Do Less Parenting

Robyn Isman
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Welcome to Do Less Parenting, the show for parents who are ready to stop overdoing and start raising braver, more resilient kids. Hosted by Robyn Isman, parent coach, SPACE-trained practitioner, and mom of three, this podcast is your weekly permission slip to do less—because stepping back doesn’t mean giving up; it means giving your child the space to grow.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    19: Why Having a Strategy Helps Us When We Have No More Energy to Parent

    Why Having a Strategy Helps Us When We Have No More Energy to Parent Robyn explains how using these tools helps parents when we are depleted and our battery is drained. In this solo episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman talks about the power of stepping back so children can step forward. She reflects on how easily parents slip into doing too much—rescuing, fixing, smoothing things over—and how those patterns unintentionally reinforce anxiety. Robyn shares why giving kids more space is not about neglect. It is a research-supported approach that strengthens emotional regulation, problem solving, and independence. Robyn walks through the core ideas behind doing less, and how this framework has helped her in her own parenting, especially during times when grieving the loss of her own mom. Throughout the episode, Robyn reminds listeners that stepping back can feel counterintuitive at first, especially for anxious parents, but it ultimately brings relief and connection even when we have no energy.  By the end of this episode, parents will feel encouraged to pause, breathe, and allow their children to experience more of their own lives. You’ll come away with a clearer understanding of how less interference leads to more confidence—and why this shift feels like permission rather than pressure. Shared Resources:  Follow Robyn on Instagram @parentingtheanxiouschild Parenting the Anxious Child MembershipSign up for Robyn’s Newsletter and find additional resources

    26 min

  2. 16 DEC

    18: Parenting with Understanding, How Self-Awareness and Connection Shape the Way We Respond with Meaghan Hampton

    Parenting with Understanding, How Self-Awareness and Connection Shape the Way We Respond with Meaghan Hampton Robyn talks with therapist Meaghan Hampton about child development, discipline, and how a parent’s own wounds and anxiety shape their parenting. In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman is joined by Christian therapist Meaghan Hampton for a grounded conversation about what children truly need from their parents. Meaghan shares how understanding basic child development helps parents interpret behavior accurately rather than personally. She explains how discipline works best when it is rooted in connection and guidance, not control. Robyn and Meaghan talk about how parental anxiety, old wounds, and unprocessed experiences can show up in everyday parenting moments. They highlight how easy it is to misread a child’s behavior when a parent is overwhelmed, and how important it is to pause, reflect, and respond rather than react. Their discussion weaves in both clinical insight and spiritual grounding, emphasizing the value of integrating mental health tools with faith practices for families who want a holistic approach. The episode also touches on the importance of boundaries, emotional regulation, and modeling healthy communication. Meaghan encourages parents to heal their own unfinished stories so they can support their children with clarity, compassion, and confidence. By the end of this episode, parents will feel more equipped to view discipline as connection, understand behavior through a developmental lens, and approach their children—and themselves—with greater gentleness and curiosity. Shared Resources:  Meaghan Hampton websiteMeghan’s Co-Regulation PDF and Substack CommunityFollow Meaghan on Instagram @soulcareforfamiliesFollow Robyn on Instagram @parentingtheanxiouschild Parenting the Anxious Child MembershipSign up for Robyn’s Newsletter and find additional resources

    40 min

  3. 9 DEC

    17: Understanding Relational Aggression, Helping Kids Navigate Social Dynamics with Dr. Noelle Santorelli

    Understanding Relational Aggression, Helping Kids Navigate Social Dynamics with Dr. Noelle Santorelli Robyn talks with psychologist Dr. Noelle Santorelli about relational aggression, childhood social dynamics, and how parents can support kids through friendship challenges. In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman sits down with psychologist Dr. Noelle Santorelli to explore the complex and often quiet ways relational aggression shows up in children’s friendships and family interactions. Dr. Santorelli explains how behaviors like exclusion, subtle put-downs, and shifting alliances can have a significant emotional impact on kids, even when the signs are not immediately obvious. Robyn and Dr. Santorelli discuss the importance of teaching children empathy, boundaries, and conflict resolution from an early age. They emphasize how parents can help by scaffolding social experiences rather than rushing to fix or curate every challenge. Their conversation highlights why understanding social capital—the influence and status kids hold among peers—matters when interpreting behaviors and guiding children through conflict. Throughout the episode, Dr. Santorelli encourages parents to balance support with autonomy. She reminds listeners that children develop confidence when parents stay grounded, avoid overreacting, and model healthy communication. By the end of this conversation, parents will feel more equipped to recognize relational aggression, respond calmly, and help children build the skills they need to navigate real-life friendships with empathy and resilience. Shared Resources:  Dr. Noelle Santorelli websiteDr. Santorelli’s e-guide Mean Girl Mom Survival Guide: Scripts, Red Flags, and Boundaries to Protect your PeaceFollow Dr. Low on Instagram @drnoellesantorelliFollow Robyn on Instagram @parentingtheanxiouschild Parenting the Anxious Child MembershipSign up for Robyn’s Newsletter and find additional resources

    47 min

  4. 2 DEC

    16: Doing Less is the Path to Balance with Dr. Corinne Low

    Doing Less is the Path to Balance with Dr. Corinne Low Robyn talks with economist and mom Dr. Corinne Low about the pressures modern women face, the myth of doing it all, and the power of doing less. In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman sits down with Dr. Corinne Low, economist and professor, for an eye-opening discussion about what she calls the squeeze—the overwhelming pressure many women feel to excel at work, manage a home, and parent perfectly. Dr. Low shares how her research on women’s time use connects with the emotional and practical realities of parenting, and why balance begins with permission to do less. Robyn and Dr. Low talk about how societal expectations and guilt often push moms toward martyrdom, leaving little space for rest or self-care. They explore how boundaries, intentional choices, and self-awareness can shift the way families function. Dr. Low also offers a powerful reminder that doing less isn’t about neglect—it’s about creating sustainability and well-being for both parent and child. By the end of this episode, you will feel validated in the struggle to balance it all and be encouraged to redefine success. You’ll learn how small, deliberate changes can create more harmony at home and why systemic support—not personal perfection—is what parents truly need. Shared Resources:  Dr. Corinne Low, PhD websiteHaving It All by Dr. Corinne LowFollow Dr. Low on Instagram @corinnelowphdFollow Robyn on Instagram @parentingtheanxiouschild Parenting the Anxious Child MembershipSign up for Robyn’s Newsletter and find additional resources

    49 min

  5. 25 NOV

    15: Parenting an Anxious Child when you’re anxious too! Tools and Truths with Courtney Montgomery

    Parenting an Anxious Child when you’re anxious too! Tools and Truths with Courtney Montgomery Robyn sits down with author and mom Courtney Montgomery to talk about parenting an anxious child, managing guilt, and finding balance between support and independence. In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman talks with Courtney Montgomery, author of Lily’s Special Toolbox, about the real and emotional work of parenting an anxious child. Courtney opens up about her own lifelong experience with anxiety—how it shaped her childhood, her parenting, and the way she helps her kids navigate big feelings. Together, Robyn and Courtney explore how anxiety can look different in every child and how it often shows up as frustration or anger rather than fear. They discuss the guilt parents feel when they try not to rescue, and the importance of validation and supportive language in helping kids build confidence. Courtney shares how she uses tools from her book to make coping accessible and how small shifts in words can create powerful changes in a child’s sense of safety. By the end of this conversation, parents will feel seen, supported, and equipped with practical ways to respond to their child’s anxiety with calm and confidence. You’ll also be reminded that your own self-compassion—and willingness to do less—can make the biggest difference of all. Shared Resources:  Courtney Montgomery’s book: Lily’s Special ToolboxMore information about CourtneyFollow Courtney on Instagram @likereallyanxiousFollow Robyn on Instagram @parentingtheanxiouschild Parenting the Anxious Child MembershipSign up for Robyn’s Newsletter and find additional resources

    37 min

  6. 18 NOV

    14: Connection Over Control, Parenting with Curiosity with Guest Bridget KerMorris

    Letting Go of Control, How to Foster Trust and Independence Robyn sits down with therapist Bridget KerMorris to talk about parenting through the middle school years with connection, curiosity, and communication. In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman is joined by fellow therapist Bridget KerMorris, a Stanford-trained lawyer and a mom of seven, for a thoughtful conversation about parenting during the middle school years—a season full of change, emotion, and opportunity for growth. Bridget shares her parenting framework that centers on curiosity rather than control, inviting parents to stay connected while allowing children the space to learn and repair. Together, Robyn and Bridget discuss the realities of friendships, technology, and family communication in today’s world. They explore how parents can shift from monitoring to understanding, and how teaching empathy, repair, and self-awareness helps kids build the relationship skills they need for life. Bridget also reflects on her own transition from law to mental health work, emphasizing how self-care and emotional regulation shape the way parents show up. By the end of this episode, you’ll feel encouraged to approach parenting with less pressure and more connection. You’ll learn how curiosity builds trust, how repair strengthens relationships, and how focusing on your own well-being creates space for your child’s independence to grow. Shared Resources:  Bridget KerMorris’s WebsiteFollow Bridget on Instagram @bridget.parentcoachMiddle School Safety ToolKit50 ways I’m staying close to my middle schoolerFree Social Script ToolKitSteady + Connected Parenting Group Program WaitlistFollow Robyn on Instagram @parentingtheanxiouschild Parenting the Anxious Child MembershipSign up for Robyn’s Newsletter and find additional resources

    44 min

  7. 11 NOV

    13: Parenting through Bedtime Anxiety, Boundary Setting and the Need for Sleep!

    Parenting through Bedtime Anxiety, Boundary Setting and the Need for Sleep! Robyn and guest therapist Ellanee Wilson, Certified Pediatric Sleep Coach, Credentialed Educator, and mom of three talk about how parents navigate sleep struggles by focusing on what is really going on! Hint: it’s not only about sleep schedules!  In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman is joined by therapist Ellanee Wilson for an honest conversation about parenting and sleep. Together, they explore how sleep is connected to separation, boundary setting, and overall development. Robyn and Ellanee discuss why when parents get stuck in trying to get their kid to sleep we lose sight of the fact that parents can actually do so much of the important work without making their kids do anything. They offer practical ways to set boundaries, remain supportive, and ultimately create an environment where both parents and kids feel relief. By the end of this episode, parents will feel encouraged to approach sleep with support instead of frustration. You’ll learn how to create new plans that work for the whole family. Shared Resources:  Ellanee Wilson’s WebsiteFollow Ellanee on Instagram @sleep.coach.momFind Ellanee’s Resources HEREFollow Robyn on Instagram @parentingtheanxiouschild Parenting the Anxious Child MembershipSign up for Robyn’s Newsletter and find additional resources

    38 min

  8. 4 NOV

    12: Building Resilience Together, Supporting Parents Through Their Own Anxiety

    Building Resilience Together, Supporting Parents Through Their Own Anxiety Robyn talks with fellow therapist Joanna Hardis, LISW-S about how parents can work through their own anxiety to better support their children’s growth and independence. In this episode, therapist and mom Robyn Isman is joined by fellow therapist Joanna Hardis for an honest conversation about what it really means to support anxious kids when you’re an anxious parent yourself. Together, they explore the emotional tug-of-war that happens when parents want to help but feel overwhelmed by their own worries. Robyn and Joanna discuss how a parent’s anxiety can shape family dynamics, impact communication, and even influence a child’s ability to cope. They share how self-awareness, small shifts in behavior, and compassionate boundaries can make an enormous difference at home. Their discussion reminds parents that taking care of themselves isn’t selfish—it’s foundational to helping their children feel safe and capable. By the end of this episode, parents will feel encouraged to view their own anxiety as part of the process, not a flaw to hide. You’ll learn practical ways to model regulation, connect through honesty, and build resilience together as a family. Shared Resources:  Joanna Hardis’s WebsiteFollow Joanna on Instagram @joannahardisFind Joanna’s Books HEREFollow Robyn on Instagram @parentingtheanxiouschild Parenting the Anxious Child MembershipSign up for Robyn’s Newsletter and find additional resources

    39 min
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About

Welcome to Do Less Parenting, the show for parents who are ready to stop overdoing and start raising braver, more resilient kids. Hosted by Robyn Isman, parent coach, SPACE-trained practitioner, and mom of three, this podcast is your weekly permission slip to do less—because stepping back doesn’t mean giving up; it means giving your child the space to grow.

Information

  • Creator
    Robyn Isman
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Do Less Parenting
  • Show Website
    Do Less Parenting

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