Parenting Reflections: Lesley’s Story of Growth and Grace — From Single Mom Facing Big Meltdowns to Building a Calm, Connected Blended Family
This week’s episode features Lesley, a mom whose parenting journey took some unexpected (and beautiful) turns. When she first joined the program, she was a single mom navigating intense meltdowns with her 5-year-old daughter—big emotions, hurtful words, and all the overwhelm that came with them.
Just days after deciding to join, life surprised her with an engagement—and suddenly, she was preparing not only to find more peace at home but also to blend a new family. Through the program, Lesley learned how to handle her daughter’s meltdowns with more connection, calm, and understanding, even as so much in her life was changing.
Her story is a powerful reminder that growth doesn’t wait for the “perfect time.” Sometimes, it happens right in the middle of big transitions—and that’s exactly what makes it so transformative.
FREE Breakthrough Call: https://www.raisedresilient.com/breakthrough
Is Your Child Highly Sensitive? Take My FREE Quiz! https://www.raisedresilient.com/quiz
FREE Guide: 10 Things Your Highly Sensitive Child Needs You to Know: https://www.raisedresilient.com/10things
Mastering Meltdowns Support: https://www.raisedresilient.com/meltdowns
Join Our Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisedresilient
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Why You Can’t Reason With a Dysregulated Child (& What Actually Helps in the Moment!)
Have you ever tried to explain something perfectly clearly to your child—only to be met with tears, frustration, or a complete meltdown? It feels like the more sense we try to make, the less sense it actually makes to them.
That’s because when kids are emotionally activated, logic goes right out the window. Their brains simply can’t take in reasoning in those heated moments, no matter how convincing or calm we think we’re being.
In this episode, we’ll dig into why logic doesn’t work when emotions take over, what’s really going on in your child’s brain, and how to respond in a way that brings more connection (and a lot less power struggle).
FREE Breakthrough Call: https://www.raisedresilient.com/breakthrough
Is Your Child Highly Sensitive? Take My FREE Quiz! https://www.raisedresilient.com/quiz
FREE Guide: 10 Things Your Highly Sensitive Child Needs You to Know: https://www.raisedresilient.com/10things
Mastering Meltdowns Support: https://www.raisedresilient.com/meltdowns
Join Our Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisedresilient
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Parenting Reflections: How My 4-Year-Old Learned to Ride a "Big Girl" Bike—And Why Building Frustration Tolerance in Small Moments Made All the Difference
This week, I’m sharing one of those small-but-big parenting moments: my 4-year-old daughter learning to ride her two-wheel bike. It was both ordinary and magical, watching her step into something brand new with so much determination.
I’d spent time preparing her for what it feels like to learn something new—the ups, the wobbles, and even the possibility of frustration. When the moment finally came, all of that groundwork quietly guided what happened next.
Sometimes, our job isn’t to guide every step—it’s to nurture, plant the seeds, and then step back so our kids can discover what they’re truly capable of. This was one of those moments I’ll never forget.
FREE Breakthrough Call: https://www.raisedresilient.com/breakthrough
Is Your Child Highly Sensitive? Take My FREE Quiz! https://www.raisedresilient.com/quiz
FREE Guide: 10 Things Your Highly Sensitive Child Needs You to Know: https://www.raisedresilient.com/10things
Mastering Meltdowns Support: https://www.raisedresilient.com/meltdowns
Join Our Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisedresilient
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Why “Just Stay Calm” Doesn’t Work During Your Child’s Meltdowns—And What to Focus on Instead
We’ve all heard the advice: “Just stay calm when your child is melting down.” But if you’ve ever tried it, you know it’s not that simple—and there’s a reason for that.
In this episode, we’re unpacking why staying calm can feel so hard in the moment, what’s really going on inside us when our kids are overwhelmed, and what makes a difference in finding our way back.
It’s not about perfection—it’s about something much more powerful that can change the way we show up for our kids (and ourselves) when things get tough.
