In this final episode of the year, we slow down and reflect on what this year held—the meaningful moments, the hard ones, and the lessons we want to remember. I'm joined by my dear friend Kristy Lauricella as we answer reflective questions (available to download), share our unexpected words of the year, and talk about the books, podcasts, and shows that stayed with us. This conversation isn't about doing the year "right," but about noticing, closing the year with intention, and offering ourselves a little more self-compassion.

Download this free PDF with pwoerful questions.

LINKS AND RESOURCES

• Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15)
• 732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail.
• info@authenticparenting.com
• Send audio messages using Speakpipe.
• Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook.
• Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services.

Podcast Production by Aminur: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~019855d91718719d11

Jeff Hittner on the invisible pressures dads carry every day—balancing ambition with presence, holding emotions they were never taught to express, feeling the weight of being a provider while wanting to be deeply connected, and silently wondering whether they're doing enough.

• 03:18 — Why dads default to fixing

• 06:10 — How conflict exposes emotional patterns you didn't realize you were repeating

• 09:27 — What happens inside your body in the first seconds of reactivity

• 12:55 — How shame hides in anger or withdrawal and shifts your parenting

• 16:40 — Why ambition and presence feel at odds—and how to hold both

• 19:12 — How the definition of "providing" can create hidden distance

• 22:03 — What kids actually need from you when they're dysregulated

• 26:44 — How small repairs rebuild connection after hard moments

• 29:58 — Why dads often hide their struggles and how vulnerability helps

• 33:21 — How real-time emotional attunement works—and what derails it

• 37:49 — What regulated fatherhood looks like in everyday interactions

• 41:30 — Why self-compassion matters more than perfect parenting

• 44:56 — How tiny daily habits build long-term emotional resilience

• 48:20 — What keeps parents stuck in reactive cycles and how to break them

LINKS AND RESOURCES

• Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15)
• 732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail.
• info@authenticparenting.com
• Send audio messages using Speakpipe.
• Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services.

Are you ready to start the new year with calmer, more connected parenting? In this episode, I share 7 practical ways to parent with intention in 2026 while avoiding common pitfalls that can derail your goals. We cover screen time, home environments, children's play, shared meals, technology, and the small but powerful shifts that can transform your family life. You'll also hear exercises and tips to check in with yourself, stay intentional, and create a year filled with connection and purpose.

LINKS AND RESOURCES

• Support the podcast by making a donation (suggested amount $15)
• 732-763-2576 call to leave a voicemail.
• info@authenticparenting.com
• Send audio messages using Speakpipe.
• Join the Authentic Parenting Community on Facebook.
• Work w/Anna. Listeners get 10% off her services.

Podcast Production by Aminur: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/~019855d91718719d11