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

    144. Tiny Gestures of Love for a BIG Impact on Your Relationship with Your Child

    In this Valentine’s-season episode of the Sustainable Parenting Podcast, I share simple positive parenting strategies that help children truly feel loved while strengthening connection and cooperation.  We explore how small, intentional gestures can meet kids’ emotional needs and support calm confident parenting—without lectures, yelling, or power struggles. You’ll learn: how positive character feedback helps with raising confident kids and raising resilient kids,a powerful daily practice called the Rule of 6 that builds connection in just minutes,and how meeting your child’s need for significance and belonging can help stop power struggles with kids and improve listening.Through real stories from my own family and client work, I show how gentle discipline and kind and firm parenting can feel realistic and sustainable. If you’re looking for practical ways to reconnect and learn how to get kids to listen while staying loving and grounded, this episode is for you. ✨Want more? ✨NEW✨ pdfs and short video lessons on Respect, Bedtimes, Power Struggles and More: ON ETSY! ✨ Get my 3 KEYS to Calm, Confident Parenting (30 min. FREE webinar) - https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63640a05c74edb4b6bdce1f3 ✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) - for THREE 30-min sessions 1:1 with ME, where we get right to the heart of your challenges, and give you small, powerful shifts that make a huge difference fast. OR ✨Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have about working with Flora.

    18 min
  2. JAN 28

    143. Do This 1 Step, to Raise Kind Kids in an Unkind World

    Are you feeling overwhelmed trying to raise kind kids in an unkind world? Between constant headlines, cultural tension, and everyday parenting struggles, many parents are asking the same question: How do I raise compassionate, resilient kids who will make the world a better place? In this episode of the Sustainable Parenting Podcast, I share my number one tip for raising kind, caring humans—especially during uncertain and stressful times.  We start by naming the reality many families are living in right now: fear, frustration, and emotional overload.  We then walk through a powerful Positive Discipline exercise that helps reframe everyday parenting challenges like whining, talking back, sibling fights, tantrums, and power struggles into moments we actually look forward to. What?!!! By the time you finish this episode, you'll have a FRESH perspective on the most challenging moments you face. This episode is for parents who want: positive parenting strategies that actually workcalm parenting tips that reduce power strugglesgentle discipline without permissivenesstools for raising kind, confident, and resilient kidsa kind-and-firm approach that feels sustainableIf you’re tired of reacting, yelling, or feeling defeated—and you want to parent with more clarity, confidence, and purpose—this episode will help you zoom out, refocus on the long game, and feel more hopeful about the humans you’re raising. ✨Want more? ✨NEW✨ pdfs and short video lessons on Respect, Bedtimes, Power Struggles and More: ON ETSY! ✨ Get my 3 KEYS to Calm, Confident Parenting (30 min. FREE webinar) - https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63640a05c74edb4b6bdce1f3 ✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) - for THREE 30-min sessions 1:1 with ME, where we get right to the heart of your challenges, and give you small, powerful shifts that make a huge difference fast. OR ✨Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have about working with Flora.

    10 min
  3. JAN 22

    142. A Minimalism Parenting Discussion with Joshua Becker on Calm, Simplified Family Life

    What if owning less could help you parent with more calm, confidence, and connection? In this episode of the Sustainable Parenting Podcast, Flora McCormick sits down with Joshua Becker of Simplify Magazine to explore how minimalism supports dependable calm, and deeper relationships with ourselves and our kids.  We talk about how clutter quietly fuels stress, power struggles, and yelling — and how simplifying your home can become one of the most effective positive parenting strategies for more calm in your home life. Joshua shares practical ways to set visible boundaries kids can understand, why parents go first, and how fewer toys often lead to better listening, deeper play, and more cooperation. This conversation also challenges the idea that “more” creates a better childhood. Instead, we explore how minimalism helps families align time, money, and energy with their values — raising resilient kids, and raising confident kids. In this episode we discuss: Minimalism as a positive parenting strategy.Parenting benefits when you have environmental calm.How LESS is definitely more, in terms of raising resilient and confident kids.**Joshua Becker is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, entrepreneur, and Christian minimalist who writes and speaks about intentional living and simplifying life through his popular blog, Becoming Minimalist, inspiring millions to own less and live more purposefully, focusing on values over possessions, and is also the founder of The Hope Effect for orphans.  If you would like to receive Minimalist posts from Joshua Baker via e-mail, sign up here. Or connect more directly through social media here: Facebook: Inspirational quotes and links.Twitter✨Want more? ✨NEW✨ pdfs and short video lessons on Respect, Bedtimes, Power Struggles and More: ON ETSY! ✨ Get my 3 KEYS to Calm, Confident Parenting (30 min. FREE webinar) - https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63640a05c74edb4b6bdce1f3 ✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) - for THREE 30-min sessions 1:1 with ME, where we get right to the heart of your challenges, and give you small, powerful shifts that make a huge difference fast. OR ✨Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have about working with Flora.

    15 min
  4. JAN 14

    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? ✨NEW✨ pdfs and short video lessons on Respect, Bedtimes, Power Struggles and More: ON ETSY! ✨ Get my 3 KEYS to Calm, Confident Parenting (30 min. FREE webinar) - https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63640a05c74edb4b6bdce1f3 ✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) - for THREE 30-min sessions 1:1 with ME, where we get right to the heart of your challenges, and give you small, powerful shifts that make a huge difference fast. OR ✨Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have about working with Flora.

    13 min
  5. 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? ✨NEW✨ pdfs and short video lessons on Respect, Bedtimes, Power Struggles and More: ON ETSY! ✨ Get my 3 KEYS to Calm, Confident Parenting (30 min. FREE webinar) - https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63640a05c74edb4b6bdce1f3 ✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) - for THREE 30-min sessions 1:1 with ME, where we get right to the heart of your challenges, and give you small, powerful shifts that make a huge difference fast. OR ✨Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have about working with Flora.

    13 min
  6. 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? ✨NEW✨ pdfs and short video lessons on Respect, Bedtimes, Power Struggles and More: ON ETSY! ✨ Get my 3 KEYS to Calm, Confident Parenting (30 min. FREE webinar) - https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63640a05c74edb4b6bdce1f3 ✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) - for THREE 30-min sessions 1:1 with ME, where we get right to the heart of your challenges, and give you small, powerful shifts that make a huge difference fast. OR ✨Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have about working with Flora.

    10 min
  7. 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? ✨NEW✨ pdfs and short video lessons on Respect, Bedtimes, Power Struggles and More: ON ETSY! ✨ Get my 3 KEYS to Calm, Confident Parenting (30 min. FREE webinar) - https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63640a05c74edb4b6bdce1f3 ✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) - for THREE 30-min sessions 1:1 with ME, where we get right to the heart of your challenges, and give you small, powerful shifts that make a huge difference fast. OR ✨Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have about working with Flora.

    16 min
  8. 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? ✨NEW✨ pdfs and short video lessons on Respect, Bedtimes, Power Struggles and More: ON ETSY! ✨ Get my 3 KEYS to Calm, Confident Parenting (30 min. FREE webinar) - https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63640a05c74edb4b6bdce1f3 ✨ Buy a 3 session Coaching Bundle (saving you $100) - for THREE 30-min sessions 1:1 with ME, where we get right to the heart of your challenges, and give you small, powerful shifts that make a huge difference fast. OR ✨Schedule a FREE 20 min clarity call with Sustainable Parenting, so we can answer any questions you may have about working with Flora.

    10 min

Trailer

5
out of 5
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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