What To Do When Your Kid Tells You To “Shut Up”
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If you’ve ever tried gentle parenting and still wondered what to do when your kid says shut up to you, this episode is for you.
When your kid tells you to shut up, your face gets hot and your brain can go blank. In this solo episode, I explain what is usually going on underneath those words and walk you through five calm steps for kids third grade and up, plus an easy adjustment for younger kids. You’ll also hear why your own triggers matter and why you deserve the same pause you give your kids.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why “shut up” usually means overwhelm or a need for more say, not disrespect
- The question that gets you further than “what do I do?”: what happened right before
- Five calm steps for kids third grade and up: let the shock land, get quiet and don’t tower, name it and leave, take the time you need, and come back to repair
- How to adjust for younger kids with a simple “I need to go to the bathroom, I’ll be right back”
- How to work with your own triggers and why you deserve a tap out
Resources mentioned in this episode
- The Happy Home Ladder
- No Guilt Mom Inner Circle
- The Best Mom is a Happy Mom
- Penn State study on harsh parenting and children’s stress regulation
- Laura Markham on parenting triggers (Today’s Parent)
- No Guilt Mom on Instagram (share your strategy on the five steps post)
- NoGuiltMom.com
- Follow the podcast on Spotify
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
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