This Is Not What I Was Expecting

How To Speak Up For Your Child Without Feeling Like That Parent

August 20, 2026·31 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Have you ever walked out of a school meeting, doctor’s appointment, or conversation about your kid and thought, WHY DIDN’T I SAY THAT?! Same. Speaking up for your child sounds easy until you’re sitting across from someone with a title, a degree, or a whole lot more confidence than you have. Suddenly you’re worried about being annoying, confrontational, or labeled “that parent.” This week we’re talking about the very real discomfort of speaking up, what we’ve learned from getting it wrong (repeatedly), and some ways we’ve found to make those conversations a little less intimidating. No perfect scripts. No superhero parenting required. Just three moms trying to get better at using our voices when our kids need us to. For one on one support at no cost to parents of children with behavior and mental health challenges in PA visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/one-on-one-helpFind out more about the PA Parent and Family Alliance and how you can support our work at https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/donationTo access any tip sheets and booklets we talk about visit: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/parenting-resourcesTo be the first to know about our events, read stories of success from families raising children with mental health challenges and more sign up to join the Parent Alliance community: https://www.paparentandfamilyalliance.org/join-the-community

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