Your Parenting Long Game

Latest Episodes:

Episode 371: When You Need Space, But Your Child Won't Play On Their Own Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

When a child won't go play on their own and whines, complains, or refuses to leave you alone, of course you'll get frustrated with their resistance! But what looks like refusal is often something different. In this episode, you'll learn what's going on beneath this behavior and what you can do about it.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Why difficulty starting play, homework, or chores is not a motivation issue
What starting new tasks requires cognitively, and why many kids get stuck before they even begin
Why clarity about the missing skill leads to faster progress than guessing or pushing harder

FREE: Determine whether your child struggles with this skill

Work with Rachel

Episode 370: Notes from a Client Session: What's Making It Hard for You to Defuse Situations Jan 08, 2026

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When our kids melt down, snap back, or seem resistant, it's easy to think, "This is bad. I need to make this stop." But when we see our child's behavior as a threat, our nervous system gets pulled into the struggle too, and everyone stays stuck longer. The real shift that shortens hard moments doesn't come from controlling behavior. It comes from changing the meaning we give it.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Why your child's negativity or resistance is a sign of discomfort, not defiance
How the story you tell yourself about your child's behavior determines whether situations escalate or resolve
What you need in order to help kids' behavior improve more quickly

Free resources to support you as you're raising children with big emotions

Work with Rachel

Episode 369: Notes from a Client Session: Why We TALK TOO MUCH Dec 25, 2025

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When our kids aren't listening, we often default to talking more in an attempt to be more clear...more firm...more persuasive. But as we know, our EXTRA words often don't lead to better results. Fortunately, the solution to motivating more responsibility in our kids takes less energy, not more.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Why a child's "not listening" may not be a listening problem
What to say and do so that your child is more likely to do things they don't feel like doing
What YOU likely need in order to implement this strategy

LIVE PLANNING SESSION: When Emotions Control Your Home: Build Your Plan to Calm Emotional Storms (When Nothing Seems to Work)

Free resources to support you as you're raising children with big emotions

Work with Rachel

Episode 368: Notes from a Client Session: Increasing Your Influence Dec 18, 2025

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As parents, we want to be a steady, positive influence...someone our child trusts, listens to, and feels safe with. But in the hardest moments, that influence often slips away, not because we don't care or aren't trying, but because our child's reactions pull us into doubt, urgency, or over-accommodation. In this episode, I explain why influence breaks down under pressure, and how rebuilding it starts with balancing confidence and connection.

In this episode, you'll hear:

Why confidence without connection can lead to shame, power struggles, and self-doubt in kids
How connection without confidence can actually increase anxiety and resistance
What it sounds like in real life to hold firm limits and care about your child's experience so both of you feel safer and more capable

LIVE PLANNING SESSION: When Emotions Control Your Home: Build Your Plan to Calm Emotional Storms (When Nothing Seems to Work)

Free resources to support you as you're raising children with big emotions

Work with Rachel

Episode 367: When You Know How You Want to Respond... But Just Can't Do It Dec 11, 2025

Show notes

Most parents don't realize that the hardest moments aren't hard because you don't know what to do... They're hard because your child's behavior is directly impacting your energy, your time, or your sanity. In this episode, I'll break down why that matters more than you think, and how to reclaim your sense of control without needing your child to change first.

In this episode, you'll hear:

The hidden ways your child's behavior affects your ability to stay regulated
Why struggling in these moments doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong
The simple 3-step process that helps you feel more grounded and effective
How to support your child's needs and your own so things start to shift more quickly

Live Planning Session: When Emotions Control Your Home: Build Your Plan That Finally Brings Peace

Free resources to support you as you're raising children with big emotions

Work with Rachel

Episode 366: Notice What You ARE Doing (Use This Checklist) Nov 27, 2025

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YOU rarely get acknowledged for the emotional load you carry, especially when raising kids with big feelings. In this episode, I'm going to point out some of the things you likely do — even if you don't notice them, and even if you don't do them perfectly!

In this episode, you'll hear:

A piece of the invisible emotional load you carry that rarely gets noticed
How your imperfect effort strengthens your child's confidence and safety
What your child would thank you for if they had the words
A simple way to finally give yourself credit for the things you do that truly matter

The checklist: Notice what you're doing

Free resources to support you as you're raising children with big emotions

Work with Rachel

Episode 365: Stop Micronagging Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

https://rachel-bailey.com/365It's incredibly exhausting to feel like a broken record, constantly reminding your kids to get ready, start homework, or get off of their device. And these constant reminders, or "micronags," can reduce your influence and impact your relationship. Fortunately, there is another way to motivate more responsible behavior.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why micronagging becomes the default, even when we don't want to do it
The real reason kids don't follow through the first time, and why it isn't defiance
Three practical steps to replace reminders with systems that actually work

Free resources to support you as you're raising children with big emotions

Work with Rachel

Episode 364: When Your Child Is Disrespectful... Say Less Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

When your child rolls their eyes, snaps "You're so annoying," or yells "Whatever!", it's natural to jump in with, "Don't talk to me that way!" or "That's unacceptable." You want to teach them to be respectful... but those reactions usually only make situations worse. In fact, the best thing to do when your child is disrespectful is to do less.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why doing less is not "letting them get away with it" and not the same as being weak, passive or permissive
How to stay grounded and model regulation instead of reacting to your child's Yuck with your own
When and how to address disrespect so that your child learns that it's not acceptable... and so they can actually respond differently in the future

-- Free resources to support you as you're raising children with big emotions

Work with Rachel

Episode 363: How We Often Prevent Children's Growth (And How to Fix It) Oct 30, 2025

Show notes

As parents, so many of our decisions in the moment are focused on keeping the peace, calming the meltdown, protecting our nerves. But while that might reduce drama in the short term, it often prevents our children from developing the confidence and resilience they need for long-term success. In this episode, you'll learn why discomfort is essential for growth and how to respond in those hard moments without rescuing, over-explaining, or giving in.

In this episode, you'll learn:

The hidden ways we unintentionally block our child's resilience by avoiding discomfort
Why discomfort is not dangerous, but necessary, for developing confidence and emotional strength
A new way to respond when your child is upset, frustrated, or overwhelmed so they learn "I can handle hard things"

Free resources to support you as you're raising children with big emotions

Work with Rachel

Episode 362: Your Child Can Focus on Things They Enjoy... Why Can't They Unload the Dishwasher? Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever wondered how your child can spend hours building a virtual world… yet when you ask them to do any daily task, they act like it's torture? In this episode, I explain the REAL reason your child resists everyday tasks and why it has nothing to do with laziness, disrespect, or lack of motivation.

Once you understand how the brain responds to stimulation and Yuck, you'll be able to shift from fighting your child's resistance… to understanding it and leading them through it.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why your child's brain sees boring tasks as "dangerous" and actively avoids them
The difference between motivation strategies and activation strategies and why one works while the other backfires
What you can start doing immediately to help your child cooperate more easily (and build confidence at the same time)

Free cheat sheet: Helping Kids With Daily Tasks Free quiz: The "Everyday Routines" Quiz: What's Your Style?

Other free resources to support you as you're raising a child with big emotions

Work with Rachel

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