Ever feel like your toddler is trying to break you? You’re not alone. In this episode, we’re joined by the incredible Devon Kuntzman—toddler parenting expert and author of the brand new book Transforming Toddlerhood: How to Handle Tantrums and Power Struggles and Raise Resilient Kids Without Losing Your Mind. We dive into the real talk about toddler behavior, emotional regulation, and how we as parents can stay sane and connected in the chaos.

Whether you’re in the thick of toddlerhood yourself, preparing for grandparenting, or just love understanding the "why" behind those tiny tornadoes, this conversation is packed with empathy, science-backed strategies, and hope. Devon gives us a totally refreshing reframe on discipline, tantrums, and screen time—and we also explore how much has changed (and how much hasn’t) in parenting over the decades.

Episode Highlights:

[0:00] Meet Devon and her just-launched book on toddlerhood
[3:06] Redefining what “toddler” really means
[4:33] What’s changed in the way we understand toddler behavior
[7:48] Why toddler meltdowns aren’t bad behavior—they’re communication
[9:47] Parenting styles: from controlling commander to confident guide
[12:49] Real-world scenario: what to do when your toddler hits you
[15:24] Teaching kids to cope with emotions instead of just punishing behavior
[17:19] The importance of reparenting yourself while raising your child
[18:24] How to avoid permissiveness while still setting healthy limits
[21:08] It’s okay to be overwhelmed—and why repair is more powerful than perfection
[25:00] Devon’s 4-step process for repairing relationships after a parenting slip
[27:27] Generational gaps: parenting now vs. then
[29:53] Navigating boundaries with your child and your parents
[32:04] Real talk: toddlers and restaurants are not always a match
[33:53] What’s the deal with screens? Devon breaks down screen time and brain health
[35:32] Parenting isn’t passive—it’s the hardest job you’ll ever love
[37:56] Self-compassion, strong-willed toddlers, and hilarious parenting fails
[39:44] Final takeaways: discipline that connects, teaches, and sets limits

Links and Resources:

🍼 Transforming Toddlerhood by Devon Kuntzman: https://www.transformingtoddlerhood.com/book/

📲 Follow Devon on Instagram: @transformingtoddlerhood

If today's discussion resonated with you or sparked curiosity, please rate, follow, and share "Insights from the Couch" with others. Your support helps us reach more people and continue providing valuable insights. Here’s to finding our purposes and living a life full of meaning and joy. Stay tuned for more!

🎙️ Love the podcast? Come talk about episodes with us inside The Midlife Chat. It’s a free, private community just for women at midlife who want to keep these conversations going. We’ve created this space for real talk, fresh resources, and honest connection—where you can share ideas and resources, ask questions, and get support from women navigating the same season. Come join us—we’d love to have you!

👉 [Join The Midlife Chat here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/795863256460970/?rdid=QDc8ryzocgFpBrbm#]

In this intense and emotionally charged episode, we dive deep into some of the most chilling and perplexing true crime cases involving mothers who committed unimaginable acts against their own children. From psychological abuse to cold-blooded murder, we’re peeling back the layers on what happens when motherhood takes a dark, dangerous turn.

We explore the twisted motivations and complex psychopathology behind cases like Unknown Number, Casey Anthony, Lindsay Clancy, Ruby Franke, and her notorious partner Jodi Hildebrandt. We’re not just recapping the crimes—you’ll hear our raw reactions as therapists and mothers, and we’ll take you into the murky territory of trauma, sociopathy, narcissism, and the haunting dynamics of parent-child bonds gone horribly wrong.

