What does it really mean to be the best parent you can be? For me, it’s not about perfection — it’s about presence, flexibility, and listening. In this minisode, I’m recording from our dream horse trailer after a beautiful weekend of horse camping, before heading off on a family vacation. Because showing up for my kids means giving them my full attention when it matters most — and carving out time beforehand to speak from the heart.

This episode is for the parents, the seekers, the ones who are walking (or riding) the path of doing things differently. I reflect on what it means to parent with intention, how horses continue to teach us about rhythm and rest, and why we all need to build in space for recovery — even in the middle of the adventure.

Inside this minisode:

• Why I pre-recorded this episode with my kids in mind
• Listening to our children (and their need for rest)
• A glimpse into our upcoming trip to Briar Fest — horse-lover heaven
• Greek mythology, horse evolution, and the wisdom they carry
• A sweet moment with a handwritten note for my daughters
• How parenting, like riding, is all about presence and the long ride

Whether you’re traveling this summer, building a life on your own terms, or simply trying to be present with your kids, I hope this conversation brings you some light, laughter, and a little room to breathe.

Come find more reflections, updates, and stories at
www.theadventureparadox.com

Thanks for listening, and may you enjoy the ride.

Support the show

Connect with me in the following ways:
www.theadventureparadox.com
Facebook
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catcaldwellmyers@gmail.com

Some conversations remind you why you do the work, and this is one of them. Wendy Snyder is a parenting educator, family life coach, and founder of Fresh Start Family. She’s also a mom of two teens and someone I’ve long admired for her honesty, grace, and commitment to helping families break generational cycles with compassion. Wendy teaches parents how to go from stressed and reactive to peaceful and empowered using a firm and kind, connection-based model. Her work is rooted in powerful parenting, not permissive, not authoritarian, but grounded in dignity, respect, and real tools for real life.

In this conversation, we go deep into what it means to raise strong-willed kids (and why it’s a gift), how to respond instead of react (even in the car), and why humility, not perfection, is the parenting superpower we all need. Whether you're navigating toddler meltdowns, teen pushback, or just trying to stay calm at the gas station after a long day, there is something here for you.

Topics We Covered:

• What positive or powerful parenting really means
• Why strong-willed kids are future leaders
• How to stop using shame, bribes, or threats and what to do instead
• Supporting your child by healing your own inner child
• What to do when you're triggered and exhausted
• How to “pull over” emotionally and physically in tough moments

Key Takeaways:

• Strong-willed children invite us into growth; they’re not problems to fix
• Slowing down gives you space to respond with wisdom, not reactivity
• You don’t need to force apologies; you need to teach peaceful resolution
• Modeling calm and compassion teaches more than any rulebook ever will
• You’re not a bad parent; you’re just healing in real time, alongside your kids

Links & Resources:

• Website: https://freshstartfamilyonline.com/
• Podcast: The Fresh Start Family Show
• Instagram: @freshstartwendy / https://www.instagram.com/freshstartwendy/
• YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@wendysnyder-freshstartfamily
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freshstartfamily
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-snyder-freshstartonline
• Free Quick Start Learning Bundle: freshstartfamilyonline.com/power
• Firm and Kind Parenting Blueprint: “Fresh Start Family + Firm and Kind Blueprint”
• Read Wendy’s viral articles: “I Left Bruises” and “The Night I Threw a Book at My Kid”

If you needed this conversation, share it. With your partner, your best friend, your sister, or someone in the grocery store line. Let’s keep lifting each other up as we raise the next generation, one moment of grace at a time.

Support the show

Connect with me in the following ways:
www.theadventureparadox.com
Facebook
Instagram
catcaldwellmyers@gmail.com