Is My Child A Monster? A Parenting Therapy Podcast

Today’s is a special episode focusing on sibling dynamics. We take a break from our typical therapy sessions to talk to Leslie’s 34-year-old twins, Dale and Carrie. Together they share in an open and honest conversation the challenges of being themselves and being in relationship with each other. Dale had intense emotions and challenging behaviors as a kid, and doesn’t understand how Carrie didn’t hate her, or at the very least resent her. Carrie was easy going and flexible, and she grew up wondering if there was something wrong with her. In this dialogue we look at how complex sibling relationships can be. What happens when one sibling has higher needs than the other? How do parents balance the needs of each child when helping one can actually hurt the other? Hear what Dale and Carrie reveal about the evolution of their relationship not just as siblings, but as twins, from childhood to adulthood.About our guests: Dale Rubury is excited to be back on Is My Child A Monster? as she was a producer and special guest in Season 1. After graduating from college with a degree in Zoology, Dale moved to warmer climates to pursue a career with animals. She worked at the largest primate sanctuary in North America for 7 years before moving on to a different career path. For the past few years, she has been in the world of construction where she was building yurts and working for Habitat for Humanity. Dale is currently enrolled in a graduate program to become a Physical Therapy Assistant. Dale is proud to say that she has a healthy relationship with her anxiety.  Carrie's passion for exploring humanity, in all its messiness and wonder, has driven her career. Her career has led her across the globe, working in Latin America and Africa, and across various industries, from public relations and restaurants to leadership development and healthcare. Carrie continued to follow her curiosity about how people change and grow into graduate school to earn her MSW. Carrie is currently working as a clinical social worker in a community practice in upstate New York. She lives with her husband and dog, Lou. Outside of work, she is likely cooking with friends or adventuring in some wilderness. Resources:Leslie’s Handout on The Need to Feel Significant Leslei’s Handout on The Need to Feel a Sense of BelongingIs My Child a Monster?  S1 Ep 14 The Apology Episode with Special Guest Dale RuburyLeslie’s video of the Orchestra Metaphor which teaches us  to respect people for who they areLeslie-ism: All children need to feel like unique individuals and also need to feel like they belong.Timestamps:1:53 The metaphor of a mobile: a family systems perspective where all family members impact each other 10:17 For the low needs child you can explain that “It's hard being [the sibling with anxiety], and it's hard being you”12:26 Holding the dialectic dilemma: “I love her and am also angry at her”16:30 The empathy issue for children - when a child is young and struggling, they may not be able to understand the other person’s perspective 17:47 Give the problem back to the child who is being mean  It’s Dale’s problem, not Carrie’sGive compassion to the child who is struggling in the moment Connect to the child who is the “victim”

This is the second half of the final session with Molly and Alastair. Their kids, Katherine (4) and Elizabeth (8), are benefitting from the changes that their parents are making at home. As parents we want quick behavior fixes, but let’s not underestimate the power and impact that modeling behavior has on children. Molly and Alastair are no different. Leslie’s focus on the parents helped them realize that  anxiety exists in the family—from the grandparents, to the parents, to the children themselves. Together, they face these generational patterns head-on. It’s often surprising how anxiety can fly under the radar for everyone in a family, but it’s a significant factor in raising kids, so how can we better identify it and, more importantly, learn to manage it.Time Stamps5:25 Myth are mistaken beliefs that we may have learns from childhood or societyIt’s not ok to experience the natural consequences because its too painfulIt’s my responsibility to make sure everything goes “right”If something goes wrong, someone is going to be blamed. It has to be someone’s faultIt’s your job to make sure everyone has to be happy7:03 Generational anxiety - stop the cycle7:55 Dichotomous thinking of seeing things as right or wrong, good or bad. Use the phrase: That’s your version,  this is my version.10:20 Find another interpretation skill - to teach that there are other perspectives11:15 Molly added the expression:  Don’t yuk someone else’s yum14:55 Wanting everything to go right is a way of expressing anxiety16:10 Compassion is an effective way of dealing with one’s anxiety18:10 Preparing our children to handle the uncomfortable situations (see The coping skills toolbox for Anxiety in show notes below)19:50 Various ways that Anxiety presents itselfSuppress it, avoid, procrastinate, go into a holeGet into a frenzy, ruminating, making sure everything is “right"21:55 Modeling for your children willingness to be vulnerable and willingness to be uncomfortable.Choose your long term value as a guide for the dialectic dilemmasResources:  Handout on The Coping Skills Toolbox for AnxietyVideo of The Coping Skills Toolbox for AnxietyHandout on When Being Right is not Effective:  How dichotomous thinking can be problematic.Dialectic Behavior Therapy Handouts: Myths that get in the way of Interpersonal EffectivenessMyths about EmotionsLeslie-ism: Teach different perspectives by saying, “that's your version and this is my version”.For a full transcript of this episode and more information about the host visit https://lesliecohenrubury.com/podcasts/ . You can also follow Leslie’s work on Facebook and Instagram. Join the conversation with your own questions and parenting experiences.Credits: Is My Child a Monster? is produced by Alletta Cooper, AJ Moultrié, Camila Salazar, and 

Today’s episode is the third session with Molly and Alastair where things take a turn inward. Molly and Alastair first contacted Leslie to get help with their two daughters, 8 year old Elizabeth and 4 year old Catherine but in the process began to face their own struggles with their belief systems and expectations.  In addition, in this session Molly and Alastair face the complexities of family communication and interactions. This episode throws a spotlight on the delicate dance of respecting different parenting styles. Leslie shares strategies to increase effective communication in their relationship.  In this heart-to-heart conversation you are bound to feel a shift in their perspective and possibly a shift in your own perspective as well.Time Stamps3:00 When the parents “gives more” the child ends up cooperating more4:30 Connection = mutual respect = trust5:03 Refocusing from the “end goal” to the present moment5:17 Children remind us to be in the present moment6:50 As a parent your battery gets worn down Worry and stress about kids getting alongDesire to do things right causes us stress9:50 Parents avoidance to letting the child get upset11:30 Generational myth to make sure everyone is happy11:50 Kids relax when parents aren’t constantly trying to fix them.12:30 Parents are learning to get used to when the kids are upset with each other or with you.13:25 When the second parent steps in to the interaction between a parent and a child. Ways to step in:You can say “Is that working for you” come in with a neutral non-judgmental stanceYou can say “I notice there is a bit of a struggle” You can say “Can I be of help to either of you?”19:30 Doing things the right way and letting go of wanting to be right  21:08 Find the positive intention of another person’s behavior26:05 Accurate communication: Put words to those chaotic moments - Narrate it One minute check inExpect and accept the bumps and rough spots in parenting Molly’s idea of naming the “unicorn parent” who is the parent on pointResources:  Handout on When Being Right is not Effective:  How dichotomous thinking can be problematic.Handout on Seeing the Positive Intention of Another Person’s BehaviorLeslie-ism: When you want to step in, pause and ask your partner, “is there anything I can do to help?”For a full transcript of this episode and more information about the host visit https://lesliecohenrubury.com/podcasts/ . You can also follow Leslie’s work on Facebook and Instagram. Join the conversation with your own questions and parenting experiences.Credits: Is My Child a Monster? is produced by Alletta Cooper, AJ Moultrié, Camila Salazar, and Leslie Cohen-Rubury. Theme music is by L-Ray Music. Graphics and Website Design by Brien O’Reilly. Transcriptions by Eric Rubury. A special thanks to everyone who contributes their wisdom and support to make this possible.

This episode is part two of three sessions with parents Molly and Alastair. Last week Leslie focused on the sibling dynamics between their daughters, 8-year-old Elizabeth and 4-year-old Katherine. This week we focus on a different kind of dynamic: the power struggle. In the fight for power between child and parent, Leslie offers an alternative: stop struggling for power and put an end to the power struggles. In this episode Leslie discusses identifying the problem behind the struggle, what the problem really is, whose problem is it, and learning to ask: can we try that again?Time Stamps:5:02 Whose problem is it? Is it the child’s problem or is it the parent’s problem7:07 Definition of power struggle8:15 What happens if the parent give in9:52 Example of sibling rivalry and how parents reinforce the escalation Strategies to deal with power struggles12:02 Say that you need a moment (to get into wise mind)12:39 Engage your child in the problem solving process 12:54 Do a pros and cons13:34 Notice and name what’s going on14:12 Use the phrase “try it again”15:20 How to give the problem back to your child19:39 Go below the surface - Restate child’s blaming statement into naming the underlying emotion23:10 Parenting using “try it again” between the parents27:31 If I had the superpower of mindreading - add levity to a situation and tapping into your child’s imagination27:40 Mindreading is known as a problematic thinking problem28:23 Again - give the problem back to your child30:05 Stop and acknowledge when your child gets through a struggle - reinforce that they did it!!32:21 How to gain some distance and perspective on past experiences so you don’t end up re-experiencing35:20 Naming the dialectic dilemma and identifying priorities36:10 Understanding how to find a synthesis as a solution to a dialectic dilemmaResources:  Handout titled:  Whose Problem is it?Handout on choosing between power over, power under and personal power belief systemLeslie-ism: When you don’t like a Child’s response use the phrase “Try Again” For a full transcript of this episode and more information about the host visit https://lesliecohenrubury.com/podcasts/ . You can also follow Leslie’s work on Facebook and Instagram. Join the conversation with your own questions and parenting experiences.Credits: Is My Child a Monster? is produced by Alletta Cooper, Mia Warren, AJ Moultrié, Camila Salazar, and Leslie Cohen-Rubury. Theme music is by L-Ray Music. Graphics and Website Design by Brien O’Reilly. Transcriptions by Eric Rubury. A special thanks to everyone who contributes their wisdom and support to make this possible.

This is part one of the three part series with Molly and Alastair. These parents have 2 children who are very different. Elizabeth is 8 years old and is an easy going kid. Katherine is a high energy 4 year old with intense emotions and more challenging behaviors. While the parents originally reached out to Leslie for help with their youngest, this episode ended up focusing a little more on their eldest. How exactly can a parent make sure they’re still there for a child when they don’t need literal support? Turns out children may not need the same level of support but they do need the same level of connection. Leslie also discusses sibling dynamics, the myth of the “oldest sibling,” mom guilt, and more. Time Stamps8:30 Birth order traits - the oldest daughter who feels responsible for the younger sibling8:44 Pet peeve when parents say “YOU are the big sister” Or “you should act like the big sister”Tuning into our children - leads to strong attachments Observing our children help children feel like their parents see them and understand them12:55 Name the dilemmas - you want to take care of your sister AND you want to play with your own friends15:11 Metaphor of needing to go shopping, but prioritizing which store you can make it to today vs next shopping trip (drugstore, shoe store and grocery store)15:48 There is a difference between what’s important to you and what’s the priority of the moment22:07 She may not need the same level of support, but she does need the same level of connection.  25:22 The child coming from a secure, safe and validating environment is more prepared to cope with life challenges28:10 Mom’s narrative - I was the capable one29:00 How to reassure and support Elizabeth (the “easy” child)Create a tool box:29:33 Notice and name her behavior29:47 Get rid of narrative of “you are the older sister or the big sister”30:45 Validate the hard parts35:00 If I had a magic wand31:36 What happens when the parent grew up with a sibling with disabilities33:36 Save the stories of your childhood when its not in the moment of emotional upset36:01 The metaphor of instruments in an orchestra - treating each musical instrument differently38:21 Whose problem is it?39:24 Myth - it's not ok for others to be upset with me. (mom still struggles with this)Resources:  Newsletter on myths that may be guiding your parenting that you may want to question, titled " Have you Outgrown your Childhood Beliefs?Video: Dilemma Metaphor on how to deal with conflicting needs or wants Video: Orchestra Metaphor on how need to treat each instrument differently and with respectLeslie-ism: Remember to use “if I had a magic wand” For a full transcript of this episode and more information about the host visit https://lesliecohenrubury.com/podcasts/ . You can also follow Leslie’s work on Facebook and Instagram. Join the conversation with your own questions and parenting experiences.Credits: Is My Child a Monster? is produced by Alletta Cooper, 

Today’s bonus episode is with special guest Jamilah Lemieux, and it’s all about therapy. Leslie and Jamilah discuss things like figuring out when to take your child to therapy, how to find therapists for all needs, how to talk to your kids about taking them to therapy, and more  If you’re curious about therapy, for yourself or your kids or both, be sure to check out our resources. With some help, anyone can begin the journey to a better self.About the guests: Jamilah Lemieux is an American writer, cultural critic, and editor. She rose to prominence for her blog, The Beautiful Struggler. She has worked for Ebony, Cassius Magazine, and Interactive One, part of Radio One, Inc. Lemieux currently writes a parenting column and co-hosts for Slate's Care and Feeding Podcast formerly known as Mom & Dad Are Fighting.Resources:Resources for finding therapyJed Foundation’s How to find  a culturally competent therapist which provides many resources for finding a therapist of colorTherapy for Black GirlsPsychology Today is a nationwide directory for therapists that can be sorted by location, insurance, specialty, and more.What Good is Therapy:  An article about the balance of insight and change as goals for therapyWhat kind of therapy do I need? A general review of the types of therapy, the types of therapists and other questionsA Glossary of Therapy Approaches and Modalities A very extensive list of the types of therapy modalities.Five Tips to Discuss Therapy with Their Child Handout by Andrea DornListen to Leslie’s guest appearances on Slate’s Mom and Dad are Fighting Podcast My Kid Refuses Therapy. I Think She Needs It   Slates parenting podcast on helping your kid feel better…and feel heard.  July 20,2023Is My Child a Monster?  Slate’s parenting podcast on what we can learn from family therapy. July 24, 2023Leslie-ism:   Take the time to learn about therapy so you can recognize a good fitFor a full transcript of this episode and more information about the host visit https://lesliecohenrubury.com/podcasts/ . You can also follow Leslie’s work on Facebook and Instagram. Join the conversation with your own questions and parenting experiences around holiday issues at Is My Child A Monster? Parenting Commu

This week’s episode is our last with single mother of three Salimah. After three sessions focusing on each one of her children, today Leslie turns the attention to Salimah and the many roles that she plays. Let’s face it, being a parent is hard. It’s important for parents to supply themselves with an anti-burnout toolkit while also giving themselves grace. In addition to learning to reduce and prevent burnout, Leslie and Salimah also talk candidly about how to advocate for yourself, how to ask for help, and how to get the support and validation you need from your community (and not just from your kids).Time Stamps6:47 “Kiss your brain” an expression of compassion when you are trying to be kind to yourself8:50 Parents should give themselves grace13:51 Braided hair analogy: the separate strands represent each child and you are them, woven together17:18 Correcting other people when they get your name wrong - why that can be so hard26:23 Praise vs feedbackTool box for burnout:10:43 Lowering expectations14:45 Get in touch with your values and beliefs21:07 Punctuate your life with pauses and taking breaks25:14 & 30:45 Get someone to acknowledge how hard you work26:56 Give yourself credit for effort28:00 Keep your head down and stay present33:30 & 36:39 Learn to ask for help34:31 Random acts of kindness37:39 When asking for help: How do you make sure you’re not over-asking?38:04 Collect data - get the facts and ask yourself, am I really asking excessively?38:34 Is there any reciprocity? Identify the relationship and ask is what you’re asking for fair from this type of relationship39:12 Give them permission to say “no” when you go for the ask and tell them you have other options40:51 Its ok to talk to strangersLinks:  Newsletter: Punctuate Your LifeNewsletter: How to ask for helpHandout on a practice of Self-Compassion called RAIN by Tara Brach. Video of the Weaving Braid metaphorLeslie-ism: Ask for help because you deserve to get itFor a full transcript of this episode and more information about the host visit https://lesliecohenrubury.com/podcasts/ . You can also follow Leslie’s work on Facebook and Instagram. Join the conversation with your own questions and parenting experiences.Credits: Is My Child a Monster? is produced by Alletta Cooper, , Mia Warren, Camila Salazar and Leslie Cohen-Rubury. Theme music is by L-Ray Music. Public relations is handled by AJ Moultrie. Graphics and Website Design by Brien O’Reilly. Transcriptions by Eric Rubury. A special thanks to everyone who contributes their wisdom and support to make this possible.

This is part three of the four part series with Salimah, single mother of three. This week, Leslie and Salimah focus on 5 year old Terrel. Terrel is the youngest child and also the only “man of the house.” He is typically a happy go-lucky child. But there are other behaviors that have Salimah confused and frustrated.  He can sometimes say mean things, he can be quick to anger and he is dealing with issues with his bowel movements. These different parts of the same child motivated Salimah to come to this session to understand what is at the root of these behaviors.Time Stamps2:35 Reviewed homework of validation 5:16 Learning how to read the shoulder shrugs and what they mean7:40 When our children “push our buttons”  which really describe our vulnerabilities8:15 ABC of looking at a child’s behavior: Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence in order to understand problem behavior13:29 Give your child back the actual problem without personalizing their behavior.  14:01 When children say mean things it's often a reflection of how they are doing26:05 Children can have control of their lives in two ways: eating and bowel movements26:50 Control helps the child feel a sense of safety.30:52 Finding other means to find happiness31:30 Dealing with his vulnerabilities of his sad and angry emotions34:09 Learning to sit with uncomfortable emotions34:35 Give your child the chance to feel capable and independent36:48 Teach him to be able to handle the fearsResourcesAn article on Encopresis in childrenLeslie's handout on The Need to Feel CapableLeslie's List of Ideas for Making Kids Feel CapableLeslie-ism: Give your child a chance to feel capableFor a full transcript of this episode and more information about the host visit https://lesliecohenrubury.com/podcasts/ . You can also follow Leslie’s work on Facebook and Instagram. Join the conversation with your own questions and parenting experiences.Credits: Is My Child a Monster? is produced by Alletta Cooper, Mia Warren, AJ Moultrié, Camila Salazar, and Leslie Cohen-Rubury. Theme music is by L-Ray Music. Graphics and Website Design by Brien O’Reilly. Transcriptions by Eric Rubury. A special thanks to everyone who contributes their wisdom and support to make this possible.

Welcome to part 2 of our 4-part series with Salima, a single mother of three children with very different needs. Last week we discussed her middle child, 7 year old Rene. This week we focus on her oldest, 13 year old Alani. Alani has been getting in trouble at school and uses the “shoulder shrug” to dismiss all of Salimah’s attempts to connect. Tune in to hear Leslie talk Salimah through ways to give your child the time and space to open up to you.Time Stamps:13:10 and 17:30 Narrate what you are doing so others can learn13:30 Choosing your words more intentionally14:00 Using imagery such as the ring of fire to increase the learning and understanding of a concept or skill.  15:27 Starting with validation before we start problem-solving17:54 When you ask the direct “why” questions, it can be like flashing a flashlight in someone’s eyes. Instead make statements or observations19:30 Shifting  your expectations - short term vs long term parenting20:09 Role play21:33 Getting your reserved or shut down child to engage in conversation.22:51 Say less and give them space23:11 The dominoes metaphor27:20 The 5 communications of the shoulder shrug - it means different things at different times29:31 Parent’s job description - helping a child understand who they are. To know who you are.31:18 The gift of connection - when our children think we know them better than they know themselves34:12 The six levels of validation (show notes link and possible newsletter or sample video)35:57 Validation is in the eye of the beholderResources:The 6 levels of validationVideo of the Domino AnalogyHow to guide to validation worksheet Leslie sent Salimah home withFor a full transcript of this episode and more information about the host visit https://lesliecohenrubury.com/podcasts/ . You can also follow Leslie’s work on Facebook and Instagram. Join the conversation with your own questions and parenting experiences.Leslie-ism: Turn your challenges into opportunities

This week we meet Salimah, single mother of three wonderful children, 13-year-old Alani, 7-year-old Rene, and 5-year-old Terrel. Parenting isn’t one-size-fits-all, and Leslie’s sessions with Salimah are a perfect example of that. The first of this four-part series focuses on middle child Rene. Salimah needs help figuring out why is Rene destroying her room, and how to handle those big emotions.TIME STAMPS6:58 The three states of mind- emotion mind, reasonable mind, wise mind8:05 The ring of fire as a metaphor when your child is emotionally dysregulated12:50 Explaining the difference between a trigger vs prompting eventCan you identify the five prompting events that set you off to emotion mind15:50 Power of pause - the gift of the pause16:55 Re-considering the use of time-out as a form of punishment20:40 Create a toolbox of alternatives of how to react when your child has the big emotions; how can you connect and at the same time to give her space Redirect them to do another activity such as go outsideProblem-solving or engaging in conflict resolution with the other personValidate and stop talking. Sometimes talking less is more effective.23:12 Narrate what you are doing and what you are thinking, as both a model and a strategy in difficult times25:49 Change your language away from “I’m in combat with my children,” which implies that they are your enemy 27:44 Having children put a mirror to us, and show us the ways we need to grow.33:00 Rules of the game - share with your children what you are thinking and doing Show Note Links:A visual explanation of the three states of mindVideo on three states of mindLeslie’s blog posting explaining the three states of mindLeslie’s newsletter on becoming aware of violent language: Why words matter?Two articles on why time-outs aren’t effective: https://kidcrew.com/why-time-outs-are-not-effectivehttps://childmind.org/article/are-time-outs-harmful-kids/For a full transcript of this episode and more information about the host visit https://lesliecohenrubury.com/podcasts/ . You can also follow Leslie’s work on Facebook and Instagram. Join the conversation with your own questions and parenting experiences.Leslie-ism:  Keep in mind: your words have power and you can choose what to say.Credits: Is My Child a Monster? is produced by Alletta Cooper, Mia Warren, AJ Moultrié, Camila Salazar, and Leslie Cohen-Rubury. Theme music is by L-Ray Music. Graphics and Website Design by Brien O’Reilly. Transcriptions by Eric Rubury. A special thanks to everyone who contributes their wisdom and support to make this possible.

Brains can be confusing - how they work, what they do, how yours is different from other people's. And explaining brains to kids can be a challenge. Today’s special guest is Dr. Liz Angoff, an Educational Psychologist who specializes in explaining brains to kids and their families. She primarily works with families undergoing assessment and diagnosis, but her tools and language are helpful for anyone who has a brain. Leslie has been recommending her book and website to clients for years. About our guest:  Liz Angoff, Ph.D., is a Licensed Educational Psychologist with a Diplomate in School Neuropsychology, providing assessment and consultation services to children and their families in the Bay Area, CA. Dr. Liz’s mission is to empower children and families by helping them understand their amazing, unique brains. She is the author of the Brain Building Books, tools for engaging children in understanding their learning and developmental differences as part of the assessment process. More information about Dr. Liz and her work is available atwww.ExplainingBrains.com.Timestamps:7:50 Understanding the difference between the medical model diagnosis and neurodivergent affirming language approach10:40 Different is not broken, different is a mismatch (between child and environment)17:41 Diagnosis can be powerful tool, gives you the language that can help meet our child’s needs20:10 Validating a child’s struggle is powerful20:53 How do you tell your child about their assessment28:12 How do I help my child to not have such a hard time32:27 Three things that Liz wants parents to take away from this conversationResources:Visit her website, full of wonderful resourcesHere is the script for explaining a diagnosis Dr. Liz mentioned in this episodeYou can find her book, The Brain Building Book, hereLeslie-ism: Dr. Liz said "Talk to your child about their brain, do it early, do it often.” For a full transcript of this episode and more information about the host visit https://lesliecohenrubury.com/podcasts/ . You can also follow Leslie’s work on Facebook and Instagram. Join the conversation with your own questions and parenting experiences.Credits: Is My Child a Monster? is produced by Alletta Cooper, AJ Moultrié, Camila Salazar, and Leslie Cohen-Rubury. Theme music is by L-Ray Music. Graphics and Website Design by Brien O’Reilly. Transcriptions by Eric Rubury. A special thanks to everyone who contributes their wisdom and support to make this possible.

This is the final session with Emilee and David. Emilee felt a big difference when she stepped back from her son’s big reactions and no longer took his words and actions personally; that’s a huge achievement. David said he felt less pressure on himself as a parent—also a huge achievement. In this session, Leslie also explained creative ways to teach children about emotions, like using children’s books and other media. Leslie also addresses Jack’s neuropsychological testing and the results. Leslie supports Emilee and David as they digest this helpful information while remembering to see Jack as a whole person.Time Stamps10:55 Throwing up analogy: a way to not take your children’s words personally12:05 Neuropsychological testing and school accommodations17:35 How to teach your child about emotions- books, model it, watch other people, tell stories 24:01 Concept: being able to hold two opposing thoughts at the same time24:41 Bibliotherapy: using books to help teach children26:50 Receiving a diagnosis, and how to make it helpful and useful30:45 Movement breaks37:27 Childrens are like puppies: they all have big paws that they grow into, just like children and their big emotionsResources:  Video of throwing up analogyHandout of feeling words for kidsDr. Liz Angoff’s Website and resources: How to explain testing to kidsLeslie’s sample list of books she likes to read with childrenLeslie-ism:  Let’s honor the individual learning styles of child and adults alikeFor a full transcript of this episode and more information about the host visit https://lesliecohenrubury.com/podcasts/ . You can also follow Leslie’s work on Facebook and Instagram. Join the conversation with your own questions and parenting experiences.Credits: Is My Child a Monster? is produced by Alletta Cooper, Mia Warren, AJ Moultrié, Camila Salazar, and Leslie Cohen-Rubury. Theme music is by L-Ray Music. Graphics and Website Design by Brien O’Reilly. Transcriptions by Eric Rubury. A special thanks to everyone who contributes their wisdom and support to make this possible.

This is part 1 of the 3 part series with Emilee and David. In the first session, we learned about Jack, their six-year-old son who is having trouble expressing his emotions. He often defaults to kicking and saying “I don’t know.” In this episode, Leslie looks closer at their differing parenting styles: David wants to get to the bottom of it, and Emilee tends to distract and redirect. Is it important to be on the exact same page as your partner when it comes to parenting styles? And what happens when what you dislike about your partner’s approach is exactly what’s missing  from your own.Time Stamps10:38 Anticipatory Anxiety: kids and adults can get more upset by the anticipation of the event than the event itself. 15:57 It’s not misperception, but rather simply having a different perception18:00 Instinct to “get to the bottom of it” might be causing more stress18:30 Can we normalize emotions rather than inflating them19:18 When you have different parenting styles: determine what’s working and what’s not working.  19:45 How to get the best of both worlds22:08 Emily distracts and redirects (indirect) David wants to get to the bottom of things (direct)26:05 Announce and name what you are doing, the change you’re imposing29:35 Their homework:  Don’t work so hard34:40 Normalize children who are arguing vs teaching children conflict resolution skills36:50 The lost ART of healthy neglect 41:40 Use the line “can you give yourself permission to make a mistake”43:20 "Plant the seed" and get out of thereRESOURCES:  Why ‘how was school?’ isn’t a good question to ask kids. Here's a CNBC article with some ideas of what to say insteadDistress Tolerance STOP techniqueNYTimes article on unsupervised PlayThe Anti-Helicopter Parents Plea: Let Kids Play!Risky Play Encourages ResilienceLeslie’s book recommendation: The Last Child in the Woods by Richard LouvLeslie-ism: Do LessFor a full transcript of this episode and more information about the host visit https://lesliecohenrubury.com/podcasts/ . You can also follow Leslie’s work on Facebook and Instagram. Join the conversation with your own questions and parenting experiences.Credits: Is My Child a Monster? is produced by Alletta Cooper, Mia Warren, AJ Moultrié, Camila Salazar, and Leslie Cohen-Rubury. Theme music is by L-Ray Music. Graphics and Website Design by Brien O’Reilly. Transcriptions by Eric Rubury. A special thanks to everyone who contributes their wisdom and support to make this possible.

This is part 1 of the 3 part series with Emilee and David.  Emilee and David have a six year old son who repeatedly says “I don’t know” when they try to help their son understand his big emotions. Many parents like Emilee and David want to teach their children how to regulate their emotions and how to understand their emotions.  But what happens when what you are doing is not working and actually producing the very opposite results than what you were hoping for.  Time stamps:13:10 How children physically express their emotions, and what to do13:55  Name and notice those body sensations and physical actions16:07 Alexithymia: when a child doesn't have the skills to name what they are experiencing18:30 Masking: a survival tactic for social situations22:20 Change from asking questions like "how do you feel?" to making statements about the situation26:45 & 34:07 Social Signaling: what is your child communicating to others28:41 Go below the surface: anger with mean words and an intense physical response is above the surface and disappointment is below the surface30:50 Take the pressure off of the child to express their emotions32:27 Beware of praise and instead, give feedback 35:40 Create a bridge from the behavior to describing the emotion: children may need help finding the words40:50 What to do if your child is masking44:43 Difference between when a child WON’T express emotion versus when they CAN’TResources: AlexithymiaAutism Parenting Magazine's Guide to AlexithymiaChildren's Alexithymia Measure handoutThe Alexithymia Wheel and more resourcesMaskingMasking in Children ExplainedNHS's Guide on "Masking" Behavior in ChildrenPraise vs feedbackThe Psychology of Feedback vs PraiseHow to Give Feedback to Your ChildLeslie-ism: The slower you go, the faster you get there.For a full transcript of this episode and more information about the host visit https://lesliecohenrubury.com/podcasts/ . You can also follow Leslie’s work on Facebook and Instagram. Join the conversation with your own questions and parenting experiences.Credits: Is My Child a Monster? is produced by Alletta Cooper, Mia Warren, AJ Moultrié, Camila Salazar, and Leslie Cohen-Rubury. Theme music is by L-Ray Music. Graphics and Website Design by Brien O’Reilly. Transcriptions by Eric Rubury. A special thanks to everyone who contributes their wisdom and support to make this possible.

Season two of Is My Child a Monster? A parenting therapy podcast with host, Leslie Cohen-Rubury launches next week. The first full episode will drop on January 23, 2024! Listen to the trailer for a taste of whats to come.For more information about the Leslie Cohen-Rubury visit https://lesliecohenrubury.com/podcasts/ . You can also follow Leslie’s work on Facebook and Instagram. Join the conversation with your own questions and parenting experiences.Credits: The Is My Child A Monster? team is Alletta Cooper, AJ Moultrié, Camila Salazar, and me. Special thanks to Eric Rubury and Mia Warren. Theme music is by L-Ray Music.  Graphics and Website Design by Brien O’Reilly. A special thanks to everyone who contributes their wisdom and support to make this possible.

This episode is a change in our typical format where parents share their struggles and challenges in therapy sessions recorded live.  This is a conversation between Leslie and her daughter, Dale. It focuses on the topic of raising a responsible child versus an obedient child.  We all want children who listen to us. But it's not as simple as telling our children what to do, and expecting them to do it. In today’s conversation, Leslie will help us define the difference between these two ideas. Dale and Leslie explore these ideas in her childhood and reflect on the value of these principles in her adult lifeDale Rubury is Leslie’s daughter, a producer of this podcast, and today’s guest. After graduating from college with a degree in Zoology, Dale moved to warmer climates to pursue a career with animals. She worked at the largest primate sanctuary in North America for 7 years before moving on to a different career path. For the past few years she has been in the world of construction where she was building yurts and working for Habitat for Humanity. Dale is currently pursuing a degree as a Physical Therapy Assistant. Dale is proud to say that she has a healthy relationship with her anxiety. Time Stamps4:08 The dangerous side of raising an obedient child that you don’t always think about.4:48 Raising a responsible child means raising a “thinking child”5:55 Using the line “I see that you are practicing being a teenager” when teens talk back to their parents7:30 Powering over your child vs giving your child “personal power”9:42  Engage your child in the process of chores to increase and motivation cooperation10:30  the importance of giving children choices and loosening the reins to allow for more freedom and autonomy in their daily responsibilities.11:22 Leslie Cohen-Rubury suggests giving children more risks to take to make them feel capable and confident, which leads to increased cooperation.15:10 In order to foster cooperation, let your child take more risks. More capable more confident  which leads to be more cooperative 20:55 Balancing limits for the child and respect for the child23:45 Complaining is a secondary problem to doing the chore.  Instead MAINTAIN YOUR FOCUS on what you are asking your child to do.24:50 Use the paradoxical statement “It looks like you need more practice doing the dishes”  when your child is complaining. 27:25 Raising an obedient child means you may end up with a selfish child who uses victim language27:55 Raising an obedient child ends up feeling smaller vs raising a responsible child helps to empower the child29:00 How power struggles develop between parent and child32:22 Are you coddling your child?  Do you think you are giving in to your child?  37:25 What it sounds like when you as the parent start defending yourself37:55 Brief description of the DBT (Dialectic Behavior Therapy) skill of check the facts 38:43 One interpretation of when your teen questions adults is to be grateful that you are raising a “thinking” individualShow Links:Handout of comparing Raising A Responsible Child Versus Raising An Obedient ChildFor a full transcript of this episode and more information about the host visit https://lesliecohenrubury.com/podcast/. You can also follow Leslie’s work on Facebook and Instagram. Join the conversation with your own questions and parenting experiences.Leslie-ism:  Raising responsible children who think for themselves is more important

This is part 3 of the 3 part series with Alice.  She's a recently divorced mother of two boys, Dan, who's nine, and Jake, who's six. In the first two sessions, Alice and Leslie focus a lot on her anxieties about her children, and her parenting perfectionism. It's so hard to raise kids, especially after a big life change, like divorce. This episode, Alice reviews what strategies have been working, and what still needs work. Today’s session focuses on additional practical strategies for things like chores, politeness, and the transition between Mom's house and Dad's house. Time Stamps7:25 How much control do I give my child? A discussion of personal power vs powering over another person9:35 Example of dialectic thinking for a child who they should have done something different11:10 Zoom in and Zoom out15:50 Flexibility and flow when the kids transition between two homes 20:10 What to do when your child refuses to do what you ask them to do21:00 Raising a responsible child, not an obedient child22:20 Joining your kids in the chaos of yelling25:07 An example of the paradox of parenting27:12 Resist the urge to fix the moment 30:36 What to do when your child says no. - give them space31:35 Leave the complaint, Don’t pick up the complaint and it won’t go anywhere32:05 Maintain your focus and don’t get distracted by the complaints - using an example of picking up your child at a friend’s houseFor a full transcript of this episode and more information about the host visit https://lesliecohenrubury.com/podcasts/ . You can also follow Leslie’s work on Facebook and Instagram. Join the conversation with your own questions and parenting experiences.Leslie-ism: You need both insight and practical skills in order to make a change in your parenting.Show Note Links:Leslie was interviewed on Whinypaluza Podcast with Rebecca Greene.  You can listen to that interview here where we discuss the causes of certain behaviors of children.  You can also follow Rebecca Greene at:Blog  https://www.whinypaluza.com/Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/whinypaluzaparentingInstagram https://www.instagram.com/becgreene5/ @becgreene5Credits: Is My Child a Monster? is produced by Alletta Cooper, Dale Rubury, and Leslie Cohen-Rubury. Theme music is by L-Ray Music. Public relations is handled by Gabriela Glueck. Graphics and Website Design by Brien O’Reilly. Transcriptions by Eric Rubury. A special thanks to everyone who contributes their wisdom and support to make this possible.

This is part 2 of the 3 part series with Alice who is parenting her two boys Dan, 9 years old and Jake, 6 years old.  Alice is coming to this therapy session feeling overwhelmed and not having the time and focus to do what we talked about in the previous session. Parenting IS overwhelming and its very likely that many of you also feel overwhelmed. We unpack those feelings and discuss strategies to help Alice stay present in her parenting. You can’t do it all. And sometimes we just need permission to let go of other people’s expectations.For a full transcript of this episode and more information about the host visit https://lesliecohenrubury.com/podcasts/ . You can also follow Leslie’s work on Facebook and Instagram. Join the conversation with your own questions and parenting experiences.Time stamps:14:13 Being overwhelmed by thoughts, beliefs and shoulds:  Is that adding any value?17:35 The difference between mindfulness and meditation18:03 Definition of mindfulness20:52 Understanding the doing mind vs the being mind23:09 Identifying a parenting myth: “It only counts if we are interacting together”24:25 Connection is the foundation of your parent-child relationship26:35 Examples of how to “be” present with your children31:35 The richness of diversity between the parents33:50 What to do with nagging thoughts 37:49 Take another look at politeness38:46 Are you modeling politeness: Do you actions speak louder than words40:50 How to cue a child to develop their manners without shaming themLeslie-ism: Being present is more important than being perfect.Show Note Links:A short video of Jon Kabat Zinn who describes mindfulness Handout on Being Mind and Doing MindA short video on Balancing the Doing Mind and the Being MindCredits: Is My Child a Monster? is produced by Alletta Cooper, Dale Rubury, and Leslie Cohen-Rubury. Theme music is by L-Ray Music. Public relations is handled by Gabriela Glueck. Graphics and Website Design by Brien O’Reilly. Transcriptions by Eric Rubury. A special thanks to everyone who contributes their wisdom and support to make this possible.

This is part 1 of the 3 part series with Alice.  Alice is a recently divorce parent with two boys ages 9 and 6  In Part 1 we learn about Dan who struggles with FAIRNESS, often melting down in ways that impact that whole family.  We will discuss the candy wars, the ruined birthday parties, and the issue of fairness. Alice also admits that she is struggling with the fear of being a bad parent and worries about who her son will be as an adult. For a full transcript of this episode and more information about the host visit https://lesliecohenrubury.com/podcasts/ . You can also follow Leslie’s work on Facebook and Instagram. Join the conversation with your own questions and parenting experiences.Time stamps:6:12 The need to see and heard and understood6:45 Use the phrase “I notice….” to help your child gain intrapersonal and interpersonal awareness 9:40 Validation - not all validation is not all equal - its in the eye of the beholder - try to get the primary emotion - I identify when you unintentionally invalidate your child12:05 We are parenting in the short term and the long term15:43 Do you expect your child to misbehave? We actually need to expect our child to misbehave16:41 When parents feel like they are a failure17:49 and 18:50 Examples of using the skill of coping ahead for the misbehavior:  “Bring it on” 20:45 Talking about the fear of what your child will be like when they grow up26;26 The issue of fairness and unfairness27:35 When kids need predictability and uncertainty31:28 The difference between equality and equity33:50 An example of dialectic dilemma35:20 Sibling rivalry as a process of individuation and differentiation40:16 Think outside the box - fill the emotional bank45:05 When parents feel like their children are manipulating them46:14 The “shoulds” that parents may feel.Leslie-ism:  Take a moment to check your own expectations, check your fears and check your shoulds.Show Note Links:A visual image illustrating the difference between equality and equityAn article on Why kids have meltdowns afterschool A blog posting exploring The Need to be Heard and Understood  A blog posting exploring The Need to BelongCredits: Is My Child a Monster? is produced by Alletta Cooper, Dale Rubury, and Leslie Cohen-Rubury. Theme music is by L-Ray Music. Public relations is handled by Gabriela Glueck.  Graphics and Website Design by Brien O’Reilly. Transcriptions by Eric Rubury. A special thanks to everyone who contributes their wisdom and support to make this possible.

This is a special episode in which Leslie is joined by guest Lindz Amer (they/them) to talk about their work within the LGBTQ+ community. Leslie and Lindz talk about various topics regarding being a caretaker and ally to LGBTQ+ children. Last week’s episode was about parenting Jack, a transgender child.  Leslie wanted to have Lindz on the podcast to further discuss the important ways we can create a safe and validating environment for LGBTQ+ children.:About today’s guest:  Lindz created their award-winning LGBTQ+ family webseries Queer Kid Stuff in 2016 which now has 4M lifetime views and counting!  They are the author of the nonfiction parenting book Rainbow Parenting: Your Guide to Raising Queer Kids and Their Allies (St. Martin’s Press) and their picture book Hooray for She, He, Ze and They! What are YOUR Pronouns Today? (Simon & Schuster, February 2024).  Currently they host the Rainbow Parenting Podcast and perform at school and libraries across the country, while writing and consulting for children’s television.  You can watch their viral TED talk on why kids need to learn about gender and sexuality.  See Links below for these resources and more informationFor a full transcript of this episode and more information about the host visit https://lesliecohenrubury.com/podcasts/ . You can also follow Leslie’s work on Facebook and Instagram. Join the conversation with your own questions and parenting experiences.Leslie-ism: Take a look at the assumptions you are making about your child that may not even be true.Show Note Links:Here are the links to Lindz Amer’s website, Rainbow Parenting, Hooray for She, He, Ze and They, Rainbow Parenting PodcastCredits: Is My Child a Monster? is produced by Alletta Cooper, Dale Rubury, and Leslie Cohen-Rubury. Theme music is by L-Ray Music. Public relations is handled by Gabriela Glueck. Graphics and Website Design by Brien O’Reilly. Transcriptions by Eric Rubury. A special thanks to everyone who contributes their wisdom and support to make this possible.