Are you a grandparent watching your grandchild spiral after a bad grade, wondering how to lift the heaviness of trauma without passing on your own survival anxieties? Do you recognize yourself in the urge to fix, micromanage, or praise only perfect outcomes—while quietly wishing for deeper connection and resilience in your home?
I’m Laura Brazan, and I know what it’s like to see a child caught between perfectionism and complete shutdown, especially in kinship care. The old rules—pushing harder, rewarding only achievements, and bottling up our struggles—don’t build true strength. They create hypervigilance and reinforce a belief that worth equals performance.
That’s why, on this episode of 'Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Through Adversity,' we welcome Dr. Carla Caturia (https://thehouseofrise.com/) , elite mental performance coach, mother, and creator of the RISE Framework. Drawing from over 20 years of experience guiding families through trauma and growth, Dr. Carla shares practical insights for breaking the “success without self” trap our systems unknowingly enforce. She explores how to praise effort over outcome, help our children build identity and autonomy, and—most importantly—regulate our own emotions before trying to shape theirs.
You’ll learn actionable tools like the 5 C’s for challenging negative self-talk and how to model vulnerability, growth mindset, and healthy boundaries at home. Dr. Carla shows that by validating feelings and encouraging authentic effort, we can nurture self-worth and emotional safety—regardless of what’s on the report card.
Join our community of grandparents rewriting family legacies, one healing, growth-minded conversation at a time. Your voice and story deserve to be heard. Together, we’ll transform adversity into strength, for ourselves and the children we love.
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New! Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Online Support Circle (https://www.grandparents-raising-grandchildren.org/online-support-circle/) ! Starting Wednesday, October 7th, we meet every other Wednesday from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM Eastern.
A peer-first, confidential space—free from cross-talk, judgment, or unsolicited advice. Guided by certified therapists, specialized family coaches, and counselors who truly understand kinship care.
When we look at the child welfare system today, it’s clear that the framework we've inherited is completely outdated. We keep trying to "fix" programs, but what if the problem isn't just funding or execution? What if the problem is how we frame the issues in the first place?
Ali Caliendo, founder of the Kinship Policy Lab, reminded us that the questions we ask determine the policies we write, the data we collect, and the outcomes we pursue.
I want to know how you’re doing. Is the podcast giving you what you need? What support are you missing most right now? Send me a Direct Message on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/GrandparentsRaisingGrandchilden) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/grandparentspodcast/) or email me directly at laurabrazan@grandparents-raising-grandchildren.org. I read and reply to every message because this community is built on supporting each other!
Thank you for tuning into today's episode. It's been a journey of shared stories, insights, and invaluable advice from the heart of a community that knows the beauty and challenges of raising grandchildren. Your presence and engagement mean the world to us and to grandparents everywhere stepping up in ways they never imagined.
Remember, you're not alone on this journey. For more resources, support, and stories, visit our website and follow us on our social media channels. If today's episode moved you, consider sharing it with someone who might find comfort and connection in our shared experiences.
We look forward to bringing more stories and expert advice your way next week. Until then, take care of yourselves and each other.
Want to be a guest on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Nurturing Through Adversity? Send Laura Brazan a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/grg
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