Priyanka is a life and parent coach, physician, and mother of a six-year-old. She came into parenthood the way most of us do — reading the books, downloading the Instagram accounts, saving every worksheet on tantrums and meltdowns. And none of it worked. Not because the advice was wrong, but because she was showing up from a triggered place and didn't even know it.In this episode of Baby Steps, Priyanka shares the moment everything shifted — when she hired her own parent coach and stopped trying to fix her kid and started doing the work on herself. She walks us through a real night at the kitchen sink, dishes piling up, her three-year-old ignoring her, and the slow realization that her frustration had nothing to do with bedtime and everything to do with an eight-year-old version of herself who never felt heard.Priyanka breaks down what it actually means to parent your inner child — not as a trendy concept, but as a daily practice. Checking in with that younger version of yourself. Giving them the validation they never got. Building a relationship with that kid so when a trigger hits, you can step in as the parent instead of reacting as the child you used to be.This conversation goes deeper than tools and techniques. It's about why every parenting hack flies out the window when you're in fight or flight, why the fastest way to change your kid's behavior is to change your own, and why the last thing most moms prioritize — themselves — is the one thing that shifts everything.If you've ever snapped at your kid and immediately thought "where did that come from," this episode is the answer.
Topics Covered
Why trying to "fix" your child's behavior usually backfires, and what to do instead. The real reason parenting tools don't work in the moment — your nervous system is running the show. Priyanka's personal story of ignoring her three-year-old at the kitchen sink and what her parent coach helped her see about that moment. How unresolved childhood experiences show up in everyday parenting — feeling disrespected, unheard, invisible — and why those triggers hijack your response before you even realize it. The PAWS framework — with Awareness and Understanding as the foundation for showing up differently. Why "practice makes permanent" matters more than "practice makes perfect," and how reflection builds new neural pathways over time. What it actually looks like to parent your inner child — having conversations with that younger version of yourself, validating their experience, and checking in daily. Why connection with yourself is the prerequisite for connection with your kid. The difference between surviving parenthood and thriving in it — and why investing in yourself first creates a ripple effect for the whole family.
Key Takeaways
Your child's behavior is often a mirror of how you're showing up — not a problem to solve. You can't implement parenting tools from a triggered state. Knowledge doesn't matter when you're in fight or flight. Awareness starts with reflection — even after the fact. Looking back at a moment honestly is what builds the new neural pathway for next time. Parenting your inner child isn't a one-time exercise. It's a daily check-in — at the mirror in the morning, before bed at night, not just when you're activated. The quickest "fix" for your family isn't a five-step list from Instagram. It's three months of doing your own work. Prioritizing yourself is the last thing most moms do and the first thing that actually changes the family dynamic.
Mentioned in This Episode
Priyanka's PAWS acronym and reflection worksheet. The concept of conscious parenting — showing up intentionally by doing your own internal work. Inner child work as a daily practice, not just a therapy tool.
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Links: https://linqapp.com/priyanka_venkataraman?r=link
The PAUSE Tool: https://wayfindingmoms.com/pausetool