We recently connected with Shannon Kroll and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Shannon, thanks for joining us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

I believe every parent wants to be the best version of themselves, but we often feel stuck parenting in response to other people’s expectations rather than following what’s in our heart.

A few years ago, I was on a discovery call with a mom (who would become a long-time client). I was in the middle of walking her through some behavioral strategies when she shared, “I just got an email from my son’s school. He had an awful day. He got in all kinds of trouble and now when he gets home I have to send him to his room.” I asked her what she wanted to do when he got home. As she choked back tears she replied, “Give him a hug. He had a bad day and all I want to do is give him a hug.”

That was the moment I realized: The weight of societal pressure put on moms is almost unbearable.

Underneath it all, moms instinctively know what their child needs: a hug, love, compassion. The modern mom is caught between messages of “you just need to toughen him up” and *knowing* that their child needs nurturing and support. The reason I do what I do is because we need more people supporting moms to listen to their inner wisdom. The world needs more nurturing, more understanding, and more compassion, not more punishment.

Shannon, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Right out of college, I got a job teaching high school special education at a therapeutic day school in Naperville, Illinois. A few months in, my dad asked me how it was going and I said, “Dad, I love it. This is the job I would do even if I didn’t get paid.”

That’s the sentiment I’ve always had around my work with children and families. I went from Special Education Teacher to Learning Coordinator to Assistant Principal within 8 years. I got a Master’s in Educational Leadership and became a National Board Certified Exceptional Needs Specialist. My bread and butter was teaching children with emotional and behavioral disabilities. I was able to work magic with my students, but at home their parents felt so lost. I saw how well these kids could do, but their parents had no idea how to bring that version out of them.

Children are our hope and our future. They deserve the very best we have to offer. But to the biggest support system in a child’s life, their parents, our society provides little support and lots of judgment. There’s an epidemic among modern moms; they’ve never felt more depressed, more anxious, and more alone. More books, online courses, and podcasts won’t change that. That’s why I do what I do – I’m right there with you, walking you through the challenges with your child, supporting you every step of the way.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social media is hard. Putting something out into the world not and not knowing how people will respond pushes on our sense of belonging – a need that is deeply rooted in our DNA. And all the experts preach consistency, which means facing the fear of rejection over and over and over. That’s enough to send our nervous systems into overdrive. I know it did for me.

For the longest time, I had a huge block around social media. I was so paralyzed by what to post, why to post, when to post. I let it get bigger than me. Then one day, I was working with a coach (the amazingly talented Shauna VanBogart). She saw that I had blown social media way out of proportion and knew I needed to bring it back down to size. She challenged me to post every single day for 30 days and then she added, “Let it be messy. Let it not make sense.” So I did. I started having fun, using my voice, and relying on my intuition. And sure enough, the growth followed. Turns out, when you speak your truth, the people who need your message hear it.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I had just put my son in his first time out. He was 18 months old.

He had bitten his sister, hard, for what felt like the billionth time. I knew removing him from a situation where he was hurting his sister was the right thing to do. I knew a time out was NOT the right thing to do. But I didn’t know what else to do. I had to show him his behavior was not ok, right?

I was a special education teacher with 10 years’ experience working with children with behavioral disabilities. And I didn’t know how to get my 18 month old to stop biting his sister. I felt like such a failure.

Since that day, I’ve spent my time digging into my own training as a behavior specialist. I’ve read research and books. I’ve spent four years figuring out the keys to success when it comes to discipline and child behavior.

The end result is: I know what works. I’ve synthesized what neuroscientists, psychologists, and behaviorists know about children and applied it to practical life. And here’s what life looks like now:
-My kids are kind and cooperative. They get along and they help out.
-When we do have a meltdown (which happens, because kids are kids), I know exactly what to do. I feel confident and patient.
-In my day to day, I know I’m doing what’s best for my children. I’m giving them the childhood they deserve.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonkroll/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-kroll-5983181a4/
• Youtube: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-kroll-5983181a4/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/shannonmkroll/

Image Credits
Lauren Holschbach-Sweeney Andrea Keaveny, Cedar + Moss Studios Alberta Henry Photography Ltd.