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Sustainable Parenting | The kind and firm solution for resilient kids and dependable calm.
For cycle-breaking parents who still face battles at bedtime and beyond, Sustainable Parenting teaches tools that actually change behavior when gentle parenting doesn't work.
Research shows 1 in 3 parents who try gentle parenting still end the day begging kids to listen and blaming themselves when the scripts don’t stop the tantrums. So if your 6-year-old still ignores you, your toddler screams over a broken banana, and bedtime still ends in tears—it’s not you, it’s the gentle parenting advice that’s failing you.
Unlike other podcasts that only tell you to “stay calm” or “validate feelings” while your toddler is throwing dinosaurs at your head, here you’ll get strategies to set limits kids respect without crushing their spirit so they grow into kind, confident humans, and you finally feel like the calm, in-control parent you want to be.
I’m Flora McCormick—a counselor, parenting coach, and mom of two. After 20 years helping families worldwide, I’ve helped thousands of parents raise confident kids while practicing parenting without yelling or shame. Parenting will always have hard moments, but raising respectful, emotionally healthy kids doesn’t have to be a constant battle.
Follow Sustainable Parenting and start listening today.
Episodes
134 episodes
3 Positive Discipline Tools to End Power Struggles With Kids, and Fights With Your Partner
If you're having bedtime, out-the-door, or morning battles where your partner swoops in mid-meltdown, sending you into a rage, you’re not alone.In this episode, Flora McCormick, LCPC — parenting coach and host of the Sustainable Pare...
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11:16
132. How to get Kids to Sleep in Their Own Beds, Even if They Beg You to Stay | Karen Winter
If nighttime currently feels like a hostage situation — tiny footsteps down the hall, endless requests for “one more kiss,” or a child who can only fall asleep if you stay glued to the side of their bed — you are so not alone. So ma...
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15:03
131. How to End the Day Calmly Without Feeling Touched Out or Snappy
Do you ever end the day feeling touched out, snappy, or like you’ve run a marathon no one saw you train for? This episode is your permission slip to stop trying to do it all.Flora McCormick, LCPC — parenting coac...
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10:23
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130. How to Be a Lazy Parent in the Best Way - 2 Keys to Less Stress & More Joy
Feeling exhausted from doing everything — the school snacks, the bedtime routines, the constant reminders — and ready to just burn the whole thing down? What if being a "Lazy Parent" was the key to more joy and eas...
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7:47
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129. Playdates Without Panic: 3 Steps to Solve Hitting, Scratching or Grabbing.
Today we explore why toddlers hit, bite, and grab at playdates and how to respond without shame or panic...and with tools that will shift the behavior for real!Did you know - these challenging child behaviors are VERY common in th...
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12:58
128. The One Phrase That Works When Kids Ignore You
Does your child suddenly “lose their hearing” the moment you ask them to pick up their shoes, come to the table, or turn off the tablet? You’re not alone—and you’re not going crazy. In this episode, we’ll unpack why kids pretend not to hear you...
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13:52
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127. The One Tool Most Gentle Parents Miss
Tired of repeating yourself 14 times a day, only to explode when your kids don’t listen? You’re not alone. In this episode, Flora McCormick, founder of Sustainable Parenting, shares the #1 tool most gentle parents overlook—and why it’s the secr...
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15:42
126. 5 Pillars for Peaceful Bedtimes | Matthew Wellington
Does bedtime ever feel like the longest part of your day? You’re exhausted, ready for some peace, but your child suddenly transforms into a master negotiator—asking for just one more kiss, one more drink of water, or one more st...
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16:48
125. How Taking Time for Yourself Makes You a Better Parent
Ever felt that twinge of guilt when you consider taking time away from your family to pursue a hobby? You're not alone. As a mother of two and lifelong dancer, I recently found myself questioning whether my dance performances were worth the dis...
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10:14
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124. How Letting Kids Struggle Supports Raising Resilient Kids
Ever notice how you're stuck in a cycle of constant reminders with your kids? You’re telling them to pack their lunch, grab their cleats, finish their homework—yet you’re torn between enjoying feeling needed and resenting this never-ending role...
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12:16
123. Why Forced Apologies Don’t Teach Kids Responsibility and What to Do Instead
Tired of forcing your kids to say “I’m sorry,” only to have the apology come out flat, fake, or sarcastic? Do you find yourself insisting on the “right tone” until you are blue in the face, or even yelling at your child - and all th...
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11:57
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122. Raising Responsible & Independent Kids with 5 School-Day Routines
Tired of having to nag and tell your kids everything they need to do (and sometimes yelling at your kids in the process)?Ready to set some new habits of responsibility this school year, and see your kids really step up to the plate?<...
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11:38
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121. How to Parent as a Team When You Don’t See Eye to Eye | Rachael Maher
Parenting disagreements can feel overwhelming — especially when emotions run high. In this short episode of our weekly podcast, couples therapist Rachael Maher shares how understanding attachment science can bring more...
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18:37
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120. How to Help Kids Stop Saying “I’m Stupid” or “Nobody Likes Me”
That crushing moment when your child says, “I’m stupid” or “Nobody likes me” can leave you feeling helpless. You’ve tried everything — reassurance, distraction, even giving in — but the neg...
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12:58
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119. What Parents Don’t Realize When Kids Talk Back or Slam Doors
Ever feel like nothing works when your child lashes out—no matter how calm you try to be or how many consequences you give?Friend, you’re not alone. And you’re not doing it wrong. This weekly podcast episode is for every parent wh...
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14:11
118. Why “I’m Failing as a Mom” Is the Biggest Lie We Tell Ourselves
Do you ever lie awake at night feeling like you're failing your children?You’re not alone. Research shows a staggering 78% of mothers believe they aren’t doing enough for their kids.But what if everything we’ve been told ab...
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11:54
117. Why Kids Have Angry Outbursts at Home (But Not in Public)
Why do kids seem to save their biggest meltdowns for home?You watch them stay polite and calm at school or during a family gathering—but the moment they’re back with you, it’s like a switch flips. Suddenly, there’s whining, power ...
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11:53
116. 3 Ways to Control Your Anger as a Parent (Without Yelling)
Have you found yourself yelling at your child—and then feeling waves of regret?You’re not alone. Many loving parents think the solution is simply “having more patience.” But in this short episode of our weekly podcast, you’ll disc...
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12:00
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115. How to Get Kids to Listen Without Yelling
If you’ve ever wondered why yelling seems to “work” in the moment but leaves you feeling disconnected from your child, this episode is for you. We’re exploring how to create a stronger parent-child connection by balancing kindness and firmness—...
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8:15
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114. 3 Smart Consequences for Children (That Actually Work)
Ever felt like the consequences you’re using just aren’t working? Maybe you’ve taken away screen time, treats, or even big events—only to see the same behavior again. It’s frustrating and confusing when nothing seems to make ...
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10:14
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113. How to End Playtime Without a Meltdown
We’re diving into how to stop power struggles with kids and solve transition battles in a way that builds parent-child connection and makes moving from one activity to the next easier and more joyful.By the time you finish listening to t...
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12:48
112. How to End Tech Time Battles and Get Kids Off Screens Without a Fight
Friend, if you’re tired of constant tech battles with your kids—especially with summer approaching—this short episode of our weekly podcast is packed with gentle parenting tips & tools to help you create more peace around screens. You’ll le...
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11:49
111. How to Handle 5 Common Summer Trouble Spots with Calm and Connection
Do you ever look ahead to summer and feel a mix of excitement and dread—wondering if the constant battles will leave you counting down the days until school starts again? In this short episode of our weekly podcast, we’ll explore ge...
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11:19
110. Three Simple Solutions That Get Kids to Listen
Do you ever feel like you’re saying the same thing fifteen times, only to have your child ignore you? You’re not alone. In this short episode of our weekly podcast, we’ll explore why kids tune us out and how to replace the frustration with calm...
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12:39
109. How to Stay Calm When Kids Push Boundaries Without Feeling Like You’re Failing
Do you ever feel stuck in a cycle of frustration and disappointment as a parent? In this short episode of our weekly podcast, I’ll share one key tool that can help you shift your perspective and bring more calm and eas...
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11:06
