59. Fight. Flight. Freeze. Fawn. What is Your Default Stress Response?

62. Abundance vs. Scarcity: It's Not About Excess, It's About Access

Sign up for the FREE 5-Day Abundant Parenting Challenge [https://theparentinglab.org/abundant] What if abundance isn’t about having more? In this episode, we explore a different way of thinking about abundance and scarcity - not as personality traits or mindsets you either have or don’t have, but as states you move in and out of. When life feels overwhelming, our nervous systems narrow our perspective, making everything feel urgent, high-stakes, and “not enough.” But abundance is something deeper: the capacity to hold more than one truth at the same time. We’ll unpack why we lose access to that capacity, how scarcity shows up in parenting and relationships, and why the simple word “and” can transform the way we experience hard moments. Learn how to recognize when your perspective has narrowed, understand the role of the nervous system in abundance and scarcity, and discover how to find your way back to possibility, connection, and peace. We're exploring: * The difference between abundance and scarcity in parenting * Why abundance isn’t about positivity or having more * How the nervous system shapes our perspective * The power of “and” in difficult moments * Why scarcity feels so urgent and exhausting * How to recognize when you’ve lost access to abundance * The connection between abundance, peace, and emotional regulation Plus, learn about the free 5-Day Abundant Parenting Challenge [https://theparentinglab.org/abundant], designed to help you recognize abundance that’s already present and trust yourself to find your way back when life feels narrow. ♥ Your Parent Coach, Brittney Join The Parenting Lab ⁠Facebook Group⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/8627931200664902]! For free resources, online courses, or to join the mailing list, please visit ⁠theparentinglab.org⁠ [http://theparentinglab.org] Follow on Instagram / TikTok / YouTube  ⁠@TheParentingLabPodcast⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/theparentinglabpodcast/] Email Brittney: podcast@theparentinglab.org

61. Work-Life Balance...or Whole-Life Alignment?

We often talk about work life and home life as though they exist in separate worlds. But stress, fulfillment, connection, burnout, and emotional wellbeing don't stay neatly contained in one environment. We carry them with us wherever we go. In this episode, we explore the connection between our relationships, nervous systems, workplace performance, and overall wellbeing. Together, we'll challenge the cultural obsession with work-life balance and consider a different approach: alignment. We'll talk about why parenting has a unique way of exposing the places where our lives feel fragmented, how our values shape the way we show up at home and at work, and why awareness is often the first step toward creating a life that feels more connected, intentional, and sustainable. Because the goal isn't perfect balance. The goal is building a life where our work, relationships, values, and daily choices are telling the same story. If you're ready to align with what matters most to you, knowing your core values is foundational to all of the work that follows it. Each of the following resources is designed to meet you where you are - choose the one that feels most accessible, and reach out for support if you need it. ♥ Your Parent Coach, Brittney FREE - Discovering Your Core Values [https://theparentinglab.org/shop/p/discovering-your-core-values-free-download] $7 - Connecting Values to Limits, Rules & Boundaries [https://theparentinglab.org/shop/p/connecting-values-to-limits-rules-boundaries] $67 - The Core Values Lab [https://theparentinglab.org/shop/p/core-values-lab] $347 - Coaching Experience - The Core Values Intensive [https://theparentinglab.org/coaching-support/p/core-values-intensive] Join The Parenting Lab ⁠Facebook Group⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/8627931200664902]! For free resources, online courses, or to join the mailing list, please visit ⁠theparentinglab.org⁠ [http://theparentinglab.org] Follow on Instagram / TikTok / YouTube  ⁠@TheParentingLabPodcast⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/theparentinglabpodcast/] Email Brittney: podcast@theparentinglab.org

60. Family Vacations: Expectations vs. Reality (And How to Actually Enjoy Them)

Family vacations are supposed to be magical… so why do they so often leave us feeling disappointed, overwhelmed, or even a little resentful? In this episode, we’re talking about the gap between expectations vs. reality in family vacations and summer with kids - and why even the most thoughtfully planned trips don’t always feel the way we hoped they would. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking: “I put so much into this… why doesn’t it feel better?” - this episode is for you. You’ll learn: * Why we put so much emotional pressure on vacations, summer, and “making memories” * How family dynamics and nervous system patterns don’t disappear on vacation - they intensify * Why trying to force connection, gratitude, or happiness often backfires * How to shift from controlling the experience to actually enjoying it I also share a personal “vacation failure” story (that maybe you'll relate to...I hope! 😅), and the perspective shift that changed how I approach travel, summer, and time with my family. Most importantly, I’ll give you practical anchors to help you stay grounded and connected - even when things don’t go as planned. Because meaningful memories aren’t created through perfect experiences…they’re created through connection, repair, and being fully present in the moment. If you’re heading into summer, planning a trip, or just trying to enjoy time with your kids without the pressure to make it perfect - this conversation will definitely help you do it differently. ♥ Your Parent Coach, Brittney Join The Parenting Lab ⁠Facebook Group⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/8627931200664902]! For free resources, online courses, or to join the mailing list, please visit ⁠theparentinglab.org⁠ [http://theparentinglab.org] Follow on Instagram / TikTok / YouTube  ⁠@TheParentingLabPodcast⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/theparentinglabpodcast/] Email Brittney: podcast@theparentinglab.org

59. Fight. Flight. Freeze. Fawn. What is Your Default Stress Response?

Why do you react so strongly in certain moments - snapping, shutting down, avoiding, or people-pleasing - even when you don’t want to? In this episode of The Parenting Lab, we’re breaking down the 4 default stress responses - fight, flight, freeze, and fawn - and how your nervous system shapes the way you show up in parenting, relationships, and everyday life. If you’ve ever wondered: * Why do I overreact to small things? * Why do I shut down in hard conversations? * Why do I avoid conflict or say yes when I mean no? This episode will help you understand what’s actually happening beneath those patterns. You’ll learn: * What each stress response looks like in real life (not just theory) * How your nervous system stores past experiences and reacts automatically * Why these responses are patterns - not personality traits * How your reactions interact with your child’s or partner’s nervous system * Simple ways to start creating space between reaction and response This isn’t about labeling yourself or “fixing” your behavior. It’s about understanding your patterns with more clarity - so you can begin to show up with more intention, more connection, and more alignment with the parent and partner you want to be. If you’re a parent who’s doing everything “right” on the outside but feels reactive, overwhelmed, or disconnected on the inside - this conversation will give you language, insight, and a new way of seeing yourself. Because awareness isn’t the end goal...It’s the beginning of change. ♥ Your Parent Coach, Brittney Join The Parenting Lab ⁠Facebook Group⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/8627931200664902]! For free resources, online courses, or to join the mailing list, please visit ⁠theparentinglab.org⁠ [http://theparentinglab.org] Follow on Instagram / TikTok / YouTube  ⁠@TheParentingLabPodcast⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/theparentinglabpodcast/] Email Brittney: podcast@theparentinglab.org

58. Re-Mothering Yourself: The Healing Work That Changes Your Parenting

🌱 The companion ebook, Re-Mothering Yourself: A Journey Back to Safety, Wholeness & Inner Guidance [https://theparentinglab.org/shop/p/re-mothering-yourself], is available now at theparentinglab.org. Mother’s Day can bring up more than flowers, cards, and appreciation. For many women, it also brings exhaustion, grief, resentment, unmet needs, parenting triggers, and the quiet weight of carrying wounds that never fully healed. In this episode, I'm introducing the concept of re-mothering yourself - the process of learning how to give yourself the care, emotional safety, compassion, and support you may not have consistently received growing up. We talk about how childhood wounds, attachment patterns, nervous system responses, and unmet emotional needs continue to shape the way we show up in parenting, relationships, and motherhood today. If you’ve ever found yourself: * Reacting in ways that don’t match the parent you want to be * Feeling emotionally overwhelmed or triggered by your child’s behavior * Struggling with resentment, guilt, or burnout in motherhood * Trying to break generational cycles while still carrying pain from your own childhood * Wondering why parenting feels so emotionally activating …this episode is for you. We dive into: * What re-mothering actually means * How unmet childhood needs show up in parenting * Why parenting can feel so triggering * The connection between nervous system regulation and motherhood * How to stop looking to your children to heal your wounds * Practical ways to begin healing old emotional patterns * What real generational healing actually looks like This conversation is gentle, honest, and deeply validating for mothers who are trying to parent differently while still healing themselves in the process. I also share a guided reflection exercise to help you connect with the younger parts of yourself that still need care, understanding, and support. If you’re interested in topics like gentle parenting, healing your inner child, motherhood burnout, attachment wounds, nervous system healing, parenting triggers, cycle breaking, emotional regulation, self-compassion, and generational healing - this episode will resonate deeply. I hope that wherever you are in your healing journey, you will find a way to experience Mother's Day in a way that is meaningful. ♥ Your Parent Coach, Brittney Join The Parenting Lab ⁠Facebook Group⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/groups/8627931200664902]! For free resources, online courses, or to join the mailing list, please visit ⁠theparentinglab.org⁠ [http://theparentinglab.org] Follow on Instagram / TikTok / YouTube  ⁠@TheParentingLabPodcast⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/theparentinglabpodcast/] Email Brittney: podcast@theparentinglab.org