Parenting is one of the hardest jobs on the planet.The one thing that we can agree on is that there isn't just one way to parent. People have so many opinions on how to manage your kiddos and it can be very overwhelming. There are days that you feel like you nailed it and then there are days where you feel like you are just a complete failure. Parenting styles is one of those things that you are always tweaking and adjusting because our littles ones are always changing. There isn't a one size fits all when it comes to parenting. So this week, Charisse gives you tips on how to develop a parenting style that works for you AND your little. Were here for you! So sit back, relax and hit play. Happy Parenting Friends!

There are plenty of things we, as adults, are attached to. For example, you may have a favorite hoodie, hat or even a favorite food. These things comfort us when life is being, ya know....life. For our littles, their attachment to us can make us feel special but it can also be the most frustrating thing, especially when you have adult responsibilities to take care of and your little is attached to your hip like that piece of tape that doesn't seem to want to let go! This week, Charisse gives you all the lowdown on how to help build trust in your child when they are having a tough time connecting to the other people in their lives. We know the preferredparent life can be great, but we also know that parents need a break. So grab a snack because we got you this week! Happy Parenting Friends!

Life is full of lessons. For kids, those lessons, just like life, can come at them quick. As parents, we have to use our judgement to decide when and where to teach those lessons. When our little is having a full meltdown, trying to teach them why whatever happened to them is causing issues isn't the best time. We parents have to have better timing because if we really want our kids to learn the lesson, then they need to be in a state that allows them to take in the info you are trying to teach. This week on the podcast, Charisse discusses when its the right time to teach these lessons and how to make sure your child actually listens and learns from that lesson! Happy Parenting Friends!

We hope you saved room for part 2! Finding the right place for our littles, who are 05 years old, can be even more stressful than than finding the right school for our older kids. For a lot of our kiddos, this may be the first experience that is outside of the home for them. For some of us, this is the first time we are gonna separated from our child and we want to make sure that we are as comfortable with this school as we are in our own homes. But not to worry, take a deep breath we got you covered. Charisse takes you step by step through the things to look for and assess when you are searching for the right place to educate and keep our kids safe during the day when we can't be with them. Happy Parenting Friends!

We can all agree, as parents, education is important for our tiny humans. But, picking the right school can make all the difference in overall health and well being for our kids. The right school can nurture our kids to grow up and be the adults that will change this world. Unfortunately, the wrong school may not tap into your kids super power so they can thrive. We know there can be a lot of pressure deciding the school that will educate your child but not to worry we got you! On this episode, Charisse gives you the tips and tricks to make sure your decision about school for your little ones is definitely an informed one! Happy parenting my friends!

School is back and that means homework is back too! Just like our kids, homework is something that we as parents dread each year as our kids move up in grade. The Homework being given gets progressively more difficult. Anyone try to do this new math these kids keep bringing home? Homework and studying can be very stressful but lucky for us, this week Charisse drops some very helpful tips and hacks to make this new year with new homework roadblocks a lil less daunting. Happy Parenting My Friends!

Whoever said patience is a virtue never had kids. Keeping our cool while your little one is having a full meltdown in the middle of the aisle at the grocery store, isn't the time to be virtuous. Sometimes, the best way to combat that spicy child of yours is to not react to the screaming and crying by being the example of calm and peace that your child can rely on to guide them through the latest emotional outburst. Like Bruce Lee once said You must be like water Happy Parenting!

We all have needs, but trying to figure out what our tiny humans need at any given time can be one of the most frustrating things about being a parent. We get it! Its hard to get to the heart of the matter when our kid is having a full blown tantrum in the middle of Target. But, there's a path to making sure that your little gets what they NEED in that moment but also so you get what YOU need in that moment too. This week on the podcast, Charisse gives you the tools to be able to address their needs as well as yours using NonViolent Communication or NVC. How we communicate with our kids can be the difference between discourse and peace. Happy Parenting!

Here we go people, it happens every year. Its ...Back to School Time! This time of year for us parents can be full of mixed emotions. Some of us are sending our littles to school for the very first time and some of us are just happy that someone else is going to keep an eye on them for a couple of hours. Either way, this time of year is always an adventure as you make sure your children have what they need to be successful. This week, Charisse discusses how you can make the transition back to school an easy one, not just for your kids but for you too. Happy Parenting!

When we say parenthood is a hard and thankless job with no raises in sight, we know you feel us. But nobody actually thinks of being a parent as an actual JOB. What if you did and you are the CEO of your very own small company? Let that sink in. What if you outsourced the work and, instead of dragging yourself through paperwork, aka doing the dishes, taking out the trash, and the bane of any parents job, doing laundry you just decided to delegate that task to someone else? This week, Charisse talks about how the job of parenthood can work for you if you change your perspective on how to take on the most important job in the world. Don't worry we know theres no clocking out but we in this together! Happy Parenting!

We, as parents, always want to make sure our littles get the best care possible. Thats why when dinnertime comes around, what you put on the plate is made with the best nutrition possible to help them grow. Easy, right??? Nope! When your child takes that plate, the plate you put together with love, and tosses it across the room, you quickly realize its a chicken nugget night and its not worth the battle tonight. Dealing with picky eaters can be one of the most frustrating pieces of parenting, we get it. This week, Charisse gives you some tips on how to turn your picky eater from a pitcher into a little in the clean plate club. Happy Parenting!

As kids, we never understood the importance of doing chores. Most of us just thought it was free labor for our parents, which at the time seemed unfair. Now, as adults and even more importantly as parents, we now see the value even if our kids don't. The struggle to find the balance in teaching our children how to take care of themselves, but also not cause a full on meltdown, can be a frustrating task. Not to worry! This week, Charisse gives you her thoughts on how and when is a good time to start implementing chores into your littles daily routine, without it being a combatant battle day in and out. Like we've said before, parenting can be hard and if we don't stick together these tiny humans can make us all seem a bit crazy at times. Happy parenting my friends!

For those of us who have siblings, we all know there are days that we wish we were an only child. It's hard enough being a kid and trying to navigate social situations with strangers, but imagine having another person you have to live with and see everyday. What makes things even more challenging is that person also takes up time, attention and resources from you. Having a sibling can be frustrating but rewarding, and sometimes as parents we have this idea of what kind of relationship we want for our kids, and just like the unpredictability of life, sibling relationships can develop in the craziest ways. Charisse gives you the low down on how to create your Parent Package so you can plant the seeds for your kiddos so they can began to build a healthy relationship with their siblings on their terms.

Let's face it parents, having kids can be an adventure. Things like making sure these tiny humans stay healthy is a full time job. Screen time is one of those things in parenting that can be the thin line between having a good night and having a night where you might need a lil more wine in that glass. That's why Charisse gives you the lowdown on how you can help change the culture and feelings around technology with your littles ones. She gives you some tips and hacks to help make the relationship balanced between you, your child and technology.

Kids plus travel equals chaos. When you have kids the days of getting up and just leaving for vacation are long gone, now preparing fro a vacation with kids can consist of making sure every uses the restroom before you leave the house or making sure that each child has head phones for their tablet otherwise its the theme song to Paw Patrol all the way to granny's house. However you travel this summer Charisse will give you some tips how to prepare your littles for traveling with the family.

Summer is officially here! Now that schools out and you don't have to worry about whose project needs to be done at the last minute you can relax, right?? Yes and no. This week, Charisse chats about how you can use some time to prepare and transition the kids for a more relaxing, but still productive summer. Allowing some time between the last day of school and summer activities is a chance for the whole family to reflect on the school year but it also allows time for YOU and your children to decompress mentally. While camp may not be for everyone, Charisse gives you tips on how to select what summer activities may or may not work for your child.

CONTENT WARNING! This episode talks about heavy topics that include bullying, slurs, and sexual harassment. Hard conversations are apart of life and if you're lucky you don't have to have one with your kids until YOU are ready. Unfortunately, in todays world you can't always monitor what your kids are exposed to these days. Today Charisse talks about how to have a conversation with your child about the many things that are happening in todays society. Teaching your child how to be an advocate for themselves and others can be one of the most beneficial things you can teach them. We know its gonna be tough but we're here for you!

Being a mom is hard, plain and simple, but imagine being a new mom with little to no experience. This week, Charisse discusses how preparing for your special day can set you up for success once the baby is here. Leaning on the loved ones around you can help you get through those difficult times as a new mom. Charisse also chats about how building a Mommy Network can be a lifesaver, especially when you feel alone and as though no one gets what you are going through. Knowing your limits as a mom will allow you to be a better spouse, friend and most importantly a better mom!

Did Y'all hear Melanie Fiona's Mama on the Mama's Den? This might surprise you, but Charisse it 100 team Mama Donna! This might surprise some of you who have heard the episode and think it's the EXACT OPPOSITE of gentle parenting. However this might surprise you....Mama Donna IS a Gentle Parent. Okay, stay with us here. Charisse is going to explain everything and by the end of this episode you'll understand not only why she stands 10 toes down with Mama Donna, but why being firm with your children is an important part of being a gentle parent.

Sometimes when trying to protect our children, we are hindering their resilience. We're going to say that one more time. Sometimes when we try to protect our children we are ACTUALLY hindering their resilience. Now if you're clutching your pearls, just wait. Charisse is going to explain it to you. Our children are more capable than we sometimes give them credit for. In this episode Charisse shares what she has experienced as an educator and how we as parents can help them grow versus fixing them. Make sure you've listened to our episode on emotional regulation and dive right in!

Hearing the word No can be difficult to hear as an adult. Now, imagine a child hearing the word No. It can send even the most calm toddler into a fit of rage. Today, Charisse chats about how hearing the word no doesn't have to be a negative thing for your child. She discusses how saying no to your child and helping them to understand WHY you are saying no, can help them learn to cope when things dont go their way.

Children only know what they know. Take, for instance, that time you made them turn the TV off and they said you're mean! Then, when they were at the dinner table they told you that making them eat broccoli is mean. Now that you think about it, at school the other day, they told a classmate that the other kid in their play group was mean because they had a toy that your child wanted to play with right then and there. Here's the thing, chances are they don't actually think ANY of it was mean in the way that we as adults can process what mean actually means. However our little ones do not have the brain development that we do, and when they are yelling, or using hurtful language it can be hard to remember that! That's where today's episode comes in. Charisse has tips on how to regulate your little ones when they need help communicating what's going on with the. Plus, she shares gems on how to recenter ourselves when we are getting frustrated and need some support to keep on the gentle parenting journey.

You remember that moment before you had children when you pictured the group pictures in the matching outfits? Or the take your kid to work day? Or that moment where they would do all the cute things together? And now you're here with your seven year old screaming and hitting a punching bag because they feel like it and you're wondering what's wrong with them? Why are they like this? Now, you bought the child the punching bag to do exactly this, but you know YOU wouldn't do this. So why would this tiny version of you do it? And that's the problem. Children are NOT tiny adults. They're tiny humans. Too often we forget that children are still in fact children and we get frustrated with them for simply doing what children do. Today Charisse breaks down how to recognize when we as parents aren't giving our children space to be children, and what to do when they need help with regulation.

Welcome back friends! Charisse is a back with a couple questions from you all, our listeners! First Frenchy in New Jersey is dealing with a teenager who really REALLY wants to wear makeup, but it's a hard no for her. Here's a hint, we're going to reference one of our Pillars of Peaceful Parenting. Then, Charisse answers a listener in Detroit's question of how exactly to Gentle Parent in hostile territory. It's not as cut and dry as you might think!

