Sparkler Parents

Christine Robenalt
  • 4.8 (6)
  • PARENTING
Sparkler Parents

Cultivating a present moment awareness can be challenging in our busy, tech-savvy, productivity driven world, but it is not impossible. In fact, it is one key to understanding out children more and creating more connections with them. Join me on my own adventure in parenting my 3 kids and being a pediatric physical therapist. We can learn together from my experiences and from my guests. Take 5 minutes to listen to some quick insights and tips to build your present moment awareness and become a Sparkler Parent. https://youtu.be/i9FIOKzM9l8

  1. 05/02/2023

    Episode 33 - Empathetic Observer of Our Own Experience

    Today we are going to take a DEEP DIVE into the sensations of the present moment and begin to cultivate what I have been calling being an "Empathetic Observer Of Our Own Experience". We do too much judging of ourselves and others and this exercise that you are about to do will help gain experience with merely naming the experience/sensation without judgement or evaluation. After you watch or listen to this Podcast episode, spend 3-5 minutes journaling about your experience.What did you notice. Just name it, do not evaluate or judge your present experience.

    12 min

  2. 08/11/2021

    Episode 32 - Brain-Based Parenting Book Club; Ch 4. - A Caregiving Formula (Acceptance)

    This episode we review PACE, which stands for Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy.  We talk a little more about playfulness and then dive acceptance. QOD: Describe a time when you miscued with your child.  In that moment were you able to stay playful and accepting, or not?   Jump on over to the FB Group to start a discussion. https://www.facebook.com/groups/441951513098677/

    16 min

  3. 07/09/2021

    Episode 31 - Brain Based Parenting, Chapter 4 - A Caregiving Formula

    This chapter introduces the PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy) acronym.  We talk about Playfulness and how that can help get you as the parent back into a parental state of mind so that you can better read your child's cues and want to engage more (release of dopamine).  Join the discussion in the FB group, Sparkler Parents Podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/441951513098677/

    9 min

  4. 06/12/2021

    Ep 30 - Brain Based Parenting Chapter 3: Stressed Out Parenting

    If I threw 100 tennis balls at you all at once, how many would you catch?  I know that we would like to think we could catch at least 1 or 2, but in reality, the answer is none...in fact, I think I would turn around and just let all of the pummel me in the back.  So, stress, can be adaptive, if we have the resources to manage it, but when the stress is too great, we go into survival.  When this happens as a parent, it can feel very confusing, because everything just keeps going wrong and anything anyone says seems hurtful and it feels like you aren't a good parent or maybe you may perceive it as, your child is not a good kid. These are all of the things discussed in this book chapter that Christine summarizes in this episode.  Hang out until the last 5 minutes to get information about a free download of a Calm Down Cube. https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR0r15SJAUgtsddsI6Q5-NrW3iPQvIAJqMboEV_pQAFcaAA7ZlpfcV6VG-X3HTiqXXfXPdQB2kafcvl/pub Jump on over to our FB Group Called Sparkler Parents Podcast to join the discussion, or leave a review here!

    17 min

  5. 06/07/2021

    Episode 29 - Brain Based Parenting Chapter 3 Blocked Care

    There were some viewers/listeners who requested a YouTube Format, so this is it.  You can still catch the podcast version too outlets like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.  This episode continues to Chapter 3 of Brain Based Parenting and it discusses Blocked Care.  The question of the week to discuss here in the comments or on FB is:  What are your resources to buffer stress and challenge in your life so that you can stay in the present moment with your child?

    13 min

  6. 05/19/2021

    Episode 28 - Brain Based Parenting Chapter 2 - The Parental-Child Reading System

    Let's dive in to Chapter 2 a little more. So far we have learned that innately we, as parents, have different neurochemicals in our brains that help us connect to our children.  These chemicals help strengthen pathways to build a strong attachment to our child first to orientate to the child, then be motivated to spend time and care for our child and today we talk about our ability to read/attend to non-verbal cues that tell us as parents that our child needs something...but what? And I would like to discuss in the FB group,  what have you noticed in your own interaction with your children and how does your environment alter your way to effectively read your child's non-verbal cues. Please join me on FB, search Sparkler Parents Podcast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/441951513098677/

    8 min

  7. 05/11/2021

    Episode 27 - Brain Based Parenting Chapter 2 The Parental Approach System

    What is the Parental Approach System and why is it important to me? This is the idea that we are biologically engineered to want to have experiences with our kids.  But I know that some parents find this difficult.  What about when you rarely feel this way? This is a warning sign that there is too much stress on your system.  Practicing silent sitting or a guided meditation can be PART of the solution at buffering your stress. How do you feel when you can take even just 2 minutes to yourself? What other strategies do you use to manage stress? Join the discussion in the Sparkler Parents Podcast FB group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/441951513098677/

    10 min

  8. 05/03/2021

    Episode 26 - Brain Based Parenting Chapter 2 The Five Domains of Parenting

    Join the Discussion at the FB Group! Sparkler Parents Podcast Share an example of a time when you did not use your executive brain while parenting? I used to do this a lot more related to behaviors my children did or if my husband was about to arrive at home and one of the kids just made a big mess, I would yell, where as, if that same mess was made 30-45 minutes earlier I may not have yelled at my child the same way.  What changed? The context changed.  The fact that I just cleaned up and my husband expects a neat home when he returns increased my stress level and then with the new mess of Cheerios all of the floor (insert whatever mishap), I explode my stress out all of my child.  If my executive parenting system was better developed, I would have been able to de-escalate myself.  But even in after the stress explosion, I have some things I can do.  I can take some breaths, I can step outside for a minute.  I can apologize and hug my child. I can text my husband and just let him know what to expect when he gets home. It is not that big of a deal...slowing down helps us (and our kids) get our executive functioning back online.

    9 min
See All (52)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Cultivating a present moment awareness can be challenging in our busy, tech-savvy, productivity driven world, but it is not impossible. In fact, it is one key to understanding out children more and creating more connections with them. Join me on my own adventure in parenting my 3 kids and being a pediatric physical therapist. We can learn together from my experiences and from my guests. Take 5 minutes to listen to some quick insights and tips to build your present moment awareness and become a Sparkler Parent. https://youtu.be/i9FIOKzM9l8

Information

  • Creator
    Christine Robenalt
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2023
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Christine Robenalt
  • Show Website
    Sparkler Parents

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada