Mindful Mama | Inspiration To Thrive Not Just Survive

In this episode of the Mindful Mama Podcast, I talk with Mary Van Geffen, parenting coach and mom, about what it means to parent a “Spicy One” — children who are strong-willed, deeply feeling, and emotionally intense. Mary shares practical strategies for staying calm, kind, and firm, setting limits without breaking a child’s spirit, and protecting parents and siblings from burnout. She also explores how parenting a Spicy One transforms the parent, why traditional approaches often backfire, and ways to focus on delighting in your child while cultivating connection and self-regulation. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to recognize if your child is a Spicy One Why traditional parenting techniques often backfire Practical tools for managing meltdowns and aggression How to discipline without turning into the “mean mom” Ways to protect siblings and prevent parental burnout The importance of self-regulation and delighting in your child ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FI