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Why does becoming a parent make us so anxious?

For many parents, anxiety begins the moment a child is born and never truly disappears. Every milestone, school trip, sleepover, driver's license, and overseas adventure can trigger a flood of "what if" thoughts that invite us to protect, rescue, or accommodate our children. But are those instincts always helping?

Chris and Emma welcome anxiety educator and bestselling author Dr. Jodi Richardson for a thoughtful conversation about the relationship between parent anxiety and child resilience. Together, they explore why anxiety is a normal part of caring deeply, how avoidance unintentionally strengthens anxiety, and why some of the most loving parenting moments require us to tolerate our own discomfort instead of eliminating our child's.

Drawing on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), personal parenting stories, and decades of experience supporting anxious families, Dr. Richardson offers practical guidance for helping children develop confidence, independence, and resilience while also teaching parents how to respond wisely to their own anxious minds.

Key Takeaways

  •  Anxiety is a normal consequence of caring deeply about our children. 
  •  Parent anxiety does not automatically create anxious children. 
  •  Avoidance makes anxiety stronger for both parents and children. 
  •  Small challenges build lifelong resilience. 
  •  Parents often need to manage their own discomfort before rescuing their children. 
  •  Independence develops through age-appropriate opportunities to struggle. 
  •  Supporting children is different from protecting them from every uncomfortable experience.

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