Alyssa Smith Coaching

I help parents and schools create 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗺, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 families by blending decades of experience in education with practical, compassionate strategies for real life.

Through 1:1 coaching and interactive workshops, I guide parents to 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀 - so kids grow up with confidence, agency, and strong communication skills, without the shame, guilt, or overwhelm that so often weighs families down.

🎯 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗜 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: 

𝟭:𝟭 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴
Personalized support for big-hearted caregivers who want less tension and more trust at home
→ Delivered inside my signature program The Consciously Connected Parent

𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 (online or in-person)
Raising Thinkers, Leaders & Doers — a practical, inspiring workshop offered in partnership with schools
→ Gives parents tools they can use immediately to strengthen connection and confidence at home

𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹-𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀
Raising Capable Kids: The 21st Century Life Skills Series
→ Built on my Parenting with C.A.R.E. Method
→ Rooted in cognitive, social, emotional, and self-leadership skills
→ Delivered by me (not your teaching staff), so no extra workload is added

𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀:
  • More cooperation, less conflict
  • Confident boundaries rooted in family values
  • Stronger connection and communication at home
  • Parents who feel calm, capable, and clear (and kids who do, too)
  • Children who lead, listen, and take initiative because they want to

Parent Coach, Educator, Workshop Leader for Schools & Families

Certified Career Transition Coach helping women at a crossroads return to their inner knowing and pivot to the life & career that aligns with who they are NOW. I coach through inquiry, knowing that the answers my clients seek almost always come from within. I provide focused, compassionate career clarity  and transition support through the unpredictability of major life changes. Leaning on 17+ years in progressive education for children and adults, I help women articulate their core strengths, envision fulfilling career pivots, land their dream job, strategize and execute career goals, and make powerful mindset shifts from “I can’t” to “I’ve done it!” I believe deep healing happens AS we urge ourselves forward, and we can all turn pain into power, no matter what we’ve been through, as long as we have confidence, caring support and targeted accountability along the way. Let’s connect!

www.alyssasmithcoaching.com

Career Transition Coach

International Baccalaureate

IB Workshop Facilitator, Site Visitor, & Workshop Developer

Chadwick International School

As a Grade 3 teacher and team leader, I worked with both children and teams of adults. I supported students by co-developing relevant and meaningful curriculum to inspire them to take action in their lives and communities. A huge advocate for student agency, I built in regular, vital time to support students in setting individualized goals that they would plan for, work towards, self-assess and ultimately reach. When we turn the decision-making over to our learners, we're setting them up for success in life. Empowerment and release of teacher control are the best gifts we can give the children of this world.

Here, I share a project I worked on to support students in owning their journeys. My coach, colleague, and I won a spot to present internationally at Toddle Ties:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx9wWhJQ3Ak&t=174s

Here, I explain the way math worked in Grade 3 (scroll down, look right)
https://www.chadwickinternational.org/admission/virtualopenhouse/virtualopenhouseg2g5

Elementary Education Teacher & Team Leader

Whitby School (Greenwich CT)

I learned to teach, to facilitate, and finally, to empower at Whitby School. I'm forever indebted to the journey with the International Baccalaureate that led me to becoming a member of IBEN.

Here, I spoke at a State of School Event about the power of TAKING RISKS: 
https://www.whitbyschool.org/passionforlearning/what-a-passion-for-lifelong-learning-looks-like

Elementary Teacher and Team Leader

Ever feel like your living room has boxing-ring vibes? Same. Hold my coffee.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲:
You’re tired of power struggles, second-guessing, and the nagging worry that you’re not doing enough for your kids.

You love your child deeply… but you’re ready for something better than chaos and guilt.
 ➜ You want a family rhythm that feels calm.
 ➜ You want parenting to feel less like a battle, more like safety.
 ➜ You want your kids to grow confident and capable - without you nagging every step of the way.

You’re not alone. 

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗜 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽:
I work with intentional, conscious parents navigating the elementary and middle years 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗺, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 - while keeping the boundaries kids need to thrive.

Through 1:1 coaching, parent education, and workshops, I help families:
↳Reduce power struggles...so home feels calmer & cooperative.
↳Set loving, firm boundaries...so kids know what to expect & parents feel steady.
↳Build confidence in kids (and parents!)...so everyone feels capable + connected.
↳Find calm in hard moments...so you have more energy, patience, & joy.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸?
✔️Dinner tables with laughter instead of tension.
✔️Kids who pitch in because they want to.
✔️Parents who end the day with energy left for themselves.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲:
I bring 17+ years as an educator, 4 degrees in education and psychology, 10+ years as an international workshop leader for IB schools, and certifications in Positive Parenting, Coaching, NLP, and inquiry-based Education. I help families and schools across continents, guiding growth with both heart and strategy.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝘆:
💬 “With Alyssa’s support, our daughter’s confidence soared—especially in tricky subjects like math. She became more independent, curious, and willing to take risks… Years later, she’s still using the resilience and positive self-talk she built in Grade 3.” - Rachel, parent of Emmy

💬 “Her workshops leave every parent with a sense of confidence and actionable strategies.” - Alissa Helgesen, PYP Coordinator

💬 “She guided parents from confusion to confidence, showing how clear communication can completely change a family’s experience.” - Simone Becker, School Leader

𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲?
👉 Join my free community of conscious parents (link in Featured)
👉 DM me here on LinkedIn to learn more about 1:1 coaching or workshops
👉 Follow for research-backed strategies, stories, and encouragement

I know it’s just 1 hour.
I can’t promise you the world. 
But I can promise you a 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘧𝘵.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄? 𝗜’𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸. 

If parenting has felt like a slog,
If you’re unsure how or when your beautiful little one started slipping into adversary and eye roll territory...
You’re not alone.

You ARE up against biology,
(And some unhelpful patterns you inherited as a kid).
You’re also probably carrying something heavy & unrelated to parenting. 

The best news?
It doesn't have to be this way through the teenage years 
𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀. 

You get to feel connected to your kid, 
𝘢𝘯𝘥 joyful spending time with them again. 

And even though storms will come, 
your little family will be ready because you’ve invested in what matters most: each other. 


👉 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗚𝗼! ⬇️

=
Hi, I’m Alyssa.
💙 I help parents turn pushback into connection.
➜ DM me if you want to love your kid louder & enjoy parenting again.
➜ LAST day to jump on the FREE Masterclass tomorrow! 💙 Link in comments.

Alyssa Smith

𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁?

You’re a woman at a mid-career crossroads. You know you’re ready for something more.

MORE:

• fulfillment
• impact
• alignment.

But right now:

🚫 You’re unsure of your next move, and the idea of "reinventing" yourself feels overwhelming.
🚫 You’re second-guessing yourself, wondering if you really have what it takes to pivot in 2025.
🚫 You’re craving clarity but keep hitting a wall of uncertainty.


𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵:

You already have the skills, experience, and resilience to step into your next-level career. You don’t need another degree, endless job applications, a blind leap of faith to something worse, or months of overthinking to make it happen.

What you do need? A clear vision, an effective strategy, and the confidence to go after what you deserve.


𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻.

As a 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵, I help mid-career women pivot with clarity and as they build confidence (without the overwhelm and without blind guesses). 

Through my proven coaching frameworks, we’ll unlock your:

• vision
• uncover hidden job opportunities
• and position you as the top choice for roles that align with who you are now.


𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗜 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽:

✅ Career Clarity Accelerator (4 weeks) – Get crystal clear on your next step.
✅ Your Pivot to Purpose (4 months) – A deep-dive, 1:1 coaching program to guide your full transition, from clarity to career success.


𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀:

💡 Clients have transitioned into leadership roles, secured dream jobs in new industries, and negotiated higher salaries—all without feeling lost in the process.

💡 Many land new opportunities through the hidden job market, using strategies I teach.

💡 Most importantly, they walk away feeling empowered, aligned, and excited for what’s next.


𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗨𝗽 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻?

📩 DM me with your biggest career question

📆 Book a free Curiosity Call (link in Featured section)

Your next chapter starts today. Let’s make it happen. 💓

Helping Parents Swap Eyerolls for Exhales | Raise Empowered Kids Who Care 💙 | I Make Middle Childhood Make Sense | Psych | 2x Certified Parent Coach | Imperfectionist

We hit up the Renaissance Faire this weekend.
A hawk nearly flew into my head.
And a bird guy dropped parenting wisdom worth keeping.

“We let the hawks hunt and roam free when they’re not performing.
𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗳 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗹𝘆...
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆.”

