Sustainable Parenting | Positive Discipline for Raising Resilient Kids

Flora McCormick, LCPC, Parenting Coach

For cycle-breaking parents who still face battles at bedtime and beyond, Sustainable Parenting teaches tools that actually change behavior when gentle parenting doesn't work. If your 6-year-old ignores you, your toddler screams over a broken banana, and bedtime still ends in tears—it’s not you, it’s the gentle parenting advice that’s failing you. Research shows 1 in 3 parents who try gentle parenting still end the day begging kids to listen and blaming themselves when the scripts don’t stop the tantrums. So unlike other podcasts that only tell you to “stay calm” or “validate feelings” while your toddler is throwing dinosaurs at your head, here you’ll get strategies to set limits kids respect without crushing their spirit so they grow into kind, confident humans, and you finally feel like the calm, in-control parent you want to be. I’m Flora McCormick—a counselor, parenting coach, and mom of two. After 20 years helping families worldwide, I’ve helped thousands of parents raise confident kids while practicing parenting without yelling or shame. Parenting will always have hard moments, but raising respectful, emotionally healthy kids doesn’t have to be a constant battle.  Follow Sustainable Parenting and start listening today. Popular Topics Include: Bedtime battles, Positive discipline, Gentle discipline, Gentle Parenting, Parenting differences, Discipline without yelling, Positive parenting strategies, Raising confident kids

  1. 2D AGO

    141. 3 Positive Shifts to Raise Respectful Kids

    What do we do when our kids are disrespectful — they aren't listening, and they have attitude — and it starts draining the life out of us? This week on the Sustainable Parenting Podcast, I’m joined by my husband for a candid, coffee-on-the-couch conversation about disrespectful behavior in kids, the number one frustration I hear from dads in parent coaching. Together, we explore why this issue sparks so many power struggles, how moms and dads often experience it differently, and what’s really happening beneath the surface when kids push back. We break down the top two reasons kids come across as disrespectful, and then share a Positive Parenting Strategy that surprises many parents. (Spoiler alert: how to get kids to listen has far less to do with fixing your child — and far more to do with shifting how we respond as parents.) You’ll hear us wrestle with the tension between gentle parenting and firm boundaries, and land on a grounded, realistic middle road rooted in Kind and Firm Parenting, Positive Discipline, and Calm Confident Parenting. This episode offers practical tools to stop power struggles with kids, set clear limits without yelling, and respond to disrespect without escalating the conflict. If you’re craving parenting without yelling, wondering how to stop tantrums and back talk, or hoping to raise respectful, resilient kids while staying connected, this conversation will feel validating, honest, and doable. Pull up a seat, sip your coffee with us, and join us as we explore how to guide kids with both kindness and firmness — at the same time. ✨Want more? ✨Black Friday Savings: The Calm Cooperation Toolkit & Emotional Resilience Toolkit (BIG SAVINGS): ✨Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have. Together, we'll make a plan for your best next steps to have more calm & confidence in parenting - while having kids that listen!:) ✨NEW✨ pdfs and short video lessons on Respect, Bedtimes, Power Struggles and More: ON ETSY! ✨ Download the FREE pdf. on getting kids to listen, for strategies that take you out of the "gentle mom - monster mom" cycle, with effective positive parenting strategies. ✨ Sign up for an upcoming LIVE ONLINE workshop with Flora, or purchase a past replay: https://sustainableparenting.com/workshop where you get 30 min. of learning and 30 min. of LIVE Q & A time, with replays sent afterwards. ✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) ...

    13 min
  2. JAN 7

    140. 2026 Family Goals

    What if setting family goals didn’t feel overwhelming—or like one more thing to get right? In this episode, I’m sharing a gentle, realistic approach to setting family goals for 2026 that offer direction without pressure and intention without perfection. Instead of rigid resolutions or systems that fall apart by February, we talk about how families can choose a shared target—and allow the path there to flex as life unfolds. You’ll learn: Why family goals work best when they function as a compass, not a contractHow to create goals that support calm, connection, and cooperationWhat to focus on if you want lasting change without power strugglesHow small shifts (not big overhauls) create meaningful momentumI also walk you through a simple Family Goals Reflection Guide: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4434156021/family-new-years-resolution-goals-pdf-to, you can download in the show notes—designed to help your family reflect on tech, connection, fun, service, wellness, and relationships in a way that feels supportive and doable. If you’re craving a calmer, more intentional year—this episode is your starting point. ✨Want more? ✨Black Friday Savings: The Calm Cooperation Toolkit & Emotional Resilience Toolkit (BIG SAVINGS): ✨Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have. Together, we'll make a plan for your best next steps to have more calm & confidence in parenting - while having kids that listen!:) ✨NEW✨ pdfs and short video lessons on Respect, Bedtimes, Power Struggles and More: ON ETSY! ✨ Download the FREE pdf. on getting kids to listen, for strategies that take you out of the "gentle mom - monster mom" cycle, with effective positive parenting strategies. ✨ Sign up for an upcoming LIVE ONLINE workshop with Flora, or purchase a past replay: https://sustainableparenting.com/workshop where you get 30 min. of learning and 30 min. of LIVE Q & A time, with replays sent afterwards. ✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) ...

    13 min
  3. 12/17/2025

    139. Rethinking Devices: Why Less Screen Time Today Builds Calmer Kids Tomorrow

    Screens often show up as gifts—but they come with big questions. In this episode, we talk honestly about kids’ tech, family values, and how to decrease those overwhelming tantrums over tech.  If you’re focused on raising confident kids while keeping tech in its place, this episode will support you. If you have struggled to know where to set boundaries on tech, this will give you those clear guardrails.   By the time you finish listening, you’ll learn: Why boredom supports creativity and listening (how to get kids to listen without more rules)What’s happening in the brain when games and apps rely on constant rewardsHow kind and firm parenting reduces screen-related power strugglesWhy not all screens are equal—and what to watch out forHow positive discipline and clear limits protect sleep, mood, and attentionNeed SCREEN-FREE ideas? We got you! 👇🏼 https://courses.sustainableparenting.com/products/digital_downloads/screenfreeFun ✨Want more? ✨Black Friday Savings: The Calm Cooperation Toolkit & Emotional Resilience Toolkit (BIG SAVINGS): ✨Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have. Together, we'll make a plan for your best next steps to have more calm & confidence in parenting - while having kids that listen!:) ✨NEW✨ pdfs and short video lessons on Respect, Bedtimes, Power Struggles and More: ON ETSY! ✨ Download the FREE pdf. on getting kids to listen, for strategies that take you out of the "gentle mom - monster mom" cycle, with effective positive parenting strategies. ✨ Sign up for an upcoming LIVE ONLINE workshop with Flora, or purchase a past replay: https://sustainableparenting.com/workshop where you get 30 min. of learning and 30 min. of LIVE Q & A time, with replays sent afterwards. ✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) ...

    10 min
  4. 138. Stop Arguing And Start Calming: How To Get Real Cooperation

    12/10/2025

    138. Stop Arguing And Start Calming: How To Get Real Cooperation

    Power struggles don’t end because we find the perfect argument; they end because someone helps the room feel safe again. We unpack a practical, science-backed shift from control to connection that brings cooperation faster and with far less effort.  Drawing on HeartMath’s research on heart coherence, Bruce Perry’s state-dependent brain science, and Ross Greene’s collaborative problem solving, we show how a calm presence, a softer voice, and a few validating words can lower defenses and invite real reasoning back online. You’ll hear real-life wins that make the science feel doable: a preteen upset about missing class for therapy softens with one clean reflection, and a toddler melting down for a same-day shot calms once feelings are named and a plan is promised for later. Along the way, we cut through common myths about validation, explain why arguing fuels arguing, and offer language you can use tonight.  If you’ve been stuck between being too gentle or too harsh, this middle path—kindness plus firmness—will help you parent smarter, not harder, while building your child’s resilience. If this conversation helped, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find sustainable parenting tools.  ✨Want more? ✨Black Friday Savings: The Calm Cooperation Toolkit & Emotional Resilience Toolkit (BIG SAVINGS): ✨Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have. Together, we'll make a plan for your best next steps to have more calm & confidence in parenting - while having kids that listen!:) ✨NEW✨ pdfs and short video lessons on Respect, Bedtimes, Power Struggles and More: ON ETSY! ✨ Download the FREE pdf. on getting kids to listen, for strategies that take you out of the "gentle mom - monster mom" cycle, with effective positive parenting strategies. ✨ Sign up for an upcoming LIVE ONLINE workshop with Flora, or purchase a past replay: https://sustainableparenting.com/workshop where you get 30 min. of learning and 30 min. of LIVE Q & A time, with replays sent afterwards. ✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) ...

    16 min
  5. 137. Is Gentle parenting wrecking your holidays? Holiday Meltdowns, Real Solutions

    12/03/2025

    137. Is Gentle parenting wrecking your holidays? Holiday Meltdowns, Real Solutions

    This week I’m diving into a spicy truth:  Gentle parenting may be wrecking your holidays.  Not because you weren’t patient enough…  Not because you didn’t validate enough…  But because the version of Gentle Parenting most parents try to use during holidays simply doesn’t work. In this episode, I break down why your Positive Parenting Strategies fell apart the minute your child got overwhelmed, overstimulated, or embarrassed — and why you ended up walking on eggshells while still dealing with tantrums, arguments, hoarding, sibling fights, or shame-spirals. I’ll share real stories from recent client sessions, including: • A child who hoarded toys from cousins and melted down when gently “reasoned with” You’ll hear how Sustainable Parenting blends Kind and Firm Parenting — boundaries, leadership, AND warmth — so your kids finally relax, cooperate, and feel safe. If you want Raising Resilient Kids, Raising Confident Kids, and Parenting Without Yelling, this episode will help you discover the missing link that gentle parenting didn’t teach you. Join me as we rebuild your parenting toolbox with dependable calm… and a plan that actually helps your kids listen — even during the holidays. ✨Want more? ✨Black Friday Savings: The Calm Cooperation Toolkit & Emotional Resilience Toolkit (BIG SAVINGS): ✨Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have. Together, we'll make a plan for your best next steps to have more calm & confidence in parenting - while having kids that listen!:) ✨NEW✨ pdfs and short video lessons on Respect, Bedtimes, Power Struggles and More: ON ETSY! ✨ Download the FREE pdf. on getting kids to listen, for strategies that take you out of the "gentle mom - monster mom" cycle, with effective positive parenting strategies. ✨ Sign up for an upcoming LIVE ONLINE workshop with Flora, or purchase a past replay: https://sustainableparenting.com/workshop where you get 30 min. of learning and 30 min. of LIVE Q & A time, with replays sent afterwards. ✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) ...

    10 min
  6. 136. Defiance Decoded: How to Respond Without Yelling

    11/26/2025

    136. Defiance Decoded: How to Respond Without Yelling

    Do you ever find yourself thinking, “Why is she being so difficult?” If so, you’re in the right place — and you’re definitely not alone. I’m Flora McCormick, Licensed Professional Counselor and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant- and in this episode I’m sharing a powerful reframe that brings so much relief in those tough moments: Instead of asking “Why is she acting out?” shift to “What is she having a hard time with?” This one question changes the whole tone of the interaction and helps kids listen far more easily. Inside this episode, you’ll hear: • What defiance really looks and sounds like in ages 3–10 • Why gentle parenting can accidentally slip into permissive parenting • My simple 3-step “Calm → Connect → Direct” script that works without yelling or endless explaining • How to validate feelings while still holding firm boundaries • How to use when/then statements and two-choice follow-throughs to stop power struggles • The easiest way to avoid lecture loops and over-talking • Three real-life scenarios (bedtime, leaving the park, sibling fights) with the exact words I use in my own home and with clients If you’re craving Positive Parenting Strategies that actually work in the heat of the moment — not just in theory — this episode will feel like a breath of fresh air. You’ll walk away with tools for: How to Get Kids to Listen, Parenting Without Yelling, Gentle Discipline, Kind and Firm Parenting,Positive Discipline, Raising Resilient Kids.Press play and discover how a simple shift and a simple script can transform the hardest moments into calmer, more connected ones. ✨Want more? ✨Black Friday Savings: The Calm Cooperation Toolkit & Emotional Resilience Toolkit (BIG SAVINGS): ✨Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have. Together, we'll make a plan for your best next steps to have more calm & confidence in parenting - while having kids that listen!:) ✨NEW✨ pdfs and short video lessons on Respect, Bedtimes, Power Struggles and More: ON ETSY! ✨ Download the FREE pdf. on getting kids to listen, for strategies that take you out of the "gentle mom - monster mom" cycle, with effective positive parenting strategies. ✨ Sign up for an upcoming LIVE ONLINE workshop with Flora, or purchase a past replay: https://sustainableparenting.com/workshop where you get 30 min. of learning and 30 min. of LIVE Q & A time, with replays sent afterwards. ✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) ...

