Helping Kids Do Hard Things, Strong-Willed Kids, and Growing Through Failure :: David Thomas & Sissy Goff [Ep 522]

05/12/25 • 51 min

Today our favorite counselors, David Thomas and Sissy Goff, are back to talk about their new project- children’s books! So much has happened over the last few years and they are beginning to see the onset of anxiety drop to age 6 from 8 years old previously. They created these books to give kids the words and emotional tools to do hard things and decrease anxiety, including a golden retriever feelings chart. As usual, they pack so much advice into every moment, here are some things we cover:

Escape and Avoidance vs. Support and Challenge in parenting
Connect over correction- we lose connections when we try to control the environment
Kids are becoming less resilient- they learn they are capable by experience
How to help an introverted child with friendships
How to be a good loser- turn it into something constructive
How to understand your strong-willed child
Why teen boys are not taking risks

Connect with David Thomas and Sissy Goff:

Website: Raising Boys and Girls
Facebook: Raising Boys and Girls
Instagram: Raising Boys and Girls (@raisingboysandgirls)

Links Mentioned:

Related Episodes:

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Escape and Avoidance vs. Support and Challenge in parenting
Connect over correction- we lose connections when we try to control the environment
Kids are becoming less resilient- they learn they are capable by experience
How to help an introverted child with friendships
How to be a good loser- turn it into something constructive
How to understand your strong-willed child
Why teen boys are not taking risks

Connect with David Thomas and Sissy Goff:

Website: Raising Boys and Girls
Facebook: Raising Boys and Girls
Instagram: Raising Boys and Girls (@raisingboysandgirls)

Links Mentioned:

Related Episodes:

Featured Sponsors:

Thrive Market: Skip the junk without overspending. Head over to thrivemarket.com/DMA to get 30% off your first order and a FREE $60 gift.
Function Health: I highly recommend Function. Learn more and join using my link. The first 1000 get a $100 credit toward their membership. Visit www.functionhealth.com/DMA to own your health.
Thrive Causemetics: Try your new trusty favorites with an exclusive set for our listeners. New customers can get the Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara and a mini-sized Brilliant Eye Brightener at a special set price with free shipping available at thrivecausemetics.com/DMA.
Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors.

Previous Episode

From Blockbusters to Blanket Forts: Patricia Heaton on Parenting, Faith, and Comedy [Ep 521]

Today Emmy-winning actor Patricia Heaton joins us for a candid conversation on motherhood, career, and raising four boys. We talk about the pressure parents feel to over-schedule kids, the beauty of simplicity (just give them a cardboard box!), and how God ordered her journey through motherhood and acting.
She and her husband, David Hunt, are in the business of producing movies and directed Unexpected, a film about the emotional ups and downs of infertility. Patricia believes that the best way into tough subjects is through comedy and this movie does just that. Stick around till the end where she shares her advice for helping four boys flourish -including her list of things to do as a family.
Connect with Patricia Heaton:

Website: Home - Patricia Heaton
Facebook: Patricia Heaton
Instagram: Patricia Heaton (@patriciaheaton)

Links Mentioned:

Related Episodes:

Featured Sponsors:

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Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors.

Next Episode

Navigating Senior Year: College Prep, Family Talks, and Faithful Waiting :: Lee Cordon and Barrett Ball [Ep 523]

Today we are live and in person in my office with Lee Cordon and Barrett Ball! My real-life friends have created a comprehensive guide for senior year and beyond. We cover the logistical, emotional, and spiritual challenges that every family walks through—from managing the college application process to preparing for big transitions at home. This conversation is packed with practical tips, encouragement, and insights every high school parent needs to hear. Here are some of the many topics covered in today’s episode:

Building a realistic college list and setting financial expectations early
Finding safe support systems that don’t fuel anxiety for students or parents
Summer prep checklist: housing deposits, senior photos, Greek life, dorm lists
What to get started on in Junior year to make Senior year more enjoyable and less stressful
Practical gift ideas and etiquette around graduation announcements
How to wait well with our kids and stay calm and collected to set the tone for your home

Connect with Lee Cordon and Barrett Ball:

Website: Do Say Give
Facebook: Do Say Give
Instagram: DoSayGive (@dosaygive)

Links Mentioned:

Related Episodes:

Featured Sponsors:

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Find links to this week’s sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors.