Episode Details

Note: the guest is a licensed clinical psychologist, and her comments reflect her professional perspective and general education, not individualized clinical, medical, or psychological advice or a treatment recommendation for any specific child or family. Her comparison of screen-based dopamine to gambling is presented as her professional framing. The episode references childhood trauma and child development in a general, non-graphic, supportive way.

You're sitting with your child as they tell you about their day, and your mind drifts to a notification, a missed meeting, the laundry. You nod and say the right thing. Later, a small ache asks: was I really there?

Dr. Brandi Hawk, a clinical psychologist, joins Sana on The Mindful Living to explore what mindful time with a child really means. Not perfect or productive time, but the small moments a child remembers most.

About the Guest:

Dr. Brandi Hawk is a clinical psychologist with 15 years working with children and families affected by trauma. She co-developed the evidence-based program PC-CARE, runs Red Leaf Psychology, and co-hosts The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club podcast.

Key Takeaways:

• Young children care less about big things and more about whether they have your presence.
• Parenting is genuinely hard; naming that honestly can free you to find real joy in it.
• Often the answer is to do less, not more; kids need boredom and unstructured time.
• Screens can hook a child's brain; she likens the dopamine loop to gambling, so be thoughtful.
• Structure and boundaries still matter; within them, you can be far more spacious.

Connect With the Guest:

Website: redleafpsychology.com (Instagram: @redleafpsych)

Podcast: The Nerdy Psychologist Book Club

Episode Chapters: (approx.)

[00:00] The quiet ache: was I really present?

[02:20] What young children actually want from us

[05:10] The fear underneath: am I a good enough parent?

[10:15] Doing better isn't doing more: why kids need boredom

[16:00] Screens and the brain: a thoughtful conversation

[21:50] Do less, show up quietly, and still hold boundaries

[33:15] Where to find Brandi and her work

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