HERself
As women and mothers of young children, it can be easy to compare ourselves to others. But your life isn't supposed to look like hers! Being your best self means standing firm in your decisions and always being willing to grow with a purpose. Are you wanting more ease in your marriage? Or more enjoyment as a parent? Are you looking for a strategy to the health challenges you have been facing recently? Do you feel like you have been staring at a stranger in the mirror since becoming a mother? Abby and Amy get vulnerable with topics around partnership, motherhood, health, and self improvement by interviewing authors, therapists, experts and everyday mothers. Our conversations will meet you with solutions and solidarity as you find a life path that feels aligned for you. If this sounds like you, hit play on your favorite episode title and make sure you're following the HERself podcast.
HERself
297. Spirited Child: Our Experience and Our Solutions
If you're raising a child who feels everything deeply and expresses it loudly, this episode is for you.
Today, we’re diving into a topic that sparked our biggest listener response ever—first explored in Episode 157 with Claire Lerner—and it’s all about parenting children with big reactions.
Both of us are moms to what we lovingly call “big reactors.” These are the kids whose emotional outbursts and transitions hit differently. They're intense. They're spirited. And traditional parenting advice? It usually doesn’t work.
We talk about:
- What we learned from our game-changing conversation in Episode 157.
- Why big reactions are often wired into your child’s DNA.
- The reality that gentle parenting isn’t always effective with these kids.
- How transitions can be a major trigger—and how we’ve learned to navigate them.
- Amy’s experience taking her whole family to therapy (and what actually helped).
- The critical role of one-on-one attention for highly sensitive or strong-willed kids.
- The surprising ways these kids ask for love—even when it doesn’t feel like love at all.
This episode is here to remind you—you’re not alone. And while parenting a big-feeling kid can be exhausting and confusing, it’s also deeply rewarding. The bond you can build is incredible when you find what works and stay consistent.
If you’re raising a spirited child, a highly sensitive kid, or a little one with intense emotional reactions, this episode is a must-listen.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
LMNT: Free Sample Pack with purchase: drinkLMNT.com/HERSELF
BETTERHELP: 10% off first month at: http://betterhelp.com/herself
Let’s connect!
HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast
HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast
MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer
MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen
This episode was brought to you by the Pivot Ball Change Network.
