Parenting a Struggling Child with Kristina Kuzmic

Language of Love with Dr. Laura Berman

The saying goes, “A parent is only as happy as their least happy child.” While this may be a bit of a codependent edict, it’s true that when your child is struggling with anxiety, depression or in any other way it takes a deep toll on the family system. And as parents we try everything we can think of to help, but often those efforts don’t create any substantive change.

In this episode of the Language of Love, I welcome back my good friend Kristina Kuzmic, a writer, creator, and mother, to discuss her new book, I Can Fix This and Other Lies I Told Myself While Parenting My Struggling Child. If you're a regular listener, you'll likely recall our in-depth chat in 2023 about her book 'Hold On, But Don't Hold Still,' where we explored personalized parenting and supporting our children through mental health challenges.

Today, Kristina shares her journey of parenting Luca, her son who battled depression, ADHD, and anxiety. At a certain point he became suicidal and a danger to himself and others. Kristina’s journey and the amazingly authentic way she shares it is inspiring and instructive.

We have a heart-to-heart chat about the importance of empathy and connection over trying to fix or control their struggles. She shares important and effective lessons she learned the hard way about how to best to support our kids through their toughest times.

Kristina and I deep dive into:

• What it takes to parent children who are struggling
• Kristina's backstory that led her to write her book
• Why we should embrace empathy over control with struggling children
• The ways our Children's struggles require that we address our unhealed parts
• The importance of self-care for parents to better support struggling children
• Redefining “good motherhood”

Check out Kristina's new book, I Can Fix This and Other Lies I Told Myself While Parenting My Struggling Child, as well as her previous bestseller, Hold On, But Don't Hold Still, for valuable insights. Follow her on LinkedIn, Website, Facebook, or Instagram for updates on her projects. And don’t forget, you can visit my website for helpful courses and resources designed for you.

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