many parents don't know what to look for, what questions to ask and how to tell the quality of the programs they're touring.Lindsay Pearson to the rescue! Lindsay is the Assistant Director of Early Childhood Education Programming Montclair State University's Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health and basically the wonder woman of determining quality in early childhood education.On today's “Good Enough Parenting” podcast Lindsay and Carley chat about how to determine the best childcare fit for your family.  Spoiler - bells and whistles not always necessary, strong relationships are! To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

If the thought of keeping your little ones up until midnight sends shivers down your spine, this episode is for you! Tune in to hear how we can celebrate the new year with our kids without them turning into sleep-deprived monsters. Carley shares simple practices to help your family celebrate what was accomplished in 2023, release what we no longer need, set intentions for the year ahead and look forward to celebrations to come. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

On today's episode, Carley shares a roadmap for finding calm and clarity when you're feeling  overwhelmed. Because we can't help our kids regulate unless we're regulated ourselves. Tune in to hear the  four step process that helps you take care of your brain and body when activated so you can connect with your growing people. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

Big day on the podcast! Carley is joined by Broadway star Jeanna de Waal (Wicked, Diana Sweeney Todd) to talk about how we can use theater and music to help kids create community, foster creativity and build confidence.  If you're looking for a sure fire way to help your kid (or yourself!) find their voice, feel safe enough to be vulnerable and quiet the endless monkey chatter of anxiety in their brain, tune in today!To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!

This time of year is filled with celebrations, excitement and STRESS. If you're raising young kids, it can feel like a never ending marathon of to dos and temper tantrums. Lack of sleep, too much sugar and disruptions in schedules can lead to big emotional hangovers in kids. On this week's episode, Carley shares how to do less and be more this holiday season. From delegating to boundary setting to remembering the sacred, tune in to find out how you can have a happier holiday season without burning out. To get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/playTo get Carley's free video teaching you 4 play therapy techniques you can use TODAY to calm your emotional child and bring joy and freedom back to family life click here!http://www.paceparent.com/play And follow her @CarleyCounsels on FB & IG!