Feeling overwhelmed by all the “shoulds”? In this 3-minute Monday reset, Anya asks one simple but powerful question:

Are you climbing the right mountain?

If homeschool feels heavy, chaotic, or never “enough,” this episode helps you pause, breathe, and realign your path with what truly matters—to you and your child.

Key Takeaways:

1. You might be climbing the wrong “mountain” if your homeschool goals come from social media, not your heart.
2. More drills, programs, and Pinterest-perfect plans don’t equal better learning.
3. Success looks different for every family—especially yours.
4. The first step toward peace is awareness, not guilt.

Ask yourself this week: Is this the direction I actually want?

Ever walked into your living room only to find your kids have transformed it into a giant coloring book—with permanent markers?

In this episode, I share one of those real-life mama moments where school stress turned into wall art chaos… and how we used it as an invitation to pause instead of panic.

🔗 Full Episode Details Here»

You'll learn about MIA™—Mindful Intentional Anchor, a simple “Mommy & Me Tea Time” reset ritual that helps turn meltdowns into mindful moments. You’ll learn how a small, consistent anchor can shift the energy in your home from overwhelm to calm, even on the most chaotic back-to-school days.

Whether you’re dealing with wall scribbles, after-school meltdowns, or just the everyday noise of motherhood, this episode is here to remind you: the mess isn’t the end—it can be the beginning of connection.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The real story of how a “permanent marker disaster” became a breakthrough.
• What MIA™ reset is and how to make it part of your day.
• 3 simple ways to use tea time (or any ritual) to bring calm after chaos.
• Why small, mindful pauses matter more than perfection in parenting.

0:00 – Imagine coming home to a wall full of doodles [ on your wall] …

0:48 – Pin-poking frustration turns into chaos at home

1:32 – Permanent markers meet living room walls

2:05 – The Mommy & Me Tea Time reset: our first MIA™ moment

2:42 – From “oh no” to a calm ritual with tea

3:15 – Welcome to The Anya Garcia Show + why I left law for motherhood

4:00 – Parenting doesn’t come with a manual (and that’s okay)

4:45 – The truth: you don’t need more, you need alignment

5:25 – Introducing MIA™—Mindful Intentional Anchor

6:00 – Meet Mia™, the playful character who makes mindfulness fun

6:30 – Running the MIA™ ritual through BMAT, “I Don’t,” and QRS™ techniques

7:05 – Final reminder: small resets create big calm + Compass Circle invite

5 Key Takeaways from This Episode:

1️⃣ Even chaos has a message. What looks like wall scribbles or meltdowns is often just stress or emotion needing release.

2️⃣ MIA™—Mindful Intentional Anchor—turns “oh no” into calm. A simple pause, like tea time, can reset the energy for the whole family.

3️⃣ Presence matters more than perfection. Kids don’t need flawless days; they need parents who show up with intention.

4️⃣ Simple rituals > complicated fixes. A warm drink, a shared snack, or a mindful breath can soothe more than grand plans.

5️⃣ Your alignment is your child’s anchor. When you model calm, curiosity, and compassion, your child learns to do the same.

🧭 Join Mamas' Compass Circle™ where you will find support, monthly content, and practical tools for moms craving calm, clarity and confidence. No pressure. Just presence.

🔗 Full Episode Details Here»

⚓️ Navigate with MKAPtains Kids Activities Club – Get a done-for-you Monthly Activity Plan that makes learning hands-on and fun—so you can spend less time planning and more time playing!

🎓

A fast, science-backed reset for distracted, overwhelmed moms: Question • Reason • Story.

Feeling triggered before 9 a.m.? This quick, science-backed reset—my QRS Technique™—helps moms shift from autopilot reactions to calm, connected parenting in seconds. Perfect for back-to-school chaos.

Your brain can learn a new response. In this story-driven episode, I share a real Montessori-mom moment, then walk you through QRS: Question, Reason, Story—a micro-habit that interrupts the spiral and rewires your nervous system for steadier days.

