As parents, we often believe we know why our kids behave the way they do.

We assume intentions, assign meaning to their actions, and respond from that story, often when we are stressed, tired, or triggered.

But what if those assumptions are wrong?

In this episode of Art of Raising Humans, we explore one of the most common and overlooked parenting mistakes, mind reading our children. This happens when we assume we know their motives without actually checking.

We unpack why the parent brain does this under stress, what brain science and child development tell us about behavior, and how these assumptions quietly erode connection, trust, and cooperation, especially with tweens and teens.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why the human brain jumps to negative interpretations under stress

• How nervous system dysregulation leads parents to misread behavior

• Why kids often cannot articulate their own motives and what that means for discipline

• How curiosity builds safety, honesty, and long term behavior change

• What it looks like to assume the best without losing boundaries

• Practical ways to pause assumptions and respond with clarity and connection

This episode is for parents who want to move beyond control, power struggles, and miscommunication and toward deeper understanding, cooperation, and trust.

You do not need to read your child’s mind.

You need to make space for their voice.

View the full podcast transcript at:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/why-parents-misread-their-kids-behavior-and-how-brain-science-changes-the-way-you-respond

Visit our website and social media channels for more valuable content for your parenting journey.

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https://www.artofraisinghumans.com

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https://art-of-raising-humans.newzenler.com/

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The Art of Raising Humans podcast should not be considered or used as counseling but for educational purposes only.

Parents are often told to “forgive yourself” or “you’re doing great.” While well intentioned, that message often falls flat for parents who are thoughtful, reflective, and deeply invested in their growth.

In this episode of Art of Raising Humans, we explore why self-forgiveness is most effective when it comes after responsibility, reflection, and repair. We explain the brain science behind shame, learning, and nervous system regulation, and why skipping reflection can keep parents stuck in cycles of guilt rather than growth.

You’ll learn how shame activates the brain’s threat system, why responsibility is different from self-criticism, and what actually allows parents to change patterns without burning out. We also share a practical framework for reflection, repair, and growth that makes self-compassion feel earned rather than hollow.

This episode is for parents who care deeply, are unlearning inherited patterns, and want to keep growing without shame driving their parenting.

View the full podcast transcript at:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/forgive-yourself-and-keep-growing-why-self-compassion-only-works-after-responsibility

Visit our website and social media channels for more valuable content for your parenting journey.

Resource Website:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com

Video Courses:

https://art-of-raising-humans.newzenler.com/

Facebook:

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https://www.instagram.com/artofraisinghumans

Podcast Website:

https://www.theartofraisinghumans.com

Book List:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/booklist

The Art of Raising Humans podcast should not be considered or used as counseling but for educational purposes only.

Most parents want their children to be responsible, capable, and independent.

But when it comes to building habits, morning routines, homework, chores, hygiene, emotional regulation, many well-intentioned parents accidentally sabotage the process without realizing it.

In this episode of Art of Raising Humans, Kyle and Sara break down the most common ways parents unintentionally derail habit building in kids, tweens, and teens, and what actually helps habits stick without nagging, shaming, or taking over.

You’ll learn why becoming the reminder, lecturing, rescuing, using shame, or expecting adult-level consistency backfires and how habits grow instead through ownership, scaffolding, realistic expectations, and nervous-system safety.

This episode covers:

• Why habits fail when parents carry the responsibility
• How shame, anger, and pressure shut down learning
• What to do instead of lecturing or reminding
• How to use visual supports and external reminders effectively
• Why consistency matters more than perfection
• How to scaffold habits without creating dependence
• What repair looks like when things fall apart

This conversation reframes habit building as a developmental skill, not a motivation problem and offers practical tools parents can use immediately to reduce power struggles and build lasting responsibility.

If you’re tired of repeating yourself and wondering why habits won’t stick, this episode will help you stop unintentionally getting in the way and start supporting real growth.

View the full podcast transcript at:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/how-parents-sabotage-habits-in-kids-and-what-actually-helps-them-stick

Visit our website and social media channels for more valuable content for your parenting journey.

Resource Website:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com

Video Courses:

https://art-of-raising-humans.newzenler.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/artofraisinghumans

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/artofraisinghumans

Podcast Website:

https://www.theartofraisinghumans.com

Book List:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/booklist

The Art of Raising Humans podcast should not be considered or used as counseling but for educational purposes only.

Parenting doesn’t need more pressure, it needs more intention.

In this episode of Art of Raising Humans, we share 10 intentional parenting habits to start using with your kids in 2026 - the ones that actually build connection, emotional safety, and cooperation.

We talk about how to listen instead of lecture, set realistic expectations, repair after mistakes, and create daily moments of connection that reduce power struggles and build trust over time.

If you’re a parent who wants to raise emotionally healthy kids without punishment, fear, or constant conflict, this episode will ground and guide you.

View the full podcast transcript at:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/10-things-to-start-doing-with-your-kids-in-2026-that-actually-matter

Visit our website and social media channels for more valuable content for your parenting journey.

Resource Website:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com

Video Courses:

https://art-of-raising-humans.newzenler.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/artofraisinghumans

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/artofraisinghumans

Podcast Website:

https://www.theartofraisinghumans.com

Book List:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/booklist

The Art of Raising Humans podcast should not be considered or used as counseling but for educational purposes only.

Parenting doesn’t need another list of things to do. Sometimes the most powerful change comes from knowing what to stop.

In this episode of The Art of Raising Humans, Kyle and Sara Wester explore 10 common parenting habits that quietly block connection and cooperation, even when they’re widely accepted or well-intended. From grounding and “don’t talk back” to screen-time double standards and over-advising, these habits often create power struggles instead of teaching skills.

