Show Notes
Parenting can feel overwhelming fast—especially when you know how you want to respond to your kids, but then someone isn't listening, emotions are high, you're trying to get out the door, and staying calm suddenly feels a whole lot harder.
In this episode, I sit down with Amanda Rodriguez, certified parent coach, former teacher, mom of two, and founder of Unconditional Connections. Amanda works with parents who want to yell less, feel more confident setting boundaries, better understand their children's behavior, and create strong, lasting connections with their kids.
Like so many parents, Amanda knows that understanding parenting tools is one thing—and actually using them in the middle of a meltdown, sibling fight, stressful morning, or bedtime battle is another. Through both her professional training and her own experience as a mom, she's learned how important it is to understand what's happening beneath a child's behavior while also recognizing what's happening inside of us as parents.
Together, we explore what's developmentally happening with young kids, why children can seem completely capable of something one day and struggle with it the next, and why our expectations don't always match what they're actually able to do in the moment.
Amanda also shares her practical "pregame, game time, and postgame" approach to parenting and explains why so much of successful boundary-setting actually happens before the challenging moment. We talk about collaborative problem-solving, helping kids build independence, and why connecting with your child doesn't mean giving up boundaries.
We also get into the parent side of the equation—why our kids' behavior can trigger such big reactions in us, how our own experiences influence the way we parent, and practical ways to regulate ourselves and shift the energy when everyone is starting to lose it.
In this episode, we cover:
• Why parents can feel powerless, overwhelmed, or guilty after yelling
• Why child development isn't always linear
• Understanding executive function and age-appropriate expectations
• How to set firm, loving boundaries while staying connected
• Amanda's "pregame, game time, and postgame" approach to parenting
• How collaborative problem-solving can help kids build independence
• Why connection should often come before correction
• What to do when siblings are fighting or emotions are escalating
• How our own triggers and experiences influence the way we parent
• Practical ways parents can regulate their own nervous systems
• How role-playing can prepare parents for challenging moments
• When individualized parent coaching may be helpful
One of the biggest reminders from this conversation is that parenting isn't about getting it right every single time. Our kids are still learning—and we're learning right alongside them.
If you've ever gone to bed feeling guilty about how you handled a parenting moment, wondered why your child isn't listening, or struggled to balance boundaries with the close relationship you want to have with your kids...
This episode will give you practical ways to think differently about those challenging moments and help you respond with more confidence and connection. Because sometimes a small shift in how we understand our kids—and ourselves—can make a big difference in how our families feel together.
Connect with Unconditional Connections:
Learn more about Banned Book Bingo here.
Connect with the Erie Wellness Podcast: