Are parents more judged than ever? This eye-opening conversation e tackles the quiet shame and loud opinions parents face every day — from their partners, their own parents, in-laws, friends, and especially the online world. Andrew and Caroline dig into the everyday moments that spark doubt, the awkward birthday parties, the unsolicited advice, and why the loudest voices often come from the most insecure places. With laughs, lived stories, and a challenge to step back from the noise, this episode is a must for every parent who's ever second-guessed themselves. Come for the diaper explosions, stay for the sanity-saving truths. Homework Ideas Check your parenting compass: Write down three values that matter most to you as a parent. Let those guide your choices — not outside voices. Play “Parent Role Reversal”: Try parenting for a week as if you were your co-parent. Are you usually the “fun one”? Try being firmer. More structured? Try leaning into flexibility. Talk about what worked (and what didn’t). Practice Connection Over CorrectionPractice staying grounded in connection — even when you’re dealing with tough parenting moments. Complete the following and keep it on the fridge, in your car, or folded in your wallet. It’s for you, your values, and your kids. Calm-Down Conversation Starters (Use when emotions are high — for both you and your child.)“Let’s take a minute together. I’m here.” “This is hard right now. You’re not in trouble. Let’s figure it out.” “We’re on the same team. What do you need from me right now?” “I need a minute to calm myself, and then we’ll talk.” Check-In Prompts (Ask yourself before responding.) Am I reacting from fear, embarrassment, or pressure? What does my child need right now — not just what I want them to do? Is this about them… or about how I’m feeling? Will this teach them something helpful? Accountability Without Shame (Help your child take responsibility while keeping their dignity intact.) “I saw what happened — tell me what was going on for you.” “That choice didn’t work. Let’s think about a better way for next time.” “You don’t have to be perfect. You do have to try again.” “What do you think needs to happen now to make things right?” Define Your Parenting Non-Negotiables (Write down your top 3 values to guide tough decisions.) 1. _________________________________________ 2. _________________________________________ 3. _________________________________________ Anchor Phrase (Write your own!) This is your go-to reminder in the middle of chaos. Something short that brings you back to what matters. “My anchor phrase is: _________________________________________” Keep this close. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to show up, stay steady, and stay human. Enjoying the show? Help us out by rating us on Apple! https://apple.co/3du8mPK Follow us on Facebook and join our Facebook Community! Access resources, get support from other parents, and ask Caroline and Andrew your questions! Follow FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566206651235and FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/674563503855526
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48:02
167. Are we focusing on what really matters in parenting?
Can AI parent better than a human? In this hilarious, sharp-edged episode of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Caroline pit artificial intelligence against real-life parenting—complete with emotional chaos, screen time battles, and accidental forest bathing. Caroline reacts to a parenting philosophy generated by AI that sounds suspiciously familiar… This episode dives into emotional safety, respecting brain development, discipline as teaching, and why “raising a kind adult” should matter more than perfect behaviour.Homework Ideas:Try the “5 Mississippi Rule”: When your kid is melting down, silently count 5 Mississippis before you say or do anything. Let their brain catch up.Reflect on tech boundaries: Are you co-watching and co-playing, or defaulting to digital babysitting?Practice Connection Over Correction: Validate your child’s emotions before correcting their behaviour. Conversation Starters After ConflictTo help reconnect and rebuild trust without blame“That was a tough moment. Want to talk about what happened now or later?”“I can tell that really got big for both of us. How are you feeling now?”“I’m still on your team—even when things go sideways.”“I want to understand what was going on for you. Can you help me see it from your side?”“Let’s figure this out together. What do you wish had gone differently?”“Is there anything I could’ve done differently to help?”“What do you need from me right now?”A Guide to Accountability Without ShameHelp your child own their actions and make things right without crushing their spiritStart with Safety“You’re not in trouble. Let’s talk about what happened so we can learn from it.”Name the Impact“What do you think your sister felt when that happened?”Get Curious, Not Critical“What was going on for you before that happened?”“What were you trying to express?”Repair, Don’t Lecture“How do you want to make this better?”Reinforce Growth“It’s okay to mess up. What matters is how we show up afterward.”“You’re learning. That’s what this is all about.”Enjoying the show? Help us out by rating us on Apple! https://apple.co/3du8mPK Follow us on Facebook and join our Facebook Community! Access resources, get support from other parents, and ask Caroline and Andrew your questions! Follow FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566206651235and FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/674563503855526
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25:18
166. How do you help kids bounce back after a public mistake?
What do you do when your kid makes a bad call in front of everyone—and the fallout is social exile? In this episode, Andrew and Caroline talk about how to help kids bounce back after a social slip-up. From middle-of-the-playground impulsivity to being labeled the “bad kid,” they dig into how to support kids when they mess up, without adding shame, and how to guide them through social pressure without rescuing or lecturing. This episode is packed with strategies to help your child bounce back from social slip-ups, hold boundaries, and stay connected—all while building emotional resilience.Homework Idea Validation Before FixingWhen your child messes up, pause and simply say, “That’s hard. I get why this feels awful.” No lectures. Just presence.Repair Plan: Ask, “What do you want to do next?” Support them in taking ownership without taking over.Reflective JournalingAfter a tough moment, write down:What happened (facts only)What your child felt (ask, don’t assume)What you did in responseWhat worked, what didn’t, and what you’ll try next timeEnjoying the show? Help us out by rating us on Apple! https://apple.co/3du8mPK Follow us on Facebook and join our Facebook Community! Access resources, get support from other parents, and ask Caroline and Andrew your questions! Follow FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566206651235and FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/674563503855526
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26:10
165. Are you parenting with confidence? Or just faking it?
What does it mean to be a confident parent—when none of us really know what we’re doing? In this episode, Andrew and Caroline get candid about real-life parenting moments, what it takes to make good decisions in the chaos, and how to anchor parenting choices to your values—not social media. They explore what confidence actually looks like, how to stay grounded when things don’t go to plan, and why reconnecting to who you are outside of parenting is one of the best gifts you can give your kids. This is for every parent who’s ever second-guessed themselves, googled too many things, or just needed to hear, “You're doing okay.” Homework Ideas ✅ Create a Parenting Mission Statement Clarify your values and goals as a parent and create a mission statement to guide your parenting. Are your daily decisions aligning with those? Here are some prompts to think about to help you get started. What 3 values do I want to guide my parenting decisions? What kind of human do I hope my child becomes? (e.g., kind, resilient, independent) What are 1–2 red lines (non-negotiables) in our home? What daily decisions or routines can I shift to better reflect these values? How do I want my child to describe me when they grow up? If you haven't listened to our very first episode, What is your philosophy as a parent?, be sure to check it out for more ideas!✅ Reflection Journal Prompt End the day with these questions: What felt good in my parenting today?What felt hard?How did I handle a moment of conflict or frustration? What did I learn?What do I want to try again—or differently—tomorrow? How did I stay connected to my values this week? ✅ Family Check-In Plan If you implement a new plan (e.g., re: screens, curfews, etc.), start a weekly check-in to review how it’s going. Set clear expectations together, and stick to the plan calmly—not in the heat of the moment. Enjoying the show? Help us out by rating us on Apple! https://apple.co/3du8mPK Follow us on Facebook and join our Facebook Community! Access resources, get support from other parents, and ask Caroline and Andrew your questions! Follow FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566206651235and FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/674563503855526
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34:54
164. Can you parent without losing yourself along the way?
What happens when your kid’s wild night out turns into a parent’s unexpected moment of pride? In this episode of Parents of the Year, we dig into something deep: What happens to our identity as parents when the kids start growing up and heading out? We talk about losing ourselves in parenting, struggling to find hobbies again, and the messy, honest journey of reclaiming who we are outside of being “Mom” or “Dad.” Real stories, real laughs, and some hard-hitting questions about what comes after the parenting hustle. Homework Ideas Journal Prompts: What parts of “me” have gone quiet, were left behind or put on hold in the parenting years? What would it look like to bring some of those back? When do I feel most like myself?What activities or hobbies used to bring me joy before parentingWhat are things I would love to try?What have I always said I’d do ‘when I had more time’?What do I want the next few years to look and feel like, just for me? Couple Chat: With your partner, pick one of the following (or other ideas you have!) then commit to one small thing to try again in the next month. What (3 things) did we used to love doing together?What do we miss (and want to bring back)?What’s something new we’ve always talked about trying?Create a "Next Chapter" Bucket List: Write out 10 things you want to do, learn, or explore for yourself as the kids become more independent. These don’t have to be big—they just have to matter to you. Values Check-In: Highlight the 3-5 values that feel most important to you right now. Then write HOW you could live each value more fully. Examples include - Connection - Growth - Adventure - Creativity - Peace - Wellness - Contribution - Curiosity - Fun - Autonomy Create Your Plan: Using what you’ve written above, fill this in: This month, I will… This week, I will… Today, I can… ·Enjoying the show? Help us out by rating us on Apple! https://apple.co/3du8mPK Follow us on Facebook and join our Facebook Community! Access resources, get support from other parents, and ask Caroline and Andrew your questions! Follow FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566206651235and FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/674563503855526
We were never given a manual on how to parent. It is easy to get overwhelmed to know the right thing to do. There is so much contradictory information out there and everyone has their own advice. Parenting is a rewarding but messy, confusing, infuriating, guilt-inducing, and overwhelming journey. While it's easy to get lost, Andrew Stewart, a real dad, and Dr. Caroline Buzanko, a real mom, child psychologist, and parenting expert (who also happens to be married to Andrew) will help you get back on track. In each episode, Andrew and Caroline have open and honest chats about everything parenting. Join them in honesty, laughter, and tears (Caroline is a bit of a cry baby) as they help you navigate this journey of parenting. And, every so often, you may get some gems of expert advice. Our goal is to make your parenting journey less stressful, more forgiving, and more awesome. Please join us every Wednesday for new episodes of Parenting of the Year.
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