BEST OF Conscious Parenting: Raising Kids and Raising Ourselves with Mary Willow

This is the last of the ‘best of’ series for 2026 and it’s perfect timing because Mary’s book is now out in the world. If you resonate with this episode, then I think you’ll also love Mary’s brilliant and important book. The link is below.

This podcast episode is about raising our children, but it’s also about raising ourselves.

So even if you don’t have kids, please stay with us - the wisdom shared goes beyond parenting and speaks to the journey of understanding ourselves.

I’m joined by Mary Willow, a renowned parent educator and international speaker who has spent almost 50 years working with children and families. Through her private practice, Plum Parenting, she has supported nearly a thousand families with her unique and compassionate approach. My husband and I have worked with Mary, and the tools she shares have been invaluable in raising our four kids.

Mary introduces us to the idea of the guard dog brain - the fight-or-flight, reactive, impulsive part of a child (and ourselves) that is wired for self-protection.

She also reminds us that behind the guard dog - behind every outburst, tantrum or slammed door - sits the true child or true self, waiting to be seen and set free. Mary shares practical tools to help us do just that.

In this episode, we discuss:

* The power of observing our children’s behaviour

* The guard dog brain and why it often takes the driver’s seat

* How healthy household rhythms give children a sense of security and make daily transitions smoother

* How to hold a loving boundary

* How conscious parenting begins with our own willingness to be fully present

Mary brings her gentle wisdom to some of the most common struggles parents face, showing that our own awareness is often the solution.

This conversation is for anyone wanting to move beyond daily battles and into a deeper, more conscious connection - not just with their children, but with themselves.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and questions in the comments so we can continue this important conversation about parenting our kids, and ourselves, more consciously. Parenting isn’t easy, but it helps to know the struggles are universal, and so are the antidotes.

Love Lara x

🔗 Subscribe to Deeper Threads for more conversations, reflections and to ask questions: laracharles.substack.com

🔗 Follow Mary’s Facebook page, Plum Parenting: https://www.facebook.com/PlumParenting

🔗 Find out more about Mary’s book and to join Mary’s waitlist: https://www.plumparenting.com/

🔗 Get my memoir, Joy, Regardless - a deeply personal reflection on motherhood, identity and healing: https://laracharles.com/joy-regardless/