EP 187: Teach Siblings about Owls, Watchdogs, and Possums... Without Excusing!

One way we can support the siblings of kids with big, baffling behaviors is to teach them about owls, watchdogs, and possums (or some way to understand the brain and behaviors) as well as to teach them about nervous system vulnerabilities and ‘overactive’ watchdog and possum brains!

In this episode, you’ll learn

• Steps to take when teaching siblings about owls, watchdogs, and possums so they won’t feel like you’re just excusing bad behavior
• The importance of validating your kids’ experience that the way you parent their sibling is unfair
• A couple scripts for talking to your children about their sibling’s watchdog and possum brain (available on my website by CLICKING HERE)

Resources mentioned in this podcast:

• Helping Siblings Understand "Unfair" Parenting {EP 186}
• Can I Teach My Child About Their Brain? {EP 114}
• My Child Won't Talk About Their Watchdog and Possum Brain {EP 160}
• EVERYONE Has A Watchdog And Possum Brain! {EP 178}
• Is Understand Behavior Just Excusing It? {EP 109}
• Enabling Vrs. Low-Demand Parenting {EP 144}

Read the full transcript at: RobynGobbel.com/teachsiblings

If you work with the parents of OTHER people's kids, register for Reframing Resistance: Supporting Parents through the Lens of Relational Neuroscience on July 14 @ 10-1:15pm eastern.

----> RobynGobbel.com/ReframingResistance

We have a few spots remaining at the Presence in Practice retreat-style training in Michigan July 15-17!

RobynGobbel.com/MIPIP2026

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Join us in The Club for more support! robyngobbel.com/TheClub

Sign up on the waiting list for the 2027 Cohorts of the Baffling Behavior Training Institute's Immersion Program for Professionals robyngobbel.com/Immersion

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Over on my website you can find:
Webinar and eBook on Focus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior (FREE)
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LOTS & LOTS of FREE Resources
Ongoing support, connection, and co-regulation for struggling parents: The Club
Year-Long Immersive & Holistic Training Program for Parenting Professionals: The Baffling Behavior Training Institute’s (BBTI) Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With)