The Parenting Clubhouse Podcast

We all feel it. Christmas is right around the corner. You see it everywhere. The ads, the to-dos, the cleaning, the lists, all the hype.  But what is it that you want to get out of this holiday season? What is it that you want to give to your kids this holiday season?  Today on the show I’m sharing some of my personal parenting philosophy with you. I’m sharing what I want to teach my kids this holiday season, the meaning I want them to get out of it, so that it’s not just another time, another season, another holiday that comes and goes like a flash.  So let’s talk about gratitude, gifts, and giving, shall we? Let’s head to the show.  IN THIS EPISODE: Laura Lynn shares her personal parenting philosophy for this holiday season and what she wants to cultivate for her family; She explains how you can teach your child to have a heart of gratitude; and  She shares a memory of giving from her own childhood and how she is passing that down to her kids.  SHOW NOTES What do you want this holiday season? If it’s peace, if it’s clarity, if it’s a happier mama life, I’ve got your back. I’m still offering one-on-one 30-minute coaching calls, so if you need help with potty training, I’ve got you. If you need help with the chaos right before dinner time, I’m here for you. If you need just one next step to have less yelling at home, I’m your person. Pick a date and time and let’s chat. www.lauralynnlapointe.com/workwithme  Let’s connect!  On Facebook: www.fb.me/lauralynnlapointe  On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lauralynnlapointe

I’m getting a little personal on today’s show as I share with you why I haven’t potty trained my two (almost three) year-old yet.  But the reason why I’m sharing this stuff with you is not to justify myself, but to show you how to not feel guilty about your own potty training decisions, or any parenting decisions for that matter.  Sometimes we need a reminder that we’re the parents of our own kids here, and that when it comes to our kids, we - - YOU - - are the best experts.  Now come into my head and hear about my personal life and the reasons why I haven't started potty training. Let’s go to the show.  IN THIS EPISODE: Laura Lynn shares the three main reasons for why she hasn’t potty trained her daughter yet;  She explains why she doesn’t feel guilty about not starting potty training yet; and  She walks you through how to not feel guilty when it comes to your own potty training and parenting decisions.  SHOW NOTES If you are struggling with potty training or in any area related to parenting toddlers, I invite you to schedule a one-on-one consult call with me so that you don’t have to do this parenting thing alone and so that you can get to your solutions fast. www.lauralynnlapointe.com/workwithme.   Let’s connect!  On Facebook: www.fb.me/lauralynnlapointe  On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lauralynnlapointe

Reactive parenting. Maybe most of us couldn’t give it a dictionary-worthy definition, but we all know what it looks like.  What comes to mind is the image of a parent lashing out, yelling at, at waving her fists at her kid following some unwanted behavior the child does, but reactive parenting can be much more subtle than this.  For all of us parents, we likely have some reactive tendencies simply because we’re quick to respond, especially when we’ve got a lot on our mind and are doing a million things at once. So whether your reactive parenting is subtle or not so subtle, I want to talk about the signs of reactive parenting, the signs of proactive parenting, and some reasons for why proactive parenting is going to be the best approach for you and your child.   Remember, I help you make parenting easier. Let’s head to the show.  IN THIS EPISODE: Laura Lynn reviews the signs of reactive parenting and the reasons for why you want to get out of it;  She explains the signs of proactive parenting and why this is likely the parenting approach you want to adopt; and   She shares why it’s common to have moments of reactive parenting, so no need to feel guilty because of it.  SHOW NOTES If you’re at your wits end in your parenting and managing the typical toddler behaviors and you just don’t know what to do about it or what to try, sign up for a 30-minute coaching call to get some insight into the problem you’re experiencing and some guidance on what to do next. www.lauralynnlapointe.com/workwithme.  Let’s connect!  On Facebook: www.fb.me/lauralynnlapointe  On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lauralynnlapointe

We all know that parenting can feel hard sometimes. And parenting can BE hard sometimes, including when you realize that you are responding to your children differently. Maybe you give your younger child - the obedient and quiet child - the benefit of the doubt. Whereas for your child who is loud, fast-moving, and who pushes your boundaries, you’re much more quick to blame.  Today I want to talk about this type of scenario in which you find yourself treating your children differently and what you can begin to do to address this pattern of your own behavior.  Don’t forget my announcement from last week. I’m now offering single one-on-one 30-minute  calls! Sign up for a 30-minute call at www.lauralynnlapointe.com/workwithme.  Now let’s go to the show.  IN THIS EPISODE: Laura Lynn explains how it’s easy to treat our children differently especially if they are at different stages of development;  She shares the one thing you can begin to do now to change how you respond to your children; and  She shares a personal example from her own life in which she created a new story for herself in order to change how she thought and felt about a situation.  SHOW NOTES Need some quick one-on-one help and guidance? Sign up for a 30-minute coaching call! Pick a date and time and sign-up. It’s that easy. www.lauralynnlapointe.com/workwithme.  Let’s connect!  On Facebook: www.fb.me/lauralynnlapointe  On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lauralynnlapointe

Potty training. Data to keep track of throughout your child’s journey. How to make your potty training journey easier over all. That’s what we’ll be talking about in today’s episode.   And, BIG NEWS!  I am now offering one-on-one private 30-minute coaching calls! That means if you have a question about potty training, about behavior, or about parenting, you can schedule one 30-minute call with me, we’ll chat and you’ll get your questions answered. Super easy. Super convenient. I’m here for when you need me most. Learn more at www.lauralynnlapointe.com/workwithme .  Now let’s talk about tracking those important key pieces of data during potty training. Let’s head to the show.  IN THIS EPISODE: Laura Lynn shares the four pieces of potty training information that she tracks throughout potty training; She explains why you’ll want to keep track of these pieces of data, especially if your child struggles throughout the process; and  She shares how tracking your child’s potty training journey can help you know your child’s true progress. SHOW NOTES Need some quick one-on-one help and guidance? Sign up for a 30-minute coaching call! Pick a date and time and sign-up. It’s that easy. www.lauralynnlapointe.com/workwithme.  Let’s connect!  On Facebook: www.fb.me/lauralynnlapointe  On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lauralynnlapointe

Does your toddler have a lot to say like mine do? It’s like the talking never stops, and it can leave you feeling exhausted.  But what happens when your little one interrupts you…. More often than not?  Today on the show I want to share how this behavior of interrupting happens at my house and what I’m doing to overcome it, to reduce the interrupting, and to teach appropriate waiting.  If your toddler is a talker and an interrupter, this episode is for you. Let’s go to the show. IN THIS EPISODE: Laura Lynn shares why toddlers are prone to interrupt and how it’s a common behavior;  She explains how to respond in the moment when your toddler interrupts you; and She shares ways you can prevent your children from interrupting before it starts.  SHOW NOTES It’s time for you to enjoy the seemingly ordinary parts of motherhood. Sign up for a free call with me to learn how my Coaching Program for Moms can help you enjoy your role as a parent and see behavior improve. www.bit.ly/chatwithlauralynn.  Let’s connect!  On Facebook: www.fb.me/lauralynnlapointe  On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lauralynnlapointe

There is no sweeter moment while raising toddlers than the moment you see an oh-so-precious behavior from your four year-old.  For a lot of us, these moments don’t seem to come by often, so when they do, they’re extra special.  Today I want to share with you the positive behavior I’ve been seeing recently in my four year-old son and the reason for why I’m seeing this behavior.  This episode is about creating and cultivating that peaceful, loving, and learning environment in your own home. This is something you can create as well, and you’ll soon find that your four year-old is behaving similarly.  Now let me share with you the positive behavior I’m seeing in my four year-old. Let’s head to the show.  IN THIS EPISODE: Laura Lynn shares the positive behavior she’s seeing in her four year-old toward his younger sister;  She describes the reason for why her son is displaying this positive behavior; and She shares how your intentional role of motherhood can produce positive effects on your children.  SHOW NOTES Sign up for a free call with me to learn how my Coaching Program for Moms can help you create the peaceful, intentional, and loving environment in your own home that both helps you and your child thrive! www.bit.ly/chatwithlauralynn.  Let’s connect!  On Facebook: www.fb.me/lauralynnlapointe  On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lauralynnlapointe

