TELL ME IT WILL BE OK

Dawn Friedman MSEd

Tell Me It Will Be OK is the conversation for parents of anxious kids who have read all the books, listened to all the experts, and still feel like something is missing. Host Dawn Friedman, MSEd, has spent over thirty years in the trenches with families as an educator, family case manager, and clinical counselor. She knows that in a world of climate crisis, political upheaval, and digital noise, there is no such thing as a "quick-fix" script or a one-size-fits-all solution. Parenting bright, sensitive, and anxious children requires more than just a new technique—it requires a paradigm shift. Each week, Dawn moves beyond the "how-to" to dig into the "why" and the "what now?" through: --Deep-Dive Interviews: Conversations with researchers, activists, authors, and practitioners who look at the big picture of raising children today. --Practical Wisdom: Evidence-based clinical insights (including SPACE and infant-toddler mental health) applied to the messy reality of daily life. --The "No-Need-To-Be-Perfect" Philosophy: Shifting away from anxious perfectionism and toward the inner wisdom that helps us connect with our kids when things are hard. To learn more about Dawn and the work that she does, you can check out her site, Open Book Parenting.

  1. 5D AGO

    Activism, Hope and Parenting: Talking with Frida Berrigan

    In a timely episode (hey, I planned it that way!) I'm sharing my conversation with Frida Berrigan, a peace activist and author, who shares her experiences growing up with activist parents, navigating tensions between parenting and activism, and raising her own children. We discuss the importance of engaging in activism while maintaining joy, the struggle of balancing multiple responsibilities, and the impact of ordinary acts in making a difference. Frida also emphasizes the significance of moral cheerfulness and acting within our capacity to contribute to positive change. As you'll hear in the podcast, Frida grew up in a family of famous peace activists and she wrote about her experience and how it inspired her own parenting decisions in the book It Runs in the Family: On Being Raised by Radicals and Growing into Rebellious Motherhood. You can also read her essays at WagingNonViolence.org and I recommend you start with her wonderful essay, Nuclear Weapons Ruined My Life (And I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way). 00:00 Welcome to the Tell Me It Will Be OK Podcast 00:52 Introducing Frida Berrigan: Peace Activist and Author 01:20 Frida's Family and Activism Background 01:59 Parenting Through Activism 02:46 Interview with Frida Berrigan Begins 03:09 Frida's Children and Parenting Journey 05:51 Balancing Caregiving and Activism 07:27 Frida's Unique Upbringing and Education 18:30 Navigating Tensions and Choices in Activism 27:22 Parenting Decisions and Sharing Information 29:47 Taking Action with Kids 31:11 Impact of School Shootings 32:11 Helping Refugee Families 36:26 Balancing Effort and Outcome 41:54 The Role of Ordinary Acts 49:02 Moral Cheerfulness and Joy 53:38 Accepting Imperfection Thanks for listening! And, of course, it helps if you will share, rate, and subscribe so more people can learn about and from Frida Berrigan and the other wonderful guest I have coming up! 🧡 Takeaways: In our increasingly complex world, parenting anxious children requires a multifaceted approach that embraces both awareness and empathy.Frida Berrigan's life experiences illustrate the challenges of balancing activism with parenthood in a meaningful and impactful manner.The significance of moral cheerfulness amidst adversity is a recurring theme, emphasizing the importance of joy in the face of life's difficulties.Engaging with community and activism can provide children with invaluable lessons on compassion, empathy, and the importance of standing up for justice.Understanding that our efforts, no matter how small, contribute to a larger movement is essential for both parents and children alike.The podcast stresses that navigating the imperfections of life and parenting is a shared journey that requires patience and understanding. Links referenced in this episode: wagingnonviolence.org

    58 min

About

Tell Me It Will Be OK is the conversation for parents of anxious kids who have read all the books, listened to all the experts, and still feel like something is missing. Host Dawn Friedman, MSEd, has spent over thirty years in the trenches with families as an educator, family case manager, and clinical counselor. She knows that in a world of climate crisis, political upheaval, and digital noise, there is no such thing as a "quick-fix" script or a one-size-fits-all solution. Parenting bright, sensitive, and anxious children requires more than just a new technique—it requires a paradigm shift. Each week, Dawn moves beyond the "how-to" to dig into the "why" and the "what now?" through: --Deep-Dive Interviews: Conversations with researchers, activists, authors, and practitioners who look at the big picture of raising children today. --Practical Wisdom: Evidence-based clinical insights (including SPACE and infant-toddler mental health) applied to the messy reality of daily life. --The "No-Need-To-Be-Perfect" Philosophy: Shifting away from anxious perfectionism and toward the inner wisdom that helps us connect with our kids when things are hard. To learn more about Dawn and the work that she does, you can check out her site, Open Book Parenting.