The Parenting Reframe

Jaksot

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  What to Say When Your Kid Says “I’m Fat” — with Dr. Whitney Caceres 09.09.2026 57min

  When your child says “I’m fat,” what do you say back? When grandma makes a comment at the table, do you step in? How do you raise kids who have a healthy relationship with food and their body without falling into diet culture or going so far the other way that health gets ignored? Parenting coach Albiona Rakipi sits down with Dr. Whitney Caceres — pediatrician, founder of Modern Mommy Doc, and author of Raising Body Confident Kids — to answer all of it. Dr. Whitney breaks down how body shame gets passed between generations, what to say (and what not to say) when kids make comments about bodies, the difference between diet culture and body literacy, and how to handle extended family who weren’t raised with the same awareness. She also walks through practical yay-or-nay guidance on everything from birthday party food to overeating to the 20-minute hunger pause rule. Honest, science-backed, and completely judgment-free.
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  Ask Me Anything - Gentle Parenting, Attachment Theory, Strong-Willed Kids, and Why Attuned Parenting Beats All of It (Part 2) 26.08.2026 31min

  Gentle parenting, attachment theory, highly sensitive kids, strong-willed vs. defiant — Albiona finally weighs in. In Part 2 of her Ask Me Anything, parenting coach Albiona Rakipi shares her honest take on the most-asked parenting style questions, without picking sides or putting any approach on a pedestal. She breaks down what she genuinely likes about gentle parenting and where it tends to create more defiance instead of less, why attachment theory can leave parents burned out, and why she thinks the labels “highly sensitive” and “big feeler” — while well-intentioned — stop short of giving parents something to actually work with. Her answer to all of it: attuned parenting, and what that actually looks like in practice. Part 2 of 2.
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  Ask Me Anything: How to Stop Reacting, Handle Back-to-School Anxiety, and Actually Pause in the Hard Moment (Part 1) 19.08.2026 34min

  How do you actually pause when you’re already activated? Why do you keep overreacting even when you promise yourself you won’t? And what do you do when your child is anxious about going back to school? Parenting coach Albiona Rakipi answers the questions her community sent in most — and this episode is as practical as it gets. Albiona walks through the somatic tools she uses herself to interrupt reactive patterns in real time, explains why exhaling longer than you inhale is the fastest nervous system reset available, and breaks down why self-awareness alone doesn’t produce change. She also covers back-to-school anxiety, how to help kids through transitions, and why mixing up a transition problem with a frustration tolerance problem means you’re solving the wrong thing entirely. Part 1 of 2. More questions answered in the next episode.
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  The Second Most Downloaded Episode: Taking a Career Pause Without Losing Yourself — with Neha Ruch 29.07.2026 42min

  What happens to your identity, your ambition, and your sense of self when you step back from a career to make room for motherhood? In this conversation — the second most downloaded episode of The Parenting Reframe — Albiona sits down with Neha Ruch, founder of Mother Untitled and author of The Power Pause, to talk about what it really means to take a career break on your own terms. Neha walks through why the mommy wars persist and what the research actually says, how to have the money conversations before you pause, why a career break doesn’t have to mean falling behind, and how to build an identity that isn’t tied to a job title. She also reframes ambition entirely — and her definition might surprise you. Whether you’re thinking about pausing, already in a pause, or just tired of feeling like you have to justify your choices — this episode will help you breathe.
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  The Most Downloaded Episode: Strong-Willed Kids, Breaks, and Why Your Words Aren’t Working — with Joe Newman 22.07.2026 1t

  The most downloaded episode of The Parenting Reframe is back. In this conversation — Albiona’s first interview with Joe Newman, author of Raising Lions — they dig into why strong-willed and defiant kids push back so hard, why giving more choices and more explanations makes it worse, and what actually works instead. Joe breaks down his break method (not a timeout — a fundamentally different approach), explains why children use conflict to ask questions rather than to misbehave, and shares the research showing that over-explaining produces more defiance, not less. He also walks through eggshell parenting, what kids who are driven by power need instead of approval, and why your child won’t take you seriously until your words have real weight behind them. If you have a strong-willed, defiant, or ADHD child and nothing seems to be working — start here.
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  The Most Powerful Thing You Can Do for Your Kid Has Nothing to Do with Discipline 15.07.2026 28min

  What does it actually mean to help your child feel seen — and why does it matter more than most parenting strategies? In this solo episode, parenting coach Albiona Rakipi shares a personal story about a podcast recording that fell completely apart, what her guest Dr. Elisha Goldstein did in that moment, and why his response changed how she thinks about empathy, connection, and storytelling. Albiona breaks down the difference between saying empathetic words and actually making someone feel understood — and how sharing your own personal story is the thing that bridges that gap with kids. She walks through real examples: the homework battle that stopped repeating itself, the moment her son’s entire body softened when she shared a childhood memory, and why kids who don’t feel seen tend to act out more, not less. If you’re tired of saying the right things but not getting through — this episode will show you what’s missing.
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  The Parenting Reframe - Let’s Reframe Reparenting — You Need to Cultivate Your Inner Parent 01.07.2026 29min

