Your Calm Parenting Path
Welcome to Your Calm Parenting Path - guiding you toward a more peaceful, connected, and confident approach to parenting. Motherhood wasn’t supposed to feel this hard. If you’re tired of yelling, overwhelmed by the mental load, and wondering why you can’t just enjoy time with your kids like other mums seem to, you’re not alone. You love your children fiercely, but somewhere between school drop-offs, tantrums, and endless to-do lists, you’ve lost a piece of yourself. I’m Nina, a mindful parenting coach and mum who gets it. I’ve been where you are - stuck, frustrated...
76. Help Your Child Thrive Emotionally, One Small Moment a Day, with Dr Louise Mansell
Dr. Louise Mansell, a clinical child psychologist, created Tedology, a multi-sensory teddy bear, to help kids practise emotional health through play, and shares easy ways to weave it into your routines.
You'll learn
Why this episode matters
Knowing what to do for your child's emotional health is a big a...
75. When Talking Calmly Still Doesn't Work
You've kept your voice calm, asked nicely, asked again, and your child still isn't listening. This week, Nina shares a swimming-week morning from her own house and looks at what might really be going on for your child when calm words aren't landing, plus a few ways to respond that fit the moment.
You'll Learn:
74. How to Help Your Child Through Grief and Loss, with Victoria Wright
When your child is grieving, it's so hard to know what to say or whether you're getting it right. Grief coach Victoria Wright shares what grief looks like in young kids and how to talk about death in simple, honest words. We also talk about our own grief for the person we used to be, after becoming a mum or going through menopause.
You'll Learn
73. When You Feel Guilty After Yelling at Your Kids
If you've ever lain in bed replaying something you said to your kids, this one's for you. Nina picks up from last week's bus moment in Fremantle and looks at why parenting guilt after yelling can feel like the responsible thing to hold on to, and how to stay accountable and repair without beating yourself up.
You'll Learn
72. Why the Smallest Thing Tips You Over at 5pm
A spilled drink at 5pm, and suddenly you’ve lost it. Nina shares a long day in Fremantle that ended with her snapping on the bus home, and how that moment usually starts building hours earlier.
She shares a simple 0 to 10 scale for noticing how wound up you’re getting, the early signs to look out for in your body and voice, and small changes you can make to your day when you notice you’re running low, like taking something off the afternoon or lowering the bar for a night.
You'll...
71. The 5 Pillars of Holistic Health for Kids with Rose Irranca
Wondering if you're doing enough for your child's health? Rose Irranca, founder of Holistic Kids, walks through the five pillars of holistic health for kids - physical, emotional, cognitive, social and spiritual - and how to start with one small change.
You'll Learn
Why This Episode Matters
Wh...
70. Calmer Homework Time for You and Your Kids, with Emily Fogg
If homework time ends in tears, slammed doors or a very long hour at the kitchen table, you're not alone. Emily Fogg from Wise Owl Education shares five homework personalities and how knowing your child's personality can ease homework battles.
You'll Learn
Why This Episode Matters
Homework battles can leave you feeling like you're fa...
69. When Everything Feels Urgent
It was 8:21am, nine minutes to leave for school, and a six-year-old refusing to get dressed. Nina shares what really happened that morning, including the bit that didn't go smoothly, and the one question that helped her figure out what actually needed her attention first.
You'll Learn
68. Same Problem? Four Parents, Four Different Reasons
If you've ever wondered why the parenting advice that worked for your friend doesn't seem to work for you, this episode is for you. Nina walks through four different parents who could all say the same thing, "my kid won't listen," and shows why what's actually going on underneath looks completely different for each of them.
You'll Learn:
Why the same parenting complaint can come from four completely different placesThe patterns Nina kept hearing after one-on-one conversations with over twenty parents How to tell if you're already at your limit before the m...67. Exercise After Kids? with Jen Dugard
Jen Dugard, founder of MumSafe Movement, joins Nina to talk about what really happens to our bodies after having kids, and why exercise isn't about getting your old body back. They talk pelvic floor health and moving for strength, not appearance.
You'll Learn:
66. Bringing Wonder and Calm to Bedtimes with Dr Mark Westmoquette
What if the fix for bedtime battles wasn't a new routine, but simply opening the curtains? Nina sits down with astrophysicist-turned-mindfulness-teacher Dr. Mark Westmoquette, author of Look Up At Bedtime, to explore how a few minutes under the night sky can turn a nightly fight into a moment of genuine connection.
You'll Learn
65. What a Hailstorm Run Taught Me About Parenting
Nina went out for a half marathon training run in gale-force wind, rain and actual hail last Saturday, and came home with more than sore legs. This episode unpacks five surprising parallels between that wild run and the reality of raising kids, from accepting what we can't control to remembering why we started.
You'll Learn:
64. Mum Guilt, Anger and the Parts of You Behind Them, with Jessica Tomich Sorci
The moment your patience snaps isn't random, and it isn't a character flaw. Therapist Jessica Tomich Sorci joins Nina to unpack "mum parts" - the different pieces of you that step in to protect you when parenting gets hard - and why getting to know them changes how you respond to your kids.
You'll Learn
63. Overcome the Overwhelm Part 2: Connection & Co-operation
Overwhelm doesn't stay inside us, it spills into our kids, our family dynamic and our home. Part two of this two part series looks at practical ways to ease it in each of those places.
You'll learn
Why this episode matters?
A hard...
62. Overcome the Overwhelm Part 1: Redefining Self-Care
Some days the overwhelm hits before you've even had your coffee. Part one of a two-part series, this episode looks at where that feeling starts, within ourselves, with two shifts to help lighten it.
You'll Learn
Why This Episode Matters
If you've felt resentful scrubbing a pot...
61. Bringing Dads into the Conversation, with Alison D'Vine
Today we're widening the lens beyond mums. Alison D'Vine of Sagency WA shares what years of working with men has taught her about why partners struggle to regulate, and what that does to the family when they don't.
This isn't about excusing anything, it's about understanding what's underneath so we're not carrying it alone. Alison brings both her professional insight and her own lived experience to this one, and it's a genuinely honest look at the other side of the family system.
You'll Learn
60. Susan Hughes Returns: Parenting an ADHD Child
If you've ever wondered whether your child's behaviour is deliberate, this one's for you. ADHD parent coach Susan Hughes returns to explain the neuroscience behind ADHD behaviour, and why understanding it changes how you respond.
You'll Learn
Why This Episode Matters
If yo...
59. Does Mindfulness Actually Work Mid-Meltdown?
You know the moment. Your child is on the floor of the shops, refusing to get dressed, or melting down as you try to leave the playground, and everything you've read about mindful parenting suddenly feels very far away. This episode is about what to actually do while you're in it, not before and not after.
You'll Learn
58. Why Your Relationship Feels Different After Kids, with Caterina Smillie
So many of us know that quiet drift that creeps in once kids arrive - less conversation, more logistics, less time for each other. Relationship and emotional wellness coach Caterina Smillie joins me to unpack why that disconnection happens, and the small ways couples find their way back to each other.
You'll Learn
Why even strong relationships start to drift after having kidsThe difference between carrying the mental load and the emotional loadWhy nitpicking small things is often about something biggerHow mum guilt can get in the way of your relationshipWhy 10-20 m...57. How to End Screen Time Without the Meltdown
If turning off the TV feels like bracing for impact, you're not alone. In this episode, Nina unpacks what's actually happening in kids' brains when screens go off, and shares four practical strategies to make those transitions smoother - including what works in her own house, and why handing your child the remote changes everything.
You'll Learn
Why kids' brains genuinely struggle with the screen switch-offWhat's happening in their nervous system during high-stimulation screen timeFour transition strategies that actually helpNina's own screen time system, including the Yellow SpoonWhy keeping screens "practical rather t...56. Do You Have Supermum Syndrome? with Onnie Michalsky
That feeling when you sit down for five minutes and immediately think "I should be doing something" - therapist Onnie Michalsky from Moms Without Capes calls it supermum syndrome (or Supermom syndrome). In this conversation, she and Nina explore why so many mums carry it, and what it costs them.
You'll Learn
55. The 'Just a Minute' Double Standard
There's a small thing many of us do without thinking - and once you notice it, you'll see it everywhere.
This episode looks at the gap between what we ask of our kids and what we offer back, and why that gap matters more than we might realise.
Nina shares two practical shifts to try - small changes that can make a real difference to the emotional atmosphere in your home.
You’ll Learn
54. Teaching Kids Mindfulness Before They Need It, with Alia Sallam
If you want your kids to grow up knowing how to calm themselves, this one is for you. Alia Sallam shares why teaching mindfulness for kids works best as a natural part of family life.