Episode Highlights:

[0:00] - Kicking off with our Midlife Masterclass and a true crime deep dive
[1:24] - “Mothers Gone Wrong” intro and a therapist’s disbelief at these cases
[3:00] - Breaking down the “Unknown Number” Netflix documentary
[5:54] - The big reveal: a mother as the digital abuser of her own daughter
[10:22] - Exploring Munchausen by proxy, sociopathy, and attention-seeking behavior
[13:32] - Control, puppet-mastery, and compulsive lying
[19:31] - Is pathological lying an addiction?
[22:41] - Shifting to Ruby Franke and the cult-like influence of Jodi Hildebrandt
[26:14] - Exploitation, rigidity, and mental manipulation in parenting
[30:16] - The horrifying rescue of Ruby Franke’s emaciated son
[32:47] - Discussing Lindsay Clancy and the reality of postpartum psychosis
[36:52] - The tragic consequences of untreated mental health struggles
[38:45] - Revisiting Casey Anthony from a therapist’s lens
[42:12] - Sociopathy hiding behind maternal faces
[45:01] - Wrapping up with empathy for victims and a plea for prevention
[46:50] - Community callout and how to stay connected

If today's discussion resonated with you or sparked curiosity, please rate, follow, and share "Insights from the Couch" with others. Your support helps us reach more people and continue providing valuable insights. Here’s to finding our purposes and living a life full of meaning and joy. Stay tuned for more!

🎙️ Love the podcast? Come talk about episodes with us inside The Midlife Chat. It’s a free, private community just for women at midlife who want to keep these conversations going. We’ve created this space for real talk, fresh resources, and honest connection—where you can share ideas and resources, ask questions, and get support from women navigating the same season. Come join us—we’d love to have you!

👉 [Join The Midlife Chat here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/795863256460970/?rdid=QDc8ryzocgFpBrbm#]

We’re thrilled to bring you this heartfelt and hilarious conversation with Dave Tarnowski—author, creative force behind the Instagram phenomenon Disappointing Affirmations, and the man redefining self-help with a dose of sharp wit and raw honesty. With over 2.5 million followers, Dave’s take on mental health, neurodivergence, grief, and healing resonates deeply—and this episode is no exception.

Together, we explore Dave’s late-in-life diagnoses of bipolar disorder and ADHD, his journey through therapy, sobriety, and grief, and how humor became his lifeline. We dive into the making of his newest book, Sorry in Advance for Making Things Weird, and talk about what it means to “do the work”—even when it sucks. If you’ve ever felt like you’re falling apart while still managing to laugh, this episode will make you feel seen, heard, and a little more okay with not being okay.

Episode Highlights:

[1:19] – Dave shares the origin story of Disappointing Affirmations and how his mental health journey shaped his work.
[3:04] – Getting diagnosed with bipolar disorder and ADHD later in life.
[5:03] – The neurodivergent mind: creativity, sensitivity, and deep knowing.
[7:43] – Using humor to bring healing to heavy emotions.
[9:52] – Why negative thoughts deserve affirmation too.
[13:04] – Medication trials, missteps, and finally finding a fit.
[15:31] – From unfinished novels to viral memes: how the Instagram page was born.
[21:26] – The power of dark humor, cynicism, and embracing absurdity.
[23:00] – Creating a safe space for all—why Dave stays out of divisive commentary.
[26:17] – Generational therapy gaps and shifting the mental health narrative.
[29:19] – What it means to actually do the work in therapy.
[33:38] – Sibling trauma, family hierarchy, and navigating long-standing dynamics.
[38:35] – Grief, loss, and finally facing what we try to avoid.
[42:22] – What's inside the new book—and why it goes deeper than the first.
[46:13] – Where to find Dave’s books, cards, and more.
[48:13] – The importance of men accessing therapy and emotional healing.

Links and Resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disappointingaffirmations

Dave Tarnowski’s book Disappointing Affirmations

Dave Tarnowski’s book Sorry in advance for making things weird

If today's discussion resonated with you or sparked curiosity, please rate, follow, and share "Insights from the Couch" with others. Your support helps us reach more people and continue providing valuable insights. Here’s to finding our purposes and living a life full of meaning and joy. Stay tuned for more!

🎙️ Love the podcast? Come talk about episodes with us inside The Midlife Chat. It’s a free, private community just for women at midlife who want to keep these conversations going. We’ve created this space for real talk, fresh resources, and honest connection—where you can share ideas and resources, ask questions, and get support from women navigating the same season. Come join us—we’d love to have you!

👉 [Join The Midlife Chat here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/795863256460970/?rdid=QDc8ryzocgFpBrbm#]