Hey hey, friends! It’s Andee, and today’s episode is a little different—think of it like a sneak peek, a love note, and a call to reimagine how you parent—all wrapped into one.

After a 5-hour IKEA run...someone please tell me why that place is both magical and exhausting. I decided to release this episode instead of what I had originally planned. I felt a tug to share this 10-minute excerpt from the Listening Lab workshop I taught earlier this week.

Why? Because the feedback I got after teaching it made me stop in my tracks. This was a deep dive into the real, research-backed heart of Connect Method Parenting - attachment theory, emotional maturity, and how to lead with strength and softness.

In this little preview, you’ll hear why:

• Togetherness is more essential than food and water (for real—it’s neuroscience, not fluff),
• Why you’re a gardener, not a sculptor (so much freedom here!), and
• What it really means to choose closeness in the chaos (even when they’re tantrum-ing at max volume).

If you’ve ever wondered what’s underneath the Connect Method Parenting approach—or why your child’s behavior is more about connection than correction—this is your sign to listen in.

And if this snippet resonates, the full workshop is packed with even more goodness. You can grab it here: https://cmp.works/listen

Wishing you sunshine, secure attachment, and at least one moment of peace today. You’ve got this, and I’m cheering you on.

xo, Andee

Next Steps: Leave a review if you've been enjoying the CMP Podcast

My Book: https://cmp.works/1xs

My IG: https://cmp.works/ista

Let’s be real for a second…

Tantrums are loud.
Messy.
Embarrassing.
And if you’re anything like me, they’ve probably made you question your entire parenting strategy more than once.

But what if a meltdown isn’t something to “fix” or “stop”?
What if it’s actually your child’s nervous system waving a white flag saying,
“This is too much—I need help.”

In this episode, I’m breaking down the real reason behind tantrums, emotional outbursts, and “off-track” behavior—and how to show up with calm, confidence, and connection (instead of panic, bribes, or shame).

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Why your child’s meltdown is NOT a parenting failure (yours or theirs)
• What’s actually happening in your child’s brain and body during a tantrum
• How to respond without rushing in to fix, stop, or distract
• Why frustration is a necessary part of emotional development
• A grocery store tantrum story that will make you feel instantly less alone 🙃
• What science tells us about the power of crying (yep, even the chemistry of tears)
• How to help your child go from “mad” to “sad”—and then back to calm

By the end of this episode, you’ll feel more grounded, more compassionate, and way more confident in your ability to support your child through the storm without losing yourself in it.

This isn’t about stopping meltdowns.
It’s about learning what to do when they come—because they will.

And now, you’ll be ready.

See you inside,
Andee

Next Steps: Leave a review if you've been enjoying the CMP Podcast

My Book: https://cmp.works/1xs

My IG: https://cmp.works/ista

Hey hey!!!

Let’s rip the Band-Aid off: you’re not exhausted because you’re doing it wrong. You’re exhausted because you’ve been sold a lie.

A big one.

In this episode, we’re going all in on the hidden belief that keeps moms stuck in burnout:

👉 “Once I fix the problem, I’ll finally feel better.”

You know the one.
“If the house would just stay clean…”
“If bedtime didn’t take an hour…”
“If my kids would stop fighting…”
Then you could finally exhale.

But here’s the truth: your life was never meant to be problem-free.

We dive into:

• The reason you're actually tired (hint: it's not just your kids)
• Why trying to “arrive” at peace is making everything harder
• How to stop resisting emotional discomfort and start understanding it
• A step-by-step breakdown of the STEAR model for emotional awareness
• My very real story about getting completely triggered over... grass (yes, grass)
• The shift that happens when you stop trying to fix your life and start living it

This episode is part pep talk, part truth serum, and part workshop, packed with journal prompts to help you untangle the exhaustion at its root.

If you’ve ever thought, “Why am I still feeling this way when I’m trying so hard?”
This one’s for you.

You’re not failing. You’re just human. And that’s not only okay, it’s beautiful.

Let’s dig in.

Next Steps: Leave a review if you've been enjoying the CMP Podcast

My Book: https://cmp.works/1xs

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Your kids have selective hearing, right? Like, they can hear a candy wrapper from three rooms away but somehow can't hear "please clean your room" when you're standing RIGHT THERE?

Here's the thing nobody's telling you: The reason your kids won't listen has NOTHING to do with your volume, your consequences, or that fancy reward chart you spent 3 hours making on Pinterest.

(I see you, crafty parent. I've been there. Mine had glitter. SO much glitter.)

The real reason? Brace yourself...

They don't feel heard. By YOU.

I KNOW. I KNOW. Your brain just went "But Andee, I'M the one talking to a brick wall here!"

Stay with me, this is where it gets good.

In this game-changing episode, I'm spilling ALL the tea about:

• Why that mom who came to me with a grunting 14-year-old is now getting hour-long heart-to-hearts (no, really!)
• The mortifying moment my kid said "Mom, I just need you to listen" and changed EVERYTHING
• The backwards solution that sounds bananas but actually works (science says so!)
• How I went from Lecture Queen to Actually-My-Kids-Tell-Me-Stuff Mom

But here's the kicker...

When YOU master listening first? Your kids start WANTING to hear what you have to say. Like, voluntarily. Without bribes. Without threats. Without you turning into Scary Mommy Voice™. Wild, right?

Quick story time: Remember when I told you about interrupting my kid after 18 seconds? (Eighteen! Seconds! The researchers weren't wrong, y'all.) Well, after implementing what I'm teaching in The Listening Lab, that same kid - now an adult, tells me EVERYTHING. The good, the bad, the "Mom, don't freak out but..."

And I don't freak out. Because I learned The Thing.

This workshop is your jam if:

• You've said "How many times do I have to tell you?!" in the last 24 hours
• Your kids' eyes glaze over the second you open your mouth
• You're SO over being the Nagging Parent™
• You're ready to try something that sounds backwards but actually works

What you're getting:

• One simple tool (just ONE! Because who has brain space for 47 steps?)
• 90 minutes that'll change how you show up forever
• My "Three L Method"
• The secret to becoming the parent your kid WANTS to talk to

The deets: 📅 Live workshop on Zoom (or catch the replay if bedtime wins) 💰 Just $7 (less than that fancy coffee you need because your kids won't listen) 📚 Digital workbook included (no glitter required) 🎯 Register at: https://cmp.works/listen

Look, I could keep talking about the research and the neuroscience and the attachment theory (and I do touch on it because #sciencenerd), but here's what you really need to know:

Your kids WANT to listen to you. They WANT that connection. They just need to feel heard first.

Backwards? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely. Worth 90 minutes of your time? You tell me - but that parent with the grunting teenager sure thinks so.

Come join me. Let's revolutionize your home one listening session at a time.

xo, Andee

PS - Yes, this works on spicy kids too. Especially spicy kids. Trust me on this one.

PPS - Still skeptical? Good. Bring that energy. I love a good challenge. See you there! 💕

PPPS - Did I mention it's only $7? Because seriously. Skip one overpriced latte and change your entire parent-child dynamic. Best ROI ever.

Next Steps: Leave a review if you've been enjoying the CMP Podcast

My Book: https://cmp.works/1xs

My IG: https://cmp.works/ista

You know those moments when your kids are going at it—screaming, grabbing, storming off—and you’re standing there thinking, “WHAT is even happening right now?”

Been there. More times than I can count.

In today’s episode, we’re talking all about sibling rivalry, emotional outbursts, and how to respond in a way that actually helps—not just in the moment, but long-term. I’m breaking it down into three parts:

• The Foundation: Why connection is the real cure for conflict—and how sadness (yes, even those bedtime tears) is a sign that things are actually working.
• In the Moment: What to do when kids are fighting, melting down, or just generally acting like small emotional tornadoes. (Spoiler: Teaching a lesson mid-meltdown doesn’t work. And it’s okay. There’s a better way.)
• After the Storm: How to revisit things after the emotions have settled and help your child grow their emotional muscles in ways that stick.

I’ll share stories from my own family (yes, including the time my kid knocked over the baby in a car seat 😳), client experiences, and simple tools you can use right away.

This one’s for you if you’ve ever said:

• “I can’t even leave the room without them fighting.”
• “They just won’t stop hitting each other.”
• “These tears every night are exhausting.”

We’re flipping the script today, my friend. Big feelings aren’t the enemy—they’re the beginning of healing. 💛

Grab a cozy drink, take a deep breath, and come sit with me. We’re doing the work that really matters.

Love,
Andee

Next Steps: Leave a review if you've been enjoying the CMP Podcast

My Book: https://cmp.works/1xs

My IG: https://cmp.works/ista

What do you do when the sticker charts work… but they don’t feel right?

In today’s episode, I’m inviting you behind the scenes of a real coaching call with a brave, thoughtful CMP parent who’s wrestling with something we all face: the tension between loving connection and firm limits—especially when it comes to bedtime, behavior charts, and consequences that seem to work (but don’t sit well in your gut).

We talk about what to do when your child comes out of their room twenty times after lights out, how to set firm limits without flipping into frustration or giving in, and why rewards and consequences often miss the mark (even when they look effective in the short term).

If you’ve ever felt torn between being the calm, connected parent you want to be, and just wanting your kid to stay in their room already—this episode is for you.

Inside, you’ll hear us explore:

• How to hold boundaries from compassion instead of control
• Why developmental insight changes everything about "consequences"
• The sneaky ways we think we’re doing “nothing” when we’re actually doing the most important work
• A new lens for sticker charts, bedtime resistance, and behavior at school
• How to be the “tuning fork” that helps your child feel safe and settle (even if you’re tired and done)

This is real-life parenting in action—messy, meaningful, and full of the kind of nuance that doesn’t make the parenting books.

Come listen in. I think you’ll feel seen, inspired, and ready to set limits with more love and less fear.

xo, Andee

Next Steps: Leave a review if you've been enjoying the CMP Podcast

My Book: https://cmp.works/1xs

My IG: https://cmp.works/ista

Your child just slammed their door (again), and every parenting book on your shelf is screaming "CONSEQUENCE!" But what if the secret to cooperation isn't control—it's curiosity?

