The Parenting Cipher is the podcast for innovative Black parents raising neurodiverse and special needs children who want clear answers, fresh strategies, and a supportive community. Each week, host Genie Dawkins — best-selling author, award-winning podcaster, and unstoppable advocate — breaks down the intersections of special education, family lifestyle, and advocacy so you can confidently lead your child’s educational journey.
Genie has walked this path herself, helping her own children access scholarships, private education, and global opportunities. Now she’s sharing the lessons, laughs, and proven strategies that help families like yours create progress schools don’t always hand over.
Expect real talk, humor, and empowering conversations with experts and parents on everything from IEPs and 504s to holistic family living, entrepreneurship, and cultural experiences. Every episode is packed with practical steps and cultural insight you can use right away.
You’ll finish each episode feeling informed, equipped, and ready to advocate for the best possible education and life for your family.
🎙️ Media inquiries or podcast collaborations: Schedule here: link.
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-parenting-cipher.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Parenting Cipher is the podcast for innovative Black parents raising neurodiverse and special needs children who want clear answers, fresh strategies, and a supportive community. Each week, host Genie Dawkins — best-selling author, award-winning podcaster, and unstoppable advocate — breaks down the intersections of special education, family lifestyle, and advocacy so you can confidently lead your child’s educational journey.
Genie has walked this path herself, helping her own children access scholarships, private education, and global opportunities. Now she’s sharing the lessons, laughs, and proven strategies that help families like yours create progress schools don’t always hand over.
Expect real talk, humor, and empowering conversations with experts and parents on everything from IEPs and 504s to holistic family living, entrepreneurship, and cultural experiences. Every episode is packed with practical steps and cultural insight you can use right away.
You’ll finish each episode feeling informed, equipped, and ready to advocate for the best possible education and life for your family.
🎙️ Media inquiries or podcast collaborations: Schedule here: link.
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-parenting-cipher.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In This Episode Summary:
In an enlightening conversation, Kiva Schuler and Genie Dawkins delve deep into the tenets of peaceful parenting, reflecting on the pivotal role of trust, the detrimental impacts of shame, and the power of patience and empathy in the parent-child dynamic. They share personal stories, one being Genie's heartening tale of her son with autism and anxiety, and discuss how recognizing a child's emotions and fostering self-advocacy shapes a healthier family relationship. From challenging the status quo to mindful discipline, this episode is a thought-provoking dialogue on breaking generational cycles and embracing the authenticity of parenting.
Key Takeaways:
1. Building Trust: Creating a safe environment where children feel comfortable coming to adults with their problems.
2. Avoiding Shame and Punishment: Recognizing that punitive measures can erode trust and lead to children hiding their issues.
3. Empathy and Understanding: The importance of listening to children's worries and validating their emotions without downplaying them.
4. Self-Patience and Growth: Encouraging parents to be patient with themselves and their children, acknowledging the journey of personal growth for both.
5. Cultural Consideration in Parenting Advice: Kiva Schuler's introspection on the authoritative voice in the parenting space.
6. Promotion of Children's Autonomy: Celebrating milestones that recognize growing independence in children.
7. Embracing Failure and Learning: Allowing children to face the natural consequences of their decisions as a fundamental learning process.
8. Legacy and Healing: Overcoming ancestral traumas and acknowledging inherited parenting styles that may be limiting.
9. Role of the Inner Child in Parenthood:*Understanding and healing one's own childhood experiences to better serve as a parent.
10. Peaceful Parenting Defined: Understanding peaceful parenting as non-permissive, non-punitive, and rooted in connection and guidance.
Links and Resources:
- Giant Institute Parent Coaching http://jaiinstitute.forparenting.com/
- The Peaceful Parenting Revolution, by Kiva Schuler https://www.amazon.com/The-Peaceful-Parenting-Revolution/
Powerful Quotes:
- "It's critical that we build an environment where our children run to us, not away from us when trouble arises." — Kiva Schuler
- "We must learn to sit with the discomfort of our children's failures, as it is through them that they will learn the most." — Genie Dawkins
- "Parenting is not about perfecting our children, it's about guiding them through the unique journey of becoming who they are meant to be." — Kiva Schuler
- "In parenting, we not only raise our children but also the child within us." — Genie Dawkins
- "Peaceful parenting is about leading with empathy, compassion, and the understanding that teaching trumps any form of coercion." — Kiva Schuler
Guest:
Kiva Schuler is a devoted advocate for children's rights and a maven of growth through mindful parenting. Nestled in the heart of Kiva's philosophy is the conviction that to foster capable, wise, and independent children, adults must first embark on their own journeys of maturity and self-improvement. For Kiva, parenting transcends the traditional boundaries of rearing young ones; it becomes a transformative process where adults and children evolve together.
Connect: IG Kiva_schuler Website:https://www.jaiinstituteforparenting.com/
🎙️ Stay connected with Genie Dawkins and The Parenting Cipher! Get expert support for special education, advocacy, and family success. Book a complimentary strategy session here, download your free guide “Top 10 Advocacy Mistakes to Avoid”, or inquire about podcast/media collaborations here. Follow on Instagram @geniedawkins and visit www.geniedawkins.com. Thanks for listening — let’s build powerful journeys together!
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-parenting-cipher.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.