Send us a text

Last week, we uncovered how your child’s behaviour is really their nervous system communicating.

Today, we’re going deeper, inside the body, to explore the science of interoception, the hidden sense that helps us feel and understand our emotions.

My guest, Laura Petix, is back to break down how learning to tune into your body’s internal signals can transform the way you regulate emotions, set boundaries, and parent with calm.

We’ll explore what the research says including new studies showing that people who strengthen their interoception become more mindful, less reactive, and better at managing stress (Zamariola et al., 2019; Smith et al., 2023).

You’ll learn:

• What interoception actually is and why it’s the missing link in emotional regulation
• How to recognize your own body’s “early warning signs” of overwhelm
• Simple ways to help your child notice what emotions feel like inside their body
• What it really means to protect your nervous system (and why that’s not selfish)
• How to create routines that support regulation for both you and your child

If you’ve ever said, “I know the tools, but I can’t seem to use them when I’m stressed,” this episode will show you whyand exactly how to change that.

Tune in now to learn how body awareness can be your most powerful parenting tool and share this episode with a friend!

Get Laura's book:

A Kid's Book about Neurodiversity

Follow Laura on Instagram: @theotbutterfly

Listen to part 1 of this conversation:

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/reflective-parenting-by-curious-neuron/id1440533170

Support the show

Record your question, or share a parenting insight in a 1 min audio we will share on the podcast https://www.speakpipe.com/ReflectiveParentingPodcast

Become a Reflective Parent using our evidence-based program:

• https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/

Grab a Free Resource:

• FREE Workbook: Staying Calm When Your Child Isn’t: A Parent’s Guide to Triggers and Emotions

Email: info@curiousneuron.com

📸 Instagram | 🧠 Reflective Parenting Facebook Group

🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube

Send us a text

You’ve heard the advice: “Teach your child to name their emotions.”

But what if the real secret to helping your child (and yourself) regulate emotions starts deeper inside the body?

In this episode, I sit down with pediatric occupational therapist Laura Petix (The OT Butterfly) to uncover what’s really going on when kids have meltdowns, get overstimulated, or shut down. Spoiler alert: it’s not about being “bad” or “defiant.”

Laura explains how your child’s behavior is actually a message from their nervous system and why understanding this changes everything about the way you respond.

You’ll learn:

• Why meltdowns, shutdowns, and big reactions are signs of nervous-system overload
• How sensory sensitivities (sound, touch, movement) shape your child’s emotions and behavior
• The difference between a tantrum and a meltdown and why that matters
• Why co-regulation starts with your calm nervous system
• The mindset shift that helps you see behavior through compassion instead of control

If you’ve ever wondered “Why does my child react this way — and why do I lose my cool, too?” this episode will open your eyes to what’s really happening beneath the surface.

Listen now and get ready to see your child’s behavior through a completely new lens.

Get Laura's Book: A Kids Book About Neurodiversity

Follow Laura on Instagram @theotbutterfly

Support the show

Record your question, or share a parenting insight in a 1 min audio we will share on the podcast https://www.speakpipe.com/ReflectiveParentingPodcast

Become a Reflective Parent using our evidence-based program:

• https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/

Grab a Free Resource:

• FREE Workbook: Staying Calm When Your Child Isn’t: A Parent’s Guide to Triggers and Emotions

Email: info@curiousneuron.com

📸 Instagram | 🧠 Reflective Parenting Facebook Group

🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube

Send us a text

Do you ever hear your child say things like, “I’m such a bad kid” or “I’ll never be good at this” and your heart sinks because you don’t know what to say?

You’re not alone. And this episode is about to change the way you respond.

Today, I’m sitting down with award-winning science journalist and author Melinda Wenner Moyer to talk about her latest book Hello, Cruel World, a toolkit for raising confident, resilient kids in today’s messy, complicated world.

Here’s the truth:

➡️ Your kids will struggle with self-doubt, negative self-talk, and tough emotions.

➡️ How you respond in those moments can either shut them down or help them build lifelong confidence.

➡️ And the secret isn’t telling them “Don’t say that” it’s something much more powerful (and doable).

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The 3-step “recipe” for self-compassion (and how practicing it yourself teaches your kids to do the same).
• How to validate your child’s feelings without agreeing with their negative self-talk.
• The surprising research on resilience: why letting your kids sit with discomfort (instead of rescuing them every time) builds the skills they’ll need for life.
• Why helicopter parenting backfires — and how giving kids independence actually boosts confidence and self-esteem.
• The truth about alcohol and teens (and why letting them drink at home doesn’t protect them — it puts them at greater risk).

This conversation will give you the practical, science-backed strategies you need to:

✔️ Stop feeling helpless when your child is hard on themselves

✔️ Build their confidence in everyday moments

✔️ Feel more equipped to parent in a world that often feels overwhelming

This is one of those episodes you’ll want to save, re-listen to, and share with every parent you know.

Join Melinda's Newsletter, Now What:

https://www.melindawennermoyer.com/

Follow Melinda on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/melindawmoyer/

Parenting Self-compassion: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12671-020-01401-x

Support the show

Record your question, or share a parenting insight in a 1 min audio we will share on the podcast https://www.speakpipe.com/ReflectiveParentingPodcast

Become a Reflective Parent using our evidence-based program:

• https://curiousneuron.com/reflective-parent-club/

Grab a Free Resource:

• FREE Workbook: Staying Calm When Your Child Isn’t: A Parent’s Guide to Triggers and Emotions

Email: info@curiousneuron.com

📸 Instagram | 🧠 Reflective Parenting Facebook Group

🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube