Ep #188 From Needy to Steady: The Power of Giving Attention

Connect Method Parenting I Conscious Parenting, Positive Parenting, Gentle Parenting, Connective Parenting, Peaceful Parenting, Slow Parenting, Parenting Teens, Single Parenting, Joyful Parenting, Positive Discipline, ADHD Parenting

Most of us don’t realize it, but we slip into getting attention from our kids — measuring our worth by their cooperation, moods, or so-called “good behavior.” When they listen, help out, or show up happy, we feel validated. When they resist, melt down, or push back, we question ourselves. In this episode, Andee unpacks the crucial difference between getting attention and giving it — the kind of steady, present, high-quality connection that doesn’t depend on how kids are acting.

You’ll hear why kids can instantly sense the difference, how approval-seeking often traces back to childhood safety strategies, and why social media’s “likes and views” energy mirrors the same neediness we sometimes carry into parenting. Andee shares vivid analogies — from an actor’s “Action!” cue to the power of high-speed internet — that reveal what real presence feels like to a child. She also tells a personal story of pausing her own plans to help her daughter process emotions and write an essay, showing what it looks like to choose connection over schedule.

Along the way, you’ll discover how to expand your capacity to feel any emotion so nothing feels too scary, why one-way attention (think Taylor Swift fans) still matters in parenting, and how to pivot when kids interrupt without slipping into resentment or agenda-driven energy. The message is clear: when you stop needing your child’s behavior to validate you, you show up steadier, more compassionate, and more influential in their lives.

If this resonates with you, share the episode with a friend, and don’t forget to leave a quick review. It helps more parents find the encouragement to trade correction for connection.

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