Website: 🌐 www.andiclark.com

Support Circle Membership: https://andiclark.thrivecart.com/support-circle/

Parenting kids with big emotions is no easy task, especially when explosive outbursts, school struggles, and executive functioning challenges are part of daily life.

In this episode, Andi is joined by Shauna B, a life reinvention and motivation coach for single and divorced moms, who shares her powerful journey of raising children with intense emotions.

Together, they discuss the long game of emotional regulation, how to navigate school challenges, and the importance of self-care for parents.

Shauna shares her personal experience of parenting through meltdowns, school battles, and behavioral struggles, and how she found effective strategies to help her kids develop emotional resilience.

Whether you're feeling overwhelmed or searching for practical tools, this episode will help you feel seen, supported, and empowered in your parenting journey.

✔️ Big emotions aren’t just behavior problems – They often stem from executive functioning struggles, ADHD, sensory processing challenges, or emotional regulation difficulties.

✔️ The school system often doesn’t understand emotional regulation struggles – IEPs can be helpful, but they often serve as band-aids rather than addressing the root of the challenges.

✔️ Homeschooling and alternative education can be game-changers – Finding a learning environment that meets your child’s needs may require thinking outside the traditional school system.

✔️ Self-care for parents isn’t optional—it’s essential – The more you recharge, the more you can help your child through their emotional struggles.

✔️ Every child needs different strategies – What works for one child may not work for another, so flexibility and patience are key.

✔️ Success is in the long game – Helping kids regulate emotions takes time, persistence, and a strong support system.

📍 [00:02:00] Meet Shauna B – Single mom of three, life reinvention coach, and advocate for parents navigating big emotions.

📍 [00:04:00] Recognizing the signs – Shauna shares how she noticed the first signs of emotional struggles in her kids, including volcanic outbursts, impulsivity, and challenges with self-regulation.

📍 [00:07:00] The long game of emotional regulation – Why parenting kids with big emotions requires patience, persistence, and a mindset shift.

📍 [00:10:00] The challenges of parenting different kids with different needs – How Shauna had to adjust her parenting approach between her two sons, one with explosive outbursts and another with aggressive behaviors.

📍 [00:15:00] Schools don’t always get it – How executive functioning struggles impact emotional regulation, and why IEPs and traditional school interventions often fall short.

📍 [00:20:00] The decision to homeschool – Shauna’s journey to pulling her son from school, homeschooling, and eventually finding an online program that worked for him.

📍 [00:27:00] The power of reducing overwhelm – How breaking tasks into smaller steps helped Shauna’s son regain confidence and manage his schoolwork.

📍 [00:38:00] Modeling emotional regulation...

Website: 🌐 www.andiclark.com

Support Circle Membership: https://andiclark.thrivecart.com/support-circle/

Have you ever watched your child and wondered why they see the world so differently? Maybe they ask deep questions, feel emotions intensely, or struggle to fit into the traditional mold. Or perhaps you’ve felt misunderstood yourself. In this episode, Andi dives into what it means to think differently, why it’s often misinterpreted, and how to embrace these differences as strengths.

By the end of this episode, you'll have a new perspective on deep thinkers, big feelers, and outside-the-box kids—and maybe even a deeper understanding of yourself. Instead of trying to "fix" these children, we can support them in stepping into their superpowers.

• Different doesn’t mean wrong – Children who think deeply, feel intensely, or question everything aren’t broken. They see the world uniquely, and that’s a gift.
• Society often misunderstands neurodiverse kids – Many kids are expected to fit into a one-size-fits-all mold, but movement, deep thinking, and curiosity shouldn’t be seen as problems.
• Your child’s challenges may be their superpowers – Struggles with focus, overthinking, or heightened sensitivity can turn into strengths when supported correctly.
• Reframing parenting approaches – Instead of asking, How do I get my child to stop doing this?, ask, How do I support my child’s strengths?
• Healing your own childhood experiences – Many parents grew up feeling misunderstood. Recognizing and healing from that can help in supporting your child more effectively.

• [00:00:00] Introduction: Why this topic is deeply personal for Andi and how it shaped her parenting journey.
• [00:02:00] The struggles of thinking differently: Why some kids don’t fit in and how that can make them feel isolated.
• [00:05:00] Movement and focus: Why some children need physical activity to think clearly.
• [00:08:00] The "silent but deadly" child: How quiet, deep thinkers process information in ways adults might miss.
• [00:11:00] Kids who anticipate everything: How children who overanalyze are often future planners and strategists.
• [00:14:00] Misinterpretations: When kids' natural tendencies are seen as problematic instead of valuable.
• [00:16:00] The discomfort of being different: How society reacts to kids who don’t fit into the norm.
• [00:22:00] Breaking generational cycles: Recognizing how your own experiences impact how you parent.
• [00:28:00] Suppressing vs. supporting: How kids lose confidence when they’re told to "tone it down."
• [00:31:00] Andi’s experience with neurodiverse entrepreneurs: A real-world example of thinking differently as a strength.
• [00:36:00] Actionable parenting strategies: How to support your child’s deep thinking, big emotions, and curiosity.
• [00:39:00] Final thoughts: Changing the narrative from fixing to understanding and embracing.

• The Highly Sensitive Child by Dr. Elaine Aron – A must-read for parents of deeply feeling children. (

Website: 🌐 www.andiclark.com

Support Circle Membership: https://andiclark.thrivecart.com/support-circle/

Parenting doesn’t come with a manual, and even the best-prepared parents find themselves learning, adapting, and sometimes messing up along the way. In this episode, I sit down with Reesa Morala, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, to talk about what it really means to navigate parenting challenges, embrace the learning process, and give yourself grace along the way.

We dive into the reality of parenting differences, handling guilt and shame, and why self-care isn’t selfish—it’s essential. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, struggling with your child’s emotions, or just wondering if you’re getting it “right,” this episode will remind you: Parenting is a work in progress, and that’s okay.

✅ It’s normal for parents to have different parenting styles—what matters is how you communicate and find common ground.

✅ Guilt and shame are common, but they don’t make you a bad parent—learning and growing do.

✅ Even therapists and parenting experts mess up! The key is how you repair and move forward.

✅ Self-care makes you a better parent, not a selfish one.

✅ Curiosity (instead of assumptions) can improve communication with both your partner and your child.

✅ Kids mirror what we model—showing them how to manage stress and emotions helps them learn to do the same.

• [00:00] – Welcome
• [02:00] – Reesa introduces herself and shares her background as a therapist and parent
• [05:00] – The challenge of different parenting styles and why communication is key
• [10:00] – Even parenting experts mess up! Why it’s about progress, not perfection
• [12:00] – The importance of self-awareness: Noticing when you’ve fallen off track
• [17:00] – Dealing with guilt and shame as a parent (and why it’s never too late to grow)
• [20:00] – Why prioritizing your needs actually benefits your kids
• [25:00] – When one child feels easier to parent than another (and how to handle it)
• [30:00] – The power of tagging in your partner and asking for help
• [35:00] – What self-care really looks like (hint: it’s different for everyone)
• [38:00] – How dance parties, coloring, or playing in the mud can be self-care
• [42:00] – Making small shifts: Adding instead of taking away
• [45:00] – Teaching kids emotional regulation through curiosity and collaboration

🔗 Reesa’s Website & Group: https://www.embracerenewaltherapy.com

🔗 Reesa’s Podcast: Listen to Reesa’s Cooking & Parenting Conversations: https://www.embracerenewaltherapy.com/real-family-eats

💻You can Follow Reesa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/embrace.renewal.therapy/

📌 Join The Support Circle: A monthly membership for parents navigating big emotions. Get strategies, support, and community. Join here: