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What happens when mindful parenting feels impossible because you’re still having nightmares about your own childhood? Today I’m talking with Hunter Clarke-Fields, bestselling author and host of the world’s top parenting podcast.
We get real about the shame of being the mom with the temper when society expects you to regulate everyone’s emotions. Hunter shares how she went from cowering behind doors as a child to repeating her father’s rage—until she discovered it was her nervous system, not her character, causing those explosive moments. We discuss why parenting books feel like guides from the lobby to the first floor when you’re stuck in the sub-basement, and how self-compassion becomes your ladder out.
Hunter explains her concept of “yelling skillfully,” why being a perfect parent would actually damage your kids, and how practicing mindfulness in calm moments prepares you for the chaos. If you’ve ever felt like a failure because you can’t just implement that great parenting advice, this conversation will change everything about how you approach those triggered moments.
More about Hunter Clarke-Fields:
Hunter Clarke-Fields is a mindfulness mentor, host of the Mindful Mama podcast, creator of the Mindful Parenting course, and author of the book, Raising Good Humans. She helps moms bring more calm into their daily lives and cooperation in their families. Hunter has over twenty years of experience in meditation and yoga practices and has taught mindfulness to thousands worldwide. She is the mother of two active daughters, who challenge her everyday to hone her craft!
Topics covered on Mindful Parenting:
- How can post-traumatic parents implement mindful parenting practices to reduce reactivity and yelling?
- Why is self-compassion the necessary first step before trying to change your parenting behaviors?
- How does the expectation of “perfect parenting” actually harm both parents and children?
- What role does authentic emotional expression play in creating healthy parent-child relationships?
- How can mindful parenting practices help interrupt patterns of reactivity that we inherited from our own parents?
- Why do traditional parenting resources often fail post-traumatic parents?
- How can we model healthy emotional regulation for our children even when we’re struggling?
Connect with Dr. Robyn Koslowitz:
- Website: www.drrobynkoslowitz.com
- Post Traumatic Parenting Guidebook
- Come say hi on Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
- Book: Post-Traumatic Parenting: Break the Cycle and Become the Parent You Always Wanted to Be
Connect with Hunter Clarke-Fields:
- Website: www.mindfulmamamentor.com
- Podcast: Mindful Mama: Raising Kind, Confident Kids Without Losing Your Cool
- Instagram: @mindfulmamamentor
- Book: Raising Good Humans: A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids
- Raising Good Humans Every Day: 50 Simple Ways to Press Pause, Stay Present, and Connect with Your Kids
- Journal: Raising Good Humans Guided Journal: Your Space to Write, Reflect, and Set Intentions for Mindful Parenting
Resources from this episode:
- Emotional Labor: The Invisible Work Shaping Our Lives and How to Claim Our Power by Rose Hackman
- Soul to Soul Parenting: A Guide to Raising a Spiritually Conscious Family by Annie Burnside
More about Post Traumatic Parenting:
“How can I give my kids a normal childhood, when mine was anything but?” Post-Traumatic Parenting is the podcast for anyone who has ever asked themselves that question. Robyn Koslowitz, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and Post-Traumatic Parent, combines the fields of post-traumatic recovery and growth with our best understanding of how to raise Little Humans. Through interviews with experts in the fields of behavior science, psychology, trauma, and child development, as well as interviews with toy developers, children’s book authors, and anyone else who makes childhood a delight, Dr. Koslowitz explores how trauma impacts our parenting, and how to hack our traumas into superpowers and super-parenting.
Each week, Dr. Koslowitz unpacks how to survive and thrive as a Post-Traumatic Parent. She shares behind-the-scenes insights into the research that underlies what we know about parenting, child development, and trauma recovery. Each podcast provides actionable tips about how to transform our Post-Traumatic Parenting and how to turn our parenting journey into a post-traumatic growth experience. Dr. Koslowitz interviews some of the famous names in these fields, and some experts you’ve never heard of (but should have!). Ready to go from survivor to thriver? Ready to become the parent you’ve always dreamed of being? Join us!
