Parenting isn’t about producing happy, perfect children - it’s about building a strong relationship with the child in front of you.
In this episode of Coach Me If You Can, Peter Weller is joined by parenting expert Anita Cleare (postgraduate degree in Child Development, author, and founder of the Thinking Parenting blog).
Together, they step into six real parenting case studies — two from the Weller household and four submitted anonymously by listeners through our survey:
Toothbrushing Revolt (3, host household) — a nightly standoff with sealed lips and piercing screams.
Lentil Soup Standoff (3, host household) — mozzarella wins, lentils lose, ice cream demands follow.
Holiday Meltdown (6, listener household) — “I want to go home” on repeat during a dream trip to France.
The Phone Glow (pre-teen, listener household) — when screens start to matter more than family.
Mealtime Chaos (1.5 + 6, listener household) — siblings derail dinner until the TV saves the day.
The Not Hearing Zone (7, listener household) — a child who only responds once parents yell.
From tantrums to tech, Anita brings psychology, empathy, and strategy to the moments parents struggle with most. Along the way, she busts myths and reframes parenting’s toughest paradox:
Parenting isn’t about controlling kids. It’s about managing ourselves in the storm.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
How to stay calm in the supermarket storm instead of panicking
Why toddlers and teens both turn routines into power struggles
How to set limits on phones without losing connection
Why giving in to a tantrum once won’t ruin your authority
The real goal of parenting — not happiness, but relationship
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Discover more:
Anita Cleare – Thinking Parenting Blog | Author of The Work/Parent Switch and The Working Parent’s Survival Guide
Have a question for Peter?
Want to recommend a coach, request a topic, or volunteer to be coached on the show?
✉️ Email: peter@coachmeifyoucan.show
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