Have you heard of the fatherhood loneliness epidemic?

Before talking with Jon Gustin (better known as The Tired Dad), I had heard the phrase—but I hadn’t fully stopped to think about what it actually means. Because when we talk about exhausted parents, overwhelmed parents, or the mental load of parenting… we often focus on moms. But what about dads? What happens when fathers are trying to carry pressure silently, feel disconnected from friendships, and believe they have to hold everything together alone?

In this week’s episode of Sustainable Parenting, I sit down with John to have one of the most honest conversations I’ve had about fatherhood, emotional health, vulnerability, and what parenting has a way of revealing in all of us. We talk about his new book, The Tired Dad, and the powerful journey that led him there.

John opens up about growing up believing feelings were something to hide, how parenting held up a mirror to unresolved struggles, and why so many men quietly cope with pressure through anger, isolation, or unhealthy escapes. He also shares why vulnerability became freedom—and why sharing what’s hard may be one of the strongest things a parent can do.

By the end of this episode, you'll walk away with:

• A deeper understanding of the hidden pressure many dads carry
• Insight into the growing fatherhood loneliness epidemic
• Encouragement if parenting has felt heavy lately
• Hope that connection—not perfection—is what helps us keep showing up
• A reminder that you're probably doing better than you think

If you love conversations around positive parenting strategies, calm confident parenting, mental health, and creating a more sustainable way to show up for your family, I think you're really going to love this one.

Check out Jon Gustin's Book: The Tired Dad

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-tired-dad-100-reflections-on-showing-up-for-what-matters-most_jon-gustin/56466768/item/86110085/#edition=74011086&idiq=86110085

https://www.amazon.com/Tired-Dad-Reflections-Showing-Matters/dp/0593980468

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Mother’s Day can stir up a lot, and not all of it is pretty. I’m opening my journal and letting you hear what early motherhood actually sounded like inside my head: the postpartum body changes I didn’t expect, the embarrassment I carried in silence, and the bone deep sleep deprivation that made every “simple” fix feel like a personal failure. If you’ve ever wondered why you feel overwhelmed even when you’re doing everything you can, you’ll feel seen here.

I also share how those old entries still connect to my life now, even as a licensed therapist and parenting coach. A tough moment with my 12 year old brings up that familiar fear of failing, and it reminds me why sustainable parenting can’t be built on perfectionism. We talk about the pain of trying strategy after strategy, from feeding and sleep to developmental worries, and how quickly a parent can start measuring their worth by outcomes they can’t fully control.

The turning point comes from Circle of Security and Raising a Secure Child: we don’t need perfect attunement to raise secure kids. “Good enough parenting” is real, research backed, and surprisingly low pressure, and the 30% idea can change how you speak to yourself on your hardest days. We also dig into what it means to stop hunting for the one right technique and start using parenting tools with confidence and inner wisdom.

If this helps, subscribe, share it with a parent who needs gentleness today, and leave a review with the part you related to most.

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✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) - for THREE 30-min sessions 1:1 with ME, where we get right to the heart of your challenges, and give you small, powerful shifts that make a huge difference fast.

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Everyone’s talking about Mel Robbins’ “Let Them” philosophy… and honestly?

Parents might need it most. 👏

• Your child talks back.
• They stomp upstairs.
• They roll their eyes.
• They grumble about the boundary.

And every part of you wants to jump in with:

“How DARE you talk to me like that?!”

…but what if the better move is:

Let them.

• Not because disrespect is okay.
• Not because we’re permissive.
• But because we stop trying to control what we can’t control—their words, their feelings, their frustration.

And we shift back to what we CAN control:

• Our tone.
• Our boundary.
• Our follow-through.
• Our calm.

Sometimes the most powerful positive parenting strategy is saying less.

• A simple “hmm.”
• A calm look.
• Walking away.
• Holding the line without feeding the fire.

That’s kind and firm parenting.

That’s how we stop power struggles with kids.

That’s how we discipline without yelling.

This week on the podcast, I’m sharing how the “Let Them” tool can completely change backtalk, sass, and disrespect in your home—and yes… I somehow learned part of this lesson from puppy school 😂🐶

Listen to the newest episode of Sustainable Parenting 🎧

Have you tried “Let Them” in parenting yet?

By the time you're done listening, you’ll know:
• How to respond when kids are rude or sassy without back-talking back

• Why silence, calm, and fewer words often work better than lectures

• How to stop power struggles with kids using Positive Discipline

• The surprising lesson Flora learned from puppy school that changed everything

If gentle parenting has left you feeling walked on, this episode will help you find the middle ground—raising respectful, resilient kids with kindness and firmness at the same time.

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✨JOIN me in an upcoming event: https://sustainableparenting.com/events

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✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) - for THREE 30-min sessions 1:1 with ME, where we get right to the heart of your challenges, and give you small, powerful shifts that make a huge difference fast.

✨Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have about working with Flora.

✨Purchase a $19 short course on Etsy✨

Ever threatened something ridiculous in the heat of a parenting moment… like canceling Christmas?

You’re not alone.

In this episode of the Sustainable Parenting Podcast, Flora McCormick shares a powerful shift that helps parents discipline without yelling, threatening, or escalating power struggles with kids.

After working with a dad of three who found himself regularly reaching for extreme punishments when his kids ignored him, Flora introduces a simple but transformative tool: Notice + Curiosity Questions.

Instead of commands like “Why can’t you just listen?”, you’ll learn how curiosity can help kids move into problem-solving mode and dramatically increase cooperation.

You’ll also learn:

• Why discipline is meant to teach—not punish
• How the “discipline pyramid” helps reduce constant consequences
• The common Coo-Coo Cycle parents fall into with commands and punishments
• How curiosity questions help stop power struggles with kids
• A powerful reflection tool (WWHD) that teaches kids what to do differently next time

If you’re looking for positive discipline strategies, gentle discipline tools, and realistic ways to get kids to listen without yelling, this episode will give you practical language you can start using today.

Because Sustainable Parenting is all about raising resilient, cooperative kids while staying a calm, confident parent.

✨Want more?

✨JOIN me in an upcoming event: https://sustainableparenting.com/events

✨ Get my 3 KEYS to Calm, Confident Parenting (30 min. FREE webinar) - https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63640a05c74edb4b6bdce1f3

✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) - for THREE 30-min sessions 1:1 with ME, where we get right to the heart of your challenges, and give you small, powerful shifts that make a huge difference fast.

✨Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have about working with Flora.

✨Purchase a $19 short course on Etsy✨

About to Yell? Try This 2-Minute Reset That Helps Calm, Confident Parents Stay Firm

Ever notice how yelling at your kids often happens right after you promised yourself you wouldn’t do it again?

You start calm… then repeat yourself… then repeat yourself again… and suddenly your voice is louder than you intended.

If you're wondering how to stop yelling at your kids, this episode offers a simple, practical reset you can use in the moment.

In this episode of the Sustainable Parenting Podcast, parenting coach Flora McCormick shares a quick strategy called CPR that helps parents interrupt escalation before yelling happens — while still staying kind and firm.

You’ll learn how to recognize the signals that yelling is about to happen, how stepping away for even 30 seconds can reset the dynamic, and how small redirections can help kids cooperate without turning every moment into a power struggle.

If you're trying to practice calm parenting, reduce yelling, and raise respectful, resilient kids, this episode will give you a practical tool you can use today.

By the end of this episode you’ll learn:

• How to recognize the early warning signs that yelling is about to happen
• A simple 2-minute reset that helps parents regain calm quickly
• Why walking away for a moment can actually improve cooperation
• How redirecting kids’ attention can reduce power struggles
• A practical positive discipline strategy for calmer mornings and transitions

If you want positive parenting strategies, gentle discipline tools, and ways to get kids to listen without yelling, this episode is for you.

✨Want more?

✨JOIN me in an upcoming event: https://sustainableparenting.com/events

✨ Get my 3 KEYS to Calm, Confident Parenting (30 min. FREE webinar) - https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63640a05c74edb4b6bdce1f3

✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) - for THREE 30-min sessions 1:1 with ME, where we get right to the heart of your challenges, and give you small, powerful shifts that make a huge difference fast.

✨Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have about working with Flora.

✨Purchase a $19 short course on Etsy✨

If you’ve ever looked at your partner and thought, “Why are you doing that?!" or glared at them for not HELPING you in the way you want....this episde is for you.

Today in the Sustainable Parenting Podcast, Flora McCormick (licensed counselor and parenting coach) shares a simple 15-minute weekly practice that helps couples reconnect while navigating the challenges of raising kids.

This structured conversation helps parents move from reacting to problems in the moment to approaching parenting as a calm, aligned team.

You’ll learn how to use a short weekly “timeout” with your partner that includes:

• Starting with appreciation to rebuild connection
• Solving one specific parenting challenge at a time
• Using the 4 R’s of Recovery (Recognize, Responsibility, Reconcile, Resolve) to repair mistakes and move forward
• Ending with something light or fun so the conversation doesn’t feel heavy

Flora also explains how this approach reduces the expectation gap in parenting, prevents resentment from building, and helps couples stay aligned while using positive parenting strategies and gentle discipline at home.

When parents feel connected and supported, it becomes much easier to practice calm parenting, stop power struggles with kids, and raise resilient, confident children.

If parenting has taken over your relationship, this simple weekly habit can help you reconnect, communicate better, and lead your family together.

🎧 Listen and learn how 15 minutes a week can strengthen your marriage and your parenting.

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✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) - for THREE 30-min sessions 1:1 with ME, where we get right to the heart of your challenges, and give you small, powerful shifts that make a huge difference fast.

✨Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have about working with Flora.

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If gentle parenting has left you stuck in endless negotiating, second-guessing every “no,” and feeling like your child’s emotions run the whole house, this episode introduces a different path.

Welcome to the 2026 parenting shift: Hybrid Parenting.

In this episode of the Sustainable Parenting Podcast, parenting coach and counselor Flora McCormick explains why many families are moving beyond traditional gentle parenting toward a hybrid parenting approach that blends warmth, emotional connection, and respect with clear boundaries and calm follow-through.

Hybrid parenting keeps the best parts of gentle parenting—connection, empathy, and respectful communication—while letting go of the patterns that often lead to power struggles, parental exhaustion, and powerless adults.

You’ll hear:

• Why gentle parenting sometimes turns into endless negotiating
• What hybrid parenting looks like in real life
• How to set calm, respectful boundaries without yelling
• Why resilience matters more than patience in parenting
• How kids build confidence, responsibility, and emotional strength when adults lead with both kindness and firmness

This approach reflects what many parents are discovering: kids thrive when adults are both connected and confidently in charge.

The goal isn’t control or compliance.
It’s raising resilient, confident kids while helping parents feel calmer, steadier, and more effective in everyday family life.

If you’re ready for parenting without yelling, fewer power struggles, and a more sustainable way to lead your family, this episode is for you.

✨Want more?

✨JOIN me in an upcoming event: https://sustainableparenting.com/events

✨ Get my 3 KEYS to Calm, Confident Parenting (30 min. FREE webinar) - https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63640a05c74edb4b6bdce1f3

✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) - for THREE 30-min sessions 1:1 with ME, where we get right to the heart of your challenges, and give you small, powerful shifts that make a huge difference fast.

✨Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have about working with Flora.

✨Purchase a $19 short course on Etsy✨

Many parents are exhausted by one surprising reason...

These loving and well-intentioned parents are spending huge amounts of energy explaining, debating, and trying to convince their child to accept a “no.”

The result?

More arguing, less cooperation, and parents ending the day completely drained.

In this episode of the Sustainable Parenting Podcast, parenting coach and licensed counselor Flora McCormick shares one powerful shift that can dramatically reduce parenting exhaustion while also improving kids’ behavior.

Instead of pouring your energy into the fight, Flora explains how focusing on calm follow-through changes everything.

You’ll learn:

• Why arguing with kids actually makes behavior worse
• How fewer words can reduce power struggles
• Why follow-through matters more than persuasion
• A simple mindset shift that helps parents feel calmer and more confident

Through real client stories and practical examples, Flora shows how this kind-and-firm parenting strategy helps parents stop feeling powerless and start raising resilient, respectful kids.

If you’re tired of daily battles and want calmer, more confident parenting, this episode will give you a powerful place to start.

✨Want more?

✨JOIN me in an upcoming event: https://sustainableparenting.com/events

✨ Get my 3 KEYS to Calm, Confident Parenting (30 min. FREE webinar) - https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63640a05c74edb4b6bdce1f3

✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) - for THREE 30-min sessions 1:1 with ME, where we get right to the heart of your challenges, and give you small, powerful shifts that make a huge difference fast.

✨Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have about working with Flora.

✨Purchase a $19 short course on Etsy✨