Welcome to "Parenting the Intensity!"

Today we are looking at the parent side of things, what we are experiencing as parents of emotionally intense kids.

In one word: challenging

In another words it can be isolating, frustrating, discouraging, stretching, feeling like we are failing...but it's also impressive, stimulating and endearing. Because they are not just their struggle and we are becoming better parents every day by being their parents.

We also addresses the judgment and self-doubt that parents in this situation commonly experience, offering hope and practical solutions for creating a better relationship and finding peace in parenting. Join us as we explore the unique journey of parenting emotionally intense children and discover the support and resources available to navigate this challenging yet rewarding experience.

"You have the power to make changes, and I'm guessing that's why you're here.

So I want you to know that there's other possibilities, and your life don't have to look that way."

Make sure to subscribe to our podcast for future episodes and leave a rating and review, that helps us get in front of more parents. Don't forget to check out the resources mentioned on our website at www.parentingtheintensity.ca

Join the "Parenting the Intensity Community" to find the right things that works for YOUR child and adapt them to YOUR reality.

To be able to enjoy your life and kids, not always being afraid of the next outburst

Take a deep breath, keep going, we’re all in this together!

Music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay

Welcome to "Parenting the Intensity!"

In this episode I'm breaking down the basic principles of parenting an emotionally intense child which are:

1. Reframe: They are not doing it on purpose
2. Helping them be calmer
3. Being calm ourselves (regulation and coregulation)

There is also some other essentials to keep in mind that make parenting emotionally intense kids different and easier:

• Expecting the intensity and not seeing that as bad but at the way they express themselves
• Not escalating (hard hard hard)
• Detective work: getting to know them like the palm of our hand
• Being their voice
• Building them up (they will be put down so often)

"It's okay that they express themselves. It's okay that they let the stress out."

Resources mentioned on the podcast

• Parenting the Intensity Community
• Episode 40 about self care
• Parenting the Intensity Retreat
• Who's That Kid?
• Child Advocacy
• Episodes on Advocacy: Episode 6 and Episode 36 (more are coming soon)

Make sure to subscribe to our podcast for future episodes and leave a rating and review, that helps us get in front of more parents. Don't forget to check out the resources mentioned on our website at www.parentingtheintensity.ca

Join the "Parenting the Intensity Community" to find the right things that works for YOUR child and adapt them to YOUR reality.

To be able to enjoy your life and kids, not always being afraid of the next outburst

Take a deep breath, keep going, we’re all in this together!

Music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay

Quick note: the Podcast will now be released every 2 weeks, so you can dive in the archives if you want to listen and there's no new one!

Welcome to "Parenting the Intensity!"

In this episode of "Parenting the Intensity," host Anouk takes a deep dive into the world of emotionally intense kids. Focusing the discussion around the three types of emotionally intense kids – the lion, the hedgehog, and the sloth – Anouk provides a detailed explanation of what it means to be emotionally intense, how it manifests in children, and the distinct characteristics of each type.

She delves into real-life examples and sheds light on the challenges and struggles faced by parents of emotionally intense kids. Anouk also emphasizes the importance of understanding and supporting these children, while deconstructing misconceptions and providing a much-needed perspective.

So, grab a cup of tea and join Anouk as she breaks down the complexities of parenting emotionally intense kids, offering insight, empathy, and practical guidance.

"If you think you have emotionally intense kids, you most probably are."

Make sure to subscribe to our podcast for future episodes and leave a rating and review, that helps us get in front of more parents. Don't forget to check out the resources mentioned on our website at www.parentingtheintensity.ca

Join the "Parenting the Intensity Community" to find the right things that works for YOUR child and adapt them to YOUR reality.

To be able to enjoy your life and kids, not always being afraid of the next outburst

Take a deep breath, keep going, we’re all in this together!

Music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay

Welcome to "Parenting the Intensity!"

It's time for a quick update on the Parenting the Intensity podcast! I'm shaking things up to bring you even more valuable content focused on parenting emotionally intense kids. I will be breaking it down into five key areas, like helping kids calm down and boosting parental confidence. Plus, I'm planning a mix of solo chats and guest interviews to keep things interesting. And I would love to hear from you, so if you've got ideas or questions, reach out and get involved, this podcast is for YOU.

Get ready to dive deeper into the wild world of parenting the intensity - we're in this together!

"I want to make it easier for you to follow, understand, and I wanna dig deeper in some specific topics that I consider essential for parents of Emotionally Intense Kids"

Make sure to subscribe to our podcast for future episodes and leave a rating and review, that helps us get in front of more parents. Don't forget to check out the resources mentioned on our website at www.parentingtheintensity.ca

Join the "Parenting the Intensity Community" to find the right things that works for YOUR child and adapt them to YOUR reality.

To be able to enjoy your life and kids, not always being afraid of the next outburst

Take a deep breath, keep going, we’re all in this together!

Music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay

Welcome to "Parenting the Intensity!"

Today I'm sharing with you the recording of an interview I was on as a guest for the Joy Reclaimed Summit, organized by Linda Sanderville who was also the first guest on the podcast in episode 14.

I'm sharing how I realized how much self care was essential in parenting emotionally intense kids and how I was, and still am, able to do some in my life even with all the demands on my time and energy and how you can do it too.

I also address how important it was to find the right self care for YOU, the same way you work hard to support your kids in the way they need to be supported.

"It's all about how to do self care, how to make it realistic and fitted for our needs"

Make sure to subscribe to our podcast for future episodes and leave a rating and review, that helps us get in front of more parents. Don't forget to check out the resources mentioned on our website at www.parentingtheintensity.ca

Join the "Parenting the Intensity Community" to find the right things that works for YOUR child and adapt them to YOUR reality.

To be able to enjoy your life and kids, not always being afraid of the next outburst

Take a deep breath, keep going, we’re all in this together!

Music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay

Welcome to "Parenting the Intensity!"

In this podcast episode, Anouk addresses the fear and concern that many parents have about their children using drugs. She emphasizes the importance of starting prevention and planning early, especially for emotionally intense kids who may be more at risk for problematic drug use. Anouk invites Richard Capriola, a mental health and substance abuse counselor, to share his expertise on the topic. Richard highlights the need for parents to become informed about the types of drugs available and the warning signs of substance use. He also emphasizes the importance of open and honest communication with children, starting at a young age, to build trust and address any underlying emotional issues that may lead to substance use. Richard encourages parents to seek professional assessments if they suspect their child may be using drugs, as early intervention and treatment can make a significant difference.

3 Key Takeaways

- Early communication and trust-building with your child can effectively mitigate the risk of substance abuse later on.

- Look out for warning signs such as declining grades, changes in social behavior, and unusual odors or paraphernalia at home.

- Seeking professional assessments and early intervention can lead to remarkable results in addressing substance use and underlying psychological issues in children.

"The most important thing that you can do is start to develop open, honest communication with your child. Learn to listen to your child. We're not so good at hearing the feelings underneath those words."

Connect with Richard:

• Website: http://www.helptheaddictedchild.com
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/richard.capriola;
• Twitterhttps://twitter.com/CapriolaRichard
• Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/richardcapriola

Resources mentioned:

The Addicted Child: A Parent's Guide to Adolescent Substance Abuse by Richard Capriola

Newport Academy (www.newportacademy.com) - a website offering parent and family resources on substance use

Make sure to subscribe to our podcast for future episodes and leave a rating and review, that helps us get in front of more parents. Don't forget to check out the resources mentioned on our website at www.parentingtheintensity.ca

Join the "Parenting the Intensity Community" to find the right things that works for YOUR child and adapt them to YOUR reality.

To be able to enjoy your life and kids, not always being afraid of the next outburst

Take a deep breath, keep going, we’re all in this together!

Music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay

Welcome to "Parenting the Intensity!"

In our everyday parenting life, it's easy to focus only on our children's behaviors and overlook the child behind those behaviors. But, understanding the child who's hiding under the challenging behaviors is what will make it possible to actually help them be more manageable.

In this podcast episode, Anouk and Tonya Wollum discuss the importance of seeing beyond the behavior and provide valuable insights and strategies for supporting children with special needs. They also introduce the concept of mentorship for both parents and children.

Additionally, Tonya shares an exciting project she's working on called the Story Boxes, which offers a unique and engaging way to enhance literacy skills in children.

Let's dive deeper into these topics and discover new approaches to parenting.

Key Takeaways:

- Importance of seeing the child behind their behavior

- Delays in executive functioning skills as a cause of intense behaviors

- Value of finding mentors for parents and children

- Introduction of story boxes as a multi-sensory reading experience

"We can only take so many tantrums in a day before we're exhausted."

Connect with Tonya:

Website: https://waterprairie.com where you can fina link to her podcast mentionned.

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/water.prairie

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/waterprairie

Twitter https://twitter.com/WaterPrairie

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@waterprairie

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/waterprairie

Linkeding https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyawollum/

Resources mentioned:

Carrie Bonnett episode on Executive Functions on the podcast: https://www.justcast.com/shows/parenting-the-intensity/audioposts/1538889

Episodes 71 of Tonya's podcast about Executive functioning: https://waterprairie.com/2023/08/04/executive-function/

My episode on Tony's podcast https://waterprairie.com/2023/10/16/emotionally-intense-kids/

Make sure to subscribe to our podcast for future episodes and leave a rating and review, that helps us get in front of more parents. Don't forget to check out the resources mentioned on our website at www.parentingtheintensity.ca

Join the "Parenting the Intensity Community" to find the right things that works for YOUR child and adapt them to YOUR reality.

To be able to enjoy your life and kids, not always being afraid of the next outburst

Take a deep breath, keep going, we’re all in this together!

Music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay

Welcome to "Parenting the Intensity!"

In this episode of "Parenting the Intensity," host Anouk is joined by guest Carrie Conrad, founder of Beating Disasters, to explore the challenging topic of dealing with emotionally intense children who engage in physically dangerous behavior. The conversation sheds light on the need for parents to approach restraint from a place of empathy and support, rather than control or punishment, while emphasizing the importance of safety and nonviolent parenting. Anouk and Carrie discuss the struggle of finding helpful resources for parents dealing with intense behaviors and highlight the crucial role of natural consequences, preventative measures, and emotional regulation in parenting. Stay tuned for valuable insights, practical advice, and helpful resources in this thought-provoking discussion on resilient and mindful parenting.

3 Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ How and When to use Restraints: Approach restraint from a place of service and support, rather than punishment or control. We emphasized the importance of turning to resources like Dr. Althea Solter's book "Tears and Tantrums" for valuable insights into understanding restraint from a gentle, respectful, and dignified perspective.

2️⃣ Prioritize empathy and support : while implementing natural consequences and preventative measures for challenging behaviors in children, especially those prone to emotionally intense reactions. It's important to adapt parenting advice and resources to fit your own child and family's reality.

3️⃣ Importance of parent's emotional regulation: Recognize the significant impact of a parent's emotional regulation on their child's behavior and practice self-care to model the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing well-being. Teaching children about self-care and boundaries is crucial for their own emotional growth and development.

"Everybody wants control. But when it comes to physical safety and people or children being emotionally dysregulated or not in control of themselves, oddly enough, we give control to gain control."

Connect with Carrie:

Website: Www.beatingdisaster.com

Facebook: Www.facebook.com/BeatingDisaster

Resources mentioned:

Book tears and tantrum from Aletha Solter, Ph.D. founder and firector of The Aware Parenting Institute: https://www.amazon.ca/Tears-Tantrums-What-Babies-Children/dp/0961307366

Daniel the Tigger for emotional regulation: https://pbskids.org/daniel/

Make sure to subscribe to our podcast for future episodes and leave a rating and review, that helps us get in front of more parents. Don't forget to check out the resources mentioned on our website at www.parentingtheintensity.ca

Join the "Parenting the Intensity Community" to find the right things that works for YOUR child and adapt them to YOUR reality.

To be able to enjoy your life and kids, not always being afraid of the next outburst

Take a deep breath, keep going, we’re all in this together!

Music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay