The Parenthood and Relationship Podcast | Matrescence | Relationship after baby | Motherhood life

GET THE WORKSHEET HERE   In today’s episode, we explore a deceptively simple, but deeply messy, question: Whose values are you parenting from? It’s a gentle, courageous invitation to uncover the scripts we’ve inherited; values absorbed from our families, communities, even the culture at large, and ask: Are these values yours… or just familiar? Join me as we unravel what “values” really mean: not slogans, but the guiding principles that show up when you’re tired or triggered. We'll look at where those values come from, how they can misalign with the family you actually want, and how to begin choosing values that reflect your own vision, not just the one you inherited. You'll hear: Why many of us parent by default, using values we never consciously chose A simple but powerful framework: Keep • Rewrite • Release, used to redefine what matters most Real-life stories of couples navigating differences in meaning and merging into a shared, intentional value system This isn’t about blame or perfection. It’s about awareness, courage, and alignment. Because values like presence, kindness, rest, or respect deserve a lived definition that you and your partner both own. This episode’s breakdown: 1. How inherited values shape your parenting without you realizing it 2. The three-column framework to keep, rewrite, or release values 3. What happens when you and your partner define the same words differently 4. The emotional power of choosing values that align with the family you truly want Take this episode as your mirror: a chance to pause, get curious, and reclaim the values that light you up. You don’t need a manifesto. You need clarity and courage.   🎁 GET THE CALM PARENT, CALM CHILD GUIDE!   💌 Don’t forget: This week’s newsletter includes an exclusive tool to help you track small emotional wins get it at markellakaplani.com/newsletter. --  Full Transcript HERE. — Want to take our relationship to the next level? 👉Here are my top Resources  👉 Link to my Newsletter 👉 Work with Me 📩 Get in touch with me Instagram @markella.kaplani; website: https://markellakaplani.com; e-mail: info@markellakaplani.com) 📢 Listen, share, and leave a review! Your support means the world! --- Markella Kaplani, M.A. Clinical-Counseling Psychologist Parenthood & Relationship Coach www.markellakaplani.com

Here’s the truth: You’re shaping your family culture every single day — not through grand gestures, but in the tiny, repeated choices that give your home its emotional tone. What you say when someone’s upset. How you transition between activities. Where your attention lands. That’s all culture. In this episode of The Parenthood and Relationship Podcast, we break down the Three Rs of shaping an intentional family life: Rituals, Rhythms, and Roles. These are the invisible building blocks that can transform a home from reactive and scattered… to grounded, connected, and harmonious. Rituals are the glue of connection — small, intentional moments that say this matters. Rhythms are the nervous system’s love language — predictable flows that help every member of the family exhale. Roles are the unspoken scripts we act out — often inherited, sometimes limiting, and always worth re-examining. If your days feel chaotic, your routines inconsistent, or your relationships stuck in the same patterns, this episode will give you tools to pause, notice, and choose differently. We’ll explore how to gently reclaim rituals, anchor rhythms, and loosen roles so your family culture reflects what you actually value — not just what you’ve inherited.   Today we explore: How to identify and create meaningful family rituals. Why rhythm brings calm to children (and adults) without turning into rigid schedules. How to spot inherited family roles — and update the script. The emotional impact of conscious family culture on connection and security. This isn’t about perfection — it’s about awareness and one small change at a time. Because the way you live today becomes the emotional home your children will remember tomorrow.   --   🎁 GET THE CALM PARENT, CALM CHILD GUIDE!   💌 Don’t forget: This week’s newsletter includes an exclusive tool to help you track small emotional wins get it at markellakaplani.com/newsletter. --  Full Transcript HERE. — Want to take our relationship to the next level? 👉Here are my top Resources  👉 Link to my Newsletter 👉 Work with Me 📩 Get in touch with me Instagram @markella.kaplani; website: https://markellakaplani.com; e-mail: info@markellakaplani.com) 📢 Listen, share, and leave a review! Your support means the world! --- Markella Kaplani, M.A. Clinical-Counseling Psychologist Parenthood & Relationship Coach www.markellakaplani.com

Many parents don’t even realize they already live within a culture - an emotional ecosystem fueled by inherited patterns, repeating phrases, rituals (or the lack thereof), and relational rhythms. You might feel like your family is stuck on autopilot, responding to tantrums or tensions without curiosity or clarity. You might rely on bribes, punishment, or reactive conflict, with no sense of intentional design. But here’s the good news: shifting your family culture doesn’t require a revolution. It starts with a pause… a breath between the stimulus and your response. Today, we explore how intentional parenting can grow from the soil of small rituals, creating safety, rhythm, and deeper connection. You’ll learn: - What family culture really is and why it lives in the “air between you.” - How most family culture is unconsciously inherited and ways to consciously choose what to keep, rewrite, or release. - Signs your home might be on autopilot and how that cycle silently shapes both children and parents. - How tiny, sacred patterns (think bedtime phrases or Sunday check-ins) form the anchors of a thriving emotional ecosystem. Stay tuned till the end for the Three‑Bucket Reflection: a tool to map what you keep, rewrite, and release. If you’ve ever wondered how to parent with intention instead of reaction, or how to build a home that holds space for curiosity, kindness, rest, and emotional safety, this episode calls to you.   🎁 GET THE CALM PARENT, CALM CHILD GUIDE!   💌 Don’t forget: This week’s newsletter includes an exclusive tool to help you track small emotional wins get it at markellakaplani.com/newsletter. --  Full Transcript HERE. — Want to take our relationship to the next level? 👉Here are my top Resources  👉 Link to my Newsletter 👉 Work with Me  📩 Get in touch with me Instagram @markella.kaplani; website: https://markellakaplani.com; e-mail: info@markellakaplani.com) 📢 Listen, share, and leave a review! Your support means the world! --- Markella Kaplani, M.A. Clinical-Counseling Psychologist Parenthood & Relationship Coach www.markellakaplani.com

Is overstimulation quietly unraveling your relationship? In this vulnerable and illuminating conversation with certified Health & Wellness Coach Sara Sandland, we peel back the layers of what’s really happening when moms feel “touched out,” irritable, or emotionally distant from their partners - and why it’s not a personality flaw, but a physiological reality with deep relational consequences. Sara and I unpack: The daily signs of sensory and emotional overload that most moms dismiss Why postpartum depletion can last for years The ripple effect of overstimulation on physical intimacy and emotional closeness Why couples often want the same thing — to feel connected again — but keep missing each other And what proactive conversations and micro-changes can rekindle that lost bond. This episode will leave you feeling seen, empowered, and supported — whether you’re the parent who feels overwhelmed or the partner who feels left behind. 💌 SIGN UP: This week’s loveletter includes 1 insight, 1 exclusive tool, as well as 1 three-minute reset to help you track small emotional wins. Get it at markellakaplani.com/newsletter. — Who is Sara Sandland? Sara Sandland is a Certified Health & Wellness Coach who specializes in maternal well-being and the motherhood experience. As the Founder & Owner of Notably Well, Sara helps moms improve their energy, overstimulation, overwhelm, fulfillment, relationships, and more through feasible and sustainable adjustments in their lifestyle, behaviors, and mindset so they can feel and function like themselves again and experience the very best of motherhood.    As a mom herself, she understands how postpartum shifts in the body’s functioning, coupled with the life changes that come with motherhood can affect maternal health and wellness in many ways. She also understands how difficult it can be for moms to find the time and energy to navigate the journey involved in addressing these impacts. She is passionate about supporting moms in identifying and addressing their roadblocks and empowering them to take their health and wellness journey into their own hands so they can thrive in motherhood.   Free Guide: The Overstimulated Mom's 3-Step Guide to Reclaim Resilience in Moments of Overwhelm (https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/1035554/sites/149340687669658892/Sp0CeU)   Free Discovery Call with Sara (https://my.practicebetter.io/#/67170c18c96165ff776acfc6/bookings?s=67171180b5183f8a5001aff6&step=date)   Website: www.notablywell.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/notablywell Facebook: www.facebook.com/notablywell --- Full Transcript HERE. — Want to take our relationship to the next level? 👉 GET THE FREE INTIMACY in 5 MINUTE GUIDE! 👉Here are my top Resources 👉 Link to my Newsletter 👉 Join the Reconnect with Your Partner Challenge 📩 Get in touch with me (Instagram @markella.kaplani; website; e-mail: info@markellakaplani.com) 📢 Listen, share, and leave a review! Your support means the world! --- Markella Kaplani, M.A. Clinical-Counseling Psychologist Parenthood & Relationship Coach www.markellakaplani.com

GET THE INTIMACY in 5 MINUTE GUIDE!   Ever walked away from a heartfelt conversation feeling more alone than before you spoke? You thought you said it right. You were calm. You had a point. But somehow, your partner shut down, got defensive, or brought up the dishwasher from last week. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. In this week’s episode, we’re diving into the often-missed difference between reactive and relational communication. It's not about perfect phrasing. It's about the place inside of you that you’re speaking from and whether that place is trying to connect… or trying to protect. I share a powerful story from my couples practice and breaks down my Trigger to Truth model, a four-step process that helps you shift out of automatic reactions and into meaningful connection. Whether you’re the one who gets quiet or the one who spirals into logic, this conversation will give you the tools to spot your own protective strategies and choose a more authentic, present path forward; one that leads to intimacy, not just talking. This episode is especially relevant for parents navigating the mental load, emotional fatigue, and shifting identities post-baby. When communication falters, it’s rarely about what was said and more often about what was left unhealed. 💡 Today we explore: Why “being calm” isn’t enough in conflict The three voices of the protector: blame, withdrawal, and over-rationalizing What relational communication looks, sounds, and feels like The powerful reframe that turns tension into closeness This is the third episode in the July communication series. If you missed episodes 64 and episode 65, go back for a full foundation.   🎁 GET THE INTIMACY in 5 MINUTE GUIDE!   💌 Don’t forget: This week’s newsletter includes an exclusive tool to help you track small emotional wins get it at markellakaplani.com/newsletter. --  Full Transcript HERE. — Want to take our relationship to the next level? 👉Here are my top Resources  👉 Link to my Newsletter 👉 Join the Reconnect with Your Partner Challenge  📩 Get in touch with me Instagram @markella.kaplani; website: https://markellakaplani.com; e-mail: info@markellakaplani.com) 📢 Listen, share, and leave a review! https://podcasts.apple.com/gr/podcast/the-parenthood-and-relationship-podcast/id1739098480 Your support means the world! --- Markella Kaplani, M.A. Clinical-Counseling Psychologist Parenthood & Relationship Coach www.markellakaplani.com

What if the fights that feel like they're tearing you apart could actually bring you closer together? In this transformative episode, we're diving deep into the hidden world of couple fighting styles and healthy conflict resolution that can revolutionize your relationship. If you're a parent feeling caught in endless cycles of marriage conflict patterns, this episode is your roadmap to freedom. We explore why happy couples don't avoid conflict... they transform it! From the pursuer-withdrawer dance to the protective parts that hijack our conversations, you'll discover the relationship communication skills that actually work when emotions run high. Through real case studies and practical tools, we unpack how your childhood experiences shape your adult couple therapy techniques and why understanding your nervous system responses is crucial for relationship repair techniques. Whether you're dealing with parenting relationship challenges or struggling to maintain intimacy in your marriage after kids, this episode offers hope and actionable strategies. You'll learn the powerful "Conflict Reset" method that helps you pause destructive patterns and choose connection over being right. We explore how emotional regulation couples can master together, turning conflict from a threat into a doorway for deeper understanding. Today we discuss: 🔍 The four main conflict styles and how to identify yours 💬 Why your nervous system hijacks arguments and how to reclaim control 🧠 The Conflict Reset technique that transforms fights into connection opportunities ❤️ How to treat conflict as a mirror that reveals unmet needs and hidden fears Perfect for couples navigating the complexities of parenthood, this episode bridges psychological insight with practical tools you can use tonight. --- GET THE INTIMACY in 5 MINUTE GUIDE!   💌 Don’t forget: This week’s newsletter includes an exclusive tool to help you track small emotional wins get it at markellakaplani.com/newsletter. — 👉  Full Transcript HERE. — Want to take our relationship to the next level? 👉Here are my top Resources  👉 Link to my Newsletter 👉 Join the Reconnect with Your Partner Challenge  📩 Get in touch with me Instagram @markella.kaplani; website: https://markellakaplani.com; e-mail: info@markellakaplani.com) 📢 Listen, share, and leave a review! https://podcasts.apple.com/gr/podcast/the-parenthood-and-relationship-podcast/id1739098480 Your support means the world! --- Markella Kaplani, M.A. Clinical-Counseling Psychologist Parenthood & Relationship Coach www.markellakaplani.com  

[GET THE INTIMACY in 5 MINUTE GUIDE!]   Ever said something totally harmless and watched your partner’s face fall like you just insulted their soul? You’re not alone.   This episode dives into the invisible gap between what we say and what our partner hears, especially when we’re tired, touched out, and trying to survive modern parenthood.    Because good intentions don’t always translate into connection.    Sometimes, they land as daggers.   Join me as I unpack why even loving words can trigger pain and disconnection.    Drawing from real client stories and practical psychology, we’ll explore why tone, timing, and unspoken emotional baggage matter so much more than we realize.   This isn’t about walking on eggshells.  It’s about building awareness, so your words become bridges instead of battlegrounds.   🎧 Today we explore: Why parenting stress amplifies emotional triggers How miscommunication happens even with the best intentions The 3 invisible factors behind disconnection (tone, timing, trauma) How to start responding from empathy instead of defense You’ll also walk away with my 3P tool to help you shift from reacting to reconnecting.   Whether you’re the one feeling misunderstood or you’re trying to understand your partner better, this episode is a must-listen for anyone craving closeness after kids.   👉 Don’t forget to subscribe to my free weekly love letter, The Sunday Reconnect, for exclusive insights and tools. https://markellakaplani.com/newsletter GET THE INTIMACY in 5 MINUTE GUIDE! --  Full Transcript HERE. — Want to take our relationship to the next level? 👉Here are my top Resources  👉 Link to my Newsletter 👉 Join the Reconnect with Your Partner Challenge 📩 Get in touch with me Instagram @markella.kaplani; website: https://markellakaplani.com; e-mail: info@markellakaplani.com) 📢 Listen, share, and leave a review! Your support means the world! --- Markella Kaplani, M.A. Clinical-Counseling Psychologist Parenthood & Relationship Coach www.markellakaplani.com

Have you ever wondered why communication tools sometimes don’t appear to work in relationships, even when you’re trying your best? Or why you and your partner keep having the same argument again and again? If you’ve been asking yourself, “how to fix emotional distance in a relationship,” or “why am I not feeling heard in my marriage,” this episode is for you. In today’s powerful conversation, I sit down with Dr. Randall Alifano, a clinical psychologist, therapist of 40+ years, and author of Listening in the Raw, to explore what real listening in a relationship looks like. We dive deep into the difference between empathy and performing empathy, and why using communication tools in marriage can sometimes make things worse instead of better. You’ll learn how childhood wounds show up in marriage, how to spot emotional filters in couples communication, and what happens when we stop reacting and start responding, not from defense, but from curiosity. This episode is packed with insights for anyone wondering:      👉  how to stop taking things personally in a relationship      👉  how to listen to your partner without judgment      👉  how to repair a relationship after a fight      👉  how to create emotional intimacy in marriage      👉  why listening is more important than fixing in relationships We also touch on the traps of modern self-development and why “do your own work” isn’t enough when you’re in a partnership. Dr. Alifano shares how interdependence in relationships creates real connection and why your body’s reaction during a conflict might tell you more than your thoughts ever could. Whether you’re a parent, a partner, or a therapist yourself, you’ll leave this episode with practical tools and a softer lens. If you've ever Googled how to stop arguing with your spouse, how to connect with your partner again, or how to improve communication in marriage, this conversation is a must-listen. We also explore:      👉  the pursuer-withdrawer dynamic in relationships      👉  how to repair connection with your child after yelling      👉  how to listen without taking over the conversation      👉 how to stay calm during an argument Dr. Alifano’s presence is grounding and wise and this episode is a gentle but radical invitation to rethink the way you relate. You’ll laugh, you might cry, and you’ll definitely finish with a fresh take on what makes relationships work as well as what might be quietly getting in the way. 🎧 Tune in now and don’t forget to subscribe if you’re on a journey to create more emotional connection in marriage and family life.   💌 SIGN UP: This week’s loveletter includes 1 insight, 1 exclusive tool, as well as 1 three-minute reset to help you track small emotional wins. Get it at markellakaplani.com/newsletter. — Who is Dr. Randall Alifano? Dr. Randall Alifano has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is an Ordained Minister with over 40 years of experience integrating psychology and spirituality in his private practice. He has worked with a diverse group of people at various stages of their lives, listening to their dreams and aspirations, traumas and confusions, and their desire to live life more attuned to their inner wisdom. And he has loved doing it his entire career. Over the decades, he has studied numerous theories and methodologies (both psychological and spiritual) and they have all filtered down to inform who he is and how he works. Website: RandallAlifanophd.com       Book: Listening in the Raw - Get it on Amazon Paperback: https://a.co/d/1OgqHoR Audiobook: https://a.co/d/1vITt8X Kindle: https://a.co/d/9XR07G4 --- Full Transcript HERE. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QNX6N5IAyM_kI4PKPtcWnoPRPvw11_TNyvpueIRT0hY/edit?usp=sharing Want to take our relationship to the next level? 👉 GET THE FREE INTIMACY in 5 MINUTE GUIDE! https://markellakaplani.com/intimacyin5minutes 👉Here are my top Resources: https://www.markellakaplani.com/resources 👉 Link to my Newsletter: http://markellakaplani.com/newsletter 👉 Join the Reconnect with Your Partner Challenge: http://markellakaplani.com/challenge 📩 Get in touch with me Instagram @markella.kaplani: https://www.instagram.com/markella.kaplani/ Website: https://www.markellakaplani.com/ E-mail: info@markellakaplani.com 📢 Listen, share, and leave a review! https://podcasts.apple.com/gr/podcast/the-parenthood-and-relationship-podcast/id1739098480 Your support means the world! --- Markella Kaplani, M.A. Clinical-Counseling Psychologist Parenthood & Relationship Coach www.markellakaplani.com  

GET THE INTIMACY in 5 MINUTE GUIDE!   If you’ve ever found yourself lying next to your partner at night feeling more like co-parents than lovers, wondering why you feel disconnected despite still loving each other then this episode is for you. In this week's episode of The Parenthood and Relationship Podcast, we’re diving deep into the invisible force that could be draining your emotional closeness without either of you realizing it: emotional labor in parenting.   Maybe you're not arguing. Maybe your schedules are full. Maybe the kids are thriving. And yet, something feels off. You catch yourself thinking, “Is it the sex? Is it that we don’t talk like we used to?” But when you try to fix it with a date night or a long talk, it doesn’t always hit the spot.    Why?   Because intimacy isn’t just about sex or deep conversations. It’s about feeling seen, held, and recognized, especially in the chaos of family life. And emotional labor in relationships, especially for parents, is often what’s causing the slow drift that no one talks about.   We’ll explore why emotional labor in relationships becomes heavier after children arrive and why couples start to experience emotional distance in marriage, even when the love hasn’t gone anywhere. You’ll learn how everyday tasks (from packing school lunches to remembering grandparents' birthdays) create an emotional load that’s rarely acknowledged, and how that load impacts closeness, connection, and desire.   This episode also unpacks the sneaky feeling of being “fine but not great.” That quiet ache of feeling like roommates in marriage is one of the most common things I hear from couples, and it’s often the beginning of a slippery slope toward disconnection - not because the relationship is broken, but because your version of intimacy needs to evolve.   If you’ve been asking yourself how to reconnect after kids, or if you’re searching for what intimacy after parenthood really looks like (hint: it’s not always candlelit dinners), you’re in the right place. I’ll also guide you through three tiny yet transformative rituals you can start this week; no scheduling, therapy, or “fixing” required. These are invitations to start noticing each other again, to shift from performance to presence, and to slowly rebuild emotional intimacy in long-term relationships that have been weathered by parenting.   Whether you're a few months into parenting or many years in, this is a powerful listen that brings empathy, relief, and direction. It’s not about blame. It’s about awareness. Because once you understand how emotional labor in parenting shows up in your home and heart, you’ll start to see your relationship through a more compassionate lens. If you’re wondering how to reconnect with your partner, especially when life is too busy for grand romantic gestures, you’ll walk away feeling less alone, more understood, and equipped with practical tools that fit into your real life. So if you’re ready to go from surviving to reconnecting, press play. You’ll hear real talk, tangible practices, and a perspective that honors your role as a parent and a partner. Because you can still have love, warmth, and connection, even in the messy middle. GET THE INTIMACY in 5 MINUTE GUIDE! 💌 Don’t forget: This week’s newsletter includes an exclusive tool to help you track small emotional wins get it at markellakaplani.com/newsletter.   --  Full Transcript HERE. — Want to take our relationship to the next level? 👉Here are my top Resources 👉 Link to my Newsletter 👉 Join the Reconnect with Your Partner Challenge 📩 Get in touch with me (Instagram @markella.kaplani; website; e-mail: info@markellakaplani.com) 📢 Listen, share, and leave a review! Your support means the world! --- Markella Kaplani, M.A. Clinical-Counseling Psychologist Parenthood & Relationship Coach www.markellakaplani.com

Have you ever felt like you're the one holding your relationship and family together — not just with tasks, but with emotional glue? Like you're the radar, the planner, the peacekeeper… and no one really notices? In this episode of The Parenthood and Relationship Podcast, we name it: emotional labor. But not the oversimplified version you see in viral posts. We go deeper into the invisible roles we inherit, the silent deals we never consented to, and the part of you that believes: “If I don’t hold it together, we’ll fall apart.” You’ll explore the subconscious scripts that dictate your behavior, not to blame anyone, but to bring clarity, choice, and intimacy back to the forefront of your relationship. Because when we rewrite those scripts, we free ourselves and our partners from patterns that no longer serve. Today we explore: What emotional labor actually is; beyond the to-do list How your childhood shaped the emotional role you play in relationships The silent “contracts” you never agreed to but still uphold How naming the pattern is the first step toward emotional intimacy 💌 Don’t forget: This episode includes a journaling prompt and a free worksheet to help you unpack and gently rewrite the emotional roles you’ve taken on. Get it at markellakaplani.com/newsletter. —  Full Transcript HERE. — Want to take our relationship to the next level? 👉Here are my top Resources 👉 Link to my Newsletter 👉 Join the Reconnect with Your Partner Challenge 📩 Get in touch with me (Instagram @markella.kaplani; website; e-mail: info@markellakaplani.com) 📢 Listen, share, and leave a review! Your support means the world! --- Markella Kaplani, M.A. Clinical-Counseling Psychologist Parenthood & Relationship Coach www.markellakaplani.com

Have you ever sat next to your partner, not angry, not even distant on purpose, and still felt miles apart? This episode is for couples who love each other deeply… but no longer feel it.  We go beyond the usual communication advice and explore how emotional intimacy is often blocked not by a lack of love but by a nervous system that no longer feels safe. If you’re parenting, stretched thin, or just too exhausted for deep talks, you’ll discover why co-regulation, somatic cues, and body-based safety matter more than ever in your relationship. We unpack the hidden impact of nervous system dysregulation on emotional connection, and I’ll guide you through 3 simple but powerful invitations to begin reconnecting without needing long conversations, date nights, or perfect words. This is intimacy from the inside out. Today we explore: 🔍 Why you feel emotionally distant even when nothing’s “wrong” 💬 What happens when your nervous systems stop syncing 🧠 How emotional safety rewires intimacy more than communication skills ❤️ The quiet, somatic ways to reconnect without talking   💌 Don’t forget The Sunday Reconnect: This week’s loveletter includes  one insight, one tool, and one three-minute reset to help you feel closer to yourself and to the people you love. You can sign up at markellakaplani.com/newsletter    — Past Episodes on Improving Communication in Couples How does parenthood affect marriage: Are parenting challenges to blame for relationship issues? | Ep. 2 Communication skills for couples: Navigating parenthood and parenting together | Ep. 9 Resentment in Marriage: How Parenthood Brings up Old Wounds and How to Heal | Ep. 31 Wondering How to Rekindle a Relationship After Children? 3 Stages… | Ep. 34 The 4 Types of Connection & Ways to Rekindle the Romance with Dr. Adam Dorsay | Ep. 37 Signs of Drifting Apart in a Relationship: 6-Step Framework to Bridge the Emotional Distance in Parenthood | Ep. 40 Love Language Not Working Anymore? How Parenthood, Stress, and Identity Shifts Change Emotional Needs in Marriage and Long-Term Relationships | Ep. 52 Unhappy Marriage After Baby? Rebuilding Emotional Closeness in Parenthood Using Love Languages | Ep. 54 --  Full Transcript HERE. — Want to take our relationship to the next level? 👉Here are my top Resources 👉 Link to my Newsletter 👉 Join the Couples’ Immersive Program 📩 Get in touch with me (Instagram @markella.kaplani; website; e-mail: info@markellakaplani.com) 📢 Listen, share, and leave a review! Your support means the world! --- Markella Kaplani, M.A. Clinical-Counseling Psychologist Parenthood & Relationship Coach www.markellakaplani.com  

So many parents I work with tell me the same thing: “I thought I’d be different.” We want to be gentle, connected, patient. But when the pressure builds… we feel hijacked by old patterns. This week, I sat down with trauma-informed parent coach Jaspreet Chopra Lewis to talk about why that happens — and what to do about it. We talked about inherited patterns like emotional invalidation, the exhausting pendulum between too much control and too much guilt, and how nervous system work can help you shift in real-time, not just in hindsight. 💌 Don’t forget: This week’s newsletter includes an exclusive tool to help you track small emotional wins get it at markellakaplani.com/newsletter. — Who is Jaspreet Chopra Lewis? Jaspreet is a Trauma Informed Parent Coach and a Polyvagal Informed music interventionist. She strongly believes that focusing on behavior modification will never help you develop a deeply connected relationship with your child. Real change happens when parents do the work, heal from their own childhood, and see their child's experience from a fresh perspective and not from a lens that is colored by conventional thoughts, their own childhood experiences and their current stresses. And that's how children can be led into better behavior, better choices and emotional regulation. Her frameworks for healing and parenting draw hugely from the works of Dr. Gabor Mate, Dr. Stephen Porges and Dr. Daniel Seigel. Jaspreet has over 24 years of experience in journalism, operations & management, training and coaching. Apart from supporting parents in their parenting journey, she is also actively working to create safe spaces for women and children through awareness programs. Jaspreet's Resource: www.themindfulfamily.in/trigger-to-triumph — Full Transcript HERE. — Want to take our relationship to the next level? 👉Here are my top Resources 👉 Link to my Newsletter 👉 Join the Reconnect with Your Partner Challenge 📩 Get in touch with me Instagram @markella.kaplani; website; e-mail: info@markellakaplani.com 📢 Listen, share, and leave a review! Your support means the world! --- Markella Kaplani, M.A. Clinical-Counseling Psychologist Parenthood & Relationship Coach www.markellakaplani.com  

What if healing isn’t something you have to do before parenting but something you do within it? In this episode of The Parenthood and Relationship Podcast, we explore what healing really looks like when you’re not at a retreat, but in a home full of snack crumbs, emotional meltdowns, and endless to-do lists. This isn’t about becoming a brand new person. It’s about becoming a softer, braver, more present version of yourself, right in the middle of the mess. We talk about how parenting can awaken the parts of us that were never truly seen, how to show up for ourselves while showing up for our kids, and why the smallest unseen moments, the breath, the pause, the whispered “I’m sorry,” are what changes everything. Today we explore: - Why healing during parenthood is harder — but more meaningful - 4 gentle shifts to start healing even when you’re exhausted - Why perfection isn’t the goal, presence is - How to rewire your inner voice with compassion   💌 Don’t forget: This week’s newsletter includes an exclusive tool to help you track small emotional wins get it at markellakaplani.com/newsletter.   --  Full Transcript HERE. — Want to take our relationship to the next level? 👉Here are my top Resources 👉 Link to my Newsletter 👉 Join the Reconnect with Your Partner Challenge 📩 Get in touch with me (Instagram @markella.kaplani; website; e-mail: info@markellakaplani.com) 📢 Listen, share, and leave a review! Your support means the world! --- Markella Kaplani, M.A. Clinical-Counseling Psychologist Parenthood & Relationship Coach www.markellakaplani.com  

Have you ever caught yourself reacting to your child in a way that feels all too familiar, perhaps echoing your own parents' responses? These moments often reveal the invisible family patterns we've unconsciously inherited. In Episode 57 of The Parenthood and Relationship Podcast, we explore how these unseen scripts shape our parenting styles and emotional responses. We'll discuss how to identify these patterns, understand their origins, and take the first steps toward conscious change. Today we explore: What invisible family patterns are and how they form Recognizing when these patterns influence your parenting Strategies to begin altering these inherited behaviors The importance of self-compassion in the journey of change Join me as we delve into the transformative process of becoming more aware of our inherited parenting styles and learn how to foster a more intentional and connected relationship with our children. --  Full Transcript HERE. — Want to take our relationship to the next level? 👉Here are my top Resources 👉 Link to my Newsletter 👉 Join the Reconnect with Your Partner Challenge 📩 Get in touch with me (Instagram @markella.kaplani; website; e-mail: info@markellakaplani.com) 📢 Listen, share, and leave a review! Your support means the world! --- Markella Kaplani, M.A. Clinical-Counseling Psychologist Parenthood & Relationship Coach www.markellakaplani.com

Have you ever surprised yourself with how intensely you reacted to your child? That flood of anger or shame? The moment where a small behavior felt so deeply personal?   This episode of The Parenthood and Relationship Podcast dives into the tender truth that parenting often reawakens childhood wounds—and that’s not a flaw, it’s an invitation.  When our children act out, they're often unknowingly tapping into something buried within us: a memory, a hurt, a part of ourselves still waiting to be seen.   In this first episode of our May series, Healing the Past to Parent Better, we explore the concept of emotional triggers in parenting and why reactions like yelling, shutting down, or intense guilt often stem from the past, not the present.    You’ll learn how to spot disproportionate emotional responses when shame might actually be a sign of something deeper, and how to gently begin reparenting yourself while raising your child.   If you're ready to break generational cycles, build self-awareness, and respond from wholeness instead of wounding—this conversation is for you.   Today we explore: 🔍 Why your child’s behavior triggers disproportionate reactions 💬 How to know if you’re reacting from an old wound 🧠 A powerful question to interrupt patterns ❤️ Why this isn’t just parenting—it’s healing   --  Full Transcript HERE. — Want to take our relationship to the next level? 👉Here are my top Resources 👉 Link to my Newsletter 👉 Join the Reconnect with Your Partner Challenge 📩 Get in touch with me (Instagram @markella.kaplani; website; e-mail: info@markellakaplani.com) 📢 Listen, share, and leave a review! Your support means the world! --- Markella Kaplani, M.A. Clinical-Counseling Psychologist Parenthood & Relationship Coach www.markellakaplani.com