Voices of Your Village
Latest episodes
Parenting a Spicy One: Raising Big Personalities with Compassion and Boundaries, with Mary Van Geffen
Feb 12, 2026
You’re listening to Voices of Your Village, and today we’re talking about those spicy ones. The kids who are big in personality, big in emotion, and big in challenging parents. Maybe you're raising one—or maybe you were one. I’m joined by parenting coach and author Mary Van Geffen, whose book Parenting a Spicy One is part memoir, part survival guide, and completely validating for the parents who feel like they’re doing everything “right” and still getting steamrolled by meltdowns, back talk, and constant negotiating.
We talk about what it actually looks like to parent a strong-willed child, why traditional discipline often backfires, and how to stay connected even when your kid is pushin...
