Healthy Parenting Handbook with Katie Kimball

If you’ve ever looked at your child’s behavior and thought, “What is going on right now?”—you’re not alone.
In this episode, we go beyond surface-level parenting advice and get into something deeper: what your child’s behavior is actually trying to communicate. 
Wendy Snyder introduces a powerful framework that helps you “translate” your child’s actions in real time. Instead of reacting with frustration, you’ll start to see patterns, unmet needs, and opportunities to teach life skills. It’s a shift that can completely change how you experience everyday parenting moments.
Along the way, you may find yourself rethinking what it really means to be a “strict” parent, and whether the strategies you’ve been using are actually helping in the long run.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
The four hidden reasons behind most misbehavior
How to tell if your child is seeking attention, power, revenge, or support
Why punishment often makes behavior worse instead of better
What to do when your child says hurtful or dramatic things
How to stay calm when your child is upset with your rules
The difference between firm boundaries and “strict” parenting
How to stop power struggles before they escalate
Why your mindset matters just as much as your parenting strategy
If you’ve been feeling stuck in cycles of frustration or wondering why nothing seems to “work,” this conversation will give you a new lens to look through ... and a few moments that might just change how you respond the next time your child pushes back.
Did you miss part 1 of this episode? Watch or listen here.
Resources We Mention for Understanding Your Child's Behavior
Pre-order Wendy's new book at Amazon, Bookshop.org, or wherever you find your books, and then grab the preorder bonuses here.
My mini-episode about boundaries especially for teens
Scripts for calm connection with Bryanna Kappadakunnel
Listen to Wendy's episode on parenting "cactus kids"
More on power struggles, positive parenting, and forgoing traditional discipline in this episode with Amy McCready
My episode on the Fresh Start Fam
Start your kids making simple snacks now at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastsnacks.
Get 4 life skills workshops now for free!
Kitchen Stewardship
Raising Healthy Families 
follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
YouTube shorts channel for HPH
Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast
Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

There’s a moment in this conversation I can’t quite shake.
A mom drops her child’s favorite stuffed animal into the trash while her four-year-old begs her not to. If that makes your stomach tighten, you’re not alone.
Because even if you’ve never had a “trash can moment,” you’ve probably had that moment. The one where you hear yourself and think, “Wait…is this how I want to parent?”
That’s exactly where this conversation with Wendy Snyder begins. Not from perfection, but from honesty, growth, and a deep desire to do better than what we were handed.
And the surprising part? She doesn’t just share what went wrong. She shows us what to do instead in a way that feels doable and hopeful.
If you’ve ever wondered why punishment doesn’t work, why strong-willed kids push every button, or why you keep reacting in ways you swore you wouldn’t, this episode will meet you right there.
Inside, we talk about:
The story behind that “trash can moment” and why it changed everything
What’s really happening during power struggles
The discipline belief most of us inherited and why it backfires
A simple 4-step process to set limits without yelling or shame
Why connection changes everything
How to support strong-willed kids without breaking their spirit
What breaking generational cycles actually looks like
The long game of parenting and what success really means
Underneath it all is a quiet shift. Maybe parenting isn’t about controlling our kids better, but understanding them and ourselves more deeply.
If that’s the kind of change you’ve been craving, you’re in the right place.
Resources We Mention for Respectful Discipline
Pre-order Wendy’s new book at Amazon, Bookshop.org, or wherever you find your books, and then grab the preorder bonuses here.
Listen to Michele Borba’s interview about helping our kids build empathy.
Scripts for calm connection with Bryanna Kappadakunnel
Listen to Wendy’s episode on parenting “cactus kids”
My episode on the Fresh Start Family podcast about building connection through cooking
Start your kids making simple snacks now at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastsnacks.
Get 4 life skills workshops now for free!
Kitchen Stewardship
Raising Healthy Families 
follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
YouTube shorts channel for HPH
Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast
Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

If you’ve ever thought, “Why can I not get my life together when it comes to time?”—you are absolutely not alone.
This conversation felt like such a breath of fresh air because we’re not talking about rigid schedules, perfect planners, or waking up at 5am (thank goodness). Instead, we’re digging into what actually works for real moms with real lives… you know, the kind where kids interrupt everything and plans fall apart before lunch.
I had so much fun hearing about Anna’s real-life experiences in the professional world, SO different than my life, and wait until you hear what we both have in common when it comes to being POOR at time management! I couldn’t believe her confession about getting in trouble at work for a time-related issue…
What I love most is that Anna brings so much grace and practicality to this topic. She doesn’t expect perfection; and honestly, that might be the most freeing part of all.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why time management isn’t really about your planner (and what actually matters instead)
A simple “mind sweep” method to instantly reduce overwhelm and clear your mental clutter
How to figure out what actually deserves your time (and what you can let go of)
Practical ways to involve your kids so you’re not doing everything yourself
What to do when your plans fall apart (because… they will)
A simple framework to handle those chaotic, stressful moments without spiraling
If you’ve been feeling scattered, behind, or just plain overwhelmed, this episode is going to meet you right where you are, and give you a few doable steps to move forward.
Resources We Mention for Time Management for Moms
Get Anna’s Blueprint to Balance here
Buy Anna’s book, Time Management Essentials: The Tools You Need to Maximize Your Attention, Energy, and Productivity on Amazon or Bookshop.org
When we talk about being an “upholder” or a “rebel,” that’s from Gretchen Rubin’s book The Four Tendencies.
Learn more from my interview with Megan Sumrell about managing your time, and check out her TOP program for a free training on getting your life together!
Start your kids making simple snacks now at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastsnacks.
Get 4 life skills workshops now for free!
Kitchen Stewardship
Raising Healthy Families 
follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
YouTube shorts channel for HPH
Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast
Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

If you’ve ever stood in the middle of your house and thought, “Where do I even start?”… you are absolutely not alone.
But what if the problem isn’t your lack of discipline… it’s your approach?
In this conversation, I sat down with Ingrid Jansen from The Declutter Hub, and she completely reframed how I think about clutter. We didn’t just talk about getting rid of stuff. We talked about why it feels so hard in the first place—and how to make it feel doable (even in the middle of real life).
Because here’s the truth: clutter isn’t just about things. It’s about emotions, habits, identity, and sometimes even guilt. And once you understand that piece, everything starts to shift.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
Why “decluttering your whole house” is actually the fastest way to get stuck
The simple mindset shift that makes decluttering feel lighter and more positive
Why starting with what you want to keep (not what to throw away) changes everything
How to break any space into small, manageable chunks you can tackle in minutes
The surprising advice Ingrid gives about what to do when you feel unsure about an item
What the “messy middle” is and why so many people quit right there
How clutter and emotions like guilt, stress, and overwhelm are deeply connected
The hidden ways new clutter keeps sneaking into your home (and how to stop it)
Resources We Mention for Easy Decluttering
Ingrid and Lesley’s book: Reset Your Home: Unpack your emotions and your clutter, step by step (Amazon/Bookshop.org)
Get started in the Declutter Hub!
Take the clutter quiz
Dig more into the mental load of clutter with Katy Wells
Organizing styles for families with Cas from Clutterbug

Start your kids making simple snacks now at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastsnacks.
Get 4 life skills workshops now for free!
Kitchen Stewardship
Raising Healthy Families 
follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
YouTube shorts channel for HPH
Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast
Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!

Money fights are rarely about the money.
They usually start somewhere small. A decision. An assumption. A moment that feels harmless at the time.
And then suddenly you are on a honeymoon, of all places, realizing you are not actually on the same financial page at all. That is exactly where this conversation begins.
Amanda shares a story that many couples will recognize: a beautiful life moment that quietly turned stressful because expectations were never spoken out loud.
Because money is not just math! It is emotion, trust, and more.
In this interview, we dig into what happens when financial communication falls through the cracks and why those cracks often appear during big life events when we least expect them.
You will see how:
silence around money can create conflict even in strong relationships
credit cards can blur the reality of spending in stressful moments
surprise expenses often show up when emotions are already high
assumptions about “who is paying for what” can quietly derail connection
 financial stress spills into relationship dynamics faster than we think
talking about goals early can prevent hurt later
planning together creates more peace than planning alone
mistakes around money can become powerful growth points
Resources We Mentioned for Financial Literacy for Families
Check out Wallet Win, the Teixeiras’ courses for kids and teens about finance (and get $10 off with my link), or the Catholic Money Academy for grown-ups
Teaching Kids the Value of Money and Joy in Spending and Saving
Teaching Kids about Debt Early
My reel about Gabe’s blankets for the homeless population
Teach teens how to budget with Crystal Paine’s One-Hour Budget for Teens (use code LIFESKILLS for a discount!)
Reducing your food budget while eating real food
How to make homemade yogurt
Amanda’s workshop on Allowance vs. Wages is in Season Four of #LifeSkillsNow
Start your kids making simple snacks now at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcastsnacks.
Get 4 life skills workshops now for free!
Kitchen Stewardship
Raising Healthy Families 
follow Katie on Instagram or Facebook
Subscribe to the newsletter to get weekly updates
YouTube shorts channel for HPH
Find the Healthy Parenting Handbook at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/podcast
Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!