Full Details

What you’ll learn

Why busy moms default to autopilot reactions (amygdala alarm vs. prefrontal calm)

How to run the QRS Technique™ in real life: Question → Reason → Story

Pattern interruption 101: breaking the trigger → reaction → regret loop

Using QRS during back-to-school transitions, sibling squabbles, spills, and time crunches

A mom-tested script to validate worry, invite curiosity, and model regulation

Why micro-habits create macro-change (hello, neuroplasticity)

In this episode

A messy, very real Montessori high-chair moment (and what it taught me)

The exact thought that flipped my response from snap → steady

QRS Technique™ you can use anywhere: dentist dash, car chaos, kitchen glitter storm

A dinner-table story: two kids, one season, very different emotions—and how QRS met both

Back-to-school reframes you can borrow: curiosity over catastrophizing

Try it this week (homework): Catch one spicy moment. Pause. Run Q → R → S:

• Question: What’s really going on here?
• Reason: Why do I want to stay calm?
• Story: How can I reframe this as a teachable moment?
• Notice the energy shift—for you and your child.

Resources & Next Steps

Join the Compass Circle™ for simple tools, coaching, and community: [link]

Next episode: The MIA Routine—a simple daily rhythm to anchor your day.

• Garcia, A. (2025). The QRS Technique™: Pause & Power-Up Parenting Tool. Developed and introduced inside Compass Circle by Anya Garcia.→ Original framework for parents to pause before reacting: Question, Reason, Story.
• Wood, W. (2019). Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes That Stick. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
• Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. Bantam Books.
• Davidson, R. J., & Begley, S. (2012). The Emotional Life of Your Brain. Penguin Books.
• Siegel, D. J., & Bryson, T. P. (2011). The Whole-Brain Child. Delacorte Press.
• McGonigal, K. (2015). The Upside of Stress. Avery.
• Research on neuroplasticity: Pascual-Leone, A., Amedi, A., Fregni, F., & Merabet, L. B. (2005). The Plastic Human Brain Cortex. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 28, 377–401

If QRS helps you, follow/subscribe, tap ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, and share with a mom friend.

Comment/DM “QRS” or “🦁 FOCUS” to tell me your win—so we can cheer you on.

This episode introduces a powerful language shift: the “I Don’t” technique & Lion Time™—that helps moms stop distractions, reclaim focus, and stay present during back-to-school chaos.

🔗 Full episode details

Join 🧭 Compass Circle™

Lion Time™ is your boundary—the sacred block where you guard what matters most. Just like a lion protects its territory, you protect your attention.

This is also where the “I Don’t” technique comes in.

When distractions sneak up—the phone buzzes, the to-do list spirals, the kids tug at your sleeve—you whisper:

“I don’t get distracted during Lion™ Time.”

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about drawing a clear line in the sand and choosing to return, again and again. Lion Time™ reminds you: this moment is worth guarding.

1️⃣ Language matters. Swapping “I can’t” for “I don’t” shifts you from powerless to powerful.

2️⃣ Distractions are inevitable. But you always have the choice to return to what matters.

3️⃣ Boundaries protect focus.“I don’t” creates a personal standard, not an outside restriction.

4️⃣ Lion Time™ = Guardrails. Set aside small blocks where your attention is non-negotiable.

5️⃣ Presence grows with practice. Each time you say “I don’t,” you’re strengthening your focus muscle.

00:00 – Back-to-School Chaos Hits Hard: Opening hook about stress, shifting from summer ease into the loud, fast pace of a new season.

00:45 – Quick B-MAT Check-In: Inviting listeners to reflect on last week’s method and share how it’s working.

01:15 – Welcome to the Anya Garcia Show: Personal story: trading the attorney briefcase for homeschooling and why this podcast exists.

02:15 – The Truth About “Enough”: Encouragement that moms don’t need “more” to be enough—alignment and progress matter most.

03:00 – Everyday Distractions Creep In: Relatable scenes: missing pencils, jammed printers, barking dogs, blue cup meltdowns, and crashing to-do lists.

04:00 – The Magic Phrase: Introducing the “I Don’t” technique: not “I can’t,” but “I don’t”—a powerful boundary shift.

05:00 – Why It Works: Breaking down empowerment, focus, and application—how this phrase resets attention.

05:45 – Ancestral Focus Rituals: Anthropology lens: survival rituals, mental campfires, and the timeless human skill of redirecting focus.

06:30 – Make It Practical: Examples of using the phrase during read-alouds, mealtimes, or when the phone buzzes.

07:15 – Weekly Challenge: Choose a 10–15 minute block daily to practice. Presence is a muscle—each “I don’t” strengthens it.

07:45 – What’s Next: Teasing the next episode: the Pause & Power-Up QRS Technique for fast resets in chaos.

🧭 Join Mamas' Compass Circle™ where you will find support, monthly content, and practical tools for moms craving calm, clarity and confidence. No pressure. Just presence.

Discover how the B-MAT Method (Behavior, Motivation, Ability, Trigger) helps busy moms reset one daily routine for calmer, smoother back-to-school days.

🔗 Full Episode Details

Join 🧭 Compass Circle™

1️⃣ You don’t need a full overhaul—just one shift. Pick one routine that’s not working (like mornings, lunch, or bedtime) and reset it with intention.

2️⃣ The B-MAT Method makes habits stick. Behavior = Motivation + Ability + Trigger. This simple framework helps you build routines that are doable and aligned with your why.

3️⃣ Motivation gives your habit roots. When you’re clear on why a routine matters (like wanting peaceful mornings), it’s easier to stay committed—even on chaotic days.

4️⃣ Ability is about making it easier, not relying on willpower. Set the environment up for success: prep the night before, simplify steps, and check in with your child about their preferences (yes, even clothing!).

5️⃣ Triggers are your brain’s best friend. Use alarms, sticky notes, or visual cues to prompt the new habit—just like our ancestors relied on sunrise or seasonal shifts to cue daily behavior.

00:00 – The Morning Pants Showdown: Sharing a funny back-to-school story about Julia’s Ralph Lauren pants and how tiny quirks can throw off our whole rhythm.

00:40 – What Is the B-MAT Method and Why It Matters: Introducing the Behavior = Motivation + Ability + Trigger method as a practical tool for calming the chaos.

01:25 – Welcome to The Anya Garcia Show: Podcast introduction and what this show is all about—supporting moms with mindset, parenting, and purposeful learning.

02:35 – The Power of One Tiny Reset: Encouragement to choose just one routine to refresh—not your whole day. Small shifts can make a big impact.

03:15 – Rhythm Over Routine: Why finding your unique family flow matters more than any Pinterest-worthy schedule.

03:47 – Breaking Down the B-MAT Formula: Quick overview of the B-MAT equation and how it helps anchor lasting habits.

04:15 – Morning Routine Example: Using B-MAT to reset chaotic mornings, from laying out clothes to simple kid check-ins.

05:15 – Midday Slump Reset Example: How to reset lunch hour chaos with a quiet-time basket and a well-timed trigger.

06:10 – Breakfast Rush Reset Example: Prepping breakfast the night before and using a playlist or alarm as a trigger to smooth mornings.

07:30 – Let Your Child Help Plan: Inviting your child into planning creates buy-in and reduces stress for everyone.

07:52 – What Is Compass Circle? An invitation to join the Compass Circle—a space for support, mindset, and clarity with other moms.

08:44 – The Anthropology Behind Habits: Why your brain is wired to crave routine—rooted in ancient survival rhythms and predictable cues.

09:42 – How Predictability Creates Safety: Explaining how building routines reassures the nervous system and shifts us out of survival mode.

10:15 – The Science Behind B-MAT: Research-backed support from BJ Fogg, Edward Deci, Richard Ryan, and Wendy Wood.

11:35 – A Visual Hook You’ll Never Forget: Introducing the “bee on the white mat” story to help you remember the B-MAT method forever.

12:53 –

You’re in for a treat… this is the September reset we’ve all been craving. As back-to-school season kicks in, reset your homeschool rhythm with mindset tools like the B-MAT method, QRS technique, and daily anchors—designed to bring more calm, connection, and flow. Your real back-to-school toolkit? It’s right here—let’s begin.

🔗 Full Episode Details Here

1. You don’t need a perfect plan—just a rhythm.

Back-to-school doesn’t require a Pinterest-worthy homeschool setup or a rigid schedule. What you truly need is a rhythm that feels human, flexible, and sustainable—something that works even when someone loses a sock (again).

