The Baffling Behavior Show {Parenting after Trauma}
Formerly the Parenting after Trauma podcast, internationally recognized children's mental health expert Robyn Gobbel decodes the most baffling behaviors for parents of kids with vulnerable nervous systems. If you're parenting a child who has experienced trauma or toxic stress or a child with a neuroimmune disorder, sensory processing, or other nervous system vulnerability, this show will let you know you are not alone. You can stop playing behavior whack-a-mole because Robyn offers you tools that actually work.
You can become your child's expert, feel more confident as a parent, and bring more connection and clarity into your family.
Educators, therapists, coaches and consultants- you too can learn all about what behavior really is and become more effective at helping the families you support. You can love your work again!
The Baffling Behavior Show {Parenting after Trauma}
EP 187: Teach Siblings about Owls, Watchdogs, and Possums... Without Excusing!
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
One way we can support the siblings of kids with big, baffling behaviors is to teach them about owls, watchdogs, and possums (or some way to understand the brain and behaviors) as well as to teach them about nervous system vulnerabilities and ‘overactive’ watchdog and possum brains!
In this episode, you’ll learn
- Steps to take when teaching siblings about owls, watchdogs, and possums so they won’t feel like you’re just excusing bad behavior
- The importance of validating your kids’ experience that the way you parent their sibling is unfair
- A couple scripts for talking to your children about their sibling’s watchdog and possum brain (available on my website by CLICKING HERE)
Resources mentioned in this podcast:
- Helping Siblings Understand "Unfair" Parenting {EP 186}
- Can I Teach My Child About Their Brain? {EP 114}
- My Child Won't Talk About Their Watchdog and Possum Brain {EP 160}
- EVERYONE Has A Watchdog And Possum Brain! {EP 178}
- Is Understand Behavior Just Excusing It? {EP 109}
- Enabling Vrs. Low-Demand Parenting {EP 144}
Read the full transcript at: RobynGobbel.com/teachsiblings
Underneath every behavior is something happening in the body, specifically in the nervous system. When we support the body first, behavior often begins to shift. Even for kids who don't have a sensory processing disorder!
Join my March 24th webinar at 8pm eastern- Sensory Strategies for Dysregulated Kids with Baffling Behaviors
RobynGobbel.com/SensoryWebinar
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Let's hang out this summer at two different trainings for professionals!
Therapy with Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors- June 1 & 2 in Syracuse, NY RobynGobbel.com/NY
Presence in Practice- July 15, 16, & 17 in Rockford, MI (outside Grand Rapids) RobynGobbel.com/Michigan2026
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Grab a copy of USA Today Best Selling book Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors robyngobbel.com/book
Join us in The Club for more support! robyngobbel.com/TheClub
Sign up on the waiting list for the 2027 Cohorts of the Baffling Behavior Training Institute's Immersion Program for Professionals robyngobbel.com/Immersion
Follow Me On:
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Over on my website you can find:
Webinar and eBook on Focus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior (FREE)
eBook on The Brilliance of Attachment (FREE)
LOTS & LOTS of FREE Resources
Ongoing support, connection, and co-regulation for struggling parents: The Club
Year-Long Immersive & Holistic Training Program for Parenting Professionals: The Baffling Behavior Training Institute’s (BBTI) Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With)