• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Authentic Parenting

Parenting from the heart

  • Home
  • Calm and Connected-6-week program
  • Start Here
  • Services
  • Speaking
  • Podcast
  • My Story
  • Contact
  • Court Ordered Parenting Classes

Who You Are Matters More Than What You Do

What if self awareness and personal development were the ways to improve your family life?

We are uncovering this question and so many more with guest Sarah Maclaughlin!!

Sarah shares what shapes a child is a combination of genes, environment and interactions. Parenting is the resilience training, the protective layer. Who we are as individuals affects who we show up as in our parenting role!!!! YES, Sarah you came in right off the bat with some inspiring perspectives, you all will LOVE this!

Can you think of a really impactful moment? Something that just made you believe and gave you hope? Or maybe another passing comment that shook you? Anna Seewald shares a comment that influenced her to jump into music! These seemingly small moments add up!

Navigating interdependence, and how we are wired for connection. Sarah mentions Dr. Brene Brown’s work, another person if you aren’t watching and listening to, RUN! She’s incredible!

Sarah brings home the point to be observant and responsive, the constant process of recalibrating. Just as you tackle a challenge another one pops up, finding appreciation in the dynamic process versus fearing it! Empowerment of evolution as an individual, parent or child. Sarah shares the length of relationship between parent and child, and the impactful side of processing grief of phases without projecting. Such as the huge leap from being the guiding mentor to coming alongside in an adult relationship.

Her number one piece of advice, don’t be mean. Read that again, Don’t. Be. Mean. Now let’s unpack…. we all make mistakes, we all have a moment of losing our cool, she lets us in on how to find focus and REPAIR. When the rupture occurs, and it WILL, what you model through repair will shape your children.

Here are some tools to get you to repair after you’ve stomped out, yelled, or slammed the door:

-Forgive. Reconnect to yourself first. Don’t place more guilt, forgive yourself. Don’t get stuck in that negative loop!
-Apologize. Heartfelt, eye level, in a close moment, with accountability. Wait longer if need be to able to genuinely connect.

That’s it! You can do this!

This right here is the model that they will take with them. This is how they learn to be accountable and make amends. These moments of “mistakes” can be POSITIVE! Taking a deep breath, conveying you are trying your best, and modeling self regulation.

About my guest

Sarah MacLaughlin is a licensed social worker, parent educator, and author of the award-winning, bestselling book, What Not to Say: Tools for Talking with Young Children. She’s obsessed with brain science and child development, and is passionate about advocating for kids and inspiring the adults who care for them to be the parents they want to be. When moms and dads understand themselves and their children better, everyone has more fun. Sarah has worked with children, youth, and parents for over 20 years and has extensive experience with blended, foster, and adoptive families. Sarah helps caregivers and parents see the bigger picture when it comes to child behavior. She lives in the woods of Maine with her husband and son; a tweenager who gives her plenty of opportunities to take her own advice.

Resources and links

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sarah’s first book, What NOT To Say: Tools for Talking with Young Children 

Sarah’s website

Follow her on Facebook

Follow her on Instagram

Support her campaign (watch her video) by pre-ordering her second book, Raising Humans with Heart

Other episodes you may like:

  1. Why “Hate” is Not a Bad Word [Monthly Special Episode]
  2. How To Parent As A Team Even When You Disagree [Monthly Special Episode]
  3. Why Kids Misbehave, How to Handle a Tricky Tech Issue and Ways to Deal with Nosy People [Monthly Special Episode]
  4. Why We Need to Stop Rescuing Our Kids [Monthly Special Episode]

Did you enjoy this episode?

Subscribe to Authentic Parenting Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts,  Spotify or if you have an Alexa, you can simply ask, “Alexa, open Authentic Parenting!”

Here is how you can subscribe to the podcast. Watch my quick video tutorial.

Please take a few minutes to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts or iTunes. Your feedback is valuable and it helps the growth of the show.

Here is how to do it. 

With gratitude,

Anna

Other Podcasts:

Why You Might Be Feeling Tired, Negative and Overwhelmed Overcoming Childhood Adversity authentic parenting podcast7 Things Raising a Child with Cerebral Palsy Has Taught Me The Japanese Way of Parenting

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: apology, epigenetics, influence, parenting, raising humans with heart, rapture, repair, Sarah MacLaughlin, self awareness, self regulation

Support the Show

Support for Authentic Parenting partly comes from listeners like you. We rely on your kind  donations to keep bringing you expert insights and valuable content every week. To make a one-time or monthly donation, click HERE. Thank you for your contribution!

 

Primary Sidebar

Recent Episodes

Reclaiming Your Inner Child: Heal the Past and Live Fully

June 10, 2025 By Anna Seewald

Are Unmet Needs from Your Childhood Holding You Back? Reclaim Your Inner Child Have you …

[Read More...] about Reclaiming Your Inner Child: Heal the Past and Live Fully

Teenager listening to music while staring into the distance, lost in thought

Want to Truly Connect With Your Teen? Start With Yourself

April 13, 2025 By Anna Seewald

Do you ever feel like your teen is drifting—lost in screens, giving you one-word answers, …

[Read More...] about Want to Truly Connect With Your Teen? Start With Yourself

Redefining Success: Finding Joy and Fulfillment in Parenting and Raising Resilient Kids

February 6, 2025 By Anna Seewald

Are you a parent constantly learning and growing alongside your children? Do you sometimes …

[Read More...] about Redefining Success: Finding Joy and Fulfillment in Parenting and Raising Resilient Kids

LIVE PODCAST EVENTS

https://youtu.be/DHXGfsrir9E?si=DRLT7s5uBgGeJ8ne

Authentic Parenting is a legally registered trademark. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2016 - 2025 · Authentic Parenting

Authentic Parenting