While it’s normal for every child to struggle socially from time to time, it can be difficult when it's your own kids who feels left out. You might feel compelled to protect them and take immediate action by calling the school or the offending child’s parents. You might be quick to assume your kids are at fault, and ask how they brought on the problem themselves. As always, the best course of action is to respond thoughtfully, rather than react emotionally. In this episode, I give suggestions for how to support kids when they say they feel excluded at school, while staying calm yourself and teaching them important social and emotional skills. www.lessdramamoremama.com/167

Less Drama More Mama

What to do when your child feels excluded at school – 167

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, an estimated 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experienced mental illness in 2019 (pre-pandemic!) and approximately 48 million adults in the U.S. are diagnosed annually with anxiety disorders. The most common treatment for anxiety focuses on uncovering unhealthy thought patterns and understanding how they relate to feelings and behavior. Sound familiar? ? In this episode, I reveal what I believe to be the biggest unhealthy thought pattern there is, and my "treatment plan" to manage the diagnosis we all share. www.lessdramamoremama.com/166

Our Human Diagnosis – 166

Conflict with your kids is inevitable. But the way you handle conflict either helps or hinders your relationships with them. In this episode, I introduce the concept of the Conflict Escalator to help you become more aware of what actions (or reactions) make a conflict better or worse, and whether you’re contributing to, or contaminating, your relationships. www.lessdramamoremama.com/165

The Conflict Escalator – 165

There are two types of responses to the circumstances in your life: proactive and reactive. When you’re proactive, you make decisions ahead of time to solve potential problems before they occur, leaving you feeling calm and in control. When you're reactive, feelings of fear and powerlessness often bring about the very outcome you’re hoping to avoid. While reactive parenting is common and sometimes unavoidable, you can learn how to become a less reactive and more proactive mom. Tune into this episode to empower yourself and learn the basics of proactive parenting. www.lessdramamoremama.com/164

Proactive Parenting – 164

The late philosopher and psychiatrist Alfred Adler believed that “a misbehaving child is a discouraged child.” In so many subtle ways, and without realizing it, we discourage our kids all the time. In this episode, I talk about the ways we unknowingly discourage our kids and offer some tips for encouraging them more. www.lessdramamoremama.com/163

Encouraging Your Child – 163

Does your child struggle to do homework? Do you get into regular battles over it and question how much to get involved? In this episode, I offer my thoughts to get you in a calm and empowered frame of mind when it comes to your child's homework, so you know exactly how to help. www.lessdramamoremama.com/162

Homework Help – 162

Do you wish your kids' grandparents acted differently? When you think about them, do you feel frustrated, resentful, hurt, or guilty? If you answered "yes," this episode is for you. Learn the secret to improve your relationships with your parents or in-laws, take back your power, and feel more at peace. www.lessdramamoremama.com/161

Grandparent Expectations – 161

You have every intention of sticking to your limits, staying calm, and helping your kids through their difficult emotions. But in the heat of the moment, you find yourself giving into their demands, yelling, punishing them, or trying to fix their feelings. While counseling families with children ages six and under, today's guest sought to get to the root of what prevents moms from being the parents they want to be. Join me and Claire Lerner as we talk about making important mindset shifts to be able to respond to our kids more effectively. www.lessdramamoremama.com/160

Why Is My Child In Charge? Interview with Claire Lerner – 160

You've got questions, I've got answers. In this Back-to-School episode, I'm answering questions submitted by moms when I asked, "What would be the most useful podcast for you right now about back-to-school issues?" Tune in to hear their concerns and questions, and how I addressed each one. If you have a question you'd like answered in a future episode, email me at pam@lessdramamoremama.com www.lessdramamoremama.com/159

Back-to-School Q&A – 159

I recently spent an unforgettable week working as a clinician at a grief camp for kids. While I'm sure I helped the campers learn and grow in many ways, they taught and inspired me a great deal, too. In this episode, I share my biggest takeaway from being at grief camp this summer and how it applies to you. www.lessdramamoremama.com/158

Lessons from Grief Camp – 158

The start of the school year isn't how we imagined it would be last May when COVID cases were declining and vaccines became available to kids over 12. It's natural and normal to feel disappointed when your expectations aren’t met or your plans change, but how good are you at actually allowing yourself to feel disappointed? In this episode, I talk about why it's important to allow disappointment and how resisting it can lead to greater suffering. www.lessdramamoremama.com/187

Dealing with Disappointment – 157

Sometimes, families run like well-oiled machines. And other times, they don't operate as effectively. With summer schedules ending and school fast approaching, many families are all out of whack. In this episode, I share how you can do a 'reset' and get yours running smoothly again. www.lessdramamoremama.com/156

The Family Reset – 156

Back in episode 79, I talked about four of the main psychological defense mechanisms I see in my work with moms. In today's show, I'm diving deeper into one of those defense mechanisms: projection. Tune in to learn what parental projection is, how it impacts you and your kids, and what you can do about it. www.lessdramamoremama.com/155

Parental Projection – 155

When you know your child misses you and feels sad or scared, you might feel guilty or anxious about being apart. In today's episode, I share a recent personal story in which I was able to quickly turn my guilt-inducing thoughts into ones that caused me to feel calm and confident instead. Join me as I share this experience with you and offer some useful ways to think about when your kids want their mommy. www.lessdramamoremama.com/154

“I Want My Mommy!” – 154

It may sound like a bunch of self-help "fluff," but today's episode is anything but. The relationship you have with yourself is at the root of all of your successes and all of your problems. When you understand this, and take an honest look at yourself, you start to see where you can strengthen that relationship and develop a deeper connection with yourself. Tune in to hear how you can incorporate the seven qualities of a best friend into your life and become your own best friend. www.lessdramamoremama.com/153

How to Be Your Own Best Friend – 153

Less Drama More Mama is the podcast for moms who want to feel calm, in control, and confident about how to handle anything life throws their way. As a Certified Life Coach, LCSW, School Counselor, and blogger, Pam Howard has been helping empower parents for years. In her podcast, she shares personal stories, case studies, and life coaching tools to help you go from feeling frazzled and disrespected to feeling calm and connected. Learn more at http://LessDramaMoreMama.com.

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Less Drama More Mama

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