FREE Breakthrough Call: https://www.raisedresilient.com/breakthrough
Is Your Child Highly Sensitive? Take My FREE Quiz! https://www.raisedresilient.com/quiz
FREE Guide: 10 Things Your Highly Sensitive Child Needs You to Know: https://www.raisedresilient.com/10things
Mastering Meltdowns Support: https://www.raisedresilient.com/meltdowns
Join Our Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisedresilient
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Parenting Reflections: From Vacation Chaos to Calm at Home: How Emily Went from Cutting a Family Trip Short to Celebrating Milestones and Peaceful, Connected Moments
What do you do when your child’s meltdowns get so big they disrupt everyday life—even cutting a family vacation short? That’s where Emily found herself as a mom of a highly sensitive child. Between the constant meltdowns and the stress of preparing for kindergarten, she was stretched thin and exhausted.
In this honest conversation, Emily shares what life was like in that season—balancing two kids, noticing the differences in parenting styles between her and her husband, and wrestling with the fear that she might be to blame for her child’s sensitivity. She also talks about the mindset shifts that changed how she approached these challenges and gave her family new hope.
If you’ve ever wondered how you’ll get through another meltdown—or felt like you just don’t have anything left to give—you’ll find comfort and connection in Emily’s story. And if you’re in the same boat, I’d love to help. Schedule your free breakthrough call today to explore whether this program could be the right fit for your family.
FREE Breakthrough Call: https://www.raisedresilient.com/breakthrough
Is Your Child Highly Sensitive? Take My FREE Quiz! https://www.raisedresilient.com/quiz
FREE Guide: 10 Things Your Highly Sensitive Child Needs You to Know: https://www.raisedresilient.com/10things
Mastering Meltdowns Support: https://www.raisedresilient.com/meltdowns
Join Our Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisedresilient
Over Raised Resilient: Help Your Highly Sensitive Child
Parenting is the hardest job ever – and parenting a highly sensitive child who’s struggling can feel downright impossible.
If you’re suffering through endless meltdowns, walking on eggshells to avoid your child’s huge emotions, and losing sleep worrying that you’re failing your child, you’ve landed in the right place.
I’m Dr. Hilary Mandzik – clinical psychologist, parenting specialist, and mom of 3. And I’m here to help you feel GOOD about parenting your highly sensitive child.
Join me each week on the Raised Resilient podcast as we explore the topics parents worry about most when it comes to raising highly sensitive kids: managing meltdowns, building emotion regulation, understanding highly sensitive kids, making sense of challenging behaviors, building self-esteem, finding parenting strategies that actually work *with* your child’s sensitivity ... and everything in between.
I’ll help you understand your child’s behavior (and your reactions to it!) so that even the really hard moments make more sense. I’ll empower you with tools, strategies, and scripts to navigate those really hard moments with connection and confidence. (And I’ll remind you that no tool, strategy, or script is as powerful as your parenting ace – your relationship with your child!)
I’m passionate about parenting differently – parenting in a way that sees all kids as good, even when they’re struggling. I’m passionate about breaking unhelpful generational cycles and putting a hard stop to spanking, time outs, shaming, and yelling. I’m passionate about helping highly sensitive kids build the skills they need in order to manage their big emotions successfully ... and parents learning to regulate their own emotions alongside their children. I want to help you stop worrying about whether you’re “raising them right” and feel confident that your kids will grow up trusting themselves and feeling comfortable in their skin … because they were raised resilient.
And that’s big. Because raising our kids resilient can literally make this world a better place.
Listen, parenting is hard no matter how you do it. You won’t “enjoy every moment”, no matter what that lady at the store says. But I’m here to help you go from just barely surviving to parenting in a way that genuinely feels good, for you and your highly sensitive child.
So warm up your coffee and grab your ear buds. It’s time to turn your child’s sensitivity into their SUPERPOWER!
Connect with me:
https://www.raisedresilient.com/
IG: @raisedresilient
Schedule your FREE Breakthrough Session: https://www.raisedresilient.com/breakthrough
Do YOU have a highly sensitive child? Take my FREE QUIZ to find out: https://www.raisedresilient.com/quiz
Major themes: parenting highly sensitive / deeply feeling kids; cycle breaking; building emotion regulation; generational healing; respectful parenting; gentle parenting; peaceful parenting; attachment theory / building a secure attachment
Netherlands