Natalie Spencer, LCPC

08/22/2026

All the yes-es to the middle schoolers.

Follow for more encouragement in parenting tweens, teens, and young adults.

Motherhood | Parenting Big Kids | Growing in Christian Faith

08/19/2026

For generations, many of us were taught that a “good” child was a child who obeyed quickly, stayed quiet, didn’t question adults, and knew there would be consequences for stepping out of line.

We called that respect, we called it discipline, and because it was so normalized, many of us never stopped to question what those methods were actually teaching.

Fear can absolutely change a child’s behavior in the moment. A child may stop, comply, become quiet, or do exactly what they were told, but stopping a behavior does not necessarily mean they understood why it was wrong, learned what to do differently, or developed the skills they will need to make a better choice next time. Sometimes all they learned was how to avoid the reaction of the adult in front of them.

And that is where I think we need to completely shift our understanding of discipline, because discipline is supposed to teach.

We are trying to raise children who eventually know how to regulate themselves, make thoughtful choices, respect boundaries, take accountability, repair their mistakes, and do the right thing even when we are not standing beside them telling them what to do.

That kind of learning requires connection, clear boundaries, consistency, guidance, accountability, and consequences when they are appropriate, but none of those things require a child to be afraid of their parent.

We can be firm without being frightening, we can hold boundaries without humiliation or intimidation, and we can remain the authority in our homes while still creating relationships where our children feel safe enough to tell us the truth.

Maybe the question we should be asking ourselves isn’t, “How do I make my child obey me?” but rather, “What do I want my child to learn from me in this moment?”

Because the goal isn’t a child who behaves because they are afraid of what you will do if they don’t. The goal is a child who slowly develops the inner skills, values, and confidence to make good choices because you spent their childhood teaching them how. ❤️

That is how we raise children differently, and that is how we change what gets passed down. 🫶🏼

08/13/2026

Please like and share!I have rare prime 5 and 6pm therapy slots open! Back to school week can be so exciting. We also can see some behaviors and anxiety and I am here to help! Insurances I take are Kancare and then private pay

08/07/2026

This is a great event for anyone who could use some extra help getting kids ready for school! We’ve donated supplies and know it all goes straight into the community!

06/05/2026

Truth.

Trigger Warning

Training your child to be obedient makes them easier prey for predators. But no one wants to talk about that. We just want obedience because it’s convenient. Because it’s what the school, childcare, swim teacher and the soccer coach all expect. It makes everyone’s job easier… well you know who else’s job it makes easier? Predators. Obedience… at what cost? That’s what I think about… at what cost? There are other ways to parent that don’t focus on obedience as the main goal. One of these methods is Responsive Parenting.

05/07/2026

When your teen is spiralling, they are looking for a ceiling, not a mirror.

If you meet their volume with your own, you aren't leading — you’re just competing. They already have enough noise inside them; they don't need you to add to the static. They need to see that your stability isn't dependent on their mood.

When things get heated, your silence isn't a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of absolute control. It’s the proof that you are the anchor they can’t pull under, no matter how hard they tug. By staying quiet, you provide the space for their own anger to eventually run out of oxygen.

You can’t de-escalate a fire by adding more heat. You do it by being the cool air that allows the smoke to clear.

If you want them to learn how to regulate their emotions, you have to be the one to show them what a regulated nervous system looks like in real time.

Be the stillness they can’t break. ❤️

Image Quote Credit: Eva Rito 💌

04/28/2026

What do you like to do to take care of your mental health?

Mental health maxxing 💛

Taking care of your mental health doesn’t have to be complicated or perfect. It’s often the small, everyday things that make a difference over time.

For some people, that looks like therapy or taking medications as prescribed. For others, it’s movement, connection, rest, or simple routines that help them feel a little more grounded.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. What matters is finding what works for you.

What’s one thing that’s been helping your mental health lately?

04/03/2026

Again and again and again… ❤️

03/01/2026

KANSAS IS DEMANDING TRANS PEOPLE SURRENDER THEIR DRIVER’S LICENSES.

Under a new Kansas law transgender Kansans who previously updated the gender marker on their driver’s licenses legally are now receiving letters from the state demanding they surrender their IDs.

This law doesn’t just block future updates.

It retroactively revokes state-issued identification that trans people obtained legally.

That means people who followed the law, completed the paperwork, and were legally issued updated IDs are now being told the state is taking them back.

And that’s not all.

The law also opens the door for private citizens to sue transgender people for using bathrooms that align with their gender identity — exposing them to potentially devastating financial penalties simply for existing in public space.

Let’s be clear about what all of this means:

Without accurate identification, people can struggle to:
• Drive legally
• Travel
• Apply for jobs
• Rent housing
• Access banking
• Vote

This isn’t about paperwork.

It’s about making it nearly impossible for trans people to live as their authentic selves - it's about making trans people live in the closet - it's about erasing trans people.

The ACLU has filed a lawsuit challenging this law, arguing it violates constitutional protections and strips Kansans of basic rights and dignity.

We are grateful for that legal fight.

And we stand firmly in solidarity with trans Kansans and send this message:

You belong in public spaces.
You belong at work.
You belong in school.
You belong on the road.
You belong in this country.

We stand in solidarity with you.

🩵🩷🩵🩷🩵

02/05/2026