In this week’s episode, I sit down with Charmelle Maynard, a first-time dad, husband, and all-around thoughtful human being, to explore his journey into fatherhood. Charmelle shares candid insights about the values, conversations, and intentional choices he and his wife Jan made before welcoming their son, Miles Jackson Maynard, into the world. From first-date deep dives about kids to navigating boundary-setting with grandparents, Charmelle offers a fresh perspective on modern parenting. Whether you're a parent, aspiring parent, or simply curious about rethinking traditional parenting approaches, I hope this episode will inspire and empower you.

This week, I’m thrilled to have three amazing moms from my Tools for Teenage Years group here with us: Vicki, Alex, and Adi. In this episode, we’re recreating the intimate, reflective atmosphere of our sessions—starting up with a quick check-in and then diving deep into family dynamics. You’ll hear candid stories about the different challenges these moms face as they navigate raising teenagers alongside their partners. Everything from handling parenting disagreements to cross-cultural communication and balancing marriage while being full-time parents. Each of my guests share a unique perspective shaped by their own unique backgrounds. Join us as we dig deep into the complexities of co-parenting, cultivating family bonds, and building lasting partnerships.

Today’s episode, Transparency, is a solo one where I’ll be diving into something central to my approach to parenting: being open and honest with our kids. Many of my clients and friends have told me they love how I offer actionable tips they can use right away, which is why transparency has become one of the core themes I share.

Transparency in parenting means showing your kids what real struggle looks like and letting them know it's normal to not have it all figured out—something most of us didn’t experience growing up. When we share what we’re thinking and the challenges we’re facing, our kids learn it’s okay to face uncertainty. It helps them sit with uncomfortable feelings rather than running from them, seeing that struggle is part of being human. And in doing so, we’re taking ourselves off the “parenting pedestal” and creating a family culture that values authenticity over perfection.

So today, I wanted to model this transparency for you through this podcast. Getting back into it after a break makes me both thrilled and nervous, and rather than pretending it’s all smooth, I’m inviting you to share this journey with me. For my next episodes, I’ll be interspersing solo episodes with inspiring dad interviews to provide a mix of insights, and I hope it serves all my listeners well. Thanks for joining me, and remember, you can reach me anytime at rethinkingparenting@gmail.com—I love hearing from you!