Mindful Mama: Raising Kind, Confident Kids Without Losing Your Cool | Parenting Strategies For Big Emotions & More

In this episode of the Mindful Mama Podcast, Hunter Clarke-Fields talks with child and adolescent mental health clinician, educator, and award-winning author Anna Housley Juster, PhD, LICSW, about helping children build emotional resilience through connection, validation, and gentle cognitive reframing.

Anna shares practical tools parents can use during everyday moments—from meltdowns to worries to difficult transitions—to help children recognize emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them. Together they explore how parents can validate feelings while also teaching children that thoughts aren't always facts.

You'll also hear why repairing after mistakes is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children—and why it's never too late to reconnect.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why validating emotions doesn't mean validating every thought

How mirroring helps children feel seen, safe, and understood

When to shift from emotional validation into gentle problem-solving

The difference between feelings and the stories we tell ourselves

Practical ways to help children reframe anxious thinking

How your own nervous system shapes your child's emotional regulation

Why repair is always possible—even years later

Everyday ways to build emotional resilience in young children

ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FIELDS: Hunter Clarke-Fields is the host
Mindful Parenting Podcast (Top 0.5% podcast ), global speaker, number 1
bestselling author of “Raising Good Humans” and “Raising Good Humans Every
Day,” Mindfulness Meditation teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting
Course and Teacher Training.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free
resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.



Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can
always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our
website:

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When your child gets sick, it’s easy to spiral—Googling symptoms at 2am, worrying about fevers, and wondering if you’re missing something serious.

In this reassuring and eye-opening episode, Dr. Diane Arnaout—board-certified pediatrician, mom of two, and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics—breaks down what’s actually going on in your child’s body, and what parents truly need to know.

From fevers and antibiotics to vaccines and “weird but normal” baby symptoms, this conversation will help you replace fear with understanding—and respond with more calm and confidence when your child is sick.

Dr. Diane shares what pediatricians wish parents would stop worrying about, the subtle signs that really do matter, and how to avoid the late-night Google spiral that only fuels anxiety.

If you’ve ever wondered “Is this normal?”—this episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn

Why fevers are not dangerous—and how they actually help your child heal

The difference between “normal kid stuff” and signs that need medical attention

When antibiotics help—and when they can do more harm than good

What pediatricians wish parents would stop worrying about

Subtle symptoms you should never ignore (like breathing changes or limping)

How to stay calm when your child is sick

The truth about vaccines—and what they protect against

What’s actually in vaccines and why those ingredients are there

Why spreading out vaccines may not be safer

How to make informed health decisions without fear

ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FIELDS: Hunter Clarke-Fields is the host
Mindful Parenting Podcast (Top 0.5% podcast ), global speaker, number 1
bestselling author of “Raising Good Humans” and “Raising Good Humans Every
Day,” Mindfulness Meditation teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting
Course and Teacher Training.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free
resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.



Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can
always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our
website:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

These are anxious times with schools closing and communities taking action to slow down the spread of the coronavirus. Is the anxiety getting to you? In this special episode, Hunter talks to two meditation teachers, Oren Sofer and Emily Horn about how to deal with our fear and become a stable center of peace for our families.

Takeaways:

The choices we make affect one another. Our choice to take care of ourselves matters.

We don’t need to be afraid of fear—it’s just energy moving through.

We can be peaceful and anxious at the same time.

Emily Horn is an authorized dharma teacher through Spirit Rock Meditation Center & Insight Meditation Society. She’s also a Certified Mindfulness Teacher via the International Mindfulness Teacher’s Association.

Oren Jay Sofer teaches mindfulness, meditation and Nonviolent Communication in both secular and Buddhist contexts. He’s the author of the book Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication, a practical guidebook for having more effective, satisfying conversations.

ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FIELDS: Hunter Clarke-Fields is the host
Mindful Parenting Podcast (Top 0.5% podcast ), global speaker, number 1
bestselling author of “Raising Good Humans” and “Raising Good Humans Every
Day,” Mindfulness Meditation teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting
Course and Teacher Training.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free
resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.



Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can
always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our
website:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone tells new parents to expect sleepless nights—but far fewer prepare them for the emotional upheaval that can come with pregnancy and postpartum.

In this compassionate conversation, Hunter Clarke-Fields sits down with perinatal psychologist Dr. Katayune Kaeni (Dr. Kat) to explore the often-overlooked mental health challenges of becoming a parent. They unpack why so many mothers struggle in silence, how unrealistic expectations fuel anxiety and guilt, and what "good enough" parenting really looks like.

Whether you're expecting a baby, navigating postpartum, or supporting someone who is, this episode offers reassurance, practical wisdom, and a reminder that you don't have to do this alone.

In this episode, you'll learn:

What perinatal mental health actually includes

The difference between normal adjustment and postpartum anxiety or depression

Why mothers often feel pressure to pretend everything is wonderful

How perfectionism makes postpartum even harder

The surprising identity shifts that come with becoming a parent

Why connection—not perfection—is one of the strongest protective factors

How to work with guilt more compassionately

Simple practices to support your mental health during an overwhelming season

If you've ever wondered whether you're doing enough as a parent, this episode is a powerful reminder that healing begins with self-compassion—not impossible standards.

ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FIELDS: Hunter Clarke-Fields is the host
Mindful Parenting Podcast (Top 0.5% podcast ), global speaker, number 1
bestselling author of “Raising Good Humans” and “Raising Good Humans Every
Day,” Mindfulness Meditation teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting
Course and Teacher Training.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free
resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.



Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can
always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our
website:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if helping your child calm down could be as simple as a song, a breath, or a playful one-minute practice?

In this episode of the Mindful Mama Podcast, Hunter talks with children's mindfulness expert, author, and award-winning musician Kira Willey about how music, movement, and mindfulness can help children develop emotional regulation, confidence, and connection.

Kira shares practical ways parents can use rhythm and playful rituals to navigate some of the hardest parts of family life—from transitions and bedtime routines to meltdowns and moments of overwhelm. She explains why children often respond more readily to music than words, how a parent's nervous system influences a child's ability to self-regulate, and why presence matters far more than perfection.

You'll learn simple, realistic practices that fit into everyday family life—even when you're busy, stressed, or running on very little sleep.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How rhythm helps children regulate emotions and feel grounded• Why music can improve cooperation and ease difficult transitions• Simple one-minute mindfulness practices for busy families• How to create joyful routines around bedtime and daily transitions• Why matching a child's energy can be more effective than trying to immediately calm them down• The connection between a parent's nervous system and a child's behavior• How mindfulness can be playful, accessible, and practical for children of all ages• Why presence—not perfection—is the foundation of mindful parenting

Whether you're parenting a toddler, school-age child, or tween, this conversation offers simple tools to bring more calm, joy, and connection into your family's daily life.

ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FIELDS: Hunter Clarke-Fields is the host
Mindful Parenting Podcast (Top 0.5% podcast ), global speaker, number 1
bestselling author of “Raising Good Humans” and “Raising Good Humans Every
Day,” Mindfulness Meditation teacher and creator of the Mindful Parenting
Course and Teacher Training.

Find more podcasts, Hunter’s books, blog posts, free
resources, and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindfulMamaMentor.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.



Discover your Unique-To-You Podcast Playlist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindfulmamamentor.com/quiz/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠



We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can
always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our
website:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/mindfulmamamentor.com/mindful-mama-podcast-sponsors/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices