What if everything you thought you knew about your child's meltdowns was wrong?

According to Dr. Caylin Riley, a general pediatrician and mother of 3 highly sensitive children (HSCs), there's a critical piece of the puzzle most parents are missing.

It's called the "highly sensitive" trait. And it affects a whopping 20% of all kids.

As an HSP (highly sensitive person) herself, Dr. Riley knows firsthand the challenges these unique kids face.

She spent years researching to understand what was making life so hard for her oldest child.

And what she discovered changed everything.

Now, she's on a mission to educate pediatric professionals about this game-changing trait.

So that every child can get the support they need to thrive.

In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Riley pulls back the curtain on:

👉 The key differences between highly sensitive kids and other common diagnoses

👉 Why cookie-cutter parenting advice falls flat for HSCs (and what to do instead)

👉 ...

As a parent, have you ever felt helpless watching your child struggle with big emotions, anxiety or even thoughts of self-harm?

You're not alone. And on Episode 2 of our Powerful Parents series, our next guest has been on the front lines of this battle for over two decades.

Meet Tami Reichert, a pediatric nurse of 23 years turned board-certified nurse coach and soon-to-be psychiatric nurse practitioner.

Tami has seen it all in the pediatric behavioral health emergency room. 

From kids unable to regulate their emotions, to heartbreaking cases of self-harm and suicide attempts.

As a mother of two teen girls herself, Tami knows the unique challenges parents face in today's world.

And she's on a mission to equip families with the skills to break generational trauma and raise resilient, emotionally regulated children.

In this powerful episode, Tami pulls back the curtain on:

- The alarming trends she's seen in the pediatric ER and what parents must know

- Pr...

What if you could wave a magic wand and make your child's daily meltdowns disappear... in just 48 hours? 

Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, Janiffer Stewart, founder of The Empowered Parentpreneur Hub, did exactly that.

And she's sharing her story on the premier episode of our new Powerful Parents series on our podcast, Parent Your Highly Sensitive Child Like a Ninja.

Janiffer is no stranger to struggle. She lost nearly everything and had to rebuild her life from scratch, with just $5 to her name. 

Talk about resilience.

Now, she helps other parents leverage their unique stories to create stronger, more empowered versions of themselves.

And when it came to her own sensitive child? She cracked the code on his 4-times-a-day meltdowns...

In a record-breaking 2 days.

So what was Janiffer's secret? 

You'll have to tune in to find out. But here's a sneak peek at what she shares:

- Why traditional parenting advice failed her sensitive son (and wh...

Do you ever feel like traditional parenting advice just doesn't work for your sensitive child?

Like no matter what you try, the meltdowns, power struggles and emotional rollercoasters keep happening?

You're not alone.

The truth is, highly sensitive children need a radically different approach.

Their big feelings, perceptiveness and emotional intensity are actually incredible gifts - but without the right parenting tools, these gifts often manifest as challenging behaviors instead.

The great news is, with a few key shifts, you can start to see your child's sensitivity as their superpower.

Here are 3 principles parents follow to raise exceptional sensitive kids:

1. They recognize meltdowns are a sign of a dysregulated brain, not a "bad kid". Traditional discipline often backfires for sensitive kids. Successful parents focus on co-regulation and teaching coping skills for big feelings.
   
   
2. They proactively talk about emotions, experiences and make space for all feelings...

If you're the parent of a highly sensitive child, ineffective behaviors like refusal, shut down, and meltdowns can feel like your daily battleground.

You worry you'll be seen as "those parents" whose child is always having a fit.

You feel guilty that your other kids get less attention because your sensitive child takes all the energy.

And secretly, you may even resent your child at times for hijacking your family's peace and joy.

I want you to know, it's not your fault. And you're not alone in this struggle.

Traditional parenting approaches and discipline simply don't work for highly sensitive children. Their brains are wired differently.

But the good news is, you can eliminate those daily battles and bring more calm to your home.

Here are 3 simple shifts you can make starting today:

Create a Meltdown Prevention Plan

Look for patterns and triggers in your child's environment that lead to meltdowns. Eliminating some of these triggers can stop many meltdo...

As a parent of a highly sensitive child, you're already blazing your own trail.

You've rejected the old, harsh discipline methods that you grew up with. 

Instead, you're committed to raising an emotionally resilient child using positive parenting strategies.

But when Grandma and Grandpa see you comforting your child through a meltdown instead of sending them to their room, the disapproving looks and unsolicited advice can make you second guess yourself.

How do you stay firm in your nontraditional parenting style when facing criticism from the older generation?

Here are 3 key principles to keep in mind:

👉 Lead with your "why" 👈

Explain to your parents or in-laws the research and reasons behind your gentle parenting approach. Help them see that you're not being "soft", but rather intentional in raising an emotionally healthy child.

👉 Find common ground in shared values 👈

Emphasize that you share the same end goal: raising a resilient, capable adult. Yo...

If you’ve got a sensitive, “strong-willed” child who seems to have a meltdown over everything, you might be wondering:

"Is gentle parenting even possible for us?"

You’ve tried being calm, patient, and understanding, but your child still pushes back—hard. 

The endless tears, the screaming, the arguments... it’s exhausting. 

And when gentle parenting doesn’t seem to work, it’s easy to feel like you’re failing.

But here’s the thing most people don’t understand:

Gentle parenting isn’t just for “gentle kids.” 

At the core, it’s for all kids—but the sensitive child needs more structure than just “show compassion and patience.”

The problem? 

Sensitive kids don’t respond to the same cookie-cutter advice you’ve probably heard a thousand times. 

And when their meltdowns spiral out of control, it’s tempting to resort to yelling, threats, or giving in just to stop the chaos.

But the truth is, none of those approaches work long-term.

And here’s why th...

the next meltdown, the next power struggle just to get out the door.

Imagine having the tools to defuse the emotional bombs before they go off, to communicate in a way your child can actually hear and respond to, to create a home that feels loving and calm instead of chaotic and overwhelming.

Imagine your sensitive child being able to express their big feelings without the screaming, the tears, the all-consuming outbursts. 

Imagine them building resilience, finding their voice, learning to thrive.

I know it might feel impossible right now. 

You're exhausted, overwhelmed, maybe even hopeless after trying everything and seeing no change. 

The parenting books gathering dust on your shelves, the sticker charts and time-outs and "calm down corners" that only seem to make things worse...

The daily meltdowns are stealing your peace, your presence, your joy. 

You love your child more than anything, but their sensitivity is throwing your whole family off balance....

The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes a flurry of festive parties and family gatherings.

For highly sensitive children, this time of year can be especially challenging. Their vivid imaginations conjure up visions of the perfect celebration, complete with harmonious relatives, dream gifts, and picture-perfect moments.

But when reality falls short of these elaborate expectations (as it often does), sensitive kids can find themselves drowning in disappointment and frustration.

If your child has ever had a meltdown at a holiday party because the gift wasn't quite right or the cousins weren't acting according to plan, you're not alone.

Highly sensitive children feel deeply and imagine thoroughly. They notice every detail and nuance, which can be both a blessing and a curse when navigating the unpredictability of holiday gatherings.

So, what can you do to help your sensitive child cope when their big dreams collide with less-than-perfect realities?

👉 Valida...

If you're the parent of a highly sensitive child, you've probably tried everything to help them manage their meltdowns.

Breathing exercises, counting to ten, talking it out afterwards... but nothing seems to stick.

It's an endless cycle of reactivity, and it's exhausting for everyone involved.

But here's the thing: it's not your fault, and it's not your child's fault either.

The real problem is that most therapists and parenting strategies focus on reactive care. They wait for a meltdown to happen, then try to slap a band-aid skill on it and hope for the best.

But that's like trying to build a house without a foundation. It might look okay for a minute, but it won't stand up to the first big storm.

Your child needs a systematic approach to emotional regulation. They need to understand not just WHAT skills to use, but HOW and WHEN to use them.

This isn't something that can be taught in the heat of the moment. It's a process of building emotional awareness and resilience over time...