Charisse has been fielding all the questions lately about her absence and we hear you! Like all parents, she had to juggle all the things a spouse out of town, children in three different parts of the city, and coordinating with a babysitter and look, things did not go as planned. One of Charisse's little heavens did the babysitter DIRTY yall, like ran her out of the house with tears in her eyes dirty. And Charisse felt like the worst parent, the worst educator, and questioned this whole gentle parenting thing. But the truth of it is, there was a reason why her child was acting this way AND gentle parenting was not the cause. Sometimes we all need a moment to process what is going on. As adults, it is much easier than it is as tiny humans because we understand self regulation. Listen in as Charisse shares what processing looked like for her in this moment, what you can do as a parent when you feel like you're at the end of your rope, and how you can help your children learn how to process their very big feelings in a productive manner.

One question Charisse always gets is How do I get my child to listen? It seems to be a common theme amongst parents. Even our friends over at The Mama's Den have had that problem. One has to ask, is listening really the problem? There is a question that Charisse really hears when a parent asks her how to get their little ones to listen and it has nothing to do with listening and everything to do with respect.

Welcome back friends! We are on the third installment of the PEACEFUL Parenting method, and this week we're back this week with letters U L! We've heard you've needed all the parenting tips and Charisse is ready to help! One common issue that keeps coming up is that I just don't know where to start! For the final two letters in the series Charisse breaks down why Understanding is so fundamental in parenting and how it ties into compassion. Plus, pillar L for Listening. Listening is probably what Charisse gets asked about the most but as she explains, what parents think is listening isn't just listening.

Welcome back friends! We are on the third installment of the PEACEFUL Parenting method, and this week we're back this week with letters E F! We've heard you've needed all the parenting tips and Charisse is ready to help! One common issue that keeps coming up is that I just don't know where to start! In the next two letters in the series Charisse breaks down why being the Environment in which you're parenting in plays a huge role in your children's needs. Plus, pillar F for Friendship. Now Charisse knows this is going to be a controversial one, but just give her a minute to break down why you need to be your child's friend!

Welcome back friends! Last week we gave you the first two letters of the PEACEFUL Parenting method, and this week we're back this week with letters A C! We've heard you've needed all the parenting tips and Charisse is ready to help! One common issue that keeps coming up is that I just don't know where to start! In the next two letters in the series Charisse breaks down why being Aware is key to being an amazing parent, and how connectedness is important to truly understanding your little one's most basic needs even when they're kicking trash cans.

Welcome back friends! We've heard you've needed all the parenting tips and Charisse is ready to help! One common issue that keeps coming up is that I just don't know where to start! Look, that's valid. It seems like these days everyone has a different definition of what exactly gentle parenting is, AND Charisse isn't here to say that her way is the only way! But if you're a parent looking for a nice easy way to start, Parenting for the Culture has got you covered with the PEACEFUL Parenting method. Make sure you listen in to hear just what PEACEFUL is and what those first two letters have in store for you!

Have you ever told someone exactly what you wanted for Christmas? Like you sent them pictures, your size, maybe you even sent the direct link to buy it? Then when Christmas rolled around and you opened up your gift that you were absolutely positive was the thing you wanted you were stunned to find something completely different? We as adults have mastered the art for the most part of finding a way to say thank you because we know that even though we didn't get the thing we wanted even if we made it really easy for them it was still a gift. Children do not come with said skill. Today Charisse shares how you can help guide your children through getting gifts that they do not want, and how to share gratitude all season long. Plus, you all have been asking and Charisse has got you... Santa. What to do about the magic of Santa! You all know what we mean

It's December and for a lot of us it's the start of the panic of the Holiday season! Charisse is here to help lighten the load. First on our mind are those perfect holiday pictures. It is hard getting all six of the little ones ready to take that photo to send out in the holiday card. What do we need to do as parents and caregivers to prepare our children and ourselves to make that experience an enjoyable one for the whole family? PLUS holiday gifts. We know that we all have a little bit of dread when it comes to picking out the perfect gift for every child. Is it the right gift? Will they get bored? Will it ruin my house? Charisse knows just what you are going through and is here to guide you through your gift buying journey.

Hi Friends! Charisse is back from the Black Love Weekend and she is feeling replenished! But how does that turn into Thanksgiving tips for you and your little heavens? Well it's all about having a seat at the table. Listen in as Charisse shares what you can do to help your children feel included this Thanksgiving and all holiday season!

Shame has been weighing heavily on Charisse after she caught a clip from the 2021 Black Love Summit make sure you get your tickets to our 2022 Summit right now! where Bre discussed how shame from her childhood had affected her relationship with her partner as an adult. As parents we often use shame as a way to try to teach our children right or wrong, but does it really accomplish that? Listen in as Charisse breaks down the idea of shame, whether or not she believes we should be shaming our little ones, and what other options we have as parents to teach our children the lessons we are trying to get across instead.

Halloween is only a few days away and look if you don't have a costume for your little heavens, Charisse can't help you. What she DOES have tips for is navigating the chaos that is the Halloween experience. The sounds, the exercise, the SUGAR! There is so much stimulation that if you don't go into the day with a game plan you are going to get had. We've got your back parents! Planning for Halloween is as much about us as it is about our little ones. Listen in as Charisse drops gems to make sure that it's all treats for you this Halloween!

Wellness. We all have heard the word. We all know we need some sort of wellness in our life, even though we don't have any sort of grasp on it. But as parents we know that we need to model better behaviors for our kids so we are out here TRYING. Which is why Charisse was so excited to talk to David Wasicki, CTNC. David is a girl dad of a toddler, the General Manager of Black Love Inc, a fellow podcast host, and a Certified Transformational Nutrition Coach. In addition to the balancing of all the things, David shares what his journey to wellness looked like, how being biracial shaped so much of his identity, how trauma can live in the body and so much more.

I CAN'T CALM DOWN! If you're a parent there's a good chance one of your little heavens has yelled this at one point or another, and if you're like any normal human being you were probably frustrated at the jump. You probably told them to breathe or to just calm down or try to take a walk. As adults with fully formed frontal lobes, we often forget that children do not have all the tools and experience we have to regulate our bodies and we get frustrated. Well, Charisse is here to tell you to keep CALLLM. CALLLM. Listen in to hear just what this acronym stands for and how it can help you in those moments when your children are just having a blowout. We know every child is different and develops the tools they need to regulate at different speeds, so this is just as much as a tool to help you all out as parents as it is to try to help your little ones too!

Children are just tiny humans. Just like us, they need boundaries to help understand how to function within the family. But if it was that easy you wouldn't be here at your wits end trying to figure out how to set them! Look, it's hard. Especially if your children are a bit older and you're trying to teach them boundaries while unteaching them another behavior that they know and love. This week Charisse has tips for teaching boundaries at all stages with a special shout out to one of our Mama's Den mamas Hey Codie! and a problem she's having with her twins.

Yasmine Jameelah is entrepreneur, journalist, and wellness advocate through her Transparent Black platforms, but she's also somebody's child. Today she shares with Charisse what her childhood looked like and what led her to her current successes. From being raised in the Christian and Muslim faiths and how her parents gave her the space to explore, to how her faith has been key in shaping her wellness journey Yasmine is open honest and vulnerable about it all. Plus, Yasmine drops all the gems for us parents and how we should demonstrate wellness for our children, and more importantly, why it's important for us to not feel shame around why us working toward wellness looks different.

Do your kids know your name? Your full name? Not mama or daddy or mama Charisse but your government name? It sounds silly, but an incident that Charisse witnessed as she was dropping off her youngest children at school brought the thought of safety right to the front of her mind. As parents, we like to think that our children would know what to do if they were ever in trouble, but they're kids! It's our job to ensure that they've got all the tips and tricks to be safe in the case of an emergency. This week, Charisse shares what has worked with her children of all ages, and what we can do as parents just in case the worst does happen.

Y'all there are BIG developments in the Sims house! The littlest littles are all in public school!!! That's right the twins and the 7year old have all gone off to full school and Charisse is feeling some type of way. If you're wondering how she got to this point, you're not alone. A LOT of mamas in her mama community have asked the same thing. Where do you even start to have the conversation of what kind of schooling your children should have? Do you NEED to have that conversation with your children? Listen in for what that has meant for Charisse and how it has changed what her day to day has looked like since!

Tell us if you've heard this story. we're out with the kids and we've had the BEST. DAY. EVER. We did all the best things, you know this is one of those experiences that will live in their little memory banks forever and it has definitely filled our hearts knowing that we have been able to to provide that for our kids. But then, it all changes. Yelling, screaming, kicking, the works. How did it all go wrong?! Don't worry!! It didn't! Welcome to the meltdown. This week PBS Early Learning Champion Charisse Sims shares what exactly a meltdown is and why it happens to our little ones. Plus, she gives tips on how you can best prepare yourself for the next meltdown, because there will unfortunately be others.

Parents are you wondering when your kids are going to stop unlocking that door and wandering out the house? Unbuckling that car seat? Getting into that cabinet? Spilling all the juice on the floor cause they think it's fun? Well, we got some bad news for you. They're probably not going to fully stop not for a while anyway, BUT there is hope! Listen in as Charisse explains just what impulse control means to children and how we as parents can empower ourselves to create spaces that don't allow for destructive behavior.

Does your child struggle with new experiences? Maybe they just like to hang on to you? We know it's hard to understand why everyone else's children seem to adapt to new experiences head on while yours is hesitant, but it's OKAY. There's a very good chance your child is just slow to warm. Listen in as Charisse breaks down what a slow to warm child is, what you can do if you have a slow to warm child, and why time can be a sham sometimes.

Gentle parenting is a generational change for most of us, but we all have that one person who just doesn't get it. It might be a partner, a sibling, grandparents, etc. When you've made the decision to engage in gentle parenting sometimes pulling along the rest of the family is... well it's hard. This week, Charisse shares the struggles she's had with getting her husband on board spoiler alert it's still a journey. What has and hasn't worked for them and what tools are at our disposal to help get everyone on board?

Charisse shares why finding a community of Black mothers is critical to those rasing Black children.

Charisse helps walk us through the warning signs of disappointment and what we can do to help regulate our children as they experience it.

Charisse helps explain why a child might seem manipulative.

Charisse answers some listener questions.

Sometimes we just need to check to make sure our kids are good. Are they developing the way they should? Are they gifted? Do they need some help? Charisse breaks it all down for us.

It's okay to yell...sometimes. Charisse gives all the info on when you should and shouldn't yell at your children.

Charisse reflects on the last week and how you can start the conversation with your little ones when tragedy strikes.

What do you do when a tragedy happens? What do you tell your kids? The mass shooting at the supermarket in Buffalo has Charisse evaluating how trauma shows up in her parenting, especially for Black people. In this episode Charisse welcomes Kobe Campbell, an awardwinning licensed trauma therapist, Christian counselor, writer media expert, and speaker to help navigate what the next phases in this conversation look like. And y'all, Kobe has all the gems. If you're not sure how to talk to your children, or how to rectify trauma within yourself, this is an episode you do not want to miss.

Charisse breaks down what to do when our children start screaming about fairness.

It's Mother's Day and there is no better way to celebrate it than by talking to one of our favorite mamas! Shes a wife and mama of three boys. Plus she is the cofounder of Black Love Inc, the director of Black Love Doc, a podcast host, just all the things! Im so excited to talk parenting with Codie Elaine Oliver. Listen in as Codie shares the pivotal moments in her childhood, how she has navigated her career with the parenting, how she would describe her parenting style and more.

Tantrums. Yup, we've all experienced them with our children. However what a lot of parents don't necessarily understand is the root of what a tantrum is. Today, Charisse breaks down how children acting out means so much more than them just being difficult and what we can do as parents to help bring them out of it.

Charisse shares how you can prepare your children for change and transitions.

Charisse shares what it looks like to parent in the shadows.

Charisse shares tips to help your children through unexpected changes.

Charisse needs us to rethink why we're so okay with calling mamas supermoms

This is Parenting for the Culture. A weekly parenting podcast brought to you by the Black Love Podcast Network.