The Art of Raising Humans

Do you ever feel like you are managing every detail of your child’s life—schoolwork, activities, friendships, schedules, and responsibilities—yet worry they may not be learning how to handle life without you? Or maybe you try to give your child more freedom, only to watch them become overwhelmed, make a choice they regret, or expect you to rescue them afterward.
 
In this episode of The Art of Raising Humans, Kyle and Sara Wester talk about the difference between giving children small choices and helping them practice the meaningful decision-making skills they will need for adulthood. From choosing classes, activities, and friendships to managing time, money, and growing responsibilities, children and teens need opportunities to make real choices while parents are still nearby to guide them.
 
You’ll learn how to give your child an appropriate voice without putting adult-sized pressure on them; how to know when to step in and when to step back; and how to help them recover when a decision does not work out. This episode is for parents who want to raise confident, capable kids—not kids who need a parent to manage every next step.
 
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why too much control—or too much freedom—can leave kids anxious and unprepared for adulthood.
How meaningful choices build confidence, responsibility, resilience, and executive-function skills.
Age-appropriate choices for elementary-aged children, tweens, and teens.
How to coach your child through decisions and mistakes without rescuing, shaming, or taking over.
 
View the full podcast transcript at: 
https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/are-you-giving-your-child-real-choices-how-to-build-confidence-without-giving-up-leadership-ep-227
 
Visit our website and social media channels for more valuable content for your parenting journey.
 
Resource Website: 
https://www.artofraisinghumans.com
Video Courses: 
https://art-of-raising-humans.newzenler.com/
Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/artofraisinghumans
Instagram: 
https://www.instagram.com/artofraisinghumans
Podcast Website: 
https://www.theartofraisinghumans.com
Book List:
https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/booklist
 
The Art of Raising Humans podcast should not be considered or used as counseling but for educational purposes only.

Does your teen have no clear plan for college, work, or life after high school? When they say, “I don’t know,” it can bring up a lot of fear for parents. Are they behind? Unmotivated? Will they be able to support themselves and find a meaningful path?
 
In this episode, Kyle and Sara Wester explain why pressure often makes teens shut down and how parents can guide their teen forward without taking over or backing away completely. Your teen does not need to have their whole future figured out right now. They need opportunities to learn about themselves, build real confidence, and practice making thoughtful next-step decisions.
 
You’ll learn:
Why uncertainty is not the same as laziness or a lack of potential
How your own fear can accidentally make future conversations feel overwhelming
Curious questions that help teens discover strengths, interests, and what drains them
Practical ways to build ownership through experiences, responsibility, and small decisions
 
Whether your teen is anxious about the future or seems completely unbothered by it, this conversation will help you replace pressure with calm, connected leadership and help them grow into an adult who can navigate whatever comes next.
 
View the full podcast transcript at: 
https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/when-your-teen-has-no-idea-what-to-do-with-their-life
 
Visit our website and social media channels for more valuable content for your parenting journey.
 
Resource Website: 
https://www.artofraisinghumans.com
Video Courses: 
https://art-of-raising-humans.newzenler.com/
Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/artofraisinghumans
Instagram: 
https://www.instagram.com/artofraisinghumans
Podcast Website: 
https://www.theartofraisinghumans.com
Book List:
https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/booklist
 
The Art of Raising Humans podcast should not be considered or used as counseling but for educational purposes only.

Why can the child who is most like you also be the one who pushes your buttons the fastest?
 
Maybe their anxiety, sensitivity, stubbornness, big emotions, or need for control feels painfully familiar. Without realizing it, parents can begin reacting to their own past instead of responding to the child in front of them.
 
In this episode of The Art of Raising Humans, Kyle and Sara explore why familiar traits can feel so triggering and how parents can interrupt old patterns without blaming themselves or trying to fix their child. They share a brain based, relationship first way to grow in awareness, regulate in the hard moments, and give your child the safety and guidance you may have needed too.
 
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
Why your child’s behavior can activate old fears, memories, and pressure
How to notice when you are parenting from a trigger instead of the present moment
Why understanding yourself helps you respond to your child with more calm and connection
How to break unhealthy family patterns while still setting clear, confident limits
 
Your child does not need a perfect parent. They need a parent willing to pause, get curious, and choose a new path.
 
View the full podcast transcript at: 
https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/when-your-child-is-just-like-you-how-to-stop-repeating-old-patterns
 
Visit our website and social media channels for more valuable content for your parenting journey.
 
Resource Website: 
https://www.artofraisinghumans.com
Video Courses: 
https://art-of-raising-humans.newzenler.com/
Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/artofraisinghumans
Instagram: 
https://www.instagram.com/artofraisinghumans
Podcast Website: 
https://www.theartofraisinghumans.com
Book List:
https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/booklist
 
The Art of Raising Humans podcast should not be considered or used as counseling but for educational purposes only.

Have you ever worried that you missed your chance to build a secure attachment with your child? Or wondered why your child shuts down, becomes clingy, or struggles to bring their emotions to you?
 
In this episode, Kyle and Sara talk with licensed professional counselor and attachment expert Eli Harwood, also known as The Attachment Nerd, about what secure attachment really looks like and how parents can strengthen it at any age.
 
Eli explains why attachment is not about perfect parenting or avoiding conflict. It is about becoming a safe, steady person your child can turn to when life feels hard—and a secure base from which they can confidently explore the world.
 
In this conversation, you’ll discover:
What the four attachment patterns can reveal about a child’s behavior
Why responding to emotions does not make children weak or overly dependent
How one secure relationship can make a lasting difference in a child’s life
How parents can work through their own emotional baggage and create a different legacy for their children
 
This hopeful conversation will help you see everyday emotions, conflicts, and repairs as opportunities to build the kind of relationship your child can carry into adulthood.
 
Eli Harwood, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor, USA TODAY bestselling author, mother of three, and creator of Attachment Nerd. She has more than 19 years of clinical experience helping individuals and families understand attachment and build healthier patterns of connection. Her books include Raising Securely Attached Kids, Securely Attached, and How to Deal with Your ____ So Your Kids Don’t Have To.
 
Connect with Eli:
Website: https://www.attachmentnerd.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/attachmentnerd/
Books: https://www.attachmentnerd.com/books
How to Deal Podcast: https://podcast.attachmentnerd.com/
 
View the full podcast transcript at: 
https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/how-to-build-a-secure-attachment-with-your-child-at-any-age-with-eli-harwood
 
Visit our website and social media channels for more valuable content for your parenting journey.
 
Resource Website: 
https://www.artofraisinghumans.com
Video Courses: 
https://art-of-raising-humans.newzenler.com/
Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/artofraisinghumans
Instagram: 
https://www.instagram.com/artofraisinghumans
Podcast Website: 
https://www.theartofraisinghumans.com
Book List:
https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/booklist
 
The Art of Raising Humans podcast should not be considered or used as counseling but for educational purposes only.

Few things frustrate parents more than trying to have an important conversation with a child or teen and hearing, “I don’t care” or “I don’t know.”
 
It can feel dismissive, disrespectful, avoidant, or even scary. Parents may start wondering: Do they really not care? Are they lying? Are they avoiding responsibility? Am I losing influence?
In this episode of The Art of Raising Humans, Kyle and Sara talk about what may actually be happening underneath these common responses. They explain why “I don’t care” can be a form of armor, why “I don’t know” can be a shutdown response, and why pushing harder often makes kids more defensive instead of more honest.
 
You’ll learn how to stay calm, lower the pressure without lowering the boundary, and help your child move from defensiveness into reflection, responsibility, and repair. Kyle and Sara also share practical ways to respond to kids ages 8–18, including what younger kids, tweens, and teens may need when they seem shut down or checked out.
 
This episode is especially helpful for parents who want to reduce power struggles, build emotional intelligence, strengthen connection, and guide their child with calm leadership instead of fear.
 
When your child says, “I don’t care” or “I don’t know,” try not to chase the words. Look underneath. Behind both phrases is often a child who feels overwhelmed, ashamed, confused, or unsure how to move forward.
 
Listen to this episode to learn how to respond with connection, clarity, and confidence.
 
View the full podcast transcript at: 
https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/when-your-child-says-i-dont-care-or-i-dont-know
 
Visit our website and social media channels for more valuable content for your parenting journey.
 
Resource Website: 
https://www.artofraisinghumans.com
Video Courses: 
https://art-of-raising-humans.newzenler.com/
Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/artofraisinghumans
Instagram: 
https://www.instagram.com/artofraisinghumans
Podcast Website: 
https://www.theartofraisinghumans.com
Book List:
https://www.artofraisinghumans.com/booklist
 
The Art of Raising Humans podcast should not be considered or used as counseling but for educational purposes only.