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

How shame, withdrawal, and approval-based parenting quietly affect self-worth.

Have you ever found yourself saying things like, "I'm disappointed in you," giving your child the silent treatment after a difficult moment, or withholding affection until they apologized or behaved differently?

Most parents have.

Not because we don't love our children.

But because many of us were raised with the belief that approval, affection, and connection should be earned.

And without realizing it, we can sometimes pass those same messages on to our own kids.

In this episode of the Raising Eyebrows Miniseries, Celia Kibler and Dr. Kailey Buller explore one of the most common and often unintentional parenting mistakes: conditional love.

Because every child needs guidance, accountability, and boundaries.

But they also need to know that their worth is never tied to their behavior, achievements, mistakes, or ability to meet our expectations.

In this honest and thought-provoking conversation, Celia and Dr. Kailey unpack how shame, withdrawal, criticism, and approval-based parenting can quietly shape a child's sense of self. They also discuss what it looks like to hold children accountable while still communicating unconditional love, safety, and belonging.
In this episode, you'll hear:
What conditional love looks like in everyday parenting moments
How shame differs from healthy accountability and discipline
Why children need to feel loved even when their behavior needs correcting
The lasting impact of approval-based parenting on confidence and self-worth
How withdrawal, criticism, and emotional distance can affect parent-child relationships
Why mistakes are opportunities for learning—not evidence of a child's value
Practical ways to set boundaries without using shame or guilt
How to build stronger emotional safety and connection within your family
One of the most powerful reminders in this episode:

A child's behavior may need correction, but their worth never does.

That doesn't mean there should be no consequences.

It doesn't mean lowering expectations.

And it definitely doesn't mean letting children do whatever they want.

It means separating who your child is from what your child does.

Because children who know they are loved even when they struggle, fail, or make mistakes develop the confidence to learn, grow, and take responsibility for their actions.

And children who feel emotionally safe are far more likely to come to us when they need support the most.

If you've ever wondered whether your discipline approach is building connection or creating distance, or if you're trying to break parenting patterns you experienced growing up, this episode offers practical insights and compassionate reminders that can help you parent with greater clarity and confidence.

Tune in to this episode of Raising Eyebrows your weekly dose of sanity in a world full of parenting noise.

We're so glad you're here.

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. Kailey Buller at @vitalswithdrbuller for thoughtful, evidence-based support around motherhood, family health, and raising children with confidence.

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.

Mud puddles, imagination, movement, messes… and why it all matters.

Have you ever watched your child jump into a mud puddle, build an elaborate imaginary world, climb higher than you expected, or spend hours creating games out of things that weren't even toys?

If so, you've witnessed something powerful.

Because what looks like "just play" is actually some of the most important work of childhood.

In a world filled with packed schedules, screens, structured activities, and pressure to constantly achieve, it can be easy to forget something simple:

Kids need space to be kids.

In this episode of the Raising Eyebrows Miniseries, Celia Kibler and Dr. Kailey Buller explore why play, imagination, movement, exploration, and even a little messiness are essential parts of healthy child development.

Because play isn't a distraction from learning.

It's learning.

It's how children develop creativity, confidence, resilience, problem-solving skills, and trust in their own abilities.

In this thoughtful and encouraging conversation, Celia and Dr.
Kailey unpack why modern parenting culture often makes us feel like we need to supervise, structure, and optimize every moment and why giving children more opportunities for unstructured play may actually be one of the greatest gifts we can offer them.
In this episode, you'll hear:
Why play is one of the most important tools for healthy childhood development
How imagination, creativity, and pretend play help children make sense of the world
Why movement, exploration, and hands-on experiences are critical for learning
What "risky play" really means—and why it isn't the same as unsafe play
How children build confidence by testing limits and solving problems on their own
Why boredom can actually spark creativity and independence
The difference between protecting children and overprotecting them
Simple ways to create more opportunities for free play in everyday life
One of the most powerful reminders in this episode:

Children don't need every moment planned, managed, or optimized. They need room to explore, imagine, create, and discover who they are.

That doesn't mean ignoring safety.

It doesn't mean letting chaos take over.

And it definitely doesn't mean stepping away from your role as a parent.

It means trusting that childhood itself has value.

Because mud puddles teach lessons.

Imagination builds skills.

Movement strengthens minds and bodies.

And sometimes the moments that look the least productive are the ones helping our children grow the most.

If you've ever worried about giving your child enough freedom, struggled to balance safety with independence, or wondered whether unstructured play really matters, this episode offers practical insights and reassuring reminders that can help you approach parenting with greater confidence.

Tune in to this episode of Raising Eyebrows your weekly dose of sanity in a world full of parenting noise.

We're so glad you're here.

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. Kailey Buller at @vitalswithdrbuller for thoughtful, evidence-based support around motherhood, family health, and raising children with confidence.

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 the conversations we have around food today can shape the way our children think about themselves for years to come.

Have you ever encouraged your child to clean their plate, offered dessert as a reward, or made a casual comment about your own weight without thinking much of it?

Most parents have.
The truth is, many of the messages we send about food are messages we inherited ourselves. We often repeat them with the best intentions—without realizing how deeply they can influence our children's relationship with food, their bodies, and even their self-worth.

In this episode of the Raising Eyebrows Miniseries, Celia Kibler and Dr. Kailey Buller tackle a topic that affects every family: the powerful connection between food, emotions, body image, and the messages children absorb from the adults around them.

Because children are always listening.

They're listening when we talk about food.

They're listening when we talk about our bodies.

And they're learning from what we do just as much as what we say.

In this thoughtful and eye-opening conversation, Celia and Dr. Kailey explore how parents can create a healthier, more positive environment around food without turning meals into battles, rewards, punishments, or sources of shame.

Why children's bodies naturally change and grow in different ways throughout childhood
How comments about weight, appearance, and food can impact a child's self-image
The difference between encouraging healthy eating and creating unhealthy pressure around food
Why parents decide what and when food is served, while children decide if and how much they eat
Practical ways to introduce new foods without creating power struggles
How curiosity and play can make mealtimes less stressful and more enjoyable
Why food should not become the primary reward for good behavior
Simple ways to help children build a positive relationship with food and their bodies

One of the most important reminders in this episode:

Food is not something children need to earn, fear, or feel guilty about.

It's nourishment.

It's connection.

It's part of family life.

And when we remove pressure, shame, and judgment, we create space for healthier habits and healthier relationships.
That doesn't mean every meal will be perfect.

It doesn't mean your child will suddenly love broccoli.

And it definitely doesn't mean parenting around food becomes easy overnight.

But it does mean you can approach these conversations with more confidence, more understanding, and a lot less stress.

If you've ever worried about picky eating, body image, emotional eating, or the messages your child is receiving about food, this episode offers practical guidance and reassuring reminders that can help you move forward with greater clarity.

Tune in to this episode of Raising Eyebrows your weekly dose of sanity in a world full of parenting noise.

We're so glad you're here.

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. Kailey Buller at @vitalswithdrbuller for thoughtful, evidence-based support around motherhood, family health, and raising children with confidence.

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.

We've all seen the ugly version.

The screaming.
The lawyers.
The kids stuck in the middle, learning to pack a bag every week and tiptoe between two worlds that can't stand each other.

But what if I told you it doesn't have to look like that?

In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Armstrong — author of The Mom's Guide to a Good Divorce: What to Think Through When Children Are Involved and The Art of the Juggling Act: Bite-Size Guides for Working Parents — for an honest, hopeful conversation about something most people don't believe is even possible: a good divorce.

And here's the thing. Sarah and I both lived it. We're two parents who went through divorce, kept our kids out of the crossfire, and came out the other side with families that are still families. I've been divorced for over 30 years, remarried for 30, and we still hug at the holidays. So this isn't theory. This is two moms telling you it can be done.

Sarah will be the first to say she's not an advocate for divorce. No one gets married planning to get divorced. But when a couple does land there — and half of them do — our children are the ones whose lives get turned upside down by a decision they never got to make. And we owe it to them not to let them become collateral damage.

