11d • Sunday Reflections
Sunday Reflections: November 23rd 2026
Last June, I ran the first Powerful Parenting Workshop.
Some came because their kid was struggling. Some came because they were struggling. Most came because they knew something needed to change, they just didn't know what.
I didn't sugarcoat it. I told them the truth: most of what's going on with your kid isn't about your kid. It's about you. Your patterns. Your triggers. Your unhealed stuff.
One parent said, "I felt seen as a parent but not judged. I felt validated in my struggles, enlightened by the perspective, and encouraged for better."
Another said, "My toolbox was empty when I walked in. I left with my toolbox full."
And one of my favorites: "I would recommend this workshop to others, as it is not just for parents going through something difficult. Every parent could get some value from this and get a new perspective of their children and being a parent in today's world."
That's what this work is about.
It's about good parents raising their standards. Parents who care deeply but know there's more to learn. Parents who want to create connection, heal old wounds, and show up powerfully for the people who matter most.
I'm a coach. I work with their kids every day. I see their struggles. Their strengths. Their potential.
I also see the parents doing trying their best.
And here's what I know: the most powerful thing I can do for a kid isn't just teach them jiu jitsu. It's help their parents show up powerfully at home. Because kids don't just need great coaches. They need great parents. Parents who lead with empathy and boundaries. Parents who validate feelings and set clear expectations. Parents who repair when they mess up. Parents who model the emotional regulation they want to see in their kids. That's what powerful parenting is.
Most of us parent the way we were parented. We use the same phrases. We set the same boundaries. Or don't. We react the same way our parents reacted and most of the time, we don't even realize it.
But here's the truth: the way you were parented shaped you. And the way you parent is shaping your kids.If you don't take the time to look under the hood, to examine your patterns, your triggers, your default responses; you'll keep repeating the cycle.
One parent from the first workshop said it perfectly: "I realized I am my parents trying to parent my child. I will not have that."
That's the moment everything changes. When you stop and ask: Why do I respond this way? What am I assuming about my child's behavior? What did I need as a kid that I didn't get? What do I want my kids to remember about me?
It isn't about blaming your parents. It's not about guilt or shame. It's about awareness. About choosing different. About becoming the parent you want to be, not the one you default to.
That's the work. It's hard. But it's worth it.
Some of you reading this won't come. Not because you don't care. Not because you don't want to be a better parent, it's because it's easier to stay where you are. It's easier to keep doing what you've always done. It's easier to avoid looking at the stuff you don't want to see and that's fine. I'm not here to convince you.
But if you're one of the parents who's willing to do the uncomfortable work; who's willing to look in the mirror, challenge your patterns, and show up differently, then this is for you.
Because the parents who came to the first workshop? They didn't just learn something. They changed something.
And that's what this is about.
And here's the part most people don't talk about: this is going to be uncomfortable.
You're going to see patterns you didn't know you had. You're going to realize you've been doing things that hurt instead of help. You're going to feel guilt, shame, maybe even anger.
That's part of the process.
Because awareness is uncomfortable. Change is uncomfortable. Growth is uncomfortable.
But on the other side of that discomfort? Connection. Clarity. Confidence.
We'll have more time for group discussion. More space to share. More tools to take home.
This isn't a lecture. It's a conversation. It's a community of parents committed to doing the hard work.
This workshop is for two types of parents.
Parents who came to the first one and want to keep going. Go deeper. Stay accountable. Continue the work. Good parents who know they can do better. You're not in crisis. You're not trying to fix a disaster. You're already doing a lot right. You know there's more to learn. You want to improve your connection with your kids. Challenge your patterns. Show up more powerfully. If that's you, this is for you.
Powerful Parenting #2 is happening this January at Utopia Martial Arts.
I'm keeping it at Utopia this time to keep costs lower and create a more intimate space for the work we're going to do together. Registration isn't open yet, but I wanted to give you a heads-up now so you can plan ahead.
If you attended the first workshop, I hope you'll come back. If you missed it, this is your chance.
Parenting is the hardest job you'll ever have. And it's the most important one.
You don't have to do it alone. But you do have to show up.
I'll let you know when registration opens. If you're in, be ready.
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Sunday Reflections: November 23rd 2026