    11 min
  7. 135. One Gentle Shift that Gets Kids to Listen More

    11/19/2025

    135. One Gentle Shift that Gets Kids to Listen More

    If you’ve been trying so hard to stay calm, validate feelings, and reason with your child — but still end up in power struggles, meltdowns, or 20-minute debates about a broken banana — this episode is your breath of fresh air. Flora McCormick, LCPC — parenting coach, counselor, and mom of two — reveals the surprising missing piece that makes gentle parenting actually work: learning to talk less. You’ll hear a real client story of how one mom transformed morning battles simply by saying fewer words — and gain practical Positive Parenting Strategies you can use today to help your kids listen more and argue less. Inside this episode, you’ll discover:  • Why reasoning and explaining often backfire when kids are upset  • How silence and calm presence soothe the brain faster than words  • What “Kind and Firm Parenting” looks like in real moments of chaos Parenting doesn’t have to be a 20-minute negotiation.  Tune in to learn how to stop power struggles, calm big feelings, and guide your child with confidence — without yelling or over-explaining. ✨Want more? ✨Black Friday Savings: The Calm Cooperation Toolkit & Emotional Resilience Toolkit (BIG SAVINGS): ✨Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have. Together, we'll make a plan for your best next steps to have more calm & confidence in parenting - while having kids that listen!:) ✨NEW✨ pdfs and short video lessons on Respect, Bedtimes, Power Struggles and More: ON ETSY! ✨ Download the FREE pdf. on getting kids to listen, for strategies that take you out of the "gentle mom - monster mom" cycle, with effective positive parenting strategies. ✨ Sign up for an upcoming LIVE ONLINE workshop with Flora, or purchase a past replay: https://sustainableparenting.com/workshop where you get 30 min. of learning and 30 min. of LIVE Q & A time, with replays sent afterwards. ✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) ...

    11 min
  8. 134. Positive Parenting Strategies From A Nine-Year-Old

    11/12/2025

    134. Positive Parenting Strategies From A Nine-Year-Old

    "My mom's a parenting coach and yes, it's annoying."  Hear this, and more, in today's episode. Today my special parenting expert guest is... my daughter, Eva! This is a chance for you to hear how we talk through challenges, problem-solve, and think about ways to manage tough situations.  In this episode, we explore how kind and firm parenting works, from the perspective of a 9-year-old.   Eva shares a child’s-eye view of what works, why “Annoying but effective” limits help, and how simple cues beat constant nagging. • teaching through everyday observations without judgment • revising consequences that don’t change behavior • using charts as a neutral "third party bad guy." • weekly screen-time tracking with visible limits • chore clarity through shared calendars • validating all feelings while limiting harmful actions • reset choices: 1)silent hug or 2) space to calm down, so your child is able to calm down. • disengaging from yelling while keeping connection open. I hope you enjoy this very REAL life view at our family communication. Mentioned Episode: Episode 37 - How to Help Kids Calm Down Without Time Out ✨Want more? ✨Black Friday Savings: The Calm Cooperation Toolkit & Emotional Resilience Toolkit (BIG SAVINGS): ✨Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have. Together, we'll make a plan for your best next steps to have more calm & confidence in parenting - while having kids that listen!:) ✨NEW✨ pdfs and short video lessons on Respect, Bedtimes, Power Struggles and More: ON ETSY! ✨ Download the FREE pdf. on getting kids to listen, for strategies that take you out of the "gentle mom - monster mom" cycle, with effective positive parenting strategies. ✨ Sign up for an upcoming LIVE ONLINE workshop with Flora, or purchase a past replay: https://sustainableparenting.com/workshop where you get 30 min. of learning and 30 min. of LIVE Q & A time, with replays sent afterwards. ✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) ...

    15 min

Trailer

5
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118 Ratings

About

For cycle-breaking parents who still face battles at bedtime and beyond, Sustainable Parenting teaches tools that actually change behavior when gentle parenting doesn't work. If your 6-year-old ignores you, your toddler screams over a broken banana, and bedtime still ends in tears—it’s not you, it’s the gentle parenting advice that’s failing you. Research shows 1 in 3 parents who try gentle parenting still end the day begging kids to listen and blaming themselves when the scripts don’t stop the tantrums. So unlike other podcasts that only tell you to “stay calm” or “validate feelings” while your toddler is throwing dinosaurs at your head, here you’ll get strategies to set limits kids respect without crushing their spirit so they grow into kind, confident humans, and you finally feel like the calm, in-control parent you want to be. I’m Flora McCormick—a counselor, parenting coach, and mom of two. After 20 years helping families worldwide, I’ve helped thousands of parents raise confident kids while practicing parenting without yelling or shame. Parenting will always have hard moments, but raising respectful, emotionally healthy kids doesn’t have to be a constant battle.  Follow Sustainable Parenting and start listening today. Popular Topics Include: Bedtime battles, Positive discipline, Gentle discipline, Gentle Parenting, Parenting differences, Discipline without yelling, Positive parenting strategies, Raising confident kids

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