Communication. The smallest changes in how you communicate can make all the difference in the world.  It’s true for marriage, it’s true for your own mindset, it’s true for work and leading a team, and it’s definitely true for parenting.  Today I want to share with you one of the ways you should be communicating with your toddlers to increase those good, appropriate behaviors and to get rid of those typical unwanted behaviors.  The strategy is easy. It’s all about practicing speaking in this way and getting consistent with it.  Let’s go to the show.  IN THIS EPISODE: Laura Lynn describes the easy-to-use strategy to help get your toddlers to do those good, appropriate behaviors;  She shares how the strategy is useful at getting rid of unwanted toddler behaviors; and  She describes how this strategy helps create a learning ground in your home environment.   SHOW NOTES Sign up for a free call with me to learn how my Coaching Program for Moms can help you thrive in your own motherhood on your terms and feel confident while doing it! www.bit.ly/chatwithlauralynn.  Let’s connect!  On Facebook: www.fb.me/lauralynnlapointe  On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lauralynnlapointe

Are you considering switching up or changing the potty training method that you are using with your child?  Maybe you thought your child would get the hang of this whole potty thing right away, but that’s not what it’s looking like, considering that you’re cleaning up pee pee accidents more times in a day than you’d like to count.  A parent recently asked me if she should switch the more hands-off potty training method that she was using with her son to a much more structured method. The conversation was so enlightening that I wanted to share with you all here so that you’re not left second guessing yourself if you should do something different about potty training.   Should you change up your potty training method? Let’s find out. Let’s head to the show. IN THIS EPISODE: Laura Lynn describes the reasons for when you should change your potty training method.  She shares some of the typical ways that you can change your method if your child is not making progress; and  She shares when you may NOT want to change your potty training method.  SHOW NOTES Sign up for a free call with me to learn how my Coaching Program for Moms can help you thrive in your own motherhood on your terms and feel confident while doing it! www.bit.ly/chatwithlauralynn.  Let’s connect!  On Facebook: www.fb.me/lauralynnlapointe  On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lauralynnlapointe

Parenting can feel downright hard.  Dealing with tantrums. A toddler who talks your ear off nonstop. The kid who only wants mommy.  It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, drained, exhausted, and at your wits end.  And I’m here to remind you that parenting doesn’t have to feel this hard. It can be easier. You can let those tantrums roll off your back. You can respond to that non stop talking toddler simply. You can deal with the child who only needs mommy with ease. We can get you there.   Now the real reason parenting is hard? Let’s find out. Let’s go to the show.  IN THIS EPISODE: Laura Lynn described what a lot of moms feel in their parenting;  She shares the reasons for why parenting can feel so hard; and  She gives you specific journal prompts to get to the bottom of what feels hard about parenting so you can determine what to do about it.  SHOW NOTES Sign up for a free call with me to learn how my Coaching Program for Moms can help you thrive in your own motherhood, on your terms! www.bit.ly/chatwithlauralynn.  Let’s connect!  On Facebook: www.fb.me/lauralynnlapointe  On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lauralynnlapointe

