Your Kid Isn’t the Problem (And Neither Are You) with Mandy Grass

About this sermon

If parenting has you oscillating between “I’ve got this” and “I need to lie down immediately,” this episode is for you. Jen and Amy sit down with Mandy Grass—nationally recognized Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, founder of The Family Behaviorist, former teacher, and mom in a blended family of seven—to talk about what’s really happening underneath your child’s behavior (and your reaction to it). For nearly two decades, Mandy has translated behavior science into practical, shame-free tools for families. Her central message? Kids’ behavior is communication—not a moral failure. And neither is your exhaustion. In this conversation, we discuss: • What Mandy hears when parents say, “We’ve tried everything” • How shame and blame sneak into parenting—and how to gently escort them out • Why so much of the work starts with the parent, not the child • A simple shift you can make tonight to cool the temperature at home We also talk about Mandy’s new podcast, The Behavior Blueprint, a grounded, step-by-step guide for parents ready to move beyond quick fixes and into real-life change. Take a breath. Your child isn’t the problem. You aren’t either. And that might be the fiercest compassion of all. Thought-Provoking Quotes: • “In behavior analysis, every behavior has a function—attention, escape, access to something tangible, and an automatic or sensory function.” – Mandy Grass • “Do I have ADHD, anxiety, or am I just a mom?” – Mandy Grass • “Our default is take away, take away, take away. And really what we want to do is reinforce the behavior we want to see more of.” – Mandy Grass • “You’re not gonna get it right every time, but at least it doesn’t feel like you have no idea what to do.” – Mandy Grass Tags: Jen Hatmaker, For the Love Podcast, Mandy Grass, The Behavior Blueprint, parenting, behavior science, child development, family systems, behavior analysis, emotional regulation, gentle parenting, boundaries, compassion, blended families, motherhood, parenting tools, positive reinforcement, shame-free parenting Resources Mentioned in This Episode: ➢ The Behavior Blueprint podcast with Mandy Grass - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-behavior-blueprint-with-mandy-grass/id1872526999 ➢ Too Much Junk on Your Social Media Feeds? I'll Show You How to Clean It Up - https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/too-much-junk-on-your-social-media-feeds-ill-show-you-how-to-clean-it-up?test_uuid=04IpBmWGZleS0I0J3epvMrC&test_variant=A Guest’s Links: Website - https://www.thefamilybehaviorist.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thefamilybehaviorist Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560942080087 Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@thefamilybehaviorist TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thefamilybehaviorist Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-behavior-blueprint-with-mandy-grass/id1872526999 Connect with Jen! Jen’s Website - https://jenhatmaker.com/ Jen’s Instagram - https://instagram.com/jenhatmaker Jen’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/jenHatmaker/ Jen’s Facebook - https://facebook.com/jenhatmaker Jen’s YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JenHatmaker The For the Love Podcast is presented by Audacy.