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We were never given a manual on how to parent. It is easy to get overwhelmed to know the right thing to do. There is so much contradictory information out there and everyone has their own advice. Parenting is a rewarding but messy, confusing, infuriating, guilt-inducing, and overwhelming journey. While it's easy to get lost, Andrew Stewart, a real dad, and Dr. Caroline Buzanko, a real mom, child psychologist, and parenting expert (who also happens to be married to Andrew) will help you get back on track. In each episode, Andrew and Caroline have open and honest chats about everything parenting. Join them in honesty, laughter, and tears (Caroline is a bit of a cry baby) as they help you navigate this journey of parenting. And, every so often, you may get some gems of expert advice. Our goal is to make your parenting journey less stressful, more forgiving, and more awesome. Please join us every Wednesday for new episodes of Parenting of the Year.
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The holidays are supposed to be joyful—but for many families, they quietly amplify stress, overwhelm, and emotional reactivity. In this special crossover episode with Parents of the Year podcast, Dr. Caroline and her husband Andrew step away from “perfect holiday” pressure and take a psychologically grounded look at why emotions run hotter during the holidays, for both kids and adults. They explore how disrupted routines, sensory overload, social comparison, family dynamics, and unrealistic e...
Phones were supposed to make life easier. Instead, many parents feel like they’re raising kids alongside a slot machine that lives in everyone’s pocket. In this powerful Parents of the Year episode, Andrew and Caroline sit down with MJ Murray Vachon, LCSW to talk about phones, dopamine, porn, AI, and what realistic boundaries look like in 2025. MJ shares what she’s seen across four decades in the therapy room—before and after smartphones—and why today’s kids’ brains are simply not built for t...
Boredom gets a bad reputation in modern parenting. Kids hate it, adults avoid it, and screens are always within reach to fill the quiet. In this Parents of the Year episode, Andrew and Caroline pull back the curtain on what boredom really does for kids’ brains—and for ours as adults. They talk honestly about ADHD, distress tolerance, screen overload, and why we don’t need to be our kids’ entertainment directors. You’ll hear: How boredom can feel physically painful for many k...
Andrew and Caroline discuss how much our own self-awareness as parents shape the way our kids turn out? From yelling regrets and chore battles this episode blends humour with honest reflection. They explore how everyday reactions, no matter how big or small, shape connection, resilience, and emotional safety. Listeners hear real examples of repair, frustration, boundaries, and the awkward but important skill of owning our mistakes. The message running through the conversation: parenting isn’t...
Andrew and Caroline jump headfirst into one of the biggest pressures modern families face: the urge to hover, track, micromanage, and constantly correct. They unpack why today’s parents feel pulled into overprotecting, how it chips away at confidence, and why kids need room to stumble if they’re going to grow sturdy roots. With stories about tracking apps, school expectations, Velcro parenting, and the snowball effect of fear-driven parenting trends, this episode gives listeners a real look a...
Oversharing Kids Online: Why “Sharenting” Hurts More Than It Helps Parents are posting more than ever—but at what cost to their children’s privacy, safety, and sense of self? In this episode, Andrew and Caroline tackle the growing issue of “sharenting:” the habit of sharing too much about kids online. From cute toddler photos to venting about behaviour problems, they explore how these seemingly harmless posts can lead to embarrassment, digital footprints kids never consented to, a...
In this episode of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Caroline sit down with Camille Jaramis, founder of Ask Yawn, the first parenting AI designed to cut through the chaos of parenting advice online. Camille shares how she and a team of parent-engineers built Ask Yawn to give exhausted parents quick, science-backed support—without the judgment or endless Googling at 3 a.m. They talk about how tech can help families, where it can cross the line, and why balance, privacy, and trust matter more tha...
With Halloween creeping up, Andrew and Caroline revisit one of their most memorable episodes: The night they tried to solve a mystery that still haunts their home: is their ensuite bathroom possessed… or just falling apart? (PS — the light actually did turn on in the middle of the night. You decide. 👀) But ghosts aside, this replay digs into something every parent wrestles with: How to keep kids safe without smothering their independence. They explore why our protective instincts sometimes do...
In this episode of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Caroline dive into the often-overlooked topic of dad loneliness and postpartum mental health for fathers. They get real about the invisible expectations men face, the lack of support for dads compared to moms, and the pressure to “just keep going.” Along the way, they share raw stories of exhaustion, survival mode, and the quiet ways dads can feel left out—even in loving families. From postpartum depression in fathers, to finding balanc...
In this episode of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Caroline dig into the rise of AI and how it’s reshaping our daily lives, relationships, and even parenting. From the clickbait story of a marriage ending “because of ChatGPT,” to the quiet ways technology chips away at memory, empathy, and connection, this conversation is equal parts cautionary and practical. They explore how AI can be a helpful tool—but also why it should never replace genuine human interaction. Most importantly,...
Parenting expert and therapist Todd Sarner joins Andrew and Caroline to unpack what it really means to guide children without shame or punishment. From his 20+ years of experience, Todd outlines the three pillars of proactive parenting: strengthening attachment and connection, creating a rhythm and environment that supports kids, and teaching natural consequences without shame. Together, they explore how separation anxiety shows up at bedtime, mornings, and school transitions, and...
When should parents step in and request a teacher change for their child? In this episode of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Caroline break down one of the most difficult decisions many families face: advocating for a classroom change. They share their own recent personal experience navigating a challenging teacher-student dynamic that left their child anxious, tearful, and resistant to school. Together, they explore: The difference between normal classroom struggles vs. true red flag...
In this episode of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Caroline unpack the trending term "FAFO parenting" (F*@$% around and find out). They break down the difference between logical and natural consequences and why using threats or shame in the name of "teaching lessons" misses the mark. This conversation dives into the importance of empathy, how to raise kids who think for themselves, and why it's not your job to micromanage—but also not your job to set them up for failure. You'll hear personal ...
College debt can haunt young adults and their parents for decades—but it doesn’t have to. Today on Parents of the Year, Shellee Howard, founder of University Ready and author of How to Send Your Student to College Without Losing Your Mind or Your Money, joins Andrew and Caroline to share her practical, proven strategies for helping kids graduate debt-free. From strategic college tours and early family conversations about money to leveraging scholarships, community service, leaders...
Are you ready to kickstart the new school year with ease and confidence? Today we recast an episode of Caroline's Overpowering Emotions podcast episodes where she presents valuable tips and strategies to ensure a smooth back-to-school transition. If you haven't already, check out these additional resources: Comprehensive guide to conquering back-to-school anxiety: https://korulearninginstitute.kit.com/conquerschoolanxietyCritical routines your children need to develop: https://korupsy...
Parenting is full of worries—before kids, during the thick of it, and as they grow up and leave home. In this candid episode of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Caroline share their biggest fears, regrets, and surprises from each stage of parenting. From anxieties about dropping the baby or coyotes sneaking off with them, to raw reflections on anger, mistakes, and letting go as teens gain independence, this conversation will resonate with any parent who has ever asked: Am I messing this up? Th...
In this special recast episode of Parents of the Year, Caroline explains how boredom is actually a biological signal, not something to avoid or fix. Learn how boredom supports emotional regulation, executive functioning, creativity, and mental well-being—for both kids and adults. Learn: * What boredom really means in the brain and body * Why screens increase boredom (and emotional dysregulation) * How boredom supports creativity, problem-solving, and identity formation * Tips to help kid...
Are therapists’ kids really more "messed up"? In this episode of Parents of the Year, Andrew and Caroline explore the myths and realities surrounding parenting as a mental health professional. From bringing work home, to pathologizing kids, to the fine line between validation and over-parenting, they explore what’s myth, what’s truth, and where parenting is just parenting. With humour, honesty, and real-life examples (including pranks gone wrong), this episode offers perspective for parents n...
In this episode of Parents of the Year, we ask a question many are too afraid to say out loud: If you knew then what you know now… would you still choose to have kids? With honesty, humour, and zero sugarcoating, Andrew and Caroline share stories of being ignored mid-sentence, kids crashing vehicles into trees, and the daily grind of parenting teens who “know everything and nothing at once.” But it’s not all eye rolls and sticky toffee pudding disasters—there’s awe, laughter, deep...
Vacations, late nights, screen time sprees—summer throws structure out the window. But what happens when back-to-school hits like a brick? In this episode, Andrew and Caroline talk how to hold onto a little routine without turning your home into a boot camp. They unpack simple ways families can keep anchor habits going—even at the cabin or with teenagers rolling out of bed at noon. You’ll hear tips on habit stacking (yes, the morning pee counts), making chores suck less, using streaks a...
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