If you ever feel like you’re just checking off the boxes of to-dos as a mom, this episode is for you.  This week on the podcast I share with you how I’m connecting more with my kids and why I’m prioritizing that.  Focusing on this connection has not only helped my children, but I’ve seen how it has become very helpful for me as a mom.  I think you will relate with what I share today. Let’s head to the show.  IN THIS EPISODE: Laura Lynn shares why she is focusing on connecting more with her kids;  She explains how she practically connects with her children; and  She shares how this connection impacts the future.  SHOW NOTES Sign up for a free call with me to learn how my Coaching Program for Moms can help you thrive in your own motherhood, on your terms! www.bit.ly/chatwithlauralynn.  Let’s connect!  On Facebook: www.fb.me/lauralynnlapointe  On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lauralynnlapointe

No one likes to do something that they don’t want to do, and that goes for our toddlers as well.  You don’t like to pay bills, schedule another doctor’s appointment, run to the grocery store, or prep dinner, but you do it anyway, without a fuss, without a tantrum…. Well, at least sometimes.  Our toddlers, they’re a different story.  There are a lot of things that they don’t like but they need to do it anyway: going potty, getting dressed, cleaning up toys, heading inside for the night.  And when they don’t like something but need to do it anyway, this is when you’ll likely see that full-blown tantrum. They’re not as good as you at controlling their emotions.  So how can we make this easier on them - and us - when they need to transition to something that they don’t like to do. That’s what we’ll be talking about today, and I’ll be giving you specific strategies that you can use to help ease that transition.  Let's go to the show. IN THIS EPISODE: Laura Lynn shares common parenting strategies you can use to help your child complete a task or transition to something that your child doesn’t want to do;  She explains your key response if your child has a tantrum or some other unwanted behavior when needing to complete a task; and  She shares why our kids may have a tantrum when needing to do something they don’t want to do.  SHOW NOTES Sign up for a free call with me to learn how my Coaching Program for Moms can help you learn to apply parenting strategies that work to many different situations at home with your toddler!  www.bit.ly/chatwithlauralynn.  Let’s connect!  On Facebook: www.fb.me/lauralynnlapointe  On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lauralynnlapointe

Picture this…  You’re done with daytime potty training, your child is fully pee and poop potty trained for daytime and nap, and now all of a sudden your child isn’t doing a good pee when she sits on the toilet. She sits, goes some, and then runs off.  Maybe she’s rushing to the bathroom a little while later because she has to go. Maybe she suddenly has some pee pee dribbles in her underwear.  And you're thinking, what gives? You had this whole potty training thing down months ago.  If you ask me, “What gives?” is a great question.  Why is your child suddenly doing this, and what can you do about it? That’s what I’ll be answering today.  Let’s head to the show. IN THIS EPISODE: Laura Lynn reviews the potential reasons your child is not fully eliminating when she sits on the potty to go pee; She shares the questions you should ask yourself to figure out why your child is not fully eliminating to help you determine what to do next; and  She gives you different strategies you can begin trying at home to solve this not fully eliminating problem.  SHOW NOTES Sign up for a free call with me to learn how my Coaching Program for Moms can help you more fully step into the role of being the expert on your child! www.bit.ly/chatwithlauralynn.  Let’s connect!  On Facebook: www.fb.me/lauralynnlapointe  On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lauralynnlapointe

If you have a two-year-old, three-year-old, or four-year-old, you may have noticed the nasty “no” word coming out of your sweet toddler's mouth maybe a little too often.  It’s not super surprising. Your toddler is growing in independence, being in control is something she’s aiming for, and she’s learning that her behavior - her response - can be used for her good.  So today on the show I want to talk about how we should respond to the ever common “no” that our toddlers throw at us.  Your child saying this may absolutely drive you mad, but it doesn’t have to.  Let’s go to the show. IN THIS EPISODE: Laura Lynn shares the two common reasons for why a child may say “no” to you; She explains why it’s important to understand the reason for why your toddler may be telling you “no”; and  She shares how you should respond when your child says “no” to your instruction, your transition, or your positive comment.  SHOW NOTES Sign up for a free call with me to learn how my Coaching Program for Moms can help you parent smarter, not harder, and create the parenting life you love! www.bit.ly/chatwithlauralynn.  Let’s connect!  On Facebook: www.fb.me/lauralynnlapointe  On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lauralynnlapointe

