If you came into our therapy rooms, we definitely would be asking you about your family of origin. It’s where it all starts.

As psychologists who work with families and who are currently raising kids, we’re obsessed with how childhood experiences impact caregiving, and how parenting transforms us. Where did our parents come from? How were they raised? How did they bring us up? And how do we parent our kids as a consequence of our family history? These are the questions that hold the key to what we do well and where we trip up as humans and as parents.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about our experiences of being kids, how forces like career and financial stability impact raising kids, what our kids have taught us “on the job,” and the role of grandparent energy in parenting.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• How social and cultural environments influence parenting norms, implicitly and explicitly
• Our very different takes on being only children, and a commonality that bonded us
• How experiencing survival mode as adults brought new context to our relationships with our parents
• Why addressing the fears that activate survival brain is essential for being the kind of parents we want to be
• Our biggest unlocks as parents, and where we still struggle with the pressure to be perfect

Learn more about Gillian Boudreau, PhD.:

• Website

Learn more about Rob Galligan, PhD.:

• Instagram @dr.rob.galligan

Resources:

• The Parent Whisperer https://theparentwhispererny.com/about-susan/
• How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk, Adele Faber, Elaine Mazlish