🔑 Key Takeaways:

The Paradigm Shift

• You're not a sculptor designing your child—you're a shepherd guiding them
• Kids have 400+ psychological traits influenced by genetics (mind = blown 🤯)
• Togetherness is to kids what oxygen is to a flame

Why Curiosity Changes Everything

• Interrupts your autopilot reactions
• Lowers defenses (yours AND theirs)
• Creates the safety where real growth happens
• "You only listen to people you trust"

The Pause-Wonder-Connect Formula Real scripts for when:

• Your kid hits their sibling
• They lie to your face
• They won't listen after the 17th request

What This Is NOT:

• ❌ Becoming a doormat
• ❌ Having no boundaries
• ✅ Holding limits with warmth
• ✅ Stopping behavior while staying curious

Real Stories That Will Give You Chills:

• The water bottle incident that led to breakthrough healing
• The 8-year-old who said: "Don't they know we don't do timeouts? You just hold my hand and listen... and then I want to do what you say."

Age-Specific Scripts:

• Toddler meltdowns at Target
• School-age homework battles
• Teen eye-rolls and door slams

Journal Prompts to Try This Week:

1. When do I feel the urge to fix instead of understand?
2. Which behaviors trigger me most? What might that say about MY nervous system?
3. What's one phrase from today I can try this week?

Challenge: Pick ONE moment this week to pause and ask: "What if nothing's gone wrong here?"

💫 Remember:

• Maturity isn't taught—it's grown
• Your child doesn't need a better lecture, they need a better listener
• Nature doesn't need your control, she needs your trust

Next Steps: Leave a review if you've been enjoying the CMP Podcast

My Book: https://cmp.works/1xs

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Okay. Deep breath. Can we get REAL for a sec? 👀

You know that moment when your kid loses it (again) and your brain goes:

"THAT'S IT! No screen time for a WEEK!"

Then 10 minutes later you're like:

"Wait... a whole week? That punishes ME. Maybe just today? Or... ugh, forget it."

Yeah. THAT.

That exhausting mental ping-pong game? Where you bounce between Drill Sergeant and Doormat?

It's not just you. And it's not your fault.

But holy moly, it IS fixable. (Stick with me here...)

🍫 So picture this: Last week, my kid's friend drops off my kryptonite - chocolate-covered cinnamon bears. THREE DAYS LATER? Empty package. Evidence destroyed. Shame spiral activated.

But while I was elbow-deep in bears, oscillating between "I'm NEVER eating sugar again!" and "Well, I already ruined today so..."

It. Hit. Me. 🤯

We do the EXACT same thing with parenting.

All. Or. Nothing. Strict. Or. Permissive. Consequences. Or. Chaos.

Sound familiar? (Please say yes so I feel less alone here...)

In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on:

✨ The "Middle Way" nobody taught us (spoiler: it exists and it's MAGICAL)

💣 Why everything you learned about discipline is based on PIGEON TRAINING (I'm not even kidding)

🎭 The Shakespeare Meltdown Miracle - how my daughter went from full rage to memorizing TWO monologues in 20 minutes (no bribes required)

💨 The Baby Powder Blizzard of 2007 - aka the disaster that changed my entire parenting philosophy

But here's what you REALLY need to know:

That fear in your gut? The one that whispers "If I don't punish this, they'll never learn"?

It's. Not. True.

Your kids don't need more consequences. They need YOU.

The real you. The one who can hold a boundary WITHOUT turning into a dictator. The one who can stay connected even when they're being little tornados of destruction.

Quick reality check time:

• Timeouts? They're basically saying "I only love the good parts of you" 😬
• That "teach them a lesson" mentality? It's like trying to fix withered apples by putting ointment on them (stay with me, this analogy is gold)
• Those kids who "behave" from consequences? They're not learning respect. They're learning fear.

But imagine this instead:

Your kid melts down. You stay calm. (WHAT?!) They get mad. You get curious. (HOW?!) They push limits. You hold them with love. (IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE?!)

YES!

Here's what we're unpacking:

• The Seen & Heard framework (your new secret weapon)
• Why my Grandpa Jay could get 50 kids to work 12-hour days with ZERO bribes
• The GETT Plan that saved my sanity (and my daughter's kindness)
• Real scenarios with ACTUAL middle-ground solutions (not theory, REAL LIFE)

Once you find that middle ground...

Your kids will:

• Actually WANT to listen (without threats)
• Feel safer to share their struggles
• Stop the power struggles (mostly... they're still kids 😅)

Your tiny homework: Just notice ONE time this week when your brain goes "It's either X or Y!" That's it. Just notice. No fixing required. (See? Middle ground already!)

All my love (and solidarity in the parenting trenches), Andee 💕

Next Steps: Leave a review if you've been enjoying the CMP Podcast

My Book: https://cmp.works/1xs

My IG: https://cmp.works/ista