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.

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!

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!

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!