aParently! A Podcast for Parents

Shawn Hopkins
  • 5.0 (6)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Coach Shawn Hopkins of Shawnhop.com is a coach for parents and committed to the practice of parents sharing what works for them. Through his individual coaching, podcasts, and written material Coach Shawn keeps the conversations flowing so you can be great at the most important task there is- raising good people. Join the conversations with other parents at https://www.aparently.community/ Schedule your free Coaching Session with Coach Shawn at https://shawnhop.com/

  1. aParently! A Conversation With Brad Sparks

    FEB 2

    aParently! A Conversation With Brad Sparks

    What do you do when your child seems older than their age? In this episode of aParently! A Podcast for Parents, Shawn talks with dad Brad Sparks about raising a daughter who is emotionally mature, independent, and eager to take on the world, sometimes faster than childhood naturally moves. Together they explore the tension between respecting a child's capability and protecting their right to still be a kid. They also dive into: Parenting a child who feels 'ahead' of peers How maturity can sometimes lead to loneliness Anger in kids - what's underneath it Letting siblings work through conflict Teaching emotional skills without overloading a child The fear parents carry when they see their own childhood patterns in their kids This conversation is honest, thoughtful, and deeply relatable for parents raising strong-willed, big-feeling kids. If you've ever wondered whether your child is growing up too fast or how to support a kid who thinks like an adult This might be helpful You don't have to figure this out alone. Shawn offers free coaching for parents at www.shawnhop.com a place to talk through whatever you're facing.

    55 min

  2. JAN 26

    Juan's Adoption Day

    In this episode of aParently! A Podcast for Parents, Shawn shares a deeply personal moment from his journey as a foster and adoptive parent. After years of being a foster parent, legal guardian, and custodial parent, he officially became Juan's legal father. What he imagined would be a joyful, celebratory milestone turned out to be far more complicated. This episode explores the quiet realities of foster care and adoption. How love and grief can exist at the same time. Why a child may feel uncomfortable with celebration even when they feel safe and deeply connected. And how parents can honor their child's story without centering their own expectations. This conversation is for foster parents, adoptive parents, kinship caregivers, and anyone raising a child whose early life required more resilience than it ever should have. You are not alone. You are not doing it wrong. And you are doing better than you think you are. Shawn Hopkins Coach for Parents Schedule a Free Coaching Session www.shawnhop.com Resources and Community www.aparently.community

    6 min

  3. JAN 19

    aParently! A Conversation about Neurodivergent Parenting

    What is neurodivergence, really, and how do we parent well when a child’s brain works differently? In this episode of aParently! A Conversation Between Parents, parent coach Shawn Hopkins talks with Mandy Casteel-Denney, founder of Blue Tulip Inclusive Education, educator, parent coach, and mom of two neurodivergent kids. Shawn comes in with honest curiosity and a desire to learn, and Mandy brings both lived experience and professional insight. Together they explore what neurodivergence is, common misunderstandings, why parental burnout and isolation are so common, and what real support can look like at home, in school, and in public. You will also hear a practical, compassionate breakdown of the difference between a tantrum and a meltdown, and how a simple shift in how we interpret behavior can change everything for a child and their parent. Mandy also shares Outside the Lines, an outdoor, small-group experience designed to help neurodivergent tweens build connection in a low-pressure, more natural setting. If you know a parent who would feel seen by this conversation, please share it. Schedule your free coaching session at www.shawnhop.com. If you would like to connect with Mandy you can at www.bluetulipinclusiveedu.com

    58 min

  4. JAN 12

    Parenting, The Long Game

    When we imagine parenting kids who struggle the way we once did, it is easy to assume our experience will automatically create connection. That if we say the right words, share the right insight, or remind them that we have been there, they will feel understood. But it does not always work that way. In this episode of aParently! A Podcast for Parents, Shawn reflects on what it is really like to parent through issues of follow-through, responsibility, and repair. He talks honestly about realizing that connection is not something we deliver to our kids, but something we learn from them. Sometimes slowly. Sometimes painfully. This conversation explores why parenting is a long game, why repair matters more than winning the moment, and how safety, patience, and cleanup are often the real work. It is about letting kids be mad, holding the line with love, waiting longer than we want to, and remembering that nothing is lost, even when things get messy. If you are in the middle of that mess right now, take a breath. You are doing better than you think you are. Free Coaching www.shanhop.com Resources and Community www.aparently.community Get in touch with Mandy www.bluetulipinclusiveedu.com

    5 min

  5. JAN 5

    aParently! A Conversation with Ashley Little

    aParently! A Conversation With Ashley Little In this episode, Shawn Hopkins sits down with Ashley Little, a parent coach and single mom to a seven year old boy, for an honest and grounding conversation about shame, repair, self talk, and what it takes to parent with intention when you are doing it mostly on your own. Ashley shares how struggling with her reactions as a parent led her to parent coaching, not to become a coach, but to survive motherhood with more peace. Together, Shawn and Ashley explore how the voice inside our head shapes the way we show up for our kids, how children sense emotional shifts long before we name them, and how repair can build trust even after we get it wrong. This episode will resonate deeply with single parents, co parents, and anyone navigating separation, emotional overwhelm, or the pressure to do parenting “right.” You will not hear perfection here. You will hear presence, humility, and practical wisdom rooted in real life. Episode Highlights How changing the way you speak to yourself can change how you react to your child Breaking out of shame cycles without pretending you have it all together Modeling honesty and repair after small mistakes, and why kids notice more than we think Helping children talk about loneliness, grief, and changing family dynamics Supporting kids through separation while reinforcing safety, love, and belonging Teaching compassion and boundaries with someone who once felt unsafe Why self worth work is foundational for parents Creating moments of real connection without adding more to your plate Who This Episode Is For Single parents and co parents Foster, adoptive, and kinship caregivers Parents working to respond instead of react Anyone raising emotionally safe kids while healing their own story This conversation is a reminder that parenting is not about getting it right every time. It is about showing up, repairing when needed, and staying connected. You are doing better than you think you are. When in doubt, let Shawn remind you. www.shawnhop.com schedule a free coaching session If you are interested in speaking with Ashley she can be reached at www.ashleylittle.love

    1h 3m

  6. 12/15/2025

    aParently! A Conversation with Vivian Miller

    aParently! A Conversation Between Parents with Vivian Miller In this episode, I sit down with Vivian Miller, a single mom to an eleven year old son who is very lucky to have her in his corner. Vivian shares honestly about navigating separation, domestic violence, supervised visits, and the long journey of repairing connection with her son. She also talks about living with complex PTSD and how that shows up in the day to day moments of parenting, especially during transitions between homes and those heavy Sunday evenings. We get into: The fight, flight, and freeze responses in parents Why feeling “stuck” or “lazy” is often a trauma response, not proof you are a bad parent Irritability, snapping at our kids, and the shame that follows Repair conversations and giving kids space to come back when they are ready Turning healthy aggression into connection through “sword play” with pool noodles The power of “special time” and giving kids the lead for a set window Listening to your kids talk about things you do not care about and staying in it anyway Asking questions until you find something you genuinely connect with Somatic tools Vivian uses, like yoga, breathwork, journaling, and grief work Parent listening partnerships and how being heard makes it easier to listen to our kids This podcast is not about being perfect or about my coaching. It is about hearing from real parents, walking away with something new, finding something you relate to, and remembering that you are doing better than you think you are. When in doubt, let me remind you. If you ever want fresh eyes or a steady voice in your corner, you can schedule a free coaching session at shawnhop.com. You can also visit aParently.community for articles, tools, and a growing community of parents who get it. Video Version Available on YouTube @coachshawnhop

    54 min

  7. 12/08/2025

    aParently! A Conversation Between Parents- Alex Reynolds

    This week on aParently! A Conversation Between Parents, I’m sitting down with Alex Reynolds, a married father of two great boys, Jonny (11) and Thomas (8). Alex has been a steady and thoughtful member of my Dads Group for the past year and a half. He is also the founder of Charming Quail Design, where he creates jewelry that celebrates what you nerd out about with a timeless elegance that will make everyone a little jealous. Explore his work here: https://www.charmingquail.com/?ref=SHAWNHOPKINS In our conversation, we talk about: • The new emotions our kids are growing into • Letting go of the idea of being “SuperDad” • Cleaning things up, both literally and emotionally • Celebrating our wins The Video of this conversation is available https://youtu.be/dJzht6mO8B0 It is an honest and encouraging conversation filled with the reminders every parent needs. If you enjoy the episode, please listen, like, review, subscribe, and share it with another parent who might need the encouragement. Then do the most important thing. Close your laptop and hug your kids. You’re doing better than you think you are.

    29 min

  8. 12/06/2025

    The Parent Pause- When You Don't Want to Be Around Your Kids

    Parent Pause: When You Don't Want to Be Around Your Kids: Come Back to the Room In this short episode, Shawn talks honestly about a feeling many parents have but rarely say out loud: sometimes you just don’t want to be around your kids. Not because you don’t love them, but because you’re overwhelmed, tired, or stretched thin. Shawn shares what helps him come back to the room instead of getting lost in his head, including simple reset moments like exaggerated dance parties, low-stakes baking, and giving kids access without giving every ounce of energy. It’s real, it’s human, and it’s a reminder that you’re doing better than you think you are. Take good care.

    5 min
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About

Coach Shawn Hopkins of Shawnhop.com is a coach for parents and committed to the practice of parents sharing what works for them. Through his individual coaching, podcasts, and written material Coach Shawn keeps the conversations flowing so you can be great at the most important task there is- raising good people. Join the conversations with other parents at https://www.aparently.community/ Schedule your free Coaching Session with Coach Shawn at https://shawnhop.com/

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