Alia is the creator of Little Seeds of Mindfulness, a book series for children ages 2-9 that makes mindfulness a shared family experience rather than just a lesson. She also walks us through a simple 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise that you can try with your family right now.
You'll Learn
53. 'I'm a Terrible Mum': The Inner Voice After We Lose It
Have you ever lost your patience and then spent the rest of the night lying awake, replaying the moment on a loop?
In this episode, Nina explores the inner voice that shows up after hard parenting moments - the guilt, shame, and private fear that one bad reaction might define your child's entire experience of you.
Through personal reflection and the Buddhist parable of the two arrows, this episode offers an honest, compassionate look at why parents turn difficult moments into evidence they're failing - and how to find a way out of that cycle.
52. Parenting with more Self Compassion, with Dr Jen Ferris
Parenting can feel incredibly heavy sometimes - especially when we’re carrying guilt, self-doubt, and the pressure to “get it right.” In this episode, Nina is joined by Dr. Jen Ferris to talk about what self-compassion really looks like in everyday parenting and why learning to be a little kinder to ourselves can have such a powerful impact on family life.
Dr. Jen shares her own parenting experiences, the challenges that led her to explore self-compassion more deeply, and practical ways parents can begin supporting themselves through the hard moments.
You’ll Learn
51. How Worth Shapes the Way We Parent, with Nellie Harden
Why do we react in ways we don’t want to as parents, even when we’re trying so hard to stay calm?
In this episode of Your Calm Parenting Path, Nina is joined by writer, speaker and family life advocate Nellie Harden for a thoughtful conversation about parenting stress, emotional regulation, self-worth and the deeper layers underneath parenting reactions.
Nellie shares openly about her upbringing, becoming a mother to four daughters, and how parenting became part of her own healing journey. Together, Nina and Nellie explore how stress responses, childhood experiences and a se...
50. 11 Parenting Lessons From 50 Episodes
Can you believe this is Episode 50 of Your Calm Parenting Path? 🧡
Over the past 50 episodes, this podcast has become a space for honest conversations about the messy, beautiful reality of raising kids while trying to grow alongside them.
In this special milestone episode, Nina reflects on the biggest parenting lessons she’s learned through mindful parenting, coaching, motherhood, and the many conversations shared on the podcast so far.
From perfectionism and parenting guilt to repair, self-compassion, and connection, this episode is a gentle reminder that you do not need to parent perfectly to be a d...
49. Why Punishment Backfires in Sibling Conflict
When siblings fight, it’s easy to step in quickly and reach for consequences.
Send them to their room. Take something away. Try to stop it before it escalates.
But what if punishment is doing more than just stopping the moment?
In this episode, we explore how punishment shapes children’s behaviour, thinking, and relationships - especially with their siblings.
This isn’t about getting it “right” or never using consequences again.
It’s about understanding what’s happening underneath… so you can start responding in a way that builds the skills...
48. Reconnecting With Yourself in Busy Seasons of Parenting, with Meg Summers
If you’ve been feeling a little disconnected from yourself lately, this conversation will feel like a gentle exhale. In this episode, Nina sits down with yoga teacher Meg Summers to explore what it really looks like to reconnect with yourself in the middle of busy family life. Together, they reflect on how our needs shift through different seasons of parenting, and how we can begin to come back to ourselves in a way that feels supportive, not like another thing to do.
You’ll Learn
Why it’s so common to los...47. Understanding Sibling Conflict: What’s Happening Underneath
Sibling fights can feel constant, loud, and completely overwhelming - especially when it seems like they come out of nowhere.
In this episode, we take a step back from the moment of conflict and explore what’s often happening before the fight even begins. Because when we start to understand the build-up underneath sibling tension, everything starts to make a little more sense - and we begin to respond differently.
You’ll Learn
46. When Your Child Sees the World - and Their Stuff - Differently, with Steph West
Have you ever looked at your child’s behaviour and thought… I just don’t get it?
With April being Autism Awareness Month, it felt like an important time to have this conversation - not just about behaviour, but about understanding how our children experience the world.
In this episode, I’m joined by Steph West, a neurodivergent social coach and founder of Starfish Social Club. Steph not only shares her professional insights, but also opens up about her own lived experience, offering a perspective that feels both honest and deeply relatable.
Togeth...
45. Awareness in Parenting (Part 2: Understanding Your Child’s Behaviour)
If your child’s behaviour sometimes feels confusing, frustrating, or even personal, this episode will help you see it in a different way. We explore how behaviour is often a form of communication, and how understanding what’s happening for your child can gently shift how you respond.
You’ll Learn
44. Awareness in Parenting (Part 1: Understanding Your Reactions)
If you’ve ever felt like your reaction in a parenting moment was bigger than the situation, this episode will help you understand why. We explore what’s happening underneath those moments- noticing stressors, triggers, and the unmet needs underneath your reactions - and how awareness can gently shift the way you respond.
You’ll Learn
Why awareness is the first step in changing how you respondThe difference between a stressor and a triggerHow unmet needs sit underneath many parenting reactionsWhat it actually looks like to notice what’s happening in youHow t...43. How Your Home Can Support Your Child’s Wellbeing, with Etienny Trindade
Can the way your home looks and feels actually affect your child’s behaviour, mood, and ability to stay calm?
In this episode, Nina is joined by designer and Happy Healthy Homes founder Etienny Trindade to explore how your home environment can affect your child’s mood, behaviour, and ability to stay calm
You’ll learn simple, practical ways to create a home that supports your child’s wellbeing without expensive renovations. They talk about colours, clutter, sensory input, and how small changes in your space can help children feel safer, more regulated, and more independ...
42. So You Yelled… Now What? | How to Repair After Yelling
You lost your temper… again. And now the guilt is sitting heavy in your chest. If you’ve ever walked away after yelling at your child and thought, that’s not how I wanted to handle that, this episode is for you.
Today we’re talking about what really matters after yelling, why perfect parenting isn’t the goal, and how learning to repair after yelling can actually build stronger connection with your child.
You’ll Learn
Why kids don’t need perfect parentsWhat the “good enough parent” really meansHow repair af...41. The One Question That Turns Conflict Into Connection, with Annmarie Chereso
Conflict is an inevitable part of family life. Whether it’s a bedtime battle, a sibling fight, or a disagreement with your child, these moments can leave everyone feeling frustrated and disconnected.
But what if one simple question could shift the entire energy of those moments?
In this episode, Nina is joined by conscious relationship coach, speaker and bestselling author Annmarie Chereso to explore how parents can move from reactivity to connection.
Annmarie shares the powerful question she teaches parents and couples to help them recognise what’s really driving conflict and h...
40. What's Really Behind Your Parenting Triggers?
Ever had a reaction to your child that felt bigger than the moment?
In this episode, we explore what’s really happening underneath your parenting triggers - and why it’s often not about the shoes, the whining, or the sibling fight at all.
You’ll Learn
Why This E...
39. Different Paths, Same Mum Journey with Pam and Zana
Ever find yourself comparing your motherhood journey to someone else’s?
In this episode, I’m joined by Pam and Zana from the Careers and Cartwheels podcast - and honestly, this conversation felt like a breath of fresh air.
Their honesty, humour and deep respect for each other’s different parenting paths made this such a lovely, grounding chat.
Pam navigates a busy career and a blended family of five kids. Zana homeschools her three boys and embraces home life.
On paper, their days look completely different - but what shines through...
38. When My Calm Slipped (And How I’m Coming Back)
In this episode, Nina shares something vulnerable and real: she’s noticed she hasn’t been as calm as she was mid last year. Over the school holidays, her mindfulness practice slowly slipped, and she felt the impact - more frustration, more reactivity, and less patience. Nina shares what’s been happening behind the scenes, and what she’s gently putting back in place to help her come back to calm.
You’ll Learn
How calm can fade through a “slow drift” (without noticing at first)Why capacity matters (work, t...37. When Co-Parenting Isn’t Working, Could Parallel Parenting Help?
Co-parenting after separation is often presented as the ideal – but what if it feels impossible? In this episode, Nina is joined by Emma Cannon, mum of three and founder of Higher Swing, to explore an alternative approach: parallel parenting.
Together, they unpack why co-parenting doesn’t always work, how parallel parenting after separation can reduce conflict, and how parents can create calmer, safer homes that support children’s wellbeing.
You’ll Learn:
The difference between co-parenting and parallel parentingWhy co-parenting isn’t always realistic after separa...