Get it on Google Play

Parenting Problems Aren't Always What They Seem with Dawn Friedman - 407

Parenting Problems Aren't Always What They Seem with Dawn Friedman - 407

Author: Pam Howard May 26, 2026 Duration: 29:09
Less Drama More Mama
KidsKids & FamilyEducationFamilyParentingSelf Improvement

Today's episode is the final one in the Mental Health Awareness Month podcast collaboration I organized with a few other parenting and mental health podcast hosts. We each chose one episode from our own show to share on the others' podcasts throughout the month.

This episode comes from Dawn Friedman's podcast, Tell Me It Will Be Okay.

Dawn has worked with kids and families for more than 30 years as a preschool teacher, clinical counselor, parent educator, and parent herself. Her work focuses mostly on supporting parents of anxious kids.

In this episode, Dawn talks about something she calls "judicious giving up," which is about stepping back from the urge to immediately fix a parenting problem and getting curious about what's actually going on underneath it.

Sometimes the bedtime struggle isn't really about bedtime.
The school refusal isn't really about school.
The behavior isn't always the whole story.

Dawn also talks about how parenting struggles can bring up our own fears, expectations, identities, and beliefs about who we think we're supposed to be as parents.

At the end of the episode, I share some of my own thoughts about nervous system patterns, emotional reactions, and why insight alone usually isn't enough to change the way we respond.

https://lessdramamoremama.com/407


Pam Howard brings a refreshingly practical voice to the often chaotic world of parenting with Less Drama More Mama. Drawing from her unique background as a Master Certified Life Coach, a licensed clinical social worker, and a former school counselor, she moves beyond theory to offer real, usable strategies for everyday family life. This isn't about achieving perfection; it's about replacing overwhelm with a sense of grounded confidence. Each episode feels like a conversation with a knowledgeable friend who truly gets it. Pam weaves together personal anecdotes from her own journey as a mom with anonymized case studies from her coaching practice, creating a relatable and insightful listen. You'll find specific life coaching tools and perspectives designed to transform those moments of feeling frazzled or disconnected into opportunities for calm and stronger bonds with your kids. The Less Drama More Mama podcast is a resource for any parent looking to cultivate more peace and less reactivity at home, covering topics that span child development, educational challenges, and personal growth. It’s a space where the focus shifts from simply managing behavior to understanding the underlying dynamics, empowering you to handle what comes your way with more grace and less guilt.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Official website RSS
Less Drama More Mama
Podcast Episodes
Holiday Magic Your Kids Will Remember - 381 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:37
The word "magic" has come up in almost every one of my coaching sessions this month. If you're feeling responsible for creating a picture-perfect holiday season, you're not alone. What starts as excitement quickly turns…
Why Holiday Boundaries Feel Hard and What to Do About It - 380 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:31
When my older daughter was in preschool, I volunteered to be the room mom. After that year, the teacher asked if I wanted to do it again. I said no and felt zero guilt. None. I simply didn't want to spend my time that wa…
Why It's Good for Your Kids to See You Cry Sometimes - 379 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:55
You know that lump in your throat you try to swallow when you want to hold back tears? Most of us do it automatically. We tell ourselves we have to be strong because crying will make our kids worry, or that holding it to…
What Really Happens in a Somatic Coaching Session - 378 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:45
Nervous system work is the missing piece for so many moms who've tried therapy or mindset coaching and still find themselves reacting in ways they don't like. In this episode, I'm sharing clips from an actual coaching se…
The Masks We Wear - 377 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:08
With Halloween just a few days away, I'm revisiting an early episode of the podcast that's still incredibly relevant. I'm talking about the masks we wear as moms — not the kind that come with costumes and candy, but the…
How to Stay Regulated When Your Child Isn't - 376 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:16
When your child is yelling, swearing, or completely losing it, your nervous system instantly screams, "This isn't safe!" You might find yourself fighting back, shutting down, or trying to fix the situation—none of which…
When Safety Feels Unsafe - 375 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:31
You know those times when everything seems fine . . . no crisis, no chaos . . . and instead of relaxing, you feel restless, uneasy, or suspicious? That's your nervous system struggling to trust safety. After years of run…
Breaking Free from Beliefs That Keep You Stuck - 374 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:47
Sometimes the thing holding you back isn't your kids, your schedule, or even your past. It's a belief you learned long ago that still feels true. Beliefs like: "I have to do everything perfectly or I've failed." "It's se…

«12345