Episode 5: The Power Struggle Trap — How to Stop the Cycle Before It Starts

Episode Overview

If you have ever argued with your child about shoes, screen time, or brushing teeth, you already know how quickly a simple moment can turn into a full tug-of-war. In this episode of Raise Strong, you will learn why those battles happen, what is going on in your child’s brain (and yours), and the simple three-step method that helps you step out of the power struggle without giving up your boundaries.

This episode blends psychology, empathy, and practical tools that help you feel calmer, more confident, and more connected.

What You Will Learn Today

✔️ Why power struggles are really about safety, not behavior

✔️ How your child’s nervous system interprets “no” as a threat

✔️ Why your body reacts too, and how to calm it

✔️ The tug-of-war metaphor and how to drop the rope

✔️ The Step Back → Breathe → Rejoin method to stop escalation

✔️ How connection and choice turn conflict into cooperation

✔️ Five common traps adults fall into and how to avoid them

✔️ A simple weekly challenge you can use immediately

Key Takeaways1. Power struggles are a nervous system problem, not a discipline problem.

Your child digs in because they feel unsafe or powerless, and your body often reacts the same way.

2. The fastest way out of a power struggle is safety.

Calm leadership always beats force. Kids follow the safest leader, not the loudest one.

3. Step Back → Breathe → Rejoin

A simple three-step strategy that helps you regulate first, then reconnect, then guide.

4. Connection creates cooperation.

Validating feelings plus offering structured choices leads to less resistance and more collaboration.

This Week’s Challenge

Try dropping the rope once this week.

Notice a moment where you feel the pull of a struggle.

Pause.

Breathe.

Name the feeling you see.

Offer a simple choice.

Watch how the energy shifts when you shift first.

If you want phrases that prevent power struggles before they even start, grab the free guide at alexandersonkahl.com/start-here or tap the link in the show notes.

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