Ann Kaplan Parent Coach
In this weeks episode I confessed how I struggle to meditate, but I always come back and begin again, begin again, and it’s the same with being a present parent. We just need to return again and again and again. Tune into this weeks episode to dive into how to practice presence with your kiddos because at the end of the day - that’s what they really need from you.
Ever feel like your brain is stuck in a tug-of-war?
One side says:
�“Be stricter. Hold the line. Get the kids under control.”
The other side says:
�“Relax. Don’t be so intense. Let them be kids.”
And somehow… both sides make you feel like you’re doing it wrong.
So you ping-pong back and forth.
�One day you’re rigid.
�The next day you’re exhausted and giving up.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not broken.
In Internal Family Systems, we’d say you’re caught between two parts of you — each convinced it’s protecting you (and your kids).
One part is trying to keep everything under control.
�Another part is trying to protect your freedom, your sanity, or your connection with your kids.
And when those two parts start fighting?
You end up feeling like you only have two terrible choices.
This week on the podcast, I talk about why that happens — and what actually helps you step out of that tug-of-war.
Because the goal isn’t picking which side wins.
The goal is getting you back in the driver’s seat.
If this dynamic shows up in your parenting (or honestly… everywhere else too), this episode will probably feel very familiar.
I’ll see you over on the podcast. 🎧
02/26/2026
When your two-year-old hits you, the real work isn’t stopping the hitting.
It’s regulating yourself.
Most parents think the goal is:
“How do I make this behavior stop?”
But toddlers hit for completely developmentally normal reasons.
Overwhelm. Frustration. No language. Flooded nervous system.
Understanding that doesn’t excuse the behavior.
It stabilizes you.
And when you’re calm, you can say:
“We don’t hit. That’s too bad. We need space.”
Clear. Neutral. Boundaried.
No shame.
No explosion.
No power struggle.
That’s discipline.
Punishment is about making them feel bad.
Discipline is about teaching.
If your toddler is hitting and you feel rage, panic, or shame — you’re not broken.
Your nervous system just got activated.
And that’s the actual work.
If this is your house right now, I go deeper into this on the podcast, including how I use Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help parents stay grounded while holding real authority.
You don’t need to be harsher.
You need to be steadier.
Would love to know — what happens inside you when your toddler hits? Let me know in the comments.
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