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In this heart-opening conversation, I’m joined by an early childhood expert, parent coach, and grandma Rose Couse. With over 40 years of experience supporting kids, educators, and families, Rose shares powerful insights on parenting through grief, the true meaning of self-care, and how to shift from judgment to compassion in your parenting journey.

We talk about the invisible load parents carry, the guilt that often surrounds taking time for ourselves, and how small, daily moments of awareness can help us better connect with our kids—and ourselves.

Key Takeaways

• Self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity for parenting with presence and compassion.
• Awareness of your internal experience is key to helping your child regulate theirs.
• Regulation is contagious—your nervous system affects your child’s.
• Grief, stress, and trauma show up in parenting in subtle and powerful ways.
• You’re doing better than you think. Shifting your inner dialogue can change how you show up.

Episode Highlights

00:00 – Welcome and guest intro

02:00 – Rose’s journey from early childhood educator to parent coach

04:00 – The biggest surprise of parenting: It’s not just about the kids

06:30 – Why parents need self-awareness to parent well

08:15 – Parenting through grief and the invisible fear of not doing “enough”

10:45 – Breaking generational patterns of putting yourself last

12:30 – Why we admire others’ strength but struggle to see our own

14:45 – The healing power of community and connection

17:30 – What real self-care looks like (hint: it’s not bubble baths)

20:15 – Understanding the “body budget” and parenting under stress

23:30 – Why breathing for 12 minutes a day changes your brain

27:15 – Simple grounding tools in the middle of chaos

30:00 – Modeling emotional awareness for your kids

32:30 – Joy as a parenting practice

36:00 – The importance of celebrating small wins

39:00 – Helping kids notice their own body signals and emotions

42:00 – Three questions to ground yourself in hard parenting moments

44:00 – Final thoughts and how to connect with Rose

Resources Mentioned

• Rose’s blog + parent coaching: http://www.rmcouse.ca/
• Robin Gobbel – trauma-informed parenting educator: robingobbel.com
• Amishi Jha’s work on attention and focus – including her breathing practice research
• Lisa Feldman Barrett’s “body budget” concept – from How Emotions Are Made
• Rick Hanson’s “Velcro vs. Teflon” idea – from Hardwiring Happiness

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