Back-to-school is about more than schedules and supplies. It’s a chance to heal. In this episode, I share the first-day-of-middle-school adventures with my daughter, how burnout crept up on me, and why parents need to “check themselves before they project themselves.” Together, we’ll talk about supporting kids emotionally, recognizing when our old wounds are triggered, and why parenting isn’t about perfection, it’s about connection.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• The real-life parenting moment that turned into an inner child healing lesson

• Why burnout sneaks up on parents and how to spot the signs

• What it means when kids aren’t opening up—and how to build trust

• How to check yourself before you project yourself (and why radical responsibility matters)

• The importance of creating safe spaces for communication at home

• How meeting emotional needs (to be seen, heard, accepted, valued, and loved) changes family dynamics

Whether you’re a parent navigating back-to-school chaos or someone healing your own inner child, this episode will give you practical tools, heartfelt stories, and reminders that healing happens in connection.

Show Notes: 1:54 – Why I postponed this week’s episode 2:50 – FREE Back to School Week at F45 (Sept 15–20) 7:10 – My sister helped me see the burnout coming 9:36 – Andy Weins Episode 11:59 – First day of middle school “healing moments” 19:19 – Using back-to-school to support your inner child 23:20 – Parenting isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection 51:32 – Check Yourself Before You Project Yourself / Heal, So Your Kids Don’t Have To 54:19 – What it means if your kids aren’t opening up 55:55 – That time when Aria didn’t feel safe in my energy