In this episode, Diane sits down with Rachel Richards, host of Untangling Teens, to explore how inherited patterns shape the way we show up as parents and what it looks like to begin untangling them while staying deeplyconnected to our children.
Together, they discuss why children's behavior isn't happening to us—it's communication about what is happening within them. When we stop making our child's behavior about our success or failure as parents, we create space for curiosity, understanding, and genuine connection.
Rachel shares why she believes one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is learning to manage our own emotions.
The conversation also explores the power of perspective-taking—choosing to see our children through the lens of possibility rather than assumption. What changes when we begin with the belief that our children want the best forthemselves, even when their choices don't immediately reflect it?
Rather than lowering expectations or rescuing our children from discomfort, Rachel offers a different approach: holding high expectations while providing support through curiosity, encouragement, and trust. Together, Dianeand Rachel explore how responsibility grows not from pressure or control, but from relationships that communicate, "I believe in who you're becoming."
This conversation is a compassionate invitation to pause, question the parenting patterns we've inherited, and discover a more connected way forward.
In this episode, you'll discover:
*How to stop making your child's behavior about you
*Why regulating your own emotions is one of the most powerful parenting tools
*The importance of perspective-taking and believing the best about your child
*How high expectations differ from pressure and perfectionism
About Rachel:
Rachel Richards is an award-winning podcaster, writer, and teen parenting specialist. Her world top 2% podcast,Parenting Teenagers Untangled, was created to fill the gap in information and support over how to successfully switch gears from parenting young children to mentoring teenagers. Rachel is the mom of two teens and two bonus daughters.Rachel turned her research skills to finding out, and sharing, the missing information parents need to adjust to the modern
Connect with Rachel:
She is currently running a daily summer Fearless Parenting reset on her Substack to help parents prepare fortheir kids going back/to secondary school. This can be found here: https://teenagersuntangled.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chipsThe website for TeenagersUntangled, with all of the previous episodes, can be found here: https://www.teenagersuntangled.com/Email with any questions orsuggestions: teenagersuntangled@gmail.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled
Connect with Diane:
Instagram: @dianesorensen.bb
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diane.sorensen.589
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