TPP 220a: Meghan Leahy on Why We Should Stop Listening to Experts
episode
Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children
51 min
1 speaker
7 chapters
transcribed 16 hours ago
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What is Meghan Leahy’s background and why did she write *Parenting Outside the Lines*?
Hey, it's Debbie. Today I'm sharing a Playback Friday episode. Unless you're a longtime listener, you likely haven't heard this one yet. And even if you have, I bet you'll get something completely different from it this time around. Welcome to Tilt Parenting, a podcast featuring interviews and conversations aimed at inspiring, informing, and supporting parents raising differently wired kids. I'm Debbie Rieber, and today I'm talking with Megan Leahy, a certified parent coach, parenting columnist for the Washington Post, and former school counselor and teacher. As mother to three children herself, Megan considers herself to be a heart-centered parent coach in a data-driven world, and writes about this idea in her new book, Parenting Outside the Lines.
Forget the rules, tap into your wisdom, and connect with your child. I was excited to talk with Megan about her book and her relatable in the trenches approach to parenting, trusting your gut, valuing connection, and knowing when to question the norms. And if you've been paying attention to this podcast, you know that this is what we're all about at Till Parenting. Today we'll get into Megan's thoughts on parenting theories, shunning the endless shoulds of modern parenting, and embracing imperfection and vulnerability. And now here is my conversation with Megan. Hello Megan, welcome to the show. Thank you so much for having me. I'm excited to talk about your brand spank a new book actually and the book comes out today.
Like not the day we're recording this, but the day that you all are listening to this. So congratulations on that. Thank you. Yeah, we're gonna get all into it, but I always ask my guests to introduce themselves and I'd love if you could tell us a little bit about the work that you do and your personal why for the work that you do and maybe a little bit about your your personal life, you know, your family makeup.
Okay, my name's Megan Leahy. And I am a parenting coach. I live in Washington DC, but my clients live everywhere, all over the world. I've been writing for the Washington Post since Twenty thirteen or twenty fourteen. I do a weekly parenting column for them. And I have a brand new book out. Which is crazy. And um I have three girls. Sixteen and a half thirteen and ten, two dogs, one husband, two. And I grew up in Delaware, which is an important part of my life because uh northern Delaware is a very interesting place. And has definitely made me who I am today. I Started as a teacher. For gifted boys. An in an all boys school? And uh I was not a great teacher, but I loved being with the kids, so I thought I'd be a school counselor.
So I went back to school and got my degree in counseling, my masters. And realize that It's a lot of red tape. Mm-hmm. And um While I was trying to figure all this out, I was having my own kids and I realized that It's a lot harder than I ever thought it would be. So I started going to parenting classes myself. started teaching the parenting classes and then Went out out on my own after my third was born. Three weeks. Into having my third baby I started a business. So it's been uh yeah, over ten years and um
great.
I'm a super type eight anyogram, so I'm a business owner, married to a business owner and That's uh that's how we roll. Yeah. Um my personal why is I I don't uh you know, it's funny. I I never really think about that because It's like the only thing I'm good at And I just see it as trying to Kick the can down the road. in just supporting help people. And just kind of having this very brief time on this earth that I have. leaving some amount of good. Right. While providing for my family. So Yeah. I like to make people laugh and I like to just bring a lot of humanity to this parenting work. And that's that's my why. Ask me again in a couple of months, it might be different.
I love that answer. And uh yeah, humanity, it's such a a great word and I really that's really the tone that I felt come through the book that we're gonna be talking about today. It really felt comforting and it did make me laugh out loud and
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is Meghan Leahy’s background and why did she write *Parenting Outside the Lines*?
0:00–7:31
2
How did the idea for the book develop and what makes it different from other parenting guides?
7:31–16:15
3
Why does Meghan argue that parents should stop listening to “experts” and trust their own intuition?
16:15–25:45
4
What practical strategies does she suggest for handling sibling rivalry and unequal attention?
25:45–31:38
5
How can parents use “notes to self” and reminders to stay connected to their parenting values?
31:38–39:12
6
Why is apologizing to children important and how can parents make apologies genuine?
39:12–48:33
7
What does Meghan recommend for families feeling stuck in perfectionism and “should‑lists”?
48:33–51:18
Speakers
1 identifiedMore from Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children
TPP 266a: A Conversation with Poet and Advocate LeDerick Horne
TPP 522: A Whole Child Approach to ADHD with Phil Boucher, M.D.
TPP 091a: A Conversation With Steve Silberman About His Book “Neurotribes”
TPP 521: A Conversation with Dr. Peter Gray About Restoring Childhood
TPP 253a: Advocate and Author Jonathan Mooney on Why Normal Sucks
TPP 520: Dr. Özgür Bolat on Why Rewards Backfire and the Real Science of Motivating Kids