Woah.

Your 8-year-old isn’t going anywhere yet.
Your middle schooler might threaten it.
But that teenager they’ll become one day?... 

The relationships we’re building 𝙣𝙤𝙬 determine whether they:
→ Come to us or go to someone else.
→ Let us in or shut us out.
→ Feel safe admitting failure.
→ Make decisions guided by family values - or not.

𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄, 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲.
But that window narrows 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵.

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆'𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 - 𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁.

If you want IN, you'll want to watch this space in the coming days.  👀 👀

I've got you. And you've got them. 

𝗧𝗟;𝗗𝗥 
Holding on too tightly can make them pull away. 
But when we lead with trust and connection, they come back...not because they have to, but because they 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 to.

𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲: 
What’s one way your (awesome) kid is pushing for independence these days?

=
Hi, I’m Alyssa.
 💙 I help parents who don't need tips - they need support, strategy, and space.
 ➜ DM me if you want to love your kid louder & enjoy parenting again.
 ➜ Keep your eyes peeled for something NEW and EXCITING → Coming soon!!

Alyssa Smith, M.Ed.

Let’s be honest.
Most of us are carrying something heavy.

Grief. Relationship change. Job stress. A health scare. Uncertainty.
A silent battle no one else sees.

And when you also feel like you’re supposed to have all the answers for your kid?
It can feel like too much.
My years of training in inquiry education have shaped me. 
Less “I do, now you do.”
More - “How could we…?” 
It’s guided, humble, and human.

It got me through some of my own messy middles:
 • Deep loss
 • Career transitions
 • An international move from Korea to NY… without my partner
 • The quiet ending of my marriage

I didn’t have all the answers.
And that was okay - for me, and for my kids.
Because I held onto the belief that they would come.

I kept going by:
Letting my feelings be messengers
Holding onto faith
Grounding myself in something steady
Letting just a few safe people in (coach and therapist included)

So if you’re in a rough patch right now - 
If you just want to get through this chapter with your kid.

Or if you’re simply craving kindness toward yourself again...
You’re not alone.

You will get through this.
And so will your brilliant, resourceful kids.
Because they’ve got you.

And you’re modeling resilience - yes, even now.
Because resilience only happens after you’re down.
And you’re still standing.

𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿: You don’t need all the answers.
You just need a little faith that they’ll come.
(And sometimes a little support to get you through a tough patch.) 

𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲...
What’s your pump up song when you need one? 

—
Hi, I’m Alyssa.
 💙 I help parents who need more than tips—they need support, strategy, and space.
 ➜ DM me if you want to love your kid louder & enjoy parenting again.
 ➜ FREE Masterclass on pushback is in 2 days! → link in comments

I thought I built yesterday’s class for them.
What I realized five minutes after it ended?
It was for me.

For the first time since pivoting from career to parent coaching,
I hit flow - in a room full of people. Dropped the script and went.

I didn’t wonder how to answer questions – I knew.
𝗜 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 – 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀.
And for once, I didn’t need anyone to agree.
That wasn’t the point.

𝗜𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗬 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 - 
The ones who see me at soccer.
At Girl Scouts.
At ShopRite.

𝗜 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗹𝗹. 𝗡𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀.
𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗲.
But this time, I didn’t let fear win.
I said OK.
I let her share.

You can’t make this next part up. 
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝘥𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁.
One share turned into another. And another. +2 more. (Love you, Lisa Klein)
I considered closing registration - but I stayed open.

And then…
The same 10-year-old whose eye rolls used to make me question:
“𝘈𝘮 𝘐 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴?”

Saw my vulnerability.
Asked me gently, smiling,
“𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨?”

And I told her:

Because I want moms to know they are enough.
Because I want kids to grow up with parents who are firm and kind.
Because peace at home is how we change the world.
No law. No policy. No script.
Just love.

She smiled. So did I.

𝗜𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁.
𝗢𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘂𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿.

Or what the moms on the soccer sidelines think of me.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝘀: 𝗜 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸. 
𝗜 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸. 

And the kid who once made me question my place in this work?
Told me 𝙨𝙝𝙚 doesn’t care what anyone thinks.
Because she knows who I am.
And how I show up – for her.

𝗬𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.
𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲.

To remember “solo” doesn’t mean alone.
To let people help me.
To say yes, even when fear screams.

To move instead of hide.

I’m here for the parents who know it can get better - 
They just don’t know how…YET. 
That’s the spark I’ll be.


𝗧𝗟;𝗗𝗥:
I thought my kid’s eye rolls were dragging me down.
Turns out, they were leading me toward showing up BIG - for her, for myself (finally), and for other parents walking through the hard stuff right now.

𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿: Fear doesn’t mean it’s wrong. It means you’re on the EDGE of real growth. 

𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲: What or WHO helped you show up when you wanted to hide? 

Celebrating folks who refuse to let us play small. You make this world better.

What if your child didn’t wait for instructions?
I taught in schools where kids ran businesses and graded themselves, 
And it changed how I parent + how I help families now.

The world our kids are growing up in is different.
And it calls for a different kind of preparation.

It’s time to move beyond “𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘴𝘰” and toward something deeper. 

May we raise:
• Thinkers who ask: What’s the best way forward?
• Collaborators who ask: What can we build together?
• Self-leaders who ask: What would I like to improve?
• Carers who ask: Who needs support?

At home, this might look like kids who:
 ↳ create for fun
 ↳ like to help out
 ↳ set their own goals
 ↳ ask until they understand
 ↳ show consideration for others

Will it mean less automatic compliance?
Sure!

But it also means raising kids who trust themselves…and take the lead when it matters.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲-𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀? 
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀...𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲.

Tell me: what's one quality you hope your child carries into adulthood? 
(Or what’s one you worry about them missing?) 

= 

Hi. I’m Alyssa. Educator. Solo parent. Teacher of teachers. Coach. 
💙 I help you love parenting again.
➜ DM me if you have questions about kids 4-12 and want a compassionate response.
➜ Keep your eyes peeled because something NEW is dropping oh-so-soon.

My youngest was triggered (being late does that) 
I was agitated (time blindness + ADHD does that)
My oldest — unfazed.

Late to leave at 8:30 am for soccer.
𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺.

My youngest (age 7) was about to lose it. 
Her breath quickened. Her voice got sharp: “How late?”
She froze at the car door - her body literally didn’t know what to do.

“𝘎𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘯, 𝘗𝘢𝘪𝘵. 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳!” I urged, opening her car door.

And then… 𝗜 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸.
𝗜 𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰 as I messed with navigation. 

“You’re not even playing in this game, kiddo. Right?”
“Your sister’s the one who needs to warm up.”
“You just get to enjoy the fall foliage!”
(Spoiler: She did not want to enjoy the foliage.)

I tried to offer a regulation strategy.
She wasn’t having that either.
I caught 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳.

Presence.
Breath.
Slow.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆.
𝗜𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆.

I wanted to shut it down - not because it was wrong - but because it was asking something of me I didn’t want to give in that moment:

More energy.
More regulation.
More of me.

Her anxiety didn’t need to be 𝘧𝘪𝘹𝘦𝘥.
𝗜𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱.

What got us through?

A check-in.
Simple. Grounded.
Borrowed from Family Systems Therapy (in which I’m 𝘯𝘰𝘵 trained — but have received this support multiple times.).

We placed hands on our hearts.
We breathed together.
I asked a series of gentle questions. She got curious and still. 

Eventually… her breath slowed.
Her shoulders softened.
The world felt safe again.
She remembered she’s connected to herself - even when it doesn’t feel that way.
And so did I.

𝗧𝗟;𝗗𝗥 - 
I wanted to shut her anxiety down with logic. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙭𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠 𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙞𝙘. 
𝘼𝙣𝙭𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤’𝙨 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙩. 

Tell me: 
Did anyone ever teach you to turn TOWARD your anxiety with compassion when you were growing up?

Do we see the TRUE size of the steps we want kids to take?
And would a 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹 (instead of another chat) work?
Become their 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 with 4 simple steps. 👇

Quick story time.
After 17 years in the classroom, spotting learning bottlenecks was my superpower.

This week? My kid forgot her Chromebook on Monday.
And her violin on Tuesday.
By Wednesday, this guy (photo) was in her hands.

No drama. No lectures. Just support.

It was a skill gap. And I SAW it.

So next time your kid struggles with something seemingly simple, go full Columbo. 🕵️‍♀️

𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗵.
And watch struggles drop like flies.

Here’s how:

𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳: 𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗦𝗞𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗚𝗔𝗣?
↳ Do they struggle with organization, time, social cues, or a subject?
↳ It’s not their fault. It’s their journey. You’re their guide.
↳ Break it down. Name the steps. Consider all skills involved.

𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳: 𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝗠𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗥?
↳ How did they enter this task - distracted, down, high-energy?
↳ Their emotional state might not match the task’s demands.
↳ Offer co-regulation before correction. Coach the calm.

𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗦 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱?
↳ “All of it” isn’t an answer. Celebrate what they can do.
↳ List the first micro-step if they can’t see it yet.
↳ When they see parts instead of the whole, it's doable.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 (𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲) 𝗮 "𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀𝗧𝗢𝗢𝗟" 𝙏𝙊𝙂𝙀𝙏𝙃𝙀𝙍.
↳ Involve them so they see they are resourceful, too.
↳ Be solution-finders as a team - look in on challenges together.
↳ Build, buy, or create it now. Don’t wait.

Because when you build solutions 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 them, not for them, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 - 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘴.

𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿: 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗸, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝘅.

👇 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲: 
What's something "little" your kiddo is struggling with? Let's crowdsource it! Who needs Columbo anyway?

Which question - 1, 2, 3, or 4 hits? 

=
Hi, I’m Alyssa.
 💙 I help parents who don't want "tips." They want support & strategy.
 ➜ DM me if you want to love your kid louder & enjoy parenting again.
 ➜ My FREE Masterclass is OPEN → Get in there! (link in comments)

Unpopular opinion: Calm doesn’t have to be your goal.


Becoming a parent set this one in stone for me.
We’ve got so many incredible intentions.

But life is lifing while we’re learning to parent & pivot with them. 
And keeping it all together, all the time?
Not happening.

Not with unruly little roommates who trash your house & spend all your money.

In years of working with families, the #1 thing I hear from moms is:
“I just want to stay calm.”
(Right up there with: “Am I doing enough?”)

I hear both.
I’ve felt both.

But what if calm isn’t the goal?
What if connection is?
What if modeling being human is?

Because staying calm on the outside while spiraling on the inside doesn’t build trust - 
it teaches our kids to hide what’s real.

(It’s lowkey giving Elsa vibes: “Conceal, don’t feel.”)

So what if the goal isn’t to never lose it?

What if it’s to:
Recover quicker
Reconnect faster
Repair better

That’s exactly what I’ll be teaching in 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘅 - 
 a free masterclass on 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗸𝗶𝗱...
 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺-𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁.

📅 Join us 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝟭𝟮𝗣𝗠 𝗘𝗦𝗧.
You’ll walk away knowing how to turn power struggles into growth - for both of you.

Take it from a teacher who’s solo-parented through an international move, grief, and career pivots - you 𝘤𝘢𝘯 do this with connection, not perfection.

And that, my friend, is good enough. (At least in my book.)

𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿: 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁.

Tell me:
 When your child pushes back in public, what’s your go-to?
 (Zero judgment. This role is no joke.)
1️⃣ Frustration or anger
2️⃣ Embarrassment
3️⃣ Curiosity

=
Hi, I’m Alyssa.
 💙 I help parents who need more than tips - they need support, strategy, and space.
 ➜ DM me if you want to love your kid louder & enjoy parenting again.
 ➜ My free Masterclass is open → Get on the list today. (link in comments)

“I hate you, Mom. I really do.”
 She meant it.
 Here’s what happened next. 

Big pavilion. Live music. Soccer families everywhere.
“Join the scavenger hunt!” they said.
Turns out, public defeat + perceived betrayal = too much for my 10-year-old’s heart.

“Find a lighter!” the voice boomed.
Audience encouraged to help.
Mine? She bolted away from the crowd - straight toward the animals(??)
(Jury's still out on that, folks.)

I called her back.
Told her to ask 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴 for lighters.
She did.
She was last.
OUT. 

Her face tightened. Eyes glared. I knew it was coming.
 “I hate you so much, Mom. I hate you.”

She meant it.
But I knew she didn’t believe it.

In that very public moment, I had a choice:
Lecture it away… or let it be a learning moment we’d revisit later.

Quiet car ride home. Soggy feet. Hurt feelings two ways.

Old me? Would’ve lectured the whole way home.
New me? Asked how she felt. 𝘓𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥. 

Then? Asked her why the word “hate” isn’t one we allow. 
And why she reached for it anyway.

It went a heck of a lot better.
Connection preserved.
Reflection her job, not mine.
Lesson internalized.
Zero yelling.

You haven’t messed them up.
You haven’t failed.

Because when your child starts rolling their eyes, slamming doors, or saying “I hate you,”
it’s not proof you’ve failed.

𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 - 
𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀.

Also? They’re in a new phase - one that asks for different tools. 

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜’𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸.

Join me on October 23 at 12PM EST for my free masterclass:
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙭: 𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙈𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙐𝙥 — 𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙’𝙨 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙄𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙖 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢, 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙖 𝙏𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩.

Tell me - What happens after “I hate you” in your fam? (Or is it just mine?)

=
Hi, I’m Alyssa.
 💙 I help parents who need more than tips - they need support, strategy, and space.
 ➜ DM me if you want to love your kid louder & enjoy parenting again.
 ➜ My FREE Masterclass is OPEN → Get in there! (link in comments)

You thought you’d raised a model citizen.
Dishes in the sink, thank-yous on cue, homework a cakewalk…
Then - BLAMO. They turned 8.

It’s like you never knew them.
Sound familiar?

Take it from an educator who spent nearly a decade teaching 3rd and 4th grade… after about the same with mostly compliant, rule-loving 6- and 7-year-olds:

It’s 𝘯𝘰𝘵 you.
You’re not failing them.
Their brains are changing - silently.
Every parent on the soccer sidelines,
Every dad at Grade 4 Back-to-School Night,
Every mom running unpaid Uber duties knows…

Something subtle is happening below the surface.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲?
Unconditional love.
“Because I said so.”
Hard lines with minimal explanations.
𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦.

It’s not 𝘺𝘰𝘶.
𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆.

But you’re not helpless here.
You don’t have to be the tetherball slapped around by emotional tirades.

You just need new tools - ones that match their sneaky growing brain.

That’s exactly what we’ll cover in my free masterclass:
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘅: 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗨𝗽 - 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱’𝘀 𝗣𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗜𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺, 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁.

🗓 Thursday, October 23 | 12:00 PM EST
 📍 Live on Zoom + link in comments

We’ll unpack why resistance is GOOD - and how to parent confidently through it (without yelling, guilt, or losing your mind in the process).

Because parenting doesn’t have to feel this hard.
And pushback doesn’t mean you’re failing.

It means they’re growing - and 𝘴𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿: Growth looks messy before it looks like progress. But to move? You've gotta 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦. 

𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲: What’s one way your awesome kid is pushing for independence these days?

=
Hi, I’m Alyssa.
 💙 I help parents who need more than tips - they need support, strategy, and space.
 ➜ DM me if you want to love your kid louder & enjoy parenting again.
 ➜ Registration for my Masterclass is OPEN → Get in there!

Billy Zerillo, Alyssa Smith, M.Ed. and 12 other attendees

View event: The Pushback Paradox (You're NOT Messing Them Up)

The Pushback Paradox (You're NOT Messing Them Up)

I used to think adults had to have all the answers.
That’s the job description, right?

At least it was for teachers & parents I knew in the 80s and 90s - 
They led. They knew stuff. We followed.

But inquiry-based education flips that.
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯) 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.

The quiet confidence to say:
“I’m not sure about that one.”

Believe it or not, that’s one of the best ways to build trust with kids:
𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Yes, we’re the grown-ups.
We lead with safety and structure.
But that old “sage on the stage” thing? Outdated.

𝗕𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲.
(It’s brighter over here.)

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄: 
Try swapping...
 ➜ “I know all about that! Here’s how…” with… 
 ➜ “Strong question. What do you think?”

And:
 ➜ “This is what you need to do…” with…
 ➜ “How might you figure that out?”

At first?
They’ll roll their eyes. “Ugh, just tell me.”
But wait for it…

Soon you’ll hear:
“I figured it out myself!”
And see their eyes light up.

That’s freedom.
For them - and for you.

Remember: Your presence is more powerful than your perfection or your problem-solving. And not having all the answers? It builds connection and agency in your kid. 

Tell me…
𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙 “𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬” - 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥𝙚𝙙? 

=
Hi, I’m Alyssa.
 💙 I help parents who need more than tips—they need support, strategy, and space.
 ➜ DM me if you want to love your kid louder & enjoy parenting again.
 ➜ FREE Masterclass on pushback and connection is Thursday! → link in comments!

When Loren (Executive Career Strategist) Greiff calls
And says, “You’re what my audience needs,”
you listen.

Closely.

If you haven’t tuned into 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘧, you’re missing one of the 𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁, 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁, 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶-𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 - especially for the 40+ crowd. 🔥

She sees things clearly.
She says the quiet parts out loud.
And when she invites you to the mic, you say yes.

𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀:
↳Separation → divorce
↳Two international moves (one married, one solo parenting: Korea → NY)
↳Two career pivots: educator → career coach → parent coach
↳Deep personal losses - one human, one furry
↳New schools, new communities, new roots

It’s been...a lot. 
(And I'd change none of it.)

I’ve learned a thing or two about parenting through upheaval and emotional tsunamis. Therapy, coaching, my training - all bolstered, too. 

𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲, 𝗜 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 - 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗸𝗶𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗙 - 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

🎧 Give it a listen. (Link in comments)

----
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 - 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆?
I know we're all looking to add to our lists. 🔥

= 
Hi, I’m Alyssa.
 💙 I help parents love their kids louder & enjoy parenting again.
 ➜ Keep your eyes peeled for something NEW → Coming tomorrow!!

Maybe it’s the invisible mental load.
Maybe it’s just that October is Octobering.
Either way, it feels like moms could use a love note today.

When my own voice got shaky talking about my girls this week,
I realized more of this might be needed...

On school pickup lines.
In checkout lines.
And yes… even here on LinkedIn.

Sure. It’s not “professional.” 🤷‍♀️

But maybe it helps a professional hold her head a little higher today.

You’re doing better than you think, my friend.

💙 Tag a mom who inspires you.
She might need to hear it more than you think she does.

How I get my kids to do stuff (Top 10)
From a veteran teacher + solo parent

1️⃣ I treat them with respect and kindness.

2️⃣ I ask them, do you wanna do this thing BEFORE or AFTER this other thing?

3️⃣ When they ask to do a thing THEY want to do, I say, "𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘕𝘌𝘌𝘋 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰."

4️⃣ I do things for 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 

5️⃣ I give high fives, smiles, and/or say “thank you” when they help out.

6️⃣ I fake tantrums about doing my own household chores - the more dramatic, the better. (Annnd scene.)

7️⃣ I ask them what stuff they want to learn how to do (regularly). 

8️⃣ I teach them the skills so they know how to do more stuff. (Yup. The once 4-year-old could cook eggs.) 

9️⃣ I share what I would like support with openly. (Solo parenting means we all help.)

1️⃣0️⃣ We do fun stuff (𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦), a lot. 

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲… 💙

Sometimes, we 𝘢𝘭𝘭 complicate parenting more than we mean to.
But here’s something I’ve seen (again and again):

Most kids will trip over themselves to help and connect -- 
when the relationship feels strong and safe.

If that part feels tough right now, you’re not alone.
It’s so normal (and biology is likely at work, too). 

Here are a couple of gentle questions to reflect on:

➜ Are the relationships in our home feeling forced - or flowing?
➜ Are we checking in… or feeling more checked out than we want to be?

And if you're not sure where to start…

I can help with that.

𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲: What did I miss or get wrong? 

𝗔𝗹𝘀𝗼: Which one are you saving in your back pocket? 

=
Hi, I’m Alyssa.
 💙 I help parents love their kids louder & enjoy parenting again. 
 ➜ DM me if you’re ready for less guilt + more connection. 
 ➜ Or join other parents in the Parent Reset to reconnect with your kids (see my Featured section)

What’s that smell? 
Just me cooking up something delish for parents of kids 5-12.
But I’d love your input on ingredients. 

Before the witchy nerd in me drums her fingers together and dumps decades of goodies into my cauldron… 

I want to know what YOU would love to learn most in a power-packed 3-sesh workshop series before the holidays hit. 

Ideas stewing in my brain right now: 
 ✅Raising a responsible kid
 ✅Back talk & power struggles
 ✅Big feelings & anxiety
 ✅My role at this stage (ages 5-12)

OR… Something else? 

I'm grateful for any input from you or folks you know in this "messy middle" stage of parenting. Thank you!!

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