This conversation isn’t about blame or perfection. It’s about shifting from control-based parenting to connection-based leadership, so kids can build emotional, relational, and self-regulation skills that actually last.

If you’re feeling stuck in discipline cycles or longing for more cooperation without fear or force, this episode offers a grounded, compassionate way forward.

View the full podcast transcript at:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/10-parenting-habits-to-leave-behind-this-year-so-you-can-build-more-connection-and-cooperation

Visit our website and social media channels for more valuable content for your parenting journey.

Resource Website:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com

Video Courses:

https://art-of-raising-humans.newzenler.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/artofraisinghumans

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/artofraisinghumans

Podcast Website:

https://www.theartofraisinghumans.com

Book List:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/booklist

The Art of Raising Humans podcast should not be considered or used as counseling but for educational purposes only.

In this episode of Art of Raising Humans, Kyle and Sara Wester sit down with Vivek Patel, founder of Non-Coercive Collaborative Parenting (NCCP) and creator of Meaningful Ideas.

Vivek has spent more than 15 years teaching thousands of families how to create more harmony, communication, and connection in their homes. With over 500 parenting articles, 300 educational videos, and a deeply rooted philosophy centered on collaboration, he brings a powerful perspective to what parents can do when kids “don’t listen.”

Drawing on his martial arts background and decades of working with kids and parents, Vivek explains how to turn moments of resistance into opportunities for guidance and true cooperation. Together, they explore why kids push back, how traditional control-based approaches confuse fear for respect, and what it really looks like to guide children like the banks of a river rather than trying to stop their flow.

Vivek shares his “test, treat, and tornado” framework for families transitioning away from control, offers tools for emotional regulation and pattern interruption, and challenges common beliefs about strength, consequences, and preparing kids for the real world. This conversation will help parents rethink respect, redefine strength, and lead with greater calm, connection, and confidence.

To learn more from Vivek, follow him at @meaningfulideas on all platforms or explore his work at www.meaningfulideas.com. For more personalized support, visit his parenting membership community at meaningfulideas.com/courses/meaningful-ideas-membership.

View the full podcast transcript at:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/vivek-patel-on-kids-who-dont-listen-how-to-turn-power-struggles-into-connection-and-collaboration

Visit our website and social media channels for more valuable content for your parenting journey.

Resource Website:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com

Video Courses:

https://art-of-raising-humans.newzenler.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/artofraisinghumans

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/artofraisinghumans

Podcast Website:

https://www.theartofraisinghumans.com

Book List:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/booklist

The Art of Raising Humans podcast should not be considered or used as counseling but for educational purposes only.

In this episode, Kyle and Sara Wester explore one of the most common and misunderstood dynamics in modern parenting: the roles of the default parent and the non-default parent. They unpack why these roles form, what each partner often experiences, and how these patterns can create pressure, resentment, or feelings of invisibility.

With compassion for both parents, Kyle and Sara explain how routines are built through trial and error, why they deserve respect, and how well-meaning attempts to help can sometimes cause tension. They offer practical steps to improve communication, clarify responsibilities, honor each parent’s strengths, and build a more balanced partnership.

This conversation gives parents the tools to navigate differences, value each other’s contributions, and create a healthy, flexible family system where both parents feel capable, respected, and connected.

View the full podcast transcript at:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/the-default-parent-dynamic-how-to-share-the-load-feel-valued-and-parent-as-a-team

Visit our website and social media channels for more valuable content for your parenting journey.

Resource Website:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com

Video Courses:

https://art-of-raising-humans.newzenler.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/artofraisinghumans

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/artofraisinghumans

Podcast Website:

https://www.theartofraisinghumans.com

Book List:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/booklist

The Art of Raising Humans podcast should not be considered or used as counseling but for educational purposes only.

Jennifer Kolari on Strong-Willed Kids, Brain Science & Connected Parenting

Summary: In this powerful episode of The Art of Raising Humans, Kyle and Sara Wester sit down with parenting expert Jennifer Kolari to talk about one of the most misunderstood and emotionally exhausting parenting challenges: raising a strong-willed child.

Why does your child melt down over “small” things? Why does discipline feel like constant power struggles? And why does nothing seem to work the way the books promised?

Jennifer explains what’s really happening in your child’s brain during emotional overwhelm and why strong-willed kids don’t need more control; they need more connection, understanding, and emotional safety. She walks parents through how temperament, neurobiology, and unmet emotional needs drive behavior, and introduces her powerful CALM Technique to help families move from chaos to connection.

This conversation also explores why compassion and firmness must coexist, how parents can regulate themselves first, and why repair after conflict builds deeper trust than getting it “right” ever could.

About Jennifer Kolari:

Jennifer Kolari is one of North America’s leading parenting experts, a child and family therapist, author, and the founder of Connected Parenting. Her brain-based, empathy-driven approach helps parents raise resilient, emotionally healthy children using connection as the foundation of discipline. She is also the host of the Connected Parenting Podcast and a sought-after international speaker.

If you’re parenting a strong-willed, intense, or emotionally reactive child, this episode will feel like a lifeline.

🔗 Connect with Jennifer: www.connectedparenting.com

View the full podcast transcript at:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/jennifer-kolari-on-strong-willed-kids-brain-science-connected-parenting

Visit our website and social media channels for more valuable content for your parenting journey.

Resource Website:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com

Video Courses:

https://art-of-raising-humans.newzenler.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/artofraisinghumans

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/artofraisinghumans

Podcast Website:

https://www.theartofraisinghumans.com

Book List:

https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/booklist

The Art of Raising Humans podcast should not be considered or used as counseling but for educational purposes only.