Podcast
Confessions of a Parent Coach
Hosted by Ann Kaplan, Parent Coach · EN
Welcome to Confessions of a Parent Coach, the podcast where you'll learn that even parenting experts like me, Ann Kaplan, mother of four, and your host won't have all the answers. I believe that once you realize there's no such thing as a perfect parent, you can achieve fabulous behavior and amazing relationships with your kids.
42episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Is Your Parenting Working?
Jan 700:22:46Tap to summarizeIt's not working! I hear something like this from clients every week. When we're trying something new, we want results quickly to confirm that what we're doing is working, right? But, sometimes looking for that result is the very thing stopping our efforts from "working"! When we don't see the outcome we want quickly enough, we can end up pivoting too soon, making knee-jerk changes without thoughtful evaluation of what needs to be tweaked, or resorting to extreme measures that never work at all, just to make ourselves feel like we're doing something. Listen to this week's episode to learn more about what happens when we focus too much on external confirmation, and what to focus on instead. The answer might surprise you! As a coach, it's my job to have these little tricks up my sleeve for you - to help you step back and reframe the way you look at your goals, to keep you on track in your pursuit of them, to show you what IS working, even when it looks like nothing is, and to help you identify what changes are needed with insight and intention, instead of frustration or desperation. We all need someone like this in our corner, and I happen to be a GREAT "someone like this" to have in YOUR corner. Reach out to me today to schedule a free consultation. Tell me about what's not working in your life, and I'll help you get yourself back on track: https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discovery-call
Transcribe →New Year's Eve | Resolution & Intention
Dec 3100:21:46Tap to summarizeNo resolutions for me this year, thanks. Are resolutions the healthiest, most life-affirming way for us to pursue growth? Maybe for some, but for many of us they are either unnecessary or painful. Why not explore the ideas of intention, attraction, and openness instead? Listen to this week's episode to learn more about the difference between resolution and intention, to hear a few examples of what that means to me, and to get a little peak at MY intentions for 2026. Don't forget that right now I am honoring 2025 prices for both the 2026 retreat and all coaching packages. Reach out to me TODAY so I can help make your 2026 visions come true. 2026 prices go into effect mid-January. Set up a free Discovery Call! https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall
Transcribe →My Kids' Enneatypes and How I Parent Them Differently
Mar 5, 202500:33:41Tap to summarizeWhat your kid wants you to know: Decoding your child with the Enneagram How many times do we ask ourselves unanswerable questions as parents? What does this kid need from me? What's going on inside them? What do I need to know that I'm missing? Why are they doing what they're doing? Wouldn't it be awesome if we could answer some of those questions? In this week's episode of Confessions Of A Parenting Coach I show you how The Enneagram can offer answers and how I parent my kids using the Enneagram and invite you to explore the possibility for yourself. In April, I'm leading an in-person workshop here in Denver: The Living Enneagram - Your Personal Roadmap. If this stuff is as fascinating to you as it is to me, sign up for this morning of exploration (and snacks!) Learn more about the workshop here: https://www.annkaplanparentcoach.com/livingenneagram And of course you have so many additional ways to work with me and the Enneagram! Set up a free Discovery Call and share your goals for growth, parenting and self discovery with me. I can't wait to hear it all! https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall
Transcribe →Leap Before You Look
Feb 26, 202500:26:27Tap to summarizeLeap before you look. Did I say that wrong? Nope! In this week's episode of Confessions of a Parenting Coach, let's explore why looking before you leap is a TERRIBLE strategy! I will walk you through what the Enneagram calls your Centers Of Intelligence (the head, heart, and gut) and help you see why the head center keeps us stuck when we over-utilize it. Getting where you need to go in life and in parenting might depend on you deciding to GO FOR IT and trusting that your incredible brain will make it happen for you after you leap. If you're ready to help your kids maximize all the potential in their beautiful childhood, set up a free Discovery Call! I will learn about your family, help you see the roadmap to the family dynamics of your dreams, and decide if I am the person to help you get there. Click on the link to book it now! https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall
Transcribe →When it's Not Your Kid's Fault
Feb 19, 202500:17:16Tap to summarizeWhy discipline a child whose misbehavior isn't their fault? When I get this kind of question, I know that a parent thinks of discipline as punishment, and changing that mindset can be a revelation for most parents. Most of us were raised to think of the world in terms of blame, fault, guilt, crime, punishment, etc. But great parenting transcends this kind of reductive approach. In this week's episode of Confessions of a Parenting Coach, I talk about this default thinking and the reasons why, YES, our kids do still need consequences for their actions, regardless of who is to blame for them. This mindset shift is crucial for us to be able to parent non-punitively and through the lens of strong, healthy relationships. If you're ready to help your kids maximize all the potential in their beautiful childhood, set up a free Discovery Call! I will learn about your family, help you see the roadmap to the family dynamics of your dreams, and decide if I am the person to help you get there. Click on the link to book it now! https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall
Transcribe →Flooding
Feb 12, 202500:19:19Tap to summarizeHow can you tell when you've gone too far with someone? Have you ever felt yourself ramp up with excitement in a conversation with your child, only to realize that they seem to be on a different planet, not plugged into your message at all? Especially if the conversation is about a mistake they made or a lesson you want to teach, your child could be feeling emotionally flooded. In this week's episode of Confessions of a Parenting Coach, I will teach you what flooding is, how it looks in others, and how to notice when it's happening. If you're ready to help your kids maximize all the potential in their beautiful childhood, set up a free Discovery Call! I will learn about your family, help you see the roadmap to the family dynamics of your dreams, and decide if I am the person to help you get there. Click on the link to book it now! https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall
Transcribe →Growing Pains
Feb 5, 202500:27:55Tap to summarizeGrowth is painful. Is there any other way? We use the expression 'growing pains' all the time, but how much of your energy and attention goes toward avoiding or helping your kids avoid the tough times we need to grow? In this week's episode of Confessions of a Parenting Coach, I explore the Cycle Of Growth and specifically discuss resistance—the experience we all have when facing growth. Listen in to learn how to identify when you or your child might be in a resistance phase and how to embrace those times as the most important and beautiful moments of life! If you're ready to help your kids maximize all the potential in their beautiful childhood, set up a free Discovery Call! I will learn about your family, help you see the roadmap to the family dynamics of your dreams, and decide if I am the person to help you get there. Click on the link to book it now: https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall
Transcribe →Sibling Drama
Jan 29, 202500:28:16Tap to summarizeWant your kids to be each other's Ride Or Die? Having a sibling is a beautiful gift that our kids seem to squander at every opportunity—fighting, hurting each other, and being cruel. But is that really squandering the gift? In this week's episode of Confessions Of A Parenting Coach, I discuss the reason behind the universal friction between siblings. There is a reason for it, and there are things we can do to help our kids truly take advantage of the magic of having a sibling. If you're ready to help your kids maximize all the potential in their beautiful childhood, set up a free Discovery Call! I will learn about your family, help you see the roadmap to the family dynamics of your dreams, and decide if I am the person to help you get there. Click on the link to book it now! https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall
Transcribe →3 Keys to a Successful Second Semester
Jan 22, 202500:23:26Tap to summarizeWant to finish the school year strong? Hoping this semester can redeem last semester? This week's episode of Confessions Of A Parenting Coach will get you on the right track. Listen in to hear my formula for a positive school year and leave your self-sabotaging habits behind! If you're ready to help your kids land on their feet, set up a free Discovery Call! I will learn about your family, help you see the roadmap to the family dynamics of your dreams, and decide if I am the person to help you get there. Click on the link to book it now! https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall
Transcribe →Inhale...Exhale - The Rhythm of Life
Jan 15, 202500:25:52Tap to summarizeAre you OK with life's ebb and flow? I often hear frustration or defeat from clients when they notice that their energy or consistency in their new parenting work has waned. We can get down on ourselves for not maintaining things at a perfect, even level, but is that really even possible? In this week's episode of Confessions Of A Parenting Coach I explore the rhythmic nature of life and help you settle into that natural rise and fall with ease, instead of extreme overcorrections when we notice ourselves in a valley instead of a peak. If you're ready to get help approaching your goals with attunement to your natural rhythm, set up a free Discovery Call! I will learn about your family, help you see the roadmap to the family dynamics of your dreams, and decide if I am the person to help you get there. https://calendly.com/annkaplan/discoverycall
Transcribe →