In You Can’t Teach Calm If You Can’t Be Calm, Dr. Meg Meeker welcomes guests Kahlila Robinson and Sarah Gerstenzang, co-authors of The Self-Regulation Workbook for Children Ages 5 to 8. Together, they unpack how parental self-regulation plays a crucial role in helping children build emotional resilience and develop lifelong emotional skills.

This episode dives into why your own calm sets the tone for your child’s behavior, especially when dealing with post-COVID stress, emotional outbursts, or peer conflicts. Kahlila and Sarah share practical, science-backed tools to help parents recognize emotional contagion, model regulation, and foster secure attachments.

Whether you're managing meltdowns or building daily routines with intention, this conversation reminds us: you can’t teach calm if you can’t be calm yourself.

👉Want personalized guidance from Dr. Meg?

If you're struggling to stay calm in the chaos of parenting—or just want expert advice tailored to your family's needs—Dr. Meg offers one-on-one coaching for parents who are ready to grow, heal, and lead with confidence. Learn more here.

🧷Links

The Self-Regulation Workbook for Children Ages 5 to 8 by Kahlila Robinson and Sarah Gerstenzang

https://amzn.to/4gLC8fq

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📌 Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction to Parenting Challenges

00:33 – Launch of the Self-Regulation Workbook

01:26 – Why Parental Self-Regulation is Key

02:40 – Staying Calm in Heated Moments

05:29 – How Emotions Transfer Between Parent & Child

08:31 – Addressing Post-COVID Anxiety in Kids

11:08 – Helping Kids Develop Emotional Awareness

12:34 – Simple De-Escalation Tools for Parents

17:44 – Matching Strategies to Different Child Personalities

18:37 – Connection-Based Discipline

21:28 – Children’s Core Emotional Needs

23:31 – Teaching Kids to Cope with Stress

25:15 – Managing Peer Conflict and Social Stress

28:30 – Healing Emotional Wounds in Childhood

30:50 – Balancing Work, Stress & Parenting

36:14 – Final Thoughts & Resources

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In this compelling episode of Parenting Great Kids, Dr. Meg Meeker sits down with Dr. Gertrude Lyons, TEDx speaker, parenting coach, and author of the upcoming book Rewrite the Mother Code: From Sacrifice to Stardust. Together, they explore how outdated beliefs around motherhood continue to shape women's emotional lives—and how to break free from them.

They discuss how emotional suppression, lack of boundaries, and perfectionism are robbing mothers of joy. Dr. Lyons challenges moms to prioritize their emotional wellness, set healthy boundaries, and reclaim their identity so they can raise emotionally resilient kids.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why self-sacrifice is not the gold standard of parenting
• How generational parenting patterns shape today's mothers
• Why self-care is essential—not selfish
• Tools for rewriting the "mother code"
• How emotional intelligence starts with you
• The link between maternal burnout and child development

Guest:

Dr. Gertrude Lyons – TEDx speaker, author, transformational coach

Visit: drgertrudelyons.com

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Sponsors:

• Hungryroot – 40% off + free gift with code DRMEG
• Fam Gabs – 10% off conversation cards with code DRMEGPOD
• K12-powered Schools – Tuition-free, accredited online learning for K–12
• Thrive Causemetics – Clean beauty with purpose. 10% off your first order
• Listen to Aidee, “Nothing Rhymes With Orange”: https://platoon.lnk.to/nothing-rhymes-with-orange

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Is pornography hijacking your child’s brain?

In this essential episode of Parenting Great Kids with Dr. Meg Meeker, Dr. Meg sits down with Parker Hymas, Director of Public Outreach at Fight The New Drug, to expose the growing threat pornography poses to kids and teens in today’s digital-first world.

📊 First exposure happens as early as age 9.

🧠 Discover how pornography rewires young brains and distorts healthy relationships.

💬 Learn how to start honest, shame-free conversations with your children before the internet does.

From the neuroscience behind porn addiction to tools for empowering your family, Parker Hymas shares evidence-based insights and real-life solutions every parent needs.

In this episode, we cover:

• The alarming rise in early exposure to pornography
• What porn does to the developing brain—based on science
• The mental and relational fallout of chronic porn use
• Debunking the myth of “harmless” pornography
• How to talk to your kids about porn without shame or fear
• Actionable resources from Fight The New Drug to protect your family

Our Guest:

Parker Hymas is the Director of Public Outreach at Fight the New Drug, a non-religious, non-legislative nonprofit raising awareness about the harmful effects of pornography. Through science, personal stories, and engaging presentations, Parker equips parents, educators, and communities with tools to understand how porn impacts the brain, relationships, and society.

📬 Never Miss an Event – Subscribe to our mailing list for live event invites, new episode alerts, and weekly parenting wisdom.

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Sponsors:

• Hungryroot – 40% off + free gift with code DRMEG
• Fam Gabs – 10% off conversation cards with code DRMEGPOD
• K12-powered Schools – Tuition-free, accredited online learning for K–12
• Thrive Causemetics – Clean beauty with purpose. 10% off your first order
• Listen to Aidee, “Nothing Rhymes With Orange”: https://platoon.lnk.to/nothing-rhymes-with-orange

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.