015 - What happens in our kids' body and mind when they lose control? - With Mercedes Oromendia

Welcome back to "Parenting the Intensity!"

Today, we have a very special guest joining us, Dr. Mercedes Oromendia, a trilingual biocultural psychologist with expertise in parenting, children, and trauma.

In this episode, Mercedes and I dive deep into the world of parenting emotionally intense kids. We explore why children act the way they do and what actually happens in their bodies and mind when they're seemingly out of control.

We cover:

• The importance of open communication and emotional expression in parenting: Emphasizing the importance of parents being able to openly express both love and frustration towards their child (not to them of course, to a safe person). This open communication creates a safe space for discussing the challenges of parenting and allows parents to reflect on their own behaviors and patterns.
• Treating children differently does not mean being unfair: Mercedes addresses the challenge parents face when their children start complaining about fairness. She emphasize the importance of parents reflecting on their decisions and being confident that they are doing what is best for each individual child. Treating children differently does not necessarily mean being unequal or unfair, as each child has different needs and circumstances.
• The power of understanding a child's history and triggers: Mercedes, who specializes in supporting foster and adoptive families, acknowledges that not knowing a child's entire history and medical background can present challenges. However, she stress the importance of understanding a child's story and triggers as much as possible. This understanding can help parents navigate and address their child's intense reactions and behaviors.

"I love my kid. I don't like my kid right now. That's okay too."

Show notes and transcript of the episode over here

Where to find Mercedes:

Manatee Website

Facebook

Instagram

Resources referenced by Mercedes

Hand model of the brain by Dan Siegel

The boy who was raised as a dog by Bruce D Perry

Make sure to subscribe to our podcast for future episodes and leave a rating and review, that helps us get in front of more parents. Don't forget to check out the resources mentioned on our website at www.parentingtheintensity.ca

Join the "Parenting the Intensity Community" to find the right things that works for YOUR child and adapt them to YOUR reality.

To be able to enjoy your life and kids, not always being afraid of the next outburst

Take a deep breath, keep going, we’re all in this together!

Music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay