103. Dads, Are You Listening? Lessons on Parenting and Connection

In this episode, I chat with Ian Abbott about the challenges of parenting, especially from a dad's point of view. We talk about how being aware of emotions is key and how parental anxiety can affect kids. Ian shares some great tips from his parenting classes for dads, focusing on how important it is for fathers to connect with their children's feelings. We discuss how to find the right balance between pushing kids to grow and giving them support, how curiosity helps us understand emotions, and how parenting roles are changing. The conversation centers on creating a safe space for open talks and emotional growth. Thank you for listening and you can find me on IG: @theanxietymd if you have any questions. PS. If you would like to join the MBRX family of 4000+ anxiety WARRIORS who are shifting from coping with their anxiety to actually HEALING it, click the link below: https://www.theanxietymd.com/MBRX ______________________________ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 00:52 - Challenges in Parenting  01:38 - Emotional Awareness in Parenting 02:59 - Men Seeking Help   04:07 - Energetic Influence on Children 05:49 - Stereotypes of Fatherhood   06:52  -Guiding Children Through Challenges   07:27 - Emotional Development in Boys   09:17 - Goals of Parenting Classes  10:07 - Cultural Stigma Around Men's Emotions    10:26 - Benefits of Men's Groups 11:20 - Single Dads vs. Single Moms   12:14 - Nurturing and Challenging Dynamics   13:01 - Importance of Emotional Resilience  14:01 - Experiences of Discomfort   15:52 - Personal Growth Through Challenges 17:42 - Validating Emotions in Parenting  18:52 - Understanding Immersion in Parenting   19:10 - Information vs. Conversation in Courses  20:19 - The Importance of Slowing Down 23:03 - Curiosity Over Fixing 23:59 - Building Resilience in Parenting 26:44 - Emotional Immaturity in Parenting   27:16 - Role Reversal in Parenting   29:02 - Modeling Healthy Behavior   30:20 - Humor as a Coping Mechanism 31:54 - Parenting Daughters Softly   32:08 - Common Challenges in Parenting  33:17 - Self-Awareness and Reflection   34:43 - Visualizing Conflict and Repair 35:03 - The Importance of Repair 36:01 - Handling Discomfort in Parenting  36:59 - Listening vs. Fixing 38:00 - Asking for Understanding   39:16 - Girls and Emotional Expression 40:18 - Creating Open Conversations  41:01 - Body Awareness and Emotional Regulation  42:35 - Using Self as a Reference Point 43:49 - The Power of Connection  44:34 - Normalizing Male Emotions  45:14 - Emotional Sovereignty 46:30 - Shame and Emotional Disconnect   47:07 - Finding Ian's Course 48:37 - Shared Experiences in Parenting Classes 49:27 - Learning and Empowerment  50:00 - Managing Children's Emotional Outbursts