On today’s episode, I’m joined by mindfulness mentor, meditation teacher, and host of the Mindful Mama Podcast, Hunter Clarke-Fields. Hunter is the author of Raising Good Humans and Raising Good Humans Every Day, and for years she’s been supporting parents in moving out of reactivity and into more present, connected relationships with their kids.

As a therapist and parent, I know how easy it is to feel like we’re “messing it all up,” especially in the early years when we’re exhausted, triggered, and trying to break cycles in real time. In this conversation, Hunter reflects on parenting her oldest, now 18, and shares what only time can teach: repair matters more than perfection, and it’s never too late to shift a relationship.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why parenting is a long game, and why you don’t always get immediate feedback that it’s “working”
• How repair builds safety and connection, even after reactivity
• The power of delighting in your child, and practicing real listening
• Why boundaries and self-care are essential, not selfish
• Hunter’s message for parents in the thick of the toddler years

My hope is that this episode offers you a deep exhale: you don’t have to be perfect to be a safe, steady parent. What matters is your willingness to keep coming back.

Connect with Hunter

• Listen to her podcast: Mindful Mama Podcast
• Get her books: Raising Good Humans and Raising Good Humans Every Day
• Find her online: mindfulmamamentor.com

If you loved this episode

• Share it with a parent who’s in the thick of it right now
• Support the podcast with a rating or review
• Subscribe to my Substack, A Little Space, Please, for the post that goes with this episode
• Learn more about Dr. Cassidy and Co's therapy practice at www.drcassidymft.com