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
188. Are we helping kids? Or making them helpless?
Andrew and Caroline jump headfirst into one of the biggest pressures modern families face: the urge to hover, track, micromanage, and constantly correct. They unpack why today’s parents feel pulled into overprotecting, how it chips away at confidence, and why kids need room to stumble if they’re going to grow sturdy roots.
With stories about tracking apps, school expectations, Velcro parenting, and the snowball effect of fear-driven parenting trends, this episode gives listeners a real look at how easy it is to slide into over-involvement without noticing.
They bring humour, real family moments, and blunt honesty to questions many parents tiptoe around:
• How much help is too much?
• Are we supporting our kids or suffocating them?
• At what point does “caring” turn into control?
Plus, they share practical ways to give kids responsibility, build independence, and let natural problem-solving kick in without abandoning age-appropriate safety.
Perfect for anyone who want kids to grow strong, confident, and capable, without burning themselves out in the process.
Homework Ideas
The “No Correction” Week
Go an entire week without giving corrective feedback unless safety is at risk.
Purpose: notice how often you micromanage and how relationships shift when you step back.
Responsibility Upgrade
Give kids a real task that has value to the family or classroom.
Examples:
• Packing their own lunch
• Calling to solve their own bank or school issue
• Planning the steps for an outing, project, or practice
• Managing a small budget for a personal goal
Delay Your Response
When a child asks for help, pause before answering. Ask:
“What do you think you could try?”
Screen Boundary Reset
Review every device in the home and remove access kids don’t actually need.
If a child asks, explain the rule plainly: access requires maturity, not age alone.
Personal Reflection
Write down:
• What scares you most about stepping back?
• What outcome are you trying to control?
• What small step feels safe to loosen up first?
Optional Resources to Support the Work
• A simple weekly planner for kids to organize responsibilities
• A visual checklist for morning or school readiness
• A “natural consequences” guide (age-appropriate list)
• Family tech agreement template
• Reflection worksheet for parents on over-monitoring habits
(If you want, I can produce any of these as downloadable PDFs.)
Enjoying the show? Help us out by rating us on Apple! https://apple.co/3du8mPK
Follow us on Facebook and join our Facebook Community!
Access resources, get support from other parents, and ask Caroline and Andrew your questions!
Follow FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566206651235and
FB Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/674563503855526