Local Parenting Classes: Why they're great + How they fall short

Hi there! I'm Danielle. I help defeated parents find validation, support + proven techniques to parent their strong-willed kids with composure, connection, confidence + cooperation through a 4 month group coaching program based on the Wholehearted Framework I’ve developed over years of working with families 1:1.

 

As a parent, you have more resources than ever before. It’s incredible that we have the ability to connect across states and oceans, we have access to the latest research at our fingertips, and we can have AI generated summaries of our questions at a moment’s notice. However, as we know with most good things- too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. How do you sort through it all?

When you know you need help, where do you start?

 

On the Failing Motherhood podcast in April, we're discussing each parenting resource:

 

EPISODE 1: April 15th, 2025

v. Parenting Content

v. Self-Paced Parenting Course or Book

v. In-person Parenting Class

 

EPISODE 2: April 22, 2025

v. Occupational Therapy

v. PCIT

v. Child Therapist / Psychologist

 

EPISODE 3: April 29th, 2025

v. Marriage Counseling or Personal Therapy

v. One-off or 1:1 Parenting Coaching

v. Virtual Parenting Class

 

For each, we break down the time/place and family that that resource is BEST for, compare/contrast the unique Pros and Cons of utilizing that support vs. another, and ultimately for some, the way they fall short.

 

 

v. In-Person Parenting Classes

 

BEST FOR:

  • Foster parents
  • Parents who need to complete classes for credit due to a court order
  • Expectant Parents
  • An affordable option with accountability built in
  • The up-leveled commitment of showing up helps your brain focus
  • Seasonal commitment of typically only 6-8 week
  • Creating more understanding & confidence with a sense of community

 

Parents who need MORE end up realizing....

  • They're affordable, but you pay with your time by commuting, arranging child care, and adding more hassle to a weeknight every week.
  • They're typically very one-sided instruction other than brief Q+A.

  • Suggestions are  by the book - left beating yourself up if/when you don’t get results

  • There's no room for individualization, customizing, tweaking, and trouble shooting.

  • Tips might be too generic and not work for your kid, even if they're "best practice".

  • In order to have both parents participate, you need to arrange (and pay) for child care or sign up for re-teaching it all to the partner

  • Going to a parenting class is like hanging out in your personal trainer’s office talking about working out. Coaching calls, using a set of tools and language and applying them to real life scenarios day after day week after week, is ACTUALLY getting in the gym, working out and seeing the results build up momentum and pick up steam over time.

 

Read more about these resources: click the links below-

Are you following parenting content creators instead?

Or Taking a parenting course or reading parenting books?

 

What about a group coaching program?

 

Group coaching programs combine a committed, safe environment, the fostering of relationships with like-minded people who get it, and the vulnerability they bring forth to create TRANSFORMATIONS. Think business masterminds, support groups for sobriety, fitness challenges- you achieve much more together than you ever would on your own!

 

WHO IT'S BEST FOR:

✅ Accelerated progress for the parent who needs MORE than random content, books or a course

✅ They know they need INDIVIDUALIZED support, not generalized info.

✅ Their time is PRECIOUS + you need to learn on-the-go.

✅ Their partner is an ENGAGED parent + wants to get their questions answered too; the majority of stress in the relationship is related to parenting.

✅ They crave connection + community, wanting to be KNOWN + HEARD.

✅ They value working with a mentor who's BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.

✅ They are willing to put the work in when it's actually proven to WORK!

✅ They seek to surround themselves with uplifting + powerful conversations with other COMMITTED, cycle-breaking parents

 

My program, Wholeheartedly CALM, specifically is BEST FOR…

  • Worrying Warrior parents, "It is what it is" parents, and "Just tell me what to do" parents (described in detail in my free masterclass- CALM + CONFIDENT

  • The majority of behavior challenges happen at home.  The child has high highs & low lows, strong opinions, and struggle with regulation.  Their parents want to learn to work WITH the way they’re wired.

  • A parent is neurodivergent (EX: diagnosed ADHD or gifted as a child) and they wonder if their child will be too (but they're too young to tell or it's all developmentally appropriate right now) OR their child has been diagnosed with ADHD or is on the spectrum

  • The majority of stress in their marriage is related to parenting

  • They want to transform their relationship with their strong-willed child into the teen years & beyond
  • They want to go from dreading pickup to feeling like besties, from 10 meltdowns a week down to 2, strengthen their personal confidence, family’s resilience, and their marriage along the way. 

 

 

PROS

  • Comprehensive & Immersive

  • Digest and DO it, not just think about it

  • Teaches specific strategies for your exact goals, struggles, and strongest-willed child

  • Is designed to maximize your time + effort through digestible, repeatable micro-modules

  • Equips your partner alongside you the whole way - RARE & critical

  • Stress management first, then skills to manage behaviors & strengthen mindset, unlocking connection you always wanted all along

  • Able to customize and adapt journey by accessing needed bonuses at anytime, asking most pertinent questions first

  • Includes only critical game-changers, not a bunch of backstories, theories or generalized info

  • Back-to-back weeks create momentum and accountability, making it more likely you complete it and can ride on the curtails of other’s momentum and hope on the hard days or weeks

  • Crowd sources invaluable insight, validation, and support from a tight-knit small group

  • Provides unlimited individualized solutions and community like no other

 

It's the last resource you'll ever need.

 

NEXT STEP:

 

Watch the FREE masterclass with your partner-

Calm + Confident - Master the Kind and Firm approach your strong-willed child needs without crushing their spirit or walking on eggshells at parentingwholeheartedly.com then APPLY.

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FREE LIVE MASTERCLASS

Tuesday, Sept 27th at 1:00 PM CENTRAL

Confidently parent your strong-willed child without caving in or dimming their spark so you can finally break free of power struggles, guilt + self-doubt!