Parenting educator Blimie Heller joins Chavie to discuss growing up in Toronto, reading parenting books as a child, and how her oldest daughter’s refusal to comply forced her to reconsider what a parent’s role should be. Blimie and Chavie talk about setting limits without relying on punishment, why teenagers expose the illusion of parental control, and Blimie’s shift from advocating primarily for children to extending the same compassion to parents. Chavie shares a difficult morning with her teenage son, and Blimie uses Nonviolent Communication to explore what each of them needed in that moment. They close by asking whether successful parenting means raising children who comply or maintaining a strong relationship with them through conflict.
About Blimie
Blimie Heller is a parenting educator, coach, and the creator of the Relational Alignment Model™. She helps parents build relationships with their children based on respect and trust while navigating boundaries, conflict, and challenging behavior. Her work gives parents practical tools for moving away from control and toward connection, communication, and cooperation.
This Week's Prompt
Our listener prompt and voice notes took a short break for the holidays. We’ll resume next episode!
Referenced On the Pod
27:34: How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish
27:39: Children Are from Heaven by John Gray
37:34: Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff
46:40: Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn
1:03:54: Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg
1:08:59: Yoram Mosenzon, Blimie’s teacher and major influence
1:18:45: GROK Empathy Cards, created by Christine King & Jean Morrison
1:40:21: The Journey of the Heroic Parent by Brad M. Reedy, PhD
Stay in touch with Blimie
www.blimieheller.com
@unconditional_parenting on Instagram
Stay in touch with Chavie
@chaviebruk on Instagram
www.totallyunexpected.blog
Totally Unexpected! on YouTube
This episode is sponsored by an anonymous listener whose generous contribution covered a month of podcast production. Thank you for believing in Totally Unexpected! and helping the podcast continue to grow.
Want to sponsor or dedicate an episode? Reach out to Chavie on Instagram or by email at chaviebruk@gmail.com.
