What's Inside This Episode: Stop chasing the myth of the perfect parent and discover why your "mistakes" might be the best thing you can give your kids.

In this episode, we're releasing impossible expectations, examining where they came from, and learning how repair actually strengthens your relationship with your children.

In This Episode You'll Discover:

• Why perfect parenting is a myth (and why that's actually wonderful news)
• Where your crushing parenting expectations really came from
• How to identify which expectations serve you and which don't
• Why your mistakes are actually gifts to your children
• The simple repair process that teaches emotional intelligence
• How to finally give yourself the grace you deserve

Pain Points We're Addressing:

• Feeling like you're failing as a parent
• Guilt over losing your patience
• Exhaustion from trying to do everything perfectly
• Comparing yourself to other moms
• Not knowing how to make things right after you mess up
• Carrying expectations that don't serve your family

Solutions:

• Release the myth of perfection and embrace "good enough" parenting
• Identify and question inherited or societal expectations
• Practice simple, effective repair with your children
• Model healthy imperfection and emotional regulation
• Focus on connection over perfection

Get the first chapter of Sink or Swim Parenting FREE: https://nataliemccabe.com/sink-or-swim-parenting

💬 Join the FREE Community Connect with other moms who get it! Join the Community: https://community.nataliemccabe.com/invitation?code=5G64A6

📞 Book Your FREE 1:1 Coaching Call: https://nataliemccabe.com/

Leave a Review: If this episode helped you feel less overwhelmed about your child's learning, please leave a 5-star review and share with another mama who needs to hear this!

Forget the flashcards and forced ABC lessons!

In this episode, Natalie sits down with early literacy expert Maria Golden from Growing in Literacy to reveal the truth about how children actually learn to read, and why most parents are starting in the wrong place.

Maria shares a shocking truth from her years in the classroom: Kids are arriving at school without the foundational skills they need to learn to read. Why? Because there's a critical hierarchy to literacy development that most parents don't know about.

After listening, you'll be able to:

• Understand the critical foundation skills kids need BEFORE they can read (and why schools skip this!)
• Use everyday moments—dinner conversations, car rides, nature walks—to build powerful literacy skills
• Make learning feel like play instead of work (your kids won't even know they're learning!)
• Balance technology mindfully while creating an educationally-rich home environment
• Build your child's love of learning that will last their entire lifetime
• Stop feeling guilty about not doing "enough" and recognize the learning already happening around you

Learning doesn't have to be another job on your endless to-do list. It's simply about being present, following your child's interests, and recognizing that education is happening all around you—in the bird outside your window, the rhyme in a silly song, the conversation at dinner, the story before bed.

Resources Mentioned:

Growing in Literacy: http://www.growinginliteracy.com

Connect with Maria Golden: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growinginliteracy/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/growinginliteracy

Get the first chapter of Sink or Swim Parenting FREE and discover more strategies to support your child's success without the overwhelm: https://nataliemccabe.com/sink-or-swim-parenting

💬 Join the FREE Community Connect with other moms who get it! Join the Community: https://community.nataliemccabe.com/invitation?code=5G64A6

📞 Book Your FREE 1:1 Coaching Call: https://nataliemccabe.com/

Leave a Review: If this episode helped you feel less overwhelmed about your child's learning, please leave a 5-star review and share with another mama who needs to hear this!

Think your toddler needs flashcards and worksheets to learn reading? Think again! 📚

In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with Maria Golden, educator, reading specialist, and mom of three—who reveals the shocking truth: by the time kids reach first grade, many already believe they're "bad at reading." 😢

What You'll Discover:

• Why teaching the alphabet first might actually be holding your child back
• The ONE foundational skill that 90% of kids are missing (hint: it's not letter recognition!)
• How a simple grocery store trip can become a powerful literacy lesson
• The "storytelling game" that builds comprehension skills without a single worksheet
• Why vocabulary matters more than you think—starting from the womb!
• Practical, play-based strategies that fit into your already chaotic day

Perfect for: ✅ Parents of toddlers and preschoolers ✅ Moms who feel overwhelmed by "educational activities" ✅ Anyone worried their child will struggle with reading ✅ Parents looking for screen-free learning ideas

Key Takeaways: 🎯 Rhyming comes before letter recognition 🎯 Vocabulary building starts at age 1 (or earlier!) 🎯 Sound awareness doesn't need visual letters 🎯 Learning happens naturally through conversation 🎯 You don't need to be a teacher—just be intentional

Resources Mentioned:

Growing in Literacy: http://www.growinginliteracy.com

Connect with Maria Golden: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growinginliteracy/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/growinginliteracy

Next Episode: Stay tuned for Part 2 where Maria shares specific activities and games you can start TODAY!

Get the first chapter of Sink or Swim Parenting FREE and discover more strategies to support your child's success without the overwhelm. Get Your Free Chapter Here - https://nataliemccabe.com/sink-or-swim-parenting

💬 Join the FREE Community Connect with other moms who get it! Join the Community - https://community.nataliemccabe.com/invitation?code=5G64A6

📞 Book Your FREE 1:1 Coaching Call: https://nataliemccabe.com/

Leave a Review: If this episode helped you feel less overwhelmed about your child's learning, please leave a 5-star review and share with another mama who needs to hear this!