Parents of the Year
We were never given a manual on how to parent. It is easy to get overwhelmed to know the right thing to do. There is so much contradictory information out there and everyone has their own advice. Parenting is a rewarding but messy, confusing, infuriating, guilt-inducing, and overwhelming journey. While it's easy to get lost, Andrew Stewart, a real dad, and Dr. Caroline Buzanko, a real mom, child psychologist, and parenting expert (who also happens to be married to Andrew) will help you get back on track. In each episode, Andrew and Caroline have open and honest chats about everything parenting. Join them in honesty, laughter, and tears (Caroline is a bit of a cry baby) as they help you navigate this journey of parenting. And, every so often, you may get some gems of expert advice. Our goal is to make your parenting journey less stressful, more forgiving, and more awesome. Please join us every Wednesday for new episodes of Parenting of the Year.
Parents of the Year
165. Are you parenting with confidence? Or just faking it?
What does it mean to be a confident parent—when none of us really know what we’re doing?
In this episode, Andrew and Caroline get candid about real-life parenting moments, what it takes to make good decisions in the chaos, and how to anchor parenting choices to your values—not social media.
They explore what confidence actually looks like, how to stay grounded when things don’t go to plan, and why reconnecting to who you are outside of parenting is one of the best gifts you can give your kids. This is for every parent who’s ever second-guessed themselves, googled too many things, or just needed to hear, “You're doing okay.”
Homework Ideas
✅ Create a Parenting Mission Statement
Clarify your values and goals as a parent and create a mission statement to guide your parenting. Are your daily decisions aligning with those?
Here are some prompts to think about to help you get started.
- What 3 values do I want to guide my parenting decisions?
- What kind of human do I hope my child becomes? (e.g., kind, resilient, independent)
- What are 1–2 red lines (non-negotiables) in our home?
- What daily decisions or routines can I shift to better reflect these values?
- How do I want my child to describe me when they grow up?
If you haven't listened to our very first episode, What is your philosophy as a parent?, be sure to check it out for more ideas!
✅ Reflection Journal Prompt
End the day with these questions:
- What felt good in my parenting today?
- What felt hard?
- How did I handle a moment of conflict or frustration?
- What did I learn?
- What do I want to try again—or differently—tomorrow?
- How did I stay connected to my values this week?
✅ Family Check-In Plan
If you implement a new plan (e.g., re: screens, curfews, etc.), start a weekly check-in to review how it’s going. Set clear expectations together, and stick to the plan calmly—not in the heat of the moment.
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