68. Screen Time Isn't the Problem (Here's What Is)

68. Screen Time Isn't the Problem (Here's What Is)

Is screen time really the problem - or is it revealing something deeper? In this episode, we're looking beyond the usual conversations about screen time limits, educational apps, and family rules. Instead, we're exploring what screens do to our nervous systems - and why they can become such a powerful source of immediate relief for both children and parents. We'll talk about dopamine, the difference between relief and regulation, and why reducing screen time often feels so difficult. Not because our kids are "addicted," but because both children and adults are learning to cope with discomfort in the fastest way possible. This isn't an episode about eliminating screens or following a perfect screen time plan. It's an invitation to become curious about what role screens are playing in your family, how your brain wires around what it practices, and how we can begin building the capacity to stay present with discomfort instead of always seeking immediate relief. If you've ever wondered why screen time feels like such a battle, this conversation offers a perspective you may not have considered before. ♥ 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

67. How Parents Accidentally Teach Shame

Our words shape more than our children's behavior - they shape the story our children begin to believe about themselves. In this episode, we're exploring how parents can unintentionally communicate shame, even when our goal is to teach responsibility, honesty, and respect. We'll talk about the difference between correcting behavior and defining identity, why shame gets in the way of accountability, and how becoming aware of the messages beneath our words can transform the way we connect with our children. You'll learn: * The difference between guilt and shame * Why children hear more than the words we say * How labels can become identity * Why shame undermines accountability * How repair helps children separate mistakes from their worth If you've ever wondered how to discipline with both accountability and connection, this episode will give you a new perspective on the messages your children carry with them long after the moment has passed. If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear from you. Share it with another parent, leave a review, or connect with me on Instagram ↓ ♥ 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

Lab Notes: How We Talk About Our Kids

Welcome to Lab Notes! In addition to our weekly deep-dive episodes, I'll be dropping in from time to time with these shorter conversations - quick reflections, observations, and fresh perspectives inspired by MY everyday parenting. Think of them as little pauses in your week. A chance to slow down, notice something you may not have considered before, and carry one small shift with you into the rest of your day. These episodes won't be scripted or packed with research. They're simply what's been on my mind - real-time insights from life, coaching, and the conversations I'm having with parents every day. In this first Lab Note, we're talking about something simple, but incredibly powerful: the way we talk about our children when they're not in the room. What if we spoke about our kids like they were standing just around the corner, listening to every word? How might that change the stories we tell, the labels we use, and the way our children come to understand themselves? Because the words we choose don't just shape how other people see our children - they shape how WE see them, and ultimately how they may come to see themselves. I hope these Lab Notes become a small moment of encouragement and reflection in the middle of your week. Thanks for being here! ♥ Your Parent Coach, Brittney

66. Reimagining Attachment: Style vs. Orientation

What if your attachment style isn't your identity? Attachment theory has given millions of people language to understand their relationship patterns, but what if the way we talk about attachment is limiting the way we think about it? In this episode of The Parenting Lab, we're exploring a simple but powerful shift in perspective: moving from thinking about attachment as a fixed style to viewing it as an orientation. Using the analogy of a compass, we'll explore how our earliest relationships calibrate our nervous systems to expect certain things from connection, trust, conflict, and vulnerability. Those patterns make sense - they were shaped by our experiences - but they don't have to determine where we're headed. You'll learn: * A simple overview of the four attachment styles * Why attachment patterns are adaptations, not personality traits * How early relationships shape the direction your nervous system naturally points * Why familiar patterns are so difficult to change * How healthy relationships, repair, and self-awareness can gradually "recalibrate your compass" * A new way to think about healing that emphasizes growth, agency, and hope Your attachment patterns may explain where you've been, but they don't have to define where you're going. Key Takeaway: Your attachment isn't your identity. It's the direction your nervous system learned to face through the relationships that shaped you. And while changing direction takes time, healing is possible - one relationship, one repair, and one intentional choice at a time. ♥ 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

65. Parenting Self-Assessment: How Healthy Is Your Relationship with Your Child?

☑️Download the FREE Self Assessment Workbook [https://theparentinglab.myflodesk.com/assessment] What if you stopped measuring your parenting by your child's behavior - and started measuring the health of your relationship instead? In this episode of The Parenting Lab, we're slowing down to take an honest, compassionate look at where things really stand. Together, we'll walk through a simple parenting self-assessment designed to help you recognize your strengths, identify areas for growth, and gain clarity about what your family needs most right now. We'll explore four foundational areas of every healthy parent-child relationship - security, connection, communication, and fun - along with powerful reflection questions that uncover the patterns, beliefs, and experiences shaping the way you parent. This isn't about judging yourself or earning a perfect score. It's about becoming more aware, more intentional, and more aligned with the parent you want to be. * How to honestly assess your parent-child relationship * The difference between evidence and the stories we tell ourselves * Why behavior isn't the best measure of relationship health * Four key areas to evaluate: security, connection, communication, and fun * Reflection questions to uncover parenting patterns and blind spots * Why asking for help is a sign of growth - not weakness 📄 Free Download: Grab the Parenting Self-Assessment worksheet mentioned in this episode at theparentinglab.org under Free Resources, or HERE [https://theparentinglab.myflodesk.com/assessment]. If you've been wondering where to focus your energy as a parent, this episode offers a clear place to begin. ♥ 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