What You'll Hear in This Episode
Why "a good divorce" isn't a fantasy — and the moment Sarah's seven-year-old daughter, Grace, defined it better than any expert ever could
The "compartmentalization muscle" — how to feel your big emotions fully without letting your kids carry the weight of them
Why slamming your ex in front of your child is the same as slamming your child (because they're half that other person)
The parent-teacher conference moment that revealed just how rare healthy co-parenting really is
What it means to stand on the same side of the soccer field — and why that small choice tells your child everything
The one question I ask every couple before they go down this path, and why it once brought a parent to tears
Sarah's final reflection: how to embrace your new normal, look ahead, and stop dwelling in the negatives
This conversation is full of heart, honesty, and a good dose of humor, because even in a divorce, you should still be allowed to laugh.

About Sarah ArmstrongSarah spent her career in the corporate global marketing world and never planned to become an author. Then her own divorce — and the friends who kept asking how she did it so well — turned into a book that now travels in the purses of women going through the hardest season of their lives, keeping them calm. Her work is built around one belief: a good divorce is a possible outcome if you stay focused on it and put in the effort.

Resources for You
The Mom's Guide to a Good Divorce and The Art of the Juggling Act by Sarah Armstrong — find everything at gooddivorce.guide
Raising Happy Toddlers by Celia Kibler — available at beabetterparent.com
Be A Better Parent App — download at beabetterparent.com for on-demand, real-time parenting support right when you need it most

If you're walking through divorce right now, please hear me: it's scary, and it takes real courage. Ask for the help. You deserve it, and you're worthy of it.

And if this episode gave you hope — or you know someone who needs it — share it, leave a review, and pass it along. There are so many parents out there feeling lost in this, and your share might be the thing that helps them give themselves some grace.

As always, I wish you days filled with peace, love, and lots of laughter. Laughter really is the best medicine.

Have you ever found yourself negotiating over shoes, brushing teeth, bedtime… and suddenly wondered how your child became the one calling the shots?
You’re definitely not alone. And if parenting has felt like a constant tug-of-war between wanting to raise independent kids and trying to keep the peace at home, this conversation is for you.

In this episode of the Raising Eyebrows Miniseries, Celia Kibler and Dr. Kailey Buller tackle one of parenting’s biggest questions:

How do you give your kids independence and responsibility… without accidentally handing over leadership of the whole house?

Because children absolutely need choices.
They need chances to practice responsibility.
They need room to grow, make mistakes, and build confidence.
But they also need loving boundaries, clear direction, and parents who can lead with calm confidence.

In this warm and practical conversation, Celia and Dr. Kailey share real-life examples and simple strategies to help parents create more cooperation at home without power struggles, constant repeating, or feeling like every little thing turns into a battle.

How to give kids choices without turning every moment into a negotiation
Why clear boundaries actually help children feel safer and more secure
Practical ways to handle brushing teeth, cleanup, school mornings, and transitions with less resistance
Why routines help children feel more confident and capable
How praise and encouragement build responsibility and independence
Why not every parenting moment needs correcting and how to stop nitpicking
Easy ways to bring more fun, connection, and cooperation into your everyday routines

One of the most powerful reminders in this episode:

Your child can absolutely have a voice in your home but you are still the team leader.

That doesn’t mean parenting has to feel rigid.
It doesn’t mean being harsh.
And it definitely doesn’t mean getting everything perfect.
It means creating a home where your child feels heard, respected, and empowered while still knowing they can count on you for leadership, consistency, and connection.
And if parenting has felt overwhelming lately, this episode is also a reminder that you are allowed to learn as you go.
No guilt.
No perfection.
Just practical tools, thoughtful conversations, and encouragement from two parents who understand how real parenting actually feels.
Tune in to this episode of Raising Eyebrows your weekly dose of sanity in a world full of parenting noise.

We’re so glad you’re here.
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. Kailey Buller at @vitalswithdrbuller for thoughtful, evidence-based support around motherhood, family health, and raising children with confidence.

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.