2. Your “I’m not ready” whisper is normal—and valid.

That little voice saying “I should’ve done more” or “I want a routine but I hate structure” is one many moms hear. You’re not alone in the chaos or the contradictions. And there’s a better way forward.

3. Mindset matters more than materials.

The next 4 episodes will give you powerful mindset tools to reset how you show up daily—starting with B-MAT (Behavior = Motivation + Ability + Trigger), a neuroscience-backed habit method that simplifies one tricky routine at a time.

4. Real transformation happens in small shifts.

You don’t need to overhaul everything. Just pick one routine (like the morning chaos or midday meltdown) and apply the tools we’ll explore—step by step, breath by breath.

5. You were never meant to figure this out alone.

Whether it’s a messy bun Monday or a coffee-that-went-cold kind of day, you have a front-row seat here. Together, we’re doing September differently—with more calm, connection, and grace.

00:00 – Intro: The Reset We’ve All Been Craving: Labor Day feels like the emotional Sunday of the year. Summer is ending, and the overwhelm is real. You’re not alone.

00:42 – Inner Chaos, Honest Whispers & the Truth About Readiness: “I should’ve done more.” “I need a routine—but I hate routines.” The secret struggle we’re not saying out loud... but should.

01:25 – The One Thing You Actually Need: It’s not a color-coded calendar. It’s not a Pinterest-perfect space. It’s rhythm. Human, messy, and real.

01:55 – What to Expect This Month (And Why It Matters): Get a peek into the next 4 episodes designed to support your nervous system and soul—one steady step at a time.

02:24 – My Story: From Courtrooms to Crayons: Why I left law to homeschool. And what I learned about growth, purpose, and presence along the way.

03:15 – The Voice We All Hear (and Why It’s Lying): Am I doing enough? Shouldn’t I be further along? The answer might surprise you.

03:45 – Week 1 Preview: Flow Reset (B-MAT Style): Learn how to pick one routine and apply the B-MAT method—Behavior, Motivation, Ability, Trigger—for real, sustainable change.

04:40 – Week 2 Preview: Presence Power-Up ("I Don’t" Technique): What to say when distractions hit and guilt starts to spiral. A 4-word phrase that changes everything.

05:10 – Week 3 Preview: Pause & Power-Up (QRS Technique): When meltdowns or messes threaten your sanity, this 3-step pause method helps you hold steady.

05:44 – Week 4 Preview: Anchor Adventure (MIA Routine): How to build a daily ritual that becomes the heartbeat of your day—without adding more to your to-do list.

06:10 – Final Pep Talk: You’re Not Meant to Do This Alone: If you’re craving calm, connection, and...

In this episode, we’re diving into the magic of Montessori Sensitive Periods—those powerful windows when your child is naturally wired to master key skills with ease.

From language bursts and big movement milestones, to an obsession with order or sensory play—these aren’t random. They’re nature’s way of saying: “Now is the time.”

We’ll unpack what each Sensitive Period looks like, why it matters, and simple ways you can nurture your child’s growth during these short, beautiful seasons.

🎁 Montessori Sensitive Periods Cheat Sheet

🔗 Full Episode Details

📜 Blog Post: Montessori Six Sensitive Periods In a Nutshell | The Absorbent Mind

1️⃣ Sensitive Periods are nature’s built-in learning windows—times when your child is biologically wired to absorb specific skills with focus and ease.

2️⃣ Development isn’t one-size-fits-all—while these phases follow a general pattern, each child moves through them at their own pace.

3️⃣ What looks like “quirky” behavior is often purposeful—routines, repetition, and fixations can signal a Sensitive Period in action.

4️⃣ These windows are rooted in human evolution, guiding your child to develop essential life skills like movement, language, order, and social bonding.

5️⃣ Your role is to observe and prepare the environment—not to push, but to gently support your child’s natural drive to learn.

00:00 – Intro: Toddlers, Bad Words & Ancient Greek: Why your child mimics bad words but ignores polite ones. A real-life intro to Sensitive Periods.

00:40 – What Are Montessori Sensitive Periods? Explaining how children are biologically wired for specific learning windows.

01:25 – Welcome to The Anya Garcia Show: Anya shares her story from courtroom to homeschooling, and why this podcast exists.

02:25 – Encouragement for Moms: Progress Over Perfection: A mindset reset: You don’t need more. You need alignment.

03:15 – Nature’s Blueprint: Effortless Absorption Ages 0–6: How Sensitive Periods work—and why they’re key to your child’s natural growth.

04:10 – Overview of the Six Sensitive Periods: Introducing: sensory refinement, language, order, small objects, movement, and social behavior.

04:35 – Sensory Refinement: Why your child is obsessed with touching, tasting, and smelling everything—yes, even the floor.

06:15 – Language: Why kids absorb language effortlessly, and the science that proves it.

08:15 – Order: Broken bananas and cup meltdowns explained—why routines feel like survival to your toddler.

10:05 – Attention to Small Objects: Crumbs, dirt, and random junk drawer treasures: what they’re really learning.

12:00 – Movement: Why they never stop moving—and how that chaos is building their brain.

13:50 – Social Behavior: Tiny rule enforcers, fairness debates, and early empathy in action.

15:10 – These Aren’t Phases to Fix: Recognizing these behaviors as signs of growth—not problems.

16:00 – How to Support Each Phase: Practical ways to nurture each Sensitive Period at home.

17:15 – Real-Life Parenting Moments: From licking...

In this mindset-shifting episode, Anya gets real about the negative thoughts that sneak into our minds—and how to stop letting them take over. Whether you’ve told yourself *“I’m a procrastinator,”* *“I can’t keep up,”* or *“I’m just not enough,”* this episode walks you through exactly how to catch those thoughts, challenge them, and replace them with something better.

Backed by neuroscience, practical examples, and mom-life reality, this is your go-to reset when your mind feels cluttered and your confidence feels low.

🔗 Full Episode Details

1. Your mind can only hold one thought at a time—so choose it intentionally.
Most thoughts are neutral until we believe them. Don’t give negative thoughts free rent in your brain.
2. Every negative thought is an opportunity to rewire your belief system. You're not responsible for your first thought, but you are responsible for the second one.
3. Emotions are like waves—you can’t stop them from rising, but you can choose whether or not to ride them.
Gratitude helps activate your parasympathetic nervous system and reset your emotional state.
4. Behavior doesn’t lie. You rebuild self-worth by how you treat yourself—clear one drawer, get up when the alarm rings, take one small step. Action is everything.
5. Your energy speaks louder than your words.
Children don’t just hear what you say—they absorb the emotional tone you lead with. Calm starts with you.

In this episode, we discuss:

00:00 — The mental junk drawer—why we start here

00:28 — How thoughts shape energy, nervous system, and self-worth

00:52 — Interrupting the spiral and reclaiming clarity

01:10 — Welcome to The Anya Garcia Show + courtroom to homeschool journey

02:15 — The voice of doubt and what truly creates peace

03:10 — Neuroscience proof: One thought at a time

03:45 — Mental chaos illusion: your brain's switching trick

04:20 — The whisper of excuses that shape your identity

05:12 — Linda Clemons’ moment: Why rent-free thoughts must go

06:00 — Kitchen chaos story + the gut-punch moment

07:05 — How one thought hijacks your nervous system in 30 seconds

07:50 — Calm to chaos: identity formed by what you believe

08:20 — Fight-or-flight: what your brain is wired for vs. what you need

09:12 — Modern-day tigers: comparison, guilt, and fear

10:00 — My messy morning story + sunscreen art hack

11:02 — One thought shift = new energy and new identity

11:30 — Behavior > labels: prove that inner voice wrong

12:28 — Morning myth and 2011 jeans debunked with action

13:05 — Gratitude’s biological power and ancient roots

13:50 — Pause, question, gratitude: the fastest nervous system reset

14:25 — Children absorb your energy—not just your words

14:52 — Emotions and thoughts as waves—you decide what to ride

15:30 — Thought neutrality: shore of your mind exercise

15:55 — Choose thoughts that serve you + final wisdom

16:09 — Weekly challenge + closing inspiration and gratitude

🔗 Full...