Be A Better Parent | For Every Child It Takes A Village... The Same Goes For Every Parent!

What if your baby could communicate when they need to pee or poop long before they can say, “I need to go potty”?

In this episode of the Be A Better Parent Podcast, Celia Kibler welcomes Andrea Olson, author of Go Diaper Free and The Tiny Potty Training Book, and an educator specializing in elimination communication (EC).

Andrea shares how she discovered elimination communication while preparing for her first child and how she went on to use the approach with all six of her children. Together, Celia and Andrea challenge some common assumptions about diapers and potty training while exploring a different way to think about how babies communicate their basic needs.

The conversation isn't about being a “perfect” diaper-free parent. Andrea explains that EC can be done part-time, used simply as an exposure technique, or adapted around a family's schedule and capacity. Parents who work or use daycare can still incorporate it into their routines.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
What elimination communication is and how it works
How babies can communicate their need to use the bathroom
Why certain moments—like waking up, after eating, diaper changes, and transitions—can be natural opportunities to offer the potty
How responding to a baby's signals can strengthen communication and connection
Why parents don't have to go completely diaper-free to benefit from EC
How working parents and daycare families can adapt the approach
Why parents may need to change their own habits when transitioning away from diapers
The importance of boundaries, guidance, and respectful parenting
Why parenting doesn't have to be a one-size-fits-all experience

One of the biggest messages Andrea shares is simple:

You don't have to do everything. Just start with one small thing.

For a newborn, that might mean offering the potty after waking. For an older, mobile baby, it might mean noticing when they're about to poop and giving them the opportunity to finish on a potty. For an older toddler, it may mean intentionally planning a potty-training experience.

The goal isn't perfection. It's paying attention, experimenting, and learning how your child communicates.

Celia and Andrea also talk about the pressure parents face to follow a specific parenting formula. Whether it's diapers, potty training, screen time, sleep, or other parenting decisions, parents can easily feel guilty when they don't follow what everyone else says they “should” be doing.

This conversation is a reminder that you know your family’s capacity best. You can learn, adjust, ask for help, and choose an approach that works for your child and your circumstances.

And perhaps most importantly, you don't have to parent alone. Having people who have been there before can make the learning process easier and give parents the confidence to try something new.

If you've ever wondered whether babies can really communicate their bathroom needs, felt overwhelmed by potty training, or simply want to explore a different approach, this episode is worth a listen.

Take one small step. You don't have to change everything at once.

To learn more about Andrea Olson and her work with elimination communication and potty learning, visit GoDiaperFree.com.

To stay connected with Celia Kibler, visit BeABetterParent.com and explore the Be A Better Parent app and other resources designed to help you create a calmer, more connected family.

Visit TimeForSkool.com and take the Parenting Success Snapshot. This quick assessment will help you better understand your family’s unique strengths and challenges so you can begin identifying the parenting shifts that may create the greatest impact.

You don't have to do it all. Just take the next step.

Have you ever heard yourself say something to your child and suddenly thought, “Oh my gosh… I sound just like my mom or dad.”

Maybe it’s the way you respond when you’re frustrated, discipline your child, handle conflict, or think about what a “good” parent should be.

Sometimes, the patterns we bring into parenting started long before we ever had children.

In this episode of the Be A Better Parent Podcast, Celia Kibler welcomes Dr. Kalyani Gopal, a clinical psychologist with more than 35 years of experience working with families. Together, they explore how our childhood experiences, family relationships, and deeply held beliefs can influence the way we parent—and how unhealthy patterns can sometimes be passed from one generation to the next.

Because our children learn from more than what we tell them. They watch how we communicate, handle emotions, respond to conflict, and treat the people around us.

And sometimes, without realizing it, we repeat the very patterns we once promised ourselves we would never repeat.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
How childhood experiences can shape the way we parent
Why we sometimes repeat behaviors we swore we’d never use
How unhealthy family patterns can continue across generations
How triggers can cause us to fall back into familiar responses
Why awareness is the first step toward changing unhealthy patterns
How social media can influence our beliefs about parenting
Why asking for help and learning new skills is a strength

One of the most important reminders from this conversation is that you may have inherited certain patterns, but you don’t have to pass them on.

Breaking a generational cycle isn't about blaming your parents or becoming a perfect parent. It’s about recognizing what you carry from your past and learning to respond differently when those old patterns are triggered.

Dr. Gopal reminds parents that none of us come with a manual. We’re all learning, and asking for support is nothing to be ashamed of.

If you’ve ever recognized pieces of your own childhood showing up in your parenting, wondered why certain situations trigger strong reactions, or want to create healthier patterns for your children, this episode offers insight, compassion, and hope.

As you listen, ask yourself:
Am I parenting the child in front of me, or am I sometimes parenting from the childhood I experienced?
To learn more about Dr. Kalyani Gopal and her work, visit SafeCHR.org.

📖 Get Dr. Gopal’s book/workbook: Strong Roots, Safe Wings

To stay connected with Celia Kibler, visit BeABetterParent.com and explore the Be A Better Parent app and other parenting resources.

Visit TimeForSkool.com and take the Parenting Success Snapshot. This quick assessment will help you better understand your family’s unique strengths and challenges so you can begin identifying the parenting shifts that may create the greatest impact.

You don’t have to be perfect to break a cycle. You just have to become aware of it—and be willing to choose something different.

Because the patterns we inherit from our families can shape us but they don't have to define what happens next.

Have you ever looked at something happening in your relationship or family and thought, “Where did this come from?”

Sometimes the answer reaches much further back than we realize.

The way we handle conflict.

The way we communicate.

The way we respond to anger, silence, or emotional pain.

So much of what feels normal to us can come from what we experienced growing up.

In this episode of the Be A Better Parent Podcast, Celia Kibler welcomes Ama K. Karikari, Esq. back to the conversation to explore how generational cycles of dysfunction, unhealthy relationships, and abuse can continue from one generation to the next and, most importantly, how we can begin breaking those cycles.

Because children don't just learn from what we tell them.

They learn from what they see every day.

The relationships they witness can become their baseline for what feels normal, even when that “normal” isn't healthy.

In this honest and deeply personal conversation, Celia and Ama talk about the experiences that can shape our relationship patterns, why we sometimes recreate dynamics we promised ourselves we'd never repeat, and what it takes to become aware of those patterns before passing them on to our children.
In this episode, you'll hear:
How childhood experiences can shape what we accept and tolerate in adult relationships
Why the relationship dynamics children witness can become their definition of “normal”
How yelling, emotional withdrawal, and the silent treatment can affect both partners and children
Why we may unknowingly recreate familiar relationship patterns—even when we consciously want something different
How becoming aware of your own history can help you understand the patterns showing up in your relationships
Why breaking generational cycles starts with recognizing what was once considered normal
How parents can begin creating healthier relationship patterns for the next generation
One of the most powerful reminders in this episode:

What you inherited may have shaped you, but it doesn't have to determine what you pass on.

Breaking a cycle doesn't mean blaming your parents.

It doesn't mean pretending the past didn't happen.

And it doesn't mean you have to change everything overnight.
It starts with awareness.

When you understand where your patterns come from, you can begin making different choices and those choices can create a very different experience for your children.

Because the way we treat one another becomes part of what our children learn about relationships.

And changing that pattern can be one of the most meaningful things we do for the generations that come after us.

If you've ever wondered why certain patterns keep showing up in your relationships, or you're determined to give your children a healthier emotional foundation than the one you may have experienced, this episode offers an honest conversation filled with insight, personal experience, and hope.

Tune in to this episode of the Be A Better Parent Podcast and remember: inherited doesn't mean inevitable.

To learn more about Ama K. Karikari, Esq. and her work supporting women healing from toxic relationships and abuse, visit www.amakkarikari.com/soaring-sisters-circle Ama also offers a free call for those looking for support.

To stay connected with Celia Kibler, visit BeABetterParent.com and explore the Be A Better Parent app and other parenting resources designed to help you create a calmer, more connected family.

Visit TimeForSkool.com and take the Parenting Success Snapshot. This quick assessment will help you better understand your family’s unique strengths and challenges so you can begin identifying the parenting shifts that may create the greatest impact.

You don't have to repeat what came before you. You can be the one who starts something different.

Have you ever wondered just how much a father’s presence can shape a child’s life?

Fathers play a powerful role in the emotional, social, and personal development of their children but being an involved dad isn't always about having all the answers or getting everything right.

In this episode of the Be A Better Parent Podcast, Celia Kibler sits down with Dr. Ben to talk about the unique impact fathers can have on their children and why showing up, staying connected, and being actively involved can make such a meaningful difference.

Because children don't just need parents who provide for them.
They need parents who are present.
They need connection.
They need encouragement.
And they need to know that their dads are there for them through the everyday moments as well as the big ones.

In this thoughtful and encouraging conversation, Celia and Dr. Ben explore what father involvement can look like in real life and why the small, consistent ways dads connect with their children can have a lasting impact.

In this episode, you'll hear:
Why a father's presence can have such a meaningful impact on a child's development
What being an involved father really looks like beyond simply providing for a family
How everyday moments can strengthen the bond between fathers and their children
Why children benefit from having dads who are emotionally present and engaged
How fathers can build stronger connections through listening, encouragement, and shared experiences
Why showing up consistently matters more than trying to be a perfect parent
How the relationship between fathers and children can continue to influence them as they grow
One of the most important reminders in this episode:
You don't have to be a perfect dad to make a powerful difference in your child's life. You just have to keep showing up.

That doesn't mean every day will go smoothly.
It doesn't mean you'll always know what to say.
And it definitely doesn't mean you won't make mistakes.
It means being willing to connect, listen, learn, and be present.
Because some of the moments that seem small to us can become the memories and experiences our children carry with them for years.

If you're a dad, raising children alongside a dad, or simply want to better understand the important role fathers can play in a child's life, this conversation offers thoughtful insights and encouragement for creating stronger family connections.

Take a listen to this episode of the Be A Better Parent Podcast and discover why the Dad Effect can be so powerful—and how being present today can help shape your child's tomorrow.

To stay connected with Celia Kibler, follow @beabetterparentdotcom and explore more support through the Be A Better Parent Skool community at skool.com/beabetterparent.

You can also connect with Dr. Ben through the resources shared in this episode and continue exploring ways to support healthy, connected families.

And if you want parenting support right when real life is happening, be sure to download the Be A Better Parent app. It offers on-demand guidance, practical tools, and real-time support to help you respond with more calm, clarity, and confidence right when you need it most.

Because you don’t need more parenting tips you need to know what will make the biggest difference for your family.

Have you ever finished another parenting book, listened to another podcast, or watched another parenting video and thought:

“Why do I still feel like I’m making this up as I go?”

You’re not alone.

Parents today have access to more information than ever before. There are endless tips, opinions, strategies, and experts telling us what to do.

But when every situation comes with a different answer, parenting can start to feel overwhelming, confusing, and impossible to get right.

In this episode of the Be A Better Parent Podcast, Celia Kibler shares why more information isn’t always the answer and why the right advice at the wrong time may not create the change your family needs.

Because parenting isn’t about learning 50 new techniques.

It’s about discovering the one shift that can help move your family forward.

Every family has strengths.

Every family has challenges.

And every family has its own unique puzzle to put together.

In this encouraging and practical episode, Celia explains how identifying the core issue behind recurring challenges can help parents move beyond temporary fixes and create meaningful, lasting change.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why collecting more parenting tips doesn’t always lead to better results
How to identify the challenges that may be creating stress, conflict, and overwhelm in your home
Why treating the symptoms without addressing the core issue can keep the same problems coming back
How small, intentional shifts can lead to more cooperation, calmer mornings, and less yelling
Why consistency and follow-through are essential for building trust and respect
How giving more attention to positive choices can encourage children to repeat those behaviors
Why parenting is less about being perfect and more about being intentional and prepared
How understanding your family’s unique strengths and challenges can help you choose the right next step

One of the most important reminders in this episode:

You are not 50 parenting tips away from a better family. You may be just one meaningful shift away.

That doesn’t mean parenting will suddenly become easy.

It doesn’t mean there will never be frustration, overwhelm, or difficult days.

And it definitely doesn’t mean you have to become a perfect parent.

It means you can stop guessing.

You can learn what your family needs most.

And you can build a strong, successful foundation one step at a time.

Because you shouldn’t have to spend your parenting journey simply trying to survive.

Your family deserves the opportunity to thrive.

And when parents feel empowered and prepared, they can create calmer homes, stronger relationships, more cooperation, and the kind of connection children carry with them into adulthood.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by conflicting parenting advice or wondering what you should focus on first, this episode will help you look beyond quick fixes and begin finding a clearer path forward.

Take a listen and remember: you don’t have to know every parenting trick. You just need the right support, the right tools, and a clear understanding of what to do next.

Ready to discover where your family is already winning, where you may be feeling challenged, and what might be missing?

Visit TimeForSkool.com and take the Parenting Success Snapshot. This quick assessment will help you better understand your family’s unique strengths and challenges so you can begin identifying the parenting shifts that may create the greatest impact.

You can also connect with Celia and explore more parenting support at BeABetterParent.com, including practical resources, the Be A Better Parent app, and a supportive community designed to help you create a calmer, more connected, and happier home.

You don’t have to do this alone.

You don’t have to keep guessing.

You can take the next step with greater clarity, confidence, and hope.