Are you into the whole idea of picking a word for the year?  If you are, at the beginning of January you probably chose a word to help you align yourself to who you want to be - or at least working towards being - for the new year.  I’m not super into this trend or idea like other people are but for the past two years I did choose a word to focus on at least temporarily.  The word that I chose for 2022 is BRAVE because, at the time when I chose the word, I needed to be grounded in the concept of bravery, and I felt the nudge to be brave in all areas of life, in my marriage, in my personal life, in my business, and in parenting.  So today I want to share with you what being brave looks like for me in my parenting, and I’m sharing this with you in the hopes of inspiring you to be brave in your own life, and to remind you that you’re definitely not alone.  You’re not the only parent who struggles with toddler meltdowns - I dealt with that just last night - you’re not the only mom who finds it easier to take care of her kids than herself, you’re not the only parent finding it difficult and challenging to raise two different kids.  So today I’m happy to share with you what a very raw and real brave form of parenting looks like. Let’s head to the show.  IN THIS EPISODE: Laura Lynn shares why she picked BRAVE as her word for 2022; She shares four different ways she’s practically being brave with raising her two toddlers; and She illustrates what questions you need to ask yourself and reflect on so you can determine what life looks like for you when you’re embodying a new outlook.  SHOW NOTES Sign up for a free call with me to learn how my Coaching Program for Moms can help you parent smarter, not harder, and create the parenting life you love! www.bit.ly/chatwithlauralynn.  Let’s connect!  On Facebook: www.fb.me/lauralynnlapointe  On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lauralynnlapointe

You’ve conquered the daytime potty training - or are in the midst of conquering it - and now you’re wondering how the heck do you get your child potty trained for nap.  If you’ve followed my daytime potty training plan, what I recommend for naptime is going to sound quite familiar to you because a lot of the strategies that you use for daytime training you will also use for naptime training.  The steps are simple, the how-to is simple, and you’ll gleam a lot from today’s episode as I review the how-to for naptime potty training.  Let’s go to the show.  IN THIS EPISODE: Laura Lynn outlines five strategies to follow for successful  naptime potty training;  She reviews how some of your child’s learned daytime potty training skills can carry over to naptime training and make the process easier for you; and  She shares what notes or data you can collect during daytime potty training to help you determine when to begin naptime potty training.  SHOW NOTES There’s a lot more to potty training than the typical daytime potty training that most parents think of. The whole potty training process is a lot easier when you have an expert who can give you the how-to, give you the rundown, and support you through it. Sign up for a free call with me to learn how my Coaching Program for Moms can help you potty train in ease: www.bit.ly/chatwithlauralynn.  Let’s connect!  On Facebook: www.fb.me/lauralynnlapointe  On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lauralynnlapointe

Summer is coming to an end and it’s about time to send your toddler back to preschool - or maybe to preschool for the first time.  I’ve really, really enjoyed the extra time with my kids at home this summer, much more than I was anticipating, so sending my oldest back to preschool will be a bit of an adjustment for the first month or so.  So today I want to talk about easing that transition, preparing our kiddos to go back to preschool. I’ll be sharing some specific action steps you can take to help prepare them mentally and physically for that school-time season.  Let’s head to the show.  IN THIS EPISODE: Laura Lynn outlines five easy ways you can physically and mentally prepare your child to transition back to preschool;  She shares another person you may need to mentally and physically prepare for this transition; and  She shares how she’s personally feeling about this transition with her own kid.  SHOW NOTES Parenting is easier when you have the knowledge, tools, and resources that can set you and your child up for success. Sign up for a free call to learn how my Coaching Program for Moms can help set you up for success: www.bit.ly/chatwithlauralynn.  Let’s connect!  On Facebook: www.fb.me/lauralynnlapointe  On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lauralynnlapointe

You tackled the big to-do of potty training your child this summer and now you’re left wondering…  Okay, is my child ready to wear underwear to preschool?  When is a child ready to wear underwear to preschool? That’s what I’ll be answering in today’s episode. Let’s go to the show.  IN THIS EPISODE: Laura Lynn shares three important criteria that your child should meet in order to be ready to wear underwear to preschool; She outlines what you should consider if your child is not fully potty trained but may be ready to head to preschool in underwear; and She specifically shares when your child should NOT wear underwear to preschool. SHOW NOTES Sign up for a free call to learn how my Coaching Program for Moms can help you potty train (and parent) with ease! www.bit.ly/chatwithlauralynn.  Let’s connect!  On Facebook: www.fb.me/lauralynnlapointe  On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lauralynnlapointe

A concept about parenting that I’ve really been focusing on with the parents that I coach is the idea of you being the expert of your own child. And not only that, but you being the BEST expert of your own child.  Do you feel like you’re an expert on your child?  Maybe you’ve never thought about it. Maybe your gut reaction is that no, you don’t feel like the expert of your own child. Maybe you have a lot of questions, a lot of doubt, a lot of uncertainty surrounding how you’re parenting or the decisions you make regarding your child.  Maybe it’s a little too easy for you to see the areas where you feel that you’re struggling in your parenting, and it’s a little too hard to see the areas where you’re thriving, where you are, indeed, the expert of your child.  I love developing this thought with moms and specifically to help you to hone in on your own parenting genius with your child.  I think one of the best ways that we can do this - that we can feel like the expert of our child and hone in on our parenting genius - is to build trust with ourselves and with our child.  It doesn’t have to be hard. It’s a baby step. But this one step can be that first thing to get that pendulum to swing in the opposite direction - away from the uncertainty, the fear, the self-doubt, the frustration, the confusion.  Which leads us to today’s episode. Let’s talk about creating trust for yourself and your child. Let’s head to the show.  IN THIS EPISODE: Laura Lynn explains the strategy you can begin practicing today to build trust with yourself and with your child; She sheds light on why it’s important to avoid using threatening statements with your child; and She shares how practicing this skill now will serve you in the future as you continue to learn and use other parenting strategies. SHOW NOTES Learn how to become the expert of your own child in my Coaching Program for Moms. Sign up for a free call with me at www.bit.ly/chatwithlauralynn.  Let’s connect!  On Facebook: www.fb.me/lauralynnlapointe  On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lauralynnlapointe

If you’re in your potty training journey with your toddler and you’re concerned or worried that maybe your child is just not getting the hang of it or you feel that your child is struggling to learn the process or you feel that maybe they aren’t making the progress that you think your child should be making, the very first thing that I would look at and trouble shoot is the reward you’re using.  And if you’re concerned about progress and aren’t using rewards at all, then by all means add those rewards in.  The reason that I say that rewards is the first thing that you should troubleshoot in your potty training journey is that it’s a pretty dang easy thing to fix or to change, and that one small change with rewards in potty training can actually make a huge difference.  That’s my go-to when it comes to troubleshooting typical potty training progress issues because one small, easy change can make such an impact. Now let’s talk about using rewards in potty training so that they can actually work for you and help your child become potty trained. Let’s go to the show.  IN THIS EPISODE: Laura Lynn explains the best practice strategies for effectively using rewards in potty training; She shares when you should NOT deliver a reward to your child; and  She shares the strategy for how to make your reward the most effective and most motivating for your child throughout potty training.  SHOW NOTES Learn how to parent with ease in potty training and all of toddlerhood in my Coaching Program for Moms. Sign up for a free call with me at www.bit.ly/chatwithlauralynn.  Let’s connect!  On Facebook: www.fb.me/lauralynnlapointe  On Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lauralynnlapointe