The Phone Problem Isn't Your Kid's, It's Yours

The Phone Problem Isn't Your Kid's, It's Yours

Author: Michelle Kenney, M. Ed May 19, 2026 Duration: 21:33
The most powerful screen time intervention you have is not what you do with your child's phone, it's what you do with yours. In this episode, I'm sharing the moment I had to look in the mirror about my own tech habits, and the framework I now teach parents to raise screen-smart kids without the daily power struggle. We'll cover why taking the phone away always backfires, the role Special Time plays in pulling kids off devices without a meltdown, and the 80% modeling rule every parent needs to hear before they make another screen-time rule. Feeling called to bring this work to other parents? Our Coaching Certification Program trains you to do exactly that. DM me CERTIFICATION on Instagram for details. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

You know the principles of gentle parenting and value attachment, but the day-to-day reality of raising kids can leave those ideals feeling just out of reach. If you’re exhausted by cycles of yelling, shame, and frustration, and you’re searching for a practical, grounded alternative that still provides clear boundaries, you’ve found a thoughtful space to explore. Peace and Parenting: How to Parent without Punishments is hosted by Michelle Kenney, M. Ed, who brings her perspective as a former teacher, counselor, certified parenting coach, and a mom of two teenagers. She also openly shares her own journey as a recovering yeller, making her guidance deeply empathetic and real. In this podcast, Michelle moves beyond theory to discuss the actual application of peaceful parenting. Conversations focus on dismantling the urge to punish and replacing it with connection-based strategies that actually work during tough moments. You’ll hear honest discussions about setting limits with respect, navigating emotional outbursts (both yours and your child’s), and fostering a home environment rooted in cooperation rather than control. Each episode aims to provide actionable insights that help you build a calmer, more respectful family dynamic, one conversation at a time. It’s a resource for anyone ready to parent in a way that feels better, honors the relationship, and genuinely moves away from punitive measures.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Peace and Parenting: How to Parent without Punishments
Podcast Episodes
Your Toddler Is Doing Better Than You Think [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:32
We've been handed a story about toddlers. They're testing you, manipulating you, trying to win, and if you comfort them too much, you'll spoil them. That story is wrong, and it's aimed at you hardest right now, because t…
There's No Such Thing as a Perfect Parent [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:13
When you lie awake at night, what do you replay? Not the hundred things you got right. You replay the one moment you lost it. Most of us believe that guilt is proof we're good parents, that our mistakes need to be paid f…
Kind and Firm: Hold a Boundary Without Losing Connection [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:31
We were told boundaries and connection sit on opposite ends of a dial. Go firm, and you lose warmth. Go gentle, and you lose the floor. So we spend our days sliding back and forth, guilty when we're too hard, exhausted w…
Case Study: What If You're Already Enough? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:44
Most of us believe we have to be everything for our kids. If the other parent isn't showing up fully, we tell ourselves it's on us to fill every gap and make up for what's missing. And we burn out trying. In this coachin…
Rewards Are Punishments in Disguise [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:16
Most of us were taught that the opposite of punishment is praise. That sticker charts and "great job, buddy" are the good, gentle way to parent. In this episode, I want to challenge that. What if praise and punishment ar…
Play Instead of Punishment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:38
When your child is being hard, what is the first tool you reach for? A countdown. A consequence. A lecture. A raised voice. Almost every one of those is a version of the same instinct: when my child gets hard, I get hard…
Your Neurodivergent Child Doesn’t Need a Different Parent [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:34
So many parents of neurodivergent children are told they need a different parenting approach, that connection won't be enough, and that rewards and consequences are the answer. In this episode, Coach Cammie shares the de…
Your Child is Not Disrespectful, They Are Dysregulated. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:37
For a long time, I thought my daughter's biggest meltdowns meant I was failing as a parent. Then one afternoon at the American Girl store, everything changed. In this episode, I share the story that transformed the way I…