  Is reparenting yourself really about getting a redo on your childhood? Parenting coach Albiona Rakipi challenges that idea in this solo episode and offers a different framework: cultivating your own inner parent. Instead of trying to heal old wounds by giving your child what you didn’t get, this episode teaches you how to recognize when you’re parenting your inner child instead of the child actually in front of you. Albiona shares a real coaching example of a mom whose constant love and attention backfired with her independent, strong-willed daughter, and breaks down how to interrupt default patterns like yelling, shaming, or over-explaining that were passed down from your own upbringing. You’ll learn why a happy child isn’t the measure of good parenting, how to stay regulated when your child resists a boundary, and what it actually means to show up as a steady, emotionally safe parent. If you’ve ever felt like your best parenting efforts keep missing the mark, this episode will help you understand why — and what to do instead.
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  Small Shifts, Big Change: Emotional Regulation for Parents with Dr. Elisha Goldstein 24.06.2026 1t 4min

  You know you’re supposed to stay calm. You know you shouldn’t snap. So why is it so hard to actually get there in the moment? In this episode, parenting coach Albiona Rakipi sits down with Dr. Elisha Goldstein — psychologist, mindfulness teacher, and author of Tiny Shifts — to answer that exact question. Dr. Goldstein breaks down the emotional loops parents get stuck in — the should loop, the shame loop, the comparison loop — and walks through his four R’s method (Recognize, Release, Refocus, Reinforce) for interrupting reactivity in ordinary moments. No big overhauls. No lengthy routines. Small, practical shifts you can use starting today, whether you’re dealing with a rude teenager, a morning meltdown, or your own self-critical spiral at 10pm. If you’ve ever felt like you know what to do but can’t access it when it counts — this episode is going to help.
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  Play Isn’t a To-Do — It’s the Thing That Makes Everything Else Work, with Dr. Kim Van Dusen 10.06.2026 1t 4min

  Does play feel like one more thing you don’t have time for? This episode will change that. Parenting coach Albiona Rakipi sits down with Dr. Kim Van Dusen — registered play therapist and author of Parenting Through Play — to break down what play actually is, why it reduces defiance and meltdowns, and how even the most non-playful parent can use it starting today. Dr. Kim shares the research behind why play-based parenting leads to better behavior, how to use play during the hardest transitions (bedtime, morning routines, mealtime, and getting out the door), why independent play is critical for children’s mental health, and practical strategies for the exhausted, overwhelmed parent who has nothing left to give. If you’re dealing with power struggles, tantrums, or a child who won’t listen — and you’re tired of it — this conversation is going to give you a completely different place to start.
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  Rewards Aren’t Bribes — And Anxiety Isn’t the Opposite of Calm 20.05.2026 28min

  Are rewards bad for kids? Is a sticker chart a bribe? And what do you do when your child gets so anxious about making a mistake that they stop trying altogether? Parenting coach Albiona Rakipi tackles both in this solo episode — and her take on both might surprise you. Albiona breaks down why rewards aren’t the problem — overusing them is — and walks through how to choose the right motivation for your child, when to use rewards intentionally, and how to fade them so the behavior sticks on its own. She also reframes childhood anxiety in a way that actually gives parents a path forward: the opposite of anxious isn’t calm, it’s self-trust. And building self-trust looks very different from telling your kid to just relax and try again. If your child shuts down after a mistake, avoids hard things, or only cooperates when something’s in it for them — this episode will help you see both patterns clearly and know what to do next.
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  You Can’t Regulate Your Kid If You Can’t Regulate Yourself — Here’s Where to Start 13.05.2026 23min

  Every parent wants to stay calm in the hard moments. The meltdowns, the arguments, the complete refusal to listen. But wanting to stay calm and actually knowing how to get there are two very different things. In this solo episode, Albiona breaks down what it really means to be a regulated parent — and why it’s the foundation everything else is built on. This one is practical. Albiona walks through her four-step PAR process (Pause, Acknowledge, Respond, Reflect), the two reasons most parents can’t access regulation in the moment, and how having a clear plan changes the entire dynamic — for you and your child.
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  Your Brain Isn’t Broken — It’s Becoming - The Truth About the Postpartum Brain with Dr. Nicole Pensak 06.05.2026 52min

  Feeling foggy, anxious, or completely unlike yourself after having a baby? You’re not losing your mind — you’re going through one of the most significant neurological shifts of your life. In this episode, Albiona sits down with Dr. Nicole Pensak, Harvard and Yale-trained clinical psychologist and author of Rattled: How to Calm New Mom Anxiety with the Power of the Postpartum Brain, to unpack what’s actually happening in the postpartum brain — and why the reframe matters. Dr. Nikki breaks down matrescence (the developmental phase of becoming a mother), the real science behind mom brain, how to recognize when you need support, and why “bouncing back” is the wrong goal entirely. She also shares the single most protective thing a partner can do in the first three months and practical steps every expecting parent should take before the baby arrives. Whether you’re pregnant, newly postpartum, or still processing the identity shift of motherhood years later — this conversation will make you feel seen, supported, and a whole lot less alone.
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  Why Kids Don’t Listen — And How to Fix It Without Yelling 29.04.2026 22min

  Does it feel like your child only listens when you yell? You’re not alone — and you’re not failing. In this episode, parenting coach Albiona Rakipi breaks down one of the most common struggles parents face and reframes it completely: your child isn’t defiant, and you’re not a bad parent. What you have is a defective pattern — and patterns can always be changed. Albiona walks you through exactly how kids learn to tune out directions, why strong-willed children negotiate and push limits, and what you can do instead of repeating yourself into frustration. You’ll learn how to identify the pattern you’ve accidentally created, set clear expectations your child can actually respond to, and follow through calmly — without threats, without yelling, and without the emotional spiral. If you’re parenting a child who doesn’t listen, argues back, or seems to only respond when you lose your cool, this episode will give you a practical, judgment-free path forward.
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  How to Look for Signs & Talk to Kids About Death & Grief with Jenny Robinson Clark 25.03.2026 39min

  Your child asks where Grandma went. You freeze. What are you supposed to say when you're barely holding it together yourself? This is one of the questions I get asked most often, and I'll be honest—it's one of the hardest conversations we can have as parents. Not because there's a "right" way to do it, but because we're usually navigating our own grief while trying to shield our kids from pain. Except that's not actually what helps them. In this episode, I sit down with Jenny Robinson Clark, author of the children's book Are You Here?, to talk about grief, loss, and something I think we don't talk about enough—the signs our loved ones send us from the other side. Jenny lost her mom (Gigi) to cancer after a 10-year battle. Instead of hiding her grief from her kids, she walked through it with them—openly, messily, and with this willingness to stay connected to her mom in a completely new way. Her kids started seeing signs from Gigi everywhere. Dragonflies. Ladybugs. Rainbows in the most unexpected places. And here's what I love about this conversation: it's not heavy in the way you might expect. It's actually deeply comforting. Jenny talks about how spirituality became her anchor, how Are You Here? became this co-creative process with her mom (the book literally came to her at 3am as a message), and why talking to our kids about death—even when we're falling apart—is one of the most important things we can do. We also get into why kids are naturally more connected to the other side than adults, how Jenny reframed the word "loss" (because our loved ones aren't lost—we know exactly where they are), and why trying to perform the "right" answer about death actually makes our kids feel more alone. If you've been avoiding this conversation because you don't know what to say, this episode will give you the language, the permission, and honestly, the comfort to finally have it.
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  Stop Rescuing Your Kids: How to Build Frustration Tolerance & Resilience 18.03.2026 21min

  Does your toddler or preschooler have a complete meltdown every time you say it's time to stop playing? Tantrum during transitions from fun activities to tasks they don't want to do? Struggle with frustration the moment something feels hard? What if constantly rescuing your child from discomfort—zipping their coat when they struggle, letting them go first to avoid a meltdown, stepping in to fix every problem—is actually preventing them from building the exact skills they need? In this solo episode, Albiona introduces the concept of stretching—intentionally pushing kids (and ourselves) into areas where they feel slightly uneasy or challenged. Not to be mean. Not to traumatize them. But because that's where resilience lives. That's where frustration tolerance builds. That's where confidence grows. And it's the only way through. Albiona breaks down why kids engage in undesired behaviors like transition tantrums, meltdowns when things feel hard, or refusing to do non-preferred tasks (hint: they're missing a skill), how to use scaffolding to meet them where they are while still stretching them toward growth, and why helicopter parenting and constantly rescuing kids actually makes them more fragile—not safer. She also addresses the fear many parents have: "But what if I'm being too harsh? What if I'm not being empathetic enough?" The answer: perfect parenting doesn't mean happy kids all the time. It means raising kids who can tolerate discomfort, handle frustration, accept outcomes they don't like, and bounce back from hard things. Albiona also turns the lens on adults—especially people-pleasers, overgivers, and parents who struggle to set boundaries. Where are you staying comfortable when you need to stretch? Whether it's saying no to family without guilt, setting boundaries with loved ones who take advantage, or negotiating your worth in business—stretching is how we grow. And growth requires discomfort. This episode is for parents who want to raise resilient, confident kids and become more resilient themselves.
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  Good Cop Bad Cop Parenting: How to Stop Fighting & Get on the Same Page 11.03.2026 17min

  Constantly arguing with your spouse about discipline? Does your partner undermine your parenting by being too permissive—or way too harsh? If you're stuck in the exhausting cycle of good cop/bad cop parenting where one of you is always the strict parent and the other is always the pushover, this episode is for you. In this solo episode, Albiona tackles one of the most common questions she gets in coaching: what do we do when our parenting styles clash and we just can't seem to agree? She introduces the concept of compensatory parenting—the pattern where parents unconsciously move toward extreme opposite parenting styles to make up for what they perceive as deficits in their partner's approach. Here's how it plays out: if one parent thinks the other is too soft and lets the kids get away with everything, they naturally double down and become stricter, harsher, more controlling. If the other parent thinks their partner is too critical and punishes too much, they overcompensate by becoming overly empathetic, over-explaining, and giving in when kids melt down. The result? Both parents move further away from the middle—and the middle is where your child's actual developmental and emotional needs live. Instead of parenting as a team focused on what the child needs, you're each reacting to what you think the other parent is doing wrong. Albiona breaks down how to recognize compensatory parenting, why it pulls you away from responding to your child's real needs, and how to find the middle ground where you're both focused on the child instead of correcting each other. She also gives you the exact framework that works for both strict parents and permissive parents—so you can finally stop fighting and start co-parenting effectively. This is a quick, practical episode for any couple stuck in the cycle of parenting against each other instead of parenting together.
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  Episode 86: How to Handle Teenage Disrespect & Defiance with Dr. Cam Caswell 04.03.2026 1t

  Struggling with a difficult teenager who rolls their eyes, refuses to listen, and shuts you out every time you try to connect? What if the eye rolls, the attitude, and the talking back aren't signs of disrespect—but your teen's dysregulated cry for help? In this game-changing conversation, Albiona sits down with Dr. Cameron Caswell—affectionately known as "The Teen Translator"—an adolescent psychologist and parent coach who helps frustrated parents turn power struggles into connection. Dr. Cam brings over 20 years of experience, a PhD in Developmental Psychology, and real-life wisdom as a single mom to a teen herself. This episode dismantles every stereotype you've ever heard about raising teenagers. Dr. Cam explains why the behaviors we label as "disrespectful," "entitled," or "defiant" are actually signs of healthy development—and how our fear-based reactions are creating the exact problems we're trying to prevent. If you're parenting a preteen or teen who won't talk to you, pushes every boundary, or seems to have zero respect for authority, this is essential listening. Dr. Cam gives you the language shifts, mindset reframes, and practical strategies to stop reacting and start connecting—so you can raise a teen who actually wants to talk to you when things get hard.
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  Emotion Regulation vs. Nervous System Regulation 18.02.2026 31min

  What if the secret to managing your parenting triggers isn't about finding the perfect words—but about calming your body first? In this solo episode, Albiona breaks down the difference between emotion regulation and nervous system regulation—two terms that get used interchangeably but are actually completely different. And here's the thing: you need both, in the right order, to show up as the parent you want to be. Albiona explains why your nervous system has to regulate before your emotions can—and what happens when you skip that crucial first step (spoiler: you become reactive). She walks you through the science, gives you practical tools you can use in the moment, and explains how this same process applies to your kids. This is essential listening for any parent who's ever felt hijacked by their own reaction and wondered why the "right words" just wouldn't come.
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  Parenting the Spicy Ones with Mary Van Geffen 11.02.2026 44min

  What if your "difficult" child isn't the problem—but rather your greatest teacher? In this candid, laugh-out-loud conversation, Albiona sits down with Mary Van Geffen, international parenting coach and author of Parenting a Spicy One, to talk about raising strong-willed, spirited, deeply feeling kids—the ones who refuse to fit the mold, challenge every rule, and bring their parents to their knees. Mary opens up about her own experience with her daughter, whom she once saw as a "bad seed" before realizing she was actually raising a powerhouse CEO in the making. This episode is for any parent who's ever felt defeated, misunderstood, or like they're failing because their child won't just "behave." This isn't about fixing your kid. It's about healing yourself first—so you can show up as the regulated, delighted, grounded parent your spicy one needs.
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  The One Fear That Stops Us All—And How to Move Through It 04.02.2026 24min

  What if the biggest thing standing between you and the life you want isn't talent, time, or opportunity—but the fear of being seen? In this candid solo episode, Albiona shifts away from parenting to share the advice she gives most often to aspiring creators, business owners, and anyone looking to step into something new. Whether you're thinking about starting a podcast, growing on social media, asking for a raise, or finally setting that boundary—this conversation is for you. Albiona opens up about her own journey from zero followers to building The Parenting Reframe, the gremlins that tried to stop her, and the one universal fear that shows up for everyone: the fear of being seen.