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
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25:50
163. How do you help kids follow through without nagging?
Helping Kids Follow Through—Without Nagging or FightingIt’s one thing to want kids to take initiative—getting their learner’s permit, challenging an unfair grade, picking up a new skill—but it’s a whole other thing when our "help" just gets ignored (or explodes into a full meltdown).In this episode of Parents of the Year, Caroline and Andrew share stories and practical strategies to help kids tackle challenges without pushing them away. From setting goals to managing anxiety around tests, we share ways to guide your kids without nagging, lectures, or power struggles.Tune in for:· How to set a goal without it backfiring· Why open-ended questions are your secret weapon· When (and how) to offer advice without triggering shutdowns· Helping anxious kids build confidence, one step at a time· Why letting kids own the “how” makes all the differenceListen now and find out how to stay connected — even when your kids resist every suggestion you make!Homework IdeasPractice Open-Ended Questions Instead of giving advice, try asking:“What’s your plan for getting ready for the test?”“How did you get good at ____? What could you borrow from that?”“What kind of support would be helpful?”Set a Gentle Deadline Collaboratively pick a realistic date (e.g., for a test, learner’s permit, etc.). Ask if they want help working backward to create a plan — but only if they want it.Watch and Wait After offering support, step back. Let them come back to you when they're ready — even if it's hard!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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16:15
162. Should you step in or let peer pressure handle it (i.e., personal hygiene)?
In this episode of Parents of the Year, we're getting real about kids, hygiene, and how much of it is your job — and how much might be better left to peer pressure.From stinky kids turning into fashion divas overnight, to whether you should keep nagging about teeth-brushing, Andrew and Caroline share stories and smart strategies that meet kids where they’re at. If you’ve ever wrestled with letting go, setting limits, or just figuring out when to step in, you’ll love this honest take on growing up... and letting them grow up, too. Homework Challenge:Pick one hygiene habit your child needs to own (e.g., brushing teeth, putting on deodorant, changing clothes).Let them choose how they want to take responsibility for it. No nagging — just offer brainstorming support if they want it.Try helping them pair the habit with something they already do daily (like peeing = deodorant).Hold the boundary if it affects you (e.g., "You can go to school stinking, but if you're watching TV with me, you need to be clean.")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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14:48
161. Would you rather? Parenting edition
Would you rather.... a toddler’s meltdown at 30,000 feet or a diaper disaster at Costco? This week, Andrew and Caroline get a little personal as they tackle the parenting would-you-rather game that nobody asked for—but everyone secretly needs. From sketchy chopstick translations to deep dives on failure, independence, parenting regrets, and co-parenting with someone you can't stand, this episode mixes honest laughs with real talk about raising kids today... and surviving it yourself.Listen now — your inner tired parent will thank you. Homework IdeasThink about your parenting “Would You Rather” Pick 3 “Would You Rather” questions from the episode and talk about them with your partner.· Where are you aligned?· Where are you totally different?· What does it say about your approach to parenting?Enter their quality worldChoose one activity this week to fully enter your kid’s “quality world” — show up with curiosity for something they love, even if you don’t. 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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