Website: 🌐 www.andiclark.com

Support Circle Membership: https://andiclark.thrivecart.com/support-circle/

Self Assessment form: https://subscribepage.io/big-emotions-self-assessment

Book a 30-Minute Call with Andi – Get your questions answered and explore next steps: Book here: https://tidycal.com/andi1/bookacall

What if SAT prep wasn’t just about getting a better score—but about helping your child see their worth, trust their process, and feel empowered to handle hard things?

In this conversation, Andi sits down with coach and educator Josh Aronovitch, who’s known for helping kids not just improve test scores—but deeply reconnect with their own strengths. From supporting neurodiverse kids with test anxiety to helping students find the college path that fits who they are, Josh brings a perspective that goes far beyond academics.

Whether your child is preparing for high school, college, or still figuring things out, this episode is packed with emotional insight, practical wisdom, and the kind of hope parents need.

Key Takeaways

• Test-taking is a skill, not a reflection of intelligence. Many kids know the material—they just haven’t been taught how to take tests in a way that works for their brain.
• Your child’s nervous system matters. Emotional regulation, mindset, and even breathwork play a bigger role in performance than most people realize.
• Standardized tests are flawed—but can be a powerful opportunity. With the right tools and perspective, even students who struggle can thrive.
• Success doesn't come from doing it right the first time. The journey—mistakes and all—helps kids build grit, confidence, and the ability to handle life’s curveballs.
• College planning should start with who your child wants to be—not just what job they’ll have.

Episode Highlights

[00:03:00] – Do SATs still matter? Josh explains how “test-optional” doesn’t always mean optional—and why test scores can still open doors.

[00:05:30] – Why kids struggle with testing (and it’s not what you think): From psychological spirals to perfectionism, Josh breaks down what really gets in the way.

[00:08:30] – Helping a student go from 720 to 1190: How a 2-year journey transformed not just scores—but self-belief.

[00:10:45] – Test prep as emotional growth: Why learning to pause, breathe, and “get off the wrong train” changes everything.

[00:16:00] – Understanding before memorizing: Why high-achieving kids often get stuck in math—and how to teach it differently.

[00:21:00] – The truth about multiple choice and second-guessing: Josh shares how depth of thinking can actually backfire—and how to help.

[00:28:30] – Finding the right college path: Josh flips the question—starting with how your child wants to feel, then working backwards.

[00:35:30] – The power of failure: Why kids need safe experiences with mistakes in order to grow.

[00:41:00] – A client story: 7 SATs, a perfect score in math, and med school dreams

Website: 🌐 www.andiclark.com

Self Assessment form: https://subscribepage.io/big-emotions-self-assessment

Book a 30-Minute Call with Andi – Get your questions answered and explore next steps: Book here: https://tidycal.com/andi1/bookacall

If your child seems to flip from calm to chaos without warning, this episode will change the way you see those outbursts.

What if their “bad behavior” isn’t defiance—but a sign their nervous system is overloaded?

In this foundational episode, Andi introduces Step 1 of the CARE5™ Framework: Changing the Lens.

You’ll learn why traditional discipline often backfires, how to recognize stress signals in your child, and what’s really happening beneath those emotional explosions.

Using the Coke bottle analogy and real-life examples, Andi helps you shift from guilt and frustration to clarity and compassion—so you can begin responding instead of reacting.

Key Takeaways:

• “Misbehavior” is often a stress response—not manipulation or disrespect.
• Emotional outbursts tend to happen when a child’s nervous system is overwhelmed.
• The first step to supporting your child is changing how you interpret their behavior.
• Our nervous systems react faster than logic—especially under chronic stress.
• You can’t co-regulate your child until you first regulate your own nervous system.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00:00] Welcome + what the CARE5™ Framework is and how it helps

[00:03:00] Common mismatch between adult expectations and child capacity

[00:04:30] Story: Pokémon night meltdown and uncovering the hidden stress

[00:07:30] What happens in the brain and body when a child feels unsafe

[00:10:00] Reframing defiance as an overwhelmed nervous system

[00:11:00] Coke bottle analogy: how stress builds invisibly before it explodes

[00:13:30] Why home becomes the safe place where meltdowns happen

[00:16:00] The life vest metaphor: why discipline isn’t what they need

[00:18:00] Small stressors that shook my son's Coke bottle that day

[00:19:00] Recap: Step 1 of the CARE5™ Framework – Change the Lens

[00:21:00] Preview of Step 2: Stress Animals (listen to Episode 110)

Resources Mentioned:

• 🎧 Episode 110 – Understanding Your Child’s Stress Animal: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0vlnDR2iEqZ8K57YxJ5xU7?si=lCs7WKO6TUubNAUpMP_AyQ

Ready to see your child’s behavior through a new lens?

Website: 🌐 www.andiclark.com

Self Assessment form: https://subscribepage.io/big-emotions-self-assessment

Book a 30-Minute Call with Andi – Get your questions answered and explore next steps: Book here: https://tidycal.com/andi1/bookacall

In this powerful episode, Melissa McIntosh—former Educational Assistant turned mindfulness mentor—shares her journey from burnout in the school system to building Mindful Kids Inc.

Her mission? Helping families reconnect through simple, effective mindfulness practices that truly support emotional regulation.

We explore why mindfulness isn’t just for kids, how parents can model regulation, and what it really means to build a calm home from the inside out.

Key Takeaways

• Mindfulness is a lifestyle, not a technique – It’s about consistent, bite-sized practices that shift the family dynamic over time.
• One size doesn't fit all – Each child has unique tools that work for them; helping them discover what fits is the magic.
• Academics aren't the foundation – Emotional awareness must come first for real learning and connection.
• You are the expert on your child – Trusting your intuition, even when it goes against the system, is critical.

Episode Highlights

[00:00] – Meet Melissa: Her transition from education to mindfulness, and why she followed her gut.

[03:45] – The moment she realized the system wasn’t working—for kids, for families, or for herself.

[06:30] – Why her husband’s calm energy opened the door to mindfulness—and how it changed everything at home.

[10:15] – The missing piece in schools: involving parents and seeing the whole child, not just academics.

[14:00] – Why mindfulness must start with parents before it can help their children.

[18:15] – How kids can learn to filter outside energy, like “Steve’s nosebleed,” through a calm lens.

[22:00] – The Mind Jar explained: how a simple tool helps kids settle their thoughts and feelings.

[26:00] – What it looks like when kids start teaching mindfulness at home—and why that’s the real win.

[30:00] – Mindfulness as a superpower that grows with your child over time.

[33:45] – What to do when kids are dysregulated and the tool doesn’t “work.”

[36:00] – The moment you realize: it’s working.

[38:00] – Why gratitude is part of mindfulness—and how it changes the emotional tone of a family.

Resources Mentioned

Mindful Kids Inc. – Melissa’s mindfulness-based programs for kids and families:

https://www.mindfulkidsinc.com

Follow Melissa on

• Instagram: @mindfulkidsinc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindfulkidsinc

If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe and share it with a friend